The warm light of a new morning peeked through the cracks between the trap door.
Small rays of sunlight illuminate the underground room. With the faint sound of cloth being rubbed against the wall.
Slowly waking Daichi.
His eyes opened slightly. Laying on the hard and cold ground where he slept for the past couple of days. He saw Rhea's small figure, standing on top of the desk she sleeps on.
"Rhea?"
He said in a low tone. Sitting up slowly. Rubbing his eyes, trying to see clearly as his whole body was aching from sleeping on the uncomfortable ground.
It's times like these I'd really do well with one of those crappy mattresses on the streets I always ignored.
But here I am. Sleeping on hard stone and using stinky sprinter fur as a pillow.
"Yeah?" Rhea answered. Interrupting his thoughts. But not looking back at him. As she continued rubbing away all the notes and drawings from the walls.
"What are you doing?"
His voice lowers as he picks himself up. And began stretching and twisting. His back cracking as he does it. His muscles relax while he's looking at her.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" She responded sarcastically. But there's no real venom in her tone.
Well someone's in a good mood
"I can see what you're doing. But why?"
He asked. Looking around the room. Where all the notes and drawings that were on the walls are all smeared across each other.
"Weren't those important?"
He asked softly. Looking up at her. But realizing that he never really understood what the notes said. Or what the drawings were. The majority resembled an angel, but without the halo. They had hands with what looks like feathers in the drawings. And bird-like wings.
What even are those...
He mused. As Rhea jumped down off the desk.
"There."
"All done."
She said as she turned and looked at him.
"Yeah...It was all important"
"At some point"
"But I don't think...I'll be coming back here."
She sounds convinced. But the uncertainty wasn't easy for her to hide. Daichi noticed immediately. And laughed slightly, trying to lighten her mood.
"You'll be fine. You're 'THE' Rhea. The ultimate sprinter killer"
His tone is a bit playful as he tries to reassure her. Which kinda works.
"Oh, be quiet."
"They're not that hard to kill."
She replied with a little laugh. Picking up the bow and sliding it over her shoulder.
"I think it's time we start moving"
"I'm not a hundred percent sure where Nervaal is. But I heard the scouts just follow the river stream then search for the uhh..."
"I don't think I remember."
Mmh Micah would've remembered this so easily.
She said to herself. Trying to remember the conversation she overheard in her village. But also clutching the bow slightly. Remembering her little brother's exceptional memory.
Daichi stood there. Silent for a moment. His brain slowly registered what she said. Word for word.
"You...DONT REMEMBER?!"
"Rheaaaa!!!"
"You need to remember. You have to."
He said to her, In shock at what he's hearing. He shook her. Trying whatever to make something click.
"Heyy!!"
"Could you not?!"
"I'm trying okayy!"
She responded fast, swatting his hand away as she walked toward the trapdoor
"Look. Let's just go with what we know now. When we get to the river, we can start following the stream and see where it gets us."
"'Kay?"
Trying to be reassuring. Knowing that this might be his only chance to find his kid.
"Yeah i guess you're right"
Daichi said in a lower, calmed tone. Walking toward the trapdoor too. And following Rhea after she climbed out.
Rhea stood still for a minute. Looking around at the all too familiar forest. Sighing slightly as her shoulders relaxed.
"Let's get moving. We've got a lot of walking to do."
She looked at Daichi. Then at the trap door in the ground. Closing and hiding it with sticks, bush and vines from around it.
"Uhm yeah. I guess."
"Let's go then"
Daichi responded. Checking his pockets for his phone. As he waited for her to finish. And shortly after, she started leading the way to the river. Following her through the odd parts of the forest where her underground base was. And into the dense forestry.
They walked for three hours straight. And surprisingly. Daichi was hardly bothered. Even after walking for several miles. He felt like every time he got tired. His energy would slowly replenish itself without him needing rest.
But finally. He heard water. And he couldn't help but feel hope. As he also noticed Rhea's increased movement toward it.
Yess.
The river is right up ahead.
He mused. And sure enough. After walking a bit more. There it is. A large, beautiful river. Where forest life didn't hesitate to partake in. He saw sprinters drinking the water. Birds with green or white beaks and sharp claws basking in the shallow parts of the water. Some had their wings spread, and others just relaxed. He saw animals like deers with near transparent antlers eating the lush grass by the river banks.
"This place is. Beautiful."
He said softly. Looking at everything there is to see. In awe by what he saw.
"It's like what earth once was. But...almost magical"
"I guess it's nice." Rhea responded. Looking around herself. Not really new to everything that's here. But it's her first real time coming to this river without the intent to leave it with dinner in hand.
"Now...we follow the stream"
She said as she began walking. With Daichi following closely.
"I should take Mori here someday. He'd love everything here."
Daichi said softly. More to himself than to her as they walked along the river stream. Taking in everything there is to see.
They kept walking for an hour. And Rhea found nothing telling. Nor did she feel the presence of anything odd. And she was slowly getting annoyed.
Ugh. What the hell am I even supposed to find.
The scouts did this every week and they didn't have any issues.
Well...that's probably because I don't come along with them so how would I know.
But surely there's something.
She thought to herself. Stopping as she looked around. And somehow. It wasn't obvious to Daichi that Rhea genuinely doesn't know what she was looking for.
"Daichi!"
She yelled his name. Surprising him with her outburst.
"WHATT!!"
"Is something coming?"
He asked in a hurry. Already on edge by what she might be calling him for.
"I've decided that I'll show you how Vhis enhancement works"
She said as she looked at him. Having an ulterior motive but it really only works if he knows the basics of Vhis. But Daichi on the other hand. Is confused. Almost upset even.
"You could've said that without YELLING my name."
"You startled me."
"Just listen. I have an idea and I need you to trust me on this." She interrupted. Looking at him with a small, coy smile.
A shiver ran down Daichi's spine. Looking at her. And noticing something...odd.
Mh. That's a new look. One I'm not sure I wanna trust.
"I'm listening..."
He mused. But willing to hear her out.
"Okay good. Now I want you to just follow me and try to keep up." She said to him, turning around as she looked ahead. Seeing miles more to go.
I hope this works. because otherwise it's gonna take forever to cover all this distance.
"Keep up?..." Daichi asked. Looking at her. Confused. But then something clicked.
Wait...is she gonna start running?
I sure as hell hope not. The last time that happened my lungs were on fire from all the running.
Especially for all those mile-
Rhea shot off. Faster than before. The grass digging up from her pushing off. Surprising Daichi who
had no other choice but to run after her.
CRAP!
He sprinted off. His body pushed unusually far. And he felt his legs pushing him with strength he never knew he had. He laughed in pure delight as he ran. Every step gives another wave of euphoria.
After three minutes have passed. Rhea was not too far ahead. Turning slightly as she slowed down. Witnessing Daichi enjoying himself for the first time. Causing even her to chuckle.
Daichi was trying to get as much of the feeling as possible. As he pushed himself even further. But a little bit too much. And suddenly. His right foot hooked in a bundle of vines he tried to jump over.
THUD
Shhhhhhhh!
He fell hard as he slid several meters across the grass. Rhea, who wasn't too far ahead, witnessed everything. She couldn't help but burst out in laughter.
"HA HAAA!!!!"
"WOW."
"You were really feeling it weren't yah."
Rhea said as she fell to her knees laughing. Tears prickling at her eyes as she does. Daichi slowly picks himself up. Scoffing as he looked at her.
"Shut up."
"Brat."
He responded. Brushing away the dirt and grass from the side of his face and his body. Noticing a small bruise on his forearm. Which wasn't healing.
"Rhea?"
He called her. She's still hardly keeping it together. Having a blast as she was laughing.
"Y-yeah?"
She answered. Catching her breath as she's slowly calming down.
"It's not healing..."
"Why is it not healing?"
He asked. Confused as he walked over to the river to wash it off. To clean the dirt away from inside it.
"You just used up your Vhis running like a maniac"
"Just give it some time and you'll start healing again."
"Nothing to worry about"
She responded. Finally catching her breath. As Daichi got to the river. And saw fish with scales that reflect the sunlight like silver. Washing off his hand.
"Oh...Alright then"
He said. As he tried to grab one of the fish. Which only slid out of his hand and camouflaged itself in the water.
"There's something this way"
"It might be what we're looking for so lets go"
Rhea said. Jumping in the water and slowly crossing the river. Picking up on something in the forest not too far from them.
"Alright. I'm coming"
Daichi answered. Jumping in the water also as he followed her across. She was a couple of meters ahead of him. But he could see her properly as she made her way through the forest.
Only after four minutes of walking. He noticed her stopping. Looking forward into an opening in the forest. But he kept walking towards her to see what made her stop.
"Rhea?"
"Why'd you stop?"
"Did you find what we're looking fo-"
His heart leaped and his question cut short. He stood next to her. Also in shock at what he saw. He looked down at Rhea. Who was visibly shaken. Her hand squeezing the bow.
"Rhea?..."
"What the hell did that..."
"To him."