Start the Fire
Chapter 4: Ylisstol
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In the dead of night, a group of Plegian's were sneaking through a snowy forest. The snow crunched beneath their boots as walked stealthily away from their camp which is a few miles back. Instead of Brigand clothing, they wore a blue tunic with matching trousers and iron armor. These are the uniforms of the Ylissean troops.
"This is a suicide," one of them, a shift man in light armor muttered in a weak voice. None of them carried any torches, lest they give away their position. So, they relied on the moonlight to help them see through the night.
"Not this again, Markos" Absalom, their leader, groaned. He is dressed in the heavy armor of a Ylissean knight. He carried the traditional heavy shield and spear stolen during a raid. He and his soldiers have traveled far from Plegia into Regna Ferox, and Markos still had serious doubts about their mission.
"We're all getting sick of your whining!" Another man by the name of Abel hissed. "His Majesty gave us this mission, and we're expected to carry it out. Do you want to be put to death for insolence?"
"Do you think I hadn't thought about that?" Markos hissed back. "In case it never occurred to you, we're going up against the Feroxi! As in the battle-hungry dastards who would eat our insides for breakfast. Battling against them is already asking for execution!"
"All the more reason to carry out this mission," Absalom said firmly. "You know what the King would do if we don't."
Frankly, he's against this mission as well. An attempt to sow discord between their eastern and neighboring neighbors to reignite the war between them. But King Gangrel would punish not just them, but their families if they fail to carry this out. The Plegian commander knew a few of his countrymen who had suffered this fate.
"Why do you think we're dressed up in these clothes? When the Feroxi see us attack, and even if they kill us first, they will only see Ylisseans attacking them. That way when they retaliate it would be the Ylissean's problem."
"And they will be too stupid to know the difference," Abel snickered. "If the sheep won't face us like the dogs they are, we'll have the Feroxi do the work for us! It's a win-win situation!"
"Quiet Abel!" Absalom snapped. "Do you want to tell the Feroxi that we're coming while you're at it? What good is the element of surprise if they know we're here!"
"Oh, come on, they can't have heard us from this far out," Abel retorts.
At that moment, they heard a stick being stepped on. This caused the Plegian's too tense up. Turning in the direction where they heard it from, the soldiers in disguise brandished their weapons, waiting for whatever to come out. It sounded close way too close. Each of them held their breath. None of them dared to speak. For some reason, they felt an atmosphere of dread settle upon them.
"What was that?" Another Plegian soldier asked nervously.
"Do you think the Feroxi found us?" Markos asked, his sword hand shaking nervously as he tried to hold his shield. "I told you this was a bad idea!"
"For the last time, put a sock in it! We're still a few miles away from the fortress," Abel snapped. "It's probably just a bear passing by. Want to get some meat to eat when we get back to the camp commander?"
"Who the heck eats bear?" Absalom asked rhetorically. The normally arrogant of his soldiers beginning to perspire. He snapped his fingers at Abel and Markos. "You two go check it out."
"Us?" Markos pointed to himself.
"You got to be kidding me," Abel groaned. "Are you sending me with this yellow-bellied wuss?"
"Do as I say!" Absalom commanded in a tone of steel.
Flinching at his pitch, the two soldiers nodded. The rest of their comrades watched as they disappeared into the darkness. The feeling of dread was coupled with unexplained terror.
"Why am I feeling so scared?" one of his soldiers asked.
"I don't know…" Absalom said, gripping his ax tightly. "Something isn't right."
The tense silence was broken by a scream. A screaming Abel came flying over them faster than they could blink. The arrogant Plegian crashed into a tree behind him, followed by the sound of cracking bones. He slid down, leaving a trail of blood along with the bark. One of their dark mages ran over and checked on him. He's nothing like Ylisse's clergy, but he's the closest thing they got to a medic. Goodness knows what they've been doing to the poor unfortunate souls they experimented on.
"He's still alive," the Dark Mage reports. "But he's broken a lot of bones, including his spine. If we try to move him, he'll die before we can get him back to camp."
"Why don't we have a priest in this group?" Absalom cursed. Of course, the Grimleal priests back in Plegia were more interested in killing than healing, which caused him to envy the Ylissean Clergy. Abel may have been a pain in the ass, but he's a good soldier. "What in Grima's name could've done that to him?"
"RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!"
Everyone turned around to see Markos running towards them. Pure terror was on his face as he ran past them.
"RUN BEFORE IT KILLS YOU!" Markos continued screaming.
"Markos! What's wrong with you?!" Absalom called out to him. "Hey! Come back here!"
But Markos didn't heed him. He just kept running as if Grima himself was at his heels. His screaming slowly became faint until they can no longer hear him. Before he could order his men to go after him, he heard something heavy coming from the direction he ran in. Immediately, he gestured his men to ready their weapons and their mage to ready his tome.
"I didn't take you Feroxi types to hide in the shadows like cowards," Absalom calls out. "Show yourself!"
For several moments, nothing happened. As if to answer his challenge, something came towards them. The ground shook as something stomped on the ground. Birds roosting in the trees flew out into the night sky their bodies shook with the increase in the quake's rhythm.
Finally, the thing that scared Markos off emerged from the darkness. To their shock, it wasn't a battle-crazed Feroxi or an angry black bear. It was a creature that was so big that its shadow fell over them. Its muscles gave off the impression that it's stronger than any of the two. The creature let out a bone-shaking roar that could've been heard throughout the realm and woken everyone up.
That roar was followed by the screams of the Plegians.
Sunlight peeked into the moving wagon as Kamala opened her eyes. Groaning, she sat up and stretched her arms. He back was aching from the way she positioned herself to sleep in the wagon, but she didn't care.
"If it makes you feel better, we're nearing Ylisstol," Anna calls from the front.
"That does make me feel better…a little bit," Kamala said, her tone becoming disheartened. While she is relieved that they are finally reaching their destination, part of her is still scared about what she must face. The teenage superhero is about to enter a city filled with people who would have it out for her. All because they would mistake her for being a Plegian. She was broken out of her gloom by the rumbling of her stomach.
"Thankfully, they have a market," Kamala said, rubbing her belly. "I ate the last of the bread Agnes gave me and that wasn't enough to satisfy my appetite. I'm going to need a lot of food."
"A lot of food? Do Inhumans like you need to eat a lot?" Anna asked curiously.
"It's just me," Kamala clarifies. "I need to eat a lot to use my powers. We Inhumans come in a variety of shapes and sizes."
Yes, Anna knows about her Inhumanity. After running out of the inferno unleashed by the cataclysm, she reunited with the merchant at the edge of the forest. Getting over the relief about Kamala's survival, she demanded to know what she just did. Omitting a few details, Kamala told Anna that she is part of a race called the Inhumans, people with abilities. Why she hasn't heard of them is because they keep to themselves in fear of being persecuted, which is also true. Back on earth, there's a group called that actively hunts superhumans and undesirables.
"Why are your people called Inhuman?" Anna asked. "The term sounds derogatory, and you don't seem to be inhuman."
"It was the name that they gave us," Kamala replied. "Some of us are considered Inhuman in our eyes. But the name had already stuck long before I got my powers."
"I see," Anna said sadly. "I'm familiar with the feeling, to be honest. There happens to be a race like yours."
"Really?"
"Yeah, and unlike you, they can become beasts by utilizing a special stone," Anna explains. "Unfortunately, humans are just as cruel to them as you would expect. For thousands of years, they subjected them to a lot of mistreatments such as slavery and even hunting them for sport."
"That's horrible!" Kamala cried out in outrage.
"Yes, it is," Anna said grimly. "Nowadays, they faded into obscurity. Many regard them as myths. If any of them are still alive, it might be better for them."
"No, it won't," Kamala said firmly. "I know for a fact that humanity has always been afraid of what they don't understand…or people who are different than them. But living in fear of people or because they might think they're afraid of them is a mistake. That isn't living at all. All that will do is breed more fear and hate."
"Then what do you suppose they do?" Anna asked. "Just up and talk to them?"
"That's one way of doing things," Kamala said. "I'm not naïve enough to believe that peace between races will just happen. I do not doubt that there are centuries of bad blood between humans and…and…"
"The Taguel," Anna said.
"The Taguel," Kamala said as if she was never lost track. "I'm not naïve to believe that peace between species will happen in just one day. They have every right to be angry about past transgressions. But that shouldn't be what defines them. What defines a person is not how they are born, but what they become. Look at what King Gangrel is already doing! I haven't met the guy, but he's trying to reignite a war out of pure spite. I know that one day they will see that they're not so different after all."
Kamala didn't realize that she was speaking with such a passion until she finished her pitch. Perhaps it came from her experience of being hated for being an Inhuman and anger for being treated like a bad Plegian. She didn't have her head up her ass to think like a bigot. Anna stared at her for a moment. Then she smiled.
"I hope other people will think like you someday," Anna said before turning around. "We're approaching the gates. There are guards outside, and I have a feeling they're going to mistake you for a Plegian. So, unless you can change your looks on a whim, I suggest you start hiding. I got a secret compartment where you are sitting at."
"Why do you have a secret compartment?" Kamala asked as she moved from her spot and lifted the rug. Sure enough, there is a latch that looked suspicious. Unlocking it, she opened a hidden compartment that looked big enough to fit her in.
"It's one of my secrets," Anna replied. "Now get in before they start asking why I have a Plegian look-alike in my cart. If you are caught, it will be bad for business."
Kamala said nothing as she got into the compartment, lied down on her back, and closed the door. Thankfully, the compartment is big enough, otherwise, she'll have to shrink herself again. She heard Anna replace the rug to hide the compartment. The teen felt the wagon come to a stop.
"Halt!" a gruff male voice called out. "Identify yourself."
"Hello!" Anna cheerily greeted. "The name's Anna. Some folks like to call me the Secret Seller. I hear that market day is today and I've come to sell my wares."
"A merchant huh? May I search your wagon?"
"By all means," Anna said a little carefree. "I've got nothing to hide. Keep in mind…break anything, you are buying it. Okay?"
Kamala heard the guard grumble something she couldn't make out. She held her breath and stayed perfectly still. She heard the creaking of wood as someone stepped onto the back of the wagon. There was the flap of the tarp opening, which she knew was a guard examining the wagon's contents. The silence lasted for a few seconds before she heard him step off, yet she didn't dare release a sigh of relief.
"It all checks out," she heard a guard say. "Here's your permit. You're free to enter Ylisstol ma'am. Just one question…"
"Yes?"
"I noticed that you have rings in one of your crates," the guard said. "I'm planning on proposing to this lass I love…so I was wondering if you are willing to sell one of them to me. After I get off my shift first."
"Of course," Anna said enthusiastically. "I'll be heading to the market so be sure you head there. And the price is five hundred gold."
"Five hundred? I suppose that's to be expected. But don't you think you can lower it?"
"Sure! Since this is going to be an engagement ring, I'll cut down ten percent off the original price."
Kamala resisted the urge to yell out her irritation as Anna and the guard continued to negotiate the price. Or in layman's terms, haggling. Anna would raise the price while the guard would ask for a cheaper one. After several suffocating minutes, the deal was made. The guard would go to the market after his shift is done while Anna will wait for him. The wagon shook as it moved, bumping her head, and nearly causing her to cry out and blow her cover. After what seemed to be ten minutes, the wagon stopped.
"Alright, you can come out now," Anna called as she pounds the floor of the wagon. Taking her cue, Kamala pushed the door open and sat up. She climbed out of the secret compartment and out of the wagon. Anna had driven her wagon into an alleyway, likely to prevent any curious eyes. Dusting off her trousers, she walked to the front of the wagon to where the merchant is waiting.
"Well, this is where we part ways," Anna said. "It's been a pleasure to be of service to an Inhuman."
"Thanks for the ride, Anna," Kamala said appreciatively. Even though she charged her for nearly every little thing, the teen enjoyed her company. The secret seller is one of the only people who didn't hold any unwarranted prejudice against her. Especially with her abilities or her looks.
"If you still need me for something, I'll be in the market for the rest of the day," Anna said. "All you have to do is look for my pretty face on the other side of town. Farewell."
"Farewell to you too," Kamala said as Anna cracked the reigns. The horses whinnied and clopped forward, dragging the wagon out of the alley. Kamala watched the wagon as it turned the corner and disappear. Eventually, she couldn't hear the turning wheels of the wagon anymore. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the alleyway.
She took in the sights that she missed ever since she was hiding inside that wagon. The town is exactly like the ones she visited playing World of Warcraft. The buildings are built from brick, with signs posted in the Ylissean language. She couldn't understand it, but she could tell what services are being provided by the icon. People dressed in typical medieval attire are going about their business. Some of them entered buildings and carried out the products they purchased.
Looking up, she saw what she assumed to be the castle of the ruling royalty. It stood on a higher elevated piece of land, for all the world to see. Unlike the town, its towers and walls were made of white bricks, or what she assumed to be bricked.
"Yep, if this doesn't prove I've stepped into a fantasy world, nothing will," Kamala said as she walked down the street. Feeling a few glances in her direction, she pulled her hood further over her head to hide her face. She hated it, but it was necessary to avoid stirring up trouble. She was confident that she can get away with her abilities, but that would open her up to a witch hunt. That's something she didn't need if she wants to find her teammates.
"Look! The exalt has come to see us!"
That sounded like an elderly man. At those words, everyone around her stopped what they were doing. Murmurs of excitement filled the air as scores of people begin to rush in one direction. Kamala watched this, perplexed. Then, out of curiosity, she began to follow the crowd. She figured it could be an opportunity to see the ruler of Ylisse firsthand.
Entering an alleyway, the teen found a wall of people standing on the edge of a street. She tried to move past them, but they weren't listening to her. Kamala considered elongating her legs to get a better view when she got a better idea. Walking back to the deserted street behind her, and after making sure that nobody was looking, she stretched her arms to grab onto a building and pulled herself up while swerving her body to land on her feet. Congratulating herself, she walked towards the edge of the building and peered down.
The street below had been cleared to make way for an entourage. People stood along the streets in awe as they passed by. Kamala's nearly bugged out when she saw knights riding horses with beautiful folded white wings. She is staring at actual Pegasi. She knew a few members of her guild who have Pegasus mounts in World of Warcraft. To see an actual is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
At the center of the entourage, she found what she assumes to be the Exalt herself, Emmeryn. She is a woman dressed in a white robe, green and gold embroidered cloak, and a golden headpiece behind her head. Her blonde hair has two drill locks that frame her face. On her forehead is a strange marking that made Kamala wonder if the Exalts get a tattoo when they ascend the throne. Behind her stood two guards, each armed with a lance. From. Emmeryn seemed to give off a calming atmosphere given how the citizens are calm and happy in her presence.
The exalt was walking by the building when she suddenly looked in Kamala's direction. Instinctively, Kamala took several steps back as if to get out of her sightline. For a moment, she wondered what that was about. She had no reason to fear her, did she? Then again, she didn't want to draw attention for being a Plegian look alike.
Seeing that she accomplished her curiosity objective, she dropped back down to street level. First, she made sure that nobody was looking then she elongated her legs to lower herself down. At that moment, her stomach grumbled again.
"I better look for some food," Kamala said as she ran in a different direction. She looked at her stomach, knowing she's going to have to find a lot of food to pay her powers due. It became clear that she wasn't watching where she was going when she bumped into someone.
"Oh, excuse me," Kamala apologized quickly as she sidesteps around them. She didn't get too far when an armored hand grabbed her by the arm. That arm belonged to a brown-haired knight in blue-plated armor.
"Hold it!" He spoke in an icy cold tone.
"Hey what gives?"
"That accent…are you a Plegian spy?" the knight accused. Kamala felt tense up at this. She had forgotten that her accent is like a typical Plegian, which completely outed her out to this sharp-eared bozo. At that moment, three more people walked up behind him.
"Frederick, what are you doing?" A blue-haired man in light clothing asked. On his bare shoulder, Kamala spied the same tattoo she had seen on the Exalt. Could he be related to her somehow? She pushed that question aside and focused on her main problem.
"I've caught an assassin, milord," the knight, now named Frederick, declared firmly much to Kamala's horror. From the way the knight spoke, the blue-haired man must be a Ylissean noble. If he is, being accused of being an assassin isn't going to do wonders for her.
"An assassin?" A girl with blonde-haired tied in pigtails asked, glaring at Frederick. "Are you sure your head is working? Why do you think she's an assassin?"
"Because I saw her on the roof," Frederick said, making the girl flinch. Could he have seen her use her abilities? "Her gaze was dead set on the Exalt before she vanished. I believe Plegia sent her to assassinate her grace."
"I just wanted to see the Exalt," Kamala found herself saying as she struggled against his iron grip. "I couldn't see over everyone else, so I just climbed onto a rooftop to get a better view. I'm from out of town, so didn't realize that it's against the law to watch from above!"
"Is there such a law?" A man in a two-toned black and purple coat asked. Strangely, his hair is white as snow even though he looked to be the same age as the lord. But then again, she saw a man with blue hair and that is not common back on earth.
"There isn't," the lord said before addressing Kamala. "You say that you are out of town. Are you referring to Plegia?"
"Of course not, milord!" Kamala protested honestly while using the proper address to avoid derailing from the topic and to act like an actual Ylissean. "I'm from another part of Ylisse! It's so far out that you probably never even heard of it."
"Far out you say?" the Lord said. "Where are you from?"
"Jersey…town," Kamala said lamely. She almost said city, but they probably wouldn't understand the term in this world.
"Interesting…I've never heard of such a place in Ylisse," Frederick flatly states. "I don't need to point out the hesitation in your voice to know Pegasus dung. I wonder who you killed to get those clothes."
"I don't know Frederick," the blonde girl said uncertainly. "I know that there are some towns we hadn't heard of."
"Trust me milady, I would know," Frederick said firmly. "I've memorized every town in Ylisse and not one of them is Jersey Town."
"Then there must be something wrong with your brain," Kamala snarked. "Especially when you grab a random girl's hand and accuse her of being an assassin without any proof! And while we're on the subject, how long do you plan on holding me?"
"After I drag you back to the castle for interrogation and throw you in the dungeon," Frederick answered. "But if you're not a Plegian, why don't you remove your hood?"
At this point, Kamala knew she was losing this battle. It was as if he's trying to get her lynched on the spot! By now, a crowd had already gathered to watch the spectacle. If they see her now, they will only see her as a Plegian. Oh, how she could wish she could change her appearance.
Wait…changing appearance…wasn't there that time when she…
"Not complying? Then how about I do it for you!" Fredrick declares as he forcibly removes her hood. Kamala's hair spilled out for all the world to see. Yet, when everyone looked upon her face, they didn't express any anger or outrage.
Rather, that came from the girl still in Frederick's grip.
"Well? Do I look like a Plegian?" Kamala demanded angrily.
"W-What?" Frederick stammered.
"That reminds me…LET GO OF ME, YOU OAF!" Kamala yelled as she shoves him. Probably because of the shock, his grip broke. The knight stumbled back only to be caught by the lord. The stern glare he gave seemed to silence any protest he would've given out. He turned back to Kamala with a look of shame.
"I'm sorry about my knight," the lord apologized. "Fredrick the Wary has always been a little too...cautious."
"Wary? I would recommend calling him Frederick the paranoid," Kamala said scathingly as she rubs her arm. "Or maybe iron hands Frederick given how tight his grip was."
"I'm already adding those to the list," the twin-tailed girl muttered. She was looking at Kamala with a hint of jealousy. The crowd watching the scene began to disperse, though some lingered.
"And by the way. The reason I sound like this is that I'm aspiring to be an actor! If I knew it would get me in trouble, I wouldn't have done my practice in broad daylight."
"I will have a word with him about his behavior I promise," the lord said. "This won't happen again. Please find it in your heart to forgive him."
"You can make mistakes and still be forgiven," Kamala said. "If you'll excuse me, milord, I need to get going."
"So do we," the Lord said, glancing at Frederick. "I hope the rest of your day goes uneventful."
"If I may offer a piece of advice, milord," Kamala said as she turned away. She could feel his eyes on her. "Just because one person does wrong doesn't mean everyone's a monster."
With that, she walked away. There was a quickened pace in her step as she wanted to get away from everyone. That was a close call. She didn't know why she said that to the lord. The teenage hero didn't know if he was a racist jerk or anything, but she just said it. That's pretty much how she was feeling right now.
That aside, Kamala needed to check something. After wandering around for a few minutes, she came across a fountain with a dragon statue. A man with a mule was letting it drink from it. Kamala walked over to it and looked at herself in its water, gripping the edge to ensure she didn't fall over.
What stared back at her wasn't her reflection. Her skins color is light instead of brown. Her hair is blonde instead of dark brown. Even her eyes, which were also brown, are beautiful jewels of blue. Kamala had changed into a different person.
"What do you know, I still have it," Kamala muttered.
Back when she received her powers from the Terrigen Bomb, she accidentally discovered her ability to alter her appearance. After she got out of the cocoon, she had changed into the appearance of her idol, the first Ms. Marvel. This ability extends to her clothing. She was afraid that she lost this power due to her healing factor reducing the elasticity of her cells. Turns out she was wrong. In the heat of the moment, she thought about changing only the skin, hair, and eye color of her idol as a basis.
"This opens a path of new possibilities for our prank war," Kamala smirked as she pulls herself away from the fountain. "But for now…this will allow me to move around more easily."
Kamala walked away from the fountain in a relaxed manner now that she didn't have to sneak around. The day was still young and there is much to do. With her powers, she can avoid drawing suspicion. She can explore Ylisstol to her heart's content.
Judging from the rumbling of her stomach, she probably should focus on finding something to eat.
"Seriously Frederick, what was up with you back there?" Lissa demanded. The Shepherds had just entered the castle, home to the exalt and by extension the ruling family of Ylisstol. After the incident with the girl in town, they were in a hurry to get to the castle out of embarrassment. All thanks to the knight who started it.
"I-I don't know," Frederick said, he was walking behind the group with slumped shoulders. A look of shame was on his face. "I thought that she might've been a Plegian assassin…"
"And she turned out to be an angry village girl," the man in the black and purple coat said with amusement.
"A beautiful girl," Lissa muttered. "How did she get looks like that? I want them!"
"Frederick, I understand your need for caution," Chrom said with a stern look. "But you can't just go accusing everybody of being a spy or an assassin sent by Plegia. If you keep suspecting everybody, I'm going to have to dismiss you. I can't have my best knight acting rashly in the Shepherds. Do you understand?"
"Y-Yes milord," Frederick said miserably. "I will reflect on my behavior and avoid a future incident."
"See that you do," Chrom said before he turned to the albino with a smile. "So how was your first look at Ylisstol, Robin?"
"I've never seen so many people," Robin admits with a smile. "Just watching them smile and go about their everyday lives…it makes me glad that they were spared the chaos the great quake incurred."
Robin had woken up in the middle of a grassy field somewhere in Ylisse. Why he was there, he didn't know as he cannot remember anything. Every attempt to learn his past only draws up with a blank. His name is one of the only things he could remember. Along with a knack for swords, sorcery, and tactics.
He was sleeping when the Shepherds found him. Chrom and Lissa were warm with him, but Frederick suspected him of being a Plegian spy. With how they were sending brigands to terrorize villages, he had every right to be suspicious of him. Especially when they are attempting to instigate a war. Robin, having nowhere else to go, decided to join the Shepherds.
They were on their way to the capital when the quake struck. It split the earth and set the forest on fire. There was also that hair-raising encounter with the unnatural creatures they encountered. Robin recalled those glowing red eyes and how they fought. They didn't have any sense of self-preservation and attacked them aggressively. It was like they wanted them dead. Luckily, they were joined by a mysterious man named Marth, another Shepherd, and a wanderer.
Speaking of the latter…
"I told you to buzz off, ruffles!" Sully, a red-haired woman in red cavalry armor, snapped at a light-haired man trailing behind her. He wore a formal outfit under the standard armor of the archer.
"So cold! I feel a chill coming on," Virion spoke in a flowery manner. "I'll surely catch my death if you don't spare a few warm words, milady. All this angry grunting…it's unbecoming of a lady so beauteous!"
"I swear if I had my lance on me…" Sully muttered as she approaches Chrom. "Hey, Captain Chrom! A word with you?"
"Sure, Sully," Chrom said.
"Turns out ruffles wants to join us," Sully said, jerking her thumb at the man. She leaned forward to whisper to him. "Please tell him no. I can't stand his marriage proposals!"
"He does look…eccentric," Chrom said, glancing at Virion. "But his skill with the bow could be valuable to the Shepherds."
It was back in the forest that they witnessed his skill firsthand. When they were fighting those creatures, they discovered that they can be killed by conventional means. This was proven true when Virion's arrows became embedded through their eyes or exposed parts. Chrom turned to the archer in question.
"I shall consider adding you to our ranks…Virion, was it?"
"Indeed!" Virion agreed. "I the myth and legend! He who strides across history's greatest stage! The man who puts the 'arch' in 'archer' shall assist you in your cause!"
"Good grief I don't have time for this," Sully muttered with a sour expression. "If that's what you want then I'm not going to stop you. That doesn't mean I have to like it. I'm heading to the barracks, Ruffles. If you want to see your living quarters for the rest of your life, come with me."
"A true gentleman would lead a lady," Virion declared, walking forward. "Umm…where pray tell is the barracks?"
"Oh, for the love of Naga," Sully palms her forehead. It was then she noticed Frederick standing awkwardly silent. "What's up with Frederick?"
"He publicly accused a random girl of being a spy without any solid proof," Lissa explained with a sigh. "Turns out she was just wanting to get a look at the Exalt like everyone else."
"Outrageous!" Virion cried out in rage. He pointed a finger at the knight. "How dare a man like you accuse a fair maiden of being a spy! You should be executed—"
He was cut off by a boot to the head. That was a courtesy from Sully, who promptly kicked him in the face. Virion reeled back while Sully stomped over and planted her foot on the back of his head.
"Do you ever stop talking?" Sully yells out before whipping her head towards Frederick. "Are you losing your touch, Freddy? Why the hell would you pull a stunt like that?"
"I don't know," Frederick simply said.
While Sully was giving Frederick a scolding, Robin was thinking back to the girl. What everyone else didn't know was that he saw her skin change. The albino witnessed her arms change from brown to white almost an instant. There was also the fact that he saw brown locks of hair instead of blonde. Everybody was focused on the girl, but only he saw it happen. Robin had dismissed it as a trick of the light, but the thought was still there along with questions.
Who and what was she? Was she a Plegian spy or is she just like him? A man who doesn't remember his past didn't earn him the trust of Frederick immediately. But he had a feeling that he is going to keep a closer eye on him after the incident in town for any evidence of treachery. Not that he would ever do something harmful to Ylisstol or his newfound friends.
"Hey Robin, you there?" Lissa called out. She and the group were already walking away. "We're about to go meet Emm."
"I'm coming," Robin rushed after them, pushing aside his questions now. For now, he was about to meet the ruler of Ylisstol. It would be bad if he didn't make a first impression.
"Ah! That hit's the spot!"
Kamala said that as she finished a loaf of bread. The girl sat on the rooftop, back to her original appearance, of a building and laid down content after she finished eating. The sky is red-orange as the sun is setting, signaling the end of the day. Below, people were closing their businesses and returning to their homes. A couple of times, she saw mothers drag whining children to tuck them to bed. She guessed that she'll have to find someplace to sleep.
After the incident with that knight and rediscovered her forgotten ability, she explored much of Ylisstol. She also found a bakery in which she purchased her lunch. The girl bought nearly every loaf of bread and a few pastries that would be acceptable to eat. The baker was stunned by how much she purchased but she didn't care. There was enough food to make up both lunch and dinner. Say what you will, Ms. Marvel is stocked up on food energy and ready to roll.
But that also took a lot of her money, and she already lost a lot of it thanks to a certain greedy merchant. Hopefully, she can find some of those Bullions Kaleb had mentioned. It might not be a stable income, but it was better than nothing. She didn't want to resort to stealing, but that might become a necessity in the future. Especially with a medieval setting such as this.
"Well, I might as well find someplace to sleep," Kamala groans as she stood up and stretched. Nearby was a sack that she used to carry the treats she bought from the baker. She pulled her money pouch from her belt and felt its weight. It felt lighter than when she first received it from Agnes.
"I just hope the tavern's price will be cheap," Kamala muttered as she glanced at a nearby sign. It is wood carved into the shape of a leaf with the words 'The Salty Leaf' etched onto it.
"Since when is a leaf salty?" Kamala wondered as she prepared to drop down to the ground. She stopped herself when she recalled something.
"Better take a selfie for the occasion," Kamala said as she opens her bracelet and pulls out her phone. Turning it on, she held it in front of her and angled herself to get the castle in the background. Smiling, she took the picture.
"That's one for the books," Kamala said as she puts it back into her bracelet. Changing her appearance again, she hopped down onto the ground floor and entered the tavern. Even from the roof, she could hear the noise of activity. The only light came from the candles situated on wooden posts or the walls. There was a fireplace that is roasting a pig's carcass, which made Kamala look away. Men sat at tables with tankards of ale in their hands getting drunk. Waitresses served food and tankards of ale to their customers. Some of them were chatting about things that Kamala didn't pay any heed to.
Her father will probably kill her if she ever frequents a place like this. But where else was she supposed to go to get a room? She walked up to the counter where who she assumed to be the tavern owner stood cleaning a tankard. He is a man brown-haired man with mutton chops with a mustache and wore a blue vest over a beige shirt. Kamala just stood there for a few seconds until he noticed her.
"I…would like a room for the night?" Kamala asked, making sure she could be heard over the talk of conversation. He just stared at her in silence. She wondered if he could tell a Plegian from her accent like the knight from before.
"Aren't you too young to be sleeping in a tavern?" He asked finally.
"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Kamala asked honestly. The tavern owner just huffed at her response.
"It's two gold pieces per night," the tavern owner answered as he puts down the tankard. "Food and drink cost more."
"Here you go," Kamala said, relieved at the price. She pulled out two gold coins from her pouch and handed them to the tavern owner. "May I also have some water please."
"You must be the first person to be polite in my tavern," the tavern owner said. "That will be two gold pieces as well. And here's the key to your room."
Kamala nods and hands over two gold pieces. As she took her seat on a wooden stool, she puts the key in her pocket. The tavern owner walked over to a horizontal barrel, held a tankard beneath a holly vertical cross-piece, and turned a handle. Water poured into the tankard for several seconds until it was nearly full. Turning the handle again to stop the water, the tavern owner walked over and gave it to her.
"Thank you," Kamala said gratefully. She took a sip, feeling the tasteless liquid traveled over her tongue and down her throat. The teen sighed in relief as she puts down the tankard. When she was traveling with Anna, she would charge her four times the amount of water she was carrying. If she knew that the price would've been cheaper here, she would've saved her money and braved the thirst.
As she sat at the counter, she heard the noise of chairs being pulled back from behind. Three men dressed in the armored uniform of a Ylissean guard had just sat down. They hailed a nearby waitress and ordered three tankards of ale. Pretty soon, they got down drunk.
"That was refreshing," one of them said to his buddies. "Say, did you hear about Southtown? I heard they got hit by Brigands."
"Really? Naga blesses them."
"But wait, that's not all. One of my friends who overheard one of the Shepherds sent me a letter that said that they're Plegian in disguise. As if that wasn't new these days."
"Damn Plegians. Why couldn't we just wipe them out when we had the chance!"
"That would've destroyed us if you've already forgotten. Did you forget how hungry your family got when the farmlands were dying out? If it weren't for Exalt Emmeryn, we wouldn't be here."
Kamala listened to their conversation. When they were talking about Plegia, she gripped the handle of the tankard so tight it might break. She wasn't a Plegian so to speak, but that didn't mean she could stand their racism. Those brigands were only a handful of Plegia, not all of them. It wasn't fair to condemn all of them for the crimes of one person.
"Speaking of Plegians, I heard that you caught one of them, Lennon. I even heard that Exalts going to promote you. Congratulations!"
"Yeah…the Exalt is the best thing that ever happened to us."
"If you're thinking of trying to woo her, she's out of your league, Monty," Lennon pointed out. Then he sighed. "Thank you, Teddy, but…I don't think I deserved it."
"What do you mean? You caught a Plegian soldier before he can wreak havoc on another town. Frankly, I'm surprised that he's wearing the uniform of one of our troops."
"I only escorted him back to the castle dungeon," Lennon explained. "I just happened upon him when he came wandering from the north."
"The north? Was that dastard trying to attack Regna Ferox?" Monty asked. "That's the same as asking for a death sentence."
"No kidding. When I apprehended him, he was white as a sheet. He wouldn't stop trembling and begging to be taken, prisoner. He didn't stop mumbling while I brought him back to Ylisstol. When we questioned him, he sang like a bird and told us everything."
"What did he say?" Monty asked.
"He and a band of Plegian soldiers were going to attack a town in Regna Ferox," Lennon answered. "But they were attacked and nearly wiped out. The guy I caught was the only survivor. I think his name was Markus."
"Did he say who wiped them out?" Teddy asked. "How many men were there?"
"It was just one guy…" Lennon said before he was interrupted.
"That's to be expected of those barbarians," Monty said. "They're always crazy for battle."
"I wasn't finished," Lennon snapped. "I might've guessed it to be a Feroxi…if they suddenly started turning green."
"You mean he was sick?" Monty asked.
"No, you idiot. I meant that the attacker was green. His skin was green!"
While the conversation was going on, Kamala was taking a long draught from her tankard. When Lennon said that last part, she spat it back out in a vapor. The tavern owner had the misfortune of passing by and caught the vapor in his face. He gave a glare at Kamala to show that he wasn't happy about it.
"Sorry," Kamala meekly apologized as she took out two more coins. "It went down the wrong pipe. May I have a refill?"
Whether he became confused by her words, he didn't show. Grumbling, he walked away with her tankard while Kamala continued as she was before. But she was listening intently to the conversation behind her.
"Green skin?" Teddy asked in disbelief. "Are you pulling our leg?"
"That's what he said," Lennon answered. "A green-skinned creature as big as a mountain appeared and attacked them. He said that it swatted one of his comrades away as if he were a fly. When it moved, it shook the ground. The last thing he heard as he ran away was the screams of his comrades and the awful roar of the creature. According to him, it sounded like Grima …as if he had returned."
Kamala could feel the sudden chill that befell the men at the mention of the Fell Dragon. Even she could feel as if speaking his name would suddenly bring him forward. Back on earth, they have someone similar, and she had a distinct feeling that he's real as well.
"But I'm just saying what the prisoner told me," Lennon said. "I think the attack broke him. Next, he'll be telling me that manaketes exist as well."
"No kidding," Monty said as he took a swig from his ale. "I'd be shaking in my boots if I had to go face to face with a Feroxi."
"Let's not dwell on the ramblings of a mad man," Teddy said. "For now, let's just celebrate. Look, the foods here."
A waitress came with plates of food which she served on the table. The three men eagerly begin to feast upon meat and ale. Feeling that she heard enough, Kamala sat up and walked to some wooden steps. They took her to the second floor of the building, which is a series of doors to different rooms. Finding one that matched the tag on her key, she entered the room and closed the door behind her.
Inside her room were a bed and a small table. There is also a window for her to look out of. A candle had already been lit to provide light. Kamala walked over to the bed and sat down on the brown sheet and ran through the information she learned in her head. To those men, the prisoners' words were ramblings. To her, it provided a clue and a bit of hope.
"The Hulk is at Regna Ferox," Kamala muttered. What other behemoth could've matched the description? And who wouldn't be scared when a bad guy encounters the Incredible Hulk? It was a small stretch, but any lead is better than nothing. She had to start somewhere.
That said, she had to get to Regna Ferox, which raises several problems. One, she'll need some winter gear to deal with the cold. Two, she will need supplies that will help her last the journey. Three, she needs some transportation to get over there. Walking could take several days, and aching feet isn't something she was looking forward to.
"What am I going to do?" Kamala muttered as she fell with her back hitting the bed. "Why did everything had to be difficult in a sword and sorcery world?"
Then she remembered someone who might help.
"Thank you for your patronage. Enjoy the new rug," Anna waved as a noble walked away with servants carrying a bearskin rug. Satisfied that she made another successful sale, the secret seller began to close her stall. Night had fallen and she need to get some rest for the road ahead of her. She had just put away her goods when she sensed someone else's presence behind her.
"Sorry, but I'm closing up for the night," Anna said without turning around. "Better head on home."
"Anna, it's me."
Anna turned around to see Kamala standing behind her. The teen looked like she had been running all night.
"Kamala," Anna greeted with a clap of her hands. "I've just closed up shop. How was your first day in Ylisstol?"
"It was good, but I need a favor," Kamala said. "Remember when you said that I have to find you if I need anything."
"Yes?"
"Well, I need a ride to Regna Ferox," Kamala said, drawing a small gasp of surprise from the merchant. "There's something I need to confirm, and I need to get there fast. Do you think you could give me a ride?"
"Nope," Anna immediately said. Kamala was nearly taken aback by this blunt answer.
"That was fast. Why not?" Kamala asked.
"Because I still have some business in Ylisse," Anna said. "Don't get me wrong. I'm not the carriage that you can order around. I'm in no mood to travel to the north on a slight whim."
Kamala slumped her shoulders at this.
"Although…I do know another way." Anna said, her words causing the teen to perk up.
"Really? Tell me!"
"Okay, but you better have the money," Anna said, making Kamala nearly fall over.
"Are you serious?" Kamala asked. "I thought you're helping me.
"I am helping you. But I didn't say it would be free," Anna simply said. "So, are you going to give me my money?"
Kamala stared at her incredulously. Then, she threw up her arms and began reaching for her belt's pouch. She had just opened it when she suddenly froze. Her face looked as if she had realized something. Then, she gave Anna a smile that made her think uh-oh.
"How about I do you something better?" Kamala asked cryptically. Right before the merchants' eyes, she began to change. The girl's height became bigger, and her hair became red and wrapped in a ponytail. Her clothes changed and her skin became light. Anna soon found herself looking at the spitting image of herself.
"Y-You can…"
"As it turns out, I can change my appearance," Kamala said. "Here's the deal. You tell me how to get to Regna Ferox and I won't embarrass you. You're a smart merchant to know what this is leading up to."
"You wouldn't…" Anna said with her face paled at the implications. Kamala could probably commit a robbery with her face, and they will blame it on her. She could kick a guard in his privates, then she'll get the blame. She didn't think the kid could do it, but her tone said it all, which is strange when she is using her form. She had sisters who share her name and face. If her reputation gets ruined, so can theirs. Perhaps she went a little too far in charging her more money during the trip.
"Okay, let's not be rash," Anna said, her voice trembling as she raised her hands in a placating manner. "We can talk this out. Like, negotiate."
"This is negotiating. And after those ridiculous prices, I had to put up with the last time we traveled together, I have half a mind to take my chances in kicking the nearest guard in the balls and pinning it on you," Kamala snaps. It was then Ann knew that she would go through with it. Then the girl sighed as she changes back to her original appearance. "Look…I don't want to do this, but you left me no choice. I need to get to Regna Ferox and you can't stop me."
The two Anna's had a little stare-off for a few moments. Then, the merchant gave up. As much as she loved her business, she also loved her sisters. What good is a merchant if their reputation is in shambles? The secret seller had to admit that Kamala had played this well.
"I heard on the grapevine that the Prince Chrom will be setting out on an expedition to Regna Ferox tomorrow," Anna said reluctantly. "After the chaos caused by that quake and the emergence of those unholy creatures, Ylisse plans on requesting Feroxi troops to help quell it before they become a problem if not already."
"Prince Chrom, huh," Kamala muttered, rubbing her chin in contemplation. "I take it that they'll be departing from the castle?"
"Where else would they start their journey?" Anna asked as both looked towards the royal castle. The night had shrouded it in darkness, obscuring its magnificent features. In the distance, they could pick out the light of torches, presumably guards keeping patrol over the walls.
"Thank you, Anna," Kamala said gratefully. "You helped me out more than you can imagine."
"You're welcome. And one more thing, Kamala…" Anna called causing the teen to turn around. "Well played."
Kamala simply nodded and ran off, presumably to where she'll be spending the night. Anna watched her go before returning to the business of the closing shop. She meant when she said that Kamala thought it through. Personally, if she had the teen with her, she might be able to pressure buyers into purchasing her wares at a higher price. Or better, have her impersonate nobles and the like to get more money.
Seems like things are getting interesting in this world.
[~][~]
Greetings and Bienvenu readers.
After the hair-raising encounter with the walking dead, Kamala has reached Ylisstol. She also has got off to a rocky start with the Shepherds, specifically Frederick. Luckily, she has rediscovered her appearance-altering ability which will help her get around. Part of the reason that her costume is made of Bruno's 'Super Snot' is so that she can focus less on transforming her clothing. She's going to explore its extent throughout her time in Archanea. But now, things are getting interesting as she has a lead on one of her fellow Avengers and is on her way to the Meritocracy of Regna Ferox.
To avoid confusion with Kamala's current attire, please refer to Champions Issue #25, specifically Ms. Marvel. It's the one where the Champions get thrown into Weirdworld and undergo a Swords and sorcery adventure.
Thank you all for reading and I hoped you enjoy this fic.
Until next time.