Chapter 13: Mystery Woman Returns
Elsewhere, standing inside someone’s attic was the man in the blue cloak. The hood was pushed back and revealed a paper charm tied around a lock of black hair. He reached up and removed the charm which allowed the black hair to grow and return to its red color. His silver eyes closed as his body and face began to shift, becoming more feminine. Once done she stood still and inhaled deeply before exhaling while opening her now emerald green eyes. She stepped close to the round window to gaze down upon the pair, pleased with herself.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMfhkaaIin
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“Alanna, we feel shame in your behavior.” A girl’s voice explained after the clicking of her tongue from behind the woman. The girl, Kaori, smoothed out her Lolita dress consisting of almost royal purple, blue, and pale yellow colors.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNAvU9LqY0
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“Yes Alanna, it’s so much of a shame we are shamed to just know you are the one to bring it.” A boy expressed with a disappointed tone. The boy, Shiori, smoothed out his shirt as if uninterested when Alanna greeted them.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9udGc006xi
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The woman turned with an exhale but was slightly stunned to see the twin ten year olds there, or rather ten in appearance since they were very old in the age of a god and goddess. “Hello to you both.” Alanna greeted with a polite tone and a bow. “What brings you to my hiding spot?”676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2Wm547PVj
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Kaori ran her fingers through then flipped back some of her long, wavy pale violet-yellow hair with a roll of her blue-black eyes. “Easy, if you can understand the fish’s bubbles that is.” She explained from her sitting spot on their unique stone pet made up of a few rings inside each other and an eye in its center.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXYbgMx6ZS
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Shiori nodded with matching hair and eye color as he flipped back his loose bangs of his short hair. “You know we hate our fun and games interrupted.”676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbzBlvnUxZ
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“Well,” Alanna folded her arms, “I think you two possibly setting it for that man to need to deal with that woman is selfish, and would be detrimental to what Lord Ginsu is wanting to see for her future.”676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL8fvWvqTu
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Both twins giggled at this which fell in line for what she’d seen of their behaviors. “The dear sweet Water God,” the girl began between snickers.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltFhrk7r4L
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“Fancies his work to that of the Weavers us?” the boy snarked while lightly laughing and falling back against their pet, crossing his arms in front of his chest.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyid7FaohxW
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“Oh so funny yet boring~” the girl cooed between her giggles before jumping off their pet and approaching the woman, starting to circle her. “But what in the floating seas would give means to the piece that disobeys?”676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRDO5rFooG
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Alanna frowned as she watched the child goddess step around her. “You could be kind and not punish someone who does not balk, most of the time, at what you request me to do.”676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mbHgsI0qc
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Shiori seemed to ponder this before shrugging. “Normally we ask that the snippy rat relinquish its fangs or ears but in this case, we need to set right the moth’s path to its flame.” He pushed off from the pet that floated over to observe this from another spot. He approached Alanna as Kaori from behind the red haired female aimed her open palm towards the ground under the woman. Alanna was focused on Shiori who now wore an expression that could be either saying he was going to love what he had planned or he was not happy he had to put in any effort right now. Both cases made her stomach feel twisted with unease. 676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozoW0IFtJI
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She, for only a moment, forgot about Kaori before being quickly reminded about the girl who had been circling her and now stood behind her. She tried moving away right as she felt the taught grip by black and purple ribbons with gray area’s that moved like sunlight on the water’s surface. She was forced to her knees so she would be at eye level with the boy who reached his hand out and took hold of her head, pressing his palm against her forehead and tangling his fingers into her hair. “Let’s take a look into your mirror and pick someone from your shadows.” His palm began to glow and Alanna’s face twisted in pain with her eyes closed tightly. She tried to scream but that was left silent as a section on one of the ribbons was lacking the gray moving reflections.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQiLB9YBRj
Meanwhile, back the Marenzo and Alura, he had ceased his search and was comforting her to reassure her that if he showed again then they would strike quickly. After this comforting ended, they left the alleyway and continued with asking different merchants as well as store owners about the elusive feared croen of the past. It wasn’t until several dead ends and them walking down the street later did Marenzo glance over then fully look at Alura. She looked disappointed so he put his arm around her, causing her to very lightly blush when she realized she was against him and catching the sound of his beating heart. This beating noise was actually her own heart inside her chest as it felt to be fluttering some. “You okay? You don’t seem like yourself.” He didn’t think them hitting so many dead ends was that disappointing.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWZPQaLKJJ
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“I’m fine,” she looked up to meet his gaze, “don’t worry Marenzo.” She gave him a soft smile and he smirked shaking his head before ruffling her hair. “Hey!” she exclaimed while whacking away his hand before starting to fix it.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbW19KdwRD
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“You are a terrible liar, you know that?” he asked grinning while she glared at him, coming to a stop as she got her hair fixed. “So, mind telling me what’s wrong that I missed before? I’ll make it better, trust me.” He assured kindly.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixGOXjM3y4
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She sighed while closing her eyes. “I’m…wondering if it was a bad idea to come here. I’m thinking now that there’s no one here that knows Synto Nightrayne.” She explained as her eyes opening. “What if the answers were somewhere else or if it’d be better for us to just go right to Natta?”676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsLGRU9sdY
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“It’s not pointless and you never know who might know something. Plus we haven’t had a bad time here and I’m sure something will turn up at some point.” She nodded and accepted before returning a hug. “Now come, let’s look into a few more places before we head back to the tavern.” He broke the hug and lead the way with her following behind.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNz3t53hcy8
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“Nightrayne?” a girl’s voice asked from behind Alura which caused her to stop. “Who’s that?” the girl asked as Alura turned, took a step closer before kneeling down in front of a twelve year old girl in a simple white summer dress. She was barefoot and had striking red hair that fell past her shoulders. 676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJzICNZCHZ
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“That’s what I’m trying to learn.” Alura sighed as the little girl brushed her messy bangs out of her forest green eyes. “But who are you?”676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXIFwHBtgO
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“Nightrayne was a scary man who found love but lost his family.” She answered while avoiding the question.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPcdccAvfC
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Alura frowned at this avoidance. “That wasn’t even what I asked you.”676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSpLrGYYye
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“It was a violent time back then and it wasn’t the lost one’s fault, but simple nature for some who are controllers of shadow, fire and wind. But, they say in the land of moons you can see him on the third night of the festival.” Alura looked curiously at the girl who didn’t seem to see this info as shocking. “All you do is stand on the bridge with your love and he will appear, holding his lost and found in his arms.”676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zZn5pMaxr
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“How…do you know all this?” she questioned before another thought came to the front of her mind. “Where’s your parents?” she asked gently. “I’m sure they’re worried.” She reached out to touch her shoulder only for her hand to go through the child. Her eyes widened in shock and almost horror at her racing, speculating thoughts about how this girl had died. She didn’t have too much time to ponder as the girl smiled while fading with a static sound that her Alura’s ears. It was after this that she realized that the sound of the market was back which only caused more confusion and worry to stir inside her gut.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNpZfQYvNG
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“Hey Alura, what’s taking you?” he asked after he had made his way back once he had realized Alura wasn’t with him.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchOalPI7oz
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“Uh…” she didn’t know how to respond except to shake her head with her eyes closed to try shaking off her shock.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09ZIX64GtW
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“Did you drop something?”676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlAPG7SnCT
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“I’m good, nothing dropped.” She finally answered while standing and dusting her pants off. She turned to him and gave a smile as she was trying to push down whatever it was she encountered. “So, where are we looking next?” she had a chipper tone to her voice. He thought this was odd but brushed it aside as he explained and lead the way, giving her a short list of other stores to hit as well as stands.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUgsGzx5Np
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In the attic, the Weavers and Alanna were in place but Shiori’s glowing magic was starting to fade as he ended the spell, allowing for what looked like a gray splotch to return to a spot on one of the several ribbons holding onto Alanna’s arms. He removed his hand then Kaori willed the life ribbons to release Alanna and she stepped back, giggling as Shiori patted her on the head while she began to collapse. “You’re such a good toy~”676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJMH0o8uaJ
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“It’s wonderful how durable our new toy is~” Kaori swooned while doing a spin.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAE1H2irl1Q
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“I’m so glad…you’re happy…for this…” Alanna panted as she hit the floor exhausted.676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LHOxRyUNr
