Chapter 2 - Cassandra Llion
Two days later Epyon reached Orario, during the early evening night, as he made his way around the dark roads. He walked with his head low not wanting for anyone to remember him, or for anyone to follow him as well. Epyon began to reminisce, when he was young and used to live a happy life with his mother in Orario.
But right now, his stomach was screaming to get some food, since he last ate. He could only hope that he would be able to find a tavern or an inn for the night. He was distracted when he heard a commotion near him, wanting to avoid trouble he tried to ignore it by walking away.
But then Epyon heard a girl scream for whoever not to get near her! Normally he would never try to interfere in these types of situations. But what was the best way to find information in the dark side of the city? By collecting information from all the criminals, he will encounter. Plus, what type of man would he be if he didn't help a damsel in distress. He was no hero, but he felt like it was every man's duty, if they had the power to help then they shouldn't hesitate and go assist. Epyon slowly stepped into his shadows before he slowly vanished.
"Hey girl! I see you're not from around these parts. why don't you come with us, I'm sure we could have a really good time?" A man said as he looked to be the leader of the group, all the men laughed in a lewd way.
"Please stop! Don't get any closer! I'm warning you, if you continue this type of act, you will be locked up. But if you men don't stop most of you will have quick deaths, while the rest of you will have very slow deaths. If you continue this the shadow will come for all of you, and death will be granted t-to y-you all." Cassandra stuttered as she tried to placate the adventurer, as she was feeling terrified.
"It doesn't matter what you have to say, I'm going to be tasting your body in a moment. And after I'm done enjoying myself with you, you're going to serve the rest of my friends for the rest of the night." The leader of the group said with a lewd sneer as he licked his lips in anticipation.
"Are you out of your mind, you know my familia is one of the strongest around. Do you think they're going to let one of their members get violated like that?" Cassandra said with quivering voice, as she held her wand to defend herself.
"It doesn't matter because once we have a fill of your body, we are taking you with us, then selling you as a sex slave." The leader laughed at the girl's naive way of thinking.
The leader tried to grab Cassandra, but she jumped back out of his reach, but tripped on some debris and fell on her plump rear. The man seeing an opportunity dived on top of her to get better control of her movements. He began to rip her outfit, exposing her hidden assets as the rest of the men laughed and whistled. All the while Cassandra was crying and screaming for help, while trying to fight this beast off of her. When the man had complete control of her, he began to move his hand down to her sacred part.
That is when suddenly a man dressed in all black appeared, while holding an all-black sword with a single edge blade. The stranger casually swung his sword faster than anyone could see, and off went the leader's head. He then kicked the body off the girl, before she got showered by the man's blood. Everyone that was there that watched the scene were too shocked to comprehend what happened in front of them. Even Cassandra was having a hard time processing what happened, she was trying to compare her vision and what was happening in front of her. Then blood started to spray all over the place making the scene in between the buildings look like a gory mess. The man whispered something before he twirled his sword in front of him when all the blood began to rise in the air in front of the sword as it began to absorb all blood up. Then a shadow raced across the ground where the dead body had fallen, it slowly sank into the shadow and disappeared. Then the stranger spoke to them in a very jovial mood, as he looked at everyone in front of him like they were pieces of trash.
"I hope everyone of you had a nice meal tonight. Because this evening is more likely going to be the end of the road for all of you. Now go ahead and sacrifice your blood to me tonight." The stranger said it with a smile on his face, to the group of adventurers that were still alive.
The spectacle was just too absurd for them to comprehend as they felt a shiver run down their spines, they never expected for the stranger to outright kill their leader without hesitation. The fact that he was able to kill a high level 3 adventurer with a single swing of his sword, was a terrifying sight. And it didn't help that the stranger had a magic sword. They understood now they would be extremely lucky if they manage to get out of this situation alive. Now that they think of it, they should have listened to the girl that was telling them earlier.
"You ten over there surround that bastard on my signal and attack him at the same time. While the rest of us will cover you with magic spells, he'll wish he never messed with us and our familia. He won't be able to attack all of us, we should be able to kill him with our large numbers." A tall lean man while wearing a cloak and holding a staff said to the rest of the group.
The rest of the adventures nodded in understanding as they prepared themselves to attack the stranger. Every single one of them had a foreboding feeling but they had no choice in the matter. If they couldn't take vengeance against a lone individual that killed their leader, then why are they even here. Once they gained their resolve, they were able to set up in their positions and waited for their orders. Suddenly the stranger got in a fighting stance and another sword appeared out of thin air.
At the same time Cassandra was terrified at the whole situation she found herself in. She could only watch from the ground, and she covered herself as best she could and watched the "shadow death" from her premonition. She could only lament that her familia god picked her to get the errands, and not someone else. She went to ask her best friend to go with her, but unfortunately, she was sent out on a different mission. Cassandra is a mage and just became level 3 not too long ago. She is a support type of mage with the healing ability, one of many in the familia. One of the reasons she is looked down upon is because of her personality and her gentle demeanor. And the second reason no one tries taking her to the dungeon is because of her pessimism, it tends to bring the moral down of the familia members. And that is why most of the familia looks down on her and thinks she is weak. And has never gained enough confidence to fight in the front lines, even if she is one of the best healers in the familia.
Cassandra nervously made her way to the Blue Pharmacy, not realizing that she was being followed by a group of adventures. All of a sudden, she was ambushed by some lowlife adventurers, and this was the outcome she found herself in not knowing what to do. She couldn't run because she was scared and was being attacked by a larger man ripping her clothes leaving her almost naked. But thanks to the stranger that stopped the attack they were surrounded. She could only hope that they manage to get out of this situation alive, she could only wish her savior good luck.
"Get him!" The magician leading the adventurers said as he sent ten of them to attack at the same time. While the rest of the mages stood back to find an opportunity to fire off their spells.
The next moment the stranger vanished before reappearing this time in the middle of two adventurers stabbing one through the face. And the other guy had a look of surprise as his face slowly morphed to horror when he saw the black sword being raised, faster than anyone could perceive he swung his sword diagonally bisecting the man in half. Nobody was able to move because their bodies were paralyzed with fear. The adventurers watched as this demon slowly began to vanish once again when they heard another pair of screams. What they saw next was a black sword stabbed right through the adventurer's mouth going through the back of his head. While the other got his head decapitated.
Then the same thing repeated once more as the man slowly vanished. He then reappeared behind two other adventurers and stabbed them through the back of the head immediately after that the magicians began to fire off magic spells. The stranger whispered something else then swung his sword at the last moment. The mages, thinking that they had him right where they wanted him, were willing to sacrifice their remaining adventurers for the price of his life. What they couldn't anticipate was the fact that the man's second sword, he pulled out, was able to nullify magic. He then quickly killed off the remaining adventurers, before focusing his attention on the rest of the mages.
"I see, if I were any other weak adventurer your plan might have worked. But you don't have to worry, since fellows will be tasting my blades soon enough. Now prepare yourself and try not to die so quickly either."Epyon said as he summoned five shadow clones stealthily appeared behind each adventurer and stabbed them in the neck with a paralyzing needle. With looks of despair and unable to move, leaving them as sacrifice pawns.
"My sword Kyūketsu is hungry for blood. Please make sure to feed it well ok, I will thank you from the bottom of my heart."Epyon said as he slowly walked over to the near person and stabbed him in the gut.
The man began to scream from the pain, what truly horrified the man was that he could feel the blood being drained out of him by the sword. And suddenly the man fell over and stop screaming. A few minutes later the body's flesh and bones were all that remained. It was a sight that would hunt anyone's dreams for the rest of their lives. The scene terrorized the rest of the prisoners, most of them were crying and sobbing at the fact they were going to die. The process continued with each person having all of them soil and pee on themselves. He started his torture and interrogation session with each person, then killed them in different method. All this time this was being conducted in a dark alley in the open, but no one heard a single noise and that was because of Epyon's special amulet. When he was all over, he used his skill shadow clones to erase the evidence of foul play that occurred. He then turned his attention to the traumatized girl.
"Miss, are you ok? Are you hurt in any way? Did these pieces of trash violate you? Epyon asked in a gentle voice, with a worried look on his face.
He noticed that her clothes were torn, exposing an impressive size of her breast, while trying to keep her modesty. He quickly pulled out one of his white shirts and a winter coat from his storage ring. He wanted to make sure she was all covered up before they were able to have a conversation. Epyon then got her attention and handed over the clothes and told her to put them on. Nodding in a daze she obediently listened to his command, still in shock with what happened. Knowing that a lady needs her privacy, Epyon guided her near some crates and told her to quickly change as he turns around and opened up his cloak for cover.
Cassandra was eternally grateful to the man, who she was not able to see his face just yet. Cassandra took off her ripped mages dress and grabbed the long white shirt that happened to belong to the stranger that saved her. Before she put it on, she brought it close to her face and took a deep sniff of it, her cheeks turning pink when she caught herself doing such a scandalous act. She couldn't believe that she had some perverted thought crossed her mind, since she was at the age where young women get embraced. Few minutes later She came out of the hiding spot dressed in some man clothes to keep her modesty.
"I-I-I'm so-sorry for n-not answering you r-right away, I-I'm alright n-now. I-I was in total sh-shock. This happens t-to me. T-to answer your other qu-question, I-I-I was able t-to f-f-fight him off. Long enough t-t-till you step-in t-to h-help me." Cassandra said while feeling shy talking to the man.
Once Epyon saw that she was feeling better he noticed that she was a beautiful young girl. From what he could tell she has a shy but calm personality which would make her a decent person. He was about to ask her for some information but when he looked at her again. He chose to wait because he didn't want to look so insensitive towards her after what happened. So, he decided to introduce himself.
"Ok then let me introduce myself. My name is Epyon Cranel, and I just arrived in Orario this evening. So, who might you be?" he said as he gave her a gentle smile, putting her heart at ease, as he gave her a hand to stand.
"T-t-thank you ma-ma-my name is Ca-Cassandra Llion i-it's a pleasure to meet you Epyon Cranel." Cassandra said as her cheeks turned pink once again.
"No, my dear Cassandra, the honor is all mine." Epyon said as he raised her hand and gave it a kiss in the back of the hand.
At the very moment Cassandra's mind went blank when the handsome man kissed her hand, and it didn't help matters when he kept calling her "beautiful" her heart skipped a few beats. Then her imagination put her in different scenarios with him from dates to battles and marriage. Having kids with him and happily growing old. She was snapped out of her thoughts when she felt something in her chest.
Bud-dump, bud-dump, bud-dump,
She didn't know what this feeling was since this was the first time this has ever happened. This whole scene felt like something she read in a romance story she used to read when she was a little girl. The sign of love at first sight.
Bud-dump, bud-dump, bud-dump,
"Hey, Cassandra, are you sure you are feeling alright? By the looks of it you seem really out of it."Epyon told her his concerns since she was in a daze.
While Cassandra was stock in her dilution, Epyon took a closer look at the young woman. He was surprisingly happy that he was able to save such a beautiful girl. She has dark navy-blue hair that goes down to her waist, while a part of her hair covers her left side of her face. She has beautiful light green eyes. She definitely was wife material when she got older, she would be a bombshell.
Cassandra snapped out of her deep thoughts and took a minute to get herself composed. But she really wanted to get to know the man. It was not every day a handsome mysterious man rescues a clumsy, awkward girl from a fate worse than death. After a long while Cassandra regained her consciousness, and started to think out loud since she thought she was in a dream.
"Wow I had the weirdest dream ever. I was sent by my familia's god to go pick up an errand from the Blue Pharmacy. On the way I was grabbed and assaulted to the point on almost getting raped by some adventures. Then a very scary stranger saved me and killed those men. Hahaha serves them right they could go to hell. But when the stranger pulled down his hood, I think I fell in love with that man from my dream. He was so handsome and brave he made my heart skip a few beats a few times. And to top it off I never had a man tell me that I'm beautiful except for my father. I can't believe my dream had so much chaos and blood that it was scary."
"Huh, excuse me my dear but that was not a dream, you have been in a daze for the longest time now. And thank you for all the compliments. It really means a lot having such a beautiful girl to show me so much praise." Epyon said with a smile knowing very well that she was an innocent young woman.
"Why-why-why it can't be. D-did I-I-I say all of th-that out loud." Cassandra yelled out in embarrassment, she now wishes to dig a hole and die.
"Cassandra please calm down and take a deep breath. And when you are ready can you answer a few questions if you wouldn't mind." Epyon said to calm her down and focus on him and the questions he was about to ask.
"Yes, I could do that, that's the least I could do for you. "Cassandra with a shy voice.
"I hope you don't take this the wrong way but why is such a beautiful young lady walking all alone in the late-night hours?"Epyon asked in a calm and gentle way, she nodded in response.
Once Cassandra calmed down, she began to explain to him everything that led to their current time. Satisfied with her explanation Epyon understood that she still had a mission to complete, otherwise she wouldn't get paid and might get punished. Charmed by her personality and wanting to get to know her better he decided to go with her as a guard. After witnessing what happened he was not going to give anyone a chance to harm her, so many unsavory people could be roaming in the night. Cassandra accepted his offer then they both went off together to finish up her mission and it gave her a chance to get to know him as well.
Cassandra began to tell Epyon about herself and how her family is wealthy, so she got the best education many can buy. But while at school she was forced to join the Apollo familia, while threatening her family and blackmailing them. Cassandra told him that just turned 18 years old and is at level 3 and is a healer mage making her a support type. She is not treated very well by her familia because of her constant pessimism and is constantly overlooked for other members to go into the dungeon. Cassandra has minimum battle experience only when her best friend Daphne takes her to the dungeon by force. She fears that it could be her last days alive since no one except for her best friend will try helping her. Cassandra kept talking about herself about her real family like her mother and father and how she missed them. She wishes to become a little bit stronger so she could be useful to her familia. She talked about her goals and dreams when she stopped talking and told Epyon they arrived at the shop.
"So, what are you picking up from here?" Epyon asked as he saw the little shop name.
"I assume that I'm picking up potions as in which ones I have no clue. Epyon, can you wait here for me while I get our order." Cassandra said as she went inside leaving Epyon on his own.
Epyon scans the whole area just to make sure no other criminals are around. Once he was satisfied that no one was lurking or acting suspicious Epyon just waited patiently for Cassandra to return. Ten minutes later she came out holding two bags while wearing a different outfit.
"Epyon let me thank you again for saving me and lending your clothes to protect my modesty, so here is your winter coat back. I am truly grateful for your kindness." Cassandra said as she bowed in thanks.
"Don't worry about it, let's get you back home before your best friend begins to worry about you."Epyon said as he smiled at her, not realizing that she ended up keeping his white shirt as a reminder that he saved her.
Epyon began to ask her if there was an inn or a tavern where he could find a place to sleep and get some food before bed. She began to explain everything to him that he needed to know about Orario, the marketplaces to buy food and weapons. She told him that some familia have business on the side to make either extra income or to just survive everyday living expenses. Then you have the Babal dungeon where you could make a lot of currency, become famous, or be very unlucky to die there. Once she was done explaining everything, she asked about himself, knowing that this was about to happen even though it took longer than he expected he began to tell her.
Epyon told her that he was born in Orario but then his father vanished not knowing if he was dead or alive. His mother, saddened by the turn of events, moved back to the Far East and took him with her, his older brother and sister-in-law died but not before giving birth to a child. Some years later his mother passed away, at that time he was still too young to make the trip to Orario to find his missing nephew. He wanted to raise him to become a warrior to at least be able to protect himself, and also to be around family. At this moment he doesn't belong to a familia and is looking to find a small one for him and his cousin to grow and bring more people in. Epyon told her enough to sedate her curiosity, he hoped that she wouldn't ask him any question he didn't want to answer.
"Epyon I notice you haven't mentioned your level or maybe the former familia you were in in the past?" Cassandra asked as she waited for his answer.
"I'm strong enough, that is all you need to know, it will be safer this way. I would really hate to see something happen to you, you're just too beautiful of a young lady to be put in danger because of me. I could never forgive myself if that were to happen to you Cassandra."Epyon said as he walked staring forward with a serious look on his face.
Cassandra was about to say something when she noticed she was finally home by the guard house. She was a little sad that her time with this handsome man was ending and she didn't know when she would be able to see him again. Cassandra hopes to get lucky and maybe go out on a date to catch up on things.
"Epyon we are here this is where the Apollo familia resident is. Thank you for escorting me to the shop and back to my place of living. I really appreciated it." Cassandra said as she heard Daphne calling for her.
"No worries when I get settled in town, I hope to run into you once again, maybe you would like to go out for dinner with me?"Epyon said, surprising her that he would want to see her again. He then walked up to her then lifted her chin up to look into her one beautiful eye. Epyon then brushed her hair that covered her left side of her ear then said, "much better I could not see your true beauty and your lovely eyes Cassandra." Then he gave her a kiss on the cheek in front of everyone, then he spoke for the final time. "Have a good night and sweet dreams." Then he turned around and left like nothing ever happened.
Once Epyon was out of sight a big uproar broke out, with what they just witnessed. They couldn't believe that one of the girls of their familia was swept off her feet with just a few words and a kiss to the cheeks. The whole surrounding was left speechless, see such an unbelievable sight.
Daphne froze just like everyone else that saw what happened, but she was able to recover and rushed to her best friend to find out what the hell was that! When she got to Cassandra's side, she noticed that her friend lost consciousness, while her face was red like a tomato and her eyes were glazed over. When Daphne tried to shake her to make her response the only thing it did was to make her faint in Daphne's arms only to get a sigh from the tomboyish young lady. She vowed to get some answer if it was the last thing she did.
Daphne was able to pick up Cassandra on her shoulder and take her to her room. So, she would be able to get some good, needed rest. Daphne was also wondering why she was wearing an adventurer outfit. Many questions were popping in her head, not enough answers. For now, all she could do is wait till she wakes up.
Epyon was able to get a lot of good information from Cassandra. From what he noticed that she was an innocent girl who got caught up in a troublesome god line of sight. He would have to wait to see how to free her and her friend and get them to join His and Bell's party.
Epyon was able to get to the tavern without a problem, the tavern sounded lively inside. He was able to get his dinner and room for the night since he had a long day tomorrow. When he finished eating, he went back to his room, he began to wipe himself off with the warm water that was left in his room after a long day. He had to go to a certain familia place and ask to join them. He had to give to that man a certain letter from Zeus explaining the whole situation and once that was cleared up, he would be able to hunt the monster once again. Not long after Epyon passed out from the long day of endless troubles.
A/N: Just to be clear Cassandra Llion is going to still be a pessimistic person she was just caught off guard. I'm sure there are girls and women out there that would feel the same as she did. Also, the incident with the Astraea Familia 5 years before the story. I'm changing it as one of the major events to introduce my OC true power. I'm still not sure how many of them are going to live, but for sure I'm letting them get whip out like the original story. This is just a heads up, so I won't hear anyone complaining. I'm looking for a beta read if anyone is interested in PM. Just to let the people following this story I have chapter 3 rough draft going to start typing it tonight. Leave a reviews!