Chapter 279: Four Pairs 3

Aria had eased her mind on the prospect of this so-called tower. She remembers the tower like an old fading dream inside her head. She had been trying to contain her spirits, the thoughts that wander back to the fool who was plaguing her mind. Oh, how sweet those days were, and she’s expected to just forget about those?

“Sister,” Ari called. “I heard that the Adventurers are showing up from the portals. Will you come?”

“No,” Aria said. “I’ll stay in our room.”

The room had two beds, one table in the middle, and a pitcher next to the door through this hollow part of the wall. Ari wore her gear and had tied her hair into a ponytail. Aria herself started asking if the man her sister met was the same man that keeps troubling her dreams.

“Goddamn it,” Aria said. “When did you become so popular? Really, that look doesn’t suit you, I preferred when you were a smoldering old man with a grizzled look and a chiseled jaw.”

It made Aria think of the days where they get peace. When they were just two fools spending beautiful time while waiting for the next battle, spending too much time holding hands, and wishing that they’d meet again when the battle dies down.

They had time together the moment she awoke. However, she had sensed that he had changed while she was asleep. Then the memories came and she had no excuse. No more, she wouldn’t burden him again with such love. It wasn’t her love, it was her other self, but how can she deny that her love didn’t reach that far?

She had driven out thirsty maids and sultry noblewomen without him knowing. She had done things to keep others out of her man, and she did not regret it. She admits that she had done terrible things in trying to drive him out of her life, and yet she failed. She had failed in not loving and this love had put him into misery.

If she had a heart then she had ripped it out in hopes that she won’t feel it. That the pain will subside and she will be able to forget. She had been away for a short while and her heart aching and eager. She shook this feeling and joined Ari.

She sat alongside her rosebuds, and the stare of the men was clear on them. However, their eyes had fear, the Knight of Roses, and the White Lance, she and Ari had been dangerous foes. Many had tried but they all end the same, their blood on the ground, face swimming on their pool of blood.

“Cheers,” Aura said, her mug meeting with another. The rest of the rosebuds smiled, ate, and chatted with their fellow rosebuds. Ari and Aria shared the same table.

“Mistress,” said Aura. “Why do you share the same names?”

“We just do,” Ari said. “From here and now, call me Ari, and my sister as Aria. That should differentiate on who’d you want to call. My sister’s joining us on the hunt.”

“I am glad, however, Ari, numerous groups are coming for the price. Some want to appease the Gods, while the rest seeks for the child. They think that the children that the burnt woman speaks are that of her treasures. Who takes the treasure shall be holding power.”

“Our fight shall take us to the desert then?”

“The desert,” Aria looked. “Is this tower in the middle of a desert or something?”

“It should be,” Aura said, she drew two lines in the air. “I’ve prepared a portal that will take us to that place.”

Ari observed the two lines, “I assume that you had already cleared the mark. I don’t want to be transferred in between solid objects.”

“I did, Mistress,” Aura flicked her hand. “I had the wards set up and our thorns are ready.”

“We’ll be moving, Sister. Would you like to prepare, though, I think that you won’t need much other than what you are already wearing. I had taken the liberties in preparing ourselves for this.”

“Is that so?” Aria nodded. She held the white lance on her back and closed her eyes for a second.

“Yes,” Aura said. “We will move before the mark fades. It is taking a toll on my body.”

“Here,” Aria hummed a song, a sweet tune wrapped around Aura. “That should take the burden out of your body.”

“Song of reprieve,” Ari said. “I didn’t think you’d do so easily, Sister. I take it that your songs had become better with the white lance as your conduit then.”

“It took time,” Aria confessed. “But I managed. We should move before her body becomes split.”

“Girls,” Ari called. The rosebuds moved and followed Ari out of the establishment. Aura nodded on the rest of the girls, took a stance, and opened a portal like opening a curtain, but without the hazards of being torn apart. Upon entering the portal, Aria saw a vast desert city with a crystal clear river, and strange mounts crawling on the sand. Not far from where she stood was a strange barrier of haze, coupled with dusty wind surrounding this barrier.

“Aura!” Ari shouted. Aria turned and saw Aura on the ground, spitting blood, and eyes blood red.

“What happened?” Aria asked.

“Interference,” said Ari. “She had cleared the area but it is too strong. Are you alright, Sister, you are sensitive and I assume that this is worse for you.”

Ari shook her head and squared her shoulders, “I can take a beating, do not fret, Sister. It looks like we are close to this tower, was this your plan?”

“Partly, this is rather strange, hmm, I can smell the Wise Men around. The city’s full of the greedy and the holy, my sister.”

“I can tell.”

The skies cleared for a second. Aria saw the skies filled with flying mounts.

“Looks like we need to go back to the city,” Aria said. “Get her mounted, we are leaving this.”

She mounted and turned her eyes to the city. She trotted at first, then went for a gallop, and the sounds of horses came from behind her.