RAGNARÖK ONLINE FANFIC

TRANSGRESSIONS OF FATE

By: RAGNAR (that really is my name)

Chapter 11: Revelations

Night fell on the city of Geffen as its citizens went back to their homes to finish their day. In the northern forest, the glow of a campfire and the dull brightness of a blue gem floating in the middle silhouetting three figures.

The fire in their little campsite was burning brightly as Freya fed it more twigs, the warmth being kept in by an insulation spell that she cast.

Kevin was roasting a Savage for dinner, its delicious smell spreading inside the spell.

The Sanctus that Meshido cast gave the ground a slight glow. The Priest was sitting on that rock again. He seemed to be brooding over something.

Aside from Meshido's glum attitude, the atmosphere in the camp was rather nostalgic in a way. Freya once had camp outs like this with Kareel until she enrolled in the Academy.

"Dinner's ready!" Kevin's rough voice can be heard along with the clatter of some pots and pans.

Freya floated a plate towards her while taking a chunk of the boar from the fire. Her powers seem to be growing these past few days under the Priest's tutelage. He's not exactly the Head Wizard, but his lessons worked wonders.

Kevin just tore off a leg and devoured it one large chunk at a time. If you would look at it at a certain angle, he would look more comical other than brutish.

Meshido just kept on sitting at the secluded area of the camp, the fire reflecting in his jet black eyes.

After finishing her meal, Freya went to Meshido and sat next to him. "You've been like that for quite a while now," she tilted her head to the side, "what's wrong?"

The Priest's voice was... tired, to say the least "I've been working with Pronteran Special Forces for most of my life and I have never had a case like Marus'." His gaze went towards the direction of the city, "he claims to be an agent for the Fates, whatever that means, and in their name and 'laws' he kills people."

He let out a lout breath, "I just want him caught and brought to justice. I gave two years of my life trying to find him. This is the only time I am sure where he is."

She placed a comforting hand on the Priest's shoulder, "We'll catch him. Who knows? It might be tonight, right?"

Meshido gave her hand a light touch, his ebony colored eyes seemed to glow as he looked at her. A smile spread across his lips. "Thank you."

Freya just smiled back.

Kevin lumbered by, the boar's bones in a sack, his body in a lazy slouch. The Crusader glanced at them with a raised eyebrow, "Oh please, get a room! Or rather, you could have my tent for the night! Odin's Eye! The two of you should do it already other than flirt all day so I could at least get a break from your virginal stupidity!"

Black and red eyes met green as the Apprentice Mage and the Priest both glared at the Crusader. Freya didn't know what Kevin meant by those words, but she was sure enough to know that she wouldn't like it.

Then, it hit her. Freya pulled her hand away from Meshido. Her face felt like wildfire as she turned around to avoid the Crusader's challenging gaze. She was right. She wouldn't like it.

Meshido's flat voice carried a hint of irritation, "You really should stop with those kinds of jokes Kevin. You're starting to make me worry."

Kevin just shook his head as he carried the bones outside the camp to be buried, "Kids!"

Freya can hear the Priest give out a quick laugh along with the rustling of cloth as he stood up. "The man really should settle down and have a wife to set him straight."

Regaining her composure, Freya glanced at Kevin's direction. "Mary? How old is he anyway?"

Meshido took out two apples from his pockets and gave one to Freya. Taking a bite, he replied, "He just turned twenty-five last month."

That gave her a rather large amount of shock. "YOU MEAN TO SAY THAT HE'S ALREADY THAT OLD!?" she blurted out, "BUT HE LOOKS YOUNGER THAN THAT!"

Meshido smiled while taking a bite from his apple, "What? I'm still eighteen." His eyes then took the look of a mischievous young man while at the same time, one that belonged to a teacher lecturing a wayward student. "Geffenites have the tendency to age slower than usual."

He twirled the apple in his fingers while staring at the star-filled sky, "As I understand it, the speed of their aging is based on the amount of magic a person can handle. So, that would mean that the more powerful you are, the slower you age."

Freya then started to understand. That would probably explain why Kevin kept looking at her as if she was a child. To him, she probably looked like a young child with breasts. He may take it as a peculiarity, but in truth, she was already eighteen.

But if what Meshido said was true, then... would that mean that her powers were... No, she was just a late bloomer that's all. No need to get her head too big.

Wait a minute...

Freya could feel a frown deepen on her face, "Then would that make Kevin a citizen of Geffen too?"

Meshido threw the apple core into the fire while heading for his tent "You can say that."

"What do you mean?"

She could hear cloth rustle as Meshido stood up.

The Priest just smiled while lying down on his sleeping bag "That's for him to tell you, not me." He pulled the covers over himself "Goodnight Freya, you should sleep as well. We don't need to take turns to watch the night – the Sanctuary spell, remember?"

Now that he mentioned it she was quite sleepy, her eyelids seem to take on weight as she lied down on her bag.

Tomorrow would be another day and they would have to risk going back in the city for some supplies. In a way, living in this little camp was quite comfortable if not for the occasional rain. But then, rain never went farther than just drizzle.

So, with the sound of the insects around her, she found sleep.

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The bustle in the city was to be expected in the early hours of the afternoon. The trio went across the streets with seeming unconcern other than Freya who keeping her hood up.

Kevin carried a bag full of meat and fruits on his back while Meshido tried vainly to haggle with a Merchant on the price of some gems. Freya just stood next to them while looking at the man's wares.

Then an item on the merchant's makeshift stall caught her attention. It was a black, thick, flat, metal disc with archaic runes on the edges. The thing had a small circular hole in the center, which was also decorated with same strange runes. Red lines from the runes on the outer edge connected them to the runes on the inner edge in a strange manner. Freya could see that if she traced the lines, they would end up in the same spot if they would just go on a straight path.

She couldn't help it, "Hey, what is that?" Freya asked while pointed to the strange object.

The merchant looked confused at first, trying to find the thing she was pointing at. Then, his eyes fell on the disc and beamed in recognition, "Ah! That thing?" he said while picking it up. "To tell the truth, I have no idea. But I've been doing some reading and I think it is part of some sort of legend about immortals and all that. I'm not very deep on the details, I was just looking for some info on this so I could sell it." The man's grin was quite sheepish.

"Well, could you tell me how much it costs?"

Pursing his lips, the merchant stroke his chin while frowning at the disk, he let out a breath, "Five Thousand Zennies. Stuff like these aren't exactly easy to come by... Hey, who knows? It might be worth more than that."

Kevin was listening to the whole thing and it would seem that he didn't like it. "BLOODY FUCKING HELL! YOU EXPECT US TO PAY YOU THAT MUCH FOR THAT PIECE OF JUNK?!"

The merchant calmly arched an eyebrow. "Hey, if you don't want it, don't buy it! That's the lady's decision buddy!"

Kevin's hand unconsciously stroked the hilt of his sword, "I won't let you fool the girl, you half-wit. Do you wanna settle this my way?"

The merchant took on a rather menacing look, an steel hafted axe appeared cradled in his arms, "Where?"

Men. Freya just shook her head, she sometimes wished that they would all just grow brains. Men indeed.

Counting the gold coins in her hand, Freya tossed them on the wooden plank that served as the man's desk. "I'll take it."

Kevin was dumbfounded, "What!? Are you insane?! Do you actually have the habit of throwing money around like that?"

Freya was getting irritated, "Look! I don't have to explain myself to you for every move that I make! It's my money and I can do with it whatever I want! I'm thankful for your saving my life and all, but that doesn't give you the right to order me around!"

Kevin just threw his arms above him and let out an exasperated growl, "Women!" He went to the direction of the nearest bar while giving the bag of supplies to Meshido, "Don't wait for me! I'm off for a drink!"

Freya just strode off in the opposite direction with the disk in her pocket, her cloak flowing behind her.

The Priest called out to her, "Where are you going?"

She just spared him a quick glance, "Back to camp!"

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Meshido just stood there on the street corner, quite confused at the events that transpired just a few moments ago, the food sack lying next to his feet.

What's with those two?

Tossing the Merchant two thousand zennies for five blue gems, he tried to assess the situation.

Well, Freya's going back to the camp and Kevin would apparently be cavorting somewhere. Meshido just reasoned that, maybe he should have some time for himself.

He went down Main Street looking for the nearest Kafra building. He and Kevin left some of their belongings in one of the company's storage boxes. He figured that he could keep the food there until around late afternoon so he could take a look of the city.

Kafra has branches all over the world. Their services were recognized in every major city and access point that he knew of. If his history was correct, the founder of the company discovered a way to place your items in a safe and stable dimension that was accessible at any part the world. If you stored something in Payon, you can recover that item in Prontera. Well, he wasn't very keen on the mechanics of those boxes, but they work, that's what's important.

After being thanked by the Kafra girl, he walked out of the building with his special staff that was just taken out of storage.

He rather enjoyed the views of the city. The slight scent of woodsmoke hanging in the air, melding with the scent of whatever the Merchants were selling today.

After some window shopping, he can hardly believe the prices around here. In Prontera, blue gems, which were essential to a Priest were usually sold at six hundred, here, the most expensive he could fine was worth five hundred! In a way, he envied the Mages for living so close to the Mines.

He also found out that the city was loaded with pure Oridecon bars. He's not a Blacksmith, but he knew that metal like that was very hard to come by. The craftsmen in Prontera would probably drool if they saw the supply here in Geffen.

He continued on to the city's park to relax. The benches were comfortable as he lounged on one of them; the sounds of the birds were rather soothing after such a rough day.

After an hour in the park, he decided that, maybe he should go back to camp. It wasn't late afternoon yet, but Freya must be rather lonely in the tents.

So, picking up his staff, he headed for the Northern Gates.

He was on the bridge, the food sack slung over his shoulder, when he finally saw him. Meshido has seen the man's picture and the description again and again that he had committed his image in memory.

The man he saw was leaning on the railing. Long, shoulder-length, blond hair bunched up in a raised ponytail. Numerous scars ran across the man's left cheek looking as if it were a spider's web.

He was dressed in what seemed to be a Morroc Assassin's uniform but in the same time, Meshido knew that that the man wasn't from Morroc.

Night black cloth blended with the shadows cast by the city, making parts of him invisible in the darkness. Bandage-like straps wound around places in his body in a way that made him look... sleek.

Meshido could have sworn that the man's back had two hilts jutting out from opposite ends of the same scabbard. The hilt to the man's right was blacker than his clothes – if that was even possible – the other hilt was so white, it stood out from his outfit.

Meshido knew at last that he has found the man he was hunting for the last two years of his life.

Meshido put the food down next to the railing as he approached the black clothed Assassin. Staff at the ready, he prepared a surprise attack against the man in front of him.

"You know, if you're planning to attack me, you shouldn't waste your time trying to sneak up like that. I could notice you a mile away from all the noise you make." The man's voice was cold and unassuming, "Besides, I can sense that your charging a spell."

Meshido could feel that the man's right eye was taking in everything about him, as if assessing his strengths and weak spots.

Black cloth stirred in a non-existent wind.

Meshido can sense dark aura emanating from the Assassin as he turned around.

The fine hair on the back of Meshido's head started to stand on end when he knew that this was no ordinary man.

Meshido prepared a Holy Light spell at the tip of his staff.

The Assassin in front of him was the only reason he came to this city.

The killer of a thousand men.

A fanatic.

A murderer.

A monster.

The Assassin drew his daggers. The color of the blades was the opposite color of their hilts.

"What do you want, Priest?"

The spell was charged to the fullest and was ready to be unleashed.

"I'm here to put a stop to your madness..."

For two years, the man's name has engraved itself on Meshido's mind.

"...Marus Shadow-Eyes."