I'm back!
I'M REALLY SOOOORRY! This chapter should have been finished and posted a long time ago, but for some reasons... it didn't.
First, as I said I brought my computer with me for my musical course, but frankly I didn't had time to write something, and the internet there was really bad. Secondly, I re-discovered Perfect World... so I spent nearly two whole weeks playing it instead of writing (yes, shame on me!). And lastly, we were doing house work, painting the walls and changing the floor... which took us two whole days.
So, after some difficulties, here is chapter 5! This one is longer than the previous chapters. Also, if I remember correctly, I used the word "Demons" to describe my little new monsters, but now I will rather use "Yokais", since its in fact their real name. I re-read the whole chapter, replacing every "demon" by "Yokai", but there might be a few ones still hidden between the lines... I'm saying that so you won't be confused.
Enjoy!
05. A new customer
Yuri and the others entered cautiously in the warehouse.
"Flowers?" Karen said, confused. "But... there was a fight, right? I didn't imagined it?"
The floor was strewn with pink-colored petals. A fight took place here, Yuri had no doubt about that: the noises of clash and blood jet were proof of that. Yuri searched in every nook and cranny of the room, but in vain... no traces of fight. Actually, it was like if nothing happened.
"Do... do you think it was... a ghost?" One the knights asked, his legs shaking.
"Idiot! Such things don't exist! You're a knight, right?"
Yuri stopped his inspection, knowing that doing so won't help him. He kneeled next to the dog, hoping the pooch will find something.
"So, Repede? Got anything?"
The dog whined.
"I see... not even the smell of blood..."
Suddenly, new noises, coming from upstairs, made them jump.
"Again?"
"… I hear sounds of kicks and swords..." Rich said, closing his eyes. "Another fight."
"That building has only one floor, right?" the first knight said. "Then it must be on the roof..."
The group rushed outside but... a strong wind made the door to closed itself, trapping them in the warehouse.
"What now?" Yuri said, trying to open the door... but of course, it didn't open.
"We're trapped..." Karen said, nearly crying.
"Sounds like those guys don't want us to see them." Yuri let the handle, knowing it was useless to keep on opening it.
A few minutes later, the noises stopped. There was a "click" at the door's lock. Yuri pushed the door, and the group could finally left the warehouse. The hold was silent, as before, and while looking at the warehouse's roof, they didn't see any changes.
"I told you, it's a ghost's doing!"
"Shut up!"
Yuri looked at the warehouse's top thoughtfully. "Or maybe... yokai's tricks. Well, after what Judith told me, I can expect everything from those nasty things."
"I want to hurry up and leave from here at once..." Karen claimed. "It's haunted!"
"Stop saying such childish things..." her brother said.
"But you saw that, right? We heard someone fighting, and... and... it's like nothing happened!"
Totally indifferent to all the agitation caused, Yuri was leaning against the warehouse's wall. There were no more suspicious noises, excluding those coming from the conversations between the knights about what just happened. Trying to change his mind, he left and walked towards the hold's gate, hoping to have some informations about the closing. The knights were too busy with talking about the strange events.
"Sorry, kid," one of the knights said, noticing him. "No one can pass. Official decision from the Empire."
"Yeah, I was expecting that... and why?"
"Sorry, I can't say anymore. It's top secret."
"Yeah, of course..." Yuri decided to not stay here any longer. He turned on his heels and walked away.
"And once again, a crazy night..."
Repede whined, agreeing with him.
"But I wonder what happened... It's like a freaking nightmare..."
"Hum... Mister Lowell?"
Yuri raised his head to see Karen standing in front of him.
"Well, I just wanted to say...if you'd like to pass the night here, our inn is opened..."
Yuri smiled. "You mean you want me as a bodyguard, right?"
"Ah... you don't need to tell it like that... but please..."
"Okay, okay, I get it. Anyway, I don't have the choice..."
"Yuri Lowell! Wake up, you jerk!"
"Wow, there's even Rita's voice in my dreams... weird..."
"I said WAKE UP!"
"The boy is totally out, I tell ya'. Maybe we should tickle his feet with a feather? Ah, princess, you still have Phaeroh's feather?"
"I'm afraid I let it in my house..."
"Huh... Rita, what are ya' going to do with that?"
"A little morning shower should be good for him."
SPLASH! The fresh water suddenly got Yuri out of his sleep.
"Hey! Who the hell did that?..."
"Good mornin', sleepy boy! Had a nice nap?"
Yuri recognized all of his friends: Rita, Raven, Estelle, Karol and Judith. Everyone was there, standing in the carriage, and looking at him with various expressions: Judith and Raven were amused, Estelle and Karol rather worried, and finally Rita totally furious.
"Guys! What are you doing here?"
"No! It's what are YOU doing here?" Rita said, pointing a finger at him. "What were you thinking?"
"It's not the first time you're doing that..." Karol noted.
Yuri sighed. "How did you found me, anyway?"
"You can thank your dog for that." Rita answered.
"Oww... Repede, you betrayer..."
Judith speaked too.
"Was it because of what I told you yesterday?"
The swordsman slightly blenched. Yes, pretty much...
"What did you told him, Judith?" Karol asked.
Judith waited a few seconds, and finally decided to explain herself.
"Before the appearance of that column of light, we were attacked by two creatures. We still don't know why, but they were after Yuri."
"Yeah, you already told us that... and?" Rita asked impatiently.
"Those creatures are not normal monsters. They are called Yokais. As I explained to Yuri, some of them can take human forms and speak our language. Like the two who attacked us."
"Yooo... kayes? Never heard of that before..." Karol claimed, crossing his arms. "How do they look like?"
Yuri noticed Raven standing in a corner. Sleeping, thinking? He doesn't really know, but... the old man seemed to be pretty calm after hearing such news... while the others were startled.
"Are they like Entelexeia?" Estelle asked.
"Yes... and no. They are less powerful. They normally show up at night, but... recently, they began on attacking travelers on roads, even the day."
"Attacking... travelers?" Estelle remembered Flynn's words, before her departure for Halure: "I know, but still, be careful. I have recent reports about strange monsters wandering on the roads... Unknown monsters, even the monster specialists claimed they had never saw such creatures before; they weren't repertoried in any books, nor previous studies."
"Yes."
"Flynn... Flynn told me something about that. He warned me before I left Zaphias..."
"Were you attacked?" Yuri asked her.
"No, fortunately. But..."
"Anyway, what it has to do with Yuri leaving alone?" Rita asked.
"Woah, Rita, you don't give up, huh?" Yuri hoped she would forget about him after hearing about yokais stuff, but apparently it wasn't the case.
"No. Because I won't forgive what you did. Judith told us those 'yokais' were after you. Is that right? Does that means you don't trust us?"
This time, Yuri didn't answered. He simply got up from the bed, slipped on his boots and walked toward the exit.
"Nah, not at all. I thought that maybe if I went to Dahngrest alone and warned everyone, I will have all the credits for myself." Yuri said before leaving.
"You..."
"Maybe because he doesn't want us to be dragged along with him and all his problems?" Judith suggested. "He doesn't want us to be hurt like he was."
"Yes, that must be it" Estelle confirmed. "After all... Yuri is not really good at expressing his feelings. By the way, Karol, did he just break one of your guild's law?"
"Hmmm... actually, we were the one who broke it. Even if Yuri didn't told us anything, he was in trouble, and we didn't helped him."
"You're right." Judith said.
"So... we are all going to be punished."
"And here he is..." Rita said, exasperated. "I really don't get you, you and your stupid guild laws..."
Suddenly, Raven emerged from his torpor.
"Hey, why don't ya' join them, sweet Rita? If ya' do, then ya' might get an idea of what a guild really is..."
"No way!"
Judith stepped forward.
"Hum... while we are talking here, Yuri will pass right under our nose..."
"Yes, yes you're right! I will think about that on our way to Zaphias. First, let's catch up with Yuri!" Karol rushed outside, followed by the others.
Hopefully, Yuri wasn't far away. Along with Repede, both of them were standing in front of the closed gate and its horde of knights guarding it.
"So? Have you figured out why they closed it?" Judith asked.
"Oh, it's you, guys."
He observed all the knights posted in front of the door.
"Apparently, they want to isolate Halure for investigation." He continued. "Even people in Zaphias saw this light."
"Well, well... what a mess." Raven said.
"You have anything to do with that, old man?" Yuri said to Raven, looking at him suspiciously.
"Whaddya mean?"
"I don't know... I saw a certain Schwann talking with knights after the festival..."
"Hum... sorry my boy, but I don't know what you're talking about."
Estelle cames toward the knights, attracting their attention.
"Hum... excuse me? Can you let us pass?"
It didn't took them long to recognize who she was as they immediately standed to attention.
"Prin... Princess Estellisse! What are you doing here?"
"Please!" Estelle said, accompanying her words with a deep bow. "I can't give you specific explanations, but we need to pass."
"I'm sorry, Princess, but orders imposed us to not let pass anyone, without exceptions. Not even you."
"But...!"
"Drop it, Estelle." Yuri said. He was right, Estelle had no choices but to give up. She apologized once again to the knights before joining her friends.
"So? What are we going to do?" Karol asked. "You know, this road is leading to Zaphias, but we don't need it to go to Dahngrest."
"Actually," Estelle said, "I want to go to the capital and tell Flynn about what happened..."
"Bad idea." Yuri suddenly replied. Judith, who immediately understood what he was implying with his sudden answer, entered the conversation.
"We can just say we were attacked by two stranges people during the festival. Just to show him what he will going to deal with."
"Oh, I understand what you mean... and to shut up on the fact that actually, they were after Yuri?" the mage said. "So Flynn won't worry about him?"
"Flynn? Worry about me? You're kidding! This guy has other things to care of rather than worry about a guy like me!"
"No, that's not true!" Estelle suddenly said. "He may be really busy with his new functions, but... everyday, he wonders how are you doing."
"Really, what a pain..."
"So," Karol interrupted them, "If Estelle wants to go to Zaphias, we have to go with her."
"Karol..." the princess said.
"Yes," Judith continued, "if we don't it should be against our laws."
"And here we go again. Guild laws." Rita said, shrugging her shoulders.
"So first Zaphias, then Dahngrest. Everybody is okay with that?"
"But!" Estelle shouted, joining her hands. "It's too dangerous! What if we are attacked, like in Halure? We don't know what they are able to do... Besides, only me and Raven still can use artes, right?"
"Hum... yes, you've got a point."
"In that case..." Judith raised her head and took a deep breath. "Bau'l!"
A strange sound coming from the skies, similar to a whale's song, reached the group's ears.
"What it is? Monsters?" one of the guards said.
"Wait, you don't possibly...?" Karol stammered.
"If on ground, we can't pass, then let's do it by the air! Bau'l is waiting for us on the road to Halure."
"Thanks Judy, that really saved us!" Yuri said to Judith, before rushing. "Come on, let's go!"
Knights were too confused to stop them, and on the way Karen said goodbye to then, while her brother was just looking at them with an air of indifference.
As Judith said, Bau'l was peacefully waiting in the plains between Deidon Hold and Halure.
Everybody quickly took place on the Entelexeia's back and, in a few seconds, they were flying over Deidon Hold. On ground, the knights was looking stupidly at Bau'l flying over them, gaping.
"Ha, look at their silly face!" Yuri said, his head bended on his head, looking at the panicked kinights. "Really, they don't change..."
As everybody was looking at the hold, happily laughing at the knights who were now running everywhere and trying desesperately to catch them, Estelle was looking around her, apparently searching something.
"… where is the Fierta?"
"It's under repair" Judith answered her. "Let's say that... our last job ended in an unexpected way..."
"What happened?"
"Hum..." The Krytian put her finger on her chin, trying to remember. "Because of a great misunderstood, the Fierta was attacked... Or, more precisely, Bau'l was the target."
"Bau'l?"
"There are still people who consider him as a monster," Yuri said, joining in the conversation.
"Yes," Judith continued, "Bau'l agreed to be a Brave Vesperia member and since then, he serves as the guild's main mean of transport. Our numerous travels had caused panic among people..."
Yuri finished "… so they paid guilds to wipe Bau'l out." Estelle shivered.
"That's horrible! Bau'l isn't bad!"
"Hum... he's really glad you think of him like that," Judith said after a few moment of silence. "But actually, we can't blame the inhabitants. They were simply scared because they constantly see a giant shadow flying over them... And if we add the recents attacks of yokais..."
"But... is there something we can do? I'm sure there's another way!"
"Well, you can't reason with people who were used to hate monsters since their childhood," the swordsman replied.
Estelle said nothing, her head bended. Bau'l howled.
"Bau'l said you shouldn't worry about him," Judith said, translating. "He really appreciate your concern for him. But he's a true Entelexeia, and cases like that don't frighten him. Maybe one day, humans will trust him. Not immediately, but progressively."
Estelle smiled, heartened by those words. "Yes, I hope you're right, Bau'l. If we work together, then maybe that day will come!"
Higher in the skies, hidden between the coulds, a winged creature was secretly watching Bau'l. He spreaded his wings and rejoined his companions. There was a dozen of them, all identicals: crimson skin, a beady-eyed face with a long nose and wings made with black and sharp feathers. Their hands and feet were replaced by claws, and they were all wearing black ample clothes with pieces of armor covering their torso, legs and arms.
The creature who had just came back, probably the scout, said to all his companions with a shrill voice, "They're down there. A bunch of humans and the Whale Entelexeia the boss told us about. Your orders, chief?"
"Attack!" said the biggest one, surely the captain of the squadron. "We need to bring back only the long-haired human."
"And the others?"
"Meal!" the chief simply responded.
"You're forgetting the Entelexeia..." an other said. "Maybe he already spotted us..."
"No need to worry! The Boss casted on us a spell, so he won't detect us. But the spell won't last very long, so we must hurry. Forward!"
The creatures let their shill scream out and responding to their chief's orders, swooped down on their target, piercing through the clouds.
Suddenly, a tornado of pink flowers surrounded them. In those conditions, they had no choice but to stop. Panicked and quite furious, they looked around to search for who it was coming from.
A few meters above them, a dark silhouette was standing on a bird made of flowers.
"Who... who are you?" the chief screamed, moving away the flowers surrounding him with his wings. "Wait... that smell... and those flowers... you are...!"
The dark silhouette didn't came close to them, but they could hear clearly her gentle woman voice. "Why are you doing this?", she asked them. "Tengus normally don't attack humans."
The chief looked at the woman. "None of your business." The fact that he couldn't even recognize her face made him more furious. "If we catch this human and bring him to our Boss, we will be awarded with eternal power, as he promised us! And with that, we can crush you, you stupid wolves!"
"This is really sad..." the woman claimed. "Your boss is just manipulating you. Eternal power doesn't exist."
"Shut up! Come on, attack her, soldiers!"
Responding to their boss call, the creatures free themselves from the flower cage and were now rushing toward the woman silhouette.
"I'm sorry" she whispered. "I didn't want that but... you don't give me the choice." She raised her right arm and a fan appeared in the palm of her hand. She directed the fan on her ennemies.
Flowers with sharp petals followed the movement of her hand and her fan. Carried by the wind, the flowers first crushed the creatures's wings into pieces. Now wingless, the demons fell one by one, and the woman finished them with an other flower tornado.
"Bau'l said we'll soon arrive in Zaphias." Judith announced.
"That was short!" Karol said, stretching his arms. "How many time do you think we can stay in the capital?"
"We must make sure that Estelle delivers her message properly," Yuri answered. "After that... I think I'm gonna pay a visit to Hanks and the others..."
Before he finished his sentence, Judith hurried to say "… and I think we are all going with you after that."
"Why?"
"So you won't escape again, of course." Rita said, like if it was an evidence for her. As she shrugged her shoulders, a delicate pink flower petal landed in the palm of her hand. She looked at it. "Huh? What is that?"
Karol pointed his finger in the sky. "Hey, over there!"
Hundreds, maybe thousands of flower petals were falling upon them, like snowflakes. One of them landed on Raven's nose, causing him to sneeze and to wake up. "Hmm? What's happenin'?"
"I didn't know that clouds can even make flowers falling!" Karol claimed, his head raised.
Rita nearly hit him. "Idiot! Clouds don't do that."
Estelle joined her hands, catching one of the petals. "But... where are they coming from?"
Yuri was looking silently at the flowers falling upon him. The color, the shape... no doubt about it, it was the same type of flower he saw in the warehouse, at Deidon Hold.
As for Judith, she was staring with nostalgy at the flowers. Bau'l got her out from her thoughts as he began to lose altitude. Zaphias was just in front of them.
Right after they landed in front of the city's entrance, Raven jumped from Bau'l back.
"Now, if you excuse me... I have stuff to take care of. See ya'!"
"Hey wait, old man!" Yuri said as he was helping Estelle to get down. "Ha... too late. He already left."
"Good riddance!" Rita said, leaving the Entelexeia's back too.
Karol and Judith were the last ones. "Don't worry..." the Krytian said. "He will come back when you thought you have forgot about him..." That caused Repede to whine.
After hearing Estelle's request, the knights who were keeping the castle's main entrance immediately opened the doors, allowing her and the group to enter.
"You are lucky," one of the knights said. "Commandant Scifo had just came back from his patrol. Right now, he is in his office."
"Thank you!" Estelle politely bowed before leaving with the others.
They crossed numerous hallways, gardens, with Estelle leading the way.
"You seem to know where you're going," Judith noticed. "You often pay Flynn a visit, right?"
"Yes, of course!"
"Oh. This is so romantic..."
"Ro... romantic?"
"Hey, Judy, you're confusing her now," Yuri said.
"Are you jealous?"
"Me? Not at all."
They finally reached Flynn's office, located in an quiet hallway and guarded by a few knights. Before she knocked at the door, she gave a look to Yuri who was the only standing away from the group, leaning against the wall.
"You're not coming?"
"Well, you're the one who have to deliver the message, right?"
Karol approached Yuri. "But you said we must make sure that Estelle properly does it... it's our job, we must do it until the end."
Yuri sighed. Right after that, the door opened, and Flynn appeared.
"Why, you don't want to see me?" the young knight said, smirking.
"Flynn!" Estelle claimed, her eyes sparkling.
"Lady Estellise," Flynn said, bowing politely before her, "it's a pleasure to meet you again. But you came back fast! How is the festival doing?"
"Hum... actually..."
Flynn noticed the sudden sad and worried expression appearing on her face.
"Come in my office," Flynn said, inviting her and the group to enter. "You too, Yuri."
"All right, all right..." Yuri replied, annoyed.
Flynn's office was both elegant and simple, a quite spaced room. On the left, a marble fireplace was occupying the middle of the wall, with the painting of a famous knight above. In front of the fireplace was placed the desk, a sturdy desk made with lacquered wood and collapsing under the numerous piles of papers and books. The chair accompanying the desk was made of the same material, covered with a red tissue. Finally, the room was well lightened because of the large windows covering entirely one of the wall, the light reflecting itself on the dark wooden floor. The walls, made of white stone, were covered with red tapestries.
Yuri whistled. "Wow... a king-like office... as expected from Commandant Flynn!"
Flynn stared at the office, embarassed. "Well... it was Commandant Alexei's office, so... I just inherited of it. Anyway... Lady Estellise, what is the problem?"
"Err... How can I say it..."
"I suppose you saw that light two days ago?"
"Yes... you too?"
Flynn nodded. "I just received a report this morning... and it said it was coming from Halure. Do you know what happened?"
"Hum... I'm sorry for the sudden question, but..." Estelle said, "do you remember when you warned me about mysterious monsters attacking travelers?"
"Yes, of course... why?"
"We might know who they are. Because during the first day of the festival, we were attacked by two strange people..."
"Yokais." Judith continued.
"Yo... kais?" Flynn asked, looking at Judith.
"We have come here to warn you about them," the krytian continued to explain. "Yokais are far stronger than normal monsters and, for most of them, more intelligent. During the attack in Halure, we were four people against two of them, yet they easily surpassed us."
"You... is that right, Yuri?"
"Well, she said that..." his friend simply replied.
Judith still continued her explanation. "There are several types of Yokais, each having its own characteristics, skills, strengths, and also weakness. Some of them can take human forms, leaving among humans without being noticed. We krytians possess the ability to detect them, but this power is limited and quite inefficient."
"So we're dealing with monsters of other level..." Flynn concluded, leaving his desk. "But, this is strange... even our best monster experts couldn't identifiate them, but you, Miss Judith, seem to know a lot about them."
"It is a part of our Krytian education."
"But apparently, they are really dangerous ennemies... so why the Krytians didn't told us anything about that?"
Judith suddenly got nervous. "Hum... Err..."
Yuri left the wall he was leaning against. "Anyway, we're going to fight annoying monsters and without bodhi blastia, it will be great fun!"
Flynn sighed. "It's hard to admit it, but Yuri is right. Thank you for all your precious informations. Now we have to think of a way to take care of that situation... Miss Judith, I might need your help once more in the future."
"Hum... yes, of course..."
Yuri was looking at Judith, noticing how much she was embarassed. She was like that since the attack in Halure...
After some more chatting, they finally left the office, and Flynn decided to accompagny them to the exit. The group was continuing on talking happily, with Karol relating Brave Vesperia's feats. After that, the conversation was turning around Rita and her new researches about developping a blastia that will use mana, then Estelle and her new life in Halure...
Yuri was following the group behind. With Repede on his heels, he wasn't taking part to the conversation, and instead was walking while being preoccupied.
When they crossed the door, they were welcomed by a warm sun, which was placed high in the sky. It was probably noon now. Flynn returned to the castle, saying he still have a lot of work but he will try to be free before they leave. As he past next to Yuri, the swordsman could hear: "Meet with me at the foutain tonight. We need to talk.". The doors closed behind Flynn, and Yuri sighed. That guy, really...
Now the group was standing before the stairs leading to the castle.
"And now?" Judith asked.
Karol put his hand on his chin. "Hum... now that we succesfully completed our job with Estelle, we can go to Dahngrest and inform the Union..."
"We don't have the Fierta with us, though... but Bau'l is okay to lead us there"
"We should make some provisions, just in case. So, we're leaving tomorrow... that left us the afternoon to rest and make our preparations. Is everybody okay with that?"
"No problem with me..." Yuri said.
"Just in case you forgot about me, I'm going back to Aspio. And I'm thinking about leaving right now."
"Why don't you wait tomorrow, Rita?" Karol asked, standing next to the mage. "Aspio is on our way, after all... What if you're attacked by those strange monsters? You can't use magic anymore, you know!"
"I can defend myself alone, thank you!"
"But..." Estelle began to say. Rita crossed her arms.
"Well, after all, I can tag along with you until we reach Aspio. Actually, I was thinking about getting to the castle's library... I might find some useful books for my researches."
"I'm coming with you!" Estelle happily said.
"Well, if you want..."
"I'm gonna see Hanks and the others," Yuri said. "And you?"
Karol said, with a big smile, that he's planning on going around the city and making provisions for the travel. Judith, who had remained silent during all this time, simply said she'll join Bau'l.
"Oh, by the way Estelle, will you go back to Halure after that?" Karol asked.
"Me? Hum... I... don't know... Maybe..."
"I see... Halure is on our way, so if you want you can leave with us tomorrow! Right, Yuri?"
"… yeah..." Yuri replied, absent-minded. But Karol didn't noticed it.
"So, let's all meet together tonight at the inn, okay?"
Judith kneeled next to Repede and pat his head. "Oh, Repede, make sure Yuri doesn't flee once again... I can count in you, right?"
Repede happily whined, making her understand he will do it without fail. Yuri sighed, annoyed.
As he was walking along the streets, Repede faithfully following him, Yuri noticed how the people were so lively and cheerful, despite the conditions of this new life and bad news brought everyday. He left the Noble Quarter, crossed the Central Plaza and finally reached the Lower Quarter.
The sight at the Lower Quarter, the smell, the people, made Yuri feel at home. The fountain wasn't working anymore; and to think it was the starting point of his adventure, a crazy journey to get back the aquae blastia in order to make that damn fountain work again... and it was now there, lifeless, without water, as if it was teasing him. Yuri sighed.
A market was taking place around the fountain. Jewels, baubles, fruits, vegetables... Here and there, the merchants were shouting at the top of their voice, trying to sell their merchandise.
Yuri was sure to find here the person he wanted to see. And he was right: standing before displays of construction tools, Hanks was negociating eagerly with the seller, a small and stocky man with a well-rounded stomach and a thin grey moustache.
Yuri got close. "Hey, old man, how're you doing?"
The seller and his customer stopped their conversation and turned their head to see who had just spoken. Hanks poutted after seeing Yuri, which quite startled him.
"What are you doing here?" Hanks said dryly.
"A little 'hello!' should have been really appreciated you know, old man..."
"Well, I didn't thought I would see you now. So? How are things going?"
"… things are going smooth recently. I'm just doing jobs here and there for the guild."
"Glad to hear that!" Hanks said, giving money to the seller. "So, I'm telling you once more: here is the price for the hammer. I can't afford more."
"Sorry mister," the merchant said, " but the price is the price."
"Listen, I really need this hammer, my roof is all pierced and broken, and the water is infiltrating through it. My wife is already ill because of it, so I must have this roof quickly fixed."
"You know, you're not the only one in trouble. Because of the recent attacks, I've lost half of my cargo. So I have to raise the prices in order to offset the losses."
Hanks sighed. Yuri standed before the seller.
"Oh, come on, you can't do that to your elders, right?"
"I'm sorry, but... wait... are you...?"
"Imagine you're in the same situation as he is," Yuri pursuied. "What will you do?"
The seller was strangely shaking. "Are you... Yuri Lowell?"
"Yeah, in the flesh."
"There... there is a warrant for you!" the seller cried, pointing a trembling finger at the swordman.
"Again?" Yuri said.
Hanks looked angrily at Yuri. "What the hell did you do this time?"
"I don't know!"
Yuri sighed heavily. Yokais, and now... a warrant on his head. Really, he was dogged by bad luck recently...
"In that case, let me give you this. In return, will you let alone this man and act as if you had never met him before?"
It was a woman who had just spoken. Her soft and gentle voice was resonating into Yuri's head. He looked around... and was surprised to see, standing next to him, a small-sized woman holding a leather and well-filled purse. She was wearing the cape of the Imperial Mages, the hood was pulled over her head, and her face was hidden behind a mask. Only long and black hair locks were beyond of the hood, lying on her chest.
During a few seconds, everyone remained silent, surprised by the sudden appearance of the masked woman. Her clothes and hair were floating, carried by the wind. She waved her arm, making the money inside the purse to clink. The sound produced made them come back to reality.
"Will you accept?" the woman insisted.
The seller hesitated and, cautiously, caught the purse. He checked inside and his face suddenly became pale like a white linen.
"This... this... this even more than the award of the warrant..."
Hanks nearly choked. "What?"
"You know how many they promised to give?" Yuri asked him.
"No, but if it's you, there is no doubt the award will be high. Very high."
The seller was now hefting the purse, as if the precious bag was just an illusion between his hands. "It's... it's real money..."
"Of course," the woman said. "I can't lure a merchant with false money, right? Now that you are sure I am not lying, can we settle our contract?"
"Yes... yes, of course! I will do everything you want!"
"Thank you very much! Now please forgot everything you just saw and continue your activities as before. And if you betray me, I will be forced to punish you. Severely."
She had said that very calmly, like a mother warning her child if he does something wrong. The seller eagerly nodded.
"It's very kind of you. Now, if you excuse me..." She politely bowed before the seller, then faced Yuri and Hanks. "Mister Yuri Lowell, isn't it?"
Yuri could now clearly see the woman's face... or rather, the mask she was wearing. A strange mask, certainly representing an animal (Yuri couldn't recognize what kind of animal) because of the ears and the long muzzle. The mask was white, the mouth and the ears of the animal were drawn in red.
"What is it?" the woman said, tilting her head.
"Huh? Oh no, nothing..."
"I would like to talk to you, but let's move to a quiet place." Then she looked in Hanks's direction. "You can come too if you want, mister. Please, follow me."
As she left in a very gracious walk, Hanks whispered in Yuri's ear. "Hum... my intuition is saying me there's something fishy about her..."
"Maybe, but... she saved me, after all."
However, he knew Hanks was right in a way. Repede, with his growl, was also thinking so. Nevertheless, they decided to follow her.
The masked woman crossed a small and empty street and lead them to a dead end, between two houses.
"It's more quiet, right?" She finally said, turning around.
"First, thanks." Yuri interrupted her. "You really saved me back then."
"Oh, it's nothing."
"Unfortunately, we don't have money to repay you..." Hanks said.
"Don't worry about that. I don't want money. But I want to talk with the young man here."
Yuri pointed out himself. "Me? That's why you lead us here. Well, now that I'm here in the flesh, what do you want from me?"
"You are from Brave Vesperia, if I'm not wrong. Actually, I would like you to escort me to the Yumanju Onsen."
"Yumanju? Wait, what was it already?..."
"The Hot Springs of Yumanju, if you prefer."
"Hot Springs... oh yeah, I remember! That shady and expensive place... Why?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you. Not now."
Hanks was completely lost. "Yumanju? What is that?"
"A place I discovered while I was on travel..." Yuri explained to him. "They've got hot springs for relaxing... We went there with the others."
"Really? Maybe I'll got pay a visit then..."
"Bad idea. It's really expensive, ya' know. 300 000 galds."
"What? But you said you went there!... Wait a minute... Where did you found 300 000 galds?"
Yuri swallowed. Whoops, he should have shut up instead!
Still standing before them, the woman was patiently waiting, hands joined. Her little laugh however made them remember she was there.
"So, you want us as bodyguards, right? Huh... okay, I'll take it. There shouldn't be any problems... "
The woman bowed. "Thank you. Now, I'm leaving my destiny between your hands."
"Hum... no need to exagerate..."
"My name is Eolie."
"Well, nice to meet you, Eolie. I'm Yuri Lowell... though you already know that."
"I'm Hanks. I know that boy since he was a kid. I hope it won't be a burden for you!"
"Don't worry about that..."
The end of her sentence was deadened by cries of fear and panic, also step noises. Hanks left a few seconds the dead end and gave a quick look at the street. "Hum... looks like something's happening..."
Yuri and Eolie joined him. The street, who was empty a few moments ago, was now litteraly invaded by panicked and crying people. Despite the ruckus caused, Yuri managed to ask what was happening, hoping someone would mind answer to him. However, no one did. Everyone was running here and there and didn't paid attention to Yuri's question. Actually, he wasn't even sure somebody heard him.
However, he could clearly hear the words "Monsters!", "Wings!" and "Long nose!" raising from the crowd.
"Sounds like the city is attacked," Yuri claimed. He left the small dead end and shouted: "I'm going to check. Hanks, stay with our client and let's all meet at the inn when it will be over!"
"Don't do anything reckless!" Hanks said, but Yuri had disappeared into the crowd. As Hanks was trying to find Yuri into this mess, he didn't noticed that Eolie quietly left him, fitting in with the crowd too.
Yuri was now rushing along the streets, followed by Repede. He was next to the inn when he saw them. A flock of winged creatures, flying above the fountain, with the shadow of their wide-spreaded wings planing over the people and the streets. Their long nose, their crimson skin, their pierçing eyes and their black feathered wings, everything was supposing they weren't normal monsters.
The largest creature, certainly the leader, raised his fist.
"Let's get revenge for our comrades! Capture immediately the boy! Its name is Yuri Lowell. He is in this city. Do everything you can to get him out from his hidden place!"
"Maybe we can use his friends as a lure, boss..."
Hidden behind the inn's wall, Yuri frowned. They were there for him... and apparently they were ready to do anything to get him. He must take care of them before anyone is injured...
"Yuri!" That was Karol's voice. Yuri turned his head, seeing the young boy running in his way. "This is terrible..."
"No, Karol, don't come this way!"
The leader of the flock also turned his head into the direction where Yuri was hidden. He smirked.
"Oho, nice timing!"
In a blink of eye, the creature was next to Yuri.
"Dammit!"
"We're lucky today!" the creature said, looking greedily at Yuri. "Our prey brought to us on a silver platter!"
The others came behind him and, all together, they started a piercing and nasal laugh. Yuri regained his self-confidence and drew his sword in the way he usually do, throwing away the sheath. Repede growled, ready to fight.
"Ooh... you want to fight, young human?"
Yuri smiled. "I want to see what is it, to fight against the likes of you."
"You better have to follow us quietly, young human. The Boss wants you in one piece."
"I'm afraid I'm not the kind of guy who follow strangers like a good kid."
The creature moved forward. He didn't expect his prey to be so stubborn and hot-headed.
"Oh, trying to resist? Not bad, for a human. Then let's try this..." He gave one of his subordinates a nod, who instaneously disappeared. Yuri barely had the time to understand what was happening when...
"AAH! Yuri!"
Yuri spinned round. The subordinate was now tightly holding Karol, his sharp claws threatening the young boy's throat.
"Karol!"
"Now, I repeat what I said: You better have to follow us quietly, young man. Or this yummy young child will serve as our lunch today."
"Bastards..." Yuri muttered.
"Photon!"
The blast of light, exploding in the middle of the flock, made the creatures to disperse and left them half-bind. Yuri took advantage of the situation. After a few strides, he placed himself behind Karol and the creature. He slashed its back, making it crying and dropping Karol. As the creature flew away, writhing in pain, Karol felt heavily on his kneels, on the ground.
"Aaaahh!"
"Karol, you okay?"
Karol managed to get up. "Yeah, hum... I'm fine... thanks..."
The devil leader shook his head, recovering his mind. He and the others eagerly looked around them to see who had cast the spell. "Who did that?"
"I won't let you hurt my friends!"
Estelle was standing at the top of the slope, her sword in one hand, and holding thightly a shield in the other.
"Estelle!"
"A human girl? So it's you? But I thought humans can't use magic anymore... Or... are you the so-called Child of the Full Moon?"
One of the creatures warned the leader. "Be careful boss, she's specialized in healing spells..."
The ex-princess was slightly destabilized. Those creatures know about the Child of the Full Moon? They found out about her so easily!
That instant of hesitation was enough for the creatures to rapidly overcome her. In a fraction of a second, the sword and the shield weren't anymore in her hands, and one of the monster was holding her with its powerful arms.
"Humans don't scare us, right? Look, she's all shaking and panicked, it will be a piece of cake... and we can also use her to lure the boy, boss!"
Yuri frowned. He was expecting that, using her as a decoy to destabilize him. He reminded the last time they were confronted to Yokais, in Halure... the perspective of seeing her getting controlled once again made him chill.
"Like the hell I'm gonna let you do this... Azure Edge!" The sword cut through the air, but... nothing happened. It just created a wind blast... making the leader creature laugh.
"Muah ha ha! How pitiful! This is all you can do?"
"Dammit..." Yuri muttered, stepping forward. "Without bodhi blastia, it will be hard to fight those bastards..."
Yuri was thinking of a new strategy when he heard Estelle squeaking. The creature who was holding her was slowly strangling the poor princess, its claws surrounding her neck.
The leader was now in front of Yuri, floating in the air, giving him a haughty glance. "Come with us... or she will die.. my subordinate will be very pleased to tear her delicate neck to shreds..."
Yuri tried to contain his fury. Fight with anger, and will be nothing but only advantages to the ennemy. There was something first he wanted to ask, something that was obsessing him since his first encounter with Yokais in Halure...
"Why... do you want me?"
"Oh, curious huh? But... you human doesn't deserve to know the reason. You just have to follow us like a good boy."
"Sorry, but I can't join your way of thinking."
"Then, that's simple: she will die. After, the young boy will follow."
Estelle cried, louder than before.
"Humans are so strange! They are ready to kill their own friends to save their life!"
"Argh... boss! The girl!"
Repede, who managed to stay quiet during all this time, was now bitting into the creature's neck, in order to save Estelle. The monster let Estelle and engaged an enraged battle with the dog.
"Nice, Repede..."
Yuri felt the anger inside him, running through all his body and making his blood rushing. An overwhelming power seize him, something he had never felt before... He looked furiously at the leader.
"… and you are ready to use coward ways to get what you want? You're kidding! Fight me instead! AZURE EDGE!"
... come to think of it, that one was really hard to write.
I'm not sure about the price for Yumanju, but... I remember it was really expensive.
Okay, now I have to get to work for chapter 6! Though I can't say when it will be posted. Not this week, I think...