New Friends and Foes Part III

Brigid

"That's the overall situation, Commander Ladislava." The man in the in the faded scarlet uniform finishes, standing with pride despite his regimental attire looking very loose and along with wavy neck length hair, and a faint stubble

But not just him, Commander Ladislava shares a similar theme when it comes to her apparel. Her golden brown hair is wrapped in a loose pony tail and her military effects are equipped around what looks like a casual white shirt with a tatter in it. Her greaves are rolled up and baggy, likely to keep her legs from suffering the overbearing heat and humidity of Brigid.

Yet, despite her unkempt attire, her sharp bright crimson eyes express a stoic and thoughtful glare, as if she's analyzing the situation before turning grim.

This just makes our situation all the more complicated. Dammit! What's taking those supplies?!

"Have the bodies been identified?" Ladislava calmly queries her subordinate.

"Yes, ma'am!" He curtly acknowledges before grimly continuing. "I've taken the liberty of seeing their families are properly compensated."

As if money is going to bring the families any peace of mind...

"Very good." She curtly praises before moving on. "Well, Lieutenant. How do you feel about waking our gracious king from his beauty sleep?"

The young man carves an amused grin as he chuckles. "Want me to sing to the old man, too, Ma'am?" He jests. "I've been practicing."

She lightly smacks him across the head. "Don't push your luck, Marine." She feigns her scorn. "He'll just join in and I'll have to deal with two obnoxious headaches!"

Ladislava marches past the snickering Lieutenant down the dimly lit and corridor with the junior officer following her not far behind.

"So, Count Bergliez is coming to relieve us?" The Lieutenant sounds excited.

Ladislava takes note of his tone, he sounds very excited to get back to Adrestia. Then again, the men and women under her command are growing restless as they all have the desire to return home.

But knowing the current situation, they are not leaving anytime soon. And even if they are given the option, she couldn't bring herself to just pack up and leave.

But she keeps those thoughts to herself and replies. "Don't get your hopes up. Count Bergliez has been 'occupied with domestic matters of great importance'." She quotes the Prime Minister's words via letter. "So... Lord Arundel is on course to... assist us in in pacifying the region."

The Lieutenant's face darkens. "Basically planning to make our jobs more difficult than they already are."

There is a brief pause before the Commander answers plainly, "Basically."

The Lieutenant sighs and runs his hand through his hair. "You gotta be kidding me!"

Ladislava smirks. "Aww... poor little boy scared of a challenge?"

"I never back down from a challenge ma'am!" The Lieutenant smartly answers. "But this... this is just becoming impossible..."

Ladislava lets out a lowly chuckle, but inside she knows her subordinate is not lying. She needs to turn this situation around and fast, otherwise...

"COMMANDER!" A man's cry rings out through the stony halls and the Commander and Lieutenant see a man sprinting towards them, limbs flailing to the side like a madman.

Ladislava sees that its one of her men given the loose but regimental look he adorns. He comes to a staggered halt, gasping for breath before offering a crisp bow and starts speaking. "Report: an unknown object has fallen from the sky and has crashed onto the Eastern Shores. Our sentries spotted armed vagabonds surrounding the area, but have not made contact! Commander, please relay your instructions!"

The Lieutenant looks bewildered on the report that is given, initially thinking the poor boy has breathed something funny in the air. But Ladislava looks entirely convinced and wastes no time on acting on the new situation.

"Put the garrison on high-alert, no one gets in and out of the capital!" She orders. "You'll be in charge in my absence, Lieutenant! I have to assemble a strike force!"

"Commander, a lot of our men are incapacitated!" The Lieutenant reminds her. "And have you forgotten my report of three of our patrols not returning?"

Ladislava scowls. "Yes, I also remember you whining about Jeralt and his sidekick taking longer than you thought with that contract, but I'm not crying to you about it am I? Besides, I'm only taking the best."

The Lieutenant's face turns bleak. "Don't tell me he's coming with you..."

Her stark expression intensifies. "Gripe to me one more time, and you will be cleaning privies with your bare hands to the point all the white magic and soap in Fodlan won't wash it away. Am I clear?"

The young man squirms but quickly responds with, "Huzzah, ma'am..."

She smirks and jabs his arm. "Alright."

*FE*

The girl grows more impatient as she lingers from the shadows. Just because she agreed to have outsiders to begin negotiations with more outsiders, does not mean that she's going to let this opportunity pass them by.

Once they have what they need, I'll personally sweep in and take these intruders myself! Who knows? Maybe they can be persuaded to fight for our cause!

One of the warriors, mutters something unpleasant, wishing they can just attack now. Another murmurs that she's concerned that the Empire or those traitors may ambush them from behind if they stay here too long.

"Senyap! (Shut it!)" The girl hisses. "We attack on my signal! Don't worry, plenty of fun for all of us!"

The girl is met with grumbles and reluctant acknowledgement.

"Now..." She turns back to the negotiations. "All we need to do is just wait for the right time to strike!"

*FE*

"Ahahaha! Silent are we?" Constance's pride swells as she feels having the upper hand over the brash girl. "Seems you understand your situation well!"

"I don't like this..." Hapi mutters behind Constance. "Can't we just swoop in and save him already?"

"Since when are you so reckless?" Balthus lightheartedly asks. "Am I rubbing off on you already?"

Hapi's face crunches with suspicion. "Hey, I'm no expert, but something tells me they're just stalling."

"Hmm..." Yuri bows his head. "You may be right... Alright, quit showing off and tell her that we want to see our guy."

"I was getting to that, Yuri!" Constance snarls.

But as Constance inhales deeply, ready to set their demand, she bites her tongue as the girl boldly shuffles forth.

"Told'ja before that we only take tickets to Singapore, Johor, or Chiang Mai, did I?"

Hapi's face crunches in confusion. "What's with this girl and singing about her pores?"

But the girl is not finished. "If you're empty handed, guess we got nothin' to talk about huh?"

Constance hisses through her clenched teeth feeling outraged by the girl's refusal to even negotiate. She inhales deeply and plans to remind Aelfric's captors on the precarious position that they are in.

But again, the girl beats her to it. "'Sides, your pal here owes me ONE GIANT TOP QUALITY FLATSCREEN TV!"

A chocking whirring sound causes Constance to wince as she quickly becomes paralyzed by the battered structure made of metal violently twist and turn kicking up vast amounts of sand threatening to blind anyone in its vicinity.

"Get back here!" Yuri's voice breaks through the loud gush of wind and sand as he seizes a frozen Constance.

The blonde girl is snapped out of her trance and lets out an alarmed yelp as she feels some of the sand stinging her eyes.

"Might wanna get some distance, guys!" Balthus calls out. "That thing is looking pretty jittery and not in a good way!"

Hapi seems the most convinced. "Over here!" She waves to her friends with one hand while yanking Bathus's arm with the other.

As the the four huddle together, Constance gathers her mind warns her friends to brace themselves.

Hapi looks back at the volatile piece of junk and her throat locks seeing it erupting and spiraling in all directions. The blast races towards them like wild winds and all Hapi can do is stare with a blank look on her face.

Her mind could not initially register that her vision instantly changed from impending death to a rather secluded spot close to the fast pace river and a misty atmosphere with the branches ominously visible through the haze.

"Well... that was intense." Hapi coolly remarks.

"It certainly had my heart beating maddeningly." Constance shakily states. "Obviously... our enemy is more... desperate than we thought!"

Hapi rolls her eyes. "More like devious..."

"I wonder if any of our allies got caught in that blast?" Yuri grimly wonders.

"Uh oh, I know that face." Balthus eyes Yuri's expression. "Whatcha planning on, Boss?"

Yuri awkwardly rubs the back of his head. "Rescuing a cat from a tree." He breathes reluctantly. "If something were to happen to our hosts back there, I'm pretty sure Papa Tiger is gonna be less hospitable."

"Hate to burst your bubble, Yuri-Bird," Hapi illuminates light from her hand to increase visibility. "But you're likely to find ashes or blood puddles back there. Well... you know what I mean."

"I concur!" Constance supplies her support for Hapi, rubbing the sweat from her forehead. "Dreadful weather aside, let us not disregard the main reason we chose to endure these horrid conditions is for Aelfric!"

"Excellent points, both you you!" Yuri wily says washing his face with the fresh lake water. "Though we can't exactly rely on the Empire to help us with our little rescue mission."

Hapi's face lights up and turns to Constance supplying, "He's gotta point. And hate to point out the obvious, but I gotta feeling the Empire would sooner believe hug a behemoth rather take you seriously, Constance von Nuville."

"UGH!" Constance throws her hands in the air. "FINE! Let us venture forth and see if our companions have the good fortune to still have their lives!" She growls before muttering under her breath, "Goddess forbid they do."

A loud masculine sigh is heard throughout the four causing Yuri and Constance to tense up on impulse, while Hapi casts a sour glare at Balthus.

"What?" Balthus innocently speaks up. "It's been a long night for us! I can tell you guys were holding back some monstrous sighs!" He shoots a quick glance at Hapi. "Some more than others. Figure I can get one out for all of us!"

Hapi half shuts her eyes and mumbles, "Must be nice to sigh whenever you want..."

"Alright..." Yuri begins to trail the path of the flowing river. "Since you guys need a bit of a break, I'll head back and check up to see if our rebel friends are still in one piece."

"Yuri!" Constance exclaims attempting to catch up to him, but caught her feet in soft parts of mud slowing her down, much to her frustration. "Are you absent-minded?! Splitting away from groups is an ill-omen that has been proven one too many times! I will not allow you to get yourself killed over your life-threatening idiocy!"

But Yuri just smirks and coolly says, "That hurts, Constance. That's hurtful."

"But true." Hapi states before catching up. "C'mon, more the merrier, right Coco?"

"But... That was not my..." Constance struggles to find words.

"Yeah! Beats sure waiting around here with nothing to do!" Balthus throws in his support as he rushes past Constance.

The haughty blonde, realizing her arguments are futile, lets out a frustrated squeal and slams her feet in the dirt and whines. "My feet are drenched in muck! I am tired, hungry, and roasting like a stuffed pig!" She then arches her head to the sky, densely covered by the branches and leaves and howls. "JUST GET US OUT OF HERE ALREADY!"

"That can be arranged sooner than you think." A stark feminine voice startles Constance.

The high-maintenance blonde squeals and jaggedly twirls to see an unwelcoming site: Two narrow rowing boats carrying thirteen warriors, including one rugged looking woman in light armor leaping onto the moist earth with her well-cared sword aimed at Constance's chin.

Another follows suit, an exotic looking man with a skull-like helmet adorned with green markings, bare chested carefully coated with blue paint, and a frightening double-edge spear.

The rest quickly follow suit, some looking more regimental yet worn down, like the woman, while others look more exotic and tribal. Constance quickly deduces who these people are, but a loud gravelly voice disrupts her thoughts.

"You people... forbidden... in lands...!" The broad-chested man with the skull helmet roughly growls. "Drop... weapons... NOW!"

The woman cocks her head over to her associate. "In the name of The Emperor's Vanguard, I, Commander Ladislava, suggest you do as he says, and come with us quietly." Her red eyes blasts daggers at Constance. "If you do not wish to be branded as traitors to the Empire."

All this time, Constance has been letting cold drops of sweat fall from her face as the threatening message rings throughout her mind. To be called a traitor must have struck a nerve with the girl.

"As lovely as an idea that sounds..." Yuri's suave voice fills the heavy air as he gently brushes past Constance. "We're on a bit of a tight schedule." He then chuckles and throws his hands up. "Don't worry... we're just here to pick up an old friend and we'll be on our way. Trust me... we're not involve in a war that no one can win."

"Especially when ordinary people are suffering for it the most!" Hapi's usually apathetic tone becomes more hostile. "But hey, long as there is a good fight, right?"

With a quick summon of courage and Hapi's sharp words, Constance lets out her trademark cackle and begins casting her poisonous words on the newcomers. "Especially from a force as pointless and forlorn as the Imperial Marines! Truly a wonder that there are still volunteers! Vanguard of His Imperial Majesty? Please! The Navy is made to ferry our grand Army where it desires, and you..." Her voice dangerously lowers to add the desired effect. "You Marines are close to being a relic from a bygone era still clinging to their pride and a feeble Emperor!"

Constance curves a proud smirk seeing that she has struck a nerve with some of the marines, that look ready to tear her limb from limb. As if they can ever hit her. However, Ladislava remains unfazed, no she looks rather amused.

"How sweet of you to praise us, still being a relevant force to be reckon with." Ladislava smoothly counter before twisting the knife. "Huge praise from the defunct house, the house with ALL of the best soldiers they can muster and yet somehow, failing to defend the Empire from the threat of invasion!"

Constance gasps as her eyes grow to shimmering saucers.

"Thankfully, you can always count His Imperial Majesty's Vanguard for turning the tide." She continues, pride swelling her voice. "But as I always say, you want job done right, you send in the Navy."

The marines, encouraged by their commander's words, stand taller than before more willing than ever to fight these unknown people.

Constance on the other hand, looks as if someone has taken her most prized possession and sadistically tore it to pieces right in front of her.

"And I can assure you, you don't want to see us finish a job right?" Ladislava boldly steps forward. "So I'll say again: Be a good girl, do as my friend says, and come quietly."

Balthus is kind enough to snap Constance from her state of turmoil and acting as her shield slowly raising his fists.

"Nah, we'll pass. I hear prison food is lousy." Yuri cheekily gives their answer.

Ladislava scowls. "Seems that makes our jobs easier."

The marines and the their frightening companion join their commander in her battle ready stance ready to fight.

"Especially our jobs! And fun too!" Balthus smirks as he rolls his fists around, warming himself up. "Watch and learn, kids! You're about to see the King of Grappling in action!"

"Prepare for close combat!" Ladislava fearlessly commands as she takes the daring initiative of pouncing ahead.

The Commander's forces follow suit, some encircling the four vagabonds while a handful begin summoning magic.

Yuri is quick to parry and fluidly counter the woman's sword with a short blade from his belt, confident that he finished the fight before it started. Ladislava surprised the young man with rough kick to the shin, staggering him back.

"Boss!" Balthus is quick to move in Ladislava, but the skull-headed man intercepted him, forcing him back with a slice of his weapon. "Agh! That's gonna leave a mark! Still," He rolls his fists around. "You REALLY don't wanna do this, pal. Trust me!"

"You... dead!" The man menacingly snarls as he begins twirling his dual bladed spear at such speed as he trudges towards Balthus.

The brash juggernaut, witnessing the alarming acceleration of his opponent's weapon begins to stagger back.

Constance and Hapi, are left to deal with the henchmen.

"Ahahahaha!" Constance lets out a slightly unhinged laugh. "Tremble before me! Heathens and fools alike!" She eerie dark forces begin to form from her hands. "My skills in the black arts ARE UNPARALLELED!"

Hapi scoffs. "Guess you guys asked for it." She coolly states before supporting Constance with her own magical abilities.

"..." Ladislava grunts as she feels a sharp pain originating from her gut. "Dammit!"

Can't believe the punk pulled the knife move on me!

Sucking the air through her clenched teeth, Ladislava firmly grips the handle of her knife and lets out a painful cry as she yanks it from the side of her belly.

"Oh, sorry. I was trying to hit that tree behind you, but looks like you panicked." Yuri cruelly teases before asking. "Your stomach alright?"

Ladislava grinds her teeth together, a small river of blood forms crawling down her chin. She then lets out a cry, charging Yuri. The young man's face hardens as he does not see her relenting.

The two cross blades, their movements becoming more primal and brutal with each clash, its not long until fists lock into faces. Yuri reels from the fist impacting his cheek, and instinctually backs away knowing that Ladislava has him backed into a corner.

Balthus is not faring any better. Although he initially enjoyed the upper hand when he successfully times his strike, ruining his opponent's twirling spear, but he seemed to have underestimated the warrior's flexibility and easily slices throw Balthus's chest severely wounding him.

"B!" Hapi is quick to summon powerful dark magic and overwhelms Balthus's attacker, critically injuring him, though proves to be trying on her own body. "Coco... cover me!" She weakly calls to Constance holding back the several marines and their Brigid allies.

"Who also wishes to test my arcane might?!" Constance maniacally challenges, theoretically swaying her arms out as she unleashes her fatal blows on the approaching swords and spearmen. "By facing me, Constance von Nueville, you tribal savages have already sealed YOUR FATE!"

The remaining magic users called upon the mystic powers of the natural world around them, and then the vines from the wet earth began to trap Constance by her ankles and slowly but steadily climbing up her body, effectively.

The blonde's cackles grow louder and maddening. "I'M NOT THROUGH YET!"

Through what seems like sheer willpower, her hands summon small sparks of flames, incinerating the vines completely, and freeing the feral blonde from her earthly shackles. With a demented smile, and eyes shimmering, she directs the sparks and expands them into flames, hurling them at the crowd.

"This... is only a fraction... of what your kind did to me! AND EVERYTHING... EVERYONE I LOVED!"

"Coco..." Hapi mutters, shaken by what she's seeing while clutching Balthus close to her.

"Hapi..." Balthus groans, dripping down his chin. "Think it... it a good idea to..."

Hapi shakes her head. "We're not that desperate, B!" She says tending to his wound. "Now c'mon, all that talk about being the Grappling King or whatever all talk?"

"Heh... as if pal..." Balthus groans as he gets to his feet, eyeing his opponent who emerges not far from the river. "Think a rematch is in order!"

"Don't get too full of yourself!" Hapi chastises. "I'm backing you up!"

Balthus merely scoffs, non verbally acknowledging Hapi before shuffling in place as the skull-helmeted man closes in.

"You... weak!" He growls lowering his stance as if he's ready to pounce. "Me... finish you!"

"Big talk from guy who can't speak a lot!" Balthus counters. "Seriously, A for effort pal, but ya probably shoulda done a little more of your homework before you went up against m-"

In that split millisecond, Balthus loses the will the speak. His mind, unable to register what just happen, but it becomes clear that he can't feel anything below his neck. Its as if he has been detached. But he couldn't, because that would mean...

He remembers seeing his vision playing tricks on him, spinning around, distorting his vision until he hits the the ground right at the feet of a Hapi, normally so calm, snarky and casual, now in complete and utter distraught and rage. Her arms snap up ready with the intent of desecrating her foe only to have a brief spark appear before his periphreal vision and watch as Hapi, as if she's been shoved, arched back with visible crimson marking in the center of her forehead before slamming on her back not moving a muscle.

Balthus could not remember shedding a single tear for his friend.

*FE*

"As if you coulda been an ace bein' a lingo yourself to begin with..." Kira lowly mutters to the decapitated corpse of Balthus as she glares at the dead Hapi, shot by the precise shooting of her sidearm. "And trust me... I'd know I'd get a acid reflex just hearin' ya try."

With her pistol in one hand and her bloody katana in the other, Kira quickly turns her attention to Yuri, then Constance, both with horror in their wide eyes, then towards Ladislava and her battered patrol looking rather baffled, and towards Jeralt who's rushing across the landscape trying to keep up with her unnatural speed.

"Guessin' you guys are the Empire your pal mentioned, huh?" Kira directs her rhetorical question to Ladislava, not giving her a chance to respond. "Your lucky that wound's nowhere near the squishy stuff, otherwise you'd be pretty friggin' stupid to yank that shiv outta ya!"

"..." Ladislava grits her teeth. "You gotta lot of nerve talking that way to me, kid! Who the hell you think you are?"

Kira just chuckles, casting a cocky smirk for Ladislava to bask in. "Just a straight up Kansai Punk." Is her reply as she cheekily twirls her pistol around before resting it back in her holster. Her face takes a stark change and glares at the other two. "Doesn't even take an average jane to piece together you guys were close." Her brows furrow. "I'm hopin' there's still some sense left in ya, so I'll lemme just say thing point blank: Give up now, and save yourselves the trouble."

But Kira can tell from their faces, that's she's demanding the impossible.

"Hapi... Balthus..." Constance barely blubbers out their names. "W-why..? Why did you have to... have to..."

Kira takes in a deep breath as she slowly shuffles her feet with one pointed up front and the other retracted back. She gently applies pressure to her back foot as she carefully lowers her katana towards her hip. A soft gush of wind flees her small oval shaped lips.

"WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM ME?!" Constance howls.

Yuri just stays silent, trying to maintain a breath face, but is crumbling amid his shallowed breathing.

Constance, now casting aside all sanity and reason, casts Kira the most ferally teeth clenching enraged gaze she has mustered as the magical auras around her body grow more intense.

"I will tear into your chest and unleash a swarm of insects into you, as you slowly disemboweled, like the worthless doll you are!" Are the unhinged words released from Constance's lips. "Every single of you... will wish that you will have chosen the fate... to be trapped in the Valley of Torment... in the name... of my beloved friends... I WILL-"

A gagged gasp cuts Constance off as she feels the sharp blade running through her chest paralyze her, draining the color from her skin as well as her life. Her fearful expression gazes at the girl her plunged her sword deep into her heart but sees that the blue haired doll is does not even make eye contact with her.

"I'm gonna do my best to drop what ya just said..." Kira's whisper is low and venemous.

Kira sucks the air through her teeth as she cleanly slides her katana out of Constance's body, letting her fall to the side motionless.

The sight is overwhelming for Yuri as he just falls to his knees and bows his head down with the strands of hair covering his lifeless eyes.

Kira makes a quick note of Yuri and then dismisses him as docile before turning back to Ladislava with furrow brows.

"Mind tellin' me what that freak show was all about?" Kira growls.

Ladislava looks confused. "What are you-"

"Blondie's arms were grounds for a pest infestation!" The blue-haired girl executes a crisp side swing of her Katana before smoothly sheathing it. "How the friggin' hell were her arms suddenly bug hives?"

"Some form of black magic." Jeralt calmly explains walking towards Yuri. "Seen my fair share of trouble from it. And it still doesn't get any prettier."

Kira casts an incredulous look and opens her mouth, saying something along the lines of how that is the most ridiculous excuse she ever heard of. But then she stops herself and mutters underneath her breath, "Whatever..."

Jeralt kneels down at the broken young man and coolly starts. "I know its not much, but... just be happy you still have your head attach to your body, kid." He then stands and offers her bow to Ladislava. "Forgive my detour." He offers with his right arm over his chest and bowing. "We've... ran into a few obstacles. But rest assure the behemoth and the cargo are intact."

Ladislava smiles, wincing from the pain. "For a second there, I was worried old age was catching up to you there, Blade Breaker. Still..." She glares over to Kira. "That doesn't explain why you're here, young lady. Even if you're a mercenary, you are required to go through proper Imperial channels to secure a contract here in Brigid. Failing to do so has some serious repercussions."

Kira fearlessly shrugs. "Hey, don't look at me. I didn't even wanted to be maroon here."

Ladislava arches a brow. "Care to explain further?"

"My subordinate and I found her encampment within a metal ruins back on the shores." Jeralt butts in, his forehead crunches as he contemplates something. "Given the gashes in the sand, vegetation disturbance, and how the place relied on some strange source of power, it was safe to assume that the structure was very recent."

Again, Ladislava looks speechless, as if all the pieces are coming together, but she shakes her head and asks Jeralt. "I'm sorry, 'was safe'?"

"Scrap heap went out in a blaze o'glory." Kira bluntly answers. "Engine temper tantrumed, and hadda bolt outta there." She then turns to the dead she claimed. "That's when we heard the commotion comin' from over here, and decided to what the fuss was about." She smirks. "Well then... guessin' you normies are the Empire I heard about?"

"Commander Ladislava of The Emperor's Vanguard." She introduces before letting out a frustrated sigh. "Guess it's pointless to carry onto the beach." She glances over to the many wounded and few dead under her command and bites her lip. "Get the kid in the boat. We're moving back to the capital! MOVE IT!" She turns back to Jeralt. "What about her?"

Jeralt does not look worried. "Isn't it obvious?"

Kira immediately harbors suspicion of Jeralt's words and she slowly brings her hand to the bottom edge of the hilt of her katana. A smooth click sounds off as her thumb pushes the edge up exposing bits of the blade.

"She's a guest in a strange land." He offers a more concrete answer. "Figure she'd be introduced to that fine hospitality Brigid is famous for."

"Woah there..." Kira loudly intervenes waving her arms around. "Slam on the breaks, people! I'm not flippin' anywhere until I have my two idiot henchmen leashed and in tow."

Jeralt notices Kira's choice of vocabulary is becoming more unusual and erratic, much to the strange glare of Ladislava, but thankfully he's able to easily pick up on the jargon.

"She wasn't the only one at the sight." Jeralt reports. "Two men, definitely stick out, even here, were with her. My subordinate was last seen escorting them and the behemoth back to the capital. I assume they're the 'henchmen' she's referring to."

Ladislava casts a grim expression as her men board the boats with Yuri as well.

"I can't spare any resources for a rescue mission right now. We're spread too thin as it is. Rebels are becoming bolder and casualties are mounting."

Kira scoffs and looks away as if she's attending to some other business leaving Jeralt and Ladislava to converse.

"We'll be fine on our own. We just need have you ferry us in the right direction."

Ladislava stands firm, and shakes her head. "That's not going to be possible. Like I said, I'm in a rock and a tight place right now, and I cannot spare ANY men to go on a wild goose chase! That includes you, too."

Jeralt's forehead wrinkles in frustration. "Just had to bring up my contract, did you?"

Ladislava purses her lips, threatening to bite her own lip. "Things at the capital are getting tense, and I have a new assignment for you when we get back."

"..." Jeralt clenches his teeth with a worried look on his face. "Not my problem right now, ma'am." He boldly counters her with a low cool voice. "Still haven't completed my behemoth contract. Same contract that my underling is doing!"

"One runt is completely irrelevant to the to the big picture!" Ladislava snaps at this. "My men are wounded, tired, and hungry, and if we don't get supplies to us, they won't be in a state to defend their own whiny lives!"

"Weeeeeeelllllllllll... Guess that's where I come in I guess!"

All eyes are on the blue haired girl with unnatural porcelain skin as she flashes a brash and cocky grin that stretches to her cheek.

"While you guys hightail it back to your hangout, I'll be takin' the moolah off your hands!" Kira says angling her thumb over her pec as if she's some sort of bigshot. "The lady said so herself, I'm here with no strings attached, so basically, I have a green light to do whatever I want. Ooooo... man... just gettin' chills think thinkin' it. 'Sides, I think I could do some sight seein' while I'm at it."

Jeralt looks slightly alarmed by her and begins to protest.

"Woah, hold there!" Ladislava beats him to it. "I'm already giving you more than enough letting you return with us to the capital without any penalties! So, don't be biting off more than you can chew, unless you're willing to face grave consequences!"

But Kira just laughs at this, sounding theatrical. "Lady, you ever seen me chow down?" Her brows and grin sharpen. "I never bite off more than I chew."

And as if by magic, Kira dematerializes from their sight, as if she instantly vanishes into thin air. Ladislava feels the cold beads of sweat run down her temple at the feat the unknown warrior. The Commander has heard mysterious tales by the locals of Brigid about how spirits are deeply connected to these islands. Could it be possible that...?

"What? Where is..." Jeralt looks almost panicked. "Dammit!"

"Commander!" One of her marines calls to her. "We're ready to disembark!"

"Might as well get back." Jeralt tells her. with a worried look. "Honestly, with the nasty surprises thrown my way, I'd prefer being in the Capital right now."

With that, Ladislava and Jeralt join the marines onto the boats. They soon broke away from land, and from the murmured chanting of the exotic magic wielders, the currents of the stream begin to flow, guiding the small vessels onwards.

"Guess the rumors about the shamans are real." Jeralt sounds amazed.

"You don't know the half of it." Ladislava tells him. "Try being posted here as long as I have, and you'll see how beautiful and cruel Brigid is."

"I'm afraid I won't have the chance. I plan to return to Fodlan once our business has been taken care of."

Ladislava's expression darkens. "That could be a problem. I'll brief you when we get back." Her brows furrow thinking back to the Kira. "Sure she can be trusted?"

Jeralt chuckles. "I'm sure she wanted to kill us, she would have done it already."

"That's not very reassuring." Ladislava groans with a pained expression on her face.

*FE*

"Well... you're even irritable even to those you just met." Sothis makes herself known as she glances at Kira, high within the trees.

"Hey, as cool as it sounds havin' some Isekai adventure. I shoulda already thrown in the towel on that life, but here I am, swingin' and slashin'." Kira mutters fluidly leaping across to a nearby tree, and gracefully landing on the next branch, like a nimble monkey. "'Sides, it adds to my charm!"

"Hmph! As if you have any to begin with..."

Well... good thing Sis uploaded a GPS in G's suit. Heh... ooooh, boy if Gil found out where exactly that chip is, he'd freak! Gotta admit though, him not pickin' up the holo doesn't bode well... you idiots better be in one piece by the time I get there, otherwise...

"How are you certain you're heading in the right direction?"

"You're the one inside my lobby, put two and two together!"

"All I see is some sort of odd... graph hovering below the side of the periphreal vision. I assume that is your map?"

Sothis takes into account of the circular light grey glyph with smooth looking dots branching off with the one in the center inching closer to the other.

"Somethin' like that."

As she lands atop the next tree branch, ready to fling to the next, she overhears muttering below her in a language she can vaguely make out. Tensing up, and her breath caught in her throat, Kira slowly darts down to see that she has company just a few branches down.

She can see that these must be rebels given the lack of uniforms and how they're viewing the landscape. However, she fails to find any weapons

Guess these guys must be scouts, or a lookout. To small to be an ambush party.

Realizing that those two could be trouble, Kira wastes no time, falling from above, landing light as a feather onto the branch with the rebels and quickly incapacitating them. Non-lethally.

"This is a surprise considering your brutality from earlier."

Kira purses her lips, recalling her recent kills.

"Hey, if they look like ducks, and quack like ducks, they're ducks!" Kira cheekily responds.

"Uh, pardon?"

"Nothing. Just a saying I picked up from workin' with a colleague." Kira chuckles. "Man, dude belonged in the nut house, but, least he knew how'da crack my ribs."

Curiosity beams across Sothis's face, wondering who this colleague is, but decides to discard those thoughts as there are more pressing matters to attend to. Though, one thing that Sothis is not letting go of is Kira, complex behavior and actions.

"Yeah, that's definitely them!" Kira cries hearing the rapid loud clicking of a rifle madly sounding off. "Sure, just fire away, let the whole island know where ya at!"

Kira picks up her speed at an unnatural rate, and makes quick work to locate her companions who are backed into a corner as blood-crazed attackers threaten to overwhelm them. She readies to fall upon the enemy but as she drops down a couple of branches, her senses quickly attune themselves to an arrow flying towards her, Kira has been able to easily twirls away from it and retaliates by silencing the archer from a nearby tree with her side arm before brutally landing on one of the tattooed warriors. However, her situation is quickly complicated as several attackers emerge from the grass and mud and spring on her.

Not in the friggin' mood, morons!

Kira's face turns grim as she ruthlessly slashes, stabs, fires, and snaps necks upon anyone who approaches her, until the warriors are smart enough to keep their distance from her, but outright retreat. Kira growls and begins her advance. The warriors shout at her in their native tongues, possibly telling her to stay away and only lose their senses and attack as she closes in, allowing her to easily finish them off. But Kira quickly realizes that this delay has cost her precious time, as she witnesses something terrifying. Despite their valiant defense, Gil, Byleth, and Leonie, are quickly overwhelmed and at the mercy of the rebels as they prepare to finish them off with the sharp edge of their weapons.

"SOTHIS!" Kira desperately screams out the name of the green-haired girl.

And then, merely a second after howling her name, laws of physics are defied and everything froze in place. Kira watches in horror as she sees the three in their powerless states. There is no way for them to deflect, let alone dodge those lethal blows.

Kira can feel her head spinning as her vison swirls until she finds herself in a familiar void like place.

"Seems you have the capacity and decency to address me by my name after all." The haughty voice of Sothis screeches against Kira's ears.

Kira clenches her teeth within her closed mouth and glances up at the girl sitting high above on that stone throne of hers.

"What troubles you." Sothis asks with a stern look on her face. "Realize that you are not invincible are you? That you cannot accomplish this all on your own? It's all rather... humbling is it?" Despite her harsh words, Sothis's stark expression softens. "Take this as a-"

"That the best ya got?"

"...!" Sothis's face lights up with shock before muttering, "What was that?"

Kira's tempered grin shifts into that smooth cocky grin as she begins to walk up the stairs. "You goin' on about the virtues of humility, and that I'm not invincible. Big talk comin' from the chick whos planting her butt down on that fancy lookin' chair. If you're gonna squawk out a PSA, at least back your actions up with words, Candy Cane.

Sothis becomes enraged by these words. "You dare!" She shouts as she watches the girl climb up the stairs, closer with each step. "Do not forget that I am the one who stopped the flow of time to save your friends! When you cried for my name, I did not hesitate to come do my part, in spite of your arrogance and rude demeanor! And even after all that, you still belittle me! Well maybe I should just throw you out and allow matters to continue uninterrupted! Maybe then, JUST maybe you will learn what it is that I-"

Sothis's words are cut short by a quiet gasp as her vision catches Kira's razor sharp blade just mere centimeters from her cheek. Sothis becomes frozen in place as she cannot comprehend what is happening right now. It's only Kira's words that set her out of her blank trance.

"Lemme make myself absolutely clear:" Kira lowly starts. "If I ever was invincible as you're braggin it out to be, I wouldn't be sportin' this chrome across my body now would I?"

Sothis becomes more shock at her words but could not muster her own allowing Kira to continue.

"Don't get me wrong," Kira continues with a bitter chuckle. "There are a lot and I mean A LOT of things I can do on my own. Why? 'Cuz on Kira Muthafriggin Appakatto! Proud Osaka Punk, top-notch student, and troublemaker, and most of all, Imma friggin' one woman army. So yeah, given my track record and my awesomeness, that's not arrogance, they're just straight up facts. No point tryin' to hide'em." Her face softens into a solemn frown. "But don't assume that I'm invincible. And don't assume that I can do everything on my own, because... from past actions, I obviously can't. I made alodda mistakes, and some of them... are more rough than the lecture you're tryin' to preach to me."

Again, Sothis remains silent, at a complete loss, she gasps again as she watches Kira, gracefully twirl her sword around and aims the hilt of her blade in front of Sothis's nose.

"If I really was invincible, I wouldn't have cried wolf for ya." Kira states. "Don't get me wrong, Imma little freaked havin' you hangin' in my lobby like this. So, lemme remind you, that you're an uninvited guest here, not me. Still, I'm choosin' to trust ya because ya pulled me outta worse situations. And despite actin' like stuffed up snob, I know ya gotta soft spot for the idiots I hafta deal with. So... that's why I'm askin' ya to lend me a hand, and help me out, 'kay?"

Kira's rough admission sinks into Sothis's heart as she realizes that no matter how obnoxious this girl is, no matter how rude, and arrogant, the blue haired girl is...

Sothis exhales a deep breath. "Well then... will you be so kind to get the hilt of your sword away from gaze so we can do this correctly?"

Kira makes 'hmph' sound and complies, towering over Sothis as she stands in front of her.

Sothis realizes how small she feels, even if she is to stand on her feet. "You are aware that once I reverse the flow, those you have killed will live again, right?"

"I know how this stuff works."

"Hmph! Of course you do." Sothis says with a grin. "Well then, let us try again, shall we? I wish to see you can back your bold claims with actions."

"Hah!" Kira flashes a toothy grin. "Got anythin' tougher Candy Cane?"

Sothis responds with a murmur. "Do not ever call me a Kanto-Jin. See how well you do with that challange."

Sorry for the long wait. I was sidetracked with work, jury duty, and other projects I've been working on. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and hope you're liking how Brigid is being portrayed. We know very little about Brigid, so I figure I could give it some context of what's going on here. And of course, Ladislava is here as well!

Oh and yeah... about Kira and the Ashen Wolf House... sorry about that. But hey, that's what Sothis is for!

PS: In case its not obvious, there is strong Dynasty Warriors reference in this chapter lol

Feel free to leave a review, and lemme know what you guys think!

As always more on the way! Thanks!