Arcanum

Chapter 43: Lucas

I drifted mindlessly through the darkness. It was everywhere. So where was the light?

I sighed, and tried to sit down, but when I did, I felt everything just drop. I desperately tried to grab onto something, but it was hopeless. There wasn't anything.

I gritted my teeth, but suddenly.. Every part of me begun to fade. Even my own consciousness.

I tried to keep my eyes open, but my vision faded away.

~~~

I jolted awake, and wasn't surprised to find myself on the ground, in a rotten prison. What did surprise me, was Princess Aiyana trying to get away from a man. Not any man though. Ricardo!

"Ri-car-..do.." I spat with venom. He lifted his gaze from the princess, and looked at me. He smirked evily.

"Ah look who decided to join the party!" He exclaimed, and he went over and kicked me in the gut.

"Ah selfish Lucas. You really betrayed the humans to join the weaklings?" He snickered, and stepped on my tail hard.

I hissed slightly in pain, and transformed myself and slammed into him and pinned him, snarling loudly.

I quickly sunk my teeth into his throat, and he shrieked out loudly.

"Somebody's going to hear that." I growled as I lifted my teeth from his throat, and transformed back. I was disgusted to find blood all over my mouth, and on my tongue.

Ricardo was gasping for air, as his life leaked out from his throat. He glared at me, and spat weakly.

"I'll.. See you.. in hell!" He growled, and I turned away. Until I realized what cell this was.

"Yes! I've been here before and escaped!" I cheered softly, and went to the corner. Sure enough, there was still soft sand there, just waiting to be dug.

"Wait why were you here as a child?" She asked as she walked over to me, and studied the sand.

"Er.. I attacked a soldier when I was twelve." I smirked, and she shook her head, and begun to dig at the sand.

I turned back into a wolf, and it made it way easier.

I dug until I was able to come up, and feel the ground become softer as I dug up and broke out into the surface.

I squirmed my way out, and helped Aiyana.

"We have to get out of here fast as possible. We have to report what we found to the rest of the catori." I said to her, and she nodded.

We both didn't bother transforming back until we reached the catori territory. We transformed back, and helped each other to the village.

"Everyone, your attention please!" Aiyana shouted to the village to gather, and I stood beside her.

"Lucas and I have just come back from the human's territory, and it seems they have a new weapon, and a new plan." She called out, and nodded at me to follow up with explaining. I stepped forward and cleared my throat.

"It seems the king has found out how to revive the dead." I spoke out, and instantly murmurs and cries from multiple people, broke the silence among the audience.

"He's going to use the dead to attack us." I explained, and finally one guy called out; "Are they as strong as they were alive?"

I lowered my chin for a moment as I thought of Trisha..

"Yes. They're just as quick and very much alive. Except less friendly.." I said, whispering the last part to myself as I shook my head, and let Aiyana formulate a battle plan with the group, as I stepped back.

Finally, Aiyana had finished her plan. We were to attack tomorrow morning.

A couple hours after, Catori had decided to throw a small party, knowing that at least one of them will die. So why not just party the night before, just in case you're that person?

Of course, I've never been a fan of partying. Especially when it came to something to do with a battle. So I went for a small walk.

The moon was full tonight, and it made the land seem peaceful. It was almost sad of how much blood shed there was going to be tomorrow. I sighed softly, and suddenly I heard a soft humming.

I instinctively pressed myself against a tree, and listened carefully. It was Aiyana.

I stealthly went around the trees, and finally found her sitting in a particular tree that I've seen her in a lot. She wasn't alone though. She had her baby in her arms, and she was cradling the child, and hugging her softly. I smiled and made my presence known.

"Oh, hey Lucas." Aiyana greeted me as she looked up from the baby.

"Do you want to keep the child?" I asked as I climbed into the tree beside her.

She stared at the child, and she looked like she was about to give a response, but got interrupted by Dodger, who appeared, and looked up at us.

"Oh, sorry am I walking in on something?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

I glared at him, and shook my head.

"No it's fine, just go back to your room." I said to him. Even though I'm not supposed to be ordering him around since he's a prince himself, he's not necessarily a prince of this land.

He nodded, and walked away.

"I'm not sure. I think I need more time." She excused herself, and I nodded.

"Well... Decide soon. They grow up quickly." I teased, and jumped down.

"We're leaving in a couple hours." She called to me, and I nodded.

"Yeah, I know. I think I'm going to go hunting until then. Sleeping the remaining four hours until then would only make me more tired.

I gripped my kunai, and looked around slowly. Soon, I saw a rabbit in the bush, and I narrowed my eyes and pulled out a second kunai. I hit one on the tree above it to make it run, but as it was jumping out from the bush, I hit it with the second kunai and killed it.

I smirked, and walked over to it. It was pretty fat. It'd sell good in the village.

After a while, I walked back, and stretched. I was tired, but I was to be leaving in two hours. I gave my kills to a broker, and went back to the house.

"So what did you want before, Dodger?" I asked as I walked into my room that I shared with him.

He looked up from the desk. In front of him, he had sketches of crystals. He studied a lot of crystals, so maybe he'd know something about the revival crystal.

"I'd like to join the battle. I must see the revival crystal for myself." He said determinately, and I stared at him.

"Are you sure? It's dangerous. We didn't do much fighting when we were gone in your territory either. Have you ever been in a real battle?" I asked, and he smirked.

"I was BORN in a battle, Lucas. My mother gave birth to me when there was a war raging outside the castle walls. I'll do fine with my crystals. But I was wondering.. I want to make a blade one day. One stronger than yours. Could you possibly get the crystals for me, one day?" He asked, and I grinned and nodded.

"Alright. Tell me about it after the battle. Let's just get ready."