Crimson Arrows

Chapter I 

She stood by the match board, waiting to be summoned. It has been quite a while since she had had a match and it was getting boring. The previous match had caused such a big mess and it was taking so long for the next match to be held. Nami let out a soft sigh, a little bit annoyed and losing her patience. Footsteps approached the small archer and she spun around to see who it was. 

"Waiting for a match, miss?" The voice asked. It sounded friendly and was that of a man. She stared straight into someone's chest before glancing up in embarrassment. "Y-yes." She blurted out, stuttering as the man chuckled, "As am I. It's taking longer than usual, don't you think?" He lifted a hand to rub his shaven chin, eyebrows furrowed in deep thought. 

"Indeed. I have been waiting for almost 10 minutes, in fact." Nami nodded in agreement, feeling a bit self-conscious. All she was clad in was a small white frock and her cloak and she looked as f she had just woken up. 

"Sigh, I just thought that I'd have the last match of the day. I guess I'll just try tomorrow." She shook her head, upset. Perhaps they had ended all matches a bit earlier today. It was, after all, already 7 in the evening and it was completely alright to do so. Activities in the league used to end before 6 but the schedule gradually got later and later until it became 8. 

"Ah, don't get your hopes down!" The man quickly said before she could walk away, "We'll probably be able to. Just wait for a bit longer." She looked up at him yet again with a puzzled look on her face and he just smiled at her with a perfect set of gleaming white teeth. Nami quickly noticed the two unmistakably sharp canines protruding out of his gums. So he was the Crimson Reaper.

She, however, was not fazed or terrified whatsoever. Albeit the pointless gossip and accusing news about the 'devilishly handsome but vicious man who slayed mercilessly on the rift', he seemed like a friendly person now and that was all that mattered. 

The Crimson Reaper glanced at the girl again, confusion plastered on his tan face. The silence was overwhelming and the sudden drop of atmosphere slightly bothered him. Was she afraid because he was the Crimson Reaper? "Uhm, by the way, the name's Tristan. Care to join my team on the rift later?" He started awkwardly, attempting to divert the girl's attention from fearing him. 

Nami shook the doubtful thoughts out of her head and smiled at him ever so softly. If there was a safe place during the match, it would be on the vampire hunter's team. Although he did not scare her, she was still worried about the things he could do on the rift. 

"Great!" Tristan, she found, beamed before waving his arms about frantically and making awkward hand gestures, a slight blush visible on his cheeks, "Uh-well, and you know...you are...?" The archer stared at him in confusion for a split second and the realisation hit her. She let out a small squeak before covering her face with her small hands. That was totally uncalled for. 

"Oh, I'm so sorry! That was very rude of me. I-I'm Nami. Pleasure to meet you!" She blinked profusely as her mouth opened and closed multiple times like a fish, desperately finding words to speak. What had gotten into her today? What happened to the usually calm and collected Frost Archer? 

Her face instantly turned bright red like an overripe tomato as he began to laugh. It was deep and possibly even sexy as it rumbled in his throat. She flushed even more at those unnecessary thoughts. Ping- a sound echoed across the half empty hall. "You see, I told you we'll get our chance!" Tristan grinned, earning a quiet smile from the girl, "Now let's-" 

"Tristan!" The pair turned to see a group of four built males strut towards them with wide grins on their faces. Nami recognised them as the prodigal explorer, the blade's shadow, the eye of twilight and the might of Demacia - all equally intimidating and horrifyingly skilled. Nami stole a quick glance at her new friend and blue met red, him as confused as she was. 

"What do you guys want?" He raised an eyebrow, his eyes shifting from one of them to another. "Let's team up, bro. Remember our last match? We totally owned it together!" The cheery explorer winked, linking his arm with Tristan's. It seemed as though they were all a close group and the boy looked extremely excited. Nami suddenly felt bad for being a lamp post. 

The explorer's gesture earned playful hollers and whistles of approval from the men. The Crimson Reaper met Nami's gaze yet again and turned back to his friends to decline their invitation. "Look, actually I-" "Don't be such a woman and come with us!" Before he could protest, he was already dragged halfway across the hall. He shot Nami an apologetical half-smile and she simply smiled back and nodded as if to say it was alright. She actually also felt a little bit relieved to not have to wallow in guilt later on. 

••••••••••••••••••••

The Frost Archer tumbled and tumbled, desperately searching for a possibly safe brush to hide and recall in. She was bleeding from her left arm and it wasn't very neat. If she did not find a hiding spot soon, the enemy team would probably track her and take her down easily. She had, so far, a beautiful score of 9 kills and no deaths - and she was planning to keep it that way. 

She smiled to herself right when she stumbled next to a rather thick brush by the river that divided the rift into two. She quietly crawled into it and screamed when her eyes met another pair. "Shhh!" The person lifted a gloved finger to his lips and swiftly pulled her into his lap, "You don't want us to be found out, do you?" It was such a quick unfold that she did not manage to catch who her bush partner was but she could now recognise him as Tristan. 

"Tristan? What are you doing here?!" She half-whispered-half-squealed. "Well..." He trailed off before pointing to the life bar above his head. Dangerously low and vulnerable. She could finish him with one flick. "O-Oh. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and recall!" She blurted out and lightly shook his shoulder.

The man looked at her in utter disbelief and confusion. "You want me to recall? You're on the opposing team, darling." He reminded her again, not sure where their conversation was going. "Of course! You're already half dead so it's best you recall now before some other dude sets up a ward and finds you." "Wait- why aren't you whacking me up already? This is a great oppurtunity." He said again. 

Nami let out an exasperated sigh and urged him further, "Because you're a friend and I don't feel like killing you? Jesus do you really want to die that much..." The man nodded hastily and began with his recall spell. "Thanks, Nami." He smiled warmly as the archer felt her heart clench funnily, "But I can't guarantee I won't hurt you later." And with his last words, he disappeared into thin air. 

Doesn't matter, Nami thought to herself, it is, after all, a game. She couldn't blame anyone if they were to kill her. As she started to recall back to her team's base as well, she clutched a small hand to her chest right where her heart was. I feel funny. 

Revelation

Part 1 - Strange Meeting

A girl clad in a simple white sundress and a Dragon Tail Mage Sallet on her head stood behind the small wooden potion stall. She had a 'top tied bun' hairstyle and a Laevateinn strapped across her back. She whistled cheerily and occasionally, a few pleasant-looking old ladies would stop by her stall to purchase potions.

She greeted them with a friendly smile and small talked. Indeed she was a rich, high-leveled Bishop, but she lived a simple life, running a potion shop in the heart of the peaceful town of Orbis. She kept her identity of the 'Mystery Bishop' a secret and only two living souls knew about her. Her job instructor and her best friend, a social-freak Shadower.

In recent times, less and less people chose the path of a healer. Ever since new classes were created and job instructors of every kind were recruited, the only healers left were the Bishops who had chosen this path years before the existence of the other more powerful classes.

"You'll never understand the responsibilities of a healer. You're the least cared about person in a party, and when someone dies, it's all your fault." She told her friend while mixing colourful potions in a bottle.

"There is nothing I don't understand, Kanna." The Shadower smirked, watching her friend, "And anyway, you won't have to worry about that. You're always training alone, in some foreign land far away from civilization. You probably have never joined a party in your life."

"You make me sound so horrid." Kanna shook her head and tsk tsked, "I just..don't want anyone finding out I'm a Bishop, ok? If they do, I'll probably be murdered by those sadistic Ice/Lightnings tomorrow. The only person I trust is you, Ari - and my job instructor, that's because I don't have a choice."

"Ice/Lightnings are heartless and disgusting." Ari stuck out her tongue, "They're just so stuck up and think they're the best of the magician class. Pfft. They have obviously never seen Evans before."

"I don't like Evans either." Kanna said lazily, "They're also stuck up."

The two went silent for a minute. Kanna breathed out heavily as she placed the potion bottle gently atop a table, "Ari, why do Ice/Lightnings hate healers so much?"

Ari raised an eyebrow, caught by surprise, "Uhmm..that, I can't say. I have no idea as well. But I know they have absolutely nothing against you all."

"I-"

They were interrupted by a loud crash. The two girls spun around, only to spot a group of Ice/Lightnings causing havoc. Just another ordinary ruined day in Orbis. The leader of the group, a tall, dark boy narrowed his eyes at a group of fearful fairies who were flying pass them.

He had hazel brown Cabana Boy hair and held a Dragon Tail Mage Staff. His white dress shirt half unbuttoned and his black slacks creased. On his feet were blue slime slippers. Kanna sucked in her breath. She had to admit, he looked cool.

"Kanna. Psst, Kanna!" Ari whispered to her friend impatiently.

"H-Huh? What is it?" Kanna turned to face the crew-cut shadower.

"I'll go check the station to make sure no more intruders are trying to get in." She said as she turned around to walk off. Kanna grabbed her broad arm with her small gloved hands.

"That's too dangerous! Just stay here. What would you do if one of them suddenly attacks you?"

"I'll kill them." Ari chuckled, lifting her sleek Godly dagger for the worried Bishop to see. Kanna gulped and simply nodded as she let her friend go.

She fastened her gaze on the Ice/Lightnings once again and was shocked to see them picking on a sickly old lady. Before her mind could tell her what to do, she was already on her feet and storming towards them. 'MIND! YOU'RE GOING TO GET ME KILLED!' She mentally screamed at herself.

"Excuse me, you people. Could you please stop harassing this poor lady. She has not angered you in any way." She cleared her throat. Obvious fear could be heard through her voice. She was a dead Bishop.

"WHO ARE YOU TO TELL US WHAT TO DO?" The leader of the group boomed as he looked down at her in disgust. Kanna gulped and lifted her head to look up at the tall boy.

"Please. I just don't want any trouble to be caused and blood to be spilled." She said softly but firmly.

"Oh, blood is going to be spilled, alright. And that'll be YOUR BLOOD." One of the Ice/Lightnings shouted as he charged forward to tackle her.

"WAIT." Their leader ordered as he whipped a strong arm in front of his friend, "Let her speak first."

"But, Aidan..." The astonished boy spluttered. His leader, Kanna knew as Aidan, fiercely glared, and that was enough to make the boy shut up.

"I-I, thank you." Kanna stupidly blurted. In her head, she had already killed herself 10 times. "I mean...I just don't like it when you all bully and pick on innocent people whom have done nothing to you. It's...not very nice." She said as she blinked.

Aidan stared at her with his mouth wide open for a split second and then started chuckling. The boy who had tried to tackle her earlier looked fuming. Kanna slowly placed her hand on her Laevateinn behind her back just in case.

Without warning, the fuming boy made a mighty leap over Aidan's outstretched arm and raised his staff above his head to attack the horrified Bishop. She had no choice. She brought out her staff from behind her back and casted a holy shield that blocked the other magician's attack.

The rest of the Ice/Lightnings gasped and gripped their own staffs. "She's a Bishop." One of them snarled as she slowly made her way towards Kanna. Aidan blinked a few times and then tightened his grip on his Dragon Tail Mage Staff. It glowed a majestic yet scary green at his touch.

The Ice/Lightnings advanced forward and surrounded the poor Bishop. Kanna breathed in and out and finally dodged their attacks to escape. She placed her hand atop her Dragon Tail Mage Sallet to keep it from falling while she ran. She turned back for a second only to find the Ice/Lightnings charging towards her.

She wheezed as she ran through the busy markets and finally found a pretty safe hiding spot behind a large overgrown oak tree in a quiet part of Orbis. She panted softly as she sat down at the foot of the tree. All of a sudden, Aidan dropped from the tree top and landed with a heavy thud in front of her.

Kanna squealed and quickly slid backwards until her back was pressed up against the tree, hoping that it would swallow her in. Aidan smirked and moved forward until they were mere centimeters apart. He squatted down in front of her and cupped her chin in his large calloused hands.

"P-Please don't...hurt me." She croaked as she shifted uncomfortably under his touch.

"You do know full well that I could kill you now." He said lowly. His voice sent shivers down her spine.

"I-I...I just..didn't like you Ice/Lightnings causing havoc in Orbis. That is all. What have I done to anger all of you?" She squeaked as a tear slid down her slightly tanned cheek.

Aidan grabbed the sides of her thin cold arms with his own warm ones roughly. The girl squeaked and closed her eyes.

"I tell you what..." He began.

"W-What?" Kanna asked, her eyes still squeezed shut.

"I will spare you today if,"

"If?" She asked again quickly, almost impatiently.

"You see me tomorrow."

"Huh?" She opened her eyes and stared at him. Blue met purple and she diverted her gaze to a lone patch of green grass growing on the ground, embarrassed.

"How many times must I repeat, you deaf girl?" He half whispered half yelled, "I will spare you today if you see me tomorrow night. In Orbis."

"W-Why? Will you kill me then?" Kanna slightly narrowed her fearful eyes.

"Maybe." Aidan said as he stood up, "Until tomorrow, then." And with that, he teleported off.