Elizabeth Valdine
It was a short trip to the captured town with minimal problems as far as Elizabeth could see at least with her own group. Perhaps the only bump in the road was the fidgety nature of Seto, displaying his desire to go and be off as the dark hero to save the wayward town. Yet under the watchful eyes of Anaida, Elizabeth knew the swordsman would not even attempt to slink away from his team. As the guild master easily destroyed the barrier to the town with her fists alone, Elizabeth mentally praised Seto's willpower to resist his need to be the single hero as she could easily see that those punches were just the smallest of ones compared to Anaida's actual strength. Flexing her hands out of habit she silently followed Seto's lead as the trio walked into the seemingly deserted town.
A loud "HYAHHHHHHH" broke the unsettling silence as the owner of the voice attempted a 'sneak' attack only to be a victim of Seto's blade. Elizabeth rolled her eyes at the attempt ~Sneak attacks only work when the target is attempting to be quiet~ she thought with amusement as Seto's interrogation tactics had the dark mage mentally pissing himself. Eventually the coward let a torrent of information fall from his lips at the request of Seto's none too polite tactics, effective but brutal. A scoff of disgust came from Elizabeth as the coward slumped forward into the dust of the road as Seto had gained all the information he had needed so it seemed. The swordsman merely put away his blade before gesturing the group forward with a 'Shall we be off?" and took the lead once more heading toward an extravagant mansion the supposed headquarters of the dark guild.
~What a bizarre town this is~ Elizabeth thought as the once again unnatural silence settled around the trio. Not even a single dog or bird had made any noise upon the group's arrival into the town. Pursing her lips for a moment Elizabeth decided to break the silence with an inquiry "So have your interrogation tactics always been so....forceful Seto? Not that I am surprised or anything you have always been a man of action rather than words." Her tone was polite enough with just a small amount of curiosity. A faint chill went up her spine as she suddenly stopped in her tracks as the trio reached the entrance to the mansion's courtyard "Is anyone else feeling..odd about this silence. It's not natural at all..". Easing her book from its halter at her waist, she wordlessly flipped through blank pages before settling on one. Placing the item on the dusty road, it's page fluttering slightly as a slight breeze came through the town as crimson droplets fell on the pristine pages as Elizabeth dragged the sharpened tip of her quill across her fingertips, clenching her fist allowing blood to flow faster onto the pages as words barely legible began to form on the page surrounding a bloodied emblem of a man shrouded in shadow
"Let the pages of past stories be continued through the gallant lies and words of the Rouge.Begin the chapter now" Elizabeth's voice broke the silence as a torrent of pages ripped from the book as the crimson words spread apart onto each torn page..the pages glided in an eerie fashion around the trio with an individual word in elegant penmanship was visible pickpocket..liar..thief...lover. The paper was the word "Lover" was quickly snatched out of view from Seto and Virgil by Elizabeth's quick hand as faint crimson spotted on her cheeks as her lips hissed at the book "Start the chapter now". A disembodied chuckle seemed to echo through the air as the pages once again conjugated along the book before slamming shut as the owner of the voice assembled behind it "Still not one for showmanship, Elizabeth...or telling secrets so it seems". The voice was warm and distinctly male as gentleman wearing a black top hat, torn and frayed yet matching an equally worn down suit. His eyes, a mischievous green behind shaggy auburn hair. A different type of crimson coloring appeared on Elizabeth's face as she struggled to control her surge of anger toward the 'showman' "Stop talking and get to work". Her tone was serious and cold as the Rouge merely shrugged nonchalantly before scaling up the side of a nearby building with ease. Elizabeth's hand clutched around the offensive paper before letting out a small sigh and picking up the leather bound book, dusting it off with her free hand. Returning the book to its proper place, she began bandaging her fingertips in silence, hoping her two companions were oblivious to the paper.
Minutes passed as nothing happened that was until a familiar face appeared from an alleyway dragging an unconscious mage behind him. A Cheshire smile was on the Rouge face as he presented the mage to the trio before stepping on the man's clutched hand, possibly breaking the bones that were of little concern though. Markings on the man's body faded as the unnatural silence of the environment surrounding the trio was broken, Elizabeth merely dismissed the Rouge with a wave of her hand as a job well done. The troublesome pickpocket merely pouted "What that's all I get for my troubles.." Elizabeth's mouth turned into a firm line as she clutched her hands together resisting the urge to punch the fool. Sensing the woman's temper flare up once again, the Rouge merely put his hands up in a defensive gesture "Relax, I was joking..". Fiddling with her hand wrappings, Elizabeth stated flatly "Chapter End". Nothing happened as the Rouge resisted the pull of the book before grinning once again "You seem to forget I am in fact a thief..I have a tendency to take what I want. What I want is a satisfactory reward for nabbing this moron". Rubbing the bridge of her nose in an effort to ignore her urges of throttling her ever-chatty summon, Elizabeth opened her mouth to dismiss the Rouge once again, her eyes widened as a faintest touch of his lips against hers, feather-light and fleeting. The Rouge form burst into shreds of paper as an amused echo came from the shreds "Thanks for the reward..". Elizabeth stood shell-shocked as the shreds of paper drifted down to her feet as her cheeks flushed the deepest red possible as her voice strained "Well shall we continue now.I doubt without that silence barrier it will be harder for 'stealthier' mages to sneak up on us...