Alexander: (inner monolog) "I can't believe the guide is the same priest. I mean I know I killed the kids, but geez show some responsibility by assigning somebody attentive. Maybe one of these days the priest should get 'bitten.' Mmh, not a good idea, that'd be too much heat…. Ahh, finally at last, the drop off point. Let's see where the girl goes."
After the priest shoos away the children, he lays down under the same tree as the last outing, closing his eyes for a nap. Alexander stays behind stretching to buy time to watch the directions everyone takes. Nullthara heads off towards the left in the same direction of the clearing from two days ago. Four other children ranging from 10-12 start to follow her.
"Well at least whenever somebody finds the bodies, they'll think the kills are really from an Atra Venena that has claimed this as its territory. Ugh, time to get moving, and probably kill more kids."
Blending into the forest Alexander tracks the pack of children. Nullthara continues forward without paying any heed to those that follow her. The four that are stalking Nullthara are like giants with how loudly they try to sneak, leaves create echoes as they're crushed, unscrupulous giggles call out with malcontent. Upon entering the clearing Nullthara turns facing her would be ambushers.
Nullthara: "I really don't know if you meant to make all that noise or not, but I'm warning you. I'm not in the best of minds, if you approach me, your ass is grass."
Three boys and one girl walk out of the treeline chuckling.
Girl: "Luca, Bask, Julian, I think this creature was threatening us."
Bask: "I'm not too sure Lily, I don't speak mole rat."
Julian: "Ha, ya, don't your kind live under the ground? Perhaps we can help you get to where you belong, alongside your par…"
As he is finishing his statement a fist plants itself square in his mouth. Julian takes a step back stunned, then is crushed by a following clean uppercut. Biting off his tongue, Julian crumpled down unconscious excessively bleeding from his mouth.
Luca: "Kill that drow whore!"
Nullthara gets into an active stance so she can move around easily keeping her opponents in front of her. Bask charges in first advancing with a superman punch, gets sidestepped with a subsequent knee to the stomach. He then ferociously swings his right fist back towards Nullthara, who blocks then wraps up Bask's arm. From her left flank Lily connects a hook into Nullthara's rib cage. Quickly Nullthara moves under Bask's arm flipping him onto the ground, putting him between her and Lily. Nullthara takes the time to lock, then kick in Bask's arm, snapping it like a twig. Although this takes Bask out of the fight, Nullthara takes a haymaker from Luca on her right, causing her ears to ring and a little bit of blood to run from her mouth. Aiming to take the weaker of the two remaining opponents out of the bout, she dodges Luca's follow-up blow moving toward Lily. Lily seeing Nullthara going to attack her, attempts a kick to keep Nullthara at bay. Instead, Nullthara grabs the leg, brings up her left arm then drops her elbow onto the knee, bending Lily's leg 90 degrees forward. After which Nullthara yanks Lily towards her, returning the haymaker she just received knocking Lily out cold. With Nullthara's back turned, Luca bullrushes her. Hearing the sound of Luca charging, Nullthara dips down, kicking out her leg sweeping his feet out from under him. As he is on his back dazed, Nullthara walks up giving him an axe kick straight into his nose, breaking it flat. Nullthara gives a loud exhale of relief, then hears another set of steps start to approach her. Turning, ready to face another opponent, she only sees Alexander with a slight grin on him. Seeing Nullthara's aggressive stance he stops moving forward and points to his ears.
Alexander: "Don't worry, I'm a half-elf myself. Just here to talk."
Nullthara relaxes just a little bit.
Nullthara: "Were you watching the whole time? Why didn't you help?"
Alexander: "I just wanted to see how'd you handle yourself against a few children. Not too bad in my opinion. Are you going to finish the four…" Looking down he sees Julian bleeding to death. "I mean three of them?"
Nullthara: "Why would I do that? They're beaten, there's no point to escalating this incident."
Alexander waves his hand for Nullthara to follow him, leading her to where the bodies of Alfonso's and his lacky are.
Alexander: "Look… wait what's your name?"
Nullthara: "Nullthara."
Alexander: "Pleasure to meet you. By the way, I'm Alexander. Look Nullthara, If you let them go, they will come after you again. On top of that, you may not have noticed, but most humans like our lovely escort priest, don't like half-elves no matter the color. So, who do you think will actually be believed when the story comes out of what happened here? I highly suggest you remove the problem at its roots, like I did."
Alexander waves his hand towards the purple and blackened corpses for Nullthara to see. Her eyes widen as she looks at the dead boys.
Nullthara: "That is quite grotesque."
Alexander: "What's worse is trying to murder someone based on being mixed blood, the day after they went through a tragedy. You know I saw you when you first arrived. Looking like you did, I just don't want you to suffer anymore than you have. So to reiterate, you have two choices."
He then pulls out the needle and vial of venom.
"You can of course, let them off the hook for attacking you. This would end with you getting severe punishments, especially since one is about to die, which would be blamed on you. Or, you work with me, take this venom, dip the needle into it, and poke two holes into each one of them, and wash your hands of this whole situation."
Nullthara pauses, contemplates her choices, then slightly nods. She reaches out taking the venom along with the needle, then starts to walk back to the unconscious group. When she is standing over Lily, Luca, Bask, and Julian, she opens the vial, dipping the needle into it. Bending down she stabs Lily twice in the ankle, Luca twice on the wrist, Bask twice in the neck, Julian twice on his stomach. In just a few moments the bodies start to contort, turning purple-ish black like the previous pair, black blood pouring out of them. Nullthara, closing the vial hands it with the needle back to Alexander, never taking her eyes off the event. Only when the corpses cease to move does Nullthara break the silence.
Nullthara: "What did you mean by work with you?"
Alexander smiles.
Alexander: "I have grand ambitions. I'll form a massive mercenary company of only half-elves, we will do anything to gain enough gold to fill the Senoon Sea. Next, well, I'll let you know the next part of my plan later, if you join me."
Nullthara: "I have no aim or goals anymore. I was to have an adventure with my parents, but they were stripped from me. I want… no, need to have revenge on the Xiltyn Dynasty. If that can be a part of your ambitions, I will follow you into the Nine Hells and back."
Alexander reaches out to embrace Nullthara's arm, which she responds in kind.
Alexander: "The destruction of the Dynasty just moved higher on my to do list. It's a pleasure to be working with you, partner."