Disclaimer: WE DUN OWN RAGNAROK ROFLMAO

A tall figure, covered in assassin garb, black as the night, nimbly faded to the side as the fists of an enraged beast slammed into the ground. His mid-length white hair blew wildly with the wind. Little emotion could be seen in his dark emerald eyes. In pursuit of the figure, five venomous snakes emerged from the beast's back. The figure stood motionless, a blank stare adorning his face. Two of the snakes let out a bloodthirsty hiss, and abruptly charged at the figure, moving in as if to wrap around him. Raising his arms, each of them having a katar blade attached to it, the figure made a graceful sweeping motion, and as he came to a halt and lowered his arms, a mist of blood polluted the air around him. The enraged beast roared vengefully, and the remaining snakes quickly closed in on the figure, constricting around him. Calmly, the figure let every muscle in his body relax. He smiled slyly, even as the snakes tightened their death grip. In a sudden instant, the figure vanished altogether, leaving not a single trace. Confused, the snakes retracted. Then there was silence... save the cold wind blowing past... however, as the beast, along with his three remaining snakes, turned around, they were immediately greeted by the sight of the figure, his hair and dark cloak flowing with the gentle breeze... his expression silent and calm. Before the chimera could react to this sight, the figure had reached into his cloak and thrown over a peculiar object, from which a deep violet cloud began to emerge. Seemingly un-phased, the monster began to walk towards the figure, who still made not a move.

"...Wait for it..." He spoke in a calm tone.

Seemingly on cue, the creature came to an abrupt halt, and began to gasp in pain. The snakes began to shrivel up, as if the very life was being sucked from their body, and the chimera, obviously in increasingly intense pain, began to wheeze violently, blood dripping to the ground. Seeing his opportunity, the figure dashed forward- his face being covered by a protective mask- and readied his katar blades. The chimera roars in pain as its body is engulfed in a flurry of light speed slashes, blood splattering all about. Finally the figure thrusts both of his katars into the decaying creature's body, and pulls one up while driving the other down, rending the beast's flesh to pieces. As the pained roars echo through the air and the figure relaxes his arms, he sighs as he suddenly feels the arms of a woman wrap around his bloodstained shoulders from behind. Her deep violet hair flowed down to her waist, and her light blue clothing barely covered her well-toned body.

"That was so awesome!"

"If you say so. Let's go..."

For a brief moment, a silhouette can be spotted hiding nearby a tree. "..." It slipped into the shadows, undetected.

---

"Firebolt... Coldbolt... Lightningbolt..." A wizard cloaked in black quietly muttered under his breath as his pen swiftly wrote down such terms... "Frost Diver... Fireball... Soul-"

His thoughts were interrupted as a bow was slammed into his head, causing him to flinch in pain and annoyance.

"Enough of that, Shichiyo," His studies had been interrupted by a huntress of shoulder-length blonde hair. "Why don't you actually train for once?"

"Alexandra...I'm a wizard. Knowledge is one of my most potent weapons."

"Hmph. Knowledge is nothing without skill to back it up. Why don't you test that knowledge of yours in a little duel?"

Upon hearing this, the wizard shut his notebook, and rose to his feet.

"If that it what it takes to show you... so be it."

He began to walk, stepping outside. Alexandra eagerly followed. Nearby could be seen a tall tower. Clearly, the two of them were in Geffen. Alexandra aimed her bow.

"...Ready?"

Shichiyo's cloak began to rise as a gust of magical energy swirled around him. He raised his hand, and spoke to Alexandra.

"Prepare yourself."

However, the face-off was cut off abruptly cut off as a loud shriek was heard nearby. Shichiyo raised an eyebrow, his spell quickly fading.

"What was that?"

"I don't know, but it sounded bad... let's check it out."

The two of them ran towards the scream, only to find a young girl dressed in the garb of a magician. Her brown hair flowed down her back, and her face was covered with ash. She coughed.

"Are you alright?" Inquired Shichiyo as the two drew near.

"Y-yeah..." The girl stuttered as she brushed herself off. "This magic stuff is harder than it looks... eheheh..." A sweatdrop ran down her face.

"Indeed. It requires diligent study and practice..."

The girl blushed.

"I know, I know... I've always wanted to be a magician... but now I'm afraid I just can't get it."

Shichiyo paused. He looked at Alexandra, then back at the girl. Alexandra raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"...What is your name?"

"I'm Rachel." Rachel offered a shy smile.

"Shichiyo. Rachel... allow me to inquire you one thing."

"Yes?"

"Well, Rachel...-"

As Alexandra raised an eyebrow in curiosity, Shichiyo's thought was cut short, as several more screams, along with a piercing shriek, were heard coming from the town square, near the tower. Alexandra sighed in annoyance.

"Ugh, what now?"

"I am unaware," Shichiyo responded, "But we had best investigate it."

"I'll come too," Rachel beamed. "It could be good practice!"

"Are you kidding?" Alexandra gave Rachel a rather shocked look. "A mage as clumsy as you will get yourself killed."

"That's mean," Rachel scowled back. "At least gimme a chance!"

Alexandra rolled her eyes, mockingly.

"Why, so you can char your face again-"

"That's enough," Shichiyo intervened. "We're wasting time."

"Hmph." Alexandra turned her back to Rachel, and the three of them began to run towards Geffen Square.

They were greeted this time by the sight of something much more shocking. Another shriek was heard, as a harpy swooped into a crowd of bystander, knocking several to the ground. A young boy screamed in terror as the harpy pinned him to the ground and raised its talons. Several more screams echoed through the crowd of bystanders at this horrid sight. However, the boy was not fated to die on that day, as an arrow pierced the wing of the harpy, who cried out in pain.

"Everyone get out of here, now!" Shouted Alexandra as she prepared another arrow.

"Th-thank you..." The boy caught a timid glance at his savior, before fleeing to safety, along with the rest of the panicked crowd, which quickly dispersed.

The enraged harpy eyed Alexandra, and made a violent dive in her direction, only to be slowed down by several clashes of lightning.

"You shall not harm anyone, beast." Shichiyo's face darkened as sparks crackled from his hand.

Becoming frustrated, the harpy managed to shake off Shichiyo's lightning bolt spells, and continued its assault on Alexandra. As it was just within reach of the huntress, it was sent plummeting backwards as its chest was pierced by a charge arrow.

"Hah. Thanks, Shichiyo."

"Nicely done, Alexandra."

"Amazing..." Rachel witnessed the teamwork of the two of them, wide-eyed.

Suddenly... the injured harpy saw an opportunity, and its eye gleamed as it met the sight of Rachel. Alexandra was quick to notice this.

"Rachel! Run! Now!"

"What?" Rachel blinked. Before she had further time to react, the harpy was making a desperate lunge in her direction. "KYAA! F-Fireball!" She clasped her hands together, hurling a ball of flame in the harpies direction. The fireball made direct contact, seemingly having no effect on the beast. "N-no-"

"LORD OF VERMILLION!"

The harpy let out what would be its last shriek, as a mass of lightning bolts crashed to the ground, engulfing the area between Shichiyo and Rachel in a brilliant burst of neon light. Rachel's eyes widened further.

"W-wow..."

"What were you thinking, you almost got yourself killed!" Alexandra scoffed.

"Alexandra, that's enough."

"Thanks..." Rachel took a step closer to the two of them. "I owe you two." She looked up at Shichiyo. "But... Shichiyo?"

Having been quietly thinking to himself, Shichiyo's attention shifts to Rachel.

"Yes?"

"What is it... you were going to ask me?"

"Ah yes..." Shichiyo dusted off his cape. "Rachel... are you serious about becoming a skilled magician?"

"Y-yessir!" Rachel performed a mock-solute.

"Well... I see great potential in you. How would you like to become my apprentice?"

Rachel's face beamed... whereas Alexandra's face paled.

"Really?"

"WHAT?!"

The two of them chimed in unison. Shichiyo however, still seemed to be elsewhere in thought.

A harpy in Geffen... I've never witnessed such a thing. Something is off... something...