11 A New Addition (Ali's POV)
"I..."
"Aliana!"
"Ali!"
I blink to see Morna, Cresta, and Aron rushing towards me. Upon seeing obsidian dude Aron immediately points his bow at him.
"Who are you?" He demands, his voice emanating hostility.
I mentally smack my head, oh so now he remembers how to use his bow?
"Guys, it's fine he saved me plus he's-"
"That sword! You're..." Cresta, the ever observant, is the first to notice.
"What?" Her brother, not so much. I wonder if they really are siblings?
"He's the sword wielder." Morna speaks up, but her voice is unnaturally serious. I meet her eyes and see a spark of...vigilance? She didn't show any of that with Aron, so it can't just be because he's a wielder...
At this Mr. Obsidian at last speaks up for himself.
"My name is Deus and I am the sword wielder. It is my pleasure to meet you." His voice is a rich and low timbre and I find myself involuntarily shivering. I immediately shake my head, snap out of it, he's a wielder for Lyria's sake! Plus his name means God, talk about egotistic...although I guess that's more his parent's fault than his...and considering how hot he...ARGH, no!
Each of us has a different reaction. Cresta's is the largest, her eyes practically shoot out stars. Aron on the other hand seems surprisingly more vigilant, what, does he think the new guy's going to steal Morna away? Speaking of Morna, the vigilance in her eyes has abated slightly and is now replaced with a peculiar look. Before I have time to scrutinize her Cresta starts babbling.
"Hi! I'm Cresta, this is my brother Aron, he's the bow wielder by the way! That there is Morna, (I'd keep away from her, she's...let's say violent), and this is Aliana! She's suuuper bad ass with her staff!"
Gosh, where has this girl's intelligence gone to? One cute guy and she starts babbling like this, although I suppose he is a wielder...I glance at his sword, its obsidian shade matches his eyes as if it was made for him. Made for him...Just like Kasia's staff...unlike me...
Hmm? I become aware of everyone's gaze on me.
"Yes?"
Cresta repeats her question, "Deus can travel with us right? Because he's a wielder and that's who we're looking for anyway?"
Oh? So according to this girl I'm the leader even though she seems to be deciding everything for herself?
"Yeah, whatever." I shrug, I'm leaving this group soon anyway. Especially now that I've learned about the Machinist's Society I've actually got some place to go.
"To have such a lovely lady accept me the pleasure is all mine." Obsidi-Deus's smooth voice is complimented by a nauseatingly polite bow...and a charming smile sent my way. Wow, in less than a minute he went from someone I actually found kinda cool to a typical womanizer.
I'm confident enough in my appearance and aware enough of how my well proportioned body, dark eyes, and chocolate skin give me a wilder more exotic appeal. Although when put next to Kasia's more tranquil grace...I shake the thought out of my head. I've been increasingly thinking of her recently, I wonder why?
Either way, it's true I'm somewhat used to men flirting with me...until they see my staff skills...which is when the women begin to swoon. I shake my head once again and turn my thoughts back to Deus.
He seems to be integrating into the group pretty well. Cresta's obviously fan girling, Morna has regained her usual rhythm with no signs of the earlier peculiarity, and even Aron is grudgingly accepting. Still, I know my best friend can't have had that look for no reason and I sidle up to her.
"...Hey, Morn?"
"Yup Ali?"
"Earlier you-"
There's this look in her eyes. I've only seen it once before. That look, that tells me if I ask any further someone's going to die. I swallow back my question. Morna will tell me when she's ready and even if not it's none of my business.
"So...how is it being courted to?"
Her face breaks out into a huge smile and she starts chattering. Somehow, I feel a surprising amount of her happiness is genuine. I haven't seen her this happy since...ever. Maybe for once things are actually looking up?
