Spark in Darkness: Unworldy encounter/Prototype

Spark 46: Tree of Life

Time flowed differently in the Dimensional Valley and the outside world of LeFolia, so Haruki was unsure how much time had passed outside when he only had two months in the Dimensional Valley. He trudged along to the cages where the beasts were kept and let them out.

"Man, it's funny how Nimira can keep all these ferocious monsters like her pet." Rinya spoke up beside him as they saw the different beasts roam around the patch, the giant mammoth-like creatures munching on the grass while some of the other creatures chased each other, which looked like deers,but the antlers kept spreading out into sharp branches and shapeshifting back to mere stumbs every moment. It was getting dizzy to watch, so Haruki looked away.

"Well this whole place is practically under her influence. How these creatures came into existence...I think I'd rather not know." Haruki felt somewhat awkward talking to Rinya after not getting the chance to be together alone for so long.

However Rinya did not seem to feel the same way; in fact, she seemed a little too enthusiastic to be able to talk to Haruki after so long again. "That's true. Speaking of which, how's your training coming along? We haven't had got time to talk much these days, right?"

"I can definitely feel myself getting stronger. Endurance, output of Light, and how much easier I can come up with other weapons of Light." Haruki clenched his fists as he looked at them. He was grateful for the Spartan training Nimira threw at them since the beginning. Without that, he would not have improved these much in these short span of time, and under the safety of the Dimensional Valley. This time, he would be able to protect. Protect the innocent people that did not deserve to get involved in all their fights. Protect the people he cared about.

Protect Rinya.

"Is there something on my face? You're looking at me funny." Rinya waved her hand in front of Haruki. He snapped back to his senses. He had subconsciously stared at Rinya while his thoughts trailed.

Haruki smiled. "Ah, it's nothing. How about your training? Though I guess there isn't much to learn now that you already had full control of your scythe."

Rinya shook her head. " It's true that I was able to control the output of Darkness and how I wanted the scythe to swing, but at the end of the day that was all I could do. Throughout the training, I was able to control my Darkness to sharpen my blade, and even come up with a cloak to defend myself." 

She then proceeded to wave her hand, and from the ground beneath her a wave of Darkness shot out, forming a ball of mist rapidly spinning around her body before resting on her clothes, forming a tattered black cloak around her. 

"That's the best I can do for now," Rinya smiled shyly, doing a little twirl to show off her cloak.

"That's pretty cool!" Haruki laughed. But before he could say anything more, he felt uneasy and turned around to look at the beasts behind him.

They were making deep growling noises Haruki did not even know they were capable of making, even the deers were pawing the ground, their antlers now in the permanent form of sharp antlers. That did not look too good.

"Errr..Rinya? I think they're reacting to your cloak...would it be okay if you dispel it right now?" Haruki asked as he kept his eyes focused on the beasts which were getting violent.

A flustered Rinya replied, "Done!" 

The beasts visibly settled down, and after a few more moments of tensed movements, resumed their activities.

"Man, that was a close call." Haruki managed a weak laugh as he fell to the ground, wiping the sweat that had formed off his forehead.

"Nimira did mention something about the beasts being triggered to feel uneasy about the Nayshards," Rinya agreed, before falling silent.