David's Request

Lillian just smiled slightly but didn't say anything. David, seeing that she wasn't going to explain, offered,

(David) "She saved my life once or twice."

Liz raised her eyebrows. David laughed and showed her his left forearm. It was branded with what Liz recognized as Lillian's personal crest. Liz's eyes widened. She turned to Lillian with a question in her eyes, but Lillian avoided her gaze. David said,

(David) "I'm with a group of people who were being chased by a bunch of bandits. She came across us and fought off the bandits, but in the process nearly got herself speared. I pushed her away in time and she branded me for helping her. She travelled with us until we got to our destination which we were headed to before we ran into the bandits."

He paused, then added,

(David) "I may or may not have left out a few details."

Liana cut in and said,

(Liana) "Okay now I'm confused. Did she save your life or did you save hers?"

(David) "Both."

Liz turned to Lillian.

(Liz) "You still haven't said anything."

Lillian sighed.

(Lillian) "He's telling the truth. After we got to their clan, he decided to travel with me for a while. When I was called by Liana's parents, I told him we had to part ways."

David turned to Liana.

(David) "You must be Liana, nice to meet you."

Using the traditional greeting, he greeted both Liana and Liz.

(Liz) "Then why are you here now?"

A wave of emotion crossed David's face. He said,

(David) "I was looking for Lillian. When I heard fighting here, I accidentally threw two swords without checking who it was. Sorry about that, by the way."

Liz frowned. Liana had to hold back a laugh as she heard the next thing Liz said:

(Liz) "I'm still suspicious of you."

Liana thought of something, and was about to ask, when Liz asked the question for her.

(Liz) "Then what did you mean when you called her The Phoenix?"

David didn't say anything but instead glanced at Lillian who sighed and nodded. Turning back to Liz with a slight frown, he said,

(David) "It's a nickname that bandits use for her."

Liz raised her eyebrows. He continued,

(David) "Have you heard of the Legend of the Phoenix?"

Liz nodded, but Liana's face showed that this was the first time she had heard of it. He explained,

(David) "One of the versions is that it's a legendary bird of fire, and every time it dies, it revives, bigger and stronger than before. The bandits thought that they killed her multiple times, but every time she comes back at them with even more force than ever. Thus, the nickname, The Phoenix."

Liana smiled and said,

(Liana) "Well, I think it's cool."

Liz grudgingly agreed with her. Sighing, she held out her hand and said,

(Liz) "Let's do this again. I'm Elizabeth Lera, younger sister of Lillian Lera. Everyone calls me Liz though."

David laughed and shook her hand.

(David) "I'm David Shields, acquaintance or friend of Lillian."

Lillian and Liana glanced at each other and both did their best to stifle their amusement. Liz glared at them and David smiled sheepishly. Lillian regained her composure and turned to David with her typical expressionless look and asked,

(Liz) "Why are you here?"

David seemed to remember the reason he had come and sighed slightly.

(David) "I came to request for help."

He lowered his head and said,

(David) "Sorry to have to ask you to help me again."

Lillian simply nodded and he continued,

(David) "After you left, I returned to the village to stay with my brothers. One day, a group of men, they didn't look like bandits, entered the village and captured some of our people. Men, women and children. At least a hundred. They tried to fight back, but they were quickly overpowered. I was away hunting then, but when I came back, they told me what had happened and I promised them I'd get our families back. I then gathered a few men and set off. When we got there, the captives were all heavily guarded. I sent the men back before coming to find you."

Lillian raised an eyebrow at him. He looked taken aback and asked,

(David) "What?"

Liz laughed.

(Liz) "You really have no idea what the brand on your arm is for, do you."

His eyes widened as Liz continued,

(Liz) "Anyone who has been branded by her is under her protection. Which means, when you need her help, you can call for her."

She paused.

(Liz) "You really didn't know this?"

She turned to Lillian with an incredulous look.

(Liz) "You didn't even tell him?!"

She shrugged and said,

(Lillian) "He didn't seem to want to know. I simply told him the brand means he's under my protection, and when I was about to tell him how it works, he refused to listen. So, I just didn't say."

David went red and rubbed the back of his neck. Liz sighed and said,

(Liz) "All you need to do is press your index finger to the head of the Wolf and she'll be alerted."

She grinned, casting a glance at Lillian.

(Liz) "If it's urgent, wait five seconds and press it again, and she'll be by your side within a minute."

Lillian gave her a look but her grin didn't waver. David smiled and said,

(David) "Thanks. I'll remember that next time."

He turned to Lillian, his face clearly displaying his discomfort but yet, urgency,

(David) "Will you help me?"

Lillian hesitated, looking from Liana to Liz, then back at him, and nodded. Liz knew what she was thinking and said,

(Liz) "We'll take good care of Liana for you until you return. Just don't take too long."

Lillian said,

(Lillian) "Give me a day. We set off at tomorrow's dawn."

David nodded.

(David) "I'll head back first."

Lillian thought for a while, then shook her head.

(Lillian) "You stay here."

David froze. He turned and said stiffly,

(David) "If you think I'll get in the way, I won't. You know that. And these are my friends. My people. My responsibility."

Lillian's face didn't reveal anything and she said calmly,

(Lillian) "I didn't mean it like that. I was going to ask you to help me watch over Liz and Liana's training."

He was taken aback and asked slowly,

(David) "You want… me to train… your sister and your friend?"

(Lillian) "Yes. Let me handle your situation for you. I'll tell you immediately once it's done."

Liz and David both stared at her, incredulous.

(Liz and David) "You can't be serious."

Lillian smiled.

(Lillian) "I was going to train you, and this might help you get along with David a little."

She smiled and said,

(Lillian) "Unless you have a better idea."

The other three, quite wisely, chose not to reply to that and merely accepted her previous offer. Liz smiled to herself as she thought,

(Liz's thoughts) 'Lil can really become a tyrant.'

Lillian raised an eyebrow at Liz. Liz saw the look and put on an innocent face. Lillian thought for a while more then said,

(Lillian) "I think I won't wait for dawn. It'll be easier to check them out while it's dark."

She turned to David.

(Lillian) "Where exactly is it?"

David described the place to her, and the moment she heard it, her expression changed slightly. Liz frowned and asked,

(Liz) "Lil, what's wrong?"

Lillian turned to them with a strange expression and asked,

(Lillian) "Do you know about the gangs or mafias?"