Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Lathanos's Great Journey ❯ The Waterfall and the Assassin ( Chapter 15 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

By: Pika189

Title: Lathanos's Great Journey

Author: the ultimate SoBe Master

Chapter 15: The Waterfall and the Assassin

Email: mightysobe745_8@yahoo.com, sobe_rocks@hotmail.com

Category: Fantasy

As Lathanos and the others neared the next village, Sobasa finally blurted out, "My god! We've walking for hours, and not even a single worthy demon has shown up!" Scarlet had torn pieces of fabric from her kimono and wrapped her palms with it. Romona hadn't said a word since their encounter with Etheros.

"Yeah, no kidding! I really wouldn't mind one appearing right now because frankly, I'm bored as hell," Lathanos agreed.

As they entered Mablung Village, a young girl ran up to them. It was Elaina. Romona looked up at Elaina and smiled. "I've been waiting here for you," Elaina said. Her gaze traveled to Romona as she said this.

Sobasa hugged Elaina and when he released, she hugged Lathanos. Scarlet observed silently, watching Elaina's gaze flicker to Romona and then to the rest of the group. Calmly, Scarlet walked forward, whispering, "Hello," Elaina returned the welcome and the two disappeared after some time to converse. Sobasa cast a glance at Lathanos as he muttered something about watching the girls and disappeared.

Romona finally woke from her trance and, taking a step towards Lathanos, said the only thing that came to mind, “Solem won't be joining us from here on out. He tried to save me, and Etheros -“

Turning to her, Lathanos nodded and said, “Of course,” Nothing else was said; the two of them agreed on silence as they entered the forest together.

Following an animal trail, they came to a creek with a crystal waterfall rushing into a pristine pool. Smooth, black rocks surrounded the bedside. Lathanos let himself fall next to the creek, leaning against the granite rocks next to it and folding his arms across his chest.

Romona twirled her finger through her dress, letting a soft wind flow around her. Her blood red hair billowed in the wind and her amber eyes closed off to the world. A man just watched her and the woman just stood there. At the moment that was all they were, that in the end was all they would be. There was no elf or human here, just a man and a woman: a man who was confused and a woman with a clear and logical mind. The wind continued to blow, and the woman turned as the man stood. Then together, in unison, they whispered, “Why?”

Meanwhile, Sobasa was watching two teenage girls chatter away, and he was playing the babysitter. Elaina turned to Sobasa suddenly and asked, “So, what do you think?”

Two pairs of curious eyes focused upon Sobasa, waiting for his opinion. He could have slapped himself just now, but no, he said, “About what?” The curious eyes changed to anger, and shouts could be heard throughout the previously quiet tavern.

“What do you mean `about what'?!”

“Weren't you even paying attention?!”

“What are you, freakin' deaf!?”

“You loser!”

“Yeah, loser!”

“Pay more attention, Loser!”

“Yeah, pay more attention, Loser!”

Finally, the insults calmed down and the girls turned their attention back to each other, casting ugly glances at Sobasa who returned them in forced kindness. Sobasa yawned and went back to looking out the window, realizing night was coming. Elaina and Scarlet finally noticed Sobasa's silence, and glanced out the window.

Sobasa had rented two rooms: one with two queen beds, and another just the same. Scarlet and Elaina could stay in one bed, and Romona would get her own. Lathanos was certainly getting his own, as would Sobasa himself.

The girls had disappeared to clean up and go to bed, probably stay up and talk all night instead of falling asleep. Sobasa waited in the tavern bar, seeing the moon rising as he wondered wear Lathanos and Romona had gotten off too.

The rustling of the trees and the steady flow of the water hid their almost silent breath. The wind whispered silently, but caressed the two like a lover would. Romona was the first to speak, whispering, “Why did he leave?”

Lathanos only answered with another question, “Why did he let you go?”

Serenely, calmly, almost bravely the water continued its trek, and the trees continued to rustle. Where there was sound there should have been silence. Romona adverted her gaze and answered him softly, “Because Solem came…because he helped me escape and then was found by Etheros. It was because Solem told me to run and…because I did…” Breaking off of the warm lie of what she wished could be true, but it wasn't. There wasn't any way in this world it could be true.

Lathanos watched her knowingly, hearing the lie she had tried to keep out of her tone. Then he answered her question, “He left because he was teasing me, because he is merely playing a game with me. A game where he holds the strings of the marionette and I dangle,” Courage and anger flowed into his voice. “A game where he holds the pieces and he holds the crown. He finds it -“

Stopping him, Romona had placed a finger to his lips, muttering, “Yes, he is the puppet master, but you must become king and in due time you will, but just forget about it for now,” Her hand lay upon his shoulder in reassurance, and her face offered a gentle smile. Lathanos could only smile back at this. Both could feel their hearts beating faster and faster, but neither would make a move and neither a sound.

The water rushed over the waterfall, splashing and playing, as lively as the wind. The anger was over and the sound was beautiful, as beautiful as the gentle fall of the blossoms of a cherry tree, as beautiful as a dream, but this was no dream. This was real. This was it, for all they were in the end was a man and a woman.

Sobasa sat in the tavern, annoyed at the two of them, finally turning away from the window and into his room. There, he fell into a restless sleep where demons hunted his nightmares, and angels devoured his dreams.

As Sobasa slowly awakened the following morning, he noticed Lathanos leaning against the wall, out like a light. He had his emerald sword, sheathed, upright and was gripping it tightly. He was snoring loudly. Sobasa couldn't help but chuckle at this.

As Sobasa headed out of the tavern, he saw that Romona was already waiting for them. “Where's Lathanos?” She asked.

“He's still in the room,” Sobasa replied. “He must have been tired last night because he's leaning against the wall,”

Romona chuckled slightly, saying, “Don't worry, I'll go get him,” She headed into the tavern and up to Lathanos's room. The door was ajar. She stepped into the room slowly. “Lathanos…?”

As she looked up, Lathanos dropped from the ceiling. He then realized that it was Romona, shouting out, “Oh crap!” He landed on top of her with a loud crash.

As they got up and brushed themselves off, Romona shouted, “Lathanos, what the hell was that for?!”

“I-I'm s-sorry! I-I-I th-tho-thought you were s-some-someone else!” Lathanos stuttered. Turning serious, he then said, “I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen before we leave this village,” Romona was speechless.

As they exited the tavern, Sobasa blurted out, “Took you long enough!”

“Yeah, whatever…anyway, shall we press on?” Lathanos asked.

“Yes, let's get a move on,” Sobasa replied.

They turned for the exit and started for it. “Damnit! I still have that bad feeling. Something is gonna happen before we reach that exit, but what?! Damnit! I wish I new what that was?!” Lathanos thought.

A voice suddenly rang out through the village. “Lathanos~~!!!” It screamed.

Lathanos, gripping the hilt of his katana tightly, turned in the direction the voice was coming from. Standing on the roof of one of the homes was a samurai with jet black hair held in a long ponytail. He was wearing dark red robes. “You are searching for me, are you not?! Then come and claim me!” Lathanos shouted fiercely.

The man grinned, “My pleasure!” He leapt off the building and, still crouched low, started rushing towards Lathanos.

Suddenly, Scarlet stepped in front of Lathanos. The man came to a halt. “What is going on here?! Get out of the way little wannabe swordswoman! This fight is between me and Lathanos! It does not involve you!”

“Scarlet, what the hell do you think you're doing?!” Lathanos asked worriedly.

“This is my fight! I want to prove that I am more than a mere girl that's trying to be a swordswoman!!” She exclaimed.

“But -“

“I am fighting this whether you like it or not. Nothing will make me change my mind!!” Scarlet shouted stubbornly.

“Fine, but if things get bad, I will step in, got it?”

“That is understandable,” Scarlet said calmly.

“So who will I be doing battle with, Lathanos or the girl?!” The samurai asked impatiently.

“You'll be fighting me, and I have a name! It's…” Scarlet charged the man. As she neared him, she unsheathed her katana. When she reached him, she brought it up to strike the swordsman. He quickly unsheathed his own katana with lightning fast speed and countered. The sound of ringing steel echoed through the air. “…Scarlet!”

“I too have a name! It is…” The samurai pushed off her blade, back flipping into the air and landing a few feet from her. “Fenarfin Seregin!”

Scarlet and Seregin charged each other. Their swords met and they pushed off and went at it again. Clashing steel could be heard throughout the village as blow after blow connected.

“Damn! You are much better than I had expected! How old are you?!” Seregin demanded.

Pushing off his blade and landing several feet away, Scarlet replied calmly, “I be twelve years of age,”

“Twelve?! This is clearly swordsmanship that took years and years to develop!”

“I have been training with a blade since I was five!” Seregin was stunned. Scarlet took her chance and sunk her blade deep into his shoulder.

Seregin went to the ground hard as blood seeped from his wounded shoulder, some splattering Scarlet. “D-damn you!” He scowled. He struggled to his feet and turned to face her. However, his legs buckled and he dropped his sword. He then crashed to the ground.

Scarlet started towards Seregin. When she reached him, she raised her now bloodstained sword. “This is for your own good,” She said. Then, without hesitation, she brought it down full force, cutting deep into his skull and getting splattered with even more blood. Scarlet then used a clean part of her robe to wipe the blood off of her sword, and sheathed it. “Well, that's that. Shall we continue?” She said calmly as if nothing had happened.

“Yes, let's go,” Lathanos replied. `Holy crap! I cannot believe she just defeated that samurai as if he were nothing!! She's good, though she may not look it at first!” Lathanos thought. They then set out once again to continue their journey.

A/N: Well, what'd ya think?! I know it's been a while, but here's chapter 15!!! WOOT (lol)!!! Well I hope you liked it! Please R&R!!!!!! Well, later! ^^