Sentient (Reign of Malevolence)

Can't wait for Sundown

                (Chapter 8)
                        **

                       [<<]
“I’m just kidding. She really didn’t come back yesterday. Let’s pray for her, shall we?”
The news pounds his chest like a ram. He just feels disoriented for a while and when he regains his consciousness; his beautiful brown eyes get gray-scaled. The grin on his face can only suggest one thing…
Amitha thinks to herself. “{You just don’t understand why I’m trying my best to keep him calm. I see his thoughts. I know what happens inside. We think word-like; in the first dimension. Those are normally far from belief. When emotionally perturbed, we see images of gratification in the second. We only wish that these are true. Just like the images of you thrashing your enemies in your head, he does same, but my Elmus is different; he sees that thrashing in the third dimension. To make it simpler, he sees it more or less—WAITING—to manifest in reality.}

                         [>]

[Valentina]
Mom came into the room and sat by her as she slept, admiring the sight of the little angel. The mere presence of another person wakes her from her sleep eventually.
“Mmmmm.”—she stretches—“Don’t tell me you’re seeking to repeat the last time” she barely utters with her eyes closed.
“And what happened last time?”
“…Hunh?” she reacts after realizing that it was mom talking to her. She intends to sit up but her body proves too heavy and she just ends up laying her head on mom’s lap. Mom can’t help but laugh at the sight of that.
“Say Valentina… I’ve noticed that you’re never up early.”
“… Isn’t true. *yawn*”
“You sure?”
“I just… never get a full sleep.”
“*laugh*”
“It’s not funny.”—she lays her head on her chest instead, in an attempt to sit up and get more active—“I can never see a night through to the end.”
“Don’t tell me you also got a sleeping disorder.”
“…Nah… I always had to wake up early to do this and that after I became a teenager… Now that I have the chance—” she trails off as she starts to fall asleep again.
“Tina dear?”
“…”
“How cute you are.” She runs her hand through her hair. It seems to have a more soothing effect and she falls deeper asleep.

[Dark Alley Goons]
“Hey, isn’t it that guy from the other day?”
“Yeah…definitely him. What should we do boss?”
“Whatever you want but wait for night time,” Blood-Eye approves.
“Shouldn’t we track him for the meantime or something boss?”
“Chances are he might notice you and go into hiding. Yes, he does look absent minded right now but he’s bound to remember the souvenir we gave him.”
“Well that’s true… I really hope that chick is dead already. Anyone find her?”
“Ask around for her. Right boss?”

[Valentina]
She actually came for breakfast eventually. Sleep can’t ignore the pangs of hunger.  Guillelmus comes in and doesn’t even stop to talk. “You’re just in time for breakfast my darling son,” mom says but it seems like only his ears ever heard it. “Is something wrong?” Valentina asks as he heads into the hallway.
“Son?!”
“I don’t think he even heard you. I’ve not seen him wear that face before.”
“Please excuse me. I’m gonna go check up on him.”

[Guild Reception]
Anika is just filling out her usual paperwork. The members of the Raid Unit: Saturnine walk in approach her. There’s that kid in the armor again, a very giant guy who hides behind a cloak, and a handsome blonde guy. The giant one’s true form, or should I say size—is unknown. He seems to be slouching over to an extensive degree so as to be concealed by the cloak. He carries a large weapon that’s been swaddled with leather, on his back. The blonde wears a well blended suit of armor with six silver needles: three on the side of each thigh. They have mana crystals on them.
“Hey there!” the blonde exclaims.
“We’re back,” the rumbling voice of the giant makes known. The kid or midget in the small suit of armor remains silent though.
“That’s great,” she says with not even the least bit of enthusiasm. The fake smile she put up quickly dissipates. She definitely isn’t happy to see them.
“Don’t tell me that you aren’t happy to see your knight that put an end to the horde of city-decimating hobgoblins?” the blonde asks as he presents a rose to her. She looks into his eyes . That’s because some of the rose petals are purple instead of red, just like how he has a purple eye and a red one.
“Of course not. You just caught me at the wrong time but I think this about cheers me up. How may I help you?”
“We want another Raid,” he answers rather quickly.
“That’s great. I would really be pleased if you could exterminate a Gyro-Mantis.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” the giant one grumbles.
“Sounds like someone wants to get rid of us,” the kid mutters.
“No, it’s not like that.” She denies. “The thing is I believe in your capabilities and I believe you’re the best to take this on.”
“Really? What’s in it for us?” the blonde asks.
“The reward is—”
“That’s not what we’re talking about. You’ve been deploying us non-stop with increasing difficulty. There has to be something extra my pretty, pink rose.”
“Then I’ll double the reward for this mission.”
“No. If we succeed you will grant us all a wish.” The giant guy voices out.
“…” he renders her speechless. Her knees loosen up completely and begin to knock. Her jaw also assimilates some of her anxiety but she maintains control. “We can t-talk about that after you’re done. It’s v-v-very urgent so you should get going.”
“If you say so sweetheart. We’ll be back before you know it.”
The other two walk out the door. Once the door closes, she drops to the ground out of total relief. Her body felt so faint; she leans against the reception counter. She opens the lock to the mini-barricade and the one in the tiny suit of armor comes in to sit next to her.
“*consecutive breaths* Thank you.”
“You’re trying to kill us off.”
“No I’m not. The truth is we really need your Unit. I only try to keep those creeps away for as long as possible.”
“Creeps hunh?”
“I didn’t—”
“No need. I already know how you feel... If you’re gonna put on such a pathetic show, next time you’d best take your seat.”
“What? Do you think I’m actually showing courtesy to those guys? I stand so I have a chance to escape if they ever go crazy.”
“… Nevertheless, you remember our deal right?”
“As far as its not outta line, I’ll aid you in your experiments. Just… keep them away for longer this time.”
“Just keep in mind that I won’t compromise the Units integrity for you. If you play with the stars you’re bound to get burnt—real burnt.” After saying that, he leaves.