Their encounter was unexpected. The savior and the victim. So much so that the savior didn't even recognize the victim.
Her headband stretched across her forehead holding back some of her hair. It was more of a black silky cloth folded nicely and ran across her head and tied at the back with a knot. It had a crow etched into it who's one eye looked to the side. The crow's eye was white with a black pupil and just like her they glared down at anyone with judgement and might. Forthright and just. As though they could see and judge all.
Her black hair was another thing that caught his eyes. The way it flowed down her back and arched over her shoulders. Just right. It looked fragile, like it would snap of the slightest force. But that wasn't the case, majorly because of the way she was combing it. The comb would just slide in and out with zero hiccups and leave it even more disciplined than before.
For her final grace, the girl wore a shirt, a white one with some writing on that Lozo didn't have time to read. She coupled that with some short jean like shorts.
That was the girl that had been eyeing down Lozo a few minutes ago. The condescending look in her eyes… Lozo needed to know her name.
But he couldn't. Just as fast as they had met, she disappeared. She walked to a staircase on the other side of the dormitory and said with cautious tone in her tongue.
"The upper floor is for girls only. Yours is down here."
Her word was final as she walked away. Lozo watched her ascend the staircase and couldn't help feel a familiarity to her voice. He felt it in his stomach. His scarred gut.
Who was she?
But that didn't matter then. He walked around and soon landed into a room with the label, Room 4. Of the rooms of the lower floor none of them were Room 8.
'Guess it's on the upper floor.'
The room he was in was quite spacious. Sure, it was like that because it only one futon placed on a raised platform and a wooden drawer just to the side of it. But it was larger than his shared room he had back at the orphan…
Other than that, it had a beautiful garden growing next to it. The flowery scent freshened his room, ridding it of the disgust his ragged clothes were giving of. There was a stream like flow next to the garden and a bamboo water filler that lost balance every time it got full of water then pouring all that water back into the stream then starting the cycle again.
It was a nice place for sure. A nice place that shielded him from his grief.
Time passed and Lozo was done with the meal he found on top of his drawer. A step up from the dry bread and soup I might add.
He threw on the pair of clothes he found on the futon, some trousers that were loose around the thighs that narrowed significantly towards the ankles tucked into his sandal like boots. Upper body was a white shirt with two trees painted on it. One of the trees faced up while the other faced the opposite way. (Like the "as above so below tree").
Finally, he threw on a medium heighted dark jacket with green or lime green lining on it. He steadied it and shut his door.
"The Hearth Room. That's where he said he'd be…"
***
Kisharu yawned as his eyes surveyed the empty room of the hearth. He stood at the pillar with an envelope in his hand. The envelope was sealed with red wax that had two scrolls printed on it. He gazed at it and yawned once more.
"Where in hell are those two?" He wondered looking at one of the eight corridors that stretched into the room.
Just when he was about to curse again, he heard a loud noise echo from the outside.
"Out of the way!"
"What do you think you are doing standing in the middle of the hall like that, Huh! Can't you see there are injured here?!"
"I'm s…"
"Get out of the way!"
The noise died down and was replaced by footsteps. Then one of the doors into the hearth creaked open.
"Looks like it's gotten busier around here." Lozo heaved as he walked in.
"What's that all about?"
"You don't need to worry about any of that now." Kisharu reprimanded. "For now… what took you so long?"
"I got lost." Was Lozo's blunt answer.
"Anyway, what did you want to see me about?" Lozo asked giving a sharp eye to the paper in Kisharu's hand.
"Wait a few minutes. There is someone else I'd like you to meet first."
Silence persisted in the room for a while. Quite awkward especially with the times Kisharu kept groaning.
"Hey while we wait for whoever I was wondering… Why are there so many injured people here?" Lozo asked curious.
Kisharu's groans stopped for a minute. He looked towards Lozo with a puzzled look in his face.
"It's a hospital. What'd you expect? A pack of body builders?"
"No…no… that's…" Lozo tried to salvage his question.
Kisharu's eyes lingered for a while. He sighed before annoyingly saying.
"I get what you mean but that should worry you for now. "
Lozo's eyes dropped. Kisharu noticed this. "Urgh, fine. I'll make it worthwhile and give you a challenge. I'll tell you why once you complete the task I'm about to give you. Complete it without any hiccups and you'll have your answer."
"Easy enough."
"Yeah… don't count before you see the eggs." He warned." Your teammate is here."
Just then another door creaked open. Then came footsteps.
"And even then, don't count until they hatch." Kisharu added as he turned to the meet the newest arrival.
"Took you long enough. You realize that matters like this are of high priority. Even when…"
"Yeah, yeah. I know. Even when we have issues of our own."
Lozo sight shifted to the corridor and there she was. Dropping down the flights. Her silky hair still mesmerizing as the first time he saw it. But the look in her eyes was different.
"Well, if you know it try to observe time, Karin."
"Just hurry up and give us the mission already." Karin snapped.
"Sure, but first introductions. Lozo, Karin. Karin, Lozo." Kisharu said pointing to each respectively.
The two gave each other awkward looks.
"Nice to meet you." Lozo began.
"What kind of a name is Lozo? Did someone name you or did you pick it out. "
"Enough. Karin you better play nice. Lozo here will be your teammate for this task. Now then, you two listen."
"The mission I'm about to give you is extremely vital. Recently there has been a breakout of some unexplainable happenings in the village. There have been reports unsettling sounds echoing out people's names. We've checked around and setup some TNT's and picked up something. "
"A domain?" Karin asked. Her previous look of worry has disappeared. Things were getting serious.
"Possibly. The TNT signals weren't strong enough to pin-point it. And that's where you two come in. "
"Your needed to go into Himo village and investigate the possibility of a domain there. If any, you are to follow the guidelines to handle it. Karin you'll take the lead on this one. Show him everything he needs to know. I'll be counting on you." Kisharu said handing the envelope he had to Karin. He turned to Lozo.
"Listen to every of Karin's commands. And whatever you do… Don't' stray too far from her." Kisharu said before walking out of the hearth room. He gave Karin a slight glance and nodded.
"You get any of that?" Karin asked Lozo with hint of superiority in a voice.
"Himo village… Possible Domain… um… TNTs and… ahh…guidelines."
"Yeah, I understand none of that."
Karin smiled. "Good. You are at least attentive. I'll start with the guidelines then…"
If Purger handle it. if Wanderer run away… If Limbo, pray to the Saints!