Final Fantasy Brave Exvius Precursors Party
The Party Precursors
Part 1
Continent of Visectrum, world of Paladia. Midnight, outskirts of Relaks town.
Under the light of a new moon, four individuals gather together by a single cloaked figure.
"Hey guys, thanks for answering the summon, there's a favor I want to ask." The blond man of fiery gaze said.
He was to set on a journey, yet something troubled him, a piercing feeling lingering around the area.
"Do you remember, Karten, the time we battled against The Lightning Tyrant…?" The hooded man asked of one Vision in particular.
The vision appeared as a tall man of white long hair and tan skin, dressed in a red-wine coat and ragged trousers.
"I'm afraid I don't. If this Vision technique you claim to know can only summon the lingering memory of a warrior from the past, then it's natural that all memories of our last encounter would be lost after parting." The proud lycanthrope states.
Tel-Fulsanis.
A gargantuan being born from the souls of the countless lives lost during a great war that once raged in a distant world. An enemy who once descended upon the world of Paladia, and threatened to swallow it whole along with the souls living in peace after Emperor Vlad's defeat.
Cornered by the insurmountable power of the world-menace, the kings of Aldore and Hess summoned the power of warriors from yore to fight against the Tyrant.
After a long and grueling battle, aided by the stout spirit of Christmas himself, Karten was able to split asunder the body of Tel-Fulsanis amidst the skies of Visectrum.
And yet after so long, the lingering feeling of the gargantuan has resurfaced once more.
"I wish I could stay here and investigate myself, but duty calls. Even if none of you remember what transpired that time, I do, as well as I remember all our times together. We are friends who met countless times before, all of us, and I'm once again trusting you to help me protect the lives of Paladia. Please, I'm counting on you." The shrouded figure vowed respectfully and bid farewell, leaving the four Visions to their grand task.
With the fifth silhouette disappearing among the night of the new moon, the four who stayed behind traded a look and decided to start a campfire.
Part 2
Gathered around the campfire, the Visions shared a meal in the form of a roasted Rudra, a bird like monster that wanders around the plains of Relaks.
"Alright everyone, if all we where tasked with was kicking some evildoer butt to keep him from coming back from the grave, then this job will be over before anyone even hears the crack of lightning! My name is Esther, and I aspire to become the strongest warrior in the whole world! I'm who you call when there's evil to be punished!" A girl in a white bunny eared hood and skirt, stood around the campfire.
She carried her rabbit-self with confidence and wielded a colossal steel great-sword. Her hair blue like the sea and her skin rosy.
The legendary Precursor of the Storm, Esther, had made her introduction.
A warrior said to had once sacrificed herself to stop a great evil know as one of the Great Destroyers. Said to be as fast as the element she wields. The hot-blooded or better said, lightning-blooded girl was widely known as nothing less than a legend in the flesh.
That said, although historians often find themselves arguing over the life and accomplishments of heroic figures, their arguments regarding Esther are always followed with complaints about not getting enough to bring food to the table.
After all, the legendary Precursor of the Storm life… was just that simple, and often plagues scholars seeking mystery and challenge. That they know everything there's to know about her and her personality other than an occurrence with a portal, often results in spit contests at the blandness of the heroine.
The only mystery no one has ever solved regarding Esther, is her unorthodox obsession with rabbit-themed merchandise. A mystery so un-mystical and deprived of any good evidence or reason that it only serves to rile up angry historians even more.
"So count on me to get this job done, kay!? Now, what about you big guy? I think the blond man called you, Karten, right?"
"That he did. It would seem this isn't the first time I have come to his aid… or any of us for that matter… I wonder how these, 'Visions,' he mentioned truly work?"
Visions, the lingering memory of heroes or villains from the past.
These Visions can take any form in which they are remembered and answer the call of Vision Users to fight and defend the world by their side, or drown it in despair.
A Vision holds the power and memories of the person whom they're based on, and sometimes one can even find themselves meeting with the visage of whom they where just five seconds ago in the form of a Vision.
However, given the nature of the magic, those summoned won't remember what they where doing once they have disappeared, and won't have access to any experience from their lives past the point in which the Vision was conceived.
This knowledge however eluded our current heroes, much to their dismay.
"But it matters not, since I already been summoned here, I suppose I should make the most of it. As you already know, my name is Karten, and as you can see I was cursed to become a lycanthrope." The tall and proud man expressed with anger mounting over his visage.
With grace and firm presence, the Cursed Precursor, the Precursor of the Shadows Karten introduces himself.
Just like Esther, he too battled and sealed one of the Great Destroyers. However unlike his bunny colleague, historians do love Karten. After all, his life is shrouded in thrill and mystery that appeals to even the drunkest tavern-turd.
Records suggest the horned gauntlet he wields depicts him as a once demon hunter who fell in to the dark arts and became the very beast he swore to kill. Some claim he was once an unlucky aristocratic that obliviously courted an evil witch into his manor and was cursed to become a lycanthrope as a result. Others even claim the witch only enacted her curse after Karten had made advances at another woman and stirred her jealousy.
With his chest pulsating a magical light blue, Karten fingers had red blooded claws coming out of them and his bare feet buried in the white fur of the beast he was half-turning into. It was evident to the naked eye that he was as much beast as he was man.
The lycanthrope named Karten once felt so enraged over having been turned into a werewolf that he became a beast of chaos himself and lost his mind to a berserker rage that spanned for years, only one faithful day regaining his senses and swearing revenge on the witch who cursed him. The magnitude of his desire for revenge towards said witch, knows no bounds, some would say.
The Precursor of the Shadows stood up and faced the Precursor of the Storm, before picking Esther hand in his grasp.
"Fine damsel I just met, how about a wild ride with yours truly tonight?" With a confident smile, the proud lycanthrope flirted.
"Ehm… nope thanks…!" Esther jerked her hand from Karten grasp and took a step back.
Despite the heated debates and hilarious bar fights that Karten life has sparked trough the ages in Paladia, one thing can all sides agreed about him.
All accounts indicate he was too comfortable playing with fire and red flags for his own good. Whatever happened to him in life, he likely had it coming.
Jealous witch curse included.
"Gawrrr." The growling of a small reptilian creature was heard behind Karten.
Upon turning back his head, the lycanthrope found a spear prickling at his cheek, drawing a drop of dark blood.
"Curb your libido, beast. Need I remind you of the task we where assigned with just now?" A girl clad in crimson and azure armor had said.
She had silver hair and skin as pale as the snow, but the piercing gaze of a warrior whose dealt with hundreds of battles.
Having shook his head in disappointment, Karten returned to his spot besides the campfire.
"You have my apologies, I was hoping this adventure would yield more than just mindless monster slaying. So, to whom do I owe the pleasure of this fresh wound?" The lycanthrope sat cross legged and pressed the silver haired girl for an introduction.
The girl of silver hair drew back her lance and supported her weight on it as she stood up.
"My name is Reberta, a wandering dragoon, and those who speak of me often call me the Crimson Death. And this young one is Ignitos." The fair skinned beauty said.
"Gawrr." The young red dragon the size of a large parrot, growled proudly.
The Crimson Death, a female dragoon widely known for appearing across multiple battlefields. Legend says she hunts for a young black mage that slayed her mentor and also Ignitos father.
Though merciless in battle, rumors say she's a serious and gentle soul, and the smile she shows her pet dragon can be compared to that of a goddess.
"Not much else to say about myself or my companion… Oh, the Rudra leg seems well done, Ignitos say ahh..."
"Gaw…" Ignitos was fed a huge chicken leg with affection.
Karten stared intently at Reberta, until the later felt the need to address him.
"What?" She asked.
"Nothing, I was just thinking I saw something nice a moment ago. Do you care to let me see it again tonight?" The proud lycanthrope teased.
Flushed red, the silver haired dragoon prepared to do battle with the lycanthrope, who also sets in preparation.
Esther jumped in between the two to try and de-escalate the situation.
"Alright, you two need to calm down a minute, we haven't even finished with introductions to be… fighting…?" It was at this time that someone stood from her spot around the campfire.
This person wears a long wedding white veil and dress ending right around her thighs. She was holding a cup filled from a cauldron she had been cooking on.
With hair as red as the campfire and an angelical smile, she mediates.
"Colleagues, please, let's be civil about our task and work together to save this world from Tel-Fulsanis." The young lady returned to her smile as soon as she was done speaking.
She could have been no older than 19, clearly the youngest of the party as all others appeared to be in their twenties.
Hearing the voice of reason coming from their junior of all people, Karten and Reberta decided to stand down.
"You are right, there's more important matters at hand than dealing with a troublemaking party member."
"You don't say, Crimson Death. But you my sweet damsel, I'm curious to know your name?"
"Oh, it is a pleasure to meet you, Legendary Crimson Death and Precursors of the Storm and Shadows, but I'm afraid I'm just an aspiring black mage, and nothing special. You may call me, Rylak." The redhead said.
Better know by historians and scholars as Kryla. A near immortal witch that has extended her life for centuries by stealing the bodies of her victims and implanting her soul in them.
Although her appearance changes with every new victim she takes, which makes it near impossible for anyone to tell what she looks like, historians agree that it is the same entity know as Kryla though the ages given the way she operates.
Amongst her skills and atrocities committed stand. Killing and stealing the bodies of young women, hexing and cursing in 666 varieties, stellar writer of the bestseller novels Agonizing Death by Brew and Concoction and The Witch's Flavor, being the cause of at least four different plagues, using foresight to cheat at lottery, sadistically feeding the elderly to gingerbread men, conjuring blizzards that'd freeze to death fourteen different villages, cursing a man with lycanthropy out of jealousy, drowning kittens on lakes and all manner of evil deeds which put a new and fresh smile on her face.
"Dear Karten, I know it isn't much right now, but please have this nice warm milk that I brewed just for you." Kryla offered with a newfound fresh smile.
Karten received the milk with a smile of his own.
"How considerate, truly there's nothing in life like the kindness of a fine maiden."
"Hehe, it is my pleasure, dearest Karten. I've nothing but 'kindness' to show a grand hero such a yourself." Kryla said, holding a finger to her lips playfully.
Karten grin grew wider and breathed in the vapor of the hot milk.
"Perhaps there'll be more to this adventure than plain monster slaying." He said and took a sip of the milk, taking his time to savor his drink carefully.
He found that milk, delicious.
It was at this time, and in spite of her incontrollable eye-twitch that Esther decided to take the lead.
"A-alright, now that everyone has done with the introductions, let's get down to business. There's evil residue coming from that town and we're here to investigate it and find the pieces of Tel-Fulsanis. Once we get a hold of what we're looking for we can just dispose of it on the spot and everything should be back to normal. Any questions or suggestions before we head out?" Esther concluded with her great-sword at the ready.
Meanwhile Reberta was seen listening attentively to Ignitos grunts.
"Ignitos says it's better if we await the morning light. There'll be townsfolk guarding the entrance and they won't like strangers coming around at night."
"E-excellent suggestion Reberta— I mean Ignitos! Then in that case, we shall leave at dawn my friends! Those townsfolk might not know it yet but their lives need saving and the evildoers hiding in there need a kicking. That's what we're here for so, good night!" With great excitement, Esther forced herself to fall asleep.
And so the heroes decided to rest for the night and continue their adventure next morning.
Karten spent all night twisting and turning from a grave stomach ache that would've easily killed any normal man.
Part 2
Plains Town Relaks
A farming village full of water, windmills and greenery that despite looking peaceful, once served as the final checkpoint for the participants of the Order of Aldore.
Now, with Aldore under management of King Rain of Aldore, the village has become nothing but exactly what it's appearance would depict it as.
Ruled by its major, Don Corny, the villagers have peacefully gone about their mundane lives since the war, now approaching the one year anniversary of the dictatorship fall, the town prepares to enact a carnival in celebration.
Meanwhile, standing over a green hill that sees over the town of Relaks, four Visions gather at the ready for their adventure, where they ingeniously discuss how to solve a problem that just arises with the morning.
"It's gone. The evil residues from Tel-Fulsanis has been lost." A very serious and almost casual Reberta points out.
"Agh… I guess the evil-doers moved the pieces while we slept?" The bunny precursor tried to guess.
"That is unlikely. If that had been the case then at least a trail would have formed."
"Then what exactly do you suggest that happened?"
"The pieces where sealed somewhere around here, there can't be no other explanation," Reberta pointed. "Regardless, nothings changed, our approach should still be the same. We must enter the town premises and search for the remnants of Tel-Fulsanis."
"Ohhh, this changes a lot actually! Before we where just going to follow the trail to the remnants, but now with nothing left to track I got no choice but to go in and ask around for information!" Esther was all too pleased to correct.
Her point being that half their party looks like they'll cause a commotion if left around public.
And there was also the fact that the town of Relaks seemed to be undergoing a carnival of sorts, which only made things even more of a contrivance.
"Te-he, it's splitting time! I want to tag along with my sweet Karten!" A lovely redhead said as she hugged the arm of Karten.
Esther was quick to deny her request.
"Sorry pal, that's impossible. Just look at him, chest pulsing evil light and both his arms and feet are covered in fur and his claws look stained in blood. Someone is going to get a heart attack if he shows up."
It was as Esther shook her head in disparagement that Karten took in a deep breath and focused on his composure.
As if responding to his will, the white fur and claws receded, leaving only the rough looking feet and hands of a warrior.
"This much I can manage, so long as I stay out from large crowds I can remain in control of the curse. I intend to play my part in our task, Storm." Karten affirmed.
"Ah, sweet Karten you're so reliable!" Kryla said as she rubbed her head under Karten now human hand.
Looking over him, the bunny precursor simply shrugged.
"Suit yourself pal, is not like we're rookies here anyways… except maybe Rylak…? But that's besides the point, I will just head out for the local bar and find what we need. I doubt anyones lips need greasing when there's a carnival going on. Corral be chirping if you know what I mean. The rest of you can just watch for any suspicious activity from over here in the meantime."
"Hold, Esther. Where you intending to leave all of us and go by yourself?"
"Sure was."
"Very well, I can see the point to Karten, and Rylak might not have the experience needed, but what about me?"
"What do you mean, 'what about me?' How was I going to explain your dragon to the locals? That ain't a parrot you got there you know?"
"Ugh!" Reberta was struck by common sense.
"I mean, I can tell by the way you look at it that you don't want to be away from him, isn't that right? So, I just thought I'll do everything myself and stuff."
"Gah…. In-inconceivable! I won't be made to sit around when lives are at stake…! Ignitos will be accepted by the villagers once I'll tell them what a good boy he is!" Reberta stubbornly refutes.
"Nope, not happening. Taking a baby dragon into a human village is a sure way to get the silent treatment from the villagers. And I get it, that might be okay with you when you're traveling alone but gathering intel is what we're here for. The dragon stays or so will you."
"I second Storm reasoning." Karten sided with Esther.
And so, to the great pain of Reberta, she was forced to abandon her adoptive son on their camping spot.
"Gew…" Ignitos whined, stretching a claw at her.
"Guh…. this is…"
"Reberta, you coming or what?" Esther called from ahead the road.
And so, the party splits into two groups and began their gathering for intel at the village.
Part 3
Once inside Relaks, boisterous noise and drunk songs could be heard coming from the houses.
Wolf whistle*
Wolf whistle*
Long wolf whistle*
The drunk villagers were very welcoming of the couple beauties who graced their dirt roads with their presence.
To the highly trained Reberta and the legendary Precursor of the Storm, this uncouth behavior didn't bother them in the least.
It was after all, reasonable for villagers to be a little offensive under the minds poison that is cheap beer. And for them, this meant an even easier time getting people to talk about strange activity.
The two kept their stride, ignoring completely the lusting gaze from the men and their bored wives joining in on the teasing.
Their goal was of course the drunkest part of town.
The Swift Intercourse Bar.
A favorite of the local drunkards and a place where the two heroines where sure to find someone willing to spill the beans.
As they approached, a loud ruckus could be heard coming from inside the place.
Not bothering with the small details, the two heroines walk inside the bar as Esther leads the way trough the oaken double doors.
"Master, give me two of the biggest pints you got!" The expertly outgoing bunny girl ordered beer to go with her arrival.
Mixing seamlessly into the drunken atmosphere, the heroines soon found the odd scenery of a bunch of drunkards gathering around one table in particular.
Not wanting to break with her questions before paying heed to current events, Esther tapped one of the burly men on the shoulder and asked.
"Wassup with him?" She asked pointing at an intoxicated man burying his head on his arms at the table.
"Hic… hello there pretty... That guy…? hic, hess just being a baby."
"And when everyone gets drunk… hic… nowosy be drunk anymore…" The depressed drunk whispers.
"Fella's the ole town drunk if ya know what I mean. Man just doesn't feel so special when everyone's drunk as he is." The burly man explained.
"Oh, gotcha, just a big old baby." The bunny precursor mercilessly spat daggers at the depressed man.
All part of her act to mesh in with the atmosphere.
Behind the two heroines, one of the working barmaids brought over two large beer mugs which Reberta held hers delicately and Esther sipped a big gulp from the one she was given.
"Ah, that sure hits the spot. Thanks sis!" Esther thanked the barmaid.
Picking interest on the newcomers, the drunks shifted attention to Esther and her hot friend.
"Hey, that was pretty cool. I likes me a girl who can hold her drink!"
"And what brings two hot babes to this boring old hole of the world?" The drunks broke the ice as expected.
All according to keikaku.
"Meh, we where just passing by and heard there was going to be a party, so we decided to spend it here."
"Ah, gotcha, you came here to celebrate the one year anniversary of the new Aldore."
"Hic, hey is your friend mute? Why doesn't she says anything?" One of the drunkards tried to approach Reberta.
Esther was quick on her feet and got between them.
"Haha, sorry about my friend, we where hit by some strange black air on the way here and she's a little shaken. She'll be normal in a couple drinks tops!" Esther explained.
Reberta shivered, holding her shoulders as she kept on the act.
All part of the plan to bring up the topic of the residues with the drunks. It wasn't exactly something the normal and untrained people could see, but it wouldn't be out the ordinary for some veteran to be living his retirement around a town like this. Someone around should be able to help them with the information they needed.
The drunks looked amongst themselves, trading looks as if thinking of something.
"Now that you mention it…" One such drunkard was about to say something, but was interrupted by the doors of the bar kicking open.
"I have done it boys! This is my greatest masterpiece yet!" A drunk man covered in colorful paint enters the bar.
Over his head he carried a large canvas covered in a white blanket that barely fit trough the door.
"This is my masterpiece! This one I'm sure it definitely looks like him!" The artist was static to brag.
Esther was trying to grasp what was happening when the same drunk she was talking a moment ago now pushed her aside.
"Make way sweetheart, this some real shit!"
"Our idol is coming thru!"
"You really finished in time, you crazy bastard! Coming thru boy! The main event is about to start!" One by one the drunkards stepped aside.
Curses! The bunny precursor cursed under her breath. What horrible timing for something to happen just as she was about to get the answers she needed.
But it was alright, she would still get her chance once that weird… art exposition? Had run its course.
The drunk artist finally reached the wall and stuck the canvas in place, before preparing himself for the unveil ceremony.
"It's here boys, my interpretation based on the closest semblance we got to the man, the myth, the legend!"
"YEAAAAAHHHH!!!!" The bar erupted in loud cheers followed by the noise of mugs smashing tables.
Then the canvas was unveiled, revealing a tall and tan skinned man of white long hair. He sported a wine red coat and black trousers. That man in question was…
"K-Karten!!?" Esther couldn't believe her eyes.
It was then that the rest of the bar turned her way.
"That's right sweetheart, the greatest man to ever live! Pride of Paladia and absolute chad of a Precursor!" The drunkards once again started a ruckus.
This reveal came as a surprise to Esther, of course.
A precursor is not a title assigned to a divine or unique being, it was but a title given to the eight warriors who rose up to fight against the Great Destroyers.
For that reason and having been alive around the same time, she never had a chance to observe how their legend transpired over the course of time.
"How do you like my vision of the man himself? I think it's perfect—"
"It doesn't do him justice." Someone honestly reviewed.
The bar went cold as an ice block when everyone turned to the source of the voice.
"Hey, it's that girl that was too afraid to talk!"
It was Reberta giving her unbiased opinion.
"The dimensions make him seem shorter than he truly is, and I feel this canvas fails to capture his confident nature." She concluded.
A moment of silence.
For the ones listening to her review felt nothing but astonishment, but for Reberta, she was just giving a serious and honest opinion of her party member.
Soon the ruckus started again.
"How could I had made such a grave mistake!?"
"You idiot! You insult our idol with that drunken drawing of yours!"
"Even a woman knows your drawing is crap!"
"How dare you make him seem smaller than he is, I'm sure he was three meters tall at least!"
"Get that shit out of my sight and start again!"
"Huh! I think it suits him just right!" The voice of a girl cut in between the drunks rambling.
It was one of the barmaids that was fed up with the whole thing.
"It's always Karten this or Karten that, it drives me nuts! It's all you guys ever talk about!" The barmaid expressed her frustration.
She was met with fierce resistance.
"How dare you insult the greatest man to ever live! He made all mens dream come true when he slept with every witch of the Dark Covenant!"
"Huh, wait Karten did what!?" Esther had to ask.
All drunks simultaneously turned to her.
"Wait, you don't know the things he did?" One of the drunks asked.
Not much was known about the Precursor of Shadows life, but that didn't stop the myths and hearsay from getting out of hand.
"Girl let me tell you, ever heard of the Dark Covenant? That place is stock full of witches, vixens and every demon babe you can think of, but that sure as hell is one nasty place if any."
"Extra dangerous if you got the jewels dangling from your legs you catch my drift? It's like, femme fatale paradise in there."
"But then Karten arrived at the place like, 'I have decided I live here now.' And declared permanent residency."
"Based!"
"Total Badass!"
"Precursor of Chadness! Man told the evil babes he owned the place and if they didn't like it they could deal with it!"
"We respect him so much because many have failed where only he triumphed!"
"'We'll die like men!' Said the men who tried before him, but they died like frogs."
Esther was left flabbergasted upon hearing the stories. No wonder he tried to flirt with her the moment they met. But just as she was still processing all this information, the barmaid spoke up again.
"So what if he busied a witch or two!? He still isn't the strongest Precursor, Esther is! She fought countless bad guys and saved many lives, she even rose above the level of her colleagues the Precursor's!"
"Hey sis, you really know your history lessons!" The bunny girl was all too happy to hear the way she was remembered.
But the barmaid remarks made the drunks feel like they where experiencing the precursor to a bad hangover.
"Oh for the love of Aldore!"
"'She fought countless bad guys and saved many lives,' sweetheart that's like every hero ever!"
'Ouch!'
"A bunny a dozen."
'My feelings!'
"Her worse enemy was an egg I tell you, an egg!! Heck I got two so why hasn't she come to slay me balls yet?"
'You better watch your balls when you go out at night pal!'
"Ah cousin, that joke with your balls reminded me of the old saying. 'If she likes rabbits she must be into reproduction.' I bet that rings true for the Storm Precursor."
'No it doesn't and I will beat the shit of whoever came up with that!'
"Look at me, I'm an Esther scholar and look where I'm rotting at! Meanwhile all my friends who studied Karten are living the good life at the capital and married hot models too!"
'Well sorry I'm not a profitable study career!' The bunny Precursor thought.
Poor be the white rabbit, she wished to punch away her frustrations but a pro such as herself was expected to show more restraint and TOLERATE all this fucking audacity!
She took in a deep breath amidst the heath to help calm herself down.
"I bet she wasn't even the strongest Precursor." Some drunkard quipped in.
BOOM.
A loud explosion erupted, completely deafening any sounds made inside the bar.
The source of the explosion, surprisingly, didn't come from Esther but from outside the local.
The double oaken doors opened, leaving way for a horrified and bloody villager to enter the Swift Intercourse bar.
"Help! The monsters have breached in, we're under attack!"
Part 4
A group of about a dozen men followed two heroines into the center of Relaks.
Outside the blue sky and the sun shone brightly like any other sunny day, but other than that, it was complete chaos.
"Help! My blanket is trying to asphyxiate me!"
"And my harvest is trying to sow me!"
"Eek! Someone help! That perverted priest has a boner and he was just reading stories to my child!"
"Why are there so many Goblins!? What happened to the monster wards at the gates!?"
Blankets flew off their perch's and wrapped around innocent bystanders, goblins ravaged everywhere, a man was getting planted by some radish and a scarecrow was watering him, two windmills where playing catch with a poor cat, two Bombs busied themselves with setting fire to the houses and some parents found themselves curb-stomping a priest with a huge boner in his holy robes.
Even taking the effects of the evil residue into consideration, Esther couldn't believe just how bad the situation had gotten in just five minutes since they arrived.
"The villagers are in danger. Reberta let's clean up this mess, there's no time to lose!"
"Understood." *Whistles*
Up above in the skies, two weapons reflected the sheen of the sun.
Ignitos the baby dragon had been flying at high altitude above the clouds of Relaks, ready for any signs that his partners might need their weapons back.
When Reberta whistle reached his ears, Ignitos let go of the weapons he was trusted to care for, and they began their swift descent until they reached the heroines grasp.
Reberta had caught the Crimson Malice, a red spear imbued with the power of ancient dragons.
Esther caught a greatsword so huge and heavy it caused the ground under her to cave and leave a small crater. Asterisk Alpha, a weapon weighting several tons and made only for Esther.
Seeing the supernatural display of power coming from the hot babes they where just ogling before, the drunkards quickly and healthily distanced themselves from the two heroines.
"I know how to disenchant dark magic, I'll handle the animated objects, Esther you can go after the monsters." Reberta proposed a plan.
"I'll race you then!"
And so the two heroines set to deal with their respective enemy's.
"Meow!" A poor cat cried as he kept getting caught and thrown between two animated windmills.
"Gawr!"
But soon it was saved by the red-scaled hero who swooped by and rescued the poor feline as he was flying in the air.
Reberta came to a brusque stop before the windmills and began spinning her spear in circles. Below her formed a magic circle that funneled into a dispel spell coming for the animated buildings.
One of the windmills blades launched downwards aiming to crush Reberta where she stood, but the agile dragoon merely paused her spell and sidestepped widely, almost hovering five meters as the blade of the windmill crashed against the ground.
The moment the dragoon landed her spear sunk on the ground and completed the spell. The blades of both windmills where blow away back to spinning in circles and the dark magic that had brought them to life banished.
Not being given a second to breath, something erupted from the earth below Reberta.
She managed to launch herself back just barely to avoid an animated pumpkin flinging off a dragon hook at her.
In a split second the dragoon affirmed her stance and swung a perfect horizontal strike coming from her right, the pumpkin was sliced clean in two.
"Gaw!" Ignitos cried from the skies as he was holding a terrified cat.
He was warning Reberta to watch her back.
"?!"
Behind her stood a scarecrow pulling a sharp sickle over its shoulder.
A downwards strike comes and Reberta barely managed to deflect it aside with her spear. Following the same motion she used to deflect, Reberta drove the Crimson Malice spearhead into the ground and knee-checked the scarecrow in the head, sending it airborne.
The dragoon then kicked off the ground and launched two upwards kicks to the scarecrow straw body as she pole dances with her spear, finally arching her back in the air and driving the spearhead out of the ground for a perfect vertical slash, bisecting the scarecrow from groin to head, then vaulting and landing on her toes in a graceful slow float.
The clink of a sickle hitting the ground was followed by a rain of straws.
Reberta raised the Crimson Malice as she was charged by a horde of vegetables and floating animated blankets.
Over in the other side of the town, the crack of lightning pierced the villagers ears as two Bombs got blitzed by a gold light, immediately exploding a second after.
The gold light shot to the skies and then back down to the crowd of goblin soldiers.
"Haah!"
The impact send tremors and lightning shockwaves flying along a dozen goblins.
Esther pulled her greatsword over her shoulder just as the dust settles and asked one of the villagers.
"Hey sis, you alright over there?"
"Y…yes!" The villager replied,
Truthfully as she remained unscathed despite having been surrounded by a large crowd of goblins.
Esther narrowed her eyes in disbelief.
"You sure about that?" She asked, looking reproachfully at the villager.
"Ye-yes I said! Nothings wrong with me!" The villager insisted she was fine.
"Oh really? It's just that back when I was fighting I saw you rushing into the goblin horde with a gleeful look on your face, so I was wondering if you where REALLY alright?" The bunny girl was mercilessly in her judgement of others.
"S-so what if I threw myself at a few g-goblins! I a… I was just wondering if the myth was true!"
"The myth? What are you even on about?" The bunny girl was now feeling very curious.
"Y-you know… the one where goblins do… with girls and…" The villager had started to turn a fine shade of red.
"Huh? What was that? Speak up sister, these big ears aren't real."
The villager erupted in tears and stood up shouting.
"That they reproduce only with human women!!! I wanted to check if it was really true that only male goblins exist so they must kidnap young women to reproduce!!!"
"No hecking way!!!" The bunny girl was awestruck and bamboozled.
No seriously, she believed every word the goblin lover had said.
As these events transpired, out the skies fell a silver haired dragoon clad in crimson azure armor. Besides her landed an entire harvest of sliced vegetables.
"Esther, that is only a myth, please don't believe everything you're told."
"Wait for real!? But are you sure it's just a myth? I-I mean, I never cared about goblins before so all I knew is they're short-green critters… You sure that isn't real?" The bunny was still brimming with curiosity at this new discovery.
"Absolutely. There are plenty of female goblins as there's males. That idea is plainly a myth which started from a famous novel in which such was the case. Hearsay did the rest."
"Guhack….! H-hearsay!?" The depraved villager couldn't believe the harsh words coming of the silver haired dragoon mouth.
"Ah, yes hearsay, nothing good ever comes out of it these days, I've been told. Anyways sis, I won't deny it's a crazy world out there but even I don't think it's THAT crazy, so… I don't know, go home and live a saner life or something?"
And with her words of encouragement and the lower lip stuck out, the bunny Precursor said who cares and left the crying villager behind to face an upcoming horde of goblins.
"Alright you maiden robbing— pffff!" She has to hold herself back from laughing.
The goblin horde all took positions facing the bunny girl that was having trouble standing even when supporting her weight with her sword.
She barely managed to stop herself from suffocating and fixed the goblins horde with a pensive stare. Her rabbit-eared brain off to entertain her curiosity.
Like prey before a predator, the goblins felt the immense pressure coming from the girl standing before them. It was akin to encountering a Leviathan amidst the deep darkness of the ocean floor.
They where being sized like nothing else but small fry in the mind of the mighty Precursor.
"Pfffft!" She barely held her laugher back once more.
The goblins sweated and gulped in fear as they prepare for an attack so powerful it could level entire mountains when…
"It's it in yet?" An amused Esther mocked.
It was a psychological type of attack.
"…"
"Hahahaha…"
"…"
"Ahhhh hahaha!"
The entire side of the town went silent other than the girl who couldn't stop laughing her ass off.
Then the goblins erupted in insurmountable anger.
"GRRRRRROOOOBBB!" They cried.
Their long and forgotten language they cried.
"Curse that two legged chimera, I feel so insulted!"
"I didn't understood a word she said but I wanna pummel that strange creature!"
"I'm about to start a myth here!"
"Off with her ears!"
"CHARGE!!!" The goblins horde charged in a furious frenzy.
Esther stood tall with a sword on her shoulder and her lower lip sticking out arrogantly. Behind her a Bomb monster had snuck up and was ready to detonate.
"Esther look out!" The depraved villager cried out for her new bunny friend.
The Precursor of the Storm sunk her feet on the ground and lowered her stance, greatsword at the ready over her shoulder when the Bomb monster jumped up.
"And itssss outta here!!!"
She swung her hips and her humungous greatsword, batting the Bomb monster in the direction of the goblin horde.
A bright flash of light was the last thing the myth-starters encountered before the lights went out.
"GRRROOOOAAAAA!!!" They cried in pain.
Over at the home base, the bunny girl rested her blade over her shoulder once again and smirked in satisfaction.
"How's that for bland now, huh?"
Part 5
Earlier that day.
A cool wind blew over the banners of the festival. Kids hide behind their parents as the dust kicks off with the cold breeze and makes the windmills spin, everyone is all smiles.
The sun was out and the weather couldn't be more ripe for a celebration. Booths sell roasted kebabs meat to the children and booze for the adults.
The small and peaceful village couldn't be any more crowded, and right in the middle of all those festivities.
"Lalala lalala la la lala la ohhh." A lovely redhead sings as she drags a silver haired man deeper into the crowd.
The man tries to resist like a cat would a shower, but even the tiniest bit of force he exerts pushes his transformation further.
He tries to hide the monstrous fangs by biting his lips, but the lovely girl besides him pushes the corners of his mouth into a wide, strained smile.
"You know… I never felt like this before."
Curious, the masses gather by the youthful couple having what's clearly lots and lots of fun in their lovely date.
The man in long wine coat hides his hands in his pockets, lest they find the fur that's began growing, but his lovely girlfriend drags them out for some daring public handholding.
"Lalala lalala la la lala la ohhh. This feels like… so real."
[S.O.S by Rihana. Plays]
"I'm obsessive when just one thought of you comes up. I'm aggressive, just one thought of closing up. You got me stressing, incessantly pressing the issue. Cause every moment gone you know I miss you."
A happy farmer salutes the couple as they passed, and in return the lovely girl blessed his entire parcel with her wonderful magic.
"I'm the question and you're of course the answer. Just hold me close boy cause I'm your tiny dancer."
A scaredy cat climbed up a windmill when the lovely girl tried to pet it, and was blessed with 'safe' and 'protective' charm's for his cowardice.
"You make me shaken up, never mistaken but I can't control myself got me calling up for help."
A house wife dirty laundry was cleaned in an instant as the girl lovely magic continues to work her charm.
"S.O.S please someone help me. It's not healthy for me to feel this Y.O.U. are making this hard, I can't take it see it don't feel right. S.O.S please someone help me. It's not healthy for me to feel this Y.O.U. are making this hard. You got me tossin and turning, can't sleep at night."
The guards by the gates cheered for the lovey doves birds, and the beauteous girl blew a kiss at their monster wards in gratitude.
"This time please someone come and rescue me. Cause you on my mind's got me losing it. I'm lost, you got me looking for the rest of me. Love is testing me but still I'm losing it." X2
The man saw the chance to make his escape, but got caught by the collar of his long coat.
In the vicinity, a priest who busied reading stories to children, gave a chuckle as he witnessed the lovely scene of the shy boyfriend foiled escape attempt.
The girlfriend blessed that priest too, for good measure.
"Just your presence and I second guess my sanity. Yes it's a lesson, it's unfair, you stole my vanity."
The human façade became harder to keep.
"My tummy's up in knots so when I see you I get so hot. My common sense is out the door, can't seem to find the lock."
Karten wolf like features became more evident as they dived deeper and deeper into the festival atmosphere, and now his transformation felt inevitable, but amidst this uncontrollable surge of emotions, something drew the hero attention beyond the gates of the village.
"Take on me uh hu, you know inside you feel it right. Take me on I'm put, desire up in your arms tonight."
A little girl was sneaking away from the safety of the village, and heading into monster territory.
This shift in Karten attention didn't went unnoticed by Kryla.
"I'm out with you, you got me head over… heels…"
She was starting to notice his pull growing stronger, and soon she had no choice but to stop singing and let him go.
Nobody else in the crowd noticed the child straying away, and in their drunken stupor and the kids desire to play all day, nobody thought much of the two love birds sudden exit from the village premises, and so the villagers went back to their festivities.
Part 6
A little girl of sapphire eyes and black hair found herself walking along the tall grass near the hills. The village of Relaks was now far enough to fit inside the palm of her hand if she dared to look back, but before her was something that made her tremble in fear.
It was a simple and old wooden sign, but the contents of what it read was what worried her.
DANGER. ENTERING MONSTER TERRITORY.
Her shaking became harder to control, and tears fell over the grass blades.
Clutching to her chest was a small kitty collar with a jingle bell attached to it.
She found herself looking for her little friend, who had snuck away while she was distracted with the games of the festival.
Sniff* She cried again.
"I… I can't…" Her courage waning.
The shaking became so bad that even the breeze in that sunny day felt shilling like ice.
And then she mustered all her courage and took a step forward, only to feel the hand of a man stop her as it landed on her diminutive shoulder.
"Eek…!" She hastily turned around and fell down from the scare.
A small jingle was heard from the cat collar she was clutching.
Karten and Kryla observed the terrified child as she covers her head.
"This is no place for children, you must head back." Karten told her.
The little girl blinked upon hearing him, and removed her hands, the bell jingles as she did, and now allowing her to see the adults present.
"Aw, what adorable little creature have we found." Kryla clasped her hands together in glee.
Karten extended a hand at the little girl.
"Come with us, I'll escort you back."
He had said, but as the little girl reflexively reached out, the bell jingles once more, and she held back.
"N-no… I can't… I-I'm not going back without my friend…!" She rebutted.
As she did so she tried to make a run for the monster territory, but was easily caught by Karten, whom she tried to shake off.
"Let me go! It's my fault my… I can't let my new friend alone like this! The monster will…" As she said so, Karten crouched besides her.
He dragged the hand she was using to hold the collar towards his nose, and took its scent.
"Eep! What are you doing!?" She asked, fearful of the sudden action.
"I'll bring your friend back, you can head home and wait."
"Eh…?"
And with no more explanation, Karten headed deeper into the hills, passing the wooden danger sign as if it wasn't there.
"A-ah… wait please!" The girl cried.
But nobody replied back, even Kryla had begun following after Karten.
And so, gathering the courage to head into dangerous territory and disobey the advice of the strange adults.
The little girl too followed after Karten too.
Part 7
The wind blew fiercely across the grassy hills.
"W-what's your name mister…?" The little girl asked as she held onto the hem of the strange adult long coat. "I'm Marble! And my friend name is Mistic!"
"Karten."
"Karten… feels like I've heard that name before… almost like the one the adults talk about all the time… but it couldn't be you right…? And what's this funny-face sis name?"
"She's Rylak."
The little girl nodded attentively and looked over her shoulder to find the funny-face sister making indeed a funny face, but when Karten turned around he only found a bright and lovely smile waiting for him.
"Say little one, didn't you hear when we told you to head home?"
"I don't wanna, you don't know what Místic looks like!"
"I have his scent." Karten cuts in the conversation.
The little girl gave him a weird look, but still rolled with the punches.
"But you don't know where I live! How will you find me after you save him!?"
As a child, she felt the need to make excuses when dealing with adults. In truth she just wanted to tag along and help save her friend.
"I've your scent too." Karten assured.
This prompted the little Marble to smell the sleeves of her cotton coat.
"Ah, but it's dangerous for little girls to come here you know? Didn't you read the sign just now? A big and scary monster could have you for lunch!" Kryla was happy to scare her.
"It's dangerous for adults too!" Marble rebuts.
"It is not. That sign is meant for children only." Karten added.
"Liar! Big sister always says it's dangerous to go… Eek!!!" Marble was scared witless.
Hiding in the bushes found itself a Coeurl.
A feline, carnivore leopard like monster of long whiskers that likes to use bolt type attacks to paralyze its prey. Some even say it's voltage can cause instant death.
The Coeurl, noticed it's cover had been blown and leaps out of the tall grass, heading straight for the party.
"Waaaahhh! Run! It's going to eat us!!!" Marble cried as she tried to flee in fear.
But Karten held her hand so she wouldn't get far from him.
"Calm down and look again. The monster it's gone."
"Waaah… uaaah… eh…?!" Marble couldn't believe her eyes.
The Coeurl who once ran straight at the party, now headed in the opposite direction with it's tail between it's legs.
"Huh…?" Marble rubbed her blue eyes like she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Just then, out of the bushes came a Manticore which was awaiting for its rival, the Coeurl to make its move before attacking the prey itself.
"Aahhhh!! It's a new monster!!!"
And five seconds later the Manticore was seen running for dear life.
"Huh-wha…?" Marble eyes had started hurting from all the rubbing.
Monster after monster would voraciously come after them before making a dragging break on the dirt and latter turn tail. It was so bizarre it felt like she had just imagined the monster was there in the first place.
Kryla found the scene amusing.
"Oh my, did the little one doubted the word of my dearest Karten? Didn't your mama told you how monsters eat only the noisy children? The creatures here have nothing on us adults!"
To the shock of Marble, it would seem the adults where right. Strange as it would seem, but then a new sign appeared before her.
It was nailed to a tree nearby and read as follows.
EXTREME DANGER. ABANDON EXPLORATION IMMEDIATELY.
"Look! That sign says it's extremely dangerous!"
"For children." Karten added.
This prompted Marble to read the sign again.
"But… there's no mention of any children…!
Then, after a moment of consideration, Marble gasped in surprise when it all clicked together.
"Mr Karten… could it be you're illiterate—"
"I'm not."
"Then stop lying to me! I'll get angry! It clearly said danger and not age restricted but capital D for everyone!" Marble patience was starting to run thin.
The little girl failed to spot Karten smile as she walked behind him, he was relieved she had stopped trembling. And Kryla picked up the pace.
"That's only because the rest is written in unwritten rules."
"Unwritten rules… what does that means, funny sis?"
"It means adults know better than little girls."
"As if! Stop trying to mess with me already!"
"Oh my, what would it take for you to believe us… Uh I know! May that Bear eat me alive if I'm lying."
"Aahhh!!! It's a huge bear!!!"
And soon enough, the Bear monster was also found fleeing from the party.
"See, this is why children should listen to the adults. Ah ha ha ha ha!"
Marble pouted as Kryla enjoyed a healthy laugh at her expense, then dismissed all her fears with a wave of her hand.
"Fear not little one, you're in safe hands so long as my dearest Karten is here with us."
"I'm still afraid of the monsters you know!"
"Hahaha!" Kryla let out a hearty laugh.
Little Marble couldn't really understand what she found so funny, but she at least understood the funny-face sis felt safe enough to be laughing out loud like that.
"Funny-sis… are you in love with Mr Karten…?"
"Of course! With every inch of my being!" Kryla was happy to announce.
Karten heard her but still kept walking quietly.
But the response only brought up Marble curiosity even more.
"But why do you love him so much?" She asked as she cocked her head to the side.
The innocent question from the child hit Kryla like a bucket of cold water. It had been such long time since she had a chance to feel this way again that she had forgotten entirely how good it felt.
A strange smile crept over her face, the kind only children would find funny, but before she could answer, Karten came to a sudden stop.
"We've arrived." He announced.
Before them found themselves the ruins of an old fortress. Now broken and besieged by the elements, the roof has completely caved in and few walls still stand on, leaving way for grass to grow inside its many rooms.
The party assumes the place to be an old knights garrison by the rotten banners of Paladia and the great statue of an armored gladiator that stood by its entrance.
Kryla tried dusting the statue as the other two walked inside, she catches up a moment latter.
There, inside the garrison, behind a mound of debris.
"Mew."
"Mistic!" Marble cried.
Pushing past Karten long coat, the little girl soon cornered a small and very scared creature against a broken wall. The bell jingles as she runs by.
It was a little trembling kitten.
"Uwah… Mistic… you're safe! I'm so sorry I left you off my sights! Waaaah!" She cried as she brought the little kitty into her embrace.
Behind her, Karten conversed with Kryla.
"It's a relief her pet was safe all the way here, but now this leaves us with nothing on the residue."
"Oh gosh, Esther is going to scold us now."
"Weren't you wanting to go on a date before?"
"Tehe!" The witch bonks her head cutely. "Though dearest Karten, don't you think this was way too easy? That child will never learn her lesson if we make things look so simple. Feels like we're setting the wrong example here."
"I don't know what you mean by…"
Just as they where caught in their conversation, Marble returned with her kitten Mistic.
She dried up her tears on the sleeves of her clothes as she held her kitten against her chest. A bell gave a little jingle from the collar of Mistic.
"Mr Karten, funny face sis, I'll like to thank you for helping me rescue Mistic. I couldn't have done it without you…" The little girl shows the pair her gratitude.
This brought a smile to Karten. Thought he was sure this wouldn't help alleviate his curse in any way. He cherished the feeling.
"… However, this adventure has taught me the dangers of wandering inside monsters territory, which is why I want to make sure I clear a few things before we return home." Marble explained raising a finger.
The couple looked at her with slight confusion.
"Mr Karten, funny-face sis, just because you're adults it doesn't mean you can go around ignoring signs of danger." Marble bluntly put.
Kryla and Karten both reflexively blinked. Where they getting scolded?
"I don't know what was going on with the monsters today, but it's usually very scary when they come to the village and the guards need to chase them off. And you Mr Karten." Marble pointed at the silver haired adult.
Karten pointed at himself in response.
"Yes you. Ins't your name the same as the adult from the legends? Sister would always tell me the tale of a man who couldn't tell danger even if it came like a slap to the face, and so he fell prey to the whims and vices of an evil witch. That's you right? You should know better than to keep ignoring the signs like that!"
It wasn't the child believing he was indeed the man from the legends what bothered Karten, she was a young after all. It was the fact she was lecturing him about self awareness.
As this was happening, the sound of breaking stone reached inside the halls of the abandoned garrison.
"Eek! W-what was that!?" Marble was quick to hide behind Karten coat.
The sound of something heavy stomping the ground was heard, and soon something could be seen coming closer from the other side of the garrison door.
Until a moment later it broke trough the door frame completely, causing dust to rise and the noise of stone creaks to be heard.
It was a golem like creature, the statue of the gladiator that rested at the front of the garrison had come to life and followed them inside. It carried a long sword made of stone on its right arm and veins of dark magic could be seen coming down its neck.
"M-m-monster!!!"
"Hisss!!!" Marble and Mistic cowered.
Karten fixed the statue with a look, but it would seem this one wouldn't be running away like the others did before.
"Ah, oh no! This monster is too strong to be scared away by my dashing Karten presence! What can we even do!?" Kryla dramatized.
Then gleefully raised a hand as if she had found the solution.
"I know! Since it seems to be affected by dark magic, I'll just bathe it in light instead! Hahhh!!!"
"Wait funny sis, you could use magic!?"
"Of course I could! Now sit down and witness the true power of love!"
"Love?" Marble thought she heard wrong.
A magic floating cauldron appeared from a puff of smoke, and out of it vile billowing green smoke began spilling out, picking Kryla into the air and engulfing her in a huge ball of green fog.
Karten recognized the technique as a Brave Shift, one that only the very best had access to.
He had taken the girl he thought as Rylak for a complete amateur. The result of the blond man technique yielding a normal individual amidst such a powerful batch of heroes, but now he was starting to see that wasn't the case.
He had a fine ally working with him, indeed.
When the smoke dissipated Kryla came out floating in the air and holding a soup ladle to her floating cauldron, the red of her boots and underside her veil had taken a verdant green color.
"Now take in this maiden blinding light! Jinx – Sacrilegious Ritual!" She chanted as her cauldron let a greenish substance spill out.
Behind the gladiator statue, a purple magic circle appeared and like a broken damn, flowed the statue with light magic in the form of a bright white hue encompassing its body.
"Amazing sis! Your magic looks so cool… but the monster is still standing for some reason…?" Marble praised and questioned at the same time.
The little girl had bit her tongue at the part where she heard Sacrilegious Ritual because she didn't really understand how magic works, but it didn't seem like the golem would stop moving just from being bathed in light magic.
"Guh! This monster is stronger than anything I've seen before… fine! Time to give it my all! Hohhhh!!!" Kryla began gathering more power.
Marble observed in amazement as the wooden crates and debris inside the old garrison began to levitate to the might of the funny-face sis magic.
"Witness my full might and fall before this light you vile creature! Twilight Pact!"
The purple magic circle behind the statue began spinning and it's color swapped to holy silver light. Soon the sound of stone breaking apart could be heard as small bits of the statue left shoulder fell off, leaving a 6666 number carved there.
"It worked! Funny sis you did it! The monster took damage just now!"
Followed by the measly thud impact from the small bits hitting the ground, the immediate vicinity of the statue, the walls, roof and all the debris got blow away in a tremendous wind blast.
WHOOSH.
The violent current brought down the entire building and sent it flying away from the still standing statue.
"MEW!!!" Mistic fainted.
"Ahhhh!!! It's no use! We're going to die!" Marble cried as a huge chunk of debris was coming their way.
Karten stepped fort and took a combat stance before palm-smacking the debris overhead the party in one ascending strike.
Over in the air, Kryla continued discharging her power at the creature.
"Ahhhh! This isn't over yet! I still have more power left in me!"
The white hue coming from the gladiator statue now became blinding, it's stone blade grew longer and gained a teeth's edge. Out it's back wings of pure holy energy grew, and the hue of light became a flaming aura.
Exhausted from having spent all that power, Kryla began to levitate down slowly until she landed on her knees with her shoulders droopy and her arms hanging behind her back.
"Ah… ah… huff… haah… I gave it my all..." She says as she struggles to breath from exhaustion.
Marble could barely control her trembling anymore when she turned to the tired holy damsel.
"What did you do!? Are you crazy!? That monster looks even stronger than before!!"
A powerful gust continues coming from the statue as it raised its sword high into the air, and a blade of light shots fort reaching as tall as the tree tops.
"Noooo! I don't wanna die like this!!! Ahhhhh!!!" Poor Marble cried in despair as she embraced her kitten.
Karten raised an eyebrow at the situation they found themselves in. It wasn't exactly the first time he'd seen an ally buffing a monster by mistake, the problem was his barely kept human form.
He'd rather not end a monster only to start turning into another with Marble around.
Nevertheless, the creature before them could be the result of the residue they where investigating, and if a fight broke out the others could get hurt.
Karten took a step forward and banished from the crying Marble sight, the next time she saw him he was standing atop the left shoulder of the statue.
The little girl hadn't time to process what had happened when she saw danger.
"Mr Karten lookout!" She warned.
The golem brought down the stone sword on its own shoulder.
PROCK.
Karten bent down and buried his fingers into the neck of the statue from both sides, then pulled up.
PROCKOCK.
In a display of monstrous strength, Karten ripped out the head of the creature and tossed it away, before jumping down from the shoulder of the statue.
"What!?" Marble couldn't believe her eyes.
Karten landed besides the now motionless statue as the head fell nearby with a heavy thud.
"That takes care of…?" The Precursor soon noticed something wasn't right.
The dark veins still kept throbbing despite him severing a huge part of the body. Usually damage of that magnitude would be enough to forcibly disrupt a possession, but this was something else.
Quick enough the statue lunged forward, gaining distance from Karten and bringing its sword completely overhead as it closes in on Kryla, Marble and Mistic.
"Eaaaahhhhh!!!" Marble cried as the monster closes in for the kill.
Then she closed her eyes as the sword of light came down.
The loudest boulder smashing noise yet blasted trough the garrison, followed by several pieces of debris landing about, then silence.
"Hic…" Marble heard herself amidst the quietness, before she opened her eyes.
She saw red before her, and silver too. She was hiding once more behind Karten coat, or so she thought.
"Wait…" She soon heard the snap of flames.
Karten had placed himself in-between the statue and the girls, then caught the sword as it came down on them, completely stopping the fell swing on its tracks.
His once bare legs now had an animalistic appearance to them. Two long white ears stuck out of his long silver hair, and claws drenched in red blood now sunk on the edge of the stone sword, webbing out cracks across the blade.
Out his monstrous claws came small purple flames with an eery bluish inner cone.
FWHOOSH.
The flames combusted rapidly and engulfed the entire sword and statue within the second.
Marble gazed in horror as the flames painted the inner garrison in purplish lighting.
"Ah, that's my dearest Karten for you, always so reliable." Kryla came up behind Marble.
She was back to her normal form with the red of her boots and underside of her veil.
The jingle of a bell was heard amidst the crackle of the flames coming out the burning statue.
"New?"
Mistic the kitten had woken up and now gazed over the mystical flames, entranced just like his crybaby friend of blue eyes.
Kryla felt the warm of the flames as it reminded her of something she had long longed for.
"Little one, before you asked me why I love my dearest Karten so much?"
Hearing her, the little Marble looked up to Kryla, whose showing a strange but lovely smile, one much different from the one she found funny before.
Kryla reminisced of the past.
"Sometimes little one, we're no different than flames. We only wish to burn and burn away at everything around us, and be free to be what we are, to be ourselves…"
The statue dark veins burned to ashes and it broke down to pieces, becoming nothing more than debris for this abandoned garrison.
"…But we aren't really flames, we can only start the fires… and when those fires come back to burn us, when the rage, the retribution and the consequences of our actions return with a vengeance. Who saves us…? When we are our own worse enemy."
With the statue demise now certain, Karten turned and began walking back to the others.
"When he's around I can be myself, because I don't need to fear the fires I started. No matter how great the flames, his power is greater... I feel safe and whole when he's around, that is love in its purest form." She concluded.
Marble couldn't get the words out, she simply turned towards the Precursor.
He had a partial bestial appearance, starting at the limbs and trying to crawl it's way deeper into the rest of his body. The form of a monster.
"The adult from the legends… it's really you ins't it…?"
Part 8
The jingle of a bell rings across the plains of Relaks. The village could be seen not too far off into the distance when little Marble quickened her pace and stood before the strange adults.
"I've decided! When I grow up I want to become a great hero just like Mr Karten! And one day I'll return the favor from today… and Mistic too!"
"Mew!" Mistic too.
Karten and Kryla held back their laugher.
"Sure, I'll look forward to that day. I'm sure you'll grow up into a fine warrior."
"Crybaby Marble!"
"Hey sis Rylak, that's not funny!"
""Ahahahaha!"" Both Karten and Kryla shared a loud.
Then the calm atmosphere broke when the crack of lightning could be heard coming from the village, drawing everyone's attention towards the battle happening in the distance.
"That was Storm just now… We need to hurry back…" He stoped on this train of thought.
For the Precursor of Shadows, taking care of mere monsters of the wild wouldn't be a problem, but what they where after was no mere wild monster.
If a fight had broken out with Tel-Fulsanis at the village, Karten would rather not drag Marble along, but he couldn't abandon her out here in the wild either.
Catching on to her beloved juxtaposition. Kryla volunteered.
"If it's okay with you dearest Karten, I can see this little one back to her home."
"Hey! Why you'd only used my name when making fun of me!"
"I appreciate it!"
And with that sign of gratitude, Karten set off for the village.
Marble hurried ahead and called up to him.
"Please be safe! And come play with me and Mistic someday! I'll be waiting! Mr Karten!!!" Marble called out as she failed to catch up.
Karten waived a hand before picking up real speed for the village.
Part 9
Inside the village, the crowds had mostly ran back inside their houses while a small few helped with putting out the fires caused by the monsters.
Lead by a girl of silver hair and her red baby dragon, the villagers mounted barricades and repaired the fences in case of a new wave attacked.
Surprisingly for Karten, the battle wasn't the result of the Lightning Tyrant reawakening, but rather an unexplainable freak accident. So explained Esther as they hide outside the fence of the village, far from the crowds where Karten doesn't needs to worry about keeping up a fully human form.
"And then, you laid the witches, they said."
"… I see…"
"Ridiculous, right? Right!?"
"Yes… there's much to that story that's just borderline insanity."
"I know right!? The things these folks come up with in boredom. Now get in there and clear that misunderstanding!"
"I refuse."
"Why!!? You said the stories weren't real so why can't you tell them that!?"
"I just find those folktales of my life, amusing… And besides, they aren't entirely false."
"Noooo! You don't get it Karten! Now listen here, those children are like… children of the children from the children who where children when we where around! We need to set the right example for them!"
As the rabbit Precursor rambles on and on about proper legacy etiquette, Reberta came back with Ignitos in tow.
"The worst has now been taken care of, the guards will handle the rest… and Karten, where have you been?"
"We took a little detour to save a child that strayed from the village. Rylak is seeing her back home now, and I'm afraid we haven't made any progress on our end." Karten reported.
Reberta dully noted and then provided her own report.
"After the commotion cleared out, I managed to bring up the residue with the villagers and have acquired a lead."
"Really now?"
"That's awesome Reberta…! Who was it? The guy from the tavern with the big hulking muscles wasn't he?"
"No, actually, it was the painter who provided the information. He mentioned once serving as a Green Mage for the kingdom. He claims that some strange misty trails have been coming from the road north of here. According to him, that road leads into the major of Relaks residency. A fellow by the name Don Corny."
"Gaw…"
"Oh, you're right, Ignitos. Apparently the major is hosting a big celebration party for the one year anniversary of the new Kingdom of Aldore. This one separated from the one celebrated here at the village, and more in line for the cream of the crop of society."
"Ah yes, of course he wouldn't want any poor commoner coming to his private party. Anything else you have on the guy?"
"The painter claims the major was an avid supporter of the old emperor of Aldore, who was infamous for being a tyrant. So it comes as a surprise to hear he's hosting a party to celebrate the anniversary of his downfall."
"Oh my ears, what a sus major have we here… Perhaps we should pay him a visit to see if he knows anything about a certain world-ending menace hiding in his territory."
"I would be surprised if the local lord didn't know anything about a monster that powerful living right under his nose."
"Great then, we have a real lead at last. Excellent work Reberta, anything else from our contributor the painter?"
"He just thanked me for my criticism."
"Great then, now we just need to find Rylak and…"
"Dearest Karten! I'm back!"
"Oh, there she is."
A cheerful redhead dressed in white, came running towards the rest of her party.
"Everything alright?" Asked Karten.
"Yes! Never been better! I saw the little girl to her house and I even got some spell ingredients as a gift!" Kryla was all too happy to report.
"Awesome Rylak, awesome! Now we just have to…" The bunny Precursor continues with her plan.
While she was at it, Karten approached Kryla.
"Thanks for seeing her home."
"Gasp! But of course, anything for you my dearest Karten…! Uh, want to see the presents they gave me!?"
As she said so she materialized a floating cauldron out of thin air.
Her enthusiasm prompted a smile from Karten. How lucky was he to have such a lovely lady fall for him.
"Sure, let's see what you—" The jingle of a bell cut him short.
Out the cauldron, Kryla pulled out a crystal bottle filled to the brim with water and something else inside.
Karten blood froze the moment he saw what the excited girl was holding. It felt like the entire world but Kryla, had gone silent.
"Look dearest Karten, it's one of the rarest spell ingredients… Harpy's eyes."
Inside the transparent bottle of water could be seen two, clear blue eyes still connected to their blood vessels.
The sudden shock sent Karten dark powers out of control.
"Gah… grrrr!"
Evil energy began spilling out of his chest and spreading over his body, turning him more and more to the image of a werewolf.
"Karten are you alright!? Hey Karten!!" Esther shook him desperately, trying to snap him out of it.
Reberta stepped forth trying to understand what had happened. She looked back and forth between her partners as Kryla held the bottle in seeming confusion and Karten slammed his back against the fence of the village.
"Oh my, did my present frighten you, dearest Karten? It's only a pair of harpy's eyes. A simple spell ingredient."
"Harpy's… eyes…? Ugh! Rrahhhh!!!" His transformation only worsened.
"Karten please keep it together! The villagers will find us out!" Esther called out to the other Precursor.
Kryla shoved the bottle inside her floating cauldron and had it vanish completely out of thin air. She extended a hand past Esther, who was pressing the partly transformed Karten against the fence.
The witch hand caressed the facial feature of the man, half turned into a wolf monster.
"Everything it's going to be alright, my dearest Karten, I'm here for you. It's just the curse acting up." She softly said.
Karten eyes had began turning red, and within a blink they where back to normal, he was sweating buckets, and gasping for air.
He had moved places, going from standing back to the fence to now resting on a lap pillow.
Kryla softly ran her fingers under his silver hair.
"You had a nightmare just now. Your curse started acting up and you began turning." She told her.
Karten looked up to find his other two partners and Ignitos, worrying for him.
They had somehow dragged him away from the village, and into the plains.
"You gave us a scare there for a minute, we thought you where going to go berserk." Esther said.
Karten then remembered and jumped back to his feet.
"Wait… the eyes—"
"What eyes, are you talking about, dearest Karten?" Kryla questions as she holds onto something.
It was a box of chocolate cookies.
"Look dearest Karten, this is the present little Marble gave us. She even made me promise I wouldn't eat a single one until you had gotten yours." She offered the box.
Karten looked in disbelief, still agitated for what he perceived was just a dream.
"But… the eyes…"
"What eyes are you talking about, Karten? There's only chocolates here…" Esther chimes in.
Indeed, there where only a box of chocolates before him. The girls didn't even seem to know what he was talking about.
There was only a box of chocolates with a little cat design to each cookie.
A jingle bell rings inside the memories of Karten, from looking at the box.
"Marble got home safe." Kryla said.
"… She…"
"And she gave us these cookies in gratitude. Are you sure you don't want some?" She extended the offer.
"But the eyes…"
"What eyes?"
Karten sweat runs cold. His view rested over each member of his party, all had a look of worry reflecting back at him. He truly felt they didn't know what had happened.
It was all the curse again, it was all because of the witch, he thought.
A purplish flame flared by his claw, burning ever so brightly in his desire to seek retribution for the one who wronged him, and then he shook the flame off, and calmed down a bit.
"Let's go for a walk, I'll help you out."
"Gaw."
With Reberta and Ignitos support, Karten began to distance himself from Kryla and Esther.
The wind washed over the image of the two silver hairs as they went trough the plains.
As they did so, the bunny Precursor breathed in relief.
"Fewh… what was that all about, Rylak? What was up with that lie you made us say just now!?"
"Goodness, I never thought my dearest Karten would have such an adverse reaction to a simple spell component." She said as she pulled the bottle out the cauldron once again." Wanna take a look?"
"Gah! Get that thing away from me! It's creeping me out!"
"My, he must've some sort of trauma from his past that relates to this item… I think is better we just keep pretending his friend Marble only gave us the chocolates." Kryla innocently suggested.
For the well-being of Karten, of course.
With Esther edging ever so slightly away from their strange junior. The party soon gathered and prepared to head north, and meet with this major they heard about.
The quest for the Lightning Tyrant, it's only just beginning.