I awoke the next day with weights tied around my ears. My head pounded and my stomach churned. Thinking to myself that I may have drunk a little too much, I groggily sat upright and clutched at the remnants of my sanity and last night's dinner, fighting a high stake uphill battle. Unfortunately, my constitution lost that morning and I spent the first part of a beautifully warm day retching behind a shrub.
Once finished with morning business, I began cooking a light breakfast that would hopefully float nicely on the remaining bile that decided not to vacate its home. Preparations for the morning passed with no hitch and I soon left for the first city. Sadly, the bandit's horses scattered due to the blood bath last night, so I stocked up on necessary items such as coins, food, and waterskins, stuffed them into a sack, and struck out in a westward direction.
The glistening sun on the remaining snow soon brightened my day, allowing me to forget the earlier incident and set my sights on the future. Ahead of me was supposedly a trade city that had acquired vast wealth due to being in vicinity with the country's border and conducting trade across the mountains. I also thought that propositions for coin without being asked questions would be abundant in such a place. Thinking so, I listened to the soft blowing of the wind and steadily marched on. Soon, I found something.
"A road?" [Dmitriy]
After strolling through the forest for hours, I found a large, empty stretch of hard-packed dirt that gently wound through the forest. The road was large enough for two cars, or carriages in this world, to pass by each other without bumping. It appeared well maintained and seemed to not lack traffic going to and from whatever towns lay on either end. My verdict was, obviously, to follow the forest highway. After all, roads always led to civilizations. However, I was interrupted before I could set out once more.
"You!" [???]
"Wha-?" [Dmitriy]
I vaulted off to the side of the road and listened, smoothly drawing my blade during the process. Mud sprinkled down towards where I was just standing. Beyond the mud drops, in the middle of the highway, stood an ornate carriage. The door opened and a man stepped out onto the hard ground.
"Dirty people like you would only prove to sully our holy nation. Just what were you thinking, dirty brigand? To have the audacity to walk on public roads without a care in the world!" [???]
A man dressed in bright, blue, silken clothes that simply radiated the words pompous ass stood in front of a well endowed carriage. The man's illusion was further developed through the pencil mustache taped beneath his nose and his well trimmed stubble. With hair slicked down, back arched in a self-righteous manner, and a slimy smile plastered across his face, the blue clothed man continued his one man play.
"Yes I am talking to you filthy bandit and it is also you who hath found your demise! Be prepared to entwine your silly fate with Erebus for I, Ramien Blacksweld, shall slay thee!" [Ramien]
'Is this how a normal greeting plays out in this country because if it is, I won't last the week. Too many theatrics, just get to the point god damnit.' [Dmitriy]
I normally hate people who talk using such roundabout manner of speech, but this one man was inordinate in his speeches. In essence, he was no exception and was probably grated on my nerves more than most. I decided to cut the comical play short.
"Before you start killing me. I would like to say three things. Is that okay?" [Dmitriy]
"Hah! Speak freely for these words shalt be thine last!" [Ramien]
'Shut up with the archaic language already. It reminds me of Shakespeare, curse that man and his confounding scriptures.' [Dmitriy]
"First, I am not a bandit nor a brigand." [Dmitriy]
'For fucks sake. Now he has me speaking in archaic English.' [Dmitriy]
"Secondly, your country doesn't seem any more holy than the rest and finally, I won't be the one meeting your god Erebus." [Dmitriy]
With these words, I smiled. A smile brimming with mockery and contempt. The blue clothed man, calling himself Ramien, stiffened in response to the obvious provocation.
"Fine then. We shall settle your treason with steel." [Ramien]
A vibrant ring sounded as Ramien drew his blade. It was thin, similar to Sylphie's rapier and the man had clearly trained with the weapon. I carelessly cracked his knuckles in response.
"Will you not fight me with a sword? Do you pine for death that much?" [Ramien]
"Shut it." [Dmitriy]
The skirmish began as I whirled towards my blue clad opponent. Ramien thrust his sword, intending to puncture my skull and kill me in a single fluid strike. The sword swept through air. I had predicted the opponents strike by utilizing my knowledge of fencing, which I had trained against in my previous life, as a basis for this man's sword style and responded by dropping onto my right hand and swinging my legs around to strike Ramien's exposed ankles. This attack landed. Ramien's supports were swept out from under him as they received the full force of a well placed kick. Following up on my own strike, I then utilized the momentum of the prior kick to flip my legs over my body and slam them into the incapacitated Ramien's skull, further imprinting the man's facial features into the muddy roadside. The fight concluded and Ramien's consciousness fled. I only dusted off my pants, turned, and walked away, following the Holy Nation's road towards Arione.