The rain abated not in its furious tears as the winds' howls intensified, causing the green shrubberies to shudder against its wrath. The accompaniment to such an orchestra were the heavy metal clangs of the boots from the patrols who scoured the drenched city day and night; like wolves, the ninran footmen would devour their helpless prey without as much as remorse or hesitation. Aside from the soldiers, the streets were bare of any individuals, surely afraid of the tyrants who trampled upon more than just their bones, but, more importantly, their very humanity. It has been four years since the Ninrus Elders have made the proud nation of Vualranur fall on its knees and not once were the cries of murdered vualranians erased from the symphony that plagued the fallen land every night. One might think that a rebellion would be imminent but with the iron fist of the commander, Jabaha, and the military elitism of the Ninran Corps, not many rebels saw much hope other than the usual hit-and-run. On this particular night, the moon's light pierced ever so softly upon the rainy locale as two cloaked figures strode through the rain, their footsteps lighter than most.
"Keep up." the taller person rasped angrily as he quickened the pace with the shorter figure shambling clumsily.
"We've been walking for hours now... I need to rest!" a feminine voice quipped in retort as the two began to rapidly walk towards the inn yonder. They had been travelling from the city of Rakkia with a few stops here and there but when night began to set in, Akriel, the tall traveller, knew that they had make up for lost time. As they neared the location, three soldiers appeared from the shadows, barring their path whilst the icy rain continued to bathe them.
"No civilians should be out this late. You know the curfew." Nelarth, an aged soldier, crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Off with the hoods."
Akriel and his companion didn't budge as the guards began to get agitated by their lengthy defiance of four seconds. "If you ain't gonna get rid of them hoods, I'll do it fer ya, scum!" Ator, a chubby guard, came up from behind the two as his stumpy fingers grabbed the tip of their hoods and abruptly pulled it down. As the cloth unveiled the two, a flash of golden locks greeted the guard from both the male and the female. The man's hair fell to his neck, the strands sticking to his face due to the rain whilst the woman pushed aside hers, revealing the visage of the forgotten princess of the fallen Vualranur empire. However, the grunts didn't seem to recognize the treasure in front of them as what they saw was a mere tool to sate their lust.
"She's purty, ain't she?" Garuga, the lankiest of the triad, licked his lips. "They did break the rule, din't dey? I guess a punishment is in order, don't you?"
"I guess she can help me with the blues, eh?" Nelarth grinned as he stepped forward and grabbed the woman by her wrist. However, never could the lascivious guard expect a flash of green to soar through the air, stilling his veins before he could react. A spurt of blood gushed out from his mouth as his companions tried to process the glowing blade that had been swung at the man's throat, illuminating the droplets of rain into a grimly visage of death and decay. In a moment, Nelarth dropped to the wet ground, dead before touching the earth. The two guards snapped out of their trance as they began to unsheathe their blades.
"YOU GON' PAY FER DAT, FILTH!" Ator roared, raising his rusty blade in the air and heaving it down immediately. Akriel blocked the blade by raising his sword before pushing Ator's weapon up and slashing the fat bastard's belly horizontally. The last guard attempted to flee but Akriel dashed forward, knocking Garuga's blade out of his fists as the enraged Seraph survivor placed his blade on the ninran's throat.
"Oh, don't worry." Akriel whispered grimly as he placed the tip of his sword inside the man's mouth. "This will only be... extremely and brutally painful." The Seraph's blade liquefied into a green substance which entered Garuga's mouth and, effectively, his system. In a flash, Akriel pushed the man away as he pulled his hood over his head with Azrael doing the same. Then... they walked away. Garuga was left speechless, not knowing what had happened. He only knew that something was inside him and, that, it would be the end for him. Still, he tried to run as he got up and began his escape. However, from the corner of his eye, he saw Akriel raising the hilt of his sword. Instantly, a burst of green liquid ripped out from the man's torso as he was left lying on the ground, his eyes opened in shock. The green liquid reformed on the hilt, the sword's blade solidifying once more.
"You didn't have to kill them, you know? You could have just knocked them out." Azrael mumbled quietly, probably not expecting for her cousin to hear.
"You didn't have to leave the throne when Vualranur needed you the most." Akriel replied darkly. "If you don't shut up, I'll cut out your tongue."
The two began to walk quickly once more for the inn that strangely shone brightly as the only light in this eternal night.
---
The two arrived inside the rather warm inn as Akriel wasted no time and went to the innkeeper. "I have guests tonight. Allow them into my room." Akriel instructed as the burly man grunted in response. Akriel and Azrael hurriedly went to the second floor and approached the last door in the corridor. After unlocking the door, they stepped inside and took off their cloaks, throwing it aside in the small basket. The room was quite simple, two bunk beds across each other and a few sleeping bags strewn across the floor. After drying themselves, Azrael sat on the bottom side of the bunk, still drying her drenched hair. Meanwhile, Akriel went over to the window, moping at the depressing sight of such an immense rain. "If you try to escape again, Azrael... I will kill you." Akriel glared at his cousin, though he had hidden that fact for a long time. "The other seraphs might spare you but don't make the mistake of assuming that I will."
The princess' eyes surveyed her cousin. They looked very much alike with their blue eyes and golden hair, still... even if they looked similar, they acted differently. "I understand."
"Good. We'll wait for the others." Akriel hummed his response as the symphony of thunder and lightning shook the skies, accompanying the silent litany of each vualranian-- a hope for liberation, this was their prayer.
shylarah
Dominique