Nothing but Pawns (Seven Knights Fanfiction)

Chapter 9: Shift

Days passed since Dellons and the rest of the Seven Knights had their conversation, and Rudy managed to uncover proofs about the reaper's claim. He talked to Daisy and Da Qiao, the oldest ones in the place like him; they seemed to not remember as much as they should- compared to what Ace remembered. Talking to Elysia could prove a point as well, but he chose not to for some reasons.

However, he did not managed to get another word with Dellons again since he was being summoned by NK a lot. They seemed to be welcoming a handful of newcomers; specifically pets and a new 'hero' as NK called everyone. Then again, the newbie hanged out more with Sera as if catching up. Perhaps they were friends or relatives; Rudy did not have the luxury of time to ask.

"(Rudy)!"

A shrill cry of what sounded like his name took the guardian's attention while he was walking around. He turned to his side and saw Pooki wriggling slowly. He knelt before the mushroom and petted the cap. "What's wrong? Did someone-?" He paused and chuckled. "Right, it must be it." He got up and gestured for the creature to follow him.

The guardian led it to a room in the maze of hallways until they reached what looked like a backyard. Surprisingly, Kris was there- handing fruits to the pets crowding around him. Rudy noticed the bat perched on his shoulder, but he saved it for later to have Pooki join the crowd.

"You forgot to fetch Pooki, Kris." He chuckled as he helped Jucy with the grapes. "It seemed to be really hungry now."

"Heh, it's its fault for mocking me." He just answered after finishing the task by giving the last pear to the bat which took it away. "You don't have to stay here. They're already fed."

The guardian looked around, only to spot the black doll with a peculiar helmet staying at a side of a tree. "That one is newcomer?"

"Uh. It oddly resembles Dellons." Kris turned to his friend after glancing at the black doll. "Rudy, what do you think? About Dellons becoming our new leader."

Rudy managed to get a small smile curl his lips. "Like what I have said before, we should try to work with each other right now and not doubt anyone's actions. We still don't know how bad the situation is, and that's why we need to have all the help we can get." He exhaled softly. "I haven't seen Lu Bu and Wukong anywhere- as well as Karma. I don't know if they escaped; I just wished they could have gone back to Ladenland."

The hell lord only hummed in acknowledgement. He laid down the empty basket and picked up a pair of apples from an untouched pile of fruits. He tossed one for Rudy to effortlessly catch and waited for him to join him to the side of the backyard. He sat on the thick fence and started eating the fruit. "Ever since the dungeons closed, we haven't been doing anything much these days. We do explore some grave, but that's just it."

"Are you getting bored, Kris?" The guardian went to sit on fence as well, but not finding the appetite to eat the fruit. "At least we have a lot of time to investigate. Dellons and Spike are working hard for NK right now. The best we can do is using our free time productively."

Instead of a verbal answer, Rudy only received silence in return. He turned to his friend who had been staring off the distance while biting into his apple. The guardian sighed and looked at where Kris was facing. "You know, I'm worried about everyone else, too. A lot. I can only hope and trust them to be safe while I'm gone."

"If time continues on moving while we're out here, I wonder what I am doing right now."

"...Jupy, Yuri, and Snipper mentioned about a curse affecting everyone in Ladenland. If Dellons' hypothesis is correct, we must be still out there- fighting it." He turned to his friend and waited for him to spare him a glance at least. "You know we took it upon ourselves to stop all of this."

Kris snorted and bit loudly off his apple. "If we're still out there, then what's the point of going back?"

Rudy froze.

"What difference is that going to make?"

Silence followed their conversation as Rudy failed to readily give an answer. However, someone chose to break it for them.

"I've been looking for hours, and here you are being melodramatic." Spike clicked his tongue a bit. "Kris, Dellons said NK wants to see you."

"Since when did you run errands for that guy?" Kris glared at the ice tyrant before hopping off the fence. He passed by Pooki, who just wanted to go to Rudy, and tossed his half-eaten apple at it. He also walked past Spike and spared no glance to the two other Seven Knights.

Rudy sighed at the lifting of the heavy atmosphere and hopped off as Pooki ran to him. He took the apple from the mushroom who just wanted to be nosy at least. He lifted his gaze to Spike who approached him as well. "Anything we missed while being melodramatic over here?"

"Nothing really, but NK told me to find you as well. They said we're supposed to use the new packages for us in the wardrobe." He hissed. "I don't like playing dress up."

The guardian only reached out and patted his shoulder. "I have a feeling NK worked hard for those. Come on, Spike, let's humor the child in them." He walked off with Pooki following him as well.