BXBX NOVEL Chapter 563 The Bodies
Cayi bumped into Keng, looking up.
"Oh, I\'m sor-sorry." Cayi stuttered. Keng recognized the panic in his face. It was something he failed to openly express early on. His curiousity had gotten the better of him, but he still understood Cayi\'s feelings.
"It\'s alright, Cayi." Keng smiled. He wanted to give Cayi the reassurance that seeing all of this wasn\'t messed up. "It\'s okay. Everything will be fine. Don\'t look if you don\'t want to." Just like he had read Cayi\'s mind, Cayi looked at him surprised.
"I-is it… Apparent?"
"Who wouldn\'t be disturbed all of this?" Keng\'s eyes shifted to look at the sight around them. Rya and Vizo were looking around, but even Keng knew they were probably struggling to take it all in. "It\'d be odd if you got used to it. Trust me."
"H-how come… How come you\'re… Not freaking out like I am…?" Cayi asked. The young healer was curious on how the Fox Spirit could even handle it all. Keng shrugged and let out a sigh. He pushed the blood away from them, giving Cayi and himself much needed space.
"I\'m freaking out, alright. On the inside." Keng allowed a bit of his bottled emotions to show. His face showed just enough worry to let Cayi know Keng was truly worried about everything that was happening around them. Keng moved his feelings aside and gave Cayi a reassuring pat on his shoulder. "Don\'t worry. Being scared just makes you realize you\'re human… Merfolk,"
Keng began to giggle and that was all it took for Cayi to feel at ease. He began to laugh at Keng\'s horrible attempt to include him.
"Thanks, Savior." Cayi smiled. "I… I really appreciate it."
"Over here, you two." Vizo motioned.
"Well," Keng smiled. "Time to get back to work. Come on." Keng led Cayi over to Rya and Vizo. Vizo stood by the small hole in the wall.
"I cannot get in here. Can you fit in here?" Vizo asked Keng and Cayi.
"Y-you want me to go in there, too, sir?" Cayi asked. He moved backwards a bit. His anxiety spiked, bumping into Keng.
"We would come with you, Cayi, but we\'re much too large." Rya added. "Do not be afraid. Keng and Aliza will go with you. We will find a way to get to you."
"I-I… I don\'t know, Leader. I-I…"
"It\'ll be alright." Keng patted Cayi. "I swear on my Twin soul I\'ll keep you safe."
"W-what?" Cayi asked, confused.
"He swears on his Twin soul." Aliza spoke up. "You know that\'s a big deal, right?"
"W-what does it mean, A-Aliza?" Cayi asked. Keng poked his head out from behind Cayi and looked at him.
"It means if I can\'t protect you, me and my twin soul will both die." Keng replied. "I bet on both of our lives that I will be able to protect you."
"Why would you…" Cayi\'s voice lowered. Rya moved over and set a hand on the young healer\'s head. Keng moved away, letting the Leader and her rookie have some one on one time.
"Cayi." Rya lowered herself to be eye to eye with the young healer. She began to whisper something to him. Cayi listened intently. The Leader certainly was in her element and Keng found himself taking notes.
"Alright?" Rya looked at him with warm eyes.
"Sure." Cayi nodded. It looked like his nerves were gone now. Rya gave the young healer a hug and pulled away from him. She ruffled his hair as Cayi let out a giggle. "Stop it, Leader Rya. You\'ll make me look bad in front of the Savior."
"How can you look bad in front of him?" Aliza asked. "You\'re our healer. You\'ll never look bad." Even Aliza was doting on him. Cayi looked at Vizo who nodded at him. Cayi seemed happy, again and that was all that mattered.
"Ready to go?" Vizo asked.
"Yes, sir." Cayi nodded. He turned to face Keng and smiled at him. "I\'ll make sure to keep you and your twin alive." Keng\'s eyes widened. He let out a smile and nodded at him.
"If you do, I\'ll tell him all about you." Keng replied.
"Alright, test the conch quick." Rya raised their conch. It was color coordinated for each squadron. Squadron Leader Calis had a earth tone conch whereas Squadron Leader Rya and her team had a red conch. Aliza raised her conch and spoke into it.
"Hello?" Aliza\'s voice pinged on the conch. "Can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear." Rya replied back. She lowered her conch and nodded. "Do one more when you get onto the other side. Worst case scenario, we\'ll be cut off from you guys, but hopefully we can keep in touch."
"Roger!" Aliza nodded. "Come after me, Cayi. I\'ll go first, okay?"
"Mmm!" Cayi nodded. Keng watched Aliza and Cayi fit into the small hole and start their way through. Keng started towards the small opening and realized it was just a bit too small for him.
"Savior." Vizo spoke. Keng looked at him. "Please keep your word. Cayi may be the youngest, but Aliza can be a handful. Make sure to bring them back safe."
"Don\'t worry, Vizo and Rya." Keng looked at both of them. His form began to shift. His body grew smaller and the next thing he knew, he was a chibi version of himself. "I\'ll make sure they\'re alright." Rya and Vizo laughed. Keng\'s shift in form had surprised them, but they already knew he was capable of such a feat. The thing that caught them off guard was his voice. It was tiny and cute.
"Take this with you." Rya handed the earth toned conch over to him. "Use it in case you get close enough to make contact with them."
"Alright." Chibi Keng replied.
"Don\'t break your promise, Savior Keng." Vizo added.
"I won\'t." Keng replied. "Swearing my life means swearing on my twin soul\'s life, too! I want to see him again so I will do everything in my power to help our allies." Keng grabbed the conch and watched it shift its size. Apparently Shapeshift III allowed him to shift the items sizes, too. He clipped it onto his belt and held the tiny Hydrosphere up and waved with his free hand.
"We\'re here!" Aliza\'s voice shouted in the conch. "Where\'s the Savior?!?"
"He\'s coming." Vizo replied. "Hold your spot for him. Don\'t make too much trouble for him."
"Ugh!" Aliza groaned. "Vizo I would never!" Vizo and Rya knew that was a lie. She had gotten them into so much trouble, but they always came out of it.
"Don\'t cause too much trouble. Remember the mission. All of you." Vizo reminded them.
"Alright, sir Vizo. I won\'t mess around until after we save Squadron Leader Calis and the others."
Keng moved into the opening with no effort. He was tiny enough to fit in. He waddled his way through. The items felt just a bit heavier, but he was sure they would be fine. He still had all of his usual strengths and magics. Chibi Keng popped out from the other side. Aliza and Cayi watched the child-like Keng pop out and Aliza lost it immediately.
"OH MY GODS! YOU\'RE SO CUTE! LET ME HUG YOU!" Aliza squealed. She bolted at him, not even giving Keng enough time to dodge. She slammed into him, pushing him into the hole a bit as she hugged him. She squealed in his ear for a bit before letting go. "I didn\'t know you could do that! Why didn\'t you tell us?!? Can you turn into a Merfolk, then?"
"It was in the briefing." Cayi commented.
"\'It was in the briefing.\'" Aliza mocked. She turned to Cayi and flicked him on the head.
"Ow!"
"Don\'t remind me we were told this beforehand! It doesn\'t matter!" Aliza told him. Cayi rubbed his head as Aliza turned. "Can you?"
"I guess?" Keng moved out of the hole as Aliza and Cayi backed up. Keng\'s form began to shift. His entire body began to turn into normal length as his tails wrapped around his legs and feet. The next thing he knew, he had silver, black, and gold scales. Aliza squealed as she circled around a couple of times.
"OH MY GOD!" Aliza shouted. "You look so… So…"
"COOL!" Cayi finished the sentence.
"Are you sure this isn\'t, uh… Too offending?" Keng asked. He felt uncomfortable. His items had shifted off of him when he transformed. He was grabbing whatever he couldn\'t wear and stuffing it into the Void Storage. He strapped the leather breastplate on with the holsters and kept the two conches and daggers on him.
"No!" Aliza shook. "If anything, you\'ll blend in better. They won\'t know what hit them! They\'ll think a Merman came at them!" Keng\'s face grew red in embarassment. He felt too naked in front of the two Merfolk.
"Status?" Rya\'s voice came over the conch.
"KENG IS A MERMAN! HE\'S SO HOT!" Aliza squealed. Rya sighed. Aliza and Cayi could see the disappointment from there spot.
"Off subject." Rya replied. "Get going if Keng is there."
"Aye, cap\'n." Aliza frowned.