Scene Two: Lycanthren
(Sira's POV)
"Well, here we are."
Will gazed on ahead of us into the literal monster nest – not something I'd call them to their faces, but it was true. Things that lived off the blood of other creatures? Monster was a good word.
By first impression, I could already tell the city was enormous. Streetlights dotted the expanse of the city until they disappeared beyond view. The buildings, tall and black, lined the sides of the streets like standing coffins, their windows spray-painted black to keep out even the lights they installed themselves, presumably. Even knowing Orden, this was one of the dreariest cities I'd ever stepped foot in. Rumor said almost every vampire alive lived here – or so to speak, anyway. Alive was a tentative term.
The dreary bastards dressed in all dark clothing. Males clad in heavy cloaks and robes sauntered down the street, daring anyone to meet their crimson gaze. The women wore almost nothing, slipping in and out of the alleys like slinking shadows. Many carried ghost or dark-type Pokemon with them, ranging from eerie Murkrows to grinning Gastlys.
"We'll make for an inn," Loki told us. "Lysvid keeps their inns and Pokemon Centers in the middle of their city. Meaning, of course, we gotta travel a ways to get there."
I sighed. "Like walking into a damned spider web."
As we started into the city, Loki glanced sidelong at Ryoku. "Watch out, friend. They like to make eye contact with their food. I'd keep my head low, and my blade high."
Ryoku gulped, hugging a still-unconscious Snacks a little tighter. He looked horribly uneasy about being in a vampiric world. We'd passed a couple of them on our way, so he wasn't totally alien to them anymore. Still, I couldn't imagine meeting a vampire for the first time – at least, what he thought was the first time – and especially in such quantity.
It became clear as we walked that the vampires had a type. Females lurked near Will and Ryoku especially, tracing their clawed hands across their arms, their hips, and honestly reaching for anything they thought they could get away with. Ryoku didn't know what to do, just trying to keep them from touching Snacks. At least Will was assertive enough to put some distance between them. Lusari waved her lit staff around to dissuade them, while Loki and I just needed to boast our weapons. The males didn't like that much, and tried to bump chests with especially Loki or Will – Lusari and I seemed a bit safer in that regard.
Hours trickled by as we delved deeper into their darkened lair. I thought the city might never end, or maybe we'd passed the inn already. Our anxiety grew as the populace thinned. Luckily, they seemed more distracted around the city's center, too. Maybe the sounds and smells of the big city helped cover us up. One thing was for sure: there weren't many other humans here.
Somewhere deep in the city, we saw a column of odd-looking vampires dressed in full black uniforms, hoods drawn over their heads so only their glowing scarlet eyes showed. The Pokemon around them looked stronger.
"The Ritual," Will muttered to our unasked question. "A vampiric cult, or so I have heard."
Loki nodded, hand on his sword. "You got that right. Believes our blood is their Arceus-given right. Blood banks and willing donors are sacrilegious to their ilk. We'd best steer clear."
Ryoku watched them go, a wary hunch in his shoulders. The leader walked at the head of them as though he was the city's gift to us, his shoulders swinging as he walked, the tail of his black coat fanning behind him. A large coffin-like Pokemon hopped along behind him with four shadowy arms – a Cofagrigus, if I recalled correctly.
For a brief moment, I was certain he glanced our way. I saw his curls of dark brown hair beneath his hood, the glint of his hunter eyes. However, as the thought crossed my mind, the leader turned, and they continued down the street. We drew breath again only once they'd rounded the next corner.
"As hostile as they are to us, they're like the guardsmen of this city," Loki explained, though his tongue was thick with distaste. "Them and the Night's Watch – those are friendlier to us, FYI – they protect the city and its people from harm."
"What sort of being could harm vampires?" Lusari asked. It almost sounded prejudice, but possibly just her idle curiosity.
Loki fanned his shoulders. "Vamp hunters, for one, though I doubt they could get far in this city. That, and the Lycanthren…"
Will's brow rose. "Lycanthren?"
"Human by day, Lycanroc by night," Loki replied grimly. "Every world's got its vice. Harohto's supposed to be a welcome place for new trainers, but it's wrought with war and strife. Syaoto, she has her demons. Orden has its rebellion. Lysvid? It's the vampiric capital of the realms, and it's also home to the Lycanthren."
I saw the look in Ryoku's eyes. "It's always dark here. How do the Lycanthren function?"
Loki looked at Ryoku like he was dumb. "Why, they're always in wolf form, of course. If the sun doesn't shine, there's no way for them to go back to normal while they're here."
"How do more get created?" Lusari asked. "There don't seem to be many humans here…"
Now Loki's eye glinted. "Correction: not many humans, for long. A normal human stepping foot here is usually asking to join one side. Even vampire hunters are only so for as long as they're human and in one piece."
"You know a lot about this realm, Loki," Will commented aridly. "Have you spent a lot of time here?"
Loki just smirked. "You could say that."
He didn't choose to elaborate. Even given the piousness of the Warden, pressing him for answers didn't seem like a great idea. Even coming all the way here, we hadn't gotten much new info out of him. We only knew one thing: the Dark Stone, at the very least, must be here somewhere.
"Thanks for the history lesson," I muttered. "Now, how about something useful? Maybe the distance to the tavern? The regular price of a good rum?"
I heard Ryoku chuckle behind me. When I looked to the Trickster, however, his eyes had gone sharp. His hand shot to one of the balls at his hip. I reached for mine, glancing around. Had another vampire gotten too close? Did the Ritual turn to pursue us after all?
No, that wasn't it. Loki's piercing emerald eyes scanned the crowd in search of something. I followed suit, unsure what I was looking for. Will's footstep came up next to me.
Sensing danger was an acute ability I carried, especially compared to something the Warden might master. Even Will probably could sense better than me.
I focused, trying to zero in on some kind of disturbance. Ryoku's footsteps behind me sounded like they were miles away.
"…could such a foul creature enter the city? Isn't the Ritual doing their jobs? The Night's Watch?"
"You think they care about us? All it is for them is blood, blood, and more blood. Even if it comes from our own kind."
There it was – a snarl. Screams erupted in a wide circle around the noise. People near us cast disgusted glances in the way of the noise, but many didn't properly heed it. The female vampires clustered behind our company while a few males stepped up around us, flexing their venomous muscles and snarling under their breath. One of their Murkrows cawed.
It was difficult to make out. Slowly, I became aware of the cold energy of the vampires. That was always present even while we weren't aware. It was why the five of us had our cloaks wrapped tightly around us in this city.
Beyond that, I finally picked up the new sensation. Amid the cold, tantalizing aura of the vampires came heavy warmth. A primal, wild energy that slowly rose up until it felt like it might suffocate us. Then came the arid scent of wet dog.
My eyes shot open just as the beast bounded into the street ahead of us. Vampires screamed just like any normal humans would in crisis, pushing and falling over one another in their panic to escape the beast. Its head shot up, and it lunged at one of the vampire women who'd tripped on the cobblestones. Her screams lit the city like a flame as her blood spurted out in huge splashes. Given what I learned of them, I wondered if that was real blood or their toxin.
Panic spread like wildfire. Some vampires in dark-brown uniforms blew on white horns that resembled the horns on Houndooms. Some hung around near the monster with thick hesitation, summoning their partners.
Loki stepped forward, and the beast reared on us in an instant. Could it smell that we were different? It straightened over its victim, towering to a height that must rival my own. Ribs pressed out on its wiry, moss-covered chest like upraised scars, covered in patchy green and grey fur from head to toe. Thin roots covered its arms, coming to ensnare its clawed fists, branching off its narrow shoulders. Its facial structure resembled more wolf than anything, but its eerie gait suggested otherwise. Insanity crawled in the depths of its bloodred eyes. It I were like it, I thought, I'd be just as insane.
My first thought was that it hardly looked any Lycanroc I'd ever seen. It resembled the shape popularly referred to as their 'dusk form', but there were pivotal differences. Did it have the rocklike skin of its namesake, or was there something else entirely at work here?
"A Lycanthren? Here?" Will muttered, eyes locked on the beast. "How did it get so deep into the city?"
"Somebody didn't do their job," I guessed. "Or several somebodies. Oh well. Guess we get one fight that won't piss off this whole damn city."
"Watch your step," Loki said. With a tap, he released his Luxray, Solaris, into the street. The huge Luxray let out a catlike snarl, raising its eyes to the sky before settling on the Lycanthren. "They are not your standard Lycanroc. The Lycanthren gene turns them feral in this place – well beyond any form of reasoning."
Solaris feinted to the right in a practiced way; the Lycanthren mimicked his movement. Loki lifted his chin toward a nearby vampire in a brown coat. "Go! Get her to safety! The rest of you, to me! With your wits about you!"
He barely finished speaking before the Lycanthren lunged at him. Loki darted around the attack, and Solaris lunged in with a heavy strike, bringing his fangs down on the Lycanthren's back. Dark blood splattered the pavement as it howled in agony.
The other vampires seemed inspired that Loki and Solaris could hold their own. A few of them scooped up the injured female, who was groaning and crying in a right mess, trying to hold her insides where they belonged. The others came to wing us against the wolf, sending out an array of Pokemon.
The Lycanthren turned back onto Loki as I stepped into its blind spot, sending out Infernix at my side. He flashed in next to me, panting a bit. He still needed a good rest from the battle before, and I knew he wasn't doing so hot, but he was in better shape than the other two. I put a hand on his warm shoulder, trying to pass on my reassurance. Will was already at my side, Valor and Blaze both out and ready. His Pokemon had been much more strategic against Jesanht, so he wasn't in nearly as bad of shape as my team.
Infernix snarled and closed the gap, aiming to ensnare the beast in its snout. The Lycanthren whipped around, catching only the tip of Infernix's hot fangs, and let out another horrific noise. Writhing in agony, it lashed out at Infernix, only for Valor to close in and clip its shoulder with her sharp wings. Blaze tried to step in and force it back, but the beast lunged at him. Infernix made to move in his defense, but Solaris beat him to it – the Lyncanthren's fangs sank into the Luxray's shoulder, causing it to snarl and bat it with a sizable paw, forcing it down.
It made to lunge again, but Valor took the full hit, its fangs bouncing off her steel wings ineffectively. Ever wary, Will stepped up to my side as the monster prowled toward Infernix. Its body tensed up so it could easily close the distance to anyone before we could suck in a breath.
It sprang without warning. Infernix met it midair and forced it down. Infernix's fangs lit up with fierce fiery energy and it sank them into the Lycanthren. The spry beast danced away from the worst of the attack. Solaris made to lunge, but the wolf recovered and sprang at Will. Valor blocked the first strike with its steel wings, lashing back and barely missing the Lycanthren. Infernix leapt at it once more, but the beast ducked underneath and tried to swing at our ankles. I leapt back, forcing Will with me, but Solaris pounced upon it, knocking it to the ground. Before the Luxray could rip into it, the beast scampered away, retreating to pace almost on all fours.
Prints of blood followed the wolf as it lurked, a low growl rumbling in its chest. Lusari and Ryoku remained behind us. Snacks was still unconscious, but Glimmer was out, eyes never leaving the wolf. I knew the wolf wouldn't hesitate to pounce on either one. Pokemon or no, it could do some serious damage with one strike. It could easily go after any of the vampires circling us, trapping it in the street, but it trained those harrowing red eyes on us.
I would've rather fought it alone with my full team – less heads to worry about, and my team fought in perfect sync, but this wasn't the time or place for it. Embera and Shadowfang both had less endurance than Infernix, and he struggled against this monster. For the time being, I was okay with being shacked up with this group. I just needed to look out for them, too.
As the beast prowled, I thought its fur began to look reddish. Surely we hadn't landed enough hits to soak its entire coat in blood?
I thought I glimpsed a change in Loki's expression, and he reached for a second ball at his belt. I gave him a questioning look, but he didn't meet my gaze. In a flash, another of his Pokemon I hadn't seen popped out next to him. This one was a dark orange lizard that stood like a raptor, its long tail lined with spines. Its head was all black but for a yellow jaw, two black spikes jutting out from its cheekbones. A sort of mantle hung around its neck and partway down its back, fanned with spikes. It took me a minute to realize it was a Heliolisk, but different than many I'd seen before.
"Step back," Loki warned us quietly. "Seriously! The Lycanthren's ability, it—"
A shriek from the monster cut his words short. In an instant, it appeared before Loki, claws up in a mighty swing. But Loki's Heliolisk stepped in the way, expanding its mantle out like a shield to block the blow. Electricity glanced off the deflected strike, but the Heliolisk held strong.
Infernix, Valor, and Solaris came upon it from behind, each preparing to take out the beast in a single attack. The beast turned, and I saw its red eye flash.
In an instant, it slammed its weight into Valor, sending the steel bird veering off in the air. Infernix lunged from behind, but it threw its weight into Infernix's chest, launching my Houndoom straight into the air.
Solaris emitted a feline snarl, and a burst of near-blinding electricity mounted up in front of its mouth, released in a revolting blast that made the ground around us quake. The Lycanthren, which I assumed would be a goner, threw its hands into the earth, and the roots around its arms stretched into the cobblestone, ripping it asunder in a violent path in the earth. It blocked Solaris' immense power with an upraised root, dissipating it immediately, then the vines surged into Solaris.
Whoosh!
The beast lurched to the side, its vines halted, ice thatching across its fur. Snowball emitted a derivative squeal, preparing another beam of ice from the sidelines. Its red eyes left a trail in the air as it turned its attention to Snowball.
Looking worse for wear, Infernix recovered enough to step between them, flames pooling around his mouth and horns, and Blaze stepped in alongside him. Snarling savagely, both lunged at the Lycanthren, but the beast dodged them in turn. Valor reappeared behind it, preparing a deadly steel wing, but the nimble wolf ducked under the attack, nearly hitting Infernix.
As the Lycanthren surged past Infernix and Blaze, Solaris rose to meet it, slamming headlong into the beast to pin it with his mighty claws. Only an instant passed before the Lycanthren clamped its jaw down on Solaris' arm, and the Luxray retracted with a pained yelp.
Before the Lycanthren got to its feet, a small shape rammed into its side. Glimmer let out a triumphant 'baa!', though its minor weight barely rattled the giant wolf. Emitting a savage, rippling snarl, the Lycanthren lashed out at Glimmer, slamming into the rotund sheep with a heavy smack. Glimmer fell like a shot.
"Glimmer! No!" Ryoku cried out. He still clutched Snacks, unconscious. Honestly, I didn't know if Snacks could be any help, either.
The Lycanthren tried to close in on Glimmer, but Loki's Heliolisk scuttled in the way, bringing up its fanned head in Glimmer's defense. The Lycanthren slammed hard into its shield, but it sounded like hitting metal.
Infernix's jaws clamped down on its shoulder, pooling magma across the wolf's skin. It threw its head back and howled, swinging at Infernix mightily. Instead of finding purchase, it found Valor, who buried her iron beak into the Lycanthren's arm, pinning it to the ground. Breathing hot steam, the Lycanthren desperately tried to swing its other arm, only for Solaris to pounce heavily upon it, pinning the monster to the ground.
It didn't last long. It swung both legs up. Blaze lunged, trying to ensnare one, but he wasn't quick enough. The powerful kicks sent Solaris and Valor reeling, then it lunged before Heliolisk could prepare its shield and struck it, making the lizard Pokemon skitter back. The Lycanthren spun, raking its claws across Infernix's shoulder. My Houndoom emitted a sharp, pained whine, dropping to the ground.
"You bastard!" I screamed. I went to hit the button on Infernix's ball, but I caught his fiery glare immediately, and begrudgingly understood. Infernix didn't tap out, never. He didn't want to start now. Embera and Shadowfang were too hurt to back him up, either.
Before it could turn, another beam of ice slammed into its side, and the Lycanthren howled in pain and anguish, leaning down over its frost-burnt hip and levelling its gaze back onto Snowball.
As the Lycanthren ducked low, ready to surge straight into Snowball, another shape stepped into its way. It was Glimmer, her head low, blood dripping from her jaw. She rose up onto her back legs, her tail hitting the ground with a thud. Her wool draped around her, hanging over her shoulder like a cape.
Her horns curled up on her head, and a shimmer of dark energy radiated between them. Her tail slammed the ground once more, the dark ball at the end emitting a dark pulse as it struck. I stared, dumbfounded, as Glimmer evolved before our eyes. In such a short time, no longer did she walk on all fours as a Mareep – she elevated to nearly the Lycanthren's height as a grinning Flaaffy. She raised her head, and one golden eye caught the light.
Glimmer advanced with surprising speed, raising one of her rough-hooved fists that started to glow with a dark electricity. The Lycanthren tried to step around her, but Glimmer pivoted, bringing her hoof into the Lycanthren's jaw, sending it staggering backward. Before it could retaliate, she spun, bringing her tail around with a heavy slam, bringing the Lycanthren to the ground.
In a flash, our team was upon the downed Lycanthren. Solaris ensnared its arm and bit down with a sickening crunch, while Infernix and Blaze each bit down on another limb. Valor raked a steel wing across its hip just before Loki's Heliolisk stepped into view, and it unleashed a burst of light energy straight into the Lycanthren's chest, hammering it deep into the ground.
Glimmer didn't hang back this time. Closing in, she raised her fist. It gleamed in a dark sort of way before she brought it down hard into the Lycanthren's chest, and the impact came like a thunderclap. She rocked the Lycanthren so hard into the cobblestone road that dust billowed around the impact, surrounding them like a cloud.
My breath caught in my chest, and I stood at the ready, prepared to intervene myself if the Lycanthren wasn't down at this point. Will and Loki looked ready to do the same. Lusari hesitated to pick up Snowball, who looked ready to fire another ice beam at the beast if it still stood.
Ryoku's expression turned unreadable. He clutched Snacks and his wrist, his eyes trained on the dust cloud. The darkness that sometimes cloaked him fell away.
When the cloud cleared, our Pokemon surrounded a bit in the ground, surrounded by broken cobblestone and blood. Infernix panted heavily, unsure which leg to put her weight on. Even Solaris and Loki's Heliolisk looked worn. Blaze looked ready to go, though he'd been unable to do much in that fight.
Glimmer stood over the imprint in the ground, grinned and let out a satisfactory 'baa!' – then she fell backward, blood still dripping down her chin. Ryoku didn't wait to see the result of her last strike before he hit the ground running, almost catching Glimmer before she could touch the ground. She was out like a light.
But, as we dared to get close enough to see, so was the Lycanthren. The beast was unconscious, half-buried in debris from Glimmer's devastating blow.
We all felt safe enough to draw breath, our chests heaving from the anxiety of the battle. Will stared at the fallen monster with remorse as several of the Night's Watch appeared to scoop it up. I wasn't sure I dared ask where they were taking it.
Slowly, hesitantly, all the vampires came out of hiding around us. The women were quick to fawn over the men as we all recalled our Pokemon. Ryoku had an untoward amount of attention coming his way, both on behalf of Snacks and Glimmer. Hostility from the vampires was at an all-time low.
"What do you think they're doing with it?" Ryoku asked. The fool only looked at me, not the hundreds of bloodsuckers on him like some sort of fresh snack. He'd recalled the newly evolved Glimmer, now only holding the still-sleeping Snacks.
"Who knows," Loki muttered, calling back his Pokemon. "Some things are best not to know. The important thing is that we saved a lot of lives today."
"But at what cost?" Will asked, his voice distant as he stared after the guards who removed the wolf.
Loki crossed his arms. "Lycanthren are vicious in these lands. Cursed to a life in the form of a Pokemon, unable to utilize an escape like Travel, they're stuck down here, doomed to certain madness. They spread the venom by attacking humans like us."
"So that's why it kept ignoring our Pokemon?" I realized aloud.
"That used to be a human, then," Ryoku said, sounding aghast. "What was that ability it used? How did its skin get so red?"
Where sometimes Ryoku's inquisitive nature frustrated me, it made Loki's chest puff out, thrilled to get the chance to rant. "When a Lycanthren's health becomes quite low and endangered, it activates an ability called 'the last hunt'," he explained. "Many types of Pokemon have similar abilities, strengthening them when they're endangered. It's a relatively common self-defense tactic. That's why we had to fight so seriously back there – and your Mareep evolving when it did! That was phenomenal!"
His expression shifted like the weather, eyes brightened with enthusiasm. "Such a well-timed evolution, and a distinct one at that! Your Mareep – no, your Flaaffy now – is truly unique! Once we see to their recovery, you simply must let me examine her! I have seen Flaaffy before, my friend, but the evolution yours performed was quite extraordinary!"
"You're pretty knowledgeable about Lycanthren, old man."
A honeyed female voice disrupted our midst, instantly drawing our attention. She was unmistakably a vampire, her ivory skin contrasting sharply with her crimson eyes. She almost looked about Lusari's age, but with vampires, it was challenging to tell. She could be my great grandmother, for all we knew. Her midnight-black hair was styled in playful pigtails, but her demeanor was decidedly mature, her luminous eyes locked onto Ryoku.
Her white dress-shirt was knotted at the base of her ribs, leaving more than half of the buttons undone and emphasizing a lacy black bra, clearly designed to accentuate her slender allure. Her black thong was hiked provocatively high up her hips, and her skirt barely left anything to the imagination, ending well above her fishnet stockings. Despite her petite and slender figure, the dark makeup around her eyes hinted at a more experienced individual beneath the façade, maybe as old as Loki looked.
Upon her arrival, the battle-hardened men of our group regressed into flustered boys. Will's gaze lingered only briefly on her before he hastily averted his eyes, probably under the influence of a hilariously stern look from Lusari. Ryoku, on the other hand, needed a pointed throat-clearing from me to redirect his attention from her. Even then, he could only manage a sheepish smile, his face flushed with embarrassment. Loki appeared unfazed, his gaze unyielding.
"Perhaps I am," Loki replied. His tone turned dreamy and distracted, his silver tongue coming into work. "And who inquires? Such a pretty lilac amid the city of the undead."
Gross. Even first impressions must put years between the two. The girl didn't shy away, though. Seducing vulnerable men was an asset of female vampires, if not any woman who put her mind to it and had something they wanted. She gave a formal curtsy that flashed anyone behind her. Oddly, though, all of the vampires behind her averted their eyes pointedly. Not one must have caught a glimpse of her rear, though she wasn't unattractive – just a bit gross. What did she mean to these people?
"The name is Cleria Nightfang," she replied silkily. She sounded just like a prostitute, I thought sickeningly. My time in Orden made me quite familiar with their kind. However, I noticed something else. She presented her last name with meaning. She had some status here, of some kind. "Your succulent knowledge of Lycanthren makes you suspicious in my books, old man. Are you just one of them who learned to walk as a man? A sympathizer, perhaps?"
For the first time, Loki precepted what she called him behind that sickly-sweet voice. "O-O-Old man!?" he bellowed. "I'm Loki! Loki, Warden of the Pokemon League to you, little girl! And if you knew much about Lycanthren at all, then you'd know there was no way to walk here in human skin!"
He managed to create a shocked look on Cleria's face. "Really?" she asked shrewdly, much of her honeyed tone dripping away. "You're a Warden? You?"
Cleria's expression didn't hide her condescension. Regardless of a handsome visage, expensive attire, and the way he held himself at all times, Loki didn't easily spring to mind as a Warden. However, she lost interest in him before he could splutter out a response, and turned to the object of her initial interest – Ryoku.
"Who are the rest of you? Pokemon trainers, clearly. What brings you to such a place as this?"
Ryoku managed to offer his hand to the girl's extended claws. "Ryoku Dragontalen," he said, a bit shakily. "We, uh—"
"Why're you asking?" I cut in. I didn't like the way she devoured Ryoku with her eyes. If I ever found myself looking at anyone like that, I'd sell myself back to Orden.
She ignored me for a moment, lightly running her nails across Ryoku's knuckles. If that affected Ryoku, at least he held a solid poker face. "Ryoku Dragontalen," she purred. "Soft hands. Bitten, but dirty. You're a man who works for a living. Been in a fight once or twice. I imagine it'd be to protect your Eevee," she leaned in close, touching his wrist, and whispered, "and those crystals."
Now everyone's gaze sharpened like she put knives to our throats. "Relax, puppy dogs," she said, rolling her eyes. Keeping her arm low, she moved one of the bangles on her wrist to reveal a similar marking, but quickly hid it before we could make out any details. "We're in quite a crowded place – usually I don't mind showing off a little in public, but we must make exceptions for what is sacred to us. You would do well to learn the same lesson, you cute little exhibitionist!"
She practically purred against Ryoku like a cat, and I damn near drew my sword in response. Ryoku didn't know what to do, just holding Snacks tightly. She kept close and waggled a finger at him. "Anyway, I wager you want to know more about a certain little something. Maybe we can agree to a little tradesies?"
"What sort of trade?" Will asked guardedly. "How do we know we can trust you at all?"
Cleria gave him a mock-offended look. "Trust between partners, wouldn't you say?" she asked coyly, adjusting her bangle and leaning obviously against Ryoku. "I have some work that needs getting done, and you just proved yourself an excellent little team of hard workers. It pays, too, of course, and it'll save many more lives in the long run. Do this little thing for me, and I'll see to getting you an audience with… well, what you want."
Loki's brow furrowed. He still looked offended by Cleria's words to him. "And why would we need you to—"
"I think we can help," Ryoku butt in, cutting Loki off from probably mentioning more about the stones. The crowd was starting to thin out, the vampires resuming their daily activities, but I wouldn't dare guess they couldn't overhear us. I also wondered if maybe he was giving in to her a little too easily, but his eyes didn't say anything like that. "Can you tell us more details?"
Cleria brightened up. "I knew you'd listen to me!" she purred, literally rubbing her cheek against his shoulder. "You won't be doing my work empty-handed, either. I can set you up at a fine inn right near the Pokemon Center, which I wager you'll be needing to visit after this skirmish. You can tell them I sent you for the work, and they'll cut you forty percent off the top."
"What's the catch?" Loki asked suspiciously.
"There's no real catch," Cleria replied earnestly. "You get forty percent off the inn for the night, you register with us in the morning proper. There's no commitment to a life of servitude. You do one little job with me, you get paid and I do you a very sweet favor. They'll even lend you some equipment for your sweet Pokemon to make it easier on you. Healing potions, items, you name it." Her fangs peeked out from her dark lips. "So, are you boys interested in hunting Lycanthren for me?"
Ryoku's brow rose. What briefly looked happy about an inn discount quickly evaporated. I shared part of his sentiments. It'd taxed us a lot to fight one of their ilk. If we were to fight a bunch of them, could we even survive?
On the other hand, Ryoku and Will both looked sorry for the creatures. I didn't disagree, fully, but what Loki said before made a lot of sense. Trapped in their wolf form, what was there to live for here? It was a life of misery and forced hiding, never seeing the sun again.
Loki looked to Ryoku. "I think we should take her up on this," he said. "You have the help of me and my team. What can a band of Lycanthren hope to do against us?"
Lusari and Will both looked quite uncomfortable with the idea, and so did Ryoku. Our one fight had been close enough. I shrugged. "If you choose, you got me," I told him. "I don't back out easy from a fight."
Will cleared his throat, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "If you choose this work, then you have the support of my team. I… do admit that funding will be important to us. There is also the matter of being timely. The faster we can wrap things up here and move forward…"
I had to hand it to him. For being obviously bothered by the idea, he sure looked on the bright side. It would definitely be easier to do one job for this girl and get connected to a stone, rather than stumbling blindly around Lysvid and hope for clues.
"Okay. It'll work," Ryoku agreed. He didn't seem to give it much more thought than that. After all, as we knew, we needed to find the stones and recover his messed-up memory. I couldn't help but feel it'd be our best chance to topple Orden's plans.
Cleria smiled at him. "Perfect," she replied. "Then I'll see you boys in the morning." She stopped to take Ryoku around the arm and point him down the way, a bit astray from the direction we'd been heading. "You can find the Resolute Mire down that way, right next to the Pokemon Center. You can rest up while letting your Pokemon heal overnight. I'm sure they'll be fighting fit by morning."
She turned on her heel, then stopped, leaning back against Ryoku. "Oh, by the way," she murmured. "The city owes you quite a lot for stopping that dreadful monster. Usually the Lycanthren impact is a lot worse than what it was. You'll be safe in these streets, I promise. Consider that my own personal amends for the fact. But if that isn't enough…"
She draped her head over Ryoku's shoulder and whispered something right into his ear, and before a blushing Ryoku could stammer out a reply – or I could run her through with Sinistra, whichever was faster – she slipped away into the crowd. I glared after her as she skipped down the street, wondering if we could trust her at all. Finding us in the middle of the city after a Lycanthren attack felt convenient. Or, I thought – and I would never admit it aloud – maybe I just didn't like how she looked at Ryoku.
The moment the crowd cleared enough around us, we all rounded in on each other.
"Are we sure we can trust that girl?" Will asked gently.
"Trust? Hardly," Loki scoffed. "But she did offer us genuine work. Money's value on a venture like this can't be undervalued. That, and she's a Guardian of the Ghost Stone. What? I do know the markings, you know."
I covered my chest with my arms crossed, and Will rubbed his shoulder absently. Ryoku stared down at his wrist in deep thought.
Ryoku finally lifted his eyes, and he summoned whatever determination he had in him to speak. "I doubt we have much choice. Either way, I want to hurry and get to a Pokemon Center. Leaving Glimmer and Snacks like this… I don't like it."
Will nodded his agreement, clapping Ryoku's shoulder. "We shall take her up on her offer. She mentioned we could get healing supplies at the inn. Some cities sell quite potent supplies, things I cannot afford to carry with me. We would be better able to treat our friends on the move."
Ryoku seemed to like the sound of that, and he smiled at Will. "Okay. Let's hurry, then."
Seeing Ryoku smile again – a genuine one, not a sheepish or nervous grin – lit a torch back up inside me. I realized I didn't really care where we ended up, or what we had to do to get there, just as long as I was with him.