Chapter 18
"There will come a day when the sky will drizzle, and I will hear the call of Gaiathra Triclops and know that it is time for me to go and be reunited with my family."-Aventurine to Kakavasha.
Author Notes: I would like to thank the cherries and the cookies I ate along the way. And Aventurine ily sm.
The child peeked his head out the door, an innocent face stared back at Xiaomao.
Who's that Second Reality?
"I believe that child is called Daisuke." Second Reality said, floating next to the child.
Daisuke? Oh so he'll leave soon.
While Xiaomao was talking, the child walked in and grabbed Xiaomao's hand.
He repeatedly pointed outside, as if he wanted her to leave the holding cell.
"You want me to leave? Xiaomao asked the little child, cocking her head to the side. She was wondering if she could question the child about his lack of words.
Instead of speaking, or even pointing the child grabbed her arm, and ran.
He ran until he brought Xiaomao out of the prison and into the outside world.
She rubbed her eyes as the light hit her, feeling as if the sun was directly facing her.
Xiaomao looked around, finding a deserted street she sighed, knowing that everyone had really left to flee from the Titans.
She sat down next to the child, and pointed to herself.
"Xiaomao. And you?"
Daisuke pointed to himself and wrote down on a piece of paper.
Daisuke.
"What a lovely name." She eyed, looking back and seeing a Titan.
She whispered to Second Reality, activate Concealed Bubble.
Second Reality nodded, and placed his hands together, activating this power.
|Concealed Bubble Lvl 1 : Activated - 5 mins|
Xiaomao let out a sigh of relief, and stared at the kid.
"Come on, we have to find your family." She took his hand gently, leading him to the outskirts of the city.
Daisuke tapped her finger to get her attention, making Xiaomao look down.
He gave her an innocent look, then nodded his head no. Then he rushed to look if he had any more paper, trying to explain.
But unfortunately he ran out of paper.
"No worries kid, I get it." She stared out into the distance, then continues.
"Yo kid wanna come with me to Sanctyr Rise?"
She asked Daisuke, looking at him. His brown eyes seemed to shine with the sun glaring down at him.
Daisuke nodded and gave a thumbs up. He followed Xiaomao out to the woods, giving the city its final farewell.
Sanctyr Rise was an underground sanctuary, where many exiles were sent to live there as punishment. Xiaomao decided to head there because not only did it have enough resources to
last a century, there were also no exiles living there either.
Funny enough, this was also the thought process of Emperor Aranthor.
As Xiaomao and Daisuke walked through dark forests, they noticed the bare flower gardens. Not wanting to see much more, they had an unspeakable shift as to how they would walk.
Now with their back facing the reminder of what was going on, Xiaomao wondered how much did the kid really know.
Looking back at the kid, she noticed his disheveled brown hair frowning, she used her hands to comb his hair into a normal state.
Daisuke stared at her and then looked away as if he understood her actions.
Suddenly Xiaomao stopped, reaching her hand to stop Daisuke as well.
She pointed towards something, that something stared then right back.
"Why hello there little children... did your mommy leave you two alone?" A large Titan licked his fingers, "I'll be damned if you would've been an illusion. The asterisms have blessed me!"
Xiaomao looked around, noticing Daisuke freezing. His facial expression was normal, as if he was smiling.
It was strange.
It was more strange that Xiaomao would feel the internal turmoil inside of him.
His sweaty palms.
His frozen stance.
His balled fists.
It was obvious he was afraid. Xiaomao however wondered something else.
Why isn't his face agreeing?
His face was not acknowledging the face something terrifying is occurring before his eyes. It was as if his face had grown bored and become mundane from these emotions.
However, this was a talk for another time.
Right now, Xiaomao picked Daisuke and threw him on her shoulders.
She began to run as fast as she could, trying to have some mileage against the Titan.
The Titan chuckled, "My, you really think running away can serve you any good?"
Xiaomao ignored the Titan and continued to run, holding Daisuke as tight as she could.
After running a few yards, she put Daisuke down and caught her breath.
Second Reality... I really should've ran more back then.
"Hah... I'm guessing you're tired then?"
Yes...
The titan followed them, "Told you that literally won't do anything."
Daisuke held Xiaomao's hand harder, not wanting to know what might happen if he let go.
"What is it that you desire?" Xiaomao asked, out of pathetic feeling.
"I crave for hunger, the emotion that makes me feel alive. Let me consume your souls." The titan sneered, placing his hand over the children.
"Ok," she shakes her head and looked and Daisuke.
"Don't worry child, there's nothing to worry about." She patted his head, to assure him more.
"Oh how lovely, my meal is doing some sisterly love. What a great taste will that be." The titan snarled.
But suddenly the titan laughed, he raised his hand off the children and clapped his hands.
"Ah how smart are you Beffa, you are amazing." The titan then continued, "I have a new craving now children, would you like to hear?"
"N-" Xiaomao began to say, the titan then interrupted her.
"I do not care about your opinion, what I'd like to say is I will eat only one of you. The other can leave."
Daisuke walked forward subconsciously, pointing to himself. It was as if he wanted the Titan to eat him.
Xiaomao grabbed Daisuke and moved him behind her, "Absolutely not."
The child just stood there staring at the Titan, his face unwavering.
Xiaomao walked up to the Titan, making sure Daisuke wasn't following her.
"If you are sure to honor the deal, I shall give you my soul to consume."
"Maybe." The titan laughed, "What makes you think I'll follow my own rules?"
Xiaomao stepped back, walking back to Daisuke. "I will not feed you to the Titan and I forbid you to use yourself as a decoy. You are a person, little child. Not something to be used."
His eyes widened, a hint of fear flashing in his face.
He placed his hands together, thanking Xiaomao.
Then all of a sudden, a boy came out of nowhere.
"Don't worry Cookie Lady, I'll save you and your child!"
It was Paul, running out the woods. He immediately ran towards the Titan, and put his hand on his chest.
"Good day, sir Titan!" Paul continued slowly backing away from its monstrous size.
"Would you please leave these wonderful people alone?"
"Little boy, your sacrifice will do nothing to appeal me. I am hungry and I shall eat." The titan said unwavering, he was getting very irritated on how long he had been without a meal.
"Eat me! Let these civilians go!" Paul said, standing up straight.
"You don't have to..." Xiaoamao cringed at Paul's choice of words.
She was so glad that Paul wasn't the protagonist of this story.
Otherwise she would've been the villain.
The titan then immediately grabbed Paul and swallowed him whole.
"...that was interesting. Well anyways good day to you Titan. We'd best be on our way."
After the Titan nodded, Xiaomao and Daisuke walked away from the Titan.
"He really didn't have to do that." Xiaomao said to Daisuke, then continued, "If he never showed up I was going to take out his hair."
Daisuke looked at Xiaomao, a bit puzzled but didn't bother to ask.
Finally after walking of what seemed like forever, Xiaomao and Daisuke reached thr gateway of Sanctyr Rise.
Clothes, food, horses were everywhere. The whole area was trashed with so many things it was terrifying.
Xiaomao grabbed a vest on the ground and shook all the dirt off. Putting it on, she tied her hair and put a scarf on to hide her face.
After seeing Daisuke's look she answered, "I can't really let people see me now. I'm technically supposed to be in prison."
She continued, "Oh wait you were in there too."
She grabbed a few more clothes and handed them to Daisuke, "Here, you can choose what to wear."
After the change if clothes, Xiaomao and Daisuke went inside the gate to Santyr Rise.
They were then stopped by the guards.
"Who are you, and what's your reason of travel?" The guard said, examining Xiaomao and Daisuke.
"My name is Amane Ibuki, of the Rose flower. I have come here with the Shengyu Kingdom to evacuate the Titans. And this is Daisuke."
Daisuke showed them his Flora mark on his wrist.
Daisuke, of the Daylily flower.