"There's Deidon Hold." Flynn pointed out in the distance. The small group of five had already headed out of the capital early morning. Flynn, Sodia, Witcher, Jin, and Estelle.
"Not exactly that far from the capital is it?" Jin asked, still quite bored. At least there was a change of scenery compared to what he was used to.
"We just have a short meeting with Fortune's Market here." Flynn replied, seemingly ignoring Jin's question. Then again, he can't just state the obvious now can he? "Halure would be about the same distance from here and you two are just taking a break at Deidon Hold, correct?"
Again, Jin shrugged in response. This was Estelle's idea after all to have him tag along.
"It's already noontime though." Estelle said, looking up at the sky. "Think we can make it to Halure before nightfall?" she asked.
"That really depends on how fast you walk." Sodia answered, turning around just slightly. "But in those clothes...you'll probably arrive sometime after the sun sets."
"Or I could freeze her and put her in a carriage to hurry the journey." Jin suggested, not seriously of course. But he still felt a whack to the back of his head. "Ow! What the hell was that for?!" he turned around to look at whoever hit his head.
"Your fault for suggesting that." The little boy said behind Jin as he walked past him. "Freezing the princess huh?"
"I didn't actually mean it." Jin frowned, staying quiet again. His attempt at a joke didn't seem to actually cause any amusement. There was a quick chuckle behind him though. "What's so funny?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing." Estelle replied. "You seem to be having fun actually."
"Is that so?" Jin asked. He could briefly remember something like this in the past...again involving someone he once knew. Perhaps at the academy?
"If that sounded funny, I don't know what-" Witcher started, before the group heard a loud crash and subsequent roaring coming from Deidon Hold.
"What was that?!" Sodia asked quickly, drawing her sword. Flynn and the others all had their weapons ready as well, except Jin of course. He merely continued to hold on to the hilt of his own weapon.
"Let's hurry." Flynn suggested, the group breaking out into a run. As soon as they reached their destination, the carnage was a bit hard to believe. The gate leading out to the plains had fallen, monsters pouring in with a particularly large one leading them. Presumably, that was the one that broke the gate...
"It's a Giganto." Estelle said quietly. She remembered this one being defeated by her, Yuri and the others. There's actually more than one but they never directly attacked the small town. So why...
"Well don't just stand there looking at it." Jin said, turning towards the Commandant.
"There are very few knights actually stationed here. And we need to lure the monster out of the town." Flynn replied. "Jin, Sodia, come with me. Witcher, get Lady Estellise somewhere safe." He ordered.
"Flynn, you know I can help." Estelle pouted, with her own sword ready for action. "If anything goes wrong, I can heal you."
"No time for that. Those things are looking at us. Seriously, just us." Jin pointed out, crouching just slightly to prepare for the inevitable charge. "This is a way out of the town right?" he asked Flynn.
"I guess." Said the Commandant, before the monsters began their attack on them.
The Giganto arrived first, flanked by four other mosters and driving a rift right in between the group. Knights further on ahead were busy dealing with the other, smaller monsters so it was up to them to take care of this one.
"The Giganto is called Brutal, while its companions are called Rhinossus. Careful, those things are very strong." Witcher coughed out, their little group being scattered by the quick assault. Essentially, the five monsters at the moment were in between them. Flynn and Sodia were on one side, while Jin, Estelle, and Witcher are at the other.
"Take care of the smaller ones. I'll keep the large one's attention." Jin said coldly, taking control of the situation. The Commandant and his assistant seemed to agree with his plan...even if they didn't really here him. They merely watched Jin get in front of the Giganto while they worked on holding off the others.
"Careful Jin!" Estelle called out, whispering a few words to help her other companions with supportive spells. With just the sword backing up Flynn and Sodia, and Witcher making sure Estelle wasn't harmed, this was harder than it looked.
"Worthless." Jin muttered, keeping the Giganto's attention and making sure to lead it away from the town. How far away though? That would be up for him to decide. As soon as the monster and him were at a reasonable distance, Jin jumped back one last time and stared right back at the creature. "Giganto my ass. You're just an oversized monster." He smirked, Brutal charging at him. Jin leaped up into the air, a sharp icicle speeding out towards the monster's head...with Jin riding on top of the icicle.
"Die." He said, colliding with its head, jumping off the icicle and slashing at one of the monster's eyes. "Stand down." He continued with a quick laugh, backing off to let the monster try again. "Is that all you've got?" Jin taunted, even though the monster probably can't understand a word he just said. It still seemed infuriated, given the fact that he managed to wound an eye.
"Hmm?" Jin whispered, taking a look at his sword. "Yukianesa is reacting with something." He muttered, turning around just slightly...only to have one of the Giganto's companions collide into him. The impact sent him flying a few metres back, dropping Yukianesa on the way.
"Damn it!" he shouted, attempting to pick himself up. Not enough time, the Giganto was attempting to trample him with another charge so he rolled out of the way instead. He was defenceless, but all he needed to regain was Yukianesa make sure not to get distracted again. The monster charged again, Jin leaping straight at its face...and running down its back. "Too slow." He smirked, grabbing Yukianesa from the ground and turning around once again.
There was a bit of a loud scream, Jin making sure to only turn slightly towards its direction before finding a not-so-nice surprise. Another Giganto monster appeared, the same as the one he lead away but the new one was focusing on his four companions. "Damned obstacle!" he shouted, the flash of steel slicing through his opponent's legs, freezing them in place. "Disappear." Jin continued, cutting the ice and shattering the monster's limbs. The smaller one seemed to be visually distressed and move back towards the other larger one.
"Commandant!" Sodia called out, Flynn being swept aside by the Giganto. More of the knights joined in, but it's hard enough trying to drive the thing back. Turning its gaze towards Estelle, the monster roared and charged.
Jin was quick to respond, pushing the petrified princess out of the way before the monster collided with him. He heard a snap...only to realize it was his right arm that broke. Gritting his teeth and refusing to cry out in pain, Jin stayed down on the ground. He was losing consciousness...
Rearing up on its hind legs, the Giganto was just about ready to crush Jin but right before it landed...
"Retribution!" a voice shouted, a masked figure with long, white hair leaping down in front of Jin and held out an extremely long sword, a shield-like barrier appearing in front of him right before the Giganto's feet came down. Upon touching the shield, everything seemed to pause for a moment. Time didn't exactly stop but...the following attack was extremely quick.
"Perish Evil!" the masked man shouted, ramming his sword right through the monster. It was only one slash...but moments later, the creature fell down...as if perforated by many more slashes. The masked man flipped his sword, resheathing it right behind him.
"A creature entranced by seithr. So it begins." Hakumen said quietly, turning his head towards the almost unconscious Jin, then towards Estelle. "You are the child of the full moon are you not?" he asked, the princess stepping back a little from the imposing figure.
The rest of the monsters that attacked Deidon Hold seemed to have retreated as well, but was it because of Hakumen's presence?
"Who are you?" Flynn asked, making sure not to sound threatening. After all, this stranger did just save their lives.
"I am Hakumen. Do not forget that." The masked man replied.
"Hakumen...one of the Six..." Jin whispered, before finally losing consciousness.