[center][b][i]Luthica[/b][/i][/center] --- The Paladin examined Luthica from top to bottom, his eyes showed no sign of lust, just pure disbelief. Finishing his examination he let out a small laugh. [b]"What does a woman like you wish to accomplish? What's your name?"[/b] She had expected nothing else from an ordinary Paladin like this guy. However, if she wanted to move on there was no way past this guy without proofing she wouldn't die from a small breeze. Ignoring his remarks she answered with a rather respectful voice. [b]"Luthica, Luthica Cyrilleon."[/b] She doubted he would know the name of an ordinary [s]ex-[/s] soldier, even less of one like her. [b]"You're a nobody."[/b] He declared. [b]"Proof to me that you are worth your salt."[/b] Did he want a fight? Seeing how he didn't even take a battle position she doubted it, maybe just a general demonstration of her abilities? She didn't really look like a swordzerking butcherer after all. [b]"I am a magician, able to use time-magic."[/b] While it wasn't exactly time-magic Luthica doubted she needed to go into any details. The Paladin gave a small whistle. [b]"Listen, calling herself a time magician. Well, how bout a fancy trick then?"[/b] Luthica thought for a bit, calling herself a full-fledged magician was a lie after all, but what she had at her disposal should be enough and she nodded. Pointing her finger towards a far end of the grand hall the Paladin's eyes followed. A quick teleportation brought Luthica to the end she was pointing at and, after dwelling a few seconds there, she returned to her initial position. The Paladin needed a moment before realizing the girl with her look of expectancy was already in front of him. Turning towards her his eyebrows narrowed a bit, mistakenly viewing it as an insult. [b]"Oh, wow, you are able to [i]run[/i] away like no one's business, but what good is that gonna do you to defeat a beast even an army couldn't take on?"[/b] Luthica swallowed down a sigh. [b]"Then how about this?"[/b] Pulling a dagger out of her sleeve she didn't hesitate to stab her hand. "Urgh..." The pain was intense enough that she considered stabbing HIM instead of herself. The Paladin was a moment in shock but gave more time to do...whatever she was about to do. For a moment just long enough for those who actually paid attention to her, Luthicas entire body was swallowed by a dim light before returning to normal, the wound cured and no signs of any blood. Not giving her the chance to explain, the Paladin cut her off. [b]"Good Job, you can use healing magic. My niece can do that too, I bet in 1 or 2 years she becomes the best [i]TIME MAGICIAN[/i] out here!"[/b] Collecting her thoughts for a short moment, she responded politely. [b]"It wasn't curing magic, at least not directly. I simply turned back the state of my body, via time-magic."[/b] It didn't took a pro to guess that the Paladin wasn't buying her words, forcing her to press on. [b]"Allright, how about this...[/b] Putting the dagger back into place she moved towards the pews. [i]"Strength of Purpose.[/i] To the Paladin's surprise, Luthica lifted her leg high up into the air before stretching it and bringing it down onto the poor wood. *CRACK* [b]"H-Hey how dare you to destroy the property of the Holy Church!"[/b] Having caught some more attention the Paladin shut out to her while taking a few steps towards her. Retracing her leg into a normal standing position Luthica stretched her arm out towards the demolished piece of furniture. [i]"Leitmotif."[/i] And, in the same fashion as before, restoring it into a unscathed condition, or at least without the [i]scratch[/i] she added. Turning towards him she continued. [b]"I don't believe curing magic is able to [i]cure[/i] objects?"[/b] The paladins eyebrows narrowed even more, but the fact that he caught a few people's attention made him give in sighing. [b]"Fine, fine, move your ass over there and wait until further instructions."[/b] He pointed towards a mixed bunch of people who already seemed in wait. [b]"Thank you."[/b] with a small bow and a smile on her face she left the annoying Paladin and moved on towards the group. She actually knew a few of those people and was quite surprised that they joined this mission, but she had more important matters to attend right now. Abusing one of the pews as a seat she moved her slightly bend arms in front of her, like holding a balloon in booth hands. [i]"Timeline Threading."[/i] The empty room in-between her hands shortly filled with what could only be described as beautiful magic, small orange lines in a warm light dancing around like butterflies on a flower field, Luthica took her time to reduce the just created Paradox. --- [center][b][i]Lu&Rinshan[/b][/i][/center] --- Lu sighed upon watching the 3 bandits running with their tails between their legs. That was already the fourth encounter in just one week. While the majority might think a temporary ceasefire was a good thing, for Thao it just meant more turmoil and bloodshed than before. Lu hadn't joined the battlefield for years, and had good reason to not do so, but now that the war has come to him what was he supposed to do? According to the rumours it [i]should[/i] even be safer on the actual battlefield now than at home and after the past few days he gladly started to believe so. Turning back towards the rather large wooden and spacious building, if actually maintained worthy to be called a mansion, the old soldier had set his mind. He would help slay that gigantic monstrosity on the battlefield for the sake of his kind-of peaceful live and the future of a certain girl. And with the current state Thao was in, it [u]definitely[/u] was saver on the battlefield than leaving this girl here on her own. After moving through a labyrinth of hallways and doors he stopped in front of a door where on the other side a happy humming could be heard from. [b]"Rinshan."[/b] He declared his intrusion before opening the door. [b]"Lu!"[/b] the girl, laying with her belly on the floor while drawing on a piece of paper, looked up from her work and greeted Lu with a big smile. She didn't hesitate to stand up and rush towards him, proudly showing him what she was working on. [b]"Look, look, what do you think?"[/b] She asked. Honestly speaking the vet couldn't make much out of her doodle, but she definitely improved. Petting her head he said with a gentle smile. [b]"Keep up the good work!"[/b] Rinshan just giggled. [b]"Listen Rinshan."[/b] Changing back to a bit more serious attitude he looked into her eyes.[b]"What do you think about if You, Plurry and me go on a journey?"[/b] Upon hearing that her already bright face became even brighter. [b]"Really?! Where are we going?!"[/b] [b]"Mhm, it is not really some sort of vacation, but I have some work to do, it could actually be quite dangerous, but definitely safer than here. I already told you about the temporary peace, right? I am going to beat up that big bad monster that everyone is scared of."[/b] [b]"Oooohhhhh... right. I wanna see it! I promise to listen, so please~~?"[/b] [b]"You can watch from far away, I can't say what will happen on the journey, so yes, you have to listen to me, no matter what, understood? So get your stuff and we meet at the entrance."[/b] With a motivated nod the small girl turned around and started to grab the few belongings she had. Lu could only guess what was in that little head of hers, happy about a beast that made Thao agree to some kind of peace? Maybe he was too indulgent towards her but she definitely knew that this world wasn't such a nice place as in some fairy tales she loved. There was no need for Lu to go to his own room, while they lived in that rather big house they weren't really rich, in fact, poor. ... [b]"Heeere we are~"[/b] with a small jump Rinshan came out of the main entrance, Edelweiss together with a small backpack on her back while Plurry hung on her side. [b]"Alright, we have to visit the central capital first."[/b] She nodded, this time a lot less happy than before, she didn't like that place after all. And thus, grabbing each other hands, they made their 1 to 2 hour walk towards the heart of Thao. ... Luckily there weren't many complications, Lu's face was a known personality after all and after nicely asking a few strangers he also learned about Zhong Xin Dao himself looking for capable people on a plaza. He definitely knew the General, the question was, did the General remember Lu? Whatever the case was he could only hope this would go over without much trouble, considering he [i]carried[/i] a small little girl around. Warning her about the Generals temper Lu didn't need long to find his way towards him, giving him a somewhat respectful but still casual. [b]"Yo."[/b] quickly followed by his intend.[b]"I am here to sign up for some kind of beast slaying for the sake of Thao's warriors not getting too bored.[/b] He definitely played with fire here, prepared to battle any moment.