[IC] Chronicles of a Lost War

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Izel~

"Sylphie, perhaps you should slow your step." Izel continued following after the girl, though despite her words to stop she didn't seem to be doing much to deter the girl. It was clear Sylphie wasn't going to be slowing down for anything, so why bother stopping? Though...hm, perhaps it would be good to meet their companions once more. Perhaps the chains...? The bindings could likely hold her for a bit...ah, but such a brutish method. Obviously, a delicate touch was needed here. As such, Izel took it upon herself to provide the delicate touch. So, she grabbed the girl by the shoulders, spun her around and pressed the back of her head firmly into her chest, enveloping the girl in a tight hug as Byron approached. Not that she could likely physically hold back the other girl if she tried to escape, but obviously this was a great way of slowing her down even a little.

"Ah, the Tiger." Izel smiled upon seeing the other approach. "The town has been beset by snatchers of the worst sort. Insignificant happenings In the grand scheme of the cosmos, and I would not bother with, but little Sylphie," She ruffled the girls hair. "Is letting her nature run. The day will be marked with blood and the life of those who have sinned against supposed innocents."

[Crimson Paladin]

Aerarius

"Your clothes appear to be the correct size, " Aerarius assessed. "Although I suppose the best way to know is to simply wear them for a while." Clothing wasn't really an issue for him anymore. The closest thing the automaton had to such a thing nowadays was his exterior plating. He didn't usually think to hard about it because when he did, he'd come to weird conclusions. "However, depending on whether or not your new body will grow, you may eventually need to resize them regardless."

"As for the forest, yes, both Byron and myself seemed to pick up on that worrying detail," he answered her second question. "It's possible to accelerate the growth of a forest using magic, but this place...it's too natural looking, too sparse of civilization. If need be we could approximate the time elapsed by felling one of the trees and counting the rings in its trunk," he suggested, his Natural Philosophy courses finally paying off, "but Byron and the others have probably found more precise information about what the date is." Aerarius' face was incapable of showing worry, but his movements and tone of his voice betrayed a concerned uncertainty.

"But from what we've seen already," he continued, "I think it's safe to say that we woke up far later than expected. It'd also explain the degree of your transformation, if we were in there for centuries rather than merely years or decades." There wasn't much else he could tell the sage, because there wasn't much else he knew.f When the others returned from the town, they would be able to give a more comprehensive account of the group's- and the world's- situation.

@Raineh Daze

[VitaVitaAR]

Sylphie couldn't help her excitement. It had been far too long since she was able to shed the blood of sinners, to slay the wicked. Ah, she could feel that warmth, feel her heartbeat quickening... the slaughter of those who did evil. That was what was coming to her soon, so very soon! It didn't matter that the raiders had escaped discovery so far, they wouldn't escape from her. The tiny black-haired girl almost couldn't restrain herself from manifesting her sword right then and there and simply charging out of town...

Until something completely unexpected happened. Sylphie was suddenly spun around by her shoulders and her head was shoved directly into Izel's chest. Needless to say, this was something on a surprise, and even the Pillar of Vengeance wasn't prepared for an experience like this.

"Mmmmmmf?!" was all that came out of the surprised girl for a few moments. Usually she wasn't on the receiving end of being teased, what was this?!

[FujiwaraPhoenix]

Byron Cauna

Izel's cryptic explanation took a few seconds for Byron to process—about as long as it had taken Sylphie to realize what her companion was doing to restrain her. There was a brief pause as the beastman turned to look at Sylphie as she squirmed about, temporarily pacified as she was, before nodding to the pair.

"...Right. So... Bandits, I presume? Given Sylphie's disposition, I feel like we're not going to get anywhere until they've been dealt with, then. Fun. Well, if anything, it'll give us a chance to stretch our legs after all this time," he sighed, shaking his head. "Could put the town into debt with us if they're anything substantial, though, so there might be some merit in doing this. Before anything else, though, we should regroup with the other two so I can share what else I've learned. Izel, make sure Sylphie doesn't break free and run off on her own, please."

With that, Byron simply nodded and walked out of the town gates, passing by the pair of guards with a curt nod as he walked back towards the forest. The path that they had taken to get here was not particularly well-worn, but finding the other two along the path they had taken would require little effort.

---

A minute or two of scanning the area let Byron find the pair that the group had left behind waiting; thankfully, they had not moved too far from the forest's edge, which might have made things a tad more annoying, but given that he (and the others) had moved ahead without establishing a firm rendezvous point, the beastman found himself missing long-distance communication devices already. There was no small number of things that he had taken for granted, once he thought about it, but something like that would be far more useful now than it had been on his usual raids back during active duty.

With that in mind, Byron waved to the pair as he walked up to them, glancing momentarily behind himself in hopes that the others had followed suit. If Sylphie had broken away, well... That just meant that he had to make this quick.

"Sorry for leaving you two behind," he began, pulling out the piece of paper that he had taken notes on during his visit to the guild, "but I've got some fairly worrisome news... Us being about 270 years off from the initial calculations of the people who sealed us away, for example. Luckily, given how I, uh... Spoke with the guards, I don't think it should be too difficult to set up a scenario that'd let you two get inside without much of an issue. Before that, though..."

The rest of the issues—at least, from here—were things he could let the others explain for now. Where to go from here, handling whatever Sylphie and Izel had found on their own expedition, or even resolving their initial goal... There was no better time to discuss such things than now, really.

@Crimson Paladin@Raineh Daze@VitaVitaAR@Rune_Alchemist@Lugubrious

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Izel~

"Do not worry, tiger." Izel smirked. "This one isn't one to let a cute girl simply run from me, ufu~" Obviously, that was not intended to be as questionable sounding as it was. "I won't let her out of my sight." As Byron left, Izel continued to playfully stroke Sylphies hair, humming a light hearted tune as she did so. She pulled Sylphie from her bosom, letting the girl have just a moment to breathe a bit easier.

"Now now, Sylphie. You heard him." Izel said to the demigod with a smile. "Behave yourself just a bit, hmm? If you do..." She lowered her voice, taking a decidedly lascivious, suggestive tone "...I'll play with you all night~"

[VitaVitaAR]

Sylphie couldn't help but be a little frustrated that she was being halted like this. Anything else could wait, the bandits that were harassing this town were in the here and now. If this had been 270 years... then it was even more important she resumed her role as the Pillar of Vengeance, wasn't it? And... ah, it was just... this feeling of having her face buried in Izel's chest was... well, it wasn't a common feeling for the demigod, to say the least. She disliked being the one targeted. Even if it was soft...

When her head was freed, the tiny girl took in a gulp of air. The hand running through her soft, silky hair was hardly unpleasant. But still, all this was was more delaying. She wanted to get on that mountainside and spill blood over and over, the blood of the wicked splattering on her sword as she felt the heat, the excitement of-

There was no reading Izel's tone in any other way.

"... Ah... you..."

The normally confident and smug girl found herself stumbling a little. Had Izel... really just...

@Rune_Alchemist@PKMNB0Y

[Lugubrious]

Malachi arrived at the rendezvous late, bearing a knapsack laden with sufficient goods to begin a journey. The look on his face suggested that he didn't want to see anyone here again at all, but the brawler had gone against his judgment and joined his coincidental companions one more time. Were anyone to chance upon them, he figured they'd make quite the scene together. While the others exchanged a few words and sentiments, Byron lent him a a hand once again by summing up. So, the little hellion wanted to go and slaughter some poor fools. That eager look on Sylphie's face cemented her status in his mind as a twisted, vicious killer. Sure, she bore some sort of divine power, but lots of people justified lots of things. Whoever was strongest in the end could say what was right and wrong.

With such a powerhouse around Malachi felt his help unnecessary and unwanted -no doubt the others saw him as a simpleton and brute- but he did feel like punching something. At the very least, he could get an idea of the murderous tyke's real ability, and maybe by knocking out a few thieves prevent all of them from being annihilated. Crooks and killers deserved punishment, of course, but paying evil unto evil constituted something other than justice. What Sylphie seemed to have in mind was excessive at best and bloodthirsty at worst. A monster who declared herself de facto innocent. Then again what did he, some meathead from the wilderness, know about right and wrong, and higher purposes? Best not to think about such things, and certainly not to act on them. After all, what chance might a poor lunk like him stand?

The musings more or less distracted him from the perturbing conversation between Izel and Sylphie, which he was thankful for. Whatever went on between them, he didn't need to know. After a sigh, Malachi spoke. "Guess I'll 'elp check it out. Folks in town seemed nice, shouldn't 'ave to put up with any trouble."

[Crimson Paladin]

Aerarius

Aerarius listened carefully to what Byron had to say. His concerns had been confirmed, they had awakened far later than they had been intended to. It wasn't exactly a surprise, as the magic wasn't exactly well-tested, and there was no way this forest could have grown in just thirty years. Nevertheless, it was still a lot to process, and it would take him some time to fully grasp the implications of it.

"So we have been gone for three hundred years," he spoke somberly. "The world we once knew probably no longer exists." This news wasn't too painful for Aerarius- his home and family had already been long gone when he climbed into the coffin. What did pain him was the lack of knowledge. He was a fish out of water, completely in the dark regarding the state of the world. His priorities were clear- he needed to learn all he could about the world they now found themselves in.

"If you can get us into the town, I would be grateful," he continued, glancing at the path. "There is much I wish to find out, about the town itself and about the state of the world. It should not be difficult to convince the guards that I am a mere magical construct. If need be, I'll even pose as a wind up toy." It was unlikely that any of these townspeople would be able to fully grasp what he was, and it was to his advantage to be underestimated in such a manner.

@PKMNB0Y

[Raineh Daze]

Efander

"I surmised as such from the growth; when you live as long as I have, you come to accept that people and places will come and go; that man and nature will fight back against one another. What matters is that the essential nature of humanity remains unchanged. To me, that ability to co-operate and build wonderful things is worthy of protecting; I advise that you find something similar to care for," the former-old-man said, stroking the area formerly occupied by a magnificent beard.

The girl stood in that position for a second, folding her arms and looking confident, "Even if three hundred years have passed, there is no guarantee that our former goal is unnecessary and all the more chance our identities are safely forgotten. Troubleshooting adventurers shall be a good way to travel unobtrusively. Nobody ever much bothered me that way in the past."

[FujiwaraPhoenix]

Byron Cauna

Though relatively relieved that Izel had managed to keep Sylphie in check for long enough for the explanation at hand to finish (at whatever cost it might take from the demigod in the future), Byron simply crossed his arms as he listened to the comments of his peers. As things were now, the group as a whole was seemingly inclined towards handling the bandit problem that had made itself known, with the sage mentioning that they act as 'adventurers' in order to keep up a guise of anonymity; given the situation, the beastman was inclined to agree.

"Aerarius, they already see me as someone of far higher status than I am... Whether or not that's a good thing remains to be seen, but getting you in and out of a small town like this should pose no issue. As for the matter of the bandits, it looks as if we're all in agreement to go subjugate them regardless. Do we just the bloodhound lead the way?"

With a brief sidelong glance towards Sylphie, Byron turned to look at Izel before nodding. Enough was enough, and the simplest way to smoke out their targets was the girl who was in the witch's arms right now.

"Just... Don't get too far ahead of us. Walk, don't run or sprint off, okay?"

@Crimson Paladin@Raineh Daze@VitaVitaAR@Rune_Alchemist@Lugubrious

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Izel~

@VitaVitaAR@PKMNB0Y

---

Izel smirked, seemingly satisfied with her work of making Sylphie a stuttering mess. Despite her arrogant and playful attitude, Sylphie in the end, was just a cute little girl. With a few inviting words and a gentle touch, such cute little things were easy to deal with. It was one of the few enjoyments she had anymore, so watching them melt in her hands was quite the fun thing.

"What's the matter, Sylphie?" Izel giggled. "Thinking of something silly, are we? My my, for someone so confident you're easily turned into a cute little kitten, aren't you? I wonder what sort of playing you were thinking of, Ufu~" With a mischievous giggle, Izel noticed Byron's go ahead. Party time, then. Releasing Sylphie, she gave the girl a playful wink.

"Seems like we're ready now, Sylphie. Thank you for the entertainment~" Sauntering away from the girl, she began walking to the mountain herself.

[VitaVitaAR]

Cute little kitten!?

That... no! She was a demigod! One of the four pillars of Aphei! She wasn't anything like that! Cheeks flushed deeply red, Sylphie squirmed. How could she be blamed for thinking of anything like that when Izel said something so suggestive?! How... how dare she say things like that! How could she say things like that?! Practically burning with embarrassment, Sylphie was very quick to step away the moment she was released, clearing her throat as she did.

It was time to focus on what needed to be done. What she desired to do. In spite of her embarrassment at Izel's teasing, that tingling sensation up her spine, the excitement running through her body, throbbing through every inch of her tiny frame, was still present. It had been far, far too long since she last punished the wicked. Those who deserved judgement being brought to them.

She raised her right hand. A ring of golden light spread from her palm, then began to drift away. Once again, the hilt of her enormous sword materialized, followed by the thick, razor sharp blade.

Lifting it was totally effortless to her.

"Now... it's time," Sylphie said, her blush having completely faded(she wanted to leave that embarrassing display behind as quickly as possible), looking back over her shoulder and grinning at the others, "Let's go!

With that, she was off. Walking, rather than running, as quickly as she could. Her senses reached out, the sort of senses only a demigod of righteous vengeance possessed, almost tasting, smelling the air to sense wicked hearts and evil intent.

These bandits would be crushed, for the sake of the townfolk. For those orphaned children.

@Rune_Alchemist@PKMNB0Y@Raineh Daze@Crimson Paladin@Lugubrious

[FujiwaraPhoenix]

Byron Cauna

Grateful that Sylphie had actually been considerate enough to not leave them behind, Byron quietly moved after the demigod with the rest of their party. Given how adept she was at tracking 'evil' (which was itself a subjective idea; maybe it was just based on her own definition of evil and not the collective?), though, the beastman had little reason to argue. Bandits were bandits, and if the aforementioned testimony was to be believed, attacking the town repeatedly probably made it a simple matter to smoke them out.

The path that Sylphie led them down wound through the trees and, as it seemed, brought them close to the foot of a mountain. Given the guards stationed at the base, coupled with a bunch of fortifications staggered up the mountain, it seemed that they had indeed found their target.

"Hm... Holed up on the mountainside, then? I wonder why they couldn't find this place before. Were there just traps set up along the other routes or something...?" he mused to himself, shaking his head in mild disappointment before cracking his knuckles. "So, do we just go in hot, or would a silent job be more efficient here?"

@Crimson Paladin@Raineh Daze@VitaVitaAR@Rune_Alchemist@Lugubrious

[Crimson Paladin]

Aerarius

As the rest of the group hurried off, Aerarius knew little of what was going on except the rest of the group had elected to deal with a banditry problem. Most likely Sylphie had gotten a whiff of evil and needed to break her 300 year dry spell. Aerarius tagged along wordlessly. Despite her seeming bloodlust and the concerns of other members of the party, the demigoddess' moral compass had always seemed properly calibrated. Aerarius himself had not been given any context to these bandits' ill deeds, but he trusted Sylphie enough to go along with it.

He followed the group through the woods until they came upon a guarded and fortified trail, clearly the approach to the aforementioned bandits' hideout. Byron asked whether they should just rush in, or try the subtle approach.

"I'd be wary about this path," Aerarius chimed in. It's clearly guarded, and it's the perfect place to rig up a manually activated rockslide trap. If you'd allow me to take point through the woods, I'm fairly certain I can withstand any traps they may have set up in there." He wasn't invulnerable, as the tragic fates of the rest of the Brass Legion had shown, but his metal body should be able to withstand any swinging log or pit traps that the bandits could conceivably have set up in the woods.

[Raineh Daze]

Efander

"Now, now, don't be so hasty to let yourself take the blow, I'm sure we can break or disarm any traps. It would be a nice workout after so much inactivity before we teach the bandits a thing or two," the sage said, quite chipper about the whole affair. Dealing with bandit troubles had been one of his recurring jobs in his long life of exploration, so it was nice to get into the swing of things with something simple like that and check that the other changes hadn't done bad things to her martial skills. "Sylphie, dear, do you think we could give them a chance to surrender first?"

They never did, but it would be wrong not to. There was always the chance that someone within the group was being pressured into it, and what sort of heroes would they be if they went around beating up people that didn't want to fight?

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Izel~

---

Izel observed the path before them, quickly deciding she really wasn't interested in this in the slightest. Killing for no reason, even 'bandits' were not how she did things. Maybe if she could...have their bodies after they expired it wouldn't be a complete waste. Perhaps she could get some minor entertainment out of the bandits, watching them struggle and be confused by her mastery of the arts.

"Hmhm...when the direct is difficult, a path around may prove the easiest." Izel chimed in. "...but sometimes the most direct is easiest." Byron did make an excellent point, though. How could they not find this place? It was easy for Sylphie to find, but she didn't think she'd have too much trouble herself either. With a spring in her step and humming a light tune, Izel began walking up the path. Since it seemed like they hadn't been noticed yet...

"Hello hello!" Izel waved brightly to the guards, shouting loud enough they could hear her. "Don't mind me, a forever 20 year old cute totally human girl lost in the forest. You kind people wouldn't happen to know the way to the nearest village, hm?"

[VitaVitaAR]

"Oh? Traps?" asked Sylphie, twisting her body to look back at the others and smirking as she did, "You needn't worry about anything like that."

Without elaborating as to why it would be a concern, the tiny girl continued on her way, though it was perhaps notable the path she forged ahead was frequently swerving as it to avoid something unseen. Evil intent, after all, was a dead giveaway when it came to things like this. Not to say that her senses were infallible(though Sylphie would never admit otherwise), but the trap set by an average bandit would not require any serious effort from her in order to locate it. The malignant feelings placed into its creation were enough for her, when it came to something simple like this.

"As for the bandits, if they surrender and honestly, truly repent for their acts, they can live," she added, even as she forged her somewhat curvy path ahead, her enormous sword resting lightly on her shoulder as if it weighed no more than a feather. "If they do not, I'll paint the earth with their blood~"

Her tongue ran across her lips at the thought. Oh, if they truly felt guilt and truly repented, that was another matter entirely... but unrepentent sinners...

In spite of avoiding the traps, much like Izel had elected to do, Sylphie proceeded to go right up to the front of the base without even the slightest concern. It had been concealed by a variety of different methods, nestled into a forested, rocky area that was in part blocked off by a grove of trees. Through a combination of traps and this location, it wasn't impossible for the demigoddess to understand exactly why it had been blocked.

There were several surprised and confused guards out front. Several had already been advancing towards Izel when she suddenly appeared, clearly intent on capturing her for whatever purpose they had in mind. If Sylphie had to guess, it was likely because they desired to sell her.

How despicable.

How perfect.

It'd been so long... so long! Ah, but she could almost taste it...!

Sylphie raised her blade off of her shoulder. She'd give them a chance. A moment to repent honestly and truly. She was one who represented righteous vengeance, the Pillar of the East and the Left Seat. Slaughtering those who surrendered with honesty in their hearts was wrong.

But those who lied and held wicked feelings within them...!

The thick sword was leveled at the guards, glinting with a light that seemed not altogether natural.

"Allow me to introduce myself, o sinners," The Princess of Victory began, her smirk spreading into a grin as she spoke, "I am Sylphie Sorvost. I know it's been quite some time since anyone last saw me, but surely..."

Her grin grew wider.

"You recognize this sword, don't you~? Don't you~?"

@Crimson Paladin@Rune_Alchemist@Raineh Daze@PKMNB0Y@Lugubrious

[FujiwaraPhoenix]

Byron Cauna

The ensuing discussion caused Byron to shrug his shoulders in a non-committal manner, as he had no personal preference one way or another regarding their method of assault. Of course, he was one to prefer a more stealthy manner of taking the stronghold down—using a diversion to draw their attention while striking at their heart—but given the presence of one bloodthirsty demigod, that seemed almost impossible.

"Mmm... Well, it'd certainly make our jobs easier if they did surrender," the beastman ceded, nodding his head in assent before realizing that Izel had already made herself known to the bandits. Sylphie followed suit (as he had expected her to), causing Byron to sigh in turn.

"Guess we're just punching right through them, huh? No, wait..."

Given the way that the two girls were positioning themselves right now, the beastman took but a moment to realize that they were (perhaps inadvertently) causing a ruckus within the base. Though Izel along had raised a few eyebrows, Sylphie's arrival heralded a problem far more prominent, and it seemed that the bandits present were already ringing a gong of some sort to call for more backup.

In other words, all of their attention was focused on the two at their gates.

"I believe we can work with this," he began to say, turning towards the three who were still on standby. "If we use those two to draw their main force, we can slip through those haphazard defensive measures unnoticed and pincer the group from behind. While I'm fairly certain that they don't require our assistance in routing such... Poorly-equipped enemies, it would also allow another group to split off and possibly rescue any captives that might be on the mountain."

Distorting the light and masking their footsteps would be a straightforward matter, of course, but the problem thereafter was whether or not they would all group up to punch through the main entrance instead...

Anyone else who agreed would, of course, immediately move forward to sneak up the mountain in turn with him.

The bandits facing both Sylphie and Izel, of course, had already mobilized to match them. The name 'Sylphie Sorvost' had already long since been written off as a myth from centuries past, and so those present had already written off the one threatening them as a copycat who had, more likely than not, found a weapon and was attempting to flaunt its power with no experience.

With that said, it was obvious that they couldn't let either of the two leave now that their base had been reached.

"Alright, men! Take them down!" one of the bandits cried before a surge of them rushed at the pair.

@Crimson Paladin@Raineh Daze@VitaVitaAR@Rune_Alchemist@Lugubrious

[VitaVitaAR]

Ah.

So they had forgotten?

"... I suppose it only makes sense," Sylphie said, cocking her head to one side. "After all, it's been so long since I've had a chance to let loose. It's been far too long since I was able to punish the wicked for their misdeeds."

The tiny girl titled her wrist, sliding her left foot backwards as she did. The bandits' charge wasn't disorganized and reckless, the average fighter likely would have been overwhelmed.

Sylphie smirked. Average fighters indeed would be overwhelmed. They would be killed by the assault. But... oh, these bandits didn't know, they didn't realize. They didn't understand the opponent they were facing. Not at all. Not even slightly! This was something totally, completely, utterly, beyond anything they could expect!

Her heart was beating faster and faster. She could taste their evil intent and it served only to cause her excitement to spike up further, to fill her body with the warmth. They hadn't surrendered. They hadn't repented for their sins. This was something they had brought entirely and completely on themselves, and she would relish in their poor decision-making.

Unrepentant sinners had forfeited their lives. It was a simple rule.

"Then allow me to teach you something once more, o sinners," Sylphie continued, her smirk spreading into a wide grin as the glee seeped into her voice, "To teach you about the retribution that the wicked should fear!"

Her body moved. It was difficult for a human observer to understand, as the tiny black-haired girl felt the wind whipping past her body. The bandit who had moved first was the one she had chosen as her target, and in a split second she had reached him.

A blade that large shouldn't have been able to move that elegantly or swiftly, and yet it did all the same. As it had done many times before.

The man's body came to a halt.

His head came free from his body, with a cut so impossibly clean it didn't look like it was something that could be seen in this reality. Blood spurted from the stump of his neck as the corpse toppled to the ground, hand still gripping that sword.

The second man half-stumbled in his attempt to attack, stunned briefly as he swung his axe down by the sight of one of his fellows being decapitated so effortlessly. Sylphie's sword cut into his waist from his back and out his front, nearly severing his body completely in half.

Sylphie let out a giggle. Crushing sinners, claiming victory, slaughtering the wicked...!

Oh, it had been far too long!

She lunged forward, as the next bandit stumbled back in shock and fear. The tip of her blade penetrated his armor like it didn't exist, the thick sword piercing through his front and out his back. Casually, the demigoddess lifted her sword, taking his body with it. She flicked it to the side, flinging the limp corpse away.

"Allow me to introduce myself once more!" cried Sylphie with a wide grin, thrusting her bloodstained blade into the air, "I am Sylphie Sorvost, Aphei's Left Seat!"

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Izel~

---

Izel watched as Sylphie enthusiastically introduced herself. How adorably violent, but it seemed like the bandits were completely immune to fear. Or perhaps they had forgotten it? Ufu, well then, Sylphie was certainly going to enjoy herself. The bandits didn't hesitate to rush them, thinking them nothing more than exactly as Izel said. Innocent girls lost in the mountains, easy prey for the vile people like them.

The mage merely watched with mild curiosity as they rushed them. A good formation, for average people. How boring. They weren't going to be good entertainment at all, were they? The mage sighed lightly. Unlike Sylphie, this was going to be utterly boring for her it looked like.

While several headed for Sylphie, Izel coldly faced those headed for her.

"My my, so rude and brutish. When a cute girl asks for help, you give it to her." Izel let out a long, drawn out sigh. "But I suppose you uneducated flies wouldn't understand that, would you?" She supposed she could just wipe them all out here, but where would the fun in that be? She wanted some entertainment after all.

The bandit that rushed her swung his sword - from an outside perspective, it seemed like it had hit her - yet it sliced nothing but air.

"Yoohoo, what are you aiming at, hm?" Izel had somehow moved from where she had been standing to a space five feet away, waving playfully at the bandit. "Seeing things are you? My, perhaps you need a doctor?" Another bandit made another attempt to strike, but his blade struck air all the same. "Ah, ah, really. Are you so easily fooled by that?" The second bandit's eyes widened as a cold, pair of hands gripped the side of his face from behind. "No fun at all, are you?"

To onlookers horror, his entire body began petrifying. The bandit shouted, screaming and clutching at his throat in horror as slowly he was turned to stone.

"Whoopsie." Izel was standing behind him, flexing one of her hands. "Oh dear, all I wanted to do was share a bit of knowledge with him. Oh well~" The tone of her voice and what she was saying sharply contradicted the other. The first bandit, undeterred headed right for Izel...and this time his sword struck!

But -

"You even kill your own comrades. My my, you bandits are an honorless lot." Izel was standing behind him, and he had just struck down one of the other bandits. A grin formed on Izel's lips, slowly growing as she turned to face the group of bandits. "Well, I suppose it's about time I stopped playing around with kid games, then, hm?" She raised her arm towards the group of bandits. This was a rather inelegant spell, but often times such brute force was needed for a show of power.

A fireball formed in her hand, before it grew, nearly tripling in size. With barely a thought, it blasted through the group of bandits, slamming into one of their fortifications and exploding on impact.