I was never a fan of awkward silence but at this moment I couldn’t help it. Because never have I had someone that I was trying to kill ask me what she had just asked. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?” I asked in true bewilderment.
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Ori stepped a bit closer. “I need your help or rather I want you to help me.”
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I moved my blade from hovering over her shoulder and moved it to cover her neck. “Are you truly stupid or something? You are asking the girl who is here to capture or kill you for her help?”
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“That is exactly what I am doing.” Ori confirmed not even caring if my blade was over her throat. She reached out with two fingers and in the shock of her question, she pushed it away from her throat. Her other hand grabbed the wooden staff of my weapon and in a second I had been disarmed. My weapon clattering down the stairs leading up to this altar. “Now can you stop holding weapons at my throat and let me talk for a minute, maybe two.” She looked away for a moment before holding up five fingers. “I actually need five unless you want the summarized version.”
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“Shut up!” I shouted to bring out my second sickle to hold at her throat. “Do you not understand what is happening or is it some sort of stalling method?” A bit of confused laughter escaped my lips. “That is what this is, a desperate attempt to delay me. You probably called the police five minutes before I arrived and they are gonna bust down this door at any moment.”
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“I am not.” Ori held her hands out in front of her in complete surrender. “That is why I told you to meet me in this church. My guardian back home always said not to lie on a bible or in the house of the father.”
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“How do I know you aren’t lying?” I questioned.
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She tilted a bit and her lips curled up into a small smile. “Didn’t you just hear what I said?” She asked a bit too smartly for my liking. She quickly ducked out the way as I went to slash her. She suddenly leapt over me and when I spun around she kicked my wrist knocking my other weapon to the ground. “Okay, I didn’t mean to sound rude, just let me explain what is happening and maybe you will be willing to help me.”
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My eyes narrowed into a dark glare as I held my hands out to bring my weapons flying back to me. “What you have to say to me means nothing, the Oren don’t pick sides, they don’t care about what is happening. We do our jobs, get paid and then explore where we are. We know more secrets about the elites of this world than you could ever imagine.”
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“What if what I have to say might lead to the death of an innocent life as well as the destruction of this world?” She asked, suddenly growing very serious. Her eyes held the same determination that I had seen when we had dinner with her and The Brown family. “Give me five minutes, if it is not good enough for you than we can fight and you will-” She paused for a moment. “And maybe you will win or I will.” I had a feeling she was gonna end her original sentence with, you will lose. She could be a cocky little bitch if she wanted too.
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Sometimes the best way to end your enemy is to play with their trust. Poppy’s words of advice flew through my ears and I slowly lowered my blades. I allowed them to fade into pink smoke to be absorbed back into my netrix crystal. “Can you least get me something to drink? Not much of a meeting if there is nothing to drink.”
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Ori’s eyes lit up with joy as she reached out and took my hand. “Come on, I was prepared for this.” She pulled me through the doors leading out of the assembly area.
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“What the hell are you doing?” I heard Aiko whisper from her netrix gemstone. “Let me bite her and get this over with, my poison will work on people with jepei energy.”
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“Trust me on this, just be ready to strike if that stupid dragon comes out.” I mentally commanded her. “This will be over tonight.”
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We entered a large kitchen, the walls painted a boring creme color, dark brown cabinets and a center island were inside. On the small stove top there was a large pot which Ori needed to use a step stool to reach. It was honestly nice seeing someone else go through the same struggles I had to go through from being shorter than most. Resting on the center island was that stupid dragon spirit. If I was being honest, that spirit animal truly was beautiful, deep silver scales that shined brighter in the light, its muzzle small but I knew it held sharp teeth inside. Its small arms and legs were kinda cute as well. “You actually convinced her to come, mommy?”
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“I told you it would work.” Ori called out from over her shoulder. She removed the lid off the pot and the entire room began to fill with an admittedly good smell. A mix of seafood of some kind. Ori spun around to face her animal spirit, “Now please behave unless they are mean to us and try to attack us.”
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“Yes mommy.”
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“Did you recently awaken your animal spirit?” I asked, taking a seat at the small table in the back.
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“How did you know?”
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“When you are raised with your spirit animal from birth they tend to see you as a sibling. I see mine as my twin sister and she sees me as hers. Those that awaken their animal spirit much later, their spirit animal tends to see them as a mother or father. Almost like how some baby animals will imprint on the first thing they see.” I explained bringing my chin to rest on my palm. I watched her as she slowly stirred this pot, occasionally changing spoons after taking a quick taste test.
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She eventually took out two bowls and scooped out two even helpings. Ori came over to me a small skip in her step as she presented this meal to me. “It was cold outside so I made a nice seafood soup.”
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“Thank you, I guess.” While this girl closed her eyes to bless our food I couldn’t help but bring a small spoonful up to my mouth. I got a few pieces of shrimp and scallops and as soon as it entered my mouth. I felt my eyes widened in shock. “This is actually good… like really really good.” I admitted, bringing another spoonful to my mouth. Whatever chill was still in my body seemed to melt away like the snow. “How did you learn to cook this way?”
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“I have a good teacher back home,” Ori responded. “Since we are eating, can we extend my time to maybe 30 minutes or so?” She then giggled to herself as she added. “If not we are gonna end up fighting with full bellies and burnt tongues.”
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“Whatever.” I said with a roll of my eyes.
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We ate mostly in awkward silence. The floor was vibrating from her tapping her foot on the ground, probably from nerves I guessed. I could feel that dragon staring daggers at the back of my head, as if it was waiting for me to attack. I had to remind Aiko numerous times to not attack this girl or that dragon. “How long have you had your animal spirit?” I asked, finally breaking our silence.
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“About two years now.” She answered.
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“So you began your training when you were around 10 or so and you are that skilled?” I questioned in mock surprise. “Impressive.”
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Ori looked up at me with a bashful blush spreading over her pale cheeks. “Not really, I was already learning martial arts and once my jepei suddenly unlocked. My guardian began to teach me the art of the dragon, I owe it to Abba for picking things up so quickly.”
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“Abba?” I asked.
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“I told you before, it is Hebrew for daddy.” Ori explained. “Some people call the father simply father or use one of the many names we have for him. Others like to use more personal names. It brings us closer to him. I choose to use abba or daddy since he is the only daddy I have really had.”
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A brief wave of sadness seemed to cover her face and I found myself asking. “What happened to your birth parents?”
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“They passed away when I was about five, afterwards I mostly just lived where I could. I stole what I needed to steal, I was always able to get money or find places to wash my clothes but sometimes a park bench was the best I could find to sleep on.” As soon as that sadness came it was gone as her smile slowly spread over her face again. “That was the first time I prayed. That same day my guardian Oikawa Ryoko found me and she took me into her home.”
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“Do you miss your birth parents?” I asked.
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“I do,” Ori confirmed. “Though I am blessed to have made new friends and a new family. I know ,I have an older sister Ryuu.” She then looked more scared than when she first met me. “Who is probably gonna murder me when I get back home.” She than pressed her face into her hands and took a deep breath. “Yeah I am gonna die when I get home, there is no way I don’t.” She seemed to have the fear and respect for this sister of hers, that I held for Wisteria, and if she was anything like my older sister. I was sure that instead of death, Ori just wouldn’t be sitting comfortably for a week or two.
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“Why hasn’t your guardian come back to find you yet anyway? I know that pastor said finding your guardian was harder than it looked.”
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Ori looked down at the table. “That was a lie, I actually got in contact with her the night they found me and just didn’t tell me the truth. My guardian, while upset I came here without even telling her to begin with, said that what I was doing was for the greater good. So as long as I was safe, she told me to stay and finish the job I got myself into, but if I ever needed her help she was gonna send my onee-chan to come and help me.” She then changed the subject. “What is your family like?”
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“Well I am sure that stupid doctor told you that we are mindless monsters.” I said angrily. “That is what she told that pastor and she probably will think I am a manipulative monster for the rest of her life.”
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“She doesn’t think that.” Ori said. “She might be upset that you lied to her and trust me that doesn’t go well with her.” She looked away for a moment and towards the picture of The Brown Family that was hanging on a wall nearby. “She doesn’t like liars and I have seen how firm she can be when her kids or when I have lied to her. So please don’t tell her what I just told you about my guardian.”
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I rolled my eyes at that before continuing. “Everyone thinks that about my family, those that hire us think we are loyal dogs when in reality we just don’t care about things. As long as we are paid we will gladly stay silent.” I explained before going on about my family a bit. “I have three sisters, Zinnie, she is very pretty, like really really pretty. She tends to act laid back but she is also very kind to people that she likes, though she can be very annoying sometimes. Her twin sister Poppy is very smart but also has a very bad lust for blood that she tries to hide. She takes her time and has created such a complicated scheduler that keeps her in control. Then there is Wisteria, my favorite of my sisters, she is the strongest and should be the heir to the throne. She is wise beyond her years and is the only one that I let baby me, she understands who I really am. My father is really strong and is the best assassin and guard in the entire world. People could spend millions just to hire him. My mother is the head of the family, the one who gives us assignments, she is stern but very fair. She is beautiful and it is her wisdom that keeps the Oren going strong.” I could go on for hours saying more but I choose to cut myself off there, no reason to tell more than I should to a dead girl.
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“They sound nice,” Ori said, standing to her feet. “Can I take your bowl?”
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“I’m not gonna stop you.” I said pushing it over to her.
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She walked towards the sink that she already had filled with soapy water and her dragon raced off beside her. Giving me a chance I was waiting for, I took her untouched glass of soda she gave me and put in a single drop of my paralyzing poison inside. The liquid fizzed up a bit more so I gave it a single spin before setting it back in the original place. “Can you tell me already why you need my help and what I can possibly do for you?” I called out to her.
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Ori came back to the table after summoning her dragon back into her netrix gemstone. She folded her hands together and was trying to look as professional as she could. “I need your help or rather I want you to help stop your hirer for making a mistake. A mistake that could cost the world more than she thinks. I am sure you know about The Dark Order of the Claw.”
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“Yeah of course, those in the dark order believe they are the ultimate race above all animals including humans. However, what does this have to do with them? What are you really here for?”
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“Whitney Dawnbreaker stumbled across items of great power, the head of the trident of the leviathan, a piece of its netrix gemstone.” Ori explained. “I am sure you know that if I can get the staff then I can possibly bring back the trident. She is trying to do the same thing and we cannot allow her to do that.”
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“How come?” I asked.
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“Because the danger that the staff can do is too much, it could sink this entire city and most of the east coast into the water.” Ori explained. “The trident can control the waves, and you need the trident to find the other two shards of the Levianian's netrix crystal which are buried in the deepest parts of the water. Have you heard of the city of Atlantis?”
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I had to think on that for a moment but it was coming back to me. “Yeah the fictional city that the ancient Greek philosopher Plato wrote about. The city that sank into the water but that is just a story.”
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“Well what if I told you the story is only a small portion of the true history. Plato-Sama took legends of that ancient city and turned it into a story, one that was sunk by Poseidon. Now the city of Atlantis was a real place however it doesn’t currently rest near Italy or Greece. It was actually two cities, Atlas and Titus. One near Japan and one off the coast of Africa between what is now modern day Nigeria, Gabon and Cameroon. The point of those two cities were to be homes for jepei users who choose to stay under the water, what this world might call mermaids and merman, were actually just users with aquatic-like animal spirits. They were also the home to two very important people and two very important gemstones, this is where the chosen of the leviathan and the other two netrix gemstones were supposed to rest.”
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“Okay,” I said, a tiny bit interested. “And what proof do you have of these claims? And if they were supposed to be the home of these chosen and other two netrix crystals, where does the trident come into play?”
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“I am very interested in history.” Ori began. “I have studied history since I could read, I have always found it interesting. My guard-” She started to say but then she corrected herself. “My Okaasan’s family has a lot of history books and her bloodline is connected to these ancient underwater cities. I have read scrolls and books that they have kept. The Oikawa family were the ones that protected the city of Atlas before it fell."
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“Is that what happened to that city?”
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“Yes,” Ori answered. “When Abba shattered the three great beasts and their weapons. Much like how the tribe of Levi guarded and cared for the ark of the covenant. He chose two special families to guard the two chosen of the leviathan’s spirit and share the responsibility of guarding the trident. The Oikawa clan from Japan or the territory that eventually became Japan; And an ancient tribe called the Mieke tribe. They were supposed to share this responsibility but then like most they turned away from the father and began to fight against each other. Especially the king of atlas and the queen of titus. They choose to worship and make themselves gods so Abba decided their punishment was to destroy the cities and sink them to the bottom of the ocean where the last pieces could rest in peace until the time was right.”
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“Why am I not surprised, your father tends to destroy those that don’t agree with him.” I said, earning a harsh glare from her. “Hey don’t get mad at me cause I am sure that happens a lot in that book you love so much. So keep going because right now this history lesson is getting boring.”
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Ori took a deep breath. “The point is if Whitney Dawnbreaker get’s her hands on the last piece of the trident. She will be able to find the last two shards of the leviathan. Afterwards she will find the current chosen of the leviathan and force them onto the wrong side. Use their combined power to do unbelieve damage to this world.”
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“What side is that?”
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“She worked for the dark order of the claw.” She answered.
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I raised an eyebrow at her in surprise. “What are you talking about?”
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“Have you seen her netrix gemstone?” I slowly shook my head. “I would suggest you find a way to get a glimpse of it if you don’t believe me. The Dark Order is on the move and they now want the three great beasts on their side. They are looking to rule the world with three great powers that helped create it. If that happens.” Ori trailed off for a moment as a look of fear appeared across her face. “I need your help because I am sure she has given you access to her more private vault of items. Or maybe you can help me figure out where that last piece is and help me get it. If she has the trident then things will get very bad. The dark order will rise the seas to find the cities and take what is not meant to be theirs. And they can bring back the full force of the leviathan chosen and get them on their side. Then the oceans will boil, the waves will crush anything in sight. They could raise another flood and completely destroy the world, nowhere would be safe, only jepei users could possibly survive and then that would be it. All they want to do is rule this world and put us jepei users on top, I don’t want anyone else to die because of them.``
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“You are making a lot of assumptions.” I said, taking a sip of my drink. “Also the ice is melting in your soda and no one likes a watery drink.”
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I held back my excitement as she quickly took a few sips of her soda. In two minutes it will start to shut her body down, in ten I will be able to get her where she needs to go. “What assumptions am I making?” She asked once she finished.
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“That this woman wouldn’t see me coming from a mile away if I decided to team up with you.” I leaned across the table a bit to get a better look at her. “Look, say everything you just told me is the complete and utter truth. If I suddenly start prodding around her secrets or speak too much on the subject, she will shut down the doors I am barely able to keep open. You beating me the last time with that cheap shot damaged my reputation, and you stealing the head of that trident forced her to trust in my skills again. However, that door is closing every single day and one push, one prod that she doesn’t trust will end our relationship.”
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Ori coughed a bit into her hand, the first sign of poison. “I am sure you are smart enough to not let that happen. You are an assassin right? Isn’t it is one of your family's jobs to get people to trust you both those that hire you and those that you hunt.”
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“Yes it is but it is that reputation that makes what you are asking much harder than you seem to think. Yes I am an assassin skilled in putting on a different face and skin to get what I want. However, our clients understand that and are weary with us, they don’t just let secrets slip. The only reason she told me about the shard you took and the trident head is because they are important to her. So important that she is offering me more money to bring them back to her as well as your head. What does she want with you in the first place?”
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“Before you came-” Ori stopped herself as she began harshly coughing into the crook of her arm. “S-Sorry, something in my throat. Before you came…” Ori began to violently cough again so much that she spilled her drink across the oak floors. Her hands were starting to shake her pale skin starting to show bulging veins that were starting to turn purple. Ori slipped out of her chair and collapsed onto the ground with a loud thud. “W-What is happening.” Ori said switching to japanese.
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I looked down at her small frame and took another sip of my soda. I reached into my coat pocket and took out the lighter of my two liquids. “Crazy how long it takes for poison to run through the bloodstream, all it took was two drops to bring you down on the ground.”
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“W-Why,” I heard her whisper.
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“Ori-Chan, the Oren do not care about sides, we do not care about anyone that isn’t in our family or catches our eye for love. If your story is true than what does it matter, the oren have always survived extinction. Even when your father tried to wipe my people off the earth, we still survived and we are still living. That is why we hate him so much.” I slipped out of my chair and began to walk towards her. “The moment it became clear that you were one of his children, that was the moment that we became enemies and I do one of two things to my enemies.”
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At that moment much like before her animal spirit came shooting out of her netrix gemstone. I barely had time to use protection to strengthen my arms as she bite into me. A few shards of my own jepei aura fell off in the process. My feet skeeted on the ground as it pushed me back up against the sink, its clawed arms slowly slicing through my shirt trying to damage me. “Aiko, I could really use some help here!” I looked over to Ori who had somehow managed to climb to my feet and was walking towards the door as fast as she could.
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“Mommy run away!” Her dragon shouted in a panicked tone. “Run away, I can hold them off.”
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The dragon’s head snapped up as Aiko slammed her own head into its jaw. I jumped up in the same motion and caught it across the snout with a well placed kick. I sprinted towards the doorway only for something to wrap around my ankle. I screamed as I was lifted up into the air and slammed down and through the table sending a brief wave of pain shooting up my spine! The horrible crunching of wood exploded into the air as well as shards of wood. “Are you okay!” Aiko said as she slithered onto my chest.
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I shook a few shards of wood out of my hair before pointing towards the door. “Do not let her escape and take that stupid beast down!” As I darted towards the door, I could fell the air start to change. I spun around to see this dragon’s mouth opening rows of sharp teeth and a dark blue orb starting to grow bigger with each passing second. I wrapped my arms around Aiko and jumped to the side right as it fired a blast at me. A column of water erupted from its lips slamming into the wall in front of me.
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Before I could react, the dragon flew out of the door with blinding speed. Aiko hissed as she leapt out faster and with the speed of a cheetah she wrapped herself around the dragon. “Go without me, I will hold her off, go find her!” Aiko shouted at me before her large fangs extended and sunk into the dragon’s underbelly. It roared with fury making the air itself tremble underneath it.
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“I’m counting on you Aiko!” I shouted rushing out the door, wincing a bit as pain rushed through my side. I turned around to see the silvery dragon had sunk its claws into Aiko’s side. “Don’t let go, Aiko. I will be back!”187Please respect copyright.PENANAummDR1BL3M
“Just go already!”
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