Grandia 2.1 Options

[BetaRayWade]

Chapter 26 – Scrutiny

“This is so boring.” Aira pleaded upward, tugging on Millenia's arm. “What are we doing anyway? Aira doesn't want to go shopping. She wants to play.”

“Lookey here,” Millenia bends down with a smile. “Ryudo just bought you a gift.” Aira is handed a piece of string, and she jumped up and down as if it were the most amazing thing in the world. After shuffling through the coins in Ryudo's pouch, Millenia produced enough money to pay the shopkeeper.

This was enough time for Aira to be nearly out the door, and Millenia had to hurry to catch her hand. “Now listen, this is a big city and it is easy to get lost and you shouldn't just go wandering. Hey, what happened to that string I just gave you?”

“Aira used it to decorate her hair,” the little girl said plainly. On the back, just below her right ear, there was now a small white piece of string dangling from her thick green hair.

“That's not what it's for.” Millenia reached up and grabbed the string. She brushed a few remaining green strands from the string and began fastening it to the charm on her wrist. Aira seemed to stare blankly into the sky as Millenia worked diligently on the jingler. When she was finished, it no longer slid up and down on her arm, stayed on rather securely, and still jingled fairly regularly.

“See, now you can wear it as a suitable accessory and still move around without having to pick it up every five steps.” Millenia stood up and looked into the crowds of people. “Now let's keep looking for Ryudo.”

“But Aira has been looking for Ryudo all morning.” The little girl gazed up at Millenia with her eyes wide, making her scar from the eye of Valmar slant sideways, pleading for something more exciting than walking around the city asking people questions.

Millenia recognized the look. She figured on two options: continue looking for Ryudo and teach Aira that she can't always get her way, or cave in and avoid the inevitable fit that would result. Millenia let out a deep sigh. “And what would you like to do?”

Aira gave up the look and spun clockwise in three circles shouting cheers. “I want to play,” She said while excitedly falling to the ground after the third spin. “Let's go find a the ball. Balls are fun and Aira likes to play with one so she should go play with the ball.”

“Um, kay.” Millenia normally tends to let her energetic spurts play out until she slows down a bit. “And where do you suppose we do that?”

“This way, Aira knows where the ball is. It's this way. Aira will take you.” The little girl began running through the mob of people in the busy streets.

Millenia considered taking to the sky to follow her but decided that Ryudo would have a fit for causing a scene. Instead she shouted very loudly, and Aira received another lecture on not running into crowds in the middle of the city. Once finished, the little girl took Millenia's hand, sparatically tugging and pulling, as they made their way to the little stream they had eaten near The Crunchy Flame on the previous day.

“Now it's around here somewhere,” Aira jumped and let go of Millenia's hand as she found a little hole on the ground. “Ah! There it is! This way.” Without hesitation she sprung, feet first, into the tiny hole.

Millenia stood there for a moment, utterly befuddled, with the look of someone who had just witnessed a bird fly cheerfully into a closed window, only to get up and do it again. When she came to her senses, she walked cautiously over to the hole and peered into the dark interior. She gave a shout and hoped for a some sort of response. The was no sound, not even a jingle.

Millenia let out a long sigh. Her next tactic involved an extensive use of idle threats along the lines of “You'll be sorry” and “When I get down there.” Finally, after despair had sufficiently worked its way to the tops of her elaborate braids, she carefully squeezed herself through the hole.

After a lot of grunting and some vague words that could encompassed everything, yet still nothing at the same time, she found herself in a dark hole with a little girl jingling at her side.

“Wow!” Aira said. “I've never heard those words before. What do they mean?”

“Um, they are bad. Don't use them.” Millenia spoke in the general direction of the jingle. “I can use them when I'm angry and Ryudo can use them when I singe his bottom for saying something stupid. And why didn't you say anything when I called down to you?”

Their was a pause before Aira responded. “Because Aira wanted you to come down here with her. You can make her see.”

Millenia let a quick chuckle. Clever kid. Of course she is! I had to teach her cool things after her mommy was gone. Bright sparkles concentrated around Millenia's finger until it made a flame suitable enough to radiate light throughout an otherwise dark, dank cave. “Urghk! Look at my dress! It's filthy! Aira, you can't just jump into holes and, and” Millenia paused in her tirade, mostly due to frustration, but also because she hadn't the slightest clue what to say. Apparently, this child nurturing thing is harder than she anticipated. “And you need to look before you leap I think.” She poked her finger and set it atop the little girl's nose. “No.” There, I handled that well, Millenia silently coached herself.

Aira jumped when she looked away. “The ball,” She took off at a dash. “It's this way. Keep the light close!”

Millenia followed, confused yet intrigued, assuming this was Aira's idea of a game. For a time Millenia tailed Aira as she navigated through the cave, turning confidently at each intersection, repeatedly coaxing Millenia to speed up. Running ahead with a complete disregard for direction, Millenia actually found it to be quite fun. She let all worries fade while twisting and turning through the winding passages as she let Aira lead her to who knows where.

Laughing and giggling from the thrill of the experience, Millenia stooped over to catch her breath. Her eyes caught some ancient writing scrawled into the stone beside her. In her momentary glimpse she read something about the ongoing battle of Granas and Valmar. Her puzzling expression was only supplemented by the ominous red glow from the other room. The jingling came to an abrupt halt.

Millenia made a quick dash into the rich light from around the corner. She had to shield her eyes from the immense red glow of the broken conduit of the gods. At least that is what it appeared to be, it was similar to the ones before in every way except the color. The seal was broken, with an inconceivable crimson spilling from the cracks.

Aira turned, back lit in red, and spoke in a somber voice, “The ball is broken.” Millenia walked over to her side and they turned and stared at the ball for a moment. “Aira can't play with the ball if it's broken. She thought it couldn't break. she would shoot rocks at the one below mommy's shed all day and it would never crack.”

The little girl's words released Millenia from her shock. She struggled to speak in an even tone, “Well, maybe this one's different.” She looked around the room and eventually to her hand that still held her flame for light. Seeing no need for it any longer with the room sufficiently bright, she angrily closed her hand around it.

Millenia knew what this place's purpose had been, yet how it had come to this state is a different question altogether. What could have been in that ball? Was it now loose? Is Valmar returning? She looked to the walls for answers. The Symbols for Granas and Valmar were there as expected, as were the glyphs beneath them. Below Valmar, the eyes, body, and wings were glowing in a red that was barely visible with the red light from the sphere in the center of the chamber. On the other side, there were now glyphs filled with a blue light that seemed to fight with the overwhelming red in the room. All the remaining ones were glowing a strong blue, even the body, which was not lit in the chamber in Mirimu. Adjacent to the walls with the respective crests of Granas and Valmar was the symbol for the heart.

“This must be where Selene became possessed with the heart of Valmar,” Millenia spoke softly to herself.

“Aira remembers High Priestess Selene. Aira didn't like her.” Millenia, who had forgotten of her little companion in the room, turned suddenly to face her. “Let's go find Ryudo. He should see this, maybe he can get the ball back to normal so I can play with it.”

“He does have a habit of restoring them back to their original form,” Millenia said aloud even though Aira couldn't possibly have any idea what she truly meant.

Aira perked up and spoke excitedly, “Good. Let's find him then, and then maybe the pretty lady. I'll bet she can help!”

Millenia lost all remaining calm. “Hey! I'm pretty too! Stop calling her that! I don't want to hear it one more time!”

Aira jumps a bit as the words reverberate throughout the cave. She responds calmly and compassionately, “Aira knows your pretty.” Millenia sends her a gentle smile as she realized that she may have had a bit of an overreaction, but only slightly. Aira continued once Millenia looked more settled down. “Of course your pretty, but your a different kind of pretty. Your not glowing.”

Millenia's eyebrows lower in an odd fashion. Her words were slow and awkward, “What do you mean glowing?”

Aira speaks quickly, “You know glowing. Like whooosh. Glowing.” She performs an unusual hand motion that one can only assume is her visual interpretation of something glowing. “Like the ball over there. See, glowing. With light and stuff.”

Millenia turns towards the exit. “We should go. We have to find Ryudo, and quickly. That tart, Persella, has got some explaining to do. Aira get us back to the city.”

Aira looked in the direction they came and then pleadingly back at Millenia. She spoke slowly and cautiously, as if she were holding back tears, “But Aira doesn't know the way back. She followed the way to the ball to get here.”

Millenia looked at her with her eyes wide open and tried not to look as if she were going to throw a fit. It left her face with a contorted, twisted smile. “Well, try. Pretty please.” She bit her tongue with the last words but kept her smile. This is going to be a long day, she thought as she began following the little girl back into the caves.

[BetaRayWade]

Chapter 27 – Judgment

“Stupid,” Ryudo cursed under his breath as Persella, Bolgerd, and a masked burley man in black led three prisoners up the steps of the gallows. His comment was directed at the gangly prisoner in the same furs and skins that Ryudo saw on him the previous day. Ryudo faded into the massive swarm of people, littered with peace guards, by some vendors who were trying to gain money from the spectacle.

Singers sang and dancers danced, while groups of children were found attentively watching teams of jugglers. Their parents seemed to be giddily conversing. Topics ranged anywhere from weather to work to the people at home, missing their chance to witness the event of the week. The natural buzz achieved when this many people are allotted this much space filled the air, forcing individual quiet conversations into shouting somewhat audible words into the ears of their family, friends, or anyone who chance to stroll in their direction.

The festivities came to a halt as Persella gestured from atop the scaffold. Silence was universal and immediate. Ryudo could not tell if the silence was out off respect for Persella, or if they merely kept quiet to see the drama unfold.

The patrons were pleased to hear Persella's voice boom to each spectator with a confident tone. “These men are being tried as traitors to the great state of Sopina, of which the penalty is death. The people of the great state of Sopina will bear witness to this trial and ensure that the proper actions are taken for the good of the people.”

Persella turned to the prisoners, casting a disdainful glare upon them. “There were many who witnessed the assault yesterday afternoon and their accounts have been recorded and presented to you. If you deny these claims, speak now as your defense, and I will pass judgment on you that will serve to provide the best service to the people of this nation. Order will remain in our lands.”

The first man on the left stepped forward. He was a stalky man in some sort of dirty white garment with red bags under his eyes. It was apparent that he slept little the night before. Contrary to his appearance, his words held strength and defiance. “I speak to you as a man of the people, who calls Sopina home, hear these words, for they will be my last. We cannot deny the accusations brought before us, for we were present and did indeed try to eliminate this vile woman. I weep, not because we stand here today, ready to enter the mists. I weep only that we did not find success. I can hope that some here remember us and what we tried to accomplish so that one day you see the error in your ways.”

The man to his left stepped forward, purposefully turning his back to Persella, and granting his full attention to the crowd. The man was short and skinny with a long beard and light brown haircut short on all sides. Though his eyes looked as worn as the other's, it was apparent that this man was truly ready to face his death. A more callous man, Ryudo decided, one with dignity. His words came out slow and loud, as would a proclamation of simple truths out to the crowd. “There was once a day when the people of Sopina stood proud, declaring itself the last free place among the civilized world. Now, with this tyrant, you've been granted safety and protection. But can't you see that it has been at the cost of your own freedom?”

“We've separated this land from Cyrum, claiming our independence, only to become a suppressed people, unable to depend on ourselves. In this short time, we became weak and frail, as is a newborn child, ill-equipped to stand on our own two feet. Must we be denied our freedom? Must we conform to the rules of this witch?”

The man took a meditative breath, as if he had just discovered himself shouting, and was now set in some sort of reflection. “I pray that there are those among you here today with the constitution to lift Sopina out, among the slums of Valmar in which we now live, free of fear with oppression unknown to your children and your dear children's children. This task was a burden we were unfit to bear. Live well, my friends, my countrymen.”

The third man, looked around with eyes that were well glazed over as his the man finished his speech and lined back up with himself and the first speaker. The executioner seemed to be permitting him to prop himself on a support beam of the scaffold, likely because he appeared as though he would fall over otherwise. Now, feeling it his turn to speak, he opened his mouth and let sluggish words flow to the crowd. “I'll tell Gharsain you's all say hi.”

Persella replied smugly, “Right. You honestly can't expect them to be swayed by your hollow words.”

“Nor do I,” Galziey replied simply. “Now, let's get on with it, my buzz is wearing thin,” he said before turning to the executioner and handing him his boots. “Here you go, I gave them a good polish for you last night.” He then turned to the crowd and gave a final bow farewell.

Indignant with the man's display, Persella spoke in ardent retaliation. “Since you do not deny the charges, then I suggest we let your audience see the climactic conclusion to your story.” A turn and nod to the executioner left her in rapture as the large man in the dark mask began sizing the ropes, preparing them to be fit around the prisoners' heads.

With a quick smile, Persella took a quick glance over in Ryudo's direction, who she imagined would be quite bored at this point. The young swordsman was actively watching a kid snatch some bread from the booth to his side. “Guards!” Persella shouted. “It seems we have a little thief in the crowd. Bring me that boy.”

Realizing that he had become the attention of the entire crowd, the scrawny boy tried to wiggle himself into an alley behind Ryudo. A guard grabbed him before he got far.

The keeper of the stand looked wild eyed and began talking quickly, “Uh, the boy's parent's payed me earlier and he's, umm, just come to collect. So you can let him go, my good guard,” the man added the hasty title with a weak tone and smile to the burly fellow at his side.

“You shall do no such thing,” Persella roared, strong and self-righteous. “You will bring him here at once.” She spoke now to the vendor, “Do you dare interfere with the job of a peace guard?”

The man cast his eyes down at the ground. “I thought not. We all know he has no parents and you are fortunate that I am going to ignore your obvious fabrication. Bring the boy here. He will join in this trial. The crime is treason, of which our only penalty is death.”

“Treason!” cried Ryudo. “I just saw him pinch a couple rolls. How can that be treason?”

Persella smiled. “I thank you, Ryudo, we now have our first claim towards the boy. I second the claim and saw his theft. All criminals in Sopina are traitors. What other title could be given to one who seeks to break peace from their fellow countrymen. He will be tried, fairly and publicly, and then put to death, and in the end –”

Persella was interrupted as a loud ring cut through her speech. The guard nearest Ryudo, still nervously clutching the boy, peered down the naughty end of a unadulterated sword. It was inches from his throat. “Release the boy,” Ryudo spoke directly. There was no need to imply what would happen if he did not do what was asked.

The boy ran free, excitedly, and managed to escape the grasp of three other guards before he was grabbed once more. “Persella! I am taking the boy. I'll pay for his food. Command them to let him go.” Ryudo felt empathy towards the boy. After all, there were times in his life when he could not afford every meal. He began striding in the direction of the guard that now held the boy. The anxious people in the crowd cleared a wide path.

“I must say, I'm rather disappointed in you Ryudo. Paying for what the boy stole does little good. It is about stopping crime. If you force a criminal to pay back all you catch him stealing then he will simply get better at stealing without getting caught.”

At this point, Ryudo had reached the boy and once more raised his sword to the captor. This one did not drop the boy in a panic. Instead he stepped back and let two other peace guards fill his space. More were beginning to occupy the ever growing area left by the dispersing crowd.

Persella's voice bellowed above the clamoring spectators. “The peace must be kept, yet you draw your sword at whoever you see fit!”

“Is that not the purpose of my blade. It helps me keep things … quiet.” A smug smile crept out of Ryudo's face while the guards were breaching the distance from each direction. “You plan to fetch more rope and set me dangling from the scaffold as well?”

“You,” Persella sighed. “I'll still give a chance to leave this town in peace. There is no need to draw unnecessary blood. I thought I saw something in you that was not there. Sheathe your sword and leave this city at once. The time of your kind's rule has come to an end.”

“And the boy?” Ryudo spat on the ground. It landed on an overzealous soldier. He took a step back.

Persella's response was cool and simple. “The boy will be dealt with in accordance with our laws, as will these men, here.”

The crowd of people had already achieved a safe distance away from the woman. They were further from Ryudo and seemed eager to stay and witness what would happen. This was turning into the event of the year! Ryudo found himself severely outnumbered by the guards on all sides. The man to his front happily drew his sword. Geoffren was what Ryudo believed him to be called this morning. “New blade eh?” Ryudo grinned.

“Humph,” the man matched Ryudo's smug face. “I wouldn't want to call you a coward.”

“That so?” Ryudo said.

“Or a lump,” the man continued, “a wimp, a gutless lowlife who ran in fear.”

Ryudo actually managed a laugh, audible above the incessant the murmurs in the crowd. “Well we wouldn't want that now would we?” He turned to face the crowd. “I die before the boy. If you want to go through with this trial in accordance with your laws in the great state of Sopina, or whatever, then you won't be able to do it with me playing the stabby game on any fool who sets foot near him.” After a moment he added, “I've also become quite fond of the one with the bloodshot eyes. The other two you can have, they're a bit too needy for my liking.”

Ryudo maintained his impish grin while Persella's eyes quivered in anger. When she regained control she spoke calmly. “Guards, this man not only mocks us, but he seeks to disrupt the peace of Sopina. See that he is dealt with accordingly.” Bolgerd stepped forward, ready to take command of the guards, but Persella put a hand out to stop him. “Bolgerd, the prisoners are not to interfere.” The surprisingly agile woman leapt from the platform and onto the hard packed dirt.

Persella barked orders while Ryudo stood silent. “Guards, form close and tight, do not break rank. Stand together or die alone. Take every precaution; this one is stronger than you can imagine.”

For a moment Ryudo considered making a break for it, to his left, where he could fight a path free to the alley. There was still time to run. The difference between cowardice and intelligence, foolishness and courage, is on a line so thin that only the most skilled circus folk can walk traverse without falling. Honor does not equate to fighting an army with little chance of survival. Ryudo has done it before, but could he actually fight and and potentially die for a stupid kid he never met? He would never have believed it be possible, yet there he stood, ready and willing. There was just something about everything there. Persella, the guards, the people in the crowd, the man up front ready to be hanged, all of it infuriated him. Nothing fit well and right, not that he had ever seen things fit right, but why couldn't it now? He had beaten Valmar, the world had been saved from the purest of evil and still all of Silesia was at each other's throats. We should be having some sort of party with balloons and candy or something, thought Ryudo. And Gilta. He added in with a smile, watching the thin numbers to his left thicken.

Ryudo held his sword ready as Persella called for blood. The guards came at him. The air thickened with the sound of metal on metal and the smell of metal on flesh.

[BetaRayWade]

Chapter 28 – Shattered Dreams

The Tokirunshura met all sorts of people in Sopina. Ryudo fought the massive crowd of Persella's peace guards and, thus far, he had somehow managed to fend most of them off. If only he could break the perimeter, then he would really have a chance to come out alive. He was getting tired, and with that comes desperation. His most recent attempt to break free from his surrounding adversaries left him with a gash on his right shoulder.

The man at his front was in command of this attack and was the only one of his attackers that remained in a defensive position. It was also the weakest part of the circle. They hoped to goad a foolish attack from Ryudo. They would not find him that desperate. Well, not yet anyway. These fighters were far more skilled than Ryudo had hoped. At this rate, he will get a few more cuts like the one he just received, and once he lost enough blood, he will get dizzy and then he'll get stupid. It was turning into a battle he cannot win.

“Just how long do you think you can keep this up,” Geofren barked confidently at Ryudo as he brought his blade through the leg of another one of his men.

Ryudo spat. “Long enough.”

“Long enough,” Geofren laughed. “Is that your plan.” His amusement drove Ryudo to a rage. He went to charge him.

A brilliant light scorched the fighters eyes. Ryudo stumbled. Geofren stood blank, expressionless, empty. Seizing the opportunity, Ryudo frantically cleared a path past the bulky man as he toppled to the ground. His blade made quick work of two more foes before he broke free of the crowd.

Ryudo could feel the immense heat to his back as he strode confidently away. There would be no attack from behind. He came to a stop next to a frenzied Millenia, whose wild eyes matched her ruffled hair as she struggled for breath. Ryudo brought up his hand to shield his face from the flame. She really can overdo it sometimes when she gets angry.

Aira walked up to Ryudo's side and gazed intently into the pyre. Despite the agonizing cries before her, the young girl was sedate.

“What have you gotten us into this time?” Millenia cried out as the blacken ash began to settle in front of them. “Did you try and teach the kids how to get some extra money or something?”

Ryudo gave a quick chuckle. “Yeah,” he mused. “Something like that. Only the kid didn't find bread that was stale enough, so they were going to execute him.”

“Now your starting to sound like Elena,” Millenia said quickly. “Maybe you were just trying to teach one of the short people and thats why everyone got upset.” Millenia began to notice Persella striding assuredly in their direction. “Shall I finish the woman off. I don't thinks she's exactly ... normal.” Her words trailed off at the end as if she wasn't quite sure what she could use to describe her.

“Nah,” Ryudo said. “I think she wants a piece of me. This is her city after all, anything less would be inhospitable.” Millenia grabbed Aira's shoulder and motioned her back a bit, giving ample room for Ryudo to face her. The crowd backed away even further as Millenia and Aira came near.

Persella drew her sword without a word. It was a simple blade, sharp at the sides and notched in the middle to allow blood to flow easier when thrust into an adversary. Despite its elegance, her elaborate red dress would hinder little mobility. The large slit up the side would allow for free movement of the legs, not to mention the distraction it could provide to a distracted lonely soldier.

Fortunately for Ryudo, though often easily distracted, he was neither lonely nor willing to get poked with her sword. Additionally, he had his own sharp and pointy blade already in hand. He griped his sword and Persella attacked.

She fought in a way unlike any Ryudo had ever seen. There is little doubt that few have ever reached her level of skill, yet still, she fought recklessly. Very recklessly, in fact. She fought as if she had little expectation of survival and would seemingly trade a final thrust for another at any given moment, killing both participants. Naturally this made her unpredictable, since everyone else Ryudo has fought up to this point has wanted to come out of the duel with the fully functioning set of lungs and pumping heart deluxe combo package.

Despite Persella's abilities with a sword, Ryudo's skill was superior. Persella's aggressive strikes often left her open for counterattacks. Ryudo would duck, pivot, and parry, leaving Persella with a cut in her shoulder, a scratch on her leg, and a deep gash in her neck. This would be sufficient damage for most to yield if they could still manage to walk upright, yet Persella was unrelenting. She fought as if she were not loosing at all.

Ryudo took on a more defensive style, utterly perplexed as to how she kept coming while he was beginning to nurse the relatively minor wounds to his thigh and elbow. Persella saw this as weakness and went into an uncontrolled flurry of attacks. To Ryudo's surprise, just when it seemed that the onslaught would never end, certainty the longest Ryudo ever had to endure, she slipped on some loose gravel, and he managed to impale her with the Tokironshura.

She stumbled back. Ryudo stepped forward, in order to better draw the sword from her chest, and was given a deeper cut on his right shoulder. Instinctively, he pulled back, removing his blade. Persella dropped to a knee, pressing her palm on the hard gravel, and discharged an abundance of crimson life from of her mouth. Her dress darkened as more blood seeped through the glimmering red silk of her dress. Ryudo was the only one close enough to witness the true pleasure in her wicked smile.

Persella stood, staggered a bit, and intensified her fiendish grin. Ryudo could not believe she was on her feet. His sword dangled loosely by his right arm. She held hers ready and confidently inched toward him with yet another offensive stance.

Ryudo felt everything. A flicker shone off her sword and blinded his eyes, yet he did not blink. He could isolate the curse Millenia swore under her breath amongst the loud buzz of the crowd, yelling, cheering, screaming at the excitement of man and woman clashing swords. The flash of light subsided and he saw the world through a looking glass. Persella, he saw, was glowing. Her wounds had closed up and her blood was no longer collecting on the ground beneath.

His arm burned. The fire, which originated in his shoulder, spread evenly, only to return and magnify at the core within. It traversed his body, repeatedly, searing his innards, scorching his soul. The Tokirunshura gave a thud as it hit the ground. Ryudo, dropped to his knees, desperately clutching the pain.

“Is that all it takes?” Persella boasted. “A small scrape on the arm.” She drew her head back and cackled. “It seems I have misjudged you more than I thought.”

Ryudo felt a wave of heat soar past his left shoulder and slam into Persella. This was a different kind of heat. It was a calmer type brought about by Millenia's anger. The heat within him felt ravenous.

Persella stared back at a wild eyed Millenia. She spoke, self-righteous and courtly, “I suppose a fair fight was too much to expect from the likes of you.” Her smile served to infuriate Millenia. “Go ahead. Give me all you got.”

Millenia needed no permission. Her rage conjured up the most brilliant light, a fire white and hot and it was sent straight to Persella.

Persella made no attempt to dodge the radiant warmth. It enveloped her while she stood idle. When the flame dwindled, Persella collapsed onto her hands and knees and gave a few strong gasps for air. Then she rose to her feet. Her dress was tattered and singed, exposing most of her body. No one blushed. The people watched in horror. This time, the entire crowd saw her wicked smile.

Millenia tapped Aira on the back and sent her away as Persella began stalking towards her. Millenia let out a cry as she sent another mass of fire at her opponent.

Once again, Persella made no attempt to dodge the inferno, and she received another sample of Millenia's rage. The force of the blast spun her around, dropping her to one knee. Persella raised her sword at Millenia. “That was weaker than the last one. What's the matter? Getting tired?” She threw her head back again and began laughing wildly.

Millenia was tired. She already exerted herself beyond her normal limits. She cursed under her breath in the ancient tongue. She did not even have enough energy to stop the woman's insipid laughter.

Yet she did stop. Her eyes went wide as her sword hit the ground. Then she began wheezing, one hand clutching her throat, while the other braced the ground. Ryudo let out a cry from a few feet away. Their eyes were both blank; they struggled for life.

A small stone hit Persella hard in the ear. Aira held her slingshot ready with a larger stone pulled back, while Persella finally hacked the stone out her throat. Her eye quivered as Aira unloaded another rock on her forehead.

Persella went into a fitful rage when Aira stuck her tongue out at her. Aira fled when Persella went after her. Millenia came between them and socked Persella hard in the mouth. She stumbled back a few feet in the direction of her sword. “No magic does not make me useless!” Millenia screamed.

Persella took a few deep breaths. She gathered herself as she picked up her sword. “I'll keep that in mind,” she said slowly with a sharp edge to her voice. “Now let us see how your fists hold up to my blade.”

Millenia took a step back. That was not a fight she could win. The thought of taking to the sky with Aira, leaving Ryudo to his death, did not even enter her mind. Her eyes wandered to him as he let out another massive cry. Millenia's eyes grew as she saw something come out of his hand and stick into the ground beside him. The grass hissed as it withered and turned black.

Persella noticed she was no longer the focal point of Millenia's attention, so she turned to watch Ryudo rise to his feet with a small white spike in his hand. Persella had not felt fear for quite some time, yet she had a momentary panic. Ryudo looked of death. His stare lingered on Persella ominously.

She shoved her foolish fear aside and tried to force a out a confident smile. “Haven't you figured it out yet?” Her words were condescending on the surface. Her insides were fluttering about her body. “My wounds heal completely. No matter how good you are, my blade will find you eventually. You cannot win.”

Ryudo's griped his weapon ferociously. “Let's see your blade find me when your arm is removed.”

He ran straight at her. She stepped back and held her sword out front in a defensive position. She made no sound as Ryudo rammed the spike into her right shoulder. He thought his only chance was that this mysterious thing would be sharp enough and strong enough to go clean through her. It did not.

Persella remained motionless as Ryudo stood in front of her in despair. Her smile faded. Her body began shaking, wounds reopened and then closed. A darkness spread from the tears in her skin. Persella continued with her convulsions. Her body was fighting and healing and fighting, but her blood was corrupt. She collapsed and lay motionless except for the occasional spasm on the ground. No one moved, except Aira who felt it necessary to hit her in the head with another pebble.