The Ballad of Crystl

CHAPTER 2: MOMENTS BEFORE THE EXPEDITION

It seemed that before we head to the meeting place for the expedition, Master Condy decided to make a quick stop at his "special place". As we flew to that special place, I got curious.

"Where are we going, master?"

"Well, I wanted you to meet my special someone in that special place." He grinned, "But don't get your hopes up if you get to like her too."

"Like I give a care..."

"Oh you will kid," his smile revealed a lot of loving and caring towards his special someone.

"Not that I'm interested and all," I glanced at him, "but who is this special person?"

His eyes glimmered, "She is a diamond in the rough, an angel..."

"Angel of death," I continued his sentence.

"No, but of course she is a reaper but what I meant was that she is the most beautiful person in my entire existence as a god," he implied.

"Is that the place?" I asked him as I looked at a wonderful garden hidden in plain sight. "Kinda beautiful for a hidden spot..."

"It gets better though..." he grinned. "I hope you didn't wait long enough..." he asked the person waiting for her who is...

"P-Princess Strotus Darling," it felt like I suffered a lockjaw for a brief moment, "you're dating Voix's daughter?!"

"Yeah," he laughed, "any problem with that?"

"A-ah," I was still suffering a bit of the shock, "Your highness, I'm sorry for my immediate reaction a while ago..."

The princess lightened up, "It's okay Crystl."

I glanced at Master Condy for a bit as I realized how she got to know my name. "Thank you, your highness..."

"Condy spoke about you a lot and your interesting behavior," Princess Strotus, Lord Voix's angelic daughter with a good heart, cheerfully acquainted herself with me.

"I apologize, your highness, but I will never ever change my ways and my attitude," I lowered my head, "even if you force me to..."

"It's alright," she touched my chin and raised my head. "Condy had always been proud to have such a brilliant apprentice who memorized all of his disciplines. Look at how he is blushing right now~"

"It looks disgusting, your highness." I smirked, but then I remembered that I almost forgotten my place, "I'm sorry for what I said earlier..."

She laughed, "No, it was rather funny."

"Not you too," he face palmed himself.

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"If I ever won't make it through," Condy looked at Crystl while walked around the garden. "I want you to take good care of him."

"What are you saying?" Strotus felt concerned, "you are making me so sad right now."

"I just want you to face the reality," Condy held hands with her. "These cannibals are no joke. They could be as strong as us, if we are not careful enough."

"Big brother will be there to protect you guys," she reassured him. "Blood Tool, Over Soul and other masters like you will be there as well."

"That is why I know that the expedition will be dangerous," he sighed. "Lord Voix wouldn't gather half the strongest in Death Kingdom for no reason."

"I want to go with you," the princess hugged him. "I want to be with you and protect you from the cannibals."

"Unfortunately, you can't. Your brother will also oppose this and I don't want you protecting me. It should be I who should be protecting you."

"I will wait for your return," the princess sadly kissed him.

"Remember what I told you, okay?"

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When we left and headed to join the expedition squad, I noticed how Master Condy kept on making such remarks about foreshadowing about his future to which I really-really hated.

"You know Crystl," he looked at me, "if in case I die, I want you to take good care of my beloved."

"Oh god, not this sort of thing again..."

"I'm just saying..."

"Look master," I sighed, "you've taught me everything you know until now and I've been your apprentice for probably half of my life. This isn't some kind of 'passing of the torch' because I will not be continuing your legacy."

"Yes I know," he looked into the distance. "You'll be making your own destiny..."

"Not a fan of those gods of destinies," I whispered, "but yeah you're right. But I will still impart the fighting styles I learned from you, that makes you happy now?"

"That's all I need from you," he grinned and stopped. "There they are..."

"Yeah," I stopped and looked down below where the reapers gather for the expedition. "Let's go..."

"Wait," he grasped my shoulder. "Are you ready for this?"

I smirked, "Let's get this over with..."

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Down below, I found out that some of my acquaintances and the Blood Tool were a part of the expedition. I noticed how each of us was chosen because of our powers. Even Master Precy came to join the expedition.

All of them thought that this was the dream team like we are all waging to go to war with these uprising cannibals. However, I found the team very exaggerated especially with the appearance of the masters and the prince. I just didn't feel like going with them anymore at this point...

Prince Cyrrus Caine looked like a gorilla if I was going so far as to compare him to an animal. He's got a heavyweight physique, huge muscular arms, towering height, and worst of all, he's got that shitty look on him like he's gonna pounce on you or attack you from behind at some point. Now, I have another person to hate aside from Lord Voix.

Regretfully, I should've taken my observations to application seriously as I ask myself...

"How did it end up like this?"