Saving Soul

"So you know what I'm supposed to be looking for, don't you?" Anja stated. "I know I told you before, and you knew all along."

"I didn't tell you because it's not something you just jump into for kicks," Adair answered, annoyed. "Your master apparently doesn't know this kind of tournament well. People don't enter this tournament because they want to. They do it because they have to. And they enter in pairs, not including the demon familiar that owns their hearts."

"He told me to find the changeling tournament and become one of them. I didn't understand before, but he wants me to become like you I think. A demon." Anja stated softly.

Adair sighed.

"Well, you'll need to find both a partner and a demon you can trust," Adair went on. "And you would have to be a changeling for a while before you would possibly become a demon, even if you wanted to. It's not going to happen in one or two tournaments. More importantly, are you okay with becoming a demon? I know it's what your master recommended, but it's not something you should decide to do just because someone else told you to."

Anja sighed. "I don't know." She admitted "I don't know what to do, what I should do, or even what I want..."

Adair kept his gaze set on the ground. Neither he or Voltaire really knew what they were doing either. Right now they went to tournaments to stay safer and get stronger, but beyond that? Adair had no clue, and he suspected Voltaire didn't know either. Overthrowing the Gales was a far-fetched goal.

"Well...you're a summoner. So maybe you could focus on helping people with your summons," Adair suggested. "If you don't trust Heroes to do the job, do it yourself."

"That would be a wonderful Idea if I wasn't already wanted." Anja snapped.

"...Oh," Adair replied, rubbing the back of his head. "...That does make it more difficult."

He wasn't really sure what else to advise. Being an outlaw greatly limited career choices.

"...So your master, what is he trying to accomplish exactly?"

"I don't know." Anja sighed. "He's a bit batty... Sorry, pun not intended."

"I just thought it odd that a non-demon would send off their apprentice to become a demon for a little training," said Adair. "...Is he a demon?"

"Your guess is as good as mine." Anja replied. "He's definitely strange enough."

"Hmm..." Adair mused, though he didn't get any bright ideas from it. "Well, let me see if I can heal your ankle some. My familiar is a phoenix, so I have some healing ability."

"Its broken. Even if you can heal, it'll take days for you to heal it completely." Ajna stated. "Walking probably didn't help it either."

Anja had a point. The type of healing he had worked best for cut and puncture wounds, not fever and broken bone. It probably wouldn't have much of an effect.

Adair felt irritated with himself. He had come here and check on her and help, but now that he was here he couldn't do much of anything.

"If you really want to help, just take me back to the cave." Anja sighed. "I'll have a summon help me from there."

"...Alright," he said, walking over to her and picking her up. He went the small distance to the cave and then put her down gently. He looked away.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble."

"I'm used to it. I'm nothing but bad luck." Anja sighed. "Go on and do whatever you have to do. I should be able to fend for myself for a few days." She looked away from him.

Adair thought back to Voltaire and his mostly-dark soul.

-born to cause myself and others misfortune-

"You know, having bad luck doesn't make you a bad person."

"I never said it did. I just ment that having bad luck makes life hard." Anja stated. "It makes it so much harder to stay alive..."

"...Yeah, I guess it would," Adair remarked absently, again thinking back to his changeling partner. "But sometimes having all the luck in the world, good or bad, won't help if something's destined to happen."

"So is the way of fate." Anja replied.

Adair didn't know what else to say, or could think of any other reason to stay longer. This had already taken much more time than expected, and the first match was coming up soon. Maybe he could check on her after the match was over.

"Go" Anja sighed. "I'll be fine." She assured him, still not looking at him.

"...Alright," Adair finally replied, exiting the cave.

-----

Upon arriving Barrett informed the redhead that Voltaire was "bitching like a jealous wife" wanting to know where he was. Adair groaned and hoped that meant that the Hunter was feeling better.

He was, but not entirely. He knew about the luck, but was still edgy and didn't want to discuss it. He was even more reluctant to talk about about who gave him the shot when he was a kid in the first place (Adair suspected more and more that it happened when Voltaire was a kid, just from how he acted before and after the shot. Was this why he didn't like shots?)

More importantly, they just found out that they were against the Dragons, which put Voltaire in an even fouler mood. They never won against the Dragons. It was fire versus water and electricity. And to face them in a first round...

This was going to be a rough day.

(this shouldn't take too long, maybe one or two posts)

(Eh. I don't mind. I like reading your posts. I just feel bad that I never have much to post.)

Anja remained in the cave where she was left. She didn't summon anything and she didn't move. She was slightly hoping a demon would come along and put her out of her misery.

(And Now I have a plan *evil laughter*)