[center][color=red][h3]~ Mizuki ~[/h3][/color][/center]

"So you're the sadist type huh? Or do you just enjoy being praised?"

[color=red]"That's the first time that's ever happened,"[/color] Mizuki replied, with no small hint of aggression in her voice. [color=red]"Legitimate or not, it's a huge improvement over being hunted. Have you ever been hunted, Joseph?"[/color] she asked, staring directly at his eyes. [color=red]"When I was a spirit only I was hated. When I inherited my current form I was hunted. So I think I'm justified in taking what I can get. Kind words are hard to come by."[/color]

[color=red]"Especially from me,"[/color] she finished.

[hr]

[center]([s]a new challenger has arrived[/s])
[color=silver][h3]~ Vikki Miller ~[/h3][/color][/center]

The next morning, everyone intent on going met at the inn to strategize. After everyone was assembled, [url=http://i.imgur.com/Sr6aVSa.png]an imposing woman nobody was familiar with[/url] walked in.

[color=silver]"Hi,"[/color] she said simply. [color=silver]"I'm Vikki. I'll be leading this expedition until Maria arrives. If you all do what I say, your chances of not getting killed by Marcus' forces will be significantly improved."[/color]

She presented a large roll of paper and unfurled it on a table, revealing a map of Lavanya. [color=silver]"Our destination is the dragon nation, Xiuhcoatl,"[/color] she explained as she pointed to it on the map. [color=silver]"However, I have been informed of the existence of six elemental swords that will help us, three of which we will be collecting on the way. As for the other three, one is already in the hands of one of ours, one is in Europe, and one is here in Oasari. Since Carmen Calandra is a celebrity of sorts in this country, she is already on her way to collect that one. Europe is obviously far out of Marcus' sphere of control, so I'll need two volunteers to separate from the group and go as a pair to collect it - preferably two that can get past museum security without causing an international incident."[/color]

[color=silver]"As for the other three, they are here, here and here,"[/color] Vikki said as she pointed them out on the map. [color=silver]"All of them are deep within Marcus' territory, and all of them have unique conditions for retrieving them. It would be unsafe to send one or two people to collect them, which is why we're stopping on the way to Xiuhcoatl to pick them up as a group."[/color]

Vikki rolled the map back up and looked around at the faces surrounding her. [color=silver]"Now, I'm sure you're all wondering who gets the swords. They aren't Excaliburs, so anyone can take them. I'll leave that up to you all to fight over. I'd love one myself, but that's not in my contract,"[/color] she explained. [color=silver]"The swords aren't are main goal, though. As you know,"[/color] she continued. [color=silver]"We go in, retrieve the swords, and rendezvous with Brako Rackshaw and his dragons and await further instructions."[/color]

[color=silver]"Any questions?"[/color]