The Earth's Bounty
Chapter 11
Raguna fell to his knees when he received the news at the Sechs border station.
Someone had come to attack, and only one casualty.
The Bounty Hunter could not believe the name, he did not want to believe it, he wanted the news to be false. But the sight of the grave was what drove the truth into his mind, it was what finally broke him.
Under an oak tree by the nearby river was a single headstone, freshly dug ground, and wilted flowers.
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Raguna rode towards Kardia on Buffomave- exhausted, distraught, and defeated. It was only the gentle sound of nearby currents that managed to soothe his soul.
The bounty hunter got off his beast and walked towards the clear ponds at the eastern area by Kardia, at the foot of Mount Gigant.
The very place were his closest ally took him to fish and to hike, was the place were he would remember such friendship, the deepest connection he had established since the farming family he had first met.
The cool, clear waters hugged his dry feet, and the sky was the usual calm. Noon was about to hit, as was seen with the sun being near the center of the heavens.
However, movement startled the young man, which caused him to quickly retreat his feet from the water and put on his boots. Standing up in alert, Raguna went to investigate the sounds by the large marble gate that was embedded into the mountain.
KASIMIR RUINS read a nearby sign.
"Hmm..." Raguna stepped closer to the gate, then heard the sounds intensify.
Suddenly, a figure appeared, startling the bounty hunter.
A young woman, skin ghastly pale, with clothes and hair to match, came out of the gate, scaring the man greatly.
"Ah.. Ah..." Raguna stammered and nearly fired, before he recognized that the figure was not a ghost but an actual flesh and blood woman, "What... what are you doing?!" he aimed his crossbow just in case.
"Did you think me for an apparition?" the woman said, "Well... hm.." she gave a soft chuckle, then used a magic spell to disarm Raguna.
"Ah!" Raguna gasped as he saw his crossbow fall to the ground, "Who-Who-"
"Who are you?" the woman said and used her magic to lift Raguna off the ground, "Is the real question here."
"Hey! Let me go!" Raguna said as he squirmed midair, "You are messing with the wrong man! I am Raguna Fetth! The most dangerous bounty hunter in the -GWAH!" he was dropped from the air into the pond nearby, crashing with a great splash.
"You are disturbing my peace." the woman said and pulled out a book, ignoring the wet man coming out of the water.
"Hreh..." Raguna growled and went to grab his crossbow, but the woman used magic to move it farther away, "Why you-"
"What's wrong, Raguna Fetth?" the woman said, "You look grief stricken... you lost a friend." she commented, catching the man's attention.
"What do you kn-"
"Someone close to your heart, the closest anyone has been since your first loss." the woman continued, setting her book down and looking at some blue stones in her hand, "A deep friend..."
"Hrm..." Raguna became hostile, then took note of the stones, "What is- oh..." he snarled, "An Oracle."
"It seems you are smarter than you appear." the woman said as she put up the stones, "However, the groans of the past still sound in your ears." she stood and started to walk into the cave.
"Hey! Come back!" Raguna yelled and tried to seize her, but was pushed back my a magical force.
"Why so hostile, Raguna?" the woman said, "I just told you a moment in your life... I did not lie to you or deceive your mind." she saw as the man stood back up.
"I don't want to hear such things." Raguna growled and grabbed his crossbow, then aimed it at the woman, "Who... are you, a stranger..." tears rolled down his face, "To tell me how I feel!?" he put his finger on the trigger.
"I know you will not shoot me, Raguna." the woman said, "It is not in your heart to murder an innocent person... like the people who hurt you do..."
Raguna's eyes shot open, then he stepped back, "Ah..."
"I believe I know you more than you do me..." the woman stepped forward, "I am Sharron, Oracle of Kasimir." she introduced herself.
"Don't touch me!" Raguna yelled and aimed his crossbow again, "I'll drive a bolt into your head, I swear to the gods!" he cried.
"There there..." Sharron said, and with a glowing palm neared the Bounty Hunter.
"Get your voodoo away from me, witch!" Raguna fired his bolt, which was deflected by Sharron and her magic.
"Hah!" Sharron counter attacked with a wave of magic that tripped Raguna up, "I-"
"Liftoff!" Raguna said and activated his rune magic, then the flight pack, and aimed to kick the oracle, only to be pushed aside and made to crash into a pillar.
"For a bounty hunter, you're a terrible fighter." Sharron said and deflected two incoming bolts.
"I am not prepared for magic..." Raguna muttered as he stood up, then grabbed his bolas and threw them at Sharron.
"Nice try..." Sharron stopped them midair and made them fall on the ground harmlessly, "You should be prepared for anything, bounty hunter-" she stopped a small canister that the man threw.
PSSHH! The canister burst open, and smoke came out of it.
"Cah! Cah!" the oracle coughed as the smoke entered her lungs.
"Ha!" Raguna fired, but no bolt shot out, "Rah! Out of ammo!" he reached for his bag, but the smoke was cleared aside by a wind spell.
"I find your lack of honor appalling," Sharron extended her arm, which sent a magic spell that bound Raguna in a lock.
"GAH! GAH!" Raguna gagged as his neck tightened, "Why... you... bi-"
Sharron slammed Raguna into one of the marble pillars, then made him crash into the ground.
"I have no reason to kill you." the oracle spoke as Raguna stood up, "But I will not hesitate to use fatal self defense if need be."
"Ha... Ha..." Raguna panted, then pulled up his crossbow again, but was quickly disarmed, "Damn... magic." he said and blasted upwards with his flight pack.
"You're using magic too." Sharron said and extended her hand, which interrupted the Raguna's magic spell, causing the bounty hunter to plummet.
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Raguna groaned, and awoke in a new place, a simple place, a dark place.
"About time you arose." Sharron spoke, "Welcome to my study area." she said and showed the man her cave room, complete with star charts, torches, and various books.
"Where's..." Raguna saw that his flight pack was on the table, along with his crossbow, bolas, bolts, and gladius, "Why am I here?" he stood up.
"Because... I don't know really." Sharron said and grabbed a book, "I just find your life fascinating." she opened the periodical and sat down on a stone.
"I think there's nothing interesting about my life." Raguna grunted and grabbed his pack, then his crossbow and other weapons, "So if you don't mind, I'm going to talk to Camus's father." he said, "And then I'm going to find the bastard that killed him." he was packed to leave.
"You go ahead." Sharron said, "Go and continue to ruin your future." she grabbed some crystals, "It seems that is all your past is doing." she commented and set the book aside.
"I don't need your divination." Raguna grunted and clenched his crossbow tight, the feeling of driving a bolt into the woman's head entering his mind and arms.
"I think you should hear me out." Sharron stood, "I am only warning you about things to come-"
"Shut up." Raguna interrupted her, then turned, "Look... I don't need you to guide my life... I am fine just how I am." he looked at her body.
"Fine with how you are?" Sharron muttered, "When will it end if you take this path? Killing one murderer only makes another." she said, "This path will never end until you end."
"Well... I wish to end with a sense of fulfillment... and killing the bastard that got Camus will help move that in the right direction." Raguna said and walked up close to her, "Perhaps... You could help." he grabbed her arm.
"Nice try." Sharron shoved his arm aside, "I also know about your... track record." she added, "Believe you me... this no, really means no." she pushed him back.
"It will mean something else... soon." Raguna turned his back to her, then started to exit the ruins.
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"Here it is is..." The Bounty Hunter said as he stood in front of Kardia's clinic, the sun almost reaching the horizon, "Let us hope the man is here." he said and walked up to the door.
Which opened before him.
SM'S Time:
Important Announcement!
I have decided to stop Guest Reviews. Yep. It's come to this.
Due to the high amount of nonsensical and sometimes blatant tomfoolish 'reviews', I decided to boycott guest reviews for the time being. Of course, I'll still read them, but they'll won't go up.
I apologize to any of my Guests who truly wanted to review in a professional manner, but I really got tired after such pushing.
Anywho, if you want to review as a regular user, please do!
Thank you and hope you have enjoyed thus far!
