Esran

:: Dragon Heart ::

Valishin Elias

"A Crucible of Principles"

Interaction/s: @ShwiggityShwah

---

The angry crimson shade of his arm and legs vanishing stayed the sniper's hand as he felt the medic approach him from behind. To be honest, for this person to have crept this close to him without Vali noticing surprised the marksman as he feigned nonchalance, chalking it up to his injuries being too severe to have noticed the bandit come close.

"It would help to send a picture of you on the job listing," Vali retorted with a roll of his eyes as he softly glided his finger over the dissipating burn marks. "And, also, not wearing the bandit's colors would help me not to shoot you down. Or, not healing the bandits in the first place."

The marksman stood up as he toted his rifle on his shoulder, his left hand sifting through his satchel to count how many bullets he had left. With this extended skirmish, Vali noted that he could not help out any longer-- at least, offensively. He could still probably shoot healing bullets or utility shots, but to expend his remaining energies on powerful attacks like the piercing or exploding bullets was out of the question. At this point, his strategies had already given them an upper hand. Vali doubted his help was needed any longer. Instead, he chose to continue interacting with their contractor, Pox. It was amazing how many similarities they had: they were both healers, they both were bandits (or at least, one used to be one), and they both donned masks. The marksman could sense the mysteries hiding beneath the soulless irises of the bird mask, and while his guard remained raised, the lad could not help but also feel a sense of connection with Pox-- at least, due to their preference to save as many lives as possible.

"You not only risked your neck by crawling around a bloody battlefield, but you also have no means of a long-range ability to heal your comrades." Vali remarked with a scoff. "Not the sharpest syringe in the cabinet, are you, Pox? Then again, to stand so gracefully for me to blow your head off should have been clue number one, in retrospect. You did not think this through, and for a medic, not thinking can end more lives than saving them."

The sounds of Damian's trees joining the battle eased the sniper, confident with the idea that at least their greatest powerhouse had emerged at last. He could at least rest easy, for now. He turned his attention back to Pox, loading five bullets into his rifle before approaching the medic.

"But, I do apologize." Vali bowed his head towards his fellow medic. "Attacking a medic has no honor. Words are but a reflection of the speaker, and I do hope you understand that my words were a reflection of my fear. I feared having to choose between my allies and my principles. As medics, we always pledge to do no harm to our patients, but where do we draw the line knowing that our patient may kill our brothers and sisters? These bandits broke the rules. They are scum."

Vali's sharp eyes turned in the direction of one of the village's buildings, spotting one of the surviving bandits peeking his head through the windows in an effort to see the ongoing skirmish. He gestured to Pox, signaling how easy it could have been for him to take out that peeping bandit.

"You asked us to help you in curing a disease in your town, and these bandits just destroyed your cure. I understand the weight of principles, Pox, but," Vali raised his rifle, scoping in on the bandit. "The wails will follow in the steps of these men who left many a widow in their wake. What's one evil life if it will save hundreds of innocents?"

His finger itched upon the trigger, but Vali eased his grip before bringing down his sniper. The sounds of battle resumed once more as the marksman had one more question to ask the medic, and his answer would affect the lad's next few actions. Valishin held up a bullet before it began to glow, continuously fading between green and yellow.

"The bandits we are facing now are powerful. If my allies and your bandits were all on the brink of death, who would you save first? Assuming I'm all out of healing bullets, whose life would you anchor? My brothers and sisters of Dragon Heart or these bandits you call your own?" Vali gripped the bullet before pointing it in the direction of the fight. "I know my principles and my choice. Now, what about you, doc?"

:: Dragon Heart ::

Valishin Elias

"No Rest for the Weary"

Interaction/s: @Hitman, @pkken, @Raijinslayer, @ShwiggityShwah & @Quincy

---

Their teamwork was bad at the beginning, but Vali was grateful that Argus and Sarah were able to follow-up on his relentless hammering at the woman and the clown. The red-haired mage moved fast on his feet, impressing the sniper with his efficient use of bombs to corner the duo in separating from each other-- the pair's cooperative strategies was a huge detriment to Vali's efforts in taking them out before. Then, as the woman blasted the clown from her side, Sara's celestial spirit, Scorpio, sent him flying further with horrible injuries with a devastating column of sand. Now, what was once a formidable trio of bandits had been reduced to an injured woman and an overconfident speedster. The sniper smirked at the notion that these rogues rolled too high, and they lost the draw. They moved their pieces carelessly, too proud to see the deceptive strength hidden beneath the exteriors of Dragon Heart's mages. Now, only the King and the Queen remained. Damian's status still stabbed at Vali's mind, but he couldn't waver, not now-- not when the tides were turning.

Vali would have celebrated this success, but his doom came upon him in the form of a gigantic sphere of coiling crimson flames. The orb slammed against his general direction, propelling a devastating torrent of fire to lick at the ground. The marksman stumbled to his feet, the hasty embers clinging to the illusory cloak. He was able to tumble down a small watering creek where the farmers often fetched their pails of water, and he was able to extinguish the flames on the Argus' loaned equipment to him. However, Vali severely underestimated the intensity of the flames which razed the grounds before him, leaving scorched blotches of black earth-- he hissed at the burns on his left arm which failed to dodge in time. His flesh now turned a furious red, causing the marksman to try to soothe it with water. He shed off the cloak, casting it aside as he lathered his burns with water.

"Marksman here," Vali spoke into the ring, sending his voice to his teammates. "Sara was able to put the clown out of commission. The woman, on the other hand, is injured thanks to Argus' bombs. She won't be able to fight anytime soon, which leaves us with the speedster. Excellent work, team. Although, there is a bandit medic lurking somewhere in the battlefield." Vali paused as he looked up at the sky. "I know what you're thinking, but I refuse to attack him. I also suggest you guys do the same. Attacking a medic is a crime. Remember that."

Vali withheld his location to avoid his enemies discovering where he currently was. However, with his left arm and left leg sustaining severe burns, he doubted he could move too much. The speedster was definitely his greatest threat; Jean specialized in close combat, something that Vali disdained with his own fighting style. He could only pray that his allies keep Jean busy until he could fight once more.

"Argus, finish the woman if you can. Sara and Trix, support Damian. Make sure he's safe. Sara, if you have a spirit who can lock down the speedster's feet or movement, that would be great. Once Sara locks Jean in place, Trix, put a hammer in his skull."

The sniper finished relaying his strategy to them as he tore a piece of his shirt which he soaked in the cool waters. He set about treating his burn wounds as he prayed for the best.

:: Dragon Heart ::

Valishin Elias

"Death in Three Acts"

Interaction/s: @Hitman, @pkken, @Raijinslayer, @ShwiggityShwah & @Quincy

---

Putting his lips upon the ring, Vali hissed in irritation as his keen eyes spotted the brigand medic still dancing in the shadows as the doctor began his vermin-like approach towards the battlefield. His desperate mind began to entertain the thought of just engaging the medic, but his principles prevailed with an exasperated sigh. The sniper moved from his current position, carefully maneuvering around the wheat stocks before he rested beside a scarecrow with its straws fluttering against the harsh winds. This time, the sniper was now closer to the town's walls, now crouching behind the clown and the woman who had began channeling a series of powerful spells.

Vali decided to put the medic in his place before engaging his target. Thus, he placed his lips upon the ring once more as he threw his voice in the area close to the medic who he saw creeping through the dilapidated buildings.

"This is the Sniper of Dragon Heart," Vali's voice rang around the medic. "I helped you heal your injured allies so that you would flee from the battlefield. I understand your need to help your comrades, but this is no place for a medic. I may be able to distinguish a target from an innocent, but bullets or fireballs cannot choose which flesh they pierce or incinerate." The marksman breathed out before continuing. "Tend to your wounded and mourn for your loss after the battle, lest you join their ranks and they lose any chance of survival. But," He paused for a moment, his thoughts pondering on the implications and the limits of his principles. "If you insist on helping your fallen friends on the field, then, I will watch over you, because I am Dragon Heart. And, I know what it means for others to fade before your eyes."

The pieces have moved once more, and Vali realized that their little game had now reached the final turning point. One errant step would spell the end of their formation.

"But, know this," Vali continued through the ring. "If you get in between my allies and me, I will not hesitate to put a bullet through you. The law dictates that your task is only to retrieve your allies. Nothing more."

As he said this, a large explosion spiraled at Damian's location, and immediately, Vali sprang to action as he refused to waste any more time on the bandit medic. With the clown and the woman distracted with their spells, the sniper got to work as he took off his black cloak, white mask, and onyx hat. Swiftly, he placed them on the scarecrow before using a bullet to spawn a white rope which he tied around the doll, just beneath the black cloak.

Before the two could spot him, the sniper had vanished beneath the illusion cloak once more as he placed the ring near his rifle, activating it in the process. If the ring could throw voices, Vali knew it may also be able to throw the sounds of his shots. When it came to assassinating people, he needed to deceive them by redirecting their senses to a location where he would never send his attack. If all went well, he could probably take out the two. The sniper breathed out as his aim steadied and his heart stilled.

Now, they play again.

A loud shot echoed to the duo's left, and Vali predicted that anyone who was battle hardened would immediately respond to sounds, almost instinctively. If he was correct, the clown and the woman would look to their left, exposing their blindspot to the right. Immediately, the white rope soared through the air, narrowly missing the woman by an inch as it passed from behind near her neck, embedding itself to the earth to their left, leaving a bright strand connecting the bullet to the costumed scarecrow. This was the second deception: sight was also a sense that was easily manipulated, and anything bright would often draw the eyes of the enemy. Vali believed that the luminous rope would draw their attention further away from him as he began circling further to the right. Now, it was the final deception: with a huff, the white rope connected to the scarecrow reeled back into the bullet, dragging the cloaked and masked doll as it flew through the air towards them. With its straw body and face shrouded by the cloak, mask, and hat, it would seem as if an assassin was charging at the two. However, the marksman knew that enemies of this level would only take a second before they would realize that it was just a decoy. Every precious shard of the briefest of eternities mattered.

But, a second was all Valishin needed.

As he settled now to the right of the two, his scopes lined up on the injured clown, knowing that he would have the hardest time dodging. In any normal case, he would just aim for a body shot to incapacitate his enemies, but this was different: they were murderers, and he needed to put them down. His scopes hovered on the clown's head, and Vali knew that in the chance the clown could dodge, his angle would allow the bullet to still hurtle towards the woman, effectively threatening both of them. Besides, any earthen shield would try to make would immediately be pierced through. If the gods were on their side, he could take out both.

"May my aim be true." Vali prayed in his mind as he took the shot, throwing the sound off to Jean in an effort to distract the speedster. The purple bullet pierced through the air, dashing at horrifying speed as it eagerly flew towards the clown's head.

:: Dragon Heart ::

Valishin Elias

"The Pieces Move"

Interaction/s: @Hitman, @pkken, @Raijinslayer, @ShwiggityShwah & @Quincy

---

Way to blow my ability to provide cover, Argus.

Vali hissed softly as a sudden smoke bomb blocked his line of sight towards his allies. While he understood the necessity, he still felt uneasy that his ability to watch over his teammates was hampered by Argus' strategy. To be fair, the lad boasted a tactical mind, but his naivety and inexperience poked its head visibly over the horizon. The sniper bit his lip in frustration, knowing full well that to shoot blindly into the smoke screen might injure his own allies. So, he quickly weighed his options: four of them were currently close to Jean, and if anything, Vali was confident that his comrades could take him. Thus, the marksman set his sights once more on the woman and the clown, his brows furrowing in thought as to his next few actions.

Having crept around the field, Vali now found himself good meters away from the clash, having a clear view of the duo who repelled his initial fire attack.

But, Valishin grinned at the thought that he got a few bits of information from his first attack. As a tactician, the sniper made sure to always think three steps ahead. First, he already knew what the woman was capable of: earthen magic. In this case, his group already had an idea of what the female could do while Argus' smoke bomb, more or less, covered Dragon Heart's abilities from Jean's allies. They already had a huge advantage from that. Secondly, the marksman also gathered how their enemies would react defensively to attacks. In this case, the woman tended to take advantage of her magic's strong defensive capabilities by summoning a wall or a shield of earth. The fluid and almost split-second decision she made as the poison fog caught fire solidified the fact that she was good at both offense and defense. Thus, Vali assessed that the earth mage would always use her earthen shield re-actively to attacks. And, lastly, he evaluated that these people were overconfident of their own abilities as evidenced when they continued trudging towards Jean instead of looking for their would-be assassin.

The enemy's pieces were continuing a careless approach, and Vali didn't find it in him to be kind and overlook their mistake at underestimating him.

His barrel peeked out from the cloak once more, firing jaded rounds which burst in poison fogs around the two before they could complete their dreaded march towards Jean.

"I can't have them memorizing the colors of my bullets." Valishin reasoned with himself as his rifle glowed blue. "I predict that the woman will instinctively cover the two of them with that same shield of earth, out of fear that I might use my explosive rounds again. But,"

Cerulean projectiles soared towards the two, landing indiscriminately around the area of the fog as Valishin tried to cover as much as area as possible with his shots. Upon impact, the blue bullets slammed like a sledgehammer, echoing off clacking and thunking sounds which allowed the sniper to determine whether or not they were successful.

"Now," A smile curved the marksman's lips as his rifle now emanated a soft purple light. "Let's see you shield your way out of this."

Immediately, five piercing purple bullets soared through the air-- powerful shots that could go through even steel. He hypothesized that the since the duo had not yet seen this shot or color, they would have no idea what the shot could do until it began piercing through her shields, and hopefully, land a solid hit through a limb or two. As the last shot vanished inside the emerald haze of poison, the marksman slid back into the cloak, feeling the fatigue creeping up on him as he slowly moved through the fields again-- this time, settling nearer to the destroyed carriages. The best he could do was to keep the woman and the clown busy, to keep isolating Jean from his allies until Damian and the others could wipe the floor with him.

However, a disturbing sight greeted Vali as he noticed another figure patching up the injured bandits by the obliterated carriages. He raised his rifle, peering at the jet-black figure with a bird-shaped mask. He certainly looked like one of the bandits, and Vali began to panic that this medic might heal up their enemies. His finger itched upon the trigger, crosshairs hovering over the medic's head as the barrel peeked out from the cloak. He knew that the bandit would begin to feel as though a rifle was pointed at him, and the marksman accepted that he had only this few precious seconds to take the shot.

But, he couldn't find it in himself to kill a medic.

There was no honor in it, even if the medic was an enemy.

"Besides," Vali thought to himself. "If I'm not mistaken, if we do heal these injured bandits, they may turn against their masters for attempting to kill them." The sniper remarked, figuring that the food products strewn about in an ashen heap around the carriages meant that the bandits were not prepared to fight at all. They were slaughtered mercilessly, and the sniper decided to make use of that. They may even be able to question some of these brigands later.

In a second, two yellow bullets soared through the wheat stocks as they fizzled against two bandits whose wounds began to close up as their body began to flood with cells. He would help this medic for now, if only gambling that these bandits would realize that they were just being used as tools and fodder for the real villains. It was a risk worth taking.

Vali took one last gaze at the medic, deciding once more if he should shoot or not. However, his honor triumphed, prompting Vali to gaze back at the emerald fog and continue monitoring the woman and the clown.

He could only hope that Damian and the others have already dealt with Jean already. He couldn't keep stall

:: Dragon Heart ::

Valishin Elias

"The Game of Gambits"

Interaction/s: @Hitman, @pkken, @Raijinslayer & @Quincy

---

It would seem that behind every well-thought out plan there seemed to be a constant presence of a blond celestial mage to screw it up, and a hammer-wielding child to help them see it through.

As the carriages erupted into a fiery inferno, dragging the nearby bandits into a fate of ash and bone, the sniper refused to flinch or even show any emotion as the figures he saw in the distance began their grim approach. One of the trio sped towards them, knocking out Sara's Taurus which told tales of the woman's magical ability. Soon, Jean Vali, the speedster of the trio, reached them and began to let loose his demands. This brief moment of silence allowed Vali to pat himself on the back: a few moments ago, Dame and Trixie had wanted to charge in, and if it weren't for him telling them to hold their horses, they may have been seared by the trap. There was always merit in tactics and safe-play, and he hoped his allies would see the importance of thinking with a rational mind.

When Argus replied against their detractor, the sniper had to agree that it was incredibly stupid for these bandits to sacrifice their numbers advantage for... an intimidating introduction? It wasn't even scary to begin with, just senseless loss of life. There was no honor, no valor in it, and the marksman felt his spine tingle in what seemed like fury.

However, it was also senseless for him to reveal his location and presence. Trixie's outburst as well as Argus' display would play into his new tactic. Valishin knew that Jean was expecting to fight four mages, not five. If he could just get to a new vantage point, he could definitely flank them. Vali decided to retreat quietly, steps landing on the soil without a sound as the chameleon cloak shrouded the sniper's presence to the enemy. He had to be careful to maneuver around the wheat stocks, taking critical consideration of moving through only when the wind blew as he crouched. As he created distance away from them, Vali made sure to stay silent and to avoid talking. Even his breaths uttered no voice whilst he traversed crouched through the stocks.

Upon looking through his sights, observing the two individuals calmly walking towards them, the sniper recognized their confidence as anything but a bluff. If this was any normal mission, he would drop those two without a second thought. However, the mere fact that they could afford to incinerate their own meant that their powers bordered on B or even A-ranked. Shooting them now would give away his location and presence; he could not afford that kind of mistake. His eyes widened upon seeing a Clown and a tanned woman, their very visage growing tendrils of dread to strike at Vali's heart.

Strategy was really like playing chess. You never knew how the opponent would move his own pieces to counter your tactics, and the only thing you can do is try to always think three steps ahead as well as pray that your enemy was dumber than you.

Considering the scenario, they had the advantage in both numbers and surprises. Jean himself was also isolated from his allies while Vali's tactics allowed his team to still be close-knit. Both sides had no idea what the other was capable of, and Vali wanted to capitalize on that. If anything, it would be bad to let the three work together. Obstruct their vision of each other, separate one from the rest, and restrain one of them without revealing Dragon Heart's capabilities to the other two. The winds were also blowing towards their enemy's direction as well.

Now, the pieces move.

The tip of the rifle's barrel crawled out from the cloak's caress as Vali peered at the approaching duo. "May the gods deliver us from evil."

Four quick clicks and shots howled through the air, and in a split second, four large emerald fogs burst out a few meters around the Clown and the Tanned Woman, effectively obstructing their path and vision to Jean. Vali knew that he had removed most of the poison's strength and it would never be enough to stop mages of their caliber. Thus, he had his next move. No sooner did the wind start fanning the poison cloud towards the two, a glint of an ominous orange glow refracted from Vali's hiding spot.

A last click, and a whistling sound followed suit. And, before anyone could be breathe, a violent explosion took place in front of Jean's allies as the emerald fog caught fire. The flames, fanned by the wind, licked at the sickly wheat as it created a ring of searing flames around the Clown and the woman.

Vali huffed, feeling as though someone had punched him in the gut with the amount of magic he used with that last shot. He could still move, though, but definitely, he could never do that magic again during this fight. However, relentless, the sniper aimed down at Jean, loading one more bullet into his rifle as the cartridge glowed red.

"Choke on this," Vali whispered as a red bullet flew towards the Jean. After shooting, Vali hid his rifle beneath the cloak once more, his visage shrouded as he slowly crept towards another vantage point, this time closer to his team.

:: Dragon Heart ::

Valishin Elias

"This is Bandit Country"

Interaction/s: @Hitman, @pkken, @Raijinslayer & @Quincy

---

"I'd like to respectfully disagree, Sir Dame." Vali's voice echoed softly near them as the sniper vanished underneath an illusion brought on by the cloak before getting out of the vehicle. "Argus is right. This is too convenient. If this is indeed a trap, we have the advantage of them not knowing how many we exactly are as well as what we can do. It's best if we keep this advantage since we also do not know how many of them there are sneaking about."

Under the cover of illusions, Valishin made his way to the top of Sara's vehicle as silent as a lion on a prowl. The cloak proved larger than what the sniper expected, and as such, he was able to aim down the barrel and scope of his rifle while maintaining his cover. His scopes lined up with the robed men who stood near the still carriages. He adjusted the magnification, allowing him to observe the men better as he watched for unusual twitches or errant movements.

"Sir Damian," Vali spoke into the ring which allowed his voice to somehow hover near the ears of his comrades, his inexperience with the tool causing his voice to shift from his normal baritone to a shrill tenor. "You are the most skilled in our group. If ever an ambush has been set, you have the highest chance of repelling it with your power and experience. However, just in case it proves too much, Trixie and Argus should accompany you to watch your back. As people adept in close-combat, they can rapidly come to your aid if the need arises."

The sniper breathed out, noting the oddity of the lack of any noticeable movement from the robed individuals. They seemed quite stiff, as if they were planning something.

"Sara and I are ill-suited for close combat. As such, I recommend our resident celestial mage to prepare a spirit who is well-versed in close-combat to function as a frontliner should the ambush extend to the backline." Vali suggested as he removed his eye from the scope, gazing at his surroundings before speaking into the ring again. "I'll provide cover fire from my vantage point, and I'll drop 'em if they swarm. I count ten heads, but mind the shadows." The sniper looked through his scopes again, checking the surroundings which were marred by walls upon walls of withering crops and wheat. This was the perfect area for an ambush, and it was almost uncanny how poorly hidden this plot was if ever their suspicions were right. "Do not provoke them or anything, though, as you approach them. Keep your fingers steady on your weapons, but do not give them a reason to attack. The Magic Council might get on our rears if we indeed attacked a group of innocent civilians who just happened to be conglomerating in dark robes. We have no concrete proof aside from our paranoia, so, we must play it safe."

The bullet encased in the rifle glowed green as he prepared himself to create a blanket of poison fog to shroud their enemies' line of sight should things turn sour.

"We aren't gonna start anything, but, by the gods," Valishin smirked, his voice scoffing at the idea of an ambush this obvious. "We're gonna end it."

---

As he trained his eyes on the group of robed men, a slight rustling some meters ahead caught the sniper's keen eyes. A lone glint of sunlight reflected upon the blades of grass swaying with the winds, and a disturbing sight greeted the marksman. For the briefest of eternities, he glimpsed at some figures hiding amongst the crops. They seemed too far for any of his comrades to notice with their normal eyesight, but a foreboding sense of grim gripped at Valishin's heart as the figures vanished without a trace. Whoever these people were, they knew what they were doing.

"Twenty-meters northwest of the robed men-- spotted possible figures hiding in the shadows." Valishin reported. "Proceed with caution."

His finger eased at the trigger, breath steadying as his sights stabilized on the field surrounding the robed men.

"Weapons ready. Let's dance."

:: Dragon Heart ::

Valishin Elias

"A Journey's Start"

Interaction/s: @Hitman, @pkken, @Raijinslayer & @Quincy

---

Valishin allowed a small smile to grace his lips at the endearing show of affection between the crimson-haired lad and his sister, Juno. The teasing banter between the two reminded the sniper of the tapestries of a childhood long gone, just before their parents were taken away from him and his siblings. Memories of fresh snow falling like drops of starlight upon an asphalt pavement with three children dancing and laughing hit the marksman like hammer against concrete-- he was dazed at a distant past, and it took a moment before Vali registered in his head that the lad had introduced himself. Vali nodded in acknowledgement, smiling at the siblings before he introduced himself.

"I'm Vali, marksman at your service." Valishin spoke in a calm tone, like how two strangers tried to bumble their way towards conversation. "Nice to finally be acquainted with both of you, Argus and Juno. Don't worry, I'll watch over him." The sniper vowed as he chuckled with amusement at the sister's coddling of Argus. However, his vow was not one just for show. In the few times that Vali did work with a few members, he always swore to watch over them-- to keep them safe. It was his own self-enforced penance for the thirty-two innocent lives he took, which gave birth to a promise never to take an innocent life nor to let one slip through his sights. The quest they were going did not seem dangerous, but every guild member knew how quick the turn from easy to cursed. One moment the mages would just be felling trees, and another moment, they would already be fighting a malevolent murder of spirits.

The life of a mage never promised a ride back home, but if Valishin had anything to say about it, he would do his damned best to make sure that he brought home each ally he had in one piece.

His gaze turned to Sara, and at once, he recalled how she had ignored him for quite a long time. These slight quirks and misdemeanors rarely evoked a response from Vali, but at this moment, he felt a slight heat coursing through his spine downwards to his legs, shooting out in tendrils, at the thought that this woman would blatantly ignore one of her own. It was telling what kind of a person she embodied since Vali swore he would never treat one of his own like how she did so. What did brotherhood and the guild mean to her? Even now, he found no guild member yet who embodied the true attitude of one who treated each other like family. Human nature dictated that they keep their friends close and their enemies at bay; Vali was no exception, he fully admitted that he had flaws especially when it came to treating Vega.

He had no reason to confront her, though, but Vali stored that memory at the recesses of his head for future reference.

"I've still got a lot of ammunition in my satchel 'ere, but if ya'll decide to meet up later, I'm dandy with freshening up first." Vali offered. "I'm ready when ya'll are."

:: Dragon Heart ::

Valishin Elias

"Adventure in Four Acts"

Interaction/s: @Hitman, @pkken, & @Quincy

---

The magical quill tapped softly on the table as Vali stacked the last of the handwritten notes on the growing pile before he stood up. Flavi still soundly slept, prompting the marksman to turn around to look at her one more time as he headed for the door. He couldn't help but let a smile curve his lips, finally realizing that this was the brotherhood that he should have aspired for a decade ago. A true family didn't ask for their own to murder another just to save their own skin. A true family didn't leave their weakest to the slaughter as those in the higher echelons watched on in apathy. He nodded his head at this realization, and soon he tightened the sling of his rifle before he left the library with steps as quiet as the calm before a storm.

As he arrived at the staircase, he noted that the guild had calmed down from its previous disarray. A good number of the members already stripped most of the job postings from the board, and Vali assumed that whatever he got would just be the runt of the litter in terms of requirements and reward. He dodged the roaming members who still busied themselves around the guild hall, and as he headed for the remaining postings, he heard a voice that piqued his interest: poor people, medicine, and near proximity. Those were three strikes that immediately alerted the repentant bandit as he turned his sights in the direction of the guild's resident Celestial Mage, Sara. She was one of the kinder members of Dragon Heart, and her kind, hazel eyes reflected the gentleness of her soul as she looked at anyone with equal respect. Unlike some others he could name, Sarah opted for the non-violent way to end her conflicts-- something that Vali admired greatly about the woman. In fact, he wasn't surprised to discover that she was the one suggesting the job posting to Damian and another girl by the name of Trixie.

When Vali saw the smaller, red-haired woman, a disappointed sigh escaped his lips. Trixie was definitely the opposite to Sara, and Vali could already sense that he would clash with this girl without a second thought. Her reputation for being rash, boisterous, and impulsive was known throughout the guild, and given enough power, she may have a chance at dethroning Vega. Seeing Sara offer the job to Trixie was almost enough to make the marksman walk away.

But, he had rent to pay, bullets to hoard, and a cuckoo clock to fix. Beggars couldn't be choosers.

"Hey, Sara," Vali called out as he sauntered over to the triad. "I heard that you're going for a job with sick, marginalized individuals." The sniper reached the trio before looking at the other two. "Sir Damian," Vali nodded to the A-ranked mage before doing the same with Trixie. "Trixie." Valishin turned his sight back to Sara before smiling at her. "I've always wanted to try developing my healing bullets, and I think I can help in trying to alleviate their sickness if I can improve my Guns Magic with them."

He had never worked with these people before, preferring to work alone since snipers could not afford too much companions since it would give their locations away. However, if this was just something as simple as helping afflicted peasants, then, he could make some leeway.

"I'd be happy to join you all in this quest. I've lived with the poor all my life, and I find it hard to resist their cries." Vali addressed the three. "I want to make their lives better."

:: Dragon Heart ::

Valishin Elias

"The Least, the Lost, and the Last"

Interaction/s: @Crimson Raven

---

There really was no point in arguing with an idiot.

They would infinitely beat him with experience.

If the point was a bullet, it would have soared past Vega without a second thought. It mattered little to Vali who started the fight; heck, a brawl started in the guild almost every day, but it was the more powerful mages' responsibility to end them. To those who have more power, more was expected of them. The woman relaxing and conversing with Victoria, another of the top dogs, was a living testament to that responsibility. While the other top mages desired to just observe for entertainment or, worse, join in the destruction of the guild, Mis genuinely tries her best to put a stop to it. The rule on avoiding brawls was there for a reason: to reduce guild expenses with the constant replacement of resources. Emeralds were hard to come by in times of need. For now, the guild had more than enough to sustain them through a fortnight's worth of brawls, but there was only so much oaken tables you could break before they become loose board trestles with termites gnawing at them.

If anything, Vali didn't want Master Kukan to have to worry about the expenses of his guild house. The man was already working hard as it is, and at the very least, he wanted the master to return home with a clean and organized home. Bonding over fights was a good thing, Vali had no qualms about it, but they had to follow the rules. These legal bindings served as the wall separating the guild and the darkness which swirled in the hearts of the darker troupes whose wars against the Magic Council burned ever so brightly even until today. He would be damned before allowing this family to fall into chaos and anarchy.

His thoughts were interrupted although supported when Master Kukan himself took the reins and ended the fight with but a show of strength from his space-time magic. Immediately, Vali felt his entire body freeze with unnatural energy. It was similar to how one tried to run away from the monsters in their nightmares, but desperately feeling their limbs unwilling to cooperate. The unnerving weights seemingly pulling their limbs down always sent a shiver down the sniper's spine. The master himself seemed busy, and spared just a few words for them, mostly towards Vega and frosty over there.

There was no point in dawdling any longer in this tumultuous scene. In any case, he should probably wait until the sharks feasted on the good ones. As always.

"Thanks, Mis," Vali turned to the knight as he took a swig and downed it. "Though, I'll have to take some jobs just to replace the bullets I lost today. Sooner or later, I'd have to make my own bullets. See you, around, yeah?"

The sniper hoisted his rifle on his shoulder before ascending the stairs. The statement he said with Mis was true, though. The ammunition he bought from Valiant almost everyday siphoned a good sixty to seventy percent of his earnings. Crunching the numbers, by learning how to make his own bullets, Vali theorized that he could potentially save a thousand emeralds a week which would go to his apartment. After all, his cuckoo clock was now a weird sounding avian from hell, and he was frankly getting tired of being woken up by a bird injected with too much testosterone. Not to mention his wooden boards creaked to his steps or breathing. Or, existence. He planned to study bullet smithing and creation, and he had been doing this for a month now. Whenever things began to settle down after a brawl, he retreated back to the library to study the science of the bullet creation for a good portion of the hour.

Thus, as he reached the sanctum of knowledge (or, as Vali liked to call it, Anti-Vega Barrier), his sharp ears twitched at the sound of books, papers, and tools hitting the floor or tossing in the air. There were only a few people who regularly visited the library, and from the time he spent here, he could already piece who it was.

A gentle hand pushed the door leading to the library, seeing notes strewn about the carpeted floor. The stream of discarded research led like a breadcrumb trail to a certain girl resting her head on her arms as her back bent at the table. Flavia.

She was one of the constant denizens of this place, and in the time that Vali spent here studying, he only had a few successful conversations with her. The girl was absurdly timid and shy, but by the looks of things, she was quite the opposite. The sniper bent to pick up one of the scattered parchments, crouching as he scrutinized the topic before his orbs widened in surprise.

The Study of Advanced Photokinesis by past wizard-saint Pos Emon. The Anatomy of Magical Locuses by chairman Bora Yalis of the Magic Council. Photopropulsion and Enhanced Barrier Studies by wizard engineer Shivan.

"The hell," Vali grimaced, realizing that these were advanced texts meant, supposedly, for A or even S-class mages. When the sniper was studying for the Spider Bullet, he had to focus on the element of light and he encountered these researches on his way to completion. He didn't even read the entire thing. The complexity of the language and terms used confused the former bandit, and he settled for just a rope to help him move around instead of his intended piercing light shot.

One look at the exhausted girl, and the marksman knew that she was pushing herself the most out of everyone in the guild. A C-rank, she was, but, perhaps, her heart proved stronger than Muko. Maybe, she wasn't shy or timid all the time.

Maybe, she just remained strong for far too long.

Valishin knew exactly how that felt like.

Silently, he gathered the materials and the books she let go of before putting them on the space opposite her. Then, he took out a magical quill, a set of parchments, and his reading glasses from his bag. With a quiet sigh, he sat opposite of Flavia before unfurling the scrolls and opening the books she researched on. He didn't really know if she was soundly asleep, but he would try to help her. He saw himself in her when he was nothing more but a glorified poacher.

Putting on his glasses, Vali went to work as he jotted down the important things and notes from the complicated texts that he could comprehend. Based on these studies, he figured that she may be going to improve her barrier capabilities. When Vali first came to the guild, he also made the library his home where he studied his craft more and more. He was acquainted with almost all of the books and scrolls here, and as such, he listed an outline of a series of books and researches he recommended for her to read.

The sound of his quill scratching at the parchment served as a gentle melody in the library, and as his auburn eyes caught sight of his favorite bullet smithing text, he shook his head in favor of continuing to write notes for this exhausted young lady. Soon, the handmade notes began to pile on one another, the legalistic and formal language transformed into simple logic and ideas.

Vali was thankful that he had some friends like Mis, and that, he was able to interact outside of the library. However, he figured that Flavia may not be the same. It was no use to throw a fish into a new pond without a gentle hand; if the mage had dragged Vali back to the guild after that skirmish at the village, Vali would have flipped since he could not have adjusted quick enough. Instead, Valishin had to adjust slowly to society, to cast off his crimes and ways until the mask was no longer a shadow that he hid his face under. It was now a reminder, a constant sigil of vigilance.

It had to be a slow, gradual change. Like small waves forming into one big sweep.

To talk to her immediately like a friend or to toss her in the middle of the guild may be detrimental.

Thus, Vali decided to talk in her own language. A scholar's language, as it seemed. Starting off from where she could relate with him.

It was easy to say that the guild was a family, but if the only thing they knew how to do was to fight each other without adjusting to the needs of the least, the lost, and the last, then, what kind of family would they actually be? Guilds can easily be judged by the way they treat their weakest, and while Flavia was by no means weak, it went without saying that she did need help.

They weren't friends... yet. That much was certain. But, Vali was tired of ignoring others. He always spoke about the laws and the rules, and yet here he was, breaking the first rule of the guild: to treat each other like a family.

This was a small step, definitely, but it was progress nonetheless. There were a lot of weaker mages in their guild, and Vali decided he would be there for them. They may be slow like molasses, but he'd be there for them. Sticky with their molasses.

A guardian. An overwatch. A sentinel.

:: Dragon Heart ::

Valishin Elias

"Barking at Giants"

Interaction/s: @Lord Sawsaw2, @Reflection, & @Sho Minazuki

---

The hug from Mis radiated the warmth of her genuine concern and regard for each of the guild's individual members. Even as the ridges of her armor pushed against the ribs of his chest, the marksman returned the valiant knight's embrace with an amused and somewhat pained sigh. As they parted, Vali stepped back before taking off his mask. He combed his hair back so that he could get a better look at Mis before he smiled at her. "It's nice to see you, too, Mis. You never fail to make this guild brighter with your presence alone." Vali remarked, and he was about to take her up on her offer to partake of the fruits (again, beggars can't be choosers), one of the guild members flew past them before crashing against the wall with a painful crack.

Vali didn't need to ask Lorn to read the hearts of the people around him to know that all hell was about to break the loose. The metaphorical fists of the netherworld gripped at the gates of the guild as the mages around them joined each other in a flurry of fists, kicks, and tackles. Slippers slammed against noses, knuckles bashed against jaws, and even someone's dentures soared to the second floor amidst the chaos. The sniper shook his head, but instead of feeling irritation or anger, only a serene smile overtook his features. This cacophony of pained wails, hysteric laughters, and rabid jeers was indeed the sign that the Dragon Heart still remained true to its reputation-- to the warmth of its trademark flames. While this kind of brawl was indeed against the rules of the guild (and by the gods, Vali itched to scream at them), he believed that if Mis or the other S-class mages were here, they'd stop it at any time.

The least he could do was to just prepare his own spot at the ledges of the second floor, so that he could start shooting the medicinal bullets at the ones who were injured quite badly. Or, two medicinal bullets in Vega's head for good measure whilst Vali pretended that he was using the Unrelenting Spell.

"I appreciate the offer, Mis, but," He tried to call out to her as the knight began charging into the fray. "I'd rather salvage whatever remains of my face."

Stuffing his mask into his bag, Vali summoned his rifle before loading a bullet into it. Just in time, Lorn passed by him and, as was expected of most of the higher rank mages, dignified him with nothing more but a quaint smile. One can tell a lot about a person by the way they greeted those below them, and the stark difference in attitude really contrasted between Mis, the one who greeted him like a friend with a hug without hesitation, and Lorn, the one who regarded him like any stranger on the field or one of his many adoring fans.

Interestingly, Valishin noted, both Mis and Lorn were of the same rank.

It went without saying that even if one attained an A-Rank, they still could not buy a personality.

He returned the smile with a respectful nod before he aimed his rifle at one of the draconic ribs arching over the ceiling. His bullet glowed white, and with a click, a luminous white thread connected the bullet and his gun. Next, he grappled himself to one of the ribs before swinging towards the staircase with trained expertise. The thread disconnected as the white spool vanished into the crowd below while Vali perched at the stair railings, looking down at the ensuing brawl where more and more mages have now begun to use their magics.

His keen eye began spotting some prominent members already: Dreadlin, the resident lizard, Glory, the mechanical hybrid, and even Muko, one of the darker mages around. Vali was feeling confident that this brawl would end soon-- unless Vega tries to screw things up again. And, boy, was he doing a great job at that with his instigating remarks even as a symphony of frost and flame passed around the room like a typhoon.

"I refuse to be a part of this." Vali shook his head before aiming down his rifle, just as Mis contained most of the magics being flung around the hall within her mirrors. Her voice echoed across the room, and the cheery tone she possessed all but vanished into one that spoke of real anger and protectiveness. The two mages who started the brawl now looked repentant after being chewed out by Mis, and when their senses finally returned, the bruises and wounds they sustained healed and closed up, returning a healthy shade to their skin as puffs of yellow powder wafted at their necks. Whistling sounds of medicinal bullets filled the air, the emptied shells clacking against the stairs as Vali got to work on doing what he did best after a brawl: patching his brothers and sisters up. "Vega," Vali called out with an annoyed tone. "Craziness may have been popular back in whatever hole you came from, but breaking the rules don't make you cool. They make you look like the fragile child that you are. And, Sir Dreadlin could not have described sir Zanthrax better: that you're a bloody git. Ever heard of holding back, frosty? We already know you're powerful, but there are better ways of stopping this brawl without breaking the rules." Vali failed to even flinch, knowing that he was addressing two of the guild's top dogs. In his eyes, no one was above the law-- whether it be a C-rank, A-rank, or even the master himself: the law was blind to the titles men called themselves. Lady Justice only concerned herself of the right and the wrong. "Your ego's showing, you git."

It was no secret in the guild that Vali held little to no respect for Vega and the other lawbreakers, and the marksman would gladly lead him to the pointed end of a pitchfork, given the chance. His blatant disregard for the law and the system irked the sniper ten-fold, and god knows why the hell the master even bothered with someone as unstable as him. However, Vali immediately regretted his thoughts. This was what made Dragon Heart such an amazing guild: they accepted anyone from all walks of life, as long as they proved themselves. A bandit, a scum like him should have never questioned the master's decision.

Valishin refused to speak any further, knowing that Mis had already driven her point forward.

The sniper toted his rifle on his shoulder as he jumped off the stairs, landing softly near the bar as he walked towards the exhausted knight.

"Stopping them doesn't get easier, huh?" Vali chuckled at her. "But, I'd thank you nonetheless." The lad stood a few inches away from Mis as he addressed her once more. "Oh, and I'd like to take you up on that offer, if it still stands."