Edit: Made corrections to grammar. Mistake spotting done by Accuria.
"Resembled...her?" Lisa asked, becoming more confused by the second. Kregron paused for a while. He turned away from Lisa, cursing at himself mentally for not watching his mouth. This was something extremely private. But why am I at ease speaking to this girl?
"Just forget about it." Kregron shook his head, looking down at the ground while avoiding Lisa's gaze. He felt as if her curiosity was burning a hole into his soul, giving him an itch he could not resist to satisfy. He took a big bite out of the sandwich he was holding onto and accidentally bit the side of his inner cheek. He clenched his teeth and barely made a sound, hiding the brief moment of sharp pain from the lady.
Meanwhile, Lisa observed her bodyguard quietly. Whenever he glanced at her, she would pretend to be concerned about a particular thought. She wanted to understand this man, whom has been so cold to her, yet seemed to possess a streak of kindness. His temperament was as fickle as the wind yet bore as much hatred as the spawn from Hell when provoked. This fickleness strangely and painfully reminded her of her mother. Father, why didn't you stop her?
Suddenly, Lisa felt tears rolling down her cheeks. She blinked her eyes, only to have her vision blurred by the tears. Her heart ached horribly and she clutched her chest, trying her best to hold back the tears. She recalled Takaimura telling her to let them go and he assured her that they were in a better place, safe in the holy embrace of the Sacred Mother, Ribros. It was so difficult for her to not cherish the precious times she had with her parents, smiling and laughing, dancing and running. A hard feeling grew in her throat and it made it hard to breathe for the poor lady. Kregron cast a nonchalant look at Lisa and proceeded to finish with the last of the sandwiches on his plate.
Lisa was glad that Kregron did not show the usual concern as others would in this situation. A brief moment later and Kregron silently offered a clean handkerchief to his charge.
"What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." Kregron placed his hand on Lisa's head and messed it up with a devious smirk. "If those people are important to you, don't disappoint them. Work hard and achieve what you are searching for."
Lisa nodded and wiped her tears gracefully, which Kregron found to be remarkable. Blinking his eyes and trying to understand how she was able to perform such a feat, Kregron looked dumb for a single moment, enough to bring forth laughter from Lisa's mouth.
Kregron pulled his lips really thin and frowned. Lisa ceased her laughter almost immediately as she stared at Kregron's gaze, which seemingly burned into her very soul. "Erm...S-Sor-"
"Pardon me, I could not hear you." Kregron spat out the words with much venom.
Lisa cringed and hugged her legs in. Kregron narrowed his eyes and the corners of his mouth turned downwards slightly. Then his expression lightened up and reverted back to his usual blank, lazy look.
"Do you want to keep disappointing everyone who has hopes for you? Or would you prefer to gather your courage and face them with a smile?" Kregron asked seriously, resting his right arm on his right knee as he bent forward towards Lisa in a half-crouched position. Lisa gazed at the man with a painful expression in her eyes and Kregron blinked.
At that point, his mind blanked and was rapidly flooded with painful memories, a past he thought he had long forgotten.
"Ha! He is just a big coward! Like a oversized pussy-cat! Ha ha ha!" A small group of children surrounded a lanky teenager, whom tolerated the pushes from the bullies without a word. He maintained his eyes on the ground, so focused that he appeared to not recognise the presence of the naughty children trying their best to garner his attention or protest.
After a while, they became tired and bored from their failed attempt to extract any desired response from the teenager. They left together in high spirits, discussing about the toys they could get and what kind of fun activities they would do when they were adopted.
The lone teenager remained sitting at that spot, scratching random shapes in the dirt with a crooked branch. He then looked up to the sky with two working eyes. However, the pupil of each eye was instead two different and distinct symbols, one in dull red and the other in murky green.
"Looking through the glass window,
Children pick their toys.
A toy laid there on the shelf,
Waiting to be chosen.
As the days become years,
So has its hopes have faded.
Its painted hue a dull grey,
Its smile a faded line.
Yet the life who have seen it,
Made their demise prematurely.
Beware, be afraid,
Of the lone toy on the shelf."
The boy stood up slowly, mesmerised by the voice.
"Peria Ma." He hung his head in shame and did not meet the worried gaze of the woman, who appeared to be nearing her elderly years. She walked calmly towards him, with arms open, inviting the boy for a hug. He stood there still, unwilling to move.
"Come now, my dearie. I'm not going to punish you. I have prepared dinner for the both of us. Before that, how about taking a bath?" Madam Peria produced a warm smile and gently ushered the young Kregron towards a massive building.
"Just...the two of us?" Kregron felt suspicious and resisted the urge to push the matron away.
"From today onwards, I will be your new mother. I would not let you be hurt anymore." Madam Peria hugged Kregron, her head reaching only up to Kregron's chest. The teenager felt a hard ball forming in his throat and struggled to stop the urge to sob. Soon, he could not stop the relief and calm which followed and he let out cries of happiness.
"Kregron...Kregron!" Kregron blinked and shook his head. This time, the reverie was more poignant and vivid. His mind whizzed around ideas, trying to find a suitable sound answer to why he was able to recall such a memory. He should not be able to remember anything. Not since his soul was damaged heavily by a particular person. The mercenary looked at the direction which Lisa pointed out in fear and the man paused with shock all over his face.
"Why? Why are you here?!" Kregron whipped out his pistol and aimed at the approaching figure, who strolled towards them with a confident swag. "You can't just leave me alone, can you, Lenrio Kretacor!"
The man with glowing red eyes grinned devilishly. He put his fingers through his hair and let his arm dropped down casually before closing his eyes, deep in thought. All the while, his prideful smile never cease and it irked Kregron even more. The mercenary shot up to his feet, his entire body tensing up and preparing for a fight. As he did that, a massive jet-black claymore made of metallic shards materialised out of thin air and struck the ground beside him.
"I have come to get you back, my dear brother. Professor Infynnio isn't done with you yet. And I haven't had enough fun with you yet." Lenrio licked his lips, reminding Lisa of a snake. "No, no. We haven't finished with you, my dear Kregron. We have so much to do."
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Arc 1, Chapter 6: Just A Coincidence?
Edit: Corrected a major error. Thanks to Accuria for spotting it.
Takaimura arrived in the corridor leading to Lisa's bedroom when he spotted Kregron and Lisa going into the bathroom together. His jaw dropped and he ran towards them immediately, waving his arms in the air frantically. Kregron caught sight of the butler and paused for a moment, a sleepy look staying on his face. Finally, his mind was brought up to speed and he realised what the situation looked like to the man.
"Nothing that you are thinking of happened. I just fell asleep when I was comforting Miss Sunwolf." Kregron leaned against the wall, ushering Lisa to use the bathroom first. The lady stifled a yawn before recalling the events of the past day. She blushed deeply and hurried in, closing the door quickly and gently.
Takaimura could not stop the heat rising in his head. "Mr. Letarion, I do not know your true motives but I find you a rather suspicious person. You lack much in the department of manners and you show distaste towards appreciation for your good efforts. Not to mention you are a murderer!"
Kregron remained nonchalant. His left eye stared lazily on Takaimura's direction. "Takaimura, a soldier from the Eastern Territories. Exiled from his nation because he learnt the Dark Ways of the Sword. You yourself are a killer yet you spout these words at me. You are boring, terribly boring."
Takaimura clenched his fists and his teeth. He felt as though his blood was boiling, urging him to sink his fists into that expressionless face of the mercenary, who continued to taunt the butler with his uncaring air. He stepped forward, edging closer to Kregron.
Kregron grinned sinisterly. "Come, mortal. I would certainly like to enjoy having you suffer an eternity in the process of dying. Unable to die but wish for it to end, how delicious~"
Takaimura ceased in his tracks. The air around him had chilled rapidly and his vision decreased by the dimming light. His heart beat faster, readying him for flight. His body wished to run away from Kregron, whose face now resembled unspeakable and nightmarish which Takaimura had encountered during his younger days. The left eye glowed hungrily and there was a slurping sound emitting from the mercenary's left arm.
"I see. You are too weak to defeat me. Watch your actions, butler, or I shall turn your life into an unending hell." Kregron strode past Takaimura, glaring at the man as he passed by. Takaimura stood still, his breathing ragged. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and stared at his hands. They were trembling uncontrollably and were wet from cold sweat.
At that moment when Kregron was inviting him for a fight, Takaimura thought he was looking into the eyes of demonic spirits and their master, a demon god. He shook his head to clear the horrible reverie and wondered for a minute as to whether the two events were coincidental.
Strolling through the streets, Kregron ignored the stares and whispers directed at him by passerbys, who appeared to recognise him from his left eye and his enormous claymore he was carrying on his right shoulder. The mercenary pondered about the night before when Lisa came into close contact with him. He felt the same presence again, a haunting memory which refused to be identified. Yet, there was a sense of calm and peace when Lisa's aura enveloped his being.
Why do you feel like an angel? Why do you have to remind me of Gwendolin? He clutched his chest in pain, clenching his teeth as he felt the pain intensified when a torrent of memories re-emerged from a dark corner of his mind.
"I still regret my mistakes." Kregron spoke to no one in particular. "Always too late to correct them."
Lisa looked at herself in the mirror. She could barely gaze at her mirror image for a second before turning away in shame. Why do I have Relican blood in me? Everyone I want to get along with treats me as a monster. I'm not a monster. But that man... He is one but he does not seem to be bothered by it. But why do I feel his pain whenever I touch him?
"Or maybe you are just as human as everyone." Lisa concluded to herself. She picked up a towel and wrapped it firmly around her petite body. Grabbing a smaller towel, Lisa brushed her short hair dry. She smiled, recalling how uncle Thomas would praise her hair, calling her beautiful and cute. Touching her hair, Lisa cringed when the back of her fingers grazed her ear, which resembled a fox ear. Immediately saddened by the fact that others would see her differently, Lisa quickly dried herself and changed into a simple white dress emboldened by the Sunwolf sigil, a golden sun symbol radiating blue wavy lines.
"Hey girl, do you have any plans today?" Lisa screamed in shock when she heard Kregron spoke from behind her. She turned around to see Kregron holding a bouquet of flowers with an annoyed look on his face.
"Please stop sneaking up on me!" Lisa squeaked and Kregron lost his annoyance. He flashed a half-hearted smile and said he would not repeat it again.
Thrusting the bouquet towards Lisa, Kregron spoke, "Here, I picked these near the foot of the mountains."
Lisa accepted them with a puzzled look. The personality of this man is so irregular. It is as though he changes his personality like a snake shedding its skin!
"Confused? That is what people will be when they try to know at the get-go." Kregron mentioned in a matter-of-fact tone, pulling an apple out of his inner cloak pocket and taking a big bite out of it. "Pardon me, I just have a craving."
Lisa remained silent. The situation had became so awkward naturally yet Kregron failed to notice it.
"As I was asking, do you have any plans today, girl? I don't think staying in the safety of your mansion is going to allow us to know each other better." Kregron finished with his apple in seconds, incinerating the apple core once he had thrown it out of the window.
"Erm...no. I... I don't have anything on my schedule this afternoon." Lisa ended much more quiet than she started. Kregron pulled his lips thin and his left eye almost closed.
"Alright, let's sneak out then. Get on my back. I will bring you to a nice place." Kregron offered his back, waiting for Lisa to hop on. The half-Relican simply stared at the mercenary. She was thoroughly confused of whether this was the same man whom she had met a month ago.
"Let's go. Life's too short for you to mope around." Kregron added, the stern tone returning to his voice. Lisa felt compelled to obey and climbed on. The moment the man believed that the young lady was holding on securely, he leapt out of the window and they both dropped into an airborne runic circle. The prepared spell warped them out of the city and directly at the foot of the Spine of Zen Almar, a mountain range which pierced the layer of clouds in the sky with multiple peaks.
"Here we are." Kregron spoke after trekking through a heavy downpour for a few hours. "I should have known that it would rain today. Anyways, there's a cave up ahead. When the sun is up, we have a beautiful view of the city."
Lisa looked over his shoulder to see a small cave behind a large willow tree. She tried to look at Kregron's face, trying to see what he was thinking about. When she spotted the same expressionless look, she puffed up her cheeks and frowned. Inside the cave, Kregron produced a dry warm towel for Lisa.
"Dry yourself. Wouldn't want you to catch a cold." Lisa accepted graciously and Kregron proceeded to dry himself by using a magical flame conjured onto his palm. After he felt dry enough, the mercenary began to set up a picnic.
"I hope you like my cooking. I don't know what you eat but I hope I did not insult you by offering my inferior food." Kregron held up a triangular piece of sandwich and placed it in Lisa's hand. "No meat. Honey from Beztos Prince Bees and common cheese from a farm in Sprines. Fresh bread baked from Porto Nacha's Confectionery."
"I don't hate meat." Lisa said and Kregron shrugged. "I wouldn't knew. Best not to insult on the first try."
"Aren't you assuming?" Kregron shook his head and began to eat.
They sat there quietly, munching on the light finger food without a glance at each other. Kregron then looked at Lisa, appearing to be intrigued by an aspect of Lisa.
The girl noticed his curious gaze and asked him softly about it. Kregron pulled his lips inwards, thinking hard. "Well, I have never met a noble who would have such a lowly meal."
Lisa giggled. "I guess my parents wanted me to understand the plight of the citizens who look up to us. Well, not me but my father was..."
Lisa became oddly quiet. Kregron looked at her with concern.
"What has happened in the past stays there. Look forward or it will weigh you down." Kregron advised and took a bite of his sandwich.
"Does it apply to you?" Lisa asked quietly. Kregron blinked. He chuckled depreciatingly, taking another bite of sandwich and chewing it slowly, giving himself some time to ponder.
"My past is present and future. It is a cycle that never ends." Kregron answered in a monotone.
Curiosity in Lisa's heart gradually grew the longer this subject was lodged in her mind. "What do you mean?
"I met another angel, in a different form. And both are younger than me." Kregron replied, staring at the vast forest spreading from the cliff they were sitting on.
"Angel?" Lisa could barely make sense of what Kregron was explaining about.
"Isn't it a coincidence?" Kregron muttered to himself, looking up to the clear sky. "That you resembled her quite a bit."
Takaimura arrived in the corridor leading to Lisa's bedroom when he spotted Kregron and Lisa going into the bathroom together. His jaw dropped and he ran towards them immediately, waving his arms in the air frantically. Kregron caught sight of the butler and paused for a moment, a sleepy look staying on his face. Finally, his mind was brought up to speed and he realised what the situation looked like to the man.
"Nothing that you are thinking of happened. I just fell asleep when I was comforting Miss Sunwolf." Kregron leaned against the wall, ushering Lisa to use the bathroom first. The lady stifled a yawn before recalling the events of the past day. She blushed deeply and hurried in, closing the door quickly and gently.
Takaimura could not stop the heat rising in his head. "Mr. Letarion, I do not know your true motives but I find you a rather suspicious person. You lack much in the department of manners and you show distaste towards appreciation for your good efforts. Not to mention you are a murderer!"
Kregron remained nonchalant. His left eye stared lazily on Takaimura's direction. "Takaimura, a soldier from the Eastern Territories. Exiled from his nation because he learnt the Dark Ways of the Sword. You yourself are a killer yet you spout these words at me. You are boring, terribly boring."
Takaimura clenched his fists and his teeth. He felt as though his blood was boiling, urging him to sink his fists into that expressionless face of the mercenary, who continued to taunt the butler with his uncaring air. He stepped forward, edging closer to Kregron.
Kregron grinned sinisterly. "Come, mortal. I would certainly like to enjoy having you suffer an eternity in the process of dying. Unable to die but wish for it to end, how delicious~"
Takaimura ceased in his tracks. The air around him had chilled rapidly and his vision decreased by the dimming light. His heart beat faster, readying him for flight. His body wished to run away from Kregron, whose face now resembled unspeakable and nightmarish which Takaimura had encountered during his younger days. The left eye glowed hungrily and there was a slurping sound emitting from the mercenary's left arm.
"I see. You are too weak to defeat me. Watch your actions, butler, or I shall turn your life into an unending hell." Kregron strode past Takaimura, glaring at the man as he passed by. Takaimura stood still, his breathing ragged. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and stared at his hands. They were trembling uncontrollably and were wet from cold sweat.
At that moment when Kregron was inviting him for a fight, Takaimura thought he was looking into the eyes of demonic spirits and their master, a demon god. He shook his head to clear the horrible reverie and wondered for a minute as to whether the two events were coincidental.
Strolling through the streets, Kregron ignored the stares and whispers directed at him by passerbys, who appeared to recognise him from his left eye and his enormous claymore he was carrying on his right shoulder. The mercenary pondered about the night before when Lisa came into close contact with him. He felt the same presence again, a haunting memory which refused to be identified. Yet, there was a sense of calm and peace when Lisa's aura enveloped his being.
Why do you feel like an angel? Why do you have to remind me of Gwendolin? He clutched his chest in pain, clenching his teeth as he felt the pain intensified when a torrent of memories re-emerged from a dark corner of his mind.
"I still regret my mistakes." Kregron spoke to no one in particular. "Always too late to correct them."
Lisa looked at herself in the mirror. She could barely gaze at her mirror image for a second before turning away in shame. Why do I have Relican blood in me? Everyone I want to get along with treats me as a monster. I'm not a monster. But that man... He is one but he does not seem to be bothered by it. But why do I feel his pain whenever I touch him?
"Or maybe you are just as human as everyone." Lisa concluded to herself. She picked up a towel and wrapped it firmly around her petite body. Grabbing a smaller towel, Lisa brushed her short hair dry. She smiled, recalling how uncle Thomas would praise her hair, calling her beautiful and cute. Touching her hair, Lisa cringed when the back of her fingers grazed her ear, which resembled a fox ear. Immediately saddened by the fact that others would see her differently, Lisa quickly dried herself and changed into a simple white dress emboldened by the Sunwolf sigil, a golden sun symbol radiating blue wavy lines.
"Hey girl, do you have any plans today?" Lisa screamed in shock when she heard Kregron spoke from behind her. She turned around to see Kregron holding a bouquet of flowers with an annoyed look on his face.
"Please stop sneaking up on me!" Lisa squeaked and Kregron lost his annoyance. He flashed a half-hearted smile and said he would not repeat it again.
Thrusting the bouquet towards Lisa, Kregron spoke, "Here, I picked these near the foot of the mountains."
Lisa accepted them with a puzzled look. The personality of this man is so irregular. It is as though he changes his personality like a snake shedding its skin!
"Confused? That is what people will be when they try to know at the get-go." Kregron mentioned in a matter-of-fact tone, pulling an apple out of his inner cloak pocket and taking a big bite out of it. "Pardon me, I just have a craving."
Lisa remained silent. The situation had became so awkward naturally yet Kregron failed to notice it.
"As I was asking, do you have any plans today, girl? I don't think staying in the safety of your mansion is going to allow us to know each other better." Kregron finished with his apple in seconds, incinerating the apple core once he had thrown it out of the window.
"Erm...no. I... I don't have anything on my schedule this afternoon." Lisa ended much more quiet than she started. Kregron pulled his lips thin and his left eye almost closed.
"Alright, let's sneak out then. Get on my back. I will bring you to a nice place." Kregron offered his back, waiting for Lisa to hop on. The half-Relican simply stared at the mercenary. She was thoroughly confused of whether this was the same man whom she had met a month ago.
"Let's go. Life's too short for you to mope around." Kregron added, the stern tone returning to his voice. Lisa felt compelled to obey and climbed on. The moment the man believed that the young lady was holding on securely, he leapt out of the window and they both dropped into an airborne runic circle. The prepared spell warped them out of the city and directly at the foot of the Spine of Zen Almar, a mountain range which pierced the layer of clouds in the sky with multiple peaks.
"Here we are." Kregron spoke after trekking through a heavy downpour for a few hours. "I should have known that it would rain today. Anyways, there's a cave up ahead. When the sun is up, we have a beautiful view of the city."
Lisa looked over his shoulder to see a small cave behind a large willow tree. She tried to look at Kregron's face, trying to see what he was thinking about. When she spotted the same expressionless look, she puffed up her cheeks and frowned. Inside the cave, Kregron produced a dry warm towel for Lisa.
"Dry yourself. Wouldn't want you to catch a cold." Lisa accepted graciously and Kregron proceeded to dry himself by using a magical flame conjured onto his palm. After he felt dry enough, the mercenary began to set up a picnic.
"I hope you like my cooking. I don't know what you eat but I hope I did not insult you by offering my inferior food." Kregron held up a triangular piece of sandwich and placed it in Lisa's hand. "No meat. Honey from Beztos Prince Bees and common cheese from a farm in Sprines. Fresh bread baked from Porto Nacha's Confectionery."
"I don't hate meat." Lisa said and Kregron shrugged. "I wouldn't knew. Best not to insult on the first try."
"Aren't you assuming?" Kregron shook his head and began to eat.
They sat there quietly, munching on the light finger food without a glance at each other. Kregron then looked at Lisa, appearing to be intrigued by an aspect of Lisa.
The girl noticed his curious gaze and asked him softly about it. Kregron pulled his lips inwards, thinking hard. "Well, I have never met a noble who would have such a lowly meal."
Lisa giggled. "I guess my parents wanted me to understand the plight of the citizens who look up to us. Well, not me but my father was..."
Lisa became oddly quiet. Kregron looked at her with concern.
"What has happened in the past stays there. Look forward or it will weigh you down." Kregron advised and took a bite of his sandwich.
"Does it apply to you?" Lisa asked quietly. Kregron blinked. He chuckled depreciatingly, taking another bite of sandwich and chewing it slowly, giving himself some time to ponder.
"My past is present and future. It is a cycle that never ends." Kregron answered in a monotone.
Curiosity in Lisa's heart gradually grew the longer this subject was lodged in her mind. "What do you mean?
"I met another angel, in a different form. And both are younger than me." Kregron replied, staring at the vast forest spreading from the cliff they were sitting on.
"Angel?" Lisa could barely make sense of what Kregron was explaining about.
"Isn't it a coincidence?" Kregron muttered to himself, looking up to the clear sky. "That you resembled her quite a bit."
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Arc 1, Chapter 5: We All Have Our Regrets #1
"You let your emotions take over you again? You are a joke!" Another Kregron appeared from the darkness of Kregron's conscious, chuckling with a broad smirk. The mercenary jabbed his double, only to counter with a grab and a roundhouse punch to his temple. Resisting the pain, Kregron sent his knee into the diaphragm of his mental double, causing him to kneel on the ground, breathless but still giggling deliriously.
"Silence. I have no time for your chatter." The other Kregron raised his head and stood up as though he was not hurt a minute ago. "You have proven my point already. Now you have taken a step backwards in your plans, you fool!"
"So what do you intend to help me on this endeavour, you irritant?" Kregron created a white seat in the darkness and sat down. The latter did the same only to glare into the swirling darkness. "YOU LET HER IN? DIDN'T WE AGREE TO KEEP AWAY FROM ANYTHING RELATED TO ANGELS?"
Kregron seized the wrists of his mental double and kicked him back to his seat. "She latched onto my soul without my knowledge. I can't remove her because she does not appear on me anywhere. An anomaly in simple words."
"An anomaly? You there! Come and have a seat. I insist." The Kregron double beckoned Aegis to a new chair, a much more comfortable furniture than what both Kregrons were using. Aegis walked forward and sat down with amazing grace and calm that the Kregron double stopped and stared in wonder.
"Brooooo... She is a cutie! You lucky son of a bitch!" Kregron narrowed his eyes at the comment. "Lucky? I didn't ask for aid. She is an involuntary ally to us. I do recall we both agree to avoid angels. Why the sudden change of heart?"
"Come on now. Since she is for keeps, I'm sure we can come up with a better plan to salvage the situation. We know we need to know who sent us on this journey and that little scaredy-cat is our only link. She is one, though. True story." The Kregron double reasoned with a charming smile.
Kregron almost rolled his eyes in frustration. He hated others aiding him. It made him feel weak, useless and incapable of surviving independently in harsh and cruel reality.
Deep down inside, he truly regretted letting his hatred and anger overwhelm him. Lisa's face was filled with fear, that same fear he saw in a mirror when the only person who cared for him died. The fear of not knowing where to go or what to do. Is the answer simply to apologise and to pray for the best?
"Let your feelings communicate your sincerity, Kregron Letarion." Kregron turned his eyes to Aegis, who offered a sad reassuring smile. The man frowned in concentration, trying to decipher the angel who has became his ally unwillingly. Why must people close to me radiate such pain?
"Thank you, both of you. I made my decision. We all have our regrets. I guess I will hear your story sooner or later." Kregron directed that last bit towards Aegis by slightly narrowing his left eye. Then both figures vanished and Kregron was once again back to reality.
"Lisa, I'm glad you are fine but I insist that you should turn away this Letarion figure. He is only causing you and the others pain. Why do you continue to believe in that monster? Are you aware he was responsible for the genocide of the Reptilions?" Takaimura pleaded, kneeling before his mistress and holding his hands together. Lisa buried her lower face into her legs. The butler looked in dismay before nodding in agreement. He stood up and thought silently for a moment.
"I leave you to your peace, milady. Mrs. Vandran will be taking indefinite sick leave according to the doctor." Takaimura bowed and left the room, only for Kregron to peek from the window. Lisa caught sight of his scarred face and almost screamed but a scarred hand clapped over her mouth gently. Kregron tried his best to look scared as he shushed at her direction while watching the doorway.
"I am sorry, for letting my emotions get the better of me. I wish you can overlook this matter in exchange for a good working relationship." Kregron managed to let it out before he could sputter. He felt embarrassed and thoroughly ashamed of his lack of professionalism.
Lisa looked at him and his hand. Kregron looked at his hand with a dumb look before realising it. He pulled away his hand with a forced smile. Lisa's eyes immediately filled with tears and Kregron's smile slid off like cold butter on a hot metal plate.
Both of them looked at each other, taking turns to pull their gazes away before looking. They waited like fools for someone to speak up, only to feel wanting to say a word but could not. Kregron sat down opposite Lisa, his left eye revealing the fatigue building up in his body and mind.
The half-Relican could not understand why she left the relative safety of her bed, leaving her fox plush toy behind and hugging the man, burying her face into his chest. There she cried, for she remembered the day when her parents were killed. The day when she felt so alone in the midst of warmth and care.
Kregron was in shock. He did not know how to react. His body was urging to purge the foreign sensation, a threat bent on crumbling his stressed mentality. His mind rejected the notion, wanting to push the girl away from him for intruding his space. His heart felt calm and warmth and a need to comfort the young lady.
Follow your heart, Kregron. Kregron blinked and blinked again, wondering whether he had heard the voice of a dead woman. He raised his right hand subconsciously and wrapped it around Lisa's waist. The girl gave no concern and continued sobbing.
A wave of drowsiness hit Kregron and the mercenary wavered. Looking down at the smooth, soft brown hair, Kregron was reminded of the empty lands before the first seeds were brought in by the hands of Nature. Closing his eye, Kregron thought of nothing else, his entire being at ease. For once, he allowed the fatigue overcome him and sweep him away into the lands of dreams.
We all have our regrets, my son, but we mustn't let them stop us from moving forward.
"Silence. I have no time for your chatter." The other Kregron raised his head and stood up as though he was not hurt a minute ago. "You have proven my point already. Now you have taken a step backwards in your plans, you fool!"
"So what do you intend to help me on this endeavour, you irritant?" Kregron created a white seat in the darkness and sat down. The latter did the same only to glare into the swirling darkness. "YOU LET HER IN? DIDN'T WE AGREE TO KEEP AWAY FROM ANYTHING RELATED TO ANGELS?"
Kregron seized the wrists of his mental double and kicked him back to his seat. "She latched onto my soul without my knowledge. I can't remove her because she does not appear on me anywhere. An anomaly in simple words."
"An anomaly? You there! Come and have a seat. I insist." The Kregron double beckoned Aegis to a new chair, a much more comfortable furniture than what both Kregrons were using. Aegis walked forward and sat down with amazing grace and calm that the Kregron double stopped and stared in wonder.
"Brooooo... She is a cutie! You lucky son of a bitch!" Kregron narrowed his eyes at the comment. "Lucky? I didn't ask for aid. She is an involuntary ally to us. I do recall we both agree to avoid angels. Why the sudden change of heart?"
"Come on now. Since she is for keeps, I'm sure we can come up with a better plan to salvage the situation. We know we need to know who sent us on this journey and that little scaredy-cat is our only link. She is one, though. True story." The Kregron double reasoned with a charming smile.
Kregron almost rolled his eyes in frustration. He hated others aiding him. It made him feel weak, useless and incapable of surviving independently in harsh and cruel reality.
Deep down inside, he truly regretted letting his hatred and anger overwhelm him. Lisa's face was filled with fear, that same fear he saw in a mirror when the only person who cared for him died. The fear of not knowing where to go or what to do. Is the answer simply to apologise and to pray for the best?
"Let your feelings communicate your sincerity, Kregron Letarion." Kregron turned his eyes to Aegis, who offered a sad reassuring smile. The man frowned in concentration, trying to decipher the angel who has became his ally unwillingly. Why must people close to me radiate such pain?
"Thank you, both of you. I made my decision. We all have our regrets. I guess I will hear your story sooner or later." Kregron directed that last bit towards Aegis by slightly narrowing his left eye. Then both figures vanished and Kregron was once again back to reality.
"Lisa, I'm glad you are fine but I insist that you should turn away this Letarion figure. He is only causing you and the others pain. Why do you continue to believe in that monster? Are you aware he was responsible for the genocide of the Reptilions?" Takaimura pleaded, kneeling before his mistress and holding his hands together. Lisa buried her lower face into her legs. The butler looked in dismay before nodding in agreement. He stood up and thought silently for a moment.
"I leave you to your peace, milady. Mrs. Vandran will be taking indefinite sick leave according to the doctor." Takaimura bowed and left the room, only for Kregron to peek from the window. Lisa caught sight of his scarred face and almost screamed but a scarred hand clapped over her mouth gently. Kregron tried his best to look scared as he shushed at her direction while watching the doorway.
"I am sorry, for letting my emotions get the better of me. I wish you can overlook this matter in exchange for a good working relationship." Kregron managed to let it out before he could sputter. He felt embarrassed and thoroughly ashamed of his lack of professionalism.
Lisa looked at him and his hand. Kregron looked at his hand with a dumb look before realising it. He pulled away his hand with a forced smile. Lisa's eyes immediately filled with tears and Kregron's smile slid off like cold butter on a hot metal plate.
Both of them looked at each other, taking turns to pull their gazes away before looking. They waited like fools for someone to speak up, only to feel wanting to say a word but could not. Kregron sat down opposite Lisa, his left eye revealing the fatigue building up in his body and mind.
The half-Relican could not understand why she left the relative safety of her bed, leaving her fox plush toy behind and hugging the man, burying her face into his chest. There she cried, for she remembered the day when her parents were killed. The day when she felt so alone in the midst of warmth and care.
Kregron was in shock. He did not know how to react. His body was urging to purge the foreign sensation, a threat bent on crumbling his stressed mentality. His mind rejected the notion, wanting to push the girl away from him for intruding his space. His heart felt calm and warmth and a need to comfort the young lady.
Follow your heart, Kregron. Kregron blinked and blinked again, wondering whether he had heard the voice of a dead woman. He raised his right hand subconsciously and wrapped it around Lisa's waist. The girl gave no concern and continued sobbing.
A wave of drowsiness hit Kregron and the mercenary wavered. Looking down at the smooth, soft brown hair, Kregron was reminded of the empty lands before the first seeds were brought in by the hands of Nature. Closing his eye, Kregron thought of nothing else, his entire being at ease. For once, he allowed the fatigue overcome him and sweep him away into the lands of dreams.
We all have our regrets, my son, but we mustn't let them stop us from moving forward.
Arc 1, Chapter 4: Unlikely Introductions
Edit: Corrected some grammer and mistakes. (25/01/2012)
"No." Kregron Letarion replied with such finality in his voice and a frown that Takaimura struggled to come up with another reason for the mercenary to accept.
"Sir, you have to be aware that Lady Sunwolf is absolutely terrified of you or maybe your presence. I hope that in the situation of a casual tea session would allow her to know you better as you have requested." Takaimura explained with practised poise and calmness. Kregron leered back.
"No. I will introduce myself in my way, Takaimura. And about the reward for rescuing her, there is no need for that. I have already been rewarded." Kregron ended the conversation by walking away from the butler, who tried to rebut the freelance soldier.
As he strode away, Kregron unclenched his fists. Ever since he had arrived at the Sunwolf homegrounds, the environment had him on a higher level of alertness than when he was out in the battelfield. He wondered whether it was the angel who appeared before him in the night or it was the strange aura Lisa was giving off when they were both in close contact. Taking a deep breath, Kregron zoned out the heavy thoughts, freeing his focus and began to search for his target.
Out alone in the garden, Lisa worked hard to clear the weeds from her sunflowers, which had grown rapidly despite her brief absence. Wiping her sweat off her brow with her wrist, Lisa hummed a soft, melancholic tune as she threw the weeds into a wicket basket carried by a housekeeper. The hard labour and the pain from her arm muscles kept out the painful memories of her past and of her recent kidnapping.
It was not uncommon for people outside the jurisdiction of the Rogrus to ambush those of Relican lineage and kill them in the name of vengeance due to the last major war, when powerful criminal organisations banded together and invaded the ancient land of Relicas.There they managed to enslave the mammalian humanoids for a couple of decades, rehabilitating the unfortunate race to various sinister purposes.
The criminals were eventually defeated by a trio of men who led a combined army to the villains' central headquarters. The names, Vanodas Mecgres Frostwolf, Maganon Devon Sunwolf and Thomas Arclikron Stormwolf, became legends as they were reported and recorded to have each downed three thousand enemies on their own, a feat yet unreachable to any sentient being alive during the current age. Relicas was liberated from the iron claws of the criminal underworld but the damage had sunk in too deep.
Nevertheless, Maganon and Thomas took it upon themselves to aid the Relicans return to their original way of life while Vanodas went into hiding, extremely annoyed by the publicity he had unexpectedly received. It took the two nobles around thirty years to successfully rehabilitate the entire Relican population, with enormous help from various charity organisations and a small group of volunteers. However, the poison still ran deep within the generation which were bred under the criminals' supervision.
Maganon Sunwolf took notice of Neela Felinas, a feline Relican whom he found thoroughly intriguing during his rehabilitation work. She was one of the few who recovered within a month of the rehabilitation program created by the two men and she displayed an unusual high level of interest in the world of humans. At first, Thomas warned Maganon of the possibility that it was a tactic laid by one of the criminal masterminds. Eventually, as Neela spent more time with Maganon, he was more convinced that she was indeed one of her kind.
So Maganon taught her about the ways of humans. Neela picked it quickly as though she was born a human herself. She did not discard her Relican nature but combining both cultures together to create her own unique behaviour. Maganon was extremely impressed and before long, he was deeply in love with her.
In the beginning of their romance, Maganon's dearest friend, Thomas Stormwolf, rejected the idea because of the underlying fact that the general public in Carotrox would still see Neela as a dangerous animal, capable of slaying a man twice her height within seconds. Maganon insisted on Thomas to observe their relationship in order to make a sound decision. After period of five months, Thomas gave his blessings to his close friend.
Maganon and Neela had one of their happiest days together, wedding at the end of August, a year after Thomas' good wishes. On the first day of June, at sunrise, Lisa Felinas Sunwolf was born. That day, Maganon remarked to Vanodas, "This is the happiest day of my life. To see my first daughter and spend it with my love."
Tragically, the happiness was not meant to last.
Kregron spotted Lisa and her servant in the sunflower field and decided to take refuge in among the leaves of an acorn tree. He climbed up the trunk with monkey-like agility and as quiet as a mouse. There, he settled down on a thick branch joint, watching the girl through the cover of leaves.
For hours he watched the girl and the woman as they cleaned up the litter, dug up dead plants and weeds and planted seeds into empty plots. The calm in her mind could be seen clearly from her eyes and her smile reflected the happiness in her heart. Occasionally, there were times when her soft smile would waver, an indication of a sad memory flashing by in her mind. As the sun began to set, he decided he had seen enough for that day and left quietly.
He continued this process of observation, taking suitable times and places to watch Lisa. After a few weeks, Kregron had gathered enough information to decide how to make the introductions happen.
"Hey there, how are you doing?" Lisa jumped at Kregron's voice. She turned around only to jump once more, terrified at the sight of the mercenary. Kregron pulled his lips thinner and sat down. He played with a box in his hands, trying to look nonchalant in front of the half-Relican. Lisa hesitated for a moment, looking at the housekeeper who was staying behind her back. The woman nodded back with a reassuring smile and Lisa pulled her lips in. Finally, the lady sat down before Kregron, who nodded in acknowledgement of Lisa's participation.
"I'm Kregron Letarion, freelance mercenary. You can call me Kregron, if you like. I apologise for our first meeting. I hope we can be acquaintances since I will be your personal bodyguard. If you have any questions about me, please feel free to ask." Kregron spoke as clearly as he could. His throat tightened for a moment, a strange awkward feeling he had not felt for a long time.
Kregron looked at the box he was holding and proffered it to Lisa. "A gift of goodwill."
Lisa gazed at it. Kregron frowned but quickly maintained his emotionless expression. "It's nothing dangerous. It took me a while to earn something you like."
"Thank you." Lisa accepted the present with a confused look. She looked back at Kregron.
"Lisa Felinas Sunwolf. Pleased to meet you." Came the quiet voice of Lisa. Kregron looked surprised at first before erupting into delirious laughter. Lisa and her servant simply stared in confusion at the man.
"Pleased to meet me?" Kregron struggled to breath.
"Lisa, please be frank to me." The air around Kregron was saturated with his killing intent, turning Lisa into a trembling pile. Her servant just fell onto her back, twitching and muttering incoherently. The sunflowers nearby wilted and died before crumbling to dust.
"I hate liars." Kregron added with venom before getting onto his feet. "I hope you can be as transparent as possible in the future."
"It is a virtue that is long lost in the existence of sentience. Don't lose it, Lisa Sunwolf." Kregron said as he vanished into the swaying sunflower field.
"No." Kregron Letarion replied with such finality in his voice and a frown that Takaimura struggled to come up with another reason for the mercenary to accept.
"Sir, you have to be aware that Lady Sunwolf is absolutely terrified of you or maybe your presence. I hope that in the situation of a casual tea session would allow her to know you better as you have requested." Takaimura explained with practised poise and calmness. Kregron leered back.
"No. I will introduce myself in my way, Takaimura. And about the reward for rescuing her, there is no need for that. I have already been rewarded." Kregron ended the conversation by walking away from the butler, who tried to rebut the freelance soldier.
As he strode away, Kregron unclenched his fists. Ever since he had arrived at the Sunwolf homegrounds, the environment had him on a higher level of alertness than when he was out in the battelfield. He wondered whether it was the angel who appeared before him in the night or it was the strange aura Lisa was giving off when they were both in close contact. Taking a deep breath, Kregron zoned out the heavy thoughts, freeing his focus and began to search for his target.
Out alone in the garden, Lisa worked hard to clear the weeds from her sunflowers, which had grown rapidly despite her brief absence. Wiping her sweat off her brow with her wrist, Lisa hummed a soft, melancholic tune as she threw the weeds into a wicket basket carried by a housekeeper. The hard labour and the pain from her arm muscles kept out the painful memories of her past and of her recent kidnapping.
It was not uncommon for people outside the jurisdiction of the Rogrus to ambush those of Relican lineage and kill them in the name of vengeance due to the last major war, when powerful criminal organisations banded together and invaded the ancient land of Relicas.There they managed to enslave the mammalian humanoids for a couple of decades, rehabilitating the unfortunate race to various sinister purposes.
The criminals were eventually defeated by a trio of men who led a combined army to the villains' central headquarters. The names, Vanodas Mecgres Frostwolf, Maganon Devon Sunwolf and Thomas Arclikron Stormwolf, became legends as they were reported and recorded to have each downed three thousand enemies on their own, a feat yet unreachable to any sentient being alive during the current age. Relicas was liberated from the iron claws of the criminal underworld but the damage had sunk in too deep.
Nevertheless, Maganon and Thomas took it upon themselves to aid the Relicans return to their original way of life while Vanodas went into hiding, extremely annoyed by the publicity he had unexpectedly received. It took the two nobles around thirty years to successfully rehabilitate the entire Relican population, with enormous help from various charity organisations and a small group of volunteers. However, the poison still ran deep within the generation which were bred under the criminals' supervision.
Maganon Sunwolf took notice of Neela Felinas, a feline Relican whom he found thoroughly intriguing during his rehabilitation work. She was one of the few who recovered within a month of the rehabilitation program created by the two men and she displayed an unusual high level of interest in the world of humans. At first, Thomas warned Maganon of the possibility that it was a tactic laid by one of the criminal masterminds. Eventually, as Neela spent more time with Maganon, he was more convinced that she was indeed one of her kind.
So Maganon taught her about the ways of humans. Neela picked it quickly as though she was born a human herself. She did not discard her Relican nature but combining both cultures together to create her own unique behaviour. Maganon was extremely impressed and before long, he was deeply in love with her.
In the beginning of their romance, Maganon's dearest friend, Thomas Stormwolf, rejected the idea because of the underlying fact that the general public in Carotrox would still see Neela as a dangerous animal, capable of slaying a man twice her height within seconds. Maganon insisted on Thomas to observe their relationship in order to make a sound decision. After period of five months, Thomas gave his blessings to his close friend.
Maganon and Neela had one of their happiest days together, wedding at the end of August, a year after Thomas' good wishes. On the first day of June, at sunrise, Lisa Felinas Sunwolf was born. That day, Maganon remarked to Vanodas, "This is the happiest day of my life. To see my first daughter and spend it with my love."
Tragically, the happiness was not meant to last.
Kregron spotted Lisa and her servant in the sunflower field and decided to take refuge in among the leaves of an acorn tree. He climbed up the trunk with monkey-like agility and as quiet as a mouse. There, he settled down on a thick branch joint, watching the girl through the cover of leaves.
For hours he watched the girl and the woman as they cleaned up the litter, dug up dead plants and weeds and planted seeds into empty plots. The calm in her mind could be seen clearly from her eyes and her smile reflected the happiness in her heart. Occasionally, there were times when her soft smile would waver, an indication of a sad memory flashing by in her mind. As the sun began to set, he decided he had seen enough for that day and left quietly.
He continued this process of observation, taking suitable times and places to watch Lisa. After a few weeks, Kregron had gathered enough information to decide how to make the introductions happen.
"Hey there, how are you doing?" Lisa jumped at Kregron's voice. She turned around only to jump once more, terrified at the sight of the mercenary. Kregron pulled his lips thinner and sat down. He played with a box in his hands, trying to look nonchalant in front of the half-Relican. Lisa hesitated for a moment, looking at the housekeeper who was staying behind her back. The woman nodded back with a reassuring smile and Lisa pulled her lips in. Finally, the lady sat down before Kregron, who nodded in acknowledgement of Lisa's participation.
"I'm Kregron Letarion, freelance mercenary. You can call me Kregron, if you like. I apologise for our first meeting. I hope we can be acquaintances since I will be your personal bodyguard. If you have any questions about me, please feel free to ask." Kregron spoke as clearly as he could. His throat tightened for a moment, a strange awkward feeling he had not felt for a long time.
Kregron looked at the box he was holding and proffered it to Lisa. "A gift of goodwill."
Lisa gazed at it. Kregron frowned but quickly maintained his emotionless expression. "It's nothing dangerous. It took me a while to earn something you like."
"Thank you." Lisa accepted the present with a confused look. She looked back at Kregron.
"Lisa Felinas Sunwolf. Pleased to meet you." Came the quiet voice of Lisa. Kregron looked surprised at first before erupting into delirious laughter. Lisa and her servant simply stared in confusion at the man.
"Pleased to meet me?" Kregron struggled to breath.
"Lisa, please be frank to me." The air around Kregron was saturated with his killing intent, turning Lisa into a trembling pile. Her servant just fell onto her back, twitching and muttering incoherently. The sunflowers nearby wilted and died before crumbling to dust.
"I hate liars." Kregron added with venom before getting onto his feet. "I hope you can be as transparent as possible in the future."
"It is a virtue that is long lost in the existence of sentience. Don't lose it, Lisa Sunwolf." Kregron said as he vanished into the swaying sunflower field.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Arc 1, Chapter 3: Freedom of Choice
Edit: Corrected a major mistake. Kregron is supposed to have one working eye.
"Kregron Letarion, the Wandering Soldier... It is a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for saving Miss Sunwolf." The head butler of the Sunwolf household bowed profusely in appreciation but Kregron ignored the gesture. He picked up Lisa and carried her again in the same piggyback manner. Looking at the butler, Kregron jerked his head towards the mansion with an unamused look. The butler's smile vanished immediately at that behaviour. Without another word, he led Kregron past the gates and up the low slope. They walked through a beautiful vibrant garden, though it could be seen from the flowers that much less care was given during the past few days.
"I am Takaimura. The maids here will ease you of your load. How should the Sunwolf household repay you?" Kregron passed Lisa to a group of three maidens dressed in neat, clean, beige uniforms. Takaimura calmly led the mercenary into the mansion, through a short series of stairs and corridors, before finally arriving at an open room. "Come in, I shall have a few of the housekeepers clean your equipment-"
"There is no need to call them." Kregron spoke with venom. Takaimura jumped a little and quickly decided to change the topic. "Your choice is respected, sir. Do you need anything else?"
"Food. And water." Kregron mentioned in a matter-of-fact tone. Takaimura nodded and left briefly, leaving Kregron alone. Sensing there was no one around, Kregron shut the door and locked it with a few trusted spells. He rarely used magic, not because he was not very proficient in it, but it was not in his style. The magic he learnt were too flashy and attracted too much attention during missions.
Kregron took out his pistol from its hoister and examined the smooth onyx-coloured grooves. He felt the handgrip before proceeding to disassemble the weapon. Then he reassembled it and loaded a full magazine. He cocked it, unloaded the gun and retrieved the lone bullet from the chamber by a release switch. It was a wonderful work of art, a payment from completing a mission in Lionaron.
Holding up the bullet between his thumb and second finger, Kregron gazed at it dreamily, as his mind was gradually swallowed up in his reverie.
"Why don't you join them, Kregron?"
A much younger Kregron looked up in shock, but the emotion soon faded away the moment he realised who was the owner of the voice. Madam Peria.
"I don't play with bullies and wretches." Kregron muttered under his breath. He tugged his left sleeve down further to cover his entire left arm. He poked the soil with a short, thick stick, waiting impatiently for Madam Peria to leave him alone. She did not, choosing to sit beside the boy as he began to scribble with the stick.
"That is a very nasty thing to say, Kregron." Madam Peria offered an opened bag of gummies, which Kregron readily declined.
"My mom told me never to lie. It's not good to lie." Kregron poked the soil repeatedly, each time with more force until the stick broke in two. Then Kregron picked up another stick and continued poking the ground.
"Does the boredom ever get to you?" Madam Peria asked worriedly.
"I'm used to it. It's not like I have a choice." Kregron replied grimly.
The matron stared for a moment, unable to give a suitable rebuttal to the boy. Then she smiled when she realised what he meant. She hugged the boy and patted his head. "We always have our choices. It is the mistakes we made in choosing them."
Kregron's eyes flittered up and down while he fidgeted with the stick. Then he nodded silently, absorbing the meaning into his memory.
"It is strange, Madam. What mistakes have I made to deserve this?"
Kregron revealed his left arm, to which the matron screamed in fright.
"Is it a lie or truth?" Kregron slipped the bullet back into the magazine and returned everything to their respective holders. A voice in his head replied almost immediately. Your destinations in life are predetermined by the web of Fate. Your decisions mattered not in the entirety of your journey.
Then what do you have to say about this choice I have taken? Why do you think I have taken it? Kregron asked the voice mentally. It laughed, which sounded more like a light chuckle, passing off a feeling that it was amused at the questions. It is really strange, isn't it? How I am you and I do not know the answers? But since you have inquired about my opinion, I shall provide. In your heart, you are desperately searching for a reason to live, in order to feel alive once more. It is only natural, given your human-half.
I guess you are right. Kregron stood up and walked towards the bathroom. Switching the light on, he took a brief look at the mirror. He could see the blots of dried blood dotting his face and armour. Slowly, he felt the areas around his left eye, after he noticed how prominent his left eye-bag was. He could not remember when he had sleep. He barely recalled the sensation of being rested. All his life, he has been running, fighting and chasing.
The reason to exist lies in becoming a true friend to the girl? Kregron doubted the words he had read in the letter. What is so special about the girl that would help me in finding the answer?
Lisa Sunwolf woke with a anguished scream, only to be held back gently by two fair maidens. They whispered calmly, trying to get her to relax and forget about her nightmare. The young heir shuddered and gazed around the room. Staring at the ceiling, Lisa fixated her gaze upon an intricate painting of the Sunwolf's medal of honour. The different hues of yellow and cerulean worked together to bring about a commanding yet warm texture, imparting a kind and just tone. Lisa breathed out slowly, feeling her heartbeats decreasing back to the normal range.
She ordered her housekeepers to leave her alone before she went to the bathroom to wash up. Memories of her kidnapping returned to her briefly as she tried to enjoy a warm soak in the bath. However, the strong images of Kregron slaughtering her captors pushed away those memories and leaving her clutching her arms in fear. It reminded her of something in the past, a terrible tale to kept untold.
"Mom, Dad. Why do you have to leave me?"
"Milady, I'm glad you are safe. How are you feeling?" Takaimura asked with the air of a worried father. Lisa shook her head and fiddled with her fingers. The butler nodded, appearing to be holding back on something he was about to tell. Unfortunately, Lisa caught the hesitant look on his face and pushed him for the reason.
"Milady, please sit down. Do not be alarmed at what I am about to inform you. The man whom you saw dispatching your captors... He will be your new bodyguard starting from today. He also requests to be in close contact with you." Takaimura knew he was treading in dangerous waters. It was barely three days since his master's rescue and he hoped that the memory of the mercenary would not trigger a bad reaction from Lisa.
Lisa stared in a mixture of shock and terror at the news. She began to breath heavily as the frightening memories of Kregron's murderous aura filled her very being. She trembled violently as Takaimura quickly tended to his mistress, trying his best to calm her down. He cursed silently under his breath, reprimanding himself for not allowing Lisa to fully recover from the ordeal.
Kregron watched secretly from above, studying his client with a faux lazy gaze. Such a fragile creature, he thought. He felt his chin with his right thumb and second finger, noting the bristly feeling and a reminder to shave when his beard was longer. Yet again, this challenge fills me with doubts. How am I supposed to be a friend to a girl who would be driven senseless by the sight of me?
You can always give up now. It would be wiser to stick to what you know instead of wandering into the vast unknown. The voice in Kregron's head spoke. Kregron pondered on the suggestion for a minute. Yet his heart yielded for the answer so strongly that Kregron could not resist. Thanks, but no thanks. I must get through this, no matter what.
Even when you have met failure in such similar situations before? You know this very well. It is not in the past if it continues to exist in present and future. It is a fact, a law! You intend to go against an absolute rule of existence!? The voice argued and Kregron clenched his teeth in frustration.
He is correct. Kregron tried hard to keep those experiences out of his consciousness. No, I must not give in. Not now!
"My freedom to choose is mine alone, not Fate's." Kregron told himself in a determined tone. The voice inside grunted in defiance but said nothing more.
Clasping the miniature locklet hanging on her necklace, Lisa let her gaze wander to the window and into the darkness of the lightless sky. The soft crisp sounds of frogs had a calming effect on the lady, who tried once again to fall asleep. She felt exhausted but the fear that was enclosing around her being did not fade away. She tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position and spot in her bed to lie peacefully.
A breeze began to blew on the crowns of trees. Lisa watched the swaying movement, the occurrence reminding her of her mother's voice and words. Gradually, her eyelids drooped and the girl was fast asleep. None of the recent memories or nightmares disturbed her rest.
Kregron pulled out his pistol from under his pillow, swinging around to see a glowing figure floating at the edge of his bed. He stopped in shock when he realised it was a female youthful angel with straight long blonde locks of hair. Dressed in a white toga and sandals, it reminded the mercenary of the age before magic was introduced to man. She approached Kregron slowly and cautiously, holding out her arms in a friendly gesture of welcome. Kregron's brain tried to rationalise how an angel had managed to find him and whether the angel was sent to punish him for the death of her sister.
Still, the thoughts were pushed aside when he noticed her sad, haunting smile. He felt the lips conveyed much pain from their owner. However, he felt compelled to be on guard.
"Stay away from me, please. Your name and your purpose." Kregron uttered, struggling to stop the trembling in his pistol hand. The angel nodded and floated back to the opposite edge of the bed.
"I am Aegis. I only serve as your guardian angel. My last master died and you were the nearest sentient being to whom I have latched on." Her voice was warm and comforting, an identical sensation of the warm summer breeze through one's hair and a fair bit of sun peeking through the thin clouds.
"I did not ask you to be my guardian, angel." Kregron hissed, maintaining his sight on the angel's forehead. "I do believe that angels do have a choice not to serve those who have tainted hands."
"I do not." Aegis replied in a somewhat sorrowful tone, her light diminishing until she has faded into the relative darkness of the room. Thoroughly confused of what had just happened, Kregron laid back on his bed wide awake, only falling into an uneasy sleep filled with dreams of the dying cries of angels.
"Kregron Letarion, the Wandering Soldier... It is a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for saving Miss Sunwolf." The head butler of the Sunwolf household bowed profusely in appreciation but Kregron ignored the gesture. He picked up Lisa and carried her again in the same piggyback manner. Looking at the butler, Kregron jerked his head towards the mansion with an unamused look. The butler's smile vanished immediately at that behaviour. Without another word, he led Kregron past the gates and up the low slope. They walked through a beautiful vibrant garden, though it could be seen from the flowers that much less care was given during the past few days.
"I am Takaimura. The maids here will ease you of your load. How should the Sunwolf household repay you?" Kregron passed Lisa to a group of three maidens dressed in neat, clean, beige uniforms. Takaimura calmly led the mercenary into the mansion, through a short series of stairs and corridors, before finally arriving at an open room. "Come in, I shall have a few of the housekeepers clean your equipment-"
"There is no need to call them." Kregron spoke with venom. Takaimura jumped a little and quickly decided to change the topic. "Your choice is respected, sir. Do you need anything else?"
"Food. And water." Kregron mentioned in a matter-of-fact tone. Takaimura nodded and left briefly, leaving Kregron alone. Sensing there was no one around, Kregron shut the door and locked it with a few trusted spells. He rarely used magic, not because he was not very proficient in it, but it was not in his style. The magic he learnt were too flashy and attracted too much attention during missions.
Kregron took out his pistol from its hoister and examined the smooth onyx-coloured grooves. He felt the handgrip before proceeding to disassemble the weapon. Then he reassembled it and loaded a full magazine. He cocked it, unloaded the gun and retrieved the lone bullet from the chamber by a release switch. It was a wonderful work of art, a payment from completing a mission in Lionaron.
Holding up the bullet between his thumb and second finger, Kregron gazed at it dreamily, as his mind was gradually swallowed up in his reverie.
"Why don't you join them, Kregron?"
A much younger Kregron looked up in shock, but the emotion soon faded away the moment he realised who was the owner of the voice. Madam Peria.
"I don't play with bullies and wretches." Kregron muttered under his breath. He tugged his left sleeve down further to cover his entire left arm. He poked the soil with a short, thick stick, waiting impatiently for Madam Peria to leave him alone. She did not, choosing to sit beside the boy as he began to scribble with the stick.
"That is a very nasty thing to say, Kregron." Madam Peria offered an opened bag of gummies, which Kregron readily declined.
"My mom told me never to lie. It's not good to lie." Kregron poked the soil repeatedly, each time with more force until the stick broke in two. Then Kregron picked up another stick and continued poking the ground.
"Does the boredom ever get to you?" Madam Peria asked worriedly.
"I'm used to it. It's not like I have a choice." Kregron replied grimly.
The matron stared for a moment, unable to give a suitable rebuttal to the boy. Then she smiled when she realised what he meant. She hugged the boy and patted his head. "We always have our choices. It is the mistakes we made in choosing them."
Kregron's eyes flittered up and down while he fidgeted with the stick. Then he nodded silently, absorbing the meaning into his memory.
"It is strange, Madam. What mistakes have I made to deserve this?"
Kregron revealed his left arm, to which the matron screamed in fright.
"Is it a lie or truth?" Kregron slipped the bullet back into the magazine and returned everything to their respective holders. A voice in his head replied almost immediately. Your destinations in life are predetermined by the web of Fate. Your decisions mattered not in the entirety of your journey.
Then what do you have to say about this choice I have taken? Why do you think I have taken it? Kregron asked the voice mentally. It laughed, which sounded more like a light chuckle, passing off a feeling that it was amused at the questions. It is really strange, isn't it? How I am you and I do not know the answers? But since you have inquired about my opinion, I shall provide. In your heart, you are desperately searching for a reason to live, in order to feel alive once more. It is only natural, given your human-half.
I guess you are right. Kregron stood up and walked towards the bathroom. Switching the light on, he took a brief look at the mirror. He could see the blots of dried blood dotting his face and armour. Slowly, he felt the areas around his left eye, after he noticed how prominent his left eye-bag was. He could not remember when he had sleep. He barely recalled the sensation of being rested. All his life, he has been running, fighting and chasing.
The reason to exist lies in becoming a true friend to the girl? Kregron doubted the words he had read in the letter. What is so special about the girl that would help me in finding the answer?
Lisa Sunwolf woke with a anguished scream, only to be held back gently by two fair maidens. They whispered calmly, trying to get her to relax and forget about her nightmare. The young heir shuddered and gazed around the room. Staring at the ceiling, Lisa fixated her gaze upon an intricate painting of the Sunwolf's medal of honour. The different hues of yellow and cerulean worked together to bring about a commanding yet warm texture, imparting a kind and just tone. Lisa breathed out slowly, feeling her heartbeats decreasing back to the normal range.
She ordered her housekeepers to leave her alone before she went to the bathroom to wash up. Memories of her kidnapping returned to her briefly as she tried to enjoy a warm soak in the bath. However, the strong images of Kregron slaughtering her captors pushed away those memories and leaving her clutching her arms in fear. It reminded her of something in the past, a terrible tale to kept untold.
"Mom, Dad. Why do you have to leave me?"
"Milady, I'm glad you are safe. How are you feeling?" Takaimura asked with the air of a worried father. Lisa shook her head and fiddled with her fingers. The butler nodded, appearing to be holding back on something he was about to tell. Unfortunately, Lisa caught the hesitant look on his face and pushed him for the reason.
"Milady, please sit down. Do not be alarmed at what I am about to inform you. The man whom you saw dispatching your captors... He will be your new bodyguard starting from today. He also requests to be in close contact with you." Takaimura knew he was treading in dangerous waters. It was barely three days since his master's rescue and he hoped that the memory of the mercenary would not trigger a bad reaction from Lisa.
Lisa stared in a mixture of shock and terror at the news. She began to breath heavily as the frightening memories of Kregron's murderous aura filled her very being. She trembled violently as Takaimura quickly tended to his mistress, trying his best to calm her down. He cursed silently under his breath, reprimanding himself for not allowing Lisa to fully recover from the ordeal.
Kregron watched secretly from above, studying his client with a faux lazy gaze. Such a fragile creature, he thought. He felt his chin with his right thumb and second finger, noting the bristly feeling and a reminder to shave when his beard was longer. Yet again, this challenge fills me with doubts. How am I supposed to be a friend to a girl who would be driven senseless by the sight of me?
You can always give up now. It would be wiser to stick to what you know instead of wandering into the vast unknown. The voice in Kregron's head spoke. Kregron pondered on the suggestion for a minute. Yet his heart yielded for the answer so strongly that Kregron could not resist. Thanks, but no thanks. I must get through this, no matter what.
Even when you have met failure in such similar situations before? You know this very well. It is not in the past if it continues to exist in present and future. It is a fact, a law! You intend to go against an absolute rule of existence!? The voice argued and Kregron clenched his teeth in frustration.
He is correct. Kregron tried hard to keep those experiences out of his consciousness. No, I must not give in. Not now!
"My freedom to choose is mine alone, not Fate's." Kregron told himself in a determined tone. The voice inside grunted in defiance but said nothing more.
Clasping the miniature locklet hanging on her necklace, Lisa let her gaze wander to the window and into the darkness of the lightless sky. The soft crisp sounds of frogs had a calming effect on the lady, who tried once again to fall asleep. She felt exhausted but the fear that was enclosing around her being did not fade away. She tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position and spot in her bed to lie peacefully.
A breeze began to blew on the crowns of trees. Lisa watched the swaying movement, the occurrence reminding her of her mother's voice and words. Gradually, her eyelids drooped and the girl was fast asleep. None of the recent memories or nightmares disturbed her rest.
Kregron pulled out his pistol from under his pillow, swinging around to see a glowing figure floating at the edge of his bed. He stopped in shock when he realised it was a female youthful angel with straight long blonde locks of hair. Dressed in a white toga and sandals, it reminded the mercenary of the age before magic was introduced to man. She approached Kregron slowly and cautiously, holding out her arms in a friendly gesture of welcome. Kregron's brain tried to rationalise how an angel had managed to find him and whether the angel was sent to punish him for the death of her sister.
Still, the thoughts were pushed aside when he noticed her sad, haunting smile. He felt the lips conveyed much pain from their owner. However, he felt compelled to be on guard.
"Stay away from me, please. Your name and your purpose." Kregron uttered, struggling to stop the trembling in his pistol hand. The angel nodded and floated back to the opposite edge of the bed.
"I am Aegis. I only serve as your guardian angel. My last master died and you were the nearest sentient being to whom I have latched on." Her voice was warm and comforting, an identical sensation of the warm summer breeze through one's hair and a fair bit of sun peeking through the thin clouds.
"I did not ask you to be my guardian, angel." Kregron hissed, maintaining his sight on the angel's forehead. "I do believe that angels do have a choice not to serve those who have tainted hands."
"I do not." Aegis replied in a somewhat sorrowful tone, her light diminishing until she has faded into the relative darkness of the room. Thoroughly confused of what had just happened, Kregron laid back on his bed wide awake, only falling into an uneasy sleep filled with dreams of the dying cries of angels.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Arc 1, Chapter 2: A Reason?
Edit: Corrected a major mistake. Kregron is supposed to have one working eye.
Kregron Letarion stared into the night sky, lying comfortably on in the middle of a vast grassland. Nocturnal animals could be seen wandering around the mercenary but kept a noticeable distance away from the man. He paid no heed to the beasts, lost in thought as his eye gazed upon the numerous glittering stars. For once, a peaceful look fell upon his face. Until a torrent of unpleasant memories flooded his mind, making him frown. Sitting up straight, Kregron shook his head, attempting to push the memories into a dark corner of his mind. Once he had failed to do so for a minute, Kregron stood up and scanned the landscape.
It was rather breezy and Kregron took in a deep breath. Suddenly, he drew his pistol and aimed it straight in an elderly man's mouth. "Speak now or be forever silent, wizard."
"Divono Minustorm, Sage of the Four Winds. At your service." The wizard took a few steps back and bowed graciously. Kregron did not lower his weapon. His main concern was the wizard's tall staff. Its sleek metallic design reminded Kregron of the beautiful architecture he had seen in the industrial nation, Lionaron. Then it hit him.
"You are the mage in Gaidrium's team. The ones who are believed to be on an insane suicide mission into the heartland of the Black Dragons' land. What business do you have with me?" Kregron lowered his firearm, eyeing Divono's pulsating staff. The ageing wizard stuck his staff into the ground casually and slowly reached into his cloak, in search of something.
"Kregron Letarion, have you ever wonder about your parents? Why did they left you behind at that orphanage? Why do you have that eye and why do you possess such a left arm? Have you?" Divono fished out a musty envelope. Kregron spotted some fading lettering on the surface but could not comprehend the writing. Looking back at those old eyes, the mercenary realised the wizard was blind.
"Yeah, I did thought about that. I do not care for the reasons. If the envelope is to search for my beginnings, keep it to yourself. I have no use for it." Kregron replied coldly but Divono maintained his ground. At that moment, Kregron thought he saw a younger Divono, a handsome and charming man who was the love of many women. A war hero, the one who stood against Necro as a bold sacrifice to allow victory for the Alliance of the Living.
"No, this information is not for that, Mr Letarion. But I digress. What is your reason to exist?" Divono watched Kregron as the mercenary flinched at the question.
"How did you know?" Kregron raised his pistol and materialised a massive tar-black claymore. Divono held out his hands in peace. "A journey you will undergo to uncover the answer. I will leave this here for you. Take it if you wish. But if you don't, an innocent life is at stake."
Divono walked towards his staff, his back turned to Kregron. The wizard pulled out it out of the ground and paused momentarily. "I hope you do read what is inside, Kregron Letarion. I know you do not wish to have more guilt on your conscience."
A light wind picked up and a flurry of leaves covered the old man. As quickly as it came, the wind stopped, the falling leaves revealing a missing wizard.
I'm going to die, am I? Lisa Felinas Sunwolf thought to herself, her tears welling up in her eyes as she could not pull them away from the face of her assassins. They all bore visages filled with hatred and prejudice. The teenage Relican pulled her body in closer as the surrounding murderers edged nearer. What have I done to deserve this?
She was on her way to visit her god-uncle at a cafeteria near the Rogrus Headquarters in Carotrox when her convoy was ambushed by these brutes. Her bodyguards were skilled but the enemies were overwhelming in numbers. Soon, her living armour fell to the ground, dead as could be and Lisa was trapped in a wall of knives and hot breath.
One of them raised his axe in glee but only to have his head cleaved off by a terrifying thick black object. The men screamed in terror as they wheeled around, recognising their assailant instantly. Lisa watched in horror as the men were rapidly cut down into bits. She gagged when she saw a man crushed into gory bits.
Kregron strode up to the lady, who was still horrified by the bloody scene. Looking behind with a mild curious gaze, Kregron simply ignored the carnage he had left behind. Proffering a bloody hand to Lisa, Kregron beckoned her to grab it. The lady fainted immediately.
"Stop sir! You shall not pass-" Kregron showed a parchment to the Rogrus officer and continued on when the officer remained silent and backed off. He adjusted his luggage in his back and sighed.
The civilians stared at Kregron as he strode past, his body still covered in blood and bits of flesh. He paid no attention to their stares and glares, their whispers and murmurs. His mind and heart were focused on the goal: to reach the Sunwolf mansion located at the northwest of the capital of Carotrox. It would take him a few hours to reach by foot but Kregron was comfortable with it. He hated relying on others. If he could kill without a gun or sword, he would forgo them.
After a few more stops by patrolling Rogrus officers, Kregron arrived at the gates of the Sunwolves' family home. When he took in the sight of the gates, Kregron smirked when they did not give off an imposing feeling. Rather, they passed off as a welcoming sight. Spotting an interface screen at the right of the gates, Kregron moved in front of it. Looking around, Kregron carefully placed Lisa sitting against the wall. Then he activated the device with a touch on the screen.
As he waited, Kregron could not help but think back to the time when he first read the letter in the envelope.
It went, "A journey begins with a single interference. Locate Lisa Felinas Sunwolf, daughter of Maganon Devon Sunwolf and Neela Felinas. It is of utmost importance to rescue her completely unharmed from her captors. How you will deal with the captors is entirely up to you. The next and last obective of this mission is to become her bodyguard. Only then will your journey truly starts towards the answer you are seeking.
Sincerely and love you always,
Koi."
Kregron Letarion stared into the night sky, lying comfortably on in the middle of a vast grassland. Nocturnal animals could be seen wandering around the mercenary but kept a noticeable distance away from the man. He paid no heed to the beasts, lost in thought as his eye gazed upon the numerous glittering stars. For once, a peaceful look fell upon his face. Until a torrent of unpleasant memories flooded his mind, making him frown. Sitting up straight, Kregron shook his head, attempting to push the memories into a dark corner of his mind. Once he had failed to do so for a minute, Kregron stood up and scanned the landscape.
It was rather breezy and Kregron took in a deep breath. Suddenly, he drew his pistol and aimed it straight in an elderly man's mouth. "Speak now or be forever silent, wizard."
"Divono Minustorm, Sage of the Four Winds. At your service." The wizard took a few steps back and bowed graciously. Kregron did not lower his weapon. His main concern was the wizard's tall staff. Its sleek metallic design reminded Kregron of the beautiful architecture he had seen in the industrial nation, Lionaron. Then it hit him.
"You are the mage in Gaidrium's team. The ones who are believed to be on an insane suicide mission into the heartland of the Black Dragons' land. What business do you have with me?" Kregron lowered his firearm, eyeing Divono's pulsating staff. The ageing wizard stuck his staff into the ground casually and slowly reached into his cloak, in search of something.
"Kregron Letarion, have you ever wonder about your parents? Why did they left you behind at that orphanage? Why do you have that eye and why do you possess such a left arm? Have you?" Divono fished out a musty envelope. Kregron spotted some fading lettering on the surface but could not comprehend the writing. Looking back at those old eyes, the mercenary realised the wizard was blind.
"Yeah, I did thought about that. I do not care for the reasons. If the envelope is to search for my beginnings, keep it to yourself. I have no use for it." Kregron replied coldly but Divono maintained his ground. At that moment, Kregron thought he saw a younger Divono, a handsome and charming man who was the love of many women. A war hero, the one who stood against Necro as a bold sacrifice to allow victory for the Alliance of the Living.
"No, this information is not for that, Mr Letarion. But I digress. What is your reason to exist?" Divono watched Kregron as the mercenary flinched at the question.
"How did you know?" Kregron raised his pistol and materialised a massive tar-black claymore. Divono held out his hands in peace. "A journey you will undergo to uncover the answer. I will leave this here for you. Take it if you wish. But if you don't, an innocent life is at stake."
Divono walked towards his staff, his back turned to Kregron. The wizard pulled out it out of the ground and paused momentarily. "I hope you do read what is inside, Kregron Letarion. I know you do not wish to have more guilt on your conscience."
A light wind picked up and a flurry of leaves covered the old man. As quickly as it came, the wind stopped, the falling leaves revealing a missing wizard.
I'm going to die, am I? Lisa Felinas Sunwolf thought to herself, her tears welling up in her eyes as she could not pull them away from the face of her assassins. They all bore visages filled with hatred and prejudice. The teenage Relican pulled her body in closer as the surrounding murderers edged nearer. What have I done to deserve this?
She was on her way to visit her god-uncle at a cafeteria near the Rogrus Headquarters in Carotrox when her convoy was ambushed by these brutes. Her bodyguards were skilled but the enemies were overwhelming in numbers. Soon, her living armour fell to the ground, dead as could be and Lisa was trapped in a wall of knives and hot breath.
One of them raised his axe in glee but only to have his head cleaved off by a terrifying thick black object. The men screamed in terror as they wheeled around, recognising their assailant instantly. Lisa watched in horror as the men were rapidly cut down into bits. She gagged when she saw a man crushed into gory bits.
Kregron strode up to the lady, who was still horrified by the bloody scene. Looking behind with a mild curious gaze, Kregron simply ignored the carnage he had left behind. Proffering a bloody hand to Lisa, Kregron beckoned her to grab it. The lady fainted immediately.
"Stop sir! You shall not pass-" Kregron showed a parchment to the Rogrus officer and continued on when the officer remained silent and backed off. He adjusted his luggage in his back and sighed.
The civilians stared at Kregron as he strode past, his body still covered in blood and bits of flesh. He paid no attention to their stares and glares, their whispers and murmurs. His mind and heart were focused on the goal: to reach the Sunwolf mansion located at the northwest of the capital of Carotrox. It would take him a few hours to reach by foot but Kregron was comfortable with it. He hated relying on others. If he could kill without a gun or sword, he would forgo them.
After a few more stops by patrolling Rogrus officers, Kregron arrived at the gates of the Sunwolves' family home. When he took in the sight of the gates, Kregron smirked when they did not give off an imposing feeling. Rather, they passed off as a welcoming sight. Spotting an interface screen at the right of the gates, Kregron moved in front of it. Looking around, Kregron carefully placed Lisa sitting against the wall. Then he activated the device with a touch on the screen.
As he waited, Kregron could not help but think back to the time when he first read the letter in the envelope.
It went, "A journey begins with a single interference. Locate Lisa Felinas Sunwolf, daughter of Maganon Devon Sunwolf and Neela Felinas. It is of utmost importance to rescue her completely unharmed from her captors. How you will deal with the captors is entirely up to you. The next and last obective of this mission is to become her bodyguard. Only then will your journey truly starts towards the answer you are seeking.
Sincerely and love you always,
Koi."
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Arc 1, Chapter 1: It's Just Business
Edit: Corrected a major mistake. Kregron is supposed to have one working eye.
"Wait! We can discuss this like gentlemen! Name your price, please!" An obese, balding man dressed in a sharp tuxedo fell hard on his bottom, pushing away from a tall figure standing at the doorway. The opposing man gazed around the room, seeking any hidden bodyguards of his target.
Taking out his mobile phone, the man sitting on the ground thrust the device towards his would-be murderer. "Please see what is on my phone! If it is money or land, I can pay you. Please, spare my life!"
The assassin strode over, raising a jet-black pistol. He aimed it at the rich man's forehead and unlocked the safety. The victim breathed heavily, gasping as his blood pressure rose. "Please, we can talk about this, right?
The assassin remained emotionless, merely speaking these words, "It's just business."
"Ah, you're back. I take it that Sir Humbleton is dead, right?" A burly man clad in army fatigue offered a chair to the same assassin, who accepted the gesture with a curt nod. "He is. Do you need proof?"
"Definitely. I would like to invest my trust in you, mister-"
"Kregron." The taller man added, fishing around in his pockets in search of a particular object. The commander kept his eyes on the mercenary, who bore no interest in his client's stern gaze.
"Here. His eyes and his fingerprints. Freshly cut from his body." Kregron produced a small white box and slide it towards the soldier. "The payment, General Tiberon."
General Tiberon opened the box and almost gagged on his drink. Inside were the victim's eyes and fingerprints, cleaned, bagged in smaller plastic bags and arranged neatly on a bedding of crushed ice. He looked up to see the assassin waiting patiently for his payment. "Of course."
Kregron left the private bar after receiving a thick envelope. General Tiberon rubbed his forehead with a handkerchief, his mind stuck on Kregron.
A few months ago, the government of Malakba ordered the execution of an industrial traitor, who had went over to the enemy side due to a financial agreement. Millions of credits were exchanged in that contract and now, the blueprints of Malakba's defensive systems were in jeopardy of being presented to their invaders, the Eclipse empire. General Tiberon's superiors were in a frenzy, trying all possible means to protect the sovereignty of the nation. It was until a month remained before the Eclipse Empire made its move did a minister suggested hiring the Wandering Horror to eliminate the merchant. However, this was met with great resistance for it was known to many that the freelance mercenary accepted incredibly random types of payment. Furthermore, he was recognised as a downsized superweapon, having being recorded decimating an entire army of a hundred thousand men and vehicles by himself.
General Tiberon was a man who loved his country. He grew up knowing that he could not fit into society and immediately found his place during an army recruitment drive. There he signed up and was soon brought into the harsh world of military combat. Through his years of service, he rose through the ranks as he completed more and more vital missions regarding the defense of his beloved nation. Additionally, the reason behind his eventual rise to power was his ability to command his forces at such a high efficiency rate, which resulted in him receiving the title of "Turtling Tactician".
Nevertheless, when General Tiberon was given precise information of the empire's impending invasion of Malakba, he could recognise the possibility of his nation winning the war. It was impossible once the weaknesses of Malakba's defence systems were revealed. The forces which were slated to crush Malakba were a million infantry accompanied by five hundred thousand assault tanks. Not to mention an unknown number of fighter and bomber jets which would aid in the siege.
The general was desperate and tried his best to change the opinions of the majority, but to little success. In the end, he sent a small team of his most trusted soldiers to pass the mercenary a message.
Within a week of the team's departure, General Tiberon was visited by a nightmarish vision. When he awoke from his terrible dream, the first thing he saw was the glowing red cross-hair. Kregron had agreed to listen to what the general wished to offer as payment for the job.
"Your offer, General." Kregron spoke, his voice reflected the sensation of a barren land covered in frigid darkness. General Tiberon's heart beat faster and cold sweat began to run down his body. For a moment, the soldier thought he was looking into the eye of the End Times.
"May I know what you are seeking, mercenary?" General Tiberon forced the fear out of his mind with great difficulty. The mercenary tilted his head in deep thought, his face on the other hand, continued to show no emotion.
"The blueprint of your most powerful sniper rifle." The mercenary replied after a brief silence. General Tiberon nodded, knowing that it was a huge price to pay for the victory of the incoming battle.
"My target." Kregron asked in a monotone and the general quickly provided a folder containing information of the merchant to the man. Once he received the documents, Kregron vanished into the darkness, only to be seen again in the private bar.
General Tiberon later led Malakba's army with the other generals to a a great victory, losing only five percent of their total standing forces. Malakba's allies arrived a day later, routing the massive army of the Eclipse Empire. It was then Kregron's nickname was changed to the Wandering Soldier, a mercenary whose whims were like the winds.
"Please! Spare my life! I will offer you anything! Anything!" A middle-aged man clad in a pristine white laboratory coat stepped backwards, holding up his hands in surrender. Kregron approached the scientist with a huge claymore made of the dull black shards.
"It's just business." Kregron swung the monstrous blade down, cleaving the poor man into two gruesome halves. "Just business."
"Wait! We can discuss this like gentlemen! Name your price, please!" An obese, balding man dressed in a sharp tuxedo fell hard on his bottom, pushing away from a tall figure standing at the doorway. The opposing man gazed around the room, seeking any hidden bodyguards of his target.
Taking out his mobile phone, the man sitting on the ground thrust the device towards his would-be murderer. "Please see what is on my phone! If it is money or land, I can pay you. Please, spare my life!"
The assassin strode over, raising a jet-black pistol. He aimed it at the rich man's forehead and unlocked the safety. The victim breathed heavily, gasping as his blood pressure rose. "Please, we can talk about this, right?
The assassin remained emotionless, merely speaking these words, "It's just business."
"Ah, you're back. I take it that Sir Humbleton is dead, right?" A burly man clad in army fatigue offered a chair to the same assassin, who accepted the gesture with a curt nod. "He is. Do you need proof?"
"Definitely. I would like to invest my trust in you, mister-"
"Kregron." The taller man added, fishing around in his pockets in search of a particular object. The commander kept his eyes on the mercenary, who bore no interest in his client's stern gaze.
"Here. His eyes and his fingerprints. Freshly cut from his body." Kregron produced a small white box and slide it towards the soldier. "The payment, General Tiberon."
General Tiberon opened the box and almost gagged on his drink. Inside were the victim's eyes and fingerprints, cleaned, bagged in smaller plastic bags and arranged neatly on a bedding of crushed ice. He looked up to see the assassin waiting patiently for his payment. "Of course."
Kregron left the private bar after receiving a thick envelope. General Tiberon rubbed his forehead with a handkerchief, his mind stuck on Kregron.
A few months ago, the government of Malakba ordered the execution of an industrial traitor, who had went over to the enemy side due to a financial agreement. Millions of credits were exchanged in that contract and now, the blueprints of Malakba's defensive systems were in jeopardy of being presented to their invaders, the Eclipse empire. General Tiberon's superiors were in a frenzy, trying all possible means to protect the sovereignty of the nation. It was until a month remained before the Eclipse Empire made its move did a minister suggested hiring the Wandering Horror to eliminate the merchant. However, this was met with great resistance for it was known to many that the freelance mercenary accepted incredibly random types of payment. Furthermore, he was recognised as a downsized superweapon, having being recorded decimating an entire army of a hundred thousand men and vehicles by himself.
General Tiberon was a man who loved his country. He grew up knowing that he could not fit into society and immediately found his place during an army recruitment drive. There he signed up and was soon brought into the harsh world of military combat. Through his years of service, he rose through the ranks as he completed more and more vital missions regarding the defense of his beloved nation. Additionally, the reason behind his eventual rise to power was his ability to command his forces at such a high efficiency rate, which resulted in him receiving the title of "Turtling Tactician".
Nevertheless, when General Tiberon was given precise information of the empire's impending invasion of Malakba, he could recognise the possibility of his nation winning the war. It was impossible once the weaknesses of Malakba's defence systems were revealed. The forces which were slated to crush Malakba were a million infantry accompanied by five hundred thousand assault tanks. Not to mention an unknown number of fighter and bomber jets which would aid in the siege.
The general was desperate and tried his best to change the opinions of the majority, but to little success. In the end, he sent a small team of his most trusted soldiers to pass the mercenary a message.
Within a week of the team's departure, General Tiberon was visited by a nightmarish vision. When he awoke from his terrible dream, the first thing he saw was the glowing red cross-hair. Kregron had agreed to listen to what the general wished to offer as payment for the job.
"Your offer, General." Kregron spoke, his voice reflected the sensation of a barren land covered in frigid darkness. General Tiberon's heart beat faster and cold sweat began to run down his body. For a moment, the soldier thought he was looking into the eye of the End Times.
"May I know what you are seeking, mercenary?" General Tiberon forced the fear out of his mind with great difficulty. The mercenary tilted his head in deep thought, his face on the other hand, continued to show no emotion.
"The blueprint of your most powerful sniper rifle." The mercenary replied after a brief silence. General Tiberon nodded, knowing that it was a huge price to pay for the victory of the incoming battle.
"My target." Kregron asked in a monotone and the general quickly provided a folder containing information of the merchant to the man. Once he received the documents, Kregron vanished into the darkness, only to be seen again in the private bar.
General Tiberon later led Malakba's army with the other generals to a a great victory, losing only five percent of their total standing forces. Malakba's allies arrived a day later, routing the massive army of the Eclipse Empire. It was then Kregron's nickname was changed to the Wandering Soldier, a mercenary whose whims were like the winds.
"Please! Spare my life! I will offer you anything! Anything!" A middle-aged man clad in a pristine white laboratory coat stepped backwards, holding up his hands in surrender. Kregron approached the scientist with a huge claymore made of the dull black shards.
"It's just business." Kregron swung the monstrous blade down, cleaving the poor man into two gruesome halves. "Just business."
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