Thalia looks around at the dusty old objects in the poorly lit room. She hears a very faint voice. "Please," the voice whispers.
"Huh, Theo, why are you whispering? Stop it. You're creeping me out."
Theo gives Thalia a confused and concerned look. "What are you talking about, sis? I didn't whisper anything."
Thalia was just as confused as him. "Well, if it wasn't you, then what was that voice just now?"
Thalia walks over to an old mahogany case. She knew that she wanted a relic that is at least legendary ranked and combat-oriented.
A green-lined sword with a bright yellow ribbon catches her eye. Thalia looks over at her brother and the vice-captain. The vice-captain was explaining something to Theo about one of the relics.
Thalia opens the glass pane and pulls the blade out of the case.
"Put that piece of shit down!"
Thalia drops the blade cutting her hand. She was so startled she knocked into the case behind her. The boys looked over, confused. Thalia quickly placed her hands up and mouthed the words "Sorry." They look at each other and shake their head before continuing their conversation.
"Shit," she says, holding her bleeding hand up to her mouth. At this point, she figured all the dust in this dank old basement was starting to get to her. When she heard the voice again.
"Sorry!" the voice giggled.
"I didn't mean to make you cut yourself, and I knew that grumpy old man wouldn't be compatible with you." Thalia spins around, surveying the room, but the only people in this room were laughing and pointing at an axe in the corner of the room.
At the risk of sounding crazy, Thalia whispers, "Who are you?"
There was no answer. Thalia sighs, placing her hands on her hips. She must be going crazy, she thought.
"It's not so much as a who but more of a what am I." A soft voice replies. Again Thalia looked around the room, searching for the direction the voice came from.
"I hate riddles. I'm no good at them and am more of a straight shooter. A no-bullshit kind of gal." Thalia whispers, still looking around the room.
"It's not so much as a riddle but more of a conundrum. I can't exactly answer who I am until you find me!" The voice says eagerly. Thalia grows a bit irritated at the conversation.
"So what your saying is that you have no intention of telling me who or where you are?"
The room is silent except for the faint chatter of the boys in the background. The voice seemed like it was going to wait to respond. Thalia begins walking further down the aisle of wooden cases. The pressure that she felt earlier started to feel like a massive weight on her body.
"Stop it! Let her pass." The voice rang out again.
All of a sudden, the pressure that was weighing Thalia down felt like it was released.
"Thank you!" Thalia whispers.
At this point, Thalia could care less who the voice was. She finally felt better. She was dealing with the pressure a lot better now than when she was at the top of the staircase. However, it was still bothering her to a degree. While now, she feels weightless and energized again, like she could run a mile.
Walking down the aisle, looking from case to case, she could tell everything was powerful. However, nothing stood out to her as something she could see herself using. She thought about turning around for that yellow sword she first saw. However, she has no interest in a tongue-lashing from the mysterious voice.
"Stop" the voice yelled out.
Freezing Thalia dead in her tracks, causing her to brace for some sort of attack. Although nothing came, and the voice didn't speak again.
A minute goes by.
Thalia was still in a state of readiness building up her electricity. When she realized there was no threat, the voice must of be jerking her around.
"You must think this is funny, you little brat. When I find you, I'm gonna..."
Thalia says, holding her fist clenched in the air. No one was around her, and she started to feel a bit funny looking. So she regained her composure, brushing the dust off her skirt. Thalia spins around and begins walking back toward Theo and Vice-captain Alexander.
"I'm under here, silly! Are you even trying to find me?" The voice said in a playful tone.
At this point, Thalia felt the rage boiling in her chest, but this time, she was pretty sure she knew where the voice was coming from.
"Man, your dumb take a hint, lady."
Thalia moves at the speed of a cat chasing their prey. She quickly kneels down and grabs at whatever was bold enough to call her dumb.
The only thing was it wasn't a who. After all, it was indeed a what! The kid she thought she was grabbing was, in fact, a box.
"You're a box?" Thalia says, trying to hide her disappointment.
"No dummy. Open the box, sheesh." The voice says, mildly irritated.
Thalia rips open the lid of the box. The inside of the box was lined with beautiful red velvet leather.
"Do you like my home?" The voice says triumphantly.
"You're a fan?" Thalia couldn't hide her confusion.
"How can a simple fan talk?" Thalia asks, lifting the black folding fan out of the box.
"I am not just a simple fan; I am what is called a Che-San, or more accurately, I am inside this Chinese folding fan." A child-like voice says.
Thalia opens the fan, revealing a black leather fan with purple and gold clouds painted inside. Thalia begins shaking the fan all over the place.
"Stop shaking me wildly, please," The voice yelps, its voice rattled.
Thalia looked at the fan, intrigued. "So, how did a kid get stuck into a fan?" Thalia held the Che-San up to the light.
"Well, first of all, I am not a kid, and I am older than you by probably a couple of hundred years. My name is Arashi Sensi. However, you can just call me Sensi for short."
Thalia closes the fan. "Okay, Sensi, am I to assume that you're the ego for this relic?" Thalia says in a serious tone.
"Oh, so you did know about us after all. Great, your not as stupid as I thought you were!" Sensi says, giggling.
Thalia shook the fan again out of anger until Sensi began to wail and cry.
"I was just kidding. I promise." Sensi says, no longer laughing.
"Well, would you mind telling me your history and origin? We learned at the institute all relics were formed and took residence in an object for a reason."
Thalia opens the fan and traces her finger along the purple and gold clouds.
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