Lost

Chapter 15 : The Mystery Solis

"There you are, Lycia. Took you a while to get here." Cyane beamed as she splashes her legs in the water.

"Sorry. I got held up for a while?"

"What held you up?"

"It's...Louise."

"What's that guy up to?"

"Nothing actually. It's just me being overly protective of him."

Cyane raised her brow and smirked at the statement. "Uhh, what are you implying?"

Lycia began to blush at her friend's response. "What-no! I just want to keep him safe until the end of the journey, that's all!"

"Mhm, yeah." Cyane rolled her eyes playfully.

"I'm serious! If he's not safe the hope of peace between realms will be destroyed!"

Cyane shrugged. "Fair enough but I think you're forgetting about one teeny, tiny detail."

"What's that?"

"The obsidian stones in The Temple of Eclipse has the ability to erase his mind, remember?"

"Oh, right. I totally forgot about that...." Lycia muttered, downcast. "So even if he's alive, there'll be no peace between our realms?"

"Probably not."

Lycia sighed. "Damn it. I really want to see the two realms at peace. Besides...I-I don't want him to forget all of our adventures. I mean those are treasured memories that can be wiped in a single ritual. Wouldn't you feel upset too?"

"I do, Lycia. I do. But what else can we do. We can't risk the boy spoiling our secrets."

"But even you said it back then that we must trust him. Besides he's our friend. You know we can count on him."

"But what are the chances?! It's too risky. The same thing happened with-with...her. A-and you know what happened. She betrayed us by defying her promise."

"But Louise isn't like her. He's different."

"And how would you know that?! You can't even trust him for being alone for a while. And now you're debating whether to trust him with our realm's whereabouts?"

Lycia can only stare at her in silence before looking down again. "I-I have mixed feelings about this topic. On one hand, I would love it if he stays or at least remembers us. Perhaps that will be a brand new start of a new era where both realms live side-by-side in peace? But on the other hand...there's that risk of him abusing the information and my family name weighing on me. Ack, what should I choose, Cyane?"

"I...I don't know either. Believe me I do want him to stay or remember us. I would love that very much indeed but the risk that comes alongside it is too...dangerous to not take heed of. Perhaps our only option is just to do what we have to do."

"What's that?"

"Return him back to where he belongs and bid goodbye to his memories. Whether he regains it back or not or even what he'll do with it is all decided in the future. Let's just hope it'll be a hearty compromise to our dilemma."

"And that world peace existed too."

"I'm sure that'll happen one day, someday. Oh, I do want to be alive to see it."

"Same here. Just think what the elders must've felt. Humans and magical creatures bonding and ignoring their differences? Sounds like heaven."

"I can see you've taken a bit interest in humans." Cyane giggled.

"How can I not? From stories the elders taught me, they said that humans are violent and heartless creatures. But now that I have befriended one, I can say confidently that they might be mistaken or met the wrong type of humans. Because Louise is just so...awesome and interesting and goofy to be heartless and cruel. I can't even imagine him doing villainy stuffs."

Cyane laughed. "I can't picture that too. I suppose you are right. Though the risk of him abusing the information is unavoidable, it might be very small in numbers so that the chances of it happening is very low."

"I do hope that's reality."

"I'm sure it is. Louise doesn't look like the type of people running around saying that he met magical creatures. I mean even if he did I doubt many would believe him."

"Yeah, that is until they're curious enough to try out the ritual."

"Pfft, who's curious enough to do such things?"

"Louise tried it."

"Ehh...'suppose you're right."

After rinsing herself and wiping herself with the towel she brought earlier, Lycia climbed out of the brook and began to change into her attire. "Alright, I'm done. You finished yet?"

"Oh you know, you can never get enough with the brook in the early mornings." Cyane giggled before playing with the water once again.

Lycia shook her head at the siren and collected her stuff. "Well, I'm done and I'm off to check up on Louise. Sure you don't mind alone?"

"Pretty sure."

"Alrighty. Bye Cyane."

"Bye Lycia."

Just as Lycia's footsteps began to fade and the crunching of gravel can no longer be heard, it was now Cyane's turn to be in danger. A froth of bubble exploded merrily a couple of feet behind her. Unaware, the girl continued her bath and played along with the water. As the source of the bubbles edged closer, it's sound of frothing and bubbling increased furiously and when the princess finally realized, it's all too late. Eight soggy red tentacles burst from the water and grabbed on to her from all sides as she's caught off guard. Before she knew it, she's bound, gagged and is slowly pulled towards the mysterious depths of the waters, hundreds of fathoms down and towards the creature's origins.

Meanwhile, Lycia didn't had much of a good time either. Her heart along with her stuff fell clattering to the ground, both surprised and horrified at the abandoned site. Heartbroken and filled with hatred, Lycia hastily grabbed a random blade and ventured off into the forest, hoping to catch the kidnapper, whoever he / she is. All of the forest's inhabitants can sense the boiled up anger, hatred and regret fuming off her as she dashed here and there, hoping to catch a glimpse of the assailant but to no avail. Finally, she stopped her quest and as a single tear slid down her cheek, she clenched her fist and bellowed out loud:

"COME OUT AND FACE ME YOU HUMAN-HUNTER!! COME OUT AND FACE ME!! I CHALLENGE YOU!!"

A sly, silverish sneer, reflected by the sun's rays can be seen beneath the thick clumps of leaves on the tree above. And with a great leap, a tall lady stood in front of her. Although she wears a hood that covers half her face, Lycia can still make out her bright, fiery red hair and lips that are curved into a sly smile. She also wears a form fitting teal and navy bodysuit secured by a black vest, dark brown straps, and a dark brown belt embellished with a silver brooch. The outfit is topped off with thigh-high navy blue boots and bracers.

"What a feisty." She teased before standing up to her full height. "Your boyfriend, right?"

"Who?"

"That guy I nicked off earlier?"

"Oh so you're the one who took him." Lycia narrowed her eyes, fixed her stance and stared at her with gritted teeth.

Spotting Lycia's stance, the kidnapper widen her smirk as she pulled out a couple of blades from her back, both shining oh ever so brightly under the sunlight. "Hm, bad idea to pick a fight on a Solis, princess."

"Says someone who nicked off a princess' acquaintance!" Lycia  bellowed rather too loud than she would've intended in anger.

"Then let's see if the world's actually fair or are we ruled in a game of chance and unfair authorities?"

"Either way, you'll regret ever crossing my path you heartless beast!" Lycia lunged her blade at her which attack was immediately blocked by both of her two blades.

"This'll be fun." The opponent muttered before expelling Lycia away from her. And as the two shot bloody stares at each other, both can tell that it's just the beginning for a second after that, swords clashed and a battle of hatred ensued.