Theresa: Last time on Between Skorm and Avo...
"There's no end to them!" Silverna screamed as she removed one more head from a bandit's neck.
Just then out the corner of her eye, a man with a broad and tall appearance was casually walking past her and some bandits. She couldn't see his facial features all that well since he was wearing the same hat that you normally see a guard wearing. It was obvious he wasn't a guard though. Aside from the hat, he didn't dress like a guuard. Infact, he dressed prettty casually. And he wasn't armed by the looks of things 'This guy is nuts!' Or so it appeared. One of the bandits openly charged at the man, getting prepared to drive a rusty pickhammer down through the mystery man's skull. "Watch out!" For those three individuals, time seemed to abruptly slow down. It happened so fast. With one swift movement, the stranger avoided the fatal strike, and with blinding speed connected a 'killer' uppercut to the bandits jaw. Silverna could only watch as she witnessed the now limp body of the bandit fall swiftly to the dark ground.
"Woman." The man called without turning around.
"W-What?"
"Let me see that sword of yours... I'll take care of this lot."
"What? Who do you think you are? Huh? Who are you!"
"... No one special. The name is Grepher."
-
Theresa: Now we begin where we left off.
-
"G-Grepher! You!"
"Your sword, now!" Grepher commanded her. She quickly handed him her katana and timidly backed away from him. "Alright no stay back." Before Silverna could protest in any way Grepher disappeared in a blur.
Things weren't looking good for Rahn and Leila as the were surrounded by more men than they could count. Rahn was was almost completely covered in blood. Some was from some cuts he received, but most of the blood was from all the bandits he had killed. He was getting tired. He had to of taken out over thirty of these guys, and still a large number of them remain. He wasn't sure how many good swings he could do with heavy axe. Leila didn't kill as much as Rahn but she killed enough with out getting so much as a scratch on her. But she was running low on mana and was stuck with her basic magic. She was praying with all her might to Avo for a miracle of some sort because she wasn't that good at physical combat. "Fucking hell!" Rahn cursed. "This is ridiculous! How many of them are there! Hey sis can't you just take them all out with one big spell or something!"
Leila couldn't help but laugh a little. "I wish I could but I can't. If I used big spell I'd probably take all these guys out in no time at all, but that would mean killing you guys as well and I can't do that." "Well that's just great..." Rahn sarcastically claimed. Just as the bandits were starting to close in on them a huge figure appeared above the bandits. He descended down on the like an angel of death gripping a katana in his right hand. The bandits had no time react. The twins watched in awe as this stranger appeared out of nowhere and started what looked like a massacre. He was extremely skilled, and disturbingly fast for his size. He was cutting them down as if they weren't there at all. It was as if they were nothing to him. Blood and organs spilled onto Darkwood's dark gounds. And the site was about to cause Leila to loose her breakfast. She had never seen such violence and brutality before Rahn was equally shocked at what he was seeing. In almost two minutes of hacking and slashing he witnessed this man butcher what had to be sixty men at least! "What the fuck is going on?" He mumbled. "Hey! you two!" Grepher called out to the twins. "You can handle things from here there aren't that many of them left. I'm going to help you blond-haired friend." Then he was gone in a blur once again.
Jewels was just got done stabbing another bandit in the chest before he dropped to one knee to catch his breath. "Damn... how many of you are left?" he asked no one. Five, no ten bandits had surrounded him. Though he was spent he found some strength left in him to stand even if though it looked hopeless. "What are you waiting for? I'm right here. Come and get me!" One of the larger bandit took that invite and was about charge to charge Jewels but didn't take more than a step as a katana's blade burst strait through his mid-section splatering the bandit's blood all over Jewels face.
"Who the hell!" Yelled a bandit.
The nine remaining bandits around Jewels saw who had done in their friend when his body fell to the ground in front of them. "What in the name of Skorm...!" Another said as pointed behind Grepher pointing to all the dead men behind him. They had fond The Death Bringer, the now see exactly why he earned that title, and they weren't getting paid enough for this so they mad a very wise choice. "Come on you lot! Its no use, retreat!" And with that the small handful of them that weren't killed all ran off in multiple directions.
"Hn! Cowards..."
"Jewels!" Screamed Silverna screamed as she and the others ran over. "You made it!"
"Yes thanks to this him. Thank you."
"...Just defending myself." Grepher said bluntly.
"Hey Mister, where did learn to fight like that?" Rahn asked while Leila healed his wounds. "I've never seen anyone fight with that level of skill except maybe Master Briar Rose."
The mention of his old friend's name grabbed Grepher's attention firmly. "You know Briar Rose? Are you all from the Hero's Guild?"
"Thats right Mr. Grepher!" Silverna said as she snatched her katana out of Grepher's gloved hand. "We were sent out to find you."
"WHAT!" The other three screamed.
"Your The Death Bringer!" Rahn Blurted.
"The eye of Skorm himself!" Leila backed away.
"The Butcher of Albion!" Jewels bowed.
"...When did I get those titles?" Grepher asked himself. "You said you all came here looking for me. Why?"
"I asked to look for you and bring you back to the Guild." Silverna said as she looking up at him.
"Who asked you to look for me? The Guild Master? Rose?"
"Actually it was Ms. Theresa who requested that I find you."
'Theresa...' He thought. he couldn't remember the last time he spoke to her. It been so long. Why has she reappeared all of a sudden? Why did she wish to see him? Dose have to do with the people that's been chasing him all around Albion? 'Just what the hell is going on?' The four younger Heroes sat there looking at him as he stood there like a living statue. "Excuse me sir but are you alright?" Asked Jewels. After careful thought Grepher came to his decision.
"Lets go. With this much blood all around it won't be long before a pack of Balverines shows up."
"Dose that mean you'll come with us?"
"I means nothing. I'm just going to get some answers."
For some reason Silverna didn't like him. There was something about him that just pissed her off. Well in any case she had to make sure that he goes to the Guild. So she and the others stuck with him. She wasn't the only on that didn't feel comfortable around him, Leila seemed down right afraid of Grepher. She made sure to stay in the back with Silverna. Rahn and Jewels however seemed quite excited around Grepher. The where asking him questions like "How did he defeat Jack of Blades? Were you scared when you fought in the Arena? What was it like fighting the Kraken?" In Silverna's personal opinion they were both stupid for asking such questions, especially the man is ignoring them.
-Heroes Guild-
The five arrived in only a half an hour after their bandit attack. "Welcome back. It would seem you fond him. Faster than I figured. Its been a while Grepher. I almost thought you may of died somewhere." "Hn. Like that would happen Rose." Grepher genially shook her hand. "Tell me Grepher, has my pupil given you any trouble?"
Grepher raised an eyebrow. "Pupil? Who?"
Briar Rose pointed at Silverna who was currently looking at Grepher distrusting eyes. "That one."
Grepher glanced over to see Briar Rose was pointing at the girl with semi-short black hair and green eyes. "Oh her? Well not really. But for a student of yours she lacks grace." Silverna wasn't deaf she could hear him insult her. She was just about to run over there and kick him in the back of his head but was stopped by Rahn who had her in a full nelson. "Calm your little ass down. He could kill you in a heart beat." Rahn suggested as he felt Silverna's smaller form struggle against his. "Hey keep moving like that I think I'm going to start liking you in a new way" The next thing Rahn felt was Silverna's heel smash into his balls. He quickly released her to grasp himself "Bitch..."
"Come. Theresa is waiting for us in Maze's quarters."
"Right."
"Silverna, until I come back I'd like for you and the others to wait here, so don't cause any trouble, ok?"
"Yeah yeah..." She said uncaringly as she glared down at Rahn who was still holding himself. Briar Rose just shook her head as she started walking after Grepher to Maze's quarters. "What do you think their going to discuss while all of them up there?" Jewels asked as he sat on the stairs polishing his sword. "More importantly dose it involve us? I mean, why have us stay here while we could be out performing quest or something." Everyone made some type of sound of agreement. "Say, do any you guys really think that Grepher guy is as great as Master Briar Rose claims?" Silverna crossed her arms in front of her chest and wondered about that ever since she meet him. "I mean yeah we all seen how strong he is, but dose anyone else get a creepy feeling while just looking at him?"
"Well..., I won't lie, Mr. Grepher dose scare me..." Leila spoke up, "But at the same time I am curious about him. There aren't that many Legendary Heroes like him around these days, so I'm rather excited to see a living legend." Silverna still wasn't convinced. Wheter it be Grepher's outward attitude, or the mystery she sensed around him she just wasn't as sure about him as the others were. "Hey," Rahn whispered, "You want to go see what their talking about up there?" "Oh no! Master Briar Rose told us to wait here. I'm not going to let you us in trouble for your stupid actions. Next to Silverna your the most troublesome Hero currently in the guild."
"Hey, I'm right next to you you know." Silverna growled.
"Ah... sorry about that."
"Well stay here if you want, I'm gonna go an snoop. Jewels, you comin'?"
"I was told to stay and I shall."
"To hell with you then!" Rahn faked a pout. "If you none of you want to come fine. But if I find out something cool, I'm not telling." And with that he was off. "Tch, what a an idiot." Silverna said out loud. "At least has not your twin." Leila shook her head. Although they were badmouthing him, inwardly they too wanted to go to listen in. Except for Jewels that is. He was fine with just waiting patiently. He was also able to see the eagerness inside them. "...If you two want to go then just go." He plainly informed them.
"Who said I wanted to go? I don't want to go." Said Leila. "But I have to go. Otherwise Rahn going to get all of us in trouble! Silverna help drag Rahn back here?"
"YEAH!" Silverna accidentally betrayed herself. "I-I mean... whatever. Just because we're friends."
Jewels just at there as the two girls took of after his friend. In his own opinion, they were all acting foolish. But with no one around he would surely get bored. Since the map room was right next to the library he figured that he might as well find a book to read in the mean time. "Never hurts to learn something new."
-
"Welcome back lad. its been awhile." Greeted the Guild Master.
"I've been busy, sorry sir. Scyth. I didn't expect you would be here. What ever is going on must be really serious if you were summoned here too."
"It is worst than you assume, Death Bringer. So bad that Theresa herself has returned from her personal journey to inform us."
Theresa stood along side the Guild Master. With her usual calm expression on her face. But even so, on the inside she was smiling joyfully at the sound of her brother's voice. "Yes...," She started. "Brother, I know that you have been constantly attacked by unknown forces for the past few months I also know that you do not know who it is that's been attacking you. But I know." "Who?" Briar Rose finally spoke up.
"The decedents... of Jack of Blades."
A sudden chill seem just creep up everyone's spine. "Decedents!" Briar Rose screamed. " That can't be! Jack never been known to have any type of family ever!" But then, its not like anyone knew much about Jack. He been alive since the days of the old kingdom. "Its true." Theresa continued. For you see I have already met them. While in the eastern lands they attacked me, and nearly killed me. I was just barely able to escape. They told me that Jack is back! And he will destroy everything! ...I can't see him, but I can feel him. Some how, somewhere, Jack has returned."
"Avo help us..." Whispered the guild master.
"He won't help no matter how hard we ask him." Grepher said coldly. "Jack of Blades has return some how. And some how or another he going to die once more. The only difference this time he's going to have company with him."
"Don't make sound so easy. If I recall, you nearly died both times you fought him." Briar Rose explained. "This time you wouldn't be just going up against Jack, you'd have to fight his kin too. You may be the most powerful out of all of us, but I don't think you have the best chance of surviving if you tackle this one on your own."
"Listen to Briar Rose Death Bringer. She speaks the truth. We must think this through carefully. We must be ready. Theresa has just given us valuable information. Lets not waste it."
They were all right. If he just went out fighting blindly he would surely die. "Okay. So what should we do?" He asked while staring into the fireplace. "Stay alert." Theresa said as placed her hand on Grepher's shoulder. "The Guild Master, Scythe, and myself will do our best to find out more about Jacks resurrection and his decedents you and Briar Rose should go out and see if you can find out where they are."
"Alright..."
"Don't worry. I'll be sure to keep him out of trouble for you." Briar Rose joked.
"Shut up..."
A small smile formed on his sister face. "Thank You."
"We should all do our parts right away." Said the Guild Master.
"I'm going to go investigate the Bronze Gate. Perhaps there are some clues we may be able to use. The next thing they knew Scythe had teleported out of there.
"I'll see what I can find. You two be sure to be careful." The Guild Master commanded the two heroes.
-
Hiding at the steps the three young heroes overheard everything that went down. When they herd The Guild Master approaching the stairs the three of them swiftly but quietly dash back to the map room. They couldn't believe what they herd. Jack of Blades has returned! And he plans on destroying everything! They were slowly starting to wish they hadn't herd any of that.
"Whets wrong with you guys? You look pale." Asked Jewels.
They all just looked him with shocked eyes.
"Jewels... You are not going to believe what we have to tell you."
-
To Be Continued in Chapter 3...
R&R!