A shadow cast over the burnt body of the Crimson seer laying on the swampy ground. A voice then spoke, "Take him. He might prove to be useful later on."
With the judgement that the head priest of Ise Order had given out, Lloyd had a bounty on his head... counting to 5 million for the one who takes his head. Although that fact was unknown to him, Lloyd had enough experience as a member of Ise Order to know what happened when one executed a forbidden technique and went against orders.
Only two types of techniques were allowed for the seers to utilise; Spiritual form and Advanced spiritual form. The basic one being the former, it had a possibility sure hit effect ranging to a maximum of 90%. The advanced spiritual form is a more powerful variant of the basic technique. However it does not essentially increase the possibility sure hit effect except in rare circumstances where a seer had completely mastered control over it.
The only form prohibited to execute is the forbidden technique, given that it is the most powerful it comes with a hard backlash. It can also make a seer to over rely on it hence gradually corrupting their soul essence and possibly turn them into a worse life form, no more different than a reaper. Lloyd knew all that already..
His consciousness returned to him in an instant, and his first reaction was to sit upright and scan his sorroundings. Lloyd was in a moving carriage and as he looked out through the window he noticed that snow flakes were falling. It was winter already? For how long was he out for?
"Ah. You're finally awake." Lloyd saw the man who was sitting not too far away. "I was starting to think that patching you up was useless." Who was this middle aged guy? And why was he acting so familiar for someone he had never met before? Lloyd was sober enough to know that this wasn't a fever dream.
"Oh..I forgot to introduce myself. The name's Truce," the man said, extending a hand to Lloyd. "And you are..?" Lloyd stared at him judging real hard whether to trust this stranger he just met who had supposedly cured his third degree burns over the course of some months. With a final sigh, he shook Truce's hand and replied, "Lloyd.. Lloyd Hammings." The curtain on the window slid a little and Lloyd saw a little boy hiding his face shyly. To that, Truce laughed. "Don't worry. He's a little shy to strangers. That's my son, Ares Mccal."
As soon as Truce sat beside him and started small talk, Lloyd stopped him from going any further. You see, Lloyd wasn't a fool. He knew that the world was not all smiles, so he struck straight at the nail head. "Listen, Truce. I know you did not boost my recovery for nothing. Nothing is free in this world, so stop beating around the bush. Tell me what you want from me."
"You sure don't hide your true feelings huh?" Truce said with a bitter smile. Then, Truce went on and explained how his work involves establishing contracts with reapers and obtaining sacred items in exchange for gold. What he wanted Lloyd to do was to assist him recover a red ruby which he deemed as the most expensive sacred item he had ever encountered. They were already headed to the location of the ruby. With a silent nod, Lloyd agreed to pair up with Truce.
Although a person who worked with enemies of Ise Order did not seem like a good pair, Lloyd was not bothered even in the least. He was sure that that damned head priest had beef with him after he refused to carry out his order to the letter. Lloyd was more than a killing machine, different from the other seers who sucked up to the head priests ass, especially that group of Elite seers. Everytime he encountered them during joint missions, he felt disgusted whenever they were around him. Like a horde of roaches crawling up your skin. Only one elite seer, a woman, earned his respect. She was similar to Lloyd in most aspects, though her humor was that of an old geezer.
Her spiritual form defied the laws of physics, bending time to her will.
The carriage came to a stop at a distance from the huge gate leading to a city. Only Lloyd and Truce got off. Ares was left in the care of the gang 86 henchmen. Adjusting the scarlet scarf to cover his mouth, Lloyd almost shuddered under the freezing weather. The gate was unguarded and the two walked in, taking the view of the city.
"Do you exactly know where the sacred item is?" Lloyd asked. Truce shook his head, he only knew it was somewhere in the city. Luckily for Truce, a seer was with him. Without wasting any time, Lloyd climbed up a high spot and searched around. Spiritual form: Seer of all.
[The above technique is possessed by most seers as a form of locating objects or living things. It traces the outline of the aura of a specific item radiating from it's core or soul.]
"Follow me Truce" He ran in the direction of a certain building and Truce was right behind him. In minutes, they were already at the entrance. They were at the lowest floor, yet the security was intense as ever. Bright purple lasers filled every nook and cranny of the room, protecting the glass display of the red ruby at the center of it all. A grand sight to behold indeed.
Now Lloyd saw why Truce wanted it so much. The lasers wasn't a big deal to Lloyd, he could maneuver his body through it all. Casting a shadow path straight to the display, he stood leaning against it proudly. Truce was amazed by his foot work, he still remained at the entrance in fear of ruining everything. Pulling out his scythe, he carved out a circle outline and pulled out the item safely. Wiggling it in his hands, Truce gestured at Lloyd to throw it at him. He had to confirm whether it was real or if he was getting tricked for the second time again.
"Catch." The ruby flew from the center and passing through the tiny spaces left by the purple lasers, it hit Truce on the head, toppling off to a peculiar tile. As he bent down to pick it up, a series of red flashing lights lit up the room and a loud alarm rang. Suddenly, the entrance was getting blocked by a descending metal door behind Truce.
Footsteps sounds were heard as the crowds of armed zombie mutated reapers sorrounded Lloyd, pointing their swords at him. Truce, upon seeing this, looked at the item in his hand then back at Lloyd who had been cornered. The metal structure was descending faster behind him and would block his way out soon, so he had to act fast.
"Truce?" No response. Bang! The metal structure had now descended completely. Lloyd then saw it. It was just a glimpse. A piece of cloth had slipped through the narrow space the structure had left. It was then that the Crimson seer realised that Truce was a cowardly dog.. "TRUCE YOU SHIT BAG!" The reapers around him charged all at once, their swords aimed at his neck. The Crimson seer had his blessed scythe at hand, determined to get out in one piece.
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His breath became heavier with each second as he ran towards the gates with a happy expression playing on his face. He kissed the ruby in ecstacy and then placed it in a tiny sackbag which he held. "I was right, hah. He really proved to be more useful than I anticipated." He could now see the carriage parked near the woods not from afar. Aiming like a pro dart thrower, he propelled it by the string of the sackbag towards the leader of the henchmen who caught it. "That Lloyd can survive, isn't he one of those seers?"
Just then, as Truce was now 30 metres away from the carriage, a voice was heard from behind. His heart almost skipped a beat, for Truce knew he had heard it somewhere before. He quickly ordered the henchmen to drive away and the carriage left in a hurry. Turning to look behind him, an ominous figure stood in the snow, almost blending in with it if it wasn't for the dark blue coat. For his skin was pale and his hair was a shade of silver, almost reflecting light.
"Lord Reece! W-what brings you here?"
The man's magenta eyes narrowed at him. "Don't make a fool out of me, Truce. I'm smarter than you." Truce knew that he was dancing in a wolf's den, and he had just been caught between his sharp claws... From the time Truce had been born up until then, he did not believe in a myth such as karma. But now... A worse version of it had popped up right before him. And it's name was... Retribution.