This took me longer to update than expected, partly because I was in Vegas for two days, and partly because this chapter is HELLA LONG!
Lot's of talking and stuff happens. :)
I hope you enjoy it!
Obligatory Disclaimer: I own nothing.
What the Sunrise Brings
Yu woke feeling groggy and hot, the stifling woolen blanket falling heavy over his body, the scratchy fabric making his skin itch. Rolling onto his back, he kicked off the covers and stretched, groaning in satisfaction as his muscles tightened and his blood began to flow. Light filtered in from the window, a dim bar of gold slanting across the floor and up the corner near the back wall, and he blearily realized he had forgotten to draw the curtains the night before.
The night before . . .
He rolled over onto his side again, his stomach clenching uncomfortably as unwanted memories began to bleed in. Bleeding, just like the wounds on those soldiers that had painted the ground red . . .
He inhaled sharply, muffling the noise beneath the crook of his arm so as not to disturb his friends slumber. He closed his eyes, trying to stanch the tide of memory before it overwhelmed him. But images continued to flit through his mind at an unrelentingly pace, as if the lack of nightmares he'd had during sleep had been a personal affront to them. A pincer snapping, a monstrous screech, flesh being sundered, screaming, blood-
His stomach churned and bile rose up into his throat, thick and burning and hot, so hot that tears pricked the corners of his eyes. His stomach heaved again, threatening to expunge yesterday's meal, and he clamped a hand over his mouth as nausea nearly overcame him.
Curling into a ball as if to protect himself from an unseen threat, Yu forced himself to breath, latching onto a single chant amidst the maelstrom of memory, Calm down. It's over now. Everyone's safe. Your safe. Calm down, calm down, calm down . . .
It felt like hours until the beating of his heart slowed and his stomach stopped convulsing on itself, when it reality it must have been only ten minutes. It was only after that that he felt reasonably safe sitting up. His shirt was sticking uncomfortably to his side, and when he pulled it away he felt the air brush cold against his sweaty skin. But the sensation was welcomed.
Exhaling, he looked to his left to examine his room. It was a literal nest of mattresses and blankets, and he could see his friends still sleeping beneath the thick covers of their quilts. The light from the window cut between the two groups, bouncing off the now cold water of the bathtub and making it shimmer. It hadn't been moved back to it's place beside the wall, and the girls had decided it made a decent border between them and the boys. Some modicum of etiquette still had to be maintained, he supposed.
He couldn't quite see the girls where he sat, but the rest he could just fine. Yosuke had placed his mattress next to his cot, so he slept just beneath him on his immediate left. He was on his back, so his face was turned up to the ceiling, breathing deeply in slumber. His hair was tousled and his mouth was slightly ajar, but his face was peaceful, and the sight brought a small smile to Yu's lips. Pressed close to the brunette was a small lump hidden underneath the blankets, the sheet rising and falling in a slow, steady cadence he knew to be breathing. Yu knew it was Teddie, because he could see Kanji beyond that, his broad back to the silver-haired teen as he lay facing the tub. His left arm dangled off the side of the mattress, forearm caught in the strip of sunlight while his hand lay beneath the shadow of the tub. He let out a brief snort, then fell back into silence as he submerged deeper in slumber. He could hear the girls quiet breathing too, serene and untroubled by darker dreams.
Safe.
That knowledge was more comforting than most would believe possible. It helped Yu breath just a little easier. But . . . there still remained the reality of what had happened last night. And sooner or later, the others would wake up and remember too.
He didn't look forward to that at all.
His eyes trailed away from his sleeping friends to rest on the window. He could only see a sliver of the outside, the angle too sharp to see much else. But he could still make out the crack running diagonally down the pane just fine. The sundering fracture was like a jerky line of silver between two translucence halves, the tiny splinters of broken glass creeping out from the break resembling minuscule whorls of ivy growing across a dilapidated edifice. It was like a scar. A scar left behind by the brutal and sudden attack, a remainder chiseled into the very architecture of the building itself. A visible representation of the memory now etched into his own mind, a memory he knew he would carry for the rest of his life.
Completely unbidden, another memory surfaced . . . one near the beginning of this enterprise. The memory of the drow who had attacked them on the bridge . . . their first brush with the violence that seemed to run rampant in this world. Those drow . . . they had died. But at the time it seemed . . . it seemed unreal. Like . . . like it was just a bad dream, and that was why it hadn't stuck out so much. Maybe it had to do with the disassociation with their surroundings, the fantastical elements still so strange it felt as if nothing was real. Maybe it had to do with the fact that they'd attacked them with the intent to kill. Maybe, even, it was even something as shallow as the fact the drow hadn't been humans. But they had still died . . . and it was this death that was reflected everywhere in this world, even in places supposedly safe.
And until they found their way back to the safety of their own world . . . they would undoubtedly see more of this exact carnage in the days to come. That was the truth, he knew . . . and it was a truth that scared him more than he could have ever imagined. It was funny (no, it wasn't) . . . he'd faced a countless number of monsters, a murderous psychopath, and even a goddess of Yomi itself. But back then, he'd been able to do something. Back then . . . he and his friends had had the means to fight against the things that frightened them.
But here, they couldn't fight back. Here, they couldn't fucking do anything! And that was what bothered him the most. The fact that his bonds and the gift bestowed to him to harness their power were useless. That he was useless . . .
His nails dug into the mattress. Even if they mastered the styles of fighting in this world, and the methods used for survival here, he didn't know if any of them would have the will to actually kill someone. Even if it was the only way, the necessary way to survive, it seemed too far. Once, they'd come close . . . but each of them knew now that if they'd gone through with it, they wouldn't have felt victorious. They would have been miserable. So how could they go and make something like that a normal thing?
"Partner?"
He turned his head, pulled from his thoughts as he looked down at Yosuke. The boy was stretching his arms over his head, stifling a yawn behind his hand before relaxing against the mattress again.
"Morning," Yu said softly, turning and bracing an elbow against his bed so he could lean over and look down at his friend more comfortably.
"Morning," Yosuke whispered, rubbing at his eyes, "How'd you sleep?"
"Alright, I guess," Yu said. He lowered his head, "Better than I thought I would."
Yosuke's face sobered up instantly, a melancholy gleam appearing in his eyes, "Yeah . . . me too."
They lay in silence for a bit, until Yosuke let out a deep, troubled sigh, "You know, I didn't think . . . I mean, I knew this place could be bad . . . but I didn't really think about how bad until last night."
Yu nodded in complete understanding, "I know. I don't think any of us really understood. But . . . but even if we did, it wouldn't have prepared us for that."
Yosuke frowned, laying an arm over his eyes, "Yeah . . . it wouldn't have." A very short, quiet laugh, more self-deprecating than anything, escaped him, "Is it bad . . . that I'm sorta glad we didn't get involved last night? I mean, I feel bad for . . . for what happened to those guys . . . and I wish it hadn't happened. But . . ." he drew in a shaky breath, "I can't help feeling relieved . . . because Naoto was right. If we'd tried doing anything, those things would have killed us. And I hate that I know that that's what would have happened! I just- . . ." Yosuke forced himself to calm down before he started yelling, voice falling back into a strained whisper, ". . . I just hate being this helpless."
Yu listened patiently, letting his friend get everything off his chest as his heart panged in sympathetic understanding. It was obvious last night's tragedy was affecting Yosuke just like it was affecting him, uncertainty running parallel with the fear of his own vulnerability and making things seem darker than they should be. Yu understood it perfectly.
Perhaps it was that solidarity that made Yu take a chance. Reaching down, he grabbed Yosuke's fingers between his own, holding a bit more tightly than was necessary and finding the warmth of Yosuke's calluses against his own comforting. The other boy tensed in surprise for a moment, then relaxed, not pulling away. It was only then Yu finally continued speaking, "No, it's not bad to feel relieved that your friends are all right. I feel that way too. And I also understand how frustrating it is. Not being able to do anything last night . . . it was awful." Yu's eyes lowered, "There's a part of me that feel's I should have done something, but I know . . . I would have died. And that . . . frustrates me a lot. Just like it frustrates you."
A small, barely there smile made it's way to Yosuke's mouth, "Nice to know I'm not the only one."
Yu managed one in return, "I sound like a bad leader, don't I?"
Yosuke lifted his arm so one eye became visible, looking puzzled, "Why do you say that, partner?"
"It's just . . ." Yu idly shifted his free fingers through his hair, "A leader is supposed to adapt to any situation to keep their team together and alive. Because of that, being helpless . . . isn't really an option. Especially if I want to keep everyone safe. So . . . admitting I don't really have a plan kind of means I'm metaphorically shooting myself in the foot."
"Hey, knock that off," Yosuke cut in, "Yeah, you're our leader, that's true, but there wasn't anything you or any of us could have done last night! And besides, you're wrong when you say you don't have a plan."
At Yu's confused look, Yosuke went on, "Come on, don't tell me you've forgotten about asking Nyras-san to teach us how to fight?"
At this, Yu's face took on a sheepish cast, "Yeah . . . you know, I did mean to bring that up with all of you, but . . . well . . ."
"I know," Yosuke said. Yu felt the bottom of the other boy's thumb press against his own, the closest he could come to squeezing his hand, "Don't sweat it. Besides, I think this is a pretty good idea. I mean, we need to learn something if we're going to be sticking around in this place."
Yu nodded, feeling a flicker of satisfaction at his best friend's support. Not that he doubted he wouldn't have it, but it was nice to hear. Validating even, given how wrong everything had gone in the last few days.
" . . . could you keep it down over there?"
Yosuke moved his hand away as Yu looked up to see Chie sitting up from her bed, her head just visible over the rim of the tub. She was rubbing at her eyes as she looked their way, looking disgruntled but still having enough awareness to keep her voice low, "What are you even talking about anyway?"
"Chie, what's going on?"
Yukiko appeared as well, her hair a flyaway mess as she ran her fingers through it, looking sleepy as she yawned, "Is everything alright?"
Chie glanced apologetically at her, "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up, Yukiko."
The other girl waved dismissively at her, "It's okay. We really should be getting up anyway."
"Indeed," Yu heard Naoto speak, her voice clear and free of the lingering slurs of sleep. She stood up from her bed so she could look at Yu clearly, recollecting her hat as she did so, "I imagine we have a active day ahead of us. Especially if you want to implement that plan of yours, Senpai."
"Huh? Plan?" Chie questioned, looking from Naoto to Yu and back.
"So you listened in, huh?" Yu asked her, smiling faintly.
"My apologies. I've actually been awake for some time now, and I suppose old habits die hard," Naoto replied, "But I agree with Yosuke-senpai. While some of our respective skill sets don't exactly align with more traditional weaponry, at least learning how will put us a step above where we were before."
Yukiko's eyes flashed with realization, "Oh, you're talking about what you said to Nyras-san last night."
Yu nodded, "That's right."
Chie nodded in understanding, absorbing the idea, "Yeah, I can get behind that. Especially . . ." her voice fell, eyes clouding in memory, "Especially if it means I can do something next time."
Yukiko gave her friend a sympathetic glance, sadness shining in her eyes, but she didn't speak. Yu saw her swallow thickly, and he imagined the two clasping hands just out of view in an effort to stave off the terror they'd shared the night before. It was . . . nice to now that, despite the fact that the two were just as confused and afraid as the rest of them, they still had each other to rely on.
That was when another voice spoke up, one that was quiet, unsure, and sad, "Do you think if we did . . . we could do it?"
Naoto looked down, surprise flitting across her face, "Rise-chan, you're awake."
Yu saw a head of tousled copper hair appear over the rim of the bath tub, Rise's lips turned down into a small, cheerless frown. The look made Yu shiver, because it was such a far cry from the optimism he was used to seeing on her face. And when she looked at him, eyes misted with apprehension and her arms wrapped around her body as if to shield herself from some unseen evil, it made his heart hurt, "Do you really think . . . we could, Senpai? Without our personas?"
Yu opened his mouth, only to be cut off by a more brusque voice, "What else can we do? We don't have our personas, but like hell am I just gonna sit by and watch next time."
Yu looked down as Kanji rolled onto his back and sat up, bracing an elbow against his bent knee, brow furrowed and lip kinked down in a frown, "It probably won't be easy . . . but hell, nothin' is here. So let's just do what we were going to do, stick together, and take some lessons."
His voice sounded determined, but there was an edge to it that bothered Yu. An edge that almost bordered on desperation, like this single option was their only hope at surviving. He knew Kanji well enough to know he wasn't particularly fond of vulnerability when it could get the ones he cared about hurt, and last night, he'd been nothing but that. Yu could see why he'd want fix that problem, and he found himself sympathizing more strongly than he thought he would.
"A succinct way of putting it . . . but true nonetheless," Naoto said with a short nod.
Naoto was remaining composed, the most outwardly composed out of any of them. Perhaps a bit too much. Yu remembered her saying she had been awake longer than any of them, and that must have given her more time to reflect on their situation than any of the others. Given that, it wasn't so surprising she was pushing so strongly for action. Especially since she'd no doubt been playing and replaying those scenes over and over in her head the whole time she'd been awake, seeing time and time again the moment's she'd been too helpless to change anything.
"But more than that . . ." Rise continued with a shake of her head, looking more and more distraught as she went on, "Even if we do learn, would we be ready to . . . to fight like that. To fight and . . ." her voice shook, " . . . and kill people?"
Her question made everyone shift uncomfortably, eyes falling to the floor as they contemplated the possibility of ending a life. For a possibility it was. A very . . . very high one, at that. But even so, the thought still made Yu's stomach curdle.
Before anyone could break the silence, however, another very soft, very troubled voice spoke up, "I . . . don't want to kill anyone . . ."
Yosuke reacted first, jerking up into a sitting position and looking down at the bundle next to him, "Teddie?"
The bear hadn't moved from his spot or even kicked off the covers, remaining curled up beneath the sheets. But the blanket wasn't thick enough to mask the teary tremor in his voice, one the steadily grew stronger as he spoke, "I . . . I don't want to do that. I don't want to kill anyone!"
Yu pulled himself down from his bed to crouch on Yosuke's, placing a hand where Teddie's shoulder roughly was. He could feel a faint trembling just beneath his hand, and he could feel Yosuke's concerned gaze flick to him before falling back to the lump beside them. Yu was sad to say he wasn't surprised by this reaction. Out of all of them, Teddie had undoubtedly been affected the worst by the events of last night. And with all their talk of killing people, it was just making it worse. It was a tough subject for all of them, unquestionably, but Teddie was just too gentle-hearted for something like that.
"No one's going to kill anyone. No one, understand?" Yu said softly but insistently, hoping the surety in his voice was believable, "We'll fight, but not to such an extreme as that. And besides, we shouldn't jump so far ahead like this anyway. We don't even have confirmation that our counterparts will even train us. Seeing if that's even a possibility should be our focus for now. Alright? So no killing. Not for any of us."
Silence at first. Then, the cover shifted a little, and Teddie plaintively whispered, ". . . Promise?"
Yu nodded on reflex, squeezing the boy's shoulder, "Promise."
That was when someone knocked on the door, and Rhysana's voice, unmarred by worry or fear, spoke brightly from the other side, "Morning, my lovelies! I have some new clothes for you!~"
Glances were shared before Rise went to the door, unbolting the lock and pulling it open with a soft creak. Rhysana stepped inside at once, a brown sack slung over her shoulder, her cloak rustling as she made her way to the one proper bed in the room. Dropping it on the mattress, she pulled the top open and began to pull sets of clothes out from the orifice, chattering as she worked, "So, how did you sleep?"
The boys scooted back, and Teddie finally sat up himself to follow them. He kept the blanket around his head, though, a portable cocoon to feel safe.
Yu folded his arms together, saying, "We slept alright. I'm guessing thanks to you."
Oh yes, he remembered the sweet voice he'd heard before he'd drifted off, and he was certain that that had something to do with the lack of nightmares they'd suffered in the night.
Rise's eyes lit up in remembrance, "That's right . . . I did hear you singing last night. It was . . . really soothing."
Rhysana waved at her, "Oh, it was just an old song. But if you want, I guess you could say it had its own 'magic' to it."
" . . . thank you," Rise replied, managing a smile for the first time that morning, "It . . . really helped, I think."
Rhysana glanced the girl's way and gave her a wink, smiling as she picked up four of the sets she'd laid out, stacking them on top of one another carefully. She began to make her way to the girls, but not before giving Yu a look, "Your clothes are right on the bed, farthest on the left. The rest of you can figure out who's is who's pretty easily."
As she went off to hand out the girl's pairs, Yu glanced at the set she'd pointed out. Picking up the first piece, he found a cloth shirt unravel in his hands, the dark gray material made of comfortably soft linen. There was also a pair of pants, woolen socks (thank god), and another garment he wasn't as familiar with. It was thicker than the other clothes, resembling a white buttoned jacket with long, padded sleeves and a rising collar that would cover a portion of his neck.
"A doublet?" he heard Naoto ask, having found the same thing.
"Yes, a doublet," Rhysana replied. Clapping her hands, she said, "Now, get dressed! Breakfast is downstairs, and we have two more stops to make in the town before we leave."
"Leave?" Rise asked suddenly. She glanced out the window, smile fading, "After what happened?"
Rhysana's expression softened, and she reached out placed a hand on her other's cheek, "I know. It seems too soon, and you want to help. But there's not much more we can do for the people here. The best we can do is carry on and try to learn more about what happened, and our best chance to find it right now would be in Bailsborough. Do you understand?"
Rise bowed her head for a moment, face hidden behind a curtain of hair. Then, with a short exhale, she raised it and gave a slow nod, "Yeah . . . I understand."
Rhysana smiled, looking pleased as she gave Rise a soft nudge to her shoulder, "That's my girl."
"You still don't know what happened?" Yukiko asked the woman, looking worried.
"What happened was unusual by anyone's standards. But it would be better to talk about this after you've gotten some food in you. And we will talk, I promise," Rhysana said.
Another knock by the door diverted everyone's attention, and they looked to find that Tirin was leaning casually against the doorframe, lazily tossing an a pair of apples up and down with just one hand as he spoke, "Nyras is looking for you, Rhys. Just to let you know."
Rhysana rolled her eyes, "Ah, Nyras, never a moment's rest when she's on a hunt."
She walked out the door, calling over her shoulder before departing, "We'll be downstairs! Oh, and you should probably clean this mess up before you finish! The servants will appreciate it!"
Tirin didn't leave quite as quickly, instead taking a bite out of one apple while catching the second with his other hand, saying enticingly, "There's fresh porridge downstairs, enough for everyone! And the cook even scrounged up some honey to go with it, so its extra sweet and tasty!"
Food, unfortunately, wasn't holding its usual appeal for any of them, and so they all just sat in a weary silence without offering any sort of interest in the porridge.
Tirin sighed, frowning at their lack of enthusiasm. Then he perked up, taking to balancing the unbitten apple on the tip of one finger in an attempt to amuse them and talking as nonchalantly as if he were talking about the weather, "You now, when I first came to the surface, the first thing I saw were demons too."
This got everyone's attention.
". . . Really?" Teddie asked.
"Mhm. And because of it, I thought everywhere was just as bad and scary as the Underdark. But then I got to know more about the surface, and take it from me, it really isn't! Nothing like my home, anyway. What I'm trying to say is . . ." Tirin bounced the apple up and switched fingers just in time, the fruit wobbling on the tip of his thumb, "The surface is a much better place than what you saw last night. Sure, there's still danger around, but you shouldn't let that stop you from exploring, because there's a lot of amazing things to see! Like Arvorod, and The Jeweled River! So chins up!"
He rolled the apple on his fingers and tossed it up, catching it on the top of his head and keeping it there as he smiled, "You survived the Underdark, and you'll survive this!"
Tirin made it sound so simple. But then, perhaps it was for him, since he'd lived with this sort of bedlam his entire life. But it wasn't so simple for them . . .
"But not everyone survived . . ." Teddie put what everyone was thinking into words, eyes downcast.
Tirin's smile faded, but something like practicality entered his voice, "I know. And that's sad. But that's what happens sometimes. That's why we do what we do; so it doesn't happen so much."
That was true, Yu realized . . . if they hadn't been here, a lot more people would have died. A lot more.
Tirin continued, a conspiratorial spark appearing in his eyes, "Aaaand maybe, though you didn't hear this from me . . . you might be helping out a little in that regard too!"
Everyone looked up at this, but before they could inquire further, Tirin was already turning away. But not before smirking and saying, "Think fast, cub!"
He tilted his head so the apple fell and rolled down his arm, jerking it up into the air when it reached his elbow. It landed right in Teddie's lap, the smooth skin clipping the bear on the nose and earning the gloaming a startled 'eep'.
Still smiling, the man took one last bite of his apple and vanished down the hall.
"They make it sound so easy . . ." Rise commented, looking down, "To just forget what happened."
"For them . . . it probably is," Naoto said softly, "And I don't mean that in a disparaging way. It's simply how it has to be."
Silence fell after that. Everyone knew hey had to get dressed, but it fell to the wayside even as the boys grabbed their clothes.
Yosuke gave the bear a soft nudge with is foot, "Come on, Ted, get your stuff. There's free food in it for you if you do."
He was trying to entice him, but Teddie didn't react to it, a worrying sight. Instead, after another moment of quiet thought, he looked at Yu, "Sensei, is that true? Do you really think this world . . . isn't scary like this all the time?"
Yu's face softened, but he gave himself a few moment's to compose a reply before crouching down to be eye level with the boy, "I think that Tirin and the rest have a lot more experience than we do when it comes to this world. And I believe them when they say that this wasn't normal, and I believe Tirin when he says the surface is a better place than that," leaning in a little closer, he posed the question, "Do you?"
He was saying this for everyone else too, not just Teddie. Because . . . he really did believe that this world was much better than what they saw last night. After all, it wasn't like their own was free of terror, even if it took place behind closed doors and lacked the fantastical elements here.
"I . . . I really, really want to say yes, but . . ." Teddie fell silent for a few seconds, then shook his head, fingers tightening around the apple as he continued, "No, I do believe him. But it's just . . . scary . . ."
"Ain't nothing wrong with bein' scared," it was Kanji who spoke this time, "Hell, I'll admit I was nothin' but when those things came out."
" . . . Yeah," Yosuke and Chie murmured agreement in unison.
"We were all scared, Teddie," Yukiko added softly.
"But we have to keep going," Yu put in, this time glancing around at every face so they all understood that these words were for them as well, "No matter what, we can't let fear stop us from looking for a way home. I know we can't just get over what happened last night, but we have to look ahead. And if we can help find out why this happened, all the better."
Slowly, resolve began to gleam in everyone's eyes, nods and determined expressions being shared by all present. It wouldn't quell the fear in it's entirety, and it wouldn't lessen the horror of what they'd witnessed. But with this, he hoped they would be strong enough to keep going regardless. For carrying on was all they could do.
Teddie, after another moment of thoughtful silence, nodded too. And then, for the first time that day, he managed to smile, "Mm. Thanks, Sensei."
Yu returned it, patting him gently on the shoulder, "Come on. We have a breakfast to get to, and I hear there's honey involved."
Teddie's smile grew just a little bigger at that.
After a moment, Naoto spoke, "Well, we've probably kept the others waiting long enough. Although . . . perhaps we should relocate to another room."
She was talking to the girls, who all quickly gave their assent to that.
Putting on the clothes was a fairly simple affair, the girls quickly vacating to another room and therefore making it a little less awkward. Soon enough, they finished, and Yu found himself wearing a new pair of gray linen pants held up by a brown belt, a gray shirt with visible stitch work lining the sleeves, and the white doublet thing that had taken forever to button. The socks were nice too, thick and warm and comfortable when he pushed them back into the boots he'd been charitably 'given' in the Underdark. At least those were clean now.
The rest of the boys were all wearing pretty much the same thing, just in different sizes. The girls too, as he'd come to find out, though the clothes seemed more wavy on them due to their curves. Except Naoto, but he knew better than to ask about that.
With their help, they sorted the mattresses out quickly, and the work was something of a relief since it helped take his mind off things. But it was done quickly, and soon they were all walking downstairs into the main tavern.
The room was eerily quiet, with only a few patrons filling the seats, a far cry from yesterday. He got no points for guessing the reason as to why.
They found Nyras, Korval, Tirin, and Rhysana sitting in one of the corners, talking amongst themselves with bowls of porridge sitting in front of them. They all looked up as they approached.
"Aw, look at you!~" Rhysana crooned. Glancing at Korval, she said, "Way to pick the material, although I wish you'd used a little more variation."
Korval grunted, "I was going for useful, not showy. Save that stupid stuff for parties."
"Please, pay no mind to them," Nyras said. She gestured to an empty table next to them, bowls of steaming food already laid out, "Please, eat. We've a busy day today. You'll need your strength."
They nodded absently as took their seats, chair legs scraping along the floor. The porridge in front of him was an off-white color, the creamy yet lumpy mass giving off a fresh, milky scent with just a hint of honey. It was enough to turn his appetite back on, and, digging his spoon into it, he popped a small amount into his mouth. It was pleasantly smooth, sweet and bearing a honeyed tinge that settled just right on his tongue.
He heard a crunch, and looked to see that Teddie had taken a bite of his apple, juice dribbling down his chin before he could stop it. After that, everyone followed their lead and began to eat.
They only got a few bites in when Korval finally asked, "So, uh . . . how you kids feelin'? I know last night was rough on ya."
The memory made his appetite falter, and Yu put his spoon down as he forced himself not to spit out the mouthful he already had. Everyone else hesitated too, now picking at their food rather than eating it.
Korval noticed, grimacing, "Sorry."
"No, don't be. It's not like it's your fault . . ." Chie said, tapping the end of her spoon against the table.
He noticed Rhysana give the half-orc a glare, but before he could reply to that, Naoto asked, "We learned from Rhysana that you still have yet to locate an explanation as to why those . . . demons appeared."
"It's less that we do not know and more to do with the fact that there simply isn't a cause," Nyras said, "We searched, but there were no traces of residual summoning magic in any area in or around the town."
"What does that mean?" Yosuke questioned.
Nyras sighed, looking frustrated, not with them but with herself, "It means that there was no caster who summoned those demons, or any catalyst that could have provided a foothold. The closest I can come to an explanation is 'natural phenomena', but there is nothing natural about demons entering the material plane."
"But . . . there was a portal, right?" Yukiko asked, rolling the top layer of her porridge around with her spoon.
"Oh, there was a portal," Tirin said, "I sensed it. But there wasn't, well . . . a cause for it. Anywhere."
"Meaning none of you know why this happened," Yu stated.
The group beside them shifted, but said nothing. Honestly, that said enough.
"That's why we're going to Bailsborough," Rhysana said, "It's a much more magically oriented town, experts there might know something."
"There is at least one piece of good news," Nyras said, "The demon that escaped is no more. I made sure of that."
"You found it?" Kanji asked, "After it disappeared?"
Rhysana smiled, "The Theron line is a family of demon hunters, that's kind of what they do."
A flicker of old awe rekindled itself in Yu's heart as he looked at the hooded woman, along with everyone else.
"A real demon hunter? F-for real?" Yosuke asked.
A smile twitched at Nyras' lips, "Yes, for real. I have been for quite some time."
"So . . . your position is a familial occupation as well," Naoto said.
Nyras' eyes flicked to the girl, "Has your profession to do with inheritance too? Intriguing . . ."
"Um . . ." Chie's murmur distracted both of them, and she fiddled with her spoon as Nyras looked at her, "Sorry, I was just wondering if . . . you guys thought about Narukami-kun's plan last night?"
"What's there to think about?" Korval asked, shrugging, "Course we were going to say yes."
Everyone straightened up at this, excitement starting to trickle in like a tiny stream.
Nyras smiled, "Learning how to defend yourself is not only sensible in this world, but critical. Besides, considering who your company is, it was already an unspoken agreement that we would train you."
"We were going to bring it up a little later, but, well . . . you sort of beat us to that," Rhysana explained, lacing her fingers together over the table.
"Don't think we'll go easy on you, though!" Tirin put in, smirking, "As of this moment, you're our apprentices, with all that entails!"
Yu felt more relief than he had in days, despite Tirin's slightly ominous warning. With the utmost sincerity, he said, "Thank you."
"Yeah, for real!" Yosuke said, smiling.
"Wow, this is gonna be so cool!" Chie commented in giddy excitement, caught up in the moment, "We're real apprentices to real masters!"
"Yeah, no kidding!" Kanji said, grinning.
"Hm, I wonder what weapon would be a good substitute for a pistol . . ." Naoto mused, "A crossbow, perhaps?"
"We should probably hurry up," Rhysana put in, looking amused, "We don't want to waste too much time here, after all."
Nyras nodded, rising from her place, "Indeed. Are you almost finished eating?"
Yu looked at his scarcely eaten bowl and frowned at it, "I . . . think I'm good."
"Same," Yosuke said.
Other murmurs of agreement were made, bowls being pushed away as they stood up. They'd barely eaten, honestly, but Yu didn't think he could stomach another bite without risking getting sick.
The other group shared a glance, obviously noticing the barely eaten porridge as well, but made no comment about it. Instead, they simply rose to follow, nodding a thanks to the innkeeper as they stepped outside.
The square was almost empty too. Only a few people were milling around, and most of those were gathered near the heart, collecting bits of broken stone and placing them in a wooden wheelbarrow. A faint mist hung around the buildings and the ground, rolling in gentle sweeps over the stone and bringing with it a moist chill that made him shiver. Yu and his friends all shifted uneasily, not liking being so close where the fight had broken out last night and feeling unnerved by the almost total silence that engulfed the once lively plaza.
It wasn't until Nyras spoke that the silence was broken, "Come on. Follow me."
She and her allies began to walk ahead, and they fumbled to catch up, not wanting to be left behind.
"So, what are we doing?" Rise asked, keeping her head low and trying not to look around.
"You'll see!~" Tirin teased.
The store they led them to had two large tanning racks stationed on either side of the door, the stone walls old and rough. They walked inside, and immediately were hit by a foul perfume of stagnant water, putrefying flesh, and drying leather. Several of his friends gagged as they entered, the stench truly revolting to behold.
Inside, he saw several armor racks, each showcasing different styles and sets, though most were made of leather. There were a few select ones too, mostly chainmail and padded armor, and one small set in the very corner that looked like the armor was made out of . . . leaves?
Nyras was speaking to a rather large, grizzled man near the back, the man's eyes nearly vanishing beneath the hood of his protruding brow. His thick, corded arms were crossed, and he gave a brisk nod before gesturing to the rightmost wall, where several other racks were positioned.
Someone gave a slight nudge to his shoulder, and he looked to see Rhysana give a pointed glance in the armor's direction, "Well go on! Those are yours!"
Wait . . . what?
"What?" Yosuke asked, befuddled.
Tirin smiled brightly, "Well, it's good for you all to have some protection, and leather armor is one of the best for beginners!"
"W-what? Really?!" Chie asked, excitement beginning to rise.
Korval huffed in amusement, "Yeah, really. Now go put 'em on!"
Glances were shared, then everyone was hurrying over to the racks. Nyras helpfully pointed out which ones belonged to who, and Yu soon found himself standing before his very own set of leather armor. It was a brigandine, the leather plates lightly layered with iron in certain places, mainly the chest and armpits. Several iron buckles lined the front of the brigandine, and two small pauldrons of leather were set on the shoulders. Leather gauntlets hung from a black cord below it, and a pair of leather greaves sat beside it.
"So this is why you got us doublets," Naoto said.
"Yes," Nyras replied, "It helps stop the armor from chafing."
Yosuke and Chie were already pulling at the buckles, and it wasn't long before everyone was following their lead. Actually putting it on, however, was a bit of a challenge. They'd put on armor before, of course, but it always had a bit of a modern fling to it. There were a lot more buckles and belts meant to securely tie them in place, and as they were told by Korval, they had to pull it on till it was snug. And when he was finally in it, it felt . . . weird. His clothes kept it from being uncomfortable, but he could feel where the armor pressed closer in certain places, and it was a little hard to move in. It also felt like the shopkeeper was giving them all a judgmental stare, and frankly, that irked him.
At least it helped distract from the smell . . .
"So, how do you like it?" Rhysana asked expectantly.
"Feels, uh . . . a little weird," Kanji admitted, stretching his arms back as a test of his flexibility.
"You'll get used to it," Korval said, "Just walk around in it for a bit."
"It's nice to have some real armor though," Chie said, smiling as she hopped from leg to leg.
"I wish I could move a bit more freely, but other than that, I agree with you," Yosuke said, fiddling with his gauntlets.
"This is perfect," Yu said, "Thank you."
"We're not done yet!" Rhysana trilled excitedly, hopping out of the shop, "Follow me!"
Follow her they did, leaving the smell and store owner Judgy-Eyes to the shop right next to it. This one was just one level and sort of small, with only one long, rectangular window showcasing an menagerie of different weapons, from swords to daggers to axes and back again. They didn't need to be told what this shop was about.
"Seriously, we're getting real weapons, too?" Yosuke asked, but he only looked excited.
"We'll be practicing with wood first, but in case of a real fight, real weapons would be better," Korval said.
"We haven't already set aside weapons for you either, so peruse to your heart's content," Nyras told them.
Given the okay to go in, they all scampered inside. Weapons racks lined the walls and a few spots around the shop's floor, all set apart with their own specific set of arms. In the center were a collection of different swords, and on the rack on the left and right walls were a various assortment of hammers and axes, respectively. Bows were hung on the upper walls, just out of reach, and in the very back was a long desk with a glass front showcasing a wide array of daggers. The shopkeeper sat behind it, polishing the blade of one such dagger with a well oiled cloth. It was a woman, a very tall one dressed in a light set of chainmail tied close to her body with a set of sturdy belts. Her brown hair shaved closed to her head, and a metal stud was pierced through her nose. She gave them a surly glance before grunting and returning to work, paying them no mind after that.
He decided to pay her no mind either, instead wandering over to the sword racks. There was a fairly wide variety to pick from, but none were made in the style he was accustomed to. And why would it? He highly doubted he'd find anything of Japanese make here. So that left him looking for the best alternative.
Specifically, he looked for swords with longer blades, ones he could grip with two hands, as was his preferred style. He thought about a scimitar, but alas, that only required one hand, and it felt awkward to hold. His friends milled about around him, looking for weapons that would suit them.
"I'm kinda amazed that a little town like this has so much stuff," Yosuke commented.
"Well, people could say the same about Deidara's," Chie put in.
"Sedgeridge gets most of it's supplies and commodities through trade with Arvorod and other towns," Nyras explained as she helped Naoto with the crossbows, "Otherwise, it's just a simple fishing village."
Yu let the conversation fade to background noise, turning back to the racks in front of him. Long swords, falchions, rapiers . . .
That was when one caught his eye. It was a larger sword, about four feet in length, with a sheath of black leather inscribed with a rune just below the hilt. The grip was long enough to wrap both hands around, enfolded in black leather and ending in a pommel set into the shape of a large, silver knob that was engraved with stylized lines. The cross-gaurd flared out from the hilt, the ends curving up to the sword's tip, and the center of each gaurd was impressed down to give it the feeling of more depth.
Reaching out, Yu pulled it from it's sheath, the ring it produced pleasant to his ears. The iron blade was masterfully worked, a polish of silver coating it's surface, the fuller shaved down to provide more balance to the blade as a whole. He held it experimentally, finding he liked the feel of it in his hands, the weight more like the swords he used to wield in the tv world. True, it lacked the tell-tale curve of his usual blades, but he could work with that.
A loud and sudden crash made him jump, and Yu looked to see that Yukiko was hastily trying to pick up the axes she'd accidently knocked loose.
"Sorry," she apologized, "I was just trying to grab this fan . . ."
Chie rushed to her side, helping her pick up the rest of the items while the shopkeeper gave them a scrutinizing glare. Rhysana swept closer as well, but instead, she reached down and picked up a small, slender object laying on the ground. With a flick of her wrist, it snapped open, and Yu was graced with the sight of a fan that wouldn't look out of place in Yukiko's hands. The body the fan sectioned off into roughly eight smooth strips of dark metal, the tips tapering into sharp points that resembled needles. Red colored each point as well as the end strips on each side of the fan, a rather elegant weapon he had not expected to find in a place like this.
"Huh, exotic," Rhysana commented, "Normally you'd only find something like this in Arvorod."
"It's also not a very practical weapon," Nyras said, "An item like that is best suited in the hands of a spellcaster to serve as a focus, and we have yet to learn if magic is a feat you are capable of."
Yukiko looked downtrodden at that, "It's just . . . I used a fan a lot before, and I thought it would be . . ."
Chie immediately jumped to her friend's defense, "I don't get why it's a big deal. Yukiko is great with fans!"
Rhysana waved her down, then looked at Nyras, snapping the fan closed, "I think we should let them use the weapons their comfortable with. Besides, they might just surprise you!"
Nyras sighed, but relented, "As you wish. Although, I do warn you, an exotic item like that will cost quite a bit."
"Right, because we're sorely lacking in funds of any sort," Rhysana quipped back, "How could I forget?"
"Don't worry so much about that, guys!" Tirin called from where he stood, leaning against the desk and chatting the shopkeeper up, "The lovely lady here has offered us a discount as a thank you for our valiant feats last night!"
He said something to the woman, and Yu blinked when he noticed the faint flush cross her cheeks. Apparently, Tirin's charm was at work here.
"And there you have it!" Rhysana said, handing the fan to Yukiko, "All set!"
The girl took it, holding it almost reverently in her hands, "Thank you."
"How about the rest of you?" Rhysana asked, "Any luck?"
"I think I'm good," Yosuke said, holding up a pair of identical daggers. The workmanship was solid, the triangular blades about six inches in length and tapering to very sharp points. The twin hilts were both set with a small, square crystal as transparent as glass, the grips wrapped in soft brown leather.
"This will do for now," Naoto said, holding up a crossbow. It was smaller than Nyras', and much less ornate. The body was crafted from simple oak wood, the wings of the bow curving down, the edges lined with iron. It fit awkwardly in Naoto's hands, the girl obviously not used to holding such a weapon and looking discomfited by that fact.
Nearby, he heard Teddie grumble from where he was sitting crouched by the long desk, "They don't have any claws . . ."
"Then get daggers," Tirin said to him.
Teddie puffed out his cheeks, eyes gleaming in annoyance, "No, you don't understand! How can I be the best bear I can be if I don't even have a ferociously bearsome set of claws?"
He was starting to sound more like his old self . . . good.
Tirin scoffed, "Cubs aren't exactly 'ferocious', even with claws. Now get daggers."
Teddie grumbled incoherently, but eventually acquiesced and settled for a pair of daggers like Yosuke, only these ones had more of a curve to the blade itself, the hilt a dirty bronze color. He could see he didn't quite like it.
He couldn't ponder it for long, because by then another argument was breaking out, "You can't use just a shield in a fight."
"The hell I can't! I've been doin' it for ages!"
Kanji was holding onto a large, circular shield of wrought iron, four metal studs embedded around the shield's center in the shape of a square. It was pretty solid looking, just the way Kanji liked his weapons, but Korval was looking at it in profound disapproval.
"Oh, give him a break," Rhysana tipped in mischievously, "I distinctly remember a time where all you used was a shield, too!~"
Korval rolled his eyes, a hint of growl in his voice, "Only cause I didn't have anything else at the time! Like nothing! And you saw how good that worked out for me, so don't go puttin' stupid ideas in their heads, Rhysana!"
"But this is what I'm used to!" Kanji protested.
"Are you also used to having a sword stuck in your leg, cause that's what's gonna happen!" Korval rebuffed just as strongly.
"He's speaking from experience," Tirin said idly, grinning.
Korval glared at him, "Tirin, Andel help me, I will-!"
"Here, how about this," Nyras intervened before tempers could rise any higher, "Kanji can keep his shield-"
"Yes," Kanji hissed victoriously.
"Ugh," Korval grunted.
"But he'll have to choose a complimentary weapon to go with it. Might I suggest a hammer?" Nyras' tone made it pretty clear that this verdict was final.
Kanji agreed, though a bit sulkily, eventually choosing a one-handed hammer from the racks. It's head was small, but broad, good for bludgeoning, but Yu hoped it wouldn't mess up Kanji's preferred method of fighting too terribly.
"I see you holding that sword. Is that the one you want?" Yu looked at Rhysana and nodded strongly. He wanted this sword very much.
The only ones left were Rise and Chie, who both stood awkwardly amidst the weapon racks.
"Aren't you going to pick anything?" Rhysana asked them.
"Um, well . . ." Chie spoke first, shifting from foot to foot, "I normally fight with my feet, so the weapons here won't really do me much good."
"Your feet?" the woman said, interest sparking, "Like a monk?"
"A monk?" Chie asked, looking puzzled, "W-well, I guess, sort of. I watched a lot of kung-fu movies at home, and, uh . . ." she trailed off at the confused looks she was receiving, wincing slightly, "Right, you don't know what those are."
"How about this?" Tirin offered, pulling a quarterstaff from the wall. It was about five feet in length and made of thick, sturdy wood, the tips shod in iron.
"Uh, I don't know . . ." Chie hesitated, looking unsure.
"I think it would work," Rhysana said, "Quarterstaffs are very balanced weapons, and monks use them all the time."
"You think?" Chie asked, still undecided.
"I know," Rhysana said, a hint of a knowing smile on her face. She took the staff from Tirin and held it out to her, "Here, take it."
Chie, after another moment's hesitation, reached out and accepted it, fitting it into her hands and examining the woodwork.
"And what about you, Rise?" Nyras asked the girl.
Rise shifted awkwardly on her feet, "I, uh . . don't really fight, so I'm not sure what to pick."
"Then we'll work with something simple!" Rhysana said, walking to the sword racks. With a smile, she plucked a rapier from it's perch, giving it an embellished twirl before holding it out to the girl, "I've found these are very easy to work with. Light too, and fast. A good start."
Rise took it, but she held the blade awkwardly, frowning and looking uncomfortable with it, "Um . . ."
"There, I say that covers it!" Rhysana said, "So let's pay up and get our little show on the road!"
Which is exactly what they did. Yu had no idea how they'd managed to accrue so much gold, or how they had any left after the fact, but he could most definitely say it was awe-inspiring to watch it all tumble across the desk. The shopkeeper was quite happy after the fact.
Also, wearing a bastard sword (yes, that's what it was called) from his belt like his other swords was proving an odd task, for one) it was heavier, and two) it was longer. However, he adjusted quickly, and he'd rather have it in a place he was used to rather than on his back.
When they walked outside again, the sun was up in the sky and the mist was long gone, the day shaping up to be a nice one indeed.
"Right, we'll leave the way we came. The road loops up all the way to Bailsborough, and we should make it there by nightfall," Nyras said, gesturing towards the road situated on the hill.
Well . . . at least they'd have plenty of time to get used to their new garments.
That was when he heard a strange noise. It sounded . . . distant, but it was growing closer, a repetitive thoom that would fall silent for a few seconds before coming again. The others noticed too.
"What's that?" Rise asked, growing anxious.
"N-nothing bad, right?" Teddie questioned, looking around.
"It's fine," Nyras reassured them. She was looking up, a hint of a smile on her face, "From the east. Watch."
Her words calmed them at first, but as the sound grew louder and closer, it was hard to not turn and run back inside the shop. He had to fight the urge to clamp his hands over his ears as the sound turned into a thunderclap, so deafening he felt it resound in his very core.
And suddenly, over the crest of the hill beside the inlet, the colossal form of the golden dragon they'd seen the day before swooped into sight. Wind rolled over the hill alongside her entrance, the water on the lake rippling under the force. Her great wings came down in another thunderous flap, scales glittering in the sunlight, dazzling to behold. She swept over the other hill in only a second, but that second seemed to last an eternity as he watched her nothing short of awe. But it wasn't quite over, for he saw the dragon suddenly straighten her wings and angle her body to the right, swooping around back around to the village.
With another mighty flap, she landed on the hill beside the road, the ground shaking even here as her claws sunk into the marshy ground. She straightened her triangular wings out so they stood straight up along her back, at rest, her great head rising to survey the landscape before her. A long, rumbling growl emanated from her being, and he felt it reverberate in the ground beneath his feet.
She was so close . . . so close it was unbelievable. Her scales were more prominent than ever, and if he thought she was big before, then he felt as significant as a gnat now. He could make out the enormous, curving horns that crowned her massive head, the ribbed bone swooping elegantly along her brow. Long, tentacle-like protrusions sprouted along her jaw line, the longest growing from her chin and gradually becoming shorter as they traveled up, bearing a strange resemblance to a beard.
It seemed every thought froze, however, when her eyes fell on them.
They were like pools of molten gold, devoid of irises yet filled with a wisdom he couldn't even begin to understand. There was a summon in her gaze, a summon so powerful he found himself walking forward without thinking. It was only Nyras' hand on his arm that stopped him from mindlessly wandering ahead.
"Follow us," she said to them, "For it seems Tiruviel wishes an audience."
(*)
The hallway was dark, every lavish curtain drawn closed and allowing not even a scrap of sunlight to grace the marbled floors.
Two figures walked alone down the ornate hall, their footsteps producing an eerie echo down the lonely corridor. One was the woman dressed in the long, plain cloak. Her companion, on the other hand, was dressed far more ready for a fight. His armor was formfitting, the main material resembling black leather. Yet it seemed a darkness existed within it, for shadows would flit beneath the fabric, crawling over the armor before disappearing in the merest blink of an eye. His black chest plate was stylized with adamantine thread weaving together to resemble the silvered web of a spider while a black gorget was laid over his shoulders and neck, mithral thread decorating the edges and lacing the interior. The sleeves of the armored suit looked plain by anyone's standards, but within lay a deadly menagerie of tiny blades that could fly out at the merest controlled twitch of the man's muscles. The same held true of his greaves, the black leather also bound to the main suit he wore. His gloves had small silver runes etched along the knuckle of each finger, and his belt was lined with numerous pouches for storing potions and poisons of any sort. His boots were covered in a thin layer of minuscule mithral links the color of storm-ridden clouds, a very thin, very cold fog lightly ghosting from the soles with every step. A gray surcoat the color of stone was draped over his back, doing little to hide the curved daggers attached to his hips, each pommel set with a sphere of smoky quartz.
The man's ebony skin and glowing red eyes marked his heritage as drow, his silver hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, face a perfectly controlled mask that betrayed nothing.
The woman was the first to break the silence, "You're skills in tracking are quite superlative. That you were able to secure us an audience with our cautious 'friend' is nothing short of astounding."
"I merely offered an invitation," the man replied, "He accepted. Whether or not this is a trap remains to be seen."
"Indeed."
They walked in silence for a moment more before the woman spoke again, "So tell me, Zevorn, how did you come to rise so high in your family's hierarchy?"
His reply was neutral, "My affairs and personal conquests are none of your concern."
"Ah, indeed. My apologies, I meant no offense," the woman smiled, "I just find it quite admirable that you have taken so much power for your own. I know for the men in your society, it is often hard to shake off the chains of prejudice that keeps you oppressed."
"I will do what it takes to achieve my goals, nothing more and nothing less," Zevorn said curtly, "But those are not your concern."
The woman laughed, "Of course. But I cannot help but be drawn to those who possess such strong and stable wills, the ones who are willing to do anything to achieve what they desire."
"My sister has decided to ally herself and our House with you in pursuit of your quest," Zevorn said, a faint edge of warning in his voice, "And your ally I shall be. But that does not make us friends."
"Ah, now that is a shame. And still I must ask; is there truly no room for friendship amongst the acquisition of your goals? Surely, there must be one out there you call a friend," the woman said. Her next words were said casually, but there was something there, something knowing, that traced each and every syllable, "Or perhaps there was . . . only they got in the way."
It was there for only a heartbeat . . . but something flickered in Zevorn's eyes.
But it was gone, and instead he spoke, "We are here. You wish to be left alone for this, yes?"
The woman gazed at the heavy wooden door before them, nodding, "Yes, I do. Please, keep an eye out for any troublemakers who may yet linger in the halls. It wouldn't do to have any eavesdroppers."
Zevorn nodded, and with that, the woman pulled open the door and stepped inside.
It was a smaller room, with a plush rug and large table situated before a smoldering fireplace as ostentatious as the rest of the house. The embers glowed, shedding a pleasantly dim orange light around the room, the deepest corners drenched in darkness. A portrait of a portly man dressed in regal finery hung above the fireplace, and on the wall opposite the door as a window with it's curtains drawn tight. There were only two chairs around the table, one on either end, plates and jeweled wine goblets situated before each. Food was loaded across the table from end to end in barely controlled chaos; lightly steaming vegetables, soups and warm meat pies, various roasts, a stuffed pig, fruit tartlets, a collection of heavenly-smelling decadence only the wealthy could afford.
Sitting in the chair facing the door was a man wearing a regal ensemble of dyed robes, a circlet of silver and laced with diamonds encircling his head. His skin was very pale against the brightly colored clothes he wore, his dark hair neatly braided and draped over his shoulder. He was drinking form one of the goblets, one he held up when she entered.
In a voice as rich as velvet and laced with honey, he spoke, "Ah, a lovely specimen to grace us this evening, wouldn't you say My Lord?"
He glanced to the chair opposite, and she could see a rather fat hand resting along the arm of the chair. Rings adorned almost every finger, and she assumed it was the man in the picture. However, he remained motionless and said nothing.
The other man shook his head disapprovingly, glancing apologetically to the woman, "Ah, you'll have to forgive him. Poor man can't hold his liquor as well as he used to."
"Oh, I'm certain I can forgive him," she replied smoothly, walking up to the chair and idly running her fingers along its spine, "After all, I'm sure he would be the most gracious host to me, as he was to you, Duke Beringer. Or perhaps I should say . . ."
She locked eyes with the man across from her, "Lord Gethen. The fabled Whispering Death."
She pushed the chair beside her with inhuman speed, the plush seat toppling over with a crash. The man sitting within hit the floor with a lifeless thud, the light bouncing off his blued face, mouth open and eyes glazed in a rictus of death.
Gethen tsked sharply, holding up an unbelieving hand, looking miffed, "Was that truly necessary? I was going for a dramatic reveal here when the maids returned. Have you never seen a maid's face when they find out their master is dead? It is glorious sight, I assure you."
The woman waved a dismissive hand, "If it matters so much to you, you can always put him back. But as of right now, there are things I wish to discuss with you, as I'm sure you know."
"Yes, yes, evil plan, world conquest, when you exist as long as I have, you see them all sweetheart," Gethen replied, looking bored as he took another sip from his goblet, "The only reason I came is because it has been a rather slow month, and frankly, I can only entertain fat old fops like this for so long."
He gestured to the dead man on the floor.
The woman only smiled, "Oh, I think you'll like what I have to say, oh Minstrel of Lost Souls."
"Know how to stroke a man's ego, I see," Gethen replied with a smirk.
"I can do much more than that for you," the woman promised sweetly, "Like, say . . . offer you an end."
The man paused, "And what 'end' do you mean?"
"Oh, just wouldn't you like to know," the woman said coyly, tracing her finger along the edge of the table.
"Yes, I think I would," Gethen said after a moment, placing his cup down, "I've finished my job here and currently have nowhere else to go, so . . ."
He leaned back in his seat and spread out his arms, the orange firelight catching the glint of a fang between his smirk, "It's your lucky day, sweetheart. I'm all ears."
And done! I just love ominous things, don't you?
Rate and review, if it pleases you.