While Julia took Whistle inside to recover and Gala and Mordeki stumbled awake, the rest of the party were suddenly on full alert seeing Ave arrive with a child in tow. The same child that attacked and wounded them the day before.
An intense stare down began as weapons were readied. "I hope you have a good explanation, Ave." Ag started.
"Yeah! Why the hells is SHE with you!?" Reggie followed with.
"What's happening right now?" Gala mumbled.
"Hold on. Is this the girl that kicked your guys' asses?" Dian asked with a smirk, hoping she was right.
"I wouldn't state it in such a crass manner, but you are correct." Ag finished with a grumble.
A few seconds past before Ave spoke. A gutteral hiss followed by a clearing of his throat. "Unlike the rest of you, I am capable of diplomacy. I've made peace with the beast and she will no longer attempt to harm you." He turned his head towards Lily and sharpened his eyes. "Speak." He commanded.
Lily cautiously stepped forward. She really could play the role of a helpless little girl as she walked towards the team. With puppy dog eyes and a saddened voice she spoke. "I'm really sowwy for attacking the big kitty cat. It won't happen again."
Though her apology disarmed some of the party, few were unimpressed.
"Prove it." Spoke Bounty as he stood up, tearing the bandage from his now fully healed leg.
"What?" Lily asked with deadpan surprise and an agitated twitch in her eye.
"You heard me, Alleycat. You tracked me down across towns and stabbed me in the leg. Call me skeptical, but I don't think you mean it. So prove it."
"How am I--!" Lily got interrupted by Ave putting a hand on her shoulder.
"What is it you want?" He asked, his monotone voice almost made the question feel rhetorical. Like a power play to make Bounty back down, but he didn't falter.
Bounty glanced at the chalkboard. He was still lined up to fight Ave; something he didn't want to do. Not since the cart incident. He pointed at them. "You two will fight it out right here."
"You insolent fool--"
"We'll do it!" Lily yelled out.
Ave looked down at her with a deep hiss. She leaned up and whispered. "We need to earn the trust of our prey right? Come on!"
"...Fine. So be it."
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Ag's Perspective
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I can tell that child is lying. Her flame burns with the color of deceit and corruption. Yellow with flecks of black. Now that I'm actually looking, many of my allies have the flecks of black as well. Gala, Yoona, Dian, Vanity... Why is it all the women...? Vanity I understand given what she is but... Either way, the black flecks means there is some demonic force tied to their soul.
This fiendish child may not be truly working at her own volition. I need to investigate further, but first I should observe this matchup. Bounty seems scared of Ave and I want to know why. I also want to know what he did to tame this child.
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Dian's Perspective
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I didn't think much of the lizard when I first met him, but he has a strange finesse about him. Reminds me of... me actually. Someone who does what they want, and doesn't let anyone else get in the way. You sometimes have to give respect where respect is due.
That kid though... Something about her rubs me the wrong way. Just looking at her makes my blood... itchy?
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Yoona's Perspective
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Yoona doesn't like the smell in the air. Like dead bodies and blood. It's mostly that little girl.
"What does Master think about those two?"
[The lizard is an interesting one to say the least. I have a good feeling about him. The girl on the other page... not so much.]
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Reggie's Perspective
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Gods this is annoying. I was hoping we could be done with this day already but then he had to come back. He could have helped in the fight.
And that damn girl. I know it's wrong, but sometimes you just gotta punch a kid. I think Lady agrees with me by how hard she's gripping into my shoulders.
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Vanity's Perspective
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I wish I was privy to what is going on. I understand the boys had a rough time yesterday, but a child did all that? And now the other lizard is just wandering around with her?
Something foul is going on, and I don't quite like it.
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Whistle's Perspective
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Dammit. My hands are still shaking. What the hells did she do to me? Other than get me to dislocate my shoulder. At least Julia has great bedside manner... when she's not yelling at someone else for interrupting her.
I'm going have to ask Dian about what all that was. We did this training so we could find synergies between us, and I think I got one just for us.
In fact I think I can see a good amount of synergies between all of us. I use to be the head strategist of my previous guild, getting a band of heroes working together already seems easier than a band of thieves.
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Ave's Perspective
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Such a trifling matter. I could be doing many more important things than facing against the hatchling. Being in this unfamiliar land against my will... I've cooperated to the best of my ability, but no progress seems to be getting made. I need to go back; to avenge my kin and lay the demon to rest. I can't do that while everyone is fooling around.
So be it... I will fight, but it will be quick without mercy.
XXXXX
Once again, two competitors stood at the ready on the field. The start was given and the fight began. Ave held his ground ready on the defensive while Lily fell down on all fours.
Her body began shifting and contorting. Fangs protruding through her lips, claws overtaking her hands, her whole body turning into something resembling a savage cat. All topped off with a pair of antlers on her head.
She let a feline roar as she pounced forward hoping to gore him with her new antlers, but with a quick snap of a wrist, all her momentum ceased and redirected as she got sent headfirst into the ground. Stunned from the sudden blow, she couldn't retaliate against the hand grabbing her at her ankles and lifting her up.
Ave dangled her a few feet off the ground. "Do not attack your prey head on. Let it come to you." With a few words muttered under his breath, a flash of white light shined from his hand. Lily began squirming and convulsing in his hand as blood trickled out of her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. She was dropped the moment she stopped moving.
With a few surprised gasps from the crowd, the fight ended as soon as it started. Ag rushed forward grabbing Ave with a raged snarl. "WHAT DID YOU DO!?"
"Calm yourself. She is alive, but do not cast blame to me." Ave pointed towards Bounty. "He wanted this. I was just doing as I was told."
All of Bounty's hairs were raised in anger.
"...This all started because I chose to save your life." Ave spoke directly to Bounty.
"I didn't ask for your help!" Bounty shouted.
"Yet you needed it anyway."
"I don't need some frail albino lizard telling me what I need!" His volume picked up.
"Quiet..." Ave mumbled, an intense ringing suddenly in his ears.
"Don't you try to shut me up!"
"I said cease speaking, cat."
"I am not 'cat'! My name is Bounty! And you will fucking address me as such!"
Bounty began pulling his rifle from his back. Everyone noticed this and made an attempt to stop him, but they were all too late...
BANG!
With a blue strike of lightning, a metal slug get sent straight through Ave's chest. A stunned silence fell on the party, as well as the many servants and guards who happen to be observing the fights.
Ave gripped at the hole in his chest and fell to his knees. Black blood gushing from the wound, he coughed, causing even more blood to trickle from his maw. His eyes glowed a faint purple as he gave one final look at Bounty. With the eerie sound of genuine concern in his voice, he gave his seemingly final words. "You've just killed everyone here..."