3 Chapter 3

As four months went by, Lovell started enjoying his life with Morris and his gang. Lovell felt there was no need to leave as he found he needs to leave and go back to Luna.

Lovell reached each hurdle in his training to make them closer as a family with each day. Lovell was making new friends and a few enemies as the days passed. Lovell found happiness between the chaos from raids and bounty hunting happening around as the adults and the teens that went off to do odd jobs for money and food.

His thoughts eluded him back to Luna. The idea of her just being Lunatica's reincarnation was unsettling. He found comfort in staying with the group. As the sun started to set, Lovell found it pleasant to watch the twilight hours go by.

From a distance, Lovell could hear Boss Morris calling him over and looking over at Morris. He noticing Ark was at his side. Lovell and Ark glared at each other. The moment Ark met Lovell on the day, they took him back to their camp. It was instant hate towards him. Lovell found he did not like the attitude of Ark as he tried initially to be on his good side, although it turned from tolerability to hate towards Ark.

Morris looked at them both; he could only sigh at the relationship amongst them. "So, umm," Morris cleared his throat. Morris, trying to break the death stares between Ark and Lovell. "How is your weapons training so far with Kana?" Morris started to become worried that they might attack each other at any moment. Morris clapped his hand in front of their faces. Bringing them back for his safety. "Hopefully, she's not giving you such a hard time?"

Unfazed by Morris clap. Lovell turning his attention to Morris, "Fine, I do find her method a little too...um...harsh." As Lovell folded his arms in thought, she was eccentric with her training methods: 'are you ready to kill or not' when training. Ark ridiculed him with a small laugh, scowling back at Ark. Lovell decided to ignore him, for there was no effort in it. Looking back at the camp, Lovell started running off. Turning around to Morris before he got too far. "Well, I'm going to hit the hay." Waving goodnight to Morris. "See you in the morning, Boss!"

"Don't forget that we're packing camp tomorrow!" Morris called out. Lovell waved a gestured back at that caught what he said. Ark turned his head, with a growled look towards Morris. Feeling it directed to him, Morris stiffened as he prepared himself. "You hate the kid, don't you, Ark. Why is that?"

Ark shifted his weight. "He's a Theyan hybrid, and I'm a Dracoman. Natural enemies." Ark blatantly answered.

Morris, unimpressed by Ark's answer, frowned. "He seems to get along with the other Dracoman, with no problems." Ark only huffed at Morris's comment.

Morris could see that Ark started to become a little stiff. He had a small plot to lighten the mood. Even if it's a small amount, stretching himself out. "Well, I think I'll hit the old sack as well. I'm only human after all and need," childishly clasping his hands, "my beauty sleep." He grinned.

Ark swung his fist towards him. Dodged it with ease, then scampering off and leaving Ark to question his leader's very actions at that moment. Letting out a sigh Ark, he wandered off to his bed and hoping that nothing else could go wrong.

With the sun rising, Lovell was packed and raring to go. He took a glance northwestward, back towards Marewood, wondering if he would ever see Luna again. After all, Lovell was kidnapped— when Lovell interrupted Morris and Ark's heist four months ago. At the time, Lovell didn't know where he was or if he would survive the trek back if he escaped.

Although as time went by, Lovell had beck accustom to their way of thinking with the group. Bring his attention back to the task ahead, roll-call was being called, and his thoughts moved on as he got going with the others. Kana ran up to him to strike a conversation with him, but Lovell was else ware in his thoughts. The thought that he could ever live up to Morris's expectations of him. Kana huffed off as Lovell noticed she was mad about something.

After setting his sleeping area, Lovell could hear someone calling him. "Lovell!" Looking up, she noticed a young elvish child with green hair called out to him.

Noticing who it was, he smirked, "What's up, Grailla?" Looking over, he had a burlap bag with something in it.

With a cheeky grin, "Do you want to play a prank on Ark?" Grailla shoved the bag in front of Lovell. She then opened the bag showing off its contents to him. He looked up at her, and a grin dragged across his face. Grailla took one glancing look at his face. The two ran off to find Arks' location.

The group had decided to settle within the Grand Dale Kingdom's boundaries, a human base kingdom with a minority of Animalian citizens. The trade was fair, and the people lined in their pockets.

Although Lovell and Grailla had no interest in the gang's activities, they started to look around to find out where Ark was setting his sleeping area. They found it with a little luck, and with Ark leaving to see the rest of the preparations for a big heist on one other local.

They've become too greedy, so Morris and the others take care to lighten his load with the kings' blessing. All the gang's order comes from the leaders of kingdoms. Since Lovell is still too young and in training amongst the rest of the mercenaries, he found ways to have fun with the other children. Like Grailla, she may look like a teenager but is only eight years old. The two seemed to have struck gold when Ark had left.

With their evil grins, they went to set the prank. Ark may hate Lovell, but the thing he hates more is snakes. They seem to make him cower in fear most of the time. Lovell went to keep an eye out for Ark while Grailla planted the red horn snake in his bag. Being that red horns aren't poisonous, it was a safe option, even on Ark.

With it all set. The two scurried away. They are finding a spot to watch as they wait for Ark's return. Upon his arrival, he went straight for his bag to grab something. The two snickered in anticipation, shortly after a bellowing roar of fear erupted from Ark. The two partners in crime giggled into laughter as Ark approached. Grabbing them firmly by the ears, they stopped dead in their tracks. Ark grinning at them, the could old sheepishly smile back. He was dragging them to Morris's tent.

Ark brought them to Morris. With an angered expression covering his face. Ark barked at Morris of what had transpired. Lovell and Grailla were looking at each other. A grim expression formed on their faces while Ark continues. Morris, with a composed-out look, listened to Ark's complaint. He was nodding along as Ark ranted, Then shooing him off. Morris was sending someone to get Grailla's mother, ran off shortly after. Lovell knew she was about to get an even bigger earful from her mother.

When she arrived, Grailla went pale as she walked away with her mother — looking over to Morris — becoming cold in anticipation of what to expect out of the boss. Lovell noticed that Morris was shaking as fear starting to settle. He became nervous that he was going to get yelled at even more. Without warning, Morris Started to burst out into laughter. Confuse in what just transpired. Lovell did not dare say a word.

As Morris settled down a bit, he opened his mouth. "Sorry to worry you there, Lovell," as he wiped a tear from his eye, "but Ark is in the right, here." Bursting out laughing once again before finishing his talk. Lovell to terrified to talk within the moment. Morris then became serious. "As I know now, you are going to be walking a dangerous path if you take the road you say you are."

Lovell's gaze pierced through Morris. "it's the only path I can take if I'm going to find any closure for my village. Kill the dark lord is the only way I will be satisfied." Clenching his hands as blood dripped off them. His jaw clenched tight at the thought.

Morris laced his hands together. "You need to realize that the road to killing that man is a tough road to do." Placing his hands on the table. "it's one filled with only death and sorrow."

"I know," Turning his head, "but it's also the path that's more fruitful out of all of them. Not just for me but all." Morris could hear what he was saying. Lovell was tilting his gaze over to him. "I know that death awaits, but so does happiness. If I were to take the easy path, it's just like suicide." Lovell's voice became agitated. "But killing yourself to end the suffering instead of fighting it to find true peace and happiness finally. It is just unthinkable for me." With a slight smile, Lovell walked off. His anger for the dark lord stronger than his hate for Ark seemed imminent at best. He walked back to his tent. Tucking himself to sleeping as the flames of anger raged in his heart and giving way to a new day.