The leaves of the forest rustled as the wind blew. The afternoon lost all its life in only a second.
Both Rhea and Daichi are standing next to each other. Staring at someone sitting upright by a massive rock. Their faces are almost pale.
Daichi's fingers went cold. And it wasn't from the water. Rhea stepped forward. Edging closer to the person. Noticing similarities to something much much darker. Daichi on the other hand. Was quick to notice the torn up shirt the man had on. A pink Hawaiian shirt.
"This man."
"He's...from earth"
Daichi said in a low tone. Stepping forward. Slowly getting closer to him. As Rhea did the same. Stopping just close enough to see every detail about this man.
"You knew him?."
Rhea asked. Her eyes never leaving the man.
"No."
"But I know his clothes."
Daichi responded. Also looking at the man. Noticing he was wearing a watch. Which was still ticking slowly.
"And what's that device on his hand?"
She asked. Trying to calm herself. Realizing that something about this man connected him to Daichi. But she wasn't sure why.
"It's a watch."
"It's what we used to tell the time."
"Back on earth."
Daichi answered. Kneeling down to see if something attacked him. And left him in the state he's in.
"Oh."
Rhea answered. Her tone was neutral. And it's obvious she's battling with her though.
"What creature would leave him like...this."
"His eyes are wide open."
"And he's...not moving"
Daichi said in a low voice. His sympathy is almost palpable.
"I'm...not sure." Rhea answered. But in her mind. The dots were connecting all too well.
Whatever got to this man...
Must've gotten to Daichi first.
She mused. A shiver ran down her spine. Unease settling within her like dense smoke.
"And not to mention how malnourished he looks."
"Is he...what you sensed?"
Daichi asked Rhea. Turning to look at her as her eyes are fixed on the man.
"No..."
"He's not."
"I picked up on him too but. His life-fog isn't much different from a sprinter's. Almost like yours."
She said as she stepped back. Looking at Daichi. Then at the man.
There's something about these 'Earth' people.
That makes them a magnet to something terrifying.
She thought to herself. trying to figure out what exactly it is.
"He's been here like this for days..."
Daichi said. As Rhea began looking around. For something. Which Daichi noticed.
"What are you looking for?"
He asked. As Rhea grabbed a rock and ran over. Kneeling next to the man.
Okay. Let's do this again.
She sighed. Released the rock. Which hovered mid-air. Her halo came alive. Which was a perfect ring of blue flames.
"What are you doing?"
Daichi asked. Stepping back as he saw her preparing to do something. While noticing the new look her halo had.
Is she...healing him?
Wait. Can't be.
She's using a ROCK.
Can rocks heal here?
His thoughts went. But then he saw it. Soft flames engulfing her hands. And the heat haze penetrates the rock and her flames slowly break it down. And before long. The rock took on a new. Liquid form.
Did this kid just...
MAKE LAVA!!
Daichi was surprised, but also realized she mysteriously got lava somehow when they were in the underground bunker. And now he knows how she got it.
"How the hell can you do tha-"
"Never mind that."
"What are you planning to do with that..."
He asked. But Rhea's focused. Not offering much of her attention to Daichi.
Wait...
She threw it on my leg back then.
"Wait RHEAA!!" he lunged forward. Hoping he could stop her. But she already released the molten rock. As it splatted against the man's thigh.
Rhea got up fast and stepped back. And Daichi stopped. Looking in curiosity. thinking the man will jump up in pain. But he didn't budge. They both heard the sound of skin and muscle sizzling beneath the molten rock. As they smelled burnt flesh.
"It...didn't work."
"Wait. It didn't work?"
She's confused. Looking at the molten rock getting peeled off as the man's thigh slowly healed. Daichi looked at the man's leg. Then at Rhea.
Has she...gone mad?
Wait no. Surely she's okay.
"Uhm. Rhea?. Why exactly are you torturing the helpless man?"
"Can you not see that he's in a catatonic state?"
Daichi asked. His confusion was clear as day.
"Obviously I can see that. But I was trying to use shock through pain to wake him up okay."
She answered. Clearly mad at herself for her idea not working like it did the first time.
Hm. That's actually smart in a scary way...
Daichi's thoughts were immediately interrupted as Rhea had a new plan.
Guess I'll just amp it up a notch.
"Step back."
"Step back."
Daichi does as she said. Watching curiously.
Rhea slid the bow off her shoulder, then took a few steps back.
Does she plan to use that thing?
I mean she doesn't have any arrows so...I guess that guy's in danger until she realizes that.
Daichi Thought. Watching her as his curiosity grew and his questions piled. But to his surprise. All of his questions are answered when he sees Rhea sighed. touched the string of the bow. Which instantly caught flames. She pulled it back. And a flaming arrow manifested slowly.
SHE COULD DO THAT?!
"NO NO NOOO"
"RHEAA!!"
He ran toward her as he lowered her hand in a rush. The proximity of the heat from her flames burning him.
"You're gonna kill the guy with that!"
He looked at her. Then at the guy by the rock. Who's still unresponsive.
"I was gonna make it smaller!!!"
She yelled back. Pulling her hand away as the flames went out. And the arrow disappeared.
"I don't think that changes the fact that he would've probably died."
Daichi said in a calmer tone. Sighing as he's trying to be the bigger person.
"Can we not try to cook this man alive?"
"And when I say 'we' I mean 'YOU'"
He continued. Rhea rolled her eyes as she threw the bow back over her shoulder.
"Can we not try to cook this man alive?" Rhea repeated in a mocking tone.
"Whatever."
She said. Realizing that she's never actually done that before. She's used bows in the past when she lived in her village. But the most she was able to do with her Vhis back then was hit targets slightly better.
But even as she thought. She was looking for something else. As she walked into the forest. Daichi noticed. But he wasn't even curious anymore. He just really didn't want this kid to kill this guy for no reason at all. But he turned his back for a second to look at the man. And he heard Rhea coming back from in the forest. But he saw her coming with a rock the size of her head.
"Seriously?!"
"I'm not gonna let you burn this man with more lava."
He said. Looking at her as she struggles with the rock.
"Shut up."
"I won't melt it this time okay."
She responded defensively. Slowly edging closer.
"I swear that attitude is so irritating."
Daichi remarked. As he watched her carry the rock over to the man. And stood next to him with it.
"What are you planning to do with that anyways."
"If you don't plan to melt it."
He asked. Looking at Rhea. Then at the man on the ground. But what he saw in his peripheral vision a second later. It was unmistakable. Rhea was raising the rock. Above her head to drop it on the man's head.
"Are you mad!"
Daichi turned quickly before she could release it and pushed it backway. Causing her to stumble backwards as the rock falls behind her.
"That's gonna kill the guy too!!"
"Could you be quiet and let me do what I know works!!" Rhea retaliated. Straightening up as she glares at Daichi. Annoyed at his constant interruption.
"NO!"
He responded. But Rhea only got more annoyed. She got up and stormed off into the forest. Mumbling to herself with a little disturbing smirk. Which did its job as Daichi was left perplexed.
Fifteen minutes flew by. And Daichi is standing there. But he's now anxious. Bothered by the fact that she just. Left. But out of nowhere. He felt a presence behind him. And before he could turn around. His feet were swept off the floor.
THUD.
He fell on his side. Turning fast to see what's going on. Only to see Rhea. With lots and lots of vines.
"What are you doi-"
He's cut off. Rhea began wrapping the vines around him swiftly. As she tied them tightly around him.
"SERIOUSLY!!"
"This is what we're doing!!"
He yelled. Annoyed and also a tad bit impressed at her stealth and efficiency. Rhea picked up the rock again.
"Now you can talk all you want."
"I'll fix this man!!"
"Wow. Who gave the kid a PhD in psychology" Daichi said to himself sarcastically. Still annoyed as he wiggled until he could sit up. And before he could sit up.
CRACK!
He heard the sound of something breaking as he looked up fast. And see's the rock seated on top of the man's now broken straight bone.
GASPPP!!!!
The man regains consciousness. His eyes set on Daichi who's just in front of him. The man lunged at him. The rock rolled off his broken bone as he grabbed Daichi.
"I SAW IT!"
"I SAW EVERYTHING..."
"THEY'RE NOT DEAD..."
"THE PRINCESS IS...ALIV-"
CRACK!
The man said. His whole body trembled in his last moment. Dying of starvation and before he could finish. Daichi on the other hand was shaken. His heart thumped in his chest.
CRACK!
CRACK!!
CRACK!!!
The man's body deformed. Almost on top of Daichi. Who forgot about the whole process. And is reminded in an unfortunate way. He tried to roll himself back but there wasn't much he could do. As Rhea stood there looking at the man.
Did I...Kill him
Her mind reeling at the thought. But only a few moments after. The man's life fog gathered above his corpse. Both Daichi and Rhea looking the man's green Vhis. But surprisingly. It charged at Daichi.
"No no no no"
"Shitt"
He tried to move but he was stuck in the vines. The life-fog crashed into him. He gritted his teeth as he squeezed his eyes shut. Expecting severe pain. But surprisingly, he felt...cool?
He sighed at the sensation. Feeling like ice was melting through his skin. He smiled, big and content. Dropping flat on his back as he relished the feeling.
It went to Daichi?
Rhea mused. And suddenly sighing.
Ohh. Natural cause of death.
Thought I killed him there.
She suddenly remembers. Natural cause of death simply means the Life-fog goes to the nearest person.
Daichi on the other hand. Was getting his first real dose of why some people kill in Astheria. And he had this feeling for a whole ten minutes. Where he rolled around on the ground. Still wrapped in vines like a burrito.
And when he gets back to normal. He sat up fast. Noticing Rhea looking at the man's deformed body. Sighing slightly as she walked over to untie Daichi.
The princess...
Which one...
She sighed. But shaking her head as she tries to refocus.
"Okay...let's try to find what we're here to find."
She said as she walked off. Daichi looked at her. Then at the deformed body. Still disturbed by it. But it's not as bad as it used to be. He followed her. As they entered the forest. But only a few seconds after walking. Rhea turned back. Running quickly for something.
"I'll be back in a sec"
"Rhea?" Daichi said. As he stood there. Waiting for her. And only a moment after she came back and continued walking. Daichi sighed as he noticed what she went back for. And it wasn't hidden either. As the afternoon sun reflected from her wrist.
But beneath her antics. Rhea's mind was elsewhere. As she repeated what the man said in her mind.
I saw everything...