Diachrome -Onyx-

Blake stares deeply at the bonfire that light up in front of him. He can't sleep yet because now is his turn to watch the cave, their home. Tonight's wind is cold, just like any other days. But it is not really a problem for Blake, he and his partner used to it since they had live here for nobody knows how long. So it's just like a routine task for him to stay awake in the middle of the night. Sometimes, Blake think about his condition right now. Why can't he remember the reason he and Wyatt stranded in this vast desert that had nothing but wild animals? Plus, it is believed that this desert is most-known as the most secluded desert in Winongard. Even Blake still puzzled by how come they can be thrown or sent in this desert. Since the first time he opened his eyes, he just remembered his and Wyatt's name. Other than that, it's blank with no clue or trace. Oh well, Blake couldn't careless about all of that stuff since they lost in his memory. Except one thing. Who in the world he really is? His own dreams lately is always bugging him like a broken recorded video. He always dream about a very decent and graceful, silver-haired woman. Such beauty like a divine goddess, cry in agony and howl for help in the middle of the crescent-shaped lake with a wonderful and luminous view of starry night sky. "...O the fallen one... Please... Save Winongard... Save this world..." The beautiful woman continue to crying. "She is crying... The Mother Winongard... She is suffered by such a strong ominous and evil force... Please hurry... You got to save her..." Or so the message Blake remember from the mysterious woman in his dream. Confused but also worried, there's a little urge in Blake's heart to go on a journey and find what's actually happen in this world. But somewhere deep in his heart, he doubt it will work. How come he can save the world if he doesn't even know who he really is? Whenever he look at himself on the water surface, he always had the feeling that maybe his appearence can give him one or two clues about who he was before he lose his memories. He wears a plain black uniform with some white border. he also wears a white tight turtleneck shirt with blue border inside the uniform. A snowflake-like badge in his left chest, and a pair of black wings patch that wrap on his right arm. And also his worn black leather shoes that he always wear. With all of this appearence, he was assumed that he was a kind of soldier, or maybe a student from some foreign and elite school that lost his memories because of some accident. But if he think about it again, it's impossible if a mere student would bring such a huge scythe with him. He also can't remember how he got it. The black, huge scythe with a word 'Darkfrost' engraved on it's black-and-blue blade. it's already there since the first time he opened his eyes. Not only that, he also can cast a few ice magic spells that make it impossible if he only a mere student. And if his suspect was right that he was a kind of soldier or warrior or maybe a knight, what about Wyatt? His appearence doesn't really show that he's a knight nor soldier, his appearence seems... complicated yet simple at the same time. He only wear black-and-white stuff, and the only thing that doesn't black or white is only his blood-red right eye, while his left eye is covered by a black eyepatch. It's just impossible to think that Wyatt is a knight or warrior. Moreover, Wyatt is an androgynous person in Blake's opinion. his face is... well, quite charming for an ordinary male. But those charm is only his outer shell to deceive people. Inside, he's the type of someone who knows no mercy, kinda rude and also brutal. His behavior always makes Blake think that Wyatt is the Daredevil himself. Blake still remember when Wyatt suddenly kicked a giant beast that was about to attack them from behind and the beast was blown away for several meters, or when he fired his magic at something beyond Blake's expectations, which turned out to be a pretty large wild creature. He doesn't know what makes Wyatt look androgynous, but certainly his partner isn't someone who can be judged by his appearance only. Blake looked back at the starry night sky from the gap in the ceiling of the small cave. His uncovered left eye were glued to the line of constellations that were presented while he questioning himself. Is it true that he willingly to leave his comfort zone for an adventure to find his identity that even he himself doesn't know the truth, and then save the world like some other protagonist on their journey, just like what he told in his dream? Will it be worth his time? The Zephyr Desert is wider than he had ever expected. It won't be passed easily by just walking all day and sleeping under the starry night sky. Moreover, the sand sea is also a nest of wild beast such as hyenas and panthers that are always ready to attack whenever and wherever they go. And if he's not in a good luck, Blake might run into the desert's most mischievous creature, the Solanimus. Those creatures aren't a very nice choice, though. It'll torment you viciously if you lose to its wits and strength. Of course that's the most avoided thing not only by Blake but also by anything else who come here. "The world... Will Winongard really be destroyed if I don't act just like that woman said?" Blake's deep voice broke the silence that had been holding him. He still hesitant to get out of his comfort zone. He couldn't decide all of this alone. He needs help, and a little rest. Perhaps, sleeping for a while will help his head and his mind think more clearly. "Tch, my own mind's really messed me up. I need to talk to Wyatt about this next morning." He grumbles as he lean to the wall behind him and begin to close his eyes slowly. * * * A glimmer of warm light slowly awaken the young man who had just slept for a few hours. The sun has returned to it's throne. The bonfire that danced in the center of the cave all night had been extinguished, leaving some charcoal and ashes leftover from burning.  Slowly, Blake rose from his reclining position, stretch himself and slowly approach his partner. Blake shook his shoulders. And then he woke up, blinked an eye as red as the color of blood with a snow-like long eyelashes, and sat up and leaned against the cave wall. "Yawn~ mornin' Blake. What's for breakfast today?" Gently rubbing his right eyelid which isn't wrapped in black eyepatch, Wyatt stared at Blake who was still in silent. "Is something wrong, pal?" Yet Blake is still in silent. His thoughts began to messed up with him again. 'What if Wyatt doesn't agree with my plan to get out of this desert and prefers to stay here forever?' That's the worst possibility, but he wouldn't know the real outcome if he didn't ask it out right away. Besides, if Wyatt joining the adventure, chance of both recovering their memories or saving the world will be much higher rather that himself alone. "Blake, if there's something you want to say, just say it okay?" Wyatt's smooth yet masculine voice had shocked him. The young man stares back at his partner who now smiles to him. What should he do? Should he really told Wyatt about his plan? "We..." he gulped, still doubting about his decision. "We will get out from this desert." "Ah, i see." He nodded, half-drowsy. "...Wait, what? What do you mean? Isn't this is our home?" "Uh..." Confusion, that's what Wyatt had in his face right now. Well it can't be helped, though. Since Wyatt just had woke up, his conscience must be still off somewhere. Or is it because Blake doesn't explain it very well? "Answer me, Blake. Why in the world do you want to get out from our own home? Isn't this little cave comfortable enough for the two of us?" He froze. He can't explain it to Wyatt. Gulping again, he tries to find a word that can he use to convince Wyatt. It's not so easy since he's not very good at words, but he hope that this word of his choice will convince his partner to at least understand his reason. "We'll... go for an adventure to search our true self. I know, we don't have any destination or clue. But, at least it's better than stay here doing nothing particularly, right? I... if you don't want to come with me, then... well, I won't force you. I'll go by myself. But remember this, Wyatt. This adventure was meant to search our lost memories. The memories that shapes us for who we are right now. So... I don't think someone like you won't miss this chance. But well, it's your choice pal. You can go whatever path you choose. That's what you always said to me... right?" Wyatt listens to Blake's answer while himself still drowsy. He just responded it with nod and hum. But then, as if those answers just kicking his senses, he gasps and stare shockingly with widened eye to his partner. It is unknown whether he shock because he still doesn't understands a bit of Blake's words or because Blake's word really kicking his senses. Well, he just woke up. Maybe he just still can't processing Blake's answer yet. Looking directly at his partner's reaction, Blake just sighs. He then turn his head while bring his huge scythe with his left hand. But when his step approaches the cave's exit, Wyatt suddenly run approaching Blake while preparing his handgun immediately, making him a little surprised. "So... you choose to follow me?" Black tries to act stay cool, although inside he's very happy. "Well duh, you're not the only one who curious about your past, dude. Besides, I hate to be left alone. We've promised to be together forever right? Because we are the best partner ever in the world." Ah, the classic reason. But whatever the reason, Blake glad that Wyatt decides to join him in this unknown and very risky journey. Although, he still can't say the 'Save the World' part to him. In his opinion, it's just too ridiculous and too cheesy for a reason to get out of their comfort zone. Oh well, at least he's not so alone right now. That's the only reason can makes him feel a little relieved. "Hmph." He snort. "Yeah, best partner. More like, best clowns ever in the world." Blake said while keep walking, And smiling. "Clowns? I don't thinkー Hey did you just, smiling now?! Hey Blake! Hey wait for me! Show me your smile again!! It's rare to see your stone face smile ever again! Blaake!!" *** Blake's feet begin to step further from their little cave. He stares sadly while looking back to the cave. But this is their own decision and they just can't go back. The sandstorm that quite strong accompany them in their journey. But it doesn't matter, since they used already with the desert's condition. But first of all, they need to eat. They can't go on a journey with an empty stomach. Especially when they attempt to get out from a vast secluded desert that needs at least two or three days to reach the exit point by walking. Blake scans around his surrounding, when suddenly he caught a glimpse of Desert Hares that run around the desert. He summons the Darkfrost, then casting a thin clear blue aura around his body when approaching the not-so-big but rather delicious Desert Hares that eating the grass near an oasis. "Huh? Hey Blake, what are you doin'ー" Blake sign him to be quite. When he almost in the right position to hunt the hare, suddenly a giant hyena attacked him from behind, making Blake shocked and swing his scythe to the hyena, that unfortunately avoided the attack and howl to call it's other friend. "Tch." Blake grumps as he stood in front of a pack of hyenas that ready to attack him when Wyatt run approaching him and begin to shot with his magic handgun to help Blake. "I though hyena's meat won't be today's breakfast!" Wyatt yelled as he keep shoting his magic gun and kick some hyena. "If you want to eat other than hyena's meat, just go hunt by yourself." Blake keep swinging his scythe ans slashing his surrounding with a high speed, but seems this is won't end nicely because they're overnumbered. 'No luck. If we keep attacking them with a neutral attack like this...' Then, Blake prepared his stance, chanting some enhancer spell that makes the clear blue aura around him reappear again, but this time the aura seems much stronger than before. "Wyatt, get off immediately. Now." "Huh? Whatー" Before Wyatt can finish his words, his eye widened and he spontaneously jump backward when suddenly Blake swing his scythe and begin to slashing with superspeed, slicing and freezing those hyenas that got in front of him. Then he stop moving, swinging his scythe again just so a bunch of icicle spear appeared and scare the remaining hyena. "...Blizz, Frost s***hー Ouch!" A rock suddenly fly and hit his head, when he turn back angrily, he can see that it's Wyatt who throw the rock to him with angry face. "What in the world were you thinking, stoneface?! You almost made me becoming a grounded meat!" He yelled furiously. "And stop saying your technique name after or before you cast it! We're not in a game right now, we're in reality!" Blake sighs, then he just summons some ice cubes onto his hand and compress his head. "If I didn't use the technique, we'll be doomed for sure. Besides, look at the bright side. We already have some ready-to-cook meat without bother slicing or cleaning it." "'Ready-to-cook' your head! Most of the hyenas you've killed were either frozen or becoming ground meat." Wyatt grit his teeth. "Well, if you know it already then it's your task to sort it. I'll go to gather some dry leaves and something to skew the meat." He said calmly while he goes away from Wyatt, while Wyatt himself just jawdropped and and grumble even more. "Grumble grumble... why'd even I willingly follow that stoneface in the first place? What a nonsense." He mumble as he pull out his dagger and begin to sort the meat. *** "It's more itchy than the tree." Blake try to gather some dried palm leaves to cook their breakfast. Although Blake prefer to chop some trees, but all of the available trees are too young to be chopped. So there's no other choice than the dried leaves. "Sigh, what a drag." He counted the dried leaves he had collected. It is enough to make a fire and use some of the stem as skewer for the meat. Then, he go back to Wyatt's position when he just finished sorting and butchering the meat into one-bite pieces. "Oh, you've finished already." "You'd better be thankful to me for this, Stoneface." "Whatever. Take care the fire. I'll take care of the meat and skewer." Growling quietly, Wyatt try to calm down. He try to inhale slowly, then exhale it out for several times. Feeling a little calming down, he gather back the dried leaves in one spot. Then he gather some red aura resembling fire on his hand, and shot it into the dried leaves, making them burn immediately. "Fire's done, Stoneface. Bring the meat here." "The name's Blake, not Stoneface." Blake sighed, then he give Wyatt three skewers of hyena meat ready to be cooked. He then begin to grill the meat. "Honestly, I don't really like hyena's meat that much. They're too chewy in my opinion." Wyatt begining the conversation as he grilling his second meat skewer. "I wish there's some bakery or grocery here. I really want to taste other thing than meat and cactus." "Didn't i tell you earlier to hunt your own food? Besides, this is a desert. Don't be so picky on survival mode." "I know, i know. Geez Blake, I just trying to cheer you up." Wyatt puffed his cheeks as he begin to munch his breakfast. "Ow crap, it's still hot. Hey Blake, if we make it into the desert's exit, where should we go next?" "Dunno. Maybe looking for a nearest town to buy some supply. We can sell something to get the money. The leftovers of our stock, or maybe our weapon." Blake said as he still grilling the skewer. "Nah, i'm just kidding. We'll looking for some job first as soon as we arrived on the nearest town. Although it's such a pain to work, we need those money after all." "Don't tell me you'll going to slack off again, you stonefaceー" Suddenly, the wind blows stronger than before. Even the wind can extinguish the bonfire that they use for grilling their breakfast. "This is not good." Blake eat all the meat on the skewer immediately and begin to focus scanning his surrounding. Until his eyes catch a glimpse of two Venta Sabertooths, a very rare beast in the desert that has the power to control the wind on the desert. "Two Venta Sabertooths... such a rare beast in front of my eyes. Bet their fangs and skin are worth a very large cash if i sell it." Blake summon his Darkfrost again, preparing his stance while he gather those clear blue aura again, when suddenly... "Wait." Wyatt tapping Blake's shoulder, signing him to stop threatening the two beasts. "I have an idea. Give me two pieces of those meat." Confused but agreed, Blake dismiss the Darkfrost and gave him two chunk of meats. He wonder what will his partner do with those meats and those sabretooths that now growling towards them. Slowly, Wyatt approaching the two beast carefully, when the two sabertooths also tighten their caution, growling and roaring. "Ssh... relax, I'm not your enemy. I'm your friend. You come here because you're hungry right? We have some food for you. Come on, don't be shy." Wyatt put the meat chunks on the sand and backed slowly. The sabertooths in other side, approach the meat chunks and begin to eat it. "Did you, did you just give them our limited food supply?!" Shout Blake. But suddenly his face is shock and jawdrop when the two sabertooth begin to approach Wyatt and lick his face, while Wyatt just laughing happily and stroke their fur with his two hands. "Ahahaha, I don't know you're such a sweet baby. Who's a good cat? Who's a good baby? Hahaha! Hey, it tickles!" "Wait, whaat..." Blake jawdropped when he sees what happen in front of his eyes. The Daredevil, tamed the mythical beast with a laugh and joy? What in the world is happening? "Ahahaha, ah Blake. Come 'ere, they won't bite us." "Nah. I'll just be chillin' here." Blake reply as he still processing what's happen in his head. Then one of the sabertooth purring at Wyatt. "Huh? My friend is being very edgy? Nah, Blake is just a biggest lazybone i ever met. Look, he even doesn't tidy his hair and he didn't button his outer." "Hey, I'm not lazy. I just feel more comfortable this way. Besides, did you really understands what they said?" "Then why'd I bother to talk to animals whenever you don't want to talk with me?" Said Wyatt as he stares Blake annoyingly. "Figures." Blake sighs as he scratch his head. "Speaking of that, would you mind explain your idea of befriending this Venta Sabertooths?" Wyatt giggling while he stands and hold Blake's hand, pulling him slowly to approach the two sabertooths. "So, you did know that the fastest to get out of this desert is two or three days in walking and without being lost, right? So when they approached us, i got an idea. Why don't we befriend the Sabertooths and we ride them as a transportation? Venta Sabertooth is famous by their speed. We can reduce the estimated time from three days into 8 hours! Isn't that very convenient? Damn, what a smartass i am." Wyatt smirk comically while poking his own head meanwhile Blake is just looking straight confused. But he got the point. He befriend the Sabertooth so they'll reduce the time span and decrease the chance for being lost. Well, he hate to admit it but that's just outstanding smart for a person like him. "Sigh... well I admit it. You're pretty smart with that idea. Congrats, Wyatt." Blake smile faintly, almost doesn't look like a smile, while he fold his arms. "So can we go right now? We can't waste anymore time." "Aye aye, Cap'n!" Wyatt saluting to Blake while riding his Sabertooth. "Come on Blake, they won't bite you." Blake stares at the Sabertooth that looking at him with a... kind of a cute stare. '...it's really cute when i see it from close range.'. He sigh, then he just climb and ride on the sabertooth, chasing Wyatt that has already went first. But surprisingly, not so far behind them... "Wait, what was that?" A man with infirmary suit walking fast, trying to track the two young man that had just left with his binoculars on his hand. "I- I can't believe it... They're, they're really exist! I, I should tell the others to send this news to the Great Capital!" "Lord Seraph will be very interested on this news, i'm really sure about it!" * * *