She suddenly stopped laughing as if a thought just came to her.
"Wait! How did you know I was here? I made sure to leave like the wind after writing my love letter with a dragoon's blood. The plums on their hat can be such great paint brushes, you kno—"
Gasp!
She seemed to realize something, breaking off from her crazed rambling.
"Hmm. I'm standing downwind, could it be that you...learned my scent, Waffles?" She inquired thoughtfully.
Troan got on his feet and stared at her with a frown.
She made a curious head tilt.
"You did, didn't you?" She said with a grin in her tone.
Geyser caressed her neck with both hands and swooned, sighing sensually.
"Who would have thought you would be so perverted? No wonder you were so eager to get personal with me just now."
Then she spread out her hands as her nails extended sharply from her fingers, catching the moonlight.
"Oh, but don't worry. I can understand the eagerness of a man. The blood rush." She said, bringing her curved, arrow-length nails together. They produced slight sparks as they grazed.
Geyser looked up at him with an intense, wild light in her eyes. "So let's get personal."
She began walking toward him.
Troan scrutinized her as she approached, thoughts seemed to whirl in his head.
'Geyser definitely knows I'm weakened, but she hasn't used her powers even whilst knowing she can't delay here in this city. That means she really doesn't plan to kill me now, she may just want to toy with me...
She seeks to humiliate me and flee, I see it in her eyes. Well then, maybe it's time to make use of what Wriggler taught me."
He took in a deep breath and sighed, coming to a decision.
Taking his blade in his offhand he extended it outward and waited.
"Hm? What stance is that? I've never seen it before. An offensive stance? Well, that would be 'unwise', it seems you wish to be ripped to pieces!"
With that, she suddenly went on all fours and charged, bounding left and then right, likely in a bid to confound him.
Her eyes watched the sword intently, mapping out all the patterns in which the blade could strike.
When Geyser got close, she went low, aiming for a diagonal upward swipe. But then, Troan moved. He took an unexpected, stride forward, altering the tempo she had made in her head.
Troan directed all the energy he had into the other leg as he brought it forward in a knee strike.
This totally caught her off guard; it wasn't at all the type of attack she anticipated. As a result, when Troan's knee connected with her mask, producing a sicking crunch, it was too late.
Disoriented, she staggered back. Troan stepped forward and raised his knee high before thrusting his boot upward in a swift, powerful motion that connected with her chin, this lifted her slightly into the air and prepped her nicely for Troan's next strike.
Troan vigorously twisted his body and went for a brutal, high roundhouse kick to her head.
She was soon sent somersaulting back through the air, hitting the roof tiling and tumbling toward where she originally stood.
Troan who still had his leg raised, glanced at her with a surprised look in his eyes.
'That worked! Wriggler did say I was good at kicks."
Troan saw her stir and he frowned.
'I better slay her before she decides to flee."
With that thought, he brought his leg down and went into a stance with his sword.
He widened his leg and breathed out condensation, while placing his sword guard against the side of his waist, blade pointed backward.
The roof tiles around his feet were soon covered with frost as the air around undulated with varish energy. Gazing at Geyser intently, he breathed out a cold breath and said in a whisper.
"Elemental arts! Rendin—"
However, just as he was about to execute his skill, a meter-wide ball of fire came hurtling down from the air. It struck Geyser and exploded, rocking the building and kicking up dust. Then a rumble of things falling within the building shook the ground.
Troan looked up into the sky and saw a wyvern and its rider hovering in the air, a second wyvern had just flown closer to observe the situation.
He sighed, broke his stance, and approached the hole in the rooftop, burning at the edges. It was dark inside, the dust and smoke occluded his view.
Troan felt it wasn't safe to go into the building. However, fearing that she would escape he jumped in.
As soon as he landed, he let out a wave of varish energy, which pushed back the dust and smoke around him.
He looked around to discover that it was a warehouse, filled with boxes and tall shelves filled with different items; ranging from iron ingots to bags of coal. A lot of shelves had fallen around him, scattering the items about.
Troan heightened his senses and scanned the area, but he couldn't sense anybody else other than himself.
He looked at the ground before him and spotted a cracked, white, and red wolf mask.
Troan looked up at the sky, which began to receive the break of dawn, and stood there, silently.
–––
Davor's garrison.
In a courtyard surrounded by high walls and battlements, soldiers bearing the crest of the House Seasult on their capes carried out their various duties. They had purpose in their steps and keenness in their eyes. They appeared to be on high alert given what had happened not more than an hour ago.
The battlements and walls were equipped with various types of ballista and cannons, which wouldn't have been odd if not for the fact that they were aimed inside the courtyard and not outside. All were directed specifically at a construct that sat at the center of the courtyard.
It was a gate made of a bronze-like material standing like a massive ornate horseshoe. On the sides were large round gems, a black gem on the right and a white gem on the left of the construct's pillars. They both glowed as soon as a young lady in a dark cloak touched one.
Immediately, the space within the construct which was originally empty, was quickly covered by a swirling black gaseous substance, akin to rolling dark clouds, that effused from the inside borders of the construct's frame.
The cloaked lady then walked in and disappeared for a moment. She soon came out and nodded to the garrison commander who sat on her horse close by that it was ready and safe.
The commander nodded and sent in two soldiers; they walked in and came out soon after, confirming that it was secure for the prince and his entourage.
The commander let out a sigh and gave the entourage permission to go through. Soon carriages were slowly rolling through the Var gate. Along with some soldiers, houseguards and dragoons.
A distance away closer to the wall and out of the sunlight was Troan, seated on a horse. Wriggler stood before him.
Wriggler placed his hands in his pockets and shifted his weight to one foot.
He looked at his boot as he kicked away a small rock.
"I'm guessing the prince remains my top priority." He said with a glance up at Troan.
"An astute guess." Troan said with a nod.
Wriggler brought out a hand to scratch the back of his head.
"So...when will you be gracing the Juble with your presence?" Wriggler asked with a hopeful look in his eyes.
Troan shook his head and let out an exhausted sigh. "I can't tell for certain but I won't be long. Geyser's threat has made it essential that I am there."
He sniffed dryly and looked up at him. "Anything you would like me to do for you while I'm there?"
Troan eyes grew hazy as he looked away in thought. Then his gaze went back to him, a rare hint of playfulness in his eyes.
"You've once said that you know me more than I do myself." He let out a chuckle. "A bold statement at the time."
But then his mirth was gone and he gazed solemnly at Wriggler.
"Surprise me." He simply stated.
A slow smile grew on Wriggler's face.
"That will be quite a task."
Troan's horse suddenly became agitated but after he caressed her main, she soon calmed down.
He nodded. "Perhaps, but that is your problem now. Now go."
Wriggler chuckled to himself with an easy smile.
"That's kinda harsh, boss, saying 'Now go' with such a dry expression. Won't you grace this humble one with a smile before I leave?" Wriggler said as he began walking away backward.
This drew out a short involuntary laugh from Troan, then he shook his head.
"You are many things Wriggler. Humble is not one of them."
"True true." He agreed with a shrug. "But at least I got you to laugh. Don't keep me waiting boss!" Then he turned and sprinted towards the gate. Then, with a leap, he went into the darkness.
Troan shook his head and looked at the soldiers gazing at him with varying expressions all around. Many of them turned away but some kept staring. However, he didn't care much for them.
He turned his gaze back just as the var gate was turned off, and the darkness cleared. He could now see some barrels by the wall on the other side through where the darkness had just blocked.
Soon, the cloaked lady approached him and stopped before him. She had fair skin and a dash of freckles across her nose. She looked young, younger than Troan.
Troan's gaze softened when he saw this person, it slightly morphed into regret when he spotted the black strip of clothing tied over her eyes.
He gripped the reins harder as if to find some sense of control—support perhaps.
"I assumed my mother would operate the gate, but I felt you would be here instead."
She tilted her head subtly, long dark hair shifting on her shoulder.
"...With your heart?" She asked innocently. Her voice came lightly, like distant prayers.
Troan's expression was downcast, an aura of melancholy seemed to smother him.
"Yes...Eilow. I felt with my heart."