Chapter Seventeen: Love

“Umbra where are you?!” The stern voice of Nova in my party chat.

“I had to get a few things but I'm on my way.” I hand two Silver to the merchant and take the two cones, “Thank you.” The merchant nods at me.

“Why are you thanking me? I swear if you're late for our first date I'm going to punch you!” I hurriedly walk through the busy alleyway.

“I'm coming! I'm coming!” I rush towards the middle of the city, the streets lit by many giant Glow Stone floating above the small posts. My armor making little clicking noises against the cobblestone floor. I turn the corner and see her sitting on a bench under the giant tree of the city that has small glowing violet and pink petals that fall down elegantly only to disappear as it touches the floor or any object.

“Umbra!” She sits with her arms crossed.

“I'm here I'm here.” I say handing her a cone.

“Dragonberry!? You know the way to my heart don't you?” She smiles and hugs me.

She's wearing a red kimono with her hair tied up and crimson lipstick to match her eyes, “You look so beautiful.” I am completely spellbound by her beauty.

“Thank you! You were supposed to leave your armor at the Inn!” She licks her ice cream, “Agh! So good!”

“I left most of it! I felt so vulnerable without my sword I at least need to be able to kick something!” I smile and sit down next to her. There's so many people walking around, Merchants, Adventurers, Performers and Bards, “The Earth Kingdom Capital really is amazing huh?” I hold out my hand and watch a petal land on it then disappear.

“This is such a nice place, I just wish Juzo and Eva could've seen it.” My chest caves in out of guilt.

“Me too.” We eat our ice cream in silence.

The city bell rings twelve times, “It's about to start! Let's go!” Nova pulls me by the hand and we run towards the lake on the far side of the city.

We run past many stalls and vendors of the festival and are greeted by an elderly elf as we reach the lake, “Welcome to the Earth Kingdom Lantern Festival!” He motions his hands to a pile of lanterns and markers, “You may each take one, write your hearts deepest desire and let it soar unto the heavens so the Elder Gods may heed your wish and bestow upon you their greatest blessing!”

We bow and he smiles. As we grab our lanterns and markers we hear him repeat the message over and over again. There are a thousand people gathering along the fields near the river. Nova rubs her thumb over mine as we gaze up above at the many stars in the sky. “What do you wish for?” She asks as I give her my back so she can write down her wish.

“It's a secret, or it won't come true.” I laugh but we both know already, “What more could I wish for when I already have a woman like you by my side?”

“Dragonberry ice cream. Rivers of Dragonberry ice cream.” She smiles and turns around for me to write on my lantern.

“That's very true.” I write down ‘Forgiveness' although I wouldn't expect either Juzo or Eva to forgive me for being a coward. My heart will remain heavy, but in a way this is also me forgiving myself. I get to live happily with this woman, the love of my life. She is the only thing that matters to me.

“Attention everyone! Please light your lanterns with the match inside and may the Gods hear your wishes!” The old man's voice echoes through the land.

Nova uses her fingertip to light our lanterns and we let go of them as they float into the sky. It seems as if ours are the first two to take flight, drifting in the endless sky followed by countless other shimmering lights. I hold her tightly as we watch the many lights fill the sky, “Nova, I love you so much. You are my flame, both literally and figuratively. You're so hot.”

She gently slaps my hand and kisses me, “Stop with the fire jokes.”

“Okay okay!” I kiss her again.

“I love you Umbra, with all of me. With everything that makes me, me.” I kiss her cheek as the sky fills with fireworks and fire mages standing on the kingdom walls shooting many different colors and shapes in the sky. Dragons that soar and many different beasts walking around, goblins and trolls. The crowd cheers as the show comes to a conclusion and the lanterns are too far to be seen.

“What do you want to do now?” I ask, squeezing her tightly.

“Let's look at the vendors and then get really drunk!” She yells triumphantly.

A squad of dwarves next to us Cheer, “Aye! Aye! Aye! We'll see yee two at the pubs!”

“I've never drunk with a dwarf before, let's see who can drink more!” I laugh heartily.

“Yer on! Didn't n’ybody tell ya not ta challenge a dwarf ta drinking! I like this lad!” The dwarf rubs his big belly and runs his hand through his long grey beard.

“We'll see you gentlemen tonight then! Invite everyone you see to the Boar Pub!” Nova yells and smiles, the way she laughs is so beautiful to me.

“Will do missy! Will do!” They begin walking in the direction of the pubs.

“I'm so hungry I wonder what kind of meat they have!” Nova rubs her belly, “Belly needs meat!”

“I'm sure there will be plenty.” There are bards and performers everywhere, children playing with fireworks and dragon kites. Lanterns decorate the many rows of vendors.

“Ooh look this one sells masks!” Nova picks up a clay mask of a Behemoth and tries it on, “Raaaghhhh! Raaghhh! Pshhhhh lightning blast!” We begin laughing.

“I hate fighting them so much.” I pick up a Under Wolf mask, “Look it's Desthro.” I put on the mask and howl.

“Lovely, just lovely.” She smiles at me.

“Can I help you two? Masks are on sale right now.” A young elf boy asks us.

I put my mask back, “Thank you but we're just browsing.”

“Okay! Just let me know if you need anything!” The boy goes back to painting a mask of a hydra.

“Thank you!” Nova says as we exit the stall, “Agh meat meat meat where could you be? Meat meat meat!”

I can feel the bloodlust of hunger emanating from her, “Look at that will that be enough for you?” I point over to a game where a roasted Boarliath is the prize.

“Come one come all and test your skill! Winner gets a whole roasted boar! For only ten Gold you can have a chance to play!” The large Elf man next to it yells, “The rule is simple! Hit the platform with this mallet to make the metal ball ring the bell and you get the prize!”

“This will be easy!” A tall muscular level 60 Adventurer stretches his shoulder and hands the ten Gold to the Elf who has a sly grin on his face.

“We have a player everyone!” A large crowd gathers and cheers for the Adventurer who grabs ahold of the mallet and practices swinging it.

“Agghhh!” He swings downward with a gust of wind following his impact. The metal ball rises halfway and the push of a button heard by Nova and myself is unheard by everyone else. The ball comes to a sudden halt and falls down.

The elf clicks his tongue, “Oh what a great try! Give it up for him everyone!” The crowd cheers loudly, “Would you like to try again for five Gold?”

“Yeah! I'll get it this time!” The Adventurer shoves five Gold in his hand and walks back to the platform. He takes a few deep breaths, “Grand Smash!” The mallet glows white and the Adventurer steps forward with all of his weight, causing the floor to crack and like a whip the mallet smashes into the platform, causing the ball to shoot up, snapping the mallet in half in the process.

Another click of a button and the metal ball stops before it hits the bell and falls down. More clicking of his tongue, “My my what a shame but a great try!”

The Adventurer’s face becomes red, “This game is rigged!”

The Elf wiggles his finger, “Nuh uh! Here's the secret! You have to have a swinging force stronger than that of a God Level Behemoth to make that ball ring the bell! Sadly you are just not strong enough! Kekekekekekeke!” The Elf laughs hysterically.

“That's not even fair!” The Adventurer looks at his hands.

“Dang isn't that funny?” I say to Nova but when I look to the left she isn't there.

“Here you go!” She hands the Elf ten Gold.

“Didn't you hear? It's impossible to ring that bell! How can a slim woman like you beat it?” The Adventurer pleads.

“Give the woman a chance! She's paid after all!” The Elf has a wide smirk across his face.

“Aw thanks for calling me slim!” She grabs the broken half of the mallet and swings. Before she makes contact with the platform she whispers, “Ta.” She runs to the Elf and puts the remote in his other pocket then returns to the platform and softly hits it with the mallet. The Elf goes to click the button that isn't in that pocket and the bell rings. The crowd cheers wildly.

“What the?” The Elf whispers then says calmly, “We have a… a winner?”

“Crazy strong!” The Adventurer says, “Sorry I doubted you! First rounds on me tonight!”

“What's the matter think that was a fluke? How’d you like to bet all of your gold that I can do it with just my pinky?” Nova’s trying to get tonight's booze for free.

“Woah really?!” The crowd cheers, “Take the bet! Take the bet! Take the bet!” They chant.

The Elf’s face turns red, “Fine! But if I win you have to give me two Platinum!” He has a smirk on his face.

“Fine it's a deal!” She holds out two Platinum and places it in the Adventurer’s hand, “He will hold the Nugz in case one of us tries to run without paying.”

“Got it! Count on me!” The Adventurer smiles.

The Elf hesitates and then places the bag of Gold in his hand, “Fine a bet is a bet!”

He squeezes onto the remote tightly, holding the button in place as Nova walks to the platform and holds her pinky up for the crowd to see. She lightly taps the platform and the metal ball shoots up too fast for the eye to see and then it hits the bell and causes the whole thing to burst into flames. The crowd is silent but then bursts into cheering.

“Cheater! You're a cheater!” The Elf pulls out a dagger and rushes towards Nova who is waving at the crowd.

“Feint! Feint! Feint!” I quickly grab his arm and squeeze it, causing him to drop the weapon.

The crowd gasps, “Cheat who's a cheat when you have this remote in your pocket!” I yell pulling out the remote, “This is why the ball never hit the top!”

Two guards rush from the crowd, “What is going on here!?”

“The Elf was a cheat, but these two stopped him and won the Gold and boar fair and square.” The Adventurer says calmly, “Camouflage Unequip!” His appearance changes to a Elf with flowing blonde hair and dark green armor.

The guards bow in a panic, “Sir Velek! You tried the game too?”

“At ease soldiers, I was investigating this fraud after my second in command tried this game a year ago. Even with my strongest attack the metal ball didn't budge. I'd like to thank you two for helping.” We both nod at him, “As for this scoundrel, revoke his merchant license and throw him in jail for fraud. That is all. Let the festival continue!”

“Aye sir!” The guards say as I hand the Elf to them. Velek hands Nova the Nugz.

“Thanks for helping.” He nods at me as well.

“It's no problem at all!” I shake his hand, I can feel the firm grip and strength of a warrior.

“No problem! Everyone! Come to the Boar Pub! Food and drinks are on us until this Gold runs out! Invite everyone you see!” Nova yells into the night sky and everyone cheers loudly.

“I'll have guards escort the Boarliath to the pub for you. It's the least I can do.” Velek says with a smile, “And as I said a round of beers is on me as well friends.”

“Thank you! We'll see you soon and you better be ready to get stupid drunk!” Nova gives a thumbs up along with a huge grin.

“We'll see who the better warrior is through drinking, there will also be Dwarves joining us so bring your best drinkers!” I taunt him and laugh heartily.

“Earth Kingdom warriors are some of the best drinkers in the land! Be prepared!” Velek laughs as well and we give each other a thumbs up.

Nova puts the Nugz in her satchel and we walk down to look at the rest of the stalls.

“This is so much fun! We should come here every year!” She smiles at me and I walk into a stall filled with amulets.

“I would love to spend every year here with you.” I smile at her and two small black earrings catch my eye, “Excuse me what are these?”

I point to them as the merchant glances at me with two bright violet eyes, “Ah yes they are called Nethershard, foraged from a distant land filled with darkness. They protect you from God level world ending attacks. I will sell both to you for two Platinum.” I sense no danger coming from this woman.

“What do you think love?” I ask Nova who holds one in her hand.

“Ooh so pretty! If we had matching earrings that'd be so nice!” She smiles and reaches for her satchel.

“I'll take them, thank you.” I quickly hand her two Platinum.

“I was going to pay for them!” Nova yells at me.

“I saw them first love, just pay for drinks tonight?” I smile at the merchant.

“Fine, fine thank you my love.” She brushes her thumb over it.

“Seal.” The merchant says and the earrings glow and float next to our left ears and push through, latching themselves, “All done, thank you for your service.”

“Thank you so much.” I bow and hold Nova's hand.

“Thank you!” Nova waves as we walk out of the stall, “Food and drink now! Muahahaha!” She rushes me towards the pub.

The grand hall of the Boar Pub is as vast as any battlefield, it is already filled with many people eating and drinking. As we walk in the doors the crowd begins to cheer, “Cheers to the two Adventurers who gave us food and drink! Aye! Aye! Aye!” We are given mugs of beer and are taken to seats on a platform where two mountains of Boarliath meat are waiting for us.

“Aye! Let's get drunk and celebrate life!” Nova holds her mug up high in the air.

“Aye! Aye! Aye!” Everyone yells and laughs.

I stand up, “Where are the Dwarves and Velek at! We have a drinking competition to have! Everyone has to join in the drinking competition!” I cheer and hold my drink up then gulp it down.

“Aye! Aye! Aye!” The crowd yells as I laugh heartily. My ears twitch and I hear screaming outside.

Velek rushes into the Pub with blood covering his right eye, “Earth Kingdom is under attack! Hurry to the underground shelter! Hurry!”

“My sword is on the other side of the city!” I say as Nova and I jump into action, rushing outside to see what is happening. Velek rushes back towards the main gate that faces the Dark Kingdom. There are dark ominous clouds above with rain that seems to be depleting our Mana, “Nova the sky!”

“Got it!” She leaps into the air, “Meteor! Meteor! Meteor!” Three massive balls of while flame and lava fill the sky and rush up towards the clouds. As they hit the clouds they crumble into tiny purple shards. She lands back down, “I'll get your sword! Ta!” She disappears and I continue to run towards the main gate. A few minutes later she returns with my Long Sword and armor, “Sorry there was a pack of Minotaur. I hate them.”

“Thanks love!” I quickly put on my armor and clip my sheathe as we run.

Velek is surrounded by his Royal Guard, alongside them are many high level Adventurers all facing a giant purple portal that blocks the gate entrance, “Healers and long range at the back! Tanks up front! Everyone else flank from the sides!”

I jump to the front with Nova and we nod at Velek, “What's going on!?” I ask.

“Every Kingdom is being attacked by the Dark Lord! We have to evacuate everyone!” Velek yells, keeping his eye on the portal.

“We will help!” Nova has her gauntlets on.

“Mind Control!” A voice from the portal says, the Nethershard glows and pulsates. I can't control my body. Nova struggles to fight it but we both can't move. A tall woman in black armor with long horns appears holding a jagged sword, “Nova and Umbra, drink the blood of every person in this Kingdom! I Nekra, servant of the Dark Lord command you. Drink!”

“I turn to look at Nova, she is already attacking, her fingers covered in small torches of flame are sticking through Velek’s neck. My mind is blurry as my body moves on its own, as my sword slices through innocents, as I gorge myself on their blood. I drink the Earth Kingdom dry, the Dwarves that I was supposed to drink with, the crowd that was cheering with us, everything left to ruin and ash, ablaze in a unquenchable fire. We were used to take over the Four Kingdoms. To destroy everything in our path. To spill and drink endless rivers of blood. Then we were sent on one final mission by Eva, to use a portal and find a secret amulet, one to revive our comrades. Who knew we were just bringing back Juzo who was banished by a mage to a different dimension. The Dark Lord Mage ruled over my timeline but that realm was destroyed by a clone Nova’s Final Step Supernova attack, Clone Juzo and Eva are about to perish with me in this timeline, but I sense the island Juzo will appear. Be cautious, I trust in you. Be weary of the Nethershard earrings! Goodbye.” I tell them with my final breaths, I hope the future is different. I hope it is brighter. I hope I can pay for my sins. The blinding white light from Nova is so warm, it destroys me.

“Yoooo! This dude just told a whole story in my head!” Wundah stares at the portal.

“Do you know what he meant?” AvatarPyro punches his fists together.

“I want some earrings dude!” Andrew scratches his right buttcheek.

“Who knows, who knows.” Wundah says before they jump into the portal.