Betsy

The sun had set long ago, when Myooji noticed that the storm was finally over. She and Iisai were sitting side by side, and she was sure, that Iisai was half-asleep. Even though Myooji didn't know too much about deserts, she did know that after the nightfall the temperature would drop down fast. She tried to poke Iisai (who had removed his shirt out of the way of Myooji's miracle salve) so that he would wake up without unnecessary violence.
"Hey, come on, wake up. We got to get going now" she said, still poking.
"Hmm.. whatta.." Iisai rose his head, looking at Myooji.
"How come..?"
"Well, I don't think it's safe for us to stay here. It'll be cold."
Iisai looked outside.
"Well, I can assure you, this will be the warmest place we'll reach before freezing."
Myooji couldn't disagree. It must be a long way back home, and without the chicken, their movement wouldn't be too fast. Then, out of nowhere, they heard a voice.
"Knock knock, can I come in?"
Iisai crawled to the entrance and looked up. Someone snapped his nose, making him retreat back.
"Get out of there, both of you, I'll take you home."
Myooji looked at Iisai. She must have looked just as confused as he did. Then that intruder peeked in. Her long braids reached the sands and her voice was demanding. "Didn't I just say something? Get moving."
Myooji crawled out of the hole and looked up. A pair of dark eyes looked back at her. "You must be that Atrac, no? I've heard too much about you."
If Iisai wouldn't have been pushing her out of his way, Myooji would have probably been staring at this mystery-woman for minutes. There was something very wrong in her. Nothing that she could point out, but a little bit of everything. Iisai seemed to be staring at her, too, but with a different look in his eyes. He looked mesmerized.
Pfft, men
Myooji thought and followed the woman to three horses, from out of one was big, black, and somehow unnatural.

The odd woman climbed on the black horse and said,
"Get on the horses, two of you! Do you think we have all night, or what? I'm a busy woman!"
Iisai obeyed, and so did Myooji but a little bit slower. Yep. She definitely didn't like this woman. If it hadn't been for Iisai she wouldn't have needed this woman�s help at all, she decided. For Moon's sake this woman was ordering her. When they got the horses moving, Iisai spoke.
"Who are you? How did you know we were there?"
The woman chuckled arrogantly.
"My name is Aikatherinee Minai. Heard from Nomi that the two of you hadn't returned."
Iisai frowned at the long name.
"Right. How did you find us?"
"Oh, unimportant little detail. Don't trouble yourself with it. It was nothing."
The woman was oh so annoying Myooji thought. Iisai, then again, seemed to be fascinated. His mouth was slightly open, soon making drool dripple down. Myooji refused the urge to slap herself in forehead.
The sky begun to clear out of clouds and the night sky in all its gorgeousness was revealed. The moon was still growing, it would be full in few nights. There weren�t many things that Myooji loved more than moon. It gave her courage, will to go on and hope of that she could one day return to her home. Iisai had now another reason too to be stunned.
"Wow. Look at the stars!"
"Yeah. Pretty. Sure."
Said Aikatherinee, without bothering to hide the boredom in her voice or even looking up to the sky. However, that didn't seem to bother Iisai, who just stared in awe. Myooji remained silent, eyes still casted up to the moon. A small lizard ran across the endless sand.

Few hours later, they were standing in the empty hallway of Tinkers' Union HQ. Aikatherinee had simply wished them good night (as it would be in her great might to bless them like that, thought Myooji angrily) and vanished. Nomi came down the hall, and started fussing about. They had to go to the kitchen and explain all over how they had gone to see the turtles and had been caught by the storm. Nomi calmed down when it was clear they were fine and that even the wounds Iisai had had were almost gone, thanks to the Great Miracle Salve. Then, she warmed some dinner soup for them and went ahead to make beds for them. They ate in silence. Finally, Myooji asked Iisai,
"Oh yeah. I've been wondering. What happened to the chicken? I didn't see it anywhere.."
Iisai looked up from his soup.
"Oh. Um, well it has an automatical homing system. If nobody controls it for a certain time, it will go on its way back home."
He looked tired, so tired. Myooji, again, looked surprised. She was lost in her thoughts for a while, and then spoke,
"As unhandy as it was today, I think I just found a feature in it that I really really like."
Iisai looked up from his soup again, it was his turn to look surprised.
"Really? You like that? For sure?"
Myooji laughed.
"Yeah, I like that."
They finished their soups and went to bed. Right before they wished good night to each other, Iisai stopped, seemed to be deep in thought and then asked,
"Do you think... that ... there was something a bit unpleasant in Aikatherinee? ...Just.. Maybe... a bit?"
Myooji rolled her eyes.
"Good night, Iisai, good night"
With that, she begun to walk away. Then, she stopped, hesitated and said,
"And if something happens...Just.. call for me, okay?"
Iisai looked at her and blinked, not knowing what to say and then she was gone. He decided to go to bed too. At morning, it would all be better. At least he hoped.

After a good night's sleep, Iisai felt a lot better. He yawned, stretched and kicked some pillows off his way. The sun was shining bright, and last night's storms and pains seemed like a distant nightmare. He wished that Myooji felt the same way. That, he never found out, as Aikatherinee had already ruined Myooji's day. There she was, the brave Atrac, standing in the middle of the dining hall, staring at Aikatherinee, who had gathered a large group of fans around her. It seemed as every single one of the goblins in the house had forgot their breakfast totally. It wasn�t that Myooji would have wanted to be the target of that attention, as a matter of fact she avoided both crowds and brainless people, Aikatherinee�s diva-like acting just ticked the hell out of her. She despised selfish and vain people. And of course, Nomi was nowhere to be found. Iisai turned around to avoid being seen by either one of the women, and headed into Drake's room. After few polite knocks and louder bangs, no one answered. Iisai opened the room's door and peeked in. Drake was still in bed, looking at Iisai with this come closer and I'll kick your ass-type of look.
"Umm.. Good morning"
Iisai said, still standing behind the door, so that if Drake threw anything at him, he wouldn't get hit. Drake just stared at him.
"Where the heck were you, anyway?"
He finally asked. Iisai cast his eyes down to the floor.
"At the coast, checking on the turtles."
"And of course, that Myooji was with you, eh?" Iisai nodded.
"Thought so. Not that I'd care" Drake snorted and looked out of the window.
Iisai tried to hide his smile.
"Sure you don't care, sure.." He said quietly, so that Drake didn't hear, and then returned to the dining hall.

Aikatherinee had vanished, again, but Myooji was still in place. Standing still, fists clentched. For a second, Iisai was sure she was going to hit someone, but after a few deep breaths she seemed to calm down. Aikatherinee simply represented everything she loathed.
"Good morning, Myooji!" Iisai shouted over the hall.
Everyone turned around to see him. For those awkward seconds, Iisai wished so much he would have kept his mouth. Then it started.
"Where were you? Why did you vanish like that? Did someone kidnap you? Were you hurt?" and so on.
Iisai looked for a place to hide, somewhere, anywhere. He hated the fact that everyone was staring at him.
"Please... let me eat first..." He mumbled, taking few steps back.
"Yeah, let the poor lad be!" The voice was Nomi's.
She had a big dipper in her hand, and a serious look on her face. As everyone's attention was focused on Nomi, Iisai slipped into the kitchen. Myooji followed not far behind.
"Good job" she said and sat down.
Iisai looked away.
"I.. Didn't think that would happen.." He mumbled and sat next to Myooji.
"Honestly.."
"Hm? You think I don't believe you?" Myooji asked, looking Iisai in the eyes.
"No, that's not it, I just..."
Iisai's voice was faint, as if he would have wanted to crawl into some hole and die. Nomi pat his shoulder.
"There there, if you want, I can talk to them. They'll forget about this before dinnertime."
Iisai looked at Nomi with an amused face.
"Sure.."
"Trust me, I know this"
Nomi smiled and served them big bowls of cornflakes and fruits.
"Now eat up, before someone else eats them."
Myooji poured milk into her cornflakes, but Iisai just shoveled a huge pile of jam on them.
"Oh yeah, this came just a moment ago"
Nomi gave Iisai a somewhat meaningless looking package. It was wrapped in a brownish paper and had Iisai's name written on it with such a chicken scratch that it was almost impossible to read.
"Yay, a birthday gift!" Iisai grabbed the package and rip the paper off.
"I think I know from who it is.. "
He grinned and opened a box that was carefully padded both from outside and inside. Myooji took a closer look at the wrapping. The penmanship was very poor, or maybe these sorts of letter were unfamiliar with the writer.
"Well, who is it from, then?"
Myooji asked as Iisai removed the padding with a wide smile on his face. He seemed to ignore Myooji's question, but thankfully Nomi knew the answer.
"From one of his only friends, an engineer who's travelling around the world. She's highly skilled, but unfortunately she has very little time to see us these days. And, as you can see, letters are not a good idea with her."
Myooji was silent for a while.
"A she, you say? Was she a girlfriend?"
Nomi refused to answer and Iisai was still ignoring everyone. And for a reason. His eyes were riveted on something that at first sight looked like a pile of metal and bolts and leather. But when Myooji walked around the table, she noticed that it was a small, green-eyed squirrel. A mechanical one, that is. Iisai reached out and pat its head. A light started glowing from the squirrel�s eyes and it started wagging its tail.
"Aww, ain't that cute!"
Iisai laughed, sounding like a ten-year-old. As if the squirrel would have been a real one, it climbed on Iisai's shoulder and started cleaning itself with its paws. Nomi poked Iisai on the shoulder.
"There's a card there, too" she said, pointing at the parcel.
Now that Iisai got his eyes off the squirrel, he noticed it too. He took the card on his hand and tried very hard to understand every word.
"Heh, she made it herself. And its eyes are made of malachite, so they should be kept clean"
Iisai smiled and read on. But suddenly a dark cloud rose on his face.
"Hmm.. She won't be able to show up in a while. She says she's busy.."
Iisai's smile had completely dropped off.
"I really would have wanted to see her."
Myooji stood up.
"Who the heck are you talking about?"
The squirrel leaped from Iisai's shoulder on Nomi's head and from there to the floor. It looked up to Myooji as in 'Don't hit me'.
"She's just.. An old friend.."
Iisai said, carefully thinking of his words.
"Well, I noticed that, but I'd like to hear some name"
Myooji said with frustration in her voice. She didn�t like attention but hated to be ignored when she spoke.
"We call her Betsy" Nomi saved Iisai, who seemed alarmed.
"She usually looked after Iisai when I wasn't around, even though she's younger than he is."
"Yeah, I got babysat by a kid" Iisai snorted.
Nomi smiled widely.
"It's just two years, sweetheart" Then she walked out of the kitchen.

Later that day, Myooji left Iisai to play with his new toy, and took a walk outside. The sky was clear, air was warm and patrols were still everywhere. Luckily the guard captains had vanished into thin air. She was not too happy to see Aikatherinee talking to some men, who seemed just as mesmerized as Iisai had been. Myooji didn't bother to waste her voice on her, so she just turned around and walked into the opposite direction. She walked all the way to the southern gates, and looked out into the endless desert.
I wonder what's out there. Ruins, beasts, dragons, perhaps..
She pondered. She thought she could stand there for ages, but then someone pat her shoulder so hard she almost fell over.
"Umm, sorry about that" She heard a low voice say.
She turned around, and at first saw nothing but a big, dark shade.
"Umm... right, no problem." Myooji narrowed her eyes to see better. Not that it would have helped much.
"I was just wondering... I heard that Iisai had gone missing and the guys over there mentioned that you would have been with him.."
"Yeah, I was there, but why do you want to know?"
Oh how she hated small towns like this for nothing stayed private. Everybody knew everything the very next day, or at least they thought they knew. Myooji was still trying to figure out if she was talking to a cow or a human. Or maybe a giant. What ever it was, it was at least ten feet tall. It lowered its head, and Myooji felt a warm air surrounding her.
Hm, might be a cow, yes.
"Well, anyway, now that we got that off the way" The shade smiled
"I might as well introduce myself. I'm Betseba, but my friends get to call me Betsy."
Myooji got a flashback from the breakfast table.
"So, you're that Iisai's friend who built that squirrel, no?"
"Yup, that's me. Does it work?"
"Sure it does, looks almost real. But..." Myooji thought carefully.
"I recall that you weren't supposed to be able to come."
"Yeah, I'm not able to come, but I'm here anyways. I have something that can't wait. And I wanted to make sure Iisai gets it as fast as possible"
Betsy said, looking around. As she turned to leave, Myooji bit her lip and opened her mouth.
"What are you?"
The beast stopped, looked over her shoulder and smiled.
"I, my friend, am a tauren. From the north."
Then she left, walked with long steps towards Tinkers' Union HQ. Her hooves left deep prints on the sand, and after a few seconds, Myooji followed her. She had to know what was so important, that a 'tauren from north' had to mix up her agenda to visit a rat hole like this.

Betsy had to bend a lot to fit through the door. She looked even bigger with all those short goblins around her.
"Umm.. Hello everyone" Betsy waved her hand.
"Where's Iisai?"
The goblins pointed at his room. They seemed to be familiar with this creature.
"Thanks" she smiled, hit her head on the roof and walked back out.
Myooji stared after her, and rushed into the kitchen.
"Nomi, did you see that?" She shouted.
"Saw what?" Nomi rose her face from what ever she was cooking.
"That that... that one who calls herself Betsy!"
Nomi dropped her spoon and rushed out.
"Where did she go?"
"Outside, I suppose" Myooji answered truthfully.
But Nomi ran into Iisai's room as fast as she could. Myooji followed her, getting a little confused. Little did she know, everyone in the dining hall was staring at her. When she reached Iisai's room, she saw the tauren peeking from the window, leaning on the windowsill, Nomi and Iisai talking to her at the same time. They both seemed very happy to see her. Betsy grinned and tried to make them sit still.
"Shush now, I have something in my possession, that I want you to have. It's very, VERY important."
She reached over and handed a small letter to Iisai.
"I got it from the desert troopers that tried to attack me. I don't know what made them think they could take me down, but.. Anyway, I was too curious to keep the letter shut, so I'm sorry if I shouldn't have opened it.."
Iisai and Nomi were not even listening anymore. They both just stared at the letter with shocked look on their faces. Myooji stepped closer and peeked over Iisai's shoulder to see what the letter was about.
"Anyway, I gotta get going now, I've got tons of work to do.. I promise to drop by some other time, I promise. Take care of yourself, redhead."
With that, Betsy left. Iisai waved his hand absently, still reading the letter. When Myooji had read the letter, she understood the shocked faces.

"Mechanical specialized Engineer, Iisai Will Thales, Tinkers' Union HQ
Tinkers' Union has gathered much reputation around the lands under my control, and I have come to know that You have specialized in building mechanicals, as in remote controlling and artificial intelligence. If this is true, I would very much like you to offer me your assistance. For security issues, I cannot tell you more of Your assignment now, but in these troubled times, it cannot be difficult to tell, that we need You in order to defeat our foes. I hope I will see you in my court as soon as possible. The emperor of Stafford, Soko IV

"Well, that explains a lot. Like why someone wants you dead. Enemy got the letter."
Stated Myooji, cold and calm. Iisai looked up, slowly, eyes hazy.
"What did you say?"
Myooji rolled her eyes.
"I'd appreciate if you listened to me. I understand you're shocked, by both info, but you gotta listen now."
Iisai, as well as Nomi seemed to attach their attention to her now.
"Someone doesn�t want you to fulfil the emperor�s request. The one they sent before was truly a beginner, minor one. No experience, no knowledge. You can tell just by the amount he chatted. But cause he failed, there will be another one. And another one, and another one. All the way till you are eliminated or your job is completed and there is nothing they can do anymore"
She now looked Iisai straight in the eyes, and suddenly, she couldn't continue. He looked so frightened. His eyes were a bit watery, somehow full of despair as he realized the full situation. The two of those just stared at each other�s, until Nomi broke the silence.
"I'll pay you"
Both of them blinked and looked at her, but Nomi's eyes were on Myooji only now.
"...What..?"
She asked, even thought she already knew what was ahead of her.
No.� "I'll pay you. You're an Atrac, you told me you are not occupied. Or has that changed?"
"No, but..."
"Then what is the problem? Atracs do not choose their customers by name, age, race or position, right? If you think I don't have money..."
Myooji gulped.
That's not it, but CAN I take money from you for protecting him? And CAN I protect him? .... Don�t be an idiot. Of course you can. You just can't let your self get anymore fond of him. It's vital that Atracs do not gain friendship to their customers... Myooji's thoughts were cut off by Iisai.
"What are you two talking about?"
Nomi looked at Iisai.
"You haven't realized what she is, now have you? An Atrac, I believe it doesn't say anything to you?"
"Well I figured it isn't her real first name, but I don't really know, no, I don't. Do enlighten me."
Nomi looked at Myooji who had folded her arms.
"What..? Me? Oh, hmm. Well, Iisai, it means that once you are my customer, I shall dedicate my life in protecting yours. Keeping you alive. It's like a bodyguard, I suppose. Specialty of Velocy Moon. But most people here in Stafford have never heard of us. We are more common in Balu and Malbo.."
"Dedicate your life for your customer's?"
"Yeah, till the contract is off, I will go anywhere my customer goes, do anything in my might to keep him or her safe."
Iisai looked away.
"Till the contract is off?"
"It means either you are safe for good and don't want to pay me anymore, or.. That I have died in order to save you. I'm afraid that death is my limit."
Iisai looked at her, eyes almost panicking.
"What, You could die?"
"Fool! That's what I'm trying to tell you. When you are my customer, I will die before you, no matter what! I will not live to see my customer die! That is how good I am."
Nomi interrupted them from starting an argument and Iisai getting even more shocked.
"GOOD! Now that you know, Iisai, you should start packing and get things ready to leave."
She turned to Myooji.
"And I'll give you the money so you can go buy the supplies you need."
Myooji opened her mouth.
"...I can't. I can't take the money from you, or have him as my customer!"
She suddenly shouted, losing all her calmness. Inside she knew she wouldn�t be able to completely fulfil her duty as an Atrac with this boy.
"You can't?"
Asked Iisai and his eyes were so big, so wet and so begging. Myooji was left mouth open.
"..I..."
How can I refuse those eyes? Goddamnit! I want him to be safe, but later on this ability of his to bend me just might be the death of the both of us. She closed her eyes.
I'll just stay hard, that's it. I can do it. There's no way another Atrac will just walk to the town. If I let him go on his own and he dies, I can never forgive myself..
"Okay"
She said and opened her eyes. As hard a as she had tried, she had never been fully able to harden her heart like an Atrac should. In a sense it was a miracle she was still alive.
"Do accept my life then, Iisai, I'll accompany you to the palace."
Iisai's eyes widened, which was technically impossible anymore.
"You will? You promise!?"
A chill went down Myooji spine.
"Yeah, I promise."
Iisai blinked his eyes, it looked like he was going to cry.
"Get your stuff ready, we'll the first thing tomorrow. And I'll be right back, don't worry. I'll just go get some stuff from my room."
With this, she started walking to the door, not looking back. Her heart felt so heavy.
"Um, Thanks, Myooji. I'm sorry to trouble you"
She stopped, still not looking back.
"Don't... call me that."
She looked over her shoulder at Iisai.
"My name is Teo"

Later on she wondered why she had wanted the boy to call her by her name. She decided these impulses were dangerous and she shouldn�t listen to them. Technically there was nothing wrong in him knowing her name. She just was odded of by her own behaviour. Once she got back, Iisai was still looking rather shocked. He was sitting on his very own pile of pillows and was holding one of the pillows in his arms.
"Hey, don't look that way. There will be no harm done to you as long as I'm around"
Teo tried to comfort him.
"That's.. not my problem.."
Iisai sighed and looked at Teo.
"I just.. Can�t stand the idea that you're the one to take the bullet for me.. It's.. it's not right."
Teo sat down next to Iisai.
"That's what I do. And besides, as long as I'll do my job well, there's no need for anyone to die. The plasmawhip is rather effective, you know that, don't you?"
Iisai nodded, but didn't seem convinced.
Teo shook her head.
"Fine, be that way. You'll get over it soon, I'm sure. And there's one thing I need to get out of the way before we can leave."
"Hm.. What�s that?"
"A contract."
Iisai took a close look at Teo.
"A contract, eh? Why?"
"Well, doesn't it seem obvious to you that I can't protect you, if you keep running around, away from my sight of vision?"
Iisai nodded again.
"So, you have to promise me to obey what ever I say, if it's a direct order. If you don�t and die because of it, it is not my responsibility.You heard me?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Teo looked Iisai straight in the eyes.
"Good, keep that in mind, and we'll get along. Oh yes, one more thing. Bend over."
"Hm..?"
Iisai just sat still.
"That was a direct order, was it not?"
Teo inquired. It took a second for Iisai to catch up.
"Oh, um, ok.."
Iisai bent his head down to his knees.
. "But.. What for?"
"Sit still and shut up, will you? This might hurt a bitty bit."
"A bitty bit, again? Can I scream if it hurts as much as last time?"
"No."
Teo brushed aside some hair from Iisai's neck and stuck a small needle under his skin. She could feel the cold shiver going down Iisai's spine.
"Good boy, Iisai"
Teo smiled and pulled the needle off. Iisai straightened his back and stared at Teo. "What did you just do?"
"Oh, nothing big" Teo said and put the needle back to her pocket.
"I just placed some chemicals to your neck so I can see you on this radar of mine."
She tapped her wrist bands. Iisai scratched his neck, slightly confused.
"It's safe?"
"Sure it is, trust me."
"Hm.. Right.."
"Now, pack your backs, we'll leave right after breakfast."
"Wait, wait! What do I need to take with me?"
Iisai grabbed leaving Teo by the wrist.
"Well, clothes, repairing equipment, weapons if you have and now, let my wrist go."
Iisai put his hands in his pockets.
"Okay then, I'll get right on it.. Can I take the squirrel with me, too?"
"Sure, if it makes you happy."

Chapter 2 - Chapter 4