Ragnarok: Liberi Fatali
End of the world: Ill-fated children
Michael Lam / Akira Kenshin
July 6, 2005
Prologue: Unbarring Octave
The coarse unrelenting sand danced off my breastplate, burning bright white as the scorching sun beat down upon me. My tabard frolicked in the warm wind as I squinted into the distance in an attempt to locate what is was I had come seeking. Fortunately the sound of my armor clinking with each precarious footstep was not alone – a few scattered birds, haggled and enfeebled crawled along the edges of the horizon. I wrap my cape lightly around myself to shade the unprotected areas of my body from the solar onslaught. I never enjoyed traveling through the deserts of Morroc. Such a city was near deserted, or at least it seemed so, for this was the city of conspiracy, where the legion of shadows resides. I have come on a mission from my glorious hometown Prontera to give word to the assassin's guild regarding a pressing matter of national security. I take a refreshing sip of karvodailnirol and stretch out my limbs. I turn to my peco peco and douse his tongue with the rest of the solution. I dust off the sand off his feathers and hop on.
"Let' go," I commanded and we took off towards the notorious assassin's guild. Enduring some pesky creatures of the sand, we soon found ourselves at the steps of a large stone temple. I rode slowly into the court and paused. I knew intruders and trespassers risked their lives by rushing into the guild unannounced. Even being a high ranked knight I would not be spared if an attack would take place. I shouted out, "Assassins! I come on behalf of His Majesty King Tristam the thirteenth! He requests your leader's audience in two fortnights in order to brief you upon the nearing enemy attack."
The wind whistled through my armor, but as I peered through my slotted helm I could see the gradual rise in the sand surface at almost thirty spots around me. I forced myself to refrain from reaching for my trusty spear, as it would surely be seen as an act of aggression. Instead I felt the sweat trickle down my face as many assassins appeared before my eyes. Such a sight would be enough to scare a misguided wanderer into his grave, but I was no such coward. Contrarily, I took a step forward on my peco.
"Where is Sesshomaru?" The group of assassins stood there unmoving, until one pointed towards the top of the temple. I slowly proceeded up the stairs as assassins disappeared from my sight as I passed them. Katars, jurs, daggers and swords lined the bloody hands of these elite warriors. I dismounted my peco at the pinnacle of the temple, took a deep breath and walked into the unknown.
Inside the guild the air was cool and damp, but a husk of death surrounded the place. My white-blue aura pierced the darkness immediately in front of me, providing some guidance in that forsaken temple. I could sense killers trailing me but I pretend not to notice them, touching my Horong clip at my side for security. I walk confidently down the museum of relics until I reach the inner sanctum. Once I enter I stop as quickly as possible. I had heard that Sesshomaru disliked people getting to close to him, as the only people who have now lay six feet under.
"What business brings you to the outskirts of Morroc, Sir Aki?" A low and fearsome voice echoed through the chamber. I am at all not surprised that he knew my name, for assassins were as much skilled killers as they were reconnaissance men and spies.
"I bring news from His Majesty King Tristam the thirteenth. He requests your presence in two fortnights to discuss the defense plan against the planned assault by the demons of Glast Heim. Will you attend, master Sesshomaru?" I asked formally. It was true that assassins were indeed a dubious addition to any rank of an army, but yet still I had my own personal disdain for their uncouth techniques and culture. Such masters of deception can never be totally loyal and reliable.
"I regret to inform you then, sir Aki, that I will not be able to attend." His deep voice had no trace of hesitation or intimidation. "I have important matters myself that I must oversee."
"Then His Majesty King Tristam the thirteenth will require you to send a trustworthy subordinate as your representative. The meeting is mandatory for all guilds of Rune Midgard, albeit the leader's presence is optional. . .although recommended." I wanted to impress upon him that his absence from the meeting would be disrespectful to the King.
"Then it is settled. I will send my trusted servant Riyu into your company; one who has never traveled abroad but is my loyal confidant. Will you take the burden of escorting my protégé to Prontera?" Sesshomaru's apathetic tone was actually quite disturbing.
"I would rather not take the time to travel out here again, so if you may, will you allow Riyu to accompany me now to Prontera. He will be taken care of during his stay." I was exasperated but for sure I would make every effort to avoid setting foot on these blistering sands again.
"Very well, Riyu awaits outside the temple door's as we speak. Tell Riyu that I have given the order of being my representative and to follow you until the time of the meeting."
"Does he not need to prepare for the journey? I can wait in the outer court while he readies herself. The journey to Prontera is no less than half a day long." The truth was that I also wanted some time to find some spare water. Sesshomaru gave a laugh. The laugh itself came to me as a surprise, but in contrast to his apathetic tone during this exchange, the laugh sent chills down my spine. This laugh was most likely the requiem passing through the ears of his many victims.
"Us assassins are always prepared for the worst. Leave now, this conversation has gone on long enough – my fellow men are becoming restless outside."
I left promptly and was bombarded by the sudden rise in temperature as I left the temple. Sure enough, a lone assassin stood by the entrance. Clothed in crystal blue, strung with their trademark bandages, two fearsome jurs clasped in those skilled hands. Riyu turned around and her light blue hair uncovered her pretty face. What a shock. I did not know that the assassin's guild had many female assassins, let alone one of such high position.
"I am sir Aki of the eleventh squad of Prontera Knights. Master Sesshomaru has instructed you to be his representative. . ." before I could finish she turned away and began her descent down the stairs. I suppose word travels quickly among these ruins. I follow from behind as I analyzed her. A small pouch on her right rear made a barely noticeable sound as she descended. I can only gather that she must hold medicine and the like in that reserve. Her jurs are extremely sharp and clean. Either she has yet to see battle or she was extremely proficient in exterminating her prey. I noticed three slots in her jur that signified that she was a critical assassin, one who attacked weak points in between armor and used pressure points to their advantage. One of Rune Midgard's top classes in armour penetration they were. There were very minute deposits of sand on her shoulders that signified she was capable of cloaking or hiding, which also led me to assume she was skilled in the art of grimtooth – attacking multiple enemies from a cloaked status. At least knowing she was a critical assassin gave me the insight that she would have little dexterity, and would not have learned to steal and so I took my hand off my zeny pouch.
We approached my peco at the bottom of the stairs and I was about to offer her to ride, but chivalry aside, I knew that she would not know how, and I knew that I would probably have a lot more trouble navigating on foot than her. We left the assassin's guild and headed to Morroc city at a medium pace. From there we could use the Kafra services to reach Prontera. I glanced back and became relieved that she has decided to stay visible, but her stern glare soon turned me away. I suppose they are brought up to be untrusting. She is probably analyzing me now like I had previously. I scratch my peco's neck and prepare for the journey back home.