Lian's Peculiar Journey: Starlight Paladins
Chapter 4
A Duel to the Death?
Lex grunted as the current of the river tossed and turned him, trying his best to keep above water and abstain from drowning.
"Help!" he heard a yell over the tumultuous water, then saw Lian popped out from under the turbulence and wave her arms.
Lex saw this and made his way towards her.
Sarah had called out her stand to pull her out of the water and fly above it with its wings.
"Everyone, where are you!?" she called out as she looked at the river.
She spotted Lex pop out of the water.
"Ha!" he took a breath of air and pulled out Lian by her waist.
"I have you!" he said and cleared the water from her face.
"Could have been sooner…" Lian grumbled and crossed her arms.
"There's a town just down the river!" Sarah flew over them and pointed ahead, where a dock was set outside a town's outskirts.
Lex nodded and saw a large tree on the shore.
"The Law!" he called out his stand, who appeared and aimed its cannon at the tree, "Retrieve!"
The Law shot the tree multiple times, then made beams of light and pulled Lex and Lian toward the shore against the pull of the river.
Lian used her Power Khan to kick the bottom of the river to give them more propulsion, then with one last heave, the two were out.
Lex breathed in and saw he was on top of Lian.
Lian saw she was under Lex, her wet suit catching water that spilled from his chestplate.
"Have some manners!" she said and covered her chest.
Lex shook his head and stood up, then shook his body to release any more water caught in his armor.
Lian stood up and fixed her clothing.
Sarah landed next to them and made Furious Flame stand next to them.
"Here, let me help. The heat emitted by my stand should dry you off in no time." She said and Furious Flame let out some heat waves.
"What is this town anyways?" Lian spun around, trying to get every corner of her body exposed to the heat waves.
"The town of Olefia." Lex responded, "I've been here before. It is a transport center for prisoners heading south. We take them on steamboats down the river to the Arbiter's Grounds for execution." He informed and dried off his boots.
"Must be a nice town then." Lian muttered.
"It appears lovely." Sarah commented as she saw the clean streets and houses that had people walking all about them.
"But I do see the prison you are talking about." She saw a large fortress in the middle of the woods overlooking the town.
Sarah recalled her stand when she saw her allies were dried off.
"I will see if we can catch a ferry." Lex said, but took a moment to look back on the uncompleted bridge and the train they had left behind.
"Lian, can you see if the civilians are getting help?"
Lian nodded and squinted her eyes, then Power Khan came out and did the same.
"It seems the workers on the bridge have called for some aide." She said as she saw a temporary bridge was built and workers, passengers, and town guards were walking across it.
"Good." Lex nodded, "Shall we get to it, then?" he asked Sarah as he led the way.
The three walked towards the town until they reached the market and the town square, which was surrounded by many prominent buildings and many people.
Some people gave Lex the right of way when they saw he was an Enforcer, but some tended to look away from him in either respect or fear.
"My, you have quite a reputation." Lian commented when she noticed the people's reaction towards him, "You must visit this town a lot."
Lex shook his head, "It's best to head away from all this commotion." He said and made his way to the quieter parts of town.
"I will see if the constabulary will allow us to travel free of charge on one of the steamboats." He said.
"Your job sure does have a lot of perks." Sarah told him, "Luxury train cars, free steamboat rides… what else?"
"I don't know." Lex responded gruffly, "I never find such comfort in luxuries."
"What a bore." Lian said and shook her head, "If you have the choice for luxuries, you should take them. Not everyone has them."
"Interesting insight from you, princess." Lex told her as he avoided a stray cat.
"Just because I'm wealthy doesn't' mean I'm aloof." Lian responded, causing her two allies to look back with doubtful looks on their faces.
"You just don't understand a more refined and cultured way of thinking." She crossed her arms, then noticed they were in a rough patch of neighborhood.
"Why this?" Sarah looked at the surroundings, which were old and worn out, and the people here while less numerous glared at them with every corner of their eye.
"The jail is just up ahead." Lex informed, "This is why this part is quite-" he stopped when he heard a grumble.
"Is than an enemy stand?" Lian walked next to him when she heard another grumble, then looked around.
"I hope not. Not in this neighborhood." Lex also looked around, then heard another grumble louder than before.
"Oh no, guys…" Sarah mumbled and held her stomach, "I- I'm just a bit hungry…." She said sheepishly, and another grumble came out of her belly.
Lian sighed and shifted her tiara side to side, "What a pain…"
"Perhaps we can get something to eat at this restaurant?" Lian asked as she pointed to the only refined building in the area, a large diner and inn.
"It's the only building I can tolerate right now." She disgustingly looked at the other run-down buildings in the area.
"Then let us make it quick." Sarah said as the three diverted their tracks to the inn.
Lex opened the door for the two.
"My, what a gentleman." Lian chuckled, but then snarled when she was hit by a thick cloud of smoke from inside.
"Blegh." She shook her head.
All the people inside looked at the new comers.
The inn was covered in smoke from what appeared to be many of the clients smoking, and those clients were mostly made up of gruff and tuff men of great stature and build. They were very intimidating and sported all types of tattoos, scars, and piercing that made them look even more aggressive.
"If it isn't a lawboy." One of the clients jeered when he saw Lex's body, but immediately took that back when the smoke cleared and revealed his face.
"Lex!?" all the clients jumped back in shock and looked at him with widened eyes.
"I'm going to get a piece of food for my witness here." Lex addressed them all, "If anyone dares interfere with the transaction, they will pay what the Law demands!" he pointed.
The clients stood silent and Lex made his way to the counter, Sarah and Lian following behind.
"My My, what a tough man." Lian chuckled as she walked alongside Lex, "I thought I was going to have to give them a beating." She said and made Power Khan appear out of her.
"There criminals know all too well who they are dealing with." Lex responded and pointed at the bartender.
"I'd like an order of food."
"Pleasure seeing you around, Lex." The bartender responded, "Finally some peace and order comes around to this dump. What'll it be?"
Sarah walked up and looked at the menu.
"Can I just have a pulled pork sandwhich? And a glass of water?" she asked.
The bartender nodded and walked to a window behind him.
"A number 3 with water!" he yelled into it, "It'll be a few, but it's on the house." He informed.
Lex nodded and sat down.
"Excuse me, I have to go to the restroom." Sarah told her two allies, then turned to the bartender, "Where are the lavoratories?"
"Down the hall, ma'am." The bartender responded with a flick of his thumb.
Sarah nodded and stood up, then walked to the dark hallway.
"Hold on." Lex stood up.
"I can take care of myself, you know?" Sarah turned and showed her stand to him, "I'll be right back."
She said and walked down the hallway.
On her right where a couple of open doors with curtains in front of them, allowing the light inside the rooms to peer out from under.
"Now which ones are the restrooms-" she stopped when she saw a platter of chicken served in front of the rooms.
Sarah stopped and looked at the food hungrily.
"Hmmm… I really shouldn't." she pondered, then smelled the savory aroma coming from the platter.
"Ma'am, that's for the private room." A waiter popped out from the kitchen door, "I'm just about to serve it."
"Just a bite?" Sarah asked as she pointed to a leg.
"No ma-" the waiter stopped when Sarah was already eating the leg.
"Oh… how delicious!" Sarah smiled and bit more off, "Oh this is just heavenly! Bless the Pyre!" she munched on it.
The waiter was about to say something when a dark figure came out of the private room and loomed over the young woman.
"Ah… ah…" he stammered and pointed.
Sarah was oblivious and set the chicken bone down, then ate two pieces of celery.
"Mmm…. That wa-" she noticed there was a difference in light and turned around.
A large man of eastern appearance stood behind her. He had coal black hair that ran down his back and was tied in a ponytail on one part and had elegant robes. These robes had golden lining that held large pieces of jade. His face was tough and his eyebrows were as thick as roots.
"What have we here?" the man murmured and laid hold on Sarah's arm, "Not only does this wench eat my food, but also leaves her waste on my platter?!" he snarled.
"Ah…." Sarah gulped.
"I could kill you right now and no one would know." The man continued, "Tell no one!" he yelled at the waiter as he pulled her into his private room with a knife to her throat.
Sarah waited for the opportune moment to strike back.
The man's private room held 4 women inside, some scantily clothed and others in a bathtub. They all gasped when they saw what he brought in.
"No one speak!" the man told them all and looked at Sarah, "I'm going to teach you a lesson…"
Sarah closed her eyes, then made Furious Flame appear and uppercut the man through the wall, making him fly out of the inn proper.
The women inside screamed and ran out in horror at the sight, causing further commotion in the dining area.
Lex and Lian looked at each other and ran to the hall, where they saw Sarah standing inside one of the private rooms looking at a hole in the wall.
"Sarah, are you alright?" Lian asked as she ran to her side, then saw the man she had punched slowly rise up.
"Well… if it isn't someone from my country." She recognized the familiar clothing.
"You insolent woman!" The man glared at Sarah and stood straight.
"Stop this right now!" Lex pointed at him, but the man was unintimidated by his presence.
"I demand a duel between you and I!" the man pointed at Sarah, "She has dishonored me by stealing my food. I know its in our traditions to do so, no?" he looked at Lian.
"Hmph." Lian crossed her arms, "It is…"
"I only took a leg of his chicken!" Sarah told the two, "It's nothing!"
"It is not nothing." Lex responded, "If it belonged to another and you took it, that is theft. And if these are in the traditions of the locals, I can do nothing more than watch justice be dealt. But only the Outer Tribunal can enforce death!" he pointed at the man, "Let this duel be non-fatal!"
The man smirked, "I'll try." He said.
"You have to be kidding!" Sarah shook her head.
"Come on, you got this." Lian said, "Just beat him with your stand and you'll win." She chuckled and pushed her out of the in.
"Oof!" Sarah landed on the grass and dusted herself off.
"Great… I guess I can get this over with quickly." She said, "Furious Flame!" she called out her stand, and it appeared.
"Fire Blast!"
Furious Flame extended both her hands and fired a blast of fire towards the man.
"Hmph." The man stood unafraid, and right when the fire was about to hit, it formed a vortex that towered above him harmlessly.
Their three eyes opened in shock when they saw that a stand had appeared from the man.
"What?!" Lian gasped.
"Impossible!" Lex growled.
The man's stand was a robed figure much like its user, but had some armor of gold covering its chest, legs, shoulders, and forearms. It also had a face mask that covered half its face, revealing only two yellow eyes with black pupils and its black long hair.
The stand also carried a long sword with a golden hilt and vibrant steel that reflected the sunlight.
"It seems I'm not the only one with the fighting spirit…" the man chuckled and made the flames shoot out of his sword and into the air, where it disappeared.
"You have a stand too?" Sarah asked.
"I have named my fighting spirit Qian Shou, or translated…" the man said, "Thousand Hands!" he showed off his stands mobility and speed it its blade by tracing out a picture of Lian on the muddy ground.
"What expertise!" Lian gasped, "But you did get my hips wrong." She pointed.
"Silence!" the man said, "Face me now, woman, and do your best, since you face Zhin!" he pointed at her.
Sarah gulped and looked at the man and his stand,
"I didn't want to do this, but…" she called out Furious Flame, "It's safe enough to. I have a wide open space…. To… PYRE STRIKE!"
Furious Flame yelled and cast down a pillar of fire as if it threw a lightning bolt.
"What!?" Zhin stepped back and made his stand take the brunt of it.
"Hrrr…" he saw that the left side armor of his stand had melted off, "Impressive, most impressive. But the armor was just a handicap for you." He cast made the stand cast the rest of it off, "Because now that it is removed, Thousand Hand will show you why it is called a Thousand Hands!"
Sarah pointed him, "You won't survive another!"
Zhin smirked and saw the beam of fire come down again.
"Thousand Hands!" he called out his stand, which moved it sword around so rapidly that it appeared it had a thousand hands through the after images.
"No way!" Lian gasped, "That's incredible... That speed!"
"Hahahaha." Zhin chuckled as he saw that the pyre strike was cut to small embers, "Don't you see, I'm too fast. Now it's your turn!"
Thousand Hands charged towards Sarah.
Furious Flame intercepted it and tried to intercept all the attacks, but was cut and stabbed multiple times.
"Ha…." Sarah groaned as all the cuts and stabs appeared on her body.
"Ha… Ha…" she panted and fell to her knees.
"Sarah!" Lex called out.
"No! I'm still not out!" Sarah growled and looked at Zhin and his Thousand Hands, "I can win this!" she blasted a beam of fire.
"COUNTER!" Zhin yelled, and the blade of his Thousand Hands glowed magically.
When the fire blast struck the blade, it was sent flying back towards its target.
Sarah gasped and narrowly avoided her own attack.
"It is useless." Zhin taunted, "With my spirit's speed and its ability to Counter, nothing well get past me without going back to you!"
"Hmph…" Sarah grunted and recalled her stand.
"Giving up already?" Zhin asked.
"No!" Sarah ran to face him with her own body, "I'll beat you up myself!"
"Ha!" Zhin laughed and blocked all her punches and kicks with his stand, "Foolish girl!" he said, "If your fighting spirit could not defeat me, you have no chance either!"
Thousand Hands grabbed Sarah by the neck and cut across her chest, then threw her back to the ground.
"Ungh…" Sarah panted.
"Defeated." Zhin scoffed, "I would have kept you in my grasp, but you would have just punched me with your spirit like you did last time."
"Heh… funny how my spirit always plays in, huh?" Sarah smirked.
"Huh?" Zhin looked confused, since he was expecting a tone of defeat from her.
"You may be fast of action, but not of understanding." Sarah said, "Did you really think I would retract my stand and face you without using it?" she chuckled.
Underground, Furious Flame was casting fire on a pipeline.
"What are you talking about?" Zhin snarled.
"I'm saying that when facing stands, you should always be aware of their presence." Sarah told him.
"You dare teach me how to fight in combat?" Zhin responded.
"Yes… because now you're in deep shit." Sarah grinned.
The pipeline that Furious Flame was heating up burst open and shot out its pressurized contents straight through the ground and under Zhin.
"WHA!?" Zhin yelled as he was taken up by this scalding geyser of sewage waste.
"Now!" Sarah called out and Furious Flame appeared from underground and grabbed Zhin, then slammed him into a tree and then into the ground multiple times.
"Burn!" she said, and Furious Flame made fire appear from its hands.
"AHH!" Zhin cried out as he was covered in fire.
"I will not… surrender…." he tried to pick himself up.
Sarah shook her head and threw the knife he had used to threaten her to the ground near him.
She then turned her back.
"Sarah, what are you doing?" Lain called out.
Zhin snarled and looked at the knife, ignoring the flames that burnt around him.
However, he did not reach for it and fell face first.
Sarah sighed and snapped her fingers, then the fires left Zhin.
"Ha.. ha…" the man panted, "Why did you do that?"
"I knew there was something honorable about you." Sarah turned to face him, "Behind that gruff exterior and aggression, you still had a semblance of nobility in your soul."
Zhin murmured silently.
Then stood up.
"You have fought well." He bowed alongside his Thousand Hands, "I apologize for my outbursts… I did not choose this life you have seen on my own accord."
"I know. Something troubles your soul. My Pyre detected it." Sarah told him.
"I am looking for those who killed my mother." Zhin responded, "However, along the way, I may have fallen astray into a life in the underworld." He added, "I would do anything for the chance to avenge her and redeem myself."
Sarah's ears perked up.
"Do you wish to help us?" she asked.
"Hmmm?" Zhin murmured.
"We are on a journey to stop my sister from using the Abyss to conquer The World." Sarah informed, "Unfortunately we found out that she is using assassins to find and kill us, all with their own stands!"
"Do you not suppose he may be one of the assassins?!" Lian told Sarah.
"No… I saw his soul." Sarah said, "With my Pyre Energy. He has not known of Seris or the Abyss."
Zhin stood silent.
"What is a stand?"
"A stand is basically what you're calling a fighting spirit." Sarah informed and pointed at Thousand Hands, "No one else can see it except others who have it."
Zhin recollected the murder of his mother.
"Those who killed my mother had what you called a stand…" he said, "Perhaps your sister, since she is employing the most sinister of those people, has already hired them. Very well, I will join you to find a chance to avenge my mother!" he said.
"Yes!" Sarah cheered and looked at Lian and Lex, who stood silent and groaned.
"I am Zhin." Zhin walked up to Lex and Lian, "Master Swordsman of the House of Fuxiang." He told them, "My stand's name is the Thousand Hands!"
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"I have some witnesses I need to take to the South." Lex told the ticket master of the dock, "We need the next steamboat." He showed him his badge.
"Absolutely, sir. And tell the constabulary to actually pay me this time." The ticket master spoke and grabbed four tickets.
"You are on the ship The Blue Moon arriving at noon today. So in three hours." He looked at the clock.
Lex nodded and grabbed the tickets, then gave them to his allies.
"We have three hours to kill." Lian spoke, "Perhaps we should grab a bite to eat?" she asked the group.
"Sure." Lex nodded, "I am feeling hungry myself."
"Yes!" Sarah grinned happily.
"Just don't steal food this time." Zhin smirked, causing everyone but Sarah to chuckle.
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