It has been a while since they left. Risty then led the three to a nearby city as it seemed very pitiful. The poor were everywhere along with the sick and dying. Corvrus steamed as he regretted not killing that bastard of a count when he had the chance. But hopefully he scared him enough to do his duties. He then saw a crying child as he offered her his whistle for his horse. She blew it as the horse leapt from the shadows. The horse nuzzled the young girl as the people around him seemed both afraid and impressed at the beast he had summoned. He offered them the money he had on his person and led on with Risty following him as did Leina. "I can see you're great with kids. Ever though on having any yourself, or are you waiting for that special someone?" Risty asks as Leina seemed to be in better spirits. "I plan on being patient, which is all you need to know for now." he said to them as they approach a Cathedral that seemed to be in shambles.

After arriving at a ruined cathedral, a few orphans were helping to get food ready as Corvrus helped with the heavy lifting due to his bulky size. Soon the food was served, hardly enough for so many. Risty was talking to a nun as Leina talked to the orphans. "So, Leina. Why do you scorn your kin?" Corvrus asks her as she looked up at him. "It's not that, I just want to leave the Vance castle. It is so restricting and I just wish to be free." she sighed as he went to check on Risty. She handed the nun the money, but it was hardly enough to repair the place. "It may fix the roof though." Risty said as the nun seemed startled by Corvrus. "It's ok, he's with me." Risty said to the nun. Corvrus, knowing he isn't wanted, left them as he went outside for a spell. He looked to the moon and wondered, "Why is it that a world as incredible as this has to be riddled with corruption everywhere?" he then sharpened his blade as his horse appeared behind him and nuzzled him. "Hello Stormcrown, good to see you." he said as he put his clothe away and petted his horse he then looked up, "I wonder if there will be more people out there in this god forsaken world that share my vision." he said as he went back inside as the orphans play with Stormcrown.

In the morning he packed his things and was ready to leave. He was preparing Stormcrown for the long journey as Risty bid farewell to the orphans as Leina seemed sad for some reason. after a few hours of travelling they stopped to rest. Risty sat down and talked to Leina as he gave his horn a grooming. The two then "Why not be a countess and rules these lands, unless you are not satisfied with that." Risty said as Leina seemed guilty "I don't know." she sighed as the two kept arguing until Stormcrown tried to eat Risty's hair again. "Hey, you stop that or I will- OW!" she screamed as Stormcrown seemed to like her. Leina laughed a bit as Corvrus called the horse off. She growled angrily as she continued on her journey as the two followed.

*Half a world away* A man in a white robe was seen wandering Hinomoto. The man was at a decent height (5'11) had a walking stick and many of the people there either got out of his way or did their best not to anger him, for tales have read that he had destroyed many empires and he was a powerful man. The man was named Davlin, but he was sent to Hinomoto to seek someone to help him, his superior needed him to keep an eye on the Queen's Blade yet he had no one to compete with. Davlin was on the outskirts of the Hinomoto Temple. He seen many people in the area cower at the nobles who rule it and it disgusted him. He then decided to find someone who is willing enough to help him; the Warrior Priestesses may help him if they are willing. He looked high upon the stairs and climbed them, only to be stopped by a few of the priestesses in question. They pointed a few spears at him. "State your name outsider, no man may enter the temple. This is sacred ground." one of them said, it was still rather early in the morning as the sun peaked from the hills. "I am known by many names, Storykeeper, Weapon of God, Peacekeeper, Teacher, but never Outsider. I thought the Priestesses were supposed to be kind to those they meet." the man said as he kept his hood over his face. A priestess tried to take the hood off, only for him to get her in an arm lock. She panicked as the other Priestesses tried to fight him, even going so far as trying to kill him. He kept blocking their attacks until one of them hit him over the head with a Kanabo, knocking him out cold. The Priestesses take him to the temple in order to question him as they search his belongings, among them were his staff, an armor plating under his robes, a few knives, and a device that looked like a communicator. One of the Priestesses tried to use it, but failed since they didn't know how to use technology yet.

Davlin woke up with a splitting headache as he found his robes were gone and he was wearing a kimono instead. He had short, black hair in a crew cut, pale eyes, handsome features, and a small headband on his head, possibly to help with his head. He got up to look around, only to find a few Priestesses outside meditating. He saw one of them approach him with his communicator. "How do you use this….this thing?" she asks as their eyes met. She was 5'3 with violet eyes, cute facial features, and sensuous curves. She then pointed his sword at his throat, "And don't you ogle me either, it is disgraceful to ogle at a woman's body." she said as she hands him the communicator. He then put it on his wrist as it glowed blue. it then pulled up a 3D veiw of the planet. It had 4 continents and was labeled as Kai'eda. The priestess seemed surprised with the device as she looked it over. "So, that's our world? I expected it to be flat." she said as another Priestess looked as well as another, soon he was crowded with them as they all seemed amazed by it. "It is simple Hardlight technology, where I can get a full scan of this world. My superior sent me here to find out some peculiar business going on in Gainos. However, I need someone to help me. Anyone willing?" he asks as the Priestesses talked among themselves, some wouldn't even dream of leaving Hinomoto but others wanted to go. Soon one of them came up to him, it was the Priestess who gave him the communicator back. "I volunteer myself to help you. My name is Tomoe. Oh, and another thing, you clothes are where the Head Priestess is. The room on your right." Tomoe said as she went to get ready to leave. He met up with the Priestess inside as she looked through his things. He looked at her and said. "Did you break anything?" he asks her as she seemed startled. "Uh, no. I am Kome, Your items are perfectly safe." she said as he took off the kimono and got his robe back on. He took his stuff and staff and waited in the courtyard for Tomoe She was in the showers as she threw someone out, it was a Kouma ninja. Davlin ran to the ninja and had his staff at her heart. "Tell me what you are doing here and I shall ease your passing." he growled as she seemed panicked. "It's ok, she's with me. Now if you do not mind i really must get ready." Tomoe said as she held a towel over her. It was the afternoon as the woman got to her feet, she smiled a bit as she headed to the courtyard with DAvlin. "I'm Shizuka, got a name?" she asks, seemingly laid back for one so dangerous. A Priestess said to her "He's Davlin. He came to recruit for the Queen's blade!". Shizuka smirks as she went to help around the temple.

Davlin then sat his down and poked a few buttons on his communicator. A priestess went to see what he was doing as he was sizing up the tempe. He then walked around as he sat his communicator in the center of the temple. Soon the entire area was in a large bubble as a Priestess poked at it, causing ripples. Another stabbed at it, only for it to recoil. "What did you do?" One of the Priestesses asks, clearly confused by the shield. "It's a kinetic barrier, it is meant to repel anything outside this temple. I have heard rumors that the Kouma plan on attacking tonight and I am taking all the necessary precautions." he said to Kome as he simply waited for Tomoe. After an hour she came out and sat next to him. It was getting closer to night as he seemed nervous. Shizuka and Tomoe talk to each other for a spell as the moon was rising. Soon a flurry of flaming arrows was seen bouncing off the barrier. The Kouma have arrived. Some of them lashed at the barrier as some tried explosives. Nothing worked yet as the Priestesses switched from being afraid to being amused. The Kouma were held back by a giant bubble, which admittedly is rather amusing. The Kouma then turned into slime and formed a large frog. The frog pawed at the bubble, and then it tried to lick it. The Priestesses went back to their business as they didn't seem afraid of the Kouma at the moment. The frog then spat out an acid, as if attempting to breach the shield, only to fail. It then simply tried to sit on top of it, only for it to slide off and fall down the large stairs in an amusing fashion. The Kouma Ninjas were not only defeated, but ridiculed. The giant frog simply passed out. Shizuka seemed confused, "Ok, how in the hell did they think of a giant frog? I mean wouldn't a dragon or a giant lizard be better?" she asks

*A few months ago* The Kouma leader was furious; he tried everything to defeat the Hinomoto Priestesses. Ballista arrows, explosives, sneak attacks, traps, even going so far as to attack in broad daylight. Yet he still lost and was losing more and more ninjas each time they attack. He then decided to look for some "otherworldly" aid, and he knew just where to find it. Legend tells of an old man in the swamps who can summon beasts of unrivaled power, but at a price. The leader headed there with a few ninjas as he saw a large hut. It was rather old and reeked of death. He then knocks on the door as a man appeared. His left eye was glazed over and looked rather old. He also had a deck of cards in his coat pocket as he led them inside. "Ah, I see you have come for my pets. What do you seek?" he asks in a gravelly tone. The Kouma said in a composed tone "I need a beast powerful enough to wipe out the Hinomoto Priestesses. What creatures do you have?" The old man then showed him many beasts in the cards. The beasts included Cyclops, Dragons, Winged Demons, Giant Bears, Lions with invulnerable skin, giant Frogs, and many more. The leader seemed impressed. "And how do I know these beasts are real? Or if you are fooling me." The leader said as the ninjas popped their knuckles. He looked at them and threw a card at each of the ninjas. One of them wrapped the ninja in a large snake and devoured him, the other was a manticore and ripped him in half. The beasts stayed as the Kouma leader seemed to panic. "You dare call me a liar? For that, I will have your men become one of my beasts, a devil-frog." He snapped as he threw a frog card at the leader, hurling him to the wall. "I suggest you leave, my pets are quite hungry." The old man said as the manticore growled at him. The Kouma took off running; he failed to notice that the card of the devil frog was still on him.

*Present day*in the morning, the strangest thing happened. The Kouma devil frog shrank since it lost its power in daylight. Not only that but some Villager sent it outside of the temple in a jar. Tomoe and the priestesses were utterly amused at the sight of the frog trying to climb out of its little jar. "Aw, look at him. He's so pitiful. Maybe we can keep him as a pet?" Shizuka asks as the frog licks at the glass. Tomoe looked at the frog as it seemed to scream again. "Hmm...I don't see why not. It is most of the Kouma ninjas anyway. So..." Tomoe reached in her robes and put a small seal on the frog, making the change made to it permanent. The frog was then grabbed out of his jar and squirmed in Tomoe's grip. "What should you call him?" Davlin asks as the two think. "I got it, how about Pudge? Y'know, since it is so pudgy?" Shizuka said as Tomoe agreed the frog seemed to growl at the thought of being ridiculed. She sat the frog in front of the Kome, who seemed to have rested well. "That is most of the Kouma ninjas, odd how they decided to form into a frog of all things." Davlin said as Pudge tried to lick at the Priestess. "We will take good care of him." The head priestess said as she offered tomoe a sword, a powerful blade named Kushinawa. Tomoe took off her blade and replaced it with Kushinawa. She was so happy as Shizuka headed to the gate with Davlin. Tomoe gave Kome a hug as she went to join them. Soon they headed to the docks as one of the nobles was overseeing a transaction as the empress was seen. She looked absolutely adorable as she had silver hair, about 12, and seemed very innocent. The noble turned to see Tomoe and panicked. "I-uh Lady Tomoe. I-I-I am glad to hear that the battle was won against the Kouma." He said as if very nervous as the empress ran to Tomoe and hugged her close. "Oh, Tomoe. I was so worried. I thought you would have been killed." she cried as the noble tried to pull the empress away, only for Davlin to break his arm. "OW! How dare you attack me peasant. I will see you executed for this." he barked, only for Shizuka to punch him square in the face, knocking him out cold. "Come on, admit it. Anyone would have done the same thing." she said with a smile as the empress nuzzled Tomoe. "Please be safe, I give you my best wishes." she said as the 3 boarded a boat for Gainos. Everything should be smoother sailing for now on.

The end

I hope you enjoyed this. I felt bad for the Warrior priestesses so I decided to alter what happened to them, and the Kouma frog being kept in a small jar was rather amusing to think about. I find the comeuppance for the Kouma seemed rather fitting since they hated being ridiculed and humiliated. And since the next chapter will introduce Echidna, one can only imagine how things will turn out. I will try to do better in the following chapters. Also, I plan on having the old man with the cards be a servant of the Swamp Witch. I haven't thought of a name for him yet but I will in time