Taki POV
The world had fallen to corruption. Around me, I watched the world collapse. Panicking rioters threw stones at the city militia, who, in turn, retaliated with a wall of steel. Several heads rolled past me, the floor covered with blood. My job as an assassin was forgotten for a moment as I tried to balance myself on the slick floor. My cloak and mask had obscured my physical features, but the mask's eye holes obscured my vision. "This job's gonna be a tough one." I muttered to myself. A city guard turned towards me, shouting "Report! State your na-" before being promptly clubbed over the head with a burning torch. The man rolled around on the floor, screaming in pain as I searched for my target. I drew a knife from my cloak, crouching behind a dead body as I watched the chaos around me unfold. As quickly as it had happened, I caught a glimpse of a blue pauldron, before my vision went black.
Ryika POV
"Foolish assassin." I muttered to myself. The masked man hadn't hidden himself well enough. His black cloak gave him away. It was still impressive that he had managed to stick a knife in my shoulder, but he had still fallen. I turned to my colleague, a burly man dressed in gold inlaid armor. "Reports say that he was hired to kill you." "What?!?" "He certainly does have that skill. That blade was poisoned. I'm afraid you will die in a few minutes if I don't give you the antidote." "Then administer it already!" He smirked, before waving a finger in front of me. "Ah ah ah. I don't think so. Do you have to give something in return? Something worth your life?" His grin turned into a maniacal smile, and I sensed that something was very, very wrong. "W-What do you want?!?" My knees grew weak, and I slumped to the ground. "Aaaahhhh… sweet, sweet Ryika… you don't know how I've longed for you… from the first day I saw you, I knew that I wanted you." Purple veins started spreading across his face as he talked. I could see madness in his eyes as he continued "The corruption promised me everything I wanted if I did what it asked! And it delivered!" His body was entirely covered by purple veins as he talked, and I grew weaker, almost collapsing. He ripped off my armor, when, suddenly, a whoosh sounded behind me. He looked down to see a knife buried in his heart. Several more followed, embedding themselves in his vital points. I turned around to find the masked man slowly standing up. My companion's eyes widened, and as he toppled over, he howled in rage. "I'll be back!" "Why did you save me?" As I was putting on my armor, I posed a question. "Cause I like women." The bland answer caused me to blink, before he searched my companion's body before pulling out a green vial and handing it to me. "Here." I opened the bottle and chugged it, the antidote getting rid of the deadly poison.
Taki POV
I watched the woman drink the antidote. My reply to her had been a lie, as I didn't know why as well. Perhaps it was the string of fate, but I had to admit that she was gorgeous in a lithe, athletic sort of way. Her muscles enhanced her lithe figure as she redressed. Her platinum hair matched her sharp azure eyes, the contrast leading to an air of mystery. "Ready?" I asked her. "Yeah." "Alright. By the way, the name's Taki. What's yours?" "Ryika." I walked towards the direction of the Assassin's guild. She jogged behind me, yelling "Hey! Wait up!" "What is it?" "Why are you running so fast?" "This is my normal speed." "..." "Ok. What else did you want to say?" "..." "Anything else?" "..." "Is that it?" "YES IT FUCKING IS!" "Anything else?" "UUUUUUGGGGH! I hate you!" she stormed away, while I snickered behind her. After she left, I sighed. "She really doesn't get it, does she."
Ryika POV
Goddammit! That stupid troll! I kept walking, when he caught up to me. "You know, maybe you should take off your armor." "Why?" "Cause' I run way faster than you." "..." "Anyway, we almost there yet?" I pointed to the outline of the city. "That's my guild's base." "Wow. So cool." We eventually arrived at the city gates, and the guards saluted her. They looked at me suspiciously, and I waved at them. "Don't worry bout' me! Just the guy who was hired to kill her." "You idiot! Why would you tell them that?" The guards lowered their spears, pointing at Taki. "Come on, fellas, it's not like I succeeded." "That's still reason enough to kill you."
Taki POV
"What? Why?" "She's the King's bastard daughter. "Oh. Okay. Then why is she out there, fighting? It can't be that people in the court don't like her, including the king, right?" One of the guards sighed. "Yes, it's as you say. We have taken care of her since she was a child… and now that some of the nobles want to kill or … do "things" to her, we've posted ourselves here to watch out for any forces hunting her." "That's nice and all, but can we go in?" "..." "Seeing as you're a friend of hers, of course." We found a tavern and entered. Ryika went up to the owner, and asked for two rooms, while I wandered around the tavern. "Hey handsome, how bout' round?" A cat girl slided up to me, pushing her "assets" against my arm. I saw Ryika turn her head away from me. "... not interested, sorry." I walked up to Ryika. "What is it?" Her face turned red. It can't be! Does she like me? "We have to share a room… and a bed…" oh… I was disappointed, and my hopes were crushed. "I'll sleep on the floor…" "R-really?" "Yeah…"
Ryika POV
Why did he sound so disappointed? Whatever. I came into the room to find him already asleep on the floor. I leaned down and whispered in his ear "Thanks for saving me…" before putting him in bed. My heart beat faster when I was in close contact with him. "What's this feeling? Could it be?...... an enemy attack?!" I eventually fell asleep, curled on Taki's chest. The next morning, I sat up and yawned. "Oof." Someone grunted under me, and I looked down to see Taki rubbing his eyes. "W-What's going on?!?" Taki was blushing as he said this. My face turned red as well, and I got off of him. "Sorry… you were asleep when I came in, so I put you on the floor."
Taki POV
Aaaaahhhhh! This situation is so awkward! "O-oh" "seriously Taki? Oh? Is that the best thing you can do?" I yelled in my mind. I smirked at her. "Well, well. Looked like the missing princess actually cares about me. I'm so grateful your majesty." She glared at me, before saying "You know, I do care about you, since you saved my life." "...O-oh." I turned away blushing, while Ryika stood there, with her hands on her hips. "What? Why are you looking away?" "C-cause' … I-it's nice having someone care about me." She blushed too, but continued. "And why are you blushing?" "Well why are you blushing?" "Uhhhh…" her face reddened, and she looked away. "B-because…" "..." "Anyway, we gotta go find Commander Ikolia." "Why?" "He knows a way to purify the corruption. He was taught by Zykorim." "Y-you mean!?!" "Yes. However, we need Zykorim himself to come back. Sources say that he's on another planet." "... then how are we gonna find him?"
"He gave me a gift. A crystal that can locate him." "Alright. Let's go." "Yeah." She still hadn't noticed how I felt about her… I sighed, but she heard me and looked back. "Something wrong?" I was caught off guard and panicked. I waved my hands defensively in front of me, while saying "N-no! I-I'm fine..." "You sure?" She tilted her head, her hair swaying in the wind. I was mesmerized by the sight, until a hand waved in front of my face. "Takiiiii! Taaaakkkkkiiiiii!" "Huh?" My face turned red, and I looked away. "I'm fine." "You sure?" "Yeah…"
Ryika POV
I could've sworn Taki stared at me. I blushed as well, and looked away. "No way. That was probably just an illusion. There's no way a troll like him could ever like me." I muttered. Taki turned his head, and looked at me. "Did you say something?" "N-no…." "mk." His piercing, azure blue eyes stared at me, and my face turned red. "W-What is it?" "N-nothing." His face turned red as well, and he turned his head away. "L-lets keep going." "T-Taki?" "Y-Yeah?" "W-Why are you h-holding my hand?" His hand was on mine, and he was dragging me along, when he came to a sudden stop after I said this. "H-Huh?!? O-oh… I'll let go…" "I-it's ok… I k-kind of like it…" his face reddened, but he nodded. "mm. Ryika?" "Y-yeah?" "I-I like you…" my face reddened as well, before I said "I-I like you too…" he turned his head back, and stared at me intensely, before kissing me. "Mmph." he pulled back, and I hugged him. "R-Ryika!?!" "Yeah?" "D-don't we have to go to the Capital?" "Y-yeah…" both of us heaved sighs of disappointment, before continuing to walk.
Taki POV
We set up camp at night, and Ryika went to bed meaning I had first watch. I heard a whoosh, and moved to the side, before throwing a knife at a nearby bush. A woman rolled out of the bush, and shot several more arrows at me. "What have you done to Ryika?!? I know you're the man that was hired to kill her!" "... She's sleeping in the tent." "... I don't believe you. Show me!" "Ryika! One of your friends is threatening me! Would appreciate it if you could come explain the situation." Ryika came out of the tent, but she was only wearing a silk nightgown. I blushed and looked away, while Ryika's face reddened and dashed into the tent. She came back out, and started talking to her friend. After the talk, her friend walked up to me. "Sorry about' earlier. My name's Yuia." "My name's Taki." Yuia bent down with a finger on her lips and inspected me. "Sooooo, how are you related to Ryika?" "I'm her boyfriend." My face reddened after I said this, and Ryika blushed as well, but nodded in agreement. "Mm." "Wow! Can't believe you got this guy to fall in love with you. He's pretty handsome! I'm jealous." Ryika pulled me close to her, and said "Don't you dare steal him!" "What makes you think I would do that, hmmm?" "Because you've done it so many times before!" "I tugged on Ryika's shoulder, and whispered "Don't we have to get to the Capital?" "Oh, right… let's go!" "Aww! Ryikaaaaaaa! Don't ditch meeee…" she clung to Ryika's dress, crawling on the floor with a cat face. "Hmph." I rubbed Ryika's head, and she blushed. "W-why are you rubbing my head?" "You're adorable when you get jealous." "H-huh?!?" it was morning, so we got up, and continued our journey. The forest we entered was just right outside of the capital. "This is a prime spot for ambushes. Watch out." "mm." Ryika and Yuia nodded, and we cautiously moved through the undergrowth. There was a town ahead of us, but it was covered in purple vines. "T-the corruption!" "Yeah. That must mean that they're back." "Of course. Our journey to the capital must hasten." I cast a shadow portal, allowing us to teleport to the city. We appeared in the town square, and several soldiers lowered their spears. "Who are you?" "I am Holy Paladin Ryika. Lower your arms." "The soldiers ignored her, and charged. "Good. We have orders to eliminate you." "We can't waste time on this!" I pulled the two girls as I shadow walked to the portal entrance. "Stop!" The portal master tried to run to the deactivation switch, but my knife embedded itself in his chest as we dove through the portal. A flash of light, and we were in a cave, with two familiar figures in front of me. "T-Taki?" "Kyle? And Kizue?" I said, "What are you doing here?" "Ryika stood up. "I am Holy Paladin Ryika, with my…" She blushed and looked away, before continuing "w-with m-my boyfriend T-Taki…" Kyle walked up to me, and pulled me to the side, while Kizue gave me a thumbs up. "Finally found yourself a girl, eh?" "More like she got me…" "Oh… I see. So you fell for her first, huh. Imagine what the girls at our village would do to her. All of them fell for you, didn't they?" "Yeah, yeah." "Anyway, we got a corruption boss to kill. Wanna come?" "Well, our mission is to stop them as well, so sure."
Kizue POV
While Kyle and Taki were talking, Neroki and Niraka came back. "There is only one chamber, with a large, purple ogre sitting there. It has spikes on its back." "It also relies on hearing. It actively moved towards a rock I threw. Its punch is devastating and has a chance of corrupting whatever it hits. We found traces of death magic. I can sense that the leader of the corrupt necromancers is nearby." I nodded. "Alright." Kyle walked back with Taki, and the girls ran over as well. I filled them in on the information we had gained from Neroki and Niraka. Taki stealthed, and we entered the chamber. As soon as we entered, a chill ran down my spine, and I immediately cast an Ice barrier. The boulders the Ogre threw bounced off, and the rest of the party began attacking. Kyle charged at the ogre, while Kyra and Liliana sent several hadow spears at it. The monster took no damage however, until Elena stabbed it with a holy sword. It quickly melted into a pile of ooze. "That was pretty easy." "Yeah, but only because we have a celestial element user with us…" "Wait. So the corruption is only affected by celestial elements?" "Yep." "Ryika walked up to us. "We discovered that only weapons, armor, and tools blessed by celestial beings, or the use of the celestial element can harm them." clapping resounded through the cave and a necromancer dressed in purple robes, with a cracked purple eye walked out along with his bodyguard. "Well done, well done. Now, can you kill them for me? After all, that's what you were hired to do." "Of course." The woman nodded, before turning invisible. Kyle smirked, before several void portals, with swords flying in and out of them appeared. Her invisibility deactivated as she was parrying the strikes, only to be sent sliding back when Kyle slammed one of his fists into her. "A high level of strength, speed, and mana manipulation." She turned to her employer, and said "Your safety cannot be guaranteed. Also, I might not be able to defeat him." The necromancer's eyes widened before he grinned.``Fine. Then summon the corrupt creatures! After all, they only have one celestial mage!" several purple zombies stormed into the room, and Elena charged at them. "You're underestimating her." Kyle said. The necromancer smirked, before several more corrupted zombies stormed the room. I sent a barrage of thorns and icicles, and sent a large wind spike at the bodyguard. She was caught off guard, and was sent flying into a wall. As the corrupted zombies were being held up by Elena, Kyle charged towards the necromancer, but was forced to dodge a barrage of sickly green bolts. The necromancer cackled, before saying "Did you really think I was a weakling by myself?" Kyle didn't reply, and the necromancer smirked, until he realized that Kyle was gone. He looked around frantically, when a sword plunged through his chest. "Ack!" He coughed out blood, before laughing hysterically. "You think this is over? Far from it!" he collapsed into a pile of balck and green goo, and slowly melted away. Suddenly, Ryika stabbed the puddle, and a hissing sound ensued, before the puddle disintegrated. "Wha-! Ryika?!?" "It contains part of the Corruption Necromancer's soul power." "so that wasn't the real one, huh." Kyle said. Ryika nodded. "Moreover, that was only one millionth of his true power. His real body is simply just something we cannot defeat at our current level of power. The necromancer's bodyguard looked at us, before walking away. "Perhaps we'll meet again." Those were her parting words, and we watched as her silhouette disappeared into the distance. We left the cave, and traveled to a forest nearby, setting up our camp.