It was a tragedy.
The Albinauric people wanted nothing more than to live in peace, away and secluded from the cruel outside world. Created in gruesome experimentation by the heinous and terrible scholars of the eternal city during the shattering wars, they were formed out with the mind to be human in appearance, but capable and totally loyal to Nox. However, as the Great War ended, the land of Nox was taken over by the kingdom of the Greater Will, and the city was cast underground as punishment for going against it.
The Albinaurics were not spared.
Birthed from human hands, they were seen as impure, untouched by the grace of the Erdtree. As a result, they were hunted down, with any trace of their origins erased from the pages of history alongside the truth of their nature.
Those who survived the exodus sought refuge south of Lucaria, away from where the kingdom of the greater will was most strong, and away from those who wished harm upon them. They established a village beneath a mountain, naturally protected by the swaps that corned it, and hidden from the grace of the Erdtree. There they lived for many years, in uneasy, but liveable peace.
That was, until that evil all-knowing tarnished made his appearance in the village. How he managed to discover their hidden annex was a mystery many Albinaurics would take to their graves, as he and his men cut through the disabled and mad residents. Despite that, whatever the all-knowing was looking for he did not find, and left the village and the senseless bloodshed behind. Not forgotten, but surely uncared for. A cruel tarnished to the core.
Deep within the remains of the village, hid a single Albinauric woman, her legs having already given out on her, she resided to remain there and die beside her beloved wolf companion who was slain during the assault. She wept for her dear wolf, an act most unbecoming of a once defender of the village, but she could not help it. The grief she held was vast and ending, so much so that it seemed to swallow her whole in her thoughts, all-encompassing and overpowering. Besides, what good was her being the village's protector, if now the village was destroyed and its people slain?
She was a failure, so she resigned to die, it would only be just that she would fall with the rest. Yes, this would be the pathetic end of The Crippled Archer Latenna.
And then he showed up.
The quiet that surrounded Latenna, that which was empty of all but the sound of wind and the soft sizzling of the buildings, was soon consumed by a new presence. A heavy thumping upon the dirt and grass. It was coming from outside of Latenna's view, but she knew it was getting closer to her as it grew louder.
Large in stature, that was what whoever was coming had to be to make such thunderous steps. The sound of clattering metal indicated that whoever it was was armored, with a weapon no doubt.
Whoever was coming was an enemy. Perhaps it was what remained of the All-knowings men here to clean up their mess, or forces of the greater will who finally noticed the village thanks to the pandemonium that had occurred. Whatever it may be, Latenna knew it would spell her end.
She was still capable of fighting, even without her Lobo to ride she was still extremely skilled with her bow, and could fight off a soldier or two even in her crippled state. However, she had no intent or desire to defend herself. All she wished for was to die alongside her Wolf.
That was when the unknown individual rounded the corner, and Latenna finally saw who was approaching her. Latenna gasps, in shock and in terror, at its presence. Truly, it was the worst thing that could have ever made its way to her.
A great Jar, one that stood with a height which left her eyes to meet nothing but the bottom of it. It continued to make its way towards her, ever lumbering, and ever silent.
Latenna shook upon its approach. She remembered when she was a young Albinauric, the elders would always warn her of going outside of the village, that the evil giant pots would come and take her away. If she stayed up for too long, if she didn't eat the food she was given, all telltale signs that a giant pot would come and drag her from the safety of her home in the middle of the night and eat her. As she grew older and more mature, she thought of such stories to be nothing but fairy tales, meant to scare children into behaving. She knew that they existed, she read about them in books about adventures from the outside world, but she also knew that they weren't some boogeyman.
When she spoke to one of the elders, he confirmed her suspicions. No jar was hiding under her bed or just outside of the village. Yet when he mentioned, however, that they did in fact eat people, it made her even then lose hours of sleep.
She had forgotten about such things, for the last time she ever asked about a Jar was years ago, and more pressing fears and worries took over her restless nights. The last thing an Albinauric in hiding needed to worry about was some silly piece of metal.
Yet here, in front of her, getting closer and closer was just that. A great jar. A visceral fear then took over poor Latenna, and for all of her existence, she wished she could run away. She never envied not having use of her legs, and her inability to walk had grown to be a part of her, and she had grown to accept them completely. However now, in the presence of the great jar, she wished more than anything else in the world that they would finally work. So that she could run away from a gruesome death.
With such thoughts of escape, came Lobo, and how she would normally ride on him to escape danger.
Lobo, her wolf, her beloved companion. He was dead and could do nothing to save her. He was not to blame for that, if anything, she was to blame for his death. Then, a newfound emotion brewed in Latenna. It was not of fear, nor of despair, nor of anger, nor of sadness, nor of depression, nor of acceptance, but an emotion she had seldomly ever felt in her hard and trying life. Determination. That jar, that vile and repulsive thing, would not be allowed to harm Lobo. So be it if it killed her, so be it if it consumed her, but she could not let such a fate be met of the dire wolf that laid dead beside her.
With a shaky hand, she grabbed hold of her bow that was straddled around her back and pulled an arrow out of the quiver. Setting it in front of her, she laid the arrow on the side of her bow, pulled back the string, and spoke her resolve.
"E-evil creature, I will not allow you to defile my Lobo."
She could not contain the unease in her breath, for even now she still held fear of the creature, but that did not dissuade her arrow. And she fired-
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
The jar spoke.
And in a moment of pure shock, Latenna could not stop herself from firing her arrow, and it blasted right onto the center of the jar's face, or whatever the front of it could be called, and sent the jar staggering backward.
The thing spoke, the jar had the voice of a man matured, resonating and proud. For a moment, she almost found it to be quite a nice voice. Nice and stout, almost calming in a way.
Yet in the next, she realized something, and almost laughed at herself. Of course the jar didn't speak! It's delirious to think such a thing. She had to have imagined it, perhaps in some desperate last-ditch attempt of her mind to reason that she was not about to die. It decided to give the jar the voice of a man, and speak words as if it could be reasoned with. Yes, that is the most logical explanation.
Then the smirk she had grown as a result of such a line of thinking died quickly, and was replaced with a saddened look. How pathetic, she couldn't even die in peace, even now her subconscious forced her to resist.
No matter, she was still fighting for a purpose, and couldn't be distracted from it. Latenna quickly drew another arrow and prepared to fire.
"Woah! Woah there my lady! Won't you please calm down for a second? No need to shoot me again!"
The jar spoke once more, raising its brown jar-like hands in front of it, as if in an attempt to diffuse the situation. It was certain, the jar could talk. At that, Latenna was left, mouth agape, in shock.
"Apologies, I hadn't seen you there on the floor! Allow me to properly introduce myself." The jar cleared its throat, brought its right hand to its chest, and spoke again.
"I am the Great Warrior Jar, Alexander! A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Now, fair lady, if you could just put down that bow you have there. No need to hurt yourself trying to use it, or more! Haha! That thing packs quite a punch!"
It spoke jovially, as if in complete disregard for the tragedy that had just occurred in the village. Latenna found that quite… nice. Something, finally something, that returned her to a sense of normal, which is odd considering that it came from a talking piece of pottery. On such a horrible day, something finally seemed to be, well, not horrible.
Perhaps, all was well? Then she had another grand epiphany.
A trick! This creature was trying to trick her into lowering her sense of guard and getting her to drop her bow so that it could attack her freely. Of course! The jar, for what it lacked a mouth, surely seemed to have some brains. She knew of such tactics, they were like that of wolves, waiting to pounce upon prey when it had its back turned.
While perhaps compared to a simpler animal it could be tricked, she would not fall so easily for it. Latenna couldn't help but give herself a bit of praise for her successful and accurate deduction of the situation. She was always one of the smartest Albinaruics in the village.
She dragged the string of her bow back in preparation too.
"I shan't be tricked, fiend! You will not be allowed to consume the body of my wolf, so long as I continue to live and breathe!"
"Your wolf? Ha, you need not be frightened, I don't-"
It was interrupted by another arrow landing directed into its center.
"I don't stuff animals into myself!" He yelled, while falling back onto his side.
Latenna was surprised by what he said, she found herself surprised by most things the giant talking jar said, but all the more.
"You… don't plan on eating Lobo?"
"Of course not! I, a great warrior jar, would never go after a simple animal." It said, while getting back up onto its feet.
"Truthfully?"
"Upon my name as Iron First Alexander, I speak the truth, a great warrior like myself would never go after a simple beast."
"I see…" Latenna said. "Well, that is…" Unexpected? She wanted to say that, but then she didn't know much about the jars, so perhaps they don't consume animals.
"That's… good."
"Hmm?"
Even Latenna recognized just how unsure she sounded. Of course she didn't want Lobo to be consumed, that is the last thing she would ever want, yet she still left disappointed at his declaration. Perhaps, maybe… she had hoped to actually have to fight the Warrior jar, not for herself, but for someone else's sake. At least then she could die with a semblance of purpose.
"So then, you are just after my body? So be it, I will not resist you, so long as you hold good on your word to not harm Lobo."
She set her bow to the floor, and spread her arms, welcoming the fate she was ordained. If Lobo was to rest peacefully, then she may die in peace as well, even if it is in the hands of a Jar.
"Oh, no, I don't plan on stuffing you in me either."
Latenna was, for a second, gagged at what he had just described. Then she snapped, "You… don't?"
"No! Dear me, I am a warrior jar, I would only stuff true warriors inside of myself. You fair maiden, have nothing to fear."
Latenna held an expression of surprise, then of relief, such was to be expected when one was told that they were in fact, not going to die. But then, most oddly, she smiled a sort of melancholic smile, and peered her eyes down to the dirt.
"Yes, I understand, I am unfit even to be consumed… So lowly and pathetic that not even the worms in the dirt will take my body once I am dead, is that the fate of the Albinaurics? That not even a pathetic pot would be willing to take us…"
"Well, I don't think you should take it like that-." Alexander stopped himself, finally taking it all that she had said.
Pathetic pot? Well, he had never! To be called pathetic, Ha! Such is ludicrous. If anything, he was a mighty pot! One of the mightiest around. Perhaps even the mightiest! Ok, well, perhaps not the mightiest per se. Alexander's ego did not devolve so far as to believe himself the greatest jar that is, but undoubtedly he was one of the mightiest pots around. Certainly the most mighty pot this lady had ever seen! Him, pathetic? Nonsense. He had the bodies of some of the greatest warriors with him, some as those he found after the Radahn festival. Would anyone dare call those warriors pathetic? He surely thought not! If anything, since he had them inside of him, he was more mighty than even they!
Yes, he was mighty, that was not in doubt. How dare she call him pathetic? Then he realized, ah, of course. He was so quick to judge, and his emotions got the better of him for a moment. How else could he have not thought of it before? How could he expect this fair lady, one clearly of human descent, and that of one without true warrior blood within her, to be able to recognize what a mighty warrior jar would look like? Yes, it was simply a cultural difference, he himself has not yet fully comprehended how human culture works either. Like when she had shot him with those arrows, he had initially believed that they were acts of combat, but what if they were actually a sign of greeting?
"Well I can assure you, I am no pathetic pot, I am a great warrior!"
"Yes…"
Downtrodden, she was downtrodden, Alexander could tell that with ease. What he found difficult to understand was why exactly she was in such a sorry state. Had he not informed her that she would be fine, alongside her companion? Why is she still sad?
Unless… Alexander sighed to himself. Unless she was one of those humans who were into… what was it called? He distinctly remembers once, when a human male came up to him in nothing but undergarments and a jar upon his head, and asked to be consumed. He understood such desires, as to be taken in by a mighty jar such as himself is no doubt a great honor, but he didn't particularly desire to take in someone so clearly not skilled as a fighter. So he refused, but when he did, the man grew extremely desperate. He begged to be consumed, as if his life depended on it. Alexander could do nothing but leave the man in mad ravings, confused about why he insisted so badly.
Ah yes, was this woman into, what the humans called, vore? He personally never understood such things. To consume someone, not out of a sense of respect or self-preservation, but out of the desire for pleasure? What a strange thing.
Alexander chalked it up to cultural differences.
With that said, he still did not know what to do with the girl in front of him. She was very sad, nearly on the verge of tears if Alexander's good eyes did not deceive him, and he did not know what to do to help. He was a warrior jar, it could not be expected of him, nor required, that he should know how to care for a maiden and her feelings. He always traveled alone, and the most intimate he ever became with a woman was during combat. Still, he felt as though he must try something.
His mother, a great warrior jar herself, had always told him of the importance of treating a woman properly.
'A woman on the inside is like a delicate flower!', he remembered his mother always telling him. 'If I am to be expecting grandchildren, then you must learn how to take care of one!'
Family life was not something he was fond of, always too busy with training and becoming stronger to think about romance. Still, however, while it might not be aligned with his desires as a warrior, as a man, he must take action. It is unbecoming of any man to make a woman sad, that he knew, his mother would no doubt approve of.
So he spoke, "Well my dear, forgiven for my crassness, but it seems I have yet to be given your name."
"My name?"
"Yes!" He spouted. "I should know the name of such a lovely maiden such as yourself!"
The woman paused for a moment, and then spoke in a soft tone. "Oh, yes, my name is Latenna."
Wonderful progress, a name is a start to a conversation, or at least so he thought. Normally one would begin combat with a name, so simple dialogue couldn't be much different.
"Well Latenna, allow me to reintroduce myself. I am the great warrior jar Alexander the Iron Fist! It is a pleasure to meet you!"
"That is the third time… No, never mind. The… the pleasure is all m-mine."
Still in an unpleasant mood, that is certain, but he was also certain he was getting somewhere. The question was, what to do now?
Ah, a handshake. Humans would often add a simple shaking of their hands together as if in acknowledgment of one another, he had seen so himself.
Alexander extended his right hand in front of him, in a friendly gesture.
Latenna's body jumped, and she made a quick motion to cover Lobo's body with her own, before stopping halfway. Seemingly having realized the Great Jar's actions, she extended her own right hand away from her body, quivering as it was, h, laid it upon his.
Contact, perfect!
Latenna's body physically shook upon taking his hand. With a disgusted look coming onto her face. Alexander took this as proof of his need to make the next move, and gripping onto her hand tightly, shook his hand up and down. Alexander's mind digressed for a moment upon feeling her hand. He had to admit, her hand did feel nice upon his own. Silky and smooth, with a warmth to it, a pleasant counterbalance to his own rough and cold metal. She would make a wonderful potentate to a jar. Not himself, of course. Warrior jars must travel alone.
His thoughts were interrupted by Latenna groanings and woes. In his actions, he had begun to lift Latenna partially off the ground with each shake upwards, and promptly throw her back down with each shake down. Was this how it was done? Considering their height and weight difference, he could see no other way this gesture could've gone. No matter, after a few more seconds, he set her back onto the dirt and retrieved his hand. A handshake should only last a few seconds at most, that he knew.
Latenna, for her part, was left with her hair slightly disheveled and thoroughly flustered.
"Well then, Latenna," Alexander said, while setting himself onto the floor, so as to at least narrow the height difference. "What has gotten a woman like yourself to be in such a foul mood? Could it be related to the battle that had occurred at this village?"
His final question readily caught the Albinauric's attention, and she all but snapped her gaze at the great jar, causing him to push his head backward in recoil at just how visceral it seemed. This lady did have quite the mean eyes if she so chose to show them, Alexander had to give her that.
"Battle? What nonsense." She shook her head. "No, what happened here was no battle, but a senseless massacre."
"Oh?"
"That… Brute." She spit onto the grass. "That all-knowing pig, he had his men, they slaughtered us Albinaurics, for what! What have we ever done to be deserving of such mistreatment?"
Alexander was surprised by her statement, not only at the truth of what had happened to her, but also at the way she delivered it. He did not believe such a small frame could have such a vile voice. Was it because of the nature of what she was speaking of, or was it just in her nature to speak in such a way? Whatever the case may be, he was impressed at her passion.
"Filthy tarnished, all of them, untrustworthy and rotten to the core!"
It was tarnished who did this then, aye? Well, he certainly had to admit that there were many tarnished out there who were nothing but madmen, he knew many who were good people. Such as the great tarnished warrior who felled Radahn, dare he say, a greater warrior than himself! He was far from rotten.
"Well Latenna, it is awful what has happened to you, but not all tarnished are as cruel as you say."
To that, she scoffed an ugly scoff. "As if, tarnished have always done bad to the Albinaurics, never good. Why, if I ever have to lay my eyes upon another in my life then it would be too soon, and I refuse to listen to whatever praise you may try to give them!"
Oh dear, women are very loud, aren't they?
"I see, well you have my sympathy."
"Sympathy?"
"Yes, I do believe I know what hardships you are going through."
"No…"
"I understand what it's like to be-"
"No!" She leaned forward and gave him a stare he thought might actually kill him. "You jar! You understand nothing of what I and my people have had to endure! The cruelty, the hatred, the suffering. All of it and more, how could you ever know?"
Alexander sat there silent, his faceless body giving away not a hint of his reaction to her outburst. Though, he noted how her hands made way to grab at the grass, so harshly that the grass had begun to be unearthed.
"The golden order, the all-knowing, all these people have come after us and wish for our demise. How could a simple pot understand that? You have no mouth to speak, you have no eyes to see, no ears to hear. Why, if that top of yours was removed, I doubt there would even be a brain for you to think with other than base animalistic desires!"
Alexander remained silent.
"Cruel, evil creature…" Tears began to swell in her eyes. "All you do is eat gluttonous things, when will you be satisfied."
"Your desires, you will never get them from here, we have nothing for you." Tears began to fully fall from her eyes.
"I told you, I know nothing of the Medallion, so why did you still have to go and kill Lobo?" Her hands left from the grass and palmed against her eyes, as if trying to mask her free-flowing tears
That all-knowing fiend. How he had tried to win over Latenna, even now she seethed. Talking of how tarnished were cast away just like Albinaurics, and how he did not actually wish to bring harm to them, and was only doing it for the greater good.
For a moment, she almost believed him, but when she said that she did not know where it was, o' how quickly he turned to anger. He had only started to turn to physically torture her when Lobo jumped out of a nearby bush to protect her, only to be quickly slain by the tarnished. Then he decided to leave as though he already knew she was not going to tell him what he wanted, and all he was doing was punishment meant for not giving him the information.
Latenna sobbed greatly.
How did we get here? Alexander thought. We're they not just shaking hands like friends? And he already told her that he would bring no harm to her wolf, did he not? Women were quite confusing. All that mattered was that this lady was crying, and it was his duty as a man to stop it at once.
So finally, Alexander spoke.
"When I was a young jar."
Latenna perked up towards him, her hands moving slightly to allow her eyes to see.
"When I was a young jar." He repeated. "I would always like to go outside of my village to play, me and a friend do so every day. We would dare each other to go farther and farther, attempting to prove our might to one other."
Latenna looked confused.
"Are you aware of what poachers are? They hunt us jars, they seek to destroy us and take our insides, my mother had warned me as such. She said that if we ever traveled outside of the safety of our confined and hidden village, poachers would come to take us away. However, in my childish youth, this did not dissuade me."
Latenna set her hands on her lap, and gave the jar her full attention.
"One day, we had gone farther away from the village than we had ever gone before, so much so that we could barely even see it. We were confident and brash, believing ourselves to be great, that we were able to go where few other jars dared to go. And then…"
"And then…" Latenna repeated after him.
"A poacher, just like my mother warned me about, managed to find us. He ambushed and completely overwhelmed me, and I was certainly going to die that day. But then, my friend attacked the poacher right before he was going to kill me, and insisted I run away. In my cowardice… I did, I let my friend fall to the hands of the poacher so that I could escape, and live with the shame. That day, I vowed to leave the village, and never return until I was the mightiest warrior that is. So that no poacher would ever dare try to destroy another jar, lest they face the wrath of Alexander."
Alexander tilted himself down, to fully face the Albinaruic.
"To be hunted down, weak and pathetic like, and to desire nothing more than to face and defeat those who did. Such is a feeling I fully understand."
With a hefty last word, Alexander finished his tale, and Latenna was left in silence to contemplate what she had just heard.
"I…" Latenna did not know what to say. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be so rude. You have not wronged me in the slightest, yet I said such terrible things…"
"Fret not at all," Alexander assured. "Simple words cannot harm a great warrior such as I. All is forgiven."
Latenna gave an exhausted sigh. "It seems that we both know what it's like to be hunted, except, it seems you are capable of doing something about it. I, on the other hand, am left crippled by my ability to move. There is nothing left for me, no way to deal with the shame I have."
Alexander couldn't help but interject. "There is never nothing. As a warrior, the first thing you must learn is that there is always strength to be had, and there is always a way forward. If you come across something or someone you cannot currently defeat, then you go and become stronger until you can, even if you have to bash your head a thousand times into a rock. Such thinking is how I have become as strong as I am.
Latenna, in spite of all that happened, couldn't help herself from chuckling and the sheer pride that he had made his declaration with. It was charming.
"I'm serious!"
"I know you are. You're really quite something else, Alexander, and what you said does inspire me."
"That is great news, I'm very glad that you can see it too. Besides, I'm certain that your friends and family here would want to see you live on, would they not?"
"Yes…"
"Wonderful! Ha! Now all that's left is to find a new purpose! I would recommend becoming a warrior, but well, I don't think that would suit you."
A new purpose… Latenna was the stalwart defender of the Albinaurics in the village, she had trained since a young age in archery, and befriended Lobo for that very reason. She was defined by her skills in battle, and she took pride in it, but not it was all dead and gone. So what would she do now?
Unless…
"Alexander, I think… No, I know what I must do now."
"That's it!" With a jovial shout, Alexander finally stood, causing the grass around him to part and nearly knocking Latenna over at the sudden shift in the earth.
"Well then, I must be off! I have an adventure I intend on partaking in, and it seems there is nothing left for me in this village."
"Well, actually Alexander-"
"Ah what a wonderful day it is too! The sun is nice and bright, and the breeze is all windy. What a day it is to continue on my journey. Why, I'm certain I will come across a new mighty warrior to challenge and stuff myself with-"
"Alexander!" Latenna shouted, desperate to get the attention of the great jar before he left her.
"Yes, fair lady?"
"Forgive me, but I have a request to make of you." Finally catching his attention, Latenna push her arm onto her chest and continued. "It is a very selfish thing to ask, but from what you have just told me, I can think of nothing us in this world I should want."
"Well of course! As an honorable man, it is only right that I heed the request of any woman who asks."
"I must see my sister again, who dwells far north.
"Sounds like a plan for you then."
Latenna paused, then spoke, "Take me with you."
"No."
Latenna could only gape, not at his refusal, but at how diligently he said it.
"A warrior must travel alone, for that is the way of warriors."
"That is…" Quite redundant and circular, "very admirable of you, but I must insist."
She added, "It is only right! For… for anyone true warrior or hero, to have with him a companion! Yes, every great warrior has always traveled with others."
"Very funny little lady, but I continue my denial. A champion travels alone whether or not they be maidenle-..."
Alexander stopped in shock at his sudden epiphany.
"Maidenless…" Yes, he remembers that good Tarnished warrior who had defeated Radahn. They would often speak of maidens. How a maiden was integral to continue the 'plot' of the story, and that their game couldn't be completed with a maiden… He could only assume that by 'game' they meant their journey to become Elden Lord. Most importantly, it was the insult they would use against weak foes.
Maidenless, that's what he would call weaker tarnished.
Could that be the secret? He had stuffed many women into him before, however, they were warriors, not maidens. Was what he was missing? In order to become a true mighty warrior, did he need to get a maiden?
Well, it couldn't hurt to try.
"-This task is very important to me, for the sake of the Albinauric people I offer anything I have in my power to give you. My bow, my clothes on my back, even my b-bod-"
"Alright then!" Alexander interrupted her monologue with a resounding jump. Blowing everything around him away.
"Alright then?" Latenna was confused.
"Yes, I have decided, I shall have you accompany me along my journey as my maiden."
Latenna's confusion turned to happiness. If she had legs, she would certainly be jumping in joy.
"Thank you, sir Alexander. I will dedicate myself to helping you along the way."
"Yes, I do not doubt that, however…." He took a moment to fully take in her form. "You seem to have a very serious issue, one very specific to you…" He trailed, as if pondering.
A serious issue, oh dear, was he reconsidering? What could it be, could he have secretly hated the Albinaurics the entire time, and upon hearing how her mission was for their sake, he decided against it? Could it be that he didn't desire to have an archer travel alongside him? All his talk of warriorship, did he believe archers to not truly be warriors? Nonsense, she was a great warrior, and if she had to prove that to him then she could do it with ease. Had her initial shots on him not been enough to show her strength and prowess? Wait, was that the issue? Oh, dear, did she make a negative impression on him when he first arrived, and now he believes her to be some violent and senseless savage who attacks people instead of greeting them? Well, how was she to blame for her reaction? He gave no warning upon his approach, so she was left to assume the worst.
She looked at him, while he continued to ponder.
No, that doesn't seem to be it. So then what? What was this serious issue with her? What could she have, or not have, that has caused him to pause in his admission of her into his service? Latenna found nothing. She knew she would be a wonderful maiden-.
Wait, no, that's impossible. Unless… why would Alexander phrase it as such, why would he say he would accompany him as a 'maiden'? What was the significance of it? It shouldn't make any, that is, unless Latenna's current line of thinking was incorrect. The idea, the realization, that the great jar in front of him was a… a woman-hater! The unbearable truth. Is that why he is staring at her so intently? Is he judging her based on her appearance? Did he consider her not 'good-looking' enough to take along? Did he simply what a maiden alongside him to boast about, like one would do a fancy sword or strong steed? The fiend. No wonder had he said she wasn't a warrior, no wonder he kept calling her 'fair maiden' and 'my lady. This whole time, even upon his refusal to consume her, he was not judging her based on her abilities as a warrior. No, he was judging her as being a woman, the masculine-sounding inanimate jar without a clear conception of human gender was. Then, more questions came. Do they rub alongside one another like cats to indicate closeness? Since when did Jars have mothers? Did… did she have a mother? All her childhood, she had been raised by the elders, who were all men. She knew the truth of their existence, but still, she had to have a mother. If she had a sister then that must mean they have a mother, it only makes sense. Wait, stop.
Latenna shook her head, she was getting off course.
She had to focus on the woman-hating monster in front of her, oh how she would tell him off, no better than those who hated Albinaurics. How dare he keep calling her a 'fair maiden' or 'my lady'. She was an honest to god righteous defender of the Albinaurics, she was far from fair, and the only person she belonged to was Lobo. How dare he call her that? The swine. The pig, does he think he is too good for her? Why didn't he want to consume her? If anything, he should be asking, nay! Begging her to let him consume her! She could not let the disrespect stand and resolved herself to give Alexander a piece of mind. Yes, she would tell him off right away, no doubt about it.
She opened her mouth.
"You can't walk."
Then she shut it, opened her mouth again, shut it once more, and opened it for a final time.
"...Yes, of course, that is a very serious issue isn't it?"
"Yes… hmm? You seemed surprised at what I said, what were you thinking I was gonna say?"
"Nothing, forgive me, I fear the stress of the day has truly made my mind begin to wander into truly strange places."
Alexander shook his head in understanding, then went back to pondering.
"Hmm…"
She couldn't walk, so now what? He already said he would take her, and a true warrior never goes back on his word, so what to do? He could find her a steed to ride. A horse, or perhaps a wolf. That could work, however, he needed something to get her out of this village in the short term. Also, taming an animal to ride takes a fair bit of time, what would they do until then?
Alexander pondered for a moment, and then decided.
"I have a solution."
"You do?" Latenna looked hopeful.
"Yes." He walked closer to her. "Now come here."
His asking of her to 'come here' was not said in a literal sense, Latenna could tell, especially when he came to grab her torso with his two giant hands.
Latenna yelped at the sudden movement of finally being picked up off the spot she sat upon for hours, closing her eyes as she moved through the air, but not before making a swift action to grab her bow off the ground. Finally, she was set upon something cold and hard. When she opened her eyes, she realized where she was, sat upon the great jar, elevated high off the ground.
"I can just keep you on top of me until we can find you a steed for yourself to ride."
"That's a, well, a good idea."
"Alright, let's get going-"
"Wait, sir Alexander, one last thing before we do."
Latenna crawled over to the very edge of Alexander, in the direction where she once sat. Reaching over and stretching her arms down, she made an attempt to pet her dead wolf, but was just short of reach. Alexander, seeing her efforts, lowered himself just slightly enough to where she could touch Lobo's fur.
"My dearest Lobo, I'm sorry, but this is goodbye. I will be off with Alexander, so as to ensure our venture was not in vain. Farewell, my better half."
With one last rub, she lifted herself back onto Alexander, placing herself directly on his center.
Alexander couldn't truly understand the purpose of her actions, he was never one for sentimentality. When a warrior dies in combat, they should be honored, not cried over. No matter, he thought, most likely just another cultural difference.
"Alright, no~w let's get going." Said Alexander.
"Yes, my friend, let's go." Said Latenna.
Alexander began making his way out from where he came, his metal legs thumping against the grass with each step.
"By the way, I cannot wait to introduce you to this warrior I know, he is tarnished-"
"Then I do not wish to meet him-"
"But he is a good man, I can assure you, and an even better warrior. He was the one responsible for killing the Demigod Radahn!"
"Well, when a tarnished does something good for me, then I might consider him a 'good' man."
"Haha! That's the spirit-"
Their conservation was interrupted by a new sound of someone approaching. Loud clanking of metal, heavy thumping, whoever was coming was large and armed. A moment passed, and a figure emerged not ten feet away from them.
There, having just turned the of the duo, was an omen slayer. A member of the all-knowing forces, left behind to slaughter any remaining Albinaurics left within the village.
Such is what Latenna told Alexander.
"I see, an enemy it is then, let us face our first challenge together. I assume your skill with the bow was not a fluke."
"No, I can assure you that my shots reign true and with strength no matter the distance.
She was a skilled archer, she could fight, but she still felt nervous. This was one of the men who had killed her people, and she hated him for it, but she also held a shred of fear. Could she succeed where she had once failed? Or would she meet the same end as her people?
No matter, such thoughts would not fight her battles. So, steadying her grip, she grabbed her bow and took an arrow from her quiver. Reeling back the arrow, she made ready to fire-
"Mighty warrior!"
Until she was interrupted.
"You are responsible for massacring these simple village folk aye? For shame, someone as strong as yourself punching down on those weaker than you. Well no longer! I, The Great Warrior Jar Alexander, alongside…"
Latenna paused in surprise at his declaration of war, but quickly regained herself when she realized what Alexander had stopped for. He wanted her to introduce herself, in the same manner as he had just done.
"Oh, well um. I, I am the…" Well, she stammered, but what of it? What was she supposed to say? Albinaurics weren't some kind of esteemed group with titles and names to be given. Especially not during combat. When an Albinaruic archer fought, they did so with swiftness, and hopefully far enough to where even if they did try to say anything, nothing would come across.
Alexander lifted his right shoulder up, causing her to tumble slightly. Such a gesture, she could only see it as being that of a shoulder nudge, trying to egg her on. She looked flustered at her inability to find something to say, as she did not want to disappoint Alexander. Looking forward, she even noticed that the omen killer had simply stood there, with his weapons drawn, and had its head tilted 45 degrees to the right. Clearly it was confused as to what was happening. Well, she was as well!
But, seeing the Omen Killer resolved her, and with an inhale what she said next she said with a level of determination she had seldomly ever felt.
"And I am the great Alibinaruic Archer Latenna."
At the mention of her race, the Omen Killer quickly snapped into a guarded position, preparing to battle.
"For the crimes thou hast committed against my people, and for the crime of trying to stand in the way of my- our paths, you will be faced with our wrath!"
Alexander gave a grand roar. Well, he thought. Perhaps this woman had the stuff of champions after all!
"To battle!" With one last shout, Alexander charged forward as fast as his heavy body would allow, and meeting him, the Omen Killer charged as well. Latenna drew back her arrow, ready to fire upon her attacker, confident in their ability to slay him, and had one thought on her might.
That for the Albinaruic people, there me just still be hope.
Hello! Author here.
I hope you enjoyed this little one shot I made, inspired by just how well these two synergized during the Fire Giant fight in game.
I don't intend on continuing this storyline, but if some people request, maybe I'll make this a two-shot with how their stories end. But that's only if like, I don't know, three whole people ask. To be honest, I doubt if three whole people will even make it this far. So if you are still here after this long one-shot, Thank you!
Leave a review critiquing the story as you like. I hope these characters, while definitely acting in OC ways, stayed true to what little we see of them in the actual story. I also hope the beginning wasn't too long, and that the dialogue wasn't cringe-inducing.
Oh well, alls well, thank you for reading my story, and leave any recommendations of a one-shot you might like to see! I might just be looking for some inspiration.
Yours Truly
A.A
After credits scene
The Omen Killer dropped its weapons, and a moment later, fell over dead.
A great battle, thought Latenna. They had managed to defeat the adversary, though he was certainly a tough one.
"And another falls to the might of Alexander and his maiden, such will be told in the history books. Now, if you'll excuse me for a moment."
Alexander grabbed Latenna from on top of him and gently set her to the ground, before proceeding to bend over the body of the dead Omen Killer.
"What are you doing?" At listen.
"Oh, just stuffing this man into me is all, it shouldn't take long." Alexander answered.
Ah, yes, Latenna should've known that was what he was doing. If she was a child, then maybe she would've been frightened, but thanks to her age, and thanks to the casualness that Alexander had in his actions, she felt all was fine. Besides, who was she to judge what a jar did with their dead? Even if it seemed strange to her.
Oh well, she thought. Maybe it was just a cultural difference.
