Chapter 27: Troubles in Tigermouth
At Kuskus Town, Seed takes Lene to a restaurant in the outdoor area. She tastes delicious food and knowing of how he knew from his old experiences.
"Mmmm, the buns are so good. I'd never seen you take me in the restaurant owned by middle-class people."
"It was nothing..." Seed said as he finally tells her of his old experience as a peasant in the Highland Kingdom. "I kinda miss my old experience, taking lunch and dinner in the middle-class restaurant after I tried to take down a lot of scoundrels in the Highland Kingdom. But that changes when they recruited me in the Highland Army and I rose upon my ranks until I became the 3rd General."
"I really love to see the outside of the castle, but my father told me not to." Lene said as she reveals of her loneliness as a both princess and heiress. "I know being a princess is hard enough to be pampered by rich people and being a heiress is really hard to fall in line to the throne. Maintaining the royal kingdom is also hard to handle as my father had to deal all sorts of politics. He let me trained to fight with the Silverian Army cause I do this to defend myself. But I manage to get out of the castle to meet something new but it really needs me to be accompanied by someone."
Seed takes Lene's hand and seeing her loneliness in wanted to get out of the castle which he smiles at her deeply.
"Don't be upset... Now you get out of the castle when I was there with you. Besides, we always travel around and meet someone to help us beat that old fool. You already seen enough."
"Why do you say that?"
"I always travel too, Lene. Being a 3rd General from the Highland Army was rough too. Making camps and always riding horses to fight in the war games. Living like Lady Jillia was enjoyable too when she lives in royalty."
While the two spending time dating, they were confronted by two villagers regarding about the Harmonians.
"Are you the princess of the Silverian Kingdom. People from Harmonia are here in Kuskus."
"Is it okay to see them?"
"Sure, why not?" Lene said as Seed stands up knowing of who they are.
"I remember Sasarai was one of our former comrades when Luca recruited him. I really need to see for myself."
As the two arrive at the docks, they see two men along with the Harmonian forces as Servine finally meets Lene in person.
"So you were the princess of the Silveria Kingdom. I thought you were still in Genova and I have to inform you something important."
"..."
As Servine informs Lene about their hometown being devastated at the hands of her half-uncle Doug, she was saddened over the lost of their citizens. Seed was surprised after hearing about their conversation causing Lene to kneel down in upset.
"That's impossible... how could my half-uncle would do such a thing? He did the same thing as in Muse City." Lene cried sadly which Servine cheers her up.
"There's nothing to worry about, I was sent by my ancestor to lead the Harmonian Forces to aid you and your father to stop this crisis."
"Ancestor? Are you saying about Sasarai?" Seed pondered in confusion regarding Servine's ancestor which he confirms.
"Yes... If you see him right now, he has never been aged because he still bears the True Earth Rune. He looks the same way as how he looks in the Second Fire Bringer War."
Geddoe then checked on Lene's right hand and he confirms that she carries the Divine Dagger Rune which is the incarnation of the Rune of the Beginning.
"The princess also bears the True Rune and it was the incarnation of the Rune of the Beginning."
"How come you know more about the True Runes?" Lene asked which Servine showed the True Wind Rune which belongs to the late Luc.
"Apparently, my ancestor knows about these True Elemental Runes. My ancestor's twin brother Luc who previously wielded this Rune knows of the danger. However because of his actions who set the Second Fire Bringer War in motion. He had planned to seek these True Elemental Runes they had been wielded just to carry out his own plan to destroy the True Wind Rune. But was defeated by them after they recovered the True Runes he had stolen which also leads to his death when the Ceremonial Site was collapsed."
"I thought this Luc guy was in Lord Riou's side? And now he's the enemy of the state because of his fate of the True Rune that he carries." Seed noticed how Luc was sided with Riou on his time and now becoming the enemy who steals most of the True Elemental Runes for his personal agenda to destroy the True Wind Rune.
"Apparently, the Elemental Runes being carried by anyone who wields it was created by the True Elemental Runes themselves." Geddoe said and becoming saddened about his current life and he shares it to Lene. "I always postponed my death because of this True Rune. Believe me or not it would get you upset if your loved ones are dying from natural causes or in old age. People like Servine, you and me who bears the True Rune are living in a purgatory of infinite life."
Lene was horribly shock of Geddoe's revelation about the true nature of the True Runes and knowing she wanted to live normally on their world but because of the True Rune that she carries, she was upset.
"I really don't deserve this Rune. I wanted to live a normal life despite the war..."
"Since your True Rune is incarnated, you might able to give it to someone who deserves worthy to use it." Servine said informing her and decided to meet her father Lars. "Geddoe and I came here to inform your father about this current incident. I want to know where he is."
"We had currently resided at the Higheast Palace. The mirror is enough to transport us back to the castle." Lene said telling them.
Returning to Higheast Palace, Lars was devastated after learning of what happened to the citizens in Genova being murdered at the hands of Doug and Tougou tells him that they were still gathering more soldiers to fight against them after he was informed by Hayate and Domon. At the Higheast City, Lene was encouraged by both Sean and Seed since she was very depressed after hearing from Geddoe about the true nature of the True Runes.
"Is she always like this?"
"She really needs some time. I'd never expect all of us using Elemental Runes are all created by the True Elemental Runes. It's not fair..." Seed replied in annoyance.
"If these Harmonians are saying were true and that means the True Runes are more powerful than the usual Runes that you used right now. There's no need to get annoyed about it." Sean said in a serious tone which Seed sighs in regret.
"I guess all of us doesn't know that our Runes we had carried are just little ones from the True Elemental Runes themselves. I believe the True Elemental Runes are a lot more powerful than our Runes we had used."
"So this is where you hang out, Inspector Rockwell..."
A medium blue haired girl came to see Sean who had a bubbly behavior and wearing the color of pink which makes Sean gets an angry reaction.
"Gah! Not you again... I already told you I won't recruit you because of your underage looks!"
"You have a reason to hang out with some girl around, haven't you?"
"Excuse me, Lene is not my girlfriend. I was just looking after her because she is the current heiress and the royal princess." Sean said in annoyance.
"Actually, I came here to see her cause there is some skirmish going on in the Tigermouth Village."
"Tigermouth, that would lead to Tinto City. What's the skirmish?" Sean asked which the girl showed it to him which is a bounty of a bulkier bald man who wields a powerful chainsaw. "Who's this bald guy and he's a giant."
"A chainsaw in a fight, that will be my first." Seed smirked in arrogance wanted to fight him.
"Actually, this guy in the bounty is named Frank Reade. He and his partner Jessica Grimes are the most wanted criminals in Tinto City and they were known to wield chainsaws in battle."
"You know red head, decapitating you with chainsaws would be a bloody murder if you fight them." Sean commented about how he would be defeated and killed from decapitation.
"I want to see for myself if these two are fighting in blood, mockingbird. I'm just getting fired up to fight." Seed said as he convinces Lene to go with them. "Hey Lene, we got some travel thing to do. I don't like if you're depressed. Besides, we always travel around the place and now you're out of the castle. This is your chance..."
"Okay... I would glad to come and if you're saying about in Tigermouth Village. I really want to know what's going on." Lene said decided to go with them.
"The princess loves to take some entourage." Sean smiles as the girl sees Lene and finally introduced herself.
"My name is Cara. Sorry for my rudely interruption. I came here to look for Inspector Rockwell so that I would be recruited in his cause."
"Look, I didn't say to recruit you because of your underaged look!" Sean reacted only for Seed to tease him with a malicious smile.
"She may had the looks of a minor but she looks like an adult to us. She would help us out there..."
"Fine... I let her come to us." Sean said letting Cara to join with them.
The group then depart to Drakemouth Village where Cara shows her badge to one of the soldiers in Muse which they proceed. On the way to Tigermouth Village, Lene wants to know what investigation happening on that village.
"So what's going on in Tigermouth Village? I heard you like to battle someone with a very dangerous weapon." Lene asked Seed about the situation which he smiles.
"Actually, the guy with the chainsaw. I had no idea why he and that woman became wanted criminals."
"Usually these two have caused murders in Tinto City. Currently, they were trying to man hunt a man named Leather Face." Cara said informing them.
"Leather Face? You mean another chainsaw wielder?" Sean wondered which Cara explains.
"You see... we're not some sort of a chainsaw massacre, Inspector Rockwell. Apparently, these two men have been clashing in a bloody chainsaw match but Leather Face accidentally killed someone from Tinto. He frames Frank for his crimes of murder which led him and Jessica into hiding. According to the villagers, the vampires are kidnapping women to become their brides."
"Does that mean that Jessica is?" Lene asked wanted to know which Cara reveals it.
"Yes, Jessica had went missing when she and Frank are taking their separate hiding."
"If you're saying about vampires then I'm here to vanquish them..."
The Star Dragon Sword emerges at the left side of Lene's waist and sensing the vampire's presence. Sean and Cara were shocked to see the sword can talk.
"Oh dear... the sword can talk..."
"I feel like I started to sit down..."
The group then arrives at Tigermouth Village as the villagers are cornering Frank who wields his chainsaw and threatens them.
"Don't take a step, people or I'll slaughter with my chainsaw! Just tell me where my partner is!"
"So this is the Frank guy you're talking about, Cara." Sean said and Cara confirms it.
"It looks like he's angry about his missing partner."
Lene then immediately shoots explosive tasers from her double-sided tonfas on Frank to knock him away so that the people would hide from him.
"Hey! Who shoot me off like that!?"
"How can you find your partner if she was captured by those vampires? Threatening innocent people is not going to work." Lene said while scolding on Frank and that stops his rampage because of her feistiness.
"The way you mad at me is just like how Jesse would say that." Frank said finally stopping his rampage.
"Jesse? Is he saying about Jessica Grimes?" Sean ponders which Cara reveals to him.
"Jesse was Jessica's nickname."
"You know big guy... I guess my feisty princess is saying the truth. She maybe be captured by vampires."
After the commotion, Frank finally apologizes for his awful behavior and learning that Jessica was kidnapped and seeing them for the first time to stop him in his tracks.
"Please excuse my behavior... we have been hiding for so long since Leather Face had framed me for the murder he caused. The bounties of my head is already around in Crom Village along with Tinto City."
"Could Lauren Pendragon knows about this ordeal?" Lene wondered as Cara informs them.
"I hate to break it to you, going to Tinto City was really rough. They actually implemented a dress code to see them in modern casual wear."
"Don't tell me that we're not getting through there in our main clothes!" Seed reacted angrily as Sean shrugs his reaction.
"I guess you never wear any forms of modern clothing, red head."
"It's just like in Genova, of course..." Lene said knowing of their people's outfits.
"Only one person had told me about these creep vampires you had meant about. He told me about his girlfriend went missing and wanted to kill them for what they have done." Frank said telling them and he reveals his name. "His name is Evan Grice and he's from Tinto and he seems to be in the side of the current Mayor Lauren Pendragon. I feel that Leather Face had been assisting from the dark side."
As they stay at the Inn place, Frank finally introduced himself to Lene's group and he tells them that he had been staying this Inn for quite a while along with Jessica.
"Don't be worry, it has a lot of variety of clothes being hanged in other rooms' closet. If you see the people in Tinto, they are wearing modern clothing. They even made the city into a modernized town."
"Well simply put, we need to wear modern casual outfits to suit the people in Tinto. It seems that Lauren had been implementing this kind of the system." Lene said and looking at Seed who still angered from earlier. "I guess Sean would make you try on something new. You even made me wear this martial arts garb you know."
"Okay, I understand... Lene. I've never wear this kind of stuff but I remember when Lord Jowy wore that kind of an outfit before wearing something in royalty." Seed said finally decided to get changed as Sean decided to help him.
"Come on, red head... We have to get changed."
"Perhaps, I'll help these two out." Frank said as he goes with them.
"You were a tough princess. Shoot the guy with those tonfas." Cara said complimenting on her actions and Lene tells her.
"Just to stop them from causing all the trouble. Come on, we better get change."
With that the group change their main outfits to modern clothes in order to get through Tinto City.