Shooting stars always fall

Chapter 4

'I hated you, but without you, I found that I loved you'.

-A sad young man.

'You guys did well yesterday' their master told them. 'Thank you, master, but I have a suggestion to make' Takeshi said.

'I suggest we leave this blood-soaked city for Ladinglade'.

'I concur, it's a small commoner town with a large monster population, and one particularly strong one' Hade said.

The sounds of ravens cawing echoed in the distance as her master made his next decision. 'The smell of blood is nauseating here'.

'But this town Ladinglade, I've heard of it somewhere.....'

'So a change in scenery would be nice'.

'Ladinglade is east of here if we start our march now. We should reach there by noon' Takeshi said,

'March!?' her master and Hade burst out.

'How else are we going to get all these troops there on time?'.

'Ah, he doesn't know' Reno whispered to Hade.

'Yes it seems that way' she whispered back.

Takeshi was visibly confused by whatever they were whispering about.

'Uhm...Takeshi we aren't going to walk and neither are the troops'.

'My master is a summon king, he could just teleport us there'.

'I see' Takeshi said sadly.

'Takeshi's been like this since yesterday, we did over shine him a bit much' Reno thought.

'Hey Takeshi, when we get to Ladinglade lets spar!' he told him with an encouraging smile.

Takeshi was uplifted a bit by his words and sought to give it his all when the bout comes.

'Master please do go easy on him, he is, as they say, fragile'. Said Hade with a mocking tone.

'What's that! Pipsqueak?!' Takeshi yelled.

'You wanna go Kenta?'

Reno laughed at their little tiff but it was time to end this. 'Control yourselves, your arguing like children!'.

'Before we go there's something I need to take care of'.

He stepped out to a large mound where the zombies gathered the bodies of the dead vampires in the shade.

He channeled his energy and thrust his hand forward. 'Summon undead'.

The bodies of the dead came back to life. Their eyes turned white and they were living again.

The shadow cast by the bell tower began to shrink. The vampire's skin started by blister and they cried in agony.

Reno called out 'Vampire undead In summon' and the vampires were whisked away into his charm.

He turned to the zombies and did the same.

'Let's go, servants, we have no time to waste off to-

'Dang it, I didn't think of that' He said to himself. 'I can't let the servants know I don't know where it is what would they think?'.

'I have changed my mind. We're going to walk there; it's not that far'.

'Master can't you teleport?'

'Hade, are you questioning me?' he asked with a malicious glare.

'Nnn, no master of course not' she screamed. 'He's disappointed nooooooo'.

'Takeshi lead the way as my front guard'. 'Phew, I passed that by perfectly'.

They set off east, to Ladinglade. They started in earnest at a leisurely pace. Takeshi led the way, Reno followed behind with Hade at his side, trying to get closer as time went by.

The landscape was filled with greenwood, the path was clear. The weather just perfect for a stroll.

But the pace bothered Takeshi, he hastened and got further and further away from the two of them.

'Takeshi sure does love to move fast doesn't he' he told Hade.

'Yes! Yes ' she answered her master happily.

There were rocks ahead, Hade sees an opportunity in this. Her master jumped effortlessly over them. Hade hurried ahead to where he would land next.

Her master leaped over the boulders with his hands in his pockets, with his shiny black crown.

Without looking he landed. That's when it happened.

Their lips met, and his master and his servants kissed.

Reno was overtaken with shock, 'Wha- what Hade what are you doing?!!'.

'I, I'm sorry master, I thought you would fall....so i...caught you with my mouth' She said in a soft passionate voice.

'You didn't like it, master!!!?'

'No, no it's not that, I was just a little shocked...'

'Since it was my first time...'

They didn't know what to do with themselves, but to continue the journey. A little apart now.

Ladinglade could be seen in the distance. Just a little further.

'..Hade, I'm so-

Hade looked back with immediate urgency, she sensed something, something dangerous, a monster?

'Master, let's pick up the pace shall we?' She said as she hurried to Takeshi further ahead.

'Is she upset or something?'

The servants came to a halt. They had reached the town of Ladinglade. At just an hour afternoon.

They entered the town, however, something was off.

The people all wore old-timey clothes, the buildings were modern but there were carriages and caravans in it.

'What is this? where are the cars? The street lights?!'.

'Street lights?' a girl with braids asked?'

'I haven't seen you here before? Who are you a nobleman? She continued.

Hade could not take the sight of a mere speaking so formerly to her master and came in to shield him.

'He is my master, and you're not allowed to speak not to talk of gaze upon him'.

'Hade what are you doing?' he whispered.

'I'm protecting you' she whispered back.

The girl giggled in delight 'Oh I get it, you guys are performers!'

'Hade just go with it we can't let anyone find out who we really are'.

'I agree with master'

'Yes in fact we are performers!' Reno exclaimed.

'But we like to use monsters in our acts, how's the monster population here?'

'Well in the past it was quite high'

'Past?'

'Yeah but that was until a little over three months ago, when the great kings answered our prayers' she said swooning.

'Master she's delirious; she shouldn't even be talking to you'.

'Quiet, you see you scared her off. Where's Takeshi though haven't seen him in a while'.

'I'm sure he'll find us'

'You guys stay here I'll go find us a lodge'

Reno left Hade to wander the town. It took him a while but he finally found one when he came back he searched for Hade but he couldn't find her.

'Hade! Hade!! Where are you?'

Suddenly he felt his army get sucked out of his charm. His army and servants were gone. That's when the trouble started.