Wheels of Fate, BoF II novelization.
Summary: Novelization of Breath of Fire II: Shimei no Ko (The Destined Child). Some events altered. Strong language will be in play.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, they belong to Capcom, as the game does. I own nothing, hear ye, lawyers. But that doesn't gets you the permission to publish this as a book without the proper written and legally signed consent of whoever holds the copyright.
Chapter 03: Winged Thief?
Night. Ryu's room. Newhaven.
Ryu woke slowly, blinking to clear his eyes. Blearily, he stumbled over to the window and threw it open.
How long have I been asleep? he wondered, taking a deep breath of the clean air. The Sorceress constellation was just above the horizon, so dusk had passed a few hours ago. Ah, so I've been asleep most of the day.
Ryu made a mental note to, if he ever saw Mina again, ask her what she had done to make Suzie run away so fast. He hoped that it hadn't been trying to boil the little piglet.
Bosch's bed was neatly made – for once – and its owner was nowhere to be seen. Doing some menial job, perhaps, or possibly off skirt-chasing. Ryu sighed. 'Possibly'? More like 'most likely'. He stepped back inside and washed his face, buckling on his trusty old armour and sword. The new dagger felt as familiar as though he had been wearing it his whole life.
Someone knocked on the door desperately just as he pulled a dark cloak over his shoulders. He opened it to reveal a panting Sylvia.
"Ryu!" she gasped. "Thank Ladon I found you!"
"What's happened?"
"The Chief wants you in his office, quick!"
Ryu nodded, puzzled, and went out the room, going down the stairs and outside to the street below. Someone dashed past, and he caught a glimpse of blue eyes from beneath a shadowed hood. They seemed sad, as though the person carried a great burden, and the Tear flared a soft yellow.
A single sable feather had fallen onto the cobblestones, shimmering softly. He picked it up, and his eyes widened as his mind instantly connected it with its twin in his pouch. Ryu whirled, seeking the cloaked figure . . . but it was too late. They had disappeared.
Night. Chief Allen's office. Newhaven.
The Chief was pacing back and forth, worry etched across his face. He turned as Ryu entered, and motioned for the ranger to take a seat.
"Chief, what's going on?" Ryu asked.
"I have another mission for you," Chief Allen answered gravely.
"And Bosch? Couldn't you find him?"
"No . . . it is about him. Which is precisely why I need you to do this mission, Ryu."
"Huh?" The one-word answer succinctly summed up all of Ryu's confusion over the Chief's cryptic answer.
"Have you been to the town square yet? Newhaven's rumourmongers are already at work, spreading the news that last night, Ranger Bosch broke into the manor of the affluent trader Trout Fishburn and stole millions of zenny."
"What?"
Something was wrong about this. Yes, Bosch had been a thief when they were younger, but he'd straightened out and followed Ryu's example when he saw there were more rewards to being a ranger than simply money. Even if he had decided to revert to his old ways, the Grass-Runners were master hunters, the descendants of the wolfish Forest Clan. Bosch may be a little tubbier than most of his race, but he should still have been able to out-sneak any of Newhaven's guards.
"Of course, some of this will be exaggerated," the Chief continued. "However, your mission is find out what truth there is, if any, in this story. If it turns out Bosch is innocent, then you are to locate and capture the real perpetrator and bring them back to the Guild. We will not have it said that one of our own turned bad."
The fierceness in the old man's face was surprising, but heartwarming. For all of Bosch and the Chief's bickering and insults, it was nice to know that they were considered a part of the team.
"Yes, sir!" Ryu replied, saluting. "I'll do my best, sir, but do you have any idea where I should start?"
The door opened and Sylvia came in. She also looked worried, and why wouldn't she be? It was obvious to everyone in the Guild except the person in question that she liked Bosch but was waiting for him to stop chasing every pretty face that went past. Unfortunately, she knew as well as they did how unlikely that was.
She handed the Chief a letter, gave Ryu a weak smile, and left again. The Chief opened it, quickly skimming the contents, and handed it to Ryu.
"This is our hint, then?" Ryu asked. "Alan Kilgore?"
"Yes. Take that letter with you when you go and meet him. Feel free to take some supplies from the Hazardous Missions room as well; with luck you will not need it, but it is far better to have something and not need it then to need it and not have it."
"Thank you, Chief."
Ryu stood up and walked out into the corridor, turning left and entering another smaller room. Shelves loaded to bending point with various supplies lined the walls. He hadn't been in here before, as there wasn't much need for high-quality healing salves and strength boosters when, up until now, his missions had largely consisted of cleaning people's houses and clearing out the odd slime infestation.
Scanning the contents, he decided on three capsules of sanar extract. In its distilled form, the plant would heal even someone on the verge of death. The Chief had said that hopefully he wouldn't need it, but . . . Well, given some of Bosch's past antics, it was more likely than not. Ryu stored the capsules in his belt pouch and, closing the door behind him, exited the Ranger's Guild.
Night. Streets. Newhaven.
The stars were obscured by clouds as Ryu walked towards Kilgore's manor. He peered ahead, trying to see in the dim light, and spotted a pair of armoured guards patrolling the streets. As he moved closer, one of them drew his sword.
"Who goes there?" he called.
"Ryu Bateson, of the Ranger's Guild."
"Hmm." The guard sheathed his weapon, turned to his companion and after a brief whispered conversation, looked back at Ryu. "Bosch Doggy's roommate? Have you seen him?
"Not since this morning," Ryu replied, feigning ignorance of the situation. "Why? Has he got into trouble with some girl's father again?"
"Worse. He stole everything from Master Trout's warehouse. If you find him, turn him over to the captain outside Trout's manor."
Ryu nodded and the guards continued patrolling. He went around the corner, following the main street until he reached the upper class district. There were only several houses, but their size and opulence reflected the wealthiness of their residents. According to rumour, Lady Yolana Kilgore, matriarch of the family, had recently left for her villa in Melodia, but her grandson, Alan, had take control of much of Newhaven's economy.
Ryu sighed as he caught sight of a quickly tacked-up wanted poster featuring his friend. Bosch Doggy, wanted dead or alive. Reward: ten thousand zenny.
He must have really pissed off that cheapskate Trout, he thought. What did he steal?
Suddenly, he felt someone slam into his back. Wobbling slightly but managing to keep his balance, he turned around and looked down at his assailant.
It turned out to be a woman, now sprawled untidily across the cobblestones and rubbing one of her long, pointed ears. She glared up at him with emerald green eyes.
"Watch where you're walking, mister!" she exclaimed.
"You crashed into me first!" he replied, fighting the urge to stick his tongue out at her. Why? Who was this girl? Something hovered on the edge of his memories, just beyond the reach of recognition. Her hair was almost the same blue as his, only a shade darker, and her eyes . . . He extended a hand to her. "Are you alright?"
She took it, standing and brushing dust off her claret bodysuit and matching gloves. Ryu's jaw dropped as she stretched a pair of dusky-blue wings, wincing as she touched a tiny rip in the scaly surface. Another question: what was she? He'd never heard of a Clan with bat wings before.
"Yeah, thanks. See ya!" The girl darted away, disappearing into a nearby alleyway. He followed and watched as she leapt from wall to roof until she was several meters above the ground. Then she spread her wings wide and jumped, gliding over the city walls.
Ryu stood watching for a few more minutes, before shrugging and going back to his original route. She had been odd, yes, and there was something about her that made him think of Gate, but he had other things to do at the moment.
He reached the entrance of Kilgore's mansion and knocked at the door. A servant opened it and in a pompous tone, asked his business. As he showed the letter, the man's attitude changed drastically and Ryu was guided through a confusing labyrinth of rooms and hallways until they reached a small library.
Inside, a middle-aged man sat at an antique desk, reading an ancient tome. He looked up as they entered, and gave Ryu a warm smile. The servant bowed and left as the man stood up.
"Ryu Bateson, I presume? Allow me to introduce myself. I am Alan Kilgore."
Ryu shook his hand uncertainly. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, sir," he said.
"Well, I expect you are wondering why I have asked you to come? This is because I must tell you something very important, something for your ears only. The truth is, I was the one who asked Bosch to enter Trout's manor, for I wanted him to retrieve an important item that Trout stole from me. I do not know if Bosch was successful or not, but this is irrelevant. Really, I only wish to know whether he is safe or not."
"I see. Unfortunately, I haven't seen him yet." Judging from Kilgore's manner, he didn't care at all about Bosch's safety, but the Tear was glowing yellow-green, which meant he was at least a little sympathetic.
"And I feel it would be better if you did not. All of the mercenary guards Trout has hired are combing the city, trying to find your friend."
"So what is this item Bosch was meant to 'retrieve'?" Ryu asked, changing the topic. "Why is it so important?"
"It is called the 'magic hood'," Kilgore sighed. "As of now, the only use I can see it has is that it allows the wearer to understand any language he or she listens to. It has been passed down along my bloodline for generations, and is quite useful in diplomatic situations, as I'm sure you can imagine."
"Indeed."
"We as a family have never refused help in translations, though, if it is needed. So I cannot possibly imagine why Trout would have stolen it."
"Well, thank you for the information," said Ryu, shaking Kilgore's hand again.
So . . . he mused as he was escorted back out the manor and began slowly walking back towards the Guild. An item of mild importance was stolen. Granted, Bosch is stealthy, but what about that bat-winged girl? I doubt her presence was a co-incidence. There's something very weird about this. First things first: I need to find Bosch. If I were him and were in a pinch, where would I go?
Ryu stopped and pondered this for a moment. Then his face lit up as the answer clicked into place, as Ryu smacked the palm of his hand against his face. Sometimes Bosch was too obvious for his own safety. That's it! He'd lay low until it's safe to come out again. But the cheapskate is severely pissed off. And it's pretty obvious where Bosch would go to ground. Damnit, Bosch! Why'd you have to do something like this?
Night. Ryu's room. Newhaven.
Ryu locked and barred the door behind him before turning around. Just as he'd suspected, his friend was sitting on his bed, ears drooping.
"Bosch . . ." Ryu sighed. "What sort of mess have you pulled yourself into this time?"
"A shitty one," he replied mournfully, looking down at the floor.
"I can see that. Trout's got wanted posters up, you know. Your hide is worth ten thousand zenny. That sort of money is tempting, even for people who'd normally think of you as a friend."
Bosch looked up, alarm in his eyes. "You're not – you wouldn't - ?" he gasped.
"Of course not! But I'd like to know what happened."
Bosch explained about how Kilgore had approached him earlier, asking him to recover the magic hood from Trout. He had been successful in infiltrating the manor, as the guards were . . . well, 'clueless' was the nicest way to put it. But 'bloody stupid' would have also worked. In Trout's storeroom, though, there had been a beautiful bat-winged girl.
Ryu started as Bosch mentioned her. So she had been involved!
"She'd cleaned out the treasury," Bosch continued. "I blinked, and she was gone! With all of the loot and the magic hood! I ran, but one of the guards spotted me and raised the alarm."
"I thought you said those guards were bloody stupid?" Ryu said, with a little smile.
"Yes, but . . . So does this mean you believe me, buddy?"
The hopeful expression on Bosch's furry face was almost too much to bear. "Yes," he answered, and the Tear turned a vivid sky-blue. Intense loyalty. "I saw the girl as well. Quick as a phantom. Who knows?"
Bosch nodded in relief. "I've gotta leave Newhaven until things calm down a bit, don't I?"
They were interrupted by a loud knocking at the door. "Ryu Bateson!" a guard called. "Open this door now!"
Looking around frantically, Bosch spotted their garbage bin. It was their best chance. He gulped, and clambered inside. Ryu quickly put the lid on.
"You have ten seconds to open this door before I bash it open! One . . . two . . ."
"Yes?" Ryu asked as he unlocked the door and opened it, pretending to yawn.
"Let me pass," the guard said angrily.
"Let me see the search warrant first," he replied, remembering some of the basic legalese. Guards weren't allowed to search a citizen's room unless they had a search warrant on hand.
The guard groaned, slapped at his pockets and finally withdrew a slip of parchment. With a shrug, Ryu read it and handed it back. Everything was in order – now all they could do was pray that Bosch wouldn't be discovered.
~Worry less, Ryu. Things will turn out well in the end.~
That may be so, he thought to the god, but what do you count as 'fine'? And what about the time in between now and 'the end'?
There was no reply. Ryu watched as the guard checked the wardrobe, under the beds, even in the tiny gap between their floor and the first floor ceiling that they normally kept liquor in. The guard swore roughly as he looked over at the bin, but didn't open it. Thank Ladon for those rotten eggs Bosch had found in the back of their icebox and thrown in the bin, though Ryu was sure that Bosch was not enjoying the experience.
"Well, I couldn't see anything particularly incriminating," the guard conceded grudgingly after a while. "But be warned, if you're hiding him anywhere, you'll be sent to jail as well for aiding a known criminal." He left, slamming the door behind him.
"Pwaaaah!" Bosch exclaimed as soon as Ryu had relocked the door, sucking in great gulps of fresh air. "Remind to never forget about food in the icebox again! I smell like shit now."
"Just like the mess you're in," Ryu remarked with a smirk.
"Oh, man . . . not you cracking jokes at me, not on top of everything else . . ."
"Would you prefer a jailer?"
"No, no, you win, alright? It's time for my grand escape. I think somewhere close to Newhaven, but far away enough that the guards won't check there."
"It's not like you're choosing a house here, you know," Ryu retorted. "But beyond a mountain, maybe?"
"Yeah, that's it! To the ruined house beyond Mt. Futabi!" Bosch grinned maliciously. "But you'll have to carry the bin with me inside. Otherwise the guards'll catch me."
"What?" Ryu's jaw dropped in outrage. "No, you don't! This is going to be a long trip as it is! You owe me big time for this, Bosch!"
"Of course!" Bosch waved a hand nonchalantly. "So I left you more than half of that oh-so-yummy apple pie that Sylvia made for us."
"You cheater! We only got that yesterday, and you've already eaten that much?"
"Ah, calm down, Ryu. It was going to be eaten anyway, wasn't it? I just sped it up a little."
They continued to argue as Ryu collected his various pieces of equipment and found the remains of the pie. He ate a quarter of it then and there, and together with the now-finished cure-alls, wrapped them up and stored them in his bag. With a sigh, Bosch climbed back into the garbage bin.
"Let's go, buddy," he said, and unlocked the door.
Near dawn. Newhaven Gates. Newhaven.
Ryu put the trashcan down as he reached the gates, stretching in relief. Herbert was the only one he could see; the watchtowers stood unmanned. The Newhaven militia had always been low on numbers – it wasn't as if there was much need and there was competition with the Ranger's Guild – and it seemed that every spare man was on search duty. Not a wise move, but Ryu wasn't complaining.
"Whaddya got there, Ryu?" said Herbert, ambling over and squinting at it. "Garbage? At this time o' night?"
"Yeah, well, my room reeked pretty badly because of this lot. I have to dump it so I can clean properly."
"Eh, whatever you say, lad. We're supposed to be in lock-down, no one in, no one out, but it's important to be clean, I guess. At least, that's what my wife is always tellin' me. Don't see the point, myself – bit o' stink never hurt anyone, 'cept maybe a Creeper – but what can you do."
He walked to the small door set into the gates and, pulling a set of keys from his belt, unlocked it with a clank. As Ryu picked up the can again and lugged it past, he whispered, "Don't worry, I ain't stupid . I know that's Bosch in there, but he saved my hide once before. I figure this is my way of repaying him, so just go."
Ryu smiled and whispered back a quick 'thank you' as he left Newhaven.
Mid-morning. Mountain trail. Mt. Futabi.
Damn it, Bosch, you really need to lose some weight! Ryu thought as he finally made it to the eastern entrance of the Mt. Futabi trail. He dumped the can unceremoniously, ignoring the yelp this caused, and sent a quick prayer of thanks to Ladon. Taking a sip from his water-bottle, he passed it through to Bosch who handed it back after a few minutes of noisy guzzling. Ryu picked up the garbage bin again and, feeling more invigorated, started walking again.
Even with the new trail, it still took a few hours before they reached the ruined house.
"Finally! Some fresh air!" Bosch remarked as he scrambled out and took a deep breath.
"What are you complaining about?" Ryu grumbled. "You had it easy. All you had to do was sit there."
"Easy? You call breathing that damn stench easy?"
"I had to carry your fat ass here!" he said, covering his nose and mouth in mock disgust and trying to stifle his laughter.
"Ah, whatever. You win, alright?" Bosch sighed. Ryu uncovered his face and grinned.
"What'd all the ruckus out there?" called the voice of Niro irritably. "I was sleepin'!"
"We just came to pay you a visit, Niro," said Ryu with a smile, still in a teasing frame of mind. "Are we not welcome anymore?"
"In reality," Bosch interrupted, "I need a favour."
"Eh, I can tell this'll be long. Come inside." The two rangers followed him inside the dilapidated house, where Bosch explained his plight.
"I see . . . ," Niro mused. "So ye've been framed, then."
"Yes. I need to lay low for a while, and this is the best place."
"Well, it's no problem, but ya see, I'll need some help with things."
As he said this, dirt and a few small chunks of debris worked loose and fell from the roof. A crack in the wall spread another foot or so before their eyes.
"Help with repairs? Well, I'll do my best," Bosch said.
"Ya better work hard, or I'll open my trap! Har har har!"
"Seems this is where I stay for now," he said, turning towards his partner. "But I need you to find the bat-winged girl. I don't think going back to Newhaven would be a good idea after this, so you could try asking in Colossea. After all, there's a lot of shady characters in the Arena fights."
"You're right – if a girl with bat wings isn't shady, then I eat like the princess of Melodia."
Both rangers laughed giddily, the combined apprehension, relief at escaping and now sorrow over leaving making them light-headed. It might end up being months before they would see each other again, before they would go on a mission and beg pie from Sylvia.
"It'll take a few days, but at least I don't have to wait for a certain big-boned someone now." Ryu gave Bosch an ever-so-slightly wobbly smirk, and got a grimace in return.
"Hmph. Just scram, bluey."
"Haha. I'll stop by the Dragon God's statue, then I'll be on my way."
"You're always praying at that statue, buddy."
"Well, maybe you should do the same if you want your freedom back in a hurry."
"Point taken." Bosch smiled. "I'll drop him a few words later. Now go!"
Ryu grinned and after shaking hands with Niro, went out to the statue. "Lord Ladon," he murmured. "Thank you for the tip earlier."
~It was nothing. 'Ask, and it shall be granted', as they used to say.~
"I need to travel to Colossea and as I'm sure you know, it's a long journey on foot. I'd appreciate any spells or anything you know for running swifter, or not getting tired maybe?"
~You're getting lazy, Ryu,~ the god teased. ~Now you want me to fix all your problems for you? Tsk tsk.~
Ryu rolled his eyes. "Please, Lord Ladon."
~Oh, all right. In this area, there is a plant with red leaves and a large root that's vaguely man-shaped. It is called 'mandragora'. Keep chewing a piece of it on your way. It may be strong to the taste, but it will help you retain your stamina.~
"Thank you very much. Oh! I meant to say it earlier, but thanks as well for the new equipment I got of Marlok."
~Not a problem, Ryu. As for your encounter with the Manillo trader, thank Mammon for that. He felt that Marlok should learn the hard way what it means to be outwitted. He claimed that he had never been outsmarted in his life, did you know that? Anyway, I'll pass on your regards.~
"Thank you. I'll be going, then."
~Wait, Ryu!~ He turned back towards the statue, and noticed that the gems in its eyes were glowing. A tiny wisp of white – smoke? Mist? He wasn't sure – floated out from between the dragon's claws and imprinted itself on his right gauntlet, leaving a silvery impression of the Dragon's Tear.
~There,~ said the god, satisfied. ~If I do it like that, it won't count as a miracle. You didn't ask for it, after all.~
"Wow, thanks a lot, my lord!"
~You're welcome. Keep in mind, though, it is but a simple symbol. There's no blessing on it, and don't ask for one.~
"Aww." Ryu feigned a pout.
~Take what you're given and be grateful, kid. Beggars can't be choosers.~
"Yes, I know. Thank you very much for the gift and your advice."
It took a while, but eventually Ryu managed to locate a small patch of mandragora growing on the banks of a nearby creek. He rinsed off the dirt in the flowing water and, wincing as he sliced off an arm-like protrusion from the main root, stuck it in his mouth and started chewing. The juice was slightly sticky and the taste a little too bittersweet, but it wasn't as disgusting as he'd been expecting.
Ryu gave one more unseen wave goodbye to his friend before he turned and started towards Mt. Futabi.
~Well, technically I didn't lie to him . . .~ Ladon mused. ~It's in his nature to be steadfast, but unless he consciously awakens, I cannot tell him anything. True, the mandragora will give him a little more energy. But it is his passive powers that keep him tireless . . . and that power keeps him hungrier than a Woren. Such is the way of those I watch.~
Mid-day. Ruins. ?
The sun glinted off the carved stone of the Dragon God's statue as Bosch wiped his face and sat down cross-legged in front of it.
"Well, now, how am I supposed to address the Dragon God?" Bosch mumbled. "'O mighty dragon lord, heed my words', or something like that?"
~Nah. Just 'Lord Ladon' is fine enough.~
"Huh? Who – what?" he exclaimed, startled.
~Perhaps take a look at my statue, dog-boy?~ The hair on the back of Bosch's neck stood up as he saw the teeth-laden grin the statue was giving him. It twitched a whisker. ~There are too many skeptics these days. I had to start somewhere.~
"So you do exist, then?" he breathed.
~Yes, and you are Bosch the Grass Runner who they call dog-boy. You hate it when they call you that.~
Bosch frowned. "You're mocking me."
The statue waved a talon. ~I am a god, you know. I've existed for millions of years. Don't you think infinity gets a little boring after a while? So I find amusement where I can.~
For a second, his head spun as the memories of a thousand tricks, a thousand 'games', flashed before his eyes. "I promised Ryu I'd drop you a few words," he gasped, and his sight cleared.
~Ah, yes, Ryu. He does the best he can, you know. Everyone has their inner demons. Some unfortunates have outer ones, too.~
"Yes, I know." He looked down at his feet. "And I always got him into trouble. Anyway, I wanted to ask you a question."
~Speak, and I shall listen to thy words.~
"I know I'm not a believer of yours, but Ryu is even though he says he isn't. Please . . . watch over him. Keep him alive – I can't really imagine what life would be like without us together as a team."
~Vague words, but a strong sentiment. Don't worry. I will give him help where I can.~
"Thank you, Lord Ladon. I really appreciate it."
~You are welcome, Bosch.~
Mid-day. Rocko Bridge. Korocko region.
Ryu had been running steadily for hours now, but the muscles in his legs hadn't cramped yet and his breath still came easily. I guess that root did help after all, he thought, as he arrived at the wooden bridge spanning Rocko River.
On the other side were five figures. Four wore black armour and had the distinctive white wings of the Wing Clan, but he was surprised to realize that he recognized the last figure. It was John, a veteran of the Ranger's Guild who had briefly mentored them in armour and weapon care. Ryu walked closer and held up a hand in greeting.
"John! What are you doing here?"
"Hey, Ryu. I was assigned a local guide mission. You?"
"Guild business," he replied, making the shape of an hourglass with his fingers – Guild hand signal for needing to talk in private.
John nodded. "If you'll excuse me, ladies and gentlemen?" The Wyndian who seemed to be in charge nodded as well, and they took a respectful step backwards.
"I'm not sure if you've heard," Ryu whispered, "but Bosch was framed for breaking into Trout's manor last night. He's innocent, though I haven't got any hard evidence yet. I've got a few leads, though, and Bosch is working hard in a safe haven."
"Alright, I'll let the Chief know when I return to Newhaven," John whispered back. "Bosch is really working? I'd pay good zenny to see that pooch working his ass off. Any idea on who the real thief is?"
"Seems to be a bat-winged woman. She's damn quick – I saw her myself the same night. I'm going to Colossea to see if anything pops up over there."
"You might be on the right track there. One of the Wyndians was talking this morning about how he thought he'd seen something with wings in the trees by the Colossea road. We went to check, but if there was something there, it had gone by the time we arrived. Good luck with the search."
"Thanks, John."
As soon as it was clear that they had finished speaking, one of the soldiers, a woman with sharp eyes, approached him. "Wait," she said authoritatively. "Have you seen the Lady Mina?"
"Mina of Wyndia? A blue-haired girl with a pet piglet named Suzy?"
"The very same. How did you know about her pet, though?"
"My partner and I took on the job to find it after it fled. Swift little bugger, if you ask me."
The others chuckled. The sharp-eyed woman smiled briefly as she spoke again. "If only you knew . . . Do you know when she left Newhaven?"
"A few days ago, I think. Early in the morning, just after we brought Suzy back, I think. Why? Is there a problem?"
The woman seemed to be debating something for a couple of seconds, before coming to a conclusion and sighing. "She and her escorts were supposed to join us in Colossea last night, but we've had no word from any of them."
"Are there any bandits in this area?" asked the soldier who looked to be in charge. The Tear flickered between yellow and yellow-green as Ryu glanced at him. Uncertainty? "I'm thinking worst-case scenario."
"There's a group called the Joker Gang," said John, frowning. "They attack travelers, ransack farms, the usual small-minded crimes. It's very unlikely they'd mess with highly trained soldiers such as yours, Master Skye."
"I . . . see. What else is known about them?"
"Some of the townsfolk say that their hideout is in one of the abandoned silver mines of Mount Rokko. But no one's sure which ones, because there's so many of them, and since all the silver was mined out years ago, no one wants to risk finding something worse than thieves in there."
"For now, we will return to Newhaven," the man addressed as Skye said to the group. "Later, we'll find these bandits and check if they know anything about Mina. Thank you for your help, Master . . . ?"
"Bateson," said Ryu. "Ryu Bateson."
"Then thank you, Master Bateson. It has been a pleasure meeting you."
"Thank you as well, sir. But who am I addressing?"
"Davan Skye, of Wyndia." It was a simple introduction, but Ryu sensed there was more to Davan Skye than merely a sergeant of the Wyndian army. He had his own goals to achieve, though.
"Nice to meet you too, Mister Skye. But if you'll excuse me, I have to be going. Take care, John."
The moon was just starting to rise as Ryu caught sight of a lone farmstead within walking distance of another major bridge, this one connecting the south- and north-east continents. It had been a relatively easy journey, with only a few monsters that had tried to bother him – mainly the swarms of giant tsetse flies, though a mantrap plant had decided it wanted to take a bite out of him – and they had been easily dealt with.
Ryu felt like he could keep running for days yet, but his stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since that wild peach tree he had found on the way. He decided to stop at the farmstead and ask to rent a room for the night.
As he got closer, though, he could see that something was drastically wrong. Blood and entrails were splattered across the grassy paddock, along with various pieces of what might have once been a cow. Another was pulling at the rope tethering it, showing the whites of its eyes and bellowing frantically. Someone inside the house was screaming.
Sword in hand, Ryu kicked the door open and stormed in. Four men with red hoods obscuring their faces were threatening the defiant farmer, who held up his pitchfork in an almost futile protection of his wife and children.
The Tear burned the same dark red as his boiling blood. The thieves had no qualms over killing those defenseless, and he drew his mithril dagger, throwing it at the closest. Blood spurted as it struck the thief's neck and he toppled over.
The other three spun around as they heard their comrade's dying gasps. The farmer took the opportunity to lunge forward, stabbing the prongs of his makeshift weapon into a bandit's back as though the man were no more than a bale of hay.
Ryu leapt forward at the same time, swinging his sword in a wide arc that lopped off an arm. As the thief came at him, dagger in his other hand, Ryu punched him in the nose and stabbed him as he screamed and clutched at his face.
The scream cut off abruptly. Only one left. The last bandit growled, baring his teeth, before running for the door. Ryu swiftly retrieved his dagger and threw it at the thief's back. As he turned, Ryu followed it up with a slash across the heart.
The only sounds were the soft hiss of blowing dust and the tinkle of falling coins as the dead bodies disintegrated.
"Thank you, stranger," said the farmer, leaning the pitchfork against the wall.
"It was nothing, really," Ryu replied as he bent down and picked up his mithril dagger again. "I was just passing through. But that was strange, though . . . I'm sure they were people, and yet they vanished like monsters . . ."
"These days are strange, aye," suggested the wife. "It must be St. Eva's punishment for being bad people."
"Perhaps. In any case, they left some zenny behind. Please keep it, for repairs and a new cow."
"Did something happen to Brownie?" whimpered one of the children, but her mother hushed her and took them off to bed.
"I'm Ryu Bateson, a ranger from Newhaven," he offered.
"Saved by a ranger, thanks to St. Eva," said the wife as she came back in. "Our prayers have kept us safe. We were so scared for our children."
"It's no problem, I insist," Ryu said, feeling a little uneasy around such a fervent Eva believer. "If you have a spare room, I'd be willing to pay to use it, though. I've been travelling all day."
"Yes, we have another bed. Please, don't worry about paying us – our lives are safe. St. Eva would not look kindly on us if we were to ask money after you saved us."
The farmer led him to a room out the back with a small but clean bed. Ryu thanked him and pulled out a rag from his pack, wiping it gently over his sword and dagger to remove the remaining blood. He washed his hands with a trickle of water from his water-bottle and after eating and saying a quick prayer to the Dragon God, went to sleep.
The farmer and his family were already up and working when Ryu woke up at sunrise the next morning. He ate breakfast that had been provided for him, insisted that they take a few coins as payment for the meal at the very least, and left.
Things were getting stranger with every day that passed, and Colossea, looming on the horizon, was his best bet for answers.
- o -
You! What a nerve! You are forbidden from performing miracles in Asparia, Dragon God, and you know it!+
~So? It wasn't a miracle. Just a drawing without a blessing.~
+It's the same thing!+
~No, a miracle is when you use part of your essence. You of all people should know this, Myria. And you know our law – 'Ask and it shall be granted'. That is our destiny as Endless.~
+So what? It ended up being the same in the end! And the boy didn't ask!+
#Sister, he is right. He just called upon the world's magic to perform the engraving rather than doing it from here. If he had blessed it, then this situation would be very different. As it is, it is not.#
+Hmph! Fine! I'll let it pass for now, Deis.+
#This matter is now settled. Peace be with both of you, Ladon and Myria.#
- o -
End Chapter 03.
Author's Notes:
- I'm assuming that Ryu's knapsack is some kind of 'black hole' that allows him to put items easily and he will not have to lose too much time looking something from it. Kind of a "Pokemon backpack" where you can fit a bicycle :)
- Ryu's a dragon, and tends to eat like one... with Katt-Lin will make for nice situations. Well... also Ryu's got a craving for apples, apple-pie, and the such...
- Review and give a piece of your mind, please.
Special Thanks:
- Ryusui, for his Retranslation.
- Lady 'Kestre Wynde' from ; your proof-reading has helped me to understand about English language and improving the quality of my writing. Thank you very much.