^*Lina's Thoughts*^
^Naga's thoughts^
Chapter II
Lina absentmindedly tapped her fingers on the dusty table. Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her that she had better things to attend to than just waiting around. She started to stand, but was stopped by a timid, "Where are you going?"
Out of the shadows stepped a small girl, with jet-black pigtails, white blouse, and sky blue skirt. Lina blinked, then answered, "I'm going out to eat instead of wasting my time here…who are you?"
The little girl gasped at the unexpected question. Then she put her hands behind her and focused on the floor. "I'm…um…Niria…"
"Wonderful…" Lina said, uninterested, and started to walk out again.
"Um…who are you?"
Lina turned around. "What?"
"Are you here to help us?"
Lina paused a second, then smiled. "Yeah, that's me." Niria looked up, smiling, and ran off.
~*~
Naga sighed deeply to herself and rested an elbow on the wooden table, placing her chin in her hand, while the other hand idly stroked the handle of a mug. The bar's beer was heavily diluted with water, and Naga could hardly taste the alcohol. Naga was about to take another gulp, but frowned at the absence of froth in the mug. She set it down, now putting both elbows on the table.
At that moment, a member of a bandit group walked over and sat at Naga's side.
"Hey there, pretty…you look really bored…you shouldn't be, 'cuz there are lots of fun things to do around here…" He must have been feeling a little woozy, because he too, rested one elbow on the table and put his chin in his hand.
"Let me just…tell you a 'lil about myself…" As the oaf rambled on, Naga was thinking to herself, hardly aware, in fact, that someone was talking to her.
^Life is so uneventful these days…what the heck am I doing in this town, helping out the army battle ruffians? Have I actually gone down that far? If Lina was here…^ Naga shook herself mentally. ^She'd probably be banging on the table for food…still…there's something about that girl…^ Naga returned to reality when she found an arm draped casually over her shoulders. She slowly turned her head to find a drunk, smelly, fat bandit sleeping peacefully.
"FREEZE ARROW!"
~*~
End Part I
"This monster thinks we don't have a lot of people, but we do. We can beat the crap out of this creature!"
"Then what do you need me for?"
Lina and the rest of the "council" were seated around a circular table, with one light focused on the center. It threw shadows all over the small, but cozy room. Lina was bored out of her life. She knew she didn't need all of this planning. In fact, if it were just a monster, then these townspeople wouldn't need much planning either. Lina looked from one face to another until she realized they were all waiting for an explanation from her.
"It seems like you have it all figured out, why do you need me? I have bigger fish to fry."
Willams answered, "We heard a sorceress might be helping out the monster. That would give our enemy the upper hand since none of us know magic."
Lina perked up immediately ^*Monster? Sorceress? Could it be…nahhhhh…but then again…*^ Lina had no idea what to think, but she understood the villagers' concern.
"I understand." Lina nodded.
"We were hoping it wouldn't come to this, but it's gone too far…it…it's taken our crops, our homes, even our loved ones. We can't just stand around to let that happen. We've had enough." All the others nodded agreement.
"So when will I start?"
~*~
"So when will I start?" Naga had both hands on her hips, and she stood, glaring at Mayor Jorge.
Jorge moved both hands up and down, as if in an effort to calm her. A sweatdrop appeared on his forehead. He laughed nervously, "Soon, I want the villagers to make the first move."
Naga sighed in impatience. Usually she wasn't like this, but she had a bad feeling about his job. She just wanted it over with.
"Just what did these villagers to that was so bad?"
Jorge's face turned to stone. "They dared to argue with me about taxes and about me taking their crops, even though it's been that way for decades before me. They just think I'm the weakest mayor than the ones before, and they're trying to use that to their advantage. I have to show them I'm not as weak as they think I am."
"Well, that's pretty interesting," replied Naga, who was clearly disinterested.
"So, we shall call up whatever it takes to beat these people back!" exclaimed Jorge's right-hand man, nearly imitating Amelia in her "justice" stance. "Mayor Jorge will show them who's boss, and he will be the best mayor Miyan has to offer!" His teeth glinted in the light.
Jorge and Naga both sweatdropped.
~*~
End Part II
Lina was sure was she was never in one place for so long. ^*This is what sucks about being someone like me. You have to stay for the money*^ Lina was walking through town nonchalantly. She looked around, the villagers looked as though there was no trouble at all. Lina frowned, still looking around her. If there were a monster prowling around town, wouldn't the villagers be a little more careful where and when they walked? Lina didn't know what to make of it. At that moment, Lina passed by a bar. She took a slight glimpse at the interior of the bar, walked forward a few paces, then took a double take and walked backwards to make sure she wasn't seeing things.
~*~
Naga had just called for another beer, but felt the call of nature as she did. She made her way to the back of the room just as Lina doubled back to take a closer look into the bar. Lina peered through the dusty windows, half sure she had just seen Naga. But she was disappointed to find instead, an empty table. She looked around for about 3 minutes, then shook her head and walked away, just as Naga made it back to her table. Both sorceresses missed each other by a couple of seconds.
At first glance, both sorceresses could be as different as bananas and oranges. One was small, the other tall. The first being flat-chested, and the latter, being…well, less flat-chested. But on the inside, both had the same interests and desires. But did their desires go further than that of defeating their enemies?
:Þ
