Post #2768510 in Assassin's Pledge: Awakening, a roleplay on RPG

Kyero sat under the protection of his cloak to hide from the eyes of other patrons as he looked towards Lonan.

"I found three possible exits, all of which I've marked on the rooftops for my own benefit. Two of them open near the slums, so they're not likely to be used by nobles. But the third could be, as it opens in the Noble District in the far North."

He sighed in an irritated fashion.

"It's likely that this will be the exit used by the winner as well due to the fact that it's directly behind what I presume is the stage where the slaves will be put on display. Something of a quick getaway to prevent possible brawls or other ugly fights from happening. Not a bad idea, honestly."

He glanced back over towards Lonan.

"Anyway, I think I'm going to investigate the Te'i Sai agent. I'm concerned about why he's here in Valoc and why it is that he hasn't been hunted down as the deserter he surely must be."

Lonán nodded at Kyero’s explanation of the possible exits. The third one at the north district was concerning. Thus he memorized the location of the exit as well, so that he could tell Kyero after the auction if all goes well. When Kyero mentioned going after the Te’i Sai Agent, he looked at him with a concerned look on his face.

”Alright. I take it you’re not just telling me this just to let Linde and the others know are you?” He asked. If he recalled when Kyero talked of him, it seemed like this man was a dangerous person, he would need help to bring him down. ”If so then when do we start?”

Kyero grimaced.

"I actually was going to simply have you tell them. However, i suppose it wouldn't hurt to bring you along."

Kyero stood up.

"If we find him, you let me handle fighting him. Te'i Sai's combat style is lethal by design and purpose. It's not even combat. It's simply death walking. Understand?"

Lonán paused as Kyero said this, and took a deep breath. He walked right into a fine mess indeed. One false move from this point onward, and it could mean the end of his Clan. Unless of course, his uncle had a few bastards somewhere laying around that he can easily pick up and claim on the spot. Zedar was the more, active of the twin wolves after his Brother’s retirement. Lonán swallowed hard as he listened to Kyero’s warning well and good.

”I understand, as Heresta is my witness, I will not draw my sword against this man.” He swore as he took a side glance. ”Besides, I’ve a feeling if I did tell them, Linde would have my head for letting you go off and handle him alone, not that I doubt your skills my friend.” Yes indeed, he did fear what anger would rise out of Linde if she heard Kyero went out after a dangerous individual alone.

Kyero nodded.

"Mm. Let's go. I'd rather not waste anymore daylight."

Kyero led him out of the Pony and to the location where they found the Te'i Sai agent the first time, and by the time they arrived the sun had fallen beyond the horizon. Kyero and Lonan waited on the rooftop, watching for signs of the lights all going out everywhere else so that they knew it was safe to enter.

When the lights went out, Kyero removed his cloak and folded it up to set it under a spare brick to weigh it down so he could come back for it later without carrying it around.

"Stay close." He whispered as he descended down to the nearest window to enter the building.

Lonán followed Kyero’s command and followed him to the location and waited as dusk began to set on the city. He marveled for a moment at how from the rooftops, this city was beautiful for a brief moment, hiding the true ugliness that lay within. It was a place of suffering and pain. But for a moment, it felt like his memories working at the Carnival. Comparing it to a beautiful day, before it ended with the fall of night.

And on that night, Lonán the Mercenary was born. He could not deny that a part of him waited for a time to go out in the world and be a Warrior.

When Kyero gave the signal he nodded, following him to the nearest window and heading into the building after him when signaled. ”Hope we find what we’re looking for.” thought Lonán. ”Because if we run into this man and Kyero can’t defeat him... he could fight me. And if he does....Oh Lonán!”

Kyero kept Lonan close behind him and they snuck through the building as quietly as could be. With his clothing being tight to his frame, his boots being thick but padded, and his steps soft and coordinated he created next to no sound as he moved.

He heard the approach of an individual and pushed Lonan into a nearby open room and hid beyond the door frame. The individual walked by, clearly a maid with cleaning gear, and continued on through passing them by. Kyero breathed and led Lonan further in until they reached the room where the Te'i Sai agent dwelt.

Kyero approached the door and carefully picked it, allowing them entry as he noiselessly opened the door. He walked inside, carefully, eyeing the room for any signs of traps or other dangers. He had to think about how he might booby trap a room in order to ensure that he and Lonan stayed as safe as possible.

Weapons adorned the walls at all angles. It would be more than easy to find something to use against them if a confrontation broke out now.

"I don't see any obvious traps... And I can't hear any signs of him being here. See if you can find anything related to the auction, and watch yourself." He whispered.

Lonán followed Kyero as quietly as he could with his leather armor on. At the pause at the maid passing by he held his breath for a moment or two before he knew they were safe from being spotted. Eventually, they reached a room as The Saharan watched the Assassin pick the lock and enter the room.

”Right, let’s see if he is involved with this little event in some way.” He said at Kyero’s orders, and began searching carefully around the room, looking for something, anything that could link this Te’i Sai agent to Mariah’s Auction.

”Just got to watch out for the traps and find evidence. That’s all that needs to be done.” He thought. He was about to take examine a shelf that seemed to have papers, when his hand paused and slowly drew back. They were searching for clues in a place belonging to a man with the same possible resourcefulness as Kyero. So the very thing that made him feel worried about just outright examining something was what exactly was booby trapped and what wasn’t.

”Heresta Help me...” He prayed, knowing full well it might not help the situation he was in, but it gave him the confidence he needed to keep looking about.

Kyero searched the room for any clues he could find. Paperwork and parchments. Clothing styles. Scents familiar from the underground location. Anything that could possibly alert him that this man was involved.

He spied a parchment on a desk near the back of the room and approached it. However, as he drew nearer his eyes alerted him to the fact that there was a near invisible string attached to the desk. Kyero picked up a small wooden doorstop.

"Lonan... Don't move." He whispered.

He tossed the block at the string, and as it made contact the string instantly snapped leading to the release of two daggers from behind a cabinet door nearby that came shooting out at high speed across the front of the desk into the wall nearby. Kyero was wary, but inched closer to the desk. However, as he walked he felt something strange underfoot. The floor was weakening. He looked down and saw a single board had been moved recently, evidenced by the small gaps between it and the boards around it, free of any dust or detritus from years of people walking on it, and he knew that had to be another trap.

He glanced around to check that all was clear and stepped around the floor board and looked at the parchment. Taking out one of his orichalcum daggers, he poked the parchment and saw an oily substance on the blade as he brought it back.

"Some kind of poison." He mumbled.

Kyero pulled the parchment off the desk using his blade and read it once it fell on the floor. It was a letter of promise from this agent to Mariah stating that security was tight and everything was under control.

"So he's here for security, is he?" He said quietly.

Lonán’s eyes widened in shock as he thought his heart would stop. The two daggers surprised him and the way Kyero began to walk carefully meant the desk’s area was most likely the most guarded and therefore probably had more traps. When Kyero examined the parchment Lonán took a small intake of breath.

”Security? Why not hire a mercenary? Does Mariah want...” He whispered before trailing off as he thinks back on what Mariah herself said to Viktor. ”Mariah’s security measures are frightening now that I remember talking to her.” he noted quietly. It was beginning to make sense now.

An Assassin with Kyero’s skill set would ensure any problems were dealt with before they even became a problem. ”He’s got to go. We stand no chance if he’s at the auction.” He thought, keeping alert and trying very hard to not panic over the revelation discovered here. They needed to find a way out of this death trap of a room and find out where this man is so Kyero could kill him.

Kyero grimaced at the letter and thought about the implications of a former Master Assassin being in charge of security. He already said the last time Kyero observed him that even if he was killed nothing would change because of how he set his operation up. But if he wasn't around to pull the strings or guide the dogs, then perhaps that would at least make things a little safer for the others.

But Lonan was right. He had to go. No way could or would Kyero allow a former Master Assassin to take part in this auction.

And no sooner had he thought about that then he heard a shuffle. He looked up too late and was sent flying into the wall from a kick to the side of the head by the Assassin in question who stood up tall and sneered at them both.

"Gentlemen... Intruding on my humble abode is a serious personal offense. Especially on your part, Demon." He said as he glared at Kyero who had managed to stand up as well.

The two of them both standing tall at their full heights and glaring each other down was almost like a scene out of a play where the good guy and the bad guy squared off. But with Kyero's glowing red eyes it was anyone's guess who the real bad guy was in this scenario.

However, Lonan was not out of danger or out of the scene. The Assassin smiled at Kyero and then darted at Lonan. He managed to make it to Lonan's position and grabbed him in a lapel hold before being rammed off his feet into the wall by Kyero who shoved Lonan back and out of the way putting himself between the Assassin and Lonan. The Assassin grabbed a dagger off the wall, and Kyero pulled one of his orichalcum daggers... Specifically the one with the poison on the tip.

And both took their stances.

Lonán was once more in shock. How did the Enemy get in without anyone knowing? Did he know they were here all along?! Kyero’s warning flew by his thoughts as he braced for being thrown by this man as Kyero, after getting a hit to the head managed to push the Saharan and the former Assassin apart, leaving the Demon to ready a stance.

Lonán’s instincts came roaring at him. They wanted him to either fight or run away from this. Lonán knew Kyero was capable of fighting but he knew that even Lonán would feel shaken up. He knew he had to help his friend, he just didn’t know how. Options were whirring in his head. Sword, Crossbow, anything to tip the odds to a more even field.

”Shoot At him to distract him, get him to lose his footing and maybe fall for his own traps. Grandfather forgive me. If I die, Let Granny punish me in Heresta’s Halls.” He thought as he prepared to draw his crossbow and at the moment he sees his chance to tip the scales in Kyero’s Favor. Wolves worked together to bring down a kill, Lonán was more then willing to make his contribution.

He was a Warrior of the Arzura, and he wasn’t planning on just lying down whilst danger was staring at him in the face. When his moment came, he’d take aim and fire.

Kyero gave his head one good shake to clear it from the blow he took earlier. He was a little bit rattled by that kick as he hadn't been expecting it to come from nowhere like it did. He was sure he'd have heard the agent approach. But this served to inform Kyero of just how large the gap in experience must have been.

He was a rogue Te'i Sai agent, and he was still alive. He was in his mid 40's, and almost all of that would have been spent continuing his practice and keeping his skills sharp. And with likely 15+ years on Kyero it came as no surprise to imagine that his skills were that much sharper than Kyero's despite his being the Red-Eyed Demon.

Kyero readied his blade and the Assassin his.

"Tonight a Demon meets his end." Taunted the Assassin with a dangerous grin.

Kyero's eyes narrowed and the Assassin lunged forward with almost frightening speed for one his age. Kyero managed to put the flat of his orichalcum blade up to protect himself, but following that lunge the Assassin also aimed a stretched kick towards Lonan's midsection.

Lonán must’ve jinxed his good day by agreeing to come here. Because the assassin managed to attack them both at the same moment, with himself having to raise his left arm in an attempt to block the attack. Then he grasped his crossbow with the other arm and pulled it out. He glared at the Assassin with a hard glare as if saying he was fine letting Kyero fight, but now he struck at him. He had to return the favor with a strike of his own.

He aimed at the Man’s shoulder. ”Kyero! Snap out of it!” he shouted as he fired his shot. ”Scratch What I thought earlier, if I survive this, the first thing I want to do is find another Barmaid to flirt with to take my mind off of the crazy few weeks I’ve been having!”

That was his possible plan for tomorrow and he meant it.

The Assassin's kick landed on Lonan's arm with Lonan countering with his crossbow. The bolt was fired, but due to a lack of coordination from Kyero and Lonan, Kyero had pushed the Assassin away from himself which shoved him out of the way of the crossbow bolt as well. He staggered back but managed to remain on his feet with Kyero in hot pursuit. The pair of them locked blades for a few minutes before the Assassin's experience showed and he managed to get the best of Kyero by slicing his side and kicking him away.

He then turned his sights on Lonan, charging at him with blade drawn intent on lopping his head off if Lonan didn't get out of the way somehow.

Lonán cursed at missing the shot whilst holstering the pistol. He’d have no time to load it in close Quarters like this! He had to think of another plan quick if he was to keep his head. Kyero held him off for a while as Lonán was about to grab his sword to draw it from its sheathe. However that plan changed when Kyero was knocked back.

With the assassin’s intention to take his head now apparent he gripped his sword and took a dive to the left of the Assassin, intent on dodging the deadly maneuver and give himself time to draw his sword and get in a ready stance. He was starting to feel angry about this fight. He had to rein in the anger however. One wrong move and the Assassin could take his head. But he wasn’t willing to let that happen. No matter what, Kyero had to kill this man!

Kyero observed the Assassin dive past Lonan in a failed attempt to take his head. Lonan seemed to be ready to draw his blade and ready for the fight, but Kyero had to keep them apart. He checked his side and found the wound not as bad as it could have been. He just had to put the pain aside and fight.

And that's what he did.

Kyero drew his second blade and once again put himself between Lonan and the Assassin as the latter readied himself to re-engage in the fight. The pair of Assassins squared off once again and dove into a lethal dance of blades where any clean strike, had it made it through the other's defenses, would have ended the fight in one shot. Both were precise, fast, and filled with a deadly determination to survive the battle.

The pair of them finally ended their fight when Kyero had enough and twisted his blade to land blade against blade, and the orichalcum showed its power by slicing through the metal of the Assassin's blades. The blade-less daggers were thrown to the ground as the Assassin then dove to the wall and drew a fresh pair, facing off with Kyero again before kicking another box-like protrusion on the wall which opened up a trapdoor in the ceiling above Kyero burying him in a heap of rubble and random objects that all fell on top of him.

Lonán couldn’t believe his eyes. These two were almost equal in ability it was almost impossible to tell who’d win. This was where it got dangerous for both of them. The moment Kyero’s blades showed their strength and destroyed the Assassin’s his heart lightened with hope, the Assassin Pulled a Trump card that left Kyero buried in rubble and objects.

”Kyero!” He shouted in concern and anger as he drew his blade and gripped it much like he always did, with his less dominant hand held by two fingers and his thumb whilst the other two curled under the Pommel as he sliced through the air to try and hit the assassin. Lonán didn’t care if he hit him or not, or even gave him a glancing wound. He just wanted the Assassin to know the Rage of not only Lonán Arzura, but the rage of his Ancestors that he knows were cheering him on in this fight.

”Go To Hell!” was the only thought on his mind.

The Assassin deftly dodged Lonan's attacks and smiled at him all the while. He said nothing, but the smile on his face was mockery enough of his lack of ability to keep up. Eventually he kicked Lonan away and cracked his neck.

"You've got spunk, kid."

He flipped the blade in his hand before turning towards the rubble Kyero was buried under. The rubble began falling away as Kyero lifted it off of himself and tossed it aside, trudging out from it to face him with daggers drawn once again.

Of course, he was a little the worse for wear. He had a nasty cut above his left eye which was bleeding enough to force his eye shut, and it was clear that holding his left arm was causing discomfort. Potentially a muscle strain or some kind of break/fracture in one of the bones, likely in his shoulder somewhere. But he was up and ready to fight which drew the Assassin's attention.

However, the Assassin didn't wish to be distracted from the secondary prize and threw the flipped blade at Lonan's shoulder aiming to pin him to the wall.

Lonán was kicked towards one of the walls by the Assassin. His glare was all the evident at the man when he heard Kyero coming out of the rubble and his eyes flickered to him for the moment. That was the moment Lonán realized he forgotten his Arsehole of a Father’s bare handful of lessons compared to the rest of his family.

He forgotten, that you never take your eyes off your enemy. The pain that erupted when his shoulder was hit by the blade and pinning him to the wall made him growl out his anger as he returned his glare back to the assailant. Obviously he was now away and not a hinderance to him. ”You idiot Lonán...had to go and get yourself in this mess just to screw up?! What would they think of you?!” he scolded himself as he had no choice but now watch as Kyero was on his own now.

With Lonan pinned to the wall by the blade in his shoulder, Kyero was no longer distracted with trying to keep the Assassin between them. He could fight more freely.

As the two re-engaged it became clear that despite his injury Kyero was more than skilled enough to hold his own. The two of them fought on even ground for a minute or so before Kyero's injury was targeted by his enemy. Several jabs and elbows to the shoulder made his left arm all but unusable after a time. And eventually, with only one arm to use, Kyero was overpowered and his throat sliced open before he fell lifelessly to the ground.

The Assassin whipped the blade to clean it of blood, and looked at Lonan.

"You and the Demon did well. It's been a very long time since I exerted myself like this."

He approached Lonan and stood within one arm's reach, preparing to kill him.

"Farewell, brave soul."

He prepared his dagger for a killing blow but was stopped when what felt like a gust of wind erupted from behind him accompanied by an overpowering crimson glow. He turned around and saw Kyero's body engulfed in a black fiery aura with a bright red glow emanating from the wound on his throat. Kyero stirred and began to rise, much to the shock and fear of the agent.

Kyero stood up straight and as his eyes opened they were pure red. No pupil. No whites. No identifiable iris. Just two purely glowing red eyes.

The black aura began releasing small waves of energy out around his body which crashed into the walls breaking paintings, cracking the wood beneath his feet and on the ceiling above him.

But suddenly, the aura began dissipating to nothing and all seemed to return to normal... All save those glowing red eyes which were still pure red.

"Is... Is this your true form, Demon?!" He yelled as he staggered away a few steps.

As Kyero spoke, he did so with a double-voice effect. His normal voice plus a much deeper, darker, guttural, primal voice added on speaking in unison.

"... Die!" He growled.
Kyero's orichalcum blade was drawn and in an instant he dashed across the room and slammed the blade into the agent's chest through his heart, splashing Lonan with his blood as the blade was ripped skyward and out the top of his skull. The blade was then ripped straight down, slicing the man through to the groin and splitting his body into two perfectly equal halves which fell to the floor at either side.

And slowly the red glow in his eyes faded, returning Kyero to his former state.

Lonán blinked once. Twice. Three times to process exactly what in the Holy Name of Beloved Heresta had occurred. For one moment He saw Kyero defeated and dead on the ground, his throat carved open and he himself was about to join the Halls of Heresta.

He prayed to Heresta to allow him entry there if possible, but added one final request. ”However Heresta, if it is not my time to join you, please, let me find the one I’m meant to be with so the Arzura name doesn’t become lost. Do not let this day be My Clan’s last.”

Whether his prayers were answered or not, he saw something...almost unnatural as Kyero rose and was healing from his cut, his red eyes glowing more fiercely. As the event seemed to die down, Lonán took an inhale before Kyero literally cut the Assassin into two perfect halves and splashing him with his blood.

”Augh! What in Heresta’s name-!?” He blurted out as he closed his eyes from the splash before squinting at Kyero. ”You literally scared me seven times over. You owe me a very stiff drink my friend.... After we get cleaned up.”

He was about to move before a pain in his shoulder made him wince in remembrance. ”Uhm...little help?” He asked hesitatingly.

Kyero sighed and slumped to one knee, breathing hard and coughing up a little bit of blood into his hand. He wiped it and stood up, analyzing the blade in Lonan's shoulder pinning him to the wall.

"Move with me. It's best if Linde removes this at the inn rather than take it out now." He said.

He gripped the dagger with one hand and Lonan's shoulder with the other to help keep the blade where it was.

Lonán nodded and with the help of Kyero, managed to free the knife from the wall as he sheathed his sword with his good arm before using said arm to clutch the wounded shoulder as he made ready to leave with Kyero. ”On a scale of one to ten Kyero,” Lonán began to ask as he felt ready to go back to the Pony, ”How mad is Linde gonna be at us?”

Kyero helped Lonan off the wall but left the dagger in his shoulder as he helped guide him out of the building safely. After reaching the rooftop, Kyero fetched his cloak and gave it to Lonan to wear to hide the dagger as they descended to the streets to let Lonan walk on even ground back to the Pony.

And as they entered the door after knocking, Linde immediately sensed that something was wrong.

"Lonan? What's wrong?"

Lonán had a very sheepish face by the time they reached the Pony. But it gave way when Linde showed her concern. ”We had a bad night Linde. Got anything in your doctor skills for a shoulder shishkebab?” He asked as he took a seat and very much reluctantly, pulled off his cloak to show Linde and anyone else in the room his injured shoulder.

So much for having a good day and staying out of trouble.” He thought.

Snippet #2768510

located in Cre' Est, a part of Assassin's Pledge: Awakening, one of the many universes on RPG.

Setting

Characters Present

Footnotes