The Lost Piece

Chapter Nine

The Great Hall was filled with a bubbling energy that it hadn't in a very long time. Many people gathered to not only celebrate the Shards, but to present themselves with a free drink that was provided.

Pulled up to a table sat Akil, Zanita, Jack, and Velk. "We're basically the dream team!" Zanita smiled as they clinked their mugs together. "Jack, have you seen Jasper yet?"

"Doubt he's gonna show," Jack shrugged. "After all, it isn't exactly like he's thrilled that I'm a Death Shard."

"He still cares though," Akil shrugged. "That might be enough for him to show up anyways."

Jack shrugged his shoulders again, glancing down at the black fabric that covered them. "Attia told me that she requested me for the Crimson Shards, but Empress Ellen denied the request."

The three's eyes widened as they turned to Jack, expecting him to say something else. "Well, maybe next year we'll be friends with a Crimson Shard!" Zanita smiled at him. "I'm sure the Empress had a good reason for not allowing you to join the Crimson Shards."

"Yeah, I know she does," Jack shrugged. "It's just a little bittersweet s'all. However, I am very glad to get to join you all on our journey to becoming the best damn Death Shards that Aka ever had."

"There's the winning spirit!" Zanita giggled as she rose her cup up again. "I wonder what the Death Shard barracks are like. They've been empty for so long."

"Hopefully not dusty," Akil sighed as he imagined how his nose would react to it.

"Remember not to get so drunk that you don't get to experience it." Velk warned the girl who rolled her eyes in response.

"Man, I said I was sorry." Zanita sighed.

Jack went to take a sip from his own cup before he realized it was empty, he frowned at it before he stood. "I'll be back, gotta fill up." He headed to one of the barrels that sat in the room before flicking the tap and allowing it to fill up his cup. It was when he turned that he saw Edony standing behind him.

    "Hm, no concern for others,"

    "Hello Edony," Jack sighed as he walked out of the way so she could fill up her own cup.

    "I suppose you noticed Jasper there today."

    "I tried not to look, he wouldn't understand it anyways."

    "Sure, sure, just pull that line."

    "Are you here to heckle me again?" Jack scoffed at her. "Listen Edony, I don't care how good your parents have it and if they could take Jasper and I or not. They're family, but Jasper and I are perfectly capable of living on our own. With my provisions from being a Shard and what he makes at the bakery, we're fine."

    "Wasn't always that way." Edony shrugged. "Yet you sat back and let him suffer as you tried to make out a way for you two to decently live in the outdoors of Aka."

    Jack felt his temper grow, of course, Edony would love to provoke him. "I didn't let him suffer."

    "All he wanted was to be able to be around his big brother Jack, that's how I could never convince him to come live with us in the first place." Edony sighed. "'Jasper, Aunt Anni and Uncle Mathias would love to have you' and he would always answer with, 'Jack won't go, so neither will I.' Gah, it's so pathetic how much he admires you."