"Well..." says Maria. "I just..."
"It's something that Maria really likes," I take over to help Maria. "She wants to find it and we have to help her to get it back."
Since I am the onlu one who knows about Maria's pearl and how much she needs it - Shun knows it too for that matter - I feel that I have to help her by coming with a senseble answer so that the others won't suspect anything. It feels bad to do this, to be honest. The others should know after all we have gone through as a team. But telling them without Maria's own permission is something I can't do, not if it is something that is hers.
As we are walking without knowing where, only in the hope of that we will find Teddy as sson as posissible, Dan and Shun come to me with a question I really don't feel like answering.
"You said you'd explain later, didn't you?" says Dan. "Now that we are walking you can tell us, Elaf."
"You wouldn't understand," I say and keep looking at the ground.
"If you tell us we will," says Shun. "I really want to know how you did that."
"Yeah, it was some sort of a magical power, really awesome! You just put your hand, Lion-Obra started to shine and your hand at the same time. Really great!" says Dan in a loud voice and I know he's smiling very big at the moment.
"It may be cool, Dan..." I say. "But it's very tiring. That's why I say you wouldn't uderstand. Lion-Obra and I have a combinated power, which is why I only got it when Lion-Obra first came. She shares this power with me now, and if we do something together with a combined power, we get much more powerful."
"Woow..." says Dan. "I never knew that, Elaf. I'm sorry. It's just that, you were so spirited before and now, suddenly you seem to be so down. What's the problem?"
"What do you think?!" I say louder and I have to admit that I feel rude right now.
"Geez, sorry!" he says annoyed. "What's wrong with you two? And Maria too! But she at least tries to stay cool. You and Shun could get so furious whenever you feel like it!"
"Oh, my gosh..." I sigh heavily and put my hand on my forehead like I do when I am bored during class. "That's not the problem, Dan. Just leave it behind already. I'm really not ready to tell you this yet. It just takes more of my energy and I feel I've lost enough."
"What means?" says Dan.
"Leave it behind!" I order.
"Okay, okay...!" he says. "As you wish..." he goes to Runo, Mira and Marucho, which is exactly when Shun probably takes the chanse and asks me: "So you lost your energy because of me?"
"What? No, what makes you think that?"
"Because you said you lost your energy. And certainly those powers of yours are part of your energy, aren't they?"
Woow, I think and look at the ground again. How could he figure that out so easily? He's smart.
"Am I right?" he continues and I understand that he really wants an answer.
At first I hesitate, but then I manage to make up a: "Mmm. You are."
"I see. Well, I'm sorry. But I couldn't fight back that pearls power. It was so huge."
"Yeah, and then I suppose you understand why Maria is so willing to get it back, don't you?"
"I do. And we'll help her to do that!"
"Yes," I add a wry smile.
"Thanks Elaf," he says. "You just don't know how spirited and tagged I feel right now thanks to your powers. And Lion-Obra's, of course."
"No need to thank. We are a team after all."
We keep on walking, util this happens:
Teddy is lying on the ground without moving, only several meters away from us.
