"Ra'if what the hell are you doing? stop it you idiot!"Hessa spat. She stormed towards him. Hidan chuckled, "Oh boy we have alive one, so does this mean I get to join you guys?"
Asrar dismounted her camel and let Ra'if take care of bringing some of their belongings into the inn. She watched her grandson help the girl he had been riding with off and nodded in approval. He still had much to learn, but he was a hard worker no doubt. Her eye then fell on the fairy, she appeared to be a fragile creature, doubt and uncertainty written all over her features. Slowly Asrar shuffled towards her. "Fairies are a rare sight these days," she said, a distinct tone of sadness in her voice. "And from which part do you come, small one?" Asrar inquired, even though she was just a few inches taller than the fairy herself. Alavina chaffed a little at being called small, specially by one not much taller than her but she replied pleasantly because the old woman seemed to be sincerely sweet, "The Triastar Forest. It's about 100 leagues from here. I do wish their were more of us. Then maybe so many humans wouldn't treat us so poorly. But with the forests dying our numbers have decreased greatly." She shrugged as if she'd gotten used to the idea of her race dying out. "I'm Alavina by the way, but those who know me call me Aly. Are you really going to be traveling with us?" She questioned, noting the woman's seemingly frail body. "Ah, the Triastar forest," Asrar recalled, savoring in some invisible, blissful memory. She remembered the lush greens and vivid blues of the vast forest all too well. When she'd first travelled there, it had been like something out of a dream. It's trees tall and mighty, it's soil maroon-red and just moist enough for mushrooms to sprout from the ground. "Very queer," she said softly, gazing up at the sky through the hole in the skull. "When we look at the night sky, what we are seeing is just a memory, a moment deep in the past. I still remember your home in the same way but," Asrar averted her eyes for a moment, and squeezed them shut in pain, as if she had lost track of her own thoughts. "The mind is devious isn't it? Even our memories, what we call the past, arises in the present. There is only this moment," she tapped her stick on the ground, "and this. And this." She shuffled closer towards the fairy, "my meaning is this: do not dwell on the past, it only exists inside your head. Act on the present, and know that even the slightest change in the everlasting now can result in a vastly different future." The old woman rested her hand on the fairy's shoulder. "There is still hope for your kind." What a strange human. Aly thought. She was at Triastar when it was green? She must be very old indeed. "I hope so." Aly replied solemnly. Then she had a thought. If this God Speaker was all-powerful and somehow able to communicate with some god that might possibly exsist did that mean this might not only be able to save her family...but her entire race? Not Ifrits specifically, but the fairies? "Do you...do you think the God Speaker is powerful enough to somehow save our race?" Alavina finally asked, voicing her thoughts. "I don't know child, but we seem to be unable of doing it ourselves, and we've received no help from elsewhere." Asrar looked thoughtfull, "you can sense the Ifrit in me can't you?" She brought her face closer to the fairy, "I'd like to keep it a secret," she whispered politely. Then she overheard raised voices just outside of the inn. Asrar rolled her eyes at the fairy, "My grandson chases trouble," she explained then began to hurry herself toward the source of the sound, motioning for Alavina to do the same. Aly did as she was beckoned and came upon the scene of two men fighting eachother for heaven knew what reason. "Some humans..." She thought with disgust. "What are you humans doing? Scuffiling about in the dirt like a couple male wood-hogs when we should be searching for the God Speaker!" Alavina exclaimed outloud in annoyance.
Ra'if simply smirked at Hessa, eyeing her from head to toe. "If you're going to do the whole reprimand thing, perhaps you could team up with As," he nudged towards his grandmother, "in the interest of time and such." Asrar boxed Ra'if on the ear, "manners," she hissed venomously. Why her grandson was suddenly being such an arrogant piece of junk was beyond her, though she figured it probably had to do with the presences of younger females. She knew most male animals often tried to impress the opposite gender by making a few bold moves. "Feel free," she said to Hessa who looked like she had alot of nasty things to say about Ra'if.
Tsubael shut her book with a loud thud. She'd filled eight pages with the scuffling and squabbling. Eight pages wasted, she thought, still standing near the door. The old woman and the fairy had appeared there as well. "Oh boy we have a live one," Hidan said. "So does this mean I get to join you guys?" 'This one still objects," Tsubael said, for what it was worth. "This one still awaits a suitable reason for bringing that one along. All this one sees," she pointed to Altair, still on the ground, then nodded to Ra'if, still trapped in eather, "is trouble. Hidan the Hidden Blade means trouble. This one's initial assessment is proving increasingly correct with every passing moment."
Hidan abruptly found his shoulders being massaged by Szmierc's clawed hands. The cloaked figure stood tall behind Hidan, seeming to be one with the darkness as he stood in the shadows. Leaning in, the ferral sniffed Hidan's neck. "Mmmmmmm, now you smell innnteresstingggg. Tell me, what do you do with the calves once they've been slaughtered?"
Illudes watched everything from the rooftop, now without any mirage covering his body. What Ra'if had said before was actually bugging him, and for the first time in a while he felt anger. I am not weak -and if he want's to find out just what i can do he'll get his due. Innocent and fluffy... humans don't have any natural weapons other than their wits! Before Illudes could control himself a rattling hiss escaped his jaws, revealing tiny, hooked fangs. Dropping to the ground and rising to his full height, fear momentarily flickered across his gaze, but he swallowed it back and approached, a tuft of feathers on his head standing up as well as the feathers along his spine. His tail-tip flicked back and forth like a cat's, and the firelight gleamed off of his claws. "Not a chicken not a chicken..." he breathed to himself, then halted behind Ra'if,a momentary smirk crossing his mouth in realization. "At least I don't get in trouble that is best avoided." he hissed. Then sniffed at the newcomer. Ifrit.
"Plum sauce, with a bit of pepper and fruit." Hidan replied with a strange friendliness. "All right enough. Hessa called. "While I agree with fox face, it seems most of you are comfortable, very well Hidan can come, but he walks where I see him, we leave at dusk, be ready. And as for you Ra'if. Do that again and I'll kick your ass, and then kick you out of the group." Hidan smirked, he then gave Tusabeal a look that could kill, and quietly followed Hessa back to the drunken skipper.
"This one shall abide by the word of Hessa, daughter of Jakem," Tsubael said. She was speaking to the woman, but her eyes never left Hidan's. He chose the wrong girl to pick a staring contest with. She stood her ground until he was gone, inside the tavern, then Tsubael turned and followed. Once inside, she took a seat at her table, where she'd left the map. Opening her book, she wrote down the last of what had happened, then shut it again and sat quietly, like a dormant statue, patiently awaiting the next incident.
If his face was not covered in shadow, Szmierc could be seen frowning. "You wretch," he glared at Hidan as he left. "Fruits ruin the taste of the meat." And then he smiled.
Someone had brought in a dead guy, but it turned out the corpse was still alive and soon those with a heart took care of him. Ketka almost wished she hadn’t finished eating she needed something to do while she watched all of this. A woman shrieked nearby a strange creature close to her. A grin spread on Ket’s lips finally someone as weird looking as her true self. Not that she’d let any of them see her Jahauwan self, girl was allowed to have some secrets, wasn’t she? The woman leader spoke and Ketka stood up, she wasn’t about to waste time when there were promises to chase. *** Ketka had never been able to decide on what she thought of the Balu. “I assume all of you can ride a Ingrid Balu? There snappy but harmless, and by far the fastest way across the desert. They also lay eggs often which is good. If you cannot ride one then partner up with someone who can.” “If it bites me, I’m eating it,” Ketka muttered. She picked out a sturdy looking Balu and slipped her foot into a stirrup swinging herself up onto the leather saddle and adjusting herself. Ketka signalled the beast and guided it forward. They travelled some nattering with one another, others silent. Ketka took in the landscape finding landmarks in case she got herself lost, or had to turn back. There was no harm in being cautious. The weather was hot, but rather than letting her skin burn she protected her body with a wine red cloak. Ketka looked up at the skeletal ribs of an ancient creature, the bones taller than any house she’d seen. The Balu watered they found their way into a tavern and Ketka could smell the stale ale. She licked her lips and took her flask from her belt. Ketka went directly to the bar and thrust her flask at the tender. “Fill her up with the most potent drink you have,” she declared. Taking her flask Ketka shambled out and found Hessa talking with a man. "Hidan the hidden blade, seven accounts of mass homicide, convicted of killing 5 Varian royals, the ambassador of Fang pass and six Pia officials. What the fuck are you doing out of prison?" Interesting… Hidan made a crude comment and Hessa attacked. Hidan acted like a wimp and apologised – boring fight. Ketka sipped at her flask and smirked. The tiff dulled to words and others joined in. It turned out killers were welcome in the group. Ketka walked back inside her face warm with the feel of mead coursing through her body. Finding Fox Face Ketka slid into the seat across from her. “Are you programed to just advise fox face?” Ketka nodded at the murderer. “You don’t have a protective function or something. The ones the ruler of Mehtt had did that.”
"At least I don't get in trouble that is best avoided." Ra'if turned around and looked up at Illudes. "You don't see it do you? You've just let trouble in." "And as for you Ra'if. Do that again and I'll kick your ass, and then kick you out of the group." Ra'if cocked his head, "we'll see about that dearie," he returned, "just make sure you don't cut yourself with that butterknife in the mean time," he called after her when she was about to enter the inn.
"You don't see it do you? You've just let trouble in." "Trouble would of found us eventually. At least this way we beat it to the punch." Ishmael replied with a wink. "Come along bird chicken man thing. You are still my prisoner after all."
Altair Altair pushed himself up, cursing at letting that fool get the better of him. He hadn't expected him to keep fighting, and had let his guard down. He got up growling. His better judgement was all that kept him from running Ra'if through with his Halberd, he was within range, all it would take was a singe thrust and the infuriating boy would be gone. But he wouldn't do that... Not unless he had a good reason. Altair was not shy of death, but did not wish to be the one who brought it about unnecessarily. So instead he walked away, cursing. "I will not be responsible for stopping every fight this imbecile tries to pick," he said as he walked past Hessa. "A wild tauru is far more dangerous than a docile serpent. He is the one you should be worried about, not Hidan..."
“Are you programed to just advise fox face?” the woman said, taking a seat across from Tsubael. “You don’t have a protective function or something. The ones the ruler of Mehtt had did that.” "Query failed," Tsubael said. "Reason: undefined parameter 'Mehtt.' Please define the undefined parameter and resubmit your query." Truth was, she was capable of figuring it out herself – context clues and such -- but after what had happened outside, Tsubael was trying to stick to her sub-routines and programming more strictly. Wandering off the beaten path and giving her opinion only got her into trouble. Or, in this case, got trouble into their group, despite her best efforts at keeping him out. She emitted a low hiss, which sounded oddly like a sigh and then said, "This one's protective functions extend only to itself. This one will defend itself if threatened, but will not defend those who invite danger into their midst." Ugh, she was doing it again, giving out her opinion. Perhaps it was time to wipe her enchanted tablets clean and reset everything. There was too much 'baggage' on her mind.
"Hi!, there!!" said Kyra while placing a pomegranate juice in front of Sylvia. "A present from the house!!" said with a smile. The young then took a seat close to Sylvia and asked to her "You seem worried, are you ok?"
"I will not be responsible for stopping every fight this imbecile tries to pick," Something singing hot sensation started to burn inside of him, rising through his chest, reinforcing his voice, straightening his posture. Ra'if scowled at Altair, "say it to my face, coward!" He trotted up beside the man and deliberately slammed his shoulder into him, "come on, say it, or are you scared? Who do you think you are huh? Some kinda tough guy? I had you beat, can't you handle a simple defeat? ANSWER ME COWARD!" Ra'if was shouting at the top of his lungs. The blazing inferno inside of him helped incinerate the memory that had haunted him the last few days, and he almost felt relieved for having shouted at Altair. Trembling with frustration and anger about events that his companions couldn't even know about, Ra'if decided to conclude his venting by spitting in Altair's face. He instantly regretted the act, but it felt good to have vented regardless.
“Huh,” Ket said in amusement. She rolled her shoulders and sipped from the flask. "Query failed," Tsubael said. "Reason: undefined parameter 'Mehtt.' Please define the undefined parameter and resubmit your query." “Well don’t feel bad, we all have off days. Even tin heads.” She didn’t like talking too much about Meht the thought of that place brought with it the remembering of the false God Speaker. “Big trade city full of really stupid people. Full of false priests and liars that say they speak to the big fish.” Don’t feel bad I felt the same way. “Some people wouldn’t know good advice if it had three heads came up and head-butted them.” There was a warmth with the sound of steam and Ketka sunk down in her chair. "This one's protective functions extend only to itself. This one will defend itself if threatened, but will not defend those who invite danger into their midst." “Well, guess I’ll have to watch my back then. You know what? Some lessons are best learnt the hard way. Probably don’t care, but I know that first hand.” She sucked more mead from the flask. “You like gold? Maybe there’ll be more for you if some of them die.”
Sylvia noticed a majority of the group come back into the bar, from who knows where. Probably participated in something she didn't want a part of, she had already shamed herself enough by taking off her coverings. As she stared down at her hands, a cup of pomegranate juice was slammed on the table, followed by a smiling face. The girl...or boy....from earlier? "You seem worried, are you ok?" he...or she....asked. Despite what had happened at the store, Sylvia didn't hold it against the person. She sent a smile in return, nervously brushing away a stray piece of hair in her face. "I give my thanks," she said while lifting the cup to her lips and taking a small sip. Ignoring the question, she set down the cup, and held out her hand in a kind gesture. "I am Sylvia, what is thy name?"
"This one has gold," Tsubael said. "Current economic model indicates this one has sufficient funds to remain functional for approximately one hundred and thirty-seven days, with a margin of error of fifteen days. However, due to the instability of this one's current situation, excessive water consumption or unforeseen repairs are an imminent possibility, and will adversely affect the economic forecast." Though she did not move, her gaze flickered to Hidan and Hessa for a while before returning to the woman before her. "Simplification: this one has sufficient economic resources. Gold is not a motivating factor… yet." She paused and decided now might be a good time to ask the woman's name. "Query: to whom does this one speak?"
"I am Sylvia, what is thy name?" Kyra stood up and pressing its hand against its chest it presented itself "My name is Kyra Fabullia Bernardus Lee... Although the two middle names were invented by a young girl in the place I live, originally it was just Kyra F.B. Lee and I'm not even sure if that's my true name. So miss Syl....." Yet the voice of Kyra was interrupted by a sudden scream, apparently one of the person of the party was about to pick a fight. Kyra crossed its arms submerged on its own thoughts "mmm shall I stop them?.... that would be what I normally would do, but this isn't Mister Adel's store and these people here are true fighters instead of just troublemakers.... what to do?"...... After some seconds Kyra decided just to ignore them and asked to the lady. "So, miss Sylvia, what are your reasons to join in such dangerous quest with all these weirdos?" Though I'm a weirdo myself hmm...
Ketka guessed money wasn’t up there on a tin woman’s list of needs and wants. “Well good news for you,” Ketka said. She’d probably spend all of her financial forecast – or whatever and end up in debt before they found the god botherer. Getting drunk, that happened a lot. “You seem to have an advantage, I think water might be cheaper than drinking, buying friends, and men, yup I always buy those.” Who cared about being rational anyway? Ketka followed Fox Face’s gaze in the direction of the other two. She was focused on this god speaker business, probably wanted to be over there with Hessa to make sure that murderer didn’t kill her. "Query: to whom does this one speak?" “Pfft I wouldn’t worry about her, old iron under garments over there can take him on and I haven’t seen a decent fight in a long time. Ketka Du-Vox, otherwise nameless, not many Jahauwan left.... They call you Tsubael? What did they make you for? You seem a little more socially competent then any other of your sort I’ve seen.”
Ra'if went down before he even knew what happened. Altair's fist impacted with his jawbone, then again, sinking into his gut. "I think that I am Altair Ahkma-han, Captain of the guard of Albahai, veteran of sieges and campaigns against raiders. I have killed over five hundred men with this halberd, spilled their blood on the sand, all in the defense of my home. I have lost everything, and been forsaken by my god. And now I am to be ridiculed by a ridiculous child who still doesn't even have the sense to know who his enemies are!" He lifted Ra'if by the collar and looked him in the eye. "Who do you think you are, boy," he hissed. Then he threw him back to the ground. "I stayed my hand, I will not again," he said, and planted his Halberd in the ground, a fraction of an inch away from Ra'if's ear. "Attack me again and I will kill you on the spot."
I want to know about the Sky Line Pyramid. And I want all the details.” "I don't know much, but here's what I do know, the pyramid is built to test with more than strength, it's a sphinx after all. They like their riddles. In fact, I heard a sphinx can't harm you until you fail one of their riddles. Of course it's all just rumors. "Okay wrap it up, guys let's get going." Hessa said. Let's get going. ...... Three miles in and VenShara’s sun had finally exhausted it’s fury, slowly it fade away, bit by bit over powered by shining stars. The Moon replaced it and on top of a long winding sand dunes the group continued on ward. It was surreal the landscape, white sand glowed like a million tiny gems under the pristine moon light, on occasion a gust of wind would pick them up and fling them into the air, like fine dust they gently swayed down to the earth giving the impression of crystal snow. The wind was cool, the desert endless, all was perfect. “Anybody notice Hessa’s got a nice rack!” It was Hidan, he was not just a killer, he was a rude killer. Hessa had since put on her amor and was back leading the group, and yet every moment she felt ready to spill blood, this man had been taunting her for hours “I swear on Bahamuts holy name I will end this…” and with that she began to mutter. Calm followed, Hidan piped up again “Sylvia also has a nice rack! Especially when she sweats whoop!” “Are you trying to be annoying?!” Hessa barked. Hidan suddenly got serious, his expression dropped, his eye’s darkened. “Indeed, I need to study your behavior under stress if I am to know how to best kill you.” Awkward silence followed, Hidan after a moment turned red and with puffed cheeks began laughing. “easy, you guys are too easy.” “That’s it.” Hessa got down and stormed towards him. “We are here.” A calm voice stopped her in her tracks Jakem eyes faced nothing, nothing was there, just sand and sky. Yet he seemed so certain. Hessa shot Hidan a deadly glance then returned her attention to her father. “You okay Jakem? I see nothing.” “old mans lost it.” Hidan said shrugging. Jakem simply pointed upward, above them a blue light Faintly glimmered, the light came from a sentence, on air it’s self sublime lines where stroked as if with a glowing pen, they danced around daintily like leaves in the wind. “Aracania, it’s the language of the Divines. I’ll translate.” “I am a hidden talent, fools count me a stranger, and knowledge is my sword, what am I?” Jakem suddenly became nervous, “A sphinx’s riddle, we are here, to go further we must answer her.”
"I have lost everything, and been forsaken by my god." Alavina listened to the man rant. Another soul who had been abandoned by this god that was supposed to exist. She felt a ping of pity for him and wondered what it was that he lost...and what was important enough to him to join this expedition after the god speaker. She was pulled out of her thoughts when Jakem read the riddle. She flew up closer to the floating lights. Not that it helped, considering she couldn't read the language. There were guesses being murmured among the group but she ignored them as she concentrated. "Wisdom. A talent that can't be seen, a stranger to the fool and can be a weapon like a sword. It's wisdom." Aly said.
