"So Leo, what can you tell me about Lizbeth?"

I relaxed on beans back, moving my arms behind my head as I looked up at the clouds above us. Bean had molded his back into having rough walls around it, kind of like a boat. The walls were white and smooth to the touch. It reminded me of an armadillo shell.

I looked over to Leo who had his hands folded in the corner. His eyes were closed and he seemed to be thinking. He took a breath, letting a small flare fall out from his mouth. He then opened his eyes and looked into mine. Giving me a very serious look.

"I'm not gonna tell you anything." He said firmly.

I sat up rather quickly and stared at him.

"What!? Why not!?"

"Don't worry about it." He said dismissively. "I have my reasons."

"Still a little douche huh pretty boy?" Zack sighed from atop Bean's head.

I groaned and stared at Leo. Who gave me a rather plain stare back, until he closed his eyes again. Not saying another word. I sighed and laid back on Bean. Well, that confirms that there's something up with Elizabeth. But what could it be?

"Yah taell me whaen the blood wahshes off than hero! Yah taell me whaen yah cahn look yoahsself in the mirrah aguyn and nawt say a mawnstah!"

A monster? She was so sweet, what could she be feeling so guilty over. Actually come to think of it. She did silence Leo when he was trying to tell me something about her, what did he call her again? A Siren? I moved my thumb to my face and started chewing on my nail. I wonder what that means. Sirens are known to lure men at sea to there deaths right?

So let's lay everything out in front of me. She's known as the Siren, every time I've shown mercy today she was shocked. And she asked me when does the blood wash off, and when can you look at yourself again. She even called herself a monster, plus she told me that she was really poor back home. Looking at this just for what it is, I'd say she feels guilty for someone she killed. There's also the chance that she wanted to kill me. Sirens are known to kill men, so maybe I was on her list. Then again she had a good chance to do this earlier. That is, unless she knew Alexis and Valentina were there. No, that freak out she had. I doubt she'd be like that if she knew people were watching...

Well the real question is, what will I do with this information. I was literally just a flight away from our fight. And if I don't go all in, Lux was gonna die. I sighed.

"Why is my life like this.."

"If you're wondering why you were blessed with a harem of women while I'm not. I'd like to know that answer myself." Zack grumbled.

I sighed.

"Why can't you be getting challenged by swordsmen?" I muttered.

"Hey, if fighting some lame swordsman means I can swim in a sea of babes, then it's totally worth it. Besides, if it were me, I would've clapped them already. I'd walk up for a handshake, and then, pocket sword!" Zack cheered.

"Pocket sword?" I asked.

"No, wait! FINGER BLADES! Wait no, no sword breath!" Zack snickered.

"To think some goddess thought it was a bright idea to make you conjure fire..." I huffed.

"She just knew how hot I was," Zack said smugly.

"More like how full of hot air you are..."

"You two.." Leo grumbled.

"I know you're not talking when you're body's built like Bowser Jr."

Leo groaned.

"I don't even know who that is.."

"Your kidding, right? You've never played Mario before?"

"What part of grooming me all my childhood did you not understand. We didn't get to play games or watch cartoons."

"What did you do in your spare time?" I asked.

"Read and plot murder," Leo muttered.

"Geez, it's like we're raising our own Hannibal.."

"Finally, a reference I understand." Leo sighed.

"That's unsettling. .." Zack mumbled as he faced forward again.

Soon enough we were back, flying over the arena. I sat up and leaned over the wall. I stared down at the destroyed buildings from my match with Isabella. My stomach dropped a bit as I remembered it. I needed to try my hardest, but I also needed to help Elizabeth...

I scanned the area until my eyes landed on a familiar ship. I could see somebody on it. But I wasn't sure if that was her or not. She was like a spec from our perspective.

I stood up and stretched, mentally preparing myself. I spent this whole time thinking about figuring her life out. I hadn't even thought about a battle strategy. Welp, I got like three minutes, let's think.

She can fly and telekinetically control her ship. But not all of her ship, she did say she could only load the cannons, not fire them. That proves she doesn't have full control. But still, I have no idea to what extent. Plus I need to remember her titles, she's a swordsman and the Siren. I wonder if she has a murderous song? Heck, I wonder if her sword has some secret abilities. She's a pirate archtype. And they're pretty sneaky. I sighed as Zack started to lower Bean down to the ship.

So I need to avoid getting on or near her ship, maybe even use the buildings to hide in. I can't fight well airborne. So drawing her in would be a wise choice. Plus she can't fire her cannons without being on her ship. So if I draw her away, the ship loses all its advantages. Then, I can turn this into my playground. I moved my backpack off from my back and grabbed some paper from it. Just in case I'll stuff my ears before the fight. And when I win, I'll talk to her.

As we came down, I could see the familiar happy glow of Elizabeth. It was like earlier today never happened. I looked her over curiously as we landed. I hopped off and I saw Elizabeth jump off her ship. The wind coiling around her as I watched her descend down from the sky, landing right in front of me. Her beautiful sea-green eyes staring back into mine.

"Oye! sohry faw floyin awhy eahlier, some old maemohoys cuyme up. buh' Oy'm ooll bettah naow!" She said with a nervous laugh.

"That's alright, really. I'm just glad you're okay. Maybe after this, we can go get dinner like we planned, just the two of us and talk."

"Oh? Is someone askin me on a duyte?" She teased.

I felt my cheeks flush and I immediately looked away. No, focus. Don't get flustered. I took a breath and turned back to her.

"Liz, I'm worried about you," I replied.

And for a moment. The mask fell off. She looked lost, confused even. She immediately stepped away and looked down to the ground.

"Whoy cahn't yah just layve ih' alone.." She muttered. I felt a huge gust of wind come in and circle around her like a tornado. Before I could even react. She shot up into the sky. "The foigh' stahts naow!"

I guarded my eyes from the intense gust Watching Liz swiftly shoot up and then elegantly land on her ship's railing. A loud creaking roared through the area as her ship slowly rose from the water. The water below the ship turning wild as she flew up, sending it out like rain around me. But I didn't move, I just stared up at her. Watching her glare down at me.

"I get it," I mumbled.

If I'm gonna get close to her. If I'm gonna be able to breakthrough. I need to win.

"Holy crap! The hell did you say to her Stryder!? Did you use one of my pick up lines!?" Zack called out, but I didn't respond.

I just turned to look at Leo, who was just staring back at me from Bean. You're testing me, aren't you Leo?

I slowly turned back to Elizabeth. Watching as her ship turned toward me. I activated my super strength and started condensing it into my legs.

I took a breath and turned to my abandoned playground. Jack, Arthur, Zack, and Leo. Everyones expecting so much from me. Every step I take, every choice I make. It's all eyes on me. I balled my fist and leaped forward into the city. And right now, I bet deep down Elizabeth wants me to keep reaching out to her. No, I saw it in her eyes. She's screaming for someone to grab her hand. And no matter what it takes, I'm gonna reach out to her!

I bounded like a bunny, further and further into the city. Once I felt I was far enough, I Leaped behind some buildings and hid. I summoned a small shiny shiel and moved it just barely around the corner of the building. Then I carefully watched its reflection. I could see her and her ship flying into the city now. Maybe I can climb up and intercept her. Try and end it in one shot...

"Hoidin ahh ya!? theenk Oy'm gawnna come in and seahch huh? waell, Oy gawt somethin faw yah haerao! " she roared.

I continued to watch, a little thrown off by what she said. Did she really read me that easily? Then I saw something odd. Ropes were thrown down from the sides of the ship. I watched curiously as three on each side came down to the ground. Elizabeth just lowered herself down onto the deck of her ship. Leaving her out of view. But then, I saw my worst nightmare sliding down.

Skeletons and Zombies! Real skeletons and zombies were sliding down from the ropes! I was speechless. My eyes stuck on the zombies. It was like their skin was just barely holding onto the bones. Its sagged and shaked with a dark molding color. Then my eyes shifted to the skeletons. They all seem to have a worn red residue on their bones. Like it was dried blood. And if it was blood, whose was it? But the worst part, was that they were sliding down in the truckloads! She had a whole undead army!

"No way..." I mumbled.

Wait, I've heard about this before. The flying dutchman having an undead crew. I wonder, I wonder if the blood she was talking about. Did, did she have to make this army!? And if she did, can that happen to me if I lose!?

Either way, this makes her a necromancer. And makes me way in over my head.