Lian's Peculiar Journey

Chapter 20

"God Loki" Maeve

"I am deeply sorry, everyone." Sarah told her allies as they all rode on a wagon, "I knew I should not have kept such powerful secrets from you all… but I felt it necessary at the time."

"I, for one, just wish you had more faith in us." Lian crossed her arms and looked away dejectedly, "We spent all this time bonding as pure strangers… risking our lives as such as well."

"I understand what you all must feel." Sarah looked down.

"Regardless, I believe you did it with prudence." Lex spoke, "But I still feel… disturbed."

"I know!" Moji shot up, "Why don't we tell each other secrets to even it out?"

The four humans looked at her.

"Y-y-you know… like… to get closer…" she stammered.

"That's silly." Lian scoffed.

"No no, the rabbit may be on to something." Zhin patted Moji's head, "Look, since we don't want to be secret keepers, why don't we lead by example? I'll even start. I've been wanting to lie with Lian for ages- OOF!"

"Be serious!" Sarah scowled.

"Alright." Zhin grumbled, "What can I say? I was a master criminal for 5 years… Assassinations were my forte. But I'm ok now guys, I left that long ago after my best friend was killed... I was betrayed."

"I guess I should add." Lex stopped the horses and looked at his allies, "I… I am actually somewhat attracted to this woman…"

"Really?" Sarah looked at him.

Lian looked to the sky.
"What does she look like, Lex?"

"She… is very beautiful." Lex murmured, "Flowing hair… feminine features that are sublime… Thinly legs…"

"Thinly?" Lian snarled, "Lex!"

"That is a compliment, Lian." Lex chuckled, "but yes, I wish to know you more, Lian."

"Awww." Lian smiled.

"Ugh… Get a room." Zhin rolled his eyes, then saw something in the distance, "Say, that's the town we're supposed to reach, right?" he pointed to a formation in the horizon.

Lex turned.
"Yes." He squinted and saw the figure in the noon sky, "Good, we were just running out of water too, right, Moji?"

"Yes." Moji said and patted a barrel, "Sounds hollow!"

0000000000

Lex stretched and while Lian, Sarah, Moji and Zhin scanned the landscape in front of the town's inn.
The sun had just risen a few hours prior and provided well enough sunlight to allow our heroes the ability to look at the town without error.

"Let us make this day a prosperous one!" Sarah exclaimed as she bit down on her biscuit, "We should be on our way back on the trail right after we buy more supplies!"

"Yay!" Moji joyfully squeaked and kept a warm smile on her face.

"It's only one more town until we reach Hadea." Sarah told them, "That is the town closest to Seris. In fact, it is only separated from Seris by a huge wall."

"Did the Abyss pay for it?" Zhin joked.

Sarah ignored it and looked up at the sky, "We're almost about to get there… I cannot lie that I am a bit frightened by the mystery of my sister's potentially gruesome powers."

"You don't have to worry about her." Lian said, "Not when all of us will stop her."

Sarah smiled and looked at all of them.
"I'm just so happy you all could help me on this journey. I was afraid I would have to face my sister alone… but to find people who are willing to sacrifice their safety and lives for the fate of The World…" she cried and ran to Zhin and Lian, hugging them tightly.

"There's still much work to be done!" Lex called out as he saw Sarah was pulling Zhin and Lian a bit too close for comfort.

The three separated.
"You are right, Lex." Sarah awkwardly chuckled and rubbed the back of her head.

The Paladins looked at each other then turned to their surroundings.

"So…" Lian said, "This is the town, huh?" she added, trying to spark up a conversation after the odd event.

"Yes, it's the Town of…" Moji grapped a map from her satchel, "The Town of Mumana." She informed and pointed to a small name on the map, "It's only two towns away from Seris!"

Zhin nodded and walked past Lex, "Well, it's best we restock on supplies." He said, "I don't want to hear Sarah complaining about having no food for hours and hours." He chuckled.

Lex and Lian smiled.

Sarah frowned.
"That was not funny, Zhin." She crossed her arms and picked up Moji, "I really was starving!"

"But you're always starving, Sarah." Moji spoke, "Why are you always so hungry."

"Because she burns all those calories with her fire stand." Lian joked as they made their way down the road, "Oh Lex, did you tell the innkeepers to watch our wagon?" she said.

"I did." Lex responded as he took a look at a group of locals traveling down with goods in their arms, "Hmmm. Perhaps they can show us where we can get supplies." He pointed at them.

"It looks like they came down from this road." Zhin told him, "I wouldn't doubt it as this is the main road of this town. Perhaps we should just stay on here and see if we find what we need." He looked around and saw that not many people were out.
"It would be easy to get lost with so few people around."

"You speak wisely, Zhin." Lian smirked, "A first, really."

"Haha, mind your tongue princess, for I know the laws of the streets." Zhin responded, "Something your boyfriend cop here wouldn't understand."

"You are mistaken." Lex shook his head, "I have studied the patterns of criminals for years, there is no so-called 'street smarts' I am not aware of."

"Really now?" Zhin turned to look at him and stopped in his tracks, causing the lawman to bump into his body. "Are you sure about that?" he grinned.

"Yep," Lex said and pulled up a wallet, "Safe and sound."

"What?!" Zhin looked at his right hand and saw that the Lex's wallet was not in it, "That was just an easy one." He scoffed at his attempt to pickpocket and turned around, then looked at his wrist.

"I also have my badge in my possession as well, since you did try to take that." Lex's voice calmly spoke.

Zhin looked at his left hand and saw that Lex's badge was not in it.

"My my, such street smarts." Lian laughed and continued walking past with Sarah and Moji, "Looks like Lex sure is knowledgable." She smirked at the swordsman.

"Oh yeah?" Zhin picked up his pace, "What's the number one rule of eating on the street?"

"Never buy food from a Gongorian." Lex responded.

"If a Tigron merc-"

"Never purchase without checking their claws."

Zhin snarled, "Those of the Northern Keep-"

"Will challenge you to a drinking game on a Saturday Night." Lex sighed, "Zhin, I have patrolled the Entire Realm for years, do you think something vulgar would every leave my mind?"

"Give it up Zhin." Sarah frowned, "You don't want to taint Moji's innocence with your… criminality."

"I wish Moji would learn these things." Zhin crossed his arms, "Would help her a lot."

The four paladins sighed as they continued wandering through the town.
Only to wander from morning until noon.
A testament that they were lost.

"It doesn't look like there's anything around…" Moji grumbled, "I can't smell any food… or water… Except that taco stand we passed back there."

"Don't worry, Moji, I'm sure we'll find something soon." Sarah assured her as they walked through the busy town.
"Right?" she turned to Lex, Lian, and Zhin for confirmation.

The three shrugged their shoulders.

"Wait!" Moji's ears perked up, "I smell food!" she nearly jumped out of Sarah's arms before calming herself down and pointing ahead.

Surely enough, there was a large mass of people around a certain area of the town.

"It looks like…" Lex squinted his eyes, "Like a market!" he announced, "Yes, there are stands everywhere, and it looks like there are food and water vendors as well."

"Why wouldn't they have this in a store?" Lian groaned.

"We're in the plains, princess." Zhin answered, "You can get more money setting up an area for the savannah tribes to come and visit to trade than you can having one establishment."

The five made their way into the market, were they saw that it was moderately packed with people and that there were all sorts of races and creatures found therein.
What caught their attention was the large building at the center that was surrounded by a garden park.

"It seems this is the hub of the town." Lian said as she saw a group of dwarves walk away with sweet potato sacks, followed by a group of people just looking at stands.

Zhin used this opportunity to call out Thousand hands and poke an apple that was in a fruit stand and bring it to him.

"Zhin! That's theft!" Lex saw the action and pushed his ally from behind.

"Relax, cop man!" Zhin growled as he juggled his apple, "I left a tip!" he chuckled and pointed to Lex's wallet, which was dangling from the owner's belt with a small cut across it.

Lex grumbled.

"All for you." Zhin laughed and stopped in his tracks until he was next to Sarah and Moji, then handed the apple to the leipori.

"Aww, thanks Zhin!" Moji happily squeaked and took the apple, then bit on it.

"How kind." Sarah smiled, then saw the man use his stand again to poke a chicken leg, a sandwich, and a piece of beef jerky from subsequent stands, making a small kebab on the sword.

"For you." Zhin handed the leg to Sarah, "And you" he handed Lian the sandwich, "And you." He finally gave the piece of beef jerky.

His allies stood in their tracks.

"And what are you going to eat?" Lian asked as Zhin looked around.

"Easy…" the man responded as he spotted a camel standing nearby, then looked intently at a basket of watermelons that was hanging from the animal's left flank.

"That is theft, Zhin." Lex warned, "And that's not something from a vendor, so there can be no payment…"

"Relax…" Zhin scoffed, "They have plenty." He pointed at the other camels in front of the target, revealing it to be a caravan stocked with more food and items.

Thousand Hands came out and stabbed one of the watermelons in the basket, then swung its sword upwards and made the melon fly.

"Watch this." Zhin chuckled as he focused on the melon.

"Hey!" a voice called out, causing Zhin to look down and see a sight that almost floored him.
It was the young woman from the chicken scene.

The four Paladins saw that Zhin was immobile and just staring at the woman.

"My melon!" the woman, Yamina, cried out as she looked at the melon descend from the sky, "Oh no! Father!" she held her head covering in fear.

"Zhin!" Lex finally yelled, "The melon!"

Zhin snapped back to reality.
Looked at the melon, ooh there goes gravity!

"Hold on there!" he said and jumped up with the help of his stand and caught the melon midair within his robes, protecting it from breaking apart on impact.

Zhin landed on the ground near his allies and watched by all those within the perimeter, then he took a stand and brought out the watermelon from his robes.
"Uh…" he gulped and looked at his friends, "Got it…"

"What happened there?" Sarah asked, quite concerned at the events.

"Yes, why did you zone out like that?" Lex walked up to him.

"Hello, excuse me." A familiar voice returned.
Yamina walked up behind Zhin and stood to his right.

"You answer is here." Lian chuckled as Zhin turned to face the woman.

"What do you mean?" Moji asked inquisitively.

"Y-Y-Yamina!" Zhin stammered and brought up the melon, "Here! Here is the melon!" he handed it to her.

"Thank you so much, kind stranger!" Yamina smiled a bright smile as she took the melon, "Aww.. it has a hole in it." She commented when she saw the wound that Thousand Hands had caused, "Wait. How did you know my name?" he looked back up.

Zhin froze.

"Yamina! What's wrong?" another voice boomed, and a large, burly man with a full beard and an orange turban on his head walked up. He was dressed in a similar attire to Yamina, though his was for males and had a rustic orange hue to it.
He was also older than the woman, but still taller than Zhin and Lex.

"Father, this man rescued our melon." Yamina exclaimed as she presented the good to the man, "I don't know what happened, it just flew up into the air and this man caught it."

The man smiled and turned to Zhin, noting he was the one that his daughter was speaking of, "My gratitude, kind stranger!" he belly laughed, ran to Zhin, and belly hugged him.

"HWAK!" Zhin groaned as he was crushed in the man's embrace.

"I am glad people from the East have shown themselves to be of such a kind heart." The man set Zhin down and bowed slightly, "Please, take it as a consolation." he grabbed the melon from Yamina's arms with one hand and presented it to Zhin.

"Uh.. uh…" Zhin stammered.

"Please, it's the least we can do for you." Yamina's father pressed his hospitality.
"Please."

"Don't worry father." Yamina stepped up, "We have plenty to buy more since I sold that golden fur pelt." She held up a bag of coins that she had on her belt.

"What are your names?" Sarah took initiative as she noticed Zhin was faltering, "I am Sarah, this is my friend Zhin, and these are my friends Moji, Lex, and Lian." She smiled warmly at the man.

"My name is Abdalah, this is my daughter Yamina." The man presented himself, "We are travelers from a town in the west and have come to restock on supplies with my brother who lives here. And you all? Are you travelers as well?"

"Why yes we are, sir." Sarah responded as she fixed Moji's position, "We come from all the way from Aico." She informed.

"Aico?" Yamina pondered, "Father, that's all the way up north! By the Xiang Liang Mountains!" she exclaimed in shock.

"I have never been farther than the capital…" Abdalah pondered, "You all must be exhausted from such a long trip! Please, I can get my brother to provide goods for you!" he bowed again, "Please, come with me!"

"Thank you, kind sir!" Sarah bowed as well, then turned to her friends, "Are you guys ready to resupply? Oh, but we left the wagon!" she grumbled.

"Yeah, that's a bummer." Lian sighed, "I do not want to ruin my nails walking with all those materials."

"Oh Lian…" Sarah rolled her eyes and turned to Abdalah, only to see him gesturing to something behind him.
"Sir-"

A servant came up with a medium sized wagon pulled by horses a few yards away to avoid entering the mass of people.

"Please, take it." Abdalah bowed, "It is my cousin's, and she does not need it any more… plus, I do not wish to take it with me all the way back home."

The Paladins were nearly floored by the action.

"What?!" Sarah stood with her mouth agape.

"It's smaller than our last one…" Lian said, only to receive an elbow to her side by Sarah, "I'm only joking!" she laughed.

"Please, it's all yours, minus the servant, he's mine!" Abdalah gave out another hearty laugh, "Come, I will take you to my brother's! He will stock it for you!" he said and started to make his way back from where he came.
"Yamina, please watch the caravan." He told his daughter before turning to the Paladins.

"I think you should stay behind, Zhin." Lian commented, catching the ear of Abdalah despite the masses speaking around them.

"Huh?" Zhin turned to face her, then looked at Yamina, "I-I can't! I have to stay with you all-"

"I would be glad if you helped defend my daughter!" Abdalah interrupted and patted Zhin on the back, pushing the swordsman a bit forward due to his strength, "You seem like a man of valor and strength!"

"Zhin?" Lian nearly burst out laughing at the compliment.

"Come, let us go!" Abdalah took the reins and led the Paladins onward, leaving behind Zhin and Yamina by the caravan.

00000000

The Paladins and Abdalah arrived at a set of stands that all held the same designs and flags above their masts, signifying that this quarter fell under the same union.

"Wow…" Sarah said as she saw that all sorts of items were in these stands, ranging from tropical fruits like bom-bom melons to animals like gelyphant birds.

"Why don't merchants like this ever visit my Aico." Lian mumbled as she looked at a large exotic flower flowing from a hanging basket.

Abdalah kept his stately stride until he stopped in front of a large red tent, then signaled the Paladins to stop with his massive arm.
"I will talk to my brother and he will provide all the food and water you need for your journey, all I ask is for 700 gold." He bowed.

Sarah gasped.
"Only 700 gold!" she exclaimed, then pulled out her wallet, "Here you go!" she said merrily.

"Please, take a rest." Abdalah spoke and bowed, "My brother and his servants will take care of the loading and the goods." He entered the tent.

Sarah set down Moji and stretched her arms.
"Well, what would you all like to do as we wait?" she asked, "I'm so excited, that man's positivity has lit up my Pyre energy!"

Lex nodded and looked around, "Perhaps we can visit that establishment, it looks like a place we can eat." He pointed to the building surrounded by gardens, which was a walking distance away.

"Sounds like a plan." Lian shrugged her shoulders.

The four walked towards the building but were stopped short when Moji (who was in front), looked towards one of the gardens.

A small building stood, and to her it smelled delicious.

"That smells like it is going to have some good food!" she pointed at the small shrine like structure and made her way towards it.

"Moji!" Sarah called out, but had no choice but to follow. Lex and Lian shrugged their shoulders and followed suit.
The four Paladins walked up to the building and entered, then saw that it only had one small bar stand and a few people sitting at different tables inside.

Lex's attention immediately turned to one of the people by a table that faced an opening to the gardens.
It was a child.

"Excuse me!" he raised his voice and pointed at the bartender, "It's against the law to allow a child into an establishment with alcohol!"

The bartender scoffed at him and continued serving a woman at the bar.

Lex snarled and walked over to the young girl.

It was a young girl of short stature with pink hair, a raggedy blue trench coat, and a beige shirt. She was very small, but she had a very mature look about her. Her blue eyes nearly shone in the darkness.

"I'm taking you out of here, girl." Lex told her, "Where are your parents?" he asked.

"I am an orphan." The girl responded and looked at Lex with sadness on her face, "I don't have any parents… I am staying here to cool off from the sun."

Lex calmed down a bit as he noticed the girl's attitude was sincere.
"I'm sorry, but you can't be here, I can escort you to a safer place." He said as he was finally joined by Lian, Sarah, and Moji.

"Ok… But can I get a glass of water first?" the girl asked, her tender face making sweet work of her accented voice.

Lex nodded and turned to glare at the bartender.
"You!" he pointed at him.

"Here you go." The bartender sighed and walked over to the four with a pitcher of water and a glass, filling it up as he arrived.

Sarah stood perplexed at the trivial attitude of the bartender but ignored it as Lex grabbed the glass of water.

"Here you go, miss." Lex turned and handed the glass to the girl.

"Will you play a game with me before I go?" the girl asked innocently before she took a drink.

Lex mumbled uneasily but was silently urged by Lian and Sarah to do so.
"Very well, what do you wish to play?" he murmured.

The girl's face lit up.
"Rock-Paper-Scissors!" she balled up her right hand while cupping it with her left.

"Ok." Lex sighed and gave a small smile to Lian, "Here we go." He motioned his hands.

"Rock. Paper. Scissors!" the two did the motion, and Lex lost with paper against the girl's scissors.

"How fun!" the girl giggled, "Let's play a game with this! I bet that if you win 5 out of 6, I'll give you a candy!" she pointed at a small bowl of at the bar.

"Aww, how cute." Sarah smiled, "Lex, look at her." She said, "She really wants to play with you."

"Come on Lex, you at least have to be nice." Lian chuckled, "No more bad cop from now on, ok?"

"Very well." Lex sighed and turned to the girl.

They played again.
Lex's paper lost to the girl's scissors again.

"You're really bad at this." Lian smiled.

Lex went up again, this time losing to the girl's rock as scissors.

"I never really had time for such pleasantries." Lex mumbled.

"You must have been a child once upon a time, Lex." Sarah laughed, "It's not like you were born a cop."

Lex nodded and lost to the girl's paper.
"I'm almost out." he told the girl, "What do I owe you if I lose?" he asked.

"Your soul." The girl responded very nonchalantly and with a happy smile.

Thinking she was just goofing off, Lex just shrugged off the comment, as did Lian, Sarah, and Moji, the latter thinking it was a quite a funny comment.

"Ok." Lex chuckled and did the motions.

"Rock. Paper. Scissors!" the two played.

Lex had lost yet again, this time to the girl's rock.

"It appears I have been defeated." He spoke as he gave out a huff of air.

"Oh phooey." Lian smiled, "I guess you lose, Lex. Time to pay." She said jokingly and patted the officer's back.

"Yes you do…" the girl's voice became rather stranger, causing the four to turn and face her.

"What?" Lex saw as the girl stood up and pointed at him.

"You lost, Lex." The girl continued, "Fair and square, you even admitted too."

Lex stepped back, "How did you know my name!?" he started to get cautious.

The girl laughed and started to glow eerily.

Lian saw that the people inside the bar started to leave, save the bartender.
"What's going on!?" she growled and thought of bringing out Power Khan.

"I'm afraid that's a wager you'll live to pay!" the girl laughed.

Suddenly, a figure appeared from behind her.
A small imp like creature with purple skin and glowing orange horns.

"Is that-" Sarah was interrupted when the figure lunged at Lex and reappeared behind him.

However, the figure was holding a golden ghostly manifestation of Lex in its arms.

"What the hell!?" Lian gasped as the figure laughed as it held the manifestation in its grasp, "What are you doing!?" she turned to face the girl.

"That-That's!" Sarah stammered, "Lex's Soul!" she used the Pyre to look at the phenomena.

Lex's lifeless body fell to the ground, his eyes white with death and his mouth open and expressionless.

"LEX!" Lian yelled and picked him up, "You bastard!" she called out Power Khan and charged at the girl.

"Hold on, sweet cakes!" the girl laughed, "If you kill me, Lex shares the same fate! He has wagered his soul and lost, I am only taking what is mine by the power of my Stand.
LOKI'S SLEIGHT!"

Lian and Sarah gasped as Moji hid behind Lian's leg.

"You're a stand user!?" Sarah pointed at her "You must be with my sister, Seris!"

"Yes, she saw great potential in me… I'm sorry, I fail to introduce myself." The girl bowed, "I am Maeve, and thanks to Seris I will defeat you all and will gain a great reward!" she laughed as her stand dragged Lex's soul into a purple gem she had pulled out from her pocket.

After cramming the soul into the gem, Maeve's stand disappeared behind its user in a tuft of purple smoke.

"If you want to save your friend, you only have to wager the same." Maeve giggled as she showed them the gem, which contained Lex's sleeping spiritual face inside surrounded by purple smoke.
"Defeat me in a game and gain him back but lose and I will have your souls as well."

The atmosphere became tense as Maeve put the gem on the table and nonchalantly sat back down.

"The wager is open; will you take it?"