I needed to edit... a lot to go about this story as I originally intended to. Alright? Not too many changes, just a couple.
From the Sky.
The air was quiet. Too quiet. A lone girl, her mid-length brown hair flowing lightly in the still air and green eyes narrowed intimidatingly, moved silently through the thick cover of trees and brush towards her target. The darkness of the night concealed her further. When she deemed her general proximity sufficient, she drew her long sword from its hilt. The target twitched at the sudden break from solitude, and without attempting to grab it's possessions, started running swiftly away. The girl was faster though. She quickly caught up, and tore it's head away from the body with her sword.
"Target exterminated." she muttered under her breath. She removed a small cloth from her cloak and began systematically wiping the dark blood from the blade.
"No hesitation as always, eh Rena?" A male voice called from within the trees.
Rena closed her eyes after she finished cleaning her sword.
"What do you want, Jonathan?" she murmured with very little patience. He walked out of the brush, revealing a very well built man wearing black and red ceremonial armour and holding a long staff. His hair was very short and raven black, and his eyes were pure blue. They glistened in the moonlight as he walked closer.
He whined over-emotionally, dripping with sarcasm.
"Surely you can't be so cold to your soul brother, right?"
She scoffed slightly.
"What you mean by means of brethren is completely contrary to the generally known definition. Now answer the question: what do you want with me?"
Jonathan's demeanour flipped from comedic to serious.
"Whyt wants to see you. He says that it's important."
Rena peered up slowly, then shook her head in disapproval.
"I'm still in a mission. I can't delay my work to appease him. Why doesn't he get someone else to do whatever he needs me to do?"
"He says that it is crucial that you do this."
Sighing gently, she sheathed her sword and turned to Jonathan.
"Give me until sunrise. I will return to camp by then. Finishing these bandits off will not take long."
Jonathan smirked slightly, and turned away into the woods.
"See you later then, Rena."
He then disappeared into the night. Rena sighed, dusted off her pale leather armour, and jumped through the tree branches in the opposite direction.
"I'll finish quickly and get back to camp. See what Whyt wants with me this time."
The band of thieves were not difficult to deal with. Rena still had several hours before sunrise when she returned to camp.
It was only a small collection of tents and huts. Each tent was marked with a unique flag; which was used to indicate whose living quarters was whose. As She approached her tent, Rena noticed something; nobody was in sight. Generally there were people practicing artillery, creating new weapons, or simply standing around talking to others. But this morning it was desolate. This made her incredibly nervous. 'Was there a raid while I wasn't here? Where is everyone?' she thought to herself. Pushing aside the drapes to her tent, there was one thing profoundly different about her home. In the middle of the small silk-laced chamber, sat Whyt.
Whyt was an older man, hair slightly greying and shrinking frame. He wore dark red chest plates and a black cape. His musky blue eyes narrowed at her as she approached him slowly with my guard up.
"Really, Rena? Fear me not. You have been chosen for something of great honour."
Rena stared at him.
"What do you mean, "Chosen"?" she asked. "And where is everyone else?
Whyt laughed dryly. Standing up and facing her, he slammed his hands on her armour-covered shoulders. Rena winced slightly; Whyt's years did nothing to diminish his strength.
"The time has come for you to leave this clan. The King has summoned you to court. In short, you will directly serve the monarchy beginning tomorrow!"
Needless to say, Rena was happy. To be selected for this honour was certainly enviable. However, something within her subconscious was telling her that something was odd about the occurrences. The King never took emissaries from the clan. They did things outside the law and didn't cooperate with the rest of society!
With a face as stagnant as ever, Rena looked down to Whyt, and murmured suspiciously
"Why me? Surely there are better soldiers suited for this task."
Whyt ignored the comment and continued on.
"Have all of your things packed and be prepared to leave before midday." He released her from his death-grip and parted the door linens. "Do not disappoint me."
Chills ran down Rena's spine as he left. She had no position to oppose him. He was the Clan Leader, and had absolute authority over it and all its conditions.
She grudgingly began to gather her possessions together. At midday, she left the small encampment in silence, and never returned.
Rena arrived at the royal city by the next morning. A young guard sentry-man nodded at the mercenary politely before allowing her entrance. As she passed through the golden entwined gates, she felt an unfamiliar feeling of discomfort radiating everywhere. 'Something...is not right." she thought to herself. Many nobles within the palace snuck glances at her as she passed. Others whispered between each other. Rena trudged on, trying her hardest to ignore the gawking nobility.
"You must be that missionary girl the King called for, am I correct? What is your name?"
She jumped slightly at the sudden voice.
'How could someone sneak up on me like that? I didn't even sense his presence!'
Whipping around swiftly, an older soldier stood rigidly in front of her. She snarled silently at herself for not noticing him prior.
"Who are you to ask my identity? It is courteous to state your own name before asking someone else's."
The soldier chuckled unamused.
"Clever. However, my name is unimportant. You, however, are Rena from the Kazeshini clan. The King wishes to speak with you concerning your first duty." The soldier began walking away. Before he was out of sight, he turned back to her and murmured, "And I suggest you hop to it; he is not a necessarily patient man."
Shivers ran up Rena's spine as he spoke. She hustled along to the throne room, where the King sat waiting.
The throne room was extravagant: crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, detailed tapestries on the walls, and an overall feeling of superiority was exuded from everything in the hall. On the far end, a man sat on a throne, holding himself high and mighty. Rena approached the man slowly, not wanting to intrude over her place.
The King looked down at her with a sour sneer. His iron stare bored into Rena with the intensity of a herd of elephants.
"So, you're that assassin."
She resisted the urge to retaliate angrily.
"I-I'm a mercenary, not an assassin."
"They are one in the same. You will kill for money. My duty for you, girl, is simple. You must annihilate a village for the kingdom."
Rena allowed her face into a frown. 'Annihilation?' she thought.
"Which village, your Highness?"
He smiled sadistically before pointing towards the map on the stand in front of her. She peered down curiously, then gasped.
'This is-'
"Looks familiar, doesn't it? It should- it's your former home!" he laughed loudly.
Rena starting backing away, only to be grabbed by familiar hands. 'Whyt?'
"This insolent child won't do anything of the sort! I shall do it in her place!" Whyt shouted maniacally.
"W-Whyt! Why are you here? What are you saying? How could you-"
Before she could even attempt to stop her leader, he was gone. Ran off with his sword in hand. Tears tugged at her eyes as she knew that there was no stopping the inevitable fate Whyt would force upon everyone she held dear. Her mind wandered; Jonathan... Whyt liked him. Would he still murder him in cold blood? Shivers went through her entire body; which was threatening to collapse. Her tears broke loose, and ran as fast as she could after him.
Everything went black after that.
When she had recovered from her black-out, she found herself running.
"Where...am I?" she muttered under her breath. "And where am I going?" Despite her confusion, she made no attempt to stop. She ran and ran until she couldn't move her legs anymore. Gasping for air, she took time to try and figure out where she had ended up. The scenery around her was completely foreign. Large rocks stood upright around her, creating a large circle with three taller rocks in the center. Ornate pattern covered each stone slab and the entire area emitted a strange sense of serene grace. It was as if life was swirling in between the erected stones. The sun had long since set, and the full moon and stars dotted the sky, illuminating the area dimly. As Rena wandered through it in a daze, a strange light started coming from the center stones; coincidentally where she was standing now. Within seconds, Rena fell into an odd, spiralling tunnel through time and space.
"What's going on? What is this?" she screamed inwardly. Nothing took heed to her cries, though. The gates of the dimension closed, leaving the stone slabs melancholic and indifferent to the events that had just occurred.
A shadow emerged from behind the trees. It swayed to and fro as it approached the dais. As it entered the moonlit zone, its familiar armour-clad form was revealed. In its hand was a long staff adorned with ceremonial symbols, and his face was covered in blood and tears.
"Rena... I hope that by sending you to the other world, you will be able to leave these bloodstained memories behind and be happy. In spite of what my heart desires, I hope we never meet again."
To be continued...
A/N:
Riv: This is the first of many instalments for this story. I really hope you liked what I have written so far. And...um... yeah! The plot will continue accelerating, and Malik-chan shall do a happy-go-lucky disclaimer!
Malik: Don't call me 'chan'! ... *sigh* RiverTear980 owns nothing other than Rena, Jonathan, Whyt, the King and the plotline. Actually, she owns everything in this chapter! How about that? Oh, wait. She doesn't own the Tales of Symphonia reference to the Otherworldly Gate. Or a soul. She still doesn't have one of those.
Riv: ...Shush. So, everyone! Please review! I want to know if there is anything I can improve upon in this story! Reviewers shall receive cookies! I love you all o FT o
Akane: Ok, now you sound like a creeper.
Riv: So, put this story on your favourites, alerts, and review it ^^ You guys make me so happy to be alive~
Bakura: *pushes Riv off a cliff* There. Now stop writing stupidly long author's notes and get back to writing real things that are relevant and contain me!
Everyone: *facedesk*