Chapter 18 - Do not procrastinate. Solve your problems now.

"By the way Kaoru, you said that we're in Trofosfir, the lowest part of Iris. We're going to the highest part, the Exosfir. So, what places should we go through to get there?"

"Sorry, Lionel. I can't tell you. It's a secret."

"Huh? But, why?"

"Now, now, if I told you the names of those places, it will be no fun. There will be no surprises anymore."

If by surprises you mean danger, it would be better if you tell me already so we still have a chance to survive.

"Right..."

We continued to walk in silence, but suddenly...

"Lionel, stop!"

"What is it?"

"Can't you see it? In front of us!"

I looked harder... Man... Its camouflage is very good, but I can see it clearly now...

Not again...

"It's an Undeadwood!"

"Huhhhhh..."

"Do I really have to knock this one out too?"

"Of course you do! How can we continue our adventure if it's blocking our way?"

"Kaoru, that Undeadwood is so slow we can outrun it. Why can't we just leave it alone?"

"No can do, Lionel. If we leave them alone, they'll follow us all the way to Exosfir. If they got tired of that, they'll all wait in here and ambush us when we return."

"Oh man..."

"Don't worry Lionel, you can do it! You'll get the hang of it! Go! Go! Go!"

She's cheering and smiling for me...

No choice...

"CHARGE!!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

I ran full speed! Straight ahead to the Undeadwood!

"Yes, Lionel Go! Charge as you say, Charge! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!"

She ran too, but at a slower, leisurely pace.

"GRAAAAWRRR!!!"

The Undeadwood attacked using its claws against me. I countered it with my sword, full force and full swing!

"RRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIPP!!!"

The Undeadwood left claw have been cut in half! But it's stiil moving. It's like, it doesn't feel any pain and didn't take any damage at all! But still, I did that?! I can't believe I did that! Man, I didn't know I could do such a feat!

I jumped backwards and stepped back a few paces. The Undeadwood is swinging its arms and right claw all around and slowly moving forward. Think! I've got to think!

"RAAAAAAAAWWRRRR!!!"

There's no more time. And I can't just run away. We've gone so far now. I can't just go home, too... Yes, father has a job now but... Those star crystals... It can really help us... It will change our lives... It will change my miserable life!!!

"Lionel! What are you doing?! You'll get caught off guard! Move!"

Back to reality Lionel! Back to the present time! Reassess the situation...

Attack!!!

I lunged forward against the enemy. Holding my sword up high, I jumped, hanging in mid-air for mere seconds and falling fast, I struck my sword into the enemy with full strength!

Miserable... I'm not miserable. Why did I thought of that...? Nah, just forget about it.

The Undeadwood used its claws to shield itself but my sword sliced through it! Yes! I hit it in the head, strong and true! It staggered backwards, and then fell on its back. I thought it was over but the Undeadwood is still moving. It's crawling towards me. I delivered the final blows...

"Bad! (Smash!) Wood! (Smash!) Bad! (Smash!) Wood! (Smash!) Bad! (Smash!) Wood! (Smash!)"

Until its innards spilled all over the ground...

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

Victory... Never looked so bad...

"Look, Lionel! There's still more up ahead!"

"WHAT?!! CHAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!!!"

Like a mad beast, I ran forward at full speed. Well... I guess I'm like a mad beast at the moment because I'm not thinking straight at all. My feelings got the best of me again.

I got closer and closer to the enemy. At that moment when we're almost face-to-face, I stopped, swung my sword like a baseball bat, and smashed it perfectly on the side! I sent the Undeadwood flying! Spilling its innards in mid-air... I should really stop saying that...

As I looked around me, I saw another one. Without any hesitation, I attacked it head on. I did the same thing like last time but on the opposite side. I sent the Undeadwood flying, falling, and crashing into a big slab of rock. It didn't move any further.

I looked forward, and again, there's another one, and another one after that...

No choice...

"CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!!!"

"Go, Lionel! Go!"

I slashed with my sword upwards, downwards, sideways, and crossways as I run. After knocking down five Undeadwoods, I'm getting the hang of it. I don't want to admit it but, I like it now. In fact, I'm enjoying it! I'm having fun!

After knocking down ten more Undeadwoods, it's finally over. I breathed heavily... Man... That was tiring! But it was fun!

I looked at my surroundings... Good! No more enemies left in sight. I guess they got scared and ran away. Huh! Cowards! Now, now, Lionel, don't get too confident. If they ran away, that's good! I'm tired! Really tired! But, man! I didn't know I have the endurance to run and flail my sword like that! And for quite a long time! I'm surprised. What other talent is hidden inside me?

Because of my charging and running around, we covered some considerable distance. We progressed a lot. I guess Kaoru would be impressed...

"Man, you're out of shape! Look at you, easily tiring out from just a little stroll!"

"Wha...?!"

You could say 'Thanks' you know. Or, '~ thank you for saving me Lionel. You're my hero. ~'. That would sound much better.

"Oh, come on, Kaoru. You didn't help me at all!"

"Oh, I know you can do it alone so I didn't join in."

"I thought you said you'll 'assist' me, remember?"

"Yes, I know, I know. But as you can see, I'm a lady. I'm very fragile. I'm really not fond of fighting so, I'll leave it all to you."

How can you become an Electric Wizard in Iris Tower if you can't fight monsters or enemies?!

"Uhmm... So, when can you help me? In battles, I mean."

"Oh, maybe next time. When it's convenient for me."

Maybe...? Convenient...?

"Uhmm... Could we rest for a little while? I really feel tired."

"No problem!"

We sat under an Acacia tree, leaning our backs in its big trunk. We didn't talk for quite a while, but its okay. Having her as a companion is more than good enough for me. She doesn't help much, but it's alright. I can manage. I will protect her with all my might!

"By the way, Lionel, good job. Thanks for protecting me."

I looked at her, sitting there, her back against the tree. Her face illuminated by the white rays that pierced through the canopy. Her eyes are closed but I see that she's smiling.

"Oh it's nothing, really."

She's so adorable!

"Nice day we're having, huh?"

"Yeah... It's a beautiful day..."

Just like you Kaoru... Man... This is the best day of my life!

"I wish this would last forever, Lionel..."

I blushed. I turned sideways so she could not see my face... Is it getting hot in here?!

"Yeah... Me too..."

"But sadly... This is just for a day..."

Silence...

"Uhmm... Are you sure we can go there in just one day?"

"Yes. Definitely..."

She sounded sad... I can feel it...

"Don't worry..."

"Huh?"

"When this quest is over, we can have more adventure! During your real vacation! We'll have lots of fun!"

"Where will we go...?"

"I don't know yet, but I'll sure plan it out!"

"And what treasure will we look for?"

"True love!"

"Huh...?!"

Silence...

"I beg your pardon...?"

What did I say?! Did I just say that?! Why did I say that?! I'm just 15 years old and I'm talking about true love already?! GAAAASH!!!

I know she's looking at me. I can feel it. I can't look at her. I can't say it again. That's just a slip of the tongue. This is so embarrassing. This is so awkward. I'm blushing red as a tomato. But suddenly, unexpectedly, I saw something. From red I turned pale white. At first, it's just a shadow, but it became clearer and clearer still. At first I thought it was a ghost. But it was more hideous and scary than that. The... the thing, I don't know what it is, wears a white cloak with a hood. It doesn't have a face. It walks slowly, scary slow, and it's getting nearer and nearer to us. What scares me the most is the things that it held. On its left hand is a lantern placed in a long stick. It gives of a pale white light... why do you need a lantern; it's the middle of the day?! This is so off!

On its right hand, I did not recognize it at first, but as it got nearer... I don't even want to think about it... Why...? Why is it dragging a casket...?

I've never seen a ghost before. They say it's just a white cloak floating around. That shouldn't be scary, right? But this thing, it's different... I'm really, really scared. I can't even grab my sword...

"Let's go Lionel!"

"What is that thing...?"

"I'll explain later, let's go!"

"C - C - Can't we fight it? Maybe we can defeat it..."

"No Lionel, we can't! Not in our current state! We need to move, now!"

We ran as fast as we can, fleeing from that thing...