Carl stared at the strange Sarah with a mix of unease and curiosity, The Strange Sarah stared back into his eyes. He felt a sense of foreboding as he stared into those red eyes the creature portrayed, For a while she stayed still on Carl's small bed both staring at each other unmoving.
"Wh-What is she doing here? How? Carl didn't know if Lia was upset or distressed.
"Blue hair! Get out, back to wense you came, Lia bellowed but stopped short as Iggy stared at her. Carl could guess why, Sarah was already quite the intimidating figure with her appearance and all, but combined with those red eyes gave her a demonic look that'll scare anyone.
"Carl? Carl? Still there, Sarah called from the Pea on Carl's chest.
"Yeah, He replied not taking his eyes off the Strange Sarah on his bed, She didn't seem to want to move or have any particular motive.
Iggy stared around Carl's and Lia's room, It was nothing spectacular, the walls were bare and unpainted, The floor covered in a semi green carpet, one wouldn't be sure if it was just dirty or that's supposed to be the colour, Two beds lay on either side of the room, it wasn't as large as the once the rose family had in their manor but it was something, Both bed came with the basics, a pillow, white sheets, sturdy wood frame and the bed itself. It wasn't large but for Carl and Lia a 14 Year old children it'll accommodate them well enough. The Sword Sarah had given Carl lay against the wall at the end of his bed, he studied the distance carefully. The room was originally Lia's but Carl moved in with her cause left alone the manor was unforgiving towards her. The room was located at the far end on a tower in their house, Iggy took the entirety of the room with her glowing red eyes.
From the corner of his eye Carl saw Lia moving slowly towards him, She was trying to be discreet but her constant shivering and the carpet scarping against her sandals made it impossible.
"Are you just going to keep staring, Carl got up from the table Infront of the window he was sitting on, he stopped Infront of Lia making sure she was blocked from the view of the clone Sarah, he felt Lia's hands tighten on his loose clothes.
"You smell wierd, Iggy said slowly, She jumped off the bed and levitated a little before her boots touched the ground, Her lab coat fluttered, She dusted them roughly, She walked around the room staring at everything.
"What are you talking about? Carl asked. Iggy stopped Infront of Carl's sword and picked it from it's resting place, She studied it closely.
"The girl behind you is wierd, Iggy repeated, putting down the sword and sitting down heavily on Carl's bed again, she swung her dangling legs happily.
"There was a crash coming from the Pea, Sarah cursed,"Carl, I'll be right back, I think it's Bella's spirit, I'll go get her, the connection severed instantly before he could respond. He sighed and stared back at Sarah sitting on his bed.
"It's wierd having to talk to whatever you are when you look like someone I'm wary about, don't you have a real form? Carl asked. Of course he knew she was a spirit, Sarah and himself was just talking about her before she appeared.
"Yeah I have my own form, but I rather not, I seem to set everything on fire if I do that, Iggy smiled,"By the way you can call me Iggy, She had a cheerful look on her face now," My master who looks like a cactus probably thought it was funny to give me such a childish name, she groaned.
Carl walked towards her,"seeing Sarah use such harsh words with a cheerful expression is giving me the creeps, he smiled, also is it wise to insult your master?
Iggy jumped off the bed and stared at Carl, her usual Scrowl forming on her lips," She's a bully and a mean lady, All I did was torment her sleep for months or so, but she's now threatening to kill me, Can you believe she tossed me to a water spirit? She huffed indignantly."I'm freaking fire for crying out loud, Iggy continued pacing around," Also she woke me out of nowhere after she nearly depleted my energy, Also she has a really good looking brother can't he be my master instead.
Carl smiled," you have a lot to say about them don't you. Lia mouthed something as if trying to protest about Carl talking to the spirit but thought better of it. Despite Lia's outward demeanour she was easily scared by supernatural things, probably due to the fact that their stepmom's spirit were always hunting her if left alone.
"Of course, Iggy continued,"but I like Sarah, she's cool, Iggy twirled,"Her body is so light maybe cause she's young, Iggy stared at her feet, I doubt if I were her spirit she'd mistreat me.
"I hear ya, Carl laughed, maybe you should communicate these things to her.
"It's like teaching a fish Alchemy, Iggy sighed tiredly," She'll try to bathe me in water the moment I open my mouth, Iggy flung her hands in the air and momentarily floated. Carl noticed the inside if her mouth was red.
"You don't seem like a bad person though, Carl tilted his head.
"I'm not, Iggy continued," She's the villian, that ugly kangaroo, Iggy shuddered," Can you believe the moment she found out I was a fire spirit, she tried turning me to stone then and there, and for what? It was only a dream world I didn't actually do any harm, She huffed and approached Carl and stared Into his face. He withdrew slowly Staring at Sarah this close wasn't thrilling for him.
She sat heavily on his leg, Carl noted she had practically no weight at all.
"Pat me, She ordered.
Carl taken aback by a red-eyed Sarah was on his legs obeyed slowly, Iggy was still huffing, The moment his hand touched her head, Sarah's skin peeled away revealing a reddish Girl with Flaming red hair, Her face etched in a Scrowl. Lia white as a sheet whimpered and backed away almost tripping on the footstool beside her bed.
Carl patted Iggy slowly, for some strange reason she didn't feel hot, but taking note at the now darkening carpet her hair was on, it was only to him, he scooped her hair with his free hand so it didn't set the room ablaze, he looked at Lia, she was sweating he wasn't sure if it was cause of the heat or her fear of spirits.
Iggy nodded slowly as if drifting off to sleep, she's definitely a newborn seeing how small she is ,Carl thought. She spoke no more aside from her occasional nodding and the fact that she was partially a human child flame it was hard to tell she was present.
Iggy's eyes suddenly snapped open, She closed her ears,"Oh come on, Iggy groaned.
"What is it? Carl asked startled.
"The old witch is summoning me, Iggy moaned," That toad, she said angrily.
"How come you're Still her then? I thought summoning was instant, Carl asked.
Iggy stared at him softly," I can resist her summoning 3 times, she sighed."ohh I don't want to go, Iggy yelled making Lia jump. Carl was sure if the room would allow she would have gone even further.
"Why? Carl smiled.
"If you must know, Iggy smiled brightly," Unlike my Vulture of a master's handsome brother, I can actually touch you with harming you."I feel really comfortable near you, She yawned and stretched Carl held her from falling.
"Well that's my cue, She said at last, my 3 times are over," Make sure you check on your girl more often then I'll be able to visit anytime, Iggy smiled then vanished.
"I've never come across a spirit that talk like that before, Carl laughed,"Even among mum's collections."She must be immensely strong even for a newborn."Sorry Lia, I know you were terrified, Carl smiled warmly.
"D-Do you even know how hot that thing was, Lia retorted," You could have sent her packing instantly, why did you have to indulge her. Carl smiled and walked up to her. Lia was someone that could regain their former air of haughtiness Instantly if the immediate danger has passed, he liked that about her, She doesn't hang up on the fact that a spirit was in the room and stay traumatized for the rest of the day.
Carl's pillow caught her in the face muffling the rest of her words.
Carl bolted out the room as he was soon chased out by an angry Lia hurling pillows like they were projectiles, He was careful to keep his speed minimum while running down the stairs of the Tower, Lia might chase after him full sprint and fall down the stairs.
Sarah toyed with the pea tied to her neck, She had forgotten that she couldn't contact Carl whoever she wish, Only he can, She sighed, Her head was throbbing. Outside her lab Bella and Iggy was at it again, her eyes darted around the wooden walls of her small lab, White cabinets with fortified doors, pipes That hissed smoke, Strange liquids stored neatly in bottles, her gaze came to rest on the dismantled golden ball on her table. Since they brought it back broken from when she was kidnapped she hadn't been able to fix it. She wondered what kind of technology made it, it seemed alive and mechanical at the same time. Sure she could handle the mechanical part with ease but she couldn't figure out what made it alive, What made it wriggle and stretch, She tapped a piece of the metal with her spanner, it was solid, She sighed turned her gaze and rolled her chair towards something else, After she had ended Carl's communication by accident she wasn't able to contact him that Bella's about to summon Iggy, She felt uneasy, her face furrowed as she brought two rods together, Her hands protected by huge rubber gloves the rods hummed and vibrated as they produce high amount of heat, voltage and sparks, Sarah stared into the immensely bright light still out of it. Carl was keeping her at arm's length, She knew, She would too if the roles were reversed, but it didn't stop her from hurting.
Dropping both rods carefully apart, she used a pincer to pick up a flat piece of metal she had wielded, she dipped it in a bucket of cold water near her chair, She wiped the sweat gathered on her forehead and sighed and rested heavily on her chair, it wheezed and crained but it held,Her blue eyes stared at the blackened ceiling of her workshop, Back smeers on her face and forearm, her coat tied tightly around her waist. Her hands ran along her chest and it found the pea, She subconsciously toyed with it, She didn't dare take it apart least she destroys it, Her blue eyes lost and focusing on nothing in particular, she was staring at the ceiling but she couldn't see anything. There was a loud cry of submission outside, Sarah snapped back to reality, Iggy was begging Bella for whatever reason, Sarah smiled as she brought the sheet of Iron out the water, she cursed as the now boiling water touched her skin, She brought out a small blue ball from her pants and carelessly dropped it in the freezing water, it froze instantly, Still sitting lazily on her chair, She picked up a large nail and hammer, She got up from the chair which wheezed again as if greatful to be rid of Sarah's weight, She ignored it, approached the now icy bucket placed the nail and struck.
Carl kept out the kitchen window and ducked just in time as a pillow shot through after him, he laughed.
"Don't you run out of pillows? He called," I thought there were only two.
"Once they hit you start counting then, Lia barked from the deserted hallway, her sandals thudding the stone floor as she approached in her fury. Carl looked around, they were deep inside the manor and a long way from their tower, he was running out of places to hide, for some reason Lia could always tell where he is, it's been that was since they were little. His eyes darted along the open corridor, it was empty aside from dirty painting hanging almost loose from the walls, they have no maids or caretakers, just guards, lots of them.
Carl bolted from under the window he had taken cover in, Lia bolted after him, He turned left quickly, almost too quickly, he slipped but regained his footing almost instantly and continued to sprint, Not realizing were he was going as he kept looking back to see Lia who was still chasing him, he slammed into a man, Both fell and groaned, Carl rubbed his head. The man cursed rubbing his guts.
Carl heard Lia take a step back, the pillows she was holding dropped to the floor, He sighed, as he looked at his father staring angrily back at him.
Carl's father stood up in a fury, he was easily over 2 meters, his blond hair disheveled, his blue eyes scanned the kids in front of him, there was a scar that cut across his face, His eyes had large dark circles under them, Carl knew there were from constant gambling and drinking. The man's eyes ran over Carl then it fell on Lia and the pillows near her.
"What Vile Misconduct, he barked at Lia, he always does. Unlike Carl who inherited the power of the sword master passed down from generations of the Heilo family, Lia on the other hand was devoid of talent whatsoever, she had magical energy but it couldn't be harnessed for some reason, it lay dormant in her, not that it was impressive to begin with, To put it simply she was considered a failure to the household.
"As a proper lady are you supposed to be running around the manor throwing pillows, he yelled angrily, spits flew from his mouth as he did. Lia whimpered.
"Lay of her old man, Carl spoke calmly but he was angry, sure they weren't the best of families and nobles, their family thrived on being monster hunters, but since they've been no monster since the three Heros of the past defeated the great dragon, they were falling into ruin. It wouldn't have been as bad as it was now had their lot of a father not gambled away half the estate and their Treasury. Carl and Lia's biological mother ran away cause of his lack of perseverance, they were surprised when he found another woman who would be able to marry him and take on his troubles. Carl tried not to think about it much.
"How Dare you Yell at your father, he bellowed.
"I'm not yelling, Carl spoke calmly, barely holding himself from yelling at the man.
"Lia! Come with me, He barked.
"She's going nowhere, Carl spoke coldly. Carl's father by the name of Bale HEILO, Stared angrily at his son, Carl stared back, he could practically see the wheels spinning on his head. Usually he wouldn't be so daring, he wasn't sure he'd inherit the power of the Heilo's and was sure he'd spend his life stuck in their cave of a home. But now that he has, he felt he didn't need to curry favor with the old man anymore.
"You've been getting cocky as of late, Bale said through gritted teeth.
Carl Smiled innocently, the smile didn't reach his eyes, Their cold penetrating gaze still locked on his father, he knew from experience that he was unstable and could at times get violent, he and Lia had gotten their fair share of it, But seeing as Carl was now a candidate of becoming the strongest sword man of the kingdom, he didn't dare act rashly and attack the siblings.
Carl turned his back to him and approached Lia, picking up the pillows and covering her face with it, he smiled," Let's go, he held her by the wrist and walked past their father not staring at him, Bale made a sudden movement but froze.
"I promise you if you try touching her today, I'm not sure the best healers of the kingdom would be able to piece you back together, Carl's gaze sent shrivers down his spine. Bale stormed off in a fit of fury but didn't utterly another word.
"Thank you, Lia muttered.
"Let's see, Carl grinned," I'll get your a share of your stake tonight.
"That's not fair, am I supposed to pay you now, Lia challanged.
"Then stop talking like I did you a favor, you're my twin, I'm bound to protect you, he smiled patting her in the head.
"Can you really beat Dad tho? Lia asked slowly. Carl looked away suddenly interested in the falling leaves all around them.
"You were bluffing? Lia said her face bewildered.
"Hell what am I supposed to do? He's a hardened warrior or soilder of knight...i don't even know what he is, our family hadn't fought anything for generations.Honestly if he had attacked I doubt he could catch us full sprint, Carl smiled.
"Have you forgotten I'm not as fast as you, Lia nudged him on the ribs.
"Oh no, You'd be slung across my shoulder like a bag of wheat, Carl laughed.
"I'm flour now? Lia smiled.
There was a soft thudding as boots met the ground, Carl looked up at the open space leading to their rusted gate, a group of armed men were marching towards them, Lia was behind Carl in an instant, Carl grinned, she hushed him.
The men approached Carl and stared him down, He sighed, from the emblem of a dark horse on their clothes he knew who they were," My father is that way he said simply. The men without glancing back at him walked past, leaving a kid behind.
The hair had a tornado of purple hair, her eyes the same shade as her hair, her skin was a little tanned, in her little armour she stared at Carl, her face unreadable.
Lia was Infront of Carl in an instant, she spread her arms out as if trying to protect him from something, Carl laughed, Lia in face of real danger is partially a wimp, but when it comes to kids her age practically girls that approach Carl, she gets defensive.
"You know I'm not going to marry you right? Carl smiled.
"Erughhh, Lia said in disgust," why would you say that.
"Well you keep trying to stop any female from approaching me, he laughed and brushed her aside, He stood Infront of the girl, she was a little taller than him, her cold purple eyes unwavering.
"Are you taking on the role of a statue now? Eh Van(Short for Vanessa, Carl smiled.
The girl smiled back,"can't you go a day without any snarky comment. Lia mouthed her words in disgust, she pretended not to notice.
"I've come to- Van began but Carl cut her short.
"Nah I don't want to cross swords today, aren't you tired of losing, He smiled. Van went pink instantly.
"I'll have you know I've been training diligently, She huffed.
" Yeah yeah, you've been saying that for the past 4 years, are you a broken recorder, Carl laughed.
"T-This time it'll be different, She smiled throwing back a lock of her purple hair,"I've unlocked a skill you see, she smiled smug.
"Well I have about 12 of those already, Carl grinned,"welcome to the club.
"Wh-What how? Van howled, You must have used a shortcut somehow, she fussed over him, Carl closed both ears as she yelled.
"I've had skills since I was 6, Carl grinned.
"No fair, What are you a spirit of some sort, Van said a look of utter amazement mixed with doubt," So all those times when we were sparring you had something up your sleeve in your back pocket. Her face contorted something dawned on her.
"Ahhhhh! I remember we're you toying with me on our last match cause I remember almost beating you, Van said loudly.
Carl trailed off suddenly interested in the Stones on the pavement.
"You piece of shiii, Van growled," Let have a go right now, she barked.
"I don't know why, but lots of people have been cursing around me as of late, Carl muttered.
"Training ground now, Van stomped her foot, Lia looked at her with pure Indifference.
"At the moment I'm feeling under the weather, Carl sighed and stared at Lia she understood immediately.
"How can you make my brother fight you in his weakened state, Lia faked a sob holding Carl." Have you no honour?
Van stared at both of them at a Lost for words,"The perfect opportunity, She grinned, Finally after four years of loosing I'd finally get one win, She laughed.
Van stared at the ground in defeat, her wooden sword calved in half, Carl stood over her poking her face, the dust hadn't still settled after their fight. Carl left her alone his wooden sword rested on his shoulder, he yawned.
"I thought you were sick, Van said slowly her voice still aching from her fresh defeat.
" Well it seems you can't even beat me while weakened m, Carl grinned.
"You lying piece of Shiii, Van pulled out Carl's hair, Lia tried pulling her away from her brother. The pathetic struggle went on for a while, Carl finally broken free from Van's grip bolted taking her little piece of leather armour with her. She bolted after him instantly, She fell as she tried stopping instantly, her chest guard flew over her head, Lia caught it and bolted in the other direction.
She scratched her head racking her brain about who to go after first, she settled on Lia since she was slower. A mistake, she realized it too late, yeah Lia was slower then Carl, but Carl's not normal to begin with, in her own right Lia is incredibly fast.
Van walked back to the training ground in a sour mood, kicking stones as she went, She couldn't catch Lia or Carl, She sat on the floor as both twins came to gloath over her. She took deep drinks of water from her little water jug.
"When are you going to the Academy? Van asked Carl, I'd like if we went together.
"Yeah that'll be Ideal, Carl said thoughtfully,"I'm waiting for someone though.
" Who? Van said interested.
"She's not exactly going to the academy, it's more like About Lia's tuition, Carl whispered the last part so lia doesn't hear, She was busy observing Carl's wooden sword and Van's broken bits.
"Are you planning on taking a lone? I don't think you should trust people like that, Van whispered.
"I doubt she's a villian, Carl smiled. Van felt angry for some reason.
"Wait, Are you talking about Sarah? She said seriously." I think she should butt out of your business personally, Van huffed.
"Leave her be, she's a nice girl," I'm kind of fund of her at this point, Carl smiled. Van felt that pang of anger again.
"Well I could always ask my family to le- Van extremely pink in the face began, she was playing with her hair, but Carl was not looking at her, she traced his gaze not completing her words. Her guards were back and they stared at her disapprovingly.
"Well that's my Queue, She said getting up and dusting her pants, Carl stood up after her, Lia did too abandoning the swords she was playing with. Carl and Lia accompanied her back to the gate there their carriages stood as dark as night.
"I'll be sure you sneak out of the manor to come visit, Van called from inside the carriages.
"I'd rather you not, Carl called back.
"Bye, She waved as the carriage pulled away, Carl waved till she was out of sight.
Shutting the rusted gate which made loud annoying noised as it was closed, Carl proceeded towards his room as the far end of the manor in a tower, The pea on his neck buzzed.
[Location?]
Rose manor, Carl muttered, target contact Sarah, he smiled.