The Requiem: The Girl From the Sky

[Rakashua]

Jin stared in shock for a moment. As he had reached out to touch Lucifer she had been engulfed in flames, but form the inside out, no fault of his. Still, he was shocked for a moment, and even though she wasn't burning up, it was obvious that it was a lot of pain for her.

 

He gritted his teeth...

 

As Lucifer was no longer on fire and as Lorkin curled up around her, she felt Jin's hand on her own, gripping it tightly, he'd been holding it since she began to burn, even though she probably hadn't noticed with the pain.

 

He quickly knelt at her side, no longer having to shield his eyes from the heat. His right hand was black, the gauntlet covering it that is. His arm was scorched too however, not having been covered by any form of protection, now it was covered in third degree burns from his forearm to a little past his elbow. He released her hand with a grunt, his gauntlet dropped off and shattered on the ground like ash.

 

"Are you ok!?" he exclaimed, gritting his teeth as he forced his right arm to do what he wanted and placed a careful hand on Lucifer's shoulder, "Hey, Lucifer? What's going on, are you alright?" Blisters were forming on his right arm but he ignored them.

[Altiboris]

Lucifer nodded, looking up. "I'll be fine." She said, smiling weakly. She hadn't been aware of Jin's hand holding hers in the midst of the fire. "You shouldn't have done that." She sighed and reached for his arm. After accessing the damage, put her hand on it. A damp steam seeped out into his skin, bringing with it a burnt smell. She frowned, after sniffing the air in annoyance, and it suddenly changed into a refreshingly minty scent.

 

Lorkin twitched his nose and shook his head, before settling back down. Lucifer stared down at Jin's arm and moved her hand slowly over the burns. The blisters started to pop rapidly at an alarming rate. "This is gonna hurt a little bit." She whispered as they quickly shrank. The skin suddenly reverted back to it's original state, though still a bit black looking. She smiled and leaned forward slightly.

 

"You must be wondering what that was about." Lucifer said slowly, after resting her chin on Lorkin's furry back. He gave a rumble of protest, knowing what she was about to say. He wasn't really the trusting type. He didn't try to stop her though, knowing she woudn't listen. "It has to do with what happened after I started living on my own."

 

"Before I met Lorkin here." She stroked him affectionately before continuing. "I was wandering through a forest one day, and I was ambushed. Apparently I had wandered into the land of a dark sorceror. And of course, he wasn't exactly delighted. But after seeing what I could do with the elements, he wanted me as his apprentice. Which of course, I didn't agree to. So instead, I became his err... slave in a way. More like prisoner really as I never did anything. Cause he could never force me to."

 

Lucifer shuddered, remembering that horrid year she had spent in the dark dungeons. "Finally, I got too hard to subdue and kept trying to escape. So he kinda used a spell on me. I'm still not really sure where it was from but it was dark magic."

[Rakashua]

Jin gritted his teeth as Lucifer "healed" his arm, though it felt like he was being healed with a fire as aggressive as the one that had caused the burns in the first place. He had forgotten that she could do that, his own body would have healed itself quite quickly on its own but not for the same reason.

 

"Don't apologize," he interjected, "I'm fine, and you looked like you needed something to reach through the fire for you..." he shrugged, and his face darkened a bit as she mentioned the dark sorcerer or whatever he had been who had captured her.

 

"I could tell it was dark but I..." Jin didn't finish his sentence, "that's awful, once I become a knight I think I'll pay your dark friend a visit, that is if you still know where he was and would consider it a... date?" Jin smiled, he was half joking, but the thought of someone imprisoning Lucifer for such a reason and in such a way definitely made his blood heat up, "dark magic doesn't much affect me," he used his healed hand to rub the outside of the other hand, still engulfed by the dark purple and black gauntlet.

 

"This armor stuff, not sure what you'd call it, is very resistant to anything dark related." Jin grinned, "I wish I knew how to really use it... it just seems to form depending on my emotions and sometimes... for example when one is having a bad dream... it's not healthy to be wearing razor sharp claws..." He grinned, holding out a hand to help Lucifer to her feet.

 

"How exactly does it happen... I... might be able to do something about it if it's like a curse or some lasting spell that activates under certain conditions, especially if it's dark oriented...I" Jin closed his mouth abruptly and turned his face away, though he was still holding his hand out to help her up. He had almost said too much, and... and she had just revealed something that was very painful in her past to him... yet he was still keeping all his secrets... it felt wrong... and he felt bad about it.

 

"Hey Lucifer..." he began, slowly turning back to face her while he fiddled with his hair with the hand that was still covered by a gauntlet. "I... I haven't been completely honest with you and... you know I have to keep secrets... but I've never told anyone this outside of Azure, and eve there only Cloud and a few of the masters and other knights know. Now I want to tell you."

 

Jin paused, grimacing as he helped Lucifer up and then took a step back from her and Lorkin. He drew one razor claw along the outlines of the tattoo that covered his body.

 

"This is more than a tattoo," he indicated, "When I told you and the others that I had a mental problem because of Azure training, which is why I lost control at the inn? That wasn't completely true."

 

He forced himself to look Lucifer in the eye, absently rubbing the patch that still covered his left eye.

 

"This tattoo is a mark given to me at birth, it's... alive almost, it grows with my body. It's from a spell but that's getting ahead of myself. When I was born I was... broken..." Jin paused, not knowing a better way of putting it, he wasn't the best with words, "you know the rumors and legends of single Azure knights taking on hundreds in battle and emerging victorious. Well they're mostly true, but rarely are we hired for such an event, as it costs an inordinate amount of money and we're not butchers or mass killers... I'm not at least... at least I try not to be..."

 

He sighed, leaning against a dead tree, a weary expression on his face, "I was born predisposed to killing, and very powerful. Most Azure knights gain their strength with age, but on a rare occasion you're born with a mature... soul." Jin decided that was a good enough term for it, "the power of an azure knight has a dark side to it, the more you use and the more you have, the more likely you are to lose control of it and become a monster, we call knights that lose their control Vanudi, 'the lost.'"

 

Jin indicated his tattoos again, "being born in my condition predisposes me to becoming Vanudi, in fact it may have happened even as I was a newborn... children born this way are usually... killed. It's harsh... but the risk of Vanudi is a very dangerous thing. The masters must have had pity on me that day, because I was chosen for Vinqulem, the binding."

 

"Vinqulem is an ancient art of sealing dark soul energy passed down in secret for a thousand generations of my people. My tattoos are the physical markings of that seal..." Jin was silent for a long moment. "I could be killed for telling you even that much... but..."

 

He stared up at her again, "you are an amazing woman Lucifer and... I have feelings for you, something I'm not familiar with. You deserve to know the danger you are in by being around me. There's a reason I was forced to live in solitude with monks for three years. There's a reason that I avoid other people, the same reason I lost control at the inn... that could have been you, or Sei, or any of the group. I would never have come into such close proximity with other people if Cloud Sempai hadn't been around, I knew he could stop me if anything went wrong..."

 

Jin turned away to face the dead tree, cutting a line through it with a razor claw from his gauntlet. "I'm... a monster, inside... Sometimes I lose control, it's worse when I'm around people... I have a strong reaction to... to the weak being oppressed by the strong, to the pain of others. I live on a razor's edge between a man becoming an Azure knight... and Vanudi, a monster."

 

Jin's voice was soft now, like that of a small child, "all my life I've wanted to be a healer... but this is all I can be," he held up his gauntlet and let the claws reflect the hot sun, "I have to live with the reality that I am a weapon, dangerous to my friends and my enemies alike. If you... want to remain one of those few who dare to be my friend... then you deserve to know this of me."

 

Jin couldn't bring himself to look at her now, he was too afraid that he would see her turn and leave, and that would be that, as it had happened so many times before. He had gotten used to it... so he thought... but he knew how much it would hurt, coming from her... he kicked himself for having feelings for her that he barely understood, they were foreign to him, all he knew is that losing her friendship would hurt... far more than normal.

[Juzz]

The dark blue sky started to change into a bright tint of orange as the sun began to set. It was quieter than it used to be, most likely because the people began returning to their homes. The only sounds which could be heard was the soft blowing of the cool wind, the occasional holwing of the wolves and the chirping of the crickets.

 

"Good Bye and take care" the girl smiled at the old man who waved at her with a grateful look. She stood up and wiped the sweat flowing from her forehead. "Miss Sora, may I escort you...?" the young man beside her asked nervously. "No. It's okay. I wish to have a walk for a bit more" she answered with a smile. The man looked at her worriedly, but finally got her message:'you may go rest now'. He nodded and walked off, glancing at the girl at almost every step he took.

 

Sora breathed in the air and looked up the sky. Not like she could see it. Though it seemed as though she did, the way she smiled. The girl walked around the village, without tripping even once, or bumping into anything. Those voices... Ah! Must be...

 

"Good Evening, Sir Jinjekkai, Miss Lucifer" she greeted, staring blankly at the two. "... I am not interrupting... Am I?" she asked, suddenly realizing what she might've done.

Edited May 18, 2011 by Juzz

[Altiboris]

Lucifer nodded, her eyes still slightly unfocused. "Thanks for telling me... But that's not exactly all." She mumbled to herself. "There's a reason I left those gypsies. It's not entirely their fault." Lorkin licked her hand comfortingly and snuggled against her side.

 

"I've never been great at controling my powers. The ones that you see me using are the few I can. Setting up flames, burning things. Those are the ones I practice at a lot. I still need to work on others though. Like floating. But there's so many others that I can't even begin to fathom. Hardly use." Lucifer shuddered sadly as she remembered that awful day.

 

"I was even worse when I was a child though. The powers had just been something fun. Something to amuse myself back then as I had no friends. Nobody. So I would just sit by myself and play with them. Fire. Water. Earth. Wind. They were all my friends. But there was one I didn't know at first. Shadow. It creeps around. Unnoticed." She picked at the grass for a secound before resuming.

 

"One day though, it seemed to come closer than ever. I had been only slightly aware of it. I didn't think it was one of the elements though. But I was wrong. It consumed the others. Blew the fire I was playing with into an inferno. The Water around that area just evaporated, and the Earth burnt up. The Wind didn't help. Just fanned that blaze. It destroyed a whole forest before dying down. After that, all the elements I've been using have been tainted." Lucifer held out her hand to the sky and the wind swirled around it.

 

It was a strange, black-ish wind. "Shadow has been a part of everything I do now." She said quietly. "Which is partially why that sorceror was even more desperate for my powers. It's the strongest of the elements. Yet the strangest too. It comes and goes. Unreliable and often turns on it's user." Lucifer closed her hand into a fist and the wind disappeared with a snap.

 

"The night I left, the gypsies were chasing me. They wanted to kill me. Said that a dark creature like me shouldn't be allowed to live." She sighed softly. "I panicked and ran. They were closing in though. Then I did something I'll always regret... I invited the Shadow in. In that instant, I became like a shadow. Melting into the ground. I got away, but a horrible price. I still wonder if I should've done that. Maybe I should've just died that night. Instead of becoming what I am now."

 

Lucifer looked up into Jin's eyes. "But everytime I see you, I think it was the right decision. And now that we both know the truth, it seems even better. Dark with Shadow. A perfect match."

 

"Good Evening, Sir Jinjekkai, Miss Lucifer" A voice said suddenly. "... I am not interrupting... Am I?" It was Sora.

 

She whirled around to look at the speaker, her face slightly red now. A black tinge was spreading across it; she just wanted to disappear.

[Rakashua]

Jin nodded in understanding, and was about to speak, to say something phenomenal... when Sora walked up to them.

 

"Oh hi," Jin replied, "umm... yeah actually, if you don't mind..." he didn't step away from Lucifer and Lorkin, "I'd appreciate it if you left us, I'm sure your father is eager to see you, and Cloud and the others as well."

 

Lucifer... I think that I just found out that I've had what I've always wanted this whole time... if can only find a way to tell you...

[Juzz]

"Oh... I apologize..." Sora answered weakly. She drew a bit closer to the two and continued speaking. "... Please be careful... It's almost nightfall. There are wild animals... And maybe some..." she paused for a moment and looked away in the distance, turning back to the two. "You might want to return to father's home" she added, sounding worried and walked off.

 

Truly, it was almost nightfall, there were some stars present and the moon was beginning to become visible. All the people had gone back to their homes and locked up. Time flew by quickkly back at the village chief's house. Sei spent his time arranging his things. He also seemed to be writing something in a piece of paper, pausing from time to time, looking like he was in deep thought. Keith, on the other hand, spent his time outside, practicing some sword strokes with a piece of wood.

 

The beast companions of the group was safely tucked inside the stable close to the chief's house. In front of them were containers filled with some fruits and water. During this time, Vei was sound asleep.

 

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Somewhere not so far away...

 

"No! We couldn't risk our men to do such thing!"

"But... If they get her, we're doomed. Not just us... But the whole of Mesria!" a brown-haired teenager answered roughly. He had black eyes and was wearing a typical peasant's clothing. The difference from his get up was the sword hanging from his side.

"Tsk. I say no to this... You're just letting you emotions get ahead of you"

After those words, the other men around began murmuring, all agreeing to not agree with the brown-haired teenager. With that, he banged his fist on the round table and walked off with a frustrated look. "You're all just cowards! If no one's with me in this, then I'll do it myself!" he shouted, turning to the men behind him before fully exiting with heavy steps.

 

Just somewhere above the meeting place, a dark figure stood and watched the teenager go off on his own. "Heh... This will be interesting..."

 

((Yeah... We'll have another time skip to the next day (which means, everyone has to turn in for the day or something like that)... Where things will go a bit out of hand... ))

Edited May 21, 2011 by Juzz

[Rakashua]

Jin turned to Lucifer as Sora walked off, smiling at Lucifer's embarrassment.

 

"You know," he spoke aloud, "all my life I've wished to be a healer, and all my life I've destroyed things..." the regret was strong in his voice, and the way he stared at his tattoos made it clear that somewhere deep inside, he hated himself, but had learned to live with it. But something about that side of him has just begun to change.

 

"But... you..." he looked at her seriously, "you are affected by shadow... and though I don't understand it completely... I think I can help heal that." He frowned, "Shadow and darkness are a good match, but I'm not darkness by choice, much as you are not shadow, but the way you put it... I think my darkness can..."

 

His eyes suddenly widened as if he's just realized he was speaking, "oh... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say any of that out loud..." he mentally kicked himself, not being around people made him prone to thinking out loud without worrying about it, and what he had just... said... probably sounded crazy to Lucifer... because she couldn't hear everything else he was thinking at once.

 

"I only mean that..." Jin tried to think of the words to say to explain what he had said. "I can't say..."

 

The night was growing close and the sky growing dark, the stars were coming out of hiding. Jin stared up at the moon, seeming to calm down a bit and collect his thoughts. "There's no need for you to be afraid around me, using your elements, or anything else." Jin nodded to himself, "you don't have to worry about harming me, and maybe once I'm a knight... I can heal us both of our curses."

 

He grinned again, "I'm sleeping out here under the stars." he raised an eyebrow at her, "apparently there might be wild animals about, so I guess I won't get much sleep." He pulled his staff and set it down on the ground between him and Lucifer. "You sleep there, I'll sleep here... and that cute fur-ball of yours can keep watch and warn us of great beasts... or monsters... or whatever it was that girl was worried about. And when we wake up to get some good training out of said beasties... we can talk about this more, deal?"

[LadyNatasha]

Well, the meal was over and it seemed it was time to turn in for the day. Maro was curious, however, to know if Sora could really tell her what her future would be like. Yet... "No, it's not that important," she told her wolf. "Whether we know or not, it'll happen one way or the other." She smiled down at the wolf and patted him on the head. "Where would you like us to stay for the night," she asked the chief. She was quite grateful for his hospitality and really wouldn't have minded sleeping outdoors, except that the village didn't really feel... well, safe.

[Altiboris]

Lucifer smiled, although inside she didn't think anything could heal her. The Shadow wasn't something that could be gotten rid of that easily. It was alive. Sometimes, she could feel it stirring inside her, wanting to break free. Lorkin twitched his tail and gave a snuffle, glaring at Jin. I am not a furball! He growled in his mind. His mistress gave a laugh and rested her head on his back. Course you're not. You're a big scary kitty. Aren't you Sweetie? The panther snorted and wrapped himself around her.

 

"Sure thing. The furball here doesn't sleep much at night anyways." Lucifer raised an eyebrow at the staff, "Interesting. But wouldn't you need instant access to that if we're attacked?" She teased. Her own weapons were still strapped on, except for the scimitar and bows which were in her bag. Which was strapped on Lorkin.

 

She rolled over onto her back and stared up at the pitch black sky. Night time was always so peaceful. Lucifer sat up again, feeling an urge to roam. "I'll be back in a bit." She whispered to Jin and Lorkin. The panther started to get up but she motioned for him to ly back down. "I'll be fine." The girl wandered around the village, noting that the doors were all shut tight. No lights were on.

[Rakashua]

Jin watched her leave, deciding that she probably wanted some time alone... and he suddenly wished he had told her everything. Inside though he was struggling with telling her, being honest, and not breaking his vows any further... It wasn't really wrong was it? They were all going to Azure after all. Everyone would find out about it... Then they'd take oaths of secrecy to be able to leave again... or they'd be forced to stay... or killed on sight... but the mark.. what was it? Requiem? That would most assuredly mean that the elders would want everyone to live... and even help them... right? The requiem was a good thing yes?

 

Jin shook his head, not wanting to think about that right now.

 

Oh Lucifer, I wish I could tell you... we are more alike than you could ever imagine. Heh... I could have mistaken you for an Azure knight if you'd had the mark... I know I will be able to help you, and maybe... we can both get rid of our darkness together... some day.

 

Jin glanced left at Lorkin, "so, I'm not going to need your permission to date her am I? We're good right? You're not going to maul me in my sleep out of jealousy or something right? Good kitty?" Jin gave Lorkin his very best smile.

[Saphira-dragon]

Night was drawing in fast, Cloud had been lost in thought as he looked up into sky when he felt the chill in his bones. Shaking his head realising that he had been just standing there for so long, he started to move off shaking his limbs the odd time just to loosen them out and head back to the living...well tent that they had been given to sleep in.

Blazer was already sleeping in his stable, he didn't seem to mind that there wasn't much to eat for he was used to going without food for a short while when out on mission's with Cloud. As Cloud arrived back at the tent he paused before sitting down against the side of the tent beside the opening. His eyes were deep in thought as he stared at the ground, there was a longing in his heart to just tack Blazer up and fly back to The Hidden Village.

For a moment his eyes dropped and then remained closed, he leaned back and fell asleep against the tent as the past week's excitment washed over him in a wave.

[Saika]

Wandering around in the small town they had arrived in, Alazne breathed a small sigh. When Sei had mentioned the epidemic, she had known it would be bad, but... She had seen sickness before, even deadly ones, but none of that had prepared her for this. Yes, she had seen people dying. She had even been the one to cause that death, even though she preferred not to. But this was something else entirely, and it left her feeling... Helpless. She knew a little healing; most people did, even children. But if that had worked, then no one would be sick, would they? She shook her head slightly, frustrated by her own thoughts. She was capable of many different things, but healing wasn't among her gifted areas, and she hated this feeling of helplessness.

 

Closing her eyes, she slowed her walk until she was standing still, lifting her head towards the rapidly darkening sky. The villagers had been so happy when they had arrived with Sora, and she couldn't help but share their happiness at having their hope back. That's not to say she trusted the blind wonder completely; there were too many uncertain elements for her to do that. Her main concerns were why the girl had been passed out in the forest, and where the Gresia knights who had supposedly been following her had gone, but that weren't her only ones.

 

Her mind abandoned the thoughts as her concerns weren't very important at the moment, and turned to another question her mind had. If Sora was just left in the Chief's basket, where did she really come from? A breathless laugh escaped her and she opened her eyes again. Asking herself something like that would never get any results, she knew that. She simply knew too little of the situation for it to be any use. But there was surely some magic involved...

 

Realizing that the sky was now pretty close to completely black, she turned around to start on the way back to the Chief's cottage. She had been wandering around the village since they were excused from the meal, looking around. She had even played a little with some of the children she had seen, and she was happy to see that even if the village was ridden with sickness, the children were still full of energy. Nothing was worse than seeing a child who wasn't acting like children should, full of happiness and energy.

 

The Chief's cottage was in sight now, and she reached it rather quickly, noticing Keith practicing sword strokes with a piece of wood outside. A small smile lit up her face at the sight, before she shook her head slightly. She didn't trust him completely either, but that wasn't his fault; it was more the alarming happenings that surrounded his story. And Sei seemed afraid of him... A frown had taken the place of her earlier smile, and she opened the door to the cottage, her mind still filled with thoughts.

 

"Where would you like us to stay for the night?" The question made her look up from her absentminded musing, and she nodded slightly. It had been Maro who had asked the question, but she found that she was wondering the same thing, and she smiled at the Chief. "Thank you very much for your hospitality." She owed them a thanks at least, especially when one took into account the feast they had been presented with earlier as well. She hadn't eaten much of it; she didn't know how much food the village had, but it hadn't seemed like much, and she didn't want to eat the little they had left. Even so she had eaten some, as she didn't want to be rude by refusing to eat the food they had prepared.

[roobot]

Nixa looked up at the sky. It was fading to a dull shade of black, the first stars twinkling out and the pale moon starting to climb. It was time to go back and see if there was anyplace to sleep in the village.

 

She headed back to Sora's father's house, with her mind on not much but Sora herself's healing powers. She didn't want to seem rude asking out right about them, but the curiosity was almost too much to ignore that fact. She would just wait it out and see then. It would be the best solution.

 

Before she had known it, the chief's hut was next to her. Keith was practicing what looked like sword tactics outside, jabbing and cutting. He seemed innocent enough. And although she hated to admit it, he seemed like a welcome addition to the team. Nixa shook her head. You would think I've established by now I can't really trust anyone but myself. Well, at least she could defend herself well, both physically and mentally.

 

She slipped inside and stepped to the left of the door, keeping in the shadows. Maro had been saying something to the chief. She hoped it was about lodgings, she didn't want to sleep out side in a place so open. Then again, as long as it didn't get too cold it might be nice.

 

 

 

 

 

[Juzz]

The night was a quiet and cold one. The only sounds which could be heard is the soft blowing of the wind and the animals in their night hunt. Wolves were howling, vulture were squawking, and there were even sounds of owls hooting. At times, the sounds of the prey getting caught can be heard.

 

The chief was true to his words, or rather, to Sora's words. He let the travelers stay in his home. With the exception of some who preferred camping out. Despite the dangerous outdoors, they were unharmed. They were safe... But somewhere close...

 

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"Why-- --ou le- --- go by -erself?!"

"I know... It's my f--lt"

 

"Uhmmm... Wha?" Sei raised his head as he heard the noise outside. He was lying on the futon when the sound of people who seem to be arguing reached his ears. It sounded like the chief and someone else. Most likely a servant or something of the sort. Keith, who was on the other futon just beside him didn't seem bothered. Sei shrugged it off, but seeing the sunlight pierce through the small window, he decided it was time to get moving.

 

He swung the door a bit, only to spot the chief and a man. It was the same guy who was assisting Sora a previous day. It's not something Sei would know though, after all, he stayed indoors the whole time. He peeked out, feeling it was rude to suddenly barge in (although it is also rude to eavesdrop ).

 

"Are you sure she's not around?" the chief asked. He sounded like he was in a panic. "T-the villagers l-looked everywhere! They cannot find lady Sora!" he answered worriedly. At that moment, the door Sei was peeking through suddenly swung open. The boy almost jumped up from surprise. Turning around, there was Keith behind him. He was the one who opend the door

 

"Sora is missing?!" he exclaimed as he closed in to the adults. "I left her y-yesterday... After she told me she wanted to have a walk..." the servant answered with his voice trembling. "And she hasn't returned. We can't find her in the village either" the chief added with a serious tone.

Edited May 25, 2011 by Juzz

[Altiboris]

Lucifer sat down on the branches of the tree she had been inspecting earlier. It didn't break which proved her suspicions; it wasn't even close to dead. And though it looked spindly and dry, it was actually pretty sturdy. She gazed up at the stars desperately, as if searching for an answer. The blackness outside matched the darkness inside. She raised one arm up to the skies, and a wirl of wind followed it. The air current swirled up, carrying with it a strange red glow surrounded her. Lucifer leaned back against the tree trunk and closed her eyes.

 

Why oh why did it have to be me? She wondered. Of all the people in the world, why me? Haven't I suffered enough? The girl sighed and was about to jump off when she heard voices.

 

"Have you found her yet?" One of them was calling to another. "No!" Came the reply, slightly further away. "Well she shouldn't be far." Lucifer landed lightly on the ground. Walking silently, she wandered around the village.

 

Everyone seemed to be in a panic. Finally, coming to where the others were, she spotted Cloud with a group of others. Listening from the shadows, the girl scratched her head in confusion. Sora was not the type to wander off and not return. And she cared too much for the village to leave them now. "Maybe it was the people who were chasing her last time." Lucifer suggested, walking up.

[Rakashua]

Jin awoke at the sound of the first voice, though he couldn't make out what was being said the sound of voices always woke him easily, probably because he wasn't used to hearing it. Jin stood and grabbed his staff, brushing himself off as he did so.

 

Everyone looked a bit distraught and Jin glanced around looking for Lucifer, she was obviously already up and probably knew what was going on. The thought crossed his mind that they hadn't been attacked last night, or even awoken, and it irritated him slightly. He had pent up energy he needed to use, especially with all the people around, trying to hold it all in never ended well...

 

"Hey!" Jin called up to Lucifer. She looked as if she had been deep in thought so he felt a bit bad about interrupting, but for all he knew she could have been thinking of him which meant his talking wouldn't be unwelcome... though he doubted that he was on her mind, but maybe he hoped it...

 

"What's got everyone so anxious around here? Did I miss a fight?" He grinned, "if there isn't a fight involved I'm going to be grouchy, all the talking I've been doing is making me edgy, have to let loose on something soon. If it's not an emergency maybe we can have that sparring match I remember promising you. although...." he glanced around again, "it looks like an emergency... or something..."

[Saphira-dragon]

Voices, they sounded worried about something or someone. Cloud reopened his eyes as his ears tuned into what they were saying, Jin's voice and Luicfer's were there too. He blinded once, then again before starting to wake up right and trying to get up. The night air from last night had seeped into his bones making them stiff but he still got to his feet from where he had fallen asleep outside someone's tent.

 

"What was I thinking?" He asked himself rubbing his head, it was unlike him to do such a thing as leave himself open for someone to attack like that but sleep had taken him so quickly. Mabye he just needed to rest more often and relax more often as well. didn't matter right now. He began to circle the tent towards the voices and came across the group, he knew he looked rough but didn't quite care. He only caught the last few words which contained information he seriously didn't need to hear right at that moment.

 

"Gone? She hardly up'd stakes and left like that, we only brought the girl back there! Something must be up...." He muttered rubbing his face and then his hair ruffling it up a little.

 

"What the hell is going on?" He asked, his eyes flashed sharply to each person's face in the group searching for the answer.

[Altiboris]

Lucifer looked up at Jin. "Oh, hey." She said absentmindly. "Yeah, sure. Maybe." She stared off into the distance, her eyes glazed over. There was something way strange about this. Actually, everything about this was strange. The people that were chasing Sora. The blind girl herself. The village. The land. And now the her disappearance just made things even more complicated. Suddenly, her hand felt wet. Looking down, she stared into the bright eyes of Lorkin. He growled slightly and flicked her tail. Follow me.

 

The girl crouched down and started to stroke his fur but he shook her off, though obviously reluctant. "Wut's wrong Sweetie?" Lucifer asked, watching him closely. The panther pawed at the ground in annoyance and flicked his tail again. Towards the canyon. "Hmm... wut's over there that you want me to see so badly?" Lorkin rolled his eyes and tugged on her arm.

 

"Alright. Alright. Coming already." Lucifer looked at Jin. "You wanna come? I want to see wut's getting him so excited. Especially at this hour."

[Rakashua]

Jin nodded to Lucifer still wondering a little about her change in mood, ever since they had arrived she'd been a bit distant, not that he knew her that well, but different than she had been before.

 

He had half a mind to ask her about it, but then again he had a lot of things he'd rather not be asked about either, so he decided that if she wanted him to know or listen she'd ask. He could wait, and maybe she'd never tell him, but he could respect her privacy, as she had his.

 

"Sure, maybe he found a mouse his own size." Jin grinned down at the cat, baiting him again since he seemed to understand everything Jin said, even though only Lucifer could understand him it seemed. "Or even better maybe he found tracks that lead to Sora, or a monster, or preferable a giant monster who kidnapped Sora and can also be chopped up into steaks and eaten..." Jin was hungry, though for him... it was more of a state of existence than a passing appetite.

 

"Or who knows," he thought aloud, "maybe it's a familiar dark sorcerer that needs a long introduction to the end of my staff." He grinned, hoping the joke was funny and didn't strike any tender nerves.

[Altiboris]

Lucifer snorted and laughed. "I dun't think he'll even feel your staff. More like break it into pieces. He's got ways of sneaking around that I can't even detect. " She looked down at the ground, "That's how I got caught the first time anyways." Her shadow suddenly twisted around and gave her a leering grin. The girl glared back down at it, daring it to do anything. Instead, it just gave her a slight wave and sped away into the darkness. She sighed softly and reached for Lorkin. He nuzzled her hand softly before tugging her towards the canyon again.

 

As she started to walk, he stopped and gave her an insisten look. Everybody. The panther growled softly in her mind. Lucifer gave a hiss of annoyance. "Alright, jeez." She turned around and motioned to the group of people. "I think Lorkin might have some clue about wut happened. So just follow him. Not like we have any other leads..." She muttered the last part before pulling out her scimitar. Just in case.

 

"But even if it is the sorceror, dun't try anything. I dun't want to you get hurt." Lucifer said quietly. "He can do things you can't even imagine."

[Rakashua]

Jin grimaced as Lucifer's shadow changed, "I guess you're worse off than me in some ways. You can't hide your shadow, at least I can hide this," he pointed to his eye, speaking before the rest of the people were within earshot, "I'll show you sometime, it's an unfortunate reminder of all my troubles."

 

"And fine, I won't go after him if it is him, which it's probably not. But if he wants to get at you then he's going to have to go through me whether you like it or not, and I think Lorkin feels the same way." Jin gave a tired sigh suddenly, his mood turning sour, "if I was a full knight... then I could hold my own, as it is I have to defer to Cloud Sempai if we run into anything that powerful. He might look lazy and like to drink more than I care for, but he's a very scary person if you've ever seen him fight for real." Jin placed a hand on Lucifer's shoulder as he followed after Lorkin towards the Canyon, "well no matter what it is, you're not alone this time, so don't look so down," he smiled, "I've got your back if you've got mine, deal?"

[Saika]

"Sora is missing?!" The abrupt question made Alazne turn over beneath the sheets of the futon she had been given, before she groaned slightly. It was too early in the morning for such loud voices, whether they be the Chief's or Keith's. It was too early in the morning for anything, really, not only loud voices. So why were they disturbing her rest? As far as she was concerned, they should just go back to bed themselves... Whatever they were discussing could be discussed later in the morning. Besides, if they went back to sleep, she could do the same...

 

She blinked slightly as someone answered Keith's question, her fuzzy mind using a few seconds on understanding what they were talking about, even though she'd much rather ignore it and go back to bed. When the meaning of the words finally penetrated into her thoughts, her eyes widened and she suddenly felt much more awake. Sora is gone? That seemed to be the case. And they couldn't even find her in the village...

 

She had moved out from beneath the sheers even before she had made a conscious decision to do so, but she still flinched slightly when her feet touched the cold floor outside of her futon. Oh, how she wished she was able to stay beneath those sheets for a little more time... But no, she couldn't do that, not if she might be able to help. A few seconds later, she had put her shoes on and was standing beside Keith, looking at the two men who had been talking earlier, when she hadn't been awake enough to understand it.

 

"If you can't find her in the village, that would mean she is not in it." She looked from the Chief to the young man standing beside him, before she sighed. "I will help look. The more people, the better, no?" She gave them and Keith a small smile, and as she walked out she noticed Sei on the floor and smiled to him as well. She had no idea where Sora could have disappeared off to, but she knew that the villagers depended on her. She was their hope in the middle of this sickness, and Alazne would try her best to get her back.

 

Her spirits fell slightly as she walked out into the cold morning air, and she shivered. Why couldn't the girl disappear later in the day? The question was completely irrational, she knew, and she shook her head at herself. Now where to look... She didn't bother with going further into the village, as the man had said she wasn't to be found there. That left outside... Sighing at her predicament she walked a little further towards the outskirts of the village when her eyes caught sight of something... Someone in a tree?

 

Her eyes fell to the ground again, and she noticed that there was a group of people near as well. They were probably looking for Sora. As she came closer, she recognized the figures in the three as Lucifer and her panther, and two of the figures on the ground as Jin and Cloud. What was going on? "I think Lorkin might have some clue about wut happened. So just follow him." The voice belonged to Lucifer, and she realized that they were indeed looking for Sora. Follow the panther... Well, it wasn't as if she had any other leads.

[Saphira-dragon]

"lets follow the furball then, lead us over a cliff or something"

 

Cloud mumbled in bad humour, the group was following lucifer's panther as she seemed to know something about where Sora was...or that she had found a nice scratching tree that she wanted to show them. Un-usual as it was, he was never this short tempered before...mabye it was because he was gagging for a bloody fight or the fact his body was worn out but either way he wasn't himself. He made a note to get this angry out of his system as soon as he could, he wouldn't, no, couldn't let that side of himself out in front of others. The others would strip him of his rank and most likely kill him if he did, and right now he had everything to live for.

 

"This is madness! We should be moving out of this village, it reeks of badness and is strange even beond my usual strange. All I know is this whole place and Sora are bad news" He growled trialling the group which was another first, he always was at the front of the group.

[Rakashua]

As they began to follow Lorkin and Lucifer, Jin could hear Cloud mumbling under his breath. If this hadn't been clue enough to his current physical state, Jin could feel the aura he was giving off as easily as if he could see it. It was familiar to him, having grown up in Azure he knew exactly what it meant, Sempai was in a bad mood with lots of strings attached. Jin immediately felt compelled to help his mentor deal with his troubles as Cloud had helped him earlier....

 

Jin began to walk more slowly until he was the only one in front of Cloud, quite suddenly he spun on his heal and delivered an instant sucker punch to Cloud's torso. The punch wasn't hard enough to break a rib, but almost. In the same fluid motion Jin took hold of both of Cloud's forearms just below the shoulder as if it was a friendly hello and hadn't been preceded by a punch to the ribs.

 

"Good morning Sempai!" Jin beamed, "we're on our way to rescue an important princess. You've been sent by the Headmaster himself and are traveling with me and a couple of royal snobs that thought they needed to tag along to make sure everything went well. I guess that means you'll be on your best behavior until we run into the enemy right?" Jin continued to grin hugely at Cloud.