"What the hell are those Chains" demanded Sin after a moment of pause.
Ari was still showing signs of exhaustion revealing the strain of her ability.
"Enchanted Chains, it's my duo ability" answered Ari resting her hands on her knees, she was upset with Sin but he couldn't be blamed this time.
"What is a Duo" asked Sin confused on the term.
Ari finally seemed to recover her breath and looked at Sin skeptically.
"You don't know about Duo's" asked Ari doubting her ears, it was basic knowledge nowadays.
"If I knew do you think I would ask" questioned Sin staring at Ari with annoyance.
"Fine, I'll start from the beginning. Around the time Mom and Dad were growing up the government began attempting a experimental program called Project Duo. It was something based off of the simple theory of genetics, the idea was to create Mage and Esper hybrids or rather Espers with the ability to use magic" explained Ari until Sin interrupted.
"It's impossible" stated Sin doubtfully as the concept was mind blowing to him, there was too much potential for a being capable of performing both of gods gifts to humanity.
"A lot of people believed that too, but like I said the theory was based on basic genetics. If the parents of a child have stronger traits than normal then there would be a chance of them both appearing within the child, with this thought the government began handing out incentives to the strongest of mages and Espers to procreate in the hopes of seeing such results. It was to their disappointment that the results were not to their expectations." explained Ari seriously.
"What do you mean" asked Sin though seeing her chains with Runes cast along their length he believed he understood the problem.
"The children of these unions indeed bore results but it wasn't in the way the governments desired, the children born from these unions were born with an Esper ability but their ability had taken on a magical effect instead of actually being capable of performing magic. Thus the Duo was born, after seeing the results of the governments attempts different families and first gens began to attempt the same result. After this Duos became a known concept though the chances of a Duo being born are low. Even today there aren't many" finished Ari looking at Sin as if trying to read his thoughts.
"Why aren't there more Duos if what you say is true then couldn't they take it a step further and try to incorporate a second Esper ability or a second Magical effect to stack on their ability" questioned Sin causing Ari to grimace.
"Well that would be something worth venturing but it's not possible....." answered Ari looking a little downcast.
"Why not" asked Sin as he was finding Ari a little more knowledgeable than he originally believed.
"Duos can't have children....." answered Ari causing Sin to take a short breath.
"Ari..... I'm sorry. ... I wasn't expecting such a drastic turn" attempted Sin but he wasn't used to something like this, let alone this type of situation.
Ari shook her head and smiled.
"Let's just forget about that depressing stuff okay" spoke Ari quickly derailing the conversation.
"It looked like you were really struggling to hold me, am I just that strong or are you just that weak" asked Sin suddenly with a obvious change in mood causing Ari to look at him surprised.
"W-What" started Ari causing Sin to scoff.
"Next time when you see your party member being attacked think about whose side you are on." cut in Sin before returning to his cave and grabbed a few things before sliding the giant shield over the entrance once again.
'You don't just get to attack me and escape.' thought Sin as he walked right past Ari causing the girl to look at him questioningly.
However the girl found herself unable to say anything after being scolded by Sin and spoken to so coarsely.
....
Sin didn't waste time as he pulled out a set of goggles with odd runes on them that began to glow the moment they were put on, this presented a mist like trail to the thief causing him to smirk.
"Can't beat the oldies" chuckled Sin as he dashed through the tree tops nimbly.
It didn't take him long to catch up and he wasn't shy about making himself known as he pulled out his magicannon and rapidly let off three shots of fiery death towards the group causing them to disperse.
"Hey now don't run, you seemed so sad that we couldn't keep playing." called Sin as he appeared at ground zero of the fiery torrent where a clearing had now formed.
"Are you insane, that could have killed us." grit out Alicia clutching her scorched arm while the others in her party weren't doing any better after the surprise attack.
"Attacking from the shadows, do you have no honor." gasped Dante clutching a wound from where where some wood shrapnel had caught him in the stomach.
"Kind of like waiting until I have my back turned to act?" asked Sin causing Dante to grit his teeth.
It was at this point Sin pulled out a dagger causing the group to become alarmed.
"What are you going to do with that" demanded Alicia as she began to realize that there was something wrong with Sin in comparison to the rest of them.
"I told you didn't I, I take trophies." chuckled Sin drew closer brandishing his dagger eagerly.
"W-wait, you don't have to do that. We have treasures you can take, weapons." started Alicia as she tried to stand only to now realize her legs had taken a majority of the damage from the blast.
"I think I'd prefer an ear, or a finger, oh how about a eye" chuckled Sin holding the dagger tip to his chin in a contemplating manner causing the group to begin to tremble. They weren't prepared for someone who was toughened and hardened by the old ways, the new generation of adventurers relied on technology to fill in the gaps in their powers and skills.
"I-I could offer you something better...." spoke the archer suddenly though she looked somewhat broken by what she said causing Sin to stop before dropping his hand with the dagger.
"Fine I won't take a piece of you people and I'm not taking that..." answered Sin looking towards the archer who looked at him shocked.
"You shouldn't offer yourself no matter how bad, die with dignity. Anyways I may not be taking a ear or a nose but I got to take something." stated Sin before he smirked suddenly and left causing the group to become curious until Alicia and her archer companion began to notice something or rather the lack of.
The two girls screamed out in unison while the thief question cackled wickedly through the woods causing those within earshot to shiver subconsciously.
After sin had left Irene wandered out of the forest looking untouched, though an obvious blush on her face.
'I can't believe he took those' thought the girl as she pulled a potion from her many utility pouches. Sin was unaware of this person as he left allowing her to escape his wrath so to speak.
Thus Sin had found his first victims in school, time would tell what other troubles his sudden debut would bring in the future but for the time being he couldn't be bothered as he wore his new trophies on his head caring not for those who stared at him.
'Doku, it's only a matter of time before we cross paths. I long for that moment where I can take from you what you took from me' thought Sin staring into the distance vengefully still wearing his trophies over his face.