Yo! Hows everybody doin? Me? I am doin ok, anyway before I begin this chap I'd like to thank the people who reviewed the last chap: Aki, Bynon, White shadow, Sacrificial hero. Thanks people and I also want to explain something to bynon before I begin, just wanted to explain that the stars of destiny who were at Leona's bar were not of Pesmerga's level of power or so I think, the big shots like Flik, Victor and Humphry weren't there, it was only the people I named but if I am mistaken and some them r as powerful as Pesmerga then I was unjust to them and I'll try to fix my mistake.
Now lets begin sound of gun being loaded
Snake: aren't you forgetting something?
M2D: suikoden is the property of Konami I am making no money of this fic raising both of his hands in the air
Snake: good…
M2D: with that over, lets begin…
Flames of yellow and red burned violently upon the torches of Dragon castle's warehouse. Shedding a few drops of light on the ocean of darkness that ruled most of the area, giving the gift guidance in the dark hallway made of paved stones that reflected the light of the torches, helping to spread the light along. Giving the ones that walked through them a more peaceful journey between the rock paved walls.
If anyone walked the right distance, they could see an opening in the wall to their right and that's where the warehouse was. Guarded by none other than Barbara, she stood there most of the time getting whatever anyone wanted in or out of storage. Wearing her usual orange dress, covering half of her brown hair with a cloth and keeping a grim look on her face, to chase away any kid who wanted to sneak in to the Castle's storage unnoticed.
Stillness and silence loomed over the warehouse area; it appeared that even the rats decided not to shatter the soundless barrier with their squeaks. Barbara yawned, it seemed it would be yet another day for her to stand idly there and do nothing. She missed the old days when she used to have a lot of work to do, mainly storing what Riou had brought back from his adventures, but now it was once a week that she really had to work and that's to store food for the castle restaurant or some extra weapons that weren't needed. If she hadn't already made arrangements with somebody who wanted to pick up a certain item, she would have stayed in her room all day, she yawned loudly, boredom could be noticed all over her face.
"I can see that lots of people are bored today" spoke a voice from the darkness of the castle storage, destroying the barrier of silence that coved the area that was only wavered by the crackling of torches burning flames before.
Barbara turned from left to right a worried look on her face, thinking it's a thief or something of the like, next to her she noticed a wooden stick she grabbed it. Just incase she needed to lay a storm of pain on the thief's head, and while at it she swiped a torch from its handle on the wall, to better see in this barely lighted area.
"Who's there???!!! Show you yourself!!!" said the women in charge of guarding the warehouse while swinging the stick in her hand at the air. Trying to strike fear into anyone daring to try and steal from her precious storage.
"Do you treat all your customers this way?" the voice came again, but armed with a torch this time Barbara could see that the owner of the voice was a pale girl in a white dress with a lazy smile on her face.
"Oh…Sierra" sighed the women obviously glad it was the customer she awaited and not a thief.
"Don't go sneaking around here ya here! You almost gave me a heart attack!" said the Women as she walked into the warehouse to get what her customer ordered, throwing the stick away as she entered.
Sierra only giggled lightly at the orange clad women's comment, as she waited for her, she could hear the sound of many locks clicking and the sound of chains hitting the floor. Only to be followed by the unpleasant sound of a creaking iron door and from that sound anyone could tell it was rusted.
It only took a few seconds for the brown haired to reappear holding a giant slab of meat in one of her arms. The other was still carrying the torch, obviously it helped her see better when she was in the dark storage room, she handed the piece of meat to Sierra as she walked towards torch's grip on the wall, and got busy reattaching the torch she snatched out of fear.
"Thanks alot" said the vampiress, her voice coated in a mixture of happiness and wickedness, a grin like smile appearing on her face.
"Yeah sure, look I know it's not my business what you…" as Barbara turned around to continue what she was saying to the girl clad in a white, she found no one there, she turned her head to the left and to the right and saw nothing but the darkness. It seems that her mysterious customer left in the same way she came.
The sun was shinning brightly outside of Dragon Castle. Its rays barely disrupted by the thin white clouds that floated in the ocean above us we call the sky. Many sounds were heard, the sound of birds singing a morning melody to all who walk the courtyard of the castle, the sound of people chatting discussing daily issues or talking to merchants, trying to take hold of a price that would not hurt their budget for whatever they plan to buy. Some did not bother with idle talk and spent their time honing their fighting skills like the two kobolds Gengen and Gabocha, the older one being Gengen was noticeable because of his bigger build, light brown fur and a simple green tunic with a sword in hand, the younger kobold Gabocha was the one with short white fur and dark brown ears, wearing regular cloths that civilian kobolds usually wore, the kobold warrior was obviously teaching his apprentice the way of the sword, the younger kobold watched eagerly as his senior did a few basic swings that seemed to fill the young pup with joy.
But not all were into talking or training; some were just enjoying the weather and resting like the young boy sitting under a tree, he was wearing a yellow tunic while his neck was covered in a red scarf, armed with a self made yet fine bow and a quiver of arrows behind his back. That was the Woodsman Kenssion and next to him was his faithful companion Shiro, the wolf-dog hybrid was lying under the tree next to his master enjoying the soft breeze that ran through his white fur. The white beast yawned and turned his head to take a glimpse of his master, who was soundly sleeping under the tree's relaxing shadow.
Deciding to give into slumber as well, Shiro lowered his head, only to raise it once more, catching the sweet smell of fresh meat with his sensitive nose. He quickly got up and ran swiftly from his resting spot under the tree and towards the smell of what probably could become his next meal.
Shiro's feet were barely touching the grass filled ground as he dashed to wherever his nose pointed, as the wolf-dog hybrid got closer to the west side of the castle the smell got stronger. He passed by many residents of the castle but paid them no mind, finally after running along the giant wall made out of grey pieces of paved stones and passing the watch tower at the west Shiro halted his running to stop under a tree that was on the exact opposite side of the tree he and his master rested under. The reason for stopping was very obvious. For his trusty sense of smell told him that his prey was between the trees branches, he looked up not expecting what he saw in between the web of brown tree branches.
Sierra Yawned as she waited for her trap to ensnare a certain someone. Looking from left to right with her vampiric eyes, she did not see any sign of her desired catch for the day, she felt an unbelievable amount of boredom, she was good at waiting but, she has done a lot of it for hundreds of years but just because she was good at it did not mean she enjoyed it. She was sitting on a tree branch taking cover from the annoying rays of the sun and that was thanks to the pond of green leafs that covered the upper side of the tree and only let a few droplets of light through, that was thanks t a few holes in its wall of green, like an old roof that has not been fixed on a rainy day. Not only did she wish to get away from the sun's light but also from the peoples eyes, she did not wish to be bothered as she waited for her prey to show up, not that the people staring at her annoyed her so much as to make her feel unwelcome and that was totally fine with her but not while she was doing something important.
Sensing a new presence near the tree, the pale girl looked down swiftly only to see Shiro sniffing about the tree as he kept his eyes focused at her, she knew exactly what brought the white furred hunter to her. So she playfully removed the piece of meat out of the place she hid it. Earning barks of joy from the wolf-dog hybrid, she waved it from left to right to see him follow it with his eyes.
"You want it don't you?" she asked the dog teasingly, waving the piece of meat some more, getting many happy barks from the white furred creature.
"Then catch it!" she said as she threw the slab of red meat into the air, she observed how the dog moved exactly under the shadow of his meal, obviously he earned this experience thanks to his many years of hunting with Kenssion.
With only five feet between him and his meal, Shiro launched himself into the air; his body seemed to be hovering as he was inches away from his long awaited prize. He opened his mouth and almost felt the taste before the slab of meat even touched his jaws. Sadly that feeling was all he had to settle for, his moment of happiness was crushed as he felt a hand come over his head and block his view, canceling the beautiful view of his meal, not only that he felt the hand push him downward lowering his rising form into the ground once more.
The hand left Shiro's face, letting the wolf-dog hybrid regain his sight once more only to witness the ground closing in fast to his descending body; he quickly prepared to land on the solid grass filled ground, landing on his four paws he swiftly turned around to see who was the one who stole the feeling of joy from his heart.
There stood a man, he had light brown skin and nothing to cover his upper body but a simple green vest, which he didn't bother to close showing off his slightly muscled chest and abdomen. He also wore a yellow trouser and kept it on with a brown leather belt, he also had brown hair and an attitude to be reckoned with, he was known as Bob, a normal name for a not so normal individual.
Shiro growled at Bob for stealing his well sought out meal, anger flaring in the dog's eyes as he planed to attack the lycanthrope and take back what was his. But one terrifying look from the back of the brown haired boy's eye sent fear into the hybrid's mind and heart and caused him to run back to his master yelping like a wounded puppy.
"That was pretty mean" said the vampiress in a sarcastic tone of speech as she giggled at the lycanthrope.
"That's the law of the jungle" said Bob in harsh tone as he sniffed at the peace of meat he was holding.
"Its not poisoned you know" said Sierra in a faked innocent tone that was easily noticeable to anyone.
"And I am supposed to believe ya? Miss that was mean" said Bob in a rather angry tone as he turned around his vest flaring around as he did. Eyes glaring at the vampire queen that sat on the tree next to him.
Giggling at what the brown haired lycanthrope said, the pale girl jumped from the tree and activated her vampiric powers letting her float down in a rather elegant way a purple aura surrounding her as she did, after landing she smiled at Bob and slowly walked towards him. Her smile never wavering an inch as if her face was a beautiful portrait.
Bob took a few steps back, his battle stick ready in his right hand, just incase the pale women in front of him decided to try anything sneaky. His other hand carried the slab of meat not letting it go or eating it, suspicion and hunger fought inside of him and it was obvious that their battle was still undecided.
"Why so angry and cautious? Relax I won't bite you, I stopped feeding on blood a long time ago, well maybe I took sip yesterday" said the true rune bearer as she laughed at Bob's confused actions.
"What the hell do you want? I know you didn't bring this piece of meat out of goodwill towards that dog!" said Bob, anger coating his voice as he gripped his staff more firmly, while his other hands held the stake of meat with such force, that his nails were digging into it.
"I just wanted to see if you'd still make a good servant" said the girl dressed in white and blue as she giggled at the angry lycanthrope.
"I am no body's servant!!!" growled the brown haired young man, his teeth beginning to press against each other; showing his white fangs, while his nails seemed to get slightly longer, their tips becoming pointy.
"Oh…then why did you show up to take your fee?" mocked Sierra, her voice smothered in playfulness and sarcasm, her fingers moving through her white hair while her eyes offered a lazy gaze to the rage filled warrior that stood in front of her.
"SHUT UP!!!!" shouted the wolf lycanthrope as he charged at the vampire queen, throwing the piece of meat away, the hand that was holding what humiliated him gripped his staff as he planed to slam it into her skull.
The staff spun with the swift movement of the lycanthropic warrior's nimble fingers, he charged at the coven mistress. Raising his spinning staff high above his head, Bob brought one of its sides down at the time the spinning reached the descending side; adding more power to the angered warrior's attack.
Seeing the attack that was coming towards her, Sierra didn't seem to care much about it but just as the strike was about to claim her she simply back flipped, her semi flying form moving with amazing elegance, in the process avoiding the monstrous attack that struck the ground instead of her head but she did see the results of the attack she just evaded. A cloud of dust erupted in a circle like form from the spot the wooden staff landed on; showing the lycanthropic warrior's strength.
Yawning as she landed, Sierra watched as Bob charged at her staff first, planning to run it through her, but sadly for him the vampire queen simply side stepped avoiding the enraged lycanthrope's attack completely.
Just as he was going to pull back his weapon to try again. Bob felt a force pull against his, preventing him from acquiring his killing tool, he watched the other side of his weapon to see that the Blue moon rune bearer has grabbed the other end of his staff and didn't seem to want to let go.
"Let go!!!" growled the wolf lycanthrope with an intense voice, only to receive yet another bored yawn from Sierra.
"Just answer my question, are you interested in vengeance against the one who helped destroy your village?" said the vampiress in a lazy tone, while she focused most of her vampiric physical strength into her arm so she would have the ability to refrain Bob from getting his staff back.
"How…" as if the power in his muscles was stripped away from him, he stopped trying to pull back his staff and stood as still as a stone.
"Do I know that Windy burned down your village? Because your simple mind is like an open book to me" said Sierra in a voice smothered with amusement, it seemed like she enjoyed surprising people.
"She's already dead!" shouted the wolf lycanthrope annoyed by the insult he received from the girl in white.
"Yes…but the man who helped her is still very much alive" replied the vampire in a calm voice, like the whole situation didn't matter to her.
Rage started to fill the lycanthropic warrior's heart. Houses burning down, friends and family being killed mercilessly and in the midst of it all Windy stood there with a man in black armor next to her, laughing her voice full of cruelty. All of these images filled Bob's mind, his hands shaking with hatred, the desire to kill filled his soul.
Sierra gazed at him, as not only a change of emotions was noticeable on the warrior but also a change of appearance, hair was starting to appear on his limbs, fangs increasing in size and sharpness, claws formed from his fingernails, his facial appearance no longer bared the look of man but the look of a beast.
Swiftly the vampire queen locked her eyes with those of the raging beast that was in front of her. Sending hypnotic waves through her orbs that assaulted Bob's enraged mind, instead of harm it brought a calming feel to the wolf lycanthrope's thoughts, his anger and the clam feeling played a tug of war inside of his head and the winner would control Bob's next few actions.
Few moments passed by, revealing to us the victor of the battle of emotions. Bob was barely supporting himself on his staff, as he breathed heavily but no matter how tired he was he still gazed at the pale girl that had some how quenched the thirst of his anger and silenced his rage.
"I think from that little outburst of yours I got an answer" said Sierra as she crossed her hands over her chest.
"Do you know… where that… man is?" questioned Bob in a harsh voice while his breathing slowly returned to normal.
"I have a clue, but if you want to know it you have to come with someone who is also hunting the same man" said Sierra in a tone that could be mostly identified by the words check mate.
All that the vampiress received from the brown haired boy was nod, and it seemed that was enough to satisfy her but before the lycanthrope could say anything he noticed that the blue moon rune bearer began to fade into a pure white mist leaving him with a few words that sealed his role in this journey "meet me at the gate."
Standing near the castle gate like the dreaded sculpture of a horned demon was Pesmerga; his usual emotionless mask hid the annoyance he felt inside of him. He did not desire to waste anymore time, all he wanted was to start the search for his mortal enemy but since the vampiress who was now his partner hasn't arrived yet, he was forced to wait for her, if only to respect the bond partnership he had with her.
Next him was Dragon Castle's weirdest resident, Sid the winger, as usual he stood there with a sinister smile on his wicked façade, hands crossed over his chest, sometimes he'd give out a chuckle or a small laugh that would throw worry in the hearts of many but to Sid's dismay, Pesmerga wasn't among those many. The winger also felt bored but the excitement that the vampire queen promised him kept his heart lit with a raging flame of determination.
Just as he was about to take another ride on his train of hatred filled thoughts, Pesmerga felt a pair of wicked eyes lock on to him. He turned his head to see the long haired winger smiling at him.
Spinning his spear in front of him, the creepy winger released another one of his horror filled laughs, earning an expected reply from the knight of darkness, his right hand resting on the hilt of his broad sword while giving Sid a cold glare that could freeze a whole ocean.
"HEHEHEHE wouldn't u like to impale Yuber on this baby" said the winger while he stopped spinning his trusty weapon, its edge pointing at the blue sky.
The winger received no reply as the dark knight crossed his arms and stood against the wall. Hearing his most hated enemy's name hastened his ride to his malice filled thoughts and memories.
Out of nowhere a hazy white mist started gathering in front of the two dwellers of darkness. Slowly the mist began to abandon its cloudy substance as it embraced physical form. Hair white as snow, pale skin, eyes that offered a lazy gaze to the two spectators and a small mysterious smile that was never known to be genuine or fake.
"Hello you two, I hope you're getting along with each other" said Sierra in her usual sarcastic tone of speech as she cut the distance between her and her companions, by walking a few steps forward.
She got no answer from the enigmatic dark knight but she did get a happy nod from the spooky winger next to him. Before she could reply to any of them, foot steps were heard closing on to them.
As the sound of feet against the grass filled land got closer, the dark ones could see the figure of Bob getting closer to them, and finally when he was only a few steps away from Sid he stopped and stared at the trio of darkness.
"I am sure you know Pesmerga and Sid, Bob" said Sierra, her smile not wavering a bit.
"Just tell me who the one after Yuber is!!" shouted Bob in a rage filled voice while gripping his staff tightly.
Sierra simply pointed at Pesmerga, and backed away feeling that Bob was walking towards the knight of darkness, she knew what the wolf lycanthrope planed to do and she also knew that she had no business what so ever in it.
"I know you're more powerful than I am, my instinct tells me so…so I will let you kill him, but if you can't kill him I'll do it my self!!!" said the wolf lycanthrope as he faced the dark knight, his staff still held tightly in his right hand, not caring if thing he just said was idiotic or not.
"Stay out of my way…" was the only thing that escaped the vengeful knight's lips as he turned around and began walking out of Dragon Castle.
His companions followed silently, their leader beginning the journey with no speech or encouragement, but were their anything to say? This was a mission of Vengeance, each of them joined out of their own personal reasons, they chose to come, their was no sense of duty to bind them and no loyalty towards a common goal, for this was a mission that only involved hatred and pain.
As they walked through the grass filled plain of this continent they knew that the path they all chose was undecided as the wind that blew in their faces, as they traveled these mostly empty landscapes, they knew that whatever land they saw Yuber on, that piece of earth would be died red either by his blood or theirs.
Another chapter comes to an end, like I said before and will say again and again comments, complaints and flames are all welcome.