The night was dark. The moon hid beyond the clouds, and the stars would follow soon. Even without Setsuna’s senses, Keyaruga could feel the upcoming rain. The hero smirked after dealing with the raging bulls, and yet, even such a spectacular victory couldn’t bring him true satisfaction. After all, he and his willing slave had another enemy faction to destroy.
"Finally." The healer exhaled, seeing Buranikka’s gates. Just like the previous time, he and Setsuna had to be quite careful as to not alarm the guardsmen. It was a near-impossible task, considering the lack of thick vegetation around the city, and yet they proceeded. Darkness was their friend, and only beacon-like illuminations from the watchtowers could compromise them.
"Master!" That is, at least, how it was supposed to be. Barely did the huntress raise her gaze; she saw a couple of flaming yellow eyes. But what made her stand before the hero was a shining bolt, loaded in a heavy crossbow.
"Now hold on there! Care to explain, what the fuck are ye’ sneaking there?" The ogre gargled with a surprising finesse of the tongue. It was a tall, red-skinned humanoid of dar-it-nuka tribe. Even if his gambeson was slightly worn, his great horned stature clearly elevated the soldier above the rest of his squad, even in the dead of night. His four buddies were just as nimble with their ranged weapons.
"Just went on a small night date. Me, my girl, and shining stars above us." Keyaruga smirked, pressing the ice warrior with his arm. And although the she-wolf was quite pleased by such a gesture, she couldn’t help but notice the man pushing her behind. The hero got tense, and it wasn’t a peaceful sign.
"Don’t even try that sassy attitude. Ye’re drenched in blood and shit! Not to mention, I saw you leaping through our walls!" The crossbowman never lowered his weapon. "Wanna out, hunting — fine, but ya’ wait till the morning now. Don’t like it? One swing of that bell, and my boys’ll shoot you like a swine!"
"Now listen, good man. I have some money, so if you’re up for a bargain, I think we can make a deal." The healer said, trying to keep his temper low. Buranikka was already under a big threat, so making enemies with the local guards was at least unreasonable.
"Do I look like a moron to you, huh? I said morning! Morning, ya got it?" The ogre snarled at the hero, who kept holding Setsuna behind his back. Sure, he bought her as a meat shield, but Keyaruga himself suited this role better, not to mention his possessiveness and being prone to some serious self-harm.
"Master, let Setsuna do it." Unfortunately, the stubborn girl never wavered. So much so, that she prepared to dash on the wall and end the animosity with a single ripped throat.
"Setsuna, no." But the lad had forbidden such foolishness. He, too, wouldn’t relent. "Twenty kadmi. Surely, more than all of you make per a year." And with that, the man showed a small pouch filled with gold, illuminated by the flares from the watchtowers.
"Gods fucking dammit, kid! Think ye’ can buy everyone with this metal shit? I’ve given ten years to Buranikka, protecting it from the folk like ye’ two!" The warden exclaimed, grabbing the alarm bell from his belt. "Rules are rules for a reason! Now, get the heck out of here, or else…"
"Valorous work, Bagran. Valorous one indeed." And yet, despite the man’s determined attitude, a much shorter, yet somehow eerie, figure appeared right next to him. As if… he emerged from the mist. "The night is peaceful in the garden. Thou four may walketh home." The balding gentleman in rugged plate armor not only dismissed the ogre but also handed the guardsmen a small bag of coins for each. Presumably, with the same funds as Keyaruga offered.
"Appreciate it, boss, but don’t let 'em in. They’re bad news." The main crossbowman noted, although without great eagerness to stand in the way of the pale man’s whims. "I warned ya’."
"Who are you?" Keyaruga inquired, as his right arm instinctively got closer to the saber’s handle. And so did Setsuna covered her forearms with a sharp icy crust. Whatever hardships awaited them, they would face them together.
"A humble gardener for this miraculous city. Chris Malcolm is my name." The man, appearing to be a commander for the local guard, replied. His voice was soothing, even melodic, and yet the healer couldn’t help but remain on guard. "Now, wouldst thee two standeth there, or wouldst thee climb up?"
Before acting further, Keyaruga gave the potential adversary a brief glance. Then he looked at Setsuna. Instead of using words, he merely made a nod, to which the huntress replied with the same gesture. Whatever happens…
And so, with a bit of ice, magic, and acrobatic miracles, both the hero and the she-wolf climbed onto the fortification. As they faced Chris Malcolm, the two of them felt even more intimidated than when targeted by a large crossbow. After all, the red-eyed lad couldn’t help but wonder...
"Should I be surprised that the local blood tax system is supervised by a vampire?" Keyaruga pondered, putting his jade eye to use. Although the fencer class wasn’t much of a threat, even at level sixty-five, the undead looked positively ominous.
"I am but a gardener. Merely keepeth vermins at bay…" The bloodsucker answered evasively. Judging from his vivid appearance, it was obvious that he was fed just as generously as the local ma-muana. Still, he had his own questions to be asked. "Yond blood on thy arms. Rikish gi, correct?" The commander asked, waving his wrinkled hand toward the rampart, so the watchmen would not worry. At least, that was how it looked.
"Correct. I’m not ashamed of it; we did a good job, Setsuna and I." The Hero of Healing mused with a bold grin on his face—an obvious fact that wouldn’t be missed by Chris Malcolm.
"Providing thou art right, thy strength makes affairs problematic. Thou art protecting me-ua kahul, I presume?" That was what he said to raise the tension to its limit. So much so, that Keyaruga felt a drop of sweat running down his forehead.
"You shouldn’t `presume`. Just thank us for avenging your men and be done with that!" The man snarled, strolling sideways from the vampire. He and Setsuna had better things to do than convince the bloodsucker. Needless to say, the latter was not pleased with them.
"You shall not pass me." Just as Keyaruga and his companion got ready to jump from the wall, the vampire crossed their way with his immanent presence. He literally floated in the air, without any wings at all, and his human face turned into an uncanny mask of a crimson fly. "Thou art but a criminal. Outlanders art one thing. But thee shall not receiveth hence with engaging black dogs tribe. Not while Lady Sanatha art a dear friend of Adrian Mirt." The commander gave his warning. His voice became a cacophony of unnatural buzzing, too gross for a normal ear yet distinguishable enough to understand every single word.
"Funny. You know, I’m going after them. That means it was she who let the raging bulls into the city. Not only that, actually! She’s all for Buranikka departing with its autonomy, so that she could take control over local money streams. But you can’t reach her. Or can you? Just don’t want to make things dire when Norn is on her way here. Either way, you need me as a proxy, someone outside your fragile political stability, right?" Combining the memories of the rikish gi’s leader with some simple logic, the healer made a confident conclusion. He couldn’t tell if Chris Malcolm knew about his heroic nature, but his line made the blood fly enthusiastically rub his hands.
"I never hath said aught liketh this. You’re just another outsider, an unknown pawn for the higher forces. Although, shouldst thee faileth, I can at each moment through thee in a cage for having enslaved yond young mistress. Thee doth not wanteth this? Much liketh who is't thou art protecting?" The more the vampire said, the more sheer menace he radiated. It was always like this when mighty entities clashed with their weapons in sheaths. Or…
…
His body reacted faster than his mind. A mere moment had passed before Keyaruga found himself holding the crimson under the black sky. Chris Malcolm stood there with a dagger, its ethereal blade passing through the hero’s left hand, struggling against something unseen. Some string between the lad and his pretty companion deflected the arcane blade. The bloodsucker was so surprised that he didn’t even bother with the wide wound left by the healer. Oh yes, the latter protected Setsuna and was ready to butcher that fiend for making a swing at her. And yet, when he prepared for the next strike, when a dozen bows and crossbows were ready to shoot the duo...
"HALT!!!" Chris Malcolm just dropped his weapon which had vanished even before reaching the ground. And so did his body, before Keyaruga could slash it. "Hmm, I seeth. Who is't is that gent for thee, fair lady?" The vampire’s disembodied voice asked the ice warrior.
"Ma… Keyaruga is Setsuna’s spouse!" The she-wolf answered, swinging her blue claws into the air to no avail.
"It’s enough. Let’s go." Keyaruga said, hiding his saber in the scabbard. The whole predicament seemed quite surreal, but the red-haired lad could make sense of two things that happened there. First, whether they liked it or not, the two of them already got ensnared in an invisible net of political conflicts in Buranikka. Second, since there were many demi-humans out there and no slaves, one could presume that there was a way to sever their bonds of servitude for good.
That whole encounter was more than disturbing. Keyaruga taught himself not to be swayed by fear, but Setsuna was terrified. All she could do was push her trembling body against the lad’s arm. And yet, something told the Hero of Healing that he just found the answer to Jioral’s problem of slavery. And for that...
"I need his knife."
…
Nothing notorious happened on their way to the eastern part of Buranikka. The night made the district of merchants and artisans unusually quiet. Most buildings were cast in darkness, but some shone brightly in the darkness. Was the inconspicuous grocery store one of them? Clearly not. The shop looked abandoned; its door was boarded up. The real entrance to the lair could actually be found behind the house. But before heading there...
"That’s it, Setsuna. We’re almost there. Are you-?.." Keyaruga stopped. His bestial-like companion, his lover, and his sister-in-arms, was still hugging his arm. "Maybe, if you feel off, we should head home for now?" He asked out of concern for the she-wolf.
"…Uh… No." She replied, taking an unwanted yet necessary step to the side. "Setsuna will not let you go alone." After all, she knew better than most… "If master Keyaruga wants someone dead, you go. Setsuna will rather be with you."
Such was her pledge. Even though the girl’s shock from encountering the vampire was still fresh, she couldn’t afford for the Hero of Healing head on without support. She once again clad her forearms in frozen gauntlets and raised her head.
"Good. Follow me." The man said, going under a small brick arc. Beyond it, he saw a door. The one like many others. The only thing that distinguished it was the carved oak as the material. "We will raid this basement, Setsuna. Don’t hesitate, everyone down there is our enemy. Leave no survivors." The lad quietly dictated the instructions. Seemingly confident, the hero touched his chest, revealing the amulet that rested under the shirt. Setsuna called Keyaruga her spouse, and there could be no doubt — she meant it.
"Uh-huh. Setsuna will kill all who threaten us." The huntress spoke coldly. No tremor or wavering remained in her posture. Certainly, she had some mixed feelings about Eve, but that would not stand in the way of destroying anything that endangered her team. Ultimately, the black-winged maiden was one of them now.
"Ready?"
"…" Nothing but a nod. More than enough.
"Let’s start, then."
The healer and his pretty wolf, both still covered in bull’s blood, descended the small set of stairs. Then, a moment of truth had come.
Knock-knock.
A couple of blank sounds ruined the perfect silence. The creaking followed as the bulky janitor made his way toward the entrance.
"Ghh, nanue (what)?" He asked with a yawning voice. Keyaruga saw him through with the power of the jade eye. A muscular man with dog ears and a tail, much like all those demi-humans the hero saw previously.
"Good sir, I think I saw a winged girl out there. Would you like to know more?" The lad savored every word he spoke, with barely to no consideration whether they were actually understood. And why would he? After all, instead of continuing the conversation, the lad just clenched the fist… and punched with no concern toward the greenish glove.
His knuckles breached the door; it crashed into the ribcage. One second, and the green spark drained all the memories. Another, and Keyaruga pulled his hand with still beating heart in his grip. One more, and a juicy kick ripped the door from its hinges.
"Congrats, now you know what it’s like to hunt for my queen." The hero gloated, stepping over the corpse. Setsuna followed, not so prone to unreasonable glee. "There’re still twenty-six of them. They’re quite strong, so be careful. Use your ice to cover me."
That was it. Time for talks was over, as all the black dogs came running to the only door. The most energetic one of them rushed to the door. And wham — the heavy plate of wood smacked him in the face, along with three more men. Keyaruga knew how to make his appearance, as his red saber commanded threat to the group inside. He slashed one, cutthroated another, sent a dagger to the third. He evaded a sword, deflected a mace, and killed its female wielder. The hero was swift and precise in his actions. But also…
"Haha hahahaha" …quite prone to grotesque gargling, as the battle drive overwhelmed him. Still, on the other side of the room, behind the large table, stood a wisened mage. He swung his short staff, sending herds of homing fireballs.
Setsuna was right there to cover her man with the ice half-sphere. It broke instantly, but from the shattered pieces, the fierce warrior emerged to take as many lives as she could. One after another, men and women, old and young fell to her claws. She wasn’t so much faster or stronger than her enemies, but she had the mighty swordsman to cover her. And that’s not even speaking about the sheer psychological effect of their swift carnage. Seventeen now lied defeated, a half of them either dead or screaming while bleeding to death. Many were intimidated, but not the caster. He slammed his staff into the ground, sending cracks of lava through the rocky floor.
Keyaruga kicked a chair toward two foes. They jumped over it but wouldn’t proceed. After all, the magic reached the hero and sent a torrent of magma right into his face. Of course, the lad moved his torso sideways, but the flow would follow him.
"Gh…" His right arm got scourged, the hero dropped his saber, but Setsuna snatched him out of the hot sorcery’s way. At the same time, one of the black dogs ducked under the hot current and lunged at the girl to stab her right in the chest. He…
"SETSUNA!!!" …succeeded.
Keyaruga ripped off his burned limb and smacked the foe so hard that he just fell to the ground. Eight more foes? The mage? The fire? No. Everything was irrelevant. He took the huntress, fainting on his very eyes…
"Mas… A-A-A-A-A!!!" He pulled the short sword from her, no matter how much pain it caused Setsuna, and healed her. In panic and rage, he healed her time after time. And he too succeeded. Even if the excessive mana caused the ice warrior to faint. Even if… The man now had three blades stuck all the way through his torso. He got reckless and spent most of his mana on what would usually take a handful. And yet, he still had some for a single heal. His arm grew back in a spark of green. The man stood up...
"…" And in his silent crimson gaze, he reflected death itself. That, who nearly took away his Setsuna expired with a boot crushing his neck. Another got thrown into the almost faded magma. One warrior almost chopped off Keyaruga’s head, but his large axe just… stuck in his neck.
"Heh… No…" Even such a grievous wound didn’t stop the lad from ripping off the lower jaw before heading further. He only had one arm at his disposal. The left hand constantly sustained life inside the half-dead body at the expense of the amulet. The enchanted trinket was working at its limit, though. Another dog grabbed the crossbow and sent a bolt into the man’s stomach. Alas, futile, as the wounded beast grabbed another foe, ripped his head off and threw it so hard, the shooter’s skull had cracked. Only four remained. They spoke something, but the words got lost behind the mad pumping in the healer’s temples, multiplied by the wild fire burning the air.
In the end, two had made an attempt to flee. Fortunately for them, Keyaruga couldn’t catch them. On the unfortunate side, the mage screamed a few curses and sent a fireball in the Hero of Healing. Alas, one clumsy, yet effective sidestep, and the escapees turned into ash. Only the old mage and a boy remained. The latter was about fourteen years old, holding a dagger with trembling hands. A caster almost charged his staff and was ready to use all his power in a single spell. Keyaruga’s amulet shattered, he barely even stood. Never had the man been so close to death. So close…
"SUNI-I-I-I-I (die)!!!"
"Teren… TEREN! NIRATHA-A-A (no-o-o)!!!"
Ultimately, whether this was an act of desperate bravery or a primal fear of a cornered animal, the kid named Teren did stake his blade right to its hilt. Right in the heart of a dying hero. He shuddered and made a pitiful wheeze. Keyaruga made his last breath...
…
…
…
And the Hero of Healing grinned. With his final strength, he lunged toward the boy, crumbled upon him, and stabbed him with all three blades sticking out of his torso.
"A-A-A-A-A!!! TASI-I-I (help me)!!! SANGA-A-A-A (granddad)!!!" He cried, as the blood left his body, and the tears — his eyes. As if losing so many brethren in one day wasn’t enough, now the youngster drowned in pain and terror. What's worse — death just wouldn’t come. Keyaruga did not allow his prey to just die. Oh no, before that, he would drain the poor thing, and neither the mage’s spells nor his prayers could stop the abomination in a human form. First, there was mana. It didn’t take long to use it all up. But there was more. The energy of life, feeding the very essence of all living. The child screamed, as the purple sparks took away his youth, his strength, his soul itself. Until there was nothing but a dry blackened corpse, a defiled chunk of flesh, peeling out of reddish bones.
Finally, Keyaruga could stand tall once again. First, he ripped out a small axe, stuck in his neck. Then, there was a bolt in his belly. And after that was taken care of, the man took out all four swords, piercing his body. One — by the hilt. Other — through pushing the blade backwards. A gruesomely tormenting endeavor, but all the wounds, all the burns left by the wisened magician, were just fading in a matter of seconds. Up until nothing but blood and holes in the clothes reminded of Keyaruga’s fatal injuries.
The healer resumed his march. His last foe, whining in desperation and rage, screamed something in Divine, sending the flow of magic through his staff. No doubt, his spell was reckless and messy, the staff had shattered, and his arm exploded into bloody pieces. But the fire was there. The flame… dissipated, as the hero emanated a magic barrier with his palm, which bursted into literal rain indoors. With the burning extinguished, all it took was a brief jump. The lad grabbed the wailing geezer’s head, raised it above the ground, and healed him… Before mercilessly slamming it to the ground. It wasn’t the cleanest blow, but at least he would not suffer anymore.
"Ha-a-a-a-a… Good. It seems like Eve is safe. For a while. Hope, you’re… kha-kha… satisfied, you bloodsucker…" The hero mumbled, glaring at his clothes. The vest was breached in three places, one large hole `decorated` the shirt, and his cape was tattered. Considering all the tinkering with inner organs, the man could hardly be called a normal human being.
What a shame I’m gonna have to patch it all. After washing… Oh, Freia, your effort went for nothing. Now, what do we have here? They work for Hakuo. And to hunt down Eve, they tracked down Kailia before informing the raging bulls. Your… Wait… Oh no… No!
"SETSUNA!" In the end, he remembered. With no grace or agility whatsoever, almost stumbling upon all the corpses they left there, the hero finally reached his companion. He kneeled before her body, almost drowning in the magic water. But at least she… was alive. Alive!
Keyaruga stopped any breathing just to listen to her own. There, surrounded by dead men, women, stench of their butchered meat and guts, there was nothing but a fragile figure of unconscious wolf girl. Clearly, the elimination of night dogs couldn’t be worse.
I fucked up! I fucked up! And you! Whatever you are, you didn’t even bother to help me! Why? I though… Thought it would be as easy as taking out those bull shitfaces. And Setsuna… Damn, I’m too soft. I shouldn’t have gotten attached to my…
"Keya… ruga?.." The she-wolf whispered. The first thing she saw upon her reawakening was darkness. Then it was light. And after that — the troubled and scared face of her beloved man.
"A… Ugh…" Finally, the healer stood up, just to turn his battered back to his companion. "Rise, Setsuna. We must leave." He said as coldly as it was possible.
"M-master?.." First, the ice warrior got confused with such a harsh response. Then, she looked around. Setsuna faced the bloodbath, a depiction of pure violence, but more than that… "You saved… saved Setsuna." Her, undoubtedly, rejoiced words were reinforced by the last memory before losing consciousness. The girl couldn’t see him being impaled, but even so, the marks were still there.
"I did not. I told you, I wouldn’t die for you. I…" On that halted phrase the lad took out the shattered amulet from his neck. "If you want to thank someone, think of your father." The hero spoke, finally turning to his companion.
"Oh…" The girl exhaled, as the smile conquered her bloodied face.
"I wasn’t saving you. Just the money I paid for you. And your combat skills."
Usually Keyaruga was quite good at throwing a lie or two. But not at that moment. The lad tried all he could to maintain that emotionless mask. But his crimson cheeks wouldn’t lie. Just as Setsuna’s gratitude, when she granted her spouse the warmest kiss in his entire life.
The night was dark. The moon hid beyond the clouds, and the stars would follow soon. Even without Setsuna’s senses, Keyaruga could feel the upcoming rain. The hero smirked after dealing with the raging bulls, and yet, even such a spectacular victory couldn’t bring him true satisfaction. After all, he and his willing slave had another enemy faction to destroy.
"Finally." The healer exhaled, seeing Buranikka’s gates. Just like the previous time, he and Setsuna had to be quite careful as to not alarm the guardsmen. It was a near-impossible task, considering the lack of thick vegetation around the city, and yet they proceeded. Darkness was their friend, and only beacon-like illuminations from the watchtowers could compromise them.
"Master!" That is, at least, how it was supposed to be. Barely did the huntress raise her gaze; she saw a couple of flaming yellow eyes. But what made her stand before the hero was a shining bolt, loaded in a heavy crossbow.
"Now hold on there! Care to explain, what the fuck are ye’ sneaking there?" The ogre gargled with a surprising finesse of the tongue. It was a tall, red-skinned humanoid of dar-it-nuka tribe. Even if his gambeson was slightly worn, his great horned stature clearly elevated the soldier above the rest of his squad, even in the dead of night. His four buddies were just as nimble with their ranged weapons.
"Just went on a small night date. Me, my girl, and shining stars above us." Keyaruga smirked, pressing the ice warrior with his arm. And although the she-wolf was quite pleased by such a gesture, she couldn’t help but notice the man pushing her behind. The hero got tense, and it wasn’t a peaceful sign.
"Don’t even try that sassy attitude. Ye’re drenched in blood and shit! Not to mention, I saw you leaping through our walls!" The crossbowman never lowered his weapon. "Wanna out, hunting — fine, but ya’ wait till the morning now. Don’t like it? One swing of that bell, and my boys’ll shoot you like a swine!"
"Now listen, good man. I have some money, so if you’re up for a bargain, I think we can make a deal." The healer said, trying to keep his temper low. Buranikka was already under a big threat, so making enemies with the local guards was at least unreasonable.
"Do I look like a moron to you, huh? I said morning! Morning, ya got it?" The ogre snarled at the hero, who kept holding Setsuna behind his back. Sure, he bought her as a meat shield, but Keyaruga himself suited this role better, not to mention his possessiveness and being prone to some serious self-harm.
"Master, let Setsuna do it." Unfortunately, the stubborn girl never wavered. So much so, that she prepared to dash on the wall and end the animosity with a single ripped throat.
"Setsuna, no." But the lad had forbidden such foolishness. He, too, wouldn’t relent. "Twenty kadmi. Surely, more than all of you make per a year." And with that, the man showed a small pouch filled with gold, illuminated by the flares from the watchtowers.
"Gods fucking dammit, kid! Think ye’ can buy everyone with this metal shit? I’ve given ten years to Buranikka, protecting it from the folk like ye’ two!" The warden exclaimed, grabbing the alarm bell from his belt. "Rules are rules for a reason! Now, get the heck out of here, or else…"
"Valorous work, Bagran. Valorous one indeed." And yet, despite the man’s determined attitude, a much shorter, yet somehow eerie, figure appeared right next to him. As if… he emerged from the mist. "The night is peaceful in the garden. Thou four may walketh home." The balding gentleman in rugged plate armor not only dismissed the ogre but also handed the guardsmen a small bag of coins for each. Presumably, with the same funds as Keyaruga offered.
"Appreciate it, boss, but don’t let 'em in. They’re bad news." The main crossbowman noted, although without great eagerness to stand in the way of the pale man’s whims. "I warned ya’."
"Who are you?" Keyaruga inquired, as his right arm instinctively got closer to the saber’s handle. And so did Setsuna covered her forearms with a sharp icy crust. Whatever hardships awaited them, they would face them together.
"A humble gardener for this miraculous city. Chris Malcolm is my name." The man, appearing to be a commander for the local guard, replied. His voice was soothing, even melodic, and yet the healer couldn’t help but remain on guard. "Now, wouldst thee two standeth there, or wouldst thee climb up?"
Before acting further, Keyaruga gave the potential adversary a brief glance. Then he looked at Setsuna. Instead of using words, he merely made a nod, to which the huntress replied with the same gesture. Whatever happens…
And so, with a bit of ice, magic, and acrobatic miracles, both the hero and the she-wolf climbed onto the fortification. As they faced Chris Malcolm, the two of them felt even more intimidated than when targeted by a large crossbow. After all, the red-eyed lad couldn’t help but wonder...
"Should I be surprised that the local blood tax system is supervised by a vampire?" Keyaruga pondered, putting his jade eye to use. Although the fencer class wasn’t much of a threat, even at level sixty-five, the undead looked positively ominous.
"I am but a gardener. Merely keepeth vermins at bay…" The bloodsucker answered evasively. Judging from his vivid appearance, it was obvious that he was fed just as generously as the local ma-muana. Still, he had his own questions to be asked. "Yond blood on thy arms. Rikish gi, correct?" The commander asked, waving his wrinkled hand toward the rampart, so the watchmen would not worry. At least, that was how it looked.
"Correct. I’m not ashamed of it; we did a good job, Setsuna and I." The Hero of Healing mused with a bold grin on his face—an obvious fact that wouldn’t be missed by Chris Malcolm.
"Providing thou art right, thy strength makes affairs problematic. Thou art protecting me-ua kahul, I presume?" That was what he said to raise the tension to its limit. So much so, that Keyaruga felt a drop of sweat running down his forehead.
"You shouldn’t `presume`. Just thank us for avenging your men and be done with that!" The man snarled, strolling sideways from the vampire. He and Setsuna had better things to do than convince the bloodsucker. Needless to say, the latter was not pleased with them.
"You shall not pass me." Just as Keyaruga and his companion got ready to jump from the wall, the vampire crossed their way with his immanent presence. He literally floated in the air, without any wings at all, and his human face turned into an uncanny mask of a crimson fly. "Thou art but a criminal. Outlanders art one thing. But thee shall not receiveth hence with engaging black dogs tribe. Not while Lady Sanatha art a dear friend of Adrian Mirt." The commander gave his warning. His voice became a cacophony of unnatural buzzing, too gross for a normal ear yet distinguishable enough to understand every single word.
"Funny. You know, I’m going after them. That means it was she who let the raging bulls into the city. Not only that, actually! She’s all for Buranikka departing with its autonomy, so that she could take control over local money streams. But you can’t reach her. Or can you? Just don’t want to make things dire when Norn is on her way here. Either way, you need me as a proxy, someone outside your fragile political stability, right?" Combining the memories of the rikish gi’s leader with some simple logic, the healer made a confident conclusion. He couldn’t tell if Chris Malcolm knew about his heroic nature, but his line made the blood fly enthusiastically rub his hands.
"I never hath said aught liketh this. You’re just another outsider, an unknown pawn for the higher forces. Although, shouldst thee faileth, I can at each moment through thee in a cage for having enslaved yond young mistress. Thee doth not wanteth this? Much liketh who is't thou art protecting?" The more the vampire said, the more sheer menace he radiated. It was always like this when mighty entities clashed with their weapons in sheaths. Or…
…
His body reacted faster than his mind. A mere moment had passed before Keyaruga found himself holding the crimson under the black sky. Chris Malcolm stood there with a dagger, its ethereal blade passing through the hero’s left hand, struggling against something unseen. Some string between the lad and his pretty companion deflected the arcane blade. The bloodsucker was so surprised that he didn’t even bother with the wide wound left by the healer. Oh yes, the latter protected Setsuna and was ready to butcher that fiend for making a swing at her. And yet, when he prepared for the next strike, when a dozen bows and crossbows were ready to shoot the duo...
"HALT!!!" Chris Malcolm just dropped his weapon which had vanished even before reaching the ground. And so did his body, before Keyaruga could slash it. "Hmm, I seeth. Who is't is that gent for thee, fair lady?" The vampire’s disembodied voice asked the ice warrior.
"Ma… Keyaruga is Setsuna’s spouse!" The she-wolf answered, swinging her blue claws into the air to no avail.
"It’s enough. Let’s go." Keyaruga said, hiding his saber in the scabbard. The whole predicament seemed quite surreal, but the red-haired lad could make sense of two things that happened there. First, whether they liked it or not, the two of them already got ensnared in an invisible net of political conflicts in Buranikka. Second, since there were many demi-humans out there and no slaves, one could presume that there was a way to sever their bonds of servitude for good.
That whole encounter was more than disturbing. Keyaruga taught himself not to be swayed by fear, but Setsuna was terrified. All she could do was push her trembling body against the lad’s arm. And yet, something told the Hero of Healing that he just found the answer to Jioral’s problem of slavery. And for that...
"I need his knife."
…
Nothing notorious happened on their way to the eastern part of Buranikka. The night made the district of merchants and artisans unusually quiet. Most buildings were cast in darkness, but some shone brightly in the darkness. Was the inconspicuous grocery store one of them? Clearly not. The shop looked abandoned; its door was boarded up. The real entrance to the lair could actually be found behind the house. But before heading there...
"That’s it, Setsuna. We’re almost there. Are you-?.." Keyaruga stopped. His bestial-like companion, his lover, and his sister-in-arms, was still hugging his arm. "Maybe, if you feel off, we should head home for now?" He asked out of concern for the she-wolf.
"…Uh… No." She replied, taking an unwanted yet necessary step to the side. "Setsuna will not let you go alone." After all, she knew better than most… "If master Keyaruga wants someone dead, you go. Setsuna will rather be with you."
Such was her pledge. Even though the girl’s shock from encountering the vampire was still fresh, she couldn’t afford for the Hero of Healing head on without support. She once again clad her forearms in frozen gauntlets and raised her head.
"Good. Follow me." The man said, going under a small brick arc. Beyond it, he saw a door. The one like many others. The only thing that distinguished it was the carved oak as the material. "We will raid this basement, Setsuna. Don’t hesitate, everyone down there is our enemy. Leave no survivors." The lad quietly dictated the instructions. Seemingly confident, the hero touched his chest, revealing the amulet that rested under the shirt. Setsuna called Keyaruga her spouse, and there could be no doubt — she meant it.
"Uh-huh. Setsuna will kill all who threaten us." The huntress spoke coldly. No tremor or wavering remained in her posture. Certainly, she had some mixed feelings about Eve, but that would not stand in the way of destroying anything that endangered her team. Ultimately, the black-winged maiden was one of them now.
"Ready?"
"…" Nothing but a nod. More than enough.
"Let’s start, then."
The healer and his pretty wolf, both still covered in bull’s blood, descended the small set of stairs. Then, a moment of truth had come.
Knock-knock.
A couple of blank sounds ruined the perfect silence. The creaking followed as the bulky janitor made his way toward the entrance.
"Ghh, nanue (what)?" He asked with a yawning voice. Keyaruga saw him through with the power of the jade eye. A muscular man with dog ears and a tail, much like all those demi-humans the hero saw previously.
"Good sir, I think I saw a winged girl out there. Would you like to know more?" The lad savored every word he spoke, with barely to no consideration whether they were actually understood. And why would he? After all, instead of continuing the conversation, the lad just clenched the fist… and punched with no concern toward the greenish glove.
His knuckles breached the door; it crashed into the ribcage. One second, and the green spark drained all the memories. Another, and Keyaruga pulled his hand with still beating heart in his grip. One more, and a juicy kick ripped the door from its hinges.
"Congrats, now you know what it’s like to hunt for my queen." The hero gloated, stepping over the corpse. Setsuna followed, not so prone to unreasonable glee. "There’re still twenty-six of them. They’re quite strong, so be careful. Use your ice to cover me."
That was it. Time for talks was over, as all the black dogs came running to the only door. The most energetic one of them rushed to the door. And wham — the heavy plate of wood smacked him in the face, along with three more men. Keyaruga knew how to make his appearance, as his red saber commanded threat to the group inside. He slashed one, cutthroated another, sent a dagger to the third. He evaded a sword, deflected a mace, and killed its female wielder. The hero was swift and precise in his actions. But also…
"Haha hahahaha" …quite prone to grotesque gargling, as the battle drive overwhelmed him. Still, on the other side of the room, behind the large table, stood a wisened mage. He swung his short staff, sending herds of homing fireballs.
Setsuna was right there to cover her man with the ice half-sphere. It broke instantly, but from the shattered pieces, the fierce warrior emerged to take as many lives as she could. One after another, men and women, old and young fell to her claws. She wasn’t so much faster or stronger than her enemies, but she had the mighty swordsman to cover her. And that’s not even speaking about the sheer psychological effect of their swift carnage. Seventeen now lied defeated, a half of them either dead or screaming while bleeding to death. Many were intimidated, but not the caster. He slammed his staff into the ground, sending cracks of lava through the rocky floor.
Keyaruga kicked a chair toward two foes. They jumped over it but wouldn’t proceed. After all, the magic reached the hero and sent a torrent of magma right into his face. Of course, the lad moved his torso sideways, but the flow would follow him.
"Gh…" His right arm got scourged, the hero dropped his saber, but Setsuna snatched him out of the hot sorcery’s way. At the same time, one of the black dogs ducked under the hot current and lunged at the girl to stab her right in the chest. He…
"SETSUNA!!!" …succeeded.
Keyaruga ripped off his burned limb and smacked the foe so hard that he just fell to the ground. Eight more foes? The mage? The fire? No. Everything was irrelevant. He took the huntress, fainting on his very eyes…
"Mas… A-A-A-A-A!!!" He pulled the short sword from her, no matter how much pain it caused Setsuna, and healed her. In panic and rage, he healed her time after time. And he too succeeded. Even if the excessive mana caused the ice warrior to faint. Even if… The man now had three blades stuck all the way through his torso. He got reckless and spent most of his mana on what would usually take a handful. And yet, he still had some for a single heal. His arm grew back in a spark of green. The man stood up...
"…" And in his silent crimson gaze, he reflected death itself. That, who nearly took away his Setsuna expired with a boot crushing his neck. Another got thrown into the almost faded magma. One warrior almost chopped off Keyaruga’s head, but his large axe just… stuck in his neck.
"Heh… No…" Even such a grievous wound didn’t stop the lad from ripping off the lower jaw before heading further. He only had one arm at his disposal. The left hand constantly sustained life inside the half-dead body at the expense of the amulet. The enchanted trinket was working at its limit, though. Another dog grabbed the crossbow and sent a bolt into the man’s stomach. Alas, futile, as the wounded beast grabbed another foe, ripped his head off and threw it so hard, the shooter’s skull had cracked. Only four remained. They spoke something, but the words got lost behind the mad pumping in the healer’s temples, multiplied by the wild fire burning the air.
In the end, two had made an attempt to flee. Fortunately for them, Keyaruga couldn’t catch them. On the unfortunate side, the mage screamed a few curses and sent a fireball in the Hero of Healing. Alas, one clumsy, yet effective sidestep, and the escapees turned into ash. Only the old mage and a boy remained. The latter was about fourteen years old, holding a dagger with trembling hands. A caster almost charged his staff and was ready to use all his power in a single spell. Keyaruga’s amulet shattered, he barely even stood. Never had the man been so close to death. So close…
"SUNI-I-I-I-I (die)!!!"
"Teren… TEREN! NIRATHA-A-A (no-o-o)!!!"
Ultimately, whether this was an act of desperate bravery or a primal fear of a cornered animal, the kid named Teren did stake his blade right to its hilt. Right in the heart of a dying hero. He shuddered and made a pitiful wheeze. Keyaruga made his last breath...
…
…
…
And the Hero of Healing grinned. With his final strength, he lunged toward the boy, crumbled upon him, and stabbed him with all three blades sticking out of his torso.
"A-A-A-A-A!!! TASI-I-I (help me)!!! SANGA-A-A-A (granddad)!!!" He cried, as the blood left his body, and the tears — his eyes. As if losing so many brethren in one day wasn’t enough, now the youngster drowned in pain and terror. What's worse — death just wouldn’t come. Keyaruga did not allow his prey to just die. Oh no, before that, he would drain the poor thing, and neither the mage’s spells nor his prayers could stop the abomination in a human form. First, there was mana. It didn’t take long to use it all up. But there was more. The energy of life, feeding the very essence of all living. The child screamed, as the purple sparks took away his youth, his strength, his soul itself. Until there was nothing but a dry blackened corpse, a defiled chunk of flesh, peeling out of reddish bones.
Finally, Keyaruga could stand tall once again. First, he ripped out a small axe, stuck in his neck. Then, there was a bolt in his belly. And after that was taken care of, the man took out all four swords, piercing his body. One — by the hilt. Other — through pushing the blade backwards. A gruesomely tormenting endeavor, but all the wounds, all the burns left by the wisened magician, were just fading in a matter of seconds. Up until nothing but blood and holes in the clothes reminded of Keyaruga’s fatal injuries.
The healer resumed his march. His last foe, whining in desperation and rage, screamed something in Divine, sending the flow of magic through his staff. No doubt, his spell was reckless and messy, the staff had shattered, and his arm exploded into bloody pieces. But the fire was there. The flame… dissipated, as the hero emanated a magic barrier with his palm, which bursted into literal rain indoors. With the burning extinguished, all it took was a brief jump. The lad grabbed the wailing geezer’s head, raised it above the ground, and healed him… Before mercilessly slamming it to the ground. It wasn’t the cleanest blow, but at least he would not suffer anymore.
"Ha-a-a-a-a… Good. It seems like Eve is safe. For a while. Hope, you’re… kha-kha… satisfied, you bloodsucker…" The hero mumbled, glaring at his clothes. The vest was breached in three places, one large hole `decorated` the shirt, and his cape was tattered. Considering all the tinkering with inner organs, the man could hardly be called a normal human being.
What a shame I’m gonna have to patch it all. After washing… Oh, Freia, your effort went for nothing. Now, what do we have here? They work for Hakuo. And to hunt down Eve, they tracked down Kailia before informing the raging bulls. Your… Wait… Oh no… No!
"SETSUNA!" In the end, he remembered. With no grace or agility whatsoever, almost stumbling upon all the corpses they left there, the hero finally reached his companion. He kneeled before her body, almost drowning in the magic water. But at least she… was alive. Alive!
Keyaruga stopped any breathing just to listen to her own. There, surrounded by dead men, women, stench of their butchered meat and guts, there was nothing but a fragile figure of unconscious wolf girl. Clearly, the elimination of night dogs couldn’t be worse.
I fucked up! I fucked up! And you! Whatever you are, you didn’t even bother to help me! Why? I though… Thought it would be as easy as taking out those bull shitfaces. And Setsuna… Damn, I’m too soft. I shouldn’t have gotten attached to my…
"Keya… ruga?.." The she-wolf whispered. The first thing she saw upon her reawakening was darkness. Then it was light. And after that — the troubled and scared face of her beloved man.
"A… Ugh…" Finally, the healer stood up, just to turn his battered back to his companion. "Rise, Setsuna. We must leave." He said as coldly as it was possible.
"M-master?.." First, the ice warrior got confused with such a harsh response. Then, she looked around. Setsuna faced the bloodbath, a depiction of pure violence, but more than that… "You saved… saved Setsuna." Her, undoubtedly, rejoiced words were reinforced by the last memory before losing consciousness. The girl couldn’t see him being impaled, but even so, the marks were still there.
"I did not. I told you, I wouldn’t die for you. I…" On that halted phrase the lad took out the shattered amulet from his neck. "If you want to thank someone, think of your father." The hero spoke, finally turning to his companion.
"Oh…" The girl exhaled, as the smile conquered her bloodied face.
"I wasn’t saving you. Just the money I paid for you. And your combat skills."
Usually Keyaruga was quite good at throwing a lie or two. But not at that moment. The lad tried all he could to maintain that emotionless mask. But his crimson cheeks wouldn’t lie. Just as Setsuna’s gratitude, when she granted her spouse the warmest kiss in his entire life.
