Huh. So Aven is some sort of 'hero' Elian never knew about.
That reminded him of his quest. Dying a 'hero reject.' Whatever that quest means.
Aven softly pushed Tina away from him, muttering to himself how his clothes got ruined from her tears. "I'm no one's hero, miss Tina. I just simply want to protect those I can protect. And I'm sorry about your team… but blaming anyone right now is, well, stupid."
Tina blinked up at him, she quickly covered her face with her long yellow sleeve, cleaning her face. She walked back to her companion, Hart, who had also pointed hands at Elian, blaming him.
"Well," Jupiter chimed in, her voice soft and slightly thick. She had a bit of a British accent to it. "It is a bit stupid to be pointing fingers now. And we have a bit of company here with us." She pointed towards the twins.
The white twins stood up, holding onto each other's shoulders. They smiled again, more eerily than before.
"Should we claim the pawn, Moon? He's defective. I like him."
"I want to, Sun. I really do. No one survives after getting kicked by me. He didn't even look like it hurt him."
No, it very much hurts a lot. Again, Elian sighed. Why do people keep talking about him as if he doesn't even exist? Iwant to tell them off, but I don't think they'll let it slide.
[Update!]
[Your status has changed.]
[Status: Slightly desirable.]
[Moon, the white Knight Of the Heavenly Guild, wants to claim you.]
[Remark: Gross. Eww. Urgh. Whatever.]
[Usually, a pawn doesn't have the capacity to reject a claim. But do you wish to reject it?]
Of course I wish to reject. Reject it straight away! Reject.
Aven, upon noticing this, came in between the twins, blocking their view away from Elian. He stretched both his hands sideways as a form of disapproval or a protest.
"You've had your fun. Get out. Scram."
The twins tilted their heads at the same time, then turned slightly to look past Aven. "Don't wanna." Moon pouted her bow-shaped lips.
The ground behind them convulsed.
It started like a soft pop, as if something thick had ruptured under the soil.
Then another. And another.
Each one louder, wet, squelching, until the ground rippled like a breathing lung.
The earth tore open.
Petals appeared, blooming everywhere. It was black on the inside, white on the outside, veined red like split flesh which unfurled with a hiss.
From their centers dripped something thick and almost metallic-smelling.
Crix stiffened first. He hadn't talked in a while, admiring the beauty of Jupiter the bishop, but snapped back to reality once he saw those flowers. "...Nope. I've seen that before. Those sneaky white pieces. Cover your mouths. Now."
Nobody moved. They all stared at him. They're just flowers?
But it was weird how the flowers sprouted up, and had grown almost as tall as them. But it was just a thought, maybe a high rank was nearby, playing tricks on them.
"I'm serious! That's paralysis pollen." He yanked a strip from his sleeve, tied it over his face, and shoved another into Tina's hands before she could ask. "If you breathe that in, you're not running anywhere."
But Elian's system blocked his view.
[Alert! Environmental Hazard: Bloom Pollen.]
[Inhalation may cause paralysis.]
Another system notification popped up.
[The Constellation 'Devil Maker' wishes you a splendid death.]
[The Constellation 'The Hunter Of Lost Lines' found the flowers quite humorous but is also worried about you.]
[However…. The Duration is permanent for non-resistant pieces.]
[You have three minutes before you get affected by the pollen. Move your butt out of there!]
Okay! I got it!
[PS: I think you have a weird energy around you. You attract weirdos and weirder Constellations. Have fun living with that.]
Oh, shut up.
He ripped part his shirt, wrapping it around his nose.
Moon coughed first. Her eyes went glassy. "Sun… my lungs—"
She didn't finish before her knees buckled.
Aven's face twisted. On one hand was Elian, the other, Moon. But he ran up to her in an instant, caught her with one arm while Sun staggered beside her, wheezing.
The twins' eerie smiles vanished, replaced by something far more human. Panic.
"Go," Elian muffled. "Move."
Behind him, one of the flowers crawled up to him. It enlarged in size, tiny shards of teeth flashing above his head, about to swallow him whole.
Sun's eyes went wide, even through the haze clogging his lungs, he moved. One blink, and he was behind Elian, teleporting and shoving him aside like he wasn't worth aiming for.
His blade came down in the same motion, ripping the bloom apart in a spray of white pulp.
It shrieked out loud, spasming uncontrollably as it died, shrinking till it disintegrated.
Sun coughed up blood. Falling right onto Elian's arms, his wheezing increased.
"Ah, curses. I think… I am quite allergic to pollen."
Elian stared at Sun's twitching face. It was unusual for a white piece to help someone like him. So why? And why's he so heavy?!
He turned, searching for an extra arm.
[The Constellation 'Eye Of The Board' wants you to abandon the twins.]
Well, i'm sorry. I can't. He clearly is useful! Think about it!
"Crix! Help him!"
[The Constellation 'Eye Of The Board' smacks their lips in distaste.]
Crix nodded, he ducked under Sun's arm, hauling him up with surprising strength for someone always cracking weird jokes. "Let's go, endgame boss. No dying before the credits roll."
The blooms' tendrils snapped toward them, skimming the air.
One whipped close enough to slice a button clean off Crix's coat. He didn't look back.
Jupiter came in, helping the best way she could. A huge white rune appeared behind her back, four more appeared at her arm's length as she cast a mantra. She lifted her staff up, channeling it at the flowers, shooting them up from above, clearing a way for them.
She winked at Crix, "Head towards that dome," she pointed at Elian's claimed territory. Crix's heart thumped, beating fast. A blush crept up to his cheeks but he cleared his throat. "I-um. Thanks."
"Everyone! Head towards the dome!"
"What? To that Pawn's territory? No way in hell would I do that. I prefer Aven—" Tina shouted.
Okay.That's enough! Elian's brow twitched. He swiftly turned to Tina. He could take a blame or two. An insult or two with a tight smile. But repeatedly being put on a scale within a day?
"Oh shut the fuck up! If you want to die, then die. The place is safe. So go if you want to go. I give access, not force you in."
His system's loud ding echoed in his head.
[Several more constellations joined in.]
[Constellation 'Timid Bride' awards you for your bravery.]
[You have been gifted 1000 coins.]
[Other Constellations are curious about you.]
[Which is weird.]
Elian rolled his eyes, but his pride swelled a little.
Tina stilled. Her mouth went shut, but then she turned her gaze away from him with a scowl, muttering inaudible profanities.
Sooner, they all bolted towards the dome.
The blooms surged behind them, gnashing petals snapping shut hard enough to make the air pop. Tendrils lashed out, skimming boots, slicing through loose straps and sleeves.
Crix's voice was ragged but still too loud. "No one must trip, or I'm leaving you for the floral buffet!"
Moon's head lolled against Aven's shoulder, her breathing shallow. Even like this, she managed to grin faintly. "Sun… the pawn… he's even cuter when he's running for his life.
Sun, slung over Crix's back like a sack of bricks, forced a laugh that dissolved into a cough. "Agree… although he's slower than I imagined." They both shared a silly wide grin.
Elian threw them both a glare over his shoulder, panting hard. "Are you— nevermind."
A whip of petals cut the space beside his cheek, close enough to sting. But he didn't bother.
The dome's grid shimmered ahead. Faint blue arcs bending and snapping in lazy waves and Elian pushed harder, legs burning. Another tendril came from the side, almost snagging Tina's arm. She screamed, jerking away just in time.
"Faster!" Crix barked. "They're gaining!"
A pop up screen blocked Elian's vision, almost making him trip on a rock.
[Allow access to all humans?]
Elian's throat burned.
Yes. Yes, just humans okay? Allow. Shit, I shouldn't have left this place out of curiosity!
[Access allowed. Thankfully just in time or you would have suffered another painful death. Haha.]
They crashed through the dome's threshold in a blur, the grid rippling like water as it swallowed them up.
The blooms stopped dead at the edge, their teeth gnashing silently, like they were tasting the barrier itself.
Inside, air hit their lungs clean for the first time in minutes. But Tina didn't move to sit. Her gaze was fixed on something behind Elian, her shaking hand lifting slowly.
"Why's… it still following us?"