"Let's begin with this Albus stuff." said Kadaski with a serious expression.
Third Person's POV
These are the moments where Virdjana wishes that Reggie is with her since he would probably be able to get the Fire Enchant to stop pestering the Eumythymn. However, to be fair, no one had really wanted to talk about Virdjana's small history as Albus Feles since people immediately sees her as a threat whenever they learn about it.
"You won't like it, more or less, you'll even become a greater scaredy-cat than you already are." She told Nueva, just to test if he would still continue pursuing the topic.
"Ha, ha, ha. Very funny Phantom. For your information, I don't like it when I lack information about something important." He remarked before scoffing.
Virdjana stopped walking, and pondered about his demands. 'Best case scenario, he would think that I'm just talking bullshit to piss him off and let the subject go. The worst case scenario would be that he takes it seriously and then gets killed with my daggers.' thought the girl.
"Don't expect me to tell the story when I can't get anything from you in return." Virdjana stated.
"Seriously? Why not? You even involved me by calling me Albus Canis, whatever that means." Kadaski complained.
"It means white dog." explained Virdjana. "Anyway, in exchange, you'll share your nightmares with me."
"That's it? Hella weird, but okay. And my guess is that Albus Feles means white cat because of the mask? Get real Phantom. You probably did something noteworthy that caused those Hazbins to feel intimidated by your presence." Nueva rattles out while stomping his feet lightly on the ground.
'You wanted to know more than the meaning of Albus huh?' thought the Wind Enchant.
With a sighed, Virdjana began, "the locals of this town strongly believes that white cats symbolizes bad luck and trouble. He said that it was exactly four years ago, I travelled from the Capital of Arcacia to Retromalus to look for a better opportunity so that I could survive... in life. I came in here wearing the same outfit I'm wearing now, wearing the mask, I usually wore."
"Four years ago?" bulalas ni Kadaski dahil sa gulat, "and he?"
She glanced at Kadaski, and noticed that he was listening intently.
Virdjana continued, "I was greeted with malice and anger, although that was common in this town according to Reggie due to the town people's beliefs. What was I not expecting was that I already received a bounty on my head. Who would have known that news travel fast? The Hazbins learned that I 'was' wanted at the City of Arcacia."
"As the Silent Thief?" asked Kadaski for confirmation.
"Yes, as the Silent Thief, and more." Virdjana answered with a neutral expression.
'And more?' there was only confusion in Kadaski Nueva's face at the moment.
He frowned, because he felt like he was slowly getting himself into a landmine, or at least that was what it felt like. Nonetheless, with how Virdjana phrased her response, his curiosity only got the better of him.
"What else... did you do?" Kadaski Nueva asked.
Normally, Virdjana would right out spell out the fact that she had killed people before. She did that a lot of times within the town of Retromalus. She had to defend her life a lot of times from all the prawning criminals everywhere.
Thankfully, she was already skilled enough to avoid ambushes, and not to mention street smart. Several months later, Virdjana already knew her way around Retromalus, and had learned a very important lesson in life - to show no mercy to those who wanted to harm her.
"I kick their asses so hard, that they were forced to beg at their feet. Then they nicknamed me Albus Feles for being a troublemaker." smirked the Eumythymn Hunter.
"What? Troublemaker? I guess you'll fit with Ruby's gang of Trouble Makers." snorted Kadaski.
Virdjana felt that sooner or later, the people around her would come to regret that they met someone like her, although she knew that she was no one special and there are worse humans out there. Yet, the Eumythymn Hunter wondered why she hesitated to tell Kadaski Nueva the truth.
Kadaski Nueva was known to be slow when it comes to the uptake of things, but that was only because he lacks information, thus he finds it hard to connect major pieces together. However, it is a different story once the complete jigsaw comes to light.
"Maybe, maybe I will." she responds with a lighter aura around her, but it quickly dissipated. "Kadaski, the nightmares." Virdjana reminded.
Drago's POV
For some reason, this mercenary named Ivanescent is now hanging around Ryoline and me. He looks like your typical happy-go-lucky guy, and the type that could make you drop your guard because he does not look intimidating at all. Earlier, he offered to become acquaintances with the two of us, but I refused since I don't trust him. The he offered to become friends instead, can you believe this guy? In addition, Ivanescent carries an air of weirdness in him too.
I sighed as we continue walking to the direction of the landmark, Ivanescent was in front of us since according to him, if someone ever ambushes us, he would be there to 'deflect the attack with ease - his exact words.
I began to slow my walking phase, as I start to feel the pain of the bite wound I got from that Starblaze wolf earlier. I have the option to ease the pain by applying that healing potion, but those things are not easy to acquire since they are classified as rare healing items. Items entrusted to me by Master Shin for emergency situations only. As long as I can handle the pain, I could use these potions for later.
"Here we are. Garuda Statue, just like what this cute girl mentioned earlier." remarked Ivanescent with cheerful clapping.
"If we asked for this, we would have already thanked you, but no offense... we know exactly where we are heading to." I told him.
Ivanescent laughed before shaking his hand in front of his face, "no need! I offered to help for a measly price of 500 Psyver Bills after all!"
'This guy..." I thought irritatingly.
"S-sir Ivan. Thank you for your help. Who knows what danger would we face if we traverse this town with zero to little information..." said Ryoline in a sweet voice.
'Seriously, the acting of this kid is amazing. If I haven't seen her true personality, I would have been fooled already. Technically, she was successful to fool me, the teachers and other Enchanted Elites for a long time.'
"No problem little girl! Mercenary Ivan would be glad to receive your thanks in cash!" grinned this guy while giving Ryoline a thumbs-up.
"E-eh? B-but I thought we agreed that we would simply exchange information?" pouted Ryoline. "Sir Ivan, I promise that we carry good information, For example, the items to be sold at the Cauldron Auction." she adds with seriousness this time.
The moment Ivanescent's expression changed, I knew that a transaction would follow.
The Cauldron Auction is a type of black market auction where legendary, rare or even believed-to-be lost items are sold for hefty amounts of Psyver. According to Ryoline, personalities that are big on politics, businesses and even the military are involved but they rarely show up. I believe that there is a high possibility that the Chronicle Book would be there for sale. That's our only hope for now.
While Nanami Ryoline was having a conversation with the mercenary, two figures revealed themselves behind the Garuda Statue. The first individual was wearing a white cat mask, while the other was adorned by an orange scarf that was covering half of that person's face.
"Ryoline, Ivanescent watch out!" I warned.
The cat mask wearing persona pulls out a dagger from its sheath, and slowly points it to Ryoline, while the second one pulled out a gun and points it at my direction. 'Are they friends with this mercenary? If so, then we are right for not trusting him.'
I quickly summoned my elemental weapon, a flaming blue whip, and slams it on the ground three times.
"I knew it. Get a hold of Ivanescent, Ryoline. This doesn't look good." I told my underclassman.
I heard no response. In my alarm, I quickly looked behind me and saw Ryoline carrying Ivanescent away while riding on her Mythical Beast. 'That girl! She was just looking for a chance to escape all this time!'
"See you never Senior Arcedes!" shouted Ryoline with a smirk on her face.
"Ahhhh! I'm being abducted by a lovely ladyyy." cried Ivanescent.
I gritted my teeth. I only have two options, either I run after Ryoline and get attacked from behind, or face these two first then chase that Beast Tamer later.
"You're right. The concealment spell does not allow anyone to recognize us." stated the scarf-wearing guy.
"Who would have known that it will work? I've never tried using it on myself and on another person at the same time." stated the woman wearing a cat mask.
I can only smell trouble. Where the heck is Kadaski and Virdjana when I need them? Did they perhaps got lost around Retromalus? If yes, that would be total bad news, and this whole retrieval mission would be jeopardized!
"They're getting away!" shouted the scarf guy, "so much for an entrance Alby."
The person whom scarf guy called Alby, suddenly disappeared from besides the scarf guy then suddenly reappears behind me whispering, "You're cute when you're agitated."
"What did you say?" I exclaimed in astonishment.
Yet the woman was gone in a flash, however her scent was familiar to me. The smell of pinecones lingered in the air, and my eyes widened in realization. Could that be? Then that mean this scarf guy is?
"Aski?" I asked with one brow raised, and noticeably the guy flinched.
What an open book.
"Who are you talking about? I'm not Aski. I'm Albus Canis." he announces before spinning his gun on its trigger, only to miserably fail then accidentally shooting a passing by Hazbin on its shoulder.
"Fuck! Who shot me?!" screamed the man in agony.
"Not me!" shouted Albus Canis or Kadaski.
What are these guys playing at? We don't have time for these roleplays, we should get moving now or the mission would fall apart. We can't fail!
Third Person's POV
Within a dark alley, Ryoline with Naga wrapping Ivanescent in an uncomfortable constriction position decided to rest. She was still not healed from the stab wound Virdjana gave her, and knowing that the injury is fatal Ryoline advised herself to not move around so much.
"Little girl, would you mind explaining why I'm suddenly abducted?" laughed Ivanescent.
Unfortunately for the mercenary, the Beast Tamer of Arcacia Academy was not in the mood to act cutesy anymore. In her irritation, she ordered her Mythical Beast to tighten the way the snake was wrapping its tail around Ivanescent.
The man groaned in pain, however the smile on his face never disappeared. He still struggled and continued talking with Nanami Ryoline. "Y-you are n-no joke. I guess B.S was not lying when he told me to not underestimate his daughter-"
After hearing the acronym, Ryoline could only think of her benefactor Bullshark Schnider. In her surprise, she ordered Naga to let go of the mercenary.
"D-Daughter? You're talking about Leader right? Is, is he personally here at Retromalus just like he promised?" Ryoline questions with a big smile on her face, she was unable to hide the excitement in her body.
Ivanescent, despite being constricted earlier, casually dusts his clothes off and answers Ryoline's curiosity, "Yup. I was ordered to scout around the area. Look out for a brunette girl with a snake buddy hanging around her. I found it difficult to find you m'lady, since you shrunk your snake with dark magic earlier."
"You meant to say that when you approached me and Senior Arcedes, you have no idea that I am the d-daughter of Leader? What an imbecile- I'm his d-daughter." Ryoline began her sentence in a serious tone, but immediately became shy when the word daughter was used, both hands cupping her own cheeks and happily smiling.
Ivanescent cupped his chin when he heard Ryoline mention the surname Arcedes, and it took him a minute to remember where he last heard that last name. A smug expression appeared on the man's lips.
"M'lady, would you be alright if I leave you alone, so I could return to your hostage-taker? He seemed to be more than a smartass, and it would be easy money if I get my hands on him, dead or alive." chuckled the mercenary.
Ryoline was a little confused, but nonetheless she was not against Ivanescent. "I have no idea why you're suddenly interested in him, but your greed for money reeks and I can't take it. Go ahead, I can very well defend myself." Ryoline stated sassily.
"Then I shall tell you before I go, m'lady. Your Senior Arcedes is most likely part of another known noble family in the City of Arcacia. A prominent family whose members has great influence in the military power of Arcacia - the Arcedes Household also known as Kindreds of the Phoenix. They're a strong bloodline whose flames ablaze in blue." explained Ivanescent.
"Kindreds of the Phoenix. Alright, ta-taa now." deadpanned Ryoline as she starts shooing the mercenary away like a fly.
Ivan could not help himself but laugh. He likes the sassiness of Nanami Ryoline.
"See you in a minute, m'lady." grinned the mercenary before leaving the alleyway and turning to the right.
Finally, Ryoline was able to stop masking that she was not in great pain at all. She leaned on Naga, exhausted from the escape, her wound throbbing every now and then.
Even though a lot of things had happened, and many did not go exactly as she planned, she was glad that the man she calls Leader kept his promise of attending the Cauldron Auction. All she need to do now was head to the location of the auction.
"M'lady."
Ryoline was a bit surprise by the voice, but she recognized that it was Ivan's so she wore her pretend superior aura again to face him with confidence and sass. "That was literally a min-"
Suddenly, the head fell onto the ground with a bloody splatter, then rolls to Ryoline's feet with its eyes still wide open, "M...M'lady."
'He's still alive? No, he's dead! He must have been in shock that his brain was not able to keep up with the fact that he'd already kicked the bucket.' Ryoline thought as she covers her mouth to prevent herself from screaming.
Ryoline knew that even she couldn't do such a thing.
Like a rusty wheel gear, her head slowly traced where the head came from and in her ultimate horror, Ryoline met the eyes of a frightening predator behind a bloodstained mask.
She can't think clearly anymore!
The fresh blood continues to drip from the blade down to the ground, followed by a quick shifting of a blade to the right to get rid of the crimson liquid. The Beast Tamer's heart almost jumped out of her chest, when a murder of crows passed over their heads.
"Please, please have mercy! I don't even know what I did to you!" screamed Ryoline.