Arcane Tales

*He steps out of the shade, pushing the girl. He's a tall man in some simple black clothing, with a black scarf around his head, covering his mouth and nose. He's got his right arm around her neck, and is holding a long katana on his left one*

Masked Man: <T-This girl's your friend, isn't she!? Surrender or I-I'll kill her!>

???: <Are you drunk? We just met!>

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Armored Man: <Aren't you that rat that's been messing around shooting at everything? You're gonna have to come with us!>

*The other two take a step forward, glaring at them*

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*The wind keeps blowing in the snow, even though none of it really reaches her, thanks to the fire shield*

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*A young man with blond hair that goes down to his shoulders and green eyes comes in. He is wearing a dark blue cloak over simple white clothing and a black belt with two long swords.*

General Eldi: <Quite a pleasant morning this is, isn't it, Crive?>

*He too stares out the window*

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???: <(Oh no--I mean, I was just joking! Joking!)>

*He gets up and rushes out of the room. A few of the other soldiers follow him out*

"It is... I guess..." he looks back towards the window, "Strange light huh?"

Creed scowls at them as they leave.

James: [Damn... I could run at him and hope he isn't quick enough, but it isn't worth the chances that he could kill her... I'll have to give in to his demands for now.]

*James takes off his sword and stabs it into the ground beside him*

James: <Hmph... fine. What are your demands?>

*The two step back.*

Kentaro:<Those cans and bottles belonged to one. Once they're thrown away, they're garbage. Once they're full of holes, they're still garbage.>

???: <Oh, hell no!>

*She punches him in the crotch and he drops his sword with a moan. The girl runs behind James*

???: <I think violence will be okay this one time.>

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Armored Man: <What about the mail boxes? I know you escaped from the guards last time, but you're not that smart. Come with us immediately.>

*One of them grabs Kentaro's arm and the other one grabs both of Kari's arms and tries to pull her away from him*

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General Eldi: <Monsters. They've been on a rampage lately, and no one quite knows why. The guards seem to be having a hard time down there.>

*After a few seconds, they stop seing the lights through the snowstorm and Eldi turns to Alto with a serious look on his face*

General Eldi: <Well, that is what I came to talk to you about. Sephira and Toros are having the exact same problem with the fiends, and the King has requested a small squad sent to Sephira.>

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*Another soldier walks in and walks up to Creed*

Soldier: <Greetings, General Eldi has requested you to go to General Crive's office immediately.>

"Let her go!"

*Kentaro punches the guard who grabbed him in the nose with his free hand. Kari screams and squirms trying to get away*

"Sounds like fun" Alto grins, "Alright then, I'll mobilize a small detachment cause if it's too big they'll take all of the fun away from me" he laughed and spun on his heels walking over to his jacket hook and slipping on his trademark jacket.

~~~~~~~~

Creed sighed, "Of course" and began to make his way there.

*James sighs and pulls his sword out of the ground. He walks towards the stunned man and puts his sword to his face*

James: <Who are you?>

*James glares intimidatingly into the man's eyes*

Masked Man: <P-Please don't kill me!>

*He takes the scarf off and James recognizes him as some troublemaking private from the Aldanian army*

???: <Plot twist! He's a rapist. I bet he's a rapist.>

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*The ones grabbing Kari let go of her to get Kentaro as the one he punched rubs his bleeding nose, moaning*

Armored Man: <You son of a...!>

*One of them punches at his face*

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*She hear noises in the witch's room and realizes she had forgotten the cage had fallen.*

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General Eldi: <Don't you need to know what to do once you get there, first?>

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*Up some stairs and at the end of a hallway to the right he finds the door to Alto Crive's office*

*James glares at the man in shock, then regains his calmness and continues questioning him*

James: <Who ordered you to do this? The kingdoms are at peace, aren't they?>

"..." Creed has entered and is staring blankly at General Eldi, "This is Alto you're speaking to. You realize he seldom ever does what you expect him to."

"Damn right Red!" he grins.

"Creed" Creed corrects.

"Pssssh, whatever, ready the men, I feel a good battle is coming our way YEAH!!"

Creed groans, "I would advise you listen to General Eldi and find out what they wish us to do."

"Blondy here is a general? Damn I thought he was just an errand boy or something. Is he any good at fighting?" he turns to face Eldi, "You good with those swords of your's or are they just there to make you feel important?"

Creed facepalms, "Damnit Alto focus, focus, now is not the time to test your mettle against ANOTHER high ranking officer. Last week you put Commander Lisque in the hospital in a spar, do you even know restraint? I'm STILL filling out paperwork on THAT incident!"

"That's why I keep you around Creed, you do the work and I bust the heads. We're a perfect team!"

"You've completely missed the point" he groans and facepalms again.

*Kentaro uses his free arm to block the punch. He yanks his arm the gaurd is holding forward and headbutt's the guard's hand covering his nose.*

*Jade acts instinctively and grabs her father's Katana.*

"Hold on!"

*She rushes out the door to find out what's going on outside.*

Masked Man: <Y-You don't remember me!?>

???: <Dude, I still think he's a rapist.>

*The man runs off into the woods, escaping.*

???: <Coward!>

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*One of the guards draws his sword and grabs Kari. The other one lunges at Kentaro*

Armored Man: <Surrender, slowly.>

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*The big ugly grey rat has a somewhat strange ring in its mouth. It is a silver ring with a small green gem embedded*

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General Eldi: <I will make sure you never step foot in this city again if you embarass his highness. Creed, I trust you'll be watching over General Crive.>

*He walks out*

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*The woman is sitting on the ground, some blood dripping from her right arm. Her husband is standing in between her and a flying monster. It is a small blue cat with two little yellow horns on its forehead, oversized canines sticking out, and two blue feather wings on its back*

"Let's move out" Alto is still grinning, "I think I made an impression."

Creed facepalms again.

*James straps his sword onto his back and picks up the sword that the masked man dropped.*

James: <This is similar to the Aldanian military swords...>

*James drops the sword and turns closes his eyes*

James: [I didn't think they'd start acting on their own...]

*James opens his eyes and turns towards the girl*

James: <Leave him. He isn't worth the energy.>

*James walks by the girl and heads towards the Sephira Capital*

???: <Hey, hey! Wait up! You can't just leave me here. Who was that? Is he coming back?>

*She runs after him*

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*The wind stops and the storm ceases. It's still snowing, but slowly. Outside, one by one, people are heard coming out of their houses and carrying on with their days*

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*The soldier that called Creed is waiting outside*

Soldier: <Your horses are ready downstairs. General Eldi told me to give you this scroll with your assignment.*

*He hands Alto a scroll*

*James stops walking*

James: <I don't know yet... I don't have enough proof...

*James continues walking*

James: <But I'd advise you to get inside the city and stay away from me.>

Alto takes the scroll, "Very well then, let us be off"

"Another one? This is the third one this week!"

*Jade steps in front of the man, her katana drawn*

"Tend to your wife, I can handle this."

*She charges at the small creature and slices at it.*

*Kentaro spins himself attempting to swing the guard holding on to him into the one lunging at him. Kari immediatly stops squirming and screaming and begins shaking in fear. Kentaro draws a gun and points it at the guard holding Kari at sword point*

"You think you're a real tough guy, huh? If it's just me you want let her go and pick on me instead!"