Innocent
- Pages 1-10:
- Another uneventful day seemed to pass the tiny village of Xenym by while various families spent their time fulfilling their regular duties. Though very much like humans, very few had any human blood in them, and for this reason exactly was the town hidden far away in the Snowfields of Jienda; as they had come to terms with, the name of the creatures that inhabited it were known as the Cerebians, hidden among mankind and the villages they named havens. The snow seemed to have been much more bitter that day, inviting powerful winds alongside a storm of flakes. The cold was of little to concern to the villagers of Xenym after spending years in the heart of it.
Reina impatiently tapped her finger on the wooden table she sat at and moved her gaze to her mother who sat at the other side solemnly reading.
Soft grey eyes looked up from the book and examined the teenager curiously. “Why do you have such an annoyed expression Reina? Is something the matter?” Her mother asked with a reassuring smile.
“No, not really.” She replied twirling her auburn hair around her finger. “I'm just a little bored is all I guess.”
Her mother closed the book and nodded sagely. “It is a very uneventful time, but that means there's peace. There are many out there who fight everyday so this peace will last for generations to come.”
She had heard the story more times than she could count and all the other ones even more so. She had a slight desire to voice the opinion but refrained from it to respect her elder. Some of her friends had heard the same stories and spent years being trained to wield weapons and cast magic so they could join the fight. Reina did not want to battle against the evils outside of her home, nor did she wish to let her friends risk their lives alone, but her lack of ability in either art and nature prevented her from joining them in their quest. She wondered if her parents had been different people, would her outlook have changed? “I'm gonna take a walk. When Dad comes home tell him not to worry and that I'm a big girl now.”
She gently smiled and waved her daughter off. “Your father is bound to worry but he'll be fine sooner or later. Have a safe trip dear.”
“You worry too much too.” Reina furrowed her brows but her own grin betrayed it. Her mother was a frail woman who loved books very dearly and had since she was her daughter's age. Her pursuit of knowledge lead her to seeking knowledge about humanity, the history of her kind and their legends. She passed on her knowledge through nursery rhymes and story tales throughout her daughter's life, and due to it Reina gained a deep love for the tales which she decided she would never confess to. Her mother ran the library in Xenym; it was small but very homely. The place seemed to emanate the same welcoming aura that its keeper gave off.
Her father was a stalwart man with a strong sense of duty. Before he settled in Xenym with his wife he was a teacher somewhere far away from where they were now. He like his wife, passed on his knowledge, but as a teacher and student in place of parent and child. Searching through her memories, she recalled that despite the fact, he still remained a wonderful parent in her eyes and always would. His words still filled her with confidence whenever she thought of him, “You've got a good head on your shoulders Reina. I know you'll do great things when you're older. Until then, let us spoil you because you're our pride and joy.”
Their teachings together brought light to things others might not have understood. The history of her people and what she heard in the stories coincided at times, and made her wonder what was really out there. The tales of the creator and the gods and goddesses he held in high-esteem; princesses and princes and powerful fighters joining forces to protect the world from evil creatures called Agasuras and their king. Some even spoke of a saviour joining their kind and leading them to salvation and everlasting peace. The tales did sound a tad more grandeur and embellished at times, but she still loved them dearly, and part of her wanted to believe that it was possible. If someone could relieve their kind the need to fight, her friends could come home safely, as would many others. Families and friends alike would be reunited, the world would be safe for humans and her kind, the Cerebians to coincide and they could all finally lay their weapons to rest.
Though Reina lacked the ability to wield a sword or staff, she felt she could contribute by following in the steps of her parents. Her mother said that in the past and in the memories passed down through texts, the answers to the questions of those before them had still contained solutions. When they discovered it, fate would finally be set in motion and the dreams that the Cerebians shared could come to fruition. Reina wanted to shape history with her own hands in her own way, and she wanted to live to see it, record it, and pass it down for those generations who live in a time of peace.
She spent the better half of her day meandering around the town, visiting various locations for the sake of passing time alone. She visited the cathedral for a brief spell to pray, and spent hours flipping through different books on the genetics of her kind. Her mother had said that the royal family had the ability of clairvoyance, something that was lost in their bloodlines hundreds of years ago. Just as in the legends, the books told of it, and each time a familiar adage resurfaced in her memories. 'The eyes are the key to the soul,' or so it said. She borrowed the book and a second about the forbidden arts and returned home.
That night as she closed her book for the final time that day, she flicked off her lamp and lay back in bed, covering herself in her sheets as she uneasily stole a glance at the window. It was only a matter of weeks until those that were trained would be dispatched to join their brethren in the ongoing fight against the Agasura. She knew it would be a long time until she would see them again, and the thought of it had been weighing down on her for months now, the gravity of the situation growing by the day.
She knit her eyebrows as she arose from bed and turned her lamp back on. Next to the light was a small framed picture, and she lifted it, gazing upon it with a somber smile. In it stood a trio of people, linked by their arms over another's shoulder. Reina stood in the center between the two, her male friend towering over her with his broadsword proudly standing in the ground next to him. As she looked at the radiant grin on his face she recalled the days where she and her other friend teased him for being shorter than the rest of the class. By the time they were thirteen he became bigger, stronger and a lot more fearsome than the other boys, but though that was the case, he still remained the class clown. His short chestnut hair had grown throughout his teenage years and now covered his shoulders. He still had a bowl-cut in the picture.
On Reina's right stood a young girl the same age and height as her; her platinum blonde hair covered one of her eyes at all times and in doing so, she often winked at people without them noticing. She and her companions often got a good laugh out of it while her unsuspecting victims stole a confused glance at the trio. She was one of the fastest girls in the class, and certainly the best with a bow. Watching her shoot an apple off of her sleeping friend's heads was one of the best laughs she had in years.
She held the picture tightly to her chest and let the memories return to her sub-conscious. They were some of the best times she had ever had, and she knew for certain that she would miss them, but when they all graduated they knew that it would not be the end. Someday they would come together again, and Reina, Alessa and Virgil's trio would be complete once more. Tomorrow she would go to see them for sure; it might be a little sooner than she had initially planned, but she did not want to waste a day when the time to depart was drawing near.
The next morning she stood nearby Alessa while her friend nocked an arrow in her bow. A set of targets were set up across the frozen wastes with a multitude of arrows lodged in them and around them.
“I bet I could take Virgil's head off if he was one of those targets.” Alessa said shutting an eye and firing a shot. It sailed through the air and hit one of the targets on the bulls eye. She grinned and fist-pumped.
“How long have you been a murderer?” Reina asked cautiously raising an eyebrow.
“Born one.”
“Save some of that fighting spirit for the Agasura.” She watched as Alessa let another arrow let fly and miss. The look on her face only showed half of her displeasure. “Methinks someone's lacking practice.”
Alessa suddenly began panting heavily while gazing at her through her bangs. “Rei-rei...c-could I just...” She uttered reaching into her pocket while Reina backed away slowly. She drew an apple from her pocket and her unarmed companion jumped back, then froze in place.
Reina covered the top of her head and frowned. “What? No!”
As if it never happened Alessa began to act like her usual self and put the apple away. “Why do you insist on crushing my hopes and dreams?”
“You'll need some dreams that are within my realm of potential Les.” Her companion shrugged. “Where's Virgil? I expected him to be here by now.”
After missing another shot the archer furrowed her brows. “Probably went to see the healers again. When those warriors train someone always winds up with something broken. He gets it the worst 'cause he's gigantic. That immense size of his makes one versus one matches unfair to the other guys. Lately they've been calling him 'the walking apocalypse' on top of being known as 'the titan'.” Alessa grinned and prepared her next shot while Reina quietly chuckled.
“If you're gonna be saying things like that,” A voice from behind the two said, “Make sure I can't hear you next time.” The shadow of a massive hand reached over Alessa's head and gripped it, lifting her off the ground. “I can be pretty scary when I'm angry you know.” Reina took a glance at the person that completed their trio and smiled while Alessa hung limply in his grip.
“It's good to see you Big V. How goes the training?” Reina asked.
“Warlord Carmen's been giving us a hell of a time the past few weeks. She's been working us like dogs even more than usual.” He released his grip on Alessa and she collapsed to her knees with a defeated expression. “Though Les wasn't kidding about the whole 'everyone gang up on the titan' thing. One of them got a good swing on me.” Reina tilted her head with a curious expression as he rolled up one of the sleeves of his tunic. His entire forearm was bandaged.
“Not exactly the first thing that came to mind when you said 'swing'.” She replied nervously.
“We stopped practicing with our fists a long time ago. It's all weapons training now.” He grinned devilishly. “Wanna see it?”
“No thanks.” She gestured for him to take it away.
“You reap what you sow gorilla man.” Alessa said rising with a pointed look.
“If you want me to give you an iron claw, that can be arranged.” He said raising an eyebrow.
“I retract my previous statement.” She crossed her arms and looked away. He nodded approvingly.
He shifted his gaze back to Reina and seemed to appraise her with a familiar curiosity. She could not resist the urge to look his way also. “Are you sure you don't wanna come along with us Rei? Even if you don't join in the fight, all that knowledge of yours would certainly come in handy throughout the journey.” She stared at him blankly for a moment and he flushed. “You d-don't have to decide right now. It's just something you can consider over the next few weeks you know?”
Alessa drew another arrow from her quiver and pointed it at Virgil. “I'm with the titan on this one. Besides, someone needs to keep this guy from stomping on innocent humans. This is a two-girl job you know.” He placed a hand on her head and she grinned nervously. “I'm just kidding!”
Reina laughed. “Thanks guys, but I think I'll stay here and hold down the fort. There's still hundreds of books that are dying to be read. If I ever get through our whole library I'll go with you the next time you visit.”
“We're holding you to that!” Alessa said immediately after grinning with Virgil. “Ba-zing!” The two gave each other a high-five.
“You two have to come back alive though.” She told them through a pouting expression.
“Me? Die? Pfft.” Alessa snorted nocking another arrow. “The gods and goddesses smile upon me.” She let the arrow fly and missed her mark again. “Now if they'd just smile upon my archery...”
Virgil gave Reina a reassuring smile. “Whenever we can we'll travel with a party. I'll keep Les out of trouble too. We'll be sure to bring you a souvenir too.”
“I'll bring you back a dragon's heart 'cause I love you this much.” She spread her arms out wide to emphasize her point. Virgil chuckled at that joke.
“Your words are more than I could ask for.” Reina replied.
“So, you throwing us a get-out-of-town party or wha-” She stopped mid-sentence at the sound of a horn being blown. A long, loud cry pierced through the winds of the frozen wastes and left a lasting impression upon the three. Danger. It told them.
As they heard the sound again Virgil was the first to snap out of his reverie. “Alessa, we have to go! Now!” He drew the broadsword from the sheath on his back and immediately prepared to set out. “Reina, get home as quickly as you can. Lock the doors, lower the blinds and shut the windows. Barricade everything you can and wait for our signal before you come out. Most importantly, hide.”
“Promise me that you two will come back safely.” Alessa stopped to steal a glance at Reina and smiled somberly. “Promise me!” She desperately cried out nearly in tears.
“I promise, we'll meet again Rei-Rei. So...wait for us, okay?” Alessa waved to her as she chased after Virgil.
Reina watched the two disappear into midst of the snow towards Xenym and she clenched her fists. Now more than ever before, she felt powerless. All she could do is flee to her own home and hope that the danger would pass with as few casualties as possible. The moment that she knew that she and her mother were safe, she would pray with all her might that God Ah bring her friends and the families of the other villagers home safely.
After crossing one of the gates into the village she caught a clear glimpse of the villagers defending their homes from the invaders. Banners featuring the Dark Moon Kingdom's insignia were raised high as their soldiers bearing arms furiously fought off the defenders while even greater numbers marched towards the village. Xenym was not well known for its militia; farmers, warriors, wizards and archers alike were all still in training. Some did not even have that much, yet they fought with all they could to protect their land. The Cerebians never aimed to wage war on humanity, and avoided the possibility at all costs, but in this situation they were given no choice. Having to go against what they believed in order to protect what they held dear was a choice some could not bear to make and had hidden away in their homes, praying for an end to the fighting.
Reina rushed into her home and immediately found herself stuck between the couch and the rest of the house. She locked the door after managing to push it open and slide inside, then searched every possible place that her mother could be. She opened the door to her mother's room and discovered her looking back with a terrified expression that turned to relief shortly after she deemed the invader to be her daughter.
“Mom...you're alright.” Reina said gratefully.
“Reina, there isn't much time. Take some warm clothes and rations. We have to escape while there's still time!” Her mother responded.
The young lady looked shocked. “But we can't just leave! Dad won't know where to find us...and Alessa and Virgil...I just can't leave them behind here! They're my friends!”
“There's no time to discuss the matter Reina. Just do as I say and do it quickly. I won't lose you too, not here.”
Reina clenched her fists and turned away bitterly. She knew that the chances that Xenym would be able to stand against the Dark Moon Kingdom were nearly non-existent. Part of her wanted to believe that somehow they would succeed; somehow they'd fend off their invaders and her best friends would return, if even for the last few weeks of their stay in the village. That her father would come home after missing for so many years. Why was she condemned to a fate that seemed to spit on her at every turn? Had the gods abandoned her kind at such a crucial time?
The sound of fighting seemed to grow closer by the moment, and she reluctantly stole a glimpse through one of the windows to find that the soldiers of the Dark Moon had stormed the village already and had begun ransacking the homes of the other villagers. The soldiers had torn down the gates and the remnants of Xenym's resistance was snuffed out with great haste, and in it she could see neither Alessa nor Virgil. While fighting back her own sorrow she tried to close off everything she could. She locked the windows and doors and barricaded the entrance with a couch. She made haste for the bedrooms and blocked off all the windows with any furniture she could find.
As she entered her parent's bedroom a second time her mother looked at her with a puzzled expression that only lasted a matter of moments. “We're out of time already...” She muttered. “Reina, go into the closet and take the shovel. Once you do, close the door and stay in there, do you understand?”
Her words were a declaration of her own impending death; just like her friends and her father. Her eyes were red and swollen, and now more than ever she looked her age, a frail and brittle lady that seemed so unfamiliar to Reina now. But despite all of it, she was the young girl's last bastion of hope. The humans and the Agasura had taken everything else that she loved away from her, and the last person in her life was now telling her to save herself. She could not accept it.
“No...” She uttered, a whisper.
Her mother smiled bitterly. “You've always been such a good girl. You're not going to experience your rebellious phase now, are you dear?”
“I...” When she spoke it felt as if she had a lump in her throat. The words she conjured seemed to be lost in the abyss of her own sorrow and she could only choke out a stream of sobs.
Her mother embraced her and gently stroked her hair. “It's alright dear. I know that God Ah has not forgotten us. If he had he would not have sent Julius to our village.” She pulled away slightly and her soft grey eyes smiled upon her daughter. “Now, you'll do as I asked won't you?”
While the last of her tears ran their course her mother wiped away the remnants and let her daughter go. If anyone could stop the Dark Moon Kingdom, it would be Julius, one of the greatest Mages that Jienda had ever seen. His ability with earth magic was unrivalled, but his lineage had offered him a much greater potential with the element than the others along with the title God's Governor of Earth. Where he was now, she had no idea but if he stepped in there was still a chance that her mother and many of the other villagers could still be saved.
She retreated to the closet and took the shovel inside, closing it behind her and sitting as silently as she could, praying with all her might. After she finished she wondered if the reason that Julius had not shown himself was because he feared the consequences of killing humans. All Cerebians knew that to do that was an atrocity and one that would not go unpunished, but for the God's Governors, all four of them, there was an even steeper punishment. None knew what the punishment itself was, but it was certainly not one that many were willing to make light of.
The sound of the soldiers attempting to force their way in startled her, and she realized it was only a matter of time until they found her and her mother. She worried about what they would do to either if they had located her and tightly gripped the shovel to let her fears become her strength. When they discovered the door would not open with brute force alone, they took weapons to the door until the remains came crashing down upon the couch and they moved it aside to gain entrance.
“Search all the houses for the filthy creatures!” Someone shouted from outside in the common human language. “Leave no stone unturned!”
Their footsteps within the house caused her to tremble with fear and she desperately tried to stop it, but could not.
“I've located one!” Another man had shouted. Reina could feel her heart breaking. Had her mother not hidden prior to their arrival? “Where are the others? Confess now and they will not be harmed, nor will you.”
“There are no others.” Her mother said sternly. A loud thump startled Reina along with the sound of her parent grunting. There was no doubt in her mind it was her collapsing.
“We will not ask you a second time.” Another man had said with an eerily sly tone.
The realization dawned upon her and she was immediately riddled with guilt. She must have given herself up in hopes that they would not search the rest of the house as thoroughly, or at all, if the soldiers believed her lie. But at what cost?
“There is no one else in this household...” Her mother uttered. “Nobody but me.”
There was a brief silence. Reina waited their response in bated breath.
“I'm not buying it. His Highness will have our heads if he found out that we let any escape. Search the rest.” The first of the two said. “Take this one to the commander and tell him I sent you. He'll deal with her properly.” She could hear her mother and the soldier leaving the house.
Reina held the shovel tighter than she had previously, cursing herself for being the only one to have escaped capture while many others before her did not. With the last few remnants of hope that she withheld, she attempted to convince herself that there was a slight chance that she would not be discovered. She wanted to believe that behind the shoes and coats that she was safe. She was wrong.
The door swung open and she could feel the depths of her own despair closing in around her. Her heart was beating louder, fear ran throughout her body and her instincts screamed for her to strike her assailant first. She leapt from within the closet towards the soldier, swinging the shovel with all the might she could muster while shouting a wordless battle cry. She came to a sudden halt as the shaft was wrenched from her hands and the handle was thrusted into her stomach, winding her and knocking her back into the closet. The soldier tossed the shovel aside and pulled her back out of the closet by her hair and shouted for backup while she cringed.
One of the other soldiers stormed the hallway and pinned her to the floor.
“Your mother was wrong when she thought she could fool us.” The man with the eery voice sneered as he knelt down in front of her. “She was not the first either.” He shrugged. He looked at her face and she glared back at him, giving him pause for a couple of brief moments. Unlike the other soldiers he was clad in a white cloth garb with a mask that covered most of his face. He lowered his mask and lifted her head with a hand and smiled at her. “So young and beautiful, like a flower in bloom.” He looked deeply into her eyes and his stare sent chills down her spine. “Such lovely pale eyes too.” He let her go and shook his head. “This will not do. Send for another unit.”
The soldier holding her still called for another to enter and one of them did as requested, stopping before the man before her and saluting. “Sir!” He said.
“Good timing. I'd like you to remove this young lady's eyes.” He said without a hint of hesitation.
“Sir?” He asked slowly lowering his hand.
“Y-you're sick!” Reina hissed in their language. Her words were only a facade to mask her fear; her entire body was trembling and she was certain her captor knew it, but this was all she could do.
“This is the price of treachery my dear. Your loving mother had sealed your fate in her attempt to protect you. Someday you'll understand.” He rose to his feet and raised his mask. “Do as I say and you may have your way with her afterwards. Are we clear?”
“Crystal, Sir-Kazuo...Sir!” The armoured soldier nervously replied saluting him again.
He crouched down in front of her and she looked at him, the front she once held now crumbling away and being replaced with a budding fear. “P-please...don't take my eyes away from me also...” She whispered through trembling lips.
Through his visor she could see the nervous look that he gave her. He seemed to be as vehement against the act but not so much that he would disobey the orders of his superior. She shut her eyes and felt his fingers press against her eyelid and force it open, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed and begged for the two to free her, his fingers inching closer by the moment.
Her screams rang out among the others of those being enslaved, murdered and raped by the soldiers of the Dark Moon. Their voices only came out as vague noises to Reina after the violent process came to a close. Everything was dark, and she could hear little else but the noise that surrounded her. Her torture knew no end as the clothes she wore were cut and she was mercilessly violated time and again.
Now more than ever, she knew that the gods had betrayed her race, as did Julius.
“Salem! Master Kazuo isn't gonna wait all day for you to get in there! Pick up the slack!” Barnes commanded.
Salem nodded once and set his eyes towards the gate of the town. He quickly chased after the other ninjas of Owl Castle following the Dark Moon Kingdom's lead. Walking over the corpses of the fallen soldiers and villagers he uneasily glanced at some of the creatures that defended a village located in a tundra. He felt a deep sense of regret at what had occurred, and an even deeper rooted fear when he was clear that they looked eerily similar to humanity. If the years he had spent training at Owl Castle had taught him anything, it was that these creatures were the only thing standing between humanity and salvation. They were scattered across Jienda to hinder the Dark Moon Kingdom and would go to any length to see that through, so they would strike first, and strike hard. Salem wondered why he felt that they were the ones committing an unjustified criminal act in seeing this mission through.
He caught a glimpse of some of the Dark Moon soldiers carting away captives in caravans and on horseback and immediately turned away. This is what he had trained for; there was no reason he should feel any remorse or doubt in his heart. He had to be ready, as the leader of the village, a man with power beyond that of the human imagination could arrive at anytime.
Salem joined ninjas among their ranks, hidden within the shadows surrounding the inner walls of the village while the Dark Moon soldiers rallied their forces in the square, gathering the remaining survivors and preparing them for transport.
“Can you feel that? I think the big boss is gonna be showing up soon.” A nearby ninja muttered.
Salem nodded solemnly. The ground felt unstable beneath his feet as if it was rebelling against their act. Master Kazuo informed all of them that they would be fighting a wizard with an affinity for earth magic the likes that they would not ever see in their lifetime a second time, that is, if they lived to see another day. Some had their doubts due to the tales some spun, while others had none thanks to the sheer number of soldiers they had to fight against him. Salem believed in the adage 'seeing is believing' but he would still remain wary. The Dark Moon certainly had to be tampering in a power beyond their understanding, and he had little choice but to follow in their wake and strike from the shadows. It was the duty of the ninjas of Owl Castle, as those trained there are sworn to the king.
The ground began to tremble viciously which caused panic to break out among the Dark Moon's soldiers.
The largest and most intimidating of the generals raised his battle axe into the air and rallied the men. “Now is the time men! Know that desertion will only result in death so prove that you are worthy as the king's soldiers and subdue the leader by all means necessary! Should we hold him in our grasps, we will have one of the four strongest of their kind under our control! We shall make history this day!” General Hayato roared.
The fear that was once evident among the soldiers turned to courage as they all shouted battle cries preparing for the arrival of the leader.
When the tremors came to an end, sand began to gather around the town, rapidly rising and engulfing it in a tornado of sand trapping those that were within the city. The confidence and morale that was built rapidly fell as the soldiers cried of their imminent deaths.
A voice powerful enough to cause the ground to vibrate spoke to them all, “For millenniums the Cerebians have guarded humanity against the evils that lurked just outside of the zones that His Highness had created to protect them, and now you turn your swords against us?” The sand gathered to one place high above the soldiers into a sphere and as it dissipated, it revealed the speaker. A man clad in green robes wielding a gnarled staff as tall as he was appeared with an armoured Temple Knight by his side; the two standing upon a dense landing of sand. The look in his emerald eyes was not of rage, but disappointment. The earth still vibrated with the force that his voice echoed as he spoke. “We're not so uncivilized that we would seek bloodshed over the opportunity to reform the ignorant. Release those that you've taken captive and walk away, and there will be no further need for violence.”
The beautiful Temple Knight standing next to the leader took a step forward and spoke, her platinum blonde hair swaying in the wind as resolute blue eyes stared down upon them. Clad in pearl white armour emblazoned with a blue sun, she emitted a commanding presence. “We've lived alongside the Cerebians and the greater half of the world is still yet to realize it! We all share in the same dream; to bring salvation to humanity! There is no need to wage war against each other. This is not what their gods wish, nor is it what they intend to do. If you persist with this path, then I, Rosetta, contractee and wife to God's Governor of Earth Julius shall be your opponent.” She drew her sword and shield and pointed it down at the group.
“Should you refuse, then you and all those that stand by you shall be buried by the 'Sand King's Tomb'. In doing this, know that the Cerebians will retaliate if need be.”
Salem looked up to the two and shook his head. This had to be a sign. Humanity was treading in something beyond their comprehension, and they were bound to pay the price for the slaughter that they had began. With General Hayato at the reins of the mission, Salem knew there would be a bloodbath. Hayato was renown for his ruthless tactic and relentless cruelty, which always lead to a successful campaign. Salem was well aware that he would not back down from a challenge, and this was one he would certainly not turn his back to. If what Julius and Rosetta said was true, everyone was going to die here and now by being buried in sand, and that was proof the Dark Moon really was the one committing the evil deed, making the ninjas of Owl Castle guilty by association. Salem had to find a way out before the battle ensued, but if he was caught leaving at this juncture he would be killed without a second thought by his own comrades. He needed a plan, and fast.
“There is no creature that can escape the embrace of death! If you seek to hinder our mission, prove to me that you are worthy to die on my axe!” Hayato snarled. “Archers! Fire on my mark!”
Julius shook his head. “If this is what you've chosen, then so be it!” He began to mutter to his wife and her weapon gained a bright glow once he finished. “My strength is yours.”
“I will carry out the will of God Ah!” She replied raising her sword skywards and diving into the heart of the soldiers.
“FIRE!” Hayato roared which was followed with a slew of arrows launched towards Julius. A wall of sand blocked every single arrow causing them to fall limply to the ground following Rosetta's descent. The moment she touched the ground she thrusted her sword into the snow creating a massive fissure around her and those that surrounded her, shattering the ground merely seconds afterwards, upturning the earth and launching those caught in the area away or pulling them beneath the earth.
When Salem saw it happen he found his opportunity and made his move. If he could find a Cerebian to take as a 'captive' he could exit without risking being considered a deserter while rescuing them from an inevitable death. He slipped out of the sight of those around him and wove his way through the shadows into a recently ransacked house. To try to take a captive from one of the soldiers would be tantamount to suicide. If he could find one that may have been left behind his plan would go accordingly, but the chances were very slim. There was a possibility considering the fact that the soldiers would have likely left some behind that they had mounted. Salem dreaded the thought, but he knew that it had happened already. After searching through four different houses, using unorthodox means to enter every one to avoid detection, he had located one where he could hear someone. By the sound of it, it had to be a young girl, likely crying alone. Had her family been taken from her?
He cautiously entered the house and checked his surroundings. He found himself in a bedroom that was thoroughly searched. Clothes and other miscellaneous items were scattered about, and the furniture was thrown down. He crept through the house towards where he heard the young girl and spotted her, crouched down next to another person, holding out her hands that emitted a small jet of light. Another naked person. As he quietly crept towards the young girl, he stretched out a hand to get her attention without startling her too much, but she caught sight of him first. The poor girl looked absolutely terrified and Salem himself was mortified. She immediately got up and fled towards the door, and he immediately pursued her in a desperate attempt to stop her from leaving, but he came to the realization the impact his actions would have would make things a hundred times worse. He felt a pang of guilt at the thought that the girl would be captured and likely taken away, but he knew there was little he could do to prevent it, that would not likely end in both their deaths.
He looked back at the girl laying stark naked on the floor and cringed. Her body was bruised and stained with fresh blood in certain places. He had no doubts that one or two of the soldiers had had their way with her. He lifted her face and saw the trail of blood that ran from her eyes; with only a glance her eyelids told it all, and a feeling of pure disgust washed over him. As if murder and rape was not enough, they had done such a terrible thing to her. He placed his fingers to her neck and felt her pulse still steadily beating. Despite the fact that she had lost so much blood, she was still alive. The bleeding seemed to have stopped also; had it been that young girl's doing? For someone so young she was courageous to risk her own life in an attempt to save another. Whatever happened to her afterwards, Salem would not let her actions be in vain.
He returned to the room he entered from and gathered some clothes from the ransacked mess the house had become. As best as he could, he dressed her and tore some of the cloth from a t-shirt that he would later use to bandage her eyes. He took a bag and filled it with any non-perishable foods that were yet to be taken, then took the girl and climbed out the way he came. With this, he could leave the town without having to fear being considered nothing more than a deserter. It was not specifically in their orders to take the victims from the vicinity, but Master Kazuo had said that if the situation calls for it, they use their better judgement to decide whether what they are doing would be productive during the mission. With the soldiers of the Dark Moon and the ninjas of Owl Castle fighting against Julius and Rosetta, his actions could be justified. He felt uneasy when the thought crossed his mind. If hundreds of their men struggled against two Cerebians alone, how would they fare against the others if they were together?
Salem scoffed as he hauled the young girl towards the gate. He would not stand for this any longer than he already had. He spotted two men standing guard at the broken gate and assessed the situation. Should they deny him passage, not only would he and the girl he had be buried with the others, his entire mission would be compromised. He looked around and found a scaffold that lead up towards the battlements of the outer gate. Had the walls been properly fortified with a militia to defend it, the village would have made a formidable enemy to the Dark Moon. Julius and Rosetta alone could fend off the army; he wondered for what reason the two had left the village at all, especially after the war horns were blown.
He decided to press the matters no further. After reaching the battlements, he threw the supplies down and took a deep breath. His training had prepared him for things like this. He rummaged through his garb and drew a grappling hook and rope. Master Kazuo suggested that they hide them in case they need to fight, but Salem decided to keep his on his person, and commended himself for the decision. He latched it onto the wall and tugged it from the other side to be sure it was sturdy, then took the girl and began to rappel down the rope.
After finally reaching the bottom, he took his supplies and fled the scene.
As he took his first steps away from the village, he could have sworn he heard someone say, “Thank you.” After thinking back on all the things he had seen that day, the possibility did not seem so far-fetched.
When he was a fair distance from the battle he caught a glimpse of men fleeing the scene as the sand tornado intensified and seemingly collapsed upon the village, leaving nothing more than a mountain of sand in the frozen wastes. Salem was not surprised by this, but seeing such an unreal sight gave him pause. He wanted to pray for those who had died in that battle, but he worshipped no gods. He muttered his condolences and continued on his way.
Salem was reluctant to follow the path that the ninjas of Owl Castle had taken to get through the snowfields. Returning to his hometown Aoich, for that matter, would be the worst choice he could possibly make. The fact that he had escaped and survived the encounter with God's Governor of Earth would make him a suspicious person to begin with. His choice of not returning to the group would have him branded as a deserter and killed. He sighed deeply. Making such rash decisions was not like him at all; Owl Castle was his home, and he completely abandoned that solely due to his moral compass, but it did not give him any direction now. He had to change his image, possibly his name, and find somewhere else to live. From what he had studied Elias was connected to the Base Snowfield, and was a peaceful city ruled by King Hejong. The cities of Belos, Elias, Young Gyoung, Elfa, Ves, Lilliput and even the sunken city of Atlantis had all formed an alliance through their leaders, a pact of sorts to prevent the humans from fighting amongst themselves, and instead focusing their efforts against the Agasura. Salem never knew why, but the Dark Moon King did not partake in this.
He stole a glance at the girl on his back as he let his thoughts run freely for a moment. The men of the Dark Moon and those of Owl Castle very rarely, if ever, spoke of the strange creatures. They were sure to drill everyone on how terrible the Cerebians were and that they were the force standing between mankind and true salvation, but he never found out exactly how they prevented this. If they looked and acted so similarly to humanity, for what reason should the two races be enemies? There was always the possibility that the Cerebians and Agasuras were related, but Julius had said that their kind had lived alongside humanity peacefully, and Rosetta hinted at the fact that she too was human, and married to one of them. It truly was a shame that things had ended the way they did; he would have loved to ask them about their kind, but he was still thankful that he could save even one of them. In her, he may come to understand who the Cerebians are, and what the true intentions of the Dark Moon Kingdoms were in attacking them.
Salem had spent days walking, and often found himself collapsing from exhaustion, persisting despite his growing weariness. There were very few occasions where he found a safe place to rest for a period, but he came to understand that the Cerebian girl with him was awake, and completely silent. He could only imagine the trauma that she had went through, and the pain that she could be experiencing every day knowing that she was likely the only one who had survived the attack. As far as the Dark Moon Kingdom could be concerned, the two were as good as dead, and to them soon to be free if they could overcome nature's trial. Though she never spoke, Salem felt a strange connection to her as she solemnly and very rarely showed signs of depending on him when they came across tough times. If the winds were powerful she would hold on to him with more force than usual, and during meals she would respond faster when he would feed her.
When camped out one night he sat by the fire and watched her quietly as she slept. He always felt sadness upon seeing the cloth wrapped around her eyes. Despite everything they had taken from her, he still felt that there was a mysterious beauty to her, and it strengthened his desire to protect her. He could not return the lives lost in the battle, her maidenhood or her eyes, no matter how much he wished for it, but with what power he had and the will to do so, he'd keep her alive. The innocent life that they had failed to take from her, he would rekindle the flames and help her to start over in another time and place. Tonight too, she would likely suffer dreams of the event repeating itself as it had the others; her cries often attracted the attention of Agasuras, but nothing that Salem could not prevent from bringing harm to her. He did not know what tomorrow would hold for him but he knew that he would not die out here in the tundra.
Determined to see his decision through he continued on, carrying the girl no matter what he faced. While crossing a valley in the dead of night Salem heard the sound of wolves howling. The Agasuras rarely attacked when he travelled with the others because of their numbers, but now that he was alone he was nothing more than prey. There were very few places to hide, and with massive walls on both sides of him even fewer places to run. Out of desperation, he began to run, and fast as he was, he knew that his pursuers would not give up so easily. He could hear the sound of them approaching as he desperately tried to create distance and feel the eyes boring into him. It was only a matter of time. He desperately looked ahead and saw a wolf leaping down from ledge to ledge towards him and he knew that his time had come.
He lowered the Cerebian girl as quickly and as gently as he could and drew his ninjatō. As the blur of silver approached from the front with others closing in on the rear, he readied his weapon and prepared to fight with all that he had, but as the wolf from the front approached he began to have a doubt in his mind. Something seemed to be latched onto its back. He squinted to get a closer look, and as it neared he deemed it to be an infant. Salem found himself at a loss; if he was to cut the wolf down, he would likely take the child with it. Under what circumstances would a child ride a wolf? Leaving the matter aside, he braced himself as the wolf charged at him and right past him, stopping at his rear and growling at the approaching pack.
Salem turned around and eyed the pair curiously, catching a glimpse of the infant blowing a raspberry at their attackers that cautiously growled back. The maternal wolf padded closer to them while snarling and the others backed away, eventually deciding on leaving their prey to the more fearsome canine. It turned to Salem and seemingly examined him for a couple of moments, then went about its business.
The wolf itself had a distinct scar across its left eye, and the young girl riding it had short platinum blonde hair and bright green eyes with a hearty laugh. Salem watched in awe as the creature padded away with its rider excitedly bouncing on its back, seemingly amused by their meeting. He felt almost certain he had seen another Cerebian, and if their infants could command wolves the Dark Moon Kingdom was digging its own grave.
The following days had proceeded uneventfully in terms of encounters with Agasuras, though the weather was merciless and had taken its toll on him but he persisted. For days his hands and feet had been showing varying degrees of frostbite, steadily shifting from first to second. His feet only hurt most when he needed to jump from one landing to another. Though a tad shaken, the Cerebian girl was still hanging on and stealing a glance at her occasionally gave him the strength he needed to push forward.
Through the falling snow he caught a glimpse of what seemed to be a building hidden away in the snowfields. If his memory served him correctly, it was likely the Racoon Hot Springs, located in the Soprano Snowfield. He had heard some of the other ninjas mention it after the briefing for the mission, and they openly voiced their desire to pay it a visit. It would truly be a shame if they did not live to see it, but the cost of loyalty can be steep. Salem almost learned that lesson in the worst way possible.
As he approached, kimono-clad women with long violet hair approached him. The devilish look in their blue eyes told it all; they were most certainly Agasuras, and he was not going to be killed after coming so far. He leaned forward and shifted the girl's weight higher onto his back, and broke out into a sudden sprint. A series of icicles sprang up at his heels and shattered in his wake as he ran, and more followed from every direction. He leapt across a small gap and over a small pink fluffy creature that attempted to headbutt him after being caught off guard. The Snowfields were a very unusual place, and more infested with Agasura than the locations beyond them. He heard that they flock to where there is strong Agasuric energy, especially those that had sites called “Instance Dungeons', housing beings stronger than the average creatures.
As he avoided another fluffy creature, he made his way towards a small landing with a tall tower-like stone resting upon it. He took one hand off of the girl to use it to climb the ladder, and rested her against the stone to catch his breath. He looked out upon the Snowfields and Elias just across the bridge nearby and sighed with relief. His body was worn out and he was completely exhausted both physically and mentally, but his destination was within arm's reach. If he could find somewhere to rest he and his silent companion could sleep in a bed after days of travelling.
Salem opened the bag with the supplies and drew a set of clean clothes. He had heard that most adventurers across the continent of Jienda were eccentric, especially in the way that they dressed, but he did not want to risk standing out because of his garb. He desired it even less when he considered the possibility of one of the members of the Dark Moon or Owl Castle catching him. Now dressed in cargo pants, a t-shirt branded with a pair of wings and a pull-over sweater tagged with princess he sighed. Between his life and his outfit, he chose the former over the latter and was now regretting the decision. Though he valued his life, a couple more seconds to check what he was going to wear in the near future may have done his pride a world of good. His lack of a mask revealed his tousled black hair and sharp, dark brown eyes.
Placing his garb in the bag, he picked up the Cerebian girl again and leapt down from where he stood, wishing he had not made the choice shortly afterwards. The strange fluffy Agasuras that attacked him before had seemingly forgotten his presence and flocked to the other side of the slab of land he stood on, anxiously awaiting a pair of unlucky adventurers. He took the opportunity to carefully climb down and make his way across a series of split landings to get to the other ladder. He climbed down and made his way towards the Base Snowfield.
Beetles seemed to be the only creatures that inhabited the area, and he sighed with a hint of relief. He climbed down another ladder and made his way through the area, cautiously leaping over the beetle gs as they approached while keeping a firm grip on his companion. After a brief period he reached the bridge and smiled victoriously. After all of his struggles, he had finally made it to the largest city in all of Jienda, Elias. He was finally free.
Salem looked around the airport like a child in a candy store. He had never seen anything like it, the massive aircraft that waited for passengers to board and the attendant that waited outside of it. He had the desire to ask her about it, but changed his mind quickly settling for going onwards towards the city in search of rest. By this point his legs were shaking and his vision was blurred. When did he start to feel so weary? As he walked his body seemed to kneel down on its own and he fell to the ground. If he could just close his eyes for a moment, he would be able to rise and continue on with renewed strength. Though it had been a few moments, Salem was sure that he would be ready to press on whenever he so wished it. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.
Salem opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar place. He arose and a thick wool blanket fell upon itself while he searched for his Cerebian companion. He spotted her laying in a small bed next to him, sleeping peacefully. Whoever his benefactor was he felt inclined to at least thank them for taking the two in and be on his way. Salem had no urge to overstay his welcome, let alone have anyone question why the girl he was carrying around was 'blindfolded'. He walked out of the room into a short corridor that lead towards a flight of stairs.
As he neared the bottom he glimpsed around the environment he found himself in. A series of small tables with chairs surrounding them made up most of what seemed to be a cafe, while framed photos decorated the walls and a multitude of lamps hung from the roof and lit up the shop. Salem turned away from the stairs towards a bar with a group of seats resting before it.
In one of them a young girl sat, completely clad in an olive green dress with a matching gatsby featuring ear flaps and a heart sewn onto a small white patch on the front. A small brown broom likely bigger than she was rested next to her chair while her tiny legs moved back and forth to the rhythm of the owner's humming, her brown moccasins narrowly avoiding a collision with the bar. Her puffy green twin tails turned as matching eyes met with Salem's, both looking equally startled. The sound of the bell on her silver choker chiming caught him off guard.
The owner leaned over the counter and gave him an unusual salute, the bell on his bracelet ringing with his gesture.. “Hoy there traveller! You've finally woken up huh?” He grinned, and Salem could see little else beneath the navy blue wide-rimmed fedora he wore giving his skin an unusual almost violet hue. Beneath the hat a long silver ponytail gently swayed with the barkeep's every move. “With a meeting like this, you have to be some kind of 'MC'. Something this interesting is too strange to be normal.” He wore a black vest over a white dress shirt and matching pants with a pair of white rubber gloves on both hands. The most unusual thing about him was the cloth he seemingly wore around the right side of his face. The markings on it were nothing like Salem had ever seen, but he convinced himself that it was nothing more than a design pattern. “So, tell me about yourself. What's your story?”
Their eyes were on him and he could feel the two pressing for an answer. There was no way he could tell them that he was an ex-ninja gone rogue after attacking a village of humanoid creatures with incredible power. “I'm just a traveller who was visiting the Raccoon Hot Springs. I stumbled upon that girl collapsed in the Refrize Snowfield. My name is Salem.” He replied with conviction and a hint of remorse at giving his real name in the heat of the moment.
“Oh?” The barkeep replied. It was rather difficult to tell whether it was surprise in his voice or disbelief. “Truthfully, I thought that you two were dating.” Salem gave him an incredulous stare. “I mean, when you find two people collapsed, one of the two wearing a girl's clothes and the other blindfolded, you can only assume that they're into some kin-” The young girl shot him a glare of disgust and disbelief and he gestured for her to calm down. “I'm just kidding! I'm not that ignorant. Where I come from it doesn't matter what you look like, what you like to wear or whether you like the same gender, it's all good.” He sighed. “Well sometimes looks do matter, like a lot, but for the most part it's a very accepting place.” Salem noted that the barkeep for one, enjoyed talking quite a fair bit, and two, had a very unusual sense of humour. “That aside, you must have really overdone it to suddenly collapse like that.”
“It was a trip longer than I initially intended.”
“I could tell.” The barkeep replied. “You look awfully pallid for someone who took a trip to the hot springs, not to offend. Sit down, take a load off and have a meal. On the house.” Salem obliged and sat down at the bar nearby the young girl who turned her gaze back to the owner before their eyes met again. “Where are my manners? My name is Vanir, owner of Madelaine's Tea Stop. This is my-my Brownie, Skuld. She's also my waitress.” She waved and Salem gave her an acknowledging nod in turn, not quite knowing what a Brownie was, he deemed it to be a term for waitresses in the shop. Vanir walked into the kitchen behind him and returned with a bowl of soup, handing it over to his customer. “Now then, enough with the formalities. The shop is empty so let's be honest with each other. I can still smell the scent of blood on that girl, and judging by the influx of travellers recently discovered leaving the Snowfields, there’s more to that story than you're letting on, isn't there?” Salem nearly spat his soup out and the barkeep smiled at him as if they were having a friendly conversation.
“How do you-”
“The eyes can deceive, but they certainly don't lie.”
Salem eyed him cautiously. “How much do you know already?”
“If it's about that girl? I know a lot. I hope you do too, because you could be sticking your nose into something you're not quite ready for. If the two of you are nothing more than mere strangers, leave her here with me and I'll look after her. I know some friends who could help her out, if she's in need of some secrecy in her life. Whoever did such a thing to her clearly has some malicious intent towards her and those around her.”
“You...know about them? You can help her right? Pray tell, who might you be?”
“Me? Just some tea shop owner. Had a run in with a certain princess that ended with a stalemate. She promised she wouldn't bring her friends to off me if I helped them out, so we've come to a mutual understanding. So if I come across a friend like yours, I'm inclined to assist them.” He paused and seemingly examined Salem. “You're a human, I can tell. It's not unusual for them to associate themselves with the others.” He smiled somberly. “They're very kind in this realm. I like that.”
Last edited by TJ on Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:26 am; edited 1 time in total
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