Edgar groaned as their group finished off another one of the abnormally large men that seemed to be all over this godsforsaken place that was supposed to be a village. It seemed more like a place to send the damned. They had been there for several days already as they picked their way slowly through each building. The first day had been the worst since that was before they realized every person they encountered couldn't tell the truth if their lives depended on it. And they often did.
They had yet to find any trace of Terra, and even Edgar was losing hope. He found himself wondering more often if the people in Jidoor had been lying as well just to get them out of their perfect city. The thought nearly made him growl in frustration, but he kept it to himself and turned to try and help Celes over the pile of rubble he had just crossed. She ignored his outstretched hand like she had every other time he offered. By now, it was a small thing, and he shook his head before leading them toward another building they had yet to explore.
As they neared the building, Locke grabbed his arm to stop him. The thief had good instincts, and it was proved once again. Once they all came to a stop, they could hear a woman screaming nearby and several male voices. Despite how pressed they were to find their missing companion, none of them could walk away from the possibility that someone might need their help. Not even Celes. That didn't mean they wouldn't be cautious. It could just as easily be a trap.
Edgar took his auto crossbow out and let it lead around the corner. He wanted to be prepared if necessary. He needn't have bothered. Although what he found made him nauseous. He was running toward the group before any of the others realized. The rest were not far behind.
There was a group of five men that had a single woman surrounded. She already had several cuts and a livid bruise across one cheek. One arm was hanging to her side and looked like it might have been broken. Despite her condition, she was snarling at the men around her. Edgar also noted that only two of them were unscathed, and none of them looked happy. He had seen the look before, and it didn't bode well for the woman.
None of them had noticed that reinforcements were already on the way. One of the men lunged forward, and that was when Edgar realized the woman was not unarmed. She flung herself to the side before the man reached her and managed to bring the knife in her hand around to slice his arm as he passed her. The man turned with a sneer to redouble his attack but froze when he saw the very large and very loaded crossbow pointed at his head.
It took the rest of the group several moments to figure out why he wasn't attacking again. None of them looked pleased with the interruption, and their ire was instantly transferred to the interlopers. Thankfully, they were almost evenly matched in number and far outclassed in experience. Edgar and the others made quick work of the men.
The woman had taken the opportunity to get away from them, but she hadn't made it far. One of her ankles seemed to be injured as well, and she was limping. At least she had made it to a place that would allow her to better defend herself, and Edgar admired the fire that was still in her eyes as they approached.
Given what they had walked into, Edgar felt it would be better to let Celes handle the talking for the moment. Even if the ex-General was not as smooth, she was still a woman and thus less likely to spook the person they were trying to help.
"We were just trying to help. I can cure your wounds as well if you would allow it."
The woman looked between them all with evident mistrust before she finally responded. "I don't even know where I am, but I do know that every person I have come across has either tried to rob or rape me. I'd rather just leave, thank you very much."
Her voice was husky and tired, but Edgar could hear a smoothness underneath her stress. He looked her over with a critical eye and realized that once she was healed and cleaned, she would likely be quite the beauty. He stepped forward with his hands up in the air. "Dear lady, I can understand why you might be wary. We have encountered much the same since we came here. However, we were simply looking for our friend and heard your encounter. Please allow us to help, if only with your wounds. We would not think of keeping you past that."
The woman's gaze turned confused for a moment as she looked the King up and down. Her eyes still showed it when she answered. "Where is this place anyway?"
Edgar felt a sliver of worry creep up his spine and noticed the rest had turned slightly to look for ambushers. He was glad to see it. How could she be there and not know where she was? He still played it calm. "We are in the village of Zozo. If you did not know that, why did you come here?"
The woman's eyes flashed again, and her tone was caustic. "I didn't come here. Not on purpose anyway. I think it's been nearly two days now, but before I woke up being pawed by a creeper, I was at a party. I must have passed out, and the dumbasses I called friends thought it would be funny to leave me. I have no idea how I got here."
Edgar paused. This woman was either incredibly unlucky or a talented actress. Despite his worries, he could not bring himself to walk away just yet. He had never been one to not help a lady in need. "If what you say is true, then we might be able to assist. Please allow us to heal you at the very least. If you can find it in yourself to trust us further, we might be able to assist you in finding your way back home once we have located our friend."
The woman's stomach picked that moment to make a gurgling sound that could be heard by them all, even over the rain. She glowered down at the offending noise as Edgar's eyes widened. He realized it was likely she had been wandering for two days with nothing to eat on top of trying to stay alive in this hellish place. He took another step forward and held out his hand. "Please allow us to help. I am sure you would like to leave, and we need to be going."
The woman slumped against the boxes next to her. The adrenaline she had been running on was wearing off, and her exhaustion was evident. Finally, she nodded. "My name is Alia by the way."
Edgar smiled. "A lovely name. I am Edgar Figaro, and these are my companions. Celes is the one helping you, and these other two are Locke and Sabin, my brother."
Celes closed the distance and helped the woman sit down on a nearby crate as Edgar gave his introductions. By the time he was finished, the woman was looking at them all with wide eyes. He had a feeling that if she had more strength, she would have pushed Celes away. She settled for glaring at them all.
"Did I just trade one kind of crazy for another?"
They all looked around then back at the woman with confusion. None of them got to ask what she meant as Celes had already grasped the woman's arm and held it in place as she cast cure. The woman screamed at the sudden action but froze as the bone knitted back together. As soon as Celes finished her spell, the woman scrambled back across the crate so fast she fell off on the other side.
She was back on her feet instantly and was giving them all wary looks. "What the hell was that?"
Celes looked away in shame, as she was still awkward around those not from the empire. Edgar hated the sight of it, but he could understand the woman's concern. He held up both hands again. "Please do not be frightened. Celes can do magic, but she is no longer part of the empire."
Alia's eyes nearly bugged at his explanation that didn't explain anything. "Magic doesn't exist. At all. Ever. What the hell?! Please tell me this is some sort of test sight for new nanotechnology that I just happened to stumble into. That would be more believable than magic."
Edgar did not understand most of what she said, but he did understand that she was afraid. "I know that it is practically a legend. Many people don't even believe in the war of the Magi, but it happened, and it will happen again if we can't stop the empire."
He sighed as he realized they really didn't have time to waste trying to convince this woman of anything. She was healed, and her attackers were dealt with. That would have to be enough if she was unwilling to trust them further. He gently pulled Celes back as the woman was still looking down and tried to give the stranger a kind smile. "I am glad we were able to help you, but we really must be going. I apologize if we caused you more of a fright."
He gave her moment, but when she just continued to stare, he nodded and turned to leave. They hadn't made it very far when the woman called out again. She had come around the crates and was giving them all confused looks. "Wait! You really mean to leave me alone?"
Edgar raised a brow at her question. "You did not seem to want to come with us, and we are in a bit of a hurry."
Alia shook her head with a frown. "It's not that." She paused and chewed on the corner of her lip before she nodded and took another step forward. "Look, you guys are the first people I've seen since I woke up that haven't tried to use me in some way. Forgive me for being rude, but I still don't understand what is going on. Would it… could I go with you for now? I mean, I don't really have many options, and I think I would be safer. At least until I can get figure out how to get back home."
She stood there nervously for a few moments. She was still freaked out by whatever the hell that woman had done, but she had to admit she was grateful for not having to deal with a broken arm. Even her ankle felt better, and she had been worried it would end up a permanent problem since it had happened the first day. Not to mention the fact that she was starving and concerned that if she had to try and figure things out on her own for much longer, then she would end up dead. Wherever this place was, it was not a good place for her to be alone.
When she looked around again, she saw the two men that hadn't spoken yet, were giving her smiles. The one wearing a bandana stepped forward. "The more, the merrier, right?"
Alia wasn't sure what to think of any of them. They looked like cosplay actors straight out of one of her uncle's video games. She felt the names sounded familiar too. Even so, they had helped her, and she still had no idea where she was or how she had gotten there. Maybe their friend was in similar circumstances. At that last thought, she finally stepped forward. Perhaps she could repay the favor and help them too.
Edgar smirked when she joined them. None of them had expected to find a stranger among the thieves, but he would not complain to have another pretty face with them. The woman watched them all silently as they headed toward the building she had been attacked next to. As they entered, the woman that was called Celes held out a small package wrapped in paper. Alia eyed it with confusion until the woman spoke. "You haven't eaten in two days, right?"
Alia realized she was being offered food, and her stomach growled loudly again at the thought. She took the package gratefully and tried not to turn red as the other three turned at the noises her stomach was making. She took small bites and chewed slowly, despite how much louder her stomach was at the first bite. She didn't want to get sick from eating too fast.
As they made their way further into the building, her stomach finally subsided, and the man in the bandana slowed so he could walk closer to the two women. He kept his voice low. "Can you tell us where you are from? It may take us some time, but once we find Terra, then we might see about getting you back. It can't be too far from here if you said you were with friends, right?"
Alia eyed the building they were in before she answered. Part of her had already realized she was far from home. She had never seen any place like where she woke up. Not to mention the people in this place were all strange. She hadn't wanted to admit what that might mean, but seeing these people and forcing herself to really think about what she had already seen of them made her wonder if she was more right than she could have guessed.
Still, she swallowed her worry and tried to respond. "I'm from a tiny town called Slidell. I've never heard of Zozo though, so I don't know if it's close. Can you tell me how to get to New Orleans at least? That would be close enough."
All four of the companions stopped and looked at her. Alia felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up at the looks they were giving her. None of them seemed to know what she was talking about.
Edgar finally spoke up. "I have not heard of that place, but that doesn't mean others haven't. Let's focus on this task first, and we will figure it out. Don't worry, you'll be safe with us for now."
Alia's worry about what kind of mess she was in came back tenfold, but she didn't show it as she nodded. The rest of them fell back into silence as they made their way up the building.
When they came to a floor that seemed to be a dead-end, the one called Locke looked around until he found a window that could be opened. He stuck his head out, and when he saw an open window in the building next to them, he didn't say anything before he jumped across.
Alia stifled a scream and ran to see he was waving at them from the other building. "It's safe enough for now. I think we can go further this way."
Alia watched as the others made their way across in the same fashion. Edgar was the last, and he paused and turned to her. "Why don't you go first. I'd hate to leave you alone here."
Her eyes widened. These people really were crazy. "I am not sure I can make myself jump out of a perfectly stable building."
Edgar sighed and looked around. He turned back and nodded. "I suppose if you can find a way to bar the door you would be safe enough here until we return. I don't know how long we'll be, but I am certain we will have to come back this way."
He turned back to the window, and Alia realized he meant to leave her alone. The fear she had felt while facing that group of men came crawling back up her throat, and she called out again. "Wait!" When Edgar turned back with a raised brow, she cursed under her breath. She hated feeling dependant on anyone, but she couldn't waste the chance these people gave her to get the hell out of this crazy place. As weird as they were, they weren't half as bad as the rest of the people she had run into. Not to mention the dead bodies she had found.
She forced her feet to take her to the window again. She looked across with a critical eye and realized it was a rather short jump. The landing might be difficult, but at least it was close enough that she felt she could grab the sill, and there was no broken glass. She swallowed and turned to him. "Let me go first, that way if I fall you'll at least know what happened to me."
He chuckled at her morbid humor before he stepped back and gestured to the opening. "Ladies first."
She grimaced at his gallantry but pulled herself up onto the windowsill. Once she was crouched there like she had seen the others do, she pushed off and covered her head. She wasn't sure if she was more embarrassed or hurt when she managed to land halfway through the window. At least she hadn't fallen. She made quick work of pulling her self the rest of the way in and Edgar was right behind her. She frowned at the way he rolled into the room and was on his feet immediately. You would think this was something they did all the time.
Edgar noticed her flushed cheeks and gave her an understanding smile. "Don't worry about it too much. We've had to do that many times over the last several days. The first time I almost didn't make it either. Though the other two have far more grace. Perhaps it comes with their professions."
Alia didn't want to know what kind of profession would make them be able to handle something like that, so she kept her silence. She did, however, thank the man for not leaving her behind. That was the last thing said between them as they continued their trek up and between the buildings. At least the group she was with was capable of making short work of any problems they ran into. She knew how to use a knife if she had to, but was thankful that her skills were only moderately necessary. She had already had enough of fighting to last her a lifetime.
A/N: I know, I said I would wait. I have found over time that I am far more productive if I just get it out though. I doubt I will make regular updates on this one for awhile, but right now it has hijacked my brain. Hopefully getting the first bit out will allow me to refocus on Even Demons Can Be Saved since there isn't much left. For now, I hope you enjoy and look forward to quite a bit more swashbuckling in future chapters. Thanks for reading!