Cre' Est

Linde hurried to use a small knife to cut open the clothing around the bolt. She didn't know if the bolt was designed to tear the flesh on the way out, so she had to test it. She gently used only the friction between the shaft of the bolt and her hand to see if it would stick against the inside of the flesh or if it would start to slide out. Thankfully, it was starting to slide out. So it was not barbed. Good.

The woman asked what her name was, and she smiled down at her.

"My name is Linde. Nice you meet you. Now, lie still." She cooed.

Despite her shoulder injury, Linde worked with great precision. She carefully used the tip of her blade to create two small incisions alongside the barb's tip. She carefully pulled the barb free from Aetrius' body, and, as fast as she could, applied a small pasty numbing agent to the wound to help relieve the pain. With that done, she began the real work.

Aetrius was bleeding profusely from the wound indicating either organ damage or damage to veins and soft tissues. She gently held the wound open to inspect inside, but through the swelling it was difficult to make anything out. She was forced to make the incisions longer so she could open the wound farther and peel the soft tissue back to get a better look inside. When she saw inside, she saw it was soft tissue damage for the most part. One popped vein, but that alone would not be fatal and it was already closing on its own due to clotting. The soft tissue damage was the main concern now.

Linde rummaged through her pack and found another bottle with a pasty substance inside. It was a mixture of her own design which she called Tissent, and it functioned like a natural adhesive for all soft tissues. She applied it inside the wound wherever she saw the damage, carefully aligning the tissues and muscle strands so as to allow maximum efficiency upon healing. With the paste applied and her flesh and muscles well aligned and prepared, she closed the wound and sewed it shut.

She grabbed a small bottle of blueish liquid and held it up to Aetrius' lips as she lifted the woman's head.

"Drink this. It will help clear your head and give you some energy back." She urged.

---

Watching Kyero engage in combat with the Bandit Leader, the girl could only wince slightly as the man was beheaded in a single clean slice. Clearly, that hooded figure was leagues above her own capability in combat, but that didn’t make the way he went about it any less gruesome. Not that she could really talk. She’d killed five men today, more than she’d intentionally done in her life up until this point. It made her stomach turn, but the alternative of leaving the innocent civilians here to die would have still stained her hands. With a few words of threat, the example that Kyero had made of their leader seemed to be enough of an example to scare them off - after all, it didn’t look like she or any others of the elected warriors would be much good against the remaining 79 or so bandits. A relief, to say the least. She didn’t much feel like dying, though her body might be arguing otherwise with the amount of pain it was in.

Having staggered slightly away from the crowd, Okumi planned to make her leave. There were too many risks in staying amongst this many people in her state. She’d established that the Wilt could be spread through the air and had taken precautions for that. When it came to her injuries however… Although contact with her blood didn’t necessarily spread the illness, no doubt if it got into someone else’s wound or was ingested the effects would be catastrophic. Gritting her teeth as her shoulder flared once again, Okumi knew she was in trouble. This wasn’t the kind of thing she could patch up with a set of bandages and medicinal herbs at home. She’d saved this village, so perhaps it was time to be a martyr. Slip off unnoticed and meet a peaceful end. Had she done enough to deserve that..?

"That bolt needs to be removed, carefully... Will you let me?" A deeper voice sounded beside her, startling Okumi slightly as she turned, pivoting around the pole of her weapon. She’d been kneeling down to retrieve her bag, and hadn’t fully realised his approach or concern for her. Looking up, she met his red, glowing eyes, and was suddenly struck with tales from her childhood and travellers she’d met at the shrine. The Red-Eyed demon… Even as a priestess, she’d always assured herself that those rituals she performed were more of a tradition than any sort of actual method of containing or stopping a demonic presence. Somehow, the stories seemed a little more real in that moment. Slowly pushing herself back up, Okumi did her best to force a smile behind her mask, shaking her head slightly. She couldn’t risk having someone else deal with this and becoming infected. Gesturing with a point to herself, Okumi made the simple ‘okay’ symbol again, hoping that her message was clear: ‘I’m okay’.

Except she wasn’t, and that would be clear to anyone that looked at her. She was disheveled and barely managing to keep herself standing and moving. In fact, she thought she might faint if she stopped, so that was why she refused to. Making a pulling motion towards her heart, Okumi then pointed to Kyero, putting her hands together in a clasp, then pointed at Lonán. She wasn’t sure if he got the message, but what she was trying to say was thank you, followed by directing Kyero to help Lonán rather than prioritising her. Then, while he was busy with that, she’d make her escape from the scene.

Kyero observed Okumi carefully, his eyes narrowing at her gestures.

"If you mean to tell me you're all right, you're not fooling anyone. If that bolt isn't removed it will become septic, and you have given too much to these people and this village to allow that to happen."

Kyero flipped his hood back up just in case any villagers came back, not wanting to cause a stir. But he stepped forward and scooped Okumi into his arms and carried her over to Linde who was finishing helping Aetrius with her wound. He set Okumi down, and Linde shared her tools with him. He carefully cut the fabric of Okumi's outfit around the bolt and applied the same tactic Linde had. Applying a bit of numbing paste and creating two small incisions to remove the bolt before inspecting it for tissue and arterial damage before sewing it shut.

Linde was fast running out of supplies though. But with Okumi's most significant wound treated for the time being, Kyero helped her to her feet and looked to the others.

"We don't have enough supplies to treat all of your wounds. You should head to the local clinic. It's just down the South Road."

Linde had just finished helping Aetrius as he made the announcement.

"You won't come with us?"

He shook his head.

"It would be unwise for you all to be seen with me, regardless of what we accomplished here. You and the local doctor can finish this without me."

"Okay, but will we see you again?"

He nodded.

"I intend to follow those bandits to see where they went and what they're planning to do. They retreated for now, but there's no guarantee my threat will keep them away. I need to be sure."

"Then wait for me. I wish to be sure of that as well. Once I have seen to their injuries, and my own, I will come with you."

Kyero was clearly hesitant to take her up on her offer.

Lonán’s head was swimming at the moment. He felt the area where his head was struck swell, making a good lump on his head and making the pain feel like his head got hit by a wagon. He caught glimpses of the other fights but it seems by some miracle, they survived the onslaught, and the hooded man began his assault on the leader as he promised to do. The short work of the leader and the sudden fear in the now broken gang made it clear this man was no ordinary human. In fact, all the rumors and ghost stories began to flood in his head, though it ached his mind so.

About a man with red glowing eyes. If this man had them, then Lonán knew he was in the presence of someone who could kill him and end his Clan Line without even a second thought.

Then the Angelic Knight and He began to help others, the masked woman being the more seriously injured being tended to by the former and the spear wielder being approached by the latter. Lonán needed a drink, but his flask was in his saddlebag. Hooking his good arm around his blade handle, he gave two sharp whistles to signal Hawk it was safe to come to him. He watched as Hawk came out of the hiding place, leading the Mare he had been instructed to protect, causing him to sigh in relief. ”Hawk. Come.” he simply said. The sooner the drink came the sooner he can take the edge off his headache and concentrate on his other injuries.

Hearing the Hooded man talking to the mute woman, who almost told him to tend to the red haired warrior first, caused a chuckle to come out of Lonán. ”I’ll be fine, A good drink and a little visit to a doctor will fix me up...and cost me a bit from my gambling purse..” The latter part he muttered to himself as he watched both The Angelic Knight and the Red Eyed Demon fix up the two women.

Then the Demon announced his intentions and next instructions and Linde almost interjecting her insistence to go with him. ”Some of those wounds on you need rest to fix. And plus, I’m in this as much as you both are now Milady. Allow me to accompany you whilst he scouts ahead. If he is who I think he is, he can handle himself for a while.” He said, trying to intercede and come with a better plan of action, one that gave a bit more strength in their numbers as well as a second opinion. ”It’s just a thought-ow my brain box...” Hawk seemed to whinny a chuckle, causing his owner to glower at him.

Someone was not getting sugar with his oats tonight, that was for certain.

---

The man eyed her over, and Okumi felt like he was appraising her somewhat. Either that or her curious mannerisms was leading him to become more scrutinizing. Okumi wasn’t aware that what Kyero was actually doing was working out how to deal with her. It seemed he was determined to assist her, so she’d simply have to get her parchment roll and spell out why that wasn’t a good idea. As he flipped up his hood and stepped towards her, Okumi’s thoughts raced as she tried to work out what he was doing, as she’d only just started kneeling towards her bag. “..!!..” Moments later she felt her legs swept out from under her, and found herself somewhat embarrassed but equally surprised how firm he felt as he carried her across the street. Firm… But still gentle. Not wanting to fall, and not quite knowing what to do with herself in being treated in such a manner, Okumi held on until she was set down nearby Linde and the other woman, the warrior who seemed in worse shape than she was.

Now seated, Okumi could only watch as Kyero set about getting the tools he needed to remove the crossbow bolt. Taking the time to look him over herself, she could tell he was indeed greatly concerned, but what she was more concerned with was the presence of any cuts or injuries on him. Seeing none, despite her initial embarrassment she reluctantly relented, turning her body to allow him access to her main wound. Even with the numbing paste, it was a painful extraction. The process was uncomfortable, not the least of which was after he’d cut into her maiden’s outfit she was forced to slide it down her arm, leaving her shoulder and an uncomfortable amount of her side showing, her chest bandages apparent to keep her dignity, as did the way she held her arm. Still, he was respectful enough in treating the wound, and Okumi couldn’t deny she was grateful. The white of her outfit was stained a deep red from blood, and Okumi was aware that she didn’t have too much else to change to; especially with her travel bag. She’d have to acquire cloth and dye and make herself something new when she returned to her little abode.

Once he was done and helped her to her feet, the shrine maiden took a loose strip of cloth from her sleeves, tying it tightly to hold the shoulder of her outfit up and into place to reduce her amount of exposure. Turning to Kyero, Okumi made the same gesture she had before to indicate thanks, however, his attention was diverted to Linde and the others, and she self-consciously stopped herself from doing anything more to distract him. The talk moved to following the bandits, of which Linde and Lonán planned to accompany Kyero when given a chance. Depending on which way that lead them, she might be able to provide them some modest accomodation at her shrine. Still, if she was going to be attending another clinic, she’d have to make preparations. Retrieving the long roll of parchment in her bag, she unfurled a small portion, writing out a simple message dictating the danger of her blood before tearing along the base and rolling it up. Tying it with a simple rope, she cut that with her Naginata in a practiced motion. Seemed she wrote stuff like that regularly.

For now, she was set as she’d ever be, but even as they meandered towards the clinic, Okumi’s thoughts turned to the people she’d met. Who was Kyero? Was he really that notorious figure, the red-eyed demon? And what was his connection to Linde? If he was a demon, why had he been so kind to her and the people of the village? She had a lot of questions playing across her mind, but she’d become so used to her solitude and remaining silent she didn’t really know how to speak and ask them anymore. So instead she’d simply follow. Maybe she’d get her answers if she remained with them a little longer. After all, she did miss company. And if she could aid and thank them for that by allowing them to stay at her place on the mountain road, that would make her happy. For now, she wandered to retrieve her sandals and the other bits of belongings she held before they completely left the area.

Kyero and Linde nodded to one another before turning to the others. Kyero walked away, disappearing around the corner of a nearby building while Linde faced everyone.

"Please follow me, everyone. The local clinic is just down this way."

Aetrius, as she was called, was initially reluctant. But with a little friendly persuasion Linde managed to convince her to accompany Lonan to the stables nearby to tie their horses while they came to the clinic.

Once everyone was present, Linde and the local doctor got to work. They dressed their cuts, applied basic pain killers to some water or tea, whichever was preferred, and had them drink, etc. Other wounds which were more serious were dressed with antiseptic paste, sewn if need be, and given pads and medical bandage wraps.

In total, tending to all four of them, Linde included, took about two hours. But once everyone was fully taken care of they all remained in the clinic in their medical beds to rest and relax.

By early evening, they had all woken up from a group nap and had gathered at the inn just across the way. They shared a series of rooms joined by a central meeting room, usually reserved for VIP guests such as nobles or royals, but today the massive suites had been conveniently rented for them by a 'friend.'

Linde faced everyone with a smile, hoping to break the ice, and stood up to bow to everyone.

"I suppose a more proper introduction is in order." She said, clearing her throat.

"My name is Linde Xe' Almna. I hail from the capitol city here in Cre' Est, and work in the Almna Apothecary and Clinic which I founded four years ago. Since then I have both been running the clinic and doing volunteer work in situations just like today, though usually it had less of a violent ending... It's a pleasure to meet you all."

She sat down, looking to her right where Lonan was seated.

The nap Lonán had at the Clinic was well deserved. The treatments helped his injured limbs, head and side. The lump on his head has gone down a tad and now he, along with the other defenders were in a meeting place with the other defenders, minus the man in the hood, whom he had suspicions about his identity but didn’t care at the moment. There were bandits to find and kill obviously. They were scared off but who knows where they went?

Linde got up and felt the need for proper introductions. Lonán silently nodded as she introduced herself completely. Nodding as she explained what she was doing here and what she usually does. Then she sat down and turned to him, to see if he would like to introduce himself. There was a moment where he almost was lost in her gaze for a moment before clearing his throat.

Standing up with a nod he began with, ”Greetings. I am Lonán Arzura. I’m an adventurer of sorts. I wander the continent looking for work from repairs to escorting trade caravans or provide security for when disasters such as that storm several days ago.”

Heaving a sigh he braced himself for the more personal facts. ”I am from Saharan, where I was born to a powerful Clan of Warriors. My Grandfather was rather famous before retirement to try his hands at blacksmithing. If you’ve heard of tales of a person called ‘The Iron Wolf’ that’s him. I picked up skills from both his jobs, but am always willing to learn new sword skills or learn about new metals, to potentially improve my weapons of course. I came here, as I’ve said, hoping to help the town any way I can.”

He sat down with a small, yet sheepish grin waiting for the next person to speak. There was no need to poke into his past just yet. Better to wait until he knew everyone first, and become friends with them first before sharing his life tale.

---

The doctor had been highly accommodating, especially when Okumi shared the parchment explaining her condition. Thankfully, she’d been gifted a few masks - a fresh one to wear, as well as a few spares should she find herself needing them again. Her wounds were patched up carefully, the doc taking care to remain clean and wear gloves while handling them before disposing of the dirtied material. Unfortunately, there were no fresh clothes for Okumi, so she had to make do with her tattered shrine maiden outfit for now. The rest she had after did her a lot of good, as did the food she received; and thankfully, she was able to get some privacy to consume it and did not have to worry about her illness spreading.

When the group reconvened to stay at the inn, Okumi had initially been hesitant, but with the light beginning to fade, it would be quite dark before she got home, and the maiden could only hope that it hadn’t been ransacked by the bandits by this point. Not only that, but she wasn’t in the shape to fend off anything dangerous, so it seemed to be the safer judgement to remain for now. Sitting with the others in the meeting room, she listened to their introductions in full despite fumbling around her bag. Those that bothered to watch her found that she retrieved a somewhat sizeable length of parchment before getting to work writing on it, looking up only to nod and express interest in what they were saying. By the time Aetrius finished her little speech and looked away, Okumi was done.

With everyone’s eyes on her, Okumi lifted and flipped the parchment, absolutely beaming behind her mask as she got to show her work. The parchment read with two words: ‘Okumi Chrysanth’. The handwriting was quite fancy, but the shrine maiden really had gone the extra mile, drawing a small flower to further symbolise her surname, as well as a small very simple caricature of herself. Just in case anyone wasn’t sure what the name stood for, she’d also drawn an arrow pointing from the name up to her face relative to how she was holding it. Setting that parchment aside, Okumi retrieved the next one, but rather than hold it up as a presentation, she instead passed it to her left and let it go around the group, as it was more formally written on and explained more about who she was.

‘Local Shrine Maiden. I came to assist in honouring and burying the dead. My home and shrine is out of town within the mountains if you wish to stay on your travel from here. It is not much, but it is all I have to offer in thanks.’ As the parchment went around, Okumi watched and waited for any questions. She probably could have covered why she wore the mask and why she didn't speak, but alas, it didn't really occur to her. For now, she simply gave a pleasant wave as a further greeting to her companions.

Linde nodded to Lonán's greeting, smiling sweetly for him as he made his introduction. After he was finished, she gave him a quick, "Well met, Lonán."

Aetrius was next, and Linde repeated her "well met" greeting to her as well. However Linde was somewhat put off and concerned by her dismissive and distant tone. It seemed she didn't seek any kind of companionship, nor want it. And for Linde this was a rather foreign concept. However she seemed polite enough when she wanted to be, so Linde gave her the benefit of the doubt, being a bounty hunter who had just gone through a tough battle and gotten hurt.

And finally there was Okumi, who was absolutely adorable! Linde could hardly contain her amusement and how cute she thought the girl was with her name and drawing. She made an audible "awwwwwww" sound which rose in pitch to the end as she beheld the little doodling on the name presentation.

The information about Okumi was passed around, and Linde gave her a "well met" greeting before the parchment was returned to the girl.

"Seems we all share a desire to help when needed. I am grateful for that. Had you all not been here today things may have ended up very differently. And not in a good way."

She slowly looked around the circle.

Upon being introduced to everyone, and mentally ‘awwing’ Okumi’s drawing skills, Lonán listened to Linde’s thanks for helping out. The young swordsman only nodded. ”Well... I expected to fight them eventually anyway, just later then sooner. This was a surprise.” He said. These bandits decided to come back. Usually bandits don’t come back. And what war was the former leader talking about?

Lonán wasn’t sure. He didn’t catch a rumor of war in his travels, either it was recent or he was dead drunk when the news reached his ears.

”We should also thank our now mutual friend, who is scouting out the rest of them. Not sure if they’ll be back but it’s nice to know where they’re roosting and cut out the problem at its source if possible. Question is, what do we do know?” he asked that part, avoiding the main subject. He didn’t want to ask directly if the man in the hood was the red eyed demon. if the daggers and the red eyes weren’t proof enough, Linde’s words might.

He took a look around the Hotel suite he was in with everyone, and a small bit of nostalgia hit his mind when he joined his grandfather on weapons delivery as a child. He couldn’t help but mentally laugh. It was a reminder of his life before he was on his own. Maybe being with this group was a sign from Heresta to not be on his own, and join up with this group. He’d follow Her will when he felt it was so.

But Heresta help him if it leads to trouble! ”What I mean is if there is a definite plan?” He corrected himself.

Linde nodded as she listened to Lonán.

When he spoke about everyone's "mutual friend" being "out scouting," she nodded and said, "I agree. He should be returning any time now." She said.

She nodded quietly as he asked if there was a definite plan.

"I am certain there will be a plan, but sadly I don't know what it would be yet. However, one thing I am certain of is that it will involve attacking them where they are least protected. Given their numbers, there's not much other option."

Lonán nodded at Linde’s assurances that there was a plan. Then Aetrius spoke about what will happen, for when they came back. Lonán’s scarlet brows furrowed in a slightly annoyed way. It wasn’t because she wasn’t speaking the truth, she was speaking it.

But saying the town isn’t safe anymore would mean defeat. He narrowed his eyes and simply said, ”That last point is precisely why they need to be dealt with sooner then later. To wait for them to come back is lunacy. To say this town doesn’t have a hope for survival means defeat, and for this occasion, that is blasphemous. Heresta did not grant this victory to give false hope.”

He sat up to his full posture. ”We find them, and strike fast and hard. Hard enough for them to scatter into the winds or to fall to the earth, their bloodshed proof that the Goddess smiles on our prowess.” he added, giving an air of confidence in his statement. But the confidence was his shield. Shielding his anxiety, that would often crop up at a monent’s notice. But the anxiety did come. It made him stare at the table and not at anyone directly in the eyes. He had to keep calm and fake the looking in the eyes for awhile..

He had to if he could win their friendship so he can look at them in the eye for real.

Linde looked back and forth between Aetrius and Lonán as they exchanged words about the bandits and the situation at hand. Her face contorted slightly as she drew her hands in towards her stomach and slumped ever so slightly while looking to the side. She kept her eyes on the ground for a moment, the gears turning in her mind. And finally she looked back up to the others.

"I must agree with Aetrius that this village is no longer safe, but not for the same reasons."

Her voice was soft and calm despite her somewhat despaired expression.

"Those bandits lost their leader today, and for men like them who follow no creed or any laws but their own are unpredictable enough as it is. Kyero took their leader's head in a single stroke, and they all fled in response. But that retreat means little if there is nothing to ensure it sticks."

She took a breath and let it out on a sigh.

"However, striking hard and fast against numbers like theirs when we have only the four of us is a death sentence. All of us barely fended off five each today, and there are still well over seventy of them left out there. Even with Kyero by our side I doubt we'd survive any kind of blitzkrieg assault against them."

Lonán was humbled by Linde’s talk, as he realized he was talking out of his convictions of battle. But he had to calm down from his momentary bout of anxiety and think rationally about the situation. Then Aetrius again spoke, and through the cynicism he picked up on what she was trying to say.

Find a way to get the people somewhere safe. But that potentially would hurt the local economy...would it? It was then he realized he hasn’t had a shred of sustinence! He now realized why his anxiety was on the rise. He needed food to take the edge off. Old Wolf always told him that if he got hungry, his mind would lose its focus. He needed supper. A great big helping of supper, and the quicker and most filling, the better. He would have voiced this to everyone when Aetrius made the offer, which was two birds in one stone indeed.

It gave him quite a lot to do and gave more opportunity to at least be social with everyone, hopefully he didn’t screw it up. So he stretched in his chair, popping a several vertebra into order.

”Well, I feel I can think better with some drink and food, in fact I think I’m as hungry as a horse, no offense to mine or yours.” he said as he stretched his legs and winced a bit at his hurt one. He then nodded to himself before moving to join Aetrius and whoever else would be joining them downstairs for drink and more pleasant conversations.

Linde nodded, rising from her seat.

"I suppose you are right. None of us have eaten in some time. Best not to make plans on an empty stomach."

She looked back to Okumi.

"Would you like to come with us, miss Okumi? I'd love the pleasure of your company a while longer."

---

Though mildly condescending to have her parchment cooed over, Okumi seemed to enjoy the attention, still beaming throughout the introduction. As far as the actual conversation went, Okumi stayed silent for the most part, nodding and looking to whoever was leading the talk at the time. In one on one conversation she did her best to hold her own, but it just wasn’t practical to try and communicate her thoughts in large groups. Besides, it’d be rude to interrupt the talking only to gesture some vague concepts. Truthfully, she kind of missed being the loudmouth at the family table who wouldn’t shut up, but she’d adjusted to this new form of living, and now barely remembered how she used to act prior.

The conversation moved on to the bandits, a rather normal progression given what they’d just been through. Honestly, the talk was a little disconcerting to Okumi. She valued peace, balance and harmony – If everyone could get along, that would be the best solution. Unrealistic, true, but it didn’t sit well with her as they discussed plans for attacking the bandits unaware. Overall, the attitude around the whole situation was a bit of a downer, Aetrius speaking of the inevitability of another raid and the end of Atlum. Reflexively, Okumi rubbed her shoulder injury. It was true, they’d been lucky to survive the last assault, but why couldn’t they use this time to celebrate rather than looking at all the negatives? Perhaps it was naïve to think so, or maybe immature, but Okumi wasn’t fond of this kill or be killed perspective everyone seemed to have.

Still, she wouldn’t voice it. Instead her expression was the only thing that gave away her opinion and intentions – Though not many tended to pay attention to the mute girl in conversations. Either way it was a relief to hear that Aetrius wasn’t completely defeatist when it came to Atlum. With the comment for drinks signalling the end of the conversation, everyone seemed to be getting up to make their leave, Okumi included. She wasn’t the kind to drink – One slip up with her illness could be disastrous – so this was when she’d likely make her leave. She could do some more work with the dead into the night as long as she rested her injured shoulder by only using her left arm. Then, as long as she got some sleep she could-

"Would you like to come with us, miss Okumi? I'd love the pleasure of your company a while longer."

Snapped from her thoughts as Linde spoke from the doorway to look at her, Okumi jumped to her feet in mild embarrassment. Pointing to herself, she waved her hands dismissively while shaking her head, first mimicking the motion of drinking from a cup before Forming a cross above her face with her arms. Letting her arms fall back to her side, she then gestured to Linde, making the drinking motion again before giving a double thumbs up. Once more letting her arms drop to her side, she pointed to herself, then outside, before pantomiming a digging motion. Overall, it was a pretty spirited performance, but she hopefully got her message across. As much as she liked company, it wouldn’t do well to get too attached. She’d isolated herself for a reason, so remaining close to people was a risk they shouldn’t have to take. Besides, what good was a mute girl in a conversation? Especially one that wouldn’t eat and drink with everyone...

Observing Okumi's miming, Linde smiled sweetly.

"I think I understand, miss Okumi." She said with a small bow.

She stepped halfway out the door, but stopped and looked partly over her shoulder.

"You know, miss Okumi."

She looked all the way back to Okumi with that same smile from before.

"It was very nice to make your acquaintance today, although I'm kind of sad I couldn't hear your voice. Perhaps I could convince you to stay the night at the inn? I'd like to check and, if necessary, replace your bandages tomorrow morning. The most likely time to be stricken by infection for such a wound are within the first forty eight hours after it occurs, after all. So... See you tomorrow?"

Heading to the tavern with the group, Lonán eventually was about to fish into one of his coinpurses to buy a round, but Aetrius tossed an assortment to the bartender and nodded rather sheepishly, as he now realized he was in his gambling purse, about to pull out a gold coin on accident. ”That’s for gambling only.” He thought to himself as he silently moved his hand away from his two coinpurses. Then eventually followed his new friends to a table to sit.

He ordered what he hoped was a pint of beerequivalent to his personal favorite brand of brew from Saharan, as it was a favorite amongst his Clan, it was often used as a code that there is family about and gather close. So far, there was none. When the punt arrived he took a long swig from it to take any edge off his headache if it still lingered. ”Hmm, lacks the malt taste, but not bad all the same.” he assessed. Thus did he enjoy himself after tossing another silver to ask for something warm in his belly, which he received in the form of a plate of three hot rolls with carrots and beef. He was halfway done eating with gusto when he noted Aetrius was not paying much attention to her third round.

Then she got up and began to interrogate a person. It seemed that it was something personal, but it covered a crime thrown upon her family. He wasn’t talking either. He decided, against his better judgement, to try and lessen the severity of the situation, by making the tongue loosen with a worse threat, and then maybe a convincing bribe.

”Aetrius, Aetrius, you don’t threaten to gut a rapist. You threaten to do the Saharan Punishment for that. I won’t bore you with how I know this but the first in a series of steps involves Castration.” He said, exaggerating a rather harrowing punishing process reserved for threats against the more....upper crust living of the old homeland. He fished into his gambling purse.

”Or! We loosen his tongue another way. See I’m a gambling man and I bet, let me think one? No, two! Two gold that he talks. I mean, worst is I’ll still be two gold richer and he’ll be two balls poorer.” He grins wolfishly as he says this. But what he wouldn’t say was that he only had three of those gold coins on him, from a lucrative caravan security job. He didn’t wish to waste them but if it eased the tension, so be it.

Linde followed Aetrius and Lonan to the Tavern across the way and took a seat as Aetrius paid for their drinks. Being a doctor, Linde did not drink. But she did partake of a cup of iced tea which she brought with her to the table as she sat across from Aetrius with Lonan on her right.

There was a rather loud commotion behind Aetrius from another group of men. Definitely drunk from the sound of things, but something Linde did not expect was for Aetrius to respond to them the way she did. She stood up, walked over, and started to speak rather aggressively to the man as if he had done some kind of personal harm to her. Linde didn't understand but was on her feet immediately until she heard something about someone Aetrius knew being harmed.

Linde froze in that moment, half-way to closing the gap between herself and Aetrius, and simply gave the man she was interrogating a thousand-yard stare.

For what seemed an eternity Linde did not move, but finally seemed to find her feet again as Lonan was trying to add to the interrogation. She held a hand up to silence Lonan, marching over to Aetrius.

She reached down and cupped Aetrius' cheek in her right hand gently forcing her to look up and placed her forehead to Aetrius'.

"Enough, Aetrius... Enough... Please." She whispered.

She looked Aetrius in the eyes the whole time, her gaze gentle and filled with sympathy.

"This man is not worth the energy you're expending. Please, let go of him. There is a better way to find out about your friend." She cooed softly, her breath brushing against Aetrius' lips.

As Aetrius was looking at the man she was so close to finally killing, she heard another voice that she recognized as Lonan, and growled. He should have just stayed out of this she thought to herself as she could tell he was walking up to the two. She didn't want them getting involved in this, as it could only make things worse and or ruin her chances of finding Kieran.

She didn't break her eyes away from the man as she spoke, "Lolan, stay out of this. For the betterment for you and everyone else, stay out of what you know nothing about!" she barked, she knew she came off too rough, yet again but she was not about to let him slip out of his grasp after all this time. She held the knife closer to his neck and her stare only deepened as her anger and fury rose.

But she heard another voice, and felt someone gently place their hand on her cheek. Her eyes widened and for a brief moment she looked away, breaking her eye contact with the man to see none other than Linde, mere centimeters from her face. She heard her words, but it didn't correlate to her brain right away, as she looked at Linde, for a split second she didn't see Linde, but Kieran. Linde looked so much like her, except the hair color. Aetrius looked her in the eyes, and tears slowly filed her amber eyes as she looked at Linde, reverting back to her last moments she had spent with her sister, "B...but...K-Kieran....he...he hurt you..I-I have to do this. For you....I have to." she said with tears and a whimper in her voice as she looked at the woman before her, and then looked back at the man, her tears still falling as nothing but malice and fury filled her heart. "I have to end his worthless, shitty existence..." her words came out as not simply a whisper but raspy and filled with sadness and hatred.

As the tears streamed from Aetrius' eyes and she uttered those words of an individual named Kieran, Linde was no closer to finding out who this was. But it didn't matter now. Aetrius had looked back to the man with hatred filling her voice as she said she had to end his existence.

Linde wasted no time in reaching further across Aetrius' face with her entire arm to cradle her head against her chest as her other hand came around and rested on her shoulder. Linde turned her head sideways and put her cheek on Aetrius' crown, and cooed softly to her while using her thumb to stroke and toy with the hair and flesh behind Aetrius' ear.

"Shhhhhhh... Aetrius. This man clearly has no fight to offer you, and his life is not worth taking." She whispered.

She turned and kissed the top of Aetrius' head before resting her cheek against her once more.

"Just relax, Aetrius, and I'll show you a better way to deal with men like him." She cooed.

As she kept her death stare locked with the man yet again, who was only able to look at Linde for further help, Aetrius smirked and scoffed. "You're nothing but a worthless piece of sinew that needs to be exterminated..." she growled, the man only coward more at her pure fury and urge to kill the poor bastard. He was the man that had done the crime, that she knew for certain. His voice, his face, body type, even his smell was the same. She knew it was him. After all this time, she found him and was finally able to kill him. As she was about to simply glide her blade across his throat, ending his life, she felt herself being touched yet again.

As her head was gently cradled into someone's chest, Aetrius reluctantly dropped the blade, it clattering to the floor with a metal and wooden sound. Her grip on the man loosened, until she completely let go of his shirt and and her hand fell by her side limply. The man managed to scramble away, and tried to make his getaway, but even his friends or at least drink mates grabbed him and held him for Aetrius, pinning him against the table, "Ye are even a worst bastard than we thought, Micah." the taller man looked at Linde and Aetrius, but more so Aetrius who was only being calmed by Linde, "Aye, Miss? What do we do with him? You get to be the one that does it yourself though. He hurt ya, and will receive his punishment." he said and held the man by his arms, practically smashing him back into the table, not letting him going anywhere anytime soon.

The method seemed to work, as Aetrius went nearly limp in her arms and melted into her embrace. The man tried to flee, but was stopped by his own mates who held him still. Linde, however, wasn't done with Aetrius. She continued cradling Aetrius' head to her chest and stroked/toyed with the hair and flesh behind her ear as she leaned down to whisper in her ear.

"Thank you, Aetrius. I'm proud of you."

Her hand came over and cupped around her cheek, helping guide Aetrius into a fully standing position as Linde smiled up at her and used her thumbs to wipe her tears.

"Now... Let me know you another way to deal with men like this."

Linde turned towards the man who was being held by his friends, and walked slowly up to him with a very, almost unnaturally calm smile on her face as she gazed at him with almost bedroom-like eyes.

She leaned in close to the man and kissed his nose.

"Would you gentlemen please lay him down on the table for me on his side, so I can see his back?"

Aetrius shook in Linde's embrace, not just from sadness as well as anger. She was so close, so close to finding where Kieran was, if she was still even alive and where she was. She calmed yet again as she heard Linde's voice, and slowly nodded, not a single word came from her mouth, just a simple nod. She looked up as her head was gently lifted, and sniffled. She tried to give Linde a smile, but it was barely a twitch in her mouth. She looked on as Linde had asked the men to turn him onto his stomach on the table, but before they did, Aetrius walked over to the man and looked him in the eyes, "I will not forgive you...Ever...But...You earned my mercy...for now..." she said softly and turned to almost walk away, but stopped and turned on her heel and punched the man square in the face, his body going limp for a moment as his knees buckled. Aetrius smiled slightly, and stepped aside, letting LInde have her way with whatever she had planned. Taking a temporary seat behind LInde she sat.

The two men looked at Linde as she spoke, and nodded. Holding him still after he recovered from being suddenly punched by Aetrius. They flipped him over, forcing him onto his stomach being pressed against the wooden table, his right arm being forcefully pressed into his back keeping him from going anywhere.

Micah looked from the corner of his eyes as Linde enclosed the distance, his eyes widened. "H-he-hey, Missy. Y-you gotta help me. Th-that love of your's is psycho." he stammered, trying to wiggle away, but to no avail as the other men kept him pinned down. Aetrius glared up at the man who had commented on Aetrius and Linde being a presumed couple, she scoffed at his comment, and spoke under her breath, "Pft, please...Not that fortunate...." she murmured, but after she said it she felt her face go a bright pink and looked away, hoping as to no one hearing her retort to his comment.

Linde stood in front of Micah's face and bent her knees until she was in a squat position, her knees held together in front of her body and her arms resting on the edge of the table. And in her eyes was a calmness accompanied by emptiness. No emotion whatsoever. Her gaze was dead, her eyes glossed over. A thousand-yard stare like none Micah had ever seen before.

Linde was silent, just staring at him for a long, long time as he stared back and tried to plead for his life.

Finally, Linde blinked and her eyes returned to normal as she smiled and stood up, placing a hand gently against his face.

"Micah... I'm a doctor. I am sworn to do no harm to those under my care. But you," her fingers slowly started curving until her nails pressed against the flesh of his cheek. "You are not my patient."

Her fingernails dug into flesh, blood seeping out around them as Micah cried in pain. Linde retracted her nails slowly, letting a few drops of blood drip from them to the side of his face.

"My mother was a doctor and taught me everything she knew. She was a beautiful, kind hearted woman. She raised me with love and tenderness. A mother's love. True and Pure. But my father..."

Her hand glided across his bloodied face to his neck as she stepped around slightly for better position. Her fingers slid out to different positions just beside his spine around the position of the 7th and 8th vertebrae in his neck and shoulders.

"He was a general in the Cre' Itian military until two years ago when he retired. And he taught me... Other things to enhance what I had learned from mother dearest. And this," she applied a small amount of pressure to each fingertip in turn, causing various parts of his body to twitch in response. "... This is what I learned."

She pressed down hard with all ten fingers on each point, and suddenly Micah's body began to spasm and tremble uncontrollably as Linde's face darkened. She was still calm, but there was another emotion now present in her face. Or, rather... A lack of emotion. Apathy.

Despite the pain Micah was in, Linde showed no signs of caring or acknowledgement of it. Nothing at all. It was as if she was staring into a chasm of darkness, and it was staring back at the world through her. She released her pressure, and Micah's body slowly calmed as his breathing began to become deeper, harsher, and more erratic.

"... Kieran." She said coldly.

She pressed her fingers down, and his body spasmed and trembled again. But this time muc more violently. Her pressure had increased. But a moment later, she let go. And as his body calmed, she knelt down, fingers still in place, looking him in the eye with that cold, apathetic glare.

"... Kieran." She repeated.

Aetrius watched on silently as Linde continued to interrogate the man, if that's what one would call it. It was pure torture, and Aetrius was relishing in his pain, maybe a little too much. But maybe it was deserving. Who knows, but all she knew is that she wanted to know where Kieran was, and then to put an end to his life, herself. She did twitch and wince when Linde did pop her pressure in between the spinal plates, something Aetrius absolutely hated. But she looked on regardless at the sight, and it also impressed Aetrius how such a kind and gentle soul could be so cruel....but also...made her feel something other than intrigue? She wasn't sure, but perhaps for another time.

Micah on the other hand was in complete agony, and wished for it to end at any moment. But it seemed like an eternity for it to ever end. Perhaps it wouldn't and this would be his fate forever. But as it continued, he eventually grew too weak and between gasps for air and pants, he softy spoke, "Veilbrand...She...she's in Veilbrand..." he said through panted breaths.

At the notion of that, Aetrius jumped to her feet and walked to him, forcing her way past Linde and smashed the man's face into the table, and grabbed him by the back of the hair, "What part of Veilbrand? Where is Kieran?" she demanded, her voice was filled with anger and fury as she was so very tempted to just smash his head into the table until it was nothing but sinew and chucks of flesh. One of the men looked at Aetrius and calmly said, "The Love Dove...It's a rather highly costly, popular place there...Or so I've heard..." he stuttered, looking away in shame. Aetrius looked back at him, "Thank you...Now...When was the last time you saw her?" she barked at Micah, who only spoke without moving anymore, as blood spilled past his now broken nose, mouth, and teeth, "A...A month ago...Just last month...She....she's a good one, ya know..." he chuckled weakily. With that Aetrius had heard enough, she was about to use her blade to simply slit his throat, but she opted for a new approach, she simply hit him on the back of the head with the knife's hilt, and walked away, knowing all she needed.

But as she walked away, her adrenaline and anger slowly melting, she collapsed to her knees, holding her side as she was able to feel a hot liquid on her side. "Dammit....N-not now...Not now..." she mumbled, she needed to leave, now. To find Kieran. But as her wound was now reopened, she wasn't even able to ride a worse, let alone go on a long journey to Veilbrand.

Linde thanked the men holding Micah and walked over to Aetrius, helping place pressure on her wound as she helped her back to her feet.

"Come, Aetrius. Lay down here on the couch. I will tend to your wound and we will go rest at the inn for the night. You can't travel right now. Not like this." She cooed.