The stars continue to burn as destiny is rewritten… See the first installment for all disclaimers/warnings. On a side note, I recently caved and got a deviantart account; there's a link for those interested in my profile. Nothing much to see there yet, though, just some sketches of Suikoden III characters…
~ * Underground Shortcut * ~
"Haven't we been waiting long enough? Let's move, already!"
Sergeant Jordi tuned out the incessant complaining of the self-proclaimed noblewoman and continued to dig through his pack. Had it been anyone other than Lilly grumbling, he might have been inclined to apologize; he hadn't expected to be returning to the village so soon in the first place, and with recent events all thoughts of his current activity had been pushed out of mind. It hadn't been until after they'd rested overnight and were ensuring they had everything they needed that it had occurred to him that there was another detail he should attend to before they departed.
Lilly's foot tapped out an impatient tattoo against the wooden planks of the boardwalk. The redhead's arms were folded in front of her chest, and she glared furiously at the back of the sergeant's head as he continued to rifle through his belongings.
"I'm not paying you to waste my time," she hissed.
So far, to her at least, that seemed to be all that the duck was interested in. Hadn't he delayed them enough by insisting they use the room she'd rented for the previous night? Just because those whiners Reed and Samus hadn't been comfortable with immediately setting off for the Lizard Clan didn't mean she personally needed rest. Besides, the longer they hung around, the colder possible trails they could discover would become!
(Hmph. Perhaps all ducks are masters of wasting time. And if they take such pride in their warrior's heritage, then why couldn't I find a single blacksmith in this miserable bog?!)
…Not that she felt her rapier needed sharpening at the moment. The most trouble she'd run into on her quest up to this point came largely from the blundering of others rather than monsters. Yes, the 'dangers of the wild Grasslands' seemed vastly overrated to her thus far.
Lilly continued to fume about the incompetence of those around her, muttering and grumbling largely to herself. Everyone else had backed a short distance away from where she stood, dividing into their own little groups without even realizing it.
Samus shook his head at his mistress's mutterings, keeping a few choice thoughts of his own to himself. Standing beside him was a very unnerved Reed; the tall blonde cast worried glances at the furious girl and fidgeting, shifting from foot to foot.
For his part, though he still didn't see any reason to put too much confidence in their new 'guides' just yet, Samus did appreciate how the sergeant had convinced Lilly to let them recuperate. It remained to be seen, however, if the rest of their services would be worth the potch promised them.
He might have had more faith in their ability if it wasn't for the fact that two of them were mere children. The native girl, at least, had the appearance of a warrior, despite being in her teens. But the lad… Real blade or not, it didn't change the fact that the sword rested in the hands of an inexperienced boy. It was a vest he wore over his long-sleeved shirt, not armor! What place did such a child have in battle with real monsters?
(For that matter…) Samus wondered, glancing over to where the pair stood at the edge of the docks, (What place does a boy so clearly from a more cultured civilization have with a duck clan warrior and a teenaged huntress?)
Samus was not particularly well versed on the different cultures and tribes of the Grasslands, but he did have some basic knowledge of the lands. He was very much aware of the long-standing territory battle between the Zexens and the Six Clans. After all, the Tinto republic had their fair share of border clashes with the Zexens as well.
The fair-skinned child appeared to hail from one of the Zexen cities; his attire seemed more suited to one who lived on paved streets than the dirt paths of the farming villages. He appeared to be a lad who would one day make a fine knight -- someday, but certainly not now. In Samus' opinion, he was simply too young to carry a real sword in those small hands.
Melville appeared unaware of the scrutiny he was receiving. Both legs dangled over the edge of the walkway, and he gazed down at the tiny ripples formed by the tips of his boots brushing the water.
There was no denying he found the village absolutely amazing. The only parallel he could draw between the Duck Clan Village and Vinay del Zexay was how both were supported by water. But the way the ducks actually built their entire town above the lake instead of around it…
The ducks were awfully friendly, too. Melville hadn't expected to be received as warmly as he had been, yet he didn't appear to be treated any differently than Aila or the trio from Tinto. The sergeant was clearly held in higher regard, but that was easy to understand. All in all, he'd been better treated here than he had by some people he knew back in the capital…
(…'Cept for Alanis and Elliot…) he mused, kicking his legs and watching the ripples spread from beneath slightly tousled bangs.
It was strange to be without the other Saint Loa Knights. Melville had no doubt that the pair would have loved it here; he could picture the three of them barreling across the wooden walkways. Alanis would be sticking her nose into every doorway, climbing up into the lofts so many of the huts possessed and rooting around through the piles of ropes, crates and knickknacks. He'd be close behind her, while Elliot stood at the bottom of the ladder and whined for a bit before finally joining them in their search for unusual Duck Clan artifacts to take home as souvenirs of their adventure…
He was not lonely. He had Aila and the sergeant, of course, and now Miss Lilly and her attendants would be coming along for as long as they saw fit. It was just… a shame that the captain was going on this journey without his fellow knights. The tales he'd bring back would probably pale in comparison to being able to witness them firsthand…
Recalling the sight of the Silver Maiden bathed in flames that failed to lend warmth to her frosted eyes, Melville wondered if, perhaps, it was really so terrible to be left with only secondhand accounts of some experiences.
Aila, meanwhile, was also gazing out at the lake, though she took little notice of the ripples spreading outward from where her companion's kicks stirred the surface. A light breeze stirred her brunette curls, tugging lightly at her newly repaired leathers. The runes she carried glowed faintly just underneath the surface of her bronzed skin; the Shield Rune shining white-gold on the back of her left hand; the Earth Rune yellow-gold on her right.
Both runes carried great protective magic, yet ever since their arrival in the village Aila had been mulling over the thought of replacing one. It wasn't so much that she felt they were too weak, but -- what good was the defense they offered if it couldn't keep those she cared for…
She tossed her head suddenly and grunted under her breath, blinking rapidly to defuse the moistness she felt building in the corners of her eyes. Tears were useless; besides, she didn't want these strangers they were traveling with to see her acting so weak.
At any rate, the point was moot for the time being. Aila knew what sorts of magic she held the most potential in. Unfortunately, the local rune shop didn't stock the required rune she would need to go ahead with her idea of replacing one. The keeper mostly stocked Wind and Water runes, with a few Earth and some that proffered the secret of elite attacks to their bearer.
Plus Aila wasn't entirely certain she was willing to replace her Earth or Shield rune with a Fire one. It would give her enough destructive power that she'd be more capable of defending the others with magic, true enough, but…
Finally finding what he searched for, Sergeant Jordi pulled a tightly wrapped parcel out of his pack. Aila glanced over curiously, catching a glimpse of something multifaceted and rainbow-colored beneath a slipping fold before it passed from the sergeant's hand to Wilder's. Jordi whispered something to the other mallard, low enough that none of his curious companions could quite catch the words. Wilder nodded, spectacles slipping down his beak slightly, and tucked the parcel safely away in a pocket.
"Are you done?" inquired Lilly curtly. Jordi spared her a dry sideways look and nodded, and the redhead nodded more to herself than anyone else, violet eyes brightening as she turned to the others and declared, "All right then, let's be off!"
She strode ahead, head held high, the crimson feather crowning her hat waving back and forth like a banner as Lilly eagerly headed out of the village. Sergeant Jordi shook his head before following, with Reed and Samus close on his heels. Aila and Melville brought up the rear of the group, finally leaving the duck clan homeland behind just as Lilly had been demanding they do since their first meeting.
~ * ~
"…This is what we rushed out of the village for?"
Lilly's head popped up from behind the outcropping of rock crowning the grassy mound and she glared daggers down at the smart-ass duck standing at the foot of the hill.
"Shut up," she commanded. "I don't see you up here helping, you know."
"You're the one who insisted we come this way," shrugged Jordi, "…and insisted that we try using this tunnel. I certainly don't know where the key to the entrance is; I've never been invited by the Lizard Clan to use this passage. Have you?"
"…Shut up," Lilly repeated with a touch more rancor than before.
She ducked back down into her previous crouch and began running her fingers over the rocks and boulders in front of her. If she'd had to look at the sergeant's smirking visage another second, she'd…
Lilly sighed with disgust. Why did the Lizard Clan have to hide the entrances to their underground roads so effectively? …Well, it wasn't the entrance that was so expertly concealed, per se; the huge granite slab lodged in the front of this hill was pretty obvious. But the trigger that was supposed to move that accused rock so that they could pass, that was another story entirely.
(More to the point, why couldn't my sources just tell me where the stupid switch was?) she wondered furiously. (What a supreme lack of foresight on their part. They told me the location, but what good is it with no way in?!)
"Milady…" Reed began, but the blonde cut himself off when she shot an over-the-shoulder glare at him.
"Have you found it yet?"
"…No, milady, but…"
"Then quit wasting time and keep looking!" she commanded, and turned with a huff back to glare imperiously at the stubborn stones before her.
Reed whimpered, but went back to running his fingers through the grassy slope in the vain hope of finding some hidden trigger within. He fervently hoped there weren't any living surprises waiting in the green overgrowth. Though he wore thick leather gloves, the thought of some nasty, poisonous spider or other creepy crawlies just waiting to be disturbed by his prodding so they could bite down hard on his fingers was far from a pleasant concept.
Beside him, Samus was engrossed in the same task, but shook his head repeatedly as he worked. It was clear the activity bothered him as well, though he was more rankled at the sheer absurdity of their chore than by imagined nasties hiding within the grass.
"…Reed, what do you think of our new companions?"
"Hmm?" Reed blinked, giving his partner a bewildered look before answering hesitantly; "They seem… nice, I suppose. The sergeant was certainly thoughtful enough to talk Miss Lilly into letting us stay the night…"
"Yes, but the price is a bit high…" Samus grimaced, recalling his lady's promise to the strange trio. "Four thousand potch, just for accompanying us to where the Lizard Clan lives?"
"And introducing us to the natives," Reed reminded him. Watching the grass carefully while continuing to poke and prod, he murmured, "If it saves us a misunderstanding with these lizards…"
"But our finances are strained enough as it is. Taking the price of medicine and other necessities into account…"
"What are you two whispering about?!" Lilly demanded, glaring over at the pair.
Both men instantly fell silent and began rummaging through the grass with renewed -- and somewhat exaggerated -- vigor. Lilly scowled prettily, violet eyes narrowing at their averted backs before turning its blazing fury upon the rock shelf before her.
How dare they waste time chattering when there was a mystery to solve -- a Fire Hero waiting to be found? Not to mention a loathsome duck waiting below with some snide comments he was no doubt eager to make concerning their lack of progress finding the wretched pathway…
With an aggravated screech, Lilly punched her fist down square upon one of the smaller rocks, a tiny piece of granite wedged between several larger stones. She was not prepared for it to shift underneath her knuckles, and she blinked rapidly as it slid downward, accompanied by a loud grating noise and a rumble that shook the hillside.
(…Ah! Of course…)
"There!" she announced proudly, springing to her feet and climbing atop the shelf of rocks so that she once more overlooked the field beneath. With a satisfied smirk she looked pointedly at the sergeant and his friends, declaring, "As I told you, here is our route to the Lizard Clan!"
She hopped from her perch -- completely ignoring Reed's startled cry at this 'dangerous' move -- and landed in front of the now-opened doorway. Straightening, she ran one hand through her auburn locks and favored Sergeant Jordi with a triumphant smirk.
But Jordi barely acknowledged her achievement, flicking a sideways glance at her while moving toward the new opening. Aila reached it before him, and he stood back with Melville and watched as the Karayan crouched, pressing one hand against the inside of the curved boulders framing the doorway.
"Well?" he prompted softly.
"…It does lead toward the Great Hollow," the huntress announced at length, leaf green eyes reopening into slivers. "It curves downward for some time before reaching a gentle upward slope close to our destination. The crafters were careful to follow the natural slope of the land."
"What are you talking about?" Lilly demanded imperiously. Her hands lay firmly on her hips and she glared suspiciously at the Grasslanders, right eyebrow raised in a curious arch.
"Just confirming with our sources that what yours told you is correct," replied Jordi dryly. Without bothering to glance back to the redhead's mystified expression, he explained, "Aila has a knack for sensing these sort of things. If she says it will take us to the Hollow, then we'll find the Lizard Clan soon enough."
"…Ah." Though Lilly nodded as if she understood, the sergeant somehow doubted she fully comprehended what he'd meant. Striding past him to stand in the open gateway, she turned back toward them and commanded, "Well, let's be on our way, then. Aila, you'll take the lead with me…"
"Hmm?" Aila gave the redhead a sharp look; was that supposed to be a request or a command? Guessing the latter, she frowned and asked, "Why should I?"
Lilly's violet eyes flashed, her raised eyebrow arching a fraction higher. Turning to face the huntress solely, she rested her right hand against her hip and raised her chin slightly.
"If you've really got a sense for these sort of things, it'd be better to keep you close to the front, correct? There's probably monsters waiting inside, and you've probably got a better chance of spotting them before the rest of us…" her voice took on a mocking quality as she added, "…or am I misjudging your skills, Karayan warrior?"
That sealed it, as Lilly figured it would. Aila's verdant eyes flared, her body stiffening slightly. A smug smirk quirked Lilly's lips; perhaps the younger girl was having difficulty separating the veiled compliment from the implied insult.
(Good, just so long as she's determined to prove how capable she really is on the way. Between the two of us, any monsters we may run across won't stand a chance…)
"Samus, I want you to stay alongside the sergeant, and Reed, you're with Melville. Remember," she didn't allow any of the males to give voice to their protests, "that the sergeant does have that Water Rune, and I figure he's far more skilled with it than you are with that Wind Rune, Samus. If he needs to use it, I'd rather have you covering him than that child."
(Not to mention that I'd rather let you deal with that sarcastic duck than have to listen to his snippy comments all the way through the tunnel.)
"Now, then, let's get moving." Turning back toward the entrance, Lilly cast a quick glance to the huntress and prompted, "Aila, are you joining me?"
"………"
Aila glared back, but she shouldered her bow and followed the smirking noblewoman into the opening. Sergeant Jordi and Samus looked at each other, something unspoken passing between them, before both sighed and followed, leaving Reed and Melville to tag along behind.
~ * ~
The tunnel was populated with monsters, though it certainly wasn't swarming with nasties as Reed had secretly feared. What they did run into was creepy enough despite their few numbers. Translucent slugs oozed over the blue-gray stones that paved the tunnel, dissolving into pitiful heaps of slime with a few sword strikes or a couple of well-timed arrows.
Worse yet, in Reed's opinion at least, were the sentient suits of armor that they stumbled across once or twice. There was something distinctly unnerving about staring at the empty space under the suspended helmet or between exposed joints and wondering where the armor gained the strength to wield its blade.
Yet if Lilly was also unnerved by this, she concealed it well. Facing one such opponent, she thrust her rapier though the empty space where its neck should be and ignited the blade, the rune embedded in her right hand glowing brightly as she called upon the Sword of Rage. The armor crumpled, and Lilly grunted something disparaging under her breath as she wrenched her weapon free from the pitiful pile.
Privately, Jordi was slightly impressed with the self-proclaimed Tinto noblewoman. Somehow, he hadn't quite expected her to take to the front lines so quickly. While he'd noticed the rapier she carried before, he'd figured she would stand back and allow her bodyguards to deal with whatever threatened them. The swords they carried appeared to be fashioned to match her rapier, the same way their attire seemed to be less flashy and more practical echoes of her own style. However, the blades the men carried were also a bit wider and heftier, slightly more suited for combat.
(Not that these things are all that dangerous,) he reminded himself, a sweep of his halberd causing an empty helmet to fly off and clatter against the tunnel wall. (This errand's been simple enough so far…)
An arrow took the last of the sentient armors down, and the six paused only long enough to treat their wounds by splitting a couple of medicine vials between them before Lilly once again set off with Aila and the rest in tow. As the Karayan archer had predicted, the gradual downward slope of the tunnel soon panned off as the walls widened out into a circular chamber.
The traces of ancient stonemasonry were far more apparent here, stretching beyond the tiled cobblestone floor. In the dim lighting, Jordi could make out the fact that they were laid into intricate designs, though any symbolism they might have held was lost on the mallard. Rubble and broken boulders helped to obscure some of the floor, apparently leftover from some near cave-in. Jordi sincerely hoped this wasn't an indication that this tunnel was more dangerous than it seemed. It didn't appear to have gone through a period of long disuse, however…
…In fact, they were not the only ones present in the chamber at the moment.
Fortunately, the Tinto trio didn't protest as he feared when he ducked behind some of the boulders in the middle of the room and motioned for them to follow suit. Melville crouched close on the sergeant's left, staring with wide tan eyes at the strangers, while Aila positioned herself on the duck's right. The redhead's attendants stayed close to her side even as Lilly edged forward for a better look, joining the Grasslanders in watching their unexpected companions.
There were four of the strangers, three males and a female. Their backs were turned toward the travelers, and they conversed quietly among themselves, apparently unaware that they were no longer the only ones present. Jordi took advantage of this to study them carefully, attempting to gauge what sort of a threat they might pose.
One of the men had dark red hair, of much deeper hue than Lilly's auburn locks. Its coloring reminded Jordi almost of crimson lifeblood, and the short, expertly styled swirls of scarlet hair were carefully arranged so that not one strand appeared out of place. The rich folds of the expensive-looking gray and white jacket he wore covered the rest of his straight figure, his hands covered with thick gloves of black leather. There was a definite cultured air about him, more so than Lilly's allegedly regal bearing, yet it bore another quality that gave the sergeant mental chills.
The bad feeling that the crimson-haired man gave off paled in comparison to the man in black beside him. All Jordi could make out was the dark-suited stranger's indifferent posture and the long blonde braid that stretched down his back before he hurriedly switched to studying his companions. Darkness hung over this man like a shroud, and he didn't wish to know exactly why.
The last of the men was the shortest in stature, yet Jordi got the impression he was the leader of his small group. His forest green, tan and black finery seemed unremarkable, save for the mask of gilded gold that covered his face. The sharply forged features gave the impression of a hawk, or perhaps an eagle or some other noble bird of prey.
As for the female, she could have been a statue born from marble and ice with her pale, delicate features and sweeping blue gown. She had the appearance of a sorceress, and Jordi's breath caught in his throat as she turned her head slightly, pale eyes seeming to lock directly with his for a heartbeat.
If she truly did see the sergeant and those hiding with him, she gave no sign of it, however, and soon turned back to face her companions again.
Letting out a nearly silent sigh, Jordi kept his gaze riveted on the four strangers even as he risked quietly asking, "What do you make of them, Aila?"
"They definitely don't look like allies," muttered the archer, fingering the haft of her bow while glaring at them distrustfully. (They can't be from any of the clans, but they don't look like ironheads, either… and that one with the braid…)
"Well, it's obvious they're enemies," Lilly declared haughtily, just barely keeping her voice low enough to keep Jordi from clapping a hand over her mouth. However, he still shot her a 'quiet down' look that went ignored as she continued, "Just look at the way they're skulking around over there. Whatever could they be looking for in this place?"
"…A way into the Great Hollow, perhaps," suggested Jordi, restraining himself from adding, (Just like yourselves…)
"They don't look like soldiers, though," Melville observed quietly. "No armor… or weapons, except for that girl with the staff…"
"Magic-users, possibly," Samus murmured. Gripping the hilt of his sword, he muttered, "It's a wonder they haven't noticed us yet…"
"What shall we do?" Reed asked, face tight with worry. "We can't hide here forever…"
"Isn't it obvious? We charge in and surprise them with a frontal assault," declared Lilly. Nodding in agreement with her own words, she turned to face her companions and straightened, just barely keeping hidden behind the boulder. "Then we can get some answers from them about what they're doing here!"
"That doesn't seem like such a good idea," commented Jordi lowly, shaking his head. "We don't know anything about their capabilities…"
"And they know nothing of ours," shot back Lilly with a determined scowl. "So let's teach them and see what we learn."
(And if this goes awry, what will you take away from the lesson?) Jordi mused bitterly, though he did not give voice to his thoughts.
"I think… you're right, Lilly," Aila reluctantly agreed, fingering her bow thoughtfully as she looked at the rest of her group. (They may not be ironheads, but the feelings I get from them… they can't possibly be any better than those bastards…)
"I'm glad you understand, Aila," Lilly beamed at the huntress's approval. The bright smile that briefly lit her face was replaced by a determined smirk as her violet eyes swept to regard the others. "Now, let's kill'em all!"
Peering at her determined expression, Jordi almost envied her confidence. He noted with something akin to amusement that only Aila appeared similarly interested in this course of action. Even Melville looked to be taking this far more seriously, a thoughtful frown clouding his youthful face as he gripped the hilt of his blade. The lass's bodyguards looked more concerned than anything.
Standing up, completely abandoning any pretense of hiding behind the rocks, Lilly tossed her head disdainfully, copper hair rippling behind her as she drew her rapier. Aila stood beside her, an arrow already drawn, and she brought her sights level with the back of the man in black's head. He was the one that the spirits screamed loudest around, so he was the one she aimed her first shot at.
The missile flew truly, slicing through the musty air with a nearly silent whistle. It seemed destined to bury itself in the back of the stranger's neck.
It probably would have, too, if he hadn't pivoted around suddenly and lashed out with his right hand in a movement too rapid to follow.
Jordi swallowed his gasp, and it seemed to lodge in his dry throat as he watched the two pieces of the bisected arrow drop and clatter against the stone floor. Now the man in black was armed, in the form of two thin blades that seemed to materialize from thin air -- or was it that they shot out of the long sleeves of his jacket?
The blonde's face was partly obscured by the brim of the black hat he wore, yet the thin smirk his lips twisted into was clearly visible.
"Sarah… you didn't mention we had guests," he purred.
The pale blonde woman showed little reaction to his statement, though Jordi almost thought he saw a flicker of some unreadable emotion in her ice blue eyes as she and the other two men turned away from the sealed doorway they stood before. There was no reading the masked man's expression, of course, though he fared little better with the inscrutable set of the crimson-haired gentleman's face.
The cool green eyes of the silver-coated man coasted over the strange group of six. Though he uttered no sound, the sergeant imagined he could almost hear what he was thinking: A soldier of the duck clan, a Karayan warrior-maiden, a Zexen lad, a red-haired woman and a couple of men in swashbuckler's garb…an odd gathering. What business do they have here…?
"Who are you people, and what are you doing here?" Lilly was not about to let such a minor setback derail her plans. Though her heart nearly skipped a beat when the man in black sliced Aila's arrow from the air, she stepped forward boldly and brandished her rapier, demanding, "What are you four up to? Will one of you answer me…?!"
"…Waste of time. There's nothing of interest here for us now," the masked man murmured, turning away.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Aila leveled her bow at his averted back. "What have you been doing here?"
"Sarah, we're leaving," was the closest thing to a reply she received.
"Yes…" the pale blonde nodded.
"You three go on ahead." The black-suited man tossed his head back so that his long blonde braid whipped about behind him. "I'll clean up things here before following."
"Don't overdo it," the gentleman in the silver coat instructed, walking over to stand beside his other two comrades.
"Now wait just a minute…" Lilly began, infuriated at the complete disregard these strangers were showing them.
The girl called Sarah made a sudden gesture with her cane, and the blue crystal that rested upon the delicately crafted pole of ebony and silver glowed brightly. The six travelers gaped in astonishment as the girl's robes billowed as if caught in a sudden wind, and the ground beneath her feet rippled outward in smooth waves. Suddenly, it looked as if she and her two companions were standing upon liquid instead of stone, and as they stared, transfixed, the three sank into the glowing ripples and vanished.
The light swiftly faded, leaving them facing the stranger in black alone.
"…F…fine!" Lilly reestablished her grip on her rapier, frustrated with how she'd nearly let it slip from her fingers as she watched the others escape. "I'll just force the answers from you, then!"
"Will you, now…?" the man in black murmured, the same damnable smirk playing at his lips. The twin blades he carried glittered in the dim light as he crossed them before him, stating, "Let us see…"
The others may have fled, indeed, yet Jordi's sense of discomfort only increased as he hefted his halberd and moved to stand before Melville. The boy had brought up his blade as well, but the sergeant felt more comfortable standing before him. Similarly, Samus moved to stand with and slightly in front of Reed; Lilly's prior instructions went completely unheeded in light of the current circumstances.
The man's hidden gaze swept over his unlikely opponents, and his smirk widened the merest fraction.
Then he vanished.
For an instant, Jordi thought he had retreated in the same manner his comrades had, only his body had melted into the shadows instead of sinking into rippling stone. It was clear Lilly thought much the same, for he saw her scowl deepen, and her mouth opened slightly, likely preparing to throw some angry jibe at the empty space.
Then Melville's scream froze the sergeant's blood.
Whirling, the mallard spat a vile mental curse, even as his eyes widened a fraction at the sight of the black-clad bastard behind him. The boy had already crumpled to the floor, a gash of crimson welling from beneath the ripped back of his pants leg, but his attacker was not standing idle, and was already springing toward his next target.
"Mila--" was all Reed managed to shriek before it rose into a ragged wail of pain.
The point of the blade in the stranger's right hand now jutted from his side, and the blonde attendant's cry descended into a horrified moan as his assailant twisted the blade in the wound.
"Reed--!"
Samus turned his partner's name into a battle yell as he lunged at the man in black, only to be met by the sweeping upward arc of his left-hand blade. The dark-skinned man fell heavily to one side, gasping, and the man gave him a sharp kick in the side for good measure before wrenching its mate free from its human sheath. Reed's face had not even quite met the floor before suddenly Jordi found himself face-to-face with their single opponent.
The sergeant couldn't help but jerk from the shock, pupils dilating as he got a brief glimpse of their attacker's face. It was only for an instant, yet one detail seared itself into memory…
(His eyes don't match…)
…And then he was clutching his bleeding stomach and slumping to the floor, left with the barest memory of the pain of having a blade shoved into his belly and extracted nearly as quickly.
"Holy…" Lilly breathed, seeing four of her so-called bodyguards dispatched so quickly.
"Sergeant!" shrieked Aila, swinging around and loosing another arrow at her opponent's head.
"You bastard!" Lilly shrilled in almost the same breath, rapier flashing in front of her as she lunged.
With a surreal fluidity of motion, the dark man turned and dodged the missile, then caught Lilly by the wrists. His fingers dug deep, and it seemed to her more like they were claws that pierced through her gloves and forced her rapier to drop from her grasp. Then she slammed into the ground where she was thrown, all the breath driven from her lungs by the impact.
Aila gasped and reached for another arrow, only for her bow to be knocked from her hands in the next instant. It clattered to the ground loudly. The man in black smirked and lifted her further off the ground, left hand tightening slightly around her neck.
He didn't apply enough pressure to make it cave. That wasn't the sort of death he wished to afford this upstart.
"So… a Karayan survivor…" he whispered, studying the girl's tanned face as it twisted with pain. "Did you make it out of the flames, child, or had you strayed from home?"
Aila couldn't answer with his hand still wrapped round her neck. She wanted to scream, wanted to demand how he knew, but it was all she could do to pull air into her burning lungs.
The man gave a little shrug of his shoulders, dismissing his own question as unimportant. His horrible smirk widened as he slowly raised his other hand. The long blade gleamed brightly, as if in anticipation, as he rested the point lightly against her chin.
There was a slight movement off to one side, and he paused, turning his head slightly to see the cause. Lilly was lying flat on her stomach behind him, face twisted with agony, reaching out with one trembling hand. Whether she was reaching toward his leg or his rapier could not be judged, for the latter lay close to the former.
She hissed with pain when his foot came down to rest upon her twitching knuckles, and she glared up toward his smirking face with rage smoldering clearly in her violet eyes. This only caused his smirk to widen, and the blade in his right hand quivered expectantly as he debated which girl would be the first to feel its sharp caress.
"…Leave it."
The whisper was soft, hushed, barely audible, yet it was enough to stay the blade in his hand. The man in black stiffened, but did not look back at the slender figure that rose into being from behind.
"…He wishes for you to come at once. There is no need…"
"…Hmph."
Releasing his hold on Aila reluctantly, he sheathed his sword without moving his arm. He stood idly watching the girls crumpled at his feet as they gasped for breath and glared weakly up at him, even as his pale companion waved her crystal-tipped staff and the ground rippled once more.
The woman called Sarah melted back into the floor, and, for a moment, it seemed he would not follow. From underneath the brim of his hat, mismatched eyes drank in the suffering of those sprawled before him greedily, longing to create more.
Then, he smirked, and in the next moment was gone.
The light faded as the ripples did, leaving the six companions alone in the massive underground chamber, the only sound that of their ragged breaths echoing off the curved walls. Not surprisingly, it was Lilly who first found the strength to speak, and her words trailed off into a bitter hiss as she felt her injuries.
"…Well, that didn't go very well, did it…?"