Tales Of Elementia The Astral Return

Chapter 8: The First Blood

The sun was slowing starting to rise. It had been a week after the fight with Adieu. Blaze watched as Aqua struck a wave of water at a tree. "YEA-HAHA!!! FUCKIN COOL!!!" She yelled. Blaze turned to Mazzy, and the newest recruit, Bio, who Aqua blabbed to and made her become one. Aqua quickly turned. "BIO, DID YOU SEE THAT?!" Bio chuckled and nodded. Blaze sighed with a smile on his face. "Ok sis, take it down a notch. Bio? You want to try." Bio looked at him and nodded. "I experimented and... well." Bio quickly drew her thin rapier and slashed. A green cloud of mist followed the blade as it rose into the air. Blaze breathed in and suddenly felt as if his throat was closed. He gasped and coughed, the feeling slowly going away. "Poison Type, Minesen. The airborne one." Blaze coughed and nodded. "Thats some strong stuff."
"That's just the lowest setting."
"Lowest!?!?! I almost passed out!" Yelled Marie, who was training with Damian, Phera, and Mazzy, still kinda coughing from it. There was a sudden scream, not from far. It sounded like it was from the camp. Blaze immediately turned. "Everyone! Back to camp!" Blaze immediately started to run back, hearing everyone's footsteps behind him. Blaze burst into the camp, swords drawn. The blood from his face drained when he saw Nia on the floor. She was twitching, blood coming out of her eyes and nose and foam gurgling from her mouth. Trey, her brother, was holding onto her, yelling for help. Behind him were Keado, and Slash, terrified looks on her face. Damian ran over to Keado. "What happened?"
"Someone tried to shoot Keado with a dart. Nia jumped in the way and was hit, and started to act like this. She was poisoned..."
"S-sis. Its gonna be ok! Just hold on!"
Yet as Trey spoke these words, Nia stopped twitching, and her eyes lost all life to them. There was silence before Trey let out a scream of anguish. "Everyone... get inside... we need to discuss this..." Everyone that was awake started to walk into the main cabin. Slash walked over to Trey and knelt next to him. "I'm so sorry Trey... Here... we can start the burial." Blaze looked down. He hadn't known Nia, but still felt tremendously upset. The doors closed and Keado started to speak. "This is the second time someone has tried to assassinate me... and it cost the life of one of our own this time. I have rightful suspicions that it may be Ezra Ashfall." Some people gasped, while others seemed to be angered. Blaze and Damian looked at each other. "We gotta say something!" Blaze said. Damian seemed nervous. "That means we could be too close to exposing him."
Blaze looked down. Damian was right, but he needed to say something. "It couldn't have been Ezra..." Blaze spoke. Many others turned to him, looking surprised. Keado looked directly at Blaze. "And how might you know that, Mr. Ashfall..." Blaze slowly walked forward. "Ezra Ashfall has left this area completely. I know because weeks before any of the attempts, he came to visit me for the last time before leaving to infiltrate Elementia." Multiple others gasped, and Keado's face seemed to become more angry. "Might I remind you, Ezra was to be captured and brought back-"
"So that you can kill him?"
There was silence, and Keado became furious. "Why don't we talk about you, Mr. Ashfall? Some guards saw you sneak out of camp this morning. And you only returned after the assassination attempt. Not to mention that you could have also attempted to kill me during the tournament." Blaze felt his heart stop as others looked at him. "Going off of speculation ey? One, I have no reason to attempt to kill you, and two, I was in the forest, with..." Blaze stopped speaking, realizing he didn't want to bring anyone into this. "With me." Blaze turned as Pheramone walked over to her and wrapped her arm around Blaze's shoulders. "And Blaze was with me the night of the tournament..." Blaze turned at Nyli's voice. She was looking away from Blaze, but he could feel she still cared a bit. Keado looked at Nyli with a glare. Blaze turned back to Keado and walked up to him. "I have alibi's and no damn motive. So why not just fuck off with your dumb accusations!" People gasped as Blaze yelled at them. Keado stood and glared at him. "You have no right to talk to me like that, Ashfall scum." Blaze snarled at Keado. Keado growled in a low tone at him. "Hey, I got a compromise." Blaze and Keado turned as Roren stepped up. "I can keep watch on Blaze. If he does anything suspicious, I'll stop him and bring him to you. Blaze looked at Roren in shock that he was on Keado's side. Keado smirked smugly. "Very well. Report everything..." Blaze growled at Keado and immediately started to storm out. Yet as he passed Nyli he stopped. Nyli looked at him, and Blaze stared at the ground. "Thank you..." Nyli nodded as Adieu put his arm around her, growling. Blaze walked out of the main cabin, hearing Roren behind him. "Roren, you know that I'm-"
"I know its not you."
Blaze quickly spun around, looking at him. "You do?" Roren nodded. "I have seen the culprit. Dressed in a black hooded coat, with a long tail cover, and a blow dart. I've seen your skills with blow darts, and you suck. Plus, they seemed to have a different body type as you." Blaze was so happy that he found this all out. "Oh my gods, Roren I could kiss you."
"I wouldn't say no." He said. Blaze stared for a second before tilting his head. "W-What?" Roren burst out into laughter. "I'm joking man. I promise. But can you tell me something?" Blaze nodded. "What were you doing this morning." Blaze felt his tail drop. "Uh well..."
"I promise I won't say anything. I swear to you on my life." Blaze stared at him. "Ok... well... Me and a few others were training... our powers." Roren tilted his head. "Powers? Blaze opened his hand as a flame grew. Roren seemed shocked but quiet about it. "No way! Blaze that's awesome."
"I'm building the Astral Order... A group of Astrals to fight against the humans." Roren nodded. "I see. If I could help, I would." Blaze felt his tail wag in happiness. "You can. If you want." Roren immediately dropped his ears. "Blaze, I would, but I can't without my buddy Titus. We are... well... I always need to check in with them about it."
"How trustworthy are they?"
"Very."
"Then if they want, they can join too."
"Really?! OH THEN HELL YES I'LL JOIN!!" Roren said, his scorpion tail wagging. Blaze smiled as he grabbed his sword and sliced his hand. "Ok, now cut your-"
Roren suddenly took Blaze's hand and licked the blood off of it. Blaze immediately blushed and pulled back. "W-Wait! You were suppose to cut yourself and put my blood in it!"
"Blaze, it works just as well. The energy runs through all of your body, so it works wherever it enters the body." Blaze seemed confused but remembered Ezra's words. "Any body fluids can make someone an Astral??"
"Yea. But some are more successful than others. Blood is one hundred percent guaranteed, while others have lower chan-" He suddenly zoned out. Blaze sighed. "Figures." There was the sound of doors opening and Blaze turned. "Blaze!" Mazzy ran over to him and hugged him. "I'm so sorry that happened! Keado is just a bi-" She stopped when she saw Roren. "Wait... is he..."
"Yup. He is. We have two new recruits. Roren and Titus." Mazzy seemed to become less tense. "Oh. Good." She chuckled and looked up at him. Both stared into each other's eyes. "Hey... uh... I wanted to ask... do you... want to go take a walk tomorrow? You know... Just the two of us?" Blaze blushed a little and smiled. "Yea... I'd like that."
"Aw, thats sweet."
Blaze turned to Roren, who was already out of the trance. "Don't worry, I will look away. So Blaze, teach me how to use these powers!"