Kingdom of Hallos, City of Beswind, Present day.
Roy let out an exasperated sigh as he walked down the odd tunnels.
The walls were elegantly carved and they somehow let off some sort of moonlight glow, making the use of torches obsolete.
He and Xeto had their hands bound, men with shoulder tattoos similar to the girl's in front and at their rear. "You know have quite the stamina, miss," he called out to the girl in front of him. "Jumping rooftop to rooftop and across the whole city. I have to say I'm impressed. Though it begs the question, do you have that same endurance in other activities.
All of the men, including Xeto, looked at him with unpleased eyes.
The girl however remained silent, focus forward.
"Nothing eh? You know I had a dream like this once. Though it was less intimidating seeing as I was surrounded by soft-skinned women rather than muscular unbathed men."
"Roy," said Xeto, before putting a finger up to his mouth. He looked at the girl. "You. Where are you taking us? How do you know my brother's name?"
One of the rear men slapped the back of Xeto's head. "Oy, shut it."
Xeto grimaced. "Touch me again and I'll—"
"Do what?" finished the girl. "Don't try making threats when you're the one in binds."
"You owe me answers."
"We all want answers," she mumbled.
They reached a large dome-shaped room with a large pool of water at its center. A bridge made of the same luminous stone stretched across the large gap.
One of the large men pushed Xeto forward. "Hope you can swim with bound hands."
Roy scowled. "Aye, easy lad. My friend here doesn't like your advances."
"Pfft. Won't be jesting after Keilerah is done with you."
The girl took hold of Xeto who was now on his knees at the edge of the pool.
"Keilerah huh?" said Xeto. "I saved you from a turned."
Keilerah's eyes met his. "And now you'll wish you hadn't. Saving an enemy? That was your mistake." She took hold of his nape and forced his head below the water.
Roy's voice was stuck in his throat as his mind caught up to the scene.
Xeto kicked and squirmed as endless bubbles rose to the surface.
"Stop! You're going to kill him!" yelled Roy.
She pulled him out.
Xeto gasped for air before panting heavily. Water ran down his head, wetting his uniform.
She lined up beside his ear. "I'm going to make you pay for what you did." She dipped him back into the abyss.
"Stop! Listen to me!" Roy neared her only to be pulled back by the one of her men.
Most of the men laughed aloud as the water foamed from his friend's writhing. "Don't hold him down there too long eh, if you kill him, you'll end the fun."
She heaved him back up.
Roy's chest felt heavy as he tried looking him in the eye. "Hey lad, are you alright! C'mon speak to me!"
Xeto gasped and coughed before he heaved to one side. His hair dripped onto the stone as he retched out water. "R-Roxas…How do you know that name?"
"Why does that matter?" she stated. "You're about to—"
"Hey!" Roy threw is foot forward but was yet again pulled back. "We're not Zuland soldiers!"
Between coughs Xeto looked up at him then to Keilerah. "It'll take more than a bit of water to be rid of me."
Keilerah scoffed. "Desperate to throw away your allegiance once you're at death's entrance."
"Roxas was my brother!" yelled Xeto.
For the first time Keilerah paused with parted lips. She pulled him away from the edge. "Was?"
Xeto's face was still pale. "He died two years ago in Hansel."
All of the surrounding men murmured to one another as they noticed Keilerah change of tone.
She drew closer to his ear. "How?"
Xeto slowed his breathing as he gritted his teeth. "A Zuland soldier killed him. So, don't you fucking dare compare me to those spineless dogs. Wearing their colors alone makes me sick."
"What's happening here?" A black-coated man neared them from behind the men.
Keilerah stood. "I was washing this one's hair." She pointed down at Xeto who was lightly coughing up water. Her gaze narrowed as she looked past him. "Who in Solitude are those two?"
Roy released a sigh of relief as he saw Rebecca. Though his cheerfulness was short lived as he saw that she held a boy captive and that Anaria was with her. "Sylph, what are you doing here?"
Keilerah glared at the huntress. "Why is she holding her weapon against Calanus?"
The men grew red with anger and reached for their weapons.
"Don't," ordered the man.
One of the men pointed an accusing finger at Rebecca. "But Captain Adulfus—"
"I told her that I wasn't her enemy. And I won't allow to you make a liar out of me. Were mercenaries, not assassins."
Keilerah freed her blade from the sheath at her lower back and closed in on them. "Enough coin and the line between those two seems to blur, doesn't it?"
"Being the guildmaster's daughter doesn't mean you're free to do as you like." He pointed at Rebecca. "You, I carried out my end, now lower your weapon."
Rebecca ran her eyes across all of them.
"Did you not hear him?" growled Keilerah. "Holster your cannon."
"My commander, he comes with me first."
Adulfus sighed. "That wasn't the bargain. I said I'd bring you to him. Not that you would get him back."
"Then maybe I'll spend more time with Calanus here." She pulled him in closer.
"Wait!" shouted Roy. "There's no need for any more violence." He felt his heart thump against the chest plate.
Keilerah conjured a light crystal in her free hand. "Enough of this." She swung her arm forward, launching the crystal like a lance.
Rebecca quickly shattered the incoming projectile with a perfectly placed shot.
Keilerah dashed in closer as Rebecca tossed the boy aside and rolled away from an incoming sword swing. Keilerah advanced with another slash.
Rebecca parried the blade using her revolver, giving her enough time to land a heavy kick to her opponent's gut. She quickly moved in as she unsheathed a dagger from beneath her cloak and swung for her opponent's neck.
Keilerah dodged it by mere inches. She grappled Rebecca's upper arm and tossed her legs up, twirling around her adversary's neck. She landed firmly behind her and hurled the huntress down.
Rebecca rapidly countered the fall with a perfectly-timed roll.
Roy couldn't help but admire her speed. The lack of armor was an advantage that allowed her to keep up with the mercenary.
Rebecca glared back at her as she trained her revolver directly for her head. "Try it."
Keilerah returned a glare.
"Cousin, help!" a sudden high-pitched voice called out. From in between the men appeared a young violet-eyed girl. Her crimson hair tied back into a long ponytail.
"What is it?" Adulfus called back.
"It's Morion, he's not breathing!" Tears bulged in the girl's eyes as she neared Anaria. "Please you have to help."
Anaria knelt down as cleaned a tear from the girl's cheek. "It's alright." She caressed the child's hair. "Explain what happened."
"H-he coughed—there was blood then he stopped breathing." She pointed a shaky finger back towards a tunnel on the opposite side of the chamber. "He's over here." She tugged on Anaria's dress. "Please—please come quick."
Anaria followed the young girl and disappeared into the tunnel.
Calanus was the first to follow, and behind him was most of the men.
"Anaria," called Xeto. He stood and followed the men's trail.
Keilerah looked back. "You're not leaving." Her words fell on deaf ears as he continued for the exit.
Adulfus shot his arm in between the two combatants. A long silver blade slid out of his gauntlet, splitting the sea of hatred that was shared by both warriors. "Weapons down, both of you."
Rebecca slowly pulled her revolver back.
Keilerah hesitantly stepped back. "This doesn't change anything."
Adulfus nodded in disapproval. "Erik wont condone this."
Roy's heart slowed as the tension loosened. He shot Rebecca a smile. "Glad you're here."
She gave him a quick nod before following Adulfus' lead.
They made their way through more of the wide tunnels and found themselves in a long room that resembled military barracks. A dozen beds with linens which were in desperate need of a wash and weapons stored on old weapon racks.
A crowd surrounded a singular bed. There were numerous murmurs as a familiar light blazed brightly.
Anaria's celestial aura… Roy shoved his way through the men who were too enthralled by the sight.
A shirtless man lay still on a bed. Bandages stained brown with dry blood covered his abdomen.
Anaria ran her hands slowly across his chest. With each exhale came a warm glow from her hands.
The red-haired girl sniffled at his bedside.
Anaria put her ear to his chest and frowned. She placed her hands over his wound once more. "Jirdeth-sirerienthre-suru," she whispered as the radiance of her aura came again. "Jirdeth-sirerienthre-suru."
The men looked at one another.
"Jer-death? What is she saying? Some sort of curse?" said one.
"Aye don't be cursing our man, you hear." said another.
Adulfus cut in front of them. "It's elven, imbeciles."
"Are you certain, sir? What be she saying?"
"Gods cherish you. It's a prayer."
Roy raised an eyebrow. "You understand elven?"
"Enough," he retorted.
Anaria put her placed her head on his chest once more. She smiled as it rose and fell slowly.
The young girl jumped with glee. "Morion! He's breathing!" She hugged Anaria, her tears rolled from her cheek onto his sister's dress.
Anaria smiled as she caressed the young girl's hair. "He'll be fine now. I promise."
Roy smiled, brought forth by her gentle voice.
The girl broke away. "Thank you so much miss…what is your name?"
"Anaria," she answered.
"Thank you, Anaria. My name is Kilo. Short for Cora'kilo."
Anaria put an arm around her as she looked back at Adulfus. "You'll need to clean the bandages soon. Once he's awake and able, give him some a water as well."
Adulfus waved off the men that stood in awe. "The rest of you, leave us be."
They shuffled off with some turning to look every few steps.
"As for you," he said as he drew closer to Anaria. "Thank you for saving him."
"I did what I had to. Nothing more."
"No, more than that. You helped someone who's unknown to you. That earns you my trust…and an apology." He looked over to Keilerah who was leaning against the wall, arms crossed. "I believe you owe them a bit of gratitude."
She scoffed as she narrowed her gaze. "Make sure Morion survives." She eyed Anaria. "If he dies, your life is forfeit, priestess." She pushed off the wall and bumped into Adulfus on her way out.
"Keep scowling and your face is going to get stuck that way," said Adulfus.
Roy sat back on a nearby bed as his nerves eased. "Quite the little adventure."
Rebecca closed in on Xeto and embraced him. Some of the water from his hair dripped onto her cheek as she looked up at him. "You simply cannot stay out of trouble, Commander. But I'm glad to see you safe."
Xeto shook his head, he seemed at ease though was devoid of a smile. "I'm glad to see you're safe as well. When did you arrive in the city? Better yet, is King Ered here?"
"He is. And you'll be glad to hear that he doesn't plan on holding you accountable for whatever may have happened from Hansel until now."
Calanus and Kilo's eyes darted between the two hunters.
Adulfus put a hand on the young girl's shoulder. "I'll make sure Morion is safe and taken care of. For now, go with Keilerah, and take Calanus with you."
"But I want to stay here with the pretty huntress," retorted the boy.
Kilo pulled him away. "Eww, don't say gross stuff, Cal. Come on, let's go." She turned back once more with a widened smile. "Thank you, Anaria."
Adulfus eyed the group one by one. "The Commander and an archer wearing false colors. His subordinate and a healer...Anaria" He said 'Anaria' with a pleased grin, causing her to blush lightly. "You're an odd group—and more importantly, you're not Zuland. So…answer me this, who are you?"