The Aquarius Gādian
"It seems the trauma she experienced from the Elementalist scarred her mental state causing her to have two split personalities" Haru replied.
"Are you sure Haru?" Yuki asked.
"When I healed her using the spell I chanted earlier, Her physical body didn't suffer any wounds or injuries causing her to pass out, It was her mental state" Haru replied.
"Rei here has two split personalities, I'm guessing the first one is the Rei you know the one who experiences emotions and the other one who runs instinctively and only knows pain and suffering" Haru added.
"Rei passed out from the mountains when you were exploring right?" Haru asked and all of them nodded in response
"Did something happen causing her to faint?" Haru asked.
"We were suddenly attacked by a treant and to our surprised... Rei used her Elemental Art to protect us" Shizen replied.
"But after the treant's death, Rei suddenly became emotionless... And a few minutes later she passed out..." Shizen muttered.
"Well that explains it" Haru replied.
"Rei must've triggered her other personality when were attacked causing her to faint afterwards" Haru added.
"Can you heal her Haru??!!" Yuki worriedly asked.
"Unfortunately this is beyond my power, The only one who can heal her trauma is Rei herself" Haru added.
After a while they decided to talk some more since Rei hasn't woken up yet.
"So Haru what're you doing here?" Shizen asked.
"The Sage Council sent me here to investigate about the sudden disappearance of a few Elementalist" Haru replied.
"The problem must've been serious having a Gādian involved" Shizen replied.
"It is, but I could've wish the Sage Council could've sent someone else though" Haru muttered.
"So are the Sage councils really that powerful?" Ryūsei asked.
"Well we're not as powerful as the Crowned Dragons Ryūsei, but we can put up a decent fight against a few higher rank demons" Haru replied.
"Speaking of higher rank Demons, It's possible that one may be involved" Haru stated causing everyone in the room to be shocked.
"Are you sure Haru?" Shizen worriedly asked.
"The Elementalist who disappeared were all A to S ranked, So the lower rank monsters are out of the question" Haru replied.
"The only possible suspects are either a criminal organization or a high rank demon" Haru added.
"It's really a pain in the butt really, ever since the Demon Clan returned... The Sage Council became so busy" Haru muttered.
"There are a lot of classified information I can't share with you all, but the one thing I can only state that is there is no doubt the demons have returned and a war might happen soon" Haru stated.
"The Sage Council is doing it's best but without the Crowned Dragons nor the Grand Elementalist... We wouldn't stood much of a chance" Haru added.
"That's why King Yogan's priority right now is to find the Grand Elementalist" Haru stated.
"But unfortunately the Fallen God is also after him" Haru muttered.
"Come to think of it, we did saw something weird in the mountains..." Yuki muttered.
"There were some areas in the mountain with the trees and plants around the surrounding were found all dead and dried up as if its life was drained from it" Yuki stated causing Haru to be a bit shocked.
"Life drain... Could it be possible that a... No it can't be..." Haru muttered as she was doubting herself.
"What's wrong Haru?" Yuki worriedly asked.
"Yuki... I need you to take me to the area where you saw it" Haru stated as she gets off the bed with a serious look on her face.
"I gladly would... But unfortunately Rei I still pass out... So I can't leave just yet" Yuki replied.
"If it's okay with you Miss Haru, I'd like to come along as well" Ryūsei politely asked as he stands in front of Haru.
"If it's just the area where the life drain occured, then I could show you where it is" Ryūsei added.
"Oh a brave little Elementalist we've got here" Haru happily said.
"Are you sure you can handle a high rank demon?" Haru happily teased.
"Then that's more of a reason why I should come, If it's a high rank demon... Then I'd like to help as much as I can" Ryūsei replied.
"I can see why my little sister likes you" Haru happily teased causing Ryūsei to blush.
"Of course you can come with me, I'd be happy to see the strength of the newer generation" Haru happily said.
"What about Rei? Should we wait for her to wake up??" Shizen asked interrupting the two Elementalist.
"I'll stay behind and watch her while you guys go get the herbs" Yuki happily said as she then lays down on the bed next to Rei.
"Besides I'm getting a little tired" She added.
"Lazy butt" Shizen muttered in thought.
"Well then let's go, we'll be back once we got the herbs and after Haru's investigation" Shizen happily said.
They then went outside the inn and headed straight up the mountains to the place that Yuki and Shizen both were talking about.
"Um miss Haru, Can I ask you something?" Ryūsei happily asked as they walked up the mountain.
"Sure I don't mind, what do you want to ask?" Haru asked as they continued to walk up the mountains.
"It's about earlier, You said that a higher rank Demon may be the caused of it" Ryūsei replied.
"Have you ever fought one before?" Ryūsei asked.
"Both Shizen and Yuki said that you're a good healer but how about in combat?" Ryūsei asked.
"Well to be honest I'm not much of a fighter" Haru replied in a tease tone.
"But as a Gādian it's my duty to fight for what's right" Haru happily stated.
"The Elemental World we lived in isn't the perfect world we thought it'd be" Haru added.
"It's unavoidable that wars, sacrifice, corruption, slavery and even death may occur... In this world strength is necessary in order to survive..." Haru stated.
"But having a sense of justice and the righteous of a person's heart is the key to be called a "True Elementalist"." Haru happily said.
"That's what we Gādians pledge in our oath as a guardian. "To fight on what's right and to protect the one's in need"." Haru happily stated.
"But isn't that the Grand Elementalist's duty" Ryūsei muttered.
"It is... But we can't rely on them forever, No matter who or how strong the Grand Elementalist may be, He's/She's is also an Elementalist like us" Haru stated.
"If he/she is the destined savior like the legends say, Then who is the protagonist in our stories??" Haru happily asked.
"The protagonist in our stories...." Ryūsei muttered.
"The Grand Elementalist is the savior no doubt, He'll/She'll be the one to end this despicable war against the Demons" Haru stated.
"But who'll be the one to protect him/her" Haru added.
"That's also our oath as a Gādian, To protect the Elementalist and the Elemental World" Haru happily stated.
"We'll gladly risked our lives in order to protect the Elemental World and it's people like a mother would willingly protect her child" Haru stated.
"Ryūsei, Do you know why the Gādians were formed" Haru asked.
"They're the elites of the Elemental World right?" Ryūsei replied with a little bit of doubt in his answer.
"Well you're not wrong but the Gādians are formed to act as what you call a "pillar"." Haru replied.
"A pillar??" Ryūsei curiously asked.
"The Gādians are a group of elites acting as a guardian in the Elemental World correct?" Haru asked.
"Well yeah, If you think it that way" Ryūsei replied.
"Well let's for example symbolize the Gādians as a pillar in the Elemental World, And the Grand Elementalist is the main platform of peace where the Gādians are acting as the support pillars underneath" Haru stated.
"As the Grand Elementalist continues his/her journey in the Elemental World, The Gādians will act as the mentors who'll pass down the teachings and lessons they learned to the Grand Elementalist" Haru added.
"And the Grand Elementalist will pass it down to the next generation probably to the new Gādians in this platform of peace" Haru happily said.
"And once the Grand Elementalist journey ends, The new generation of Gādians will continue the legacy and teachings as the new pillars waiting for the next Grand Elementalist to appear once again" Haru happily added.
"So what'll you pass down to the next generation miss Haru?" Ryūsei curiously asked.
"I'll probably pass down the spells and teachings I learned to my younger sister" Haru replied.
"I believe that my younger sister will be the next "Aquarius Gādian" once my journey ends, but I do hope I get to spend time with her some more" Haru happily said.
"Don't say something like that Haru, It seems you're expecting death for some reason" Shizen stated.
"Well we don't know what happens in the future, so it's better to enjoy and treasure what we have because we'll never know if the next morning it'll be the same as usual" Haru replied.
"Well you know, You should really accept the offer as a Gādian... Shizen" Haru stated.
"Wait.... What's going on?? What do you mean Haru?" Ryūsei asked.
"Is it alright if I tell him?" Haru asked as she then looks at Shizen.
"Go ahead, He'll ask even more if we don't tell him" Shizen replied.
"Well Ryūsei for years the Sage Council has been offering your brother here the position of the "Capricorn Gādian" but your brother up until now refuses to accept the offer" Haru stated shocking Ryūsei.
"Well your brother is pretty skilled for his age but his attitude however makes it to hard for him to be approachable" Haru teased.
"Haruu!!!" Shizen muttered in annoyance but Haru giggled in response.
"How about you Ryūsei?? Are you interested in becoming a Gādian?" Haru asked.
But before Ryūsei can reply they finally arrive to the area where the weird corruption took place.
Haru then slowly approaches one of the trees in the corrupted area and she then sits on the ground.
A small amount of water then surrounded Haru's hand and the tree bark in front of Haru then split releasing a black water around the area.
The black water then gathered around Haru creating a floating ring around her causing Ryūsei to be a bit curious.
"Um.. Shizen what's going on?" Ryūsei curiously asked.
"Don't worry Haru's just doing her work" Shizen replied.
"Water Dragon Oceanic Mist" Haru then chanted a spell causing a tremendous of mist to appear around them and soon it covered the entire mountain.
"Is something wrong Miss Haru?x Ryūsei asked.
"Why did you chant a spell so suddenly?" Ryūsei added.
"Oh don't worry, it's just a little hot that's all" Haru replied as she then transport the black water into an empty jar in her pouch.
"What're you going to do with that black liquid?" Shizen curiously asked.
"I'll be doing some research after this investigation, and I hope my intuition is all wrong about this black liquid" Haru replied.
"Intuition??" Ryūsei curiously asked but before Haru can reply a flock of birds began to fly away as if something startled it.
"Looks like we're surrounded" Haru muttered.
"What do you mean we're surrounded?" Ryūsei curiously asked.
"I knew it, You didn't cast "Oceanic Mist" because it was hot, You knew that there's something weird going on" Shizen replied.
"I was saving it so you wouldn't get involved in any of this... But like Shizen just stated before, What he said was true" Haru sadly stated.
"Oceanic Mist" it's a spell that let's the user create a large amount of mist in a given terrain creating an area where a water attribute user has an advantage.
But with Haru's ability "Maiden of Blue" allowing her to manipulate any bodies of water around her, She can easily track down the enemies location using the vapor inside the mist whenever "Oceanic Mist" is activated.
"So how many enemies are around us?" Shizen curiously asked.
"There's a total of 20 individuals around us right now and around 15 people east from our position" Haru replied.
"I'm guessing 5 of the individuals in the eastern position are hostages, I can feel a few droplets of flood inside the mist" Haru added.
"So what's the plan then?" Shizen curiously asked.
"I'll stay behind and act as a diversion while you and Ryūsei will head east and rescue the hostages" Haru replied.
"Are you crazy, Your plan is suicidal" Shizen stated.
"Isn't there any other way??" Ryūsei concernly asked.
"You don't have to worry about me that much Shizen, I didn't get the position of Gādian if I'm weak" Haru stated.
"Besides it's best to use our enemies lack of information against them" Haru added.
"Lack of information?' Ryūsei curiously asked.
"Right now, The enemies know our location since they already surrounded us but they didn't attacked just yet, They're still cautious since they don't know our numbers" Haru stated.
"But we on the other hand know their locations and their numbers thanks to "Oceanic Mist"." Haru added.
"They're approaching, You need to get out of here now" Haru stated.
"Tchh" Shizen said in annoyance as he hesitated to leave Haru all on her own.
"Shizen, We need to go, I'm sure miss Haru can take care of them on her own, We need to trust her" Ryūsei stated.
"You better not die in a place like this" Shizen stated as he then jumps up the trees along with Ryūsei quickly passing through the enemies that surrounded them.
"Don't worry Shizen, I'm not planning on dying in a place like this" Haru happily giggled in though as she then prepares herself for battle.