The smile on his face left all on the river bank in wonder, apart from the brainwashed villagers. Stretching from jaw to jaw his joy more than evident and he wasn't scared to show it. And to Sen this was the first time he had seen someone smile this much just after saying a single word. It was quite clear to him now, what Elren did was more than just joy to him, it was his passion.
" Of course you'd look at me like that. " Elren remarked. " Will carry him and let's go, we don't have much time. "
" And as for you… " he said turning to the village guards, " return to the search, the girl must be found. "
Elren and Will turned their backs to the other village guards. Will scoped Sen onto his shoulders and followed Elren.
" Where does they always go to? " one of the guards asked.
The others turned to him with sharp eyes.
" Quite asking stupid questions and let's go search for the girl…" one of the other guards rebuked.
"…he might be watching. "
Their eyes turned dull as they walked back in the woods. Didn't dare to look back or even try to guess where Elren was going. This was so ever since they relocated to the forest and no one tried to change it.
…
The air up stream was heavier. Sen didn't know why, he could only gulp in more air. That too was a strain with Will's broad shoulders piercing into his belly. He tried to lift his body to see where they were going but every time Will pushed his head back down.
Even though he couldn't see Sen could hear. The river flow had become soft its former energy gradually dying down to what now was like a gentle and serene stream. The pathway had became more rocky with the small pebbles down stream growing into huge rocks.
And with the huge rocks came huge leaps as Will skipped from rock to rock. And the more he skipped the more his shoulder pierced Sen's chest and stomach.
Suddenly they stopped.
" Is something wrong? " Will asked.
Elren was quiet for a while. His eyes scanned the direction they were heading to, sieving through the trees.
" Something's wrong. " he said.
" That bastard!! " he cursed before increasing his pace across the rocks.
Sen's stomach had finally had enough. The bumpy ride and constant shoulder bumps had finally gotten to him. He could only but groan as they arrived at the now bloody and heated clearing.
There was slight smell of burning leaves in the air. It was fading but still took prejudice over the woody smell of the forest. As they trekked faster it only grew and so was a black cloudy smoke rising amongst the trees. The smoke shot up through the branches of the breezeless forest underside.
" What do you think you're doing?! " Elren shouted.
" Why is there smoke here? " Sen wondered as will dropped him near a giant tree. He couldn't see what was going on over on the other side but he could hear Elren shout. He was annoyed, his voice spiking and pausing thanks to the smoke.
Then there was another voice. It was weak, slow and hoarse like they were straining to even say a word.
" He was resisting. " the voice said.
" And so you thought it would be smart to drive your sword through his chest ? " Elren snapped back.
" You know very well that they don't work when they are dead. "
" Where's the problem Elren, there are other toys coming to you right now. "
" Other toys? "
Sen had squirmed across the ground and was now in full sight of what was happening.
Lying down on the ground was Dym. His eyes were closed and robe drenched… in some colorless goo. Gouged deep into his chest was a blade. The blade was colorless but in the dim light he could barely make out its shape. Its hilt was wrapped with white linen clothing, strapped in a rising spiral around it, and was the only part of the blade visible to the normal human eye.
" Dym sir. " Sen cried in a low voice.
" What do you mean that more are coming? " Elren asked the man perched up the tree in front of him.
The figure's eyes shifted to the crawling Sen and smiled.
Elren turned.
" Dym sir…" Sen called out as though short of breath.
" Oouu! " Elren said.
" There he goes again… That pretentious face. "
Elren hands shifted onto the colorless blade hilt. The linen clothing was loose and a strand was slowly swaying from side to side. Then he slowly began to pull it out, his cold eyes staring into Sen's . And the more he pulled the more the colorless goo flowed out, yet there was no blood.
" Stop it ! " Sen shouted.
" Or what Sen ? Or what ? "
" I said stop it ? " Sen continued. He was on his knees trying his best to rip apart the two wind rune cuffs. But no matter how much he tried the wind stream between them didn't move an inch. His arms grew tied, his shoulders unable to support his struggle. He tried more and more until finally they dropped.
" Tell me… " Sen started.
" …Elren, what did they ever do to you. "
" Huh? "
" The villagers, Dym, Ery… everyone. What did they do to you for you to treat them this way. "
Elren sighed as he removed his hand from the hilt.
" Why do I do this? Why do I do this? " Elren asked tapping onto his chin.
" Tell me Sen what do you think I do exactly? What do you think I do to deserve those hateful eyes staring me right now? "
Above on the tree the man watched. His eyes shifted onto Elren's face where he could see the flaring passion in Elren's eyes. Passion they were looking for.
" You brainwashed the villagers… "
" How ? When ? Do you even know how I did it ? Or whether I was the one who did it? " Elren interrupted.
Sen grew quiet.
" This is why I felt searing hate since the first time I saw you."
" It's is all because of that pretentious face of yours. Those eyes that show sympathy when deep underneath they lack the reason to. No passion. No drive. Only a pebble carried in the raging river. "
" I'm not pretending… "
" Off course you are and you don't even realize it. Let me ask you a question, " Elren said leaning closer.
" Why are you even here. Why did you come on this venture with these guild people when you yourself aren't even one of them. "
Sen could feel Elren's breath land on his face and with it carried a question he didn't know how to answer.
Why am I here ?
" Oh. Its because of the vouch. "
But is that even a reason to come. I could have said no.
" … the two girls, I'm here to prevent something like that from happening again. "
But what if that wasn't the reason. What is Elren's reason wasn't the reason the shrieker attacked the two kids.
" Wait I don't seem to remember… "
Sen's head spun. He tried his best to rationalize it but for some reason their was always a counter.
" You see. You're nothing but a walking hollow corpse with no reason to even living. But don't worry… " Elren said walking back and drawing the blade from Dym's chest.
" I'll fix that for you. " he said his arm in the air the blades tip shimmering in the stray light of the forest.
" Aaah! " he shouted dropping his hand down towards Sen's neck.
Suddenly he got pulled back.
" What's wrong Masq ? " he asked after realizing that the owner of the blade was the one pulling him back.
" No need to frown," Masq said retrieving his blade from Elren's hand, " We've got company. "
Elren growled. He gave Sen a sharp look as he pondered possible next actions.
" You got lucky this time Sen. Please make sure that you face doesn't cross mine ever again. " Elren said as they retreated into the forest.
Sn could here footsteps above him in the trees. They were loud as they jumped from branch to branch. But now none of that mattered. He was lost else where.
Somewhere with no reason, no will and no passion.