Sorry about the abruptness of this one. I'll try to make the others better.


Ayaka, Ramsey, and Libra sat quietly in the church. They hadn't said anything since learning of Shimei's departure. Ramsey wouldn't stop looking at the ground, and Ayaka would let out a heavy sigh every now and again. Libra kept his usual stoic face, but felt lost at what to do next.

"Well, that idiot couldn't have gotten far, right?" Ayaka asked the group.

Ramsey and Libra only looked downward in response.

"Come on! You can't seriously think that we can just leave him on his own, can you?" She continued raising her voice.

"Ayaka…" Ramsey muttered in a depressed tone.

Her thoughts still envisioned the conversation from before.

"Sumia, honey, what's wrong?" Sumia's mother asked.

"S-shi…*sniff…mei…" She stuttered. Her voice scrambled by her tears.

"What's wrong with Shimei?" Ayaka blurted running up the stairs.

The party was then summoned up to the room by Ayaka's yelling. When they entered, all they saw was an empty room. Sumia explained that Shimei had left that night, without any disclosure of his destination.

"Momma!" Ayaka shouted, snapping her mother out of her doldrums.

"Ayaka, we understand your concern, but without any leads, how would we find him?" Libra interjected.

"I-I don't…" Ayaka mumbled in disarray. She quieted down and let Libra continue.

"For now, let's just gather our thoughts and piece together an answer." Libra stated.

Ayaka and Ramsey nodded. However, Ayaka's thoughts still ran rampant in her head.

You idiot. What are you planning to do?


Shimei continued his trek of hopelessness. His eyes had bags under them, and his walk was as zombified as appearance. As he walked, he took notice of his surroundings. The trees were a darker shade than they were in Claive. So, that would mean he's in the direction of Ferox. As he pondered on his direction, a breeze sent a shiver down his spine.

"Of course I'd be heading for Ferox in the winter." Shimei mumbled. He let out a sigh and continued down the road.

As he continued walking, Shimei noticed some men in cloaks walking his direction. Fearing the worst, he ran for a bush that was near the road and hid from their sight. He pushed the shrub around and watched the group carefully. He could see the two cloaked strangers were walking with a caravan pulled by two horses. They came to a stop mid-way, and were greeted by another cloaked traveler. The third in mention then pulled forward two people, the two were tied together and were struggling to break free.

Slave Traders! Shimei thought. He had almost yelled it, but covered his mouth in the nick of time.

Mom always warned me about their type. It doesn't matter who or what you are; you're just gold to them.

He resumed studying the traders. They had captured what looked like a female villager and a very hairy man. Upon further inspection of the hairy man, he noticed that the man had long ears and a tail.

What in the gods is that? Some kind of bunny-man? Regardless, they need my help. I should do something! But what?

Shimei looked around he found two rocks lying beside him.

If I throw one to distract them all; and another to get the attention of the one holding the hostages; that might give them enough time to escape. However, that would then get them to turn on me. I would probably get captured as an end result…

He gripped the Grimleal cloak, and immediately thought about his sister. Shimei smirked a bit.

Ayaka would already have thrown the rock by now. That already tells me this plan is rash and stupid, but it also tells me that I should do it. Besides…it's not like I have anywhere to go…

Shimei waited in silence for the traders to pass the bush he was hiding in. When they finally did, he threw the first rock. It soared behind one, making a loud *TWACK* sound after hitting a tree. The three turned to the direction of the noise. They stood there for a minute, after assuming it was just an animal, they continued forward. Shimei threw a second rock. This one knocked into a bush. The swaying caught the attention of one of the traders, and he motioned the other two to help him skim the bush for any people.

Shimei quickly took this time to head to the bunny man and villager. They tried to thank him, but he only shushed them in response. Shimei struggled to get the knot loose, but managed to free them.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" A voice said sending a sweat down Shimei's neck.

He turned to see the three bandits standing behind him with swords in hand.

"Another cattle to the herd…" the bandit chuckled reaching for Shimei.

Shimei panicked, his legs froze up on the spot.

No! Dammit legs, move!

The bandit was knocked back by the rabbit-man that Shimei saved.

"Bunny man…" Shimei mumbled in disarray.

"I'm not a bunny-man." The character said camly. "I'm a taguel. Can you fight?"

"Um, n-no! I've never even raised a sword before!" Shimei stuttered nervously.

The taguel only laughed. He reached for the bandit that he had knocked unconscious and took a dagger he had fasted to his belt. The taguel threw the sheathed weapon to Shimei.

"At least use this to defend yourself. Leave everything to me." the taguel said confidently.

"Hah! Nice try coney! But without a beast stone, you haven't got a hell of a chance!" one bandit retorted.

The taguel merely raised his hands in a fighting pose in response.

"Just means you'll bleed slower." he replied with a smirk.

The fight began with one bandit charging with his sword. He came in with a horizontal swing, but the taguel ducked and countered with an upward kick to the bandits face. As the first bandit fell, the second to the opportunity to charge at the taguel; he followed the charge with a vertical chop, but the taguel kicked up the sword from the first bandit and using his foot, blocked the other's sword in opposition. The taguel pushed the blade forward, knocking the bandit backward. the second bandit tripped over the first one, and immediately tried to recover. The taguel then leaped forward and knocked the second out with his fist. His victory was interrupted by the village girl's scream. The third bandit had snuck up behind her and taken her hostage. He immediately held a sword to her neck, causing the taguel to freeze.

"Now don't moves a muscle, or this pretty lass will be paintin' this field with 'er blood!" the third one threatened.

The taguel felt the heartbeat of the two behind him, they were beginning to regain their footing. He needed to act fast. His thoughts were interrupted by the bandit with the hostage screaming.

"GYAH!" the bandit yelped as he grip on the girl loosened, and he plummeted to the ground. As he fell, a figure stood behind him. It was Shimei, he had snuck behind the bandit and planted the dagger in his back.

Shimei immediately fell to his knees. It had been the first time he had killed someone, he knew he had to and held no regret; but at the same time, it was maddening, especially for a child.

The other two bandits heart rates dropped, they immediately recovered and ran away. the taguel wanted to give chase, but turned to Shimei instead. The boy had saved his life. the taguel couldn't leave him there in good consciousness. The taguel looked to Shimei, who was literally shaking with fear.

"Pah, what pathetic offspring you man-spawn produce. Regardless, I am in your debt. My name is Callin, what is yours?" he asked knelling down to the child.

Shimei was terrified. In the last five minutes, this man had jumped two bandits, and he had killed the other. Shimei reasoned that answering the man would fair him better than not.

"I-I'm Shimei." Shimei stuttered.

"Shimei? In your people's tongue, that means 'identity'." Callin stated giving a hand to the boy.

"Wait, my people? So your aren't human?" Shimei asked dusting himself off.

"No, I am not and I'm proud of that fact. As I told you before, I am a taguel." Callin responded coldly.


I know, I know. I shouldn't be making more OC characters, but what do you think yay or nay on Callin?