Chapter 112: Luo Yang.

"If it is none of Jasper's business then it must be mine right? So why do you keep following me? I made it clear that I don't want anything to do with you." Haru stated as he turned to look at Maya, The short blond elven girl.

"I- Uh… I'm sorry." She whispered underneath her breath.

"You're sorry? What difference does that make? Do you even know what you should be sorry for? Or are you just saying you are sorry in hopes that you can manipulate me into trusting you?" Haru asked. He had seen how she thought that she was above him earlier in the day so he was less trusting as to what her intentions were.

"Fine. I am sorry for being a spoiled brat. I am sorry for shouting at you and I am sorry for speaking to you like you were a servant." Maya shouted. It seemed like it took a lot out of her to admit to her mistake but she seemed a lot more genuine than she did earlier.

Haru loosened up a little bit. The way she admitted to her mistakes was somewhat respectable and Haru decided to here her out.

"Okay. I forgive you. But why are you following me?" Haru asked her again.

"Well, I uh. I'm lonely…" She looked down at the ground with embarrassment.

"Do you not have any friends you could hang out with?" Haru asked.

"It's not that I don't have friends. I just don't need them." She exclaimed. Her cheeks were slightly red while talking about this certain topic.

"Oh, Well that's too bad. I was just thinking that we could maybe become friends in the future. But If you don't need any friends then I guess there is no point." Haru said with a smile. He sensed that she liked him for some strange reason.

It was probably the fact that they had both made the same enemy at the same time. It felt to her like they were in it together but didn't want to admit the fact that she wanted Haru to fight alongside her if it was necessary.

"Wait… I want to." Maya said quietly.

Jasper's ears pricked up and then looked over at her. She was looking at her feet and was fidgeting uncomfortably. She had never been in this situation. Usually, it was people asking to be friends with her. But this time she was forced to be on the offensive.

"You do? Then I don't have an issue with it as long as you tell me what you want from me." Haru smirked. It was still obvious that she had something in mind.

"Fine, I will tell you," Maya said with a smile.

"I want you to help me beat that demon from earlier." She said.

"The one that was causing a scene in the reception? Why I don't have anything against him. And why do you want to defeat him?" Haru asked. He was confused. He had only met the guy once and it seemed like Maya had only met him once also. But she wanted to defeat him for some reason.

"Well, You won't know yet since you entered the small world right after your interaction with him but he held a meeting with the demons right after you entered and they came up with a plan to kill both you and me inside the small world next time we go in.

I had someone spy on them and they said they would get the demon elders of the Soul Tempering Grounds to match us against demon fighters. I already brought it up with the elven elders but there is nothing they can do right now unless something happens." Maya explained.

"Really? Do they want to match fighters against me to try to kill me? That's fine by me. Hey, Jasper is there a limit on how many times I can fight each day?" Haru asked.

"Um no. But you should really take this more seriously. I get that you are wearing a mask so you don't have to live in fear of being hunted down but what if you die during a fight?" He asked, concerned for Haru's life.

"It's alright. I have a few tricks up my sleeve. And if I feel like I can't win against anyone I will just surrender. There is no point in fighting against someone stronger than me." Haru laughed.

"What?! You are actually willing to surrender? If you do that you will be seen as a failure. Your own human clan will probably turn their backs on you." Jasper began to explain.

Haru pointed to his face.

"As you said I am wearing a mask. I have nothing to fear. The other people don't even know me. Why would I care if they turn their backs on me? I could just go back home and take the mask off." Haru laughed once again.

"You are wearing that mask so you don't have to deal with the consequences of your actions? That's smart why didn't I think of that before?" Maya began to talk to herself.

"Of course. Why else would I wear a mask?" Haru asked.

"I thought you were probably just ugly and felt embarrassed about people seeing your face," Maya stated.

"Wow… You have the mind of a child don't you?" Haru said with hesitation. His smile now fading as he realised what he had gotten himself into when deciding to let this girl be friends with him.

"No! I am not a child. I am much older than you. We elves just don't age a fast as you humans do." Maya exclaimed.

Haru turned to look back at Jasper. As Jasper noticed Haru looking at him he opened his mouth and sighed.

"Yeah, Shes right. I think she is like thirty or forty in your human years. Although I did hear a rumour that she had the same mental age as an infant." Jasper whispered to Haru.

"What! Who made up that rumour!?" Maya shouted.

"I did, Just now." Jasper began to laugh.

Haru sat back and watched them argue. It looked like they had a good relationship although it seemed like there was some underlying hatred in both Jasper and Maya but it wasn't directed at each other.

"You guys seem close. How do you know each other?" Haru asked.

As soon as he finished his question the mood seemed to be ruined. They both stopped and turned to look at Haru.

"Well urm…" Jasper began to say as he scratched the back of his head. His eyes showed sadness as he was about to speak.

"We used to be friends a long time ago. Until my brother decided to kill Jaspers parents." Maya said calmly.

"Your brother did? Why? What happened?" Haru asked.

"There was no reason. My brother is just a bastard. I hate him so much. He didn't like the food that Jasper's family served at their restaurant so he killed them both in cold blood." Maya explained.

"I'm sorry…" Haru felt bad for asking. 'I guess I misjudged her a little bit. I thought she was a spoiled brat. But I guess she has nothing on her brother." Haru thought as he looked back over to Jasper.

"Ah, It's fine. I can't be mad about it anymore. It's all in the past." Jasper exclaimed and then turned around.

Maya was about to reach out toward him until Haru grabbed her hand. She turned to look at him with confusion. And as soon as she looked at him he shook his head in disapproval. The last thing that he needed right now was the sympathy of a family member of the person who was responsible for the death of his parents.

It would just lead to anger. And Haru knew it all too well. During his time in the military, he was the target of much hatred and blame for causing the death of countless soldiers, friends and family members.

Maya seemed to understand and put her hand back down to her side as soon as Haru let go of her.

"Well. I'm ready for another fight. Why don't you two come to cheer me on? Wait actually. I need you to do me a favour. Jasper?" Haru said changing the subject as smoothly as he could.

"Oh, What is it?" Jasper turned and looked at Haru, His eyes now damp.

"Sure what is it?" He asked holding in his emotions.

"Lend me some best cores?" Haru asked.

"Wait… You just wanted me to give you money? I swear… If you weren't a good person I would have punched you right now." Jasper laughed.

"But sure. Just don't spend them all." He handed a small red satchel over to Haru.

"Thank you." Haru smiled and then ran back over to the store where they sold soul mending potions and bought four of them before returning back to Jasper and Maya.

"Here. Now let's go." He handed the satchel back to Jasper and then they all set off with Haru leading them back toward the elevator.

As they walked out to the front door of the pyramid something crossed Maya's mind.

"Hey mask boy… What should I call you?" She asked.

"Oh, My name is H- Luo Yang…" He while just almost telling her his real name by mistake.

"You're name is H-Luo Yang?" She asked, Imitating the sound that Haru had made before correcting himself.

"No. It's just Luo Yang. Sorry I had something stuck in my throat." Haru explained without realising Jasper had already begun to question Haru's identity in secret.