In the dark sewers, the echo of blood dripping from Peeper's chest broke the heavy silence. Chicot was smiling at her with an expression that was gentle yet equally threatening.
Peeper, on the other hand, was trying to stop the bleeding by pressing her palms against the deep wound in her abdomen.
Sighing in pain, Peeper responded to Chicot's fake smile:
— I thought your technique was only based on healing. Interesting...
Chicot looked at Peeper's wound and puckered her face in mock sadness:
— Does it hurt a lot? I can end your pain if you want.
Peeper raised her eyebrows in surprise at this unexpected offer:
— Well, look at that... So you want to help me. And what will you ask for in return?
Chicot replied without breaking that unsettling smile:
— My apologies, I think you misunderstood me.
Peeper asked curiously:
— Misunderstood, you say... Wait, are you going to tell me that you'll kill me quickly and painlessly instead?
Chicot giggled, her voice echoing off the sewer walls:
— What else do you expect me to do? After all, we are enemies.
Peeper slowly shook her head from side to side:
— And here I thought someone finally understood me. What a pity... I guess you cannot see the truth.
At that moment, Chicot noticed that Peeper's wound had suddenly vanished. When she looked at the ground, she saw fresh purple violets blooming where the pool of blood had been just moments ago.
— So, we aren't playing fair... Fine, excellent.
Peeper took one of the purple violets from the ground between her fingertips:
— Well, well, are these flowers for me? I'm impressed.
Then, under Chicot's astonished gaze, Peeper transformed into purple violets and vanished like a cloud of dust.
Chicot sighed gently and turned toward the direction Frenzy had gone:
— I finished my meal early. Wait for me, big brother!
Meanwhile, Frenzy was running fast in the direction Yuko had taken. He trusted Chicot; he knew she could handle herself. Still, a sinister doubt crossed his mind: "Am I inadequate?" Frenzy remembered that Chicot had never once come to him asking for help.
While his mind was filled with these thoughts, Frenzy suddenly came to a halt by slamming into something hard and furry. Just as he was about to take a combat stance, he saw Yuko standing next to a massive, goat-like creature.
Yuko smiled at Frenzy quite casually:
— Hey, what's up?
When Yuko saw that the scar tissue on Frenzy's chest had closed and he was completely healed, he shouted in amazement:
— No way! You have to teach me how to do that!
Ignoring Yuko's childish excitement, Frenzy furrowed his brows and pointed at Jax:
— Are you collaborating with monsters? Or is this part of your technique?
As Jax and Frenzy glared at each other with hatred, Yuko stepped in and told them to calm down.
At that very moment, Chicot caught up with the group:
— Oh, come on, let our new member make some friends.
Frenzy sighed but did not go against Chicot's wish:
— Fine, but I will only do what Rasona says.
Chicot rolled her eyes and turned to Yuko:
— Well, look at this... You must be the kid whose name everyone finds disgusting. So, how's your arm?
Frenzy pointed to the void where Yuko's severed arm used to be and asked:
— Chicot, can you fix my mistake?
Chicot smiled with pleasure:
— Of course, why not?
Chicot calmly approached Yuko:
— Now stay quiet, it won't hurt at all.
Yuko took a step back, the fear visible in his eyes:
— It's going to hurt, isn't it?
Jax and Frenzy burst into laughter at the same time upon hearing this question.
Then, realizing they were laughing at the same thing, they sulked like grumpy children and crossed their arms over their chests.
Chicot giggled at the two of them and grabbed Yuko by the scruff of his neck:
— Oh, stop acting like a cat going to the vet. If I say something, it is the truth.
In that moment, Yuko felt a strange energy surging through his body. He looked at the void where his arm was missing and was struck with awe; first, a white bone extended, then nerves and muscle tissue were rapidly woven together like lace. Finally, skin covered the entire limb as a fresh layer.
Chicot was right; it really hadn't hurt at all. Yuko opened and closed his hand, testing his new arm in wonder.
Chicot turned to Frenzy:
— Don't play pranks like that on our new member again.
Frenzy replied with a sigh:
— Don't tell Rasona about this, okay?
Chicot giggled:
— Fine, so be it. Now let's find Rasona. Oh, by the way... Goat-man!
Jax looked at this seemingly gentle and moderate girl in surprise:
— Yes, young lady, what did you require?
Chicot smiled calmly at Jax:
— If Yuko didn't kill you, then you're one of us. Welcome to the Ritualists.
Jax paused for a moment at Chicot's words.
When he saw Yuko behind her, eyes sparkling with joy, and Frenzy standing like a grumpy child with his arms crossed, he burst into laughter. Chicot and Yuko joined him.
This peculiar team, setting out to find Rasona, continued their way through the dark sewers guided by a furry hunter.
Chapter 12 – End