Chapter 6
"If I allow you to take my children, my only children, will you promise me that you will keep them safe no matter the danger? Promise me, Eli Howr that you will keep them safe. " Spoke the mother bunny with tearful eye's as she stood up on her hind legs, paws touching Eros and Misky.
Shadow stared at her, eyes noticing the sadness and already seen loss in them. With a deep breath, Shadow slid his paw over his heart, his voice mighty yet held truth. "I, Shadow Orden will hold truth that if either of your children are killed, I will use my mana and soul and perish from this world as a fallen star." Shadow spoke with such bravery and truth, reciting the sacred words, the sacred spell which is activated upon a deep oath that once activated, in truth of what he says will befall him. A light appeared around Shadow and a symbol appeared over his body. One that appeared to be a teardrop with a dagger through it. The teardrop resembled his heartache and pain he endured. The dagger represented his bravery and soul. Together they will disappear along with Shadows life since he swore this oath.
Their eyes wide, full of shock. How could someone throw away their life like that? In order for someone to say such a thing, they must already know that trust runs deeper than any vein within the body. One that runs deeper than blood and tears and life itself. This oath is the true meaning of life. Life that has risen and fell within seconds of each other being created. "W-why child, why would you swear such an oath!?" Eli exclaimed, paws over her mouth as tears streamed down her fluffy cheeks. "Because it is thicker than blood and my only friend would do the same. For those that live in this world, I want to show them that I am not afraid to die and perish like sand to wind. Your son and daughter will be my knights, my sword and shield and I will be their shadow, one that follows and guides them. I want to save this world so that Orden can be happy. So will you allow them to help me save this world?" Shadow asked, standing tall as his tail swished behind him, catching the wind that softly blew.
In his brave eyes, ones that could hold only truth, Eli saw him. That smiling bunny with a scar across his chest. It's as though she saw him through Shadow with that look. Eli's eyes soften, her heart beating slowly as she watched that brave bunny smile with a fist to his chest. She lowered her tall ears, bowing with her paws on the ground and her forehead on her paws. "P-please bring them back to me. But live for yourself too. When I see you Shadow Orden, I see him, my beloved Aines. He too went off to war and never came back. Yet he fought with everything he had. S-so please, live and allow my children to live too." Eli spoke, ears drooping as she extended her paws out.
Shadow's eyes soften, watching as she showed her weakness. "I will. I will live for myself too. When I return, I will bring the last memories of Aines too." Shadow spoke, placing a paw on Eli's head, showing her that he understood and cared. Both had lost someone dear. So it is Shadow's obligation to bring these two back. Even if he is scarred and bruised. Because losing someone dear to you because of war is tragic. Because it's always the last goodbye and never the first.
Minutes later Misky and Eros came to Shadow, both with a satchel on. Stocked with food and others Shadow could smell. Eli was there too, waving goodbye to her children. Even the others came out to wave the three goodbye. A deer mother with her lion son and her bird husband. A human old man with his granddaughter whose a mouse. A tiger father and fox mother with their twin dog daughters and infant human child. They all waved goodbye, throwing good luck and stay safe with hearts full of innocence and hope. Because when war calls, only the brave and lucky can come home.
"Sir Orden, do you know a lot about Yuriens? You don't seem at all surprised about me looking human or that the rest of my people are all different looking." Eros spoke, walking behind Shadow and Misky who were walking ahead out of the village. "Yeah I'm curious too. Don't you find it weird?" Misky asked, bouncing beside Shadow who stared ahead like he was reading something intensely. "I know that the shapes and sizes of a Yurien does not make them. It's their blood and relationship they have with each other which is defined as something truly special. Yuriens, no matter who gives birth may be born another species. But that is what makes them truly special in my eyes. It just means that they connect us all in perfect harmony. Where mother nature truly thrives." Shadow spoke, smiling some at the two. "I never heard anyone say that my people are mother natures embodiment." Eros spoke, eyes shimmering with respect towards Shadow. "That's because no one truly stops and looks around at what they have instead of what they have yet to have." Shadow spoke, speeding ahead as he sniffed the air, eyes closed. "He really is something isn't he big brother?" Misky spoke, jumping up into Eros' arms. He chuckled, petting his sisters head. "Yes. He's powerful too. We can learn a lot from him, even if we lose a tooth or nail or go bald." Eros joked, seeing his sister gasp. "Not my fur! I don't wanna be bald! Don't jinx it brother!" Misky whined, slapping her brothers arm as he chuckled at her attempt to get him back.
Shadow watched behind him at the scene, smiling gently. He wonders if his lost siblings are like that. Maybe one day he can meet them. But for now he must gather his own people and save the world. "I smell a town not far from here. We can look for some more people to join our party and gather supplies there too." Shadow spoke, seeing a fake tear fall from Eros' left eye as Misky had smacked his cheek. Siblings right? "We go adventuring there all the time. It's the town of Johanna. The people there are really nice but the market place gets crowded a lot from their waffle banana's that get sold by Mr. Terrence." Misky explained, smiling in triumphant. "Waffle banana's???" Shadow asked with a confused and intrigued look, mouth watering some. "Yeah! They are super duper tasty! A waffle wrapped around a banana! You can add syrup or honey or whatever you want on it! It only costs two gold which is worth it!" Misky spoke, eyes sparkling. Eros' eyes were sparkling as well, their faces showing true childish wonder. Shadow imagined the savory meal. A golden waffle with a soft yet crunchy crust wrapped neatly around a fresh peeled banana with golden honey drizzled at the top. Shadow shuddered, eyes sparkling as well.
But wait, Shadow thought, how much money does he have anyways? "Wait a sec! Hold on a a minute! Value Transaction!" Shadow beamed, standing straight on all four of his legs. His mana suddenly surrounded him in a rainbow color, bursting forth in front of him as numbers appeared floating in front of him with a golden color. At first it started at one thousand gold. Then it increased by ten thousand. Then by a hundred thousand. Then the numbers suddenly were increasing by hundreds of thousands without ever looking like they could ever stop. Shadow panicked in shocked, swiping at it. "Wait wait wait wait wait WAIT WAIT WAIT-!!!" Shadow hollered, falling on his side with his eyes swirling. "I DON'T KNOW HOW TO COUNT TO THAT MUCH!" Misky and Shadow screamed together. Misky held her head as Shadow was fiercely rubbing the top of his head trying to rack his brain around the number. Eros pretty basically turned into a small chibi version of himself, staring at the numbers with large round eyes and a gaping mouth. "It will atop after some time. This is payment by the Gods. After all, we too would like to try this waffle banana." Orden spoke, Shadow staring up at the sky with messy fur around his head as he looked like he was done with everything. "You're hurting my head you know." Shadow spoke back, swiping to get rid of the numbers in front of him.
"Beautiful." Eros whispered, still in that chibi form staring at the area where the numbers were. "Brother don't be tempted by those numbers! It'll hurt your brain so turn back into your normal self!" Misky shouted, shaking her brother roughly as he stared at the area still. "We lost him Misky!" Shadow exclaimed, shaking him too. "Snap out of it! We can get waffle banana's with this!" Shadow spoke, seeing that Eros was still in that trance. "We have to resort.... TO VIOLENCE!" Misky screamed, making Shadow jump back and watch as she suddenly transformed. Her body turned into a muscular human form, her mana pink and surrounding her as she picked her brother up, slapping him with a straight face.
Shadow watched with a straight face, eyes small with a sweat drop going down his face. "Brother snap out of it!" Shadow was now taken back completely, Misky's voice turned deep. Deeper than any mans voice he ever could think of or hear. "Okay okay! My face hurts!!!" Eros finally said, back to his original state. But his face was swollen now. His sister seemed satisfied, her body morphing back into a cute bunny form as she nodded with a smile. A cocky prideful smile. "What... the hell was that?" Shadow asked, in disbelief of what he saw. "That was my Mega form. Me and my mama cab transform our bodies into a human muscular form that's stronger and faster than most giants. Though it's only for half an hour. But big brother Eros will be fine. I barely tapped him." Misky proudly spoke. "Yeah....." Shadow answered, making eye contact with Eros who gave him that look. The one that said, "Yeah, lightly my ass." But who is to judge when such a power up is on their side? Shadow isn't judging. Yet he made a mental note not to end up like poor Eros.
The three then went on their way to Johanna, talking here and there as they journeyed to that large town.
However something happened when they got there. Something that involved a mercenary, Shadow's group, and a chef. Something that made Shadow rethink having Misky and Eros with him.