Chapter 21: Party of Four?

Nathan, Iris and Anais, crossed hands nothing happened. They tried high fives, fist bumps, secret hand gesture, even a dance he remembered he saw on tv.

Anais: “………………This is stupid, I quit.”

Nathan: “Come on, we can do it, just the tip of our fingers should touch, forming in ark, then we both go, HAH, like this see?”

Anais: “If you don’t know how to form a party, don’t make us look like idiots in the process.”

Iris: “The Hero is trying his best, we should all try as well.”

Anais: “Please, you don’t to do that stupid dance as much as me.”

Iris: “That’s beside the point, a stupid dance is better that doing nothing, I rather look like an idiot then give up.”

Nathan: “So, it is stupid, I thought was cool when I was younger, but I’m just an idiot, so long my childhood.”

Iris: “HERO NOOOOOOOO!?

With dead eyes, Nathan curled into a fetal position, while Iris told off Anais and Anais not listen to a word she said. Celes who had been spying on them, nearly fell over in laughter from the spectacle.

Anais: Listen, in order for us to form a party, first you designate a leader and even after that to be an official party you would need-”

Celes: “(A Unit Crystal.)”

Nathan: “A Unit Crystal?”

Anais: A Unit Cry……….. if you already knew, don’t make us do stupid dances?”

Nathan: “No, she just told me.”

Celes had made herself known to the rest of the group.

Celes: “(I’m sorry to interrupt, could I be of assistance?)”

Nathan: “You were spying on us?”

Celes: “(Sorry, I wasn’t trying to, when I came over, you were all dancing. You were so funn, focused, I didn’t want to interrupt).”

Nathan: “Why did you just correct yourself?”

Celes handed Nathan a small crystal.

Nathan: “This is?”

Anais: “Ah, a Unit Crystal?”

Nathan: “This is it, you just conveniently had this lying around?”

Celes: “(No, this was giving to me by Lady Amelia, I think she wanted us to meet.)”

Nathan: “Amelia, huh?”

Iris: “Lady Amelia, she knows where she is?”

Anais: “She doesn’t, we already asked her, back when we were trapped.”

Iris: Right………….back then.”

Nathan: “Iris, you okay?”

Iris: “Yes, there is no need to worry.”

Nathan: Hmm………….. well, okay.

Nathan turned back his attention back to Celes, He could tell Iris was holding something back, but she would tell him if he needed to know.

Nathan: “Okay so how do I use this?”

Celes: “(I will tell you on one condition?)”

Nathan: “And that is?”

Celes: “(I want to be in your party.)

Nathan: “Say what now?”

Nathan was a little surprised by her declaration, she didn’t seem at all like the type to want to fight.”

Nathan: “Why?”

Celes held her head down in clench her fist.

Celes: “(I’m tired of being protected, I want to try fighting for myself.)”

Nathan:………….Ah, you over heard us talking earlier after the meeting and your trying to prove yourself, if that’s the case th-”

Celes: “THAT’S NOT IT.”

Nathan grabbed at his head, it felt like she screamed in his ears. Her eyes beginning to water.

Anais: “Hey fairy, let’s step away.”

Iris: “Yes, will leave it to the Hero.”

Iris and Anais walked a little ways off. Even if they couldn’t hear, they felt as though they shouldn’t be listening. Celes

Celes: “(Yes your right, I did over hear your conversation, but more than that I’m tired of being protected. Since my voice cannot be heard, everyone always assume I can’t do anything. When you fought the Gorgon, not once did you think I could be useful, you said it yourself, I had so much power, but you still saw me as nothing but a burden. And the worst part is that I don’t ever try to prove them wrong.)”

Her head rose, her gaze meeting nathan’s.

Celes: “(I want to learn to protect myself, even if it just a little. I want to prove that I’m not just some voiceless weakling, in need of protection.)”

The look in her eyes, she was infuriated, with the people who saw her as weak and angry at herself for letting them believe that. Nathan thought, everyone wants to protect, she was no different.

Nathan: “…………..No.”

Celes word came crashing down around her. His single word echoed through her soul.

Celes: “(Why, why can’t I fight.)”

Nathan: “No, I’m not saying you can’t. Celes, I said so earlier, I have no intention to fight directly with the Gorgon, I’m happy that you found your courage, but after hearing what you said, letting you in the party would be completely redundant. I mean, if I did let you in, I’d feel like I’d be wasting your feelings.”

Celes tear were flowing down her head, she poured her soul into that speech. Nathan placed his hand atop her head.

Nathan: “Hey, hey, hey, cut that out. Listen, its good enough that you have this feeling, there will be a time in the future when you’ll need this feeling, don’t waste it on something like joining our party.

She looked up to Nathan, he smiled down at her, a warm smile that made her feel a little better. Celes wiped the tears from her face, she still wanted to be a part of his team, even if they did nothing. Her gaze fell to the crystal in her hand, she had forgotten about it. Then her face lit up, she thought of something.

Celes: “(I understand, I show you how to use it.)”

Nathan: “Really, I thought you were going to say no after turning you down.”

Celes: “(I could never turn you down Hero.)”

Nathan: “(Thanks Celes.)”

Nathan turned and called the girls back over.

Celes: “(First, have you decide on a leader?)”

Nathan: (No we haven’t.)”

Iris: “Haven’t what Hero?”

Nathan: “She says we should decide a leader.”

Anais & Iris: Huh?”

Nathan: “I said, we need to decide a leader.”

Anais: “What the hell are you talking about, you’re the leader.”

Nathan: “What, since when?”

Anais: “Since ever, we were following your lead, this entire time.

Nathan: “When did I ever lead you anywhere?”

Iris: “When we search the study, when we fought those plant creatures.”

Anais: “When we escape the Uzy, when you escape the forest.”

Celes: (When you were fighting the Gorgon, when you decoded to help slow the Gorgon.)”

Nathan thought back to all those instances, he wasn’t really trying to lead. He was just thinking of ways to help get everyone to safety, plus some of those instances, he was going off information he receive from everyone else.

Iris: “Whenever we fought your always so calm and collected, like it all came naturally.”

Anais: “You don’t panic in situation where you are at a disadvantage, I was surprised how easily you dealt with the broccoli when we were trapped.”

Charisma Increased +1

Celes: “(She’s still calling me broccoli.)”

Nathan face went flush, he didn’t realize he was held in such high regards.

Celes: “(Are you okay, your all red?)”

Nathan: I fine just a little, taken aback.

Nathan turned away from everyone for moment to fix his expression.

Nathan: Alright if you two are okay with following me, then I’ll will leader.”

Iris: “I planned to just that.”

Anais: “It’s not like, we weren’t already doing it in the first place.”

Nathan: “Alright now that we have that settled, how do we do this?”

Celes: “(Yes, first to activate, you must supply it with a bit of mana, once you have done so, on your status screen, the “Party” screen should appear.)

Nathan: “Oh, I already have that?”

Celes: “(What?)”

Nathan: “It’s already there, I can enter it but I don’t know how to add anyone.”

Celes: “(……………..Hero, could I see your hands?)”

Nathan: “Uhh, sure?

Nathan held out his hands to Celes. She examined each closely, poking a small hole in her hands, she placed them flat on his. Both their hands begin to admit a blue light, that faded after a while. Celes smiled a huge smile and jumped back.

Celes: “(It seems, my help is not needed, Hero just have each of them place their hands atop yours, your hands must be on the bottom. They also need a drop of blood to confirm the contract. Also, let them know that, once they enter your party, you be able to view their status screen.)”

Nathan took a look at his hands then back to Celes.

Nathan: “That’s it, hey wait, where are you going, Celes?”

Celes ignored Nathans cries and ran off, a huge grin on her face.

Anais: “What was that about?”

Nathan: “I have no idea, but she told me to let you know that if we form a party I be able to see your status screens?”

Anais: “What!?”

Nathan: “What’s wrong?”

Anais face turned pale, she never even thought of the possibility that this what happen.

Nathan: “Why are you freaking out?”

Anais: “I-Its nothing.”

Nathan: “………Anais, if you don’t want me to look at something I won’t. I don’t even need to tap your “Name Bar”.

Anais: “What?”

Nathan: "Well, it showed me a lot of personal information, some things I didn’t even know, I can only imagine what it will tell me about someone else. So, I won’t look, that goes for you as well, Iris."

Iris: “I do not share the same concern as the rodent, feel free to gaze upon me as you like, my body is yours to do with what you will, I shall bare it all, is it is what you wish.”

Anais: “THE HELL ARE YOU SAYING!?”

Nathan: “Iris, I forbid from ever saying that again.”

Iris: “You upset, that’s strange, Lady Amelia’s books said that you would love that phrase. My body is a temple and the Hero should be free to roam the halls at his leisure, maybe I should start with that.”

Nathan: “Iris, I forbid you from reading anymore books from Amelia.”

While Nathan scolded Iris Anais got her thoughts together.”

Anais: “Fine, as long as you don’t look.”

Nathan: “I won’t and thanks for trusting me.”

Anais: “It’s not like, I trust you or anything, anyway how do we do this?”

Nathan: “Oh, you place your hands on mine and some blood to form a contract.”

Iris went first, she made small pricks on her hands and then placed them atop nathan’s. The same blue light and just as quickly went out. Anais did the same, the same light shined, then went out.

Anais: “Is that it?”

Nathan: “Well yeah I guess.”

Iris: “Hero, a moment, didn’t Celes do the exact same thing?”

Nathan: “Yeah, she was demonstrating?”

Anais and Iris looked to each other then back to Nathan, he didn’t get it.

Iris: “Oh, Hero.”

Anais: “Hahaha, she got you.”

Nathan: “Got what?”

Nathan thought for a moment suddenly got a thought, he quickly brought up his party menu.

Nathan: “That, little………….what the hell?”

Name: Celes Adea Level: 13

HP: 250/250 MP: 8000/8000

Race: Wood Nymph

Legacy: Natures Heart

M. Ability: Forest Manipulation

P. Ability: Photosynthesis, Ecofriendly, Overgrowth, Nature Rant, Celestial Veil

Stats:

STH 5

DEF 15

INT 67

AGI 17

LUCK 34

Name: Iris Level: 8

HP: 800/800 MP: 50000/50000

Race: Fairy

Legacy: Mana Force

M. Ability: Enchantment, Elemental Mastery, Sensory Adept

P. Ability: Mana Absorption, Celestial Veil,

Stats:

STH 18

DEF 43 Inventory

INT 74

AGI 25

LUCK 35

Name: Anais Myrddin Level: 7

HP: 500/500 MP: 125/125

Race: Scribe Eater

Legacy: Record Keeper

M. Ability: Intelligence Thief, Shadow Step

P. Ability: Sensory Block, Knowledge Eater

Stats

STH 35

DEF 32

INT 105

AGI 67

LUCK 175

Nathan: “(The hell is this?)”

Nathan stared at the screens, mouth hanging open. These stats were completely ridiculous. Nathan knew Anais’s luck stat would be high, but she must be the single luckiest person in existence, she could probably win the lottery over and over. Her intelligence was high as well, was it because of all those books she eats?

Then there was Iris, her stats were not to dramatic, but she had so much Mana, she was like the final boss in a game. Though think about it a second time, fairies were always known to have I levels mana reserves, some to the point where they seemed to have an inexhaustible amount. That fact that she could run out, made her a little less god like, though if she had so much, why does she always look so tired after she cast spell in succession. Maybe she just gets tired like everyone else, even if she almost never runs out, it still would cause fatigue, constantly using it.

Nathan hand begin to glow, on the back of his right hand the initial of each of his party member were set. When he touched one of them, it showed there HP, MP and ailments. This was convenient, this way he doesn’t have to keep pulling up the entire status screen, to check their conditions.

On his other hand appeared a circle and three arrows. Each arrow directions aimed directly at one of his party members. This way he could tell where they were at any given time.

Iris: “Hero, is everything alright?”

Anais: “You better not be looking at anything you’re not suppose to.”

Nathan: “No I’m just surprise by some of your stats, I’m am seriously impressed.”

Iris: “Really, are they that surprising?”

Nathan: “Well yeah, neither of you could beat a butterfly in, a fist fight, but you more than make up for it with other stats.”

Anais: “Are you complimenting us or insulting us?”

Nathan: “A little bit of both, but this is okay, I can’t learn any magic for now, but if we’re in battle, I can lead while you two cast spells.”

Iris: “I don’t like this formation.”

Nathan: We don’t really have a choice, I have the highest defense and the highest amount of HP, if you get attack head on, you wouldn’t be able to take it. I have a plan for that, but it can wait until tomorrow.”

Anais: “Well, Lady Amelia probably never thought I would become a human and the Fairy probably wasn’t even a thought.”

Nathan: “Yeah I was thinking the same, so for now will be taken the brunt of attacks, Sorry Iris, I know you don’t like me getting hurt.”

Iris: “No, your formation is the most efficient way.”

Iris smile her normal smile, but Nathan felt as though she was straining.

Nathan: “Alright, both of you go get some rest, I tell everyone my plan in the morning.”

Anais: “What about the broccoli?”

Nathan: “Meh, she did trick me in to it, but if it means that much to her, I’ll let her stay for now. Seriously, she's gonna be disappointed when we don’t fight."

Afterwards they all split up, they made their way back to their respeactive rooms. Nathan decided to knock down his room, he didn’t needed, plus if he really wanted to add this plant to his list, it would come in handy later on. Thought that wasn’t the only reason he didn’t need it.

He promised Iris that they would stay in the same room, only if she didn’t follow him anymore tonight, she agreed instantly and Nathan regretted immediately. He didn't have a choice he needed to something and he didn't want anyone else to know.

He invited Saria to talk, he wanted to ask her something about Celes, something he neglected to tell Anais or Iris. Something about her abilities, from what he read, something wasn’t right.

Once everyone was sleep, Saria flew over to where Nathan was. He was sitting back in the area where the enchantment once was, sitting atop of the rock he was slammed into earlier. He had come earlier and recovered all the elven weaponry he couldn’t grab earlier. Now that water ran through the area again, he could watch it slowly becoming green again.

Saria: “Sorry Hero, my sisters took a little longer to fall asleep.”

Nathan: “With all that’s happening, I’m surprise that anyone can sleep.”

Saria: “Yes, I’m actually glad we could talk, I feel my sister’s reaction towards your declaration was disrespectful, I wanted to apologize on their behalf.”

Nathan: “No, that’s fine, the Hero saying he wasn’t going to fight, you never dream of hearing that.”

Saria: “No, you were right, all this time we’ve never thought to fight ourselves, even now, I praying for the Grassvalley Tribe to arrive, before the creature does. Though, slowing down the creature, is a great of a plan as any.”

Saria stared at the river, until recently this area was so dry, the speed in which it was returning to normal, was abnormal.

Saria: “Hero can I tell you something?”

Nathan: “Go ahead.”

Saria: “To be completely honest............ I’m scared, not once has something like this happened, at first I thought to wake mother, but after seeing Celes capture you, I thought I could fight too, but then, the Grassvalley Tribe…………….. all this time.”

She began shaking, she pulled her knees in and buried her face.

Saria: “So Many thoughts ran through my head at that moment, my sisters could end up this way, I could end up this way, I froze up, I just didn't know what to do."

Saria was now shaking terribly.

Nathan: “You still want to protect, its hard being the oldest huh, plus the responsibility of being leader.”

Saria: “But as you said, we just have to stall the Gorgon, until the Grassvalley arrive to destroy the beast."

Nathan smiled disappeared, he was thinking he might have regretted saying that. He stared down a the water rushing by.

Nathan: “................Are the Grassvalley Tribe really protecting you?”

Saria: “Of course they are, what a thing to ask.”

Nathan: “I don’t mean to sound rude but, after seeing Celes status, something doesn’t seem right.”

Saria: “Her status, how?”

Nathan: “Earlier tonight, Celes tricked her way into a party with me, I got a pretty good look at her abilities. After what I read, I think I might have been lied to.”

Saria: “Celes, I don’t understand.”

Nathan: “I get you might not be able to tell me everything, but seeing as how she now in my party and the fact that so many problems are coincidently keeping me from leaving, I have to ask……………. are you all prisoners?”