Kiyoshi enters the bar. He looks around to see if the stranger in the hoodie form early was present. He eyes the patrons, who are all in their own right, very mysterious looking. Most of them wear masks and other garments to cover their faces. Kiyoshi was leisurely strolling through the bar when he feels someone staring at him. He immediately turns to see the hooded figure from before staring at him from across the bar. The two briefly share eye contact before adverting these eyes from one another to avoid drawing attention to themselves.
Within minutes Kiyoshi arrives at the table and takes a seat next to the hooded stranger. Even though the face of the stranger is hidden, Kiyoshi could tell by the person's frame that they were female.
"Good day. My name is Christina Grutte Pier, and I presumed you are Kiyoshi Kataigure, the blood samurai." Remarks the stranger as she gently holds onto Kiyoshi's hands. Her soft and plush hands easily melt into Kiyoshi's own.
"Grutte Pier, I know I have heard that name before, but where?" Remarked Kiyoshi as the two locked eyes. With Christina's large blue eyes shining brightly through the shadow of the hood.
"Sarah Grutte Pier, I remember now the villagers were chanting her name while they were protesting today." Remarked Kiyoshi as he ponders the mission ahead.
"Yes, Sarah is my twin sister, and she has been captured by the Tucsons. She is the leader of the Anges du sol. A group of freedom fighters dedicated to the liberation of oppressed people." Replied Christina as she continued holding Kiyoshi's hand whilst stroking her finger against the palm of his hand.
"I see, so you need me to rescue her, is that it?" Replied Kiyoshi as he orders drinks for both him and Christina.
"Correct!" She is very important not just to me, her sister, but to Anges du sol and to all the people that need her help." Replied Christina as she holds up the tears from falling down her face.
"Sure, but I need to see the face of the person I will be working for at least" Remarks Kiyoshi as he looks at her with a tender smile on his face.
Christina hesitates before pulling her hood over slowly, revealing her face. Behind the hood was a young girl in her late teens or early twenties. Her long blonde hair was braided into one long ponytail. Freckles filled her reddish cheeks as she blushes. Her eyes were elegantly long and pointy and she wore a cross shape pendant around her neck.
"You're a halfling?" Asked Kiyoshi as Christina swiftly threw the hood over her head, hiding her appearance.
"Yes, I and my sister are halflings as our mother was an elf and our father was human." Replied Christina as she continues to hide her face.
"I understand if there is a group of people almost as hated as me, it's halflings. But don't worry, you are safe around me. No need to hide." Remarked Kiyoshi as slowly reaches out his hand to hold hers.
"Thank you. This is why rescuing my sister is so important. As a halfling, she was able to get people to adore and love her and call for her when they are in need. We need her if anything was to happen to her. It won't only be a loss for the oppressed people of lutter en Paix and the other towns but our people as well." Cried Christina as she paused for a moment before continuing.
"As you know, elves and humans lived together for thousands of years in peace. But after the demonic conversation event, humans, due to their hate for anything different, drove the elves from society and almost to the verge of extinction. Some elves choose to stay amount the humans in disguises and others choose to flee to a realm of their own. Those who choose to stay bred with humans that weren't blinded by the events of the demonic conversation, thus creating halflings.
But even though this new species of humanoid was half-human, they were also half-something else. Thus, they were hated just like full elves, abused and tortured just because of something we had no control over. But that all changed when my sister took a stand. Now we are respected and mostly welcomed by the citizens of the town. But now we must hide as we did before, thanks to the Tucson's hunting us down." Remarked Christina, whose emotions were starting to overflow.
"I understand, and I am here to help. Now tell me what is it that I am up against." Replied Kiyoshi as he tries to reassure Christina that everything will be alright. She thanks him for the reassurance and begins to explain the mission to him.
"My sister is being kept in the faible d'esprit Tucson Stronghold, west of the town. She is being kept prisoner by duke Louis Raphael Adamson Pier, the Ruling puppet that the Tucson. He is a weak fool of a man who thinks he is above everyone, including the gods above. The old fool sold his people to Tucson for a false power. So they are keeping my sister trapped inside the stronghold awaiting her execution. But we must free her before then. My sister gave up herself to protect everyone else." Christina remarked with rage building in her voice.
"Tell me what happened! Tell me how she was captured," Kiyoshi replied as he slightly lean forward into Christina to hear her response.
Christina took a deep breath before explaining that one of their members, a halfling called Arthur Julian René, betrayed them. She continued by adding that all the members of Anges du sol were all gathered as they usually did. When they were ambushed by Tucson's soldiers and Arthur was leading them. She added that they were outnumbered and that her sister stayed behind to hold off the Tucsons for them to escape and, with that; she was captured and taken to the stronghold to await execution. And Arthur was made the Duke's right-hand man with the promise to rule his town if he helps capture the other members of Anges du sol.
Lastly, Christina added that she was hiding as she was now the face of Anges du sol until her sister returns. Kiyoshi nodded and remarked that he will scout out the stronghold and get Sarah out. The two smile and proceed to leave the bar.
Meanwhile, in the dungeons of faible d'esprit Tucson Stronghold chained to the walls, Sarah Grutte Pier stands beaten and bruised and covered in dirt. Her blonde was dirty with dust and debris. Rats scarper and run on the floor next to her feet. She wiggles herself while her feet and hands are chained and bonded.
As she continues to wiggle, she can hear the footsteps of people coming down the stairs. Two men burst through the doors of her cell.
"Good night, Mrs. Sarah. How are you today?" Remarked one of the men as they both smile at her with ghoulish grins and dispositions that make even the devil himself uncomfortable around them.
The two men closed in on Sarah as their depraved laughs filled the air with devilish intent.