A Day By The Fall
[I HATE beginnings! I can never start these things so ur just gonna have 2 take it as it is]
The forest wasn't especially lush this morning.
It was still a truly wondrous sight to behold though!
A few flocks flew over head, brushing lone birds out of their way.
A few creatures skittered in the underbrush, but nothing dangerous.
And in the center...Was a road.
Once again, this road wasn't anyway special.
Not a grand Imperial roadway by any means!
But a pleasantly worn track that was free from the interests of Footpads & other ruffians.
Sure during the spring, it gets a few scallywags, but nothing a slap couldn't send fleeing.
All in all...Due to its particular lack of specialness...Made it special in some way.
If it was a painting, no one would buy it.
But its sheer pleasant-ness made it a place most warriors would love to retire to.
But not yet...
A simple rest would do for now...
A black stallion grazed the grass, finding it all quite pleasant.
He didn't mind the petite young woman lying across him unconscious, as he was a proud and powerful steed carrying assorted luggage. It was all a bit of a rest for him.
She would have probably minded but wasn't really in any position to argue.
Her long black hair hung heavily towards the road covering her slender features and, now shut, emerald eyes.
From each rib to their opposite shoulder was a navy blue leather armor made of 2 wide ribbons with gold trimming.
Under that was a sky blue jump-suit, pin striped with a deeper blue.
On her back was an exquisite bow shrouded in jewels and the imagery of a mighty birds wings.
Her waist held an equally ornate quiver.
She was lying upon a plain looking Mages staff. But it never failed to catch the eye of a person in tune with magic.
A small lizard like creature sat on the horses dark mane.
A rather out of place wolf stalked around the steed.
There was another woman there as well...
She had the appearance of a warrior. With a sword, bow & daggers adorning her outfit.
Her jade cloak pooled on the floor as she knelt down, patting the horses nuzzle.
Long blonde hair with a red tint brushed the grass underfoot.
The blade large sword rested on the ground as its handle hung from her waist.
2 figures appeared on the horizon, rushing towards them.
The warrioress straightened up, and got prepared.
A few minor stretches first. Then her looks.
She swept the dust & grass off her cloak and fluffed up her hair.
She finally fixed her sword and gave her sleeping companion a gentle shake.
The figures hurried into focus.
About 10 meters away, one of the figures flopped heavily onto his face with an undignified jingle.
He wore all black & was shrouded in a large black hooded cloak which covered him entirely, hiding his distinguished face with quiet dark-brown eyes, neat goatee & long pony-tailed dark-brown hair.
All there where was a heaving cloak, heavy, unique looking boots, a bow and quiver and a beautifully crafted Katana.
And wheezing! Plenty of wheezing!
The other man continued a few more steps before finally noticing his companion and gleefully collapsed on his hands & knees.
He was smaller & slimmer then the first man.
Wearing a dark navy sleeveless polo top & matching loose pants, topped off with crude boots, gloves and a left shoulder pad.
He had a strange double-handled sword on his back.
Bizarre, randomly pointed blonde hair hung down slightly over his amber eyes and androgynous face which some would call beautiful...when its not heaving its guts out on the road with thunderous coughs like it was now.
The jade cloaked warrioress swept towards the gasping wretches, with horse in tow. The wolf followed from a respectful distance.
The blonde male looked up a bit to see her approach, but then returned to his wheezing and coughing.
Finally the warrioress spoke. "Man...You 2 old guys are really unfit..." she smirked.
Her voice stirred the woman on the horse into starting to come back to the world.
"Wha..wha??!!". The blonde man tried 2 stand up and be outraged.
Finally he settled for crawling over to a nearby tree and leaning up against that.
"3 *hah* miles! *hah hah* We had to *hah* spri- *hah* sprint 3 miles!" he continued, with great difficulty.
The black cloak on the ground seemed to nod in agreement.
"Well you don't see me outta breath, do you?" the warrioress stated.
"That's cos you've a bloody horse ya spoon!". Anger was helping him to regain control over his constitution.
"Sure its not that your just getting too old Gaijin?" she mocked. She nearly always called him by his full first name when she was ragging him, as opposed to the usual Guy.
"True..." Gaijin Solarus conceded. "I'm no longer just a small kid anymore...like you Alexis". Guy also returned the name thing, where he usually just called her Lee.
Though there wasn't much age difference between them, Guy being 2nd oldest in this party at 23 to Lees youngest at 18, the teen could rarely resist the call of a cheap age joke.
Both where so caught up in the argument, they didn't see the black cloak stand up to once again revel its wearer.
The eldest by far at 28 and in his opinion, also the only 1 with a inkling of common sense.
Katsu Shishima, as he was called now, gently, so not to create another jingle, dusted off his clothes and cloak before making his way too the rest of the party unheard.
The 2's duel was interrupted by the rather grumpy awakening of the female on the horse.
Anyone who has ever chatted to a White mage would have been quite shocked by the "Ahhh crap!" from the party's 19 year old main magic user, Shiori Daiz.
Shiori began struggling to get up and regain some dignity, but the squirming and profanity continued to snatch this further out of her reach.
Her wolf, Gnaf, tried to look away into the distance.
Shiori finally worked herself free of Lee's luggage, before realizing that was the only thing holding her up on the horse, Shinigami.
Shiori fell heavily on her face. Her body & legs in the air, resting against Shinigami.
The other 3 dashed over to help her up, against her protests.
They finally began moving along the road again
*
* *
*
[That's my new short hand for time passing. Like the spinning thing in the old Batman series or when they throw up a random picture in Pokemon]
The forest is still doing its pleasant job.
Trees thickly lined the cleared path and themselves where surrounded by brush.
The sun continued to shine, not oppressively but pleasantly.
If this had been a computer game, you'd be dying to explore it all, to see what pleasant secrets where hidden here.
That is, until the first random battle. Then you'd be forced to dash through it all, lest you be driven insane!
Our adventurers strolled down the path with no particular haste now.
Shiori was still on the horse, but none the less sulky for it.
She had her arms tightly crossed and scowling at anyone who'd dare look at her.
Gaijin held is arms behind his head, glad to finally experience some familiar sun, even though it was no match for the desert lands he still calls home.
He sang a cheery little song in some language only he understood.
Katsu was thinking along the lines of "Bloody Elves!" but Gaijins voice was typically elven sweet so it wasn't so bad.
It was the having to lead the "Bloody Horse!" that was annoying him most.
Alexis was slowly flying a few feet over head, stretching her wings.
They got quite stiff if kept within her back for too long.
And the sight of her wings often had a common effect on towns folk...
A quick realization struck Shiori, knocking her out of her grumpy mood.
[Shows what happens if u show a lil patience]
"Erm...". She blushed. "What happened...?"
Katsu turned to her in surprise.
Gaijin sung a note out of tune before stopping singing completely.
Alexis looked down. And flew into a branch.
"What do you mean?" Katsu asked.
"Well...I remember we went into this small town...And we popped into the tavern...Next thing there's tables, chairs and people flying through the air. I threw sleep on them...".
The next bit she said quietly and with great embarrassment. "...which exhausted me...Next thing I see is a close-up of the dirt..."
The party continued down the road while they explained this.
Alexis decided to fly only a foot off the ground. After she pulled out the twigs and leaves entwined in her hair out.
Katsu took great pride beginning the story. "Well...It was all ok till pointy idiot here..."
He indicated towards Gaijin with great satisfaction.
Though more about his hair then his ears, which where actually rather flat for an elf, but more stream-lined then a human.
"...got himself into a stupid fight!" Katsu finished.
"There was no way for me to avoid it!!!" Gaijin barked at the ninja.
"How come?" Alexis queried. She gently touched down and started walking along with them but with her wings out.
Gaijin took over before Katsu got another chance to insult him. "He was a pit fighter! It became pretty obvious after a few moments that he had started a bet involving beating me, with some gamblers...filthy creatures, pitfighters...".
"Why do you call them that?" Shiori asked.
Katsu took up the conversation. But 1st... "Well you wouldn't have been in that position if you stayed quiet and incognito! Your the loudest, crudest elf I've ever met!"
He then began to answer Shiori. "Pit Fighters exist only to kill their own kind...Or anyone fool hardy enough to be drawn into an argument with them...for gamblers to bet upon the outcome"
Shiori could see the distaste upon Alexis and Gaijins face. "So...They kill for no reason...?"
"Money!" Alexis stated. "Pittance for them to drink down that same night!"
"Soooo...Their like mercenaries...?" Shiori ventured with naivet� and clarity of one that has been able to keep away from the frontline of war.
Gaijin chose this moment to quietly re-adjust his gloves.
Alexis hugged herself while looking down at her feet. Her wings withdrew a little bit.
She wanted to stand high and shout that its nothing like a mercenary! And to even suggest so was idiotic. But some how...she couldn't find the resolve.
There was a moment of silence.
Shiori gave a brave try to move the conversation along. "And just the 2 of you started the brawl?"
Gaijin perked up a bit. "Well actually, no, it wasn't. It was when the gamblers found that all their money was gone"
At that exact moment, Shinigami chose to nuzzle against Katsus jacket, creating a damning jingle.
Shiori struck Katsu with a look reserved for use by clergy and white mages.
"Hey, its not like I stole from hard working, decent folk!" he defended himself.
Shiori mulled this over and was forced to concede.
Katsu thought.
"So...". Shiori continued her inquiry. "We where running from the gamblers...?"
"Erm...Not exactly...". Alexis's mood went down a bit as she said this.
Katsu and Gaijin where willing to let this drop, but Alexis chose to finish the story.
"Well during the fight, I must have lost my concentration...and before I realized it, we had dashed out of the tavern with my wings unfurled..."
"...Oh". Shiori felt a bit embarrassed for asking further...Even though somewhere deep down she knew it wasn't her fault.
Though Alexis child-hood was fortunately lacking in in-bred narrow minded hicks who haven't ever stepped outside their own village and into the real world. Wandering after another's quest dragged them all through such pits.
And Alexis huge leather wings often ended in what she (correctly) guessed what happened today.
Lynch mob...With torches and pitchforks.
Alexis began looking down and slightly away from the group as she walked.
A cold silence crept over them all.
Gaijin looked over, far too knowledgeable.
He also had to hide his true origins...But in his case, to his friends as well.
He had told them he was human first. But they quickly caught on due to his amber eyes, a unique tell tale mark to his true genetic heritage.
So he owned up and confessed he was a Wood Elf, which no-one really minded.
But even they began treating him differently.
But what would happen if they ever found out the truth...?
That he wasn't a full elf...but a human and elf "mongrel"...
They may have been fine with that...And they may have understood the fact his father was a barbarian. Then again...They mightn't...
But if they where ever to learn his mother was a High Elf...
Possibly the most reviled species on this world...If they EVER found out...
He hid a shudder.
*
* *
*
The silence had lifted.
The forests pleasantness wore down their bad moods till they where all just enjoying the most relaxing stroll any of them could remember.
4But at the moment, there where no longer moving forward.
Alexis was standing by her horse, patting it as normal.
Gaijin was unusually fidgety with his outfit.
Shiori had made them all stopped while she healed an injured bird.
Katsu kept occupied by looking around at them, and wishing he was somewhere else.
Katsu squatted down beside the white mage, flicking his coat out as he did.
Shiori had returned to her usual cheerful self, playing with the birds, butterflies and other creatures invisible to those not magically in-tuned.
At this moment, Shiori was singing some little tune while carefully putting a Ravens wing in a splint so the Heal spell will not cause any discomfort to the wounded bird, by have to twist the bones back into place.
It was all a bit too much for him...
"You finished yet?". He tried to hide his testiness. Rather unsuccessfully.
She ignored his attitude...She could hardly expect a thief to understand the White Mage code. "Almost...I've got to cast a slow acting spell so not to agitate the raven"
Speaking of which...
Gaijins own agitation was beginning to catch the attention of Alexis.
Shiori examined the ravens wing closely as she could feel the natural forces being sped up and limits opened up. She took a moment to look into its eyes. Nervous and frightened...but curious and somewhat trusting.
She was fascinated by ravens. They had a strong, almost helix link to life and death, peace and war, triumph and ruin. she pondered.
" 'The true victors' " Katsu quoted.
Shiori looked up at him puzzled.
"A much wiser man then myself once told me, that the only ones victorious from wars are not the gods but, the ravens"
Shiori was riveted with joyous curiosity.
"They feed from the blood spilled for great causes and great men. They feed their young. Their young grow up and continue the circle. All men on the battle lose...May it be their lives, their souls or their innocence...Their cause lives on for another day, to be threatened again. Those great men get some dearly purchased land, but are destined to lose it to another. When the battle horns are sounded, only fools and ravens rejoice..."
Katsu told this story, told to himself a lifetime ago by a great teacher who explained how the death of a single man often could save the lives of million...like 'cleansing humanity's aura'.
Shiori thought about this while taking off the twig and leave splint off the ravens wing.
She stared at it in new light before letting it fly away, its voice rejoicing.
Gaijin was almost hopping from one foot to another.
Finally Alexis gave in to curiosity. "What's up with you?"
Gaijin replied in a hushed tone. "...I gotta pee..."
Alexis stared at him for a moment, before bursting out with laughter.
Gaijin wasn't amused, but his movement was quickly becoming a jig.
She tried to regain her composure. "We're in the woods! Just go behind something! Jeez...Its not like its as awkward as it is for us!"
"But loooooook!". Gaijin indicated to their surroundings.
It took Alexis a few seconds to understand, but when realization did come, it ran her over like a cart.
It was all too pleasant!
It'd be like pissing up against Snow White's (or whoever's) Castle in Disney Land.
"Well...Animals do it...So it must be ok...?" she finally stated, lacking 100% certainty.
"You think so?"
"Hell Guy, its not like you've got a choice! Go for it!"
"Hmm...Ok Lee! Thanks!". He waddled off quickly into the bushes.
Katsu and Shiori soon returned to the horse after Shiori felt the need to sate Gnaf's need for attention and to quench his jealousy.
"Where's the pointy idiot gone Lee?" Katsu asked.
"Guy's hopped into the bushes to relieve himself". She found it hard to restrain a titter.
The realization of why Gaijin was so giddy and why he was kind of worried, hit Katsu. He was a little annoyed he hadn't seen it earlier. And wondered why Shiori was rushing into the bushes after Guy.
"Shiori! No!" he called out.
Alexis didn't figure out, or want figure out what Shiori was doing. But both herself and Katsu could hear it all too easily.
"Stop that!!! What do you think your doing??!!!" came Shiori's voice in full indignant White Mage mode.
"Get away!!! I'm...answering nature..."
"There's nothing natural about that, Gaijin Solarus!"
"It is actually!"
"And put that thing away, you pervert, before I see it!"
"Not till its finished! And your the pervert, watching bishonen pee!"
"Put it away!!"
"NEVER!!"
Birds and animals evacuated from the vicinity.
All Katsu and Alexis could do was sweatdrop and hope it'd finish REAL soon.
"Your soiling a treasure of earth!"
"Ahh crap!! I got some on my pants!! JUST GO AWAY!!"
Katsu renewed his wish to be somewhere else.
*
* *
*
"Oh oh oh!!". Shiori ran ahead of the rest.
Guy and Katsu strolled along puzzled.
From her vantage point on Shinigami, Lee spotted it as well.
A suitably pleasant tatch-cottage neighboured the road, surrounded by trees.
It looked bright and cheerful and in no way a hovel.
It even had a cute little fence and gate to keep the vicious chipmonks out!
But it was the sign swinging lazily on a pole that held it over the road in plain view
"Bakery. Fresh Bread and Cakes"
that had caught the white mages attention.
The other 3 continued their easy pace, MUCH to Shioris irritance.
She hopped giddily beside the sign, barely able to contain her joy, pointing repeatedly at the sign.
"Can we can we can we??!!!" she pleaded.
Lee made a show of theatrically sighing. "Well...I dunno..."
"Pwease pwease pwease pwease pwease!" she begged.
"Oh alright!" Guy interceeded, slowly moving behind Katsu. "Katsu will treat us all!"
Guy gave the black cloak a slap, causing a jingle ripple.
"Wha? I? Me? Will?" Katsu spluttered.
"Yay" squelled the the White Mage. She grabbed his sleeve and tried to pull him along.
Katsu stood his ground...but saw he had already lost.
"Ok ok...lets go" he sighed.
Guy patted Katsu on the shoulder with a big smug High Elf grin.
There was some slight movement from Katsu. Guys grin dissapeared quite suddenly.
Katsu swept towards the shop.
"Are you coming Guy" Shiori queiried.
Gaijins response came out as a tight wheeze. "N-no thanks..I think I'll just have a lil lie down...". He fell onto his hands and knees and once again began coughing at the road.
Shiori backed away a bit. "How bout you Lee?"
"I think I'll stay here and mind the dumb animals!". She indicated to Gaijin. "Pick us up something while your in their, ok?"
"Sure!" Shiori chirrped. She spun around and dashed after Katsu.
Lee stared down at Gaijin. "You brought that on yourself..."
After a few more painful coughs and splutters, Gaijin managed to look towards her, and flashed a curious grin. "Got us *hak* free eats though, didnt I?"
Lee stared down at him for a few moments then laughed. Katsu would be furious if he found out that Gaijin had played him. Gaijin of ALL people.
*
[background change but constant time]
The door gave a pleasant jingle as Shiori entered.
Katsu was browsing the shelves full of fresh smelling breads and cakes and other less perishables for longer trips.
Well, to Shiori it looked like browsing. To the more suspicious eyes, he appeared to be 'casing the joint'.
A suitably pleasant middle aged woman and what was either her late-teens daughter or apprentice worked behind the counter with pleasant smiles.
Much to Katsus shock, Shiori drived her hand into his cloak and pulled out a glittering handful of coins.
He sighed and refrained from breaking her wrist and nodded a surrender.
Shiori ran up to the counter to make the owner very happy.
*
Lee had assembled her beloved scythe from her luggage on Shinigamis back.
As she often did to fight off boredom, she was going through a fixed training pattarn, with attacking, blocking, parrying and dodging.
Very impressive to look at but it was a rigid pattarn. Useless in a fight. Thats when imagination and adaptiveness are needed.
This, Lee had in abundance.
Guy was sitting with his legs crossed under the shade of a tree on the side of the path. Mostly just to stay out of the swinging scythes way.
Gaijin thought. The defensive abilitys of staff coupled with the bite of a sword and 2-handed axe combined...in theory.
He rested his head up against the tree think of how he once had a run in with some-one with a scythe. Mercanry? Assasin?...Didnt really matter now...
Lowering his head once again, he began studying the fighting form.
Each swing seemed to tear the air asunder. Well able to chop any man in 2!
Before he knew it he found himself studying for weaknesses and openings.
A warriors training since birth had bred these responses into his blood.
Lee didn't notice this interest.
Gaijin blocked her from rising her scythe and slit her troat with his climbing talon.
Lee carried on her rythmic movements.
Gaijin shook his head to remove her imaginary death from his eyes.
<'Bred to kill'...> Thats what his last employer used to get Gaijin to go on that last mission for him.
Guy wished there where farmers dirt or fishers water on his hands..and not so much blood.
*
Shiori looked at all the different foods brimming with freshness.
It had been a long time since they'd been able to get any food of this quality.
Cakes, bread, donuts. All looked scrummy in Shioris opinion.
Something caught her attention, out of the corner of her eye.
The younger woman was no longer behind the counter. But Shiori could still see her through the open door behind the counter.
The back room was the oven room. Rather grimy with ash, but that was to be expected.
The baker, most likely the husband and father of the 2 women, teaching the younger 1 how to bake bread.
The young girl listened to her fathers instructions intently.
And followed them carefully.
1st she mixed the dough.
Flour, yeast, salt. Some water and milk.
She clumsily kneaded the dough.
The girl had a curious expression on her face.
The look of...learning?
It had been a long time since Shiori actually "learnt" anything.
Since the Ritual of Transference she hadnt learnt anything in years.
Everything, she already knows. The combined knowledge of over a dozen of the most traveled White Mages of the Mage College of Kemigawa. All inside her 19 year old, late-adolescent head...
It seemed as much as a curse as a blessing at times.
Her fellow white mages resented her for it. Went on about all the years they spent training. About how she didnt work for any of it.
How she wasnt a real White Mage. She had once broken a nose for some boy for that sentence.
No more learning...no more surprises...no more discoveriers...
Shiori imagined the young girls face when tomorrow she took out her bread which, by the clumsy kneading, Shiori knew it would be poorly shaped and wouldnt be sold. But that wouldnt matter to the young girl. It would still be tasty.
And given the amount of salt and milk, it would be soft and light.
Shioris knowledge of even this made her shoulders drop.
She sighed heavily.
But she then remembered why she joined this group.
Something new, something to be discovered.
The shear uniquness of a human/Draconian half breed which held an equally unique personality.
The 'Wood' Elf with the amber eyes of High Elf and the magical void usually found in Barbarians.
And the eastern man of questionable morals from a land even she knows nothing about.
Her shoulders raised a little. Though these enigmas would be very pissed if she didnt get their food soon.
And where had Katsu dissapeared to...?
*
The drawer opened silently.
It closed with the tiniest click.
Katsu has easily slipped upstairs. He was hardly gonna pass up a nice place like this.
And this way, not only did he make a profit, he also gained kudos from the rest of the group.
Win-win situations. His favourite.
Theres very few thieves that have lived as long as he has...even LESS pathfinders.
He put this down to 2 things.
1.
Always try to be in a win-win situation.
This may lead to complex webs of betrayal but it just makes it all the more fun.
Fellow thieves and other ner-do-wells where especially subceptable to this.
All ready to betray the other. None paying attention to the quiet pathfinder too far down the food chain to be a threat.
Then it was a simple matter of playing each party against each other.
Then cleaning up the mess and the goodies.
2.
Picking his fights carefully.
Never take on anyone you can't defeat.
'Or anyone your not willing to kill' was the ammendment one of his teachers added.
'At best you've left a witness, at worst you've stained each others lives forever with vengence'.
Little did he know as a young student, that this would one day apply to himself and his brother.
Now here he is...Banished to this unfamilar land, infinately uglier then his home land.
Never to see his family again.
Katsu shook his head to dislodge this train of thought and to return it to the recesses of his mind.
A beautifully hand crafted carosel. It looked like it was clockwork, probably even played a tune.
6 colorful horses with moulded pink and lemon and sky-blue ribbons highlighting them.
It would fetch plenty on any market. Easily more then what Shiori took from him.
Now he just had to figure out a way of getting it out with him...
Damn Guy...That pointy idiot was a natural born distraction. Why could'nt he be around when he was needed!
He could lower it out the window...
His dairokkan [6th Sense. Held by Samurai & Ninja etc] detected a presence.
He spun to face the witness, his hand instictivly going to a throwing daggar.
There stood a little girl, probably 4 or 5, wearing a pink single piece dress with black hair that curled up at the end.
She hugged a white rabbit teddy with a loose left shoulder, to her chest tightly with her 2 arms.
Big emerald eyes filled with childish innocence and curiosity and a total lack of fear stared up at the dark figure.
Katsu slowly drew his hand away from his daggar and straightened up. He was a little unsure of what to do so decided to let the little girl make the next move.
The girl clumsily walked over to him. The 2 didnt know what to make of each other.
She proceeded to look him up and down slowly. His big cloak, his strange beard. The sword & bow on his back.
Katsu looked at the sweet little thing as she stared at his coat.
Of all the dives and haunts hes been in over the past few years, he, for obvious reasons, rarely ran intro children like this 1.
She reminded him of his own sister at this age...but his sister had lost the innocence in this girls eyes far too young...
This thought was cut short as the girl held out her rabbit towards him.
Katsu continued to stand still, looking down at the girl, not sure what to do.
The girl continued to hold her rabbit out to him, staring at him with her big green eyes. Those eyes had more power in them then any warrior Katsu had ever met.
Finally he broke.
With a sigh, he squatted down to be closer to her height. He examined this prized teddy with its loose left shoulder.
Ignoring his training honed instincts, he took a needle out of his right pocket and gently took the rabbit from the little girl.
He held the rabbit against his body with his right forearm, while his free left hand delved into one of the pockets in the inside of his coat.
He eventually pulled out 4 rolls of thread. 2 black, a green and a white. He slid the 3 non-white rolls back into his pocket.
Then, with his istincts now screaming at him, he began to sew the arm back on with the same care that he used when his sister tore her Gi.
Katsu handed back the rabbit to thegirl, who hugged it with extra vigor that she hadnt been able to do for a while cos of his arms state. She beamed a friendly look at Katsu, who had to use all his restraint not to beam one back.
He smiled anyway.
*
* *
*
Shiori and Katsu had returned with the goodies and the 4 where once again strolling easily down the road.
The 2 girls where taking the lead with Shiori herself drawing the short straw to to lead Shinigami.
Lee walked beside her to keep her company, wings folded but still out.
Katsu was strongly resisting to whistle a pleasent tune now as he didnt have to try so hard not to jingle, no longer had to lead the 'bloody horse' or listen to the songs of the 'bloody elf'.
The 'bloody elf' was busy finishing off a millet cake [Kibi Dango].
After Guy had eaten it, he tucked the wrapping into his pocket. Then he turned to Katsu.
"Hey, do you know why Shiori always grumpy after she faints from using too much magic...?" he idly asked, while really wondering should he have another millet cake.
Katsu was glad of the distraction so was unusually forthcoming. After all, he was a teacher himself once, so he knew a great bit more then he let on.
"Well you see...Those who are strongly connected to magic naturally, in contrast to those who need great mental and spiritual training, when in balance have magical streams flowing through their entire being." he started to explain.
Guy was rather taking aback by Katsus entertaining his quiery, and was a little lost in the explanation. But listened as best he could.
He decided to leave the millet cake till their campsite.
Katsu continued "After a while, this magic becomes a part of them! Its their natural state of balance!". He noted the bemused look on Guys face so tried to break it down into a simple metaphor. "Think of the land and the sea"
This was within Guy cognitive powers. He was now even more lost, but now lost under a familiar sky.
Katsu kept going with the thread of understanding. "Most of us live on the land. Thats our natural state. Now imagine a sailor whos been at sea for a few years. When he gets back on land, he feels unsettled on the still land".
Guy was following.
"So when a magical intune person uses to much magic, the balance gets messed up and the person feels out of sorts...You get it?". Katsu had great doubts of the pointy idiot getting something so complex.
Guy thought about this for a moment. "Erm...Yeah...I think so...". Delighted with himself, he decided he would have that millet cake to celebrate and took another out of his pocket.
Katsu wasn't sure wheter Guy was lying to save face. "Sure?"
Guy smiled casually. "Yep! Its kinda like a miniture time-of-the-month!". He fingered the wrapping of the cake.
*WHUMP*
Guy found himself face first in a leathery wall.
Lee folded her right wing back in and began walking again, leaving Guy in statis mid-step. His millet cake dropped to the ground
Katsu was a little in shock. Though it wa the shock that Guy actually understood what he was talking about that distracted him so he could be shocked by Lees little stunt.
What Katsu hadnt know was while 3 years of being a Riskbreaker in the desert province of Traziac, most of his time not on a battlefield was spent as a bodygaurd to the Lords many daughters.
So while Guy knew very little about magic or spiritual balance, by Belldandys hoover, he was an expert in womens 'cycles'.
Guy, after a moment, finished his step. He rubbed his nose with his 2 hands as if it was the source of his hurting.
He had been rather proud of himself figuring out what Katsu was on about. But now he didnt know what to feel.
Shiori stared accusingly at Lee. While she didnt wholy agree with Guys wording, it wasnt totally inaccurate and in no way was it malicious.
To this Lee made the mistake of turning to Shiori and flashing a smug grin. She immediatly regretted the grin and was about to decide to turn around and apologise for hitting Guy.
But it was too late.
Guy caught sight of her grin.
Katsu also saw it and instinctively stepped back.
Guy charged up to Lee, Barbarian temper firing up. "What the HELL did you do that for you winged freak?!!!"
As is the way, one stupid, regreted grin created one even more stupid,to be deeply regreted later, comment which had both of the mercanaries tempers raging.
"Whats up with you pointy?!!" Lee responded
Shiori stood by, desperatly trying to figure out how to calm the situation down. But was now too busy trying to stop Shinigami getting involved.
"Your a chauvenistic, uncultured moron!" Lee screamed.
"Big words for a lil bird..." Guy sneered.
That was it for Lee. She swung her fist for Gus left cheek. Only to be infuriated more by Guy jerking his head back to dodge the blow.
She swung again but AGAIN Guy dodged it.
While Lees training had been extensive, covering all the elemental magics and a wide range of weapons and techniques.
Guys training was limited to swords and foremost, unarmed combat. His in-bred agility was also conspiring at this point.
In a full fight, not including Lees magic, its as yet unknown who would win between the 2, but at unarmed, Guy had a distinct advantage.
Even more furious, Lee threw another punch at Guys face. But this time Guy caught her fist with his own.
Lees free hand instincively went to her daggar.
In response to this, Guy's free hand in-kind went to his Climbing Talon with its cruel blade.
A shaft of steel shot in front of their eyes. The light gleaming off this spotless swords blade mirrored their own eyes back at them.
Both saw bloodlust.
The 2 promptly seperated.
Katsu, who was holding out his Katana with one hand calmly withdrew the blade and and ceremonuiosly slid her back into her sheath.
Lee began walking down the road once more.
Kyan followed her.
Guy returned to his fallen millet cake.
Shiori looked at Katsu with a hundred questions in her worried eyes.
Katsu sighed to himself. "Lets us give them some time to theirselves" is all he could offer.
Guy crouched down in front of the cake inspecting it.
The wrapping was mostly on and the open part had not touched the soil.
He felt sick about what he had said to Lee.
Then he rembered how his hand went to his Climbing Talon.
His stomach went into convulsions. He began to balk as he realised he had invisioned her death at his own hands twice today.
It took him all his restraint not to throw up there and then.
*
Kyan kept a respectful distance from the upset Lee, sensing she wanted to be alone for now.
She was also beating herself up over what had happened.
At her hasty action, at her grin,at her ease of resorting to a blade.
But mostly about the ease Guy dodged her blows. After all her training, he easily avoided her fists.
Orams face filled with dissapointment came to her.
Along with the face of Darius when she once again failed to hit the target with her arrow.
The dissapointed faces of her family flocked to her aswell.
She shut her eyes tightly in a vain attept to block the images out.
To keep the memories and feelings out.
How she was never good enough...
How she couldnt even defend herself against Guy.
How she almost got them all killed in that last town.
How she wasnt there to save Darius from his almost fatal injury.
How she could never master the bow to his tutalige.
How she could never live up to Orams standards to such extent that he finally gave her away.
How she couldnt save her...her...
She felt Kyan gently land on her shoulder, coiling a loving tail around her.
The image of her flying for the first time hid the dissapointed faces.
An emotion swept through her. One of acceptance. One of 'You could never dissapoint me'.
Lee smiled weakly. "At least theres one who believes in me" she almost silently said.
*
* *
*
The pleasentness wasn't having the same effect on them anymore.
Shiori and Katsu took the lead with the other 2 silent on either side.
Lee rode on Shinigami, letting him lead the way as she stared into space.
Shiori's head shot to attention. She looked around excitedly.
Katsu looked at her bemused. "What is it girl? Someone in danger?".
"Cant you feel that? Can you Lee?". She was obviously sensing something. The White mage took off down the road with unusual vigor.
This awoke Lee's mind. She wasn't sure what Shiori was on about. She couldn't see anything special. There was no unusual sound. Not even a strange smell. All she felt was a little down from her ealier confrontation with Guy but she also felt a bit...Yes! Now she got it!
She hurried Shinigami's pace after Shiori.
Katsu found himself unusually in the dark so quickend his pace leaving Guy trailing behind, too clouded by his own bad mood to notice the others.
Shiori and Lee quickly dissapeared from Katsus view, around a bend in the road. He began feeling his right arm tingle. His Snake-kami was acting up. Was its magical link detecting the same thing as the other 2? He began to jog after the girls.
It was then Guy looked up from the gravel to see everyone had dissapeared. This did little to raise the Riskbreakers spirits and continued to drag himself along to the corner the 3 had dissapeared around.
He sighed now openly heavily. he thought to himself and began to walk with a bit of purpose again.
When he finally got round the turn, he was rather taken aback.
To the left of the path lay a large clearing with soft green grass filling it. This was beside one of the clearest lakes Guy had ever come across. On the far side of the lake stood a mighty grey cliff bout 20 meters high which let 3 seperate, rich waterfalls rain down to the lake in pleasently un-obtrusive chrashes.
Faced with wonderous site, Guys dark cloud took high offence to this blatant scene put here just to makes its job harder and went off to have a good sulk for itself.
Shiori and Lee stood by the bank.
Shiori held her staff in 1 hand while she stood with her arms spread. She looked wonderfully content and practically, no, LITERALLY glowing!! Guy could clearly see a green aura engulfing her. Gnaf at by her side in an usually less-grouchy mood.
Lee held her hands clasped above her chest. Her wings unfurled as far as they could. A red glow eminated from her, but in no way as strong or noticable as Shioris. The same look was there though.
Kyan sat on her head trying to copy her.
Katsu wasn't at the lake. He was in the clearing, only a few meters in front of Guy, rubbing his right arm slightly embarrashed.
Guy strooled up behind the pathfinder. "Whats going on?"
Shioris voice sprung loud and clear in Guys mind. "Cant you feel it? Its a Mana String Intersection!".
Guy instincively stepped back and swatted at the air in a vain attempt to remove her from his head. He, as with many people who where'nt part of the mana line, hated having spells placed upon them without their consent.
Especially when it came to the mind, as many people in this age had many dark corners they'd rather keep secret.
Shiori respectfully retreated from his mind.
After he was sure there was no more mental intrusions, Guy began walking towards the bank.
Katsus arm began to feel better so he quietly followed.
Guy stopped a few feet away from the lake edge, both to give the mages their space to do whatever they where doing and he didnt want to get too close to whatever was happening.
Even though he was half elf, he had the magical tuning of his barbarian father.
As in none at all.
Add to this that Guys is usually wary around what he doesn't understand.
So he was especailly distrustful of magic.
Shiori began to explain it to Guy, with her eyes still closed. "Mana Strings are lines that lay across the entire land. These leak and spread mana into their surroundings fueling life and growth". This was just one of the theorys as is with all things, but it was the most widely believed and thought theory. "Its also from these lines that mages draw mana for their spells".
Lee took over to let Shiori concentrate on the feeling. "These lines are in a tree formation, branching out from each other. Where they branch out are called Intersections or Mana Springs, Wells or Cores. These pump out spirit energy literally flooding its surroundings! The weaker ones, like this, create areas of untter beauty like this. The stronger ones have a tendency of shredding the dimensional fabric and create zones of horror".
"Lets just set up camp" Katsu suggested. "and leave the girls to their...basking...".
His arm had stopped tingling as the Snake Kami grew used to the influx of mana. So he guessed that the girls would get used to it too.
*
* *
*
The sky had a reddish tint as the sun was considering calling it a night.
The adventurers decided to enjoy the view till night-fall.
Shiori and Lee sat near each other on the rocky shore.
The original effect of the Mana Well had worn off as their bodys adjusted.
Shiori had her boots off and was trailing her toes across the waters surface, her arms supporting her.
Gnaf was lying down beside her studying the reflections on the lakes center, half dozing.
Lee was hugging her knees and her wings draped around herself, staring into space and watching as Kyan performed lazy circles in the sky.
Shinigami stood under a three close to the road cheerfully munching grass.
Gaijin had skipped out into the lake a few feet to perch on a rock.
He sat with 1 knee close to him whie the other leg dangled down the rock.
Katsu was still on the grass touching the rocky shore. He sat cross-legged under a three. He considered counting his money to pass the time but decided there where too many around so contented himself to just sit quietly and watch.
Shiori notiched that she had in fact seen this before...
Well...not her...But 1 of the mages whos memorys she now shares.
Where there no discoveries left for her to make?
Well she'd find the Draconian City. The 1 thing that had eluded all the white mages before her.
Then she will have not only proved her own worth to all her peers, but also discover a land and people for herself.
Katsu studied the surroundings. There was very little he could do to deny this place was beautiful.
But even at its most wonderous, this land was never going to be as good as home. Back East.
The quaint paper houses. The pretty, delicate wooden red bridges over streams from perfect water falls.
The massive palaces that reached the clouds themselves.
What he wouldn't give to once again sit on the wall over the palace, without permission or anyone notiching him, with his sister and brother. To hear his brother scold them for it. To see his sister playfully punch her twin in the arm to get him to "lighten up".
Even though it would mean his own demise.
Maybe one day...
Lee had finally screwed up all her courage. With a deep breath she just went for it. "Im sure this is a far cry from your last home in Traziac!" she spoke to Gaijin shattering the silence between the 2.
She hated fighting with her friends, but her fiery temper seemed to love causing her trouble.
Guy almost missed that Lee was talking to him. He turned his head round to respond. "Completely! Though theres times I miss it".
For 5 years he had called the desert province of Traziac his home. He had woked as a Riskbreaker, pretty much an odd job man. From soldier to bodygaurd to whatever needed his services and skills around the province. He was even rented out to the provinces allys at times.
"Especially all the excitement!"
"Hmm?" Shiori peeped up. All they where doing was relaxing so they may aswell hear a story.
And it didn't take much to get Guy started.
Guy didn't dissapoint. Excpect maybe Katsu who half hoped the pointy haired fool could keep its mouth shut for a few minutes more.
Guy spun around on the rock to face his audience.
"The palace was always a hub for trade and excitment! It was practically a town as all the servents, high ranking soldiers, body gaurds and their familys lived there. There was even a market where all the mechants came to sell there fine wears. Delicate silks to make gowns that no man could resist. Savory spices that could send the toughest warrior screaming for water. Rare animals, the likes of which are never seen in this country.Even weapons from all over the disc! From brutish barbarian double-handed broad swords to elegant eastern katanas to the finest crossbows carved by blind grots. And that was on an ordinary week. Not like a festival or tournament!"
Lees head peaked up with the word tournament. That was her kinda thing. She had witnessed some of the lands greatest fighters in theb many tournaments that herself and Darius joined on their journey together.
Even on her own she couldn't resist a good tournament. "Did you fight in many tournaments?" she quieried, at the same time thinking had she seen Gaijin before in 1 of these.
Guy stood up on the rock to make his presence greater. Though it was somwhat hampered by his small stature. "Repeatedly! But the greatest of them all where the Royal Tournaments! As personal bodygaurd to the 3 youngest of the lords 9 daughters, I was called upon to fight their suitors".
"You mean they couldn't choose their boyfriends themselves?" Lee blurted out in disgust.
"How horrid!" Shiori added.
Guy just smiled. "Well...we had an agreement...". He winked to his audience. "If they liked the guy, I'd go easy on the fella and let him win...".
"What where the princesess's like?" cooed Shiori, enjoying the story time. All the more so because its 1 she doesnt already instinctively know.
"Each 1 was more beatiful then the last! Each wore a unique style but all where made from the most graceful silks and most stunning jewels on which they adorned there perfect, bronzed bodies.". Guy enjoyed his little storys aswell, though they rarely told the full story, it was mostly true with just a few exaggerations to pump Guy up to a knights level in the story. A far cry from a Riskbreaker.
A 'mercanary dog'.
A riskbreaker is often called a 'common knight', as a knighthood was beyond those lacking noble blood.
Though calling them a 'common knight' is partially misleading as theres rules and regulations in place to sure Riskbreakers and Knights are never confused with each other.
Knights rode to battle on mighty chargers, both covered in exquisitly decorated full armor and flags and ribbons.
They take the job of being generals or calvary.
Riskbreakers are forbidden from riding into battle and rarely wear proper armor and never armos as elegant and fully protective as a knighrs armor. Though at special functions and some big tournaments they wear partial knights armor. The boots, gauntlets shoulder and chest armor of a knight with a helmet that often has no face gaurd.
They fought on the front line with the rest of the infantary or in small raiding, scouting, sabotaging or infiltration units.
Guy continued his tale. "I remember the youngest daughter well! Her name was Bemiko...We had a bit of a thing for a while" he winked. "She was one of the most independent of the daughters! With unusually pale skin, sea blue eyes ans thick pink hair tied up in a rushed ponytail. She wore baggy, hard-wearing trousers and a top like yours". He pointed to Lees. "But come a special event the trousers where replaced by a silken pair and a tod adorned with jewels, all wrapped up un a see-through silk shawl".
The group easily caught this half truth. Guy and Bemiko had been very close but just a bond of kinship. While she was often a bit wild, she knew her ranking in the palace and resigned herself to dating others of noble blood.
Hideously ironic as Gaijin was from some of the most noble veins.
His mother, Clova Solarus a High Elf Maidan Gaurd of the Solarus House. Both a Lady and a knight.
His father , Lord Mata, now a barbarian king.
During his young days, Guy swaggered around full of royal self-importance.
Now he wished to escape it all...
"Why I remember this 1 suitor...". Guy was in full story swing.
Shiori knew well it was going to be filled with half truths and exagerations but they didnt lose there charm.
Neither did Lees tales of when she traveled the land at Darius's side.
Or of Katsus tales of villiany and ancient eastern philosophys.
It helped her feel as if she belonged. For the first time.
She lived most her life as a street urchin, scrounging for food around the local market. Stealing from farms and often shop stalls just to survive. There was little companionship within the dirty back alleys and none at home.
It wasnt much better in the Mage College. Though she had a few close friends, her excessive power necisstated that she undergo the ritual of transference, which had her seperated out of her class from 10 till 15, so she had lost all her fellow classmate friends. She adored some of the older mages and got along great with the mages servents and especially with 1 particualar boy who worked as a janitor.
After leaving the college at 15 she found herself drifting along the path of destiny a lot, making few hard friends.
Though that changed when she met Alexis that fateful day. The 2s destiny appear to be strongly intertwined as their paths seemed to cross so often.
Now here she was with a rather motely crew, all, like her, lacking a home and both trying to ride and fight the winds of destiny.
Katsu couldn't help but look from the corner of his eye as Guy told his story.
If there was 1 thing that Guy could do properly, it was entertain.
And as Katsu had called him, he 'was a natural born distraction'.
Katsu listened and watched as Guy described the scene of a Royal Tournament.
It took place in a massive open air arena. It was so huge, it was possible to hold 9 seperate jousts in its semi-circle shape.
The flat side and most the outsides of the curved bits where for commoners and lower level nobles alike. All waving ribbons and flags, throwing praises, gifts and insults to the fighters within. The centre of the circular was the royal box, it housed over 100 with the Lands king, queen, princess's, generals etc in another box in the centre of this.
Knights rode by to get the ladies favour and a charm on their lances.
Guy became very animated while describing the whole scene.
He had been lucky enogh to be in the centre box, being 1 of the lords highest bodygaurds and shown off to Traziac's allys his favourite Riskbreaker so he could gain favors and riches off them from 'renting' Guy out to them.