CHAPTER NINE: Journey to the land of denim

This is it. this time we have a clue where my sister is. I know that my sister is not yet dead, she’s still alive. I can feel it. I will do everything to take her back alive with her baby. She and older brother Meilin’s baby.

Err, older brother? Ew, calling him older brother makes me missed my own older brother. I have a lot of what if’s and one of them is that, what if my brother really didn’t die? That he survives? Maybe the three of us are happy, maybe he can save us, specially Acadil. Out of the three of us, he’s the one who has more experience in combat. If he’s alive, I don’t have to cry every night, maybe. That is just all my wishful thinking.

Okay, Avabil. Focus!

There are so many what-ifs in my mind but it will give me nothing so I stopped thinking about my what-ifs. There is nothing I can do.

“It’s okay now,” I said to myself while looking at my reflection in the mirror.

Full gear is a uniform-like combat suit. The one that I am using right now is the battle suit of my sister, it’s the first battle suit she had and she gave it to me since I don’t have any. She wants me to have a brand-new battle suit but I refused. I am not going to fight anyone, anyway. That is what I think before. I never knew that this day would come.

This battle suit is different from the others. It has the consciousness that it can choose whoever has the right and strength to wear it. if he ever dislikes that person, then, no matter what that person does, he will never wear it.

Only those at the higher hierarchy of Lancaster Clan have the right to wear such suits because it is extremely expensive due to the lack of materials to use. There are also low-leveled Lancaster who can wear it, that is if their leader gave it to them. For mass giving, it’s just a middle and low-level battle suit and it will depend on their ranks, but even though it’s not a high-level battle suit, it can help a person on the battlefield.

I looked at the clock and saw what time is it now. Eleven o’clock, I immediately get the things I needed and ready myself, and opened the door. As soon as I opened the door, I was surprised to see Jenny outside and she was even more surprised than I am because before she can knock, I already opened the door.

“Wow, what a beautiful battle suit!” she exclaimed with a smile and a sparkling eye. Then, she handed me a basket. “Here.”

I raised my eyebrow at him and when I saw what she was giving to me I immediately said, “We’re going on a mission, not picnic, Jenny.”

She laughed at me softly and said, “So mean, really. Anyways, I have nothing to do earlier so I packed it for you. I know you’re not eating yet.” After she handed me the basket she walked away while waving her hands.

I looked at what it was and I saw five lunch boxes on the other half of the basket and the other half, there’s a lot of sandwiches. There is probably nothing wrong if I take it, right?

There were no more students in the hallway when I came out of my dorm. Maybe because it’s already past eleven and there’s a curfew in this school. When I am near the front gate, I saw them.

The class S students and older brother Meilin. They’re also on their full gear. I did not show any emotion to them, they left a bad impression on me so why would I waste my time on them? I went straight to brother Meilin and passed them and act like as if they’re not here, I treat them like a wind.

What are they for me to give them the attention they wanted? They’re not even part of my past.

“Hey, don’t ignore us!” said the woman in the cafeteria.

“Let her be, Meijin. You will gain nothing if you pay attention to that woman.” Said the man who held my hand before.

You can get nothing from me because I have no intention of using someone like you. Weak creatures.

“So, you got that battle suit,” I looked at the Lancaster man and then looked back at older brother Meilin. I ignored him as if he will influence me. “It does not suit you at all.”

My brows furrowed, “It will not suit anyone more. You know how a high-class Lancaster battle suit is, you know it too well, don’t act like you don’t. Anyway, you’re just a low creature, I know.” I sarcastically said and I saw the annoyance on his face.

“What did you say?”

Triggered. He’s the one who insults me first then when I speak it feels like I don’t have a right to tell it to him? Such a low creature trying to mess with me first then had the right to get angry? Is this man still on his mind?

“Are you deaf?” I asked softly.

“My, my. That’s enough.” Said the other woman in the team. Ah, this one is the healer.

I ignored them and I approached older brother Meilin and then he smiled at me.

“Is there any problem?” I asked and he immediately shook his head, “Then why you look like that? Why do you seem to be crying any moment now?” I asked once again. Instead of answering me, he gave me a piece of paper.

Redolf reporting.

We saw Acacia Adisson’s dress near the citadel shrine. This dress was already thorned out and full of blood. We saw nobody nearby, no body to be found.

End of report.

I was stoned by what I read in this piece of paper, a report from the scout team. My whole was hot the same as my eyes. But I felt like they’re watching so I restrained myself and try to calm my mind and my heart. I also suppress my emotion and by that, I can finally feel relaxed but still, I know that I have no reason to feel relax. Although there’s nobody that can be found nearby, there is still a possibility that it’s my sister’s blood. I seal half of my taika again and prepared myself. They asked me how did I calm myself in no time but I have no intention of telling them what I can do.

~**~

HEAL’S P.O.V

Our journey has not been easy for our group to get along with. Albin is a fire type taika user, Meijin is a water type taika user, Hyokin is an earth taika user and I am a healing taika type user so I am a neutral one. And those four are struggling against one woman who joined our mission with Captain Meilin.

I just don’t know why they hate Avalene so much. After all, they should give her more care because she is weaker than everyone. Not weaker in terms of taika but in terms of emotions, we can feel it. when she read the letter, she was about to burst but then suddenly her aura calmed down. I asked her how did she do it but she just ignored me. Ah, it must be one of her ability. She’s strong anyway. She came from a rich and powerful clan. She can control and manipulate her aura and her emotion which is hard to do. It may be possible but it will take a lot of time. Albin and Hyokin’s aura is not as strong as Avalene’s aura.

“Hyokin?” I called him and he looked at me, “Do you know her? Avalene?”

“We used to play before but I don’t know why she changes so much. She doesn’t seem to know me.” Hyokin replied and I could also see in his eyes that he’s sad.

“Why didn’t she know you? Does she not remember you at all? It’s like she’s not the one you so proud in front of us.”

“I don’t know. Since I left the Lancaster clan, I have not heard any news from her. Apart from the death of his brother, I have no heard anything from her. Until I saw her in the academy, but, she’s different from before. She’s no longer the one that I know.”

“Maybe what she said to you is real.” Albin joined our conversation.

“And what is it?” I asked.

“That Hyokin knows nothing about the Lancaster Clan’s higher hierarchy. We know how strong the Lancaster clan is and many of the ordinary people want to marry a Lancaster disregarding the fact that they’re in the lower hierarchical system. Maybe she’s right that Hyokin knows nothing.”

“I’m sure. I don’t even know what happened to sister Acadil.” He said.

We stopped when a dagger flew between Hyokin and me.

“What the hell is your problem?” He shouted angrily.

“You!” Avalene shouted and I could see the pain and sadness in her eyes. “How dare you to call my sister by her family nickname? Who do you think you are, ha?!”

Family nickname, maybe she had one too.

I have swallowed a little saliva for fear that this woman will do something to Hyokin and could kill this guy. She looks so mad and if looks can kill, then Hyokin might be dead in front of us.

“Because I want to! And if you think that you’re the only one who closes to Acadil, then you’re wrong! We all love her, we adore her. And no one loves you, Avabil. They will all leave your side because you don’t deserve them. You don’t deserve to be loved, they will disappear by your side, it’s your karma!”

We were all surprised by Hyokin’s sudden outburst and after that, we all just saw Hyokin’s bleeding wound on his arm. He also now lying on the ground with a double black eye. How did that happen? In a blink of an eye?

“You reach your limit, Hyokin. I can’t stop her now, you really pissed her off too much. Good thing that she still gives you some mercy because you’re still a Lancaster, if not? You’re dead by now.” I heard Captain Meilin says while Avalene was unconscious.

Surely, our faces give a trace of fear. Noted, you must not piss her off, or else you’ll die.

“You don’t know how much she suffered from all the things that happened in her life. Not even a thing. You don’t even know how much she sacrificed for you all, do you know why she can’t remember you? Well, I heard from Cacia that you two are childhood friends and she told me everything that happened to my younger sister-in-law. You know nothing about her, stop being a jerk for once, Hyokin.”

We decided to take a rest first and I was in the same tent as Avalene. Well, I am a neutral person and Meijin hates Avalene so I insist to be with her. I am not going to ask her a question anyway. I know when and where to be talkative. Meijin, Hyokin, and Albin were together in one tent. Well, even though Meijin is a girl that two guys with her are her friend and those two would do nothing to her.

“She’s strong. Beyond class S.” I murmured while looking at the sleeping Avalene.

“I know, she hit Hyokin without us noticing her movements. That is beyond us. Maybe that is one of the reasons why she calls us weak. For some reason, I’m kind of want to agree with her.” Meijin suddenly said while peeking from the outside. I agree with her though.

“I wonder what kind of person she is before she becomes like this? I want to befriend her, I want her to feel that she’s not alone. Hyokin was just kind of overboard earlier.” I said and she looked at me like I am a crazy woman.

“You’re going crazy, Heal. She won’t accept you.” Meijin said while lying down on the grass outside our tent.

Maybe she’s right. I may be going crazy.

~**~

“Why did you do that?”

“Because he pissed me off! I won’t let him insult me any further!”

“Are you crazy? Did you think that he really means it?” she exclaimed and looked at him, “You have an ability to feel the others, Avalene. Why didn’t you use it?”

“I forgot, okay? And yes,” I held my left eye using my left hand. “I agree, I am not mad because he called my sister with her family nickname.” I paused and my tears welled up, “What pisses me off is that what he said is true. No one loves me that is why they all left me, I will be alone for the rest of my life.” And the tears that I prevented from falling fell like a torrential downpour. “My mother, my father, my grandparents, my brother, and now my sister…” I said weakly.

I feel like I’m getting tired of what’s happening now. If only I didn’t have a chance to save my big sister, I might have given up.

“You don’t have to feel alone, Avabil.” I looked at her and she smiled at me, “I’m still here and also that Jenny girl who always hangs around you. We’re here, okay? And guess what? Did you know that there is a girl named Maurene who wants to be your friend too? Like, Jenny.” She added.

“No, I don’t what another headache,” I said and she laughed at my comment.

“You closed your heart that is why you don’t know who loves you and who cares for you. All you just do is blame yourself.

“I don’t need them. All I need is you and my sister.”

She just shook her head at what I said and then she sighed. She didn’t give a side comment and just let me disappear in front of her.