The ride was mostly quiet with Yera staring at the window nearly all of the time, a far-off gaze in her eyes and a blank expression. Either thinking or reminiscing. Helio woke up as the scenery started turning into an emerald bamboo forest. The shafts sprouting straight upwards in some patched but others grow at angles. Thin leaves lazily fall to the ground in the gentle wind as birds and forest floor critters watch with curiosity from the safety of the dense spires. The forest started to clear after a while, an open valley sprawling for miles upon miles coming into view.

The high mountain ranges on each side had mist pouring over the tops in some places, the flow trickling down the steep slopes, the eastern style trees blended in despite their different colours. The deep lively green and in other places the bright vibrant pink of cherry blossoms. The stronghold sat atop a single lonely mountain in the middle of the valley, defended from top to bottom in guard towers and heavy ballistas and the likes. The carriage rode along the dirt road towards the bottom of mountain where a small outpost was, manned by some kind of tiny person I haven't seen before. The small four foot person strode confidently towards the carriage, the small boy having normal human features but twitchy fox ears and a bushy tail. Wearing a set of armor specially made for him he raised his arm with hand open towards the carriage driver. "Papers." He said, not intimidating on his own but the fact there were easily four dozen of these tiny armed guards made it unnerving.

The carriage driver had to bend over the edge of his seat to give him the papers so far he nearly tumbled from the seat. The little small boy scanned over the papers, his ears twitching. Yera reached out to pet his soft fuzzy ears but Helio stopped her and whispered to her "That's a romantic gesture. Don't." She looked upset she couldn't pet the small cutie. The little fox boy had to stand on his tiptoes to hand the papers back. After he had the gates opened he spoke "Be careful, the red one is here."

Helio and Yera looked at each other, Helio with a wide smile and Yera with a glare. "Helio no." She said but Helio responded instantly with a smirk "Helio yes." I was confused for half of the ride up as they spoke about why he shouldn't do this or that. I spoke up when I chance "Who is the "red one"?" The question was responded by Helio giving a gentle chuckle and Yera going off into a rant. "She's supposedly this relative to our goddess, in the way our families work think of her like a great great aunt. Helio has the hots for her, so does half the men you ask." She said with her eyebrow twitching.

The carriage stopped outside the main gates. The towering walls of thick stone and wooden designs made it beautiful and breathtaking. The eastern appeal was what fitted most of the clear faction members, in straw hats and welding katanas of all shapes and sizes and other eastern weapons of the like. There was a loud cheer that tore through the air as the three of us climbed out of the carriage, coming from the local hunting hall. Some people nodded and greeted Helio as they ran past us and into the hall. The sound of fighting echoing from the temple-like building. Helio ran off with a wide smile while I stood confused before following.

As I ran up the stone steps multiple men were tossed through the door, tumbling down the steps, one ran out of the large door as fast as he could holding a twisted broken arm. In the middle of the Guildhall was a towering nine foot tall woman in black burnt armor, thorns spiraling around the chest and arms. Her helmet had a hole in the back where her crimson hair poured out of forming an intimidating look with the carved armor. She charged at a large man donned head to toe in thick armor, connecting a punch to his midsection that lifted him off the ground and as he hit the ground he reeled back to throw a punch back, she caught his fist and bent his arm slowly, forcing him onto the ground on his knees before she connected a hard downward strike that made a loud crack echo through the guildhall, the spectators cheering. She took ahold of the armor man and threw him out the door and strutted past the praising crowd to a woman in the corner, her cheek bruised.

She extended to a hand to help, her armor folding over its plates, condensing and sliding down to where only one of her gauntlets were left on her. She helped the olive-skinned woman up, sitting down to comfort her as the guild master ran through the door, dispersing the large crowd leaving only a handful of people here and there. Most of them at the bounty board. Helio ran in expecting a fun fight but the reason for it shattered the expectation. He cleared his throat and went to walk up to them but I had long beaten him to that. A strange need to help, I simply couldn't stand by when someone was in trouble of any kind. I quickly made my way over to the giant woman and the sobbing girl.

"Is she going to be alright?" I asked kneeling down in front of her, the small green wing that had been sleeping on my shoulder had jumped from me to the sobbing woman, rubbing its soft feathers on the underside of her chin, trying to cheer her up. She wiped away the tears on her face and gently scratched under his chin. The crimson haired woman stood up, hands on her hips with a sad expression on her face. "She should be. It's pathetic that some people are gifted this life and they do something like this." Her voice was proud despite the clear disdain in her tone. "I can't stand for this. Did you know any of those men? They don't get off free with one beating." She said looking down at me. I backed up a bit and shook my head no "I only just got here, I don't know anyone except Helio and Yera.

The woman looked over at Helio with a squint before looking back down at me, "Be careful at him, something has always confused me about him. Where were you before you came here?" She asked as the woman was by now finished crying and was too busy petting the animal. "I come from Aspien." The woman immediately growled as if instinctively, "Oh. That place. Hive of tyrants and pompous rich that throw their money around while others starve. Sorry the worlds are in that much disrepair."

The woman didn't seem to hold a weapon, just a burnt black metal hilt on her hips. Helio was busy eyeing the woman up and down. From the heroic features; her shining emerald eyes, crimson hair that flowed in the breeze coming in from the windows, her built frame that was rivaled by none. Sculpted perfected muscle that gave the image of beauty and power. Ample shoulders leading to smooth-skinned biceps that could flex and break a boulder. A strong midsection housed chiseled abs that rivaled monster scales. Her wide hips gently added alluring curves to her body, moving to sturdy thighs that carried her pride in all its awe with ease. She gave a gentle smile and patted me on the head, although she was trying to be gentle it felt like getting slapped a few times.

She turned to the woman who was giggling as the green wing purred against her shoulder. She sat next to her on the table, smiling with familiarity at the woman. The tall woman went to speak with that warm smile but the smaller woman beat her too it. "Thank you for helping me and stepping in." She smiled up at the muscled woman. "What's your name, my lady?" At that moment the smile washed off of the taller woman's and replaced with a look of heartbreak hidden behind a look of disbelief. "A-Athena…" She replied softly and the woman nodded, hugging her tightly before running off further into the guild, leaving Athena in clear pain after she left. She spoke softly under her breath. "S-She doesn't know.." She stood up slowly, her armor covering her body instantly, the warmth in her voice as I talked to her now completely void in her tone. "Get out of my way." She said walking past me, Helio didn't move, still trying to get a conversation but she stormed past him and out the door