The Rogue, the Slayer and the Mage

Author's Notes: Yes, this is mainly to do with the long forgotten past of our favourite sarcastic Slayer. Plus, a very superstitous Valencia Surehunter gets the shock of her life after the events of this chapter...! Meeheehee. Can she handle meeting... her great-great grandma?!

Doppelganger: (definition) A person who is an exact duplicate of a person and who acts and talks like them. Legend has it if you run into your doppelganger, bad luck and tragedy will rain down upon you.


A dark human figure upon a steed of pale ivory rode down the steep hillside, his cloak billowing in the non-existent wind. No one recognised where this person had hailed from, however most Undead in Darkovia spoke his name with familiar dread.

They called him Artix Krieger of the Golden Order. He rode onwards frantically across valleys and castles of eons long ago. Never pausing, not once he stopped.

"Savant Zaru" he hollered as he sped down the hills as a fiery white star. As the dark figure leapt over a gully of inconceivable depths, his Nightmare steed neighed.

"A message for you from past war decrees of Alpha Wilcox." Haunting grey eyes were waxen with tears as Zaru surveyed the male Paladin, trembling as he read.

"My wife, Lucile Trelicvor? Is she alright?" Mage Zaru questioned weakly. Artix put his hand on the stained parchment, "I'm sorry, I don't know how she joined their cultish Order. She gave her love to him" Zaru gripped the hands in fervour, pleading.

"No! If my relatives knew of this incident, I'll bring dishonour upon our entire bloodline. Dear Lucile had an illegal affair with that damned Eros, isn't that wrong!"

Artix paled. "Did she already give birth?" Zaru asked the dark shining Paladin. There was no need for him to speak, he already knew the truth. It chilled him.

Eros Newt was a charming, docile Slayer who Zaru mistrusted after a tavern brawl involving a flask of 'Vintage Xeric'. Drunken Eros was in a tipsy mood and slapped Zaru clumsily. It soon started a fight involving magical orbs and flashy fencing coming from both parties. At this moment, Zaru's outlook was undeniably changed.

He saw a smile on his wife's face, eyeing Eros with simpering nonchalant expression. According to the Mage, Slayers were slimy misfits of Battleon. Zaru couldn't possibly imagine what Lucile saw in Eros or whether it was his charm or foresight.

It caused the mage to angrily scold his wife after various incidents involving late forays into Darkovian territory, with an excuse each time. "Potions, herbilogy."

Lucile's silken buttery hair framed a passionate face, doe eyes filled with ardour. Elder Zaru was desperate to make the lady stay by his side. Alas, it was never to be. Having enough of the frequent scolding Zaru administered, dear Lucile had fled deep into woods months earlier, claiming love for Eros and him only.

"It's a girl, I think. I'm sorry about this tragedy. Lucile said that Eros will raise it."

"What will I tell my own son? That he has a half-sister that he doesn't know about?"

Artix leant on his axe of gold, he was silent, a plaintive sigh came out of his mouth. He was obliviously thinking of a way to make up for Zaru's unfortunate path, his mouth set in an uncharacteristic grimace. "There is little you can do to redeem yourself, Mage Zaru. It is of Eros's own doing." At this, Zaru nodded sternly.

"However, your son need never know about this incident, if in his youth he takes the path of a just and mighty Paladin. It is the least I can do to repay your services."

Zaru's hands shook, he looked at Artix. "Gratitude, friend Artix. The new pact?"

Artix smiled, placing a silvery hand on the handsome mage's light red hair.

A rustle of the cloak and Zaru ushered his young son forwards, rusty hair sticking.

"On this day henceforth Artix pledges a new Paladin of the Golden Order! Your name youthful boy?" Artix bent down on one knee, kindly smiling. "Juan Luxor Trimphant."

"Welcome to my Golden Order, youthful Paladin Juan. Thou shall learn from me."


Lucile smiled wanly, as she hushed her little infant. A mess of dark hair stuck up from the newborn's head, reminding Lucile of Eros's own unique hairstyle.

"How 'bout Cybele?" said a Slayer jokingly, "Yes, that would work real fine!"

"Cybele is such an old fashioned name," commented Lucile, "I want nobility."

"Nobility?" repeated Slayer Winter, "Heh, why don't you just ask Quasar?"

"Why should I ask Quasar?" asked Lucile, "It's not as if she has good suggestions."

"Whatever," Eros groaned. "Give a Hellhound a good name and it'll follow you."

"You give such excellent advice," smirked Winter, "I can't wait to see the name."

"What was that?" asked Eros, "Listen, I fathered this child and what goes stays."

Winter then launched into a 'war of names' with Eros, her cloak whisking.

"How 'bout Nephrite or Tanzania?" Winter laughed haughtily, "Real catchy."

Eros shook his head before yelling his choice. "Argentine and Penelope are better." Winter looked like she had been hit with a brick before choosing her next names.

"What about Saluki, Hanoi or Lysander?" challenged Slayer W as she smiled.

"Antis, Nature or Junos." Eros Newt stated quietly. He was sick of shouting.

Getting ridiculous, at this point the child won't have a name till after Harvest!

"Filipe would be great name." Winter suggested. Lucile shook her head, "No way."

A few days later, Eros was officially tired of suggesting names.

"Quiet you all!" yelled Polo, "I have a really good idea." The slayers grumbled.

"We'll just vote. Who thinks Arles is a cool name!" A raised hand from miss Winter.

"Taels, is an awesome name." No one raised their hands, much to Polo's dismay.

"Fleiss, Natimuk or Seraphine." Lucile was startled, finally someone had chose name.

"Polo, I think everyone likes that name," Lucile pointed out as everyone raised their hand. "Seraphine sounds like word Seraphim, so I'll vouch for that name."

All heads were turned. "Yeah," commented another person, "That sounds cool!"


"Welcome to my abode of mystical alchemy." Warlic introduced as the draped curtain wavered, holding a hushed vigil over the darkened temple-like room. Tetris entered cautiously and then eyes widened in wonder. "Potion ingredients!" Slow but devilish smile crept on the vampire's face as he fingered Mermazon kelp.

Immediately Archmage twitched and his hair stuck up like cat's fur.

"Tetris, I'll rather you don't touch that!" strained Warlic, his face bleached.

"Aw, when I was your apprentice, I always get to experiment!" Tetris wailed.

Warlic gave a ferocious glare that reminded Seraphine of a barn owl she saw.

"Then you failed to obey my exact instructions the last time I heard?" Warlic snapped, "I was worried that you had wandered off heading for trouble!"

"Sorta. I saw pretty cool-looking lady with hot fangs," Tetris grinned. "She had fishnet stockings, wild dark hair and crimson eyes. Plus an awesome red dress,"

"Wow," commented Warlic as he mixed a bubbling potion, "Sounds real romantic."

"That was over two years ago, pity that. I'll be nearing my 193rd birthday soon – of course, being immortal means age doesn't matter. I'm real dumb for my age…!"

Seraphine froze in shock, it couldn't be. "Tetris." She muttered to his ears only, "Lady sent to dispatch Lycans?" Warlic gave her an odd look as if to say what?

"Never mind, Warlic." Trying to change the subject, Seraphine blushed meekly.

"Hey, what's on the shelf? Wow, cactus juice!"

She read the faded label: Only apply to insolent/annoying rabbles. "What the-? Rabbles," Intrigued, she looked at Warlic.

"A fad, everyday everyone thinks there's dazzle to magic…" Archmage shouted as he picked up the empty jar.

"Sheesh, Adventurers pawn my place like fire ants."

"Make yourself useful for a change, Seraphine. Sit down and don't meddle." Archmage Warlic ordered as he left the room. Behind him, Tetris pulled a face.

"Hah! Blue-mage Warlic can't see everything that happens while he's gone." Vampire mage chuckled as he turning his back on the female Slayer. "Heheheh."

Being curious, Seraphine peered over the apprentice's shoulder.

"What is that gloop?!"

"Green hair would make you prettier?" commented Tetris with a concealed smirk.

"What!" exclaimed the Slayer, imagining with horror the resulting makeover; she would never wash all that hair dye off…!

Anyway she hated green. "Warlic said-"

"Who cares Warlic said?" Tetris hooted, "Besides, I worked for him, Lycan."

"Specifically referred to not conjuring up ingredients," Seraphine spoke logistically, her dark hair shining as Tetris dabbled in various herbs. Warlic would be displeased.

"Fine, Tetris. Bear consequences of your actions." She shrugged; this vampire might become so low on blood-sugar that he just couldn't think straight this time.

If most of descending blood-suckers of Darkovia had this low IQ, Seraphine wasn't surprised that they got themselves into a lot of trouble with the other Slayers often…

Plus, their ability to drain life from Adventurers made them rivals.

"Yay, a dash of this and a smidge of balderdash." Tetris giggled femininely.

SPLOOSH!

An explosion rocked the place and hair potion splashed everywhere.

Seraphine glared at Tetris, who was beside himself with laughter. "Haha, your hair!"

"My hair, what in LORE did you do to it!" she muttered, realising the problem.

"Tetris, you shouldn't have," the girl wailed melodramatically.

Just then Warlic re-entered his shop. Tetris's eyes widened.

That Archmage has worst possible timing!

"What in Battleon had you done Tetris?"
Warlic screamed, clutching his hair.

"My lovely shop!"

"I leave you two alone for twenty minutes and this chaos results."

The entire shop was now covered in ghastly lurid green dye as it covered illegible labels.

Now it was Tetris's turn to gulp in apprehension.
"Oh boy, I'm in major trouble?"

"I have good mind not to give Tetris his Frostvale presents!" Warlic boomed as magic surrounded his form.

"No fair! I always get Darkovian presents from my Queen."

Disgruntled, the old Archmage dumped a large heavy looking present in front of Seraphine, "Here, you have it."

"Thanks, Warlic. I can't wait to open them." She whispered as she unwrap them.

There was look of rapture on her face, "Great, Blowout shield for Earth attack!"

Until she opened that other present, unfolding her new pink 'bunnies-costume'. "Wow," The teenage girl stated sarcastically, "Just what I always wanted."

Warlic finally looked glad, "It's the least I can get you." He bowed gravely.

"No offence Archmage, but was that costume meant for him?" she made a quick motion towards idiotic Tetris and then Warlic nodded. She sighed. "Oh well."

Tetris tried to muster some dregs out of chicken-noodle soup; Archmage noticed and tossed a glass of tomato juice at him. Happily youthful vampire drank it down.

"There, that will keep you quiet, by the way. Nice hair miss Newt." She blushed as Tetris sulked in his corner.


Meanwhile…
Legendary treasure hunter, miss Valencia came up the hill with Grumbles, her lizard of burden in tow. Her flying Moglin meeped insistently on her shoulder...

"Just a few more stops until the next city." She whooped.
Meep! Meep, meprit! Truffles squeaked, pointing towards a figure in distance.

"Wow! A huge machine," gasped the violet rogue as suddenly the robot stopped in front of the rag torn trio. Meep! Truffles pointed as the red robot ejected a female-mechanic sporting bubblegum pink hair.
"Hello!" yelled the familiar looking teenager at Valencia.
"Wace? You look similar to me, what is going on here?!"

At once, Valencia seemed to jump a mile in the air.
"A doppelganger!" she shrieked, "AAAAHHH!"