The children approached the center of the town where the woman sat on the edge of the fountain. She looked up as they approached, eyes crinkling in a smile before the color could truly be noted.

"Ms Elder, will you tell us a story?" One of the boys asked eagerly.

She smiled wider, braiding an end of her once black hair absently. "Yes." She said slowly. "I think I know of a story that I could tell you."

"What is it about?" A little girl climbed onto her lap and looked eagerly up.

"Why, Dali, of course."

"This town?" The children muttered, watching her in awe.

She nodded. "Indeed. It's about Dali, a monk named Killex, a Black Mage named Kilrianna, a bad man named Shuyin, and many others who joined them during this quest."

"Is it a long story?" One child spoke up.

She gave them an odd smile. "You could call it long, but I've heard some people call it too short. At least there is an ending. I like to call it a comedy of errors."

"A comedy of errors?"

"What other adventure could possibly begin with a Lawfully Good Monk who asks for monetary compensation for his services? Listen…"


The only thing that was of any value in the small town, Killex noted, was the cracked and moldy fountain in the center. Otherwise, the rest of the town was made of small huts that had been patched several times. It was a town screaming for help. At least, that was the thought that ran through the young monk's mind.

He found a young woman walking down the street and carrying a bag of laundry. "Excuse me Ma'am. Where does the village elder live?"

She briefly pointed to the end of the street, and continued on her way.

"Wait! Let me carry your basket for you." He smiled, and took the basket from her, walking alongside her.

"Why are you helping a stranger?" She asked, curious.

He smiled. "I'm a monk. I think that it's my job to help people, no matter how big the trouble or how small."

She smiled back at him. They arrived at the river that ran outside of town, but he missed her wary look across it. She turned back to him as she sat. "Let me tell you our story, since you seem to be of the helping sort. Perhaps you have a solution to our mess. You see, the Kings Army enjoys ransacking our town every month. They take any woman that has no shelter, and whatever food and goods we have. They destroy the town once a month."

"When will this army be returning?" He asked.

"In two weeks."

"Thank you for your help." He smiled and returned to town.

And stood in the middle, wondering where the hell he was supposed to go now.

Thankfully for him, a young boy was playing in the shadow of a hut, whom he stopped and asked where the elder's house was. The boy grinned at him, grabbing his hand, and dragging him to the largest hut on the street.

"Thank you." Killex smiled and entered the dark house. "Hello?"

"And who might you be?" A friendly voice came out of the darkness.

"My name is Killex. I am a traveling monk, and I've noticed that your village needs help. I would like to offer my services."

The lights rose.

There at a table in the center of the room was a smiling old man. "Welcome to Dali. I am Elder." If possible, he seemed to smile more. "You're lucky, young Killex. There are others who have expressed a desire to stop the army as well. I will pair you up with one. You will be staying at her place for a while." He called the boy inside, and whispered into his ear. The boy smiled, and walked out, grabbing Killex's hand as he left.

"Thank you!" Killex called as he was dragged out.

They walked for a while, until they came to a cabin at the outskirts of town. There, the boy knocked on the door. "Elenore!" He called. "Elenore! You're partner is here and Elder says you have to take care of him. Bye!" The boy gave a grin to Killex and ran away.

The door opened.

Killex looked up and felt his heart stop. There on the doorstep was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She had long light brown hair that was in a loose ponytail showing black cat ears. Her green cat eyes blinked at him as a tail twitched behind her.

Elenore, for her part, was having a little difficulty getting her own heart to start. The young man on her steps stared up at her with beautiful blue eyes while his black hair fell to frame his face. His skin was a little lighter than hers, and she could barely make out a birthmark on his neck.

It was, apparently, love at first sight.

"Uh… Won't you come in?" She asked, moving aside and barely managing not to stumble.

He smiled charmingly at her and entered.

She showed him the bedroom where he placed his small pack. "So… why are you here?" She asked.

"I have asked the Elder if I might help you with the army."

"Oh. You're just the helping sort, aren't you?"

"I believe it is my ticket to Heaven. The more people I help, the better my chance of getting in."

"I see." She made a slight face.

"Which reminds me." He moved to the door. "I have to give the woman who helped me something."

Elenore followed him to the river where Killex searched the area with a confused look on his face. "I thought she was here…" He muttered.

There was a slight giggle from up in the trees. Both looked up. There, in the branches, was the young woman from earlier. "Hello again." She called.

Killex smiled at her, missing the growl Elenore sent his way. "I wanted to give you a reward for helping me earlier." He threw a small pouch into the tree. The woman caught it, looked inside briefly, and grinned.

"Ten gold pieces?" She said, and jumped out of the tree. "Thanks!" and she hugged him.

Elenore's fur rose and she growled again. After a moment of watching the woman cling to him, she turned and stalked away.

Killex noticed, and extracted himself from the woman's embrace, running after Elenore. The woman watched them, a grin on her face.

"Wait!" He called, running through the street.

She stopped and looked at him. "I have an idea. Give me three gold coins, and I'll get something to help you with the army. We'll meet back at my cabin, and you get dinner."

"Alright." he handed her the money, and walked back to the cabin.


In the woods, he found a deer, which was only somewhat difficult to kill. He stood, panting, over its dead body. "If this is a deer, I don't really want to face the army." He muttered, and dragged the deer to the cabin.

He built a fire-pit, along with a fire, and attempted to ignore the crowd that was steadily growing around him. The ignoring was successful until the heat of the fire got to him and he was forced to take off his shirt.

"Whoo hoo! Strip show!" Came a voice from the back of the crowd.

He looked up, but was unable to pinpoint the speaker. However, he did manage to catch an eyeful of cleavage. Then he looked up. A pale, black haired woman smiled at him, green eyes sparkling.

"Hello." She said, bending over to speak to him. "Did you need any help?"

"Whore!" Came the same voice as before.

The woman looked insulted. "Bite me, Kilrianna."

"No thanks, Lulu. You're not exactly my type."

Killex dragged his eyes away from the large chest of, er… Lulu, and to the new girl that was breaking through the crowd. She grinned at him, her face not having lost all of its childhood roundness. Her black hair was pulled into a knot on her head, and she cocked her head at him, red-brown eyes regarding him solemnly, despite the smile her face held. On her neck was an old scar that ran from ear to ear as if someone has once tried to slit her throat.

"You should be very careful when you accept help from Lulu. You never know what trouble you'll get into next."

"Look wench," Lulu seethed at her. "I'm your mistress, and I say you shouldn't speak unless I tell you to."

"Go ahead. Say it. Doesn't mean I'll listen."

"I'll stop teaching you."

"I'll find someone better."

Before the argument could continue, Killex was hit on the head by what felt like a large stick.

Kilrianna blinked at him. "Wow, dude. Wow."

He turned around to see Elenore glaring at him. "I bought you a weapon." She glared, and then stomped back into the house. Killex watched her go, then quickly cut some meat off the deer, grabbed the weapon Elenore had gotten him, and ran inside.

"Someone's sleeping on the couch tonight." Kilrianna snickered. She looked at Lulu, then at the crowd of people who were eyeing the deer hungrily. She picked up the knife Killex had dropped, cut of a large piece, and then ran out of the circle. When she was a safe distance away, she yelled back; "Soup's on!"

The crown descended on the meat, Lulu still trapped in the middle.

Snickering, Kilrianna walked away.


Inside the cabin, Killex placed the meat on the table, and approached Elenore, who was lying on a bed.

"Elenore? Nori, I'm sorry. I was only talking to them. Please forgive me for whatever I did."

Elenore sighed and rolled over. "I honestly shouldn't be this jealous. I don't know what came over me, but I feel this connection to you."

"I feel it to. I know I could trust you with anything. I think I love you. Please don't be made at me."

She smiled, and sat up. "I think I love you too."


The next day, Killex awoke to an empty house. After getting dressed, he walked out of the house to see Elenore talking to Lulu and Kilrianna a small distance from the cabin. As he approached them, Elenore's eyes flew open wide and she gestured to the women, who fell silent.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"Not much." Elenore smiled. "We were just talking about…"

"What a lovely day it is." Kilrianna smiled, perfectly at ease with her lie.

"What were you talking about?" Killex demanded.

Kilrianna's eyes flew open wide, and the beginning of a tear could be seen. "What do you mean? We were discussing the beauty of the blue sky and the lovely sound of the birds as they sing."

Lulu, whose hand had been covering her mouth, finally broke. "WeweretalkingaboutShuyinandwhatweshoulddowhenhecomes."

"Thanks Lulu." Kilrianna glared, all innocence forgotten.

Elenore glared as well. "It's nothing to really concern you, Killex. We'll let you know when we come up with something solid."

"Whose Shuyin?" Killex looked confused.

"A fuckhead!" Kilrianna shouted, punching a tree.

Lulu rolled her eyes. "He leads the King's Army."

"And he's a fuckhead." Elenore added.

Killex blinked at them. "I feel the love." He said, dryly. "I'll be back in a bit, I have to speak to the Elder."

The women turned back to their conversation.

Killex barged into the Elder's house. "Elder! I need to speak to you about something."

The Elder smiled, not even seeming startled at the intrusion. "Yes?"

"I have needs, you know. I would like to have some sort of compensation for my services. A monk can't live on air, you know."

The Elder raised an eyebrow. "A monk asking for compensation? We are a poor village, Killex. We don't have much."

"I don't charge much."

"I can only give you 20 gold. That is all I have."

"It'll be enough. Now, I'll start to train the village."

The Elder smiled. "There is no need for that."

"What?"

"Just watch when the Army comes in two weeks. Everything will be clear to you then. All you have to do is watch. I have a plan for Shuyin."

"Fine." Killex stood to leave, but before he could, the door flew open.

Kilrianna stood there, chest heaving. She had obviously run from the cabin in her corset and long dress. "Mr. Elder Daddy!" She said, moving into the room. "Did I leave my thingy here?"

"You're thingy?"

"Yeah." She made a few weird hand gestures. "You know, my thingy with the thingy-ness? That I use to do… you know."

"Ah yes. It's in the bedroom."

"Thanks!" She flew into the other room and quickly came out with her pockets full of… something. She gave the Elder a kiss on the forehead and ran out.

Killex blinked. "You… understood that?"

The Elder smiled. "Of course. She's been living here for almost four years now, and I consider her a daughter to me. She's…. slightly hyperactive."

"I… see…" Killex stared at the disappearing cloud of dust that marked where the young woman ran. "This is going to be an interesting battle."