Her Words

Staring at Nico, in the dimly lit dungeon, Vera couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something felt familiar about him. Something about those hands that seemed to border on transparency.

Just what was it?

"Vera."

"Hm? Yea..I mean yes?"

Yuna's words knocked her out of her daze, the dark-blue, almost black haired girl just as big of a mystery as the boy.

Yuna waved the lantern in front of Vera, grabbing her attention:

"How much do you know? Regarding Ashwin, that is?"

"Ashwin? I beg your pardon. Who might that be?"

"Really? Those two, Dian and Theron, didn't say anything about him? Or even why they're taking you?"

Vera shook her head.

"The smaller one told me that I was to stay safe. The bigger one was a little scarier."

Vera shuddered thinking about the brooding man before she thought back to Dian and continued:

"Uhm, Dian, I believe. He was kinder and wished for me to stay safe. But... He was a frea—a tad weird."

Vera almost slipped up. Saying freak wouldn't be lady-like or grown up of her.

Looking up at Yuna, she noticed the princess making an odd expression at her. Was it because of her slip-up, or something else.

"Is something the matter, princess?"

Yuna licked her lips thinking:

"What has Ashwin been up to?"

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In the dim corridor Naren helped Dian get up before they began walking. A scowl on his face as he proceeded. Dian really pissed him off and he wanted no part in helping him.

But he had no choice. Yuna's words were cut clear: "Go bring back any other humans you find."

Though, she never said they couldn't take a beating before coming back.

Naren considered it for a second. Surely, if he threw a couple jabs or kicks nobody'd bat an eye.

Yawning, he calmed down. What was he even so bent out of shape for. Calm down and just focus on the issue at hand.

The Werewolf.

"Uhm, Naren dear, where're you taking me?"

Naren unconsciously glared at Dian. He didn't feel like replying, but if he hadn't who knew what kind of trouble this freak would cause.

"We're going to meet up with the other humans here. We've gotta figure out who the damn wolf is."

"How exactly are you going to do that?"

"I'm going to let the wolf kill everyone. And hopefully he kills you first...Or hopefully you're the wolf and we can put you down first."

Naren's voice trailed off near the end, but Dian could tell it wasn't anything pleasant.

Yet not once did he hold Naren's aggression as a weapon against the curly haired boy. Instead, he was completely infatuated with the boy himself.

He had been for several loops now that he couldn't remember. But the feelings laid stagnant. Reappearing every time.

Though that's not something Naren noticed. Or more accurately, didn't care to notice.

Dian took a second to fully understand, but as soon as he did, he couldn't hide his concern:

"You want to fight that monster? You can't alone! Not after we're all dead. That's suicide!"

Naren put a finger up, signifying the short man to shut up and then raised it to his head.

"We're going to come back again, pinky. When we do, I'll remember the wolf's face."

"You remember?! The loops?!"

Dian stopped, his eyed wide as he looked at Naren in a new light.

'This boy remembers?! How?! How can a normal aspirant take that?! He's even more amazing than I once thought!'

Naren tilted his head.

"You know the loops?"

Dian went silent for a brief moment before responding.

"Ashwin. He told us. He said that he noticed a Dreameater around this area and how the poor little girl would be here."

Naren stopped abruptly.

"The more I hear about this guy. The more he gets on my nerves."

Dian's eyes widened, as he quickly scrambled in front of Naren. His pained arm leading to him grimacing in the process.

"D-don't! Listen here. There is no fighting Ashwin. No matter what. Not only does he have that oracle wench with him. But he's a full shaman. Different from us. From all of us!"

"Oracle...?"

Just then, the two turned the corner.

Cairo laid where he had been, a black piece of cloth over his eyes and Yuna having just arrived with two children at each hand. Nico was stuck staring at Vera, and Vera was stuck trying to avoid Naren's gaze.

But Naren's gaze. It was stuck on Yuna.

Before Naren could get a word out, Dian spoke first:

"Princess? Vera?"

That's all he needed.

In the next second, a swift turn of events played out.

"Soldier, stop Cairo!"

Yuna's words stopped it all mid motion.

"What're you doing?"

Cairo grumbled as his broken katana stretched out in a low posture, the blade inches away from severing Dian's neck.

"Her words."

Naren's eyes stayed locked on Yuna as his leg was bent around Cairo's neck, ready to snap it in two. His arm reaching out to grab Yuna by the collar.

Dian stumbled back at their speed. Without Theron by his side, he hated to admit it, but he felt cornered and small. Even his fable was one for defense. Not to mention his already injured body and his messed up psyche trying to understand Ashwin.

He was a mess compared to before, stumbling on the floor.

A silence trembled through the six as the twilight atmosphere grew dimmer to express the approaching nightfall.

Naren grumbled first.

"Yuna you damn pest. So you know these freaks? You know what they're trying to do with Shrimpy?!"

Vera opened her mouth, but quickly closed it. She was afraid if she spoke to Naren, everything would come crashing down mentally.

Yuna pat the two kids' heads before turning to the three in a deadlock.

"What makes you think that I'm intertwined with them?"

Of course, Yuna knew what he meant. She could garner from his tone and context clues.

"Don't play dumb! This guy just told me about how you've been helping Ashwin! Then he calls you his princess?! You two are in on this aren't you?!"

Yuna sat down on a wooden crate, staring up at Naren, a cold glare in her pitch-black eyes that seemed to send the three's bodies into a cold plunge.

For a second, Naren shuddered as Yuna spoke.

"Calm down Soldier...I've never met Ashwin nor have I helped him. I don't know why you think so, but it's obviously a misunderstanding...After all, the only reason I'm here...is because I want to kill him..."

Yuna took a deep breath before continuing. Naren noticing her heartbeat shooting up all of a sudden. Still not sure if he could truly trust her words.

"...As for being called a princess. You don't know the slightest about being a Shaman do you?"