Orichalcus: Another Realm

Inners

A sudden beam of death, flashing right before your eyes.

Inners managed to dive out of the way, evading a powerful beam of pure magick, shot from the mouth of a conjured dragon.

"You must stay focused! Keep your eyes on the enemy and keep your magick in control!" His father's voice called out from behind the dragon. Standing there in his white and gold colored sage robes, he controlled the dragon with his own abilities. The mana construct opened its mouth as another beam was shot from its mouth with great force, blasting down at Inners. He quickly swings one arm in front of him, creating a barrier, but as the energy blast collides, the barrier shatters.

"Crap...!"

How am I going to take this thing down!? It's just one attack after the other! I'm just going to exhaust myself if I keep defending. I need to hit it back!

The dragon opens its mouth, taking in another deep breath as magick energy gathers around. Inners quickly looks to the dragon before creating a solid cube of magick and slamming it into the open mouth. As it begins to choke on the cube sudden launched into it, Inners takes his chance to advance. His katana materializes in his hands, made of a physical form of mana. He jumps at the enemy, jamming the conjured sword into its back before running back. It chomps down on the mana cube, breaking it apart before letting out a roar and charging toward Inners.

Perfect.

Just as the dragon comes up, directly in front of Inners, he makes a motion with his hand and causes a geyser of energy to blast up in front of him, knocking the dragon upward onto its hind legs. With his other hand, Inners motions toward the sword jammed into its back, causing the blade to explode from within. The field is showered in tiny bits of mana as the dragon explodes, leaving Inners standing there, staring at his father across from him.

His face is serious before a smile comes across it. A cool breeze flows through the fields. He then claps and begins to walk toward Inners. "Well done, son. It seems you truly are ready for tonight after all."

Unable to contain himself, Inners leaps into the air, letting out a cheer. "Yes! This means I get to be the Great Sage, right? I can summon the dragon and stuff, right? Right!? This is so exciting!"

Letting out a light laugh, the Great Sage pats his son on the back. "All in time, Inners. You mustn't rush the festival. After all, we need to make sure your partner is prepared to help you out. A Great Sage is nothing without a proper Guardian at his side."

The sun glinted in his eyes as he the thought of the possibilities. "Oh, you mean like Kaguya? She's such a badass. Do you think my partner's going to be like Kaguya?"

Wonder if she's hot...?

The Great Sage keeps an all knowing smile on his face. "You will see, you will see. Remember, patience is a virtue. You would do well to practice it." He says this with a half scolding, half joking tone.

"Ugh, why do you always have to be so secretive? Come on, the festival is almost about to begin. What's a couple hours early gonna do?"

"If it is only a couple of hours, then it should be easy to wait, shouldn't it? Besides, you should be spending this time getting prepared. The moment this festival begins, your life will be changed forever. It is a true coming of age ceremony where-"

His signature rambling speech was interrupted by a sigh. "Yeah, I get it. I've heard this story a million times. But I'm so sick of all this waiting around! I want to find my Guardian and start my journey already. I took down your dragon, so this trial is going to be a piece of cake. I have no doubts about it." An overconfident grin manages to sneak its way on Inners' face.

His father simply shakes his head with a patient smile. "Come then. If you're going to whine and moan, you may as well do it while helping put the ceremony together. We still have a few things to put together."

This comment was soon followed by much whining and moaning, but as the two walked toward their village from the plains, Inners soon began to bombard his father with a multitude of questions. His excitement was clear. But who wouldn't be excited when they've waited for this moment their whole life? A chance to go out and explore the world. That's what this was to Inners.

But something unusual was in the wind. Maybe this journey truly would turn out to be something more...

Talia sits motionless in the same place she's been for last three days.  To everyone else, she appears as nothing more than a new statue perched on the palace roof among all the effigies of the gods.

Her heart had fluttered when a guard had stopped to stare at her on the second day.  After a few seconds, he had nodded in approval at the new work.  Obviously he wasn't much of a believer, or he would have realized the count was off.

She risks a sip of water during the pre-dawn guard change.  She could suppress the thirst, but it would be a problem if she actually passed out.  And she wasn't going to risk all the planning going out the window.  Carefully memorizing guard patterns, measuring her mana expenditure, scheduling every little shift in position...  Even then, so much could go wrong.  So many little things that can't be controlled.  But the odds of success were the best as she could hope for.

Her chance finally comes in the early morning.  The prince and his guards arriving back from his night at his favorite seedy brothel.  The guards visibly lower their guards, finally within the safety of the palace walls.  Talia risks letting out a small burst of magic to keep herself from getting excited.  Thirteen guards... that wasn't the plan.  Where did the thirteenth come from?  He wasn't around when the prince left...

She decides to take the chance.  She carefully measures his pace, envisioning a spot on the ornate path to the palace entrance.  He passes the mark, and Talia takes two steps and throws herself from the roof.  She drops her disguise, white outfit billowing in the wind as she falls.  She rips one of several long knives from her brown vest.

The prince stops and stares off to the side.  Unknown to Talia, he had spotted a beautiful white cloud far in the distance, and was thinking what a wonderful omen it was.  Perhaps it was.  The momentary pause was enough to keep him just outside the range of Talia's attack.  She lands, tucks into a roll, and leaps into a lunge.  The thirteenth guard grabs the prince, pulls him to the side, and takes the blow himself.  Not even a fatal wound...

That reaction time was too impressive.  He already has a hand on his own blade, despite the attack coming in barely even a second.  Another type 4.  Talia's sure of it.  Of course the prince would have some powerful mages among his guards.  There's no point pressing the attack.  She's lost her chance.  With this, it's going to take every last bit of her remaining mana just to escape.  She carefully memorizes the unknown guard's face as the others scramble to react.

Talia darts between two guards.  She reaches out into their minds, causing their vision to flicker for just an instant.  One swings his sword and the other grabs at her a half-second before she's actually between them, and she uses the opening as they recover to slip through.  She's past the prince's bodyguards.  One of the palace guards at the gate starts to move to cut her off before a pair of throwing knives thud into him.

Another of the bodyguards teleports in her path.  She's reacting before he even fully materializes, grabbing him, swinging him around, and using him as a shield as an elementalist aims at her back.  A type 7 mage starts forming a wall of pure magic at the palace's gate.  No time for another route, some of those bodyguards are right at her heels.  Talia turns and scans the area, taking a guess which one is forming the wall.

As far as that mage could tell, the prince suddenly reached over and grabbed his arm.  "Let her go!" he demanded.  "Immediately, or I'll have you killed!"  The mage looked at the prince with confusion smeared across his face, then obeyed and dropped the wall.

And Talia ran, and ran, and ran.  She lost them in the slums, snuck into her secret hideout - a crawlspace tucked away behind a false wall, barely large enough for her and a few supplies.  She'd used the last of her magic, all her energy.  A quick nap, then time to get out of Bali for a few days...

Inners

Standing at the center of the event square, Inners looks up to the Great Sage. "Are you ready?" The air feels tense. The darkness of the night is repelled by torchlight coming from the four corners of the area. All is silent aside from the crackling flames. Okir and Humans both stand, eyes fixed on Inners.

"Yes."

The Great Sage nods and then turns. Behind him, one of the Okir attending the ceremony steps forward and presents a black blindfold with a golden design. With both hands, he carefully ties it around Inners. "May this blindfold represent the darkness and unknown. All your fear and all your pain." The sage then creates a katana with his magic, placing it in Inners' hands. "May this katana represent your strength and your spirit." The ceremony moves slowly with great intensity. But Inners stays quiet throughout.

Then, suddenly, footsteps can be heard in the distance. Inners tries his best not to turn, for he must focus and only look forward for the ceremony to be a success. The steps move closer, until he can tell. Someone is definitely in front of him. This is his Guardian. He hears Kaguya's voice speaking. "May this blindfold represent the darkness and unknown. All your fear and all your pain." There's a short pause and Inners hears a blade unsheathe. "May this katana represent your strength and your spirit."

Just as rehearsed, Inners takes the katana into both hands, holding it vertically. Another hand then reaches and holds the blade with his. Both Kaguya and the Great Sage speak together. "May my hand represent the knowledge, training, and tradition passed down for generations to you."

Here it comes...

Inners felt a nervous drop of sweat moving down the side of his head. Being guided by the hand of his father, his sword and body are put into position.

If either of us miss...No, I can't think about that right now. No hesitation.

The combined voice of the Great Sage and his Guardian speak again. "Now, cut through the veil. For you cannot see the truth on your own. With your combined strength, spirit, knowledge, and training, you become a force capable of overcoming anything." There's a short eternity of silence before the two speak once more. "Strike!" As soon as he hears the word, Inners brings his sword down, stopping at just the right moment as he practiced so many times before. Hearing his movements mirrored, the fabric attached to his head make a slight tear before blowing off in the wind. Light and sight return. Standing in a position so that both he and Ken have their blades pointed past each other, defending the others' back, he looks directly into the face of his new Guardian and inseparable ally. A short second passes, almost as if in slow motion, before the crowd begins to cheer wildly.

Both the sage and Kaguya begin giving speeches while a multitude of thoughts fly through both Ken and Inners' heads.

Wait, WHAT!? Why's my Guardian a guy? Aren't they always women?

"Blah blah blah blah..."

Master is small...

"Wisdom wisdom wisdom wisdom..."

WHY IS HE TALLER THAN ME!?

"Speech speech speech..."

Master smells nervous...

"Knowledge knowledge. Knowledge knowledge...

HOW IS HE SO CALM!?

"Blah blah Inners blah..."

But it is wrong to judge a book by it's cover.

"Much knowledge...Such wisdom..."

Does anyone want to trade...?

"And she said...And I said..."

I will die for Master.

"...And with that, the ceremony is completed!" Everyone cheers once more. Music then begins to play as the people begin to go throughout the festival happily. Inners stands there, staring off into space for a while before he notices his father is talking to him. "...Blah blah How do you like your new Guardian?"

"He's great!"

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!?

"But uh...Where's Kaguya's daughter? Isn't she supposed to be the new Guardian?"

"Oh, of course. But Kaguya never had a daughter. Only a son. We spoke together and decided this wouldn't be an issue as long as he was properly trained. After all, it seems like there was a male Guardian recently! Three thousand years ago..."

"Oh, I see. That's fine then."

Alright, maybe at least he's useful for fighting things or something.

Inners then speaks. "So, Dad, when am I going to be going out on my journey with uh..." He blanks on the name before Ken speaks from directly behind him.

"Kennokage. But you may call me Ken if you wish, Master."

Inners jumps slightly, but manages to keep from screaming like a little girl. "KEN. When do me and my best buddy, Ken, set out?"

The Great Sage responds casually. "Oh, tomorrow morning. Why don't you stay around and enjoy the festival for tonight? The trial will be long and arduous. It is always important for one to take these moments of rest and respite to-" His attention is caught by a certain stand, his eyes scan across. "Oh, are those Okir Cookies? Ahem, I believe I have some business studying the deep intricacies of cuisine. If you'll excuse me..." He heads off.

Inners descends into a deep sigh, placing one hand on his forehead. "Why does he hate me...?"

Ken's voice then comes suddenly, from behind, once more. "Actually, Master-"

He's immediately interrupted by a surprised shout from Inners as he jumps away and turns to face him. "Stop doing that! And my name is Inners!"

"...Oh. I apologize, Master Inners."

Inners groans and firmly plants his face within both of his hands.

PIERCE

Pierce Long stood in front of the mansion of the Wilson family, which happened to be quite a site to see. Long columns of marble shoot up from a shiny, stone platform, to form a Rotunda that presented a great wooden door, made of what must have been some of the finest oak to be harvested in the country. The place then proceeded to jut out into the distance, with a grand white paint and many large, open windows with only the finest silks hanging from them. And, if that display of material over indulgence wasn't enough, this continued for what seemed like forever, and there was even a second floor with a stone topping on it. A porch protruded from the top of the Rotunda, with chairs and a less grand yet still mighty fine door. There were fancy pieces of furniture, with a greater worth than the houses and belongings of half the town! They, like the curtains, also managed to have fine feathers in them, alongside purple fabric. Why, they didn't even look good in purple, they just wanted to brag to the rest of the town that they could put a chair outside where it was regularly damaged and replaced that had higher value of their lives, wives, children, and belongings all mixed together in a soup of life! And, from these fancy chairs that were collected from money produced by the people, the Wilson family laid down on the highest part of the town and looked upon Fusan, laughing and drinking the product of the rich grape fields and fermentation vats that they built upon the cheap labor and hopeless situation of the people of this great town! Ripping them off with binding contract, using their political power to force them to make a deal with the devil, providing only enough substance to keep them working and obedient! Forcing these good people to sign a deal with the devil so they can reap the toils of doing nothing, and being presented every year with a plethora of exotic foods that they shipped off to another place, or ate themselves. None of the wealth that these scum were producing was even going back into this town! If these damned roaches atleast gave a portion of a percentage of their profits to workers, then maybe they wouldn't even need him to swoop in and use the working population to give them what they deserve!

Long stood there, breathing heavily. This always happened. Every time he saw these rich pieces of crap tweedling their thumbs while they watch over their pawns doing backbreaking work just to give their family moldy bread and rotten potatoes every night, living in luxury and freedom, giving bonuses to the people who voted for the piece of s*** puppet of the mayor, who does nothing and believes in nothing, in a battle against the other families like this that did nothing for Fusan and only were allies to the rich traders, merchants, and bankers of the rest of the world, letting in other pieces of s*** that destroyed this city!

Fired up, Pierce then surveyed he perimeter of the land. They had very good security, paid for by the profits that the mayor took from the people with the fellow puppets of these families in the corrupt city council. You know, all of these thoughts would be quite a great speech. It would turn these fine and fair workers against the devils of this family! Walking alongside the barricades of wood, he eventually stumbled upon the gate where the workers entered. It was guarded by a man, a good man, by the name of John Morgan. He had many a times given him some bread after his speeches on town square. Sadly, he could not get more involved or risk getting fired and kicked onto the streets just like the lion's share of Pierce's supporters.

He walked up to the gate and nodded at John.

"Just tell em' I wasn't here. They'll waste some time lookin' for cracks in the wood, then make it taller 'cause they think I climbed up!"

John and Pierce laughed a little bit, and Pierce walked through the door into the field.

The field consisted of vast rows of crops, their colors and aromas making a pleasure for the eyes and nose. What must've been a hundred workers toiled, snapping off the fruits and vegetables from trees and vines and placing them in shoddy baskets, wearing shoddy rags, sweating so hard they might as well be a river that the Wilson's can go ahead and plant grape on! Now, convincing these fair folks to come to the right side was quite a hard one, because of the brainwashing they went through every day while they worked. He spotted a man he saw but a few days ago, dropping by one of his speeches and nodding before leaving quickly. He was quite young, with a pretty lady by his side that must have been pregnant. Why, Pierce could tell that he wanted a better life for his new family, but was worried about joining the movement of the truth. This was his first target, one he could easily convert.

He headed over to the man.

"Hello, son."

He put his hand on the man's shoulders, and put on a smile. The man turned to him with a worried expression.

"I aien't here to hurt you, son. I saw you 'round the town square a while ago, alongside your pretty lady. You stopped by one of my speeches. I could tell that you wanted something better. A better life. A better future for your kid."

The man turned and went back to his work.

"Sorry, sir, but I gotta work."

"Son, sir your a** down. You've been working for your entire life, so I'll do it for you. Just keep your ears and heart open, and you'll stop sweating as much."

The man shrugged and sat down in the dirt, in between rows of grapes.

"Son, I saw you looking at me speaking. I saw your pretty lady with the bump on her belly. I saw in your eyes the fact that you wish you could be better, and eat more than the cheap food your measly cash gets ya. I know that if you get a daughter, you will be screwed unless she catches the eye of an above average man. I see you sweating here, throwing stuff you have never eaten because you will be hanged if you have a snack, thinking that life could be so much better."

The man looked down.

"Now, let me tell you what everyone says. They say that your gonna lose your job and another man who can lick the Wilson's shoe more will be in your place. However, let me tell you that I have people who are in here and support me. And I need you. A lot."

The man looked up at Pierce, with a quizzical look on his face.

"How?"

"Well, son, you know it, I know it, even the man who lives in the dumpster and the lady begging on the street knows it. These families will not let a man of the people like myself get into office if its the last thing they do. But you know why I'm still alive and not killed by a bribe of a loaf of bread to a man who aien't right in the head? We have immense power, you know. We can tap into it. You see, I've been having thoughts rumbling around in my head ever since I was a boy about how we can make this city better for the working man. We will have to take it by force. And I know I'm layin' it thick on you from the start. But think to yourself. If you help me, I'll help you, son. If I get into this city's politician center, the first thing I'm doing is giving every man a good wage and a share of what he makes instead of having it all be shipped to the bankers. I will let you and your family live the good life. Not only will you always have food, but good clothes, good shelter, your life will improve by 10 times! You can have 5, 7, 8 children if your lady and yourself pleases and raise them all well to become honest workers with a good life from begging to end. You won't be thrown out onto the streets to be a burden to your daughter or son! Face it, son, your life is horrible, and if you don't do something about it and tweedle your thumbs like the politicians do every day, then you'll just be a forgettable sack of meat that never really lived."

The man looked sad. Pierce put his hand on his shoulder.

"But I know what you're sayin. I know your problems. And uncle Long's got the solution! You have potential, son. Everyone does. But these rich pieces of s*** want to block that potential and let you be a slave, a meatbag, a pawn only good for plucking grapes off of a vine! Join the Long revolution with the rest of your brothers, son, and spread the word as much as you can! Think of her, think of your child, think of what you can do if the devils living in that mansion were purged!"

Pierce managed to pluck some grapes into his basket, and managed to spot a man with a sword walking towards him.

"Son, keep your job for now. Just get a weapon and know that one day we will call and make real change here. I suggest you yell at me and call me a no good, piece of s*** liar who will never ever get his support again."

Long dropped the basket, and headed outside of the farm, listening to the good man convincing the sword man that he wasn't converted. But he knew that that man would help him, alongside the rest of the great people of Fusan, to make it a land of the free, where every man, woman, and child had a good life. With enough time, all of the Wilson workers will be on his side, where they belong as his children, and then the rule of these families will fall, and all will be right.

The Seal of Orichalcus


Ruins. Ruins as far as the eyes can see. Just a pile of rubbles for uninformed travelers. This place is Kalandria, once home to an ancient civilization, which studied magic in many ways. They lived in secret, researching everything they could research. From spells which could improve anyone's lenght, to weapons they never even planned to use. These weapons were their downfall, because spies found Kalandria. Spies of a group interested to take such mysterious weapons for themselves... One of these weapons still roaming the remains of this ancient city with impossible architecture.

If there was anyone here, they could hear it stomping around. A eight feet tall behemoth with no body, simply pure magick inside an armor. Yet, this thing was alive, walking around it's home. All alone. No one to interact with, no one to tell it what to do, no one to find it a purpose. Except for it's evil masters.

It's been a while...

The Seal of Orichalcus, that's how it's master named it. And it was fine for the dark living armor. It had a conscience, it could think on it's own, but it saw itself as a weapon, not an individual. "The Seal of Orichalcus". It found the name fitting for itself. It satisfied it. It was slumbering around a specific pile of rubble, the ruins of a specific construction, the Seal's black metallic legs crushing the pebbles under their weights. The craftsmanship on this metal was perfect. Any normal armor would at least get a scratch trying to crush a pebble. The Seal wasn't even trying, it just crushed them, turned them to dust, as it walked around this place. The place where it was woken up.

This is why I was built.

It's giant right hand reached for a pile of rock and various metals, the arm pulsating with violet magick, pure magick, visible to the naked eye. It should just flow away in nature, like the wind, but it stays in that monstrous giant, thanks to magic symbols on it's hand, symbols which have lost all meaning with Kalandria.

Maybe not. But they are my masters now. They can deactivate me whenever they want. I have do to their bidding. I serve my masters. That is my purpose. I don't exist if I don't serve them.

This thing was uncovering the weird contraption it was held in, before being activated. It couldn't comprehend what it looked like. No ordinary person could. Not in a destroyed state. The Seal thought about maybe rebuilding it, just the shape. Not the function. To see what it looked like. It quickly stopped moving, as it heard pebbles rolling on the ground.

"I know you're there. Why are you hiding?"

A masked man came out from behind the remains of a wall, the rest of his body hid by a hooded robe. His hands were visibly shaking. The Seal knew this was simply a henchman, no one important.

"They send their slaves to me now? And I thought I was important to them."

"The... The masters are busy with other things... They... They are liberating other weapons."

"I don't really care. Why are you here?"

"They... They have a mission for you."

"How unimportant could it be for them not coming themselves?"

"They... They said it's of utmost importance."

"I'm not doing anything right now, cut to the chase."

"Ban... Bandits stole something from us. They... They don't want you to take our treasures back. They want you to take everything from them, Orichalcus will deal with the rest..."

"I understand."

The armor turned it's back on the masked man. He was irrelevant to the Seal, just a pawn, yet he gave it something to do. A purpose. Bandits should be dealt with easily, but it will still occupy the construct for a moment. It just leaned it's left hand towards the henchman, as he gave it a map. The man trembled more and more as the armor got closer to him, grabbing the paper, then analyzing it while walking away, turning it's hair-like spikes towards the man. While reading the map, the Seal took one last look at the man.

"Why are you scared of me?"

"I... I didn't expect you could talk..."

"No. I mean why are you scared of me more than you are scared of the masters. I don't kill people."

"You... You do worse than that."

"..."

The armor started walking away again, not looking back. It was off stomping towards it's destination. Walking. Patiently walking. It might take a few days, but it had all the time in the world.

I do worse...

Indeed.

"Man how long has it been since we left the Cathedral,". "I know mom and dad said this journey would be helpful for our growth but they could have provided a map or something,". "Besides it's way to hot around here," Katherine whined.

"Is that all you do is complain?". "Besides your the one that was in such a rush to leave and get started,". "Also why are you complaing about the heat, your an elemental flame weilder,". Barry said.

"Geez I wonder why this is so familiar?" A black cat following besides Kathrine and Barry. "Oh yeah this was just how your parents were when I first travled with them,". "Like father like son I guess," Sam said.

"Oh yeah that's right you were with dad since the beginning," Kathrine said to Sam.

"He was with dad since he was first born," Barry pointed out.

"Oh so you know Grandmom then?" Kathrine asked Sam.

"Yeah I was tasked with delivering a letter and a key to her so long ago," Sam said.

"But you lost the seal didn't you," Kathrine said.

"No need to remind me, it's why I still am in this form,". "A fact that Baron never fails to bring up in the middle of an argument,". "He seems to forget that I was the one who raised them for those first 150 years," Sam said.

"But Gramps said you could have just gave him the letter and that would have undone the seal," Barry pointed out.

"La sigh another fact that both of them like to bring up," Sam sighed.

"So what was Grandma like?". "Is it true she still speaks to Baron?". "Was she pretty, kind, sweet, smart, it must have been one heck of a human to win over gramps?" Katherine kept asking Sam.

"Just like your mom," Sam sighed at Katherine's barrage of questions.

"First yes due to a ceremony performed in front of the world tree a version of Baron's mom lives on inside of him,". "Second due to the fact that it is infused with holy magic those dreams leave Baron exhausted for the next day,". "Third your Grandma was a very strong willed woman, very self confident,". "When everyone turned against her, because of her having a half vampire she still moved forward,". "In a way she's alot like your mom Catie, despite how much life tries to beat them down,". "They always find a way forward and too look past the darkness in others and see the light in others," Sam told the twins.

"Wow I would have love to met her," Kathrine said in awe.

"Wait mom was a lot like Grandma, oh brother I can only imagine," Barry shivered.

"Well thats enough story time you two,". "Remember pay attention to your surroundings," Sam said as the twins followed after him.

Inners

After getting something to eat, Inners made sure to pack his things away and carry what he needed with him in a bag. Food, medical supplies, and other necessary things like that. As he stands, ready to head off, he notices that Ken has packed...nothing. "Ken...What are you doing?"

"I apologize. Have I packed too many things?"

Inners looks lost for a moment before shaking his head. "No, you haven't packed anything."

Ken looks confused and then feels around his outfit, making sure everything is there. Katana, smoke bombs, flash bombs, needles...yep. Got it all. "I have made sure only to bring the essentials. My weapons are all I will need. Bringing anything else is unnecessary weight that will slow us down."

He is going to get us killed like this.

"Alright, whatever. Let's just get going." Inners walks out of the house with a slightly confused Ken following close behind.

As they reach the path leading out of the village, they notice two figures standing there, waiting for them. Kaguya and the Great Sage. The Great Sage speaks as they approach. "So, the time has finally come, has it? I thought I would never see the day." Inners sighs. The sage laughs in response. "Alright, alright. I'll skip the old man mumbling and get to the point." His face suddenly turns serious. "Inners...This is going to be completely unlike your training. You will be put in possible danger and there will be many difficult tasks ahead of you. Traveling like this will change you forever. I know these words don't mean anything to you now, but they will one day."

Inners smiles a bit. "Hey, don't worry about it, Dad. No need to get so serious, right? I'll be back, perfectly safe and perfectly normal."

His father smiles a little in response. "Well, you seem very sure of that. Nevertheless, I wish you luck on your journey." He then loses his serious tone. "And I expect you to know how to conjure something bigger than a butterfly when you return."

Inners seems slightly embarrassed. "Wh-What!? Come on, is now really the time for that...? Don't embarrass me in front of Kaguya..."

The Great Sage laughs a bit. Kaguya smiles, seemingly amused by Inners' response. "Still look up to me like you did as a child, do you?" Inners seems unable to answer. "Ha, I'll take that as a yes. I came here to see both you and my son off. Kennokage has been training his entire life for this and for you. While I wish you the best of luck on your journey, I wanted to warn you as well. Don't screw this up." Kaguya suddenly wears a dark expression. "It only takes a small mistake and you could end up dead. If Ken dies under your watch, I will not forgive you."

Inners feels as if multiple needles were sticking into his body.

She's terrifying...!

He nods. "I won't let it happen. Don't worry."

Her expression lightens a little. "Good. It's a promise then. Don't break it."

Both Kaguya and the Great Sage step back, moving out of the way so that both Inners and Ken can continue along down the road. They wave and say their goodbyes one last time as the two continue down the road, into the forest...

Talia wakes up a few times throughout the day to nurse herself back to health with some simple exercises and fluids between naps.  She's ready to move out in the early evening.  The usual sounds of decent, hard-working people coming home, and some of the more unsavory types heading out.  Tonight, Talia will be joining them.  She contorts around in her hole, changing into an outfit better for a trek through the desert.  The fact it conceals her a bit better's just a bonus.

She grabs her pack, then a large bottle of wine.  She contemplates for a moment, puts the wine down, and picks up a larger, stronger bottle.  She chugs it down before heading out.

She casually swaggers down the road, acting as drunk as... as drunk as she actually is.  With her hair and outfit noticeably disheveled, nobody gives her a second glance.  In fact, people seem eager to pretend not to notice her.  Several guards are out on patrol, but they're far too busy hunting for the prince's would-be assassin to be concerned with some drunk.

Talia makes it to the city gates unmolested, but getting past the sentries will be a bit harder.  Or it would be, if not for a few honeyed words and a small touch of magic.  Just a tiny boost in epinephrine, a slight uptick in heart rate.  Not too much, can't let them get too interested.  Blow a kiss on the way out.  They never even searched her.  Which is good, because she didn't particularly want to kill them.

She sets out down the road through the freezing night, clutching her cloak close and ignoring the cold as best she can, occasionally breaking to take a draught from a flask of hard booze.  She comes to a fork and pauses for a moment, then pulls out a knife.  She spins it, tosses it up, and lets it land.  It points her east, towards Shiryu.  She picks it up and turns west, towards Cletia.

"Cathrine wait up your getting way to far from us," Barry called out.

"Your too slow," Sonic the Hedgehog Cathrine called out while sticking out her tounge.

"Cathrine wait up I see something ahead," Sam called out.

"Huh what are you saying now," Cathrine said absent mindlessly.

"It's no use, she's too far ahead right now," Barry told Sam.

"Yeah at this rate she is going to collide with them," Sam told Barry.

"Yawn what is that now, oh we can't have that now," a strange crow like creature said as she stretched out her wings.

"Oh your awake now Kelly, I almost forgot you came with us,". Sam told Kelly.

"Hmph well first thing first, can't have anything happen to the young lady," Kelly said as she opened a portal in front of Cathrine. The next moment Cathrine fell right on top of Barry and Sam as a portal opened on top of them. "See everything is all good now,". Kelly said landing on top of the pile.

"Ouch what was that for Kelly," Cathrine whined.

"Well maybe if you were more aware of your surroundings you would have seen those two travelers off in the distance,". "Besides as your familiar its my job to keep you guys safe, unlike some useless cat,". "Master Helel, your mom, and dad would be very displeased if any harm came to you," Kelly told Cathrine.

"Did you have to open a portal right on top of us?" Barry protested. Kelly just began to preen her feathers and ignore Barry's protesting.

"Wait did you say travlers?" Cathrine asked Kelly.

"Yes oh this is interesting," Kelly said.

"What so interesting?" Sam said.

"Oh well see for yourself," Kelly replied.

Sam climbed a nearby tree and saw what looked like a young male no weapons. The young mans traveling companion was much more interesting. "Wait but how I thought Catie was the last of her kind?" Sam wondered.

"Cathrine, Barry one of them appear to be like you a wolf Laguz," Sam called out.

"I thought mom was the last of her kind though?" Barry said. "Cathrine what do you think? Cathrine?" Barry said as she was wondering what happened to his sister.

"Oh my goodness a fellow wolf laguz," Cathrine squealed as she took off towards the travelers. Cathrine stopped in front of the strange looking wolf creature. He looked at him almost like she was studying him.

"So are you a wolf laguz also like me?" Cathrine asked the wolf stranger with her tails wagging back and fourth.

Barry came out of the woods panting and Sam was on top of his shoulder. "Sorry stranger forgive my sister," Barry said as his hat flew off revealing his own wolf ears.