Dawn- An age of Darkness

I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Hey don't laugh!" The poor guy picked himself up but melted a second later. "On second thought, keep on smiling. I really like that smile." Dick flashed a lady killer smile at me. What the heck was wrong with this kid?

Jowy cleared his throat.

The demon with Dick pulled the kid away from me in an instant and apologized on his behalf. Were demons really capable of something like this?

"Hey! Hey, what are you doing?" Dick cried.

I looked at Jowy with blunt eyes. "Care to explain?" I didn't bow. Didn't feel like it. 

Jowy didn't seem to mind. "We thought it'd be best if you went with them since you don't want elves escorting you."

I wanted to travel alone for a while. Dragging others into my journey always ended up in tragedy. 

"I have no objections!" Dick screamed. 

No one asked you!

"But I do. Why should I travel with him?" Traveling with the guy would have been very advantageous for me. He knew a lot of the things I didn't. But I didn't like the look in his eyes. And more importantly, I didn't like him. Did I end up growing a womanly intuition?

Dick squirmed and writhed. This guy had issues.

Jowy sighed. "Anyway, they are heading back to Demonica. On their way they'd pass Dwarvana. You are headed for the latter, correct?"

The old man mentioned the dwarves in his letter. I gave it a thought but never made up my mind. "How'd you know?" I looked around the room. There were more soldiers than before. 

Dracona in the Dwarvan lands if I remember correctly. Then Dwarvana is the capital?

  "Forgive me but I had to take a look." Jowy sighed again. 

I glared at him. "I see. So you're an expert voyeur as well. Anyway, I don't have much to say. If that's all then I'd like to leave. I have all my things and I only promised to stay a day." I looked at Dick and sighed. "Looks like I'm stuck with you for the time being." Dick was a dick. But he was still someone I could trust more than the elves, at least for the time being.

Maybe I was deciding way too hastily but I could always ditch him once I was out of Alfeime anyway. So this wasn't that bad.

Dick flashed a smile. Normally I wouldn't have had a problem with him. But I could barely stop my urge to slap him whenever he came close. The guy didn't have any pure intentions. And I could feel that from a mile away.

I didn't see Lianne or Imazael here. Maybe they had their own things to do. 

"I'd have liked to give you some things on your way but as you are, you probably won't accept them," Jowy said.

"More or less."

"But I do have something in my safekeeping. I believe you know." Jowy produced something from within his sleeves.

The old man had mentioned something like that in his letters as well. I wasn't planning on beating Jowy though. "Yes. I think I know what you mean."

"If you wish I can give it to you. However, know that it's something that might end up causing you more harm than good. It would be better to avoid it for the time being, as you are…"

"What the hell are they talking about?" Dick was whispering things to his friend, the demon. The demon on the other hand never really spoke much. 

"I'm afraid I'd have to bet on that good part then," I said. "Or do you want me to beat your ass?" I pulled up my poker face. "Because I sure hell wouldn't mind beating the shit out of you." 

Whispers floated around and I got the impression that the guards and nobles in the room weren't pleased to hear that. I guess I might have overstepped a little.

They only looked away when I said that though. I guess I could get away with almost anything as long as I had this form.

Dick chuckled uncontrollably but held it in. It made me want to chuckle too.

Jowy smiled and tossed something at me. "I thought you'd say that." He actually didn't mind. What was wrong with this guy's pride? Did he even have any?

I caught it. 

A crystal? 

"This is?" It was like a crude azure crystal. But something about it felt unstable. Like it had some sort of tremendous force locked inside which wanted to get out the first chance it'd get.

"That monster left us this, that night. I don't know what it said but I can tell you that, this thing isn't something humans should wield. It'll corrupt you." Jowy was serious. 

You don't say… what did the monster say that night anyway? I couldn't remember much from that night's incident. The monster said something and left this crystal. Maybe Alisa heard it… but…

But Alisa wasn't here anymore.

"Thanks for the warning. I'll keep that in mind." I quickly hid the crystal- or in better terms- the gem in my bag. Meanwhile, Dick had his jaw hanging. "What?"

"Stone…I've never seen one that big…" He was basically talking in gibberish. 

Irritated, I asked again. "What!"

"That's a divinity stone- a physical form of a god's mana. How the hell did you get one that big!?" He passed his shocked period and started the overexcited one.

"Calm down buddy. That's none of your business." I didn't feel inclined to share every little detail of my life with him. "Anyway, what do you mean it's too big? This thing's barely the size of an egg!"

"I wanted to give you a similar speech about that's none of your business but seeing your face makes me melt!" He giggled in excitement.  My initial assumption of the guy crumbled down even lower. "Okay take a look. I bought this baby for a good hundred gold. I assure you that's a mighty fortune."

There was a ring on his index finger. The ring had a small red gem, the size of a sesame seed. This thing cost a hundred gold!? "Seriously?"

Hundred gold meant literally ten thousand silvers. Which was two hundred thousand meat sticks!!!

That was a lot of money!

His eyes rolled around. His higher functions must have stopped working with the shock. "Now think how much that'll fetch!"

Honestly, now I was going crazy. But with a clear of throat, I tried to maintain my sanity. "Unfortunately I'm not selling it. It's getting late so let's get this show on the road. And I'd like some more details on the rock. See ya later Jowy." With that being said, I turned around. I knew I wouldn't be able to leave soon if things kept on going like they did. I had to take drastic steps. And step number one was to leave the castle.

"Wait!!" Imazael's voice prompted me to stop. I looked back and there she was, covered in sweat. Honestly, if I wasn't a girl right now, I might have felt a lot of emotions behind my legs right now.

"Whoa!" dick's mouth was open and he was about to start running.

But his demon friend grabbed him before he could do so. "Not this time."

"Yeah, what?" I snapped back to reality.

"This, take this with you." She threw something at me. 

I grabbed it. It was a pendant. It wasn't like I was a girl or something. Oh wait, I was. With a sigh, I turned around again and just waved. "Later."

"Farewell Daarc. May the gods be with you!"

"You mean the Demigods right?" I smiled and walked out. 

I thought Jowy'd try to stop me, but he didn't.

The double door opened and we left the throne room. 

Before leaving I could swear I heard Jowy whisper, "May we meet again."

Sorry, but I don't wanna.