Usual stuff. I don't own AgK, etc, etc. First step on writing an original character/area. :O!

Max

Light spilt into the large forge as the sun once more bathed the street in its bright light. The sound of iron clanging on iron filled the forge. Tatsumi's brow covered with a beaded layer of sweat as he slammed the hammer down onto the heated iron rod that was laid over the large anvil over and over again. Hammering and battering that rod of iron mercilessly.

Maxim was sat off to one side, one large paw gripping the bellows as he slowly pumped it, watching his newfound apprenticeship hammer and shape the iron into the shape of a sword. A small frown knitted his bushy grey eyebrows together, it had taken Tatsumi a few too many hits for his taste, but he couldn't fault the boys ability to shape iron. It must have been a month since he'd agreed to take the boy on as an apprentice and during that time Tatsumi had shown that he did indeed have skill with the hammer, sure it wasn't quite as good as his own, but it was still decent. And Max was certain of one thing, the boy had the knack of bending iron and most importantly the potential to become a great blacksmith.

Though Max knew it wasn't what Tatsumi wanted, the two of them had never actually spoken of what Tatsumi wanted but he knew. Most of their chatting consisting of Maxim learning about Tatsumi's background, his village and where he learnt to forge. And through that Max had learned that Tatsumi's heart didn't lay in bringing hammer to anvil, but in combat and justice. He'd listened to Tatsumi's stories with interest as the boy had spoken about bringing down first-class danger beasts with nothing but his strength, skill and his blade. Of how he planned to bring wealth and honour to his small village through his ability with the blade.

Max hadn't seen Tatsumi fight yet, though he was impressed with one thing and that was the boys conditioning regime. As far as Max could tell, it didn't seem to matter to Tatsumi that he spent all day hammering away at a forge, in fact often as not he would retreat to the back of the shop and spend his afternoons up until nightfall training and practising with a wooden dummy he'd set up only a few days after being parked in Max's forge. And when he wasn't doing that he was roaming the streets, soaking in the sights, sounds and delights of the capital.

The rough hacking coughs of Max clearing his voice dragged Tatsumi's eyes up from his work just as he plunged the half-shaped iron back into the hot coals. The young man peering at his master curiously. "Are you alright old man? You're not getting a fever are you?" Tatsumi worryingly queried.

"Not a chance kid." Max chuckled softly, his voice lowering slightly as he continued. "I just thought this would be a good time to ask you a question or two about what you want from the capital. I remember I never bothered to really find out about it." Max sighed heavily. "I know you're here for your village, but do you really expect to get enough from being a blacksmith?"

Max watched as the boy turned and plunged the heated iron back into the coals. He could see the boy was clearly turning things over in his mind, thinking. It was a few minutes until Tatsumi answered him with a bright smile. "All I want is enough for my village to be lifted out of poverty. To never have to worry about whether they could afford to feed themselves, and of course to do that I have to become the strongest warrior in the empire!"

With one hand still on the bellows, Max continued to work at them as he stared at Tatsumi's smiling features. "You'll not earn that being a blacksmith." he stated simply. "And I'm not sure you want to be the strongest warrior in the empire either."

Tatsumi cocked his head slightly at Max's last comment, but he responded without questioning it. "You're right. I wanted to be an officer in the Imperial Army. I thought that if I could just become a commanding officer I could save my village. I didn't expect them to just kick me out without a thought." Tatsumi said quietly as he brought a hand up to his face in frustration. "All I wanted to do was show them my strength, show them I was worthy of being in the army…"

"You'd need more than just strength to survive the imperial army kid. You think that it's as easy as just walking up and showing your determination." Max responded, noting that Tatsumi had since let go of the iron and placed the hammer down. "No, in this city you need more than just willpower. Strength, cunning and a broken moral compass." Max slowly stopped pumping on the bellows as he looked at towards Tatsumi, his voice lowering. "I pray to the gods you find a way to help your village that doesn't include joining the army kid. It's filled with nothing but corruption, this entire city is filled with nothing but corruption." The grizzled, aged blacksmith swiftly stood from his chair. Marching over to the window as he looked out from his forge. Up towards the towering imperial palace. "And it's seat is there. A gluttonous prime minister and a police force that thinks it can push the citizens around."

Tatsumi looked visibly shocked at the words Max had spoken, spinning on one heel he faced the blacksmith. "There's no way the emperor would stand for that! It can't be as bad as you think!" he exclaimed.

Max chuckled darkly in response, lowering his eyes somewhat. "You've heard of Captain Ogre right? He's the captain of the imperial police. And self-proclaimed "king of the city". The number of innocent bastards he must have plucked from their homes for no reason other than to cover up one of his friends crimes…" Max explained with a tired tone.

Tatsumi was having none of it, he took a step towards Max. "There's no way people could just let someone do that! Someone must be fighting back against that!" Max simply raised a hand, pointing towards the tattered flier nailed to the back of his door. Tatsumi glanced at it. "Night Raid? Assassins!?"

Max nodded once in response. A few moments passed before he chose to explain. "They may be assassins, but at least they're doing what no one else will. They're trying to cut the corruption out of the capital, one minister at a time."

"But doesn't that make them murderers?!" Tatsumi shouted in shock, his brow knitted into a frown at the thought.

"Wouldn't joining the army have made you one?" Max countered, a hostility tinged his voice that Tatsumi had never heard before it. "If I was twenty years younger kid, I'd have tried to join them. Or the revolutionary army at least."

"The revolutionary army?" questioned Tatsumi, taking a few steps over to stand beside Max at the window.

Max glanced down towards the kid before he responded. "Aye, they're fighting to free us from the empire's grasp. They're trying to set the people free."

"Do you really think that's the right way to try and solve the empires problems…?" Tatsumi said, clearly deep in his own thoughts as he brought one hand up to his chin. Rubbing it gently. "Will killing really solve anything?"

Max simply nodded once more. "I fear it is the only way Tatsumi."

Max didn't spare a glance towards Tatsumi as he saw him turn on one heel and head for the door out of the corner of his eye. Another heavy sigh filling the forge as Max spared one more glance up towards the imperial palace, a look of resignation filling his eyes before he turned, plucking up the hammer Tatsumi had dropped. "Another day in the shadow of the capital."

Tatsumi

Tatsumi hadn't gone for a walk through the capital, nor to sit at his bed and think on what Max had spoken about. He'd simply walked to the back of the blacksmiths house, to the small walled in garden that was nestled away behind the grimy exterior. A single wooden dummy stood in the middle, one that Tatsumi had placed after only a few days of living with Max as his apprentice. It was a worn training dummy by this point, hundreds if not thousands of nicks and cuts having been made across its surface by Tatsumi's sword. He can't be right. There's no way that the empire can be that bad! Tatsumi thought as he spun on the spot, his blade crashing into the wooden dummies cloth head.

But then why would the revolutionary army exist if it wasn't? Should I join them…? Could I really murder people like Night Raid do? Isn't it better to try and change it without bloodshed?... But what if it can't be changed? Maybe the revolutionary army and Night Raid -are- the answer. Is this place really as bad as Max thinks it is? Can it really be that corrupt? Such thoughts cascaded through his head for the remaining three hours of his training. Putting himself through gruelling conditioning and a solid hour of swordsmanship. Even though he spent all day at the forge, he wasn't about to slack on his training!

The thoughts stayed with Tatsumi even after he'd finished training, throwing a wave over to the grizzled blacksmith who was hammering away at the anvil as he left out onto the street. Throwing his cloak onto his back as he started to wander down side alleys and along the cobbled streets. He wasn't going anywhere in particular, he just wanted to walk the capital.

Tatsumi was fleeing through the streets heading for Max's home. He didn't even know what he was fleeing from. His footfalls heavy on the cobbles. He felt the blood staining his skin through his clothing. He knew his entire body was covered in their blood. You fool! He screamed internally. What did you think you were doing?! That voice in his head screamed once again, demanding an answer.

He shouting out his response to the unbidden voice. They were going to rape her!

So you thought killing them would solve the problem? his conscious responded.

He knew the voice was right, he hadn't done the right thing by attacking the two guards. He hadn't even meant for it to happen! He'd simply been wandering the darkening streets and had heard a woman cry out. Perhaps it was his talk with Max, perhaps it was his own ideals but he couldn't just stand there and let the guards rape her. He couldn't!

The next thing he'd known he was down the side alley, sword drawn. His blade a blur through the air as he swung it. One guards head tumbling to the floor as an arterial spray of blood spewed from his open neck. The other guard hadn't even the time to register what had happened, though he could feel Tatsumi's killing intent and presence, as Tatsumi's blade didn't stop. Cutting through his friends neck and deep into the second guards chest, nigh on slicing him in half and instantly killing the man from shock.

He hadn't even stopped to consider if the woman was alright before fleeing. He stared at his own blood-dripping blade in utter shock at his actions as he ran.

It was the right thing to do, he told himself, feet hammering down the street, Could I really just stand by and let it happen?!" He shook his head, he knew he couldn't. "Did you really dispense justice… Or are you just as bad as those guards, taking their life in your own hands?

He shook his head once more, violently. Clearing the thoughts from his mind as he ran, he didn't have time to dwell on such things. He had to get back and hide. The imperial police would surely be looking for him by now. But can you really put Max in that situation? the unbidden voice of his conscious once more probing him.

Luckily he didn't have to think about an answer as he found himself standing outside the blacksmiths house, Tatsumi's current home. His chest rising and falling rapidly from his frantic running. His hand fell on the handle and gently pressed it forwards. He glanced around the darkened hall. Slowly making his way to the stairs. Silently making his way up the steps before he stumbled into his own small room. His hands clawed at his clothes, dragging the bloodied items off of him before throwing them off to one side.

I can't leave them like that… Max will see them. I can't let him be in danger, he reached over, tucking the clothes under his bed before he collapsed atop it. He didn't want to think about what he'd done, he just wanted to sleep. You murdered two people Tatsumi. You're no better than Night Raid, a murderer. - But I did it for a good cause! I saved that woman… It… It was justice! Wasn't it?

It had been a few days since that fateful night, Tatsumi awoke to a commotion taking place down in the forge. His eyes snapped open as he heard a few grunts alongside a heavy thud. His instincts instantly telling him there was some sort of fight going on downstairs. He instantly leapt out of his bed, he didn't bother reaching for any of his armour. Dressed only in a white shirt and his black trousers he catapulted down the stairs only to met by the scene of the door swinging closed. He looked around, the forge was an utter mess. Utensils thrown and scattered around the floor. The front window had been smashed. There was a clear crater impacting one of the walls where something had been thrown.

He could hardly believe it, it looked like a warzone. As if someone had marched in and ruined the entire forge with one swing of a hammer. Even the anvil had been knocked over. Blood notably running down its flat side. Tatsumi could feel his anger rising at the sight, who would have done this. Kicking open the door to the forge he stumbled out onto the street, to see a company of imperial guard hauling away the large size of Max.

He turned back to the smithy to see one of the imperial police hammering up a notice onto the front of the broken windows. Gritting his teeth as he looked back to the entire company of police guards dragging Max away. "Let me see that." he angrily said to the imperial guard, walking over and staring at the notice. It was a simple declaration, but it made Tatsumi's heart fall into despair, his head slumped forward. Both of his fists soon clashing harshly with the wooden frame of the broken window.

[By order of the Captain Ogre of the Imperial Police, and with the emperor's authority vested in him. Maxim Falcourt is to be detained on suspicion of murder with a trial pending.]

Tatsumi fell to his knees shortly after the imperial guard left, his arms slumping down onto the floor. His hands still balled into angry fists, nails biting into the skin as he bit down harshly on his lower lip. Did you really think you could get away with murdering those guards? And now Max is going to take the fall for it. For what I did!

It's been a whole week and I haven't spotted Max, Ieyasu or Sayo, Tatsumi worried to himself. Standing by the large window that looked out onto the street. A mostly empty mug of tea in his right hand as he spared a glance back towards the renovated forge, he'd gone to the liberty of using Max's coffers to patch up the window and had spent a few days fixing up the forge and putting it back into a serviceable condition. If the grizzled old blacksmith did turn back up Tatsumi didn't want him returning to a mess.

And what of Ieyasu and Sayo, he thought. Tatsumi had looked for them each night and had even inquired at the recruitment office but there'd been no sighting of the two. At all, he could only hope that they were simply delayed in their travel, he'd worried about them when he'd decided to set out a week earlier than them. Ieyasu couldn't be trusted to find his way through his own home after all.

Tatsumi exhaled softly, glancing down towards the near-empty mug as he slowly turned back, heading for the small kitchen towards the back of Max's property. Popping the mug down before reaching over and picking up his brown leather cloak, hanging it over one arm as he headed for the door. The bell that announced entry jingling merrily above him as he pulled open the door and stepped out into the street.

Since Max had been grabbed by the imperial police Tatsumi's regime had changed, there wasn't hours spent putting hammer to anvil, there wasn't a whole day spent forging and shaping iron. Instead, he found himself spending almost his entire day training, relentlessly throwing himself at that now battered, defeated wooden dummy in that dirt garden of Max's. He was practically fanatical in his approach to conditioning his body. He didn't know it himself, but it was just his coping mechanism, his way of alleviating the worry that gnawed at him. What will I do if Max is gone? What if Ieyasu and Sayo never reach the city? I suppose I'll have to try the army again… He sighed softly as he pondered his thoughts while walking towards the one place he visited every day; the cemetery.

Tatsumi had been coming here at the same time each day, and he wasn't the only one. Plenty of people showed up to watch the depressing, uncaring procession. Tatsumi stood, staring stone-faced as the carts had brought in those who'd been found dead on the streets of the capital the night before, alongside those who had been executed the day prior. So far he hadn't caught so much as a glimpse of his friends or Max. That's a good thing, there's hope, he mused, gulping softly as he saw the first of the carts nearing.

There was nothing gentle to the way they disposed of bodies in the capital. There was no fancy burial ritual like there was back in the village. There was no last rites, no watching over their souls as they departed. The carts just trundled in, wooden wheels clunking on the cobbles, their cold cargo jolting and flopping around lifelessly. Once they neared the pits the tarps that covered the wagons were thrown back and the drivers simply started dumping the bodies out. One corpse after another tossed down onto the ground with an unceremonious 'thump'.

This day was destined to be different though, Tatsumi's heart skipping a beat as he saw a flash of grey hair and a familiar, worn face. His jaw tensed, hands curled into fists as he took a half step forwards. You're being crazy Tatsumi, there was no way that was Max, he reasoned with himself. People around him saw the gesture, a few glancing away, eyes closing in pity for the boy. Before he knew it one step turned into twenty, cutting his path through the wagons to the spot where he'd seen that small glimpse, he found himself stopping, his eyes slowly drawn downwards. The sight that greeted him had tears welling at his eyes. He saw what had drawn his eyes down, neatly nestled within that patch of silky raven hair was an accessory he'd recognise anywhere, a beautiful white butterfly. He felt bile rise in his throat.

"N- No…" he shakily said, staring down at the body of one of his long-time friends. Anyone looking would be shocked he could even recognise the sight of the person. Staring down he felt tears welling at the corner of his eyes. "H- How could anyone do this?" he questioned. Every part of the youthful woman's body had been lacerated, every inch covered in a horrifying crisscross of shallow cuts. The previously adventurous eyes that had looked at him with such kindness in the village were missing, gouged out and in their place were messy, crimson sockets of nothingness. He could feel his legs growing weaker and weaker as his eyes travelled down, her breasts had been removed, savagely sliced off if the torn, roughly cut edges were anything to go by. I couldn't even protect you Sayo. With a soft thud he collapsed to his knees in the cemetery. His hands hovering above his friends ruined face. "S- Sayo… Sayo…" His right hand started to travel down, moving to take her hand only for his breath to catch once more. Her fingernails had been removed, every bone in her hand having been crushed and pulverised. His hand just hovered above Sayo's ruined one, his entire body quaking and quivering.

Finally, he could take it no longer, forcing his gaze away and that's when he saw what had originally caught his eye, the sight caused him to start crawling over towards his, hands digging into the dirt as only a few bodies later down the line he was sat beside it. Slumped on his knee, his shoulders dejectedly slumped down.

There was Max's body, lifeless eyes staring up at the blue sky. He baulked at the sight, one hand raising up to his lips as he choked. It only took one glance to see what'd caused Max's death. A single, neat cut sliced straight through the man's aged neck. Head severed from his body in a clean blow. What Tatsumi couldn't understand was the bruises, every inch of the old, brawny blacksmith's chest was covered in bruises. I did this, he thought, I'm sorry Max, I'm sorry… I'm so sorry. If I hadn't-... I- I will avenge you. What sort of monster did this to you, to Sayo.

With no one caring whatsoever, Tatsumi began to openly sob, tears falling from reddened eyes. Dripping from his chin as he let his sorrow flow. The weight of the capital bearing down on him as he despaired at the death of not only the one person who'd shown him kindness, but also a childhood friend.

It had been three days since he'd found the bodies of Max and Sayo. After having spent an entire day with their bodies at the cemetery, watching them being dumped into one of the many pre-prepared graves he'd gone home. He hadn't done anything other than go home and sit down atop the bed. "Home? This isn't my home. This is Max's home." he thought bitterly to himself. Slowly, over the course of the days his sorrow, his anguish and his despair had morphed. They'd changed into rage. Rage and anger. At the empire, at the capital, at the imperial police. And that rage found an outlet, Max had spoken the name. Captain Ogre. The man who'd had the blacksmith imprisoned and executed. For your crimes came the voice in his head. He reached over his bed, his right hand finding the hilt of the battered training sword.

He'd finally found the perfect time to confront Ogre. It had taken a day or two of watching the man's steps and routine but he'd learned that the captain would often go drinking on main street, and when he did that. He was -alone-. It was possibly the only time that the captain was ever alone, the rest of the time he was either surrounded by an entire gang of imperial police or he was in the barracks. Tatsumi was surprised that the captain didn't go drinking surrounded by his subordinates either. "I guess everyone needs their alone time." he thought with a small smile.

He glanced over the captain again, he couldn't help but be nervous. One look at Ogre was enough to make a man nervous. The police captains left eye was missing, in its place, a star-shaped scar sat. His right eye was purely black say for the deep crimson pupil within its middle. Not to mention the huge captains size! He was huge, easily taller even than Max. Stubble adorned the grizzled warriors chin. Sharpened, filed teeth pulled in a cruel smile as he glanced from side to side. He was, as always clad in the imperial police uniform. Mostly black, with a cuirass, shoulder guards and armguards of simple iron.

Tatsumi drew a deep breath, steeling himself before he stepped out before Captain ogre, clad in his usual garb as always. That white shirt over which was pulled a tan sweater, it's sleeved stuffed beneath leather gloves. Black trousers tucked into his brown leather boots. His sword slung horizontally behind his waist. "Captain, may I just borrow you for a few moments? There's a few things I'd like to ask you."

As Tatsumi guided the captain down the darkened alley he was paused mid-step as he heard the grumbled tones of Ogre behind him. "Hey hey, this is far enough kid. What did you want to talk to me about?" Ogre's one eye narrowed as he stared towards Tatsumi.

"I wanted to ask you a question captain, you had my friend tortured to death… The only friend I had in the capital."

Tatsumi dropped his body slightly, anchoring himself onto the ground as he saw one of Ogre's eyebrows shoot up, a toothed grin appearing on his ugly features."Oh? And who would that have been?"

Tatsumi gritted his teeth, a small 'tsch' escaping as he saw Ogre's amusement. The fact the captain even had to ask the question made Tatsumi's blood boil. "Max, the blacksmith who you decided to imprison. He was innocent." responded Tatsumi, his lowered head raising, a harsh glare shot out from his green eyes towards Ogre.

Ogre's response came in the form of his right hand slowly drawing across his chest. Reaching for the blade at his side. "No-ones innocent in this city kid." A cruel grin appearing on Ogre's face, his one eye glinting with amusement. "And sorry to say, I don't remember the name at all." The sadistic curl of his grin said otherwise.

Tatsumi instinctively reached back for his own blade that was slung over his back. Hatred rushing through him. He should have felt fear. Terror at the bloodthirsty aura that Ogre was emanating. But all Tatsumi felt was anger. Anger and pain at the loss of the only person in the capital who had chosen to be kind to him. He wasted no more time, feet bracing into the ground. Making small craters where his feet had once been as, with all his power, he threw himself forward. Short sword pulling free from its sheath with a metallic rasp. A tense few moments appeared, neither man moving. And then, in the blink of an eye, he was past Ogre. His speed surprising even himself. Blood slowly dripped off of Tatsumi's outheld blade.

Captain Ogre having barely even pulled his own sword from its sheath. The blade itself practically a greatsword when compared with Tatsumi's short sword. The large, stocky captain muttered a small "Fast…" before he collapsed forward onto the ground with a heavy thud. Blood spilling from a wound at his hip. "Going for my blind side too… Damned brat."

Tatsumi slowly stood, getting to his feet as he swiped his blade through the air, crimson blood splattering down onto the floor before him in an arc. Looking down at his clothes he was slightly relieved to see them lacking blood, it didn't look like he'd be running through the streets like his last kills. His left hand curled into a fist as he remembered the two guards he'd killed. I avenged you Max… And I avenged all of those the captain terrorised, Tatsumi's thoughts turning to Night Raid and the revolutionary army, so engrossed was he in his own thoughts of where he'd now turn, of where he'd now seek to travel and fulfil his promise to his village that he barely felt the violent killing intent behind him until it was nearly too late.

Throwing his sword up at the last second, covering the right side of his body as captain Ogre's blade slammed into it. Immediately sending Tatsumi flying into the sidewall of the alley with a mighty crash. The wall cracking and splintering under the force of the young warriors impact. Tatsumi letting loose a gasp of pain, blood spilling from his mouth as he collapsed down onto one knee. His head raising to see Ogre stood there, greatsword clasped in one huge paw at his side.

"Still alive kid? I'd hate for this to be over with one blow." That cruel, amused grin appearing back on the police captains face.

Tatsumi didn't answer back, gripping his blade once more he threw himself forward, a savage swing aimed at the captains right side. Their swords rang out as they collided. Each one of them standing their ground as they exchanged blow after blow. Each one parried or dodged only to be countered with vicious force. The captain didn't miss a single beat however, he was simply waiting for Tatsumi to show an opening, and eventually, the inexperienced and young warrior did. Captain Ogre's right foot raising before he threw out a kick at Tatsumi's midriff.

He didn't even see it coming, the blow sending Tatsumi hurtling back metres, blood once more coughed up from his lips. Still standing, though slouched. The tip of his blade digging into the dirt as Tatsumi stared towards Ogre. "You can't keep this up forever Tatsumi. Finish this, for Max!" Tatsumi once more threw himself forwards. Footfall heavy on the dirty cobbled street as he closed. Though within the last few metres he instead jumped skywards. Launching himself high into the air about Ogre he raised his short sword in both hands. Letting loose a roar as he came down towards his target. "RAAAHHHHHHH!" Putting all of his power into the one, single attack. One last chance to avenge his friend.

Captain Ogre raised his own greatsword, the flat of the blade directed at Tatsumi as his left hand braced it. He wasn't at all prepared for the powerful blow that came. Captain Ogre held, but the ground did not, cratering beneath the pair as Tatsumi held above Ogre, powering his blade down. The captain watched on in horror as he saw his greatsword fracturing before his own eyes. "You think you can kill me boy?! You think you can kill the king of this city?!" he shouted at Tatsumi, trying to push up against the youngsters attack only to see his blade shatter in his hands. Tatsumi's sword flashing down. Cutting through armour, muscle and bone. Carving through Ogre's shoulder and deep into his chest.

The once-mighty warrior collapsing onto his knees with a heavy crash. Tatsumi barely even able to stand over him with Ogre on his knees. Blade stuck within the captains chest for but a moment. With a savage yank he wrenched it free. Ogre's body finally crumpling onto the floor. His body almost cleaved in two.

Tatsumi looked back this time, he looked at the carnage in the alley. The cratered wall and floor. The massive body lying in a pool of its own blood. And this time he wasn't ashamed of what he did, he didn't question his actions. Was this really justice, he questioned himself as he turned, taking his first step towards leaving the alley.

Clustered around the table in their headquarters Night Raid looked down towards the picture of their intended target, that is to say, captain Ogre. Leone had already reported that the captain of the imperial police was dead. The news had come as a shock to them, Najenda especially. "Who would dare raise their hand against the imperial police? And in the capital as well." the silver-haired woman suddenly pressed her metal hand down atop the table gently. "Do we know who did it?" Sparing a glance towards Leone as she asked.

A soft shake of the head was the response from the bestial blonde. "Not a clue, it wasn't any of us. And from what I can tell it came as a shock to the police too, doesn't seem like it was assassins from the capital."

"I wonder who's doing our work for us. Could it be there's at least one good person in the capital?" Najenda wondered aloud, leaning back to sit in a wooden chair, cigar resting between her fingers. Casting another glance back down to the picture of the dead captain Ogre.

Authors Note:

So that's the end of chapter 2. Personally, I don't think I did a good job with it, but hey ho. We'll see.

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to do with this chapter halfway through. I felt that I should develop Max a lot more as a character so that it hits much harder and gives Tatsumi much more motivation. But at the same time, I didn't want to bore people with what would ultimately be a (probably) boring side story regarding the blacksmith. I think I killed him too early (Sheele anyone? :( ). And then without Night Raid and Aria it's difficult to be able to provide a reason for Tatsumi's ideals and sense of justice. (You can argue he was simply moulded to see NR's point of view since they got him first).

Really, I just wanted to provide -a- method in order to get Tatsumi's 'Justice' motivation going and I wanted a way to provide exposition regarding the capital and corruption. Max served that purpose, but there's probably a good chance I'll come back and edit this heavily if something better flits across my mind at some point. I'm not happy let's just say that. x3