Amor Vincit Omnia
Third Waltz
"It is my opinion as their Black Robe that the actions taken by Warriors Hagan and Isyllia were entirely correct in their handling of the Awakened Being formerly known as Isley and for now that the matter should be considered closed." Azmear said in conclusion of his report to the Elders concerning their encounter with the Awakened form of Isley.
I swear these pompous idiots have no idea what kind of hell they put their hunters through for the sake of their egos and profits. Azmear thought to himself as he waited for the response from the gathered Elders. He was aware of Hagan and Isyllia, having stood quietly behind him the entire time.
Rather than listen to the debate between the Elders, which turned out to be shorter than he expected, Azmear tucked his hands into the sleeves of his voluptuous robe and waited patiently. What he got was an impression that there was still quite a bit of dissent between them on the subject of how to deal with Awakened Beings. Not of a surprise to him was that of one side wanting to halt the production of Hunters until a better solution could be found and the other side that wanted to accelerate the training program in order to produce Hunters more quickly to meet the upsurge in demand.
In his rather informed opinion, Azmear knew both sides were wrong but being a mere Black Robe meant that he wouldn't be listened to. It would be because he was too involved or some equally meager excuse. It took a while for the debate to wind down to the inevitable stalemate, which meant that nothing was going to be solved right now.
Morons. Azmear's expression did not reflect his inner thought as one of the Elders made the announcement that the issue would be tabled until sometime in the future. Instead, he simply sketched a proper bow before backing out of the room. He made a face to the closed council chamber door before turning his attention to Hagan and Isyllia.
"Get something to eat and some rest." He suggested to the pair as he turned to face them. "We'll be heading out as soon as the next assignment comes in." Azmear noted that the two Hunters exchanged a look before nodding and turning away to leave. The two seemed nearly telepathic at times, something most likely the result of having to work together so closely for so long.
Azmear stood a moment longer in silence before turning away from the council chamber door to head into the depths of the building where his own chambers were. There was the inevitable paperwork about the event that awaited him. While he'd put forth some suggestions as to ways to reduce the amount of paperwork required by a Black Robe. Some of them had even been implemented, which said volumes about how highly ranked as a Black Robe he was.
After a few minutes, he came to the rather simple wood door that lead to his chambers. It looked remarkably like every other wooden door in the building but he knew which door was his. In the center of the room sat his desk and a well padded armchair, which was one of the few luxuries that he was entitled to that he actually took advantage of. Settling into the comfortable chair, he took up pen to begin wading his way through the stack of paperwork on his desk.
It was sometime during the next morning that he lifted his head to look around at a knock on his door. He'd finished sometime during the night and simply had put his head down on his desk to rest. He had vague recollections of dinner being brought and taken away, something about stew and ale for some reason seemed to suggest itself.
"Enter!" He called, shrugging his shoulders in an attempt to straighten up his appearance. The heavy wooden door opened to reveal a young scribe, who was holding what looked like a dispatch in his hands.
"This just came, sir." The youth's voice cracked back and forth between a manly baritone and a squeaky soprano. The scribe held out the paper for him to take.
Azmear took the offered dispatch and frowned as he opened it. "Have someone clear the reports off of my desk." He said absently as he began to read it. "Everything is caught up for the time being." He glanced up to see the scribe give a rather awkward half bow then disappear out the door with perhaps a bit of unseemly haste, closing it securely behind him.
The dispatch was a short one, detailing the encounter of a group of pilgrims with an Awakened Being and Yoma in the proximity of Rabona. Dispatches such as this one tend to be the first news of an active Yoma presence in an area, which tends to be followed several days later by one or more villages in the area requesting assistance. Rabona, on the hand, would not be requesting assistance of any kind since the law banning the presence of any intelligent non-humans from the city proper had emerged several years ago. Right about the time that the first Hunters became active, which suggested someone influential on the inside knew about them before they became public knowledge.
A puzzle for another day.
He drew a blank sheet of paper from a desk drawer and wrote a short note, stating that he would be sending several Hunters to the area of Rabona to investigate the report given in the dispatch. He folded the note in half after tucking the dispatch inside of it. He left the note with the dispatch inside of it on in the middle of his desk and left his chambers, headed across the compound to where Hagan and Isyllia would be waiting.
It was rare for duels between hunters to take place in the Organization's headquarters and rarer still that they be between single digits. It would be expected then that anyone who could find excuse to watch the duel would do so. This particular duel had gone long, most likely due to the familiarity of the two whom where the center of it.
Strike. Parry. Thrust. Counter. Slash. Dodge.
As if on an unspoken agreement, the two combatants suddenly separated. The ringing and swishing sounds of blades stopped as suddenly as a light turned off by switch. The two stood, barely two arm lengths apart, motionless as a sudden light breeze lifted their half capes and billowed them for just a heartbeat or two.
Isyllia frowned then her expression smoothed into a nearly mirror image of Hagan's non-expression. She was having trouble reading Hagan's yoki, which was how she was normally able to match his unparalleled speed and reflexes. If she was having trouble reading his yoki then she certainly couldn't begin using techniques of manipulating it that she was only just beginning to develop.
"All right, that's enough." Azmear's voice cut into the silence like a knife and heads turned in unison to look at him. "I know there's work to be done and it's not here." The murmurings of the various spectators were muted but audible enough to the hunter's keen ears even as they sheathed their swords and stood waiting expectantly.
Azmear waited until the three of them were alone before speaking, moving over to join the pair. "There's been reports of an Awakened Being somewhere in the vicinity of Rabona." He told them. "There's reason to believe that it might be preying on some of the pilgrims visiting the city. Find it and get rid of it."
Hagan and Isyllia exchanged a glance before nodding in unison then turning and walking away. The two could be creepy like that sometimes.
Isyllia could only think that there was something ominous about the assignment. Or perhaps it was because of the closed in nature and general conservatism that always seemed to be about the city of Rabona. If the Awakened Being was in fact inside Rabona, it would be that much harder to hunt it down and destroy it. And then, there was something about Rabona itself that seemed to bother Hagan, whom she had already noticed was acting more withdrawn than usual.
It was enough to make her edgy concerning the entire affair. She didn't like being edgy. It seemed to affect her ability to read yoki, which could be disastrous in this case. So, as they walked, she tried the various techniques that they'd been taught to calm and recenter themselves.
She paused at the crest of a hill overlooking the city, glancing at Hagan as he likewise drew to a stop. He'd become more closed in and withdrawn than usual as they'd gotten closer to the Holy City, which only added to her nervousness. They'd taken a shortcut through part of the forest that surrounded Rabona, emerging to a panoramic view of the city and the roads that lead into it.
The road on the slope below them that ran a twisting path away from the city and along the river that abutted it. This time of year, pilgrims could be seen traveling along the route. Merchant caravans, relying on numbers for safety, dotted here and there. Just outside the main wall stood a tent city of it's own, which housed the visiting pilgrims during their stay. It reminded her of ants around an anthill, such was the distance away that they stood.
"Are you sensing anything yet?" Hagan asked quietly, drawing her attention away from the view and back to the immediate.
Isyllia frowned, closing her eyes and letting her senses roam. After a moment, she could sense several yoki auras. The closest of which she immediately recognized as belonging to Hagan, muted and with a breath-like quality of near intangibility even though she stood right next to him. She tuned that out and focused on the other auras she sensed.
As she concentrated, the wind picked up and blew across the hill, driven the long way across the plain from the body of water near Rabona. It had the same cold crispness of the fading winter, lifting both hair and cape with a gentle caress.
The long moment passed and she opened her eyes, catching a glimpse of the noonday sun reflecting off of the tallest tower within the city. "I'm sensing four different auras," she replied in the same quiet voice that he had used. "They seem to be that of regular yoma, and fairly close to the city. They're clustered together so they're probably traveling as a group. I think they're in the collection of tents near the city walls."
She turned her head in time to catch Hagan's nod of acknowledgment, his eyes contemplative, though he seemed focused on the events of the city and surrounding area. "We're probably going to get there right around time for evening worship so we'll have to postpone the actual hunt until the morning. I expect that it won't take long to find them once we start looking."
Isyllia nodded in agreement to Hagan's statement then started walking down the hill. After a few heartbeats, he fell into step next to her as they resumed their journey.
There was a soft crunching of gravel in the fading light that alerted the people around the warm and growing firelight of someone approaching their circle. Heads turned, though in truth they would be as defenseless as the rest of the pilgrims should the visitors mean them harm. Approaching the circle were two Claymores, a male and female. Though perhaps it was not as easy to distinguish between the two at first glance due to the similar appearance and near identical uniforms. One had to look closely in the dim light to distinguish as their features were similar.
"May we join you for the evening?" The male asked as the two paused just out of arms reach, their silver hair offering a faint reflection of both firelight and of the full moon overhead. There was a pregnant pause then one of the men seated around the fire gestured for the two of them to come to the fire.
The two nodded and then stepped into the circle as those already present moved to make room for them. The pair drew their swords and planted them point first into the dirt before sitting down and leaning against them.
"You're welcome to share what we have, it's not much there should be enough. We're musicians by trade but you're welcome to share anyways." The same man as before now spoke to the newcomers, gesturing toward them with a small wooden bowl that he held. "So . . . what brings you out this way? Rabona's a bit out of your way."
"We're passing through." The male Claymore said in response, accepting a small bowl of what looked to be stew from the young boy who was dutifully helping with dinner. "We figured this would be a good place to stop for the night. My name is Hagan and this is Isyllia." He gestured to the female Claymore who had likewise accepted a small bowl.
"Thank you." Isyllia gave the boy a small smile, dipping into the contents with the wooden spoon that she had likewise been handed. "What is your name?" She asked the young boy, who's eyes got wide from being addressed by her.
"Er...Ermita." He stammered then reached out experimentally to touch her wrist with his hand. Isyllia simply gave him the same small smile and waited until his attention wandered again before resuming eating.
With the interruption now investigated and the newcomers now settled in the firelight, the conversation returned to the normal level, though perhaps a bit subdued compared to what it had been before. As the evening wore on, musical instruments were produced and song rose around the fire. The two newcomers declined to join in with the singing but clapped along.
As the merriment seemed to fade into night, Isyllia rose to her feet then lifted her face to the full moon overhead. Her voice rose in a pure and sweet, a song sung to the full moon, resounding into the night and drawing the glaze of others who were sitting around fires nearby. Though her song was not long, it flowed outward, leaving a blanket of silence and thoughtfulness that lingered long after the last note had faded.
"I would not have expected to hear something like that." One old man broke the silence as he finished lighting his pipe.
"We are more than just swords." Isyllia replied, turning her silver eyes toward him as she sat back down.
Quiet murmurs grew up around them as people began to prepare to go to sleep for the night. "Then what are you?" Someone else ventured to ask as the night slowly began to still.
"The hope of the people." Hagan answered quietly, closing his eyes.
Isyllia opened her eyes and looked around in the pre-dawn light. She could see Hagan standing only a few feet away, silhouetted in the faint glow. The remainder of the people around her hadn't quite started to stir, having passed undisturbed in the night. She quietly got to her feet, pulling her sword from the ground and sheathing it over her shoulder. When one of the children around the fire opened his eyes and looked at her, she held a finger to her lips then smiled reassuringly before exchanging a glance with Hagan.
She lead the way out from the fire and in the general direction of the yoki she'd sensed earlier, neither of them making any sound as they moved carefully through the area. She paused, making a few hand signals to her partner to inform him that the yoma were nearby and alerted to their presence.
"You didn't think your presence would remain undetected for very long, did you?" Hagan tossed the question in the direction of the yoma.
There was no response, which was hardly of surprise to Isyllia. However, the break in the early morning silence resulted in the slow awakening of the various pilgrims that had spent the night clustered around the now burned out fires. It seemed to her that the yoma intended to try and stay hidden in the crowd, something that just wouldn't be happening.
"We know where you are and how many of you there are." Isyllia spoke a few moments later as her hand crept up and grasped the hilt of her sword. "You can neither hide nor escape."
The murmurings began to grow around them as people tried to figure out what was going on. While the yoma might not be able to escape, there was still a chance that they would cause undo harm before they could be called out and struck down. Just as the thought crossed her mind, apparently Hagan was done waiting.
His eyes flashed to gold even as he unleashed his yoki, blinding her senses for a few seconds due to the sheer power he had unleashed. With all the limits removed and the yoki manifesting visibly in a swirling white vortex, it became visible how inhuman he could truly be. Even as she unleashed her own yoki, she realized that the visible manifestation of Hagan's yoki had been enough to spook the yoma into revealing themselves. The four yoma she'd sensed bolted from the anonymity of the camp out onto the open road nearby.
Hagan's yoki abruptly faded as he moved, his sword appearing in his hand as he charged after the yoma whom were attempting to escape. It was over almost before it began, detached heads thumping wetly onto the road. The yoma had died so quickly that one of them remained twitching for a few more heartbeats before finally going still for the last time.
Isyllia watched as Hagan flicked the purple icor from his blade before slowly sheathing his sword. He remained standing where he was as the murmurings grew a bit louder and the more adventurous of the pilgrims came over to look and even poke the now dead yoma.
"Company." Isyllia murmured in Hagan's direction a few minutes later as she heard then saw a group of soldiers marching in formation toward them. From the look of them, they were part of Rabona's regular garrison. Hagan said a few words to those clustered around him before moving over to join her, his expression calm as the soldiers began to disperse the crowd and start with cleaning up the bodies.
"I'm Captain Erik." One of the soldiers stepped forward and gestured to the two of them that they should follow him. "I have to ask that you accompany us."
Isyllia glanced at Hagan who then gave a nod that was more of a half bow in agreement. She found herself and Hagan surrounded by a few of the soldiers as they headed toward the city proper. By the time they reached the gate, the sun was fully risen and the city seemed bustling with activity. Their escort directed them into what looked to be a large storeroom inside the gatehouse.
"What do you think they want?" She asked when the two of them were finally alone.
"Hard to tell, but I doubt it's anything ill." He replied, touching a bit of stonework before turning back to her with a shrug then leaning against the wall facing the doorway.
After a few seconds of contemplation, she mirrored his gesture and choose to remain in silence. Whatever they wanted of them, it would become apparent soon enough. It wasn't like they were going to be keeping them here against their will, after all. The door wasn't going to even slow them down and the stonework would be only an inconvenience should either of them get the idea of going through it.
It proved to be a very boring wait.
She was just contemplating asking about leaving when the door opened to admit an older man and a younger man both of whom were dressed in priest robes. Accompanying them were a pair of well armed guards, with sharp looking uniforms and well used weapons. The guards posted themselves on each side of the door after closing it to ensure that the meeting would remain private.
"My name is Hagan and this is Isyllia." Hagan broke the silence and introduced the two of them to the newcomers. Isyllia nodded politely when introduced, her eyes shifting curiously between the two. "How may we assist you, Your Grace?" Hagan continued once introductions were complete.
The older man stepped forward and looked at Hagan's face closely for a moment, then stepped back and gestured to the other priest that had accompanied him. "I am Primate Baldwin Tatori, the head of the ruling council of Rabona." The older priest introduced himself then gestured to the younger priest with him. "This is my aide, Wilhelm. It is my understanding that the two of you eliminated a few yoma from outside our walls."
"Yes, Your Grace. That is correct." Hagan replied formally and Isyllia chose to remain in silence, letting him carry the conversation unless there was need for her to speak.
The Primate of Rabona pulled a golden and jeweled ring off of one finger and pressed it into Hagan's left hand. "Should you have need of anything, present this ring as a sign of my favor so that Rabona may one day assist you as you have assisted us."
Hagan sketched a half bow of acquiescence even as he closed his hand over the ring that he'd just been presented. "Thank you, Your Grace."
The older priest gave Hagan another close look before turning and leaving the room, followed by the guards that had accompanied them.
"Wilhelm, how is mother?" Hagan asked the younger priest before he could leave the room.
The younger priest turned and looked at him. Isyllia suddenly realized that the two of them looked quite alike, something that eluded her until now. "She passed a few years ago, the sleeping sickness." The priest shrugged but Isyllia could sense his sadness. "You look well, Hagan." He added as he reached out and patted the other on the shoulder.
Hagan reached up and patted the hand on his shoulder. "So do you."
The priest nodded then withdrew his hand before turning to Isyllia. "Take good care of my brother, would you?" He asked, drawing a jerky nod from her before the priest left the two of them alone in the room.
"In this, the fourth year of their service, we have decided that it is time for the first generation to be retired and the second generation brought into service." The senior elder began, reading from a paper before him. "With a full two-thirds of the first generation having become awakened beings, we the elders feel that it would be unacceptable for the first generation to continue in service.
"The second generation will be deployed starting today, having no longer showing such sensitivity to both environment and other factors. In the future, there will no longer be any Winter Calm as the Warriors of the Organization will be remain in the field from the start of their service until death. Selection of candidates for the third generation will begin next month."
Azmear couldn't believe what he was hearing but yet somehow it didn't surprise him. The elders hadn't shown much grasp of reality the entire year so there wasn't much reason for them to be starting now. The elder put down the paper and looked up to make eye contact with him. "Azmear, as the senior Black Robe in service; you will pass along our instructions to the others. Once all members of the first generation have been recalled, they will be terminated due to the risk that they pose not only to the Organization but to the people of this continent. The remaining twenty three members of the first generation will be "
And just like that, the ball in his stomach turned to lead. "I will see it done." Azmear did the only thing he could: he bowed formally then backed out of the room.
As he turned to head to his office, his mind was already turning. Plotting and planning. He knew without a doubt that the elders had just made what could be the biggest mistake in this history of the Organization. There had to be something he could do, but what?
And then it hit him. He'd need a few things to pull it off, however.
As he neared his office, he caught sight of one of the numerous scribes. "Come with me." He directed the other, opening the door and stepping inside. He gestured for the scribe to come inside then closed the door behind him. "I want you to get three sets of male and female clothing from the supply room and put them in a large burlap bag. Once you've done that, bring it back here immediately. Don't write anything down or tell anyone what you're doing."
He young scribe nodded in obvious nervousness and disappeared out the door while Azmear seated himself at his desk. He opened the bottom drawer of his desk and took out both a sheet of paper and the pen he kept there. The paper was designed to last forever and the ink wouldn't fade. He looked thoughtfully at the paper and after a moment began to write.
Hagan and Isyllia,
By the time you're reading this, I can confidently say that I'm probably dead. Most likely at the hands of the leaders of the Organization for disobeying their orders. I've been given orders that the remaining members of the first generation are to be recalled and executed, an order that I can not in good conscience follow. As such, I've made preparations to hide the two of you where the Organization can not find you easily.
However, that's not all of it. I also have reason, good reason, to believe that the Organization is itself behind the yoma that roam the continent. That they're creating the yoma and using them to control the populace. To think that they've been doing this practically under our noses the whole time.
I've left this message in a safe place and I only hope that you'll be able to finish what we've started.
-Azmear.
He pulled a small golden jewelry box out of the bottom drawer, carefully folding the paper in half before putting it inside. He closed the jewelry box and turned the latch so it would stay closed. He put the pen back in the drawer where it had been before then hid the jewelry box inside his robes. He then wrote a quick note addressed to the other Black Robes repeated the instructions of the elders to have the remaining members of the first generation recalled.
He looked up at a knock on the door and the young scribe he'd sent off earlier came into the office with a large burlap sack clutched in his hands. "Just leave that right there." He instructed the scribe as he held out the paper in his hand to him. "See that this gets distributed." The scribe dropped the sack and took the paper from him, bowing awkwardly then closing the door behind him.
Azmear stared at the closed door for a moment then got to his feet. A part of him expected that he'd never see this room again and perhaps that was correct. Azmear picked up the burlap sack then headed out the door to meet with Hagan and Isyllia.
"Why did you want to meet up here?" Hagan asked as Azmear stepped into view. The three were meeting up outside of Dalmor, a change that they'd only found out about when they'd been on the way back home.
"I had to make a side trip." Azmear thumbed over his shoulder toward the village then tossed the burlap sack he'd been carrying the entire way to Hagan.
Hagan caught the sack and opened it to look inside curiously. "What's this for?" He asked passing it over to Isyllia, who did likewise before handing it back.
"I'll explain along the way." Azmear replied, turning and leading the two away from the village.
Azmear had done his best to explain what was going on as he understood it. By the glances the pair were exchanging, he suspected that they understood perhaps more than he was telling them. It had been a very long walk to the hidden valley that he'd found some time ago. It wasn't on any map and the path up to it had been almost completely concealed. Irregardless of what happened to him, as long as the pair kept a low profile, the Organization wouldn't be able to find them.
Their long walk had ended in the heart of the valley at a copse of trees near a small waterfall. They'd have to make everything but he was confident that they'd be more than able to take care of themselves. "I'll come get you when I'm sure it's safe for you come back." Azmear tucked his hands into his sleeves. "I'll see what I can do about changing their minds."
He reached out and patted them in turn on the shoulder. "I'll see you again soon." He said then turned away, planning on taking a rather long and meandering way back to the Organization.
Isyllia looked over at Hagan, who's eyes remained fixed on where Azmear had vanished. "We're not going to see him again, are we?"
Hagan shook his head then closed his eyes. "No, they'll likely kill him for what he's done. To set an example if for no other reason." He knelt down and took a set of clothing from the bag then passed it to her before getting another for himself. "But he's right, they'll need us again someday. So we'll need to keep training and be ready for that day when it comes."