Yamada, Ul'lanna and Jacara sat around the campfire. It had been a peaceful month, there had been no setbacks on the trip. They had been delayed by a day, from Jacara and Yamada attempting to settle a bet. Yamada had claimed that he could core a peach with only his tongue and that the fruit would only have one entry point.. Jacara was adamant that it wasn't possible. Ul'lanna was also curious to see if this was possible. They had spent the whole day trying to forage for a peach, only to find plums. Although Yamada was able to remove the core of the plum, with only his tongue. Jacara refused to acknowledge it as his victory, as the fruit was not the same.
Jacara waved his hand in the air, before making a card appear in his hand. "Magic." Yamada called out. "Sleight of hand." Ul'lanna called out. "Point to Ul'lanna." "What?" Yamada growled, as Ul'lanna smirked. "That was definitely magic." Jacara pulled his sleeve and cards poured out. Yamada crossed his arms, pouting. "I hate this game." "We could play Find the Lady again." "No." Yamada snapped. "You cheat and change the card face every time." Jacara chuckled. "I'm not. It's sleight of hand. Ul'lanna can follow it. You just have to-" "If you say follow the lady. I will punch you." Jacara threw his hands up snickering. "No need to be a sore loser. But I don't have any other games, that you won't think I'm cheating at." "They can't be card games." "Ul'lanna, do you have any games you played?" "I didn't really have the time." "Come on, I'm sure the Elves had a game to pass the time." "I don't think you two would really like it."
"It's probably better than Jacara's games." "Loser." Yamada frowned at him. "Don't say, I didn't warn you." "Alright what's it called?" Yamada asked. "It's called king of the hill." Ul'lanna said standing up. She drew a circle in the ground only metre in diameter. Hopping on one leg, she held the other. "We each hop like this, and try to push each other out of the circle. If you fall over or let go of your leg, you lose." She looked at Yamada and Jacara sitting down cocking an eyebrow at her, before looking to each other. "I told you it was-" Yamada and Jacara quickly leapt to their feet, hopping towards the circle. She shrieked as the two of them begun hopping towards her. She smiled and the three them begun jousting with their knees. Ul'lanna and Jacara had no hope of beating Yamada in any test of strength. The three of them played into the night, their cheeks sore from laughter.
Morning came with Ul'lanna and Yamada sitting in front, and Jacara leaning in between them from the back. "I don't believe you." Jacara said. "Believe what you will, but that's my language." "But you're not saying anything. You're just gently moving your lips." "Your ears can't hear me, but I'm speaking, and I'm saying something very funny." "Are you insulting us?" Yamada asked. "Perhaps." She shrugged. Ul'lanna puckered her lips to speak Elvish, a language based on high pitched whistles, inaudible to non-elves. "Ah! What did you just say?" Jacara asked. "Thought you said, I wasn't saying anything." "Yamada transform your head. Maybe your Draken ears can hear it." "I'm not doing that. I wouldn't understand it anyway." Jacara scratched his head frustrated. "That can't be your language." "It is. That's why Sokra, describes a gathering of Elves as wind blowing. It's all he could hear with his human ears." Jacara sighed, slumping on the backrest. "Why are you sad about that?" Yamada asked. "It means I can't learn it."
"You want to learn an entirely new language?" Yamada asked cocking an eyebrow at him. "You find learning how to get stronger fun. I find learning new things fun." "But you don't even master them." "You son of bitch." Jacara put Yamada into a headlock, trying with all his might to choke him. Yamada pulled Jacara to the front, giving him a noogie. Jacara flailed in his grip trying to free himself. "Don't talk about my mum that way." "Ah! I'm sorry!" Yamada released Jacara. He pouted rubbing his head and fixing his hair. Ul'lanna snickered. "Why must you be so freakishly strong all the time?" "Why are you weak all the time?" "You motherfucker!" Jacara shouted trying to choke him once more, to no avail. "I don't think, I've had sex with a mother." "Yet." Ul'lanna added.
Yamada yanked Jacara into the front, getting ready to give him another noogie. "Ul'lanna help!" "Rub at the spiral on his head, there's less hair to protect him." Jacara was mortified as Yamada begun to rub his knuckles. Yamada released him after a few seconds. Him and Ul'lanna laughed at the pouting Jacara. "You know, as a knight you're meant to protect people." "I'm a Forsaken Knight. It's different." "Nooo. Forsaken Knights only gave up their humanity. They didn't give up their morals. You're still honour bound to protect and be celibate." Yamada cocked an eye at Jacara. "Celi-what?" "It means you can't have sex, till you settle down." Ul'lanna said. "Why would I do that?" "Because it's a part of your oaths." Jacara said. "I never swore to that." "You should." "Why? People want others to be like knight, but they can't have sex and have more children to become like them?" Ul'lanna and Jacara paused, both baffled at Yamada's reasonable logic. "Because...because...huh. Why is that an oath?"
"Are we close to any town or city, Ul'lanna?" Jacara asked. "We're running a little low on supplies." "What do you mean, we have plenty of-" "Ingredients for your shaved ice, does not count." "We're still pretty far from the closest town, you'll have to hunt for something." "Us?" Yamada and Jacara asked in sync. Ul'lanna craned to them slowly. "You two, do know how to hunt right?" The two of them were silent. "Yamada if you went alone, how exactly did you plan to eat, on your revenge trip?" "I thought there'd be more animals to eat." She looked to Jacara. "Okay, I get him not understanding how wild game works, but how do you not know how to hunt? You said you love to learn new things." "Well..." "You only learnt things that would help you get women, didn't you?" "Uhhhhhh-" "And you want to learn how to speak Elvish, because it would help sleep with Elves." "That's because you said it in a bad way."
"How should she say it?" Yamada asked. "Well....I...." Ul'lanna let out frustrated sigh. "When we run out of food, I'll teach you both how to hunt." Jacara slunk back. "In the mean time, I'll make us some sun goggles for the desert." "Desert?" Ul'lanna said nothing handing the reins to Yamada. She hopped off the wagon taking her katana and carved out a long piece from a nearby oak tree, before climbing back on. The two of them watched as she begun whittling the piece into separate visors with small slits. "Focus on steering." Ul'lanna said. Yamada quickly spun back regaining control of the Qilin. "Why do we need these?" Jacara asked. "What do you two, know about Artaraxus, and travelling through the snow?" "Nothing." Yamada said immediately. "I mean I know a little..." Ul'lanna glared at him. "I know more than Yamada, that's where I'll leave it."
She burnt off the splinters with a small Fire gate, and handed one to Jacara. "These will block out most of the sun, and help us see in the bright desert, and alps near Kal'Nar." "Wow, where did you, learn to do this?" Jacara asked inspecting his goggles. "Ta'shana taught me." She said warmly. Yamada and Jacara held their breaths. Ul'lanna this entire time had never spoken of her time in Kal'Nar or in their army. Both had agreed to not say anything, if she ever said anything. Ul'lanna climbed back out into the front, taking the reins from Yamada. She sat in silence, spying Jacara and Yamada shoot each other "Discrete" looks. She let out a long exasperated sigh. "What do you two want to ask?" "Ah, well...we we're just wondering, about your-" "How did you join the army?" Yamada blurted out. She nodded glumly. "I guess, it's only fair I tell you. You both told me yours."
The two of them lurched forward in anticipation. What was Kal'Nar like? What made Ul'lanna who she was? "Before I start. I have to ask. Do you want the short version or the long version?" "I think we'll take the long version with the scenic route." Jacara said. "Fine, don't say I didn't offer a short version." She gave the reins back to Yamada. "As you both know, I came from a breeder. I was raised and trained in the lower section. The royals called our section the Barn. I grew up with over a dozen half-brothers and sisters, and countless cousins. I honestly couldn't even you tell all their names." Ul'lanna took a deep breath, clasping her hands together. Jacara took out a mug from the back, and several bottles of syrup, as she continued on.
Within rows of cramped and suffocating housing. The wailing of babies was drowned out, by the sound of flesh smacking flesh, and the cruel sadistic laughter of men. Ul'lanna at the age of ten, wore her shoulder hair length slicked back, wearing a sack of grain as a tunic. She sprinted through the narrow alleyways barefoot, covered in dirt and grime, holding a handful of bread. "GET BACK HERE!" A deep voice bellowed behind her. She leapt over a heap of trash, hearing the man crash behind her. He roared shoving the trash across. Ul'lanna huffing and puffing, barged into a tiny two story house. The empty kitchen had nothing but a lit stove and one small pot. She sprinted up the stairs, dumping the bread, and quickly undressed. Frantically washing her face and hair of grime and dirt. "WHERE ARE YOU? YOU LITTLE SHIT!?" The man roared from down stairs.
He tapped the floor board with his stick, she could hear him heaving. Ul'lanna came down wearing a ragged blouse and skirt, her hair flowing around her face now. The burly sweaty man scowled at her. He towered over her, grabbing her by the shirt. "WHERE IS THAT LITTLE SHIT, WHO STOLE MY BREAD!?" He spat in her face. She shook her head. "I was cleaning my room, Sir. I don't know who, you're looking for. Could you describe him?" The man tossed Ul'lanna to the ground. "He's here. I know he is here." He said scanning the area. Ul'lanna rose to her feet, holding both hands out. "You need to leave my house." He spun around slowly, seeing sparks slowly form in front. "Trying to use Fire magic on me, little girl?" "You need to leave. I don't know, who you're looking for!"
The man begun leering at Ul'lanna, wearing a grimy smirk. "A little fire in you. I like that." Ul'lanna felt a shiver run down her spine. "I might as well relieve some stress while I'm here." He said tossing the stick aside. "Stay back!" She shrieked. Embers flicked around her hand and the gate continued to form. "Ohohoho? It feels little more warm in here." He said, prowling towards her. Ul'lanna trembled in fear, her gate disappearing. She looked terrified and in shock. "Uh-oh. Your 'gate' is gone." "Sta...stay away-" "Come here!" He pounced on top of her. She screamed clawing and biting at his thick fingers. The man ripped her shirt off, sitting on top of her legs. She could feel her bones creaking. "GET OFF!" She thrashed in his grips, kicking and screaming with all her might.
"STAY STILL!" He roared driving his fist into her gut. She retched the pain unbearable. Tears streamed from her eyes. Bi'ranna a lanky girl leapt onto the man, sinking her teeth into his arm. He screamed swatting her away, with back handed strike. Bi'ranna was knocked aside spitting out blood. Ul'lanna enraged dug her nails into the man, letting out a blood curdling scream. Her Arcane energy surged and erupted, scalding heat emitted from her skin. He let out a scream, shoving her face into the floorboards. Gnashing her teeth together the heat became stronger and stronger.
The man leapt off, trying to escape the searing pain. He left patting his singed body parts. Ul'lanna followed suit, grabbing the stick he had left behind. She brought it down on his back, bringing him to his knees. She rammed the stick into his genitals, twisting and grinding with all her strength. He curled in, gasping for air. Ul'lanna let out a savage scream, beginning to rain down blow after blow, on the man's face. Missing a block, a strike cracked his teeth open. Each strike afterwards split the man's skull open. After a few minutes, exhausted beyond belief and gasping for air. The man's skull was nothing but a puddle of blood, with chunks of brain and bone. She staggered into the house, slamming the door behind her. She propped the door close with the stick, and made her way up stairs.
Taking the bread down, she stumbled down the steps, seeing Bi'ranna waking up. She threw the bread down and rushed over. "Stay down, and rest." "I...I..." "It's okay. I got us some food." She said smiling. The pain in her stomach unbearable. Every breath made her want to retch. Ul'lanna forced the pain down grabbing the bread and begun to peel small bits off for her. She winced with every bit, but every piece felt like heaven in her stomach. Ul'lanna took a bite of the bread, her eyes fluttering. The exhaustion settling in, she grabbed Bi'ranna's shoulder. "Don't let anyone in." She said before falling asleep. Ul'lanna awoke to the sound of Bi'ranna screaming her name, and the front door cracking open.
Ul'lanna quickly rose to her feet, snapping out of her daze. "Get behind me!" She ordered, pulling the stick away. Bi'ranna cowered behind Ul'lanna. The door burst open. The two of them jolted. Ul'lanna kept her grip tight on the bloodstained weapon. Two Elven warriors entered clad in their leather, followed by Ta'shana. She was tall for an Elven woman, and wore the armour of a General. Clad in resplendent Adamantine armour, with a nodachi on her back. Her hair tied in a pony tail, she had soft facial features, and fit body. "Well, it seems we found the murder weapon and murderer." She said smiling at Ul'lanna. "He attacked us first!" "A kill in self-defence then." She said panning through the room. Hands behind her back. Ul'lanna didn't follow her, keeping the stick in front of the Elven warriors.
"We've had reports, that he was chasing a thief. They stole some bread." She said, stepping on the crumbs. "General, they're girls. The report was for a man." "Is that so?" Ta'shana made her way to the pot, and ran her gloves through the soot. She squatted down next to Ul'lanna smearing her face, with the soot and then forced her hair up. "There's our man." The two warriors stepped forward. "STAY BACK!" She screamed, pushing Ta'shana away and waving the stick at them. "You know, I'm stronger than them. Yet you don't wave that thing at me. I can't help but feel insulted." "You can't hurt us like them." She growled. Ta'shana snickered, waving the soldiers out of the room. Ul'lanna lowered her guard as the men closed the door behind them.
Ta'shana grabbed both of them by their throats raising them into the air. With her arms out stretched both couldn't reach her. "That's where you're wrong. The most dangerous people, are the ones you let in." She smirked at them throwing aside. Ul'lanna scrambled to the sobbing Bi'ranna, she held both her hands out, attempting to open a Fire gate. Ta'shana took her glove off, snapping her fingers. From a spark formed a Fire gate instantly. "Bring me his body!" She called out. The two warriors dragged the man's corpse in throwing it into the centre of the room. Ul'lanna covered Bi'ranna's eyes. "She's seen worse than a corpse." Ta'shana said, hovering over the corpse.
"Do you two have an attachment to this place?" "I found it. It was empty, and it's ours." "Not anymore. It's this vermin's funeral." "General Frieda, what are you planning to do?" She held her free hand out to them. "Giving them a chance." She muttered. "You girls can serve your sentence in prison for murder, and when your body is ready, as a breeder. Or you can take my hand, and become warriors." Ul'lanna took Bi'ranna's hand and took Ta'shana's hand. She gave them a warm smile, before yanking Ul'lanna's hand on the Fire gate. She felt the heat pulsating from the gate. "This is going to be your power, but you must work for it. And you'll start by finishing the job." "General Frieda, he was well in his rights to hunt this girl down. She stole his bread."
General Frieda, spun around slowly, walking the warrior into the wall. "Would you rape a girl, that has not even had her blood yet?" The warrior shook his head. "Well he was well in his rights, as you said, to hunt her down. Which part of the bread would you say is rape worthy?" "I-" She struck the warrior in the stomach. He retched falling to his knees. She turned around surprised. Her Fire gate still opened and pulsating with a gentle sway. Ul'lanna and Bi'ranna stood in front of the gate. Ta'shana glanced at the corpse with several burn marks on his arms. 'A Fire and Wind affinity. The perfect match.' "Burn his body and this house to a cinder, and you two will start a new life." Ul'lanna and Bi'ranna held their arms out to the gate and engulfed the corpse in the gate.
Ta'shana smirked watch the fire stretch across the house. She walked the two girls out, one in each hand. "Won't the fire spread?" Bi'ranna asked. "Don't worry about that. Let's just enjoy the show." Ta'shana said walking them to a safe distance. The three of them watched as the house was reduced to a smouldering heap. Unbeknownst to them, a Fire gate circulated behind them. Ta'shana controlling the flames from spreading, letting them enjoy the cathartic sight. "She took us into the army, and into her home. That was the first time, we ever ate a proper meal. Not stale bread with dirty water. I can still remember how amazing it was." Yamada and Jacara turned to each other mouthing silently. 'Sister?' Both shrugged and let her continue. "She trained us day and night, on how to fight, made us read every single survival book, on top of teaching us how to read."
"What happened to her?" Yamada asked, sensing a dreaded ending. "She fought a high prince, and lost." She clenched her jaw and fists. Jacara and Yamada felt a surge of immense heat around her. "That piece of shit, tried to make her into a breeder." The heat became more ferocious, steam begun to rise from her skin. "And when that piece of shit, knew he couldn't break her. He killed her instead." Flames erupted from her skin. Jacara and Yamada reeled back letting out a yelp. Ul'lanna stopped the wagon, and watched with a smile across her face, unable to hold her giggling. As Yamada scrambled to douse the flames she made, and Jacara scrambled to prepare a shaved ice cup for her. The two of them froze in place watching as she begun laughing. "Was that story funny?" Yamada whispered. "I have no idea..."
"Did we miss something funny?" Yamada asked. Ul'lanna shook her head. "I just remembered something, she told me. That I would one day have people in my life, I actually cared for. Didn't think it would be, a Islander Forsaken Knight, and the son of Encara, as both my friends." Yamada took the reins as Jacara gave her the cup. "You said, you had a sister. What happened to her?" Jacara asked. "I don't know. I was older and was made to march out first." "When do you march?" Yamada asked "Eighteen." "And she's how much younger than you?" Jacara gave Yamada a disbelieving stare. "Two years younger." Ul'lanna said playing on. He began counting on his fingers, Jacara's jaw dropped and he lurched forward, bewildered at Yamada. "Yamada, are you trying to calculate her age?" "What? No, I'm trying to. I need that map."
He leapt into the back grabbing the map and laid it flat. "How long will it take us to get to Artaraxus?" "If we aren't delayed by anything, we'll be there in less than a year." "Well, you march at eighteen. And Kal'Nar is down here, she'll be roughly..." "Yamada, what the fuck are you trying to calculate?" Jacara snapped. "It shouldn't take me too long, to destroy Artaraxus's army. Afterwards we'll go straight to the east." "At least you can figure out which way is east." "Shut up. We'll go stay here and find her." "Yamada." Jacara said. "What?" "That's the dumbest fucking plan, I've ever heard of." "What's wrong with it?" Jacara threw his hands up in the air, leaping out of the wagon, letting out a frustrated scream. He dramatically paced around covering his mouth, with Ul'lanna snickering. He leapt back onto the wagon, getting into Yamada's face. "Do you even know the odds of that plan working? Let's not even get into the fact your original plan also kind of sucks." Yamada frowned.
There was nothing wrong with his plan. He was strong and could transform with unbreakable scales. He could destroy each kingdom he went to, given enough time. "You want to patrol a random part, of the eastern board of Jux. With the sliver of hope that we'll find Ul'lanna's sister, and not be swarmed with Elven warriors. After you escape destroying all of Artaraxus unscathed." "Yes." "If you weren't so damn freakishly strong, I would punch you in the face right now." Ul'lanna leapt into the back of the wagon, tying the reins down. "Yamada, it's very, very, sweet of you to think of that. But Jacara's right, the odds of that is impossible." She said patting his shoulder. "Besides, we can't keep getting side tracked. Don't you want to kill Begron?" Jacara said. "Of course, I do. But if we stay there stopping the army from coming to the Citadel. They'll have to bring in stronger people."
Jacara and Ul'lanna paused, hearing his plan. Was it actually starting to make sense. "If we kill enough important people to their army. They'll start sending Elves to us, and we can find her like that." Jacara sighed. He was wrong, the plan was still stupid. "Yamada, I have to teach you about probability and percentages. All your plans are working on miracles." "He's right Yamada. Your plan is crazy, it would be a miracle, or crazy coincidence that we found my sister." "You said it yourself. I'm an Islander, who slept with an Elf and became a Forsaken Knight, with a Water affinity. Jacara is actually able to do physical things now." "Hey!" "You're an Elf, who slept with an Islander and even took a name from my home." "I'm not just going to gloss over your comment." "Even how we met was pure luck. The three of us are now travelling to Artaraxus, and then Kal'Nar to stop a war. What's so crazy, in hoping that we could find your sister?"
Ul'lanna was silent and stunned. "It's still a crazy plan, and you're going to apologise." "Summon your hero card for more than a minute, and I'll believe you." Jacara snarled at him, before sighing. "You asshole, you know I can't." He said slumping back down. Yamada climbed to the front and took the reins. "It's just another place to visit on our way. We'll find her." He said, turning back to smile at Ul'lanna. "Thank you." She said in Elvish. "What's her name anyway?" Jacara asked. "Bi'ranna, but I always called her Banana." She chuckled. Jacara took out a sketch book, and a quill. "What does she look like?" "What are you doing?" "You really trust Yamada, to not accidentally attack her, without a picture?" "He's right. I need a picture." She sat down next to Jacara, as drew a quick outline of her head.
"What's the name of that high prince? I want to make sure I don't kill him." Yamada said. "Prizola Argul." Yamada spun back intrigued. "He's an Argul?" "Yes, one of Begron's children that he actually cared for apparently." "Alright." "Yamada, if you want to kill him you can. I know you want to-" "No, no. It's fine. So long as Begron and all his children are dead. I'm happy so long as I, get to kill him." "Are you sure?" She asked. He nodded. "You should know he has six other's that he really cares for as well." "I call dibs." She snickered. "So there are seven high princes?" Jacara asked. "Yes, each one trained under Begron himself, or so they claim. Personally I think everyone would be strong, if they were fed well." She muttered taking a spoonful of her desert.
Yamada leaned forward spotting another caravan ahead of him. "What is that?" Ul'lanna and Jacara peeked out, seeing the silhouette of a large caravan heading towards them. "I have no idea. Do we have a spy glass? They have flags." Ul'lanna said. Jacara took one out from the boxes handing it to Ul'lanna. She took a quick look and then gasped. "It can't be..." "What is it? Who is it?" Yamada and Jacara asked. The emerald flag fluttered in the wind, with two Wyrms entwined, attached to a pristine palanquin pulled by two Qilins. Trailing behind it, a horde of ragged women lumbering behind locked side by side by a pillory. "It's Kal'Nar royalty."