Chapter 14

"Wait, what's that supposed to mean??" Novius yelled. But it was too late.. The king had exploded into shreds. Novius and Veda looked at the bloody shreds floating in the water in disappointment and confusion. "Is it a riddle or did he mean it literally?" Novius asked. "Let's hope he meant it literally." Veda said, rolling up the rope.

"Why didn't you tell him about the true reason we came?? To find your parents?? He could have had some useful information!" Veda asked, frustrated. "Think about it. Back then, General Caspian said me and Darius have a bounty on our heads. Just imagine what the parents have on their heads!" Novius said. "Then what about Darius??" Veda asked. Novius went silent for a moment.. "Darius had lost his parents since he was a baby.. His master took care of him since then, but I don't think they could've tied him back to his master so he's safe.." Novius said. Veda was slightly shocked.. "Darius lost his parents when he was a baby?.. does he remember anything about them?.." Veda asked solemnly. Novius shook his head.. "So he never got to talk to them.." Veda said sadly.. "He has tried so many times to do a difficult spell.. It involves reaching into his head, pulling out his memories when he was baby just to see what his parents looked like.." Novius said, looking at Darius sadly..

Veda looked down.. "He pretends to be okay.. But I know he isn't. He's lonely.. Even with me around, he's still sad.." Novius said.

Darius looked at them, continuing to heal Lorsan. "Hey do you-" Darius was interrupted by their solemn expressions looking at him. "Are you guys okay?" He asked. The both of them just smiled, nodding. "Huh. Anyway, what did you get out of that guy?" Darius asked. "The marionette came and spoke. He said "The power of 10,000 siren songs is enough to break the forcefield" and exploded the puppet" Veda said. "He also said Veda was attractive and originally wanted to ask her on a date if she wasn't fighting him" Novius pointed out. Ved a smacked him on the back of his head. "Be quiet. I don't even know what he looks like" Veda pointed out.

Darius just sighed. "Did he mean it as a figurative speech?" He asked. "We think its not and the barrier can actually be broken with the siren songs of 10,000" Veda said. "Ah, no, I meant the thing about you being attractive" Darius said, pointing at Novius. "I know right??" Novius said. Veda then went forward and smacked Darius in the back of his head. "Back to the main point please." Veda said sternly.

While the three of them were discussing, Aine was with Lorsan. "Are you doing alright?.." Aine asked, worried. "I'm fine.. well, considering the fact that I was just slashed in the chest.. I'm glad I'm still alive.." Lorsan replied with a slight chuckle. Lorsan's fins retracted back into his body. Lorsan held his breath, holding his throat. Aine immediately got worried and turned back to Darius. "Darius! help!" Aine yelled. Darius looked back and swam to them. "His contract no longer has mana in it.. I'll rush the Aquatic Respiration potions.. That would be a temporary relief.." Darius said. "But you said it would take a few hours to make" Novius chimed in. "We don't really have any other choice do we??" Darius yelled. "Both of you stop arguing!" Veda yelled.

The three of them ended up arguing loudly. Aine thought for a moment.. Then she had an idea. She took out her Akros flower. There were only five petals left.. She plucked one off and handed it to Lorsan. "Eat it.." She said. Lorsan couldn't argue. He took the petal and ate it.. Almost immediately, he took in a big breath, and panted slightly. The three of them looked back at Aine in shock. "Aine did you give him one of your petals??" Novius exclaimed. "Yes. I did." Aine answered sternly. "Why in Gods name would you do that?! You are going to suffer more!" Veda yelled. "I only gave him one of my petals because you guys were too busy arguing than starting on the potion!" Aine yelled back. Veda sighed. "Look. We haven't eaten anything since we got to Aexetan.. We are all starving. I say we go grab a quick snack before we continue" Veda said. "But we obviously can't show our faces. We're wanted fugitives" Darius said. "Lorsan, could you grab us a few snacks?" Aine asked. "Sure, I'll be quick" Lorsan said before swimming into the market.

After a while

Lorsan came back to them as they took another petal. "Down to five.." Darius mumbled.. "I'm down to four.. We need to finish up quickly.." Aine said, putting her flower back into the pouch. "I'm back, here" Lorsan gave out loaves of bread. "How does it not get soaked in water?" Novius asked. "Two factors take part. One, Aexetanians use a special modified way to cook bread along with other dry foods. Two, Aexetanians produce a yeast that makes the dry food waterproof. It's also harvested in a unique way" Lorsan said. The four of them were in awe of how unique Aexetan was. They ate their bread contently and without complaint. "Hey Lorsan, How much do you know about the Nine Realms?" Novius asked. "Not much.. But once I'm out of here, I wish to travel the Nine Realms and explore all I can! After paying a visit to my parents of course" Lorsan chuckled. "Looks like you're just like someone we used to know" Darius joked. "Wait, What?? Who?? How come you never told us this??" Aine asked. "Well no one asked!" Novius laughed. They all sat down behind some rocks. "So?? Say it already!" Aine exclaimed.

"We haven't talked about him in a while.. But me and Novius used to be in a trio with an old friend.. We were really close. He was good at both magic and archery" Darius said. "But he was never good enough to beat me" Novius said smugly. "As we grew older, we caught the attention of the elders in our village. Especially him.. But he was always so arrogant.. Whatever me and Novius started for fun, he would always try and do it better.." Darius said. "He would often succeed as we got older, so we were on the verge of being thrown in his shadow. Then I started to be more confident in my skills and joined competitions, quickly making me better than him in archery." Novius followed up.

"Well, what happened to him? What happened to your friendship?" Veda asked. "Well, me and Darius proved mature enough for the elders, they sent us on our first mission when we were 14, making us the youngest people ever sent on a mission. He didn't like that.. So he begged his parents, the elders, basically anyone that could give him a mission. Since he was younger, it would make him the youngest and give him all the attention." Novius explained. "When we returned.. We heard he had been given a mission and never returned.."