[IC] A Hero Tale: Oswald

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~ Chapter 1 ~

_{I'm Just A Farmhand!}

The fields in Kario were brimming with newly ripe vegetables, harvested mindfully by several men with rather bulky frames. Joseph Kario sat on his porch overlooking his workers with a smile as he chewed on a wad of tobacco. The old guy always loved watching the first harvest, it was a tradition for him nowadays, ever since he turned 60, anyways. When his back popped out of place, he couldn't bare to be cooped up inside at every hour of the day. So here he was, watching as his son, and Kario's local brutes, tore through his field meticulously with pleasant smiles. He imagined having his youthful body again, how it would feel to tear carrots from their roots and yank corn off of its stem. Alas, this is the best he could do, but it didn't bother him too much.

Kario's Daughter watched the men from the second story, occasionally lifting her pristine blue eyes from an old novel she's read at least a hundred times already. Unlike her father, she admired the men for something a little more... Scandalous. Nobody could blame her, though. Every youngin' went through it eventually, and the men often returned her glances with a smile. They knew she was off limits though. Old man Kario was far too protective of his sweet little Angelica, and the first man to come within 10 feet of her would certainly be out of work for the next 10 years.

Kario waved at Oswald as he passed by with a wheelbarrow full of corn and spat his tobacco into a nearby bucket. Oz was working the east field today, the same field Kario just so happened to enjoy watching the most. That was only because it was directly in front of his house, but it didn't change that fact one bit. " 'Avin yerself o'bit ov a haul, eh Ozzy?" Kario teased, pointing out Oz's exceptionally large stash of corn. Everyone knew he was probably the most efficient worker out there, even if he wasn't the biggest. It was kind of perplexing that he beat out big Bobby every year. The running joke was that Oz had some sort of guardian angel moving his arms for him!

[Necrophage]

Oz replied with enthusiasm. "Yeah!" He kept moving his haul to the drop off and yelled over his shoulder. "This is only a start!" He grinned.

The energetic laborer found himself glancing up at the second story window before catching himself and chuckling between breaths. The weather was good, the harvest was even better and there was still so much time left for a great day. Things were looking up. Even he was from time to time. (Heheh..)

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Oz's stride saw him out of Old man Kario's gaze in minutes. Joshua wasn't exactly fond of Oz's interest in his daughter, but if anyone was going to be looking over his head, he'd prefer it to be him over any of those other louts. Angie wasn't particularly against the attention, anyways! He chuckled heartily, sunk into his chair, and glanced at his workers with another hint of Nostalgia grasping at his throat.

Later in the day, as the sun was getting lower, everyone was grouped up around Joshua for payment, but not before the old guy had a few rounds with the crew. Oz found himself trailing a little behind that day, though. Just as he was dropping off his last payload of corn, something caught his eye. The drop-off point was a giant Silo near the back of Kario's cottage. Oz just had to attach his wheelbarrow to the pulley on the tower's side, and life it to the deposit hole near the top, but somebody was standing in his way. It was a short man, hardly 5 feet tall, with dull green hair, and a matching Kimono that covered most of his body. certainly not somebody Oswald had seen before, unless it was one of the kids dressed up all fancy for some sort of prank. He couldn't tell, though, the intruder's face was completely covered up with a black mask that clung to his skin like tightened leather. He could only see his neck and ears, where the mask's blackness ended. The green-clad man turned to Oswald as he approached, holding a piece of corn in a curious manner, but didn't say anything to him.

"Ey, Ozzy!" Joshua called out from the porch on the opposite side of the house, "Where are yeh?? Me an' tha boys are 'bout to drink this 'ere brew by our lonesome!"

[Necrophage]

Oz responded quickly to the old man. "Just a moment Josh! I wouldn't miss it." He turned to face the stranger. The man was completely outlandish in his attire. The mask on his face set off all of Oswald's internal alarms. Oz set the wheelbarrow gently down. He'd been in plenty of fist fights, defending others but there was something about this person that just sent his spine crawling. Standing tall, Oz addressed him.

"Stranger, please present yourself. This is private land. You clearly aren't in attire to work. And..." He glanced at the mask again. No one with a good motive would hide their face. "We don't know you." Oswald's smile faded. He readied himself to move on the fly. Masks! They were a terrible sign.

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"Present myself?" He wheezed from the depths of his tar-ridden lungs, "I am Zelriane." His voice almost sounded as if it were choked out by a haze of smoke and barbed wire, similar to the voices that Old man Kario gave the serpent beasts in his tall tales. Was he a smoker? "I was told that this village holds a tome depicting a unique nature of void energy. Fallen Under The Deep," he asked cordially, just before dropping the corn in his hand and walking over to Oz, who towered over him in stature. Fallen Under The Deep... The fiction novel that Angelica always read? Why was this guy interested in a fairy tale? "I'm in a hurry. Please advise, or get out of my way."

Straight-forward little pipsqueak, wasn't he? Where did this guy get off acting so formal while trespassing? And what was this nonsense about magic??

[Necrophage]

Oz placed himself in the way and raised a hand to keep Zelriane from moving forward. "I've got no problem advisin'. This is not my land, though." He tilted his head to the side, keeping an eye on the trespasser. "I'll save you some effort."

The laborer raised his voice to be heard by the owner. "Joshua! We have a guest here looking for a book!"

Oz turned back to face Zelriane. "We're just about to take a break too, so we can get you along your way quick." Though he acted polite in a defensive way the thought definitely crossed his mind to slam the man over the head while he wasn't looking and remove him.

"I can walk you over, no problem." Oz pointed the way to the front of the house and risked a passing glance at the tools strewn against the building.

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Zelriane seemed to stop before Oz even began to move his hand, as if he'd known that his path were to be block. His eyes shot up at the man as he called out to Joshua, and he crossed his arms impatiently.

"Ey??? I aint Runnin' a Library ere! Bring the goose-Gobbler out front!" Joshua shouted, followed by a rousing laughter. The sound of snickering and hollering made the intruder's dark green eyes narrow to a pair of venomous looking slits. He followed after Oz silently, periodically mimicking his gaze.

"Hoo! Issit Charlie?" Joshua shouted as zelrian approached the group and left Oz behind him. "Or mebbe it's lil'ol Tom? Where'd yeh get that there costume, Tom?"

"I am not a child. I would like to know where you keep the book, Fallen Under The Deep," Zelriane asked. The men around him continued to snicker at his ridiculous getup, barely able to hold their outrageous laughter back. "Is something funny?" Zelrian inferred, spinning his head round as far as it could go, and granting each farmhand a sharp glance. They returned his inquiry with smiles and silence.

"Fallen Under The Deep? That's Angie's mom's book, if Aym 100%! 'Fraid it aint fer sale, partner."

"Where is it?" Zelrian asked, looking up to Angelica's window, where she glared down at him with a book nestled closely to her bosom. "Ah, never-mind. I've found it. Thank you." The bare-footed intruder quickly strode right past Joshua, who's expression melted to one of disbelief and shock. Big Bobby, who'd been resting against the building's wall, stepped in his path. Once again, Zelriane stopped before Bobby had even made a move. "Move," He demanded curtly.

"Get a load of this fella!" Bobby grunted, "thinks it'll be easy to outright trespass in Mister Kario's home and steal lil' Angie's book!"

"Move," Zelriane said again, more forceful this time. Joshua turned to Oz with a quizzical glare.

"Why don't you go on and get 'fore I find it necessary to-" Bobby's sentence was cut off as something caused his stomach to sink, quite literally. The once rounded belly that Bobby lugged around proudly, vibrated and rippled like it'd been struck by a wide nosed hammer. Moments later, he toppled over by the the side of the house, and Zelriane scoffed at the defeated farmhand.

"What in Blazes?!" Joshua shouted, as Zelriane made his way inside his house. "Wait! Angie, Angelica!!" Joshua stood up in a hurry, but almost fell forward, caught by one of the nearby workers in the nick of time. "Who in the hell!?" Several of the men launched towards the front entrance after Zelriane, but were promptly launched back out as fast as they'd gone in, some bleeding from their ears, others with limbs bent backwards. Joshua and the man holding him turned to Oz with grand expectations. "Erryone! Grab somfin' Sharp!!"

[Necrophage]

Plenty of men were hurt in strange ways in an instant. This man, Zel, was not normal. The way he inflicted damage was straight inhuman. Oz took command, immediately directing others to get everyone far from harm. He looked to the set of workers helping Joshua and issued away. "Take Josh out of here! This trespasser ain't normal. I don't want anybody else hurt." There wasn't much time left before another person would be wounded.

A few other workers looked panicked so he gave them direction. "Help Bobby and the other injured outta here!" The thoughts of what Zel would do if he came back down made him shudder. He turned with all his haste to the window above and bellowed.

"Angelica! Jump! I will catch you!" Oz prepared himself to receive her even as a few others got their deadly tools ready.

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The men around him ignored Joshua's command and heeded Oswald's order, quickly filing away from the farm. Joshua struggled out of the grip that held him back though, and stood at Oz's side. "The 'ell Ahm Goin' Anywhere wit'out Angie! I'm wit you, Ozzy!" He said, not budging an inch. The man that assisted Joshua initially had gone already, fearing for his life. Two men hauled Bobby away, while another two took the remaining injured men with them towards the village housing complexes.

Angie looked down at Oz and her pa, but didn't jump right away. She pushed the windows open wider and looped her legs around the windowsill. "I... You'll catch me?" She asked, not getting any time for an answer as her bedroom door swung open.

"Give me that book," Zelrian ordered, suddenly phasing into view at Angelica's side. Was he just that fast!? It didn't matter, because in that moment, Angie swallowed her cowardice and fell forwards towards Oz with the book in hand. Zelrian Grit his teeth and climbed up onto the windowsill. "I am not going to ask again. I will also not hesitate in sending you all to the lord's void."

[Necrophage]

Oz recoiled a few steps as he caught Angelica. He swept her to her feet and gently pushed her behind him. "Angie, you need to go. Follow the workers out." He said, just loud enough so she could hear him. "Bring your father." Oz carefully guided Josh to her by his arm. To discourage unnecessary hesitation he added. "Go! Crazy up there isn't going to wait for you to get away."

Zel continued to threaten them. This adversary wasn't going to give up until he had his prize. "What is that book to you? Why break my people to get it!?" Oz picked up a discarded shovel and glowered at the man standing in the window. His adversary would be coming soon and all he could do was delay him. He had no tricks. No real weapons or training. What he had was spirit and his hearty strength. It was time to withstand Zel. He had to. There was no telling where the madman would stop even if he got his damned book.

Images of bleeding eyes and ears, distorted limbs broken asunder in seconds and the carnage that could soon happen flashed through his head. Where none other would stand he would. Oz would be the guardian to keep nightmares like that from happening.

Maybe Zel had a secret. A certain range for his tricks. There weren't many chances or time to figure out a way to beat him.

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Zelrian's eyes narrowed as Angelica and Joshua rushed to escape. Joshua looked back to Oz for a moment in horror. What good would bravery do against a demon like that? Angelica pulled her father out of his stupor and rushed after the rest of the villagers, disappearing over the horizon. Zelrian only watched as they escaped, not bothering to pursue them, and instead turning his attention to Oswald. The green-clad man hopped down from the second story and landed softly on his bare feet.

"They stood in my way, so I decided to move them. Is that not obvious? As for the book, I do not know, or care, what lies within. I was asked to retrieve it, and retrieve it I shall, even if I have to plow through that old man's bones, and pry it from the corpse of his little girl. The lives of any who oppose my actions are forfeit. You challenge me, knowing this, I'm sure," Zelriane mocked, pulling his right foot back several inches. He rose his left hand out towards Oswald, palm facing outwards, and pulled his right hand close to his stomach, closing it into a tight fist. It was an unfamiliar combat stance, but no doubt, inspired by a martial art. "But I will honor your stance with my own. Your will is strong, but for the sake of your village..." Zelriane paused and his fully jade eyes flashed with a green light before he finished his sentence, "I hope you pose a challenge." Zelriane paused and loosened his stance. "I hadn't actually caught your name. 'Ozzy', was it?" Before allowing Oswald a chance to correct or affirm his guess, he tightened his stance again, and stepped towards Oswald, extending his palm towards his chest with very little strength. It seemed very out of character for a man who'd just moved faster than the eye could follow. Perhaps he was weakened? Or maybe he was just testing the waters? Was this some honor-bound restriction?

"Nevermind. I don't care."

[Necrophage]

Oz replied quickly. "Too late, you already asked. My name's Oswald Keffrey. I'm just a handyman here that does what needs doing." He grinned fiercely. It wouldn't do to piss Zel off more than he already was but Oswald's mood had shifted. He felt a glimmer of hope and a whole lot of angry.

The handyman held the shovel like a club and paced around Zel. "Today it looks like your face needs some work." He kept on grinning, keeping his distance and watching closely for Zel to burst forward. Should Zel wait patiently it just meant more time and distance between him and his quarry. Oz could dig it.

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Zelriane paused and narrowed his eyes again. With another quick step forward, he hopped into range and reeled his left palm back before twisting it into a forward thrust, aimed to disarm Oz's weapon with the base of his hand. Zelriane's eyes followed Oswald's own eye movements carefully, almost appearing immobile in their sockets. He lifted his right fist ever so slightly above his waist, and braced his back foot.

[Necrophage]

Zel's expert blow knocked the shovel clear away, clattering against an upturned wheelbarrow. Oz dashed back quickly to avoid any follow up blow. He could already feel the sharp pain in his right hand from the attack. Shrugging it off, he curled his fist into a ball, knuckles cracking dramatically. He took a boxer's stance to protect his vital areas, holding both arms close to his body.

The adrenaline was rushing and Oz felt like talking as he backed carefully toward the barn. "Whew! You gotta teach me some of your moves if I don't die. Promise?" He grinned again. This guy was good, even if he was a loon. Zel still didn't show quite how he caused such damage in a few short moments. Maybe he was going easy on him? Maybe he was bored? Neither was a good prospect right now.

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"I will teach you nothing," Zelriane responded curtly, "But if you really lack any sort of approach, I will demonstrate further-" The last word faded, along with Zelriane's entire body, into an afterimage. The short-standing man was now crouched at Oswald's feet, knees low to the ground. With a mighty push of his legs, he thrust his left palm towards Oswald's chin at lightning speed with his entire body's weight behind the blow. Despite leaving the ground for a split second though, Zelriane seemed to have total control of his momentum in midair, keeping his feet parallel to the ground as best he could.

[Necrophage]

Zel cut himself off mid-sentence, fading out and into sight so quickly he was impossible to keep track of. The speed of the blow was too quick for Oz to respond to and before he knew what was happening his head whipped back and the momentum sent him tumbling across the ground.

The stubborn hand immediately pushed himself up off the ground. His head was pounding and it was difficult to think of anything clearly. One term stuck out at him, repeating itself over and over in his head, "You really lack any sort of approach... you really lack any sort of approach..." He wiped blood off the corner of his mouth before spitting a wad into the dust. He'd cut the inside of his mouth during that last exchange.

Oz was breathing more rapidly now, his heart was racing. There was no grin decorating his face anymore. He felt shaky on his feet but forced himself back into a boxing stance. "You're absolutely right..." He agreed. It was clear from that second-long demonstration that Zel was going easy on him. He was probably toying with him like a cat plays with its prey.

In that brief moment he knew he might have to rely on something he knew how to do: Wrestle. There was no defense against that speed that wasn't going to get picked apart instantly. He may as well have been standing still and waiting for the crazy to hit him. So why not keep him from moving? He pushed his body to its quickest limit, dashing forward and feigning a heavy swing so he could get within reach to hug him.

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Zelriane rose his left palm up to block Oz's blow, but as he got closer, the green warrior faded from view again, this time completely. "You have no power?" Zelriane mocked from behind Oswald, "You face me with a mundane human body, and attempt to grapple with me?" He'd seen it coming, but how? Zelriane disappeared moments before Oswald's intentions became discernible by the naked eye. "I will tell you now, you will die here. Today. You will die, and your name will be forgotten. I will kill everyone in this village to make sure of that, right after I snap your neck." Zelriane explained, still holding his stance firm. "There's no hope to be bargained from your miserable body. My eyes do not fail me, and my speed will make any strength advantage you hold rather insignificant."

"Do you understand?"

[Necrophage]

Oz tipped away from the voice that appeared behind him. Even in those few moments Zel had already moved and assumed his martial stance. "There's nothing to understand!" He jumped back and crouched in the dust, balancing himself against the ground with his hands. "You're just a lunatic. You were slighted by some 'mundanes' because they said no so now you want to wipe out a whole town."

Oz grasped handfuls of dust off the ground and threw them out to saturate the air around him. "I'll stop you even if it breaks me to do it!" He shouted. The fencing around this part of the property was loosely put together, meant to be easily moved. Oz hastily pulled a post free and tightened his grip expecting an attempt to disarm. There was no way to beat Zel's speed, so he threw in a bid for stupid luck and wildly swung all around himself.

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"If you had just allowed me to take that book-" Zelrian paused when Oswald tossed up a substantial amount of dust, and his eyes widened, scanning for Oz's movement as aptly as possible. Once he found his location again, pulling up a pole from the ground, he began inching towards him, "-None would have died. But now!"

With another palm thrust, Zelriane did indeed move to disarm Oswald, but his movements suddenly changed from futile attempts at precise counters, to a wild tornado of strikes. Zelriane sighed and weaved past one of Oswald's swings with his left hand pulled close to his mask, and aimed his left palm to strike his target directly in the gut with a much more powerful blow. The time for holding back was long gone. Zelriane had grown impatient, and moved to end it as quickly as possible. "All shall perish!"

[Necrophage]

There was no time to react. Common theme there. Zel simply disappeared and reappeared in an opening and struck him. The pain was excruciating, nothing else could be felt compared to its magnitude as he went sailing through the air. With a terrible crash he smashed through the barn door and rolled to a stop. Various animals could be heard stirring and moving away from the conflict.

A dense screen of dust floated over the debris. Oz wheezed for a moment before he started coughing. Something in his chest felt wrong, out of place. There was nothing scarier than not being able to see what hurt. He tried to clear his throat only to feel more alarming pain. With great effort he swept his hands across the floor and started pushing himself back up. Oz faltered and fell back to the ground, breathing heavily and painfully.

"This-!" Oz abruptly coughed. Despite his apparent injuries he forced himself back on his hands and slowly, shakily rose. "This-" Again he coughed, stirring the sheet of dust that made him all but a silhouette in the barn. "-is... nothing!" He denied the reality of his predicament. There was a faint shimmer of blue around the silhouette, visible even through the debris. It slowly turned.

A tingling sensation danced across the surface of his skin. Oz was pretty out of it at this point because he stopped paying attention to himself and his injuries. For a younger man he was surprisingly focused away from the pain. Oz had a purpose, right now it was his only strength.

"Is that-" He coughed. "-all you've got?"