CHAPTER 13: I Hate Him As Well

The guys ended up in a restaurant after going around town.

They enjoyed themselves, laughing from time to time at the things that they have seen.

But upon sitting down the air around them have changed dramatically, because Hunter turned serious.

"I am going to tell this to you now because it is apparent that this team will be our team for the future missions," he started.

They are in a restaurant where there are private rooms one could rent while eating.

"What we need the most is teamwork, if we want to succeed in everything then we need to cooperate with one another. We had that back then despite being children and I still hope we will keep on having that."

He looked straight at Drake.

"I know what you feel and I know she was letting you do as you please, feel as you please. But don't use it too much clouding more and more of your judgement. Don't argue with her suggestions too much because she knows what she is suggesting."

Drake looked away showing how he was not in agreement with what Hunter was saying.

"Drake, we are a squad. Our missions are different from the rest. Teamwork is necessary," Hunter repeated.

"I understand," Drake replied with reluctance.

Nixon and Ridge could only sigh.

All seven of them were the best of friends in the past, before the tragedy of 8 years ago had happened.

After that here they are now, sometimes at edge if a fight would suddenly start or not.

They too have some knots in their hearts but they never wished for a fight among their group.

They wished that it never happens.

That they will not have to choose any side.

"We will leave for the shore line early tomorrow morning, you all should eat properly and rest well," Hunter then told them.

The three nodded their heads and they started eating.

The air surrounding them returned to its harmonious one since that talk was over.

That is the essence of their friendship, they know when a talk is over and know when they should listen properly and give their own suggestions.

After they got back to the inn they were staying at, Drake approached Hunter who was swinging his sword at the yard.

"I can't promise anything but I will do my best," he then said.

"I know, I know you will. And I know she will as well."

All of them understood very well just where Drake was coming from, that is why no one could really blame him for his actions.

Just that Hunter wants him to focus on the mission when they are in the mission and nothing else.

After saying this, Drake returned to rest and a few minutes later, Saphira approached Hunter with her sword.

She started swinging it as well beside him.

"About Drake," Hunter started.

Saphira sighed, "You guys seriously."

She knew what was going on with all of them.

The reason they are all on edge when it comes to her and Drake.

She understand very well that she could only sigh.

"I think it is fine for me to regard all of us as knights already and as knights we have one mission. No matter what he shows me as long as he does not cross the bottom line, I will regard him as still my friend," she told him.

She can say this with confidence right now, Drake is still her childhood friend.

"Don't you feel hurt over the way he had been treating you?" Hunter couldn't help but ask.

He had seen her tolerance towards Drake in Scorpius Empire but he still has no idea as to what she truly feels.

"I am hurt of course, I hate him as well," she replied without batting an eyelid.

Hunter stared at her making her laugh in response with the shock that he had shown.

"I do hate him but it does not reach the point where I wanted to fight with him. There are different kinds of hate and my hate for him is where I could tell him straight in the eyes that I hate him."

He frowned not understanding what she meant.

Saphira smiled putting back her sword to its sheath.

"You see, for me there is a kind of hate where you couldn't say it upfront holding it in your heart until you reach the point where you just want them gone. There is also a hate where you could tell them and you would remain hostile towards them even after that."

She raised her forefinger, "That is the kind of hate that Drake had towards me. And there is a kind of hate where I will tell you and then nothing will change. I think I could refer to that as the hate part of the love and hate relationship."

She looked up at the night sky where so many stars are currently shinning.

"Those are the classifications of hate that I can define. And I seriously hope that Drake's hatred wouldn't reach the first point," she looked at him and said.

Her red orange eyes showed how sincere her wish was.

The cold wind blew her hair that she could only hold it behind her ear while returning her eyes to the night sky.

Hunter could only stare at her.

She looks very peaceful with that slight smile on her lips but her eyes and demeanor shows sadness within them.

"You have changed," he couldn't help but say.

Saphira looked back at his brown eyes before chuckling, "Stormie just told me in the hot spring that I haven't changed at all."

Hunter shook his head, "You have."

Her smile slowly disappeared as she stared back at him, he was seriously looking at her.

"The way you look at the world, it has changed."

"The way I looked at it?" she repeated.

"As a child you see it as plainly as it is. Looking ahead towards the future without a care about anything else. But now you are looking at it in a different way that even I couldn't comprehend."

Hunter couldn't point it out, she wasn't only looking at it in a mature way, not only in a broader way but something else.

Something he knew even he won't be able to comprehend.

Saphira slowly smiled, "We have just experienced so much that I think I get to see the world in a different way."

"Come on, let's go and rest we still need to wake up early tomorrow," she then said turning around and walking away.

Hunter raised his hand, he felt like he needs to stop her or she will be buried by the burden she was putting on herself.

A burden he once again couldn't explain.

"What is it?"

Saphira was startled when she was suddenly span around and was enveloped into a warm embrace.

"I don't know, it feels like you will be crashed by yourself if I don't hold on to you," Hunter hugged her tighter.

Saphira was lost for words, she didn't expect that he will react this way.

"I am fine though, I won't be crashed by anything," she hugged him back.

Hunter still didn't let her go.

"What's wrong?" she asked again patting him in the back.

Hunter sighed before finally letting her go, he caressed her cheek and looked straight in her eyes.

"I am here Saphira, no matter what anyone else say or do, I have your back. I will never turn my back on you," he declared.

Her eyes shook before she smiled, "I will remember that."

*****

"Civilians and tourists are not allowed here. It is currently a restricted area," the guard on duty stopped them at the gates leading towards the shore.

Nixon and the rest looked at one another, will they have to reveal their identity here?

The swords are on their waists but it was already a normal thing in this world, as long as you don't misuse it, anyone could carry it around.

"Here you go," Hunter took out seven badges from his pocket.

The others once again looked at one another other than Saphira.

The guard took it and frowned.

The badges were engraved with a capital letter Q and leaves are surrounding it.

It was a silver colored one.

The guard looked up at them before shrugging, "Go on."

Though the way he looked at them speaks of what he thinks.

'They are but some trainees who were sent to fight against real demonic beasts as part of their training.'

They were all looking young that this was a normal thought.

"When did you get a badge of the normal knights?" Nixon whispered to Hunter.

All badges from Qillian Empire are engraved with capital letter Q with leaves surrounding it.

Bronze badge are those knights with no abilities.

Silver badges are those with abilities.

Golden are those with accompanying or inborn beasts, they are also those that are known as Elite knights.

And it was a known fact that once the hosts of the mythological beasts gather, they will have the platinum badge with the engravings in golden color.

"Sent the letter yesterday when we arrived," Hunter answered.