Icycilis-9 AM
Yvina often wonders what does it take to keep Yuio Tzuran a planetary distance away from her. The man seemed to have a big problem with her existence that he tries so hard to eradicate it as much as she does. Their fateful encounter dates back to their younger years that accumulated many scores to settle that any of the two won't back down.
She limped towards Stellarium, carrying her wounded stomach and a bloodied ankle. Calls of emergency rang through her ears but it fell deaf to the pain reverberating in her body.
A pair of strong arms assisted her as she turned to address the person, "Seraphim?...but I thought you're never going back till next month?" Her voice sounds raspy, she doesn't like hearing it sound weak.
"Steady now Yv, questions shall be answered in my office" He looked different than the last time she saw him. His hair tied loosely over his shoulder and a cloth over his eyes but she never forgot how magnificent it looked, like jade hovering over a spring with lilies.
Yep. That should keep her mind away from the pain.
"Your office? Where's Adrianna?..or Xuiying?" Her mouth just had to open, which returned the stinging pain over her senses. She saw Yato running towards them who once again ran off to another direction after getting the Master Spellcaster's instruction.
She heard him sigh, "Adrianna's visiting Kayunta with her apprentice for an exchange...I wish not to undermine our medics but I rather tend to you than them" Yvina heard him speak. She smiled a little and let out a little chuckle. Seraphim shifted his hold over her as he slung her hand around his shoulder and his hand settled over the curve of her waist.
"You never changed Seraph" Although she can't see the reaction from his eyes, the woman still felt the lingering gaze.
"What happened to you on your way back?" He opened the door to his office and led her inside.
"Well–"
The woman dodged as a sharp blade was thrown at her, milliseconds from missing the chance to pierce her eye as it flew like an owl. She reprimanded her lack of observation and rolled back to fire an arrow straight to his direction.
She missed his heart, again.
Fuck. Why does she always encounter this son of a-
Her mission in Lisario was already wrapped up but the frustrating point of going home nor out of Icycilis means she gets to meet that deranged assassin.
The woman's senses were already dwindling due to the wounded ankle she dismissed to be healed as she hid behind a large tree, her ship parked nearby and she just had to ...slow him down.
Bracing herself for combat, she drew her bow and heaved a breath, observing the silence of the forest, waiting for sounds of movement.
She deserved a well rested day after this.
"4th Style: Cold Frost" She whispered as frost slowly covered the arrow she drew, fractals of ice protruding the object and she let go. The branches rustled as Yuio dived towards her with his dagger drawn; a blueish wound on his cheek signalled that he tried evading the projectile.
Yvina ducked as he feathered his fall by twisting his body to roll upon landing, she wore her bow behind her back and held the retractable bo staff she carries in every mission for close combat.
His blades met hers in swift motion wherein she broke her weapon in two to deflect the blow. She met his eyes, those jade-like orbs which shone no light, his hood fell revealing his forest green hair. All of him looked dead and bleak except for the unmistakable strength that drove her to a corner, "Time to pay for your debt Yvina" He growled in a low voice, "You should've died long ago ....with them!" She couldn't help but raise a brow on his statement, " I told you already! I'm not in that house anymore!"She overpowered his cornering force and proceeded to sweep him off his feet and kicked him squarely on the face.
"Your blood... still runs the blood of your family whether you like it or not" He slowly got up from his fall with a sinister chuckle, wiping the blood from his nose, "You're just like them Vekoslav... you'll never outrun who you are"
Something snapped inside her. Maybe it was the anger she kept on the stupid house she's trying to leave and the expectations she was constrained. Yvina hoped for a bloodless encounter but it never was between them. She swung one part of the steel on him which his dagger met and the other, again. Amidst the pain in her legs, she flexibly arched her body to avoid the blade he slashed upon believing he had the upper hand, the man jumped a few paces away from her but Yvina quickly pieced her weapons together and veered it towards his side like batting a ball.
His sounds of pain gave her a melodic relief from the stress he constantly gave her. Yvina wasn't one with the violent mind, it was supposed to be Adrianna, that woman's psyche is as cold and unforgiving as Strandethorn and Derfes combined. Growing in her patriarchal house softened her heart to think for the less unfortunate or in another word be an empath for the weak but she was not entirely like her fellow weapon master Shigemi who she thinks can't break a porcelain ceramic. Yvina likes to think before taking action but something about Yuio made her abandon reason and be out for blood. He was the bane of her cognitive prowess and she hated it.
Supposedly it started with physical injuries between them then escalated to many scores unsettled until it was never more counted and further set the two in an 'imaginary' cycle of blood debts.
Yuio staggered upon impact that he did not anticipate the steel to come in contact with his jaw and knock him off with a push but her little maneuver did not succeed without a price as his other hand unsheathed his katana where he aimed to slash her stomach.
Both staggered to opposite directions, bloodied or bruised, the two took a minute to catch their breath either way.
"Fuck you and your stupid quest" Yvina wheezed, clutching her wound as it begun to draw blood, luckily it wasn't as deep as she anticipated.
Yuio chuckled, "Coming from your self-righteous mouth... you're in no shape to fight me" he stalked her, "Who was it that made you incapable of giving a performance for me" Yvina almost choked on her breath, what is she to him? A plaything?
"Why do you care?" Maybe she should've thought that before asking him.
"You and I are the only ones in this dance, no one else" He remarked, and she felt more vulnerable with those jade-like eyes that shone without glow. She slowly felt the bow behind her back before he was seemingly satisfied with his investigation and turned to retrieve his weapons and left her in the clearing.
She was never more confused than before.
------
Carmaena, Coronas
Linthea held Hisako's hand as the three of them made their way to the streets of Carmaena, a town in Coronas where the events took place. In awe, the woman complimented the quaint streets of the place built over a flattened stone mountain, eyeing fruits on a stand or the food's hypnotic smell that wafted her senses, other than that she cared less for the people around her. Calyx has to hold her hand to prevent her from getting sidetracked or lost in the town's many crossings.
They soon neared the orphanage when a woman burst out crying, the man beside her, which must be her husband, consoled the poor thing as she descended to her knees.
"That poor girl...please, please do all what it takes to get her back—she ...was so excited to have her new home" The woman in sanguine red rose to nestle on her husband's neck as the man soothes her. Linthea scoffed as if it was a mere performance and followed Calyx.
"Don't worry ma'am, we'll do our best to help out" Hisako can see Linthea mirroring Calyx who turned to her and glared.
"Thank you so much...Cobalt Ranger, we will wait for good news about out dear Francesca" The man of good stature who is more capable of handling the situation compared to his wife remarked, "Come now darling... let's not get in the way of these young heroes" His hands flew to the shoulders of his wife as he lead her out.
"Pshhhh what's with the façade 'Cobalt Ranger'?" she teased him, nudging his side as she smiled.
"The only one with the façade here is you 'Orchid Princess'" He mirrored her antics that rendered her silent as Calyx faced the caretaker of the orphanage.
"How was the investigation so far?"
"It has fortunately been passed to the Eternum and we have collaborated with Mr. Ibarra regarding Francesca's last whereabouts" The woman stated with a sigh, "I must excuse myself, the children are not taking this lightly"
As a prestigious known establishment of Coronas, children made their diverse community as it offered them shelter from outside harm. The Children of the Cauldron was an international home for abandoned children across the lands together with other institutions stretched in the expanse of Missenia.
"Wait-!" Linthea held out her hand to stop the woman who disappeared in the dark of the establishment in a blink of an eye.
"She-...did you see that? She didn't even give us her name!" The dark brown haired woman turned to complain. Calyx sighed to follow the woman inside when Hisako pulled back the vestiges of his attire. She shook her head with nonchalance.
"No, let's just head straight to the Eternum" The two exchanged glances,"I vouch they can receive us better than this" Linthea added as she was the first one to walk off first. Calyx turned to see a young child looking at them from the window, her mouth motioned something he couldn't decipher before the young girl moved the curtains close.
-----
Cordaelia, Coronas
"Such a lovely view! as expected...I should've visited here often" Linthea, ever the self-proclaimed judge of the group, said as she observed the humongous gold stained castle far away, it was so intricately designed that she can make out of its sharp tops and the stone work embedded as she proclaims. They walked through a wide street along a storey of brick houses with less flowering plants on their balcony than in Mylinggr. Archways that connect two buildings are prominent in the area with lion statues and spiral designs carved sophisticatedly on stone where some have baroque patterns meticulously embedded; Coronas really live up to its name as the Archaic Stone.
"Hurry up, we're here for a mission not a vacation" Calyx's statement earned from her an exhausted huff.
"Pshhh you're so boring; let loose a bit dull face" She commented, walking in front of him without turning back as if signifying urgency. Hisako sighed. Her seniors behave so much like children.
"Unlike you, I'm not a brat who thinks everything should be for her" Linthea swiftly turned with a gaping face as if happily surprised.
"There you are! HAHAHA not so plain as I expected" She fussed around her partner, poking his face with her finger. Hisako cannot believe her eyes. Just what is going on?
"Really, how could they do this to us? Not even a welcome or escort?" Calyx agreed with a slight nod, "I'm sure there's a explanation for this"
"Ay! My guests!" All three turned to a woman running to their direction, holding out her hand, "Para! (Wait) Por favor!(Please)" She huffed in between breaths, a man closely following her. The woman finally reached the group as she held her knees from all that running, catching her breath.
"Señorita?" The man unfolds the handkerchief from his suit and wiped the sweat off the woman's forehead, "I told you not to run that fast"
"But-! My poor guests! Ay this is Ibarra's fault I swear to Zyair (God of Coronas) if I find that man I'll gun him down" The woman looked like a poor pup drenched from the rain with the guilty near crying look on her face.
"Pleased to meet you, Guests from Icycilis! I'm Carmencita Novelino, the Capitano El Guardia Real of Fuego Eternum" The woman with two long jet black twin tails introduced, extending a gloved arm to shake.
"Calyx von Vyrien, the pleasure is mine...this is my companions: Linthea Seiju and Hisako Nobutaka" Calyx as the leader of the group said while his two companions smiled in greeting upon the mention of their names.
"My second-in-command, Severino La Guardia" She referred to the indigo haired man next to her, reticent as he is, he only gave a thin smile before assuming his seriousness.
Carmencita gave an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry if our ... organization lacked propriety, it's my fault for not making sure our members execute the way of welcoming—I'm sure I can coax Ibarra for an explanation"
"Señor-" A gloved hand stopped him from uttering his thoughts as Carmencita tidied the dust off her black and white accented dress full of frills and pearls as embellishments.
"Please allow me to invite you for tea back in the headquarters" The woman stated as her tone shifted to a serious one, she left no room for arguments as Carmencita turned to her heels and started walking with the three following her and Severino close by.
------
"We've been handling a couple of kidnapping cases but this one is quite different" Carmencita started with an accentuated voice, "Francesca's case had no leads. Neither a tip or anything about her disappearance. Only a letter was delivered along with her picture and a copy of her individual's profile from the orphanage" She gently sips down her tea.
"Did the orphanage verify this as correct?" Calyx replied on the opposite side of the sofa while Linthea listened quietly to their conversation; Hisako just sat there with a blank look on her face.
"Yes..she was a girl of nine, soon to be adopted by a family living not far from Coronas, the playmates we've asked before also stated that Francesca did exist" Carmencita pushed the individual records towards Calyx who examined its contents.
The door soon opened revealing the one and only talk of the group: Ibarra, who walked in as if he expected nothing to happen. He passed the lobby, giving a silent greeting to his captains while ignoring the group of people sent to aid his mission.
Calyx barricades Linthea from spurring trouble.
"Give me one good reason to overlook your negligence Oficial Numero Tres(Official Number 3)" Sound of a revolver being loaded was heard, one blink of an eye was needed for Carmensita to direct the weapon in front the head of her subordinate. Ibarra did not dare move while Severino shook his head.
Even with her frill embellished dress, tight as it looks, it seems to have given her freedom to move as she pleases. With flowers as the highlight design of her style as well as the meek face she has that brings comfort to those who interact with her, Carmensita may look just like an angel but the difference in the glint in her pale red eyes suggests otherwise. She may look like a young teenager due to some 'baby' features remaining, this young woman has been the captain for a decade, chosen as the Capitano El Real at a young age. That said, knowing Carmencita, one must not cross the line of her leniency.
"Capitano(Captain)... would it cast an unpleasant experience to our guests if you'll go with what you are planning?" Severino separates the two, "Remember what you said about him after the last mission in Candelaria?"
"That he is a frustrating teammate because he doesn't trust me on anything?" Carmencita replied. She sighed and lowered her revolver, putting it back to its proper place.
" I'm sorry you had to see that... it's just—this young lone wolf-" She abruptly smacked Ibarra who was still silent but reciprocating her actions like a little brother scolded by his sister, "-thinks he can do all things by himself! Ay mijo(a form of endearment)... go tend to your things, I'll see you in my office after this" Carmencita ordered to which Ibarra only gave a nod of his head before he walked away, sparing a short glance to the delegates of Icycilis.
"Ahem, lo siento (I'm sorry) Where were we?"
------
"What are you smiling about?" Calyx crossed his arms to his chest, looking at his partner who was giving him a suggestive smile; possibly more of her comments about what happened. They were given their lodging for free and escorted by Novelino herself and while Hisako is tidying her own bed space with a book placed on the center and Linthea humming her own tune as she opened the windows to admire the golden city, Calyx thought of his next plans.
"To think that Lady Carmencita is unhinged like that... she's as cool as the stories told!" the dark brown haired woman exclaimed.
"You've never met her?" Calyx inquired, he walked next to her side by the windom.
"No, I am mostly destined in Lisario, Derfes, and Camial" She saw him shrugged, "So...about Ibarra, I'm a hundred percent sure he doesn't want us in this—what's your next move?"
"For now.. we'll stick with his words to investigate the innermost of the orphanage while you keep a close eye on him" Linthea smirked and patted his shoulder.
"I knew you'd say that" She turned to see Hisako immersed in her reading, "What do you think of Coronas so far Hisako?"
"It's....like a rose" The young girl started, "Beautiful as it is dangerous" Her reply came out as cryptic but her companions did not mind and instead Lintea smiled and went next to her, ruffling her hair.
"Seniors, Caretaker is an active major criminal as of now…. it's a bad move to rule her out, yes?" Hisako suggests that Linthea nodded in agreement.
"I suppose she's part of the suspected"
"Tomorrow we'll visit the orphanage again. While Linthea is keep an eye on Ibarra, we'll conduct our own investigations"
"Haha, you make it sound like I'm going to work tomorrow Cal.. I'm definitely gonna tail him now" A mirthful laugh came for Linthea who took out her fans and walked to the door.
"Be careful out there"
"Yeah yeah" came an uninterested reply as it dwindled after a short time.
Hisako looked at them as if there's something she picked up but shook her head before she returned to her reading.
—--------
Strandethorn: 2 days and a half prior to leaving Icycilis
They arrived by the gates of the capital by the time the sun is nearly hidden behind the horizon, its afterglow diminishing as dark approaches with its cold frostbite.
Ivanovich, Strandethorn. The capital city of the country, coated with snow in every corner as the eye can see. Buildings of archaic architecture stood beside modernized lofty towers and residential villas with wide-etched roads capable for four vehicles to pass side by side. Beside the pavements stretched a number of shrubs that can withstand the cold freeze circulating around the country.
"So…where are we going again?" Kale asked, his wings hidden from plain sight as large floating vehicles similar to a motorbike but with a huge front wheel covered with dark metal passed them.
"We're going to meet with Queen Miroslava first before we get to enjoy this little excursion" Soren smirked.
A flash of pink and pastel colors suddenly caught his attention before it vanished to a corner. The dark haired man stood as if he was waiting for someone to emerge from that certain corner until he was taken out from his reverie by Kale who pulled him from crashing to a pole.
"Idiot! Linthea could've killed me for that" His panicked voice shook his muddled thoughts.
"Sorry…..I seemed to be distracted, let's go" One last look from that corner before he continued in their walk to the castle.
"Is it that woman? Is she here?" Soren may have told Kale about it as long as the latter swear secrecy to keep it. He sighed and nodded at his speculation.
"She could be here, I'd never miss that color of a hair" Kale made an "ohh" sound of realization.
He got jabbed by his companion's elbow, "Maybe after we deliver the artifact…we can look for her if she's indeed here" The white haired man suggests to which Soren did not give an answer but walked a few paces in front of Kale.
"I'll take that as a yes then...I do have a question, why didn't we just hire a rover from here to the castle?" He heard Soren chuckle that lead him to catch up to him.
"Ever heard of 'knowing every corner before the real adventure?"
—-