Tales Of Elementia The Astral Return

Chapter 6: The Dragoness

Nyli swung her glaive into the dummy, straw spilling out everywhere. She twirled it above her head and slashed at the dummies neck, slicing the head clean off. She breathed heavily. The glaive in her hands was heavy, but very strong. It was made from a special metal that, on impact, makes it so the blade absorbs the impact and doesn't bounce off. The downside was it was heavier than most of the weapons they had. Nyli grabbed it and threw it like a spear, sticking it straight into a tree. "Nice, I couldn't throw a weapon like that if I tried." Nyli turned and looked at her brother, Slash. "Thanks. I'm trying to use it more after my old glaive started getting chipped." Slash walked over to the glaive in the tree, pulled it out, and handed it over. "So... what do you think that loud rumble was this morning?" Nyli shrugged. "It could have been anything. Human, actual lightning, someone's fart." Slash chuckled. Just then, Roren walked over. "Yo Slash, Keado wants to see you." Slash nodded. "Ok."
"You always are the one to do this stuff." Nyli remarks as she follows Slash to the main cabin. "He never picks me, because he clearly favors you." She said in a stinging voice. Slash chuckled before stopping. "Well, I can bring you this time sis."
"What? Oh no no no. He already doesn't acknowledge me, so why bother."
"C'mon. Pleaseeee? It will be more tolerable with you."
Nyli stayed silent and sighed. "Fine." Slash smiled broadly as they walked up into the main cabin. Keado was in the middle of the empty room. When he saw Nyli, he gave a glare at her,  then at Slash. "Slash. This is a private meeting..."
"Yea? And family is something we can trust." He put his arm around Nyli's shoulder. Nyli glared at Keado, resentments crawling up her back. He gave a sharp exhale and turned. "Whatever, this is a matter of security. Ever since someone tried to kill me, I have made extra patrols, extra night watch, and now I want to build a protectional guard. And I need recruits for it. I want you... two... to be in charge of that." Nyli nodded softly. "Who is on it so far?"
"Roren, Damian, Marie, you, and... Nyli."
Nyli rolled her eyes. "I have some friends who may be interested. Ken, Trey, Mark, Blaze, Tiger Lil-" Keado shook his head. "Blaze can't join..." Nyli seemed surprised. "What? Why? He is strong and great at fighting and-"
"Nyli, we think he tried to kill Keado..."
Nyli felt her heart skip a beat. "What?! No! He was out there whole time! I was the-"
"Your word means nothing... you said it, he is strong, but I have seen his stealth recently and it's majorly improved... he could have snuck away and attempted too-"
"No! Even if he could, he wouldn't!! He looks up to you!" Nyli yelled at her father. Keado snarled. "You dare question my judgement?! Might I remind you who his father is!"
"Oh does that mean I'm gonna be a dictator like paranoid dick in my future!" Nyli snarled back. She suddenly felt a sharp pain across her cheek. Keado had slapped her across her face. "HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO YOUR FATHER LIKE THAT!!!" Nyli stood there in, too stunned to speak. There was silence until Nyli looked back at her father. Hatred filled her eyes. "You know... I've had enough of you... I fucking hate you for everything!!! You are the reason life is hell for us!!! You are even the reason mom died!!!" Quickly Nyli turned and stormed out of the cabin, Keado yelling behind her. She didn't care about anything about her father now. She was just another thing he could control. She massaged her cheek with her hand. She hated him, so much. "Hey, you ok Nyli?" Nyli turned and saw Adieu. She had occasionally talked to him, but never that much. Nyli nodded. "Yea... just family problems..." She put her hand down and turned to Adieu. "I'm sorry. I wish I could help but I don't have much... family experience." Nyli smiled a little. "Eh, mines never been great for the past eight years." Both of them chuckled, then because quite. "Hey, uh, I want to know if you ever wanna go take a walk or something... you know... get away from all this." Nyli seemed surprised but smiled. "Aw. Are you asking me on a date." She joked. Adieu gave a soft laugh. "Maybe I am." Nyli smiled and looked away. "Well... no one has asked me on a date before... and you seem nice enough. So yea! I'm down." Adieu smirked a little. "I'm glad. When would you like to?"
"Can we now? I'd rather be away from everything right now." Adieu nodded and took her hand. "Follow me. I know the best spot."

A couple hours had passed, and Blaze had returned to camp after the patrol. Marie's powers revealed she can send energy out, either damaging opponents or boosting friends stamina. Pheramone could manipulate water, and she used it to make water flower bombs and more. Blaze stretched as he entered the camp. It was dark out, and the glow of the main cabin gave a soothing feeling. "I'm starving." Pheramone nodded. "Yea, I'm pretty hungry too." Blaze slowly headed to the main cabin with Pheramone, Damian, and Marie. He opened the doors and spotted Roushe among the group of people. "Yo! Roushe! Where's Nyles at?" He asked. "I don't know, she went off a couple hours ago." He signed to Blaze. Blaze suddenly became serious. "Wait... hours!? Was she alone?" Roushe shook his head then asked, "why?" Blaze looked around before whispering to Roushe. "A few humans attacked us by the river." Roushe's ears and tails dropped in worry. Suddenly, the main doors open and in stepped Nyli, holding Adieu's hand. Blaze felt as if an anvil had dropped on his chest. Why the hell was she holding hands with him? He stood and walked over to them. "Hey Nyles-... Adieu." He said nodding his head. Adieu looked at Nyli. "I'll go grab us some food." She nodded and Adieu passed. "What was that?" Asked Blaze. "What?" Nyli said with a confused look on his face. "That! Adieu, you, holding hands? What was that?!?!"
"Oh. Well... Adieu likes me. And honestly I'm starting to like him, so I'm trying it out."
Blaze seemed to feel his heart hurt. He suddenly felt his palms getting warmer with fire. "I-I need to go." He quickly passed Nyli and she turned to look at him. "Blaze?" Blaze stormed out the front door. Everyone was in the main cabin, so no one could see him let this out. He yelled as he slammed his hand into a dummy. A burst of flames sent the dummy backwards, hitting the ground. Blaze breathed heavily. He quickly grabbed the dummy and slammed it multiple times in the ground, screaming every time it hit. He didn't know why, but he was so mad at this. Why was he so mad?! Blaze held his hand to the dummies face and fired a beam, yelling loudly. The dummy head incinerated under the beam. Blaze was panting, his eyes filled with hate. "Blaze?" Blaze turned and saw Mazzy, her hair messy, tear marks under her eyes. Beside her was Roushe. Blaze felt his flames go out as he stared. "I-I swear I have a good explanation-"
"You're an astral!?" Signed Roushe. Blaze because silent. "It's nothing you need to worry about..." Mazzy walked over. "Are you ok..? You seemed so angry..." Blaze looked down, upset. "I don't know... something about Nyli and... Adieu..." Mazzy looked down too. "Yea... I saw them together earlier and... and..." Blaze looked at Mazzy, as tears formed from her eyes. "You liked him... didn't you." She nodded, tears pouring from her eyes. Blaze stayed silent. Roushe walked over and patted her on the back. "I'm sorry that happened." Roushe signed and Mazzy smiled a little. Roushe looked at Blaze. "Same for you... but can we talk about how you are an astral?" He signed. Blaze nodded. "Well... I got these powers and was told to give them to others... to help bring us back home..." Roushe nodded. Blaze looked up at him. "I was gonna ask you and Nyli, but she is one of the last people I want to talk to right now... so do you want to join Roushe?" Roushe shook his head and signed, "I already am struggling enough with my own normal fighting... and astral life... doesn't seem to be the thing for me." Blaze seemed surprised but nodded. "I'll join..." Blaze turned to Mazzy. "Mazzy. You can't hurt anyone with it-"
"I know... I want to prove I'm something to not be toyed with." Blaze nodded as he pulled out his sword, slowly cutting his hand. He moved to Mazzy's hand and slowly cut her hand. He then rested his wound on hers. "You will go into a trance, and it will last a few minutes. But tomorrow, I'll train you." She nodded and Blaze pulled out a bandage, wrapping her hand in it. "I'm gonna go eat... try to get my mind of him." Blaze nodded and started to walk to his tent. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned. "Where are you going?" Signed Roushe. Blaze looked away. "I'm not hungry... I'm just gonna go to bed..." Blaze didn't wait for him respond. He walked over to his tent and went in. He calmed his emotions as much as he could and laid down. He didn't have time to focus on this. He just needed to build this order.