Felinis:... I should be sleeping...
Yuri feels strange… so very strange. The voices from the blastia are still pounding in his ear and he feels like any minute his mood might go from barely okay to bursting in rage filled tears. Yuri's skin is on fire and he opens his shirt up even more. He isn't sick. Yuri is never sick.
He's forcing a cool demeanor on his face as he walks out. The people in the inn are looking at him with revulsion and whispering.
Krytian
Krytian
Inhuman...
Even Yuri isn't vain enough to pretend the words aren't cutting into him. His whole life he's been The Halfer. An insult labeling him as a muddied human and now he's even less than that. He's a Krytian. The world feels like it's spinning... Yuri sets a hand on the wall to sturdy himself... he wants to break something... Their voices are mocking him...
"I thought this was a respectable establishment." A patron says behind her fan.
"The age we live in! Where that thing can walk around in our city."
"Magistrate Raguo will pay a hefty sum for an unmarked one like that."
"They're not as strange as I thought they'd be. Still, disgusting all the same."
"How'd it even get on the continent?"
He goes into the rain to get away from everything and hides in the alleys. It's cold and when the rain pelts those things jutting from him there's a slight sting, but Yuri feels at peace for a moment.
"I'm normal!" He knows it's a lie. Yuri has never been normal, but he wants to pretend. He kicks at the crates and the trash. He thrashes his sword to try to get out the rage that's been festering in him since he woke up. Yuri throws his blade and decides the best use of his time is to furiously punch the wall.
He hears footsteps and hides in the shadows. Yuri thought he could get straight back to work, but he can't. He needs to be alone so he can sort this out. If he Flynn finds him Yuri just might bite off his fucking head. Yuri doesn't want pity or comfort.
He doesn't want to be hugged or told some bullshit about this being good. "Why now?"
He leans on the wall and just sits there. The rain is cold, but he doesn't care. Yuri's never sick so it won't matter if he sits there all day. His skin is so hot and Yuri realizes he's panting! Why? He's not moving or doing anything, but he's out of breath.
He groans because that heat is getting unbearable His breathes come out as unsteady puffs. The world is spinning, but he can't say why. He shivers, but his skin is still burning up. "What the hell?" Yuri's legs protest the moment he tries to stand and he collapses in puddle.
So hot
He shivers again and Yuri is terrified. What have these antennas done to him? He hears heavy boots walking on the ground and hopes it's Flynn. He can't move and his cry for help is broken moan.
"What are you thinking?" a voice hisses as the boot steps inches from his face.
"This for our son. We can easily use him as an extra bargaining chip." A man says and Yuri thinks he heard that voice before. A hand touches his forehead and Yuri tries to run. It's warm! Too warm! "Looks like he's sick too. I doubt he could fight back."
Fight back? His body is being dragged along the ground and his eyes start glazing over. Should he fight back? Yes. This is bad! But., his body is hot and heavy. Is he sick? But, Yuri can't be… he doesn't… Yuri tries to get up and away, but his eyes fall shut. He needs to sleep.
Yuri wakes up groggily on hard ground opening his eyes. There's sobbing. Ugh, too much noise! He wants to keep sleeping, but instinct tells him to wake up.
He's in some sort of dungeon and around him are bones and rotting flesh. Yuri sees a kid next to him curled in a corner. He's got bruises and he's probably six at the most. That couple… is this their kid? Yuri thought he was being used as leverage to get the poor child back. That scum of a magistrate must have broken his word and left them both here to rot.
He tries to move his legs but feels something heavy on his feet. He looks up and sees his feet are shackled. Yuri sits up and huffs a little. "Mister you shouldn't be up!" The kid says running over. "You're sick and Mommy says you need to lie down when you're sick."
He shakes his head. "No. I'm fine!" There's a well beaten sword on the ground. "Hand me that sword."
"Okay." Yuri starts jamming the blade in the lock on his ankle. Once freed he stands up with some struggle. Yuri hears something growling around. Monsters walk around skulking near them hissing words.
"Is it food? Or threat?"
"What is it?"
"Smells strange."
So even monsters think he's weird now. Great… Yuri glares into the darkness keeping the boy close. "If you don't come here I won't have to hurt you." He hears footfalls growing closer and barks for good measure. "Stay away!"
"Mister?"
Yuri smiles. "Don't worry you'll be back home in no time." He leans on the wall while a migraine is waltzing in his head from that blastia.
Estelle can safely say that now is a good time to panic. Mostly, because Flynn is panicking around his room at the inn. "He's making a fool out of the knights! Ragou wants the Imperial Guard to make a mistake so he can use it as an excuse to increase the authority of the Council. Even with a warrant he's denying us entry."
Estelle nods. "He won't let any of us in either." Karol thought so hard for that Rhybgaro horn only for Estelle to turn soft and give it over to the couple whose child was taken. It's her fault and she feels guilty for setting them back.
Karol sighs. "I wish Yuri was here. He'd know how to get us in."
Rita crosses her arms sternly looking at both Estelle and Flynn. "Where is he anyway?"
Flynn sighs. "I wish I knew. I'm worried it's been hours and nobody's seen him."
Estelle pulls Flynn to the side and whispers in his ear. "Flynn, was Yuri back to normal when he left?"
His eyes drop. "Not exactly. Mentally he was fine but…Oh no." Those blue eyes widen and there's a look of sheer terror. Flynn turns sternly over to Sodia. "Prepare a unit at once. We have reason to believe that the magistrate is harboring a fugitive."
Sodia nods and runs off with Witcher trailing behind. Estelle tries to think why Flynn would jump to such a rash conclusion. But, there's no guarantee he'll find anything or Yuri. They'd need something absolute otherwise both of them will be in trouble! "I see." She turns with a smile to her friends. "I have an idea on how we can help Flynn!"
"And what would that be?" Rita asks.
"The Imperial Knights may employ emergency prerogative to intervene in emergency situations, regardless of jurisdiction. Even if Flynn claims to have a valid reason Ragou could still try spin this in his favor. So if a thief snuck in and caused a ruckus that'd be enough for him to break in no matter what."
Karol is shocked and Estelle doesn't blame him. It's not the kind of thing she would have considered before, but she knows that if they don't do something more people will get hurt. How many families have suffered just because they lacked the money to pay Ragou's outlandish taxes? She wants to help! "I'm in!"
"If it means exposing this blastia I want in too." Rita adds. They walk up the hill and stop short of the manor gates. She's only just realized she has no idea how to break in. They're leaning over a pillar debating how to break in.
"Shall we see if there's a back entrance?" Estelle asks when a new voice breaks in just above her ear.
"Tough luck. Place is surrounded by a wall, and there's no gettin' inside unless ya can clear it." She almost screams but he covers his mouth and she remembers that they're on a stealth mission. "Ya won't last long if ya go screamin' in a spot like this, yer ladyship."
Estelle recomposes herself. "I'm sorry, but who are you?"
The scruffy man with tanned skin and icy blue eyes leans back on his arms. "Oh me? I'm just here to rescue a friend of mine. Poor Yuri Lowell always getting in trouble."
"Yuri!" Karol and Estelle exclaim.
"So you're a friend?" Karol says and the man nods. "What's your name, mister?"
The man cups his chin. "Huh? Ah, right... I suppose Raven will do for now."
"For now, huh...? Who the hell does this guy think he is?" Rita glares.
"Yer tryin' ta get into the palace, right? You just leave it up ta old Raven." The man says with a smile that has Estelle a little on edge. He strides out from the corner and Rita leans over to watch.
"Shouldn't we stop him?"
Karol shrugs. "He might be able to help us. It's not like we have any better options." Raven is saying something and suddenly the guards are rushing over towards them. "Uh, they're coming over here." They watch the man di a backflip and smile at them as he waltzes right in.
Rita clenches her fist and an arte is already being cast at her feet. "Wait'll I get my hands
on him." A fireball far larger than the ones she normally casts launches out knocking down the two oncoming guards instantly. "No one uses me as a diversion!" Rita dashes after Raven through the ran towards the side of the house.
"There she goes again with the magic. Now what?" Karol asks as Estelle shrugs.
"I guess we follow!" They catch up in time to see Raven waving at them from an elevator.
"Hey hey, so we meet again. Glad to see you're okay. Catch ya later!" He calls as the elevator rises.
Rita glares up at the empty shaft and jumps in the one next to and starts slamming buttons. "That jerk! I swear when I get my hands on him…!" She's mumbling furiously and incoherently as the two rush to get on past the closing doors. The compartment starts to drop and Rita screams when the door opens as she tries to get it to work. "Argh! I don't believe this! You can't control it from down here..."
Estelle immediately stops and covers her nose as a rancid odor. Repede whines and she think she might turn green.
"Something smells rank..." Karol cringes as they take in their scenery.
Rita covers her face with her scarf. And does her best not to wrinkle her face in disgust. "...Blood, along with something else? It smells rotten."
Repede begins barking and they notice black basilisks crawling towards them. "Monster too!" Karol exclaims as he swings he weapon and they quickly back away.
"Looks like this freak is also into raising monsters."
They aren't attacking and Estelle hears something in the distance. "I heard something! Let's go." They run forward weapons at the ready, but the monsters are docile and timid. Estelle then sees the large number of scars wounds like on Rhybgaro. As they move past the blood-stained sand into the next room they spot two bodies lurched in the corner. "Yuri!"
Estelle dashes over and starts to fret over him. "Yuri are you alright? Are you hurt? What's wrong?" She stops and notes the new addition to his person and picks on up. "When did this happen?"
"Please don't touch that." He says through clenched teeth sitting upright.
Karol is running right up behind staring at Yuri with wonder. "Wow! Yuri, you look like a real Krytian!"
He looks up at Karol and Estelle notes that his skin is incredibly flushed. He's running a fever! "Cool, right?" Yuri says with a forced smile. "Pauly here, has been really brave and keeping watch for me since I'm not feeling too well. See, I told you that some nice people would come help us."
"How'd you even get down here? And more importantly, where did those come from?" Rita says looking at the antennas with a skeptical eye.
Yuri huffs and stands up. "I kinda grew these sometime yesterday and when I was walking in the town some people caught and threw me in here." So Flynn's hunch was right. "I've never been sick before. It sucks."
Estelle turns and kneels in front of Pauly. "Don't worry Pauly. We'll be home soon." The boy nods and falls in the middle still afraid of the monsters. Estelle keeps an arm out ready to catch Yuri but he stands steady as they reach what looks like a cell gate.
"Well, well, what do we have here? More delicious snacks for my pet, it seems." An old slimy voice says and stop at Yuri. "Wait… You were thrown in the pit hours ago! How are you not dead?"
Yuri smirks and glares right at his ugly old face. "Trade secret. I have to say you have a disgusting hobby."
"Only someone with my refined sensibilities could understand the pleasure I derive from such things." The man sighs as if he's heard that same statement many times. "You're just like those senile old fools on the council. They bored me to death and never let me enjoy myself. It's the privilege of my exalted station to dispel such boredom with the...help of the common people and Krytian scum." Ragou says stroking his beard enamored by his own words.
"You can't mean that's your only reason to do those things." Estelle says in shock. She knew he was a bad man, but shouldn't his motive be more than boredom! This man was helping to run the empire and he killed out of boredom!
"Well, I suppose I should go and fetch Rhybgaro." He notes offhandedly. "So many new toys... He ought to put on quite a show. Though you may not live long enough to see it..."
"There's no point in searching for Rhybgaro. We've already taken care of him!" Karol says puffing out his chest.
"...What did you say?" Ragou says clenching his fist his and readjusting his glasses.
"Are you deaf? We said we've already taken care of him." Rita mocks.
"You... What have you done to my pet?" The man yells.
Yuri grins shrugging casually just to further annoy the magistrate. "If you'd put a bell on it or something, maybe you wouldn't have lost track of it."
The man stops short in his fumes and recollects himself. "Ah well, with a bit more money, I'll soon be able to replace him."
Estelle has had enough of his greed and wicked attitude! She shoves her way through and yells through the bars. "Ragou! How can you say such things and still call yourself a servant of the empire?"
The man's eyes widen in recognition. Estelle had seen him many times, but the council never spoke with her. Never bothered to actually talk more than telling her what policies Estelle would be agreeing with "What? ...You... But that's impossible!" Yuri swings the mostly worn sword releasing a flurry of artes that nock both the gate and Ragou to the ground. "S-stay back! W-what do you intend to do?" He screams as they walk closer. "Someone! Arrest these intruders!" He squirms like a worm and runs away down the halls.
"We need to hurry and cause a ruckus." Estelle says but stops Rita in the middle of her casting. "Not here! We need to find the blastia for Flynn."
"Leave that to me." Yuri says taking off down the halls punching an oncoming guard in the face. They're rushing through the rooms when they stop and see someone hanging from the celling wrapped in a matt or blanket. Estelle's not really sure.
They walk up slowly and note the young girl in a sailor's uniform. "What a nice view."
"Who's this?" Karol whispers and Yuri strides up as always with confidence despite the saw from his fever.
"What are you doing up there?"
"It's what it looks like. I'm sightseeing!"
Yuri nods. "Ah, and here I thought you'd gotten captured."
Estelle walks over and looks at the tightly bound rope. "Umm, it sure looks you've been captured to me…"
The swings in her prison(?). "Absolutely not." She stops and resumes her swinging. "Oh! I know you. Hmm, your name is… Jack!"
Yuri chuckles. "The name's Yuri, and you are?"
"It's Patty."
"Patty, huh? You're the one I met out front."
"Aye, that's right. Looks like you couldn't stop thinking about the warmth of my hand and came chasing after me, huh? Krytian boys always have good taste."
Yuri stops himself from retorting or laughing and gestures for Estelle to help him get her down. She falls to the ground with a surprisingly large amount of graces a smile stretched ever on her face.
"So what are you doing in a place like this?" Karol asks as Patty rocks back and forth on her feet.
"I'm searching for treasure!" She states.
"Treasure? Here?"
"Well, that greedy old man does seem like he would have that kind of stuff, but still-"
Karol interrupts Rita with a large smile. "So what do you do, Patty?"
"I'm an adventurer." She says eyeing Yuri carefully. Estelle can't tell to be amused or… something else.
"It'd be dangerous to just leave a girl down here." Estelle says and Karol nods.
"That's true. Why don't you come with us?"
"I still haven't found any treasure, though." She complains.
Yuri eyes her suspiciously. "You seem more like a thief than an adventurer."
Patty turns on heal and walks away with the stoutness of a soldier. "To be an adventurer is to always possess an inquisitive mind, and a spirt to thrust oneself into the unknown. That's why while I might seem like a thief, I'm not a thief!"
Yuri rolls his eye while Estelle takes the words to heart. "Whatever. If you want to go looking for treasure I'm not stopping you."
Patty seems to ponder choice and turns around on a heel turn. "There's probably no more treasure in this mansion."
Rita looks over at her with distrust. "So you'll be joining us?" She nods and walks behind.
It's not hard to see the girl is skilled at combat. She walks carefree, but there are men lying unconscious just ahead. "I'm impressed you were wandering around alone in a place this dangerous."
"Aye, I'm seeking a treasure great enough to brave any danger."
"What sort of treasure is that?" Karol asks eagerly.
"Aifread's hidden treasure."
The boy jumps back. "A-Aifread's!"
"You mean the legendary pirate?" Estelle says.
"Is he famous?" Yuri coughs.
"Y-you've never heard of him? He was the big bad boss of the sea! All he did was stir up trouble!" Karol exclaims with large gestures and timid fear. Like Aifread might hear them.
"Aifread… The boss who lead the pirate guild known as Siren's Fang. He is pursued by the Kinghts for plundering emigrant ships and the murder of hundreds of civilians. Although unconfirmed, it's said he's already dead."
Karol shudders. "It's called the Black Hope Incident. They say it was awful."
"Well, that's what they say." Patty mutters.
"What are you going to do once you get that treasure?" Rita chimes.
"Isn't it obvious. Once I have the legendary pirate treasure, I'll become a famous adventurer!" She smiles widely with wisdom that seems unfathomable on a face so young. "That's worth the risk. That's being an adventurer."
"Interesting." Yuri smirks as they're walking through.
"How about it, want to partner up with me?"
"Tempting offer, but I don't have that kind of free time."
"You're so cold. Colder than a shark's skins. But, that's how your kind always are. Good taste but no manners. But, that's what's so lovely about you." There's a wide grin on her face and he hears the others whispering about the choice of the word 'lovely'. "It's love at first sight!" She winks and Yuri thinks his fever got worse. He's going to have to let the kid off gently.
Estelle's eyes are wide with intrigue. "Love at first sight… so that mean...!"
"Ugh, let's keep moving!" Rita yells pulling Estelle further down the hall. "Love at first sight… how immature."
Yuri stops. He hears it right past the door. "This is it." Inside is a grand blastia almost the height of the roof. It keeps repeating the word rain in his ears. The aer around it is thick too and the ground beneath him feels… heavy.
Rita runs up and starts examining the formula and in a frenzy. "Strihm, laitos, rockra, fleck... They just patch together blastia with different formulas... This formula could manipulate the weather, but how can they use them like this? It's just like at Ehmead Hill. They don't have the slightest respect for what they're working with."
"This is just what we need for evidence." Estelle says and calls up at Rita. "Rita, shouldn't you finish that later...?"
"...Just a bit more... I just need to check a few more things..." Rita mutters engrossed in the formula.
"You can have Flynn give you a look at it after we're done. Let's get busy with our 'emergency.'" Estelle says nervously looking about. "Let's just break something that won't be missed..."
Patty pulls out a gun and smiles. "I don't get what you're doing but I'll help out."
Yuri pulls her back. "Why don't you wait quietly with me instead. I'm not too sure what Estelle's up to either."
As Karol starts banging his hammer on a beam, fireballs burst from above and he screams as one almost hits him. "Jeez! What got into you all of a sudden?"
"We've gotta give those knights a good reason to show up, don't we?" Rita yells from the balcony.
Estelle cringes. "Yes, but I don't know if we should-"
"What? I think this is just right for scolding evil." Yuri clutches his head as the blastia puts out loud pulse after pulse. He's still too hot and the second wind he had earlier is burning off now.
"Really, what a way to behave in someone else's home." Ragou's voice sneers from the grand door in front of them as multiple thugs start pouring in. "The time has come for you to earn your keep. I want all of them captured. Whatever happens though, take care not to kill the young lady!"
They all stand at the ready even Yuri despite his horrid state. "No way! Are these guys from the Blood Alliance?" Karol gasps as the men approach. Explosions are heard as Rita continually blasts away at the building. Estelle pushes off a great sword while Karol protects Yuri from behind. He kicks off a mercenary and stops for his breath. Repede pushes a man down and knocks away the mercenary nearing Rita.
Estelle pulls Rita's arm as Patty shoots at another guildsman. "Rita, we need to get out of here now. Flynn's probably almost here by now." Yeah, knowing that idiot his Yuri sense must be off the radar. Not to mention the smoke pouring out the windows.
"You don't seriously think he'll come that quickly." Rita states launching a spell that lands just shy of the knight in questions face.
"Magistrate, I don't know what's happened here, but allow us to offer our assistance." Flynn and his knights state pulling their swords and wands at the ready. It's about to be an all out battle when-
CRASH!
Through the glass bursts in a dragon with a figure clad in armor wielding spear riding through. The attention and shouts turn to the intruder as they circle the room. Yuri stares at the dragon and his chest aches. There's something about this monster. It's voice wails as the rider's spears collides in shattering the blastia. Yuri can't breathe and he panics when he sees that the dragon is firing its breath towards Flynn.
His feet run on their own and he stands in front as a useless shield. To his shock the dragon shoots the away from the knights and uses the chaos to fly off.
I see, so the blonde is your human kin, brother
What? "Yuri?" He brushes Flynn's hand off. He's fine, but Ragou's getting away. His feet chase after the scum outside into the now sunny sky trailed by the others. This man is getting away with his crimes and that dragon rider isn't escaping without giving him answers.