"I'm told your son has gained victories against my Varjans... with the help of yokai."
"I'm sure there's more to it than that."
"Hehehe... Ohh, you pretend we are different. But we fight for the same thing: To have a homeland free of the yokai."
"I've done exactly that with duty and honor. Kept order to my home, and justice to my people. You are nothing like me."
"And neither is your son... but his name is bound to your legacy."
"A legacy is more than a name."
"Ah, true."
"Your family has ruled this land since the beginning, yes? Your ancestral castle was your domain... until now. I look forward to making it my own, while I leave you here to starve to death. Alone, and pathetic. Let that be your legacy."
Komatsu Bay
The taskforce elected to all head back to Terauchi Temple posthaste. A decision that worried Ayu a bit, but ultimately respected. "Very well. Take care on the trip back to the temple. I'll be right back there too as soon as I can."
"And I'll be... somewhere. After this little stunt, I doubt I can do business with the Varjans anymore." The merchant Shizuka complained.
Before they left, however, Liliana cast a powerful healing spell that covered the vicinity. The crowd of battered and beaten villagers present watched with awe as small motes of green light fell from the sky. They recoiled when the motes approached and entered them, but relaxed when these small wisps did nothing but heal wounds and relieve pain.
With their health reinvigorated, the survivors of Komatsu Bay bid their taskforce saviors a more hearty farewell. Hopefully, this attitude will still be there when the Lady Kyouko's forces make landfall.
Shizuyama Wilderness
~ @Restalaan (GRI) ~
The mercenary bent backwards to avoid Gringor's horizontal swing, and continued deftly evading the attacks sent his way. All the while keeping his swords on their scabbards, making no move to retaliate. "If this is the joke, it isn't very funny or impressive." He taunted Gringor. His hands, however, were still on the hilts of his sheathed swords, ready to unleash them at a moment's notice. Possibly when Gringor finally has him cornered.
Terauchi Temple
Takeshi bore witness to the... strange fusion of Alice and Carroll that unleashed a powerful aura, and the subsequent splitting of them by literally being pulled apart by Eula and Kerry. The young lord mostly had no idea what exactly was going on, but it seemed the monsters did. He did know one thing, though: They were close to each other. So close, in fact, that his presence there was unneeded.
When Eula and Carroll left to be alone with each other and to leave Alice and Kerry alone as well, Takeshi also left as well. The young lord spared one last glance at Alice's unconscious form before finally leaving.
-
The peace did not last long, however, when the powerful aura from before was unleashed again and something blasted off into the forest outside Terauchi Temple. It was no secret to Takeshi on who that was, especially when Eula and Kerry followed not long after.
"Just what is going on here?!" A provoked Revuel approached Takeshi after speaking with the Hangai sisters. "There was not one, but two, waves of powerful energies washing over the temple! So powerful that even the lay people that are the refugees here are unnerved!" He then looked to the forest where the monster couples went to. "I saw the Madams Kerry and Eula leave. Should we follow them?"
Takeshi smiled softly. "No need. I believe they can handle... whatever this is. Besides, I'm pretty sure it's something very private between them."
Indeed, Kerry and Eula soon returned with Carroll and Alice.
---
~ @AzureKnight (HIN, ATS & SHI), @Enkryption (ALI & CRL), @The Irish Tree (EUL & LIL), @Rezod92, @Crowvette, @Restalaan (SKA) ~
A couple of hours later, the taskforce members who liberated Komatsu Bay have returned to Terauchi Temple. Takeshi's eyes widened when he saw them arrive, and quickly moved to greet them. "You've returned from Komatsu Bay!" He said as he approached. "And without Ayu. I assume you've actually kicked all the Varjans out of there and Ayu stayed behind to handle repairs?"
"That is probably the case, milord." Revuel joined the conversation. "Lady Kyouko has just informed me that she has engaged the Varjan blockade. Particularly, the section near Komatsu Bay. She would not do so if the port town is still under Varjan control."
"Then... then that means--" Takeshi could barely contain his excitement. "We're ready. We're finally ready to find my father and rescue him!" The young lord's eyes shone with hope. "I will gather the others and tell them of this news. Then we can... we can--
"Milord, please calm down." Revuel interrupted the almost-jittering Takeshi. "Let the taskforce have some rest first. Look, the Fairy is fast asleep and the Lich looks to be paler than normal."
"Y-You're right." Takeshi replied. "I'm sorry..."
~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~
~~ TAKAMORI TALES ~~
~~ SORAE TALES ~~
~~ SHIZUKA (MERCHANT) TALES ~~
~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~
~~ LEGENDARY TALES ~~