Natravi and the others arrived in front of the city gates at night. As expected the guards on duty were hostile and treated them with suspiscion of spies. However when one of them recognized Volvo, who had been leading the group, they quickly apologized and allowed them entrance.

“You’re popular,” Natravi commented.

“Yeah, he’s really close to the Duke,” Fliss said excitedly. Natravi did not miss the looks he got from the rest of the team at speaking sensitive information but decided to ignore it for now.

After explaining what had happened a guard was dispatched to deliver this information to the duke while the mercenaries, in company of half-a-dozen soldiers, escorted the soldiers of Alexandria to the prisons. Natravi had her hood up so no one could see her face but that did not stop one of the curious guards from hindering their progress.

“Miss Natravi, your beauty can be a great pain sometimes”, Fliss joked.

“Yes,” Natravi said loudly, “so I would like to ask the gentlemen on the right to please keep in mind that four very dangerous enemies are in your vicinity and would not hesitate to harm you.”

“There are only three Alexandrians,” the guard observed. “OW”

A rock had suddenly flown out of nowhere and struck him on the nose causing a red bruise to form.

“Ahhhh,” the guard said as he tried to stop the bleeding. The guards around the group gripped their swords, waiting an incoming attack.

“Ha” Peter laughed. “Beauty is your enemy, men.”

A rock suddenly flew out and caught him on the side of his head.

“Ow,” Peter rubbed his head in pain, but kept his smile.

“Should I target lower,” Natravi said in a cold voice, causing everyone man to shiver. The group spent the rest of the walk in silence, every time a guard tried to peek around they were met with a rock to the nose or head out of nowhere. Eventually they reached the prison where they were greeted by a large man, presumably the warden. He had a great brown mustache and a bald head as oval as his belly, a true horror out of Tottenhiem’s tales. He wore a black butcher’s apron and white linen underneath sullied in some blood. The large coal colored building behind him casted a menacing look, doubled by the light from his torch illuminating his smile.

“I hear from that noble, ye’ have more toys for me.” He said.

“It’s okay,” the man wearing a helmet with a lion’s design on it told Volvo. “We will take it from here.”

“Alright,” Volvo said as he handed over the rope with which they were tied to the soldier. “Ah, did Lord William have something for me? A letter perhaps?”

“Yeah,” The large fat man gave him a scroll with the symbol of the noble’s house imprinted with wax on it. “Here ye’ go.”

“Thanks,” Volvo said as he led his group away.

“Are you okay miss Natravi?” Fliss asked, “You don’t look so well.”

“I don’t know,” Natravi’s voice was on edge. Despite a stoic face she was holding her robes very tightly, despite the night being very warm. “When I was close to that building I could feel some negative energy coming from around it.”

The others took a moment to understand the reason for her worry. That is, all except for Peter who said what first came to mind.

“It was a pretty scary place,” Peter said nodding.

“No, this wasn’t fear I know when I am scared.” Natravi insisted.

“Okay, Okay.” Luvrit said. “....Well, the cemetery is pretty close so maybe you felt all the hate and anger of the dead? I mean that’s where most of the prisoners ashes are dumped and that’s where the soldiers of war are buried.”

“Hmmm, How about you take some rest while we take care of the rewards with the guild?” Volvo suggested.

“Sorry, I cannot do that.” Natravi replied coldly.

“Why is that?” Volvo asked curiously.

“Uncle Drac…,” Natravi began, before a person suddenly collided with her.

“Ow,” the person said. Both Natravi and her offender were on their bottoms and holding their head in pain.

“Natravi! Are you Okay?” Fliss asked worriedly.

The mercenary group unconsciously circled the two preventing the person from running away with anything it might have stolen from Natravi during their collision. Natravi was the first one to gather her bearings, but she still needed Fliss’s help to stand.

“I-I’m fine” Natravi said. She leaned off of Fliss and started to look at the street from where the person had come, completely ignoring the presence of the culprit infront of her. She gazed deeply in the shadows of every corner of the alley, for a glimpse of something unknown to the rest. Everyone glanced at each other for an explanation they didn’t have until Volvo spoke up.

“The culprit is right here.” Volvo said with concern.

Natravi stared at Volvo for a moment changing her expression before settling on her default expression; emotionless.

“No, she isn’t the culprit.” Natravi pointed at the little girl in rags. “She’s not the creator of all this…‘bad’ energy.”

“We are still very close to the cemetery,” Volvo reminded her, “perhaps you are still feeling this negative-”

“’Bad’” Natravi responded with an edge. “Mister Volvo I said ‘bad’ not negative.”

“Ah,” Volvo gasped as he turned around, weapon in hand. “Beware lads; someone thinks they can ambush us.”

At his command the rest of the group became more alert and readied their weapons. Even so, they all didn’t return their backs on the other person lying on the ground.

“I guess that’s your ‘bad’ energy huh,” Volvo said to Natravi. “We fighters call it blood lust, or killing intent.”

“Who was following you?” Luvrit asked the girl angrily.

“Help, please, you have to…you have to help me.” She said out of breath.

“We will help, but you have to tell us who was chasing you.” Natravi said staring down at her.

“I don’t know,” the girl was beginning to tear up. She quickly cleaned the snot and tears with the dirty rags she wore as clothes. Taking a closer look, she looked very dirty indeed; her rags were torn and dirty with soot and dirt, her face was dirty and covered with markings of old dried up snot. But she also had a small spatter of blood soaking her clothes that set everyone of edge.

“It’s alright, It’s okay.” Fliss kneeled and asked in a soothing friendly voice. “Can you tell me what the person looked like? Who tried to hurt you?”

“She…She was a pretty lady. She came to us at night and asked us for directions to Dowager street, she promised us silver coin. But when we were taking her down an alley she suddenly pulled swords out of the dark and attacked us….she killed Harrison!” The little girl could only say so much before grief took over and she sobbed. Fliss immediately set to comforting the poor girl while the others focused their attention towards the supposed killer in the alley.

Natravi stared down the alleyway, observing shadows that lay over covering whatever was hidden in the darkness. Peter had a hand on his daggers while the other gripped a sword. He didn’t doubt Volvo or Natravi but even his higher hearing and sight couldn’t see nor hear the person in the alley.

“I can’t sense her” Peter whispered.

““I can.”” Natravi and Volvo said in synch.

Natravi began whispering under her breath as her hand started to glow. Small discharges of electricity started to come out, earthing on the ground and illuminating the small area around her. The light from her hands began to cast a shadow over her face as she frowned towards the alley. Everyone began to give her some space in case she was going to cast projectile magic, but their focus remained on the unknown threat in the alley.

“Whoever you are, I know you are still there so come out now or else I will destroy everything in that alley.” Natravi warned.

“Ooooo, I~ like~ you~” someone sang as she came out of the shadows. She was young and pretty just like the little kid said. She wore a black cloak and a smile that resembled very much a cat. She walked towards the group and even though she was acting flirtatious something dangerous lingered behind her Cheshire smile, keeping them alert.

“Who are you?!” Volvo stepped forward, weapon in hand.

“Oh, no one important.” She giggled in a shy fashion. Immediately after which she struck a thinking pose, halting her strut. “Hmmm, but you have seen me…and that is bad~”

As her voice got lower the others started to inch back, creating space between them and her. Fliss was occupied between consoling the child and supporting her team, but one gesture from Volvo made it clear on where he stood in the battleground.

“So you have to die.”

“Prepare,” Volvo took the offensive strike and swung diagonally with his mace, “YOURSELF.” Unlike before, his movements were fluid and quick but nonetheless deadly with force. The woman evaded with ease, ducking under the strike before moving forward.

She was about to take out her concealed weapons when Luvrit interfered, swinging downwards from the side. The hooded woman didn’t have enough time to take out her weapons so she sped forwards, and pressed herself to Volvo’s body. She narrowly missed Luvrit’s strike; it instead tore through her hood to reveal a dark grey armor underneath. Volvo didn’t take her action kindly as he used his free hand to try grabbing the woman rubbing herself on him.

Luvrit had moved behind her to block off the alley she came out of. Just as Volvo moved to grab Luvrit thrust his sword to stab her in the back. Neither was expecting their opponent to out maneuver herself from this.

“Woops,” she said as quickly fell down, doing the splits in the process.

“Argh,” Volvo grunted as Luvrit’s sword accidently stabbed his hand. Luvrit was expecting to pierce through armor, so he attacked with quite a bit of strength. But when his opponent suddenly fell doing the spits he couldn’t stop the sword in time and pierced his elder through the hand meant to grab her.

The woman giggled as she displayed great agility; bringin up her legs to her chest, cradling on her back and pushing them between Volvo’s open legs. Volvo tried to fall on her but the threat of her concealed weapons forced him to hold his ground. The woman gave a annoyingly innocent smile as she pushed the back of his legs with her thighs sliding herself through the gap in his legs.

“Argh,” Volvo grunted in pain as he struggled to stand his ground. On her way through him she had scratched his legs with her long and sharp nails, leaving deep gashes and almost causing the man to stumble. Pushing herself with just her arms she stood up behind him, pressing her back to his. This too didn’t move for too long as Volvo twisted around to attempt another grab while Luvrit’s counterpart, Peter, swung at her.

*Clang*

At the sound of two swords striking together, Volvo jumped back and assumed a defensive stance. Peter’s strike forced her to reveal her concealed short sword and parry it away. Their weapons met with another loud ‘clang’ and the two engaged in a series of parries and stabs. It seemed mostly onsided for the only one to concede ground was the blond haired man. He kept parry and dodging her strikes until Cheshire lady’s short-sword went through his sword hand causing him to quickly retreat. But he didn’t let up; Peter dropped his sword and exchanged it for a dagger from his belt. Cheshire lady was too absorbed into Peter to notice Volvo swinging his mace until it was too late to evade.

“Argh,” She grunted as she brought her sword to block the strike. The impact caused her to shudder on the spot. Her eyes suddenly went wide as Peter ran forward with a dagger in hand. She pushed against the mace and twisted her body to the right, narrowly missing Peter’s stab before stretching her legs to knee him in the head. Despite her small figure she was nimble on her feet, along with being very springy.

Peter fell to the side as soon as he got hit. The lady pushed away from Volvo and assumed a fighting stance as she lowered herself and took out another short sword, holding it in opposite grip to her other short sword. She ignored the incapacitated Peter and focused on the two in front of her.

“I’m done playing.” She said angrily.

Unlike before she moved with greater speed and carried her attacks more on the offensive. She dodged Volvo’s first attack and grabbing the cloth on his shoulder she used the moment of her body to swing out her leg and kick Luvrit. Luvrit swung his sword to intercept her kick and met the steel armor she adorned legs with.

Her first attempt failed so she went along with the flow and jumping up, wraped her legs around Volvo’s throat. Volvo tried to get free by smashing her legs with the mace, but she was ready. She opened her legs as the mace came smashing in and Volvo accidently injured himself. He fell to one knee as blood began to spurt out of the wound on his collar bone.

By this time Peter had recovered and was running towards her, she tried to dodge to the side and cause another accident as Luvrit was swinging his sword behind her. She jumped left, but Peter imitated her movements and tackled her to the floor, grabbing at whatever he could to restrain her movements. Luvrit came over and picked up Peter’s dagger to stab her while his comrade held her down.

But she wasn’t going to be beaten so easily; the woman used her nails to dig into Peter’s flesh and rip out whatever she could from his arms. Peter’s grip slackened and she used that moment to wrestle with Luvrit after she kicked up to stand. Luvrit’s attack came from both sides; a stab from the right and a punch from the left. She fell down into a split and attacked his unprotected legs from the side, to which Luvrit jumped back avoiding dismemberment.

But Luvrit jumped too far and bumped into Natravi, who seemed to be murmering in a whisper. Luvrit turned to face Fliss and the dirty alley girl but the two had disappeared, he looked back at Natravi questioningly and received an angry frown.

“You rest,” Natravi said as blue light began to swirl around her, gathering in her hands. Electricity began to crackle between her fingers as she stepped forward, leaving a panting Luvrit behind.

“Oooo~, and here I thought you just a pretty girl playing mercenary.” The unknown woman stood up to greet her, unlike her opponents she was inafflicted with injuries.

“You are formidable, what’s your name?” Natravi asked, the lightening in her hands illuminating the street.

“I’m called Cleo,” Cleo spun her two swords, “But I don’t need your name, you’ll be dead soon~.”

Cleo took a long jump forward and tried to stab her with her right sword.

*Crackle*

Cleo was suddenly pushed back and slammed into the wall, as she fell back to the ground her eyes flew open. She was glaring at Natravi as the lightening in her hands crackled and flew out to attack her; Cleo barely had enough time to lift her sword. The lightening met the sword and was deflected all around Cleo’s body, punching holes in her robes.

Once the lightening stopped Cleo stood up and shed her ripped robes, revealing her silver and bronze colored armor. The silver armor only went as far up as her knees, revealing her snow white thighs and hips, uncommon in these hot lands. But from the waist up the armor wasn’t even complete; the bronze armor only covered her front, knotted from the sides to bronze leather covering her back. Her forearms were protected by bronze armor but once more that was as high it went, from the elbow upwards her snow skin stood out in the darkness around her.

“Cool~” Cleo sang as she ran again. Natravi took a step back and the lightening in her hands struck again, but Cleo avoided it by dodging left. The gap between the two was quickly covered and with her right short-sword she attacked Natravi’s legs. Natravi on the other hand gracefully jumped and grabbed onto Cleo left forearm as it came swinging her sword. The bronze sizzled under Natravi’s touch and Cleo was forced to retreat backwards, but not before she back flipped and cut her opponents cheek.

Natravi traced the wound and sourly looked at her opponent. Curling and uncurling her fingers Natravi narrowed her eyes at Cleo who responded with a delightful smile. The other could see burn marks on her hands under the bright moonlight.

“Natravi” Luvrit called, “I’ve recovered, let me help.”

“Mr. Luvrit, please do not interfere in my fight.”

“This is our fight,” Luvrit refuted, “She is too dangerous to take on by yourself, what if she kills you? What would I tell Drac, huh?”

“Mr. Luvrit…I thank you for your concern, but it’s unnecessary.” Natravi took out her own sword from its sheath, “I specialize in lightening magic and the last spell was only a Tier 2.”

“…What Tier of magic can you do?” Cleo asked curiously.

“Tier 4,” Natravi stated.

“Wow~” Cleo said, “If you’re that strong, how about you join me?”

“Is that even possible after what we did to each other?” Natravi responded.

“We don’t have to like each other to be comrades. You could make a lot of money and be around people your skill level, not wasting your time with those who are clearly weaker than you…Unless you like one of those weaklings.” Cleo posed as if she was a child thinking. “Well~…That’s fine as well; we can just take them with us. So~ how about it, I’ll treat you nicely~”

*Sigh*“He wouldn’t like it.” Natravi sighed. “So sorry I won’t joint you.”

“He? Well, he doesn’t have to know, y’know.”

“You didn’t hear me; I said ‘I won’t join you’, not ‘I can’t join you’. I am not going to join you off my own free will.” Natravi slowly stepped forward, “You cut me so you must pay.”

“That’s sad-Ack” Cleo quickly brought out her sword to block Natravi’s attack. She had closed the distance so quickly that Cleo was unexpecting of the attack. So followed; a dance of blades between the two, their attacks barely missing each other by a hair’s length. But from the start it was clear Natravi was not as great a swordswoman as her opponent. Although her movements were graceful, they lacked the push of her full weight when meeting her opponent’s attacks. If one wasn’t aware of how to execute a simple action it could to a hundred openings in their defense leading to their inevitable defeat. Because of this she was constantly being pushed back, to avoid leading Cleo to the injured, Natravi zigzagged to buy herself more time.

“I win” Cleo said as she knocked Natravi’s sword out of her hand. It flew upwards and lodged itself on a cobblestone as it came down.

“What are saying?” Cleo noticed Natravi murmuring something, but couldn’t make out what she was saying.

“-possessor est lutum placet egrediatur et decipula hoste…”

“Why you!” Cleo yelled as she swung her sword. At the same time Luvrit and Peter-who had recovered enough-ran to stop her.

“[Lignea Custodia]” Natravi whispered as she fell to her knees.

*Rumble* “Ahhh” Cleo screamed as a large, brown, wooden tentacle broke out of the ground and wrapped around her waist, pushing her back. Once she was lifted in the air the object changed its direction and began to wrap around her vertically.

“It’s here,” Fliss’s voice came from around the corner followed by the clanking sound of armor and a dozen feet being stomped on the ground. Everyone’s attention was stolen by the armored guards being led by their youngest member.

*Crack* A loud sound of wood being broken resounded in the street as the guards arrived. Natravi whipped her head to where Cleo had been and in her place was the large root Natrtavi had called upon shaped like a crooked hook.

“…” Natravi only frowned at the sight while the others did the outburst of disbeliefs for her.

“Hey guys” Fliss greeted as he came over, the dirty girl clinging next to him.

“Fliss, where did you two go?” Luvrit asked.

“Miss Natravi helped me get out of here undetected and told me to warn the guards.” Fliss pointed at the guards that had fanned out in the street and were checking the area of battle, particularly the wooden structure in the middle. Some were calling up on the residents of the building in that part of the street while others searched into the alleyways. “As expected Volvo was still quite popular with the guards, they came to help.”

Just then a guard came over to them and the little girl reacted violently, running to the other side and clinging to Fliss’s robes even harder. Fliss smiled bitterly at the others while he took the girl away from the group, allowing the guard to gain their attention.

“Volvo,” He shook the man’s hand and proceeded to ask the natural. “What the hell happened here?”

While Volvo and Luvrit explained what had happened Natravi went over to check over Fliss and the little girl.

“…Why do you look scared?” Natravi bluntly asked.

“She says that the guards are bad.” Fliss said after she whispered in his ear.

“What do we do with her now?” Peter asked.

“We aren’t abandoning her.” Fliss said resolutely.

“No,” Peter explained. “I’m not saying to abandon her but we also can’t really let her stay with us. It’s too dangerous for her to travel with us.”

“Then we… Then we…” Fliss couldn’t think of anything.

“We’ll discuss this tomorrow.” Natravi said as she stood up. “For now she will stay with us.”

Natravi made her way back where Volvo was, just finishing telling the story. She noticed the guard standing there-like many others tonight-sneakily gazing in her direction when he thought she wasn’t looking. Like many others before Natravi made sure to let him understand the repercussions.

“Ah” he said as he rubbed his forehead, a small drop of blood rubbed on his fingers.

“Sorry about that sir,” Volvo said. “Would you please relay my message to him after this.”

“Sure Volvo.” The guard said as he made his leave, making sure to not meet Natravi’s eyes.

“They are surprisingly co-operative.” Natravi said.

“Heh, he wouldn’t have done that if that didn’t involve the duke of this region.” Volvo said. “For these guards, in these peaceful times, it’s the only way to get some recognition from him. Anyway, thanks for saving our lives.”

“No need to thank me” Natravi nodded. “It would’ve been troublesome dealing with the receptionist without you.”

“Hahaha, I’m glad I am of some value to you. I didn’t know you were a 4th Teir, it’s quite reassuring to have someone like you with us.” Volvo praised.

“So what do we do now?” Peter said as he stretched his arms in Natravi’s direction.

“Ouch.” Peter cried. “When do you pick up all o’ these?”

“When will you learn,” Luvrit smirked at his friend rubbing his forehead in pain. A rock fell from it and joined the many others on the ground.

“I hate to say it but we were completely exhausted today.” Volvo shook his head. “We will rest and heal up for tonight; tomorrow I will go speak with William so I will be leaving collecting the rewards to you, Luvrit.”

“Then I shall be taking Fliss and the little girl with me if you don’t mind.” Natravi said.

“I can understand the little girl, but why Fliss?” Volvo asked suspiciously.

“Because I won’t be able to handle the little girl by myself…she likes him,” Natravi pointed at the two. “So I will be taking them with me.”

“Alright then, meet us at the guild in the morning.”

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....

Far away from the mercenaries group a small figure walked in the alley, having been rid of its hood the figure was creating a more feminine shadow under the moon light. Her shiny armor made it harder for her to accomplish blending in the shadows. Cleo had to use all her might to escape from the large wooden thing and she didn’t feel any good about running away. It was unclear what would’ve happened if their attention wasn’t distracted by the guards and that made her angry. She was unable to kill all witnesses because of the other robed figure, she also hurt her pride. Her mood was fouled.

“Well, it doesn’t matter.” Cleo said angrily whispering to herself. She was infront of the tall bars of the cemetery walls. She jumped over the large black spikes and walked deeper in. “They all will be dead soon anyway, gotta tell Willy to hurry it up.”