Chapter 2: Midnight incident
During their visit in Floria Ittan, Claude, and Harpi, met a shy girl named Remmy, Ittan saved her from some mob in the streets, in return she invited them for dinner to her house up the hill.
There they met her mother Maria, who asked them as guest in their modest house, in the living room they sat, while the mother served them some appetizers, moments before the father entered.
He was Joseph Vester, a tall man in his late thirties with black eyes covered with glasses, a hair combed to the back, a light beard and mustache, he wore a golden trimmed black robe that covers him to his feet , a necklace that resembles to a silver diagonally directed rectangle, centered with a golden horizontal arc as a sign of religiosity, he works as a minister for Floria, as he teaches kids reading and writing and some of the educational basics, he was carrying what seemed to be books, upon entering his house he stared at the boys in confusion, but his wife interrupted him by introducing them:
-"Honey, please welcome Claude, Ittan, and Harpi, these fine travelers helped Remmy today so they'll stay here as guests."
-The man bowed in respect: "Honored to meet you, I'm Joseph Vester, may God bless you for helping my beloved daughter".
-Ittan raised his hand saying: "Nah, don't mention it, by the way cool beard! Wish I got one!"
-Claude felt frustrated because of the latter's comment and apologized: "Please pardon us , but my friend here lacks civility…"
-But before he completed his sentence the father asked: "You are a Sebastian aren't you? By chance could you be a relative to Xavier Sebastian?".
-The blonde man looked depressed but he answered: "Yes he was my…father."
-Joseph bowed again: "I'm extremely sorry for bringing the subject, may his soul rest in peace."
-The blonde man apologized as well: "Never mind of it, we forgot and decided to continue our lives."
The wife felt an atmosphere of gloom so she decided to change the subject, by carrying her husband's books and mentioning: "Oh honey did I mention, Ittan here is a titan? Can you believe it? It's a miracle to see such tribe among us."
-The man sat next to them and showed surprise: "Blesses! But it's peculiar, for you look like a regular man to me."
-Ittan grinned widely: "Haha! My old man taught me how to shrink myself so I don't break people houses while walking, back when I used to live at Uru-sal."
-"Oh you are from Uru-sal! But that's way outside Valeria!"
-"Nah it was nothing for a titan, anyway I enjoyed my quest in Valeria, because I met lots of cool people, including Harpi and Claude…and Remmy, hopes that I manage to fulfill my quest."
-"And what might your quest be if you don't mind me asking?".
-"I'm traveling to reach the land of Drachel, then I can slay a dragon…".
But the conversation stopped because Remmy dropped and broke the dishes she carried while hearing the word "dragon", the father rushed to his daughter asking her in she was okay, she nodded and hurried to her room upstairs.
-Claude scolded Ittan: "You idiot! Why do you have to mention that?! I told you people aren't pleased of your sto…"
-But Joseph stopped him saying: "It's okay…Remmy seemed to have a horrible experience with a dragon when she was a kid, when we found her…"
-"Found her? Isn't she your daughter?".
-"No, ten years ago, I found her in the woods nearby, where a dragon was seen, she was crying like crazy, I don't know what happened to her because she lost her memory under shock…"
Ittan got angered and walked outside without saying a word, he headed to the back of the house where he saw Remmy crying while looking to the starry sky, the titan felt guilty for causing this sorrow so he grew himself enough for his head to reaches her and started comforting her:
-"It's okay…don't cry, a dragon ate my father, that's why I'm seeking revenge, and who knows maybe I'll manage to kill the dragon who killed your parents."
-"No you don't get it…I…"
But she stopped talking when seeing that the titan's nose dripped, and Ittan was snorting to hide the tears that were about to break, so she smiled: "It's okay, like Claude said; I forgot and decided to continue my live."
Feeling relief, Ittan headed back home with a wide grin as usual, there a supper was waiting for him so he brutally started eating whatever in his sight, stuffing his mouth and swallowing with no chewing like no tomorrow making his companion blush trying to apologize while the couple and their daughter where joyful of seeing the youth's energetic feel.
After few stories about the travelers adventures together, bed time arrived as Maria prepared their spare room for them to sleep.
In the middle of that calm night, the full moon dropping a shiny veil of pale light on the wide green hills, a group of people approached from the woods, a group of four people with a disturbing tremendous aura coming from them:
A bulky muscular man, with a dark skin, black evil eyes, white silky hair that reaches his shoulder, and a noticeable scar that goes diagonally from his left cheekbone to his chin, he wore a light blue heavy coat trimmed with white fur, some puffy pants and some large leather boots, he seemed to be the leader of the gang, he stood and asked: "Is this the house? Daisy?".
A gipsy woman with an attractive body smirked, she was in her early twenties, with blue wide eyes, and puffy lips with purple lipsticks on, curly black hair that goes down to her bottom, her forehead was covered with a multicolored headband decorated with pearls, she wore a tight red dress that reaches her knees, and dark long boots that continues to her feet, she also carries what seems to be a large bag sealed with an interesting patterned medallion, she answered their leader: "It's as clear as the beauty of this moon, Garland, the Dingiir is in that house."
A short teenager walked few steps ahead, he had dark skin with green tone, red eyes, spiky orange hair, he was bare-chested wearing only a short thick jacket that don't even reaches the level of his belly, and a pair of puffy pants, in addition to a simple white scarf, he added: "Bon should be around any moment now."
Suddenly from the ground another person emerged; he was a slender feminine young man, with wide yellow eyes and a small mouth, shiny green hair combed like a flower on the top of his head, he wore a simple yet elegant black suit, he reached his hand: "I guess it's about time for you to go, Veness" giving his comrade a lock of black hair.
Garland grinned and gave an order: "Veness, you go!' making the latter bolt like a flash toward the house.
Back at the house, everything seemed calm, Harpi was talking in his sleep, Ittan was snoring as the usual, while Claude was sinking his head in the pillows trying to ignore the noise, Joseph went outside to have some fresh air because of a breathing problem he suffered since childhood, Remmy approached her father:
-"Remmy? What brought you this late outside?"
-"Nothing daddy…I just wanted to have a short conversation with you, I'm feeling a bit depressed".
-"Is it about our guests?"
-"Guest, of yeah you know I feel like one of them is perverted…and trying to…"
-"Ittan? But I thought that you said that his suit reflects good manners?"
-"Yeah first I thought so, but he doesn't seem like any one of those well-mannered suit-wearing men".
Suddenly Joseph took a deep breath and surprised the girl with a swift punch that sent her to crash to the wall making the whole house shake, awakening the sleeps, the girl, or what seemed to be the girl is revealed to be Veness in disguise, he vomited some blood and asked: "How?"
The father answered: "Ittan didn't wear a suit…and Remmy never called me daddy, nice try." and started swinging his right arm slowly: "Now what do you want? Speak now, or I'll have to make you!"
Suddenly a lightning bolt hit the ground but luckily the minister managed to evade it, and that was when Garland and his minions showed, Daisy didn't waste time and tossed some knives at Joseph but they were repelled by Claude, who conjured a golden rapier sword and pointed it at the enemies asking: "Who are you vagabonds?!".
Garland showed his impression: "Hmm, a human conjurer, how rare! Let's get this straight, the Digniir…we want it!"
Claude turned back at Ittan and ordered him: "Ittan! Take Maria and Remmy! Now!"
Ittan hesitated a bit but he decided to obey his companion, and carried both the mother and her daughter on each shoulder and left to the forest followed by Harpi.
The leader of the gang signed with his hand: "Seidher, you take care of the conjurer, I'll take care of the monk."
With this order, Seidher appeared from the shades, a tall twenty years old youth with a rectangular face, fiery red short hair that seems to be lighter in the middle, distinctive sideburns, narrow sinister orange colored eyes, noticeable cheekbones, he wore a black leather coat, that hides his entire body, the cruel man walked toward the blonde man and pulled a well designed dagger threatening him.
Meanwhile, Ittan was running with everything he got into the woods to ensure the women's safety, suddenly a volley of knives rained down at them, but fortunately Maria created some sort of magical power field that repelled them all, Daisy was responsible for the attack as she appeared sitting on a branch juggling with her daggers, she commented: "Hohoho! It seems that you are not just the crippled wife from the countryside!"
-Maria slipped from Ittan's arm and asked him: "Ittan, please run with Remmy, make sure she's safe!"
- The girl refused saying: "No way mom! You cannot fight her with your leg handicapped!"
-Ittan added: "Lemme do it! I have better chances in fighting her!"
-But the mother turned angry: "I said go!"
Under the pressure that was burdening Ittan, he got nothing but to carry the girl and continue escaping until he reached the end of the woods where grassy plains extending to the bottoms of the faraway mountains.
The titan put the girl down, and took a deep breath, and turned to Remmy and Harpi asking if they are alright, but suddenly he sensed a danger approaching, so he looked back and yelled: "You! Show yourself!".
A soft voice echoed around: "Hehehe, you must be something to be able to figure out my presence, you…are no human?"
It was revealed to be Bon who emerged from the ground he bowed and introduced himself: "My name is Bon, I'm here to take the girl so if you please, hand her over, and nobody will get hurt!".
Ittan stepped closer to him and asked his companions: "Remmy, Harpi, stay behind me" then he smirked and added: "I was just waiting for a chance to beat the crap outta suit wearing people!"…
Now Joseph, Claude, Maria, and Ittan, all are forced to fight against Garland's team, what will be the offspring of this stirring battle? And more importantly what's this Dingiir that the evil ones seek so much and Joseph intends to protect even with the cost of his life?