Chapter Eight

"Tell me again why we couldn't just barge through the gate and find the Phantom. It's a small village, of probably 100 or so villagers..."Lucy commented as they scouted the streets. There were villagers everywhere, walking casually in the night. How were they supposed to find the Phantom like this? "We could check on each home, or have the leader take them out into a meeting area. I'm sure he has a list of these people..."

"You talk a lot,"Nobu shot back. Seeing Lucy's reaction he stopped running and turned quickly to face her. "It-It's not a bad thing."He chuckled. "You didn't talk much a few days ago, after the whole trip here and the Phantom incident."

"I'm trying to change,"Lucy gave him a tight lipped smile. "I've been a...follower you can say, for so long. I let anyone push me around and take the wheel. I let fear guide me for so long, I hid my fear so well behind a mask of confidence and this silly positive attitude. And then one day the mask broke, and you got the plain Lucy who feared everything. This is me trying to take the wheel now. Trying to not let my fear guide me now. If I was being quiet before and that bothered you, I'm sorry. I'm trying to wrap my head around what my goal truly is."

Nobu nodded, a slight grin stretching over his lips. "No wonder."He mused to himself. No wonder since day one he had felt lured to her, he was a sucker when it came to helping others. "I'll help you rid of your fear alright? But for now, let's focus on this Phantom."

"Alright."She bobbed her head slowly, trying to understand that look in his eyes. It wasn't pity, or anything or the sort. It felt like appreciation.

"Well, step one. Help me think of a way we can lure this Phantom out of its hiding spot."He looked at her expectantly. She looked back at him doubtfully.

"I have no knowledge of Phantoms. Well not much I can use anyway."Lucy told him. "Wait..."

Nobu grinned as her eyes glazed, her mind overflowing with thoughts.

"Can I see all the reports you were handed?"Lucy asked, narrowing her eyes slightly. He handed her a leather notebook, filled with papers and notes he had taken on the mission. "Do you have a layout of this village?"

"Yes, why?"Now he was curious as she tossed the layout on the floor and stretched it over the snow. She sat on the ground, too concentrated to bother with the cold. He peered over her shoulder. Not caring that people glanced at them weirdly.

"You said the first attack was just a week ago right? In the Wreight's home..a young female woman. Then it was here, in Filliart's home..a boy. And then, the Phantom proceeded to attack here...in Danton's family home. That's three, finally it was the leader's home. The Phantom killed his daughter. Do you see the distance between each kill?"Lucy asked as she turned back to face Nobu with wide eyes. "Hand me a pen."She told him. He did as told and kneeled beside her as she connected each dot with the spine of the leather notebook. "There have been nine attacks so far..This is forming a star Nobu. The last point.."

"Is the camp!"Riley eyed the layout in his hand, he rummaged through his bag, looking for the flare. "I need to tell them now!"He raised his hand, shooting the bright flare. His friends were in danger.

"The mansion will be attacked next!"Lucy urges Nobu to fire the flare, at the same time another flare was shot in the distance. They both exchanged worried glances, Lucy grabbed the layout in her hands before they took off running again, to the rendezvous point. "Nobu!"She panted out, she needed to explain things to him. "I know you probably have never used magic in your life—!"

"I have!"He exclaimed right back. "I've practiced Celestial Magic! What is the point!?"

She was surprised for slight moment before shaking the feeling off. "The point is, you told me Phantom's don't use magic! So why did this particular Phantom create a magic seal!?"

"Unless it's not a magic seal..."They both said in unison.

"He used those humans as offerings..."Nobu continued, the post coming into view. They could make out Riley waving historically in the distance. Satoshi stood next to him with an impatient look.

"He is trying to break something out! We must get to the camp now! The Phantom will kill someone there! We must hurry!"Lucy said before taking off on her own to toward the entrance.

"Since when is she calling the shots?"Satoshi shot Nobu a dirty look.

Nobu didn't answer, instead he followed after the blonde. There was no point being silent about things now, not when his family was in danger. His heart pounded in his chest at a rigorous pace.

"I figured it out as well!"Riley said as Alex ran next to him. "That Phantom is trying to break a powerful being out. Since Phantom's themselves can't produce magic, they used other bodies with ethernano in their blood to cancel out the seal! I'm guessing the seal is partially broken by now, and one of our own will be the last step to break whatever is in that seal free!"

"We won't let that happen!"Alex said and sped toward their horses. The camp wasn't too far away, and the time the Phantom strikes was nearing.

"This whole trip was pointless then!"Satoshi hissed, not wanting to admit his chest twisted painfully at the thought of one of his trainees dead.

Lucy and Nobu were already speeding on their horses to the camp. Riley cursed as he tripped slightly, but managed to climb onto the saddle.

"Ya!"He urged the horse to run, following close behind Lucy and Nobu. Satoshi untied his horse from the tree.

"You're free to follow if you'd like."He told the horse. He let out a snort, he was hoping no one had seen him make a fool out of himself. He was faster by feet, at times being half Phantom felt like a curse, but other times. It felt like a gift. His long legs were fast and strong, he was sure he could catch up to them in minutes. Alex and Jace were already off after the rest. He dug his feet into the snow, readying his muscles to sprint.

He didn't do this much, he had to keep it to a minimum when with the rest. But it felt nice for a change, to be able to release it all. He grunted and let out a small angry shout, no one left him behind.

No one.

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