Reunion

When I woke up, I was staring at Aurelia's golden eyes.

...this sensation...

That's when I realized I was using Aurelia's lap as a pillow and my face heated up.

"You're finally awake," Aurelia said as her face got closer to mine.

"Uh-huh..."

She stayed silent for a second but sighed in relief.

"Thank goodness."

Then she pulled me in closer and hugged me tightly.

"I thought I was never going to see you again."

My heart skipped a beat when she said that. Oh jeez, if there is anything in the world that can take all the stress out of me, it would be her.

I looked around and noticed that Ordos was gone.

"Aurelia, where did Ordos go?" I asked curiously.

"Ordos... he was eliminated by Marth."

"How?"

"He said he wanted to defeat him for you. I tried stopping him but he insisted. The only thing he left was that."

She pointed and I turned.

There, stuck inside the walls... was a spear.

That idiot, he went and challenged Marth on his own. Even though he knew the obvious difference between our strength, he still went and fought. That dumbass...

"Did he say anything before going off?"

Aurelia nodded.

"He said he was glad you made it back."

I see...

At that moment, I felt something move in my chest. It felt spiky and it was near my heart.

I clenched my left chest, this pain...

Could this be that centipede that entered my body?

It was scratching against my heart like a thornbush. I could feel myself getting weaker and my consciousness slowly fading away. My memories began to blur. I almost forgot who I was until I heard Aurelia's voice.

"Seiya, are you alright?"

The pain went away and my senses returned to me.

"Y-yes... I'm alright."

But... that centipede. I need to know what it is. I could feel a difference in my body... like I'm almost not human anymore.

I looked back at Aurelia and smiled.

"I'm alright, you don't need to worry about me. Though I must ask, how long was I gone?"

"You were gone... for several hours. It's almost midnight."

I've been gone for that long? Jesus, it only felt like an hour but to think 5 to 6 hours went by. I must've had her worried.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew on me and I shivered. Oh jeez, why is it so cold?

I looked down and I remembered that I still haven't worn my clothes yet.

...

Wait a minute...

I quickly jumped away from Aurelia and hid in the bushes.

"Y-you saw everything didn't you?!"

Aurelia chuckled as I began to take out clothing from my shadow storage.

"Well... you saw me... so isn't this fair?"

I paused. Images of her naked body appeared in my mind and I felt blood spilling from my nose.

"Y-you didn't have to say that now."

I turned around and I saw her covering her face, hiding her bright red face. Well, at least we both feel embarrassed.

After I finished putting on my clothes which composed of a black shirt, leather pants with a crimson belt, and black boots. I didn't pack any gloves, but it doesn't really matter. I can fight without gloves, but when I use a weapon, it feels better wearing one.

"Don't you need to resume your fight with Katelin?"

I asked Aurelia who was looking up at the sky.

It was that same moon again. Why do I get a sense of uneasiness from looking at that thing?

"Yes... I do. I assume that you-"

"Marth and I still have a score to settle."

"I see..."

I looked over in the direction of where the lake was. He's probably waiting for me right now.

"Well then, looks like we have to part ways again. Good luck."

"Wait."

I stopped and turned around. Aurelia's face moved in closer to mine and gave me a kiss on the lips.

"Happy birthday."

...

That's right... I forgot today was my birthday. I almost didn't realize...

Wait... when did she know it was my birthday?

"Who told you?"

"Ordos."

Ordos? When the hell did I tell him my birthday?

Oh wait, now that I remember it, he did steal my ID once when I wasn't looking. He must've seen the date on it. That son of a bitch, I'll get him back next time. No, maybe I'll just revoke his pass. Yeah, that'll do.

I looked back at Aurelia who looked like she was waiting for a thank you. I gulped.

"T-thank you..."

I tried saying it out loud but that kiss made me flustered so all that came out of my mouth was a whisper.

"C-can you say that again?" Aurelia asked with a blushed face.

"Th... thank you..." I managed to say it a little louder for Aurelia to hear. She dug her face into her hands and I could hear screams. Was that a bird?

It went silent after that. I scratched my neck and remembered that I was still wearing Aurelia's amulet.

"Uhh, Aurelia."

"Yes?"

"Here you go."

I'd take the amulet off and place it in Aurelia's hand. Aurelia stared at it for a second but then she shook her head.

"No, you can keep it."

She said as she pushed the amulet back in my hand and walked away.

"Are you sure?" I asked. "Doesn't this mean something to you? It belonged to your grandmother if I remembered."

Aurelia twirled around and looked at me.

"I want you to keep it. You consider it as a birthday gift from me."

She said softly. I looked back at the amulet and closed my eyes.

"Well if you say so, then I'll keep it."

I felt myself wanting to cry because this is the first birthday present I've ever received. Never once did I celebrate my birthday in the past because it just never really mattered. But...

Ahh Jesus, I'm getting too dramatic here.

I should return the favor soon. I wonder when her birthday is.

"Aure-"

"Aurelia."

When I was about to ask her, I was cut off by another voice that came from above. I turned and standing on top of a tree was Katelin.

"Let's go."

She said to Aurelia. I turned and Aurelia nodded.

"Good luck."

"Thank you, you too."

Then she walked forward and the two vanished, leaving me alone.

I'd put Aurelia's amulet back around my neck and look forward.

Now then...

I walked over to Ordos' spear, which was stuck in the walls, and pulled it out. It was light, just how I liked my weapons to be, and it was the perfect length too.

For some reason, holding the spear gave me a sense of deja vu. Well, I did practice with a Chinese spear once.

Wonder if I still have the skills.

Only one way to find out.

I started spinning the spear around and I could feel the air around me shifting as I continued to spin it.

I stopped and started swinging it around my neck, then I caught it and thrusted it towards a tree, a force emitted from the end of the spear point and a tree appeared in the tree.

Lastly, to finish it off, I jumped in the sky and brought the spear down towards the stone wall in front of me.

Clang!

When I reached the ground, the stone wall slowly separated and fell to the ground.

I looked at the spear and smirked.

"Looks like I still got it. Thing is hard too."

I think I should get going now, can't keep Marth waiting.

I would strap the spear on my back and walk towards the lake.

***

When I got there, I could see that the Lulator had submerged into the lake again. As expected, I saw Marth sitting on the top of the Lulator's shell, which the Lulator was unable to hide in the lake.

I flew towards him but then I saw something sparkling in the water.

I didn't know until I picked it up to see for myself.

"Huh, stupid..."

I'd put the thing in my pocket and fly towards Marth.

When I landed, Marth was sitting on the ground and looking up at the sky. I realized he was looking at that green moon.

"Did you know... that moon only appears around every few decades," He smirked as he got on his feet and took his swords by the handle.

"And what's the point in telling me that?" I asked.

Marth closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Nothing really, just saying. Now then..."

He got into a stance wielding both his swords. I crouched and drew Ordos' spear from my back.

"Hmph, he was a tough one I must say, but in the end, he just couldn't beat me."

"That's cause he's nothing like me. He couldn't even beat me."

"Right..."

I noticed that his clothes torn and stained with blood. If I were to guess, that would be from the Lulator.

"You know... you smell different. Did you step in shit on the way?"

"I could say the same for you."

We both smiled as we threw insults at each other.

Both of us eventually got tired of waiting, and we ran towards each other.

.

.

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