Welcome To My Dark Side

Chapter 24 True Talent

Finally at long last the day Lyria had been waiting for had arrived. She had tried to recover as fast as possible because she desperately wanted to go home and now she was finally well enough to do so. "Make sure you've got enough food. Captain Lyria needs to eat remember, unlike someone." Fractureverse Hogsworth said jokingly to Fractureverse Kaia. "She's got enough food to feed an entire army." Fractureverse Kaia huffed slightly. "Hey I'm just making sure because it's not the first thought that goes into a skeleton's head." He replied half jokingly as he opened up the sack containing all the food Lyria would need for the journey. Satisfied he closed the sack and looked up at the pair. "No you're right. She's got plenty of food. I just wanted to check because she's still a bit underweight." He explained. "But I'm well enough to travel right?" Lyria asked, her eyes still full of hope. "Yes, the doctors seem to think so." Fractureverse Kaia answered her reassuringly.

Lyria smiled back at her in response. "Well I guess this is where we part ways for the time being Lady Kaia and as for you Captain Lyria I'll be sad to see you go for it was a lot of fun having you around. You can tell my counterpart in your reality just what I think of him because honestly he doesn't know how bad your counterpart really is!" Fractureverse Hogsworth told Lyria. "Well I'll try." Lyria nodded nervously. "It's alright I'm joking slightly but I do wish that fate was kinder to us. It would be so much better if all our evil counterparts were trapped together in the same reality to fight it out. Hmm but life doesn't work that way now does it." He said winking at the last part of his sentence. Seeing that Fractureverse Kaia was getting a little impatient, he said. "I apologize for keeping you two waiting. You really must be going now and I wish you the best of luck." He said and then Fractureverse Kaia and Lyria both took to the air as they called and waved goodbye to him and when Lyria glanced over her shoulder she saw him waving back in the distance.

When they had crossed through to the Overworld, many hours went by in silence as they flew above the clouds because they did not want to be overheard by the bloodthirsty Fractureverse Frostbourne. These hours were uneventful and dull. It was nightfall when they decided to find a safe spot to land and spend the night at. Fractureverse Kaia had spotted a lush sheltered valley on the edge of the Guardian's Landing. The location was an ideal hideout for the pair as the towering trees provided camouflage from the air and it was unlikely that enemy soldiers would be trekking through such steep and wild terrain. Fractureverse Kaia had kindly allowed Lyria to rest while she searched for wood to make a fire for Lyria. After a while a roaring fire was achieved with a damp cloth pinned like a teepee over the top to prevent the smoke from attracting unwanted visitors.

Lyria rubbed her eyes as she woke up to the heat of the comforting fire. She saw Fractureverse Kaia staring out into the wilderness like she was on guard. "Um, do you not want to rest now?" She mumbled. Fractureverse Kaia heard that Lyria had woken up and turned to face her. "No, it's quite alright. Just make sure you get enough rest." Fractureverse Kaia replied. "Oh right you're a skeleton. You don't need rest." Lyria said quietly and fiddled with her hands. "It's a new experience for us both." Laughed Fractureverse Kaia trying to ease the tension. Lyria relaxed when she said this and started to giggle. "You know that was some incredible flying you did back there." Fractureverse Kaia said to Lyria in order to continue the conversation in the hope of breaking the ice between them. "Yeah...well...um...thanks." Lyria stuttered going all shy.

"No really, I mean it. That's true talent you've got there. Just because some areomancers were born with the natural ability of flight doesn't mean they're any good at it. Trust me I've seen many who are like that." Fractureverse Kaia explained. Lyria could not quite believe what she was hearing. "Well I um don't um really think about it." She said, staring at the flames of the fire. "Then we've got a proper areomancer here." Chuckled Fractureverse Kaia, in a slightly teasing way. "I'm more of a scientist really." Lyria admitted. "Let me tell you something. I think you're an areomancer at heart." She said warmly whilst at the same time being deadly serious. "Well um perhaps. Everyone does call me the Wind Walker but it's just a bit of a joke." Lyria mumbled trying to brush off any praise.

"And I think the title suits you." Replied Fractureverse Kaia. Lyria tried to hide her face from embarrassment. "When someone gives you a compliment just take it. I don't bite. I promise." Responded the areomancers' commander. This caused Lyria to burst into laughter. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm just a bit nervous of everyone now. You're the first person here who showed kindness towards me and I appreciate that." Lyria replied in a serious tone once she stopped giggling. Now it was Fractureverse Kaia's turn to go quiet for a moment before she spoke up again. "You're most welcome. Besides, it's really Lord Naeus's kindness that would allow you to be here right now." She pointed out.

"I know he means well but it's just that...I feel more comfortable with being with you or the general than I do with Lord Naeus." Lyria explained honestly. "He just seems intimidating. He's not really like that. It's just that he's been rather down at the moment after Lady Abigail died. She was loved by him like his real daughter rather than just his adopted one. He's never really gotten over her death." Fractureverse Kaia sighed sadly. Lyria felt bad for the grandmaster having gained some more knowledge about the past events of this reality. "It's alright. You don't need to feel bad about it. Lord Naeus has already cheered up in knowing that he is able to help you." The skeleton added. A cheeky smile spread across Lyria's face. "Yeah I noticed he perked up quite a bit after he agreed to this mission. I guess he's happy because it's making a certain someone happy." She snickered mischievously. Naturally Fractureverse Kaia looked away from Lyria and her jaw hung open as she realised she had been caught out.

"Well I um suppose he loves helping others which makes his day you see.He's quite a different character once you get to know him better." She exclaimed, trying to turn the subject away from her without making it obvious. 'And you clearly know him very well.' Is what Lyria was about to say but she bit her tongue upon noticing that Fractureverse Kaia was attempting to avoid the subject. Instead a different thought came to Lyria's mind as she realised just how similar Fractureverse Kaia was to her mentor as subtly changing topics was the kind of thing that Lady Azura would do as well.

"You remind me of my mentor." Lyria said, speaking her thoughts. Fractureverse Kaia turned back to Lyria. "Really?" She asked. Lyria nodded. "How interesting. It's such a shame that I won't be travelling through to the other side with you for I should love to meet her. You've told me so much about the Frostbourne there. I have to agree with General Hogsworth that it's unfortunate that our realities cannot be otherwise. Lord Zarkos has already warned us of the danger that just two people in the wrong reality could cause so we can't go round causing any more damage can we?" Fractureverse Kaia said as she ended in a more upbeat manner. "I guess not. I'm in enough trouble as it is and unlike my counterpart I'm not the one going around looking for it!" Lyria wheezed in laughter. Fractureverse Kaia chuckled as well. The stone wall between the pair had finally crumbled. The rest of the night was merry and filled with laughter as they chatted away for a good number of hours.

Lyria yawned and stretched as she began to feel sleepy after having talked a great deal. "You should rest now." Fractureverse Kaia said, watching Lyria nodding off. "Mmm yeah." Lyria replied rather reluctantly because she had been having such a fun time. "How about we be friends?" Suggested Fractureverse Kaia. "Hey you're not getting rid of me that easily." Lyria laughed. "We'll always be friends even though we may be realities apart." She explained. Fractureverse Kaia smiled back and after this silent exchange they both knew that they would be good friends no matter what.