"Man, Why do we have to be on guard duty for a stupid museum?" Artus complained, "They're Sooo boring!" Artus yelled loudly with extra stress on "boring" as he was irritated by this job. "Because Josue can't be here tonight." Ember Answered, "Even though, this is his special Artifact display opening." Ember finished with some disappointment.
"I'm not going to complain, If guard duty can earn us Josue's trust." Lyle stated confidently, "Successfully guarding this should show our loyalty as well." Lyle finished, Relaxed.
"You got me with that and it is only for one night!" Artus replied, "And with Josue trusting us, perhaps we could finally meet him!" Ember responded excitedly.
The Trio finally arrived at the special museum they're assigned to protect for the night. Upon their arrival, they're greeted by their fellow security guards who were assigned as they were. The man in charge of security greeted them first, "Hi, I'm Rod fleese, I'm head of security here." He introduced himself with confidence and joy.
"We're the Gen-Oath members assigned to assist you guys with firmer security tonight." Ember replied, "I can tell by all that fancy high tech gear!" Rod replied before he whistled, "They really went all out for you guys, wow!" Rod Fleece said as he was amazed.
"Well, Our job is significantly more dangerous than yours, so." Ember said bluntly and mockingly, "Riiight!" Rod responded before a long moment of awkward silence inched in, "Yeah, Well, you guys want a tour of the museum?" Rod asked, breaking the silence, "Some guys just moved everything in before you guys came and we're just about ready to open." Rod finished.
Rod and the Trio made their way inside, the museum hadn't opened yet so it was empty but all the artifacts were securely on display already. Each artifact didn't look the same obviously, each one was different though some were the same sort of item, such as some were necklaces, medallions, specific clothing items and each had the history displayed next to them cognate with Josue's knowledge of the specific item.
"Each of these are ancient!!" Artus yelled out in amazement, like a child he curiously explored and separated from his siblings, "They wouldn't be called 'Artifacts' if they weren't, Artus." Ember replied with a sarky tone.
Lyle split off from the group too eventually and went from display to display alone and decided to read the history behind each artifact. "If these are so powerful and inimitable, they must be unimaginably valuable. Why did he put them on display where they could get stolen?" Lyle asked aloud when he meant to keep it in his head.
Rod snuck up behind him and answered, "Because back in the 1800s when Generil was known as Nicollet, his family, the Detayverns, were held as the richest family in france, but the title was snatched by the Durants, the rivaling family, the durants however just... disappeared off of the face of the earth at some point, sort of sad honestly." Rod informed Lyle in a heartfelt tone. Lyle glared at a wall, lost in his thoughts after hearing what Rod told him.
Ember snuck up behind Rod, startling him, like he was trying to do to Lyle except by accident then asked, "How much history of this place do you know and could you relay some to a new friend?" In a curious tone, "Isn't Artus way over there?" Rod replied as a joke, but it just left Ember with an unamused glare.
"I don't know much but I do know that Josue used to be, and probably still is, an archeologist and treasure hunter, that's of course how he has all of this stuff!" Rod relayed Ember, fascinating her.
"You could make a book from how much Josue made history in this place..." Lyle said in his head as he continued thinking deeply about other questions about Generil that came from the time he's spent in it.
A few hours go by, and now the museum is ready to be opened to the folks willing to attend, entrance is free, allowing all the citizens to see the wondrous, awe-inspiring, flabbergasting collection of ancient and enduring items Josue has collected over his many, many, many, many years as he held sway.
Immediately upon the grand opening, the museum was filled with folk ready to see if Josue can live up to his promise.
Artus met with one crusty, cantankerous old man who was loud. The constant fault finding the man yelled from the top of his lungs after reading the history of each display attracted Artus to him in the first place, especially the many claims after each petty criticism that the artifacts he has, are better.
"What's going on here?" Artus asked the distressed viewer, "Uh, yeah, Hello biggy, I'm complaining about these weak and lame ARTIFACTS on display here!" The old man answered as Artus could tell this man was exceptionally nitpicky.
"Well, what do you know about artifacts and relics, then?" Artus questioned as if he was shockingly serious to Josue's old skeptic. The skeptic himself descried that the Gen-Oath member in front of him simply was gullible. "I know that it says that these necklaces are enchanted to give you telepathy, Telekinesis and Psychometry when worn, but you can enchant these for physical creation or to enhance mentifery while you naturally unlock latent talents from the fact that mankind had children with an ancient kingdom that perfected the mysterious force and energy of an immature god's authority as one final gift to spice up the earth." The nitpicker answered in a genuine tone.
"How would you know all of that, bro?" Artus asked, confused. "I come from a poor family who've studied this stuff in the dewy eyed ages— I'm thinking of writing a guide book to help his plan." The old skeptic answered in a sketchy tone. Artus realized he'd heard something similar in his childhood. "Well, don't stop there guy, tell me some more of this mess!" Artus shouted joyfully, truly wanting to learn more from the older man. "In this era, I've been observing, it seems another old man gave into an addiction we've all had once where we come from, giving us relic harnessers rather than merely various descendants of the realm's authority cultivators. Relic harnessers vary in strength and number but they can only be capable of as much authority as he had decided to give while being left with as many powers. Bastard made way too many, a catastrophic event is only a week away, I'd be hunting for him for this stupidity if there weren't someone who was far more worthy of my attention." The old man elaborated even further on the knowledge he possessed. Artus found it amusing. "Maybe hadt'a guess, it'd that the relic harnesser's power comes from whatever old item decided on, while the other thing—er, dudes— would it be pretty natural to them?" Artus asked after he snapped and had a beaming smile feeling confidently about his guess. The older man was taken aback, by the accuracy in his guess and unexpected engagement. "This one definitely has strong potential with his latent divine fortune, it seems he's only capable of conjuring with his inkling of authority yet he's able to pour the divine one's energy to make his weenie lead pellets strong enough to obliterate earth's original and yet unfortunately cursed creatures." The elder skeptic kept to himself as Artus went on talking as he smiled as if he were listening.
Meanwhile...
A woman is fascinated as she watches Lyle, who is stuck in thought, from afar but he doesn't notice her as he's stuck in his mind, "If these artifacts are so valuable, why are they behind typical glass, is this glass something special?" Lyle asked himself as he leaned against a wall. The Sangfroid Paragon's moved his attention away from his ruminations of the Josue when the young, dark, tantalizing woman introduced herself to him, he looked up and saw a dark skinned beauty, "Hello there, handsome!" Said the young woman, "I'm Bacia Durant." The young woman said in an alluring tone as she introduced herself.
"Ok." Following awkward silence, Lyle responded as he listened to her speak heedlessly, "Do you want to go somewhere and talk?" Bacia asked, "No." Lyle answered sternly without a second thought about his answer.
Bacia was shocked and surprised by Lyle's answer, she didn't know what to do so she asked, "Well, ugh, why not?!" Bacia asked angrily and frustrated and confused, "I have an assignment to stick to right now, can't leave." Lyle answered as calmly as ever.
"If I could get your boss to give you a break, then would you consider talking to me?" Bacia asked, "No." Lyle answered sternly again. Bacia hid her detestation Lyle's rejection engendered and let it show outward. "Well, can I get ya name then, handsome?" Bacia asked, cooled down, "ehh, no..." Lyle answered once more, infuriating Bacia once even further.
Bacia walked away with the attitude of a 5 year old girl, not being able to handle the fact she got rejected, and the last guy who rejected her advances, was killed. Walking out of Lyle's hearing range, Bacia received a call, "Move onto the big one, he's far more seducable." The man on the phone ordered her quickly before hanging up, Bacia's attention immediately turned to who she assumed her boss was speaking of, that was Artus. Bacia immediately made her way to him and interrupted the conversation Artus and the skeptic from before were having, but she gained Artus' attention quickly.
"Do you mind if we talk in private, cutie?" Bacia asked in a similar seductive tone she tried on his brother earlier but this time with a shy giggle the towering soldier found too cute while he followed her finger, Artus unlike his brother immediately answered her "Yes, please!" Before they went somewhere private, Artus felt like he should wrap his arm around her, and he did.
The two went to the storage room, which was guarded by security, but Artus showed his "Gen-Oath ID" showing that he's trusted and has authority from Josue, the guards allowed him and his guest entry without further questioning.
"Oh yeah, I'm kinda a big shot around here, lady!" Artus bragged as he walked with Bacia.
Meanwhile...
"Mon ange, that sword you got in hand there is all too fascinating to me." Said the dashing gent in the fine tuxedo who approached Ember as she was patrolling around a few exhibits, reading each of the history behind the displays. "Mind telling me about it?" He asked her. The man's friendly voice, the way he approached with sparkling teeth and almost golden blonde hair made her blush, fortunately she swiftly realized her helmet was still on her head, she didn't realize until a few moments later however, that she was stuttering as she attempted to reply, when she did take notice the Blue-stocking blade immediately cleared her throat and refused to allow it to happen again. "Oh, yeah?" Ember asked rhetorically, "What would a tool looking fool truly know about blades?" Ember asked but in a whispered voice.
"I know that, based on my appearance, I seem more like the gun wielding type of American, but contrary to popular belief, not all off us are cowards and many— myself— personally prefer class and appreciating swordsmanship over marksmanship as the art embodies mercy and the sense of achievement, especially when you've realized that your technique has improved. The art in general allows actual Grace and style that pulling a simple trigger can't provide. My favorite, though, is a saber." The man answered the mysterious Gen-Oath guard standing in front of him. "I bet you spell the letter R in saber before the letter E, don't you?" Ember asked with her usual smart-aleck tone. Dolion chuckled at the question.
"Well, the man should ideally introduce himself first. I'm Dollion Durant, and several time front cover model of the globally famous "Swords for Eccentrics" magazine." The blonde haired Gentleman introduced himself with a comforting smile as he pulled out an issue of the magazine from his back pocket and tried to shake Ember's hand with the other hand.
"Do you... carry around an issue of the magazine on you all the time?" Ember asked with true interest, "Do you walk around carrying a sword all the time?" Dolion Fired back in the same tone.
"Hmmm... alright, please add more to your words, tell me something about swords I'm not already aware of..." Ember replied and challenged, "It perhaps could be greater my darling, if I show you my swordsmanship rather than explain something new, I mean, Clearly it wouldn't be new to you, you can't teach someone who's far more taught than you, now could you?" Dolion responded.
"Good point. What's with the Nunchaku part of your waist, handso—?" Ember asked after she noticed them under his suit. The Blue-stocking blade cut herself off after realizing she was falling for his charm and entrancing demeanor.
"Whoa, you noticed them?" Dolion asked rhetorically and nervously, "They're sort of… a hobby. I didn't think you'd be interested." Dolion finished.
"I'll find us a private spot if you give me a show, a demonstration of how dangerous they are in your hands." Ember stated as she got slightly closer.
"I refuse to let a striking woman like yourself witness something so hideous and outcast….. like me with nunchaku!" Dolion declared after a slight chuckle.
Meanwhile...
"For these to be valuable artifacts that Josue found on his travels, he must have surrounded them with tough glass, right?" Lyle thought as he couldn't figure out why Josue put his valuable artifacts on display in the first place.
Lyle took out his custom knife given to him by Professor Jikolson when he first arrived, the blade was said to be significantly stronger than all the metals on earth, but at first he tries to uppercut the glass, which proved his theory of the glass not being regular, then he attempts to cut into the glass with the blade but not even a scratch is put on it.
Many weirded out folk around stared at him, as if he was weird.
"Yeah buddy, you are obviously new to this town." Rod said jokingly as snuck up on Lyle again, Lyle showed no fear once more, "I am new." Lyle replied as he gave Rod a cold, intimidating stare.
"One thing you should know about this place is anything that Josue personally invests in is literally invincible!" Rod says and informs, "I... should go and find my siblings right about now..." Lyle stated confidently and calmly, using the acting skills S.I.O.M taught him, "I saw your sister go upstairs, you should start with her..." Rod said and suggested before he felt awkward.
Without uttering another word, Lyle left Rod and made his way upstairs to check on his sister. He had to show his ID to fellow security first but they allowed him access, while upstairs, he luckily guessed the 3rd room down the hall, which was the room they were in. The couple's attention is turned onto Lyle once they realize that he's entered the room, Dolion was weirdly happy even though he didn't show it.
The couple's conversation was halted when Ember received a message on her comms from Artus, asking her to come and meet his new girlfriend. She thought it was in fact weird that he has one, so she tells Lyle about it but he denies going with her and asks Dolion to talk before she leaves.
Even though Dolion couldn't see it, Lyle was giving him a deadly glare, a habit Lyle picked up. Dolion tried to make small talk with Lyle before he received a call himself. He kept his eyes on the handsome pretty boy Ember was speaking with and he got an abysmal vibe.
"You've got feelings for the girl." The voice told Dolion. Dolion let out a low sigh. "He's should be easy work. Take him out then move on to the rendezvous point. Rarely ever does he use his powers, take him out before he does." Said the caller.
"Y'know... My boss is quite a big fan of yours!" Dolion told Lyle before he made his way over to a large chest, in which he grabbed out his signature blades known as "Kalis" then eased comfortably into a battle readied stance.
"How'd you smuggle those swords in here?" Asked Lyle in a calm tone, "QUIET DOWN AND GET READY, I'M DASHING AT YA!" Dolion yelled with hype as he prepared to move into action.
Meanwhile...
Ember finally reached the basement, where Artus on the text, told her to meet him and his girlfriend. Upon entering, she barges in on a woman softly kissing her brother on his lips as he's unconscious and has his helmet halfway on. Ember makes a face of total disgust, "Who are you and what are you doing to my brother?!" Ember asked as she summoned her sword.
"My name is Kasasantra kalipee, and your brother was such a cutie, I couldn't resist!" Bacia answered Ember as she stood up, removing Artus from her lap and making him face plant on the ground. Ember deeply sighed and said "We just dealt with a seductress like you, why another?" In an angry and irritated tone.
"Mmmmm... Was she as strong as me?" Bacia asked immediately, "I guess we'll see!" Ember answered, then she dashed swiftly.
Meanwhile...
"TAKE THIS!" Dolion yelled fiercely as he dashed and tried to thrust his blade into Lyle's chest, "Failed!" Lyle replied as he reacted quickly, grabbing Dolion's wrist and twisting around, causing Dolion to grunt his knees.
Using the other blade in his free arm, Dolion slashed the wrist of the hand holding his own wrist, then jumped back, creating a distance between the two.
"How in the hell did my sword not penetrate your ravishing armor?" Dolion asked, a bit scared but totally confused, "Like someone told me, Everything Josue invests in, is invincible." Lyle answered, calmly and unafraid, unfazed.
"YOU THINK YOUR BOSS IS THE ONLY WITH A POWERFUL INVENTORY?!" Dolion passionately yelled before he started laughing, "Well mine does too, Imbecilic guard!" Said Dolion, before pulling down a sleeve to show he's been wearing a bracelet that reminded him of someone's necklace.
Energy in the form of tempered grey electricity that blanketed Dolion like an aura, as a crazily determined facial expression alongside it. Dolion's luscious golden hair adopted a tempered grey streak.
"We can go if ya like, but my speed has now been dramatically increased, I like to give my victims warnings first!" Said Dolion calmly even though his face was loud, "I will eventually tear through that winsome armor!" He yelled angrily, "Or I'll rip it off you and the rest of your team!" Dolion reluctantly threatened, not changing his face.
"That girl's matching necklace, these guys must be organized thieves, Josue was correct for putting us on guard duty." Lyle theorized in his head as he gave Dolion a cold stare.
Lyle grabbed out his knife and prepared himself for a classic knife fight, but Dolion's speed proved too great for him. Dolion practically flew circles around Lyle all while Lyle tried his best to predict his next move, Dolion would sometimes slash perfectly where Lyle predicted but Dolion always dodged then slash elsewhere. After laughing at Lyle constantly, Dolion struck his strongest each hit, but the knockback of it all, was far more effective than his own attacks.
"His speed is similar to Ember's but I would have a better time of predicting her than this nutjob." Lyle figured half way through, and as he kept his guard up, protecting his head like he was trained, "Can't you see that you're my boss to yours?" Dolion asked, "You'll never defeat me!" Dolion finished confidently and smirked.
"I don't know who your boss is but the habit of badmouthing him isn't very professional." Lyle replied before he rolled away from Dolion's constant attacks, "Know what, we've been fighting long enough!" Dolion declared, "The heist men should be done with the job below. This could've been a fun fight. Bye." Said Dolion before rushing to exit by the window.
Dolion turned around and dived out of the window of the 3 story building, but he jumped from the 2nd floor.
Lyle quickly realized that he'll never be able to catch his swift fleeing assailant, instead, he rushed down to the Artifacts but instead of finding any missing or stolen as he was expecting, he described piles of bodies, a few his own men and others that of guests. He finds a note that reads: "Call the cops wouldja?" Which he listened to and called them. "Doubt is settling in." Said Lyle through his thoughts upon seeing the huge mess.
Previously...
Bacia grabbed one of her necklaces and held it tight. Ember grabbed her sword by the blade and swung the handle of it towards Bacia, with the intention of subduing her, not killing her.
"Years of anti-teleporting training with Lyle, don't disappoint me." Ember said in her head, whilst turning around to find Bacia behind her, belly dancing.
"Do you always enjoy a good belly dance during a battle?" Ember asked, irked from her goofy dancing, "Only against opponents that have zero chance of winning against me." Bacia answered calmly as she continued. Artus would be drooling if he was conscious.
Ember became furious by Bacia's cockiness. Her ego got on Ember's nerves. The Blue-stocking blade aggressively went on a rampage constantly going for swings but Bacia's teleportation was too instantaneous for Ember, Too fast for Ember to catch, and Bacia's predictions of where she'd swing were too accurate making it almost impossible for Ember as well to land anything.
Each time Ember would go in for an attack, Bacia teleported away, then teleported away more then back to taunt her. Finally after 12 minutes into the fight, Bacia tried attacking, tried using her daggers thinking the daggers would penetrate Ember's armor, she found out that she wasn't winning the fight herself either. Bacia let out a gasp when her daggers broke from the sheer durability of the armor protecting Ember's heart.
"Mmmmm, I don't really care if I win anyway, it gets me going to watch my opponents struggle to catch me, and not realize that their struggle is pointless." Bacia stated after being somewhat irked from not being able to win herself, she took pleasure in seeing her enemy struggle as much. She chuckled and Ember rolled her eyes.
Ember's frustration grew further as she continued trying to get a hit in, for her pride as a swordsman, she was determined to land just one. The game of cat and mouse went on with the two for quite a few minutes before Ember decided to take a break.
"You remind me of my brother, always thinking that speed and a sword can solve all of your problems. 'Least he can afford it." Bacia stated before she giggled, "Her brother?" Ember asked herself in her head, "She can't mean that graceful hunk, right?" Ember asked, feeling betrayed yet wasn't completely sure.
"Welp, Bye little miss!" Bacia said out of nowhere, before Bacia could teleport away, Ember stopped her and asked "Wait, what were your goals tonight?" Ember asked quickly, Bacia snuggled herself before she smiled the smile of someone who is cocky and answered.
"I might as well tell you, seeing as to how, you'll never beat me anyway!" Bacia started with an overconfident smile, infuriating Ember, "We were here for EVERY artifact that Josue had up on display." Bacia answered before giggling once more.
"Were…?" Ember asked, confused, "Yep, but our men should be done by now." Bacia answered, "Welp, Bye now!" Bacia said as she waved goodbye, however, before she could do anything, Bacia was shot in both of her shoulders speedily. Bacia fell to the ground, bleeding and unfortunately for her knocked off her focus, which was necessary for her to use her artifact which acted as her escape.
Lyle came down with some Generil paramedics that arrived and sprinted rushing in before him, with more paramedics taking care of those down above. "I knew they could do it." Lyle said in his head, "Now we have to catch that quick bastard." Lyle finished. Ember dismissed her sword and calmed down, while her irritation marked Artus as the target, "Damn it Artus, I was about to bring her in." Ember said out loud Irked.
"You're welcome, I did it for ya older sis!" Artus replied whilst lying down on the ground, and giving a thumbs up, still feeling the drawbacks of whatever Bacia did to him. Ember kept her irritated face on, but asked Lyle, "What happened with you and Dolion after I left?" hopeful expressed with her eyes that he answers what she wanted him to answer.
Lyle answered "He was a part of this attack, and he kept me distracted for a while by running circles around me, then bailed and headed out of the upstairs window." Lyle answered calmly. Ember said nothing back, and instead, turned her head as if she was thinking about something deeply. Artus paid attention to Ember as she asked about Dolion. "Anyways, we better check around for any clues left behind as an extra safety precaution." Lyle suggested, his siblings agreed.