Chapter 43 - IN THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT (1/2)

'Coffee?' The man said handing a cup to a young man with long hair.

'Thanks.' The long haired man said.

'So another new appearance?' the man handing the coffee sit down on the ground under the large tree, exhaling his breath, looking at the moon.

Loki smiled. His face now was handsome young Caucasian man. Long blonde hair, smooth skin, rugged features, and blue eyes.

His face looks like a model in front of magazine cover, handsome and dashing with leather jacket on his lap, white stylish t shirt and a fit cut jeans.

The man then takes a sip and exhales his breath.

'You make good coffee. If not for the circumstances, this would be relaxing.'

Azief smiles a bit. He always likes it when people praise his coffee making. He then looks at his cup and then smell the sweet aroma, smiles and take a sip slowly, enjoying every second of it.

Enjoy the little things he reminded himself.

Loki also looks at the shining moon and then releases a sigh. His mind is occupied with a lot of things.

Then he suddenly asks Azief to strike a conversation. To him, Azief is a mysterious person. Never revealing the full story and seem to always be in control.

'You must feel very powerful don't you?' Loki asks Azief without even looking at Azief.

Azief knows that the question is directed at him but he also did not break his gaze at the moon.

He then asks.

'What do you mean?'

'Analyzing people with a glance. Knowing everything about a person in matter of seconds. A man of such singular mind like you….is formidable in itself.'

It was a compliment but also an assessment. Azief did not say anything and he took another sip.

'Is that how you think of me?'

'Was I wrong?' Loki said. He too slowly takes a sip. Two men under the brightly light of moonlight, in a dark forest, both wanted to know about each other.

Both are assessing the other.

'I am not a genius or something like that. I just observe you with more…determination. I could not analyze everyone like that nor do I have the capacity of mind to always deduce what others are thinking. I just find you at first, as a threat. So I need to determine your motive, you reason, anticipate your every move, know your behavior, plan every steps. If you are asking me whether I could do it to another, deduce their life the way I did you…I could. If…I bother to care. If I bother enough to observe. It is not some magical trick….I just observe more. Focus more.'

Loki smiles bitterly.

Then for a while there is just silence and the sound of two men sipping coffees and the occasional shrieks of Vampiric bat nearby, eaten by Badge.

Badge will evolve to Unique Rank not long from now. Azief could feel it. But for tomorrow operation, he has made his choice. Badge will not participate.

Then Loki asks again.

'What is the matter between you and her?' he asked as he pointed his finger at Sofia.

Sofia was lying under a terribly made tent but good enough to shield her from rain if rain ever comes and a comforter under her body so she would not feel too sore when she woke up.

'She's a friend.' Azief curtly replies

'Awfully close for a friend. You trusted her with your life. I didn't observe you for nothing you know?' Loki said probing deeper.

'We made a promise' he said.

'A promise? That is a fragile thing in this new world. Promises, that is' And he shrugged, looking at Azief with a hint of pity and sadness, thinking of something

'Maybe, you like her? Perhaps, even love her? Your personality doesn't indicate that you would so easily trust people.' Loki teases.

Azief on the other hand smiles bitterly, looking at Sofia peaceful face and said while sighing regretfully.

'Love…..is a game I fail to understand, and so I opt not to play.' Loki looks at Azief and could sense something from him and Loki then look back at the moon.

'That's harsh' Loki said shrugging.

'I guess you are saying that from experience' Loki inferred.

Azief did not care to respond and Loki didn't want to push so they just sat there in silence.

'But I still don't understand. Why do you choose her as your companion? She is hardly stronger than you. She is more likely to be a burden than benefit. Since, you are very practical, letting her join you, it quite an illogical move.'

Loki ask

Azief did not say anything only reminisce the experiences he and Sofia face together. Sofia was nothing but an acquaintance in the beginning.

She is like Loki said. Burden.

But humans could not live alone. Else, they go crazy. Azief did not show it but after the death of Tan, he was alone.

Alone in a world full of darkly terrors. He didn't show any of his fear because he couldn't.

Because if he succumb to his emotions, he would stop. He would stop and he would die. He relentlessly pushes forward because that is the only path of survival.

So when he met Sofia, he takes her under his wings. Protect her and in a way, and he would never admit this if Sofia ask him, but Sofia acts as a balance.

The process of give and take between them.

Normal conversations that keep him sane and grounded. She was his counter balance. And when she lost her mother, Azief saw underneath those tears was a remarkable woman.

'Because she was broken' Azief replies to Loki question.

'Because she is broken?' Loki is puzzled by Azief answer

'Kintsukuroi' Azief said

'To repair with gold. It is an art in Japan of repairing pottery with gold or silver lacquer'

'So?' Loki said, still puzzled.

'It has a deeper meaning than just repairing pottery. You must understand that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken. Some people, when they break, they couldn't be put together again. Some heal even stronger. Sofia is the latter.'

And then saying this he took another sip and doesn't say anything after that.

Sometimes the wind would blow and Azief black cape would flutter and for a moment Azief look like a very lonely person, under the moonlight.

Loki finally finished his cup of coffee. He looks at Azief and then he got up to go to his tent. Before he walks away he said.

'That was good coffee' he said. Azief smiles hearing the compliment.

'Remember, tomorrow night' Azief said reminding him about tomorrow.

'I know' Loki said as he went inside his tent, lay his body on the comforter and then sleep as Azief take the first round of lookout.

'I finished my coffee' he said. Putting his cup beside him, he just laid his back on the tree; the wind blowing his hair as his eyes is always focused on the forest.

He was vigilant, sitting there like a faithful guardian as the night keep getting darker.

'Plan B' he said as he plays out the scenario of tomorrow in his mind, making sure his preparation is perfect.

Tomorrow, he would fight the beast….and he will win. Burning with determination, he brought out something from his bag of holding and he smiles.

************************************************************************

They were hiding in the bushes. Their breathing was steady and calm. Azief look at the beast.

Its shadow is illuminated by the moonlight and its figure was menacing even in its most unguarded state.

Azief could hear Sofia gulping at a distance. His senses are wide awake. He wanted to feel calm so he closes his eyes, and slowly he takes his breath.

Just another EXP he chanted in his mind.

Opening his eyes, he calms down. It is mind relaxing technique. His eyes changed, like a predator ready to pounce.

His breath is steady, his eyes are focused and each movement is calculated.

Slowly he moves closer in the dark of night, each steps did not produce sound and darkness covered his attire, like an entity of darkness.

Behind him Sofia follows loyally.

For this fight Badge will not participate. Azief is trying to ascertain a few of his theories about EXP distribution and he is fairly confident of his new team.

It was dark at night.

Sofia looks at Azief and she nodded. They are ready. The Plan B that Azief mentions before is to defeat the monster at night.

He is eager to transform to his full power form. Then they can begin to investigate about the bodies on the field.

And he also has agreed with Loki proposition to share EXP.

After all Loki has a lot of information that Azief don't know how Loki got a hold of it. Loki is one mysterious man, if he is a man.

He has so many disguise and even the face that Loki shows them now is not his true face and Azief didn't force Loki to show his true face.

Azief also appreciate the irony that the man is called Loki.

The God of mischief and trickery. Is that foreshadowing? as he smirked at himself.

There is still some distance between them since they are cooperating under mutual benefit but Azief is confident that there is something special about Loki.

He seems to know everything about monsters and knowledge about the World Orb. Azief feels something off about him.

Azief looks at the designated area where Loki should be.

Around the barrier a few foreign object could be seen scattered around it, in an organized manner.

There is a bundle of cube which is covered with wax around the barrier.