Disclaimer: I don’t own Beyblade.

I’m using the Japanese-version names:

Yuri = Tala                   Mao = Mariah

Takao = Tyson              Rai = Lee  

Sergey = Spencer

Boris = Bryan

 

For All Who Gave Their Lives

 

Chapter 5: The Black City

 

You’re standing in my way

I know that you are after me

I feel you like my shadow

That’s how clearly you persue me

Don’t you think it’s gone on long

Can’t you leave me in peace?

                                             (Acid Drinkers ‘You better shoot me’)

 

 The voyage to Schafland was quite pleasant, if one excluded some inconveniences. The minor ones were two little facts: Takao spent the first few days being very sick and Yuri couldn’t sleep in a hammock – he complained, he ached all over every morning. The bigger problem was the fact that the captain was, frankly speaking, a pain in the neck. He seemed to be convinced that he was the most important person in the world. Unfortunately, for him, the sailors had had enough of him and threw him into the sea a few miles away from Schaflands capital – Schwarzhaffen. It has been called so, because of the black stone, which had been used when building the city.

 Takao looked at the stone buildings uneasily.

-         Is this really safe?

 Yuri gave the samurai a confused look.

-         What about earthquakes? – inquired the blue-haired youth.

-         Earth doesn’t quake. – firmly replied the redhead.

-         Actually, it be quakin’ in some places. – chimed Sergey in. – But not ‘ere.

 The half-elf gave the other two men an annoyed look. Then he remembered something.

-         Don’t you have to look for another ship? – he asked the burly sailor.

-         Nah… - the big man waved his hand dismissively.. – I be stayin’ on land for a while. Besides, ye be needin’ me ‘elp.

-         In what? Finding the nearest brothel? – snorted the redhead.

-         Oi! I be knowin’ that too. – answered the ugly human, unfazed. – But I nay be goin’ there. It be bloody dirty.

 The half-elf rolled his eyes and sighed. It seemed, he would be forced to travel not only with a naïve samurai, but also a crazy whale-singer.

 

 The main square of Schwarzhaffen was very big – just enough to hold one adult dragoness and a not-so-adult dragon. The dragons were majestic creatures – with great bat-like wings, serpent-like tails, horny heads and long crooked talons. The two on the square were coppery red and very, very real.

 The king’s herald stood before the dragoness and was nervously crumpling scroll.

-         My lady… - he started.

-         I am a loyal citizen! – roared the ‘lady’ – And like any citizen I deserve my peace! But do I get it? No! I have to deal with a plague of younger noble sons, who won’t inherit anything and think that killing a dragon will bring them fortune! We live in constant stress, my baby and me!

-         Mum! – the younger dragon hissed. – I’m not a baby!

-         Be quiet, Johnny.

 The three men looked at the scene wide-eyed. They weren’t the only people surprised by the occurrence – there was a large crowd gathered at the square. Most of the people were gossiping. One clever baker was selling cookies shaped like dragons.

 The baker wasn’t the only person, who decided that the dragons created a perfect opportunity to gain some money. A pale young man pushed his way through the crowd, making sure that nobody noticed him. He had light lavender hair and round eyes of the same colour. His face was expressionless, as if there weren’t any emotions inside of him.

 Such a gathering was a prefect opportunity for every thief and he would make sure, he used it to the full. He had just snatched a ring from a wealthy-looking woman, when somebody grabbed his arm.

-         I saw you! – on behind him gleefully announced.

-         What’s going on, Yuri-kun? – a second voice chimed in.

-         Nothing special. – the first one answered. – We’re going to an inn and this fellow will accompany us. – the hand on the thieves arm tightened the grip. – We’ve got something to discuss.

 

 The inn was nice and cosy – Sergey proved that he would be useful. He definitely had a nose for finding good places to spend a night. The main room wasn’t crowded, but wasn’t empty either. Nice girls with long braids, dressed in dresses with large décolletages were carrying beer and food. Sergey spotted one, who managed to carry eight mugs at once. The four men sat down at a table.

-         So, - started Yuri. – what’s your name?

 The thief glared at him.

-         You don’t want the guards to know what you were doing. – added the redhead.

-         Name’s Boris. – mumbled the other man.

-         Say, you don’t happen to be good in lock-picking and disarming traps? – the half-elf continued.

-         What do you want? – growled Boris.

-         Oh, I just happen to need help of a person with said skills. – the red-haired warrior sounded bored. – It would be profitable for you to join us. If you can do what I said, that is.

-         Fine. – snarled the pale human. – I don’t have choice.

 

‘The aura of the magi may affect the nature of the spell. (…) green makes the ‘neutral’ spells deadlier to poisonous creatures. (…)’

(‘Encyclopaedia Magica’ Myrddin ap Taliesin)

 

‘Üpas are small, rat-like creatures, which have caused death to many a man. They are incredibly poisonous, even after their death. The best way of slaying them is to burn them.’

(‘Physiologius’ Myrddin ap Taliesin)

 

 Being the second mage of a noble family wasn’t an easy job – Gerda had found it out long ago. While her mother could sit back and concentrate on a single, yet powerful spell, the young woman was supposed to check the wards. Unfortunately, to this, she had to walk around the whole Schloss Feuerweg.

 Several months ago she would do this with Mao – Rei’s pink-haired wife, her good friend and personal guard. Yet now she had to make her round with Rai – Rei’s twin brother. The two weren’t similar. They were both black-haired and golden-eyed, but this was where the similarities ended. The guard captain was much handsomer, not to mention he had much longer hair.

-         Fräulein Gerda, is everything all right? – the black-haired man asked.

-         Seems… - the green-haired woman stopped abruptly.. – Something’s here.

 She neared her hand to her chest and then extended it to the full length. A small, furry creature jumped out from behind the wall. It bared its fangs and screeched loudly. The sorceress raised one hand. A ball of green light gathered on her palm. She threw it at the creature. The animal yelped and fell down, dead.

-         Don’t come near. – commanded the woman. – They’re poisonous even after death.

-         What was it?

-         An üpa. – Gerda shook her head. – Only an idiot would call it here. An idiot or a madman. It’s too dangerous.

 

 

Translations:

Schloss Feuerweg (german) – Castle Fire Way (Hiwatari is supposed to mean ‘Walking on fire’)

Fräulein (german)  - Mrs.

 

A/N

Üpas are my little invention.

Myrddin was the early name of Merlin.

Taliesin is a mythical bard, on whom Merlin was supposedly based.

 

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