Dark Acquaintances Part 1

Crimson Rage

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Well into the fifteeth year of his life, Tsurugi Sei walks the streets of the elven capital of SilverMoon. Actually, the majority of Tsurugi’s time is allotted to a single street. The reason for this is because along that particular street holds the majority of the shops in the city. Tsurugi darts in an out of the shops searching for just the right item. The magic shop holds little of interest to him at this point. The fine clothing stores? Nothing. Perhaps the candy store down the street will hold what he desires. Heading off in the proper direction Tsurugi is intercepted by a jewelry shop. It is within this shop that Tsurugi finds what he needs.

Tsurugi, speaking SilverMoon elven: Shopkeep, how much is this pendant?

Tsurugi holds up a small item that looks somewhat like a dagger or a cross. It has a long, clear crystal which extends downward from a central silver sphere. Opposite each other emerging from the sides of the ball is a pair of golden wings, carved as one in the shape of an angel's wing, the other in the shape of a demon’s wing. Through a small loop on the top of the ball is a silver chain.

Shopkeep: That's uhm... 50 gold piece, well out of your price range I'm sure son, sorry. Why not go spend your coppers in the candy store down the road? [Tsurugi simply smirks and tosses a bag of coins to the Shopkeep. A Shopkeep whose face quickly adopts a looks of amazement.] H- how could you have this much money? You’re just a child, a human child at that.

Tsurugi: Wrong, not human, and I am part elven [runs his finger tips over his elongated ears]. As for the money, I had a run-in with a den of goblins that was troubling the people of my village a while back. Needless to say the goblins lost.

Shopkeep: Yes sir, right away sir, would you like this gift wrapped?

Tsurugi: As a matter of fact I would, it is to be a gift after all. Use the finest materials that you have, this is for someone very special.

Shopkeep: A lady friend perhaps?

Tsurugi: No, just someone special.

Shopkeep: Of course... [takes the pendant from Tsurugi and begins searching for the right sized box] So, just how is it that you managed to get into town anyway? I don’t mind you ‘cause you’re giving me good business, but non-elves usually aren’t permitted into the forest. Didn’t the forest guards try to stop you?

Tsurugi: I teleported into town, but they wouldn’t have done a thing even if I had come through the forest; they all know me. I’m a friend of Landria. The gift is for her.

Shopkeep: The queen Landria? Yeah right, and I'm her long lost brother.

Tsurugi: G- great grandfather! I've found you at last! Landria will be so happy!

Shopkeep: Kid, I was kidding.

Tsurugi: Er, yeah, of course, so was I.

Shopkeep: When you were in that goblin den, did you by any chance get hit in the head?

Tsurugi: Why do you ask?

Shopkeep: [sigh] Nevermind. It's ready. [hands Tsurugi a package wrapped in the finest decorated paper, tied with a silken ribbon.]

Tsurugi: Thank you! Landria will love this! [exits the store.]

Shopkeep: Poor insane kid... Forgot his change too...

Tsurugi, poking his head in: Sir, it seems that I forgot my change...

The shopkeep scowls as he counts out 51 gold pieces for himself, one being for the wrapping, and gives the rest back to Tsurugi.

Tsurugi: Thanks again! [leaves]

Tsurugi takes a moment to stand of the cobblestone street outside of the shop. The pendent itself is a fine gift, but for Landria... Something more is needed for her. Tsurugi’s eyes take in the site of a large candy cane a bit down the street. Tsurugi smiles to himself.

Tsurugi: If they have nothing suitable for Landria there’s always Shito. He always get upset if I go to SilverMoon and forget to get him candy. I did bring enough money, right? I’d better count.

He holds his package on an upturned left hand. A soft word causes it to float upward and hover an inch above his hand. Dropping his hand to his money pouch the package remains in it's place. Tsurugi spills the pouch onto the air, where the coins float at waist level. Looking downward he separates the coins into gold, silver, and copper then, one by one the starts replacing the coins in his pouch. He gets about half way through his gold coins when a large shadow passes over him swiftly. Looking up he sees a strange beast, a dwarf dragon. A second later three more such creatures pass over Tsurugi as well, all heading the same direction, toward the palace.

Tsurugi, staring at the sky: Shit...

The spell holding his items in the air drop. He manages to catch the package in time but all his money clatters on the ground. A quick spell of teleportation send the package to his home just as an alarm sounds and an army of dark elves and hired hands of all types surges from the forest from all three sides of the city it covers. The kanji on the back of his hand sparks to life.

Tsurugi: Landria-sama...

Tsurugi runs down the cobblestone path that leads strait to the castle, drawing his sword as he goes. The royal guard, unaware of the approaching dragons, rush into the town to aid in the battle there. And a terrible battle it is. The city of SilverMoon has no walls of defenses. Three sides face the forest and the fourth a lake. The castle lies on that fourth side. The people of SilverMoon consider the forest as defense enough. Archers patrol the area around the city, and forest spirits are said to lend a hand as well. These attackers had gotten past the defenses. There is strong magic involved.

Tsurugi rushes toward the palace as fast as his legs will take him. The dragons have already arrived unnoticed. A cry for help draws Tsurugi's attention the side, a goblin faces a young elf girl. The riders of the dragons have already dismounted. He cannot afford a moment to stop. Instead he flings three shitos into the creature's back, puncturing a lung and killing it almost instantly. A creature like a jackal crossed with a goblin is in his path, large teeth showing menacingly. Tsurugi jumps, going high above the beast, twisting in midair, and coming down racking his sword along it's back. Less than a second later he turns, bringing his sword with him to cleave in half a dark elven swordsman, sword raised and ready to deliver the same type of fatal blow Tsurugi had just dealt to the jackal beast.

Tsurugi pauses. By now the dragonriders will have reached the throne room. Landria will only have her two personal guards. Dwarf dragons are small. Fully grown they can carry only one rider, perhaps two if they are both light. Two guards will not be a match, even if they are the best of the SilverMoon Elves, the BlackWynd Elves would have sent their best with the dragons...

Tsurugi: Damn... I wanted to save my magic, but it seems I have not time.

Tsurugi visualizes the throne room. Teleporting small objects to a place as familiar as your home is relatively easy when compared to teleporting yourself to a not as familiar place that you cannot see. Tsurugi begins chanting.

======

The Throne Room.

Landria's guards have already fallen. Three dark elves surround her. Two of them wear armor and swords the signify them as warriors. The third wears the robes of a mage. His robes are black and are drawn about him to cover him almost completely. Beneath them he wears a silver short sword at his side. In the shadows of his hood Landria can barely make out his disturbing reptilian eyes.

Blond, tall elf: Greetings m'lady. I am Tathark, highest general of the BlackWynd army. My associates are Ginjusk [the other swordsman nods] and Natherinth. [the mage is silent.]

Ginjusk: We have her, let's go.

Tathark: Our orders were to bring here alive, there was no specified time, I want to have a little fun with her first.

Landria: I'll kill you first!

Tathark: Oh? Try then. Kill me and the others shall leave you be.

Tathark takes a step back to give her room, his comrades follow suit. Landria holds her hands as if there was a ball were between them and begins a chant. She soon stops as she realizes that nothing is happening.

Tathark: Spell?

Natherinth: Fireball. I’m truly, truly sorry my dear, but your magic has been blocked by my spells the moment I entered this chamber. To break the block you would need a mage with more power than I have. They do exist of course, but you, sadly, are not among them.

Landria looks downcast for a moment, but it is only a guise. She lashes out at Tathark with a dagger concealed in a compartment on her throne. Tathark calmly and rapidly grabs her wrist, pulls her up, takes the dagger, and presses it against her throat in fluid motion.

Tathark: Is that the best you can do?

Ginjusk: Tath, stop, you don't want to hurt her.

Tathark: I'll hurt her all I please! She did try to kill me after all, if you can call her pathetic actions a try. Now...

Taking Landria into a chokehold he uses the dagger to cut away at her shirt. Quickly, like a practiced master who had done this to many girls many times before, he removes her top coverings, bringing her breasts into view.

Landria: Stop! Let me go! Don't do this! [she struggles but cannot break free of his grip]

Tathark: Stop? I haven’t even done anything yet. [sweetly] Calm down and you just may enjoy it.

Landria: NEVER! LET ME GO!

Ginjusk: Let her go Tath, the king will be angry if you harm her!

Tathark backhands Ginjusk, knocking him to the floor.

Tathark: The king is nothing without me! I do as I please and he accepts it! Now pretty one...

He takes the knife toward her pants--she never did dress like a queen--ready and quite overly willing to cut away her lower coverings. Before he can reach however the double doors to the thrown room fly open. A cry of "Landria-sama" echoes through the chamber like thunder as Tsurugi enters the room. All three of the dark elves turn to him, Tathark bringing Landria with him, still in a chokehold. Tsurugi sees this and his eyes are black instantly as the small glow on the back of his left hand erupts into a flame that encompasses the entire hand.

Tsurugi: Release her.

Landria: Tsurugi, run, they'll kill you! RUN!

Tathark: Shut up, bitch!

He hits her, hard, with his free hand, almost knocking her unconscious. Tsurugi sees this and the flame on his hand moves to take his entire arm. His eyes change from black to crimson.

Tsurugi: I said, release her.

Tathark: Not on your life kid.

Tathark presses the knife into her neck, drawing a small trickle of blood. At this Tsurugi's eyes go narrow. With just a thought, not a chant, nor even a soft word Landria is teleported into Tsurugi's arms.

Landria: Tsu... rugi...? [She falls unconscious. Tsurugi lays her on the ground behind him.]

Natherinth: Be careful with him, his is strong.

Tathark: No matter. I'll kill this boy and take the bitch as I was going to before he interrupted. Then, boy, I'll kill her. Perhaps I may let you live long enough to watch.

[Tsurugi's sword drops] Heh. I won't allow you to surrender.

Tsurugi: Who said anything about surrender?

Tsurugi smirks at the trio, then he throws his head back and lets out a great scream of the word "rage" in English. In this world not a soul knows of the English language, to those who hear it, it is a primal scream of itself. To Tsurugi is a strange word that formed in his mind like the words of a newly learned spell as soon as his eyes turned to blood.

As he screams Tsurugi's body changes and as he changes the scream goes from a word to a cry of pain. His shirt rips as two sets of wings sprout from his back, an outer set like those of a demon, and an inner set of an angel. His ears elongate to full elven length as his skin lightens to a ghostly pale and his hair goes from the it's already dark brown to jet black. Seven blue objects shaped like teardrops grow from his flesh, one for each generation passed which carried dryad blood through his line. One on each foot, one in the center of his chest, one in each shoulder blade, and one of the back of each hand. Large, curves blades grow from his forearms. A barbed tail breaks its way from his pants as he grows 3 inches taller. His facial features look older, more mature. Added to that, black marks appear on his flesh and small, backward curving horns emerge from above his temples, designation of his demonic blood. All in all he actually looks quite handsome, but not to his eyes. As the scream and the echo of the scream fade he falls to his knees, weeping from pain. He looks over his arms, his left one still engulfed in a crimson flame.

Tsurugi: What... happened to me? I've changed, but... I can't change, can I? It never seemed so painful for Shito when he did it... Gods, it hurts all over...

Tathark: Ginjusk, now, while he's down.

Ginjusk: Sir, I don't think...

Tathark: You aren’t supposed to think! You are a soldier, generals are meant to think for you! NOW GO!

Ginjusk draws his sword and rushes toward Tsurugi, preparing for an overhead strike. He reaches Tsurugi and swings with all his might. His sword is stopped by Tsurugi's left armblade.

Tsurugi: No. I must not die. If I die Landria will be next, and I won't let you hurt her! I WON'T LET YOU!

Ginjusk presses down on Tsurugi's blade with every last bit of his strength, but still Tsurugi holds him back with no trouble. Tsurugi stands, pushing Ginjusk back.

Tathark: Do something mage!

Natherinth: In you insist, then I shall try.

The mage speaks the words of a spell, bringing several ice crystal daggers into being around him. He commands them forward, toward Tsurugi. Tsurugi raises his right hand and they stop, just short of hitting him. He closes his fist and the ice shatters.

Natherinth: I didn't expect that to do much good. I have heard of his race. Some members of it are born with a strange mark on their body. This mark grants them power. When he entered here is strength was a good bit below my own. Then he saw what you were doing to the queen and the fire around his mark grew, as did his power. Then you hit her, fool. The flame took his arm and his strength doubled. His is now further above me than I was him when he first arrived. And so you must do this on your own. [Natherinth nods to his fellows with a mocking grin as he teleports without word to the BlackWynd castle]

Tathark: Cowardly wizard! There is no strength greater than mine!

Tsurugi: Those who think themselves the strongest are often destined to meet disappointment at one point or another. Your disappointment comes now.

Tsurugi pushes his left arm outward, causing Ginjusk to move backward. He quickly follows through by swinging his right blade upward, cutting through sword, armor, and not very deeply into the flesh. Ginjusk drops his ruined sword and holds his injured chest.

Tathark: What are you waiting for!? ATTACK!

Tsurugi: You have a choice, you need not make me kill you.

Tathark: If he doesn't kill you, I will coward!

Ginjusk draws a dagger from his boot and walks toward Tsurugi. Tsurugi's eyes narrow as he prepared to counter. At the last moment before Tsurugi would lunge forward Ginjusk turns and throws the dagger at Tathark. It glances off his armor.

Ginjusk: No more. I refuse to live under you any more. Be it in life or death, I refuse you.

Tathark: Is that how you wish it to be? Very well then, I will take him myself, coward.

Tathark draws both sword and dagger and faces Tsurugi. Acting like he is to throw his dagger at Tsurugi he switches and launches it at Ginjusk. Tsurugi screams as he moves to take the dagger into himself but he is not fast enough and the blade is buried to the hilt in Ginjusk's neck.

Tsurugi: Why...? Why do you kill your own men!?

Tathark: Cowards have no right to live, nor do traitors, nor freaks like you. After you are gone I'll take your woman next to your ugly corpse and then I'll kill that bastard mage for deserting me!

Tsurugi: I will not let you. I absolutely refuse to allow you to harm another! Your life ends here and you will rot in hell for eternity after!

Tathark: And I suppose that you will deliver me personally, demon?

Tsurugi smiles, showing fangs: If need be, though my brother is the expert on demons. Perhaps I'll have him enslave your dark soul.

Tathark, taking out another dagger: Enough Talk! You die now.

The combatants circle around each other, looking for an opening. Tsurugi’s transformation may have given him greater strength it has also encumbered his movement. While the arms with blades are easy to adapt to the use of, the twin sets of wings are an annoyance that Tsurugi knows little of how to deal with. And so an opening comes for Tathark as Tsurugi struggles to command double his normal appendages, not to mention the tail.

Tathark charges and swings downward. Tsurugi tries to block with an armblade but the tremendous force of the blow slices through the blade and cuts into Tsurugi’s forearm. Luckily most of the momentum had been lost from the sword in breaking the blade, a blade which grows back is seconds. The gash on Tsurugi’s arm doesn’t heal quite as quickly however. Tathark pulls back in fear of a possible counter attack. Tsurugi holds the wound and quickly casts a healing spell to stop the bleeding. Even this half second window is enough for Tathark to attack again. This time though, Tsurugi blocks the sword, using both armblades. Tsurugi acts quickly, pulling one of his blades back after the force of the blow has been absorbed and slashing crosswise over Tathark’s chest. Tathark jumped back in time, just in time. He chestguard sports a deep scratch.

Knowing that his armor is all but useless against the force of the blades Tathark remove and allows it to fall to the ground. Now lighter and quicker it would seem that he has the advantage.

Tsurugi takes the offensive, slashing wildly with his blades. Most often they miss or are deflected by Tathark’s sword and dagger, but sometimes they are not deflected well enough and Tathark earns a nick there, a scratch here. Though he may have the advantage in overall speed and agility, Tathark’s arms and slowed by the weight of his weapons and barely able to keep up with Tsurugi’s mad and random attacks. He blocks a strike that is too hard for him and, while cursing himself for using a dagger rather than both hands on the sword, his sword is knocked from his hand to the ground. He falls into a more defensive position with his dagger. Tsurugi snaps his arm out quickly and catches hold of the blade. He winces as the dagger bites his flesh but soon the flame on the hand holding the blade heats up the hilt, causing Tathark to release. Tsurugi tosses the dagger away and then grasps Tathark’s neck in his uninjured hand and lifts him from the ground.

Tsurugi: Do you surrender, or do you die?

Tathark: Heroes die, only cowards may live forever.

Tsurugi: Then for Landria-sama’s honor...

Tsurugi squeezes Tathark’s throat until it cracks under the pressure. Tsurugi drops the corpse to the floor.

He turns to go to Landria, but halfway through that turn his gaze meets a mirror on the wall. Seeing his pale face with the marks of a demon and eyes the color of blood, along with the blood on his arm and hands he screams, frightened of himself, shutting his eyes tight. He keeps his eyes closed, not wanting to view his horrid appearance. Slowly though we becomes aware that he can no longer feel his wings, nor his tail. Still with eyes closed he rubs the back of his left hand, no tear. He opens his eyes to be greeted by their dark brown reflection in the mirror. He looks his body over and all is as it should be, his destiny mark glowing only slightly because of his great happiness for being himself once more and concern for Landria. He wraps his injured hand and arm in the tattered remains of his shirt. Then he rushes to her side, sits on his knees, and puts her head in his lap. A soft spell of healing is chanted to awaken her. Slowly her eyes open.

Landria: Tsurugi...? Tsurugi!

She sits up and looks around the throne room, and long at the corpse of Tathark.

Landria: W... what happened?

Tsurugi: Ginjusk chose not to fight and Tathark killed him, then I killed Tathark. The mage ran away.

Landria takes him in her arms and hugs him, and he hugs her back. She begins to weep on his shoulder.

Landria: Thank you Tsurugi, if you hadn’t come I... I-

Tsurugi: Don’t speak of it, nothing happened, I’m just glad I got here in time. The mage had a shield that kept me from teleporting into here, so I tried to go outside the double doors, but I didn’t know that area well enough to visualize it. I had to teleport to your room and run here. I’m sorry I was as late as I was.

Landria: Don’t apologize, you got here on time. Thank you Tsurugi, you saved me. I owe you my life.

Tsurugi: You don’t owe me anything Landria, I did it because, I love you Landria. You’re my best friend, my teacher, my sister...

Landria: Your girlfriend?

Tsurugi: No, not like that.

Landria: Aw well, you’re too young for me anyway. [Thinking: Or at least he used to be... But now our physical ages are drawing closer and closer together and I’m finding myself loving him differently than I did when he was a child. I love him, no longer as just a friend, but something more. I have for some time now but I’ve been afraid and ashamed to admit it, even to myself. But I’m an elf and he’s a human, I’ll outlive him by far, and if I tell him it will just lead to pain for us both in the end. I’ll have to suppress my feelings, as I cannot deny them anymore... BUT WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE SO DIFFICULT!?]

Tsurugi: Why does what have to be so difficult?

Landria: It’s nothing... what else did you hear?

Tsurugi: "Why do things have to be so difficult!?" was all. I usually tend not to go probing into people’s minds uninvited, but sometimes when people think hard I hear it without even trying to listen.

Landria: That’s alright, it was nothing important. [sigh]

Tsurugi, after a bit of silence: Landria?

Landria: Hmm?

Tsurugi: Just how long do you plan on hugging me like this?

Landria: I donno yet, why?

Tsurugi: Well, neither of us have shirts on so...

Landria: There’s nothing wrong with that, besides, I just feel like I need to hold someone, and it feels best holding someone you love.

Tsurugi: Do you really love me Landria?

Landria, with a sad smile Tsurugi cannot see as her head still rests on his shoulder: More than you know. [silence] Tsurugi, what exactly happened? The last thing I remember is being in that Tathark’s arms but then being wrapped in yours, but you would have needed to teleport me for that to happen.

Tsurugi: Yeah?

Landria: But with the mage’s shield up it would take someone stronger than him to cast a spell.

Tsurugi: Yeah?

Landria: You couldn’t!?

Tsurugi: You know how my magic power gets stronger the brighter and bigger the fire of my destiny mark is? Well, when I saw him hit you the fire engulfed my entire arm, and my eyes felt strange. I looked in the mirror later and they were crimson instead of black. As soon a my eyes felt weird and my arm was aflame I felt a large jump in my magic strength. I teleported you by just thinking about it. And also at that time a word formed in my mind. "Rage," whatever that means... Do you remember when I was three and you got me that ring that lets you see what things can change shape?

Landria: Mm-hmm

She hugs him tighter, knowing very well that this could be the only time ever she will have the feeling of the beloved’s flesh against her own.

Tsurugi: When I showed up to be a shapeshifter mother and Zanthax thought you’d been taken with a false ring as I hadn’t shown any of the signs of a shapeshifter child. The ring wasn’t defective. Just like Shito, my shape changes, but while he can do it at will I need something to set me off. With the amount of anger and fire running through me and the magic in that word, "rage," I transformed. I don’t know why, as it doesn’t do it to Shito, but the change hurt, very, very badly.

Landria, deep concern in her voice: You’re alright now, right?

Tsurugi: Yeah, the pain stopped after I started fighting, once my mind was on something else it went away. You know, now that I think about it I should probably go see if I can help outside, there was quite a large group attacking.

Landria: No, don’t go, I... I wouldn’t feel safe unless you’re here with me. Please, just stay here like this a while longer, at least until you can finish telling me what happened.

Tsurugi: There’s not much more to tell really, the mage cast a spell which I countered, then he ran. Ginjusk was ordered to attack and I beat him back. He was ordered to attack again after I had destroyed his sword but he stood up to Tathark and was killed. Then I killed Tathark, getting cut on my arm and hand.

Landria: You poor baby, you can’t fight anymore, you’re injured, let the guards handle the attack.

Tsurugi: It’s nothing really, a healing spell or two will clear it right up.

Landria: Nonsense, you’re hurt.

Reluctantly she breaks off the hug, stopping by Tsurugi’s face to give him a kiss on the cheek. before moving away to examine his hand. Tsurugi sees her breasts and looks away, rather embarrassed.

Tsurugi: What’d you do that for?

Landria: What?

Tsurugi: You kissed me.

Landria: Yup, because I love you, you’re my best friend, my student, my brother, and my savior all rolled into one. For that I’ll love you forever and ever.

Tsurugi: I’ll love you forever and ever too Landria, but for now could you, you know, cover yourself...

Landria: What? These? [pokes a finger into one of her breasts] It’s just skin, you have them too and I’m not asking you to cover up.

Tsurugi: It’s different…

A voice comes in the form of a yell from outside the double doors. It is in the BlackWynd dialect of elven and belongs to a young male.

Voice: Hey, guys you might want to hurry up! The warriors and archers of SilverMoon have routed back the invasion. That, and the dragons are getting impatient.

Landria: See, I was right, they didn’t need you outside. And the dragons are- WHAT!?

Tsurugi and Landria turn to the doors where a dark elven boy, fifteen by human standards, around one hundred and fifty-five to an elf, stands steps into the room.

Boy: Getting impatient... What the hell happened here?

His eyes fall on Landria’s exposed chest and a trickle of blood leaks from his nose. Landria wraps her arms around her breasts and looks embarrassed.

Tsurugi, calmly: Tathark attacked Queen Landria and so I was force to kill him. Ginjusk was killed by Tathark though, and the mage fled.

Boy: You killed -Tathark-!? [falls to his knees] Please don’t hurt me, I didn’t even want to come! I give, I give!! I’ll do anything!

Landria: Give me your shirt.

The boy practically tears his shirt from himself and tosses it to Landria. She puts it on, it’s a bit loose on her.

Tsurugi: If you don’t want to fight then no harm will come to you, I didn’t want to have to kill even Tathark.

Landria: Now, just who are you.

Boy: Thank you for your mercy! I’m Yesod! I’m so sorry for this, my father ordered it! He made me come!

Landria: Who is your father?

Yesod: Tifereth!

Landria: Are you trying to tell me that your father is the king? And that you then are the prince?

Yesod: Yes! He wanted to kidnap you and then force you to marry me!

Tsurugi: It makes sense, if you two are wed then he’ll be king of both kingdoms.

Yesod: Exactly, and my father planned to use me like a puppet! I... I request asylum, don’t make me go back to him! Please!

Tsurugi: They type of action could start a war...

Landria: I’ll grant it.

Yesod: Y- you’d do that for me!? I’m ever so grateful.

Landria: There is a condition. If trouble ever arises you will help to stop it.

Yesod: I will. I’m not a fighter, archer, mage, or anything like that, but I will try to help somehow.

Tsurugi: I will help as well.

Landria: Tsurugi, this is an elven matter, you don’t have to get involved.

Tsurugi: The guards you had here, they were two of your best, yes?

Landria: Yes.

Tsurugi: And yet they didn’t last very long against Tathark and his men.

Landria: . . .

Tsurugi: Yesod, was Tathark your father’s best man?

Yesod: He was very good, but my father’s two best never leave his side, Hod and Din.

Tsurugi: Then I shall fight for SilverMoon, for it’s Queen, and all it’s people. What is your father like, Yesod?

Yesod: Cruel, hateful, evil. He’s probably torturing Natherinth right now, and taking delight in it. He is the kind of man who deserves to die. I’ve wished I could kill him, I don’t know how many times, but I don’t have the strength... The people hate him, most of them want peace, but he wants war. He wanted to use me to take over SilverMoon, then to use the combines armies to destroy the human villages in the area. He wants the elves to rule the world...

Tsurugi: The world is for all the races, not a single one. Go and check on the dragons, we may need them.

Yesod: I don’t see why, but if you say so. [Yesod exits.]

Landria: I wonder if we can trust him.

Tsurugi: We can, I looked into his mind, every word he said is true.

Landria: Then Tifereth truly is such a horrible man?

Tsurugi: Yes, and somehow his son turned out to be a kind one. When he talked of wanting to kill his father I saw the images that ran through his head. His mother, Netsah, taught him of goodness. Though he didn’t know it when he was younger, Tifereth beat Netsah, sometimes for no reason. One night he saw it, saw his father’s cruelty and hated him for it. After that he abandoned everything his father wanted him to learn, fighting, strategy, magic... One day his mother wasn’t around. His father told him that she said she hated Yesod, and had left, but Yesod knew the truth, Tifereth had killed her.

Landria: That’s so sad... Yesod is right, his father deserves to die.

Tsurugi: I hate to think that anyone deserves death, but in this I will make an acceptation, for the good of the people of BlackWynd, Tifereth should die. And so he shall.

Landria: What?

Tsurugi: I’ll tell you later, for now I want to go home and get someone, as well as a new shirt. You go get changed, and give Yesod his shirt back. I’ll meet you in your room in a bit.

Landria: Alright.

Tsurugi stands up and takes goes to retrieve his sword. He speaks a soft word and disappears. Yesod reenters the room just afterward.

Yesod: Huh? Where’d that Tsurugi guy go? Whatever he needed them for, the dragons are still waiting.

Landria: He went to get cleaned up, he’ll be back shortly. I’ve got to wash up a bit and change, come to my room.

Yesod: I’ve never been in a girl’s bedroom before!

Landria: Let’s just go, alright?

Yesod: Yes.

======

Kotobuki Village, Zanthax’s family’s home.

Tsurugi teleports into the room of his home that he shares with his brother. Shito is sitting on his bed, absorbed in a book "One Hundred Creatures to Summon and Command," and pays his half-brother little mind. Tsurugi heals his arm with a salve, choosing to save most of his magic for what is to come. He puts on a shirt, wipes clean his sword, and grabs some new shitos for those that were used. He doesn’t have enough normal ones and is forced to take one silver knife from a collection of his.

Tsurugi: Hey, Shito. [Tsurugi’s sibling raises and eyebrow and peers over the book] You up for a royal assassination?

To be continued...