Choosing A Side Part 4

In the morning, the sun barely casting its light over the horizon, we approached Ryul and Amelia. Zaine, Sunshine, and I have reached a conclusion about the offer Ryul shared with us from the Queen to present ourselves to her in the capital. While I trust both Ryul and Amelia, we cannot dismiss the possibility that it might be a trap. Therefore, we need to be prepared, and for that, I require some time. As long as things go as I expect, I do have a plan to deal with any trap, regardless of what it might be. There was a tension in the air, a silent expectation from both sides.

Both Amelia and Ryul looked at us, curious to know our answer.

"We'll be traveling back to Riledo with you to see Queen Zara," I said, watching Ryul's expression closely, "But it won't happen immediately."

Ryul's brow furrowed, "I see… how long will it take?"

I hesitated, aware that my answer would leave them in confusion, "I'm not sure, but we'll try to be as soon as possible."

Ryul pressed on, "Ah? Why can't you just tell me how long? Why do you need time?"

"I can't disclose any further information," I replied, keeping my tone steady.

Unconvinced, Ryul shook his head, "Dude, how are we supposed to handle this uncertainty? We need to know what we're getting into."

Amelia placed a gentle hand on his arm, "We'll accept your terms," She said softly, "We're willing to wait as long as necessary."

"We are?" Ryul asked, looking confused.

"Yes," Amelia replied.

Ryul glanced at her, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly, before looking back at me. He let out a long, slow breath, weighing the situation in his mind. After a moment of contemplation, he finally nodded, "Okay, I guess."

Ryul scratched the back of his head, glancing around aimlessly, "So, uh... what are we supposed to do while we're waiting for y'all to be ready?"

"We could try making one of the rooms in this wrecked place more livable," Amelia suggested, surveying the abandoned mansion's ruins around us, "And maybe help them out however we can."

Sunshine zipped in front of Ryul, her wings a blur of green and yellow, "Help out, huh? You're newbies around here, so that means you're gonna be my little bitches!"

"You gotta be shitting me!" Ryul exclaimed, clearly put out, "I ain't following nobody's orders!"

Amelia chuckled at his expression, finding humor in the situation even as Ryul stood there looking flustered.

"Get over yourself, fruit boy," Sunshine shot back with a smirk. She snagged Ryul by the collar with surprising strength for her tiny frame, dragging him off with her, "Your first mission is to haul your ass to the woods and bring me some breakfast!"

"Hey, chill!" Ryul exclaimed without choice.

As they disappeared from view, Sunshine's laughter echoing back at us, I couldn't help but grin at Ryul's predicament. His protests faded into the distance.

Amelia watched them go with an amused shake of her head, "Looks like she got him on a tight leash."

"That fairy doesn't waste any time," Zaine said, raising an eyebrow.

Amelia turned to me, "Is he going to survive her?"

"He'll manage," I replied with a wry smile, "He's tougher than he looks."

"Well, I'll go find a room to stay in," Amelia said with a smile.

"Sure," I replied.

Amelia cast a swift, searching glance at Zaine, her eyes lingering for just a heartbeat before she turned on her heel. Her footsteps echoed softly against the floor as she slipped away, vanishing into the shadows of the long, dimly lit hallway.

"That went well," I said, turning to Zaine.

"It did," Zaine replied with a nod, her eyes meeting mine, "Now it all depends on what you do next. But I'll be there to help."

"If I have your help, I doubt I can't do it," I said.

Zaine looked down the hallway Amelia left, looking serious before speaking again, "Amelia doesn't seem to like me very much."

I shrugged, trying to play it off, "Maybe she's a little intimidated by you."

Zaine's lips curved into a knowing smile, "By me, or by how you look at me?"

I felt a flush creep over my cheeks. Zaine had that effect on me—disarming and exhilarating all at once.

"You don't waste any time either," I quipped back.

Her boldness was intoxicating. She stepped closer, her eyes locked onto mine as if daring me to look away. I didn't.

"And you," She said, her voice dropping lower, "Are not one to hold back either."

Her words sent a shiver through me. It was impossible to resist the pull any longer. I reached for her just as she reached for me. Our lips met with an intensity that left no room for anything else. The kiss was deep and consuming.

Later that day, the air was crisp as I swung the axe, splitting the logs with steady precision. The rhythmic sound of wood cracking filled the silence, keeping me centered and focused.

"Hey, Darx!" Amelia's voice broke through the rhythm, bright and friendly as ever.

I paused, wiping a bead of sweat from my brow as she approached with an easy smile. Her presence was warm and familiar, yet it stirred an uncertainty in me that I couldn't quite shake off.

"Hey…" I greeted her, setting the axe aside, "Getting settled in?"

She nodded, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "It's not too bad. A little cleaning up, and it will be perfect," She glanced at the pile of logs, "Need some help?"

"I've got it," I replied, "What about Ryul? Has Sunshine run him ragged yet?"

Amelia laughed, "He's doing his best to keep up," She said with a playful wink.

We fell into easy conversation, the initial awkwardness fading as we talked about mundane things—the weather, the state of the old mansion, and Ryul's amusing struggles under Sunshine's command. But underneath it all, there was something more that Amelia seemed to want to say.

Finally, she edged closer to it, "So," Amelia began casually, though her eyes were keenly fixed on mine, "You and Zaine... are you two together?"

Her question caught me off guard. The truth is, we've never really made our relationship clear, but Zaine and I have been doing a lot of things that only couples do. Now that I think about it, I wonder if Zaine expects me to ask her to be my girlfriend formally or if she just doesn't care.

I hesitated for just a moment before nodding, "Y-Yeah."

Amelia's eyes held a mix of emotions, none of which I could easily pin down. There was curiosity, warmth, and something else that I couldn't decipher.

"She seems… really refined," Amelia said, her voice light but with an edge I couldn't ignore, "And beautiful."

"She is," I replied, unsure how much to say.

Amelia smiled, "I'm happy for you, Darx," She said, "I mean it. It's good to see you doing well."

I just nodded.

There was a brief silence between us, filled with unspoken thoughts. Amelia shifted on her feet, brushing some imaginary dirt from her shoulder before looking back at me with renewed brightness.

"Looks like I caught you two all alone," Zaine's voice cut through the moment, her presence as commanding as ever. She approached with graceful strides, her eyes flicking between Amelia and me with unmistakable interest.

Amelia's smile faltered for a fraction of a second, a flicker of discomfort crossing her face as Zaine wrapped her arms around me in a possessive embrace. The familiar warmth of Zaine's body against mine immediately rushed me.

"We were just talking," I replied.

Zaine squeezed tighter, "Are you ready, Darx? It's time to start."

I nodded, eager to move past this awkwardness, "Yeah. Let's go."

Amelia stepped back, giving us space but watching closely. Her expression was hard to read—part curiosity, part something deeper. However, before we could move, Sunshine and Ryul burst onto the scene in a whirlwind of energy and laughter.

"If it isn't, lover boy!" Sunshine announced loudly with an exaggerated wink at me and Zaine leaning against each other. She landed on my head, wings fluttering wildly.

Ryul followed behind, trying to catch his breath from either exertion or amusement—or both, "Hey, Sunshine is quite funny!"

"Hey, cutie!" Sunshine waved at Amelia with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "Hanging around these two lovebirds?"

Amelia managed a laugh, though there was still a hesitation in her posture, "Ha-ha… w-what can I say?"

Zaine straightened up, looking at Sunshine, "You found yourself another victim already?"

"Damn right!" Sunshine retorted gleefully, pointing at Ryul, "This one's got more energy than I thought!"

Ryul shrugged with an unapologetic grin, "Just trying to keep up with Pixie Boss," He said with mock resignation before looking at me, "Man, you should see the speed on this one! Ain't no stopping her! She even got into a fight with a bird that was passing by."

"I thought you didn't take orders from anyone," I said, smiling and looking at Ryul.

"Not usually," Ryul replied, catching his breath, "But this one's a special case."

Sunshine buzzed around Ryul, her laughter wild and free, "Yup! Looks like we are best pals now!" She declared, throwing a wink in my direction.

"Close pals," I noted with a teasing edge.

Sunshine stopped mid-flight, her eyes narrow and playful, "This dude's way cooler than you!" She shot back with mock defiance.

"Really?" I grinned, "After all I've done for you? Feeding you all these years?"

She folded her arms and turned her back on me theatrically, "Hmph! What have you done for me lately? Besides, Ryul looks quite strong."

"Speaking of that," Ryul stepped forward with a devil-may-care grin, "You've definitely bulked up, Darx. Wondering how strong you've become?"

I immediately caught his meaning, "I can show you if you want."

This reminds me of the old days. Ryul and I used to train together and often have sparring matches.

"Hell yeah," Ryul responded with a big smile, "I want to see just how strong you are now."

Zaine's eyes gleamed with interest as she watched our exchange. There was something almost machiavellian in her smile as she urged us on, "A contest. How interesting."

"Is this a good idea?" Amelia questioned with concern in her voice.

"Yeah," I laughed, eager for the challenge.

Our group moved to an open area where the ground was flat and bare. Ryul and I positioned ourselves in the center a certain distance from each other while Zaine, Amelia, and Sunshine watched from a distance.

"You sure you're ready for this?" Ryul called out as he stretched his arms above his head.

"Ready when you are," I answered confidently, feeling the familiar tingle.

Zaine's smile was both silent and intimidating, urging me on without a word. Amelia stood nearby with her arms crossed, looking worried despite her attempt at a supportive smile. Sunshine was sitting on Zaine's shoulder.

"Kick his pretty ass, Ryul!" Sunshine shouted, her high-pitched voice echoing in the open space.

Ryul grinned at me from across the field, "So, any rules before we start?"

"Aren't you being too nice?" I called back, stretching my neck from side to side.

He laughed, waving a hand dismissively, "Didn't want to scare you off!"

The moment hung between us, charged with anticipation. I decide to release some of my demonic energy, allowing a dark miasma to envelop my entire body. The sudden release of demonic energy shocked Ryul. Shock flashed across his face as he stumbled back, clearly unprepared for what I'd become. Surprisingly, after astonishment, I managed to see that Ryul smiled slightly. Ryul's eyes locked onto mine, full of fierce determination. He took a deep breath and shouted, "[Mantra!]"

With that, his muscles tensed, and a visible aura of energy pulsed around him.

"[Sixth Sense]"

"[Deadly Rush]"

Without warning, Ryul exploded toward me like a bolt of lightning using Deadly Rush. I focused, letting the dark energy surge through my veins, surrounding me in a swirling miasma, bracing for the impact. Ryul was on me in an instant, using his skill, crashing into me with his shoulder. The **** was immense; I barely held my ground. His speed and strength have increased considerably since the last time we fought.

"Wow! He's fast!" Sunshine exclaimed from the sidelines.

I smiled, exhilarated by the challenge. It had been too long since I faced someone like Ryul. I retaliated with my [Water Barrier], but he anticipated my move with "Sixth Sense," dodging gracefully and countering. "[Snake Strike]" Ryul shoted. The blow bypassed my water defenses, landing squarely and making the air rush out of my lungs.

Amelia gasped as she watched the exchange.

I staggered back but quickly recovered, knowing Ryul would press the attack. He was already airborne, "[Rising Sun Kick]" that struck with the precision of a hammer. The power behind it sent me skidding backward across the ground.

"He's got you on the ropes!" Sunshine taunted gleefully.

But I wasn't done yet. Channeling ice magic through my body, I shot several ice spears at Ryul in rapid succession. He deftly dodged them but didn't see the last one coming until it was almost too late.

He grinned as he narrowly avoided it, recognizing that I was starting to get serious.

"Looks like you're warming up!" Ryul shouted across the field as his eyes suddenly went blank white, and his skin turned reddish—"[Berserk]." His muscles bulged even more prominently as he launched himself at me with newfound fury.

The ground shook under his feet as he unleashed "[Blind Fury]," a relentless flurry of blows that came at me from every angle. Each strike felt like it could shatter bones if not for my dark miasma dampening some of the impact.

"You can't keep up!" Ryul yelled mid-****, pushing ever harder.

Woo! Ryul has become quite strong. However, he was wrong about that—I could—but it did require more effort than I'd admit. Not wanting to drag this out unnecessarily while still holding back considerably, I waited for an opening before releasing an entire storm of ice. The temperature dropped sharply as jagged shards formed in mid-air and descended upon him with merciless precision. The ground and surrounding trees turned crystalline, freezing in an instant. Zaine, who was attentive to the fight, used her demonic energy to create a sphere that protected Amelia and Sunshine from my ice magic without any trouble. After all, this level of magic is a joke for Zaine.

Ryul shot through the freezing barrage with sheer ****, landing near me and attempting a "[Stunning Strike]." But this time, I was ready.

I used my summon skill to create two helpers. With the shape of elegant, ethereal women made entirely of ice, their crystalline features sharp and beautiful. I commanded them forward. They moved with lethal grace, closing in on Ryul as I unleashed a barrage of high-speed water spheres at him.

"Shit!" Ryul exclaimed, dodging the first attack.

Ryul's eyes widened as he found himself **** to concentrate solely on dodging, his relentless offensive halted by the sudden onslaught. Attacks from my summons and I rained down on him from all directions. His movements became ****, each dodge barely managing to avoid a devastating hit.

Seizing the moment, I employed a tactic that would shift the battle completely. "[Monster Subjugator]!" My voice echoed with authority, and I felt my control extend outward to the lurking monsters in the forest. All of a sudden, monsters hiding inside the forest rushed towards Ryul in every direction.

"What the hell?!" Ryul exclaimed in disbelief as multiple monsters suddenly set upon him.

The unexpected attack caught him off guard, forcing him to lower his defenses as he struggled against my summoned horde. I saw my chance and gathered demonic energy into my fist.

In an instant, I was upon him—I punched him in the stomach. The blow landed with crushing ****, sending shockwaves through his body and knocking him flat onto the ground.

Everything went silent for a moment as the dust settled. The monsters vanished, and my ice summons dissolved into nothingness. Zaine's sphere dissipated elegantly as she watched with satisfaction.

Ryul lay there, panting heavily but grinning up at me through the pain. "D-Damn... you really have changed," He laughed breathlessly.

I offered him a hand up, "You, too, have become stronger." I said with a smile.

"That was so cool!" Sunshine cheered, bouncing up and down excitedly as she flew over to join us.

Amelia approached more cautiously, relief washing over her features when she saw Ryul and I were right, "You're both insane," She said, half-laughing, shaking her head at us.

Zaine came to stand by my side, her eyes meeting mine, "Nice fight," She murmured softly enough for only me to hear.

Sunshine hovered close to Ryul, her tiny face a mixture of admiration and mischief, "Don't worry, my friend! You did great for someone who doesn't have freaky demon powers!" She poked at him playfully, her little wings fluttering with excitement.

Ryul dusted himself off, still breathing hard but clearly invigorated by the fight. "I haven't had a workout like that in ages," He admitted, rubbing his sore stomach where my punch landed.

Amelia reached us with a concerned look, "You two are going to be black and blue tomorrow." She shook her head, though her eyes were warm, "Let me use some healing magic before we eat."

"I could use a good meal after that," I agreed, feeling the adrenaline slowly ebbing away.

"Yeah, you beat me up pretty good there!" Ryul laughed, wincing slightly as he moved.

Sunshine buzzed around Ryul's head like an overexcited insect, "Healing magic? Aw man, I thought Ryul would let me nurse him," She stuck out her tongue teasingly at Amelia.

Amelia just chuckled and began casting her healing spells. A soft glow enveloped both Ryul and me, soothing our battle-worn bodies.

Later that night, back at the mansion, Sunshine sat next to Ryul at the table, engaged in their own conversation and laughing at each other's jokes. Meanwhile, Zaine and I listened quietly until Amelia arrived with the food, surprisingly bringing my favorite dish. Amelia then placed the plate in front of me.

"Darx, is this still your favorite food?" Amelia asked with a smile, "I remember how much you loved it when we were kids."

"Y-Yeah...." I replied.

"You never told me you liked this," Zaine remarked, her voice carrying a hint of accusation.

I shrugged, trying to play it off lightly, "We never had much time for favorite foods," I replied, aware of the undercurrent in her words.

Sunshine poked Ryul with her elbow playfully, "Is it just me, or am I noticing a tension in the air?"

Amelia flushed slightly but laughed, trying to maintain her composure, "Not at all. It's just that I know Darx very well, and since we had the necessary ingredients, I thought I'd make his favorite meal," She admitted with a soft chuckle.

Zaine's eyes narrowed slightly as she turned to Amelia, "So thoughtful..."

Amelia hesitated for a moment before responding, her voice gentle but firm, "I've tried to make things comfortable for everyone."

Sunshine snickered at the exchange, "Whoa! This is better than your fight with Dox!" She said to Ryu.

Ryul grinned up at her, "I'm starting to think I'm missing half the show."

The conversation veered back into lighter territory as everyone ate. However, the tension between Zaine and Amelia remained like a shadow over the room, one that Sunshine seemed particularly keen on poking at every opportunity.