"Why not?" Ace asked. "I haven't had a fight like that in centuries. I swore upon a fair maiden that if I lost a fight in the future, I shant kill them later." Burberry said as her neck reformed. "How are you even alive?!" Ace asked. "I've been dead for a long time… I have formaldehyde for blood as a substitute so I don't decay. Don't let it get on or in you in any way…. Won't end well." Burberry said as she picked up her sword. "Why'd you come after me anyway?" Ace asked. "Were you even listening to me earlier? I told you that you have a wicked bounty on your head." Burberry said. "Who put it up?" Ace asked. "Dunno. Did some research though, originated in Hildian." Burberry said.
"Hildian? I don't think I know where that is…" Ace said. Suddenly he felt dizzy and nauseous. He could only watch because he suddenly lost all sense of hearing. Even though he couldn't hear the conversation unfolding before him it was with someone entirely else and Burberry. "Do not give any more information." A voice demanded. "Wha?" Burberry started to ask. "I'm the one who brands legends. The one who writes kings into stone. If you wish to value this man's life… do not give any more information." The voice said. "Oh yeah? Or what?" Burberry asked.
The brand left Ace's body and went to the ground in front of him. A skeleton formed in the star, then flesh. "I doubt you wish to taunt me." Asura spoke. "Like a skinny little shrimp like…" Burberry started to insult but was stopped when Asura, in a pose with his hands behind his back in an instant, moved forward, grabbed her throat, and slammed her into the ground. "Want to finish that sentence?" Asura asked and returning to his pose. "Alright lesson learned." Burberry said with a groan.
"I can grant you a deal in exchange that you tell this man exactly who set the bounty." Asura spoke and a grin appeared on his face. "Oh really?" Burberry asked. "Abigail." Asura spoke slowly. Burberry's eyes widened at the mention of that age old name. "You wouldn't. You can't." Burberry said.
"She misses you, Burberry. She calls to you even from beyond. She wishes to once again feel your loving embrace." Asura spoke, knowing he was hitting a tender spot on Burberry. "I can bring her back, for the simple price of you doing what I ask." Asura smiled. "I accept your deal." Burberry said because she couldn't pass up a chance to get her long gone lover. "Good." Asura said before he disappeared.
Ace woke up later in the tavern room. He looked around and saw the rest of the group waiting for him to wake up. "Finally. We need to start looking around the town as to why the fuck we came here." Shock said bored out of his mind. "No need. I had a little encounter with a hunter last night. A large bounty was placed on me for no reason. Came from somewhere in a place called Hildian." Ace said. "Aw and here I was just getting ready to welcome frostbite." Maya said. "We should probably get going." Ace said.
*Days later*
Ace and his group had left the cold mountain top city of Oxglen. They had anticipated to spend more time looking but the brand seemed to lead them around on a leash. For reasons that she didn't say, Maya returned to Nightshade. Shock had left because he originally only came to warn them about the man following them. It only left Harley and Ace, Burberry was nowhere to be seen after that night in Oxglen. Harley and Ace ventured towards the faraway kingdom of Hildian.
They were making their way through a massive forest. They were running short on food. "I don't think we can go any farther Ace. We don't have that much food left." Harley said. They weren't built for this kind of stuff. Ace was a social recluse who liked reading and Harley was a singer. "We have to continue." Ace said. "Why are we even here?! We're trusting the leadership of a fucking tattoo!" Harley began shouting. "I know how you feel! I don't trust him either! I myself don't know why the fuck I'm even following his lead! It just feels right! If it is true that I'm going to fucking stop some goddamn apocalypse I might as well put some effort to be at least safe than sorry!" Ace yelled. They were angry from being lead on what they called a wild goose chase.
"What's with all that shouting?" A voice asked. Ace and Harley turned to see a middle aged woman in a kimono walking in their direction from the trees. "Visitors?" A second voice asked. "This far out in the woods?" A third voice asked. "Come on don't be shy. Tell us your names." The first woman asked. "My name is Ace and this is Harley." Ace spoke. "As a reward for your honesty, My name's Tao. My sister in the green is Ren. My other sister in the blue is Mai. We are the sisters of the Shuang family."