Algernon Black

(Chapter 92) One Second

After the address, Luke's team gathered at the statue of light, as the other teams assembled before one of the other three shrines.

"Quill," Luke addressed his third in command. "I need you to take your team and head west." Quill nodded and started away with his portion of the team. "Rowland, take yours and head East. Remember the plan." Rowland looked hesitant, as did the unit he was meant to be heading.

Luke raised an eyebrow at their hesitation. "Is there a problem?" 

"Is it a good idea to separate?" Rowland asked. "After choosing Lucy to wear the bracelet."

Lucy bit her cheeks, reducing the inside raw with how often she'd repeated the anxious tick since Luke's announcement. 

"It was the single greatest thing I could have done for our team," Luke declared with absolute certainty. "And it is what will win us this tourney."

Everyone still hesitated.

"Rowland," Lucy interrupted, gathering her courage to speak. "I'm counting on you, so please count on me too."

Rowland looked down at their little underclassmen.

"Aww, what is that?" he said, messing up Lucy's hair. "We're the seniors, we're not supposed to rely on you."

Lucy looked up at him against the force of his hand pushing her head down. "I thought we were all supposed to lean on each other."

The guys and girls on the team all felt their hearts swoon a bit at Lucy's earnestly.

"Lucy what was that!" Luke cooed, pulling her into a hug. "That was too cute."

"Hey, don't suffocate her!" Rowland yelled, pulling her free. "She's our precious commander!"

Lucy looked at him and the rest of the team as they all smiled back at her.

"That's right!" She smiled now a bit less troubled thanks to their support.

"We'll be counting on you then," Rowland said, patting her head one last time before walking away. The rest of the team passed her, doing the same as if it could bring them luck.

"Shouldn't you guys be counting on your captain too?" Luke asked, growing jealous of all the trust and affection Lucy received, that he never did.

Rowland glared at him, and Luke sighed at the inevitable.

"That's already a given," Rowland said. "Or else we wouldn't have joined your team in the first place." Rowland smiled over his shoulder and Luke met it with one of his own. The rest of the team, whether they said it or not, felt they could all trust him too, and nodded their heads to Luke.

"Luke, why did you give me this?" Lucy asked after everyone had gone, and they walked deeper into the forest. "If I get caught the chances of me fighting my way out aren't very high."

"Have more confidence in yourself," Luke countered. "You're more valuable than you know."

Lucy peered away but nodded.

"Where are we going?" Lucy asked after they had walked far away from the statue.

"You're waiting here for the moment," Luke said, as he reached into his bag to pull out a flare gun. "And when you see me shoot this into the sky, run to me as fast as you can." He grabbed both of Lucy's shoulders to stare into her eyes. "And I mean as fast as you possibly can." Lucy nodded, wondering why he sounded so worried all of a sudden. "Good. I don't know how long I'll be able to defend myself."

"Are you expecting that I'll be the one to save you?" Lucy asked.

Luke smiled confidently. "Yes, Lucy, I am."