The plot thickens! I know my updates are few and far apart, I'm hoping to get the next one in alot sooner (Yes, back to Ithil and friends.) Less violence and more comedy coming up after this!
Vana'diel: Crystal of Darkness
Chapter VI: Tainted Travellers
Age paced the floor in his cell, lost in his own thoughts. In the corner Shinji grunted as his little fists broke through the air in swift motions, practicing his fighting skills. Katsuka lay curled up on the bed, resting silently. Shinji halted his training to glare at the door. Locked in. Captive. He despised it, and despised anyone who dared to try and contain him. His thoughts drifted to the Elvaan dragoon, Edgah. His brow furrowed and button nose scrunched up in anger, his fist found itself slamming into the wall. His liking of San d'Oria was already thin before traveling here from Windurst, but this situation severed that thin thread cleanly in two. Even if his best friend was San d'Oria born, the thought of this forested country made him hot with anger. The Tarutaru took a calming breath and shook his head. The sweetest vengance comes with time. He returned to punching the San d'Orian air.
Kat's ears twitched, and her eyes cracked open. She could hear a faint tapping in the pattern of footsteps. Fully awake now, she sat up on the bed, her tail swayed with curiosity. "The guard..." She mumbled uncertainly. Age stopped pacing and turned his head towards the door. Shinji halted his fighting once more to join Age. Remembering the death threats caused a bead of sweat to trickle down from his blue hair, Age stood ready, Kat sat on the bed, seemingly indifferent to whatever might happen. Age flinched a little when he heard a soft thud outside the door. Shinji gulped.
Suddenly Kat gasped when her eyes darted beneath the door, a small stream of blood leafed out from under the locked door. Bewilderment and fear swept through the trio as they all gaped at the stream of blood flowing it's way passed the door. Keys jingled, and the metallic clink told them that the door was being unlocked. Slowly the door crept open, and a taloned foot stepped through the door with a click of claws on the cell floor. Instantly Age and Shinji prepared for a fight, Kat was still lost as to what was going on, but Age and Shinji knew. They had been to Windurst, where the Yagudo raged constant strife against the people of the region. The beastman stepped fully into the room, in one hand a bloodied great katana was clutched between it's talons. It's beady eyes seemed to glow with the pleasure of murder as it's eyes absorbed the rooms contents.
"Filthy smoothskins, trapped to bleed and die for their meddling, yes." The Yagudo's hiss of a voice seemed to amplify in the small room. "Or come with us, come with Yuu-guu, and give us the map, your bloods can be spared."
Kat stood up and in an annoyed voice muttered loud enough to be heard, "We don't have your stupid map."
"Tell Yuu-guu who, and get your lives saved."
Kat stayed silent. Shinji, willing to do whatever he could to delay tasting that Yagudo steel glistening with the blood of the guard, spoke up. "That Elvaan dragoon took it from us, Edgah. Go kill him."
"Good smoothskins, your deaths wont hurt as much long then." The Yagudo grinned and slammed the door shut.
Edgah sprinted through the streets of San d'Oria towards the Chateau, his long Elvaan legs carrying him quickly through the morning crowds. One hand held ready gripping the polearm strapped to his back, and his eyes searched rapidly through the surrounding crowds, seeking out Yagudo beastmen. Or worse. If a Yagudo could easily get all the way to the docks without being seen, who knows what else could be roaming the shadows. Demons. The Elvaan quickly shook that thought from his head. Demons haven't been seen since the Great War. The people would be panicking if there was one within a mile of this place; demons transmit fear around themselves for miles, and they feed on that fear.
Edgah busted through the doors of the Chateau and forced his way passed surprised and bewildered guards. He forced his way down into the underground prison, knocking the door open with his shoulder. The dragoon's lips drew back over his teeth in a snarl at the site before him. The walls were splattered with blood. The guard on watch lay dead against the wall, his eyes staring still in shock and horror, his mouth gaping open and dripping fresh blood. The whole place reeked of death. Edgah withdrew his polearm and stepped warily through the stone corridor, lit by an occasional torch set upon the walls, eyes still searching for the unseen attacker. As he walked passed the other rooms he caught glimpses of the prisoners still locked in their rooms, silent horror on their faces, some huddled in the corner, shivering with fright. It was eerily silent. The dragoon reached the end of the corridor. Against the left wall the guard set to watch Edgah's prisoners lay face down, dead. A stream of blood flew from his corpse, seeping into the room. He glared at the door and started for it.
The Yagudo raised it's blood glazed katana in front of his sinister, feathered face and licked the blood off, drawing the blade across it's thin, slimy tongue. "Blood sweeter than any water, smoothskins." He hissed.
Yuu-guu gripped the great katana in both hands and thrusted towards Shinji. The Tarutaru yelped and jumped out of the way. He could feel the wind from the attack brush his face. The Yagudo carried through and sliced at Age. Blood misted the air. Caught unaware, the Elvaan and staggered back, eyes wide. A deep cut split his jerkin through and into his skin diagonally across his chest. The Yagudo let out a wicked, raspy laugh and raised it's katana above it's head. Suddenly a brisk wind spiraled around the Yagudo, gathering together into a crystal of ice, then shattered in an small explosion of magic around Yuu-guu. The Yagudo hissed in annoyance more than pain, and whirled around to face Kat. The Mithra met the Yagudo straight in the face with a swift sweeping kick, carrying through in a spin and slamming her other foot down onto it's back. The Yagudo slammed into the floor.
Kat raised her foot above the Yagudo's neck, ready to splinter it's neck before finding herself being flung to the wall opposite the door. Her ankle pained of a Yagudo's grip. Yuu-guu climbed to the ground, cold hatred and rage in his eyes. Age's back was pressed against the wall, his hand pressed against his body wound. Kat's eyes focused back onto the Yagudo stalking towards her, it's great katana still gripped in one hand.
Katsuka closed her eyes and gritted her teeth and lunged a desperate punch towards the Yagudo. The attacked connected straight between it's beady eyes, the Yagudo staggered back, clutching it's face with it's free hand. Still shielding it's eyes, the Yagudo slashed wildly with it's great katana. Kat dived to the side and rolled away from Yuu-guu. It continued staggering around, slashing at everything it could feel within it's reach. Kat watched, crouching in the corner as it stumbled blindly.
Eventually the Yagudo uncovered it's face and blinked. A good sized lump bulged between it's eyes. Yuu-guu's wounded eyes shot towards Age slumped against the wall. Satisfied with what he saw, his eyes turned towards Shinji standing ready to defend himself next to Age.
Before the Yagudo had time to react, Shinji lunged at Yuu-guu. His attack was impeded by his size, for the Tarutaru was easily knocked aside. The Yagudo raised it's katana again and quickly thrusted at Shinji.
Time seemed to slow through the eyes of the Tarutaru. The tip of the dark blade, darkened more so by the blood shimmering red, seemed to grow larger as perspective warped with the approach of a cruel death by beastmen blade. Suddenly a shape appeared, diving in front of the Tarutaru. Age grunted with pain as once more his flesh tasted it's steel. Shinji stared on in shocked horror, a shock filled with rage that built inside of him. Age stared the Yagudo in the eyes- stared death itself in the face. Yuu-guu grinned back at his cold stare and dug the blade deeper in. This time Age no more than flinched, though blood trickled from his mouth. The Yagudo unsheathed it's blade from Age, who fell to his knees. Shinji's rage kept him still in shock, fist clenched and eyes locked onto the Yagudo. It raised it's katana once more, ready to finish the Elvaan who sacrificed himself so much.
The door splintered and threw out in all directions. The Elvaan dragoon stood in it's place, polearm gripped with both hands in a thrusting position. Before the shards were settled Edgah was in action again, diving through the air and landing where the Yagudo sidestepped just in time to avoid a spearhead through the brain. His spearhead was half burried through the ground. Edgah looked up from his landing, and flashed a grin at the Yagudo who recoiled in fear upon realizing what he was. In an instant the dragoon yanked his spear from it's burial and unleashed a Pentathrust on the helpless Yagudo. All eight thrusts connected, searing and spearing Yagudo flesh until it dropped dead in a heap hardly recognizable as having ever been a living organism.
Edgah straightened, ignoring the stares of disbelief from the rooms occupants, and looked directly at the great katana fallen from Yuu-guu's now lifeless hands. "Tainted steel." His gaze fell on Age, still clinging to life and staring up at the dragoon with a look of checked hatred. "The fool has the misfortune of feeling that tainted Yagudo steel. He is lost." With that Edgah turned his back on Age.
"NO!" Shinji ran to Age's side, putting a hand over his wound in an attempt to stop the blood flow.
"You fool!" Edgah turned again to view the Tarutaru and Elvaan, "He is lost. This blade was tainted and cursed. Enmity grows inside your friend. He will not die, not by his current wounds, but by his own malice. Enmity drives us all, but this blade has seared his flesh more than once, infecting his very being with hatred. I can see it now, the way he glares at me. You've touched his blood. You too are infected. I could kill you both now and end a threat I cannot begin to imagine. But there isn't time. I am the target and I will deal with my fate when the time comes..."
Edgah once more turned around and began to leave the room, grabbing a startled Katsuka by the arm. Age and Shinji stood where they were, glaring at Edgah. They wouldn't come if this Elvaan begged them, would they? Morons. Kat frowned and let herself be led out.
Throughout the Chateau was panic and madness. Edgah and Kat ran through the turmoil and danger. Yagudo were infesting the place. Temple Knights fought against the intruding Yagudo invaders, easily gaining the upper hand in strength, yet being held back by the sheer number of Yagudo. Outside was no different. Citizens took to arms, defending their homes from Yagudo who seemed to be searching more than fighting while San d'Orian knights guided troops as if in a battle ground. Edgah frowned at the mess, then raised his fingers to his lips and whistled. Katsuka stared at him, confused, when he began running again, towards Port San d'Oria. Kat had no option but to follow.
At the gate marking the entrance to the Port a Yagudo stood blocking the way, a fallen guard laying on the ground aside it, Royal Knights chain mail bloodied. Edgah never stopped running towards it, even when it was clear the Yagudo was ready to fight. Kat began to panic when she saw that they were almost on top of the Yagudo, when a blue streak dived from the sky at and circled the Yagudo, who screached, clawing at it's bloodied face. The Wyvern hovered above the Yagudo and unleashed a breath of fire on the beastman. Edgah ran passed the dying Yagudo with Kat at his heels. The pair proceeded towards the airship docks, the dragoon's Wyvern gliding through the air and clearing a path through the invading Yagudo's who met the misfortune of attempting to block their path.
"Where are we going?!" Katsuka shouted at the Elvaan. Despite her capture by this Elvaan she felt he was trustable, nonetheless. Not a moron at least... that much. Edgah simply pointed at the airship as he ran, in the distance the Wyvern swooped onto an unsuspecting Yagudo.
A dark figure was swooping through the air above the airship, dodging bursts of the elements in the sky and diving towards the deck at random intervals. A bead of sweat drew down Edgah's face, fearing his suspicions confirmed. Katsuka looked up at him, once again confused before her eyes were directed towards his gaze. She sighed.
The pair arrived at the Airship Travel Agency to find it empty. Whether the occupants deserted their post or were killed, Kat was unable to tell, and Edgah's mind was on other matters. Once on the dock they halted and looked shockingly at the scene before them. Alpha stood atop the deck with his sword drawn, constantly casting his spells into the air at the dark figure gliding through the sky. Kat's keen Mithran eyes focused in to find that the dark figure looked like some sick spawn of dragon and man. It stood with legs slightly bent, as if walking was unnatural to it. It had long arms with three fingers of claws at the end. It's face looked like that of a dragons, but compressed to the shape of a humans head. It's eyes were dark and empty. It's entire body was black as pitch, and two great wings spread out from it's back like a bat. "Demon." Edgah mumbled despairingly. Kat choked for a second when it reached her ears.
Alpha was doing an expect job in fighting it off. The Demon twirled and swooped through the air with a deadly grace, like a viper of the sky. Fire burst where it hovered as the Demon countered by swooping down towards Alpha. The red mage took the offensive as the Demon swooped towards him, casting a spell that sent lightning ripping across his sword as he swung at the Demon. It roared in anger and pain as it passed by him, lightning ripping through its body, yet it maintained it's flight.
Katsuka forced her eyes back towards the city, where the Yagudo seemed to be faltering, seemingly unorganized, and becoming easily defeated. Edgah glanced down at her and spoke, "This Demon controls the others as would a general. The fate of the city may rest in the hands of an airship piolet. More than that. Alpha. He seems to have lost nothing since his years of service." That last he spoke to himself as thinking aloud.
Edgah's words shone true as Alpha continued his dance with evil, narrowly escaping hits, dodging and countering with his spells or magically enhanced sword. After taking a direct hit with a burst of fire, the Demon hit the deck, it's flight cut down, but still with the speed of a viper. It draw a black, curved sword and swung at Alpha. The pair engaged in close combat, the red mage constantly connecting it's hits against the tough, black demon hide as volts of lightning shocked through his sword and into the Demon. Alpha's strength waned terribly. He found himself constantly trying to buy just enough time to cast spells to refresh his mind and body, to draw every ounce of his ability without killing himself behind the mask of magic enhancements. Suddenly the blue streak of a Wyvern streaked by the Demon, claws tearing it it's face. Not wasting his opportunity, the red mage casted a spell binding the Demon in place, rooting it to the deck before running out of it's reach. The Demon roared in frustration turned to pain as massive thunder bolts rained from the air and onto it's flesh. It staggered backwards and fell over the edge and into the ocean. Electrical currents continued to streak across that spot on the watery grave.
Alpha slumped against the mast, raised his head and saw a Mithra and Elvaan standing at the top of the stairway leading up to the deck. A blue wyvern sat perched atop the cover cleaning itself. Alpha laughed and strained himself to cast Regen on himself again, giving his body strength that wasn't really left. "Where to, Edgah?" Alpha let out between gasps for air and pulled off his hat to reveal black, sweat-matted hair as he stumbled towards the stairs. Edgah took to his side and supported him.
"Uh... Jeuno." Katsuka said after a look from Edgah saying it was she who decided their next path. Alpha nodded as Edgah helped him downstairs.
Katsuka stared towards the city, the Yagudo were dissipating, seemingly nearing defeat. But new beastmen faces were showing up... Orcs. The airships propellers began to spin, and the ship moved forward, picking up speed and sharply turning as it left the water and tore into the sky. By now noon was in full force, the sun shining brightly in the clear, blue sky- tarnished only by streaks of black smoke arising in plumes from the proud city of San d'Oria. Kat frowned at the sight below. Surely the city couldn't fall to such a small-scale attack. Soon the forces and the people will recover from their shock and take back their homes. Troubled times... Was the end of the Great War really the end? Those two adventurers... Age and Shinji... what will become of them? Katsuka shuddered at the thought. By now the city was fading away to a speck as the airship turned eastward. What about this dragoon... Edgah? Blah. Sick of this. Whatever. The Mithra leaned over the rail, closed her thoughts and stared at treetops of Ronfaure speeding by, below.
To the south a Hume, Tarutaru and Mithra were treking the forboding lands of Gustaberg...