Clervie and Carman's clone moved as swiftly as they could while remaining out of sight of the treasure hoarders, while there was still chaos in the camp with the monsters and animals let out of their cells, there was still one or two pesky hoarders who remained vigilant of the surrounding woods.
That changed as two figures were spotted charging the front entrance, as the guards facing them turned in the direction of the commotion, the two took their chance, with a boost from Carman's Anemo Manipulation, the two found leapt over the battlements assembled from salvaged parts.
Ducking behind a cluster of crates, they waited and listened as the two men started to run in the direction of the front gate where the sound of a small explosion was heard accompanied by the sound of multiple people screaming.
As soon as they were sure they were out of line of sight, Clervie led Carman's clone down the side of the wall, using the random beams sticking out of the structure as hand and footholds to scale their way down.
As the camp's attention was focused at the front gate where a lady had turned into a spinning halo of death, nobody noticed the forms of two children sneaking towards the cavern.
Before they rounded the corner, Carman's clone stopped Clervie, ran through a couple of hand signs and another copy was summoned next to him.
This clone peeked around the corner, spotting three more men running in their direction, who in turn also spotted the clone.
"Who're You?"
"Get'em!"
The clone bolted forward towards the opposite side of the cave entrance, the three men following after him. As they were distracted, Clervie and the original clone waited a second before diving around the corner and behind more cover.
The men continued to chase the clone until suddenly the boy stopped and turned to face them.
"What's the matter boy? Too tired to run?" asked one of the men.
"Wanna see a magic trick?" asked the clone.
"You can do as many magic tricks as you like once we've got you locked up and have a letter sent to your parents," said another of the men.
"Aww, but I've always wanted to show this one…" said the clone "if you let me do it now, I'll let you put me wherever you want, even a bottle if you can manage it."
Glancing towards the entrance, the men did some calculations, "fine boy make it quick, we got to deal with your friend over there too."
The clone smiled as he showed both of his hands, empty, then he put one hand into his pocket and pulled it inside out, empty again, pushing the pocket back in with his hand he pulled his hand out in an upside down ok sign.
The men were confused, then the clone popped into an explosion of water, soaking all of them.
"Where did that fobbing flap-mouthed brat go?" Sputtered one of the men as he wiped water off of his face.
"Find.. Him." Seethed another as they split up to look for the clone in the immediate area, not realizing their quarry had snuck past them a while ago.
As the men searched fruitlessly for the second clone, Clervie and the first clone were left in the cave to their own devices. Apart from them and the kidnapped girl, they were all alone. Together, Clervie and the clone turned the cave upside down looking for the key.
[POV: ???-3rd person]
Hearing the frantic shuffling of papers and assorted items, the girl in the cage snuck a glance at the source of the noise and was surprised to see, not her captors, but two kids rifling desperately through the various surfaces and boxes.
Finally a boy, who looked at most a year older than her stood up with a ring of keys, saying "Found it" in a whisper shout, before running towards her. The other kid, a girl? Or another boy, she was not sure, turned back and started grabbing various papers they had moved around while searching for the keys with the younger boy and shoving them into a bag on their waist.
The younger one came up to the door of the cage, seeing her looking at him, he put on a reassuring smile, "it's ok, we are here to get you out, there are still bad people out there so you will have to be quiet. Can you do that?" he asked.
His smile was like the first ray of sunshine after a long storm, the girl nodded as he tried out the various keys, finally finding the one and unlocking the door.
Reaching his hand down, he held her hand as he helped her to her feet. "How far can you run?" he asked.
The girl tried to think; before, when she was smaller, her parents had let her run around as much as she liked. However, a few years ago, when she had started getting lessons in the family's trade, the various servants had started to tell her that running around wasn't ladylike and to practice her weaving if she had extra energy. It had been a long time since she was able to run freely.
Looking down, she shook her head, "I-I don't know." She said quietly.
The boy's smile didn't waiver, "Thats ok, Sylvain, please carry her. We need to get out of here before any of them think to come back here." he said.
The one named Sylvain swiftly moved to the girl and hoisted her over their shoulder. The three quickly made their way to the mouth of the cave, where the noise of fighting was still going. They ran towards the wall Clervie and Carman had scaled down on their way into the encampment, using Anemo energy, Carman's clone boosted them all up onto the top of the wall.
"There he is! He is helping free the captive, get him!" Shouted a man, his body soaked as he pointed a finger, his body shaking with rage as two more men turned to face their direction.
"Sylvain Go!" Yelled the boy as he wrapped Sylvain and the girl in a bubble of wind and sent them over the side of the wall.
As she went over the side, the girl reached out for the boy, not wanting to leave him behind. As she watched, she saw in horror as a bottle was thrown by one of the men and hit the boy in the back of the head, shattering and dowsing him in a purple liquid.
"Oh for fucks sake." Said the boy as he turned around to the person who threw the bottle and raised a hand with his middle finger pointed to the sky, and promptly exploded into a shower of water.
The girl screamed as one of her saviours exploded, the water that he had become was blown away as it hit the barrier around them. Sylvain paid her no mind as they landed on the ground, as they did, the wind sphere of wind exploded outward, sending rocks and sticks flying around them. Without missing a beat, Sylvain made a mad dash to the woods, the girl was silently crying, hand still reaching out to the boy who she thought had been left behind.
The world seemed to slow down around her, the last moment replaying in her mind, the boy's smile faltering as the bottle hit him, his blue eyes narrowing as he turned around, his voice muffled, then his entire body, from his bright crimson hair as vibrant as the crimson plum blossom branch her father had received as a gift, to the strange blue pants that he wore, had all lost their form and collapsed into an explosion of water.
She couldn't see anything in front of her, could not hear the men's shouting as they tossed more things after them, only to miss and hit trees and rocks as Sylvain weaved between them, She didn't even react as a branch clipped the top of her head, the bark catching and yanking out a few hairs as she passed.
After running for a while, Sylvain came into a clearing stopped by a stream. Gently, they put the girl down and tried to catch their breath.
The girl sat there, frozen. As she sat there for what seemed like eternity, she found her gaze being drawn to the source of a quiet noise. When she found it her muscles froze all over again, water, clear, flowing, splashing upwards like the splash of water the boy had become in front of her eyes.
She didn't know when she had moved, but suddenly her face was near the water's surface. As she leaned closer, a trickle of blood flowed from where the branch had struck her and fell into the water. The crimson blood flowed in thin strands in the flowing water, the thin lines almost looking like the boy's hair, she reached into the water, trying to catch what wasn't there.
[POV: Clervie 3rd Person]
Clervie was winded, while the girl had been light in her arms, she was not used to carrying another person while running and dodging attacks. She had run until she could no longer hear the treasure hoarders behind them.
The distance would only buy them some time however, she was unsure if they were still being pursued, but she was sure Ryuzu had heard them escape, and Carman, the clone, should have relayed their situation upon being disbursed. All Clervie had to do was stall their attackers if they found the girl and her.
Watching the trees for a few minutes, Clervie didn't see a hint that they were still being pursued, taking a breath, she turned to the girl. She had started to move from where she had put her down, towards a small stream near them.
'Was she thirsty?' Clervie wondered. From her training she remembered water out in the wilderness was not safe to drink directly, one was liable to get a stomach ache if they did. As she was about to warn the girl, she saw the kid had not brought her head down to drink, rather the girl was staring down into the water.
Her eyes, while directed at the water, seemed to be looking somewhere else entirely. A chill creeped its way down Clervie's spine, she recognized the child's expression, it was the same one that the children in the orphanage had made after surviving their first "game." The look you had after seeing something that would hide in the corners of one's mind only to rear its terrible head in your sleep or when something reminded you of those horrible memories.
She had once worn the same expression. The question was, what had happened to the girl, she had been mostly fine just a few minutes ago? As Clervie approached, the girl started grabbing at the water where blood from a headwound had fallen in and formed thin lines amongst the stream.
"Come back, I'm sorry, please…." the girl was muttering, soft and gradually speeding up, apologizing to someone not there.
Clervie was winded, while the girl had been light in her arms, she was not used to carrying another person while running and dodging attacks. She had run until she could no longer hear the treasure hoarders behind them.
The distance would only buy them some time however, she was unsure if they were still being pursued, but she was sure Ryuzu had heard them escape, and Carman, the clone, should have relayed their situation upon being disbursed. All Clervie had to do was stall their attackers if they found the girl and her.
Watching the trees for a few minutes, Clervie didn't see a hint that they were still being pursued, taking a breath, she turned to the girl. She had started to move from where she had put her down, towards a small stream near them.
'Was she thirsty?' Clervie wondered. From her training she remembered water out in the wilderness was not safe to drink directly, one was liable to get a stomach ache if they did. As she was about to warn the girl, she saw the kid had not brought her head down to drink, rather the girl was staring down into the water.
Her eyes, while directed at the water, seemed to be looking somewhere else entirely. A chill creeped its way down Clervie's spine, she recognized the child's expression, it was the same one that the children in the orphanage had made after surviving their first "game." The look you had after seeing something that would hide in the corners of one's mind only to rear its terrible head in your sleep or when something reminded you of those horrible memories.
She had once worn the same expression. The question was, what had happened to the girl, she had been mostly fine just a few minutes ago? As Clervie approached, the girl started grabbing at the water where blood from a headwound had fallen in and formed thin lines amongst the stream.
"Come back, I'm sorry, please…." she muttered, the words soft and quickening, apologies spilling out to someone who wasn't there.
Carefully, Clervie took hold of the girl's arm. The kid resisted, muscles taut, refusing to look away from the water as she grabbed at the disappearing red ribbons.
Clervie drew her in and turned her gently but firmly. "Hey. Look at me." Her voice stayed low, steady. "Breathe, kid. You're safe. No one's here to hurt you."
The girl's gaze dragged toward her for a heartbeat, then tried to fall back to the stream. Clervie pulled her closer, pressing the child against her chest so her ear rested over Clervie's heart.
"Listen," Clervie murmured. "Right now, you're here with me. The hoarders are gone. Hear that?" She took a slow breath on purpose, letting her chest rise under the girl's cheek. "That's my heartbeat. Match your breathing to mine. In… and out."
She rubbed slow circles between the girl's shoulder blades, keeping the rhythm.
"Stay with me, alright? You're not back there. You're here. Grass under your knees, wind in your hair, my arms around you."
Wherever the kid's mind had been, something in her seemed to catch on those words. Her fingers loosened their grip on Clervie's shirt. Her breathing, sharp and shallow at first, began to lengthen, then hitch, then ease.
Slowly, she started to calm.
After a minute, Clervie heard something approaching, a branch breaking under foot. Muscles tensing, she grabbed her spear as she held the girl close and spun to face the newcomer. It was Carman and Ryuzu, the former having stepped on the branch.
Raising his hands he smiled, "woah there it's just us."
Clervie felt the girl's hands clench against her shirt again, her small body trembling. The kid's eyes locked on Carman, wide and unblinking. "You're dead…" she muttered, the words barely audible over the stream.
All three of them turned to look at the girl in confusion. Ryuzu's head tilted slightly, her eyes taking in the child's injuries and trying to understand how she came to that conclusion.
"What do you mean?" asked carman as he tilted his head in confusion, then, upon replaying memories he got from the clone he had sent with Clervie, realization struck. "You thought they turned me into water?"
The girl nodded tears threatening to spill from her eyes, "I-I saw you go pop."
"That was just a copy of me" Said Carman, "I can make copies of me out of water, the real me, the one before you now, was helping distract most of the bad guys. Here, watch."
As he talked, Carman pulled out a crystal and pulled some elemental energy from it, a flow of water manifesting and as he formed hand signs, coalesced into another clone.
The clone opened its eyes and waved at the girl before Carman punched it's shoulder, causing it to pop into a sprinkle of water.
"I can make these copies, but they aren't really tough, one good punch or throwing a rock at them causes them to pop like you saw." He said.
"Are they alive?" asked the girl.
"Kind of, they contain a portion of my mind, and when they pop they return to being a part of me." he replied.
He walked over to the girl who was still slightly trembling, "I am the real one, I remember the "me" that was with you, if you are afraid I am not real, then give me a punch. I won't pop, I promise."
The girl looked at carman, the vision of the bottle striking the back of his head, she formed a fist, her hand shaking, she managed to raise her hand a couple of centimeters but stopped.
"I don't want to, what if you pop again?" She asked, tears now flowing.
"I wont, I am not a clo-Owww!" Carman yelped as Clervie smacked the top of his head.
"You're not helping," Clervie said, glaring at him. "She needs time to process. You can't push her to face her fears like that. That's like tossing the kid into a lake and expecting them to swim because you told them they could."
She stepped closer and softened her voice as she looked at the girl. "Here. This is how you show you're real," Clervie said, then gently guided the smaller girl toward Carman. "Let her hear your heart, feel your warmth. That's how some of the kids back home started to believe it when a friend barely survived something."
At first the girl flinched, her arms twitching away from Carman's chest as if worried he might dissolve under her touch. Carman moved slowly, wrapping his arms around her in a careful, hesitant hug, leaving plenty of space for her to pull away if she wanted.
She didn't.
Something inside her gave way. In a sudden surge of movement, she grabbed fistfuls of his shirt and clung to him, burying her face against him as sobs tore out of her throat, louder, harsher than before, as if everything she'd been holding back finally snapped.
Carman tightened his hold just enough to steady her, one hand coming up to rest between her shoulder blades. He said nothing at first, just stood there and let her cry, feeling her shaking against him.
"It's alright," he murmured eventually, barely above a whisper. "I'm here. I'm not water. I'm not going anywhere."
The girl's fingers curled tighter in the fabric, as if testing him with every clench of her hands. His warmth, the solid weight of his arms, the steady thump of his heartbeat under her ear, all of it slowly, began to sink in.
She cried until her sobs thinned to hiccups, but even then, she didn't let go. Relief flooded her; she hadn't caused this boy's death, hadn't left one of her saviors to die so she could escape.
Even when her breath calmed to small sniffles and they all got to their feet, she kept her fist twisted in his shirt. Carman didn't try to pull her off.
Ryuzu scanned the treeline once more. "We should move. They won't stay bound forever. We need to get back to the Wharf and report this location to the guards."
As they walked and the forest closed around them, Carman slowed his pace to match the girl's, the sound of the small stream swallowed by rustling foliage and birdsong. While walking, the girl's hand stayed clenched on Carman's shirt, making sure he was still there.
-To be continued