Chapter 28: Connection
The air was thick with tension. Takabi's knuckles were pure white from the grip he kept on his knees. No one spoke in the room, and everyone just kept their eyes from meeting one another.
The Dragons joined them not too long after all had settled down, and they immediately sensed that something was afoot.
Garuga had scanned around at the teens, before pulling up a chair and sitting down. He crossed his arms, waiting for an explanation as to why everyone seemed so full of fear.
Takabi bit his lip, closing his eyes and slumping down in his seat. There was nothing he could say to sugarcoat it, and the simple idea of it was currently unfathomable. He considered the idea before, and there was plenty of evidence that had supported it up until this point. Even as he spoke, as the words left his throat, he simply didn't want to believe it.
"My father took Aqua."
"How," Syrreth questioned, a stunned expression on her face. "The Bunker is protected and hidden in a field from those who are not allowed in these walls. He shouldn't have been allowed inside without permission from one we allow."
"So we have a traitor in our midst?" Porrelth questioned, and Takabi shook his head.
"No.. I know exactly how he got inside the Bunker. I…" He paused, and a wave of guilt washed over him.
A lump formed in his throat, and his lips felt dry and hands shook slightly. Nana knelt next to him, her hands slithering over his in a form of silent comfort. He looked at her with a soft glance, then steeled himself and spoke loudly, yet calm.
"I gave Carlos permission to come down here at one point during the break. He never took the offer, but I never revoked the right from him either."
"So, that little oversight is what allowed him to get inside. Well that's grounds for a punishment training session later," Garuga said. "Right now, we must focus on getting the girl back. Her holding a Gem makes her extremely valuable, and completely dangerous. The mind of a child, with the power comparable to a God. If she were to have a change of heart, it could spell disaster for us all."
"Heart?" Kairas repeated. He looked at his twin, meeting his violet eyes.
They had the same idea.
Aqua had a Gem just like them. They were connected in that sense.
Was it possible to track her through the Gem itself, Kairas thought.
"I have an idea." Takabi stood up, releasing Nana's hand. "We'll take a small party and search for her trail. Kairas and I can possibly do it if we tap into our Gems. Raia, it's up to you if you want to come."
She seemed taken aback by his invitation. "Me? But why?"
"Well, I owe you, after what just happened with Shink." Takabi said, and raised his palm to stop any of the Dragons from asking what he was talking about. "I'll explain later. Right now, Aqua is our top priority."
"Let's leave the injured behind then. Nana, you will remain and tend to any wounded. Raia, supporting her would be in your best interest." Syrreth placed her hands in her track jacket pockets. "Takabi, Kairas. We three will go after the girl. This way, we have three powers and two possible trackers. Should things be difficult, we will have an easier time getting away."
Giving Syrreth a firm nod, the three quickly hurried from the room, eyes hard with an unbroken determination.
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The breeze felt gentle.
An ominous odor was mixed in with the lingering scent of berries and river. The liquid road had the sound of a calm spring, rushing water and jumping fish holding the illusion that all was at peace.
Takabi zipped up his jacket, brushing the sleeves and exhaling thinly, cheeks rosy from the strangely cold air. Kairas had his eyes closed, the tip of his finger on the soil as he focused, black markings rushed up the right side of his body in an arcane design that ended with a single feather on his collarbone.
"I can feel it," He said loudly. "They came through this way, but the trail ends here. This must be it."
Takabi hurried over from the riverside.
In the moment, he was thankful for Kairas. Had he tried searching himself, in his exhausted state he might've not been able to find anything at all. Shink had taken a great deal of effort out of him, and he was feeling the effects of what he simply dubbed as "The Human Experience". Lack of power, and body feeling full of lead under normal weight.
Kairas' eyes opened suddenly, the markings on his body quickly fading as he got to his feet. "We have company."
"How many," Syrreth asked, thin scales forming around her eyes.
"Three. Can't tell you much else from that."
Nodding, they quickly moved back to back, eyes scanning over every direction they possibly could see.
Slight tremors shook the ground, crows soaring into the air from the trees. Takabi looked up at the birds, then quickly snapped his eyes back down in front of him, catching the grey fist of a Hunter.
Kairas ducked and slammed his fist into the stomach of another that had appeared, and Syrreth quickly expanded her arms and forced a shockwave to blow the pair away, before hopping upwards and bringing her foot down into the earth, shattering it with intense force. Dust shot into the air, obscuring the view of the twins from her, but both nodded and charged after their targeted Hunter.
Takabi tackled his, wings bursting from his back and stretching out. He grit his teeth, carrying the Hunter through tree after tree, spinning and throwing the creature into the dirt. He landed, wings relaxing. A burning sensation rushed through his mind, but he ignored it, watching the Hunter rise up from the dirt. It smiled, a simple smile that said nothing but the need to destroy.
The want to kill.
"Death. Destruction. Is that all you things are really good for?" He asked, not really expecting an answer. "Judging by what you're called, I would expect you to simply be a good tracking type of creature. Instead, you're just a mindless dog."
The burning in the back of his mind grew. Part of his vision developed black spots, but there was no pain. Little pockets of a different image began to form.
Blueness. Blurry from tears. Aside from that, he couldn't see much else.
When he came to, the Hunter was already dashing at him.
He jumped back as the monster smashed its fists into the soil, then grabbed one of the loose stones and threw it at him. Takabi brought his arm back fast, flames igniting and burning the pieces of earth. Without hesitation, he leapt into the air and onto a tree nearby, eyes narrowed as his vision locked on his enemy.
The Hunter grabbed the tree and ripped it from its roots. Takabi hopped to the next one over, flaming stars forming between his fingers. He tossed them, the stars piercing the Hunter's skin and erupting in an intense fireball of white.
As he watched the flames, his vision began to alter again. A deeper burning feeling behind his orbs, Aqua's injured and tired face coming into his view. She was moving her lips, but her words were unreadable.
Help? Is she trying to ask me for help, Takabi questioned.
Logically it would be a cry.
His fingers brushed against his chest. "Is she reaching out to me subconsciously with her Gem?" Takabi failed to notice the Hunter leaping through the air, flames fading at the intense movement. The creature slammed its fist into Takabi's gut, the boy coughing up spit. A large, grey palm gripped his head, squeezing tightly. The Hunter let out a roar as if it had just captured its prey.
A loud, powerful roar that disturbed the silence.
Takabi swung himself back, thrusting his legs forward and connecting a heavy kick that shook the monster's grip. The boy's back connected with the ground, air leaving his lungs on impact. He rolled over, picking up his head and rubbing his throat. The Hunter landed on its feet, stomping the ground in as it began to charge with unshaken resolve. With a deep breath, Takabi pushed himself up and snapped his palm out, releasing a blast of pure magic that struck the Hunter full force. However, it did little more than annoy the monster.
"Is this thing stronger than the last one?!" He flipped back, stumbling to his feet and blocking the incoming attacks from the Hunter. "No, I just didn't recover enough yet." His fangs slowly grew, eyes glowing intensely.
At the next punch, he slapped the Hunter's arm away, letting his body snap into his Fallen Angel State. He slammed a palm against the Hunter, releasing a wave of focused magic, letting it rip through the monster's stomach.
The Hunter roared in pain, stumbling back as Takabi leapt up and kicked the monster's throat, knocking it to the ground and letting it slump over. He landed on all fours, releasing his transformation and breathing in heavy gusts of air. His eyes moved to the left, two simultaneous lights erupting in the distance through the leaves.
One was of pure white.
The other light turned into a black iceberg around the size of a small building.
Takabi smiled, holding his arm as he strolled through the bushes. Not too long after, he reunited with Syrreth and Kairas, both eyeing him with a glint of worry in their eyes. He dismissed it, the visions of Aqua burned deep into his mind.
Something was happening at this very moment.
"Let's hurry," He said suddenly.
Kairas nodded, his right eye turning black and black markings rushing up the right side of his body. Takabi underwent the same change in white. Both boys allowed their Gems to resonate as they focused on the single point where the portal was supposed to be. Both pulled their dominant hands back.
Takabi's right.
Kairas' left.
Both held a ball of magic, which they allowed to flow freely out, to merge and spin around the portal, causing the tiny speck to expand in size. A bright blue ball greeted them, a soft rush of wind bending away from the portal.
Syrreth walked behind the boys, nodding in acceptance at their ability.
Takabi winced. Another image rushed into his mind. This one was clear as day.
Aqua was surrounded by a group of men in cloaks. All had blades, none seemed to be magical. The Huntress was behind her, staff in her grip and smoke rising from her palms.
"We need to hurry," He said suddenly.
The Gem markings faded from him and Kairas. He took a deep breath, leaping into the portal head first. Kairas followed after him without a moment's hesitation. Syrreth remained behind for a bit, her mind thinking back to the olden days.
Garuga, Porrelth and herself.
The three dragons rushing into battle and making their enemies regret existing. The feeling she gets from these two boys, even though it's only been brief, is the same she would get from the back then. Most would feel that's an omen for bad things to come.
In Syrreth's mind, it merely reminded her of how old she truly was. "I have to say. Truly, they will grow into amazing young men."