A loud, crackling flame could be heard throughout the countryside, it was a plain that laid far to the south of the Holy Capital of Flugell. It was off the well marked main road that led off to a small forest, or at least what was left of it.

The searing flames came from much of the forest and even the plains stretching back out to the main road being burned to cinders. Among the charred foliage one could see several desecrated carcasses of individuals wearing strange black uniforms. Their bodies had emanated a peculiar dark aura from them, which eventually faded away along with their lives.

A certain masked mercenary would find himself on the defense from a large Belua individual, marked by his large and toned reptilian form and crimson scales. The lizard appeared to be wielding a large bastard sword made completely out of fire, the heat was so intense that it singed his clothes and burned his flesh. What was more interesting was that the merc's flesh began to rapidly heal as soon as it was cleaved. This seemed to actually amuse his Belua attacker.

"Scions laddie!" Said the lizard. He spoke in a deep and menacing voice. "I ain't sensing no mana at play, so I doubt that's alchemy that's keeping ya alive. But, I bet you enjoy being burned as 'bout as much as anyone else. What say ya just cut yer loses and give me what I came for?"

“Your giant, flaming sword makes your offer pretty tempting, mister lizard guy.” The mercenary replied, holding only one of his swords and the wounds he sustained from the ambush closing and healing. “Unfortunately, the people you just burned have a boss who paid a pretty penny to keep my mouth shut when it comes to this stuff. Continues to pay me, in fact.”

“But hey, as a mercenary, I’m nothing if not negotiable. If you’ve got a prettier penny on you, maybe you can open my mouth a little.” The mercenary offered, but had his other hand on his utility belt. Just in case.

"Coin?!" Kinnich said, almost breaking out into a laugh. "S’ppose death ain’t mucha worry to ya. By the Six, I thought the point of organized crime was to cut out the bureaucracy! "

The reptilian Belua suddenly tackled the merc, dragging them both across the ground several yards, a smoldering trail was left by the action. The merc would then find the Belua attempting to snap his neck with his large jaws.

"Ya won’t have to worry about being paid if I just off ya employee, mongrel!"

“It’s organized crime, lizard man! Of course there’s gonna be bureaucracy!” Keith was stopping Kinnich from biting his neck off with his one sword. But preparing for this moment, Keith grabbed a smoke bomb from his belt and slammed it into Kinnich’s mouth where it immediately went off.

The sudden explosion of smoke allowed Keith to slip away from Kinnich. “Come on, man. You won’t get a better offer than mine with the other cultists. Not unless you’re gonna pledge yourself to my boss woman.” The mercenary continued to suggest. “Don’t tell me you’re poor! You can do all this stuff but not have anything valuable on you?”

Kinnich had Keith’s sword in his mouth as the merc attempted to stave off his Belua aggressor. Ignoring Keith’s retort, his jaws clamped down on the blade, making a bid to shatter it into pieces. Before he got the chance, the sellsword shoved a smoke bomb into Kinnich’s mouth. With an angered and muffled grunt, the explosion caused him to tumble back a bit, allowing Keith to put some distance between them. Kinnich emerged from the smoke, smoke smoldering from his mouth.

”When a man can simply take what he wants, capital starts ta matter less and less. Hence my annoyance with bureaucracy.” He said. ”As for ya boss lady, I know a thing or two about ‘er, and what a woman she is! Damn sure have no wantin’ to partner with ‘er, and now’s not the time to be tango’in with ‘er either. Kinnich blows some of the smoke from his mouth, as if he was smoking a cigar. He paused for a moment, as if thinking.

”Tell ya what, boyo.” He began. ”Me and my droogs were recently hired to do a job along with some other teams. It went south, as the other men couldn’t get the job done. The employer decided not to pay anyone anything, since they didn’t get all they wanted. I decided that was bullocks, so I was on my way to rob ‘em blind, along with making a nice meal outta ‘em.” Fire began to emit from his fangs.

"I’d hate to part with a bit of what’s rightfully mine, but how’s about I give ya a portion of what I was gonna take from the ungrateful bastard?"

Keith smiled behind his mask, tossing away his shattered sword. “Ooh, now we’re talking…” The mercenary replied. “How about I take half? And in return, I’ll tell you all about how to use this Miasma stuff to really screw things up. And trust me, I’ve learned a lot about this since my employment.

”Have you completed all preparations for your travels, Grisha?” Spoke a regal looking woman. She had long brunette hair that glistened in the room’s lighting. Her eyes glowed with an odd golden hue; they had a squint that suggested that she had been on the battlefield for a bit too long. She wore a pristine militaristic uniform.

”Yes, milday. Or, as much as we can given the nature of the mission. You can never be too sure with that Irvin scoundrel…” Spoke a slender white haired man. He wore an elegant, ghost white outfit that gave him the appearance of a saintly priest. He adjusted his glasses as he spoke. His tone suggested that he wasn’t very fond of a certain sage…

”Considering that it’s him, I doubt we have to worry about the usual grievances that come with the Association. However, because it IS him, the problem is that we really don’t know what to expect. That’s why I’m having these two accompany you.

Two young women walked into the room to join the talking pair. One of them wore a hood that still allowed their crimson hair to be seen. Her robe denoted her as a member of the clergy, a high ranking one at that.

”How do you do, Inquisitor?” Said the hooded woman with a polite bow. Grisha, wide-eyed, immediately recognized the woman. The Holy Seer of the Crusaders: Tethys Aria Zaerado.

The other woman had long silver hair, and wore regal armor complete with a white cowl and dress. ”Greetings, Sir Pensworth, it is a pleasure to meet you.” She said, also politely bowing.

”You. I think I know you. You’re the heiress to the Zander house, aren’t you?” Grisha said.

”You are correct, sir. It is as you say, I am Alexandra Haschwalth Zander, current heir to the Zander house and their school of swordsmanship. If you can forgive my lack of experience, I do pray that we work well together, Sir Pensworth.”

”I hope you don’t take having these two accompanying you to Morgenröte as a sign of my distrust in your abilities, Grisha. However, I feel that having them with you will be for the best.”

”Certainly not, Your Grace. Your decision making is of course always spot on.I will lead them with me and execute my orders, as I always do.” Grisha said.

”Ah, Your Grace…” Tethys interjected.

”Yes, I am aware. You said that someone had reawakened that old grimoire? And made a contract with it no less.”

”Yes, I could only sense that it was a young Fae body who made the contract. It’s a stretch, but I feel that he may be connected to Eon.” The woman appeared to be troubled by this revelation.

”Then that is most likely the correction presumption. Let us not take any chances; You lot are to depart for Eon immediately, and conduct your inquisition as thoroughly as possible. Learn anything of note of what’s going on in that rogue sect and report every one of your findings to me. Were dealing with magus who have broken away from the Association's lease, so meticulousness is crucial here.”

“Yes. Apostle Marianne!” They all said at once, bowing before the woman in uniform.

Giselle’s attention immediately shifted back to Scarlett, having sensed that she was doing something strange to one of her arms. Noting the mummified appendage, Lupina had reached out to shake her hand. Upon touching it, however, the limb had torn off. Lupina then screamed and thus the arm was flung into the ceiling. Not missing a beat, Scarlett then summoned her serpentine spirit, and had it shoot a small blast of ember.

”What in the-”

BOOM!

Scarlett had generated an explosion of blood and grime, thereby making the perfect distraction for both her and Lupina to break away from their senior officer and sail on the skies. Xashan had shield the party from the fallout of the explosion using a sand barrier. Giselle had a look of utter shock on her face, while Xashan and Roze held expressions of mild annoyance.

”By the All-Mother, what in the hell was that? What’s her problem?” Said the sniper.

Making a small sigh, Xashan looked on as his two teammates faded from view, heading back toward the direction they just came from. ”Ah. These ladies certainly are forceful, AND rather cheeky. Giselle, I understand how this looks, but don’t let it bother you too much, they just wanted to break away, not meaning any harm to anyone present." He said, reassuring the forest envoy.

”Do you want me to drag them back here?” Roze asked, sounding as if she didn’t really want to anyway. ”We don’t need them causing trouble in town, especially not right now.”

”Nah, it’s fine. I know where they’re going, it’s about the mission we just did." Xashan said with a dismissive wave. Gathering sand at his feet, Xashan began to be lifted off the ground. Manipulating his sand, he floated above the heads of everyone else present. ”I’ll go and keep an eye on ‘em, and make sure we get back once our business is concluded." He said, following after them.

As fast as he was, the Apostles had a good headstart on him, and flight that didn't require maintaining sand and stability. As such, the women would land in the village, and split up immediately on their own plans.

Scarlett headed for the local jail to arrange an interrogation with the leader of the Boar Boys, while, also, sending Milli to go out and snoop around for anything suspicious with the populace. Lupina, however, put hers and Baast's nose to work, as she hit the beat and asked around for where the Boar Boys hung out in order to determine what they'd been up to.

They had precious, little time to work, so they weren't wasting time. They would reconnoiter once Xashan, or Roze, inevitably arrived to drag them back.

It wasn’t especially difficult for Xashan to find the two ladies; In addition to already knowing where they’d probably go, those two had very distinct scents. He immediately deduced that Lupina was a cross-breed, but Scarlett was another matter entirely. The scent she gave off was human, but also…Fae? He hadn’t met too many Peredhel in his time, but they weren’t unheard of.

The two ladies would eventually arrive in front of the precinct, where they originally dropped off the captured thugs where they’d be processed through the Republic’s normal systems. They would also notice a particular man walking in as well; Immediately they would sense the man’s mana signature as an oddity, but could easily tell that the stench of wolf spirits hung heavily on him. He had dark, spiked hair and had mean-looking red eyes, his appearance suggested that he was a martial artist, or at least a roughneck of sorts.

Entering the station with little regard for etiquette, he went over to one of the officers sitting at a desk. The said officer looked at him with alarm as he stopped writing on the documents in front of him.

”I’m here to see Javion, he was in the squad that got captured right?” Said the roughneck, his voice as rough as his appearance.

The officer squinted at the new arrival. ”He is, I know you’ve been looking for him, so it’s honestly rather fortunate that you’ve arrived. Seems he was spooked by the group of reavers that captured him, but he won’t talk to us nonetheless. Maybe you can get something out of the tight-lipped bastard.” He responded. He then pointed to the cell that the gang member had been put in.

”You know, Javion in particular, wasn’t that bad of a guy. Vagus, you two used to be pretty tight, yeah? Before you gave up your days of rolling with brigands.” Continued the guard.

”Yeah…” Said the man, apparently named Wolf, he spoke plainly and didn’t even turn to the officer when replying to him. He simply continued toward the cell he had been directed to.

As they landed, Scarlett raced up the stairs; passing by the strangers, as they spoke. Stopping inside, she sniffed the air - seeking the delicious smell of pork. It was difficult inside the melting pot of smells, but her nose was sharp for a Human.

At the same time, Lupina was listening to the conversation between the newcomers and the officers. They seemed to be on terms, and aware of their quarry. That... was a problem. No motivation could be gleaned from their cryptic conversation, beyond she knew that she and Scarlett needed to get ahead of them.

"Let's go. I overheard where bacon fat is," Lupina says, relaying the directions the men had been given thanks to her sensitive hearing, "Seems like those two assholes are gunning for him, too. Sounds personal."

Scarlett narrowed her eyes, "Now for long! It's business for me!" and threw herself forward, before leaping into the air, "Milli!" and landing on the snake like a surfboard.

Lupina smirked, and turned to the officers. "Official business of Eon Tower. We aren't done here," she says, before running after Scarlett, and leaping into the air, "Baast!" and chasing her down in the air.

”The hell?! We’re indoors, dammit!!” Shouted one surprised officer. The officers in the precinct grew agitated and flustered at the shocking display made by the pair of Scarlett and Lupina, surfing on their familiars through the rooms.

”Six be damned, who are they?” Asked a policewoman. ”They’re the larger part of the Eon group that caught the Bad Boy Boars in the local district.” Answered another guard. ”I guess they came back to interrogate the perps.”

”They’re from Eon? Guess I should be surprised…” Said another, shaking their head.

It certainly didn’t take them long to catch up with Vagus, who immediately noticed them catching up with him. He turned, eyes in a sharp gaze. ”Who the hell ar-” Was all he could say as they jetted past him. They quickly made their way in front of the cell that the perps were in; The convicts looked up in shock at the sudden gust of wind that accompanied their landing. Shock turned to horror at the familiar sight of the ladies. Especially by the one sitting in the back, the girls didn’t know it, but that was Javion.

”You two must be the weirdo reavers who caught these guys.” Said Vagus, who appeared behind them only a moment after, apparently not being left in the dust as much as initially thought. ”I imagine we’re all here for the same reason? You guys can traumatize whichever inmates you’d like, but the guy in the back there is for me alone.” He said, pointing at Javion.

”W-whoa, Vagus?!” Javion said, still shaken. ”Are these babes with you?”

”Nah, they’re from another group. Besides, you know I run alone now. But nevermind that, I came to find out why you guys suddenly decided to start doing dumb shit.”

Javion looked at Vagus with a bewildered expression, as if he wasn’t expecting the blatant question. It seemed he couldn’t answer, instead looking down at the cell floor with a now somber look on his face.

"Hey, Lupi..." Scarlett says, transforming her arms into Eosinophil, and splitting the barrel into three.

"Yeah, Scar," Lupina asks, materializing an arrow that set her on her heels.

"I'm not in the mood," Scarlett says.

"Me neither," Lupina agreed.

"I only need his brain, being honest. This rest... acceptable losses..." Scarlett says.

Lupina smirked, "Heard."

"TIME FOR PORK!" Baast howled, as he tore at the cell gate.

"PIGGIE FOOD!" Milli hisses, as she latched onto the gate, as well.

"Whoever you are, you're interfering in our business!" Scarlett says, whirling on the man with a bladed kick; blood splashing from the manifestation of Neutrophil growing from her shin to ankle, as she aimed at him.

"Just because Xashan thinks he knows everything doesn't make him right!" Lupina snapped, aiming at the other man; her feet sinking into the tile floor from her charged arrow.

"We aren't done here!"

Both Scarlett and Lupina emanated a physical, smoke-like Miasma, as their hair stood on end, and revealed their third eyes; both linked to each other by the Espermancy of The Maiden Abyss.

They weren't letting go without a fight.

”Canis Armis” That’s what Scarlett would hear, coming at Vagus with her leg turned cleaver. She’d then feel a powerful hand that blocked her attack, and whatever he did to his hand it made it stronger enough for Scarlett’s blade to not break the skin.

As the inmates cowered at the sight of Baast and Milli tearing at the cell walls, they would feel themselves being stopped by half a dozen wolf summons, being held in place with their fangs.

”I said that you could traumatize whoever you wanted, except the guy in the back. He’s mine. Also, pretty sure that traumatize doesn’t mean kill.” He said with a chuckle. ”Not sure who this Xashan you’re talking about is, but he sounds like a droog.”

”Very funny, wolf boy." Said a familiar voice. Along with it, Lupina would be subject to the familiar feeling of sand covering her bow hand, preventing it from firing. It seemed Xashan had finally caught up with them, along with a few officers with angry looks on their faces.

”What the hell’s going on here?!” One shouted.

”Apologies officer." Xashan said. ”This was just supposed to be a simple interrogation. The methods that these ladies use are a bit more rugged than the standard fare, we’ll say." He said in a jovial tone, trying to lighten the mood. ”I apologize on behalf of Eon."

Vagus looked at Xashan with an intense gaze. ”Did you guys just say…that you’re with Eon?”

"Lesser beasts. Bowing to a man..." Baast snarled, eyeing the wolves behind him.

"ICKY! ICKY!" Milli whined, squirming in place.

"You hard of hearing," Scarlett asks. "That’s old news!"

"Xashan..." Lupina turned her gaze to him, "...you are in the way, now."

"Exceedingly..." Scarlett affirms. "We left you at home. Message wasn’t clear enough," she asks. "This might be all neat and tidy for you, but it’s not over, and this jackasses showing up proves it!"

"They know that hunk of hog, and were planning to bust him out!" Lupina surmises. "Taking out only lead into what’s going on with them!"

”No, but apparently the two of you idiots are…” Vagus said, annoyed and rather indignant at this point.

”Indeed you did. Quite rudely in fact.” Xashan replied to the girls. He squinted when they mentioned that the wolf summoner planned on busting out the prisoner in the back, turing to him in curiosity.

Vagus looked at the two with perplexity, then sneered for a little bit. ”You…thought I was planning on busting this dumbass out? Yeah, no. The way I see it, he’s in here because he deserves it. The dumbass played games he shouldn’t have, and now he’s paying the price. I’m just here ‘cause I need some info from him, same as you it seems.”

Xashan sighed, shaking his head at the scene. ”Do you guys know why I dragged you back to the Tower in the first place? This is precisely why. You guys need to learn to leave well enough alone. I was actually planning on coming back here and interrogating them at a later time, provided law enforcement couldn’t get anything out of them. Why are you two so deadset on playing detective anyway?”

"You don’t get to be curious, now," Scarlett says, "It is our mission to uncover the reason behind things, not leave them to change and happenstance," she says, "Dealing with the who, what, and why is the task we undertake, once we are beyond Eon Tower, and on task."

"Just because you were satisfied, didn’t mean we were," Lupina says. "Just because you were planning on returning at a later time, doesn’t mean all would have been well," she says, "Leaving things be is how things go wrong. If we hadn’t returned, there’s no telling what could have happening here and now."

Lupina returned to the man with command of wolves, "Regardless of your affiliations, your purpose, yours needs, and your wants, it shakes nothing of the custodial hold Eon Tower has on Porkbelly."

Scarlett sneered, "In short, first bites ours."

”Arteus seems to have company with some interesting fucks sense I last saw him.” Said Vagus.

”Hmm? You know Arteus, wolf boy?” Xashan said to him, tilting his head.

”Name’s Vagus.” He snapped. ”Remember that, little kitty.” After giving his name, Vagus pushed Scarlett back towards Xashan with his powerful palm. The Eon group would likely note how Vagus’s palm, along with his whole arm, looked more like a wolf’s at that moment. Hairy, clawed, and muscular. Xashan growled at the wolf summoner, now also becoming annoyed with his attitude.

Vagus then turned to Lupina. ”What you don’t seem to realize is that in these types of instances, Eon and any other reavers for that matter, are simply hired help. He said, his arm now turning back to normal. ”The custodial hold, as you call it, by all rights belongs to the Republic’s district precinct. The one we’re in right now, in case that went over your head. You’re why they simply just can’t have vigilantes running around as they please, so under the reaver system, they request hired help. After which, you’re paid for your services, and then sent on your merry way. In order words, you’re just gloried delivery mooks.” He said, chuckling.

”That’s enough. An officer said, stepping forward. ”What he saying is technically correct, but I think this has gone on long enough. If you lot want to speak with Javion, I’ll set a room up for you. But, for now I think it’s best that the two ladies let Vagus be a mediator. The perp and him have known each other for a good while, and would be more inclined to talk with him.”

Javion, still silent, was shivering along with his mates in the cell with fear. Vagus turned to him, his expression now calmer.

”I…suppose that’s fine. If it’s all the same to these two here.”

"Mooks, yeah," Lupin asks. "Keep that in mind for later," she says, dropping her arrow into a line of blood that spread from Scarlett to her and into the cell, "Mooks are the one quickest to stab you in the back, after all..."

Disappearing into the blood, the arrow appeared at the end of the blood trail, nocked in the end of one of Scarlett’s harpoon firing tube - a small construct built from the iron in the spilled blood from the kick she’d launched at Vagus, mingling with the blood that was produced from her original formation of her ranged attack armament.

"Don’t tell them all the secrets," Scarlett smirked, as she tugged her foot out of the blood; ripping wiring and blood vessels, "It’ll spoil the surprise..." she sneered, as the small cannon fell apart, and the arrow embedded itself into the floor. "One, I wanna make sure you never see coming..."

Dismissing Milli and Baast, the two stretched for a moment - Scarlett, her legs; Lupina, her arms - after which, they seemed to lapse into silence; speaking between each other, before nodding.

Suddenly, they took off without a word of warning.

Vagus looked at them with slight confusion, but then paid special attention to their little blood show. He couldn’t piece together why they ran off as they did, however.

”Ah, those two make a pretty good team. When they aren’t finding new ways to disturb the peace.” Xashan added.

”I…imagine that means they won’t be joining the interrogation?” Said the officer

”Whatever, makes no difference to me. Let’s just get this over with.” Vagus spat. He groaned as he began wiping the blood off of his clothes. ”It’s gonna take forever getting this shit out…”

”Whelp, glad that’s over, I guess. I’ll look after those two and make sure they don’t cause any more trouble, weird they’d just go away after all that trouble of trying to get to these guys though…”

Vagus raised his hand, which glowed with a pale indigo light. He revealed several wolf souls where the two Eon recruits were standing, along with some behind him as well. Waving his hand, Vagus dismissed his familiars, the conflict now settled.

”Those two are more clever than I originally gave them credit for.” He said. ”That lady who could morph her body, whose blood got on me… She quickly figured that a straightforward strike wouldn’t work on me. So, she worked with her friend to set up a sneak attack. But, I could tell she’s a beginner when it comes to invocation, not being able to sense my familiars much at all. Plus, they deduced that since no one here was on their side they should just cut their losses.”

The guard unlocked the damaged cell, and motioned for Javion to come forth. The latter was hesitant at first, but sensing that the danger had subsided, he slowly came out.

”Vagus, bro…”

”Save it, muttonhead. Let’s just do this so I can go home already.” He lazily spat.

They made their way to a lone room down another hall, then promptly entered…

Scarlett and Lupina sat on the root of the police station, and started as a small, kind of phonograph-like device, and listened to Vagus chastise them.

"That dick..." Scarlett growled. "Acting like he's so cool. Just acting like he wasn't tricked."

"Oi, dumbass, will you pipe down," Lupina snapped, ear to the small device, "He didn't wipe all the blood off, but I can barely hear..."

Scarlett grumbled, as they resumed listening...

The officer motioned for Vagus and Javion to enter the room, where there was a single table that had seats on opposite sides. A single chair was situated in a corner behind them, the one the officer would take to supervise the interrogation. All of the men sat, and allowed the talk to begin.

”Alright Jav, talk to me.” Vagus was the first to speak. ”Who put you guys up to this, and how much did they pay you?”

”It isn’t like that, things got…more complicated… There’s not much I can say.” Javion replied.

”Must’ve been a pretty penny, as it seems you suddenly got some tight lips.” Vagus retorted.

”I’m serious, bro!!” Javion said, frantically. ”This wasn’t about money, w-we were threatened!”

Both Vagus and the officer raised a brow at Javion’s statement. ”Who was it, I thought you lot ran all of your rival gangs out of the area?”

”It wasn’t another gang. I-it was just…one guy…” Javion said, his head hung down.

"Just one man," Lupina asks. "Baast, go. Sniff around for any the pigpen, and isolate anything that isn’t porkpie."

"Right," Baast nodded, before separating from Lupina in his Full Spirit form, and lunging off the roof.

"Need this conversation to hustle..." Scarlett says, before closing her right eye. "Milli, slither around the vents a little. Listen for any chatter about new faces, and passers in and out."

"Yes, Mommy!" Milli says, before slithering into the vent from the roof.

Spirits sent out, the girls resumed listening...

”One guy scared all of you? Well, considering those ladies were able to do the same thing, guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” Vagus said with a small “haha”. ”Who was he?”

”He was a feline Belua, he wore strange robes and used a long and slender sword. I don’t know where he came from; He just appeared to us one day, and beat us up real bad. Said he would kill us if we didn’t do as he said. Th-that’s when we started doin’ worse things: attacking people, breaking into administrative offices, vandalizing private property. Shit didn’t make any sense!”

imgur.com/NHBw4WH

”You, uh, didn’t ask why he wanted you doing that shit? You’re right, it doesn’t make sense…” Vagus said.

”I would rather have my head attached to my body…. Javion weakly said.

"Fair enough..."

"That aside," Scarlett says, "To what end, falls to us to discover..."

"So it seems," Lupina says, "All that grumbling old asshole seems like he's good for is fighting and being an eyesore..."

Scarlett nodded. "It's unethical, but I need to get into that coward's head," she says, "I need to get my blood into him... I can look into his memories from there... with Her Eye..."

Lupina stood up. "I just need a syringe small enough to contain blood and I can fire it on an arrow," she says, "If you make me a bow small enough, anyways."

"Sounds like a plan, then," Scarlett says, blood spurting from her fingers, as spawned two small blades, two sharp spikes, a single blunted mace in their place, before she crossed her left thigh over her right, and cut into the meat; his discolored blood solidifying until a table to work on the small project.

"...I'll keep listening..." Lupina gagged at the macabre sight and work.

Scarlett didn't reply, but she, too, was listening, as they eavesdropped together...

”Right. So, I imagine he didn’t tell you anything of substance. Probably because you were just disposable pawns in a greater scheme. I’m guessing he didn’t even give you a name or an alias?”

”No, but, he did drop the name of some kind of group or something. He said Preydator, I think it was.”

”Huh? Preydator?? Weird name. Doesn’t ring any bells, unfortunately. You ever heard of them, officer? ”

The officer shook his head in disagreement.

"How much longer on that bow and arrow," Lupina asks, her expression darkening. "Now I have questions..."

Scarlett looked over, "Reasons for the rush. Seems that round of dialogue caught you attention," she noticed the darkness, "Take it, you have beef, now."

Lupina bleeted aggressively, before spitting off the roof. "One could say," she says, "Tell me... can you murder someone with your creepy powers without notice, like, such, with that blood needle..."

"Effortlessly," Scarlett nods. "Is holiday ham a threat, now?"

"To me," Lupina says.

"And, Eon," Scarlett asks. "I have a lot of blood in my hands," she says, "I'll need justification."

"If I tell you... you go on the list, just like him," Lupina says.

Scarlett laughed, and then smirked, as she held the syringe needle to her eyesight. "Colour me curious..." she says, before looking to the little speaker. "Compose yourself, while they continue..."

Lupina narrowed her eyes, but listened with Scarlett...

”I’m with Scarlett on this one." A voice rang out to the girls. At this point, the girls likely didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was.

”Since we might as well get something out of having come back here, let’s continue to hear them out. These ears of mine picked up what you two were talking about up until this point, so no need to play catchup. However, let’s avoid killing, shall we?" Xashan sat down next to the girls, legs folded and arms crossed with a smile.

”Guess I’ll have to do some digging to see if there’s anything that can be found on this gang for now. I think that’s all we can really get for now. There anything else you need to ask him?” Said the officer, getting up from his seat and walking over toward Javion.

”There is, actually.” Vagus said. ”You know where our feline friend is now? Did he ever setup any kind of meeting place for you to report to him? If he threatened you to keep you coerced in this, he must be holded up somewhere near by right? ”

”I mean, he didn’t say anything in particular. He always came to our neck of the woods, he was really careful about the whole thing for some reason. Y-you don’t think he’ll come looking for us, now that we’re caught do you?!”

”It’s possible. It’ll probably be better to have you moved to a different prison, if possible.”

”Aw hell!!” Javion started to panic at this point, until the officer called him down.

”Even if I file all the necessary paperwork tonight, it would take a few days for everything to process. It would likely be approved though, given the circumstance.”

”That’d be the right move for these guys. I’d suggest law enforcement keep an eye out for any suspicious characters.” With that Vagus got up and began to leave the room.

”Wait, bro! You can protect me, right?! I mean, you’re stronger than any of these droog coppers!” Javion said, his voice cracking. The officer was a bit annoyed at his statement, but knew that he was right.

”Sorry, Jav, but you brought this on yourself. You had a chance to leave this life behind, but you just couldn’t let it go. I’m afraid that you’ll have to put your life in the hands of the local law enforcement from here on. I’m just a freelancer now.”

Without looking back Vagus left the inmate and the jailer to their devices, walking until he eventually reached the exit of the precinct. Upon walking outside, he gestured with his hand in the form of a dismissive acknowledgement. It was as if he was doing it to thin air, but he knew better. He knew he had an audience during that interrogation.

"Pressing my patience..." Lupina says, as Xashan appeared. "Eavesdropping is rude."

"Rather," Scarlett says, "Freelancer. Self-important dickhead." Standing, she tore the crafting table out of her legs and pulled the tools out with her teeth. "Xashan, I'm stealing from you. It's for science, so you can't get mad..."

Scarlett stepped to the edge of the roof, and then forward onto a cloud of iron particles like sand... before gathering a spike of it, and throwing it at Vagus.

"Pervert," she snarled, as the javelin raced forward.

Vagus seemingly ignored the clop of dust that was jettisoned at him from above. He lazily dodged it with a slight movement of his neck. Scarlett may have heard him mutter something, before he snickered a bit. It may have been something along the lines of “Confident, aren't we?”

Xashan sighed, the situation apparently over finally.

”Well, that puppy bastard was certainly a character." He said plainly. ”At least we know now that the cause was someone acting on behalf of some unknown gang. You…seem to know them, Lupina. But, you can’t tell us, for some reason?"

"Oh, there is a reason," Lupina says, "I’ll just have to kill you afterwards. He’s on the list of people to die, as well," she says, "And, that officer... and you... and her... all of you..."

Scarlett turned her attention back to Lupina, iron particles gathering around her like Xashan’s sand. "Dangerous game, playing predator when you were born prey," she says, forming a lance without lifting an arm, or even facing Lupina. "I’ve died once before," she says, "I’m in no mood for a second knock."

"You better aim your lance elsewhere, then," Baast growled, a pair of chokutou crossed at Scarlett’s throat like a pair of scissors, "Before I close my fangs on your throat and kill you."

A sharp hiss split the air, as Milli spawned from Scarlett’s left blood, and encircled Lupina’s firing arm, threatening her neck in turn. Her scales were reddening with heat, as she hissed back, "Same! Milli do same! You suffer, if Milli suffer!"

Once again, a stalemate. No winner with both women armed to fire, and both Spirit Animals ready to punish them for it.

”Hey, hey…" Xashan said, his own sand at the ready. He noted how quickly Scarlett picked up on his sand alchemy, but wasn’t surprised by it. In fact, it made him smirk a bit.

”No need to play cat and mice here, this isn’t a jungle or an open savannah where survival of the fittest is the only rule. Lupina, whatever your reasons are, I don't think it necessary to jump to something so drastic. Why don’t we head back to the Tower for now and think on our next move."

"Fine," came the annoyed retraction of conflict, as Baast and Milli retreated back into their respective shadows, "For now..."

Miles off, an amused Deity sat on her duff, and watched. "Poor things..." she says, "It would seem... my third eye has found another lost one, and guided her through..." she stood up, "At last, my Handmaidens will assemble as a whole..."

{Then, we can set this world right...}

Opening a Void Portal, Mae disappeared to parts unknown.

There was one thing that was weighing on Xashan’s mind: did those two just emit a small amount of
miasma? The officers present weren’t that intune to sensing energies, so they probably only felt a dark and sickly tension in the air. But to Xashan, there was no mistaking it. But, then, Arteus surely must’ve known that, why would he admit malfested to the Tower? He would make it a point to ask him about it later. But also -

”Say, that Vagus dude acted he knew Arteus personally, saying somethin’ about they met before?" He said, attempting to keep conversation away from further unpleasantries.

"Who cares," Scarlett asks. "It would seem, pretty boy knows all manner of kith and kin. What’s one asshole out of the bunch?"

"Aye," Lupina agreed. "The real question is, what are you going to do about that lunch you promise?"

Scarlett wheeled on Xashan, "Yeah, there is that whole matter to settle."

"Since you’ve been so uncharitable as to not even trust us with a simple matter, or even that you were planning to return, I feel we’re doubly entitled to lunch, now," Lupina says.

Nodding, Scarlett smirked. "We’ll even make a date of it," she says, "Since, I was planning to take Elaine to breakfast, before all this interrupted me. Now, you can treat us to dinner."

"Sounds like a plan!" Lupina says, snatching Xashan’s right arm, as Scarlett snatched his left. "Unless you have an argument to wage against," she says, "Spoiler alert, though..."

"WE AREN’T HAVING EXCUSES!"

Xashan would feel hands against his back, and smell the scent of a wolf. Baast was behind him.

”You…You were about to take Elaine out? Aw, c’mon man… You guys only just joined up!" Xashan whined. Truthfully, the cat had asked out Elaine several times for a meal, or even a drink or two. He was subsequently turned down every time - politely, of course.

Xashan frowned as he sensed Baast’s presence behind him, he got his fill of the scent of wolf spirits for the night he felt. No, more like for the whole rest of the year. ”Hey now, if I recall, you two ran off on your own. Not to mention, you traumatized I don’t know how many people. You gals may not realize this, but you’re really intense! I sort of like it, if I’m being honest."

Xashan sighed, but held his head back up, his mood improved a bit. ”I know a good restaurant that has some ritzy food from Flugell. It’s pretty expensive to boot, but lucky for you gals I’ve been saving up a bit~"

"Ritzy!" Milli hissed, as Xashan’s neck was suddenly dragged down by a new weight and little fingers clinging to the neck. "Ritzy traumatized! Ritzy intense! Ritzy!"

"At least, you know how to treat a lady," Baast says, "Now, hurry! I want pork! Beef! Chips! Goooo!"

"FOOD TIME!" Scarlett and Lupina cheered, dragging their benefactor (for now) ahead faster.

Xashan had to ask himself... could his wallet survive?

Irma was seated in a decorated chair, with Nathaniel standing dutifully next to her. Across a small table from her was seating another woman. She looked to be in her mid-twenties at first glance. She wore a long black dress with sleeves that were clearly too long. Her hair was solid black, but had a purple hue on the inside.

”Well, sounds like they’re getting bolder with their attacks, I’m glad you made it here safe.” The dark haired woman was the first to speak.

”It would seem so.” Irma spoke next. ”It would seem that they’ve now resorted to hiring trained mercenaries, as opposed to roughneck brigands. They were even outfitted with the latest tech from Lohengrin Industries!” She sighed, clearly still a bit shaken.

”Well, the fact that you’re here in front of me means that the help you hired won the day! Tell me, they appear to be capable at the very least. While I do understand that one of them was injured during the battle, I’m curious to know if they could be of true aid to us.” The woman’s hands were together and rested in her lap, anticipating Irma’s answer.

Irma was silent for a moment, trying to find the best words to describe the reaver squad that saved her and her servant. ”Yes, while Sir Einer was injured and didn’t show to be as capable as the others, he is still a magus and was shown to be willing to fight no matter the odds. In addition, he may still have some of his noble standing that could help us in the future.”

”Provided that his house isn’t adding to the problem.” Said the woman.

”Ahem. The other nobleman, Sir Hector, was quite the rifleman. No doubt due to his service within the capital; I wonder why he left and joined up with an independent magus sect? Not to mention, the weapon he used surpassed the tech that the mercenaries used. I’ve never seen tech like that on the market. That Tower must have a master mechanic! He also had a snake familiar that further aided him. Then, there was Lady Shavis, she’s quite the beast! No pun intended of course. The way she blended her lightning element and animal familiar in her CQC was astounding, and she barely flinched after being slashed with a lance. That’s a Belua for you!”

”Traits that were shared with the team leader, yes? That’s the one I’m most interested in.” The black-haired woman crossed her legs and gestured that she wanted to get to the heart of the story.

”Ah, Sir Ruecian. Indeed, the others were by no means slouches. But, Ruecian was on a whole other level. His mastery over water and ice allowed to make his own weapons against the teched-out mercs, and took out several using only hand-to-hand! Freezing them, cutting them down with water plumes, he could even make ice clones. His martial mastery belies his young age, he certainly has earned his reputation.”

The dark clad woman giggled for a bit, a hand placed on her mouth. ”My, my, I see he made a lasting impression. But, it’s perfectly understandable, one could say that he is one with the water. I understand that not only could the attackers not land a hand on him, hew wasn’t even tired after the whole ordeal. And that dragon summon of his must’ve been a sight to behold.” Irma blushed and made a face at her compatriot, which caused her to giggle even more. ”At any rate, I do believe they can be of great help to the cause. Uh, provided they continue to accept our requests in the future. Now then, onto other matters. I think it’s best you stay a few nights here. Once they learn that this attack failed, it’d be too suspicious and risky for them to mount another attack so soon in this town. Don’t worry about the details, I’ve already prepared rooms for you and Nathaniel. You’ll be very well taken care of here.”

”Thank you so much for the offer, Liesel, but I think it's best that we return back to the Republic.” Irma said, getting up from her seat.

”Oh my, are you sure?” The woman named Liesel said. ”I suppose you’ll be safe with that team at your side, but I thought you’d be tired after fighting yourself to save that Einer boy.”

”I’m fine, really. While fighting isn’t necessarily my forte, I’m more hardy than you give me credit for, friend!” Irma said, making a flexing motion with one of her arms.

Chuckling, Liesel could see that she wouldn’t be changing her mind. ”Very well, I admit defeat, do as you will. I know how stubborn you can be! Just…promise me that you’ll be careful on your way back, yes? I’m…not sure what I’d do if anything happened to you…”

Irma wore an uplifting smile on her face, turning to her friend just before she and Nathanial left the establishment. ”No worries. With them at my side, the Paradigm will crumble in no time!”