51 Sadness

The sun's orange tinged poured on the market, it was obviously now at dusk. Pelvin sold his final clawed necklace, and he was pleased to recieve the coins. It jittered as as his palms grabbed hold of it. After handing out the money to the children, the edge of their lips were turned up with a gasp.

"Thanks a lot mister." The boy said.

Pelvin gave a wink. "Spend it wisely and maybe you could become a merchant in the future."

The boy gave a single nod, he smirked. "I will."

Afterwards, they then went away with a steady smiles on their faces. Pelvin turned to the cart and were seeking for a way to dispose of it. In a sudden, a person leaned close on the cart.

Pelvin's eyes were looking away, he presumed it was a customer. "We're already out of stocks, the shop is closed."

A familiar cackle echoed on his ear, after recognizing the noise, he sneered, his iris was to the corner of his eye as he stared at him. "Grim." His tone was sharp.

"You're time is running out, I'm gonna tell you what will happen tomorrow." Grim lurched forward he whispered on his ear. Pelvin swallowed his saliva as he recieved his message, his face frothed in sweat and his legs were becoming flimsy. He dropped on his knees. "Grim! You bastard."

Grim stepped away as his shoulders shuddered from his eerie laugh. "Someone will take care of your prey, you better hurry or else the worst could happen." He slowly vanished as he moved back into the shadows of the alley.

Pelvin closed his eyes, recollecting for his next actions.

***

Inside Sethan's room Celina eyed his assistant, his name was Luis, he had a mud brown hair and he was close to her age. Luis took a deep breath, he slowly came close to her. His cheeks were flushed and lips seemed hesitant. "Umm, miss Celina you're actually very pretty, maybe we could spend some time with each other, even just once?"

Skylar snickered briefly beside her.

Celina pouted as her eyes were directed at Skylar. She then returned her eyes to Luis. "I'm sorry, but I'm terribly busy I don't think I have time on such leisure."

Luis bit his lip, his face wrinkled on desperation. "Is it because of my appearance? Am I that ugly?"

Celina got surprised on his change of mood, she winced and got taken aback. "Now, now, I never said you were ugly. I just said--"

"Shut up, all of you girls are the same!" Luis hissed, he rotated and walked away, crossing the room.

Celina snorted in displeasure. "Geez, what's his problem?"

Skylar sighed, he crossed his arms. "That guy probably had terrible luck with girls." He began to strut away. "Anyway, we have no need to stay here."

Celina nodded and jogged close to his side, they went through the doorway and met the students outside.

The girls began to line up infront of Skylar, they squealed mirthly with a chuckle. "Could you please write your signature rune on this?" A girl handed him a paper and a soaked quill.

Skylar took it and signed it, but afterwards the paper on his arm were piling up. His face seem disgruntled, but he swiftly signed each one as fast as he could.

While the male students gathered close, encircling Celina. They shoot out questions to her one by one.

"Hey could you tell us your hobbies?"

"What does it feel like to cast a light magic?"

"Is it true that your magic is sealed?"

Celina forced a smile unto each individuals but she couldn't keep up with each of their questions. Skylar grabbed her arm and she was dragged away, leaving the building. They jogged across the courtyard, until they finally left the Mage Council. They lessened their pace when they reached the streets.

"I miss being popular in the mage world" Skykar said.

Celina chuckled. "I actually disliked it."

"Anyway, let's go to an inn, I have something to discuss with Samantha." Skylar went away first.

Recalling the event from earlier, she felt somewhat disinclined to see her but she had no place to go. She ended up accompanying him. Skylar entered the door first, Celina waited outside, she had to muster up her courage before she could step inside. Seeing it got bored for a while, she kmew she had money to spend with the pouch on her hand she went inside.

Inside, she noticed Skylar and Samantha were on a table, facing each other. Celina sighed as she observed on the sides. Then Skylar swiveled his body and waved at her, Celina cringed, but to avoid being blatant, she responded with a wave. Skylar gestured at her to sit beside him.

Celina shyly went close to his side, sitting there she awkwardly stared at Samantha. "Yo Samantha."

Samantha just gave her a glance and nothing else, her attention went to Skylar. "As I was saying, I would only allow it with two condtions, one is they should not be allowed to draw blades with their fellow human soldiers and the other is I need to hear it from her highness."

"I know, we will only use them as bargaining chip. For her highness however, she's not very confident to issue a very important decision." Skylar tapped the table with his finger.

Samantha steepled her fingers atop her crossed legs. "Then I'm afraid to say it again, but only the royalty can issue a command on the crusaders. If she says it, I might follow her command. But it is also possible that you are just manipulating her."

Celina stuck out her arm over the table, she called the waitress. The waitress then scampered to her side, and took her order. "I want a Red Berry." She said.

Samantha narrowed her eyes to Celina, she seemed irked. She cleared her throat, attempting to recover their conversation. "Anyway Skylar, I don't want to doubt you but I'm just following the rules."

Skylar sighed. "It's fine, I understand. I'll have to speak with her highness this night."

Samantha gave a single nod. "That would be for the best." Her attention was quickly stolen when Celina grabbed hold of her wine and poured it on her glass.

Samantha snorted in displeasure. "Quite indecent for a woman." She whispered under her breath.

Celina knitted her eyebrows. "Did you say something?" Her tone was confrontational.

Samantha crossed her arms. "Nothing, it's just that I find drunkards sickening, especially women."

Celina slammed the table with her arm, she gritted her teeth. "Are you talking about me?!" She hissed.

"Oh sorry did my words hit you?"

Celina stood up, she growled as they exchanged their snithing stares. "You were pretty sensible before you became an extremist!" She spat.

Samantha sprang up from her sit. "And you were before you lost your decency! You must have drank with other men and had fun with them."

Celina's lips was distorted. "Wh- what did you say? Are you implying that I'm promiscous?" She stomped her foot.

"With that attitude I wouldn't be surprised."

When they were about to lurch towards each other Skylar stood up and tried to seperate the two.

"Hey what happened to the both of you?" Skylar said.

Celina turned away with a snort. "Hmmph, someone just couldn't take opinions."

Skylar sighed as he facepalmed, she guided Celina away. "I think it's better if you were to transfer somewhere else."

"I would gladly do so than talk with someo--" Skylar gripped her arm tight, cutting off her sentence.

"Celina, compose yourself." His voice were threateningly sharp. She winced since his grip somewhat ached her arm.

"I'm sorry Sky."

Skylar pointed to a table on the corner, in which she slowly went to. Alone, she sipped her wine with a broken heart, it was her only solace in a world full of pressures. She rested her head on her arm as she began to drink her second glass. Her face was low as she did, her eyes were spiritless while her glances were aimless.

She often reflected how she got addicted on drinking, as far as she can remember she started to do so after she recently fell into depression. The fall of Light City years ago left a deep scar on her chest and she was almost broken. Only immersing herself in such treats she was able to avoid drowning completely.

"Oh, a bit under the weather?" A voice approached her. When she looked over, she noticed it was just Pelvin. He sat infront of her and had an empty glass of his own. Celina gave a weak smile and poured some wine on his glass, swoshing it up.

"I wish everything will be over soon." Celina said.

They clanked their glasses gently then took a sip. "I'm confused that I haven't seen you cast a spell even once."

Celina sighed, she was close to being drunk. "My magic got sealed by someone I trusted, that bastard." She blurted.

Pelvin chuckled. "Too bad, huh?" He then hid a smirk, knowing she wasn't at her full power she was more vulnerable. On his right pocket he had three smoke bombs that he managed to create. If an opening comes he'd like to take her away.

He swiveled his head to one table and noticed a familiar mage to his eyes. "Isn't he Skylar? The third Pillar?" He said to himself.

Pelvin took a gulp. "Anyway Miss Mage, where do you plan to go now?"

Celina gave him a fragile smile. "You can go now Pelvin. I bet Blue won't care anymore if you leave."

Pelvin bit his lip he leaned slightly closer. "But, I- umm." He got confused when Celina's face fell flat on the table. Seeing her fallen deep into slumber, he sighed as though he was tired.

Pelvin then stood up, he had a worried look, but it was a mask, he was pleased seeing her to be in such state, right now, it would be easy to take her away. He then roved his eyes around the environment, making sure Blue was not present.

When the coast was clear, all he needed to do was to pretend to guide her away from the room, then once outside, he'll tie her up, purchase a horse and head back to his city.

She slept on the table defenseless as a duck, then when he grabbed her shoulder a hand lurched to his arm, halting his movement. Pelvin got startled, when he checked whose arm it was, he panicked inside his chest.

It was Skylar and he didn't seem happy, his eyes narrowed out suspiciously unto him. "Who the hell are you?"

Pelvin chuckled nervously. "Well she's a friend of mine and I'm gonna help her return to her room."

Skylar gripped his arm tight, Pelvin cringed as his force crunched his muscle. He was released and was pushed, he staggered backwards and fell on his rump with a timid expression. "Sir, I'm telling the truth."

Skylar's icy stare sent tinge of fear to him. Then a voice was sent to Skylar's ear. "Sky, he's telling the truth." Celina sluggishly stood up and staggered, she managed to grab on the chair to balance her weight.

Skylar halted his steps and returned to aid Celina. After a few hours, Skylar steered her in a room where rested, when he went through the door, he met Pelvin who waited on the corridor.

Skylar and Pelvin exchanged gazes. "Even if she knows you, I still don't trust you. Don't come close fifteen meters away from her room." Skylar said.

Pelvin shivered a bit as he nodded. "I will Sir, but there is something I'd like to tell you."

"What?"

Pelvin gulped. "Celina is a hostage."

Skylar went close, making sure his ears didn't fool him. "Clarify."

Pelvin told whole of their story about Blue and her, especially their contract, and what would happen if she couldn't fullfill it.

In a sudden, Skylar's face fell, mist slowly came into view on the air, the temperature quickly sunk and ice flakes were forming on the corridor walls. He face was calm, but his bloodlust mixed with the piercing foggy air, his composed face gave a hint he could kill anyone without remorse. "Where is he?" His voice was intimidating.

Pelvin gulped, he staggered backwards and had the urged to run. "I'm not sure, but I'm sure he will return early on the morning."

Skylar clenched his fists. "Let's see if I can take care of that guy myself, because tomorrow will be his last."