As the rain fell softly from the sky, the mysterious intruder hastened down the desolate alley, her movements furtive and fleet. Yet, suddenly she found her steps arrested by the presence of another in her path. Quickly, she spun on her heel, pressing her back against the rough stone of the alley wall as she strained her ear to overhear their hushed whispers.
"I have come to this land with the intention of striking down the citizens of Eleventine, where my adoptive father, Ruzel, once ruled. My target is one named Rod. Yet, others have preceded me in this quest. Have they already claimed his life, or are they merely fellow inhabitants of Eleventine? Fortune smiles upon me. Ruzel had many loyal followers, and it would be near impossible to identify them all. However, I must proceed with caution and confirm certain matters before I make any bold moves." She pondered.
"It's meaningless for you to hide from me."
Though the intruder remained as still as a stone, she did not anticipate their detection of her presence. With the specter of treachery lingering, yet the possibility remained that they were aligned against her, she was forced to reveal herself, drawing forth from the shadows and into the light, unwilling to leave any possibility unchecked.
Ephi was taken aback at the sudden appearance of the enemy and was grateful for heeding Bell's warnings, for at times she was dismissing them as trivial. She extended her left arm, creating a barrier between the foe and Tobias. "Remain behind me, Tobias," she declared with conviction. For should she falter in this conflict, not only would her own pride suffer, but also Tobias' life would be jeopardized. And so she stood resolute, knowing that Tobias stood behind her, seeking refuge and protection.
"He ... died? Who did this?" The question escaped her lips, muffled by the swaths of bandages that obscured her mouth. She resolved to discover the loyalties of these two, and gauge their stance in this conflict.
Inquiries came from a mysterious intruder, and Ephi deemed it wise to feign ignorance, so as to further their investigation. For by pretending ignorance and adopting the guise of friendship, they would be able to proceed with greater ease.
"Rod, he has been thus since our arrival," Ephi spoke with a hint of sorrow in her voice, as she cast her gaze downward. Tobias regarded Ephi with a skeptical gaze, uncertain of her truthfulness. Yet, he chose to remain silent, for he was uncertain of her intentions.
"Thank goodness you told me his name, Tobias!" Ephi thought to herself in gratitude.
Upon hearing that name, the intruder began to cogitate, "I did not speak of Rod's name, yet they are already aware of it. Without a doubt, they are servants of Ruzel. If they are allied with Rod, it would be wise to feign friendship. My mission is complete, I require nothing more. My reputation precedes me in Eleventine, and winning their trust shall be effortless.
Their choices will determine my actions. Should they uncover my responsibility for the recent slaying, I shall silence them before they can alert Ruzel. But if they remain ignorant, I shall depart this city, and deal with them at a later time. By the time I return, they shall bear witness to my innocence, declaring me not as an adversary."
"Watch your steps or I'll see you as an enemy!" Ephi declared, her gaze honed like a razor's edge. "Relax. I'm on your side," the intruder tossed two rows of leather pouches at their feet. These pockets acted as sheaths, each row holding four knives, a formidable arsenal of eight.
Ephi considered her options, while Tobias remained quiet and observed, occasionally glancing over the situation.
Ephi pondered the best course of action, while Tobias remained silent in the background, rummaging through Rod's belongings and glancing warily at the stranger. Ephi couldn't shake the feeling that the hooded figure was not to be trusted, yet the intruder claimed to be a friend of Rod's. "If she was Rod's foe and had come to finish him off, she would have fled upon seeing the body. But she claims to be his ally. Why linger near a dead body when there is greater prey to hunt?" Ephi wondered. Despite her misgivings, she decided to keep a close eye on the stranger and possibly turn her over to Bell for further questioning. "Let us investigate together," Ephi offered, lowering her guard and beckoning the intruder closer until they stood mere inches apart.
"I am Ephi," spoke Ephi as she offered her hand in greeting. Behind the guise of friendship, there was another motive lurking. The intruder took her hand, her own bandaged fingers entwining with Ephi's. "I am Inietta," replied the intruder, her voice carrying a hint of mystery.
The place became halcyon. In the sudden stillness, the gentle patter of raindrops was the only sound. Inietta had taken a calculated risk in approaching the pair, hoping to earn their trust. Yet, something was amiss. Why did Ephi remain silent upon hearing her name, Inietta? If they were truly from Eleventine, she should have recognized it.
Raindrops splashed at their feet as the two locked gazes. And then, in a swift instant, Ephi launched her attack.
Ephi abruptly broke the handshake and unsheathed a blunted wooden staff from her waist with lightning speed. But Inietta's reflexes proved to be sharper as she deftly caught Ephi's strike before it reached her gut.
"Bell can heal any wound. So it's okay if I'm ruder right?" Ephi unleashed a swift strike with her right hand aimed at Inietta's ear, for a well-placed hit can cause imbalance or even unconsciousness. Yet, Inietta's quick reflexes caught the attack with her right hand, locking both their hands in a stalemate.
Tobias approached with intent to aid Ephi, yet she forbade him with a fierce gaze. For Ephi, capturing this strange figure was a higher priority than scrutinizing the remains of Rod. Should they succeed in apprehending this mysterious figure, the examination of Rod's body would be of little consequence. Despite this, Ephi still commanded Tobias to delve into the inspection of Rod, as she did not wish to seem vulnerable in front of her companion. This was a chance for her to prove herself as a reliable force, not merely a jester. Ephi also harbored a fear of potential peril should Tobias come too close to the intense confrontation.
Tobias attempted to examine Rod's body with a composed demeanor, but as she witnessed her friend engaging in combat, she found it difficult to focus. "We can attend to this body once that person has been defeated," Tobias muttered, standing guard and observing Inietta's actions from a safe distance, in accordance with Ephi's command. Though she longed to assist, Tobias held back, determined to provide support by keeping a watchful eye on their opponent.
Ephi and Inietta were locked in a fierce struggle, the raindrops beat down on their bodies, each strike making a gentle pitter-patter on the earth. As the two locked eyes, Ephi noticed that Inietta's face was obscured by bandages, with only one eye visible. Inietta's grip wavered as she asked, "Aren't we on the same side?" Ephi's eyes narrowed as she replied, "After the atrocities, you have committed?" Ephi gauged Inietta's swift movements and came to the conclusion that this stranger was a deadly assassin known for rending their victim's limb from limb.
"So you ... Have figured it out?" Inietta queried with a quiver in her voice. A subtle smirk graced Ephi's lips, a sign that her suspicions were confirmed. Ephi feared that Inietta would make an escape, but the intruder was just as apprehensive, suspecting that Ephi and Tobias were messengers of Ruzel and feared that they would hurry back to report her presence. Thus, Inietta made the fateful decision to silence them both, come what may. The stalemate caused the two to remain locked in their deadly embrace.
Inietta yanked Ephi's left arm, sending her body twisting in the process. But Ephi was quick to strike back with a powerful elbow strike from her right arm. However, Inietta was ready. With a deft application of a locking technique, she managed to bring Ephi to the ground and immobilize her. "Hmmm, not bad," Inietta murmured in approval.
"And I underestimated you too much," Ephi replied.
"Don't come any closer or I'll break your friend's arm," Inietta warned as Tobias neared, intent on aiding Ephi. Before executing her, Inietta sought to unearth all the information she could gather, including the possibility of other agents of Ruzel lurking nearby. "In this city, is there anyone besides you?"
"You don't even know it?" Ephi teased with a mischievous smirk. Inietta tightened her grip on Ephi's arm. "Augh! Yes! Hundreds of thousands!" Ephi cried out in pain. Inietta was stunned by the answer. "You jest! Ruzel sent hundreds of thousands to capture me alone?" Inietta was skeptical. Ephi chuckled at her disbelief, "No, that is the size of the city's populace. But I cannot be certain of the precise count." Inietta tightened her hold even more, applying pressure with her knees to Ephi's back. "Aaaaaaaaaah! My back!" Ephi screamed in agony. "What's the matter with your back? Didn't it just chime? Speak, or I shall rip your spine apart," Inietta threatened with a dangerous growl.
"AAAAA!
Not my back.
But yours."
As Ephi's words echoed through the air, Inietta's gaze shot towards Tobias, wary of a potential sneak attack. But in her momentary distraction, Ephi summoned a powerful gust of wind that lifted Inietta high into the sky. "Now, Tobias!" Ephi cried out. With lightning speed, Tobias rushed forward, her bag heavy with the weight of Iridium, the hardest and heaviest of all materials. And with a powerful swing, she bashed Inietta right in the back as she plummeted back to the ground, felling her with a resounding thud.
"From this moment forward ... I believe that we will forever be in each other's company, Tobias. Although it may take some time for me to fully adjust, I will steadfastly keep watch over you. The feeling of helplessness can be overwhelming, can it not? I have been in similar circumstances before. Perhaps, in the past, he may have been ashamed to accept my assistance, given his stature as a deity. However, those concerns no longer matter. It is precisely in these moments that we must learn to work together seamlessly."