25 Chapter 25

Reaching the outskirts of Floralvail Lovell and the others took in the view, fields of flowers stretching across in a rainbow of colours. The wind was swaying the petals of each flower, dancing in the air. A tranquil sight they have not seen in some time where the Faremin forces seemed to on their tails almost invariably since their journeys all started.

Luna's eyes glowed in the colours. "Oh, wow, Lovell, the view is so beautiful!" She turned to Lovell as he stared over the view.

Lovell was scanning to see if he could see Kana. "Yeah, but remember why we are all here for?" Turning to Luna. "We don't know when they might strike again? So, be on guard, because things can always seem nice but have hidden shadows as well."

Scarlet huffed at him in confidence. "Well, the flowers here can stop anything from attacking. They are made up of mostly Vail Hearts!" Lovell turned to her as she grinned. "So, even if they came after us, we are—"

"Sorry to say Scarlet, but the Vail Hearts only stop beastman, animilian and other beastlike races, not Humans or Elves." Zephyr burst Scarlet's bobble with her knowledge, as she shrunk away.

Lovell patted her head. "Thank you, Zephyr, for reminding me that five out of eight of us are going to be affected." Zephyr saw that he was both proud of telling Scarlet was wrong and that Fang, Gale, Zero, Lovell and herself would all be affected in some way.

Zephyr turned red as she covered her mouth. "I-I'm sorry, I-I-I just want to clarify what—"

Lovell smiled, "Don't worry, all that's going to happen is that we can't keep our current forms." Lovell felt very worried that no one has ever seen what his real mortal self looks like. "A-as long as we don't stay more than day or two." Everyone noticed Lovell was nervous, Lovell looked at them. "What?"

"Is there something your hiding Lovell?" Fang breaking the awkward silence.

Lovell flinched at Fang's question. "Yeah, what are you hiding, Lovell?" Lance poked at the issue.

"Um, well, um…" Lovell was nervous as they stared at him as he backed up. His foot slipped off the edge as Lovell fell to the fields below.

A young woman saw him falling into the field. "Hey, you, get out of my fields!" The woman charged at him. Lovell was rubbing his backend as he got up before being tackled by the woman. Lovell was falling flat on his face as she growled at him. "What do you think you are doing trampling over my flowers?!"

Luna slid down to them, as the woman was ready to burst. "Sorry, ma'am, but our friend here had lost his footing thanks to us." Luna bowed at the woman. "I am truly sorry for any headaches we may have caused you?"

The others came down as the woman pointed at Lovell. "Well, he should not have chosen my field to land in!" Scarlet walked up to her and slapped her; Luna gasped, the woman turned her attention to Scarlet. "What was that for wench?! Your friend ruined my hard work!"

Scarlet slapped her again, before using her magic to regrow the flowers. "That should cover the damage unless you want me to fire you, miss."

"Scarlet, don't do that. It was an accident, and she has every right to be a-a-achoo!" Lovell was trying to turn the tension down, froze at the sneeze.

The young woman ignored him, "Covering for him isn't enough, pig!"

Scarlet snapped as she smiled, "Miss, do you not know who I am?"

The woman shrugged, "Not really; you are just some nobody." She thought nothing about it feeling like she was the superior one.

Scarlet leaned in as Lovell stepped back, knowing where this was going fast. "My name is Scarlet de Rosier of the Rosier House, your employer."

The woman went pale as she turned to Scarlets sneering smile. She bowed at Scarlet, in utter fear for her lively hood. "Please, forgive me, ma'am! I am in the wrong here!"

Zephyr touched Scarlet. "She means no harm, and besides, we are all at fault for cornering Lovell."

Scarlet sighed, letting go of her anger. "Well, yes, your right, but she should look before she leaps next time." Turning the woman. "I have one question for you to miss."

The woman looked up. "Y-yes, what is it, ma'am?"

Scarlet folded her arms, "We came to here looking for a woman, named Kana, do you know where she might be?"

The young woman looked up, confused. "There is no one that goes by that name here?"

Lovell walked up closer to them. "A woman, with dark green hair, pink eyes and dark-skinned, have you seen anyone who meets that description?"

The woman thought about it; then, it hit her. "Oh, you mean that elf lady that came here about six, seven, eight years ago?" Lovell looked at eh others and nodded at her. "Yeah, she lives not far, she's never giving her real name before but goes by the wind rose."

Lovell smiled, "Kana the Wind Rose, how fitting she would use her title; the wind rose as not to let her enemies find her."

The young woman puzzled at Lovell's comment as she led them to Kana's home. As they reached it, Kana was exiting her home. She looked over to see the young woman, "Oh, what bring you here—" she stopped as she noticed here company. "Who is all this then?"

Lovell realizes that she did recognize him as he walked up to her. "It's been a long time Kana."

Kana stepped back as he said her name, she looked closer at Lovell. "Wait a minute?" Kana moved closer to Lovell as he smiled. "Lovell! Is that really, you!?"

Lovell laughed, "Yes, Kana. It's me, how's life been treating you?"

Kana gabbed his shoulders. "Fine, but look at you all cleaned up, well, your hair anyway?" Looking over him and then the others. "Well, why don't you all head inside and all get cleaned up I'll be while getting some supplies before we catch-up?"

Lovell looked at the others seeing that they looked horrible, "Ok, see you when-a-achoo!" Lovell went pale.

Kana could see he was not liking what was going to happen. "Um, Lovell, do they know about the fact you part beastman?" They all stared at Lovell, as he froze. Kana realized that he has never told anyone other than her, and the rest of the Goanna Mercenaries. "Well, good luck trying to stay like this in this town, Lovell." She patted him as she left.

Lovell turned to the others, "Let's all head in-inside, shall we?" Lovell was knowing; they now wanted to see the real face of Lovell.

As they entered, they noticed bundles of flowers, hanging out to dry. Scarlet naming off each one, she saw that they were used in medical treatments, turning to Lovell, "Hey, Lovell was Kana a healer back at the group you were with?"

Lovell looked over, "Yeah, she was the top healer for the gang, until…well." Lovell trailed off as the words reached his mouth.

Scarlet decided not to push it any further than it already was. Luna found the bathroom and called Scarlet and Zephyr over to join her. Lovell was saying that she should go first as she pointed the boys. They looked over to see that they were checking out Kana's old throwing knives and Lovell telling them which ones she used to train him in. They left for the baths, leaving the boys alone.

"So, you know how to use them, then Lovell?" Lance asked him as he picked up one of the knives.

Lovell is taking it from him, "Yeah, was crazy scary back then." Lovell felt another sneeze coming up, "Oh great—achoo!" Lovell's appearance change, he gained a tail, and claws with fur covering his elbows rubbing his nose. "Great…"

Lance dropped his mouth, seeing what Lovell really looked like, tugging at Gales sleeve. Gale turned to see why Lance wanted, only to see Lovell changed.

Gale walked up to him, "I never expected it to be so, well, it's way less then Kratos."

Lovell sneered at him. "What, it's different for every half breed? I could've ended up looking like a beast and with a human-shaped head." Lovell looked at Fang; he didn't want anything to do with commenting on how Lovell looked since he had changed as well. "Never expected you to have black hair instead of silver, there, Fang?"

Lance and Gale turned to Fang. "Now that's more of a change than Lovell's!" Gale stated as the girls walked out to let them know it was there turn.

They stared at Fang, "I never expected you to have black hair, Fang?" Luna said as she turned to Lovell. "I expected you the have a little more beastman than this—" Lovell took his shirt off, showing off the fur down his back. "Never mind, well anyway, the bath is ready for guys. Better take one while the water is still hot."

Lovell smiled sheepishly at them. "We'll be off then…" Lance and Gale walked off as Zero followed behind. Lovell turned to Fang, seeing that he was embarrassed that they say saw him in this way. "Coming Fang?" Fang turned to him, nodding as he walked beside Lovell as they went for a bath.