He thudded to the floor yet again, the man he learnt was called The Cannibal having dodged and slung him into the marble in one smooth motion. "If I'm faster than you while your in medium armour how do you expect to beat when you're in plate." He barked, as Drake pulled himself up.
"I don't, need, to be, faster." The younger man panted, getting back on his feet and shifting form again before releasing a blast of flame, or attempting too, instead having his head be smashed upwards, the fire going into the air, stopping as a knee was driven into his gut and he was forced to the ground again by another series of blows.
"How about we start with the basics. Blocking." The older man stated, offering a hand to help his target dummy up, instead using the grip to twist Drake's arm into an unnatural shape. "Crystal arm, here now."
The young man glanced over, heading towards them. "Yes, sir." He murmured, standing to attention.
"That arm, can you block with it?"
There was a visible gulp. "Yes, the modification to my arm has helped." Lo had done some work, modifying the growth so that it would become denser before blades would grow from his forearm, the connection between the two parts being thin enough that they could be snapped off, "hopefully" in her own words, otherwise they'd continue growing till they were too large and eventually he'd be stuck in the same place, unable to move its weight. There was no guarantee that it worked, but the fact it hadn't exploded was a good sign.
"Then you are going to give a demonstration on how to block. Drake, attempt to attack him."
"This is redundant." The young man said.
"You will attack him." The faux Overlord stated through gritted teeth. "Crystal arm, you are instructed to strike him after a period of five seconds if he does not attack you."
"This is."
"Two, three."
Drake let out a grunt before attempting to swing, only to get punched in the stomach and a heel smashed into his knee, making him collapse again. "Like I said." The man murmured. "Block." He looked to Anders. "Dismissed."
He gave a nod before trying to move away as quickly possible while not looking like he was trying to run away, settling for a fast jog.
"And you, on your feet." He moved so he was overlooking Drake, staring down on him.
No movement.
"On, your, feet." He spat through gritted teeth, bringing his leg back and swinging it into Drake's stomach, only to have his foot caught by a set of talons. He was then dragged down as the reptilian figure rolled away and pulled itself up.
"That good enough for you?" Drake panted.
"Yes."
Tristan sat patiently inside the shop, taping a foot against the floor as he reread his works. He'd decided to add a web of connections between people. It was a confusing mess. There was about four lines coming off each person, most connected to other people but some connected to loose words, the most common being "what the hell?"
There was a slight cough. He looked up, noticing Kira with a measuring string around her waist. "Do I have to do this?"
He gave a chuckle. "Unfortunately, we're going to a party, and considering that your ormal wardrobe isn't exactly suited for it, yes."
"But I don't need a dress. They're too restrictive. You can't run in them." She relied.
"You won't need to run. It'll be a nice relaxing night."
"I'm sorry, what happened at the last 'relaxing night'?" Tristan would've sworn he'd heard the quotation mark.
"I met you and had a good read on the library?" He answered innocently.
"And?" She semi-hissed.
"If I visit the library there I'll end up with someone even more beautiful?"
A slap rang through the air and Tristan started to rub his arm. "It wouldn't have been worse if you hadn't said even more." She replied. "So, repeat what happened that night in Nordberg."
He let out a sigh. "Lo showed up and John got shot in the arm."
"And tell me, is there anything at this party that might, oh I don't know, obscure people's identities?"
"I get your point, but still, there are guards for that." He tried to reassure, only to see her shae her head.
"I'm sorry, but I'd be better at fighting, in a dress I might add, then they would."
Tristan finally pulled himself up and put a hand on her hip. "See, if you can still fight wearing a dress than we'll be fine, won't we?"
"Smart ass." She chuckled.
"Plus, just tell the tailor you want to be as free moving as possible and you'll be fine.'
She let our a huff. "Fine. Let's head home after this though. I don't want to be running from place to place with the rain pouring down."
He nodddd and once Kira had handed in her details they left, heading back to her place for the afternoon. Eventually they started dashing between the bits of cover as the rain became heavier and heavier, soon becoming a full torrent. They quickly arrived at the house and something was immediately wrong. The window had been smashed, and the door was slightly ajar
"Someone broke in." Kira hissed, her eyes flaring with rage for a moment before she strode in, Tristan following in closely behind her.
The place had been ruined, a trail of destruction being left from room to room. The storage crates had been stolen or tipped out over the floor, half the the portraits had been stolen or torn apart. Kira's own items fared no better her clothes strewn around the place, with some having been thrown onto the fire.
She let out a growl. "I will hunt down whoever did this."
Next was the kitchen, cutlery thrown about the place, knifes lodged into the wall next to the door, the coal for the fire thrown about the floor. However, on the counter was something much more visible. An envelope, the sealed red wax with a bladed crown pushed into it.
Kira picked it up, still furious and turned it around before another look of shock and anger entered her eyes.
"What's caused that reaction?" Tristan asked, feeling tense.
"It's addressed to you." She stated, passing it to him quickly.
He tore one of the knifes from the wall and began to break the seal with the blade. He took out the small sheet of paper, unfolding it quickly before beginning to read.
To my dear Tristan,
In this letter I am going to request two favours of you. The first is rather simple, tell John I am alright and he is not to be worried about me. The second is much more personal to me, and I'd like you to do it quickly. Get your damned whore out of my house, or I will have the place burnt down with her inside.
Yours lovingly, Lo
He gritted his teeth and crumpled the note in his hand, smashing his fist into the table when he was done. He took a deep breath as he began to think things through. He needed to act rationally. The note had been specifically designed to get under his skin. Him being angry sad what she was counting on.
What was the rash thing to do? The rash thing would be to move in there himself and start filling the house with weapons to deal with the inevitable attack. That was a bad idea. For starters, they clearly had people inside the city, or a way in, neither were good. Chances were it was the latter and he needed to inform someone.
What was the rationale thing to do? Have her move to a secure location and have someone watch the house. Tell the paladins to investigate and see if it was related to magic and therefore traceable. Everyone was safe, and a possible hole in security was plugged.
Unless that's what she wanted. Maybe she wanted the house empty so it could be used as a staging point for attacking the city from inside? Or for something else. He couldn't quite tell. Though this WS beginning to sound insane as he thought about it. The rational option was still the best.
There was a slight cough noise from Kira. "You've been stood there a while. Want to tell me what's going on."
"You're moving out." He stated flatly,
"Who did this?" Kira demanded, moving next to him and tearing the paper from his hand before beginning to read it. "I'm not afraid of her."
"No, it's the army of monsters, the smaller army of abominations, and the fact she has enough power in her little finger to turn both of us into ash you should be afraid of."
Kira gulped. While not being afraid, she clearly had no rebuttal. "Where to then?" She asked.
"The castle." He answered. "It's secure and makes the most sense."
She let our a sigh. "If this is some elaborate scheme to get me to move in."
"Do I look like I'm in control of this?" Tristan barked.
She seemed to shrink slightly, and her head tilted to look at the floor.
"I'm sorry." He began, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Just, I, I."
"I get it." She murmured, wrapping her arms around him and smiling over his shoulder. "I'm fine with moving into the castle."