Remnant of the Past

by Flames of Nocturne

The Hero fought, she conquered, she was betrayed, she was forgotten. Yet her story is still unfinished, read as the lost hero returns to a new war in a land she had once sacrificed everything for and for which she wonders what she will give up again. GW1 character in GW2, an AU novelization.

4. The Centaur War

"Blah" – Talking "Blah" – Thinking

~I do not own Guild Wars or Guild Wars 2, both are the property of Arenanet and NCsoft ~

Chapter 3: The Centaur War

The following week had seen Jai settling much more comfortably into her role as an un-official Seraph. Immediately after the carnival fiasco the assassin had distanced herself from the Seraph; at least in the public's eye, and began doing odds and ends jobs for Logan throughout the Queensdale area. A vast majority of her jobs had been assisting the Seraph in sabotaging or fighting the Centaurs, though she had also completed a few missions to stop bandits from poisoning the water supplies and one memorable day had her wrangling pygmy moas. The jobs payed decently enough to allow the assassin to afford a set of thicker leatherwork armor, the dark brown leather sufficiently covering her form while a low similarly colored hood eventually replaced her make-shift blindfold while also obscuring her face. The outfit prevented what few stares she got from her discolored skin as now it was harder to distinguish the actual skin tone from the shadows of her hood.

Vanishing from the public eye, even if only it were in Divinity's Reach, had helped the Seraph's standing after the Ringmaster's death. It hadn't been hard for the assassin to hide in various taverns throughout the city not even three days after the circus incident, stealthed and silent as she listened to wild and fearful rumors of "Dark assassins working for the Seraph." The fact that the rumors referred to her profession correctly didn't faze Jai as much as the obvious negative tone towards the Seraph did. Logan hadn't approved but Jai had eventually pounded into the suborn man's thick skull that associating herself with the Seraph wouldn't do them any favors. That the people needed to trust the Seraph to investigate properly and uphold the law, not fear shadowy assassins would be sent after them at the slightest provocation. Countess Anise herself had walked in on that late-night and rather one-sided discussion.

"-You can't afford the Seraph to lose any popularity!" Jai repeated, pinching the bridge of her nose as the man across from her stubbornly crossed his arms. They were alone in the Seraph Headquarters, the other Seraph having gone home or to the barracks for the night.

"And I am not going to let my friend be run out of town just because of some rumors!" Logan shot back, "Where are you even going to go?"

"I'll live somewhere on the streets," She said nonchalantly with a shrug, ignoring the warm fuzzy feeling she always got when Logan called her his friend, "It's nothing new and I'll report in after dark every night so you can make sure I'm in one piece." Jai was tempted to roll her eyes but held back on the impulse.

Logan began pacing, "Jai, why do you have to leave the barracks? If you're really worried then you can just lay low and wait for this to blow over."

"No, Logan." she said, emphasizing his name to convey just how serious this was. "If, and it's a big if, we are right and it is the ministry that's behind the carnival mess then you can be dead sure that they'd go after the Queen's allies." She stared him in the eyes, "That means the Seraph, and that means you."

"How astute."

Both assassin and guardian jumped; Jai's blades instinctively fading into her hands as she took an aggressive stance between the voice and Logan, only to relax when she saw Countess Anise emerge from the shadows. "You are right to be so wary pet," She demurred, almost stalking over to the two.

"The ministry has shown slight, leanings of a sinister sort." The Countess continued, circling around Jai and Logan as she rested a dainty hand upon her chin in a pondering gesture. "Rumors of ineptitude, scandal and betrayal, late Minister Julius Zamon's rather naughty dealings with bandits, not to mention former Commander Serentine's plot to discredit the Seraph." She tisked as she came to a halt. "You have read the signs well pet; it seems our unnamed foe seeks to isolate dear Jennah from her allies."

Mentally putting aside the mental image of a tiger stalking its prey, Jai gave a self-ruminating half grin, "It's admittedly easier to see the signs a second time around."

The Countess and Logan's eyes sharpened, "Jai…" the latter prompted but the assassin just hummed.

000

Jai drew in a deep breath, holding it before letting it out as she gazed up at the stony visage of Grenth. Months ago she and her companions had vanquished the spirit of Shiro Tagachi; the Great Deceiver having turned from his punishment as an Envoy of the dead to spread a horrific plague across the land, infecting even the very soul of its victims and mutating them into terrifying monsters. The plague was ruthless, spreading easily in the over populated Kaineng slums, those too weak of body to survive the transformation were killed under the strain while those who survived suffered an even worse fate. Tagachi did not go easily however, the fight had been the hardest she had ever done, the traitor being unusually focused on her and had revealed a chilling secret about herself even she didn't know.

Turning her eyes from the frosted statue of Grenth Jai turned to see her friends approaching, Mhenlo at the lead with a worried frown marring his face. The assassin felt her lips twitch into a grin as she saw the girlfriend her brother-figure didn't even realize he had in Cynn walking right behind him. The fiery elementalist with a slightly scary love of burning things was never far from the monk and she had bonded near instantly with the woman once Jai gave her tips on getting Mhenlo's attention along with embarrassing stories of their time at Shing Jea Monastery. With them was the ranger Aiden and the warrior and their psudeo leader Devona. Jai had become good friends with each of them as they aided her and Master Togo during the crisis with the Affliction plague, the grin slid off her face however when she remembered why she had called them to Zin Ku Corridor. "Oh Grenth, give me acceptance for what I must do." She whispered under her breath.

This was the last loose end to tie. Mai and Zei Ri had gone to the Battle Islands on her urging to join the Zaishan, The tengu had already left Cantha for refuge and she honestly didn't give a shit what happened to the Am Fah and Jade Brotherhood gangs. It wouldn't take long for what was left of Cantha to go up in flames with what she had done and she would prefer that those she cared for were far away from the crossfire.

"Jai!" Mhenlo greeted her warmly, "It's good to see you again, we only just got back from clearing the Echovald Forest of the last of the Afflicted with a few agents of the Ministry of Purity. Hopefully those cursed souls can be at rest now." He hesitated, "We got your letter, is something wrong?"

It was only a matter of time now that she was in such a public place, Jai mused while staying silent. Looking beyond them the assassin saw flashes of white garbed soldiers. "Yeah, I just- Thank you, for everything."

She could hear muffled yelling, materializing one of the two blades that had bound themselves to her very soul after she killed their former wielder she couldn't help but think that it was fitting. Their bloodstained and treachery filled past, a past tied to her own that brought everything crumbling down. Jai couldn't help but think, "I guess this just proves him right, I am his descendent, his chosen heir." Before any of the others could even blink she shadowstepped the already narrow gap between them, leaving no time to react as she slid her blade into Mhenlo's chest and kept her face carefully blank as she felt him shudder against her and gasp in sudden pain. Jai made sure she didn't look him in the eyes, she couldn't bear to see them filled with betrayal or pain which they surely were.

"MHENLO!"

A fireball scorched past her side, searing through the air her as she instantly dematerialized her blade to prevent any further damage being done to the monk. Twirling away she winced as an arrow buried itself into her shoulder. In the next step she took she dodged a heavy sledgehammer that swung her way. She ducked, dodging another barrage of arrows. Coming full circle Jai could see the white garbed soldiers had stopped a small distance away and were watching carefully, their blank white masks revealing nothing. Another fireball roared into existence, hitting her fully in the back due to her distraction as Jai turned around to see a crying Cynn holding a pale Mhenlo as they both kneeled on the ground.

"WHY?!" She screamed.

Dodging another arrow as she clenched her teeth in pain Jai made sure her face revealed nothing, "Did you truly expect any different from a Tagachi?" She said in monotone, as if she wasn't crying inside, as if she didn't want to break down in tears begging for forgiveness.

As Devona charged at her with her warhammer raised high over her head the assassin kicked her back, forcing the warrior to crash loudly to the cold stone floor. Deciding that the show had gone on long enough she called the shadows to herself, her form fading from view as Cynn screamed out one last denial and hurled one last anger and sorrow fueled fireball at her location. But the flames simply fizzled out against the cold stone as Jai had already shadowstepped away while simultaneously cloaking herself, hiding behind Grenth's statue and watching in stiff silence as one of the white clad soldiers approached the group.

"I see you too have been betrayed by the Deceiver's spawn." A smooth male voice said.

Cynn looked up at him, tears still cascading down her face, "W-what do you want?"

The man knelt down, healing magics already enveloping his hand, "To help. It seems he was lucky; the strike missed all his vital organs and arteries by a hair's breadth. He shall live, unlike our own."

Devona got up, "What do you mean 'your own'?"

"Just yesterday the traitor known as Jai Tagachi attacked and killed Minister Reiko." He growled out, "The people's beloved Minister was killed in her own garden right in front of her own dear nephew's eyes. What is worse is that Tagachi had reportedly received aid from the Am Fah, the Jade Brotherhood and even the savage Tengu in committing the act."

Jai watched silently as the remaining soldiers in white began spreading out, no doubt searching for her. But she couldn't leave yet, she had to be sure, she had to know if what she had done was worth it.

"Why?" Aiden mused, sitting down on a nearby bench and staring at his hands, "Why would she do such a thing? Those actions are nothing like the Jai we know."

"It was only a matter of time before she revealed her true nature, blood always tells." The man spat out, still healing Mhenlo. "But I can assure you, no past heroics could make up for such a crime. The one known as Jai Tagachi has been wiped from all records and banished from the sight of the Envoys; such a criminal will not go down in the annals of history. As more victims of her betrayal you shall be granted protection and granted passage back to Kryta." Finally the man's hands faded and he stepped away from Mhenlo and Cynn. "This traitor will pay for her crimes; such an abomination should have never been allowed to live in the first place. The Ministry of Purity shall be relentless in pursuit of her, and we shall purge any who dare shelter such a monster with righteous wrath." He spat out, a clenched fist raised as it shook in anger.

Aiden looked up sharply at the ministry official's last words, shock and fear flitting across his face before his own hands began trembling. Pursing her lips Jai hoped he hadn't figured her out already, he was always sharp and quick to catch on to things. "I want to help." Cynn ground out, "I trusted her- she was…a sister and…" The woman sobbed, "I want to see her burn."

"This is an internal affair." The official said sharply, "You will be escorted back to Kryta, Cantha thanks you for your assistance in her time of need during the Affliction, but it is better if outsiders leave. I can assure you none shall rest while the descendent of Shiro Tagachi roams free."

Cynn's face twisted in anger, "But-!" she was cut off as Devona rested a hand on her shoulder, silently shaking her head.

Deciding that she had heard what she wanted to Jai slowly crept away. The guards hadn't expected her to linger and their vigil was lax, allowing her to escape even in her pained and limping state as the dark and dank sewers made her red blood trail indistinguishable from the rest of the filth. Eventually she hobbled to a small corner of Sunjiang District; hidden and alone with a sewage pipe pouring out next to her small nook Jai finally let her invisibility drop. Letting out a weak cry of pain as the mana backlash from maintaining her stealth spell for so long set her body aflame with pain the assassin fell to her knees as tears obscured her vision. "I'm so sorry." She sobbed, "But this was the only way, I had to keep you safe." Jai confessed to no-one, "Even if it's from me."

The distraught assassin slowly healed herself, washing the hands that were stained in both Mhenlo's and her own blood before crying herself to sleep. It was a full two weeks of hiding from any human contact or sight before she eventually made it to Bejunkan Pier and stowaway on a ship bound for Istan, where she heard a Sunspear Spearmarshall was calling for aid in some war in Elona. Jai hadn't cared, and even if she wouldn't admit it even to herself at the time, she sought Grenth's icy embrace. "I don't deserve forgiveness."

000

Shaking the memories away Jai re-inserted herself into the present, the memory playing in mere seconds despite happening so long ago. "It doesn't matter." She dismissed with a wave of the hand. "What's important now is making sure the social backlash of my actions don't affect you."

Logan stared at her for a long time, the weighty gaze making her uneasy as he stayed still, arms crossed and deep frown in place. Eventually, finally he responded, "And how do you propose doing that."

Ignoring his skeptical tone Jai shot back, "You tell anyone who asks that I was simply a former bandit or even grunt for the Ringmaster that decided to rat out their plot. You promised protection for the duration of the investigation and now that it's over you cut me lose and I left for Lion's Arch to start over." She shrugged again, still feeling slightly unsure, "It won't take long for rumors to exaggerate my appearance enough for people to forget or misinterpret what I look like enough for me to come back but until then it's best I don't refresh their memory." She paused, "So I'll just lay low and hide out for a bit. Operate at night and all that, um, stuff."

The Countess had a coy grin as Jai trailed off, "You need to work on your conclusions pet, but in all a solid plan. However, I have a better idea." She looked over to Logan, "Captain, why don't you deploy her to Harathi Hinterlands to assist in the Centaur Wars? I could even cover her as a Shining Blade agent offered as a sign of cooperation between our militaries. We both benefit and present a united front to the Ministry."

Logan's jaw dropped, "Absolutely not! I am not about to send her off to a war just on some rumors!"

"Logan!" Jai half-shouted, her raised voice catching him by surprise, "I'll do it. It's the best plan we've got and everyone benefits." "Besides," the assassin thought to herself, "If I join the Centaur War I can fight without worrying about keeping my opponents alive, and I'll be able to test more of what effects of the Realm I still have."

"Jai, this is not-" She cut him off again, "I know what's involved. Besides, you do remember what we discussed in the swamp right?"

Seeing the man sigh and drag his hand down his face the Countess grinned, "Excellent! Well then pet, I shall send a missive to your soon to be commanding officer, the cover must be thorough, no? And I already have one in mind."

Arching a brow Jai shrugged.

"One more night," Logan added, "Just spend one more night at the barracks before I start worrying about you being trampled to death."

"Alright," she said, giving the man a soft grin before walking back up the stairs, the heavy wooden door shutting gently behind her as she slowly pushed it closed to keep it quiet.

For a while all was silent, Seraph Captain and Shining Blade Exemplar saying nothing as they stared at a candle burning lowly while its soft orange glow flickered as both were lost in thought. "She reminds me of someone…" Anise muttered softly.

"Is that a complement? Or an insult?" Logan asked dryly,

Anise chuckled, "Oh, it's intended as a complement." She paused, "Have you figured anything out?"

Logan shot her a reprimanding look, "I don't go around giving away my friends' secrets." He sighed, "I still don't know how you found out about some of her more odd traits."

"Logan, it was child's play to ask the barmaid who witnessed our mutual friend's healing of her father. And I can see the rest. Although I do confess some concern, grey skin, black blood and the most peculiar eyes." She trailed off.

The guardian was silent for a bit, "I've heard tell of some beings called Largos, they're supposedly assassins from the deep oceans that have started showing up on 'hunts'. Jai doesn't have any wing-things but do you think they could have been cut off or something? Like exile? It could explain her lack of knowledge on things" he ran his fingers through his hair, "I honestly don't know what she really is. I've looked up everything I can that's got a similar physicality to Jai, even paid that Delaqua investigator to check a few things out discretely but she came back only with the largos thing. She also suggested a lich, since they were undead that could disguise themselves using the appearance they had when they were alive but Jai shows no signs of necromancy, or mesmerism for that matter." He let out a slight huff, amusement tugging his mouth into a lopsided grin, "Besides, it's hard to think of the woman who was frantically asking for help because she didn't know how to deal with a crying kid and a fearsome undead lich as the same thing."

Anise just hummed noncommittally, "And her story of being raised by a thug dreaming of Am Fah glory days?." She muttered.

He shrugged, "It could be all a metaphor, she's been going to some history lessons at Kormir's plaza and visiting the Priory's embassy. Or she could have been adopted by human bandits. I really don't know, there's so many what-if's."

A pregnant pause filled the air for a few seconds, "Anise," Logan queried, "Regardless of what she may be she still seems to be on our side at the least. Please at least try to keep her safe would you?"

"Oh Logan," Anise teased, "You care for the little pet?"

The man squawked in protest, "Of course, I'm her friend! And she needs somebody to look after her!"

OOO

A violent jarring jolted Jai awake, the covered wagon she shared with a couple Seraph having ridden over a pothole as the dim lantern hanging above them swung too and fro. Snuggling deeper into her blanket that Jai had cocooned around herself the assassin went back to ignoring the jostling of the wagon that was transporting her and Seraph reinforcements to the village of Seraph's Landing. Three days of traveling in a caravan as rain drizzled lightly but persistently had made for a miserable time, yet Jai couldn't help but spend much of the travel time sleeping or simply staring out the back of the wagon she was in. Seeing Tyria still was a marvel for her, even the light rain had garnered a wondrous stare as she ended up holding a hand out just to feel it for over an hour as the sheer novelty of the experience blew her away. It had rained her first night back in Tyria, but now she could simply sit back and enjoy it.

Her strange actions hadn't endeared her to the soldiers she was accompanying. Having introduced herself Jai while still keeping her hood down and under her armor a amulet with the Shining Blade emblem she had been loaned by Anise to make the ruse of being a Shining Blade agent; even it temporarily true, believable. The assassin had also oftentimes refrained from joining in on the soldier's conversations, unsure of her place in intruding on the group she was with. Looking over at the others now Jai could see them playing a card game, curious she watched them, not making any motion to join but still watching in amusement as the group chatted and gestured animatedly as they played.

"Hey, Jai!"

Jai blinked in surprise as she realized she was being addressed rather than gossiped about, looking over to the Seraph who had called out to her the assassin tilted her head.

"Wanna join?"

She was taken aback, would it really be that easy? "…I- don't know the rules."

The man grinned as under sandy blond hair his sky blue eyes light up, "We'll teach ya!"

A woman next to him elbowed the man in the ribs, "You mean tell her all the bad hands are good just so you can beat someone, right?" She retorted in a dry tone.

He scowled playfully, "Oh you wound me my dear, I don't need to resort to such methods with my luck!"

Another man with a scruffy brown beard snorted, "Riiight," He drawled, "That's why you were the only one to lose all your armor last time we played in Nebo Terrace, hm?"

"Bah" The blond man waved off, "Just a spot of bad luck."

"And lost all your ale rations," "and had to wear those tights after losing that other bet," the others chimed in teasingly.

But the one who apparently had horrible luck was unperturbed. "The things a man will do for love of his country," he jokingly stated with a false air of suffering as everyone laughed.

Shuffling the cards the man looked back at Jai with an impish grin, "So you gonna join super-secret-Shining-Blade-Agent? Or are we too fun for you to handle?"

Scooting closer to the others Jai let a small grin tug at her lips, "I'll give it a go, though I doubt I'll be any good. Knowing my luck, I certainly won't be betting any clothes."

Laughter and jokes filled the wagon for the rest of the time it took to arrive at their destination. It was as she looked around at the grinning faces that Jai realized she was actually having fun.

As the wagons came to a halt, Jai and the others quickly packed up the cards before hopping out. "Thanks for the extra sweets rations Ganes!" one called out cheekily, "I'll win it back soon enough!" the man returned before they parted. "You're with me Agent," He commented offhandedly, leading Jai to assume that her new nickname was apparently 'agent' to her bemusement.

The overcast skies were still bright enough to have Jai tug her hood a little lower before she followed the Seraph who had first invited her to their card game; which she did admittedly lose spectacularly at multiple times, to the center of the camp. Once there a female Seraph saluted, "Captain Ganes sir!"

"At ease Lieutenant Lin," Captain Ganes said seriously before leaning down over a table covered in maps and markings. "I've been debriefed on the road. That centaur camp is practically on our doorstep. As long as they hold it, our operation here is at risk. We have to push them back, and soon."

The lieutenant mimicked the captain, "We've already tried and failed sir," She sighed, "We need a much larger force - or a much stronger one."

Ganes frowned, "We'll have make it happen with the troops we have. More reinforcements aren't going to arrive till we meet up at Bridgewatch with Captain Edwards. Move out what we've got, it's early enough we might catch those hooved bastards off guard."

Once more snapping into a salute the lieutenant left with a "Right away sir!"

Ganes gave the map one last look-over before turning to Jai, "Both Captain Thackeray and Countess Anise spoke of your skills in combat; I want you to join the front lines with my squad and I as part of the charge." He said grimly, a sharp contrast from the joking man before. He held out a hand, "Good luck Agent."

Gripping his hand firmly Jai nodded, "And to you as well sir," She paused before awkwardly adding, "I'd like to lose again at that game."

A wide grin broke over his face as he barked out a laugh, "Hah! If we manage to kill Ulgoth, I'll buy you a drink and we'll toast to our bad luck," he then leaned in with a conspiratorial whisper, "Just don't tell the other's I admitted it."

It was not even two hours later that Jai found herself besides Ganes as they approached a centaur camp. The enemy outpost was in Jai's opinion a rather pathetic and crude attempt at defense, a muddy hill covered in carved spikes and flimsy looking structures constructed out of bent wood and hides. It was especially pitiful looking in the slight drizzle when compared to the high rising obsidian walls and ramparts of the Margonite fortresses in the Realm, "Although, the whole lack of a demonic atmosphere does lighten the mood." Jai thought wryly to herself; it wouldn't do to underestimate her opponent on such a frivolous thing as intimidation alone, after all even a rock was just as effective as the most elegant of swords when it came to killing.

Beside her Ganes jogged ahead a little, raising his sword above his head, "Seraph! Before you is the first of many Centaur camps. This battle will be hard fought, but we will stem the tide! The Centaurs laid siege to the very doors of Shaemoor, but no further! We will cut them back; we will take back our land! And avenge our friends, our families!" His impromptu speech was met with cheers and whoops of the soldiers while Jai looked on silently, "Death to the hooved ones!"

And with that they charged.

The fighting was chaos. Jai stabbed another centaur that ran past her, the blade cutting into the flank eliciting a sharp whinny of pain as it stumbled to the ground before the assassin finished it off. Her face was blank as she paid no heed to the blood on her form, having been in the thick of the fighting as she stuck with Ganes while they plowed through the centaur forces. The Seraph had already suffered casualties, from the boulders lobbed at them from trebuchets during the charge on the camp and to the centaurs themselves as they clashed. Ducking under another strike from a spear one centaur swung at her Jai clenched her jaw, spotting another centaur guarding a trebuchet. Glaring back at her current assailant Jai kicked out at it, knocking it off balance before she killed it off as its vital areas finally fell within reach. Looking down Jai dismissed her blades and grabbed the centaur's fallen spear, testing its balance the assassin decided that it'd do before leaping back into the fray.

Now armed with the larger weapon Jai put her dervish training to use, having picked up on the art in Elona the assassin had found she favored weapons leaning more towards a polearm than the traditional scythe most dervishes used. Eventually she had a war scythe made as a secondary weapon but it was distinctly obvious that it came from the Realm of Torment. Twirling the spear in her hands Jai easily swept the legs out from under another centaur before finishing it off and fluidly moving on to the next combatant. Soon she got into the pirouetting motion her dervish training under Meloni had favored, keeping up her momentum as Jai channeled a poisonous enchantment into the crude metal blade that turned her into a whirlwind of death. "Jai look out!"

Hearing the warning too late Jai felt an explosion of pain rip through her shoulder, forcing her to stumble. "A bullet," She thought idly, having studied up on the new firearms of this time, "A centaur must have shot me," looking around she saw one of the equine foes frantically trying to reload its rifle, packing in the gunpowder as Jai quickly regained her footing. Ignoring the pain she summoned a blade and threw it at the centaur, disappearing in a burst of shadows before shadow stepping to it just as the blade embedded itself into the centaur's abdomen. Holding the spear in one hand, the dagger in the other Jai felt her wound begin to heal with a burning itch. Finishing the centaur off Jai knew she'd have to switch back to both daggers if she wanted to heal herself enough by the end of the fighting to avoid any trips to a medical tent.

"Their commander has shown himself! Prepare yourselves!" Ganes shouted.

Looking around she could see the Captain moving to confront an older looking centaur as the tips of its fur were beginning to go grey, a staff that veritably hummed with magic clenched in its hand. Quickly traversing the battlefield with a shadow step Jai appeared at the Captain's side, "I've got this one," the Captain gasped out, "Take out any ranged forces."

Jai nodded in affirmation, eyes already scanning for any centaurs coming to close or aiming at her or Ganes as she got a nod. It wasn't long before the assassin had to start shadow stepping to any nearby centaur with a rifle and quickly finishing them off, and after being shot an additional two times in the leg and arm respectively the assassin was quickly developing a distaste for the weapons. She much preferred a bow. Guns were too loud, and too damn hard for her to dodge, though she did admit that the time it took to reload gave her a wonderful opening.

Casting a glance back at Ganes as she heard him shout out Jai saw him get pinned down as earthen hands gripped his legs. Sharply inhaling Jai quickly finished off her current engagement with a gash across the neck before she quickly leapt at the centaur commander. She was nearly too late.

Ganes let out a pained yell as a thin spike of rock shot out from beneath him at an odd angle and pierced his leg, emerging from his armor stained a dark red. Meanwhile Jai had barreled into the commander with all the strength she could bear, which was enough to knock the centaur down to the ground before it could complete its spell as she stabbed at it only for the flesh to be shielded by rock and stone. Growling deep in her throat the assassin pulled back a hand that sparked fuschia as she conjured a disenchantment hex before slamming the magically enforced fist against the stony shield. The centaur began scrabbling back up, the motions forcing her to get off or receive a hoof to the gut as one of its arcane defenses faltered. Striking with another hexed hand Jai's magic sundered another magical shield before she tried once again with her blades, this time drawing blood.

The centaur was not idly standing by as she stripped its enchantments however and after scoring a bloody gash across its chest the beast sent out a blast of sand at her, the force pushing the assassin back as she was thrown bodily away from the beast. Propping herself up on her elbows Jai looked up to see the sharpened end of the centaur's staff raised above her for a finishing blow only for a loud bang to bring the world to a halt. Slowly the centaur fell limply to the floor, a bloody hole in its head as Jai looked up to see lieutenant Lin on the other side of the camp with a smoking rifle in her hands and a hard look on her face. "Okay, maybe guns aren't all bad." Jai thought with a grin as she gave the lieutenant quick nod of thanks and getting a snort of laughter from beside her as she looked over to see Ganes awkwardly on the ground and holding his bloodied leg with his hands as a strained smile stretched over his face.

"Shit!" She thought, quickly scrabbling over, "So Agent, know any top-secret quick healing spells? Not to complain," Ganes said tersely, "But this kinda hurts a bit."

Around them Jai could hear the centaurs calling a retreat, the Seraph cheering at their victory.

Giving the man a deadpan glare the assassin quickly called out "Medic! I need a medic over here!"

Another Seraph quickly came over; white and gold robes stained brown from the mud. "What's the- oh dear."

Jai ignored him, "I can remove the spike but I need you ready to heal the wound." The medic gave her a surprised look, "Pulling it out would only make the wound worse!"

"I'm not going to pull it out; I'm going to crumble it to dust." She shot back and waited for the medic to nod; once she got confirmation and ignoring Ganes' "You're going to what?" she disenchanted the stone, causing it to crumble back to regular dirt as he gasped out in pain. Almost immediately conjured water flooded the wound, cleansing the residual dirt and contaminants before plopping to the ground next to him as a brown and red puddle before more water went back into the wound before quickly turning red.

The elementalist frowned, soggy brown hair shadowing his eyes, "I don't know if I can heal something this serious, he's nicked an artery."

Eyes widening Jai cursed, looking around she saw a fallen centaur nearby, breathing heavily as it slowly bled out but still alive. Glancing back to Ganes she held out one of her blades, pommel first. "Grab this."

Ganes and the elementalist blinked dumbly, "Uh, I don't think a dagger's going to help me Agent."

"I'll explain later. Grab it." She hissed at him, prompting the man to shrug before grabbing the blade, gasping as he felt it slowly pull at his strength. It was a side effect Jai had found others suffered when wielding her blades, but she never felt it herself. The assassin figured it was because she had essentially inherited the blades in a twisted sense from her ancestor when she killed Shiro. Wasting no time Jai quickly dragged the man to the dying centaur before guiding his hand into stabbing it.

"What are-!" Ganes cut himself off as he felt the energy rush in. The elementalist gaped as he replaced the blood-tainted liquid with fresh healing water and saw the wound begin knitting itself closed. Slowly they both looked at her, their desire for explanation clearly in their eyes, but she pointedly ignored them. Looking back to the wound as it gradually became nothing more than a round pink scar and as the centaur died of blood loss, its skin tightening as the corpse gained a slightly shriveled look, Ganes let go of the handle as though burned, "That- I-"

The elementalist however was giving her blades a critical eye, "It almost looks like blood-magic. I've got a brother whose talents laid in the necromantic arts. He went and joined the Priory and I remember him babbling once about enchanted weapons that used to be quite common." Humming in thought he continued musing, "If that's true then those are some damn old blades."

A cynical half-grin tugged at Jai's face as she shrugged, "I got them soulbound. Enchanted with vampiric properties."

Ganes whistled appreciatively, "Sounds useful, though it makes me wonder just how much punishment you can put yourself through."

Shrugging Jai got up, dusting off her knees despite the futility of the action due to the mud, "Eh, I'd rather not find out the hard way. Let's just leave it at a couple stab wounds at worst hmm?" In her head Jai continued, "And paired with demonic body it includes severe and fatal stab wounds in multiple places before falling unconscious after the fight due to sheer bloody exhaustion. In the Realm anyway."

"Well, I for one am very glad the Countess assigned you to our platoon." Ganes said as he got up slowly, still testing his leg, "Saved my skin that's for sure!" he barked out a laugh as he gave her a hearty slap on the back.

Jai blinked, before she sent him a small tentative grin.

Turning away from her Ganes addressed the gathered soldiers, "This is the beginning, centaurs! We're coming for all of your bases, one by one." The others cheered. "Lieutenant, reinforce this position and prepare the forces to continue advancing. We can't lose this momentum."

Lieutenant Lin snapped into a salute, "Aye aye, sir!"

OOO

The next two weeks were a blur of fighting. The Seraph with Jai had captured the Bridgewatch Camp, rigging traps and repairing defenses before hunkering down against the Centaur's retaliatory attempts to recapture their lost ground. After notifying her Captain of her stealth skills Jai had quickly been assigned to a role of scout and saboteur, burning lumber, freeing and escorting slaves to safety along with poisoning Centaur food supplies had gained a degree of respect from the Seraph forces the assassin was assigned to. It was an odd experience, having strangers meet her with grins and salutes.

Though that was not to say Jai didn't get involved in the thickest of the fighting; abusing her stronger constitution that came as a result of her demonic physiology with the energizing properties of her blades, the assassin oftentimes fought with the rest of the Seraph, specifically targeting the Centaur's sages to keep them from doing wide-spread damage with their earthen elemental magic.

It was as the two main forces of the Seraph offensive met up at Kingsgate Camp that plans changed.

"Agent!"

Looking up from where she sat by a campfire cleaning her leather armor of blood Jai saw Ganes approaching her with a letter in his hand. Frowning she set her armor down and met up with the man.

Huffing in displeasure Ganes gestured with the letter, "You've received a summons. Seems one of your fellows is missing and another wants to find him."

Jai's frown deepened, "Yea," Agreed Ganes, "Apparently she's gotten reports of you rescuing centaur prisoners and requested your help since you are the only other Shining Blade active in this area."

Sighing Jai took the letter and read it over, eyes skimming the information Ganes had already summarized for her and finding the name and location of the other agent.

Feeling a hand clamp down on her shoulder the assassin looked up into Ganes' worried face, "Look, my men have been hearing rumors of a giant in those caves. I'd hate to lose my best scout and your sabotage efforts have helped tremendously but I can't argue with the higher ups. Stay safe alright? I still owe you that drink once we mount Ulgoth's tail on a plaque."

Smiling gently Jai nodded, "I'll be fine, you look after yourself Ganes." She said softly before turning away to start packing.

It took only an afternoon's travel and stealthily cutting though a centaur camp for Jai to arrive at the cave the Shining Blade agent had described. Approaching the large entrance the assassin spotted a figure garbed in blues and golds. Making sure to step on a few sticks and rustle some leaves as she approached Jai nodded to the other agent when she turned around to acknowledge her. "Agent Kimber,"

"So you made it." Kimber stated, bark-brown eyes darted up and down assessing her. "I'll be brief; my husband went missing, no notice and nearly no trail but I managed to track him down to here. The issue however is that there's a giant guarding the entrance."

"So the rumors were right," Jai thought with a grimace, "Can't we sneak around it then?"

The agent shook her head, "No, not even my superiors know where he's gone." She sighed, "I don't want to admit it but if he's gone AWOL we'll have to bring him in. Plus who knows what is deeper in this cave, we can't afford to risk having Kol corner us in there."

Frown deepening Jai responded, "Makes sense, but do you think the two of us can take him? I haven't fought a giant before so I don't know what we're up against."

Kimber's frown lightened to a cocky smirk, "I'm sure we can take him, I just knew I couldn't take him alone but from the reports I've intercepted we'll be fine."

Jai had to bite back a groan, "I've got a bad feeling about this.", "Well, lead the way. I guess."

Creeping into the cave with Kimber, the Shining Blade Agent and assassin both crouched just out of sight of the massive giant standing guard just inside the cave. "Bad feeling getting stronger." Jai thought as the immense figure came into view. Wearing a loincloth made of several pelts with tribal looking tattoos swirling up one arm and half his chest the giant certainly cut an intimidating figure.

Hefting her blade the agent gave her a strained grin, "Ready?" and with that she charged off straight into the giant's vision, much to Jai's incredulity.

"Who dares trespass?! Leave the cave of Kol Skullsmasher!" the giant's massive voice boomed out, the sound reverberating in Jai's very bones as the assassin joined Kimber with her blades at the ready. "Uh, nobody does?" she bemoaned in her mind, knowing it wouldn't do any good being said.

The giant's single eye focused on the two women below him before his massive chest stretched as the giant inhaled a massive breath. Turning to her temporary companion Jai commented dryly, "I hate you right now." And then Kol roared.

The massive blast of sound and exhaled air buffeted Jai, her lean figure not standing up to the sheer forced being expelled against her as she shielded her face. Beside her Kimber wasn't faring much better as she retreated behind her shield. While both were distracted Kol smashed down on the ground, a massive shockwave blasting out towards them and shaking the very earth below the two women. "Shit!"

Looking back up at the giant Jai felt her eyes grow wide seeing it start taking massive strides towards her and Kimber, the distance between them easily closing due to its long stride. "Shit, shit, shit!"

Pushing the Shining Blade agent's shoulder Jai shouted, "Go go!" before they both started running.

The fight was extremely one-sided, and in Jai's opinion couldn't even be called a fight as she dodged another boulder being tossed at her and Kimber, shadow stepping the agent and herself out of the deadly projectile's path yet again. All they were doing was exhausting themselves as they ran around in circles. "Got a plan?!" She shouted.

"Don't die!"

Jai felt an eye twitch, "Ya think?!"

Kimber shot her a glare, "You got anything better?"

Looking back at the giant Jai grimaced, she didn't have any ranged weapons on her and she couldn't think of any hexes that would affect something that large. "Stay here, distract him when I signal." Charging up a magical poison Jai saturated her blades in the corrosive magic causing them to glow an ominous red before she ran up the small ramp that headed up towards the entrance. Kol turned to her, the trailing glow drawing his attention as he roared at her once again. Narrowing her eyes Jai's path wobbled but she eventually reached a high enough altitude where she was on par with his shoulders. "NOW!"

Kimber jumped out of the bushes she had hidden in with a war cry, sword raised before she struck out at Kol's ankles. The agent didn't manage much damage but as Kol turned around to deal with her it was all Jai needed.

Charging forwards Jai felt her feet pound on the hard-packed soil as her legs burned after running from the giant for so long but the assassin ignored it in favor of launching herself at Kol's turned back. Launching herself off the cliff Jai sailed silently though the air, both blades held out in reverse grip as she hung suspended in mid-air for a heartbeat before landing on her foe's shoulders, blades digging deep into flesh. The instant her blades drew blood Kol roared out in fury and pain as the assassin felt reinvigorated as her weapons' vampiric properties began working their magic. The giant began thrashing around, arms trying to reach her as Jai clung to the blades in his back but for once the giant's muscle-bound form worked against him as the assassin dangled just out of reach.

Using the new rush of energy flowing through her Jai channeled it into the poison enchantment she kept up on her blades, each pulse of her magic causing another spasm and roar of pain in her foe. Gritting her teeth Jai tightened her grip on one blade as she ripped the other out with a savage twist and spray of blood only to stab it in again and repeat. Motivated by Jai's actions Kimber began hacking away at Kol's legs again, stabbing instead of slashing in an attempt to injure the giant's legs enough to bring him down to the ground.

It was then that Kol reacted. Stomping down on the ground the giant glared furiously at Kimber and faster than she could react hit her with a back-handed slap, sending the Shining Blade agent flying into the nearby rock wall which she hit with a dull thud before falling to the floor and lying motionless. Jai blinked in shock as she was violently shaken from Kol's back as the giant almost dropped to one knee to dislodge her enough to be in his reach. The assassin's blood chilled as she felt his massive hand grip her left leg and pull, hard. Gasping out in pain Jai felt her shoulder pop as it dislocated and her grip on her blades was lost before she was dangled upside down in front of the giant.

"May you find failure and sorrow wherever you go for this injury you cause me!" Kol ground out angrily. Then the world lurched.

Jai could almost feel every bone in her body breaking as Kol smashed her against the ground. Gasping out in agony the assassin couldn't even react as she felt her limp and broken body be lifted and then smashed into the ground again. Her vision swam and what little she could see was so heavily blurred and distorted from head trauma there was nothing she could do as she numbly felt the pressure around her leg disappear before a massive foot came down on her head.

Kol gave a grunt of satisfaction as he lifted his foot and gazed down dispassionately at the black smear on the ground under his foot. It was unusual that his human didn't bleed red but nothing could live without a head. It was then that he noticed something odd, leaning down to look the giant quickly pulled back as a pitch black skull formed out of the beaten and broken body that began to pick itself up, six glowing purple eyes; four on the forehead and two in the sockets glared hatefully at him as the black blood boiled and reformed the human he had just killed, an ugly snarl on her face.

Coming back from the darkness Jai could feel the Torment energy pulling her body back together; just like back in the Realm she could feel her body regrowing, as her vision returned and the pitch black bled away to reveal a shocked Kol the assassin felt anger boiling in her veins. "Grenth's guts that hurt!"

Not bothering with the blades still embedded in Kol's back Jai slowly got up and held her hands out as vibrant fuchsia magic flared out as it twisted and twined into an elegant pattern as pitch black shadows hardened into a deadly edge as her hands clenched shut on a deadly war scythe. Drawing fully on the eldritch magic embedded into her very being the demoness' eyes briefly flared a glowing purple as she let out an echoing demonic screech before she charged at the giant.

Kol smashed down at her only for Jai's form to disperse into shadows as she shadow-stepped directly behind the giant and swung out with the slightly curved blade that jutted out parallel to the haft of her war scythe. The weapon cut deep into the back of Kol's knee and calf, severing hamstrings and tendons along with muscle as scarlet blood sprayed out of the wound. Heedless of the blood covering her; both her own and Kol's, Jai struck out again forcing the giant down onto one knee.

Her war scythe was a weapon forged from raw Torment magic, forged from the condensed and crystalized bodies of several demons she had killed in the Domains of Anguish. With the help of a turn coat Margonite known as The Lost she had learned how to completely kill a demon and crystalize its soul. While such a technique couldn't entirely kill a higher caliber demon like Mallyx the Unyielding or even the first Margonite Jadoth had she and her companions not killed the latter with holy magic on their way to confront Abbadon, it was still extremely exhausting for her to use on even the lowest of demons. However it had been worth gathering enough of the crystals to forge her scythe and even reinforce her blades since they were quite old.

Seeing a massive hand coming her way Jai nimbly leapt into the air as it swept beneath her only for her to come down on it with a downwards impalement as gravity reasserted itself on her form. Kol once more yelled out in pain before Jai channeled her mana through the blade, the Torment tinged magic lashing out at Kol as it traveled through his bloodstream like a virulent poison. Violently twisting the war scythe imbedded in the giant's forearm Jai let go as she saw Kol's eye squeeze shut in pain before running up his arm; summoning her blades back to her hands as she did so, the metal flared red again as they met her grip.

As the demoness made it up to Kol's shoulder she struck out at his head, scoring a deep cut on his cheek with one blade and as the giant reflexively turned to her direction she cut a jagged slash across his eye. Kol lurched as he was blinded, hands coming up to his face as though it would stop the pain. The movement dislodged Jai and as she fell the assassin twisted and dug a blade into Kol's hunched over form, the blade slicing open a gaping wound as she came to a stop. Teeth gritted Jai used her blades to climb up the giant's back, finally reaching the head she left her blades embedded in his shoulders and summoned her war scythe in a flare of fuchsia before thrusting with all the strength she could muster into the base of the giant's skull.

Suddenly everything went silent but for the ringing in Jai's ears as Kol's pained roars were abruptly cut off. Gripping her war scythe the assassin buried her head in her elbow as she rode the giant's body while is fell to the ground with a loud, shuddering thud. Opening her eyes Jai let go of the haft, letting the weapon fade back into her mana pool and sighing in relief as she felt the slight strain at keeping it in existence ease. Reaching back the assassin found her blood soaked hood plastered to her back before bringing it back over her head with a disgusted grimace. Her leather armor didn't show any signs of the brutal death she had suffered, the material simply bending when her body had been crushed to a paste. Although, it was still soaked in her and Kol's blood much to her distaste. Staggering the assassin's vision flickered black as the sheer exhaustion of regenerating herself so quickly hit her.

"Well, that isn't how I'd like to find out, but I guess I didn't lose anything upon leaving the Realm. Joy." Jai sighed, "Where's Kimber?"

Looking around the assassin found the agent crumpled on the ground by one of the cave walls, grimacing again Jai hoped the woman was still alive. Crouching down by the other woman the assassin let out a sigh of relief as she felt Kimber's shallow breaths, "Good, still alive."

Staggering upwards once more Jai leaned back as she stretched her back and nearly fell over again as she leaned a bit too far, "I always did feel woozy after dying," she mused before looking down at the still unconscious Kimber. "I was damn lucky she was knocked out, I don't even want to think about what would have happened had she still been awake. I need to be more careful, next time someone says 'let's go kill a giant' I'll tell them to jump into the Stygian Maw."

Grabbing the unconscious woman and draping her over her shoulders, Jai wrapped an arm around one of Kimber's and around a leg before trying to continue on trembling legs deeper into the cave only for her limbs to give out on her as she crashed back to the ground. Once again her vision wavered in and out as the assassin lay under the more heavily armored Agent, "I… I'm too exhausted,"

Jai wasn't able to heal herself, though her body was physically fine regenerating itself always exhausted her magic to such a degree that she could barely move if she wasn't in the middle of a fight and could constantly reenergize herself with her blades. She couldn't use Kol, once something was dead her blades did nothing. Finishing off Kol had cost what energy she had gained while fighting him just to keep going.

Weakly pushing Kimber off of her Jai decided that the other woman was her best bet, wrapping the unconscious agent's hand around one of her blade's handles Jai pulled off an already black blood soaked glove and cut herself on the edge of the steel. Gradually her lightheadedness got worse as the dagger drained her blood, while Kimber's bones cracked as they mended. Just as she began to stir Jai quickly put her glove back on and dematerialized the blade. The last thing she saw before falling unconscious was Kimber's eyes opening, she never even felt herself hitting the ground.

OOO

She was moving up and down. The motion was the first thing Jai felt upon regaining consciousness, the second was feeling arms wrapped around one of her own and her leg as the rest of her was draped over something. "Or someone," Jai thought blearily as she dragged herself into awareness, the lethargy pulling at her mind almost making her feel as though she were literally pulling herself awake. Finally opening her eyes the assassin immediately shut them again as the bright rays of the sun stabbed at her eyes, the burning pain so intense it almost brought tears.

"You're awake."

Reaching up with her free arm to tug her hood back over her head Jai let out a slurred "Yea,"

The feminine voice came from right beside her, "C'mon," Jai felt herself be lowered to the ground and propped up against something rough and cold, she lazily opened her eyes slightly as she heard fingers snapping right in front of her nose. "Hey, stay with me."

"Mmmm," Even talking felt like too much effort, "Sleep sounds good, this rock is comfy."

Just as her eyes slid shut again they snapped open as Jai's cheek was lightly slapped rapidly. "Jai, I need you to stay with me."

Slowly the fuzzy shapes sharpened to reveal Kimber looking at her with a concerned frown. "Oh thank the gods!" She sighed upon noticing Jai's eyes focus on her, "You scared the shit out of me passing out like that."

Blinking away the last dregs of slumber Jai tried to sit up only to collapse back onto her rock, "Husband? Kol? How long?"

Snorting in slight amusement Kimber sat down next to the assassin, "Turns out my husband didn't go AWOL, he was investigating a secret entrance to the Centaur's War Council. With you out of it we snuck in and rigged the place with Iron Legion explosives and blew those donkeys to the Mists when they convened. Good thing we did kill Kol since the explosion would certainly have grabbed his attention." Kimber shook her head, "And you've only been out for about three hours. Benk- my husband- stayed behind to guard the door and I decided to take you back to the Seraph forces in case you needed any medical attention. You seemed fine; no broken bones or cuts, but after you saved my ass we wanted to make sure even if it meant we'd be apart for a bit longer."

Humming to show she was listening Jai reassured Kimber she'd be fine. "M' only drained," She floppily waved off, "Just used too much...uh…magic. Last-re-re- what's the word?"

"Resort?"

"Yah, that." Jai sighed, "Can't think straight."

"Oh," there was a pause, "Think you can walk? No offence but you're heavier than you look."

Snorting Jai nodded, "I might need to lean on you a bi-" she was cut off by a yawn "-t but It'll help me wake up."

Together they slowly walked back to the Kingsgate, trudging through fields of hard-packed and dry earth dotted with short stumps. Eventually Jai removed herself from Kimber's shoulder once she felt awake enough not to trip over her own feet and they had stopped dragging on the path. By that point Jai bid the agent farewell. "I should be able to make it back by myself. You can go back now." She said with a wry grin.

Kimber shook her head, "I said I'd make sure you'd get back to the Seraph camp, and you were really out of it just a while ago."

"I'm fine now." Jai assured, "The camp should be just over that ridge." "And I've noticed you looking back every few steps."

The agent sent another look back towards the direction Kol's cave was in. "You sure?" she pressed hesitantly.

But Jai just waved her off, "Go,"

With a nod she was off, and Jai was alone.

Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes as she felt a light breeze brush against her face the assassin turned back to the Kingsgate and continued walking, but picked up the pace as the closer she got the louder a strange sound got. Cresting the ridge she felt her eyes widen as suddenly she felt her heart be grabbed in an icy vice.

The centaur's gate was burning; the Seraph's final assault had started.

OOO

In his office Logan was forced to look up from his paperwork as a throat was politely cleared in front of him. His irritated expression quickly turned to surprise when he saw the Countess standing before him. "Logan, do you have a minute? I've received word about our mutual friend."

"Of course, I-"

The Countess gestured for him to follow, "Walk with me would you?"

Falling silent the pair left the Seraph Headquarters, taking a stroll in the gardens just outside and eventually coming to a stop in an empty corner. "What's the news?"

Anise tisked, "Patience Logan," she chided, "It seems our secretive friend has made herself an asset." Pulling out a piece of paper she began to read, "As for the agent by the name of Jai she has proven herself an invaluable resource. Not only is she capable of handling herself in a fight but she even volunteered to go behind enemy lines-"

Logan inhaled sharply.

"-And has sabotaged the centaur forces by starting fires, setting traps, weakening structures, poisoning supplies. Not only has she returned from each scouting mission unscathed and fight in each assault, but she has also freed and escorted no less than twenty former slaves whom we have sent back to Seraph's Landing." Looking up Anise gave Logan a coy grin, "The letter continues to sing praises, it seems your request will go through after all. The pet may not have been able to gain an audience with the Queen as 'Jai-no name' but she certainly will be able to without question from the Ministry as a hero of the Centaur War effort."

Across from her Logan was not as enthusiastic, "Scouting and fighting? Is she even sleeping? She already tends to forget meals, who does that?" He grumbled.

"You worry too much, besides if everything goes according to the plan in this letter then our forces will assault Ulgoth's camp itself and kill the Centaur Warlord. Just in time for the matter involving the orders."

Giving her a skeptical look Logan asked, "What would Jai have to do with that?"

Daintily placing her hands on her hips Anise smirked, "Why, what better way to initiate Jai into an order than by exposing her to all three as an agent of the crown? She did express interest in joining one did she not? This way she sees all three in action and solves another issue that the Queen would have to delegate due to the bickering between the three. All the while appeasing the pride of any Ministers should they have issues with not being picked as an advocate of the crown in such matters due to her recently gained cedibility."

Nodding slowly Logan added, "And if she waypoints back from Harathi Hinterlands she'll be able to easily make it back in time."

Clapping her hands together Anise grinned, "I love it when a plan comes together, but-" the grin slid off her face, "-You did teach her how to waypoint, right?"

Her only response was Logan's hand smacking his forehead.

OOO

Step by step Jai's feet pounded on the ground, each puff of breath she drew pushing her harder. Up ahead she could hear metal clashing on metal, war-cries both human and centaur alike growing more coherent the closer she got. Leaning down she snatched another centaur spear off the ground, holding it at the ready the assassin shadow stepped onto the roof of a nearby structure only to immediately launch herself off of it and right into the thick of the fighting. Her landing broken by a surprised centaur as she broke its spine with the force of her landing the assassin immediately lashed out with the spear, cutting down another as she left it impaled in the heart. Jumping off the falling centaur Jai whipped out her blades, magic already thrumming through her body as the blades flared red. Spinning as a whirlwind of death the assassin was in constant fluid motion. Slashing, hacking, and turning to block blow after blow, fully immersing herself into the flow of combat Jai let her instincts take over.

Breath in- roll under a machete, spring up and retaliate.

Breath out- hold up her blades to block a shield, feel her arms go slightly numb with the force but ignore it and kick at her assailant.

Around her the Seraph were rallying together, all around the field Jai gathered them together, cutting down the centaurs that were ganging up on a human and defending any wounded till they could be picked up by their comrades. The assassin ignored any exclamations about her presence, focusing only on what was relevant to the fight. "Lin, duck!"

Lieutenant Lin ducked, and one of Jai's blades soared over her to impale a centaur that was about to trample her from behind. Seeing the beast fall to the ground the other woman looked back at Jai as the assassin summoned her blade back to herself. "We can handle the fighting here agent! Ganes and Edwards need all the help they can get past the gate."

Nodding to show she understood Jai began shadow stepping across the field, cutting down any centaurs that got to close. She could feel her arms and legs begin to tremble, her earlier exhaustion beginning to come back only for Jai to push it away. "I can't stop now,"

Passing the broken down gate Jai was just in time to see a canine-like monster leap at a Seraph, its maw of razor sharp rocks easily cutting through the man's steel armor as it shook its head violently. The bright golden magic holding the construct together gleamed past the gaps in its earthen hide and burning from its eyes. Catching a breath Jai felt a spark of anger throb with her heartbeat when she recognized the soldier in the monster's jaws. "Ganes," She whispered before she sprung into action.

Chaining together her shadow steps the assassin appeared before the rock dog as she named it in her mind before springing upwards and landing on it, burying both blades in its back before twisting them violently, cracking the stone around the gaps she used to insert her blades. Immediately she gasped as she felt the raw primal magic animating the rock dog being drained into her, so much raw magic that it burned. Gritting her teeth the assassin wove the magic back through her arms, tendrils of smoky black and crackling fuchsia swirled around her arms as she slammed a massive orb of her shadow magic into the beast with a grunt of effort. The moment her spell made contact bright magenta runes began inscribing themselves in a circle around the rock dog before chains of pure black materialized in a flurry and dug deep into its hide. Within seconds the beast was completely immobilized.

Panting from the massive drop in magic resulting from restraining such a creature Jai replenished herself by gripping her daggers once again. Pulling them out and stabbing in again, a dis-enchantment hex saturating the blades as she tried to disturb the magics holding it together enough for it to fall apart. Noticing that the rock dog was restrained the nearby Seraph began hacking at it as well. It was without warning that Jai's hex snapped, the beast breaking free of its restraints and rampaging forwards, dropping Ganes from its mouth but also trampling him. "No! Damnit!"

Looking up Jai saw another group of Seraph being led by another with a winged helmet cautiously circling another rock dog as a third lay dead, golden light gone. Glaring down at the beast she was still on top of the assassin felt a wild plan form in her mind. "Incoming!" She yelled out.

Stabbing her blades down once again Jai channeled her already flagging levels of magic into her muscles, boosting her strength to just enough to stab into the stone at the base of the beast's neck. With both blades embedded into the rocky shell she pulled.

Ahead of her Seraph jumped out of the way as her rock dog took a sharp turn as its head was turned against its will, turning to face the other rock dog. Glaring hard at the other canine monster ahead of her Jai held on resolutely as her own beast ran into it, both colliding together with a massive crash and cracking of stone. Jolted by the collision Jai was thrown from her beast onto the ground, rolling with the inertia as she slowly came to a halt. Slowly getting up and coughing out dirt and blood Jai glanced back at the beasts, their golden glows already beginning to fade as both their heads had crumbled under the impact.

"No! This is not how it will be." A deep voice called out, anger dripping from every syllable.

Whipping her head around Jai saw the same centaur from her first night back in Tyria glaring down at them all from within his magical shield.

A hand entering her vision had the assassin flinching back before following it to see a Seraph, "Captain Edwards, I assume you're that Shining Blade agent Captain Ganes always talked about." Coughing out more blood that trailed down her chin like black tar she took the woman's hand. "That dirt and mud's nasty ain't it?" Huffing only to wince feeling bruised ribs Jai panted out, "Yea to both, is Ganes?"

"Dead, sorry. You tried your best." She stated sympathetically.

Gritting her teeth angrily Jai leaned down on her knees, just barely staying standing, "Whatever centaur summoned those things is going to pay, painfully." She growled.

Across from her Edwards chuckled hollowly, "You'll get your chance. Look alive, agent. Ulgoth's got another surprise for us."

The centaur up on the cliff; Ulgoth, slammed its staff down onto the earth in a familiar gesture, "You will pay! Answer this, hummingbirds: how does one fight the wind?"

All around them the light breeze picked up into vicious gusts, howling in her ears as the kicked up dirt began forming multiple cyclones that careened around the field knocking down and bodily tossing Seraph soldiers about. Simultaneously Jai felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle as the earth rumbled. "You fucking shit."

Massive skeletal earthen hands sprouted from the ground, a familiar nimbus of magic charging the atmosphere as the same gargantuan earth elemental was summoned once again. This time the Seraph had been far back enough to avoid the sharp claws as the hands came up but now there was no handy guardian to block any massive projectiles. Next to her Edwards started barking out orders, "Spread out and focus on the hands!" turning back to Jai who was still leaning on her knees the woman asked, "Can you still fight?"

Looking her in the eye, even if the woman couldn't see her own through the shadow of her hood Jai let a bloodthirsty grin show on her face, "I'm not out yet," "I'll show that bastard just what happens when you piss off a torment demon."

Rematerializing her blades Jai charged with Edwards, both women running to the magical construct with blades raised. "Is Ulgoth a one-trick pony? This thing's the exact same as last time." Jai mused, "I just hope this one doesn't blow up." With the rest of the Seraph it didn't take long to eventually destabilize the elemental enough for it to fall apart, thankfully without exploding as violently as the previous but the shockwave still being enough to push Jai's hood off and forcing her to shield her eyes.

"Enough of this! I'll deal with you myself!" Ulgoth called out once more, this time galloping down his cliff. "I'll crush your fragile bones with a flick of my mind." He growled, tossing aside Seraph with a flick of his staff, the earth obeying his commands as boulders jutted out around him.

Eventually the centaur came to a halt before Jai and Edwards, eyes scanning them both before locking on to Jai as she removed her arm from her eyes to pull her hood back on. "You!" He roared as he stood back on his two hind legs, the front two kicking out angrily, "Dust to bone and bone to dust, crush the flesh and bloody the earth."

Jai and Edwards were forced to jump away from a massive avalanche of rock that tried to bury them alive. "What'd you do to piss him off?"

"I was at Shaemoor." Jai called back, only to dodge again as a spike of rock nearly impaled her.

Yelling out a war cry Edwards charged at Ulgoth only to be forced back as a boulder hit her shield dead-center with enough force to knock the woman off her feet. Following Edwards with her eyes Jai could see more centaurs flooding in through the gates, "Take your men and hold off the reinforcements, I'll handle Ulgoth." She called out, getting a winded nod from the fallen Captain.

Turning back to the assassin Ulgoth glared at her ominously as he raised a hand and clenched it tight. Looking down in shock Jai saw numerous earthen hands rise up from the earth and grasp at her legs, pinning her in place. Head shooting back up Jai watched as Ulgoth raised his staff, sharpened end ready to skewer her through. But as he thrust down his staff hit nothing but shadow as Jai vanished into black smoke, immediately cloaking herself in invisibility as she emerged from her shadow step behind the centaur.

Keeping her footsteps as light as possible Jai didn't risk approaching Ulgoth, with his obvious mastery of earthen magic she couldn't be sure he wouldn't be able to detect her movements through the ground so she did the other option available to her. Pulling back her arm Jai charged one blade with the most debilitating poison enchantment she could and threw it at the centaur. Suddenly drawing back Ulgoth dodged the blade embedding itself into his heart but it still cut a deep furrow through his arm, the poison arching into his flesh with a flash of fuchsia as he yelled out in pain while the poison caused his hand to spasm uncontrollably.

Her stealth fading away Jai didn't wait for Ulgoth to recover, charging forwards she was forced to drop into a roll beneath a staff being swung out towards her before she skidded to a halt and leapt at Ulgoth, her crossed blades meeting his staff with a loud dull clack. "I'll bury you beneath the weight of my fury!"

Snarling Jai knocked his staff away, "Not unless I send you to the Mists first."

Kicking out with her demonic strength Jai forced Ulgoth to canter backwards as he tried to get more distance between them but she stayed close, forcing the centaur to constantly keep rearing backwards as he tried to fend her off with one hand to wield his staff. Jai had managed to score several cuts on the centaur and Ulgoth had managed a hard hit that would be sure to leave a massive bruise on her already tender ribs when the centaur deliberately raised one hoof. Eyes widening in anticipation Jai immediately jumped up just as the hoof stomped down.

A massive shockwave erupted from the hoof, a clear wave of earthen spikes jutting out from the epicenter and growing longer the farther away they got. Looking at the swath of destruction Jai was immensely glad she had sent the Seraph away for this fight, any who had stayed behind would surely be seriously wounded if not outright killed by such a devastating attack. Knowing she had to finish this Jai once more dug into the torment within her, she didn't want to call such a skill, the absence to the Relm's energies would force her next spell to draw its power solely from herself to the point she was sure it would force her unconscious in her current state. Her blade's red aura quickly turned black, ominous purple pulsed in intricate swirls along the blades as she glared at Ulgoth, "To Torment with you."

With that she swung each blade, the energy thrown off the blades and colliding with Ulgoth as he raised his staff to block in vain. The torment slashes cut right through his defenses, devastating flesh and inflicting agony upon the soul. Such exposure wouldn't condemn him to the Relm, the Seeker of Truth's assurances holding true as Jai had felt her taint being held back from imbuing with the spell though it did nothing to reduce the amount of power behind the attack. As the second wave left her blade Jai fell to her knees, utterly spent as she blearily watched Ulgoth fall to the ground screaming as a noxious purple smoke erupted from his mouth and eyes only to fade away when his body hit the ground. Falling to the ground herself with a puff of dirt Jai just lay there limply, to drained to move as she dimly heard Edwards start shouting "Ulgoth is dead!"

She didn't even know when she went to sleep, her body finally giving out on her.

October 20, 2015
Words: 12,892
Pages: 24

Glossary:
Notes:

-PlanetSmasher: Your recommendation made a heck of a lot more sense (not that it didn't make sense in the first place) when I realized that somehow FF. net took out my "***" page breaks D:
So I went through and put them all back in and decided since the site clearly does not like my symbol page breaks they shall become O's instead. Thanks for the heads up!

-Ok, who all saw theTagachi thing coming? Cuz seriously, I left a hint with all the subtly of a sledgehammer last chapter. You know, the nightmare?

-As for the whole Anise/Livia thing, going through GW1 chronologically Livia had nothing to do with Nightfall, and Razah was only found/joined your party after Abbadon. So in this story since the Nightfall heroes left for Elona right after killing Abbadon they never met Razah and so only know of Demons as Margonites and the other even more twisted forms. Anise could have suspicions but even if she is Livia (which I honestly doubt) she wouldn't be able to recognize Jai as a demon right off the bat. And since she doesn't have any glowy arms she's dismissed as a margonite.

-If curious, Jai is wearing the Subterfuge Hood and Leather Armor in Shadow Orange, Midnight Gold and Rawhide dyes (in that order).

-And the Tormented Scythe is a bit different, in this case Jai's Dervish 2ed profession from GW1 will translate over into GW2 DareDevil. And while I know it's not supposed to happen till Heart of Thorns such skills are not going to be common, she only pulls the War-Scythe out after she's been killed and 'respawns' Anur-Margonite Enraged style. And it's not a regular scythe but a war-scythe which is more like a spear with a curved blade. You all can wiki it.

-Finally I admit to doing this chapter partially because I wanted to put off deciding what order Jai would join, I'm torn between two of them after helping a friend through her personal story for an Alt and now after much lying awake at night thinking about how things would go about I'm leaning towards one of them with valid reasoning why. And also I came out with this chapter because you could be a human street-rat who had connections to a frigging gang and you kill a few centaurs, a few bandits and BAM! Meet the queen! You aren't a security risk at all, in fact, you can meet with her in semi-private! Pfft, like the Ministry would allow that without being involved somehow. So this is set-up chapter, give Jai a bit more fame/infamy like how you had to do stuff to even meet the vabbian princes.

- P.S. Please please please review, it makes my soul and heart sing with joy.