Chapter 34: Unwanted Reunion

The whole group changed to interest and now turned their attention to the two scarnets. While the others are trying to save the victims of the fire, the remaining crew rushed to the south gate to face the intruders. But they didn't expect that they would be greeted by revelations and reunions.

"W-Why are you here…?" Kandani said in a low voice. His eyes widened, shivering at his fellow kind. All this time, he had been trying to escape from him, but it seems like it doesn't work at all. "D-Did you…?"

"Wait a second," Dalary interrupted the drama between them and pushed her palms away, giving herself some space. Her eyebrows raised, looking at his friend while she pointed her finger to the enemy. "did you know that guy?"

"H-He's my…" He was about to say something, but he decided to stop. He lowered his head and grabbed both of his hands, hiding in his own body. He had never said anything to his friends about his past, so of course, they would question him.

"Oh." Tasan spoke as he stared at his 'friend'. Then, he marched forward, trying to keep their distance closer. "Didn't you tell them about me?"

The former didn't answer and just looked away. He noticed this and also lowered his head, trying to sound pity in front of their audience. The others couldn't help but squint their eyes and raised their brows.

"That's a shame." He said once more as he sighed. Then, he marched further towards Kandani, as the latter stepped backward. "I suppose you didn't appreciate me as your friend, right, Kandani?"

"What is he saying?" Dalary asked through a yell, started to grown suspicion to him. She gritted her teeth while staring at the both of them, didn't know if they're both enemies or not.

Tasan sighed and turned his head around to the female tendrin. This made her more triggered and defensive, as she caught his attention right now. She also stepped backward as she raised one of her arms, covering Meria that had been behind her all the time.

"Let me tell you then." He said in his sweet voice once more, deceiving anyone into thinking that he wasn't a dark entity. He raised his chest and chin up, giving a confident and respectable vibe to them, despite the black mists smoking out of his body. "I'm his… friend, Tasan, owner of the fire relic."

After hearing this, Meria's eyes enlarged and her sweat dropped. She had been remembering everything that the books have been told her before, and the tale about the fire relic is no exception.

"Fire relic?" She muttered. "You mean the Eldon scarnet tribe's–"

"Don't you dare call me scarnet!"

Her clarification was interrupted by words of hatred from the black scarnet. Even though his voice seemed harmless, one can still hear the frustration hidden from it. He didn't go wild, but it's enough to tell them that he's angry.

"You don't know anything!" He added, his mists grew more intimidating. He never wanted to be a scarnet. He hated the fact that their kind is cowards. It was never a good experience for him. So he was willing to change it, even what it takes was to deal with the devil.

The tension in the surroundings became heavier. More armies and fighters approached the crew, but no one dared to get close even further.

Feeling this atmosphere, Kairos decided to sigh deeply, grabbing their attention. Then, he clapped at the scene to gain more audience.

"Okay, enough of talking." He said. Then, his once normal smile became wider, completely showing a million teeth he had. His glare sent chills to anyone's spines, especially to the poor cursed child. "Let's start the festival, shall we?"

With those final words, the conversation had come to an end, and it finally became a battle of madness. Kairos sprinted from his position and ran towards his usual target, Meria.

"Meria!" Her friends yelled her name, but she became deaf and blind. The only thing that she can see right now, was the monster in front of her, spreading his mouth to his ears wildly.

She tried to run, but she's trembling. She tried to block, but she couldn't move her body at all. She had evaded his attacks before, but at that time, her eyes were closed. She never taught that she faced a man this scary.

The man swung his sword at an incredible speed and finally aimed it towards her heart, ready to stab her as fast as possible. Everything went into slow motion. She was staring at the sharp blade slicing through her dress.

Accepting her fate, she closed her eyes tightly. But then, she didn't feel anything. At the same time, she heard a loud clang, two metal blades hit each other. Out of curiosity, she opened her eyes with a force and saw a short sword stopping Kairos' rapier.

She turned his attention to the savior. His golden eyes glowed even more as he glared at the uninvited guest. He was holding the short sword, and it was the short that he had been holding this whole time.

"C-Cainne…" She spoke of his name, still feeling the fear. But not just for herself, but for her companion's conditions. She was scared that bad things might happen to him.

She noticed the opponent's blade was taking the advantage. Her eyes pleaded, wanting for him to run. And it's not just him. Some of their crew tried to approach the fight, but his palms stopped them from going further.

"Go!" He yelled, peeking at his crew. He was now struggling at the enemy's sword, no matter how many times he will push it. "Everyone, just go! Let me take care of this!"

"B-But Cainne…" She tried to disobey to keep him safe, but a part of her said to run away. She had always been a coward, didn't want to get into trouble, but then, she felt different to him. She doesn't want him to get hurt, and that's for no reason.

"If I don't do this, I couldn't be able to forgive myself." He said straight in her face. She can't reject his desperate eyes that glowed like real gold. Even though it hurts to follow, she lowered her head, defeated.

Dalary ran towards them and snatched her arms to pull her off. The others started running away from the scene, and all that's left was the four people in presence. Tasan chased after Kandani, who decided to go to the other way to lure him out.

"Let's go, Meria!" She shouted as she tried her best to pull her out of the scene. Giving up, she let her friend carry her through her arms and leave Cainne alone. As they were running away, she turned his head around to peek at him, now started fighting with their great power.

The whole town falling down with the flames is more visible right now, but the town tree in the middle was still intact, no damage done. Smokes getting higher, fire getting farther, and some folks are injured and dead. Zentra had never experienced an ambush before, so they dealt with the problem unprepared.

But Meria couldn't help but blame herself because of this. If she never went to Zentra, then this would have never happened. No matter how she tried to avoid trouble, it was still chasing her.

Tears started falling from her eyes, flying along with the breeze as they ran. She lowered her head, trying to hide the weak side of her, although everything about her was weak.

She stopped in her tracks, making the one pulling her stop as well. Dalary turned around her head and saw her in dismay. She knew something's up on her, so she stepped forward.

"M-Meria?" She tried to ask. Until she noticed a drop of liquid falling from her face to the ground. With this, she finally knew what was up. No one except her understood her friend's mind. She knew that she was blaming herself for all of this.

The others also decided to pause, seeing the scene in front of them.

"Sorry, I-I…" She stuttered in her words, forming her hands into fists. Her voice is cracking from the tears that she tried to stop. "I had to go."

She stepped backward, then sprinted away with the best speed she can get. She kept running and running, deaf to hear the voices around her, and ended up in the dark forest surrounding the town.

"Wait, Meria!" Dalary yelled, but she never answered and kept running. She decided to step forward and make a head start to dash.

"Mer– "

She was about to follow her to the forest, choosing her friend over her kind, but then, suddenly, a large ball of black passed by her at an incredible speed, running towards the town tree behind her.

The wind pressure that came from the unknown figure sent her hair flying, as she was stunned in her position, surprised at the unexpected encounter. She might not take a glance at the giant, but based on the black mist that remained in front of her, she already had a hunch what it is, and it's not good.