Author's Note: I'll get around to updating this whenever I have the chance between college and life, but for a while I hope this first chapter will suffice. This is my first published Ragnarok storyline, so please be brutally honest in your reviews so I might improve on my style. You may have noticed many changes/edits made to this chapter over a short period of time if you've checked back; however I am finally satisfied with it in its current state, so I declare Chapter 01 finalized. As such, I will begin work on Chapter 02, and have it up for your viewing pleasure as soon as possible with my busy schedule.
Ragnarok Online and any associated trademarks in this story are owned solely by Gravity Corp. Any likenesses to real people, dead or alive, or real events in this story are purely coincidence.
Chapter Status: Final Version
Chapter 01
The Hit
The sun rose on the desert town of Morroc, casting its warm blessing upon the domed top of the town hall. The harsh winds of the night died down as an orange glow filled parts of the sky, painting the clouds nearest the sun. A lone Assassin leaned against an arched gate on the side of the town hall, slowly opening his emerald eyes to the faint glint that peered over the walls surrounding Morroc. He sighed to himself and stepped out of the shadow of the arch, his form becoming visible to any would-be watchers.
The Assassin held the common appearance of "Assassin" in Midgard: a scarf wrapped securely about his neck and flowing down his back to just above his knees, and a maroon tunic bound to his chest by a rust-colored jerkin and several cloth wrappings that seemed to wrap around him several times, forming some sort of pattern for reasons known only to the Assassins themselves. However, his scarf differed slightly in that it was a crimson color as opposed to the traditional burgundy or violet. The bottom of the tunic was visible and parted deliberately to allow for more flexibility, and the darkened leather pants he donned ended at his shoes, outfitted with two sleek blades that ran from his heels up to the backs of his ankles.
He ran a hand through his spiky silver hair as he took in the morning's coming warmth. He was eager to be done with his rounds through the town so that he might away to the desert, the one place where he always felt at peace. The Sograt Desert has long been the source of myths and tales of mysteries concealed beneath the shifting sands, but to this particular Assassin, it had a spirit of serenity. As he began to walk down toward the town's center, another Assassin materialized behind him, as if from thin air. This shadow put a hand on the other's shoulder.
"Syffer, there's a hit down in the channels."
Syffer came to a halt and nodded.
"I understand," he responded.
•••••
It was that same morning she would arrive in town. Who was she? She was a Creator, though not exactly your average one. She passed through the town gate and began making her way to the marketplace. She stuck out like a sore thumb against the drab Morroc setting, attired in typical female Creator clothing: white blouse with a pale blue trim, and a white mantle which enveloped her down to her midsection. Her long, wavy hair was also a wintry white, flowing down to rest on her shoulders. A Romantic Gent hat sat on her brow, tipped down to conceal her face slightly. She wore a short linen skirt that left much of her legs visible, and on her feet she wore a standard set of brown shoes.
There were two peculiar things about her, however. She did not pull a cart behind her as would be expected of anyone who followed the career path of the Merchant, be it a Blacksmith or an Alchemist. Instead, she had a messenger-style bag looped over one shoulder, held at her side. Also protruding from a pocket on her chest was a vibrantly colored flower: the Valhalla's Flower, its colors greatly visible against her light-colored clothing. The flower was obtainable only one way so far as any Norman knew, and that would be by defeating the Randgris Valkyrie. If that was truly what she did or not, it remains unknown. In any case, she kept her amber-eyed gaze straight in front of her, expression stoic, nearing the marketplace.
•••••
An hour had passed, and the sun's glow illuminated the ancient pyramid rising from the sands to the southeast of Morroc. Inside, Syffer followed his associate through the torch-lit passages of the ruin, coming to a concealed flight of stairs that led down to a more open room. His eyes hazed over for a moment, and a yawn escaped his lips. Thoughts of days long past had troubled him throughout the night, dismissing any hopes of sleep. His accomplice took little notice, coming as no surprise to Syffer. The majority of the Assassin Guild's membership was not partial to showing concern for the trivial or mundane. Syffer pulled up his mask over his mouth as he examined the turnout for this latest hit.
Many of the Assassin Crosses were out on much larger hits, such as corrupted political leaders and the like, though there were two present for this particular job. One was a respected Cross among the guild who always kept a cheery air about him despite his darker career choice. The other was an arrogant bull of a man who saw very few as fitting to speak to. Syffer simply narrowed his eyes at him, as he approached "The Chief", who was busy pulling up the file for the eager Assassins gathered around his desk.
The Chief was a man with an interesting background. A lot of the rookies and less-seasoned Assassins once referred to him as "Old Man", because he had a good 55 years on Midgard and a small few knew his true name. The veteran had greying brown hair and a multitude of scars across his arms and face. The chiseled features of his face had begun to droop with age, yet he still kept a toned physique, not ready to submit to atrophy just yet. He had recently been chosen to direct training and mission assignment in the Assassin Guild in Morroc's desert due to his experience in the field as a talented Assassin Cross. The Chief was viewed as a mentor to many of the young Thieves in the Thief Guild situated in a similar pyramid headquarters to the far northwest of its counterpart guild, and as such, most of them pursued the path of the Assassin, rather than the way of the deviant Rogue.
About five of the killers waited intently to get the intel, a couple newly appointed from Thieves. They seemed anxious to prove themselves to the rest of the guild.
"Alright, back up and give me some breathing room. Here's the file we've got on Solstice." The Chief spoke in an even, calmed tone.
One of the rookies commented on the fact that intelligence had actually gotten a name—intelligence has been the butt of many a joke, earnestly needing some talented new agents—this time, which The Chief responded to with a quick glare.
"Hey wise-ass, you want the dirt or not?"
The rookie sealed his lips and rolled his eyes while Syffer stepped forward and spoke in a quiet tone.
"Well, let's hear the info."
The Chief smiled wryly at Syffer, having expected the young man's focus on the task at hand.
•••••
Oblivious to what was soon to come, Solstice went about her normal shopping; her soft smile assured any casual glances in her direction of her innocent nature. During the hour she had been in Morroc, she had already bought several vials and other supplies for her job and had spent some time mixing various acids and explosives. When she was finished, her smile faded only to be replaced by a sly grin. She had found it very convenient that the news of the destruction she had left in Alberta hadn't reached Morroc. It made her intention all the easier to fulfill. One hand rested lightly on the cover of her satchel while the other hung at her side, holding seven vials, one between her thumb and index finger, the others split two between each finger. There was something she wanted from one of the merchants in the market place, something she'd been seeking for a long time. She fully intended to get it by any, preferably the cheapest, means necessary.
Taking a moment to straighten her blue and white skirt, she turned and started back towards the marketplace, specifically the stall that contained the item she sought. The people around her were so completely unaware of what was to come, she couldn't help but chuckle.
'I'm just taking what I need. Why should I feel bad about it when they'd no sooner give of themselves to help those truly in need?'
The girl brushed the thoughts of guilt aside and steeled herself for what had to be done.
•••••
Syffer stepped through the gates of Morroc, reflecting on the preceding events. The Chief had been very uneasy about this hit, warning the Assassins that this woman was by all standards an extremely dangerous arsonist.
"One female Biochemist, long white hair, white and blue clothing. She hauls no cart, and has an exotic flower on her chest. Did a great deal of damage to Alberta, and cost the shipping industry a nice heap of zeny. She currently has a reward of 2.5 million zeny on her head, and word has it that she's headed for Morroc even as we speak."
The Assassins had all just stared at the Chief, before one novice cutthroat spoke in a skittish voice,
"A Biochemist? Er, aren't those the Alchemists that can make acid and explosives?"
Hardly fitting a guild of trained killers, the new recruits and even a few of the veterans had become awkwardly quiet, none eager to volunteer to a mission that risked third-degree burns.
After much time considering all the factors, Syffer had decided that he would be the one to put down this girl with a fascination for fireworks.
"I'll go."
The Chief had glanced at Syffer, as did the skilled Assassin Crosses who were debating taking the job as a pair.
"Syffer, I know that you rose through the ranks faster than most of us have seen, but I think you might be a little in over your head here." Concern was apparent in The Chief's voice, fearful that Syffer was underestimating his opponent.
The Assassin had shaken his head.
"No, I think that I should be the one to make an example of this girl. Rune-Midgard has enough issues and hardships without some woman running around playing with matches."
The Chief wouldn't say anything for the longest time, seeing the determination in the silver-haired Assassin's eyes. After a long silence, he had groaned and tossed a Butterfly Wing at Syffer.
"If you're that adamant about it, take this. I suggest you use that and get back to town as quickly as you can before she causes anymore damage. Remember, bring back a token of the kill, and the reward is all yours."
He had known why the young Assassin had taken such a personal interest in this mission, though the rest of his colleagues were oblivious.
As Syffer sighted the populous of Morroc, he faded into the shadows, making sure his presence was known not even by the citizens. Cloaking his way through the streets, he darted his eyes around in search of the culprit, intent on finishing this job quickly so that he might return to his solitude in the desert.
•••••
He wouldn't have to do much searching. She revealed herself in the form of a loud explosion over in the marketplace. People were scattering in panic to get away from the cause of the explosion, the Creator known as Solstice. She stood in front of the fiery wreckage of the merchant's stand caused by only one of the vials she held between her fingers, the wicked grin still on her face. Her eyes focused on the item that lay on the ground amongst some smoldering timber, the one she was searching for. It was a rare and powerful Talefing sword, with a blade forged of an eerie purple material which gave off a faint glow, and the capacity for four card-bindings. She knelt down and picked the sword up, stowing it safely inside her satchel.
Spires shot up from the ground behind Solstice, one of the stone spikes hooking the collar of her cloak. Grimtooth, the sign of an Assassin arrived upon the scene. Her grin faded as someone dared to confront her, head turning towards the source of the attack, eyes narrowing. Syffer spent no time speaking, giving a moment's glance to Solstice before charging, vanishing in a cloud of smoke. A true Assassin should not be concerned with appearance, reputation, or making a drawn out entrance with snide remarks and flashy gimmicks. All that mattered right then was killing the criminal as quickly as possible. Syffer stopped on one foot at the girl's side, coming out of his cloak and spinning on his foot to set his other in front, crossing his katars and slicing at the woman's shoulder blade. He had intended to completely take off the Creator's arm, thus releasing the satchel in which she stored her stolen goods.
Solstice's grin returned as she watched the Assassin rush at her.
'So this guy wants to play, does he? I really should be on my way, but I suppose I can humor him for a while.'
As fast as an Assassin herself, she reached up and unclasped the mantle around her neck, releasing the cape's hold on her. Nimbly she ducked away, leaving only a hair's breath between her arm and the katars. A mere second or two later, a red vial was thrown to the ground where it exploded, sending the spire she was trapped against and its surrounding area ablaze with chemical flames.
Syffer reached into his sleeve and pulled three envenomed daggers out, flinging them at Solstice as he turned around and backslid toward her. Disappearing again, the Assassin reappeared at Solstice's side, preparing to slash his katars at her hamstring to slow her pace some. The crowded marketplace soon dispersed and made a perimeter for the two combatants, all eyes on the heated battle. Solstice tossed her remaining five fire bottles to the ground in a circle around her, forming a protective barrier of flames. The Creator's free hand suddenly flew out of her satchel, gripping the jagged, purple blade and deflecting the envenomed daggers at the last minute. Syffer nearly lost his footing as he attempted to make a sudden change in direction, leaping from the blaze before he could execute his attack. He winced and cursed in pain as the flames licked his legs while he leaped to safety, singeing his pants. The sudden burning sensation broke Syffer's focus, revealing him as his cloaking faded.
Solstice took delight in the tide the battle was flowing in, seeing the Assassin scrambling to even keep on his feet. As soon as Syffer became visible once again, she withdrew a card from a side pocket on her satchel. It was a white and blue card, much like her clothing, and left a trail of sparkling ice flakes in the air, which evaporated quickly. She bound the card to the flat side of the Talefing's blade, causing it to glow eerily. Syffer watched intently for the flames to begin subsiding, and upon seeing the first flicker, he made another dash at her in an effort to keep on the offensive. Solstice flung another vial directly at him, different from the others, filled with a dark green liquid.
'Acid,' Syffer thought.
His eyes widened as the vial approached him, but he halted himself quickly, spinning around on one foot firmly to let the vial fly past. Taking the opportunity, he sliced his own vial open quickly, focusing his energy before seeping the still airborne contents into his katar blades, snickering as he enchanted his blades with poison.
'No matter how strong she is, if I can land just one good hit on her, I'll at least stand a chance.'
Syffer turned to face away from Solstice, taking a deep breath in the hopes that his maneuver would work. The woman watched her attacker curiously, reaching into her satchel just to be safe. She began to dig through the contents of the bag, smirking as her fingers rested on another acid bottle. Taking another slide back to position himself behind her, Syffer whirled around and jabbed his right katar dead-on into Solstice's side, hoping the poison would do his work for him over time.
A voice in Solstice's head suddenly threw off her concentration, leaving her wide open to receive the blow to the side. She hissed in pain as her side was pierced by the poisoned weapon. She had been warned that the town guards were coming and thinking quickly, she turned to kick the Assassin away and held the glowing Talefing in the air, her free hand holding her side. Syffer grunted as he took the foot to the stomach, which sent him flying back. He caught his breath and firmly planted his feet on the street, sliding to a stop in time to avoid colliding with a small child clutching his mother's side as they looked on. He sighed in relief, noting the danger that this fight posed to Morroc's inhabitants. The Assassin took on an attack stance once more, glancing down at the fresh blood now dripping from his right katar. The Creator's blood gave Syffer's weapon a grotesquely pleasing gleam in the sun, the sign that the crippling venom had hit its mark.
'I don't have time to play around with this Assassin,' Solstice thought. 'If I'm caught here, everything I've done will have been in vain. Time to make a break for it.'
For the first time, Solstice spoke, gritting her teeth through the searing pain.
"Knight of Windstorm, grant me your power! Storm Gust!"
A second after the last word, she sliced through the air with the Talefing in a downward slash. A tempest suddenly swirled to life above them, hail, sleet, and snow barraging down upon the area, making visibility almost zero. It was this she would use as cover to make her escape. The townspeople pulled back in fear of being caught in the freezing winds.
Syffer quickly hid as he saw the spell sweep over him, nullifying its effects; yet he could still feel the sting of the arctic winds brushing his face, causing him to cringe. He cursed as he squinted through and saw the girl sprinting toward Morroc's gates, and he eagerly anticipated the dying of the storm.
'This woman is going to hurt innocent civilians if this fight keeps up. Damn it, I'll have to let her go for now and track her down once she's made her way to a remote locale.'
Syffer sighed at his own thoughts, realizing that it was in the best interest of the people of Morroc to let this particular bounty go free for the time being. Syffer cleared his mind and, finding his opening, dashed rapidly as if powered by pure adrenaline all the way to Solstice's side, his more devious nature surfacing.
'I'll just mess with her head before I let her get away,' Syffer thought with a wide grin.
Solstice groaned as she turned her head and spotted the Assassin pursuing her, scowling at his persistence.
"Haven't you learned your lesson yet?"
"You fight well. Doesn't seem like I can beat you just yet, but here's a going-away present from me, until we meet again."
The Assassin braced himself directly in front of Solstice, crossing his katars over his face as his eyes glowed. A runic red symbol shone in front of him before fading before the Creator's eyes, a character signifying a final strike. Syffer dashed into Solstice, seeming to go through her, possibly an illusion. She gasped and braced herself for the Sonic Blow, her reactions not nearly at peak with the poison hindering her reflexes. Several slashes gleamed in the air around her, leaving a few cuts on her legs and arms, slits in her garments, and altogether glancing her. It seemed surprising that Syffer didn't do any critical damage to the Creator girl, suddenly standing behind her with a smug look as he lowered his weapons.
"Well, perhaps this will suffice for now."
When no finishing blow came, Solstice whirled around to face Syffer and to see what exactly he was talking about. Her eyes widened at what she witnessed, blood rushing to her cheeks and lighting her face up to a bright red. Never had she felt such disgrace, and with all the eyes of the inhabitants of Morroc looking on, she felt like she just wanted to crawl into a hole. Syffer held one of his katars up, a laced white bra hanging from the tip of the blade. The girl braved a look just to be certain, pulling her blouse away from her chest slightly and glancing down at her bosom. Sure enough, it was gone. Syffer threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh that filled the streets, stowing the garment in his pocket.
She let out a cry of embarrassment and blushed deeply out of humiliation and anger, the pride of having bested him in battle all but gone from her mind.
"Y-you bastard!"
She wanted to teach the dirty lecher of an Assassin a lesson right there on the spot, but in her weakened state and with the guards fast approaching, Solstice found it more reasonable to escape. She lifted her Talefing, pointing the tip at him, growling lowly.
"I'll be seeing you later. I won't forget what you did to me! I'll make you pay for this indignity, count on it!"
With that final threat, she bolted off into the crowd. The citizens of Morroc looked on and began to fill the air with the sounds of their speculation on what had just occurred. Some of the desert-town inhabitants even cheered at the Assassin's display of combat.
Still chuckling, Syffer headed back for the Assassin Guild office, holding the bra in hand with a wry smile before tucking it away again. As he passed by the concerned citizens, Syffer raised his hand and assured them that everything was under control, and that the Assassin Guild was working diligently to ensure Morroc's security. Morroc seldom saw such excitement, essentially a tranquil town. Syffer's thoughts shifted over to that very sentiment as he passed through the town gates. Most of his missions took him far from his quiet desert, far from the rolling dunes and into the heart of the Rune-Midgard realm. Hearing of a disturbance in the peace of the small town he inhabited had vexed Syffer, though he had not shown it in the office earlier that day.
It wasn't until he was halfway to the pyramid that he realized how long he'd been walking. He paused for a moment, scanning the horizon in all directions for his bounty and opponent from earlier. It came as no surprise that she was nowhere to be seen. Syffer smirked as he became more aware of his own body; his heart was still pounding from the engagement, his mouth was dry, and he could feel the adrenaline rushing through his system. Solstice had presented him with quite a challenge, something Syffer had been unaccustomed to for quite some time.
'Then again, I don't usually take the difficult missions. Maybe it's time I start raising my standards.'
Reflecting on these thoughts, Syffer still could not move past the excitement he had felt going toe to toe with the Creator.
The Assassin groaned and scratched the back of his head as he realized that his mind was just going in circles, the adrenaline likely making it hard to think straight. He watched his footfalls leaving wakes in the sand behind him, taking a deep breath as he finally reached the pyramid entrance, delving into the ancient labyrinth.
"Time to go break the news, I suppose."
Upon arriving at the office, the others looked up at him, some from before he went on the mission and a few new arrivals back from their jobs. They had been discussing the hit on Solstice, saying that Syffer was a dead man when he walked in.
"Well I'll be damned," One of his associates said with a grin.
"Look who's back in one piece. Did you take her out?" Another asked, having heard the story from the rookies present earlier.
Syffer shook his head.
"No, she's a tough one alright. She gave me quite a hard time before she took off. I think I presented her with a challenge though, since I'm still alive. I'm afraid that reward's going to no one today, Chief."
The Chief groaned as some other Assassins speculated on what had happened.
"On the bright side," Syffer began, "while I didn't get her head, I did get this off of her."
With those words the Assassin lifted her undergarment into the air for all to see, and a few of them laughed loudly.
"Quite a prize!" shouted one of the Assassins before laughing at the trophy.
Syffer stowed it away again and sighed. The Chief looked over at a bare wall and nodded.
"Send the scouts out again, we need to see where she's headed to next."
An Assassin Cross materialized on the wall The Chief was talking to and simply grunted, shifting back into the shadows. Syffer headed up the stairs to leave, The Chief calling after him. Syffer hesitated to see what he wanted.
"Oh... never mind, it's nothing. Good work out there today, kid." Syffer smiled and nodded, leaving the office, the sound of his comrades still raving about the opportunity to obtain the generous bounty on Solstice lingering in his ears. The Chief watched him as he disappeared up the stairs, sighing deeply as he wondered what was bothering the boy.
On his way up the stairs, Syffer felt a hand rest on his shoulder, and he turned to see one of his companions from a few missions back. Syffer had been on many missions with this fellow before, and as such, said companion knew much of Syffer's capabilities. He had a solemn expression on his face, and ran his free hand through his red hair nervously.
"Hey, I have to ask you man, before you go. Why didn't you take her out? I know you could have."
His solemn look faded and was soon replaced by a teasing smirk.
"Don't tell me... you're going all soft on us? For some girl?"
Syffer just laughed lightly and shook his head before responding.
"No, there were just too many people gathered around and she was using some powerful spells. I was afraid if I pushed her too far she'd really hurt someone. Remember, we pride ourselves on making the kill undetected; though it was already too late for that, I certainly wasn't going to bring an innocent bystander into harm's way."
The Assassin released Syffer's shoulder and nodded slowly, glancing at the burn marks on his friend's clothes and the exhausted expression that he fought to conceal.
"She was that damn strong, huh?"
He put his arms up and rested his hands on the back of his head, sighing. Syffer looked back up the stairway.
"Yeah, she caused quite a commotion. That's why I'm thinking of following her. She's far too dangerous to leave alone. The woman is as agile as an Assassin, as cunning as a Rogue, and has the destructive skills of a Biochemist."
At these words, his comrade watched him ascend the stairs, the air around them suddenly serious and tense.
"You're going to leave the desert?"
Syffer didn't slow his pace.
"Perhaps. I'll have to talk it over with The Chief. Make sure you don't let word of this get out to anyone though."
The Assassin simply leaned back against the wall and nodded, saying nothing. He knew that Syffer didn't need to hear him say it. As Syffer disappeared at the top of the steps, his companion cloaked back into the shadows.
•••••
The winds swept the sands from dune to dune, making the ground travelers walk on ever-changing and unreliable. Fortunately for the accomplished Creator, this is no hindrance, as they are able to form their own summoning circles without the use of drawn markings that the Alchemist relies on. Solstice held the bottle of plant components above her head and stretched her other arm out in front of her, a small summoning circle rune appearing on the back of her right hand. Within a few moments, the ground beneath her shone brilliantly with the same design, though much larger in scale. The girl tossed her bottle out into the center, where it began floating and revolving rapidly.
"Powers of nature, art of Alchemy, turn this plant bottle into two flora servants! Let life be born from these, your ingredients of matter!"
The container gave off a blinding light before shattering, leaving broken glass strewn about, and two Parasite creatures. The summoning circle faded and Solstice smirked, examining her creations before clearing her throat.
The beings were unusual indeed, bearing a resemblance to small unclothed children with green hair who sat upon leaves growing out from vine-entangled logs. With impish smiles and childish laughter, the plant creatures obediently awaited their mistress' orders. Solstice pointed a finger out to the surrounding desert and spoke in an assertive voice.
"Alright, you two go out and gather as many red herbs from the surrounding plant and animal life as you can. Bring the herbs back to me posthaste."
With that the synthetic beings crept across the sand on their vines, searching for their creator's requested items. Once they were out of sight, Solstice fell back against a nearby boulder in pain, the wound on her side again troubling her.
"Damn that Assassin. If I ever see him again, I'll pay him back for this in spades."
The Creator removed her satchel from around her shoulder and set it on the ground, digging through its contents for some bandages. She brushed a tress of ghostly hair from her face and wiped her brow, the loss of blood making her weary. Her eyes lit up as she found a nearly spent roll of wrappings, taking every last inch of the fabric in her hand.
'Hope I don't need bandages again soon.'
Lifting her blouse out of the way, Solstice examined the wound, a grimace coming across her features as she saw her own flesh torn asunder. The blood had soaked through the right side of her blouse, leaving a large red border around the torn fabric where Syffer's katar had penetrated. She swallowed the sick feeling in her throat and began wrapping the bandages around her torso carefully, wincing in discomfort and sighing in relief when finished.
"That should keep it from getting infected at least."
No sooner had she finished tending to her wounds than her Parasites returned to her, bearing handfuls of red herbs.
"Ah, there you are. Good job you two."
Solstice smiled as she took the herbs and placed them in a medicine bowl to grind up into potion. She looked up at the sky as she ground her herbs, looking for the sun's position in the sky to get her bearings straight.
"Once I get some medicine in my system, I've got to make my way to Geffen. Can't come back to Morroc so long as that damn Assassin is around, and if he's tailing me, he probably thinks I'm headed to Prontera next."
Solstice chuckled and took a gulp of red potion, almost instantly revitalizing her. She bottled the rest and stowed it in her satchel while she stood, gazing out at the horizon as her Parasites returned to the elements. She cringed as the sickly feeling continued to plague her, the aftereffects of Syffer's poison most likely.
"Damn it, I don't have any green herbs. I'll have to pick one up on the way to Geffen."
As Solstice began to set off, she heard a barking sound beside her. She glanced down to her side to see a lone desert wolf puppy, yipping at the Creator with tail wagging. She smiled widely and put her hands on her knees as she admired the pup, her heart melting in adoration of the baby.
"Oh, aren't you just adorable! Where's your momma, little guy?"
With a happy bark, the pup leaped up and clamped its jaws down on Solstice's skirt, its weight dragging the fabric down. She gave a shriek and clutched her skirt firmly, distress apparent on her features as she played tug-of-war with her skirt.
"Hey, what did I ever do to you?! Let go, I've lost one too many articles of clothing already today!"
She gave a wailing sob as she tried to shake off the wolf puppy.
"Why is everything bad happening to me today?!"
•••••
Out on the desert, the noon sun hung in the sky, the desert winds picking up again to sculpt the ocean of sand. Syffer sat on a high boulder overlooking the dunes, a smirk on his face.
"Quite a world out there, with so many characters to meet. She'll definitely be trouble for me though, but I can't allow her to continue doing these things. I'll just have to... become stronger."
The Assassin stood, gazing up into the sky with a light laugh.
"Perhaps it's time for a change of scenery. I really need to see the world."
He pulled a small cross on a necklace from inside his tunic, and gave it a longing glance before returning it to his tunic with a sigh.
"He always did want me to travel the land and do my part…"
Syffer chuckled as he pictured the mortified look on his bounty's face.
"Had I followed his legacy, I likely would have crossed paths with her anyway."
He ran a hand through his hair and stared off into the distance, the desert winds brushing his cheek. His thoughts dwelled on the girl from earlier, and be it driven by a sense of justice or curiosity as to her identity, Syffer made his decision. His quiet, insightful front gave way to his devious nature once more, a wry smile forming on his lips.
"Solstice, hmm? It's been a while since I've had this much fun with my hits."
As his words faded into the desert air, Syffer disappeared into thin air, his smile remaining for a moment before vanishing altogether.