Through The Worlds

1.4

Nodding towards Eras, Haldis readied himself.

And then he sprung forward.

Overhead kick. Sidestep. Punch. Punch. Sidestep. Block. Swipe. Spinning kick.

He traded blow after blow with Eras, adrenaline thrumming through his veins as he felt himself settling into the rhythm of the fight.

Yet, it was over all too soon.

Within minutes, he was pinned onto the ground, his arms twisted uncomfortably behind him.

"Really, all those months of doing nothing has left you weak." Eras commented lightly as he helped Haldis up.

Haldis gave a shallow smile, his eyes boring into Eras. "I'm injured."

It was almost as though a switch had been flipped.

Eras' easygoing grin immediately dropped, with silence falling over the clearing as an invisible pressure made itself known. "I know." Eras eyes were shadowed, his face expressionless as he looked down at Haldis. "I won't let that ever happen again."

Haldis just laughed softly, dismissing Eras' words. After all, anything could happen to him and 'not letting him ever get injured' was simply an impossible claim.

"Well then, you could start with letting me up."

Letting Haldis up, Eras continued to stare at him, his eyes dark as swirls of unidentified emotions lurked within them. "You really don't believe me huh?" His voice was hoarse.

Haldis' reply was simple. "How can I?"

Upon hearing those words, Eras seemed to deflate, the formless pressure dissipating completely. "You're right." His voice was soft. "I haven't really given you reason to trust my words."

Turning around, Eras left, leaving the clearing in stunned silence. No one could bring themselves to break the strange silence that had formed.

As Eras left, Haldis couldn't help but hear a faint voice whisper into his ears.

"Dia... I hope you remember soon..."

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A knock sounded on the door breaking Haldis out of his thoughts.

Were those words just his imagination? What was he supposed to remember? And why, why did the voice sound so sad?

Shaking his head slowly, Haldis turned to the door, wondering who had come.

After Eras left during the training session, everyone had dispersed and left to their own thing, with only some remaining to practise. Naturally he didn't continue to stay in the clearing. Afterall, he didn't really know anyone there and it was simply way to awkward for him to just ask someone to spar with him.

Standing in front of the door, he opened it.

It was... Galen?

Brows furrowing slightly, he examined the older man.

"Haldis, you have a mission."

Handing over a pile of clothes, Galen nodded at him. "Take these clothes and report to Briefing Room 2 when you've changed."

Biting his lip, Haldis wiped his palms on his pants before accepting the new clothes. Shifting his gaze away from Galen, he opened his mouth, before closing it. "This..."

"Just ask, there's no need to hesitate."

"Well then, regarding the mission, do you, well, do you know what the mission is going to be about?"

Upon hearing his question, Galen couldn't help but break out laughing, a wide smile on his face. With the way Hadis had acted, he had expected some scandalous question. "You don't have to worry, you'll definitely do fine."

With those words, Galen turned and left, muffled laughter emerging from his direction.

What was with telling him that he'll do fine? He wanted a straight answer!

Glaring unhappily in Galen's direction, Haldis turned back into his room to change...

In the end, he could only stare blankly at his reflection when he realized what he had just worn. Clad in an elaborate suit, the embroidered patterns caught the light, appearing to shift and glimmer. He looked absolutely ridiculous.

"You look beautiful." A cool voice interrupted his thoughts.

Haldis was silent.

When did Eras even appear? No, why was Eras even in his room...

"You were taking too long."

Staring at Eras reflection in the mirror, Haldis couldn't help but noticed Eras smirk. However, Eras quickly composed himself, his voice lowering and becoming stern.

"Today we will be taking part in Never Land's annual ball. Our job will be to keep an eye out for Hook's operatives, and if needed, detain them."

Looking down on Haldis, Eras tilted his head so that their eyes met.

"Remember that Hook's operatives are not the only people you need to look out for."

"Even you?"

Eras just smiled, soft and sweet as he turned away from Haldis.

His reply was let unsaid, the unspoken words seeming to linger in the air.

"Even me..."

"You!" Haldis stopped speaking. Gritting his teeth, he struggled to find the words to speak. Why did Eras seem so defeated? Yet no matter how hard he wracked his mind, nothing left his lips but his cries of frustration.

Turning back to Haldis, Eras gave another smile. "Shall we head off then?"

Somehow, he really hated that smile. 

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AU: Thanks for reading. If you liked this chapter, please consider giving it a vote or leaving a comment. Feel free to point out mistakes too.

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I'm sorry for the really late update but it's my O level year this year, so I was caught up by my studies... Haven't been doing really well in them... At least it's just another few months of hell and then I'll be free... Well kinda...