[center][h2][color=aba000]Sara Hepburn[/color][/h2] [hr][hr] Sara studied the bandits as the team got into their positions- Vali climbing atop her carriage, while the other 3 prepared to fight. Sara nodded as they spoke. [color=aba000][b]”I got perfect frontliner for you guys,”[/b][/color] she said with a mischievous glint, removing a Golden Key with an axe-like design at the tip. [color=aba000][b]”Open, Gate of the Golden Bull!”[/b][/color] Sara chanted, not loud enough to be heard all the way down the hill, but enough to be audible to her nearby guildmates. [color=aba000][b]”Taurus!”[/b][/color] The light shimmered as Taurus appeared. Taurus was a massive humanoid figure, standing at nearly 7 feet in height, and incredibly muscular at that, while also sharing meany features with a the spotted black-and-white cow. He was only wearing several pieces of clothing- a black Speedo, a pair of leather boots, a cowbell around his neck, and a devious grin. In his arms was his signature labrys. [b]”Ah, Ms. Sara,”[/b] Taurus said, staring his Mage down. [b]”Looking just as beau~tiful this fine afternoo~n!”[/b] The Celestial Spirit even spoke following the cow motif, with great emphasis upon his “oos.” [color=aba000][b]”Uh...”[/b][/color] Sara seemed mildly uncomfortable at the Spirit’s words. [color=aba000][b]”Can you...uh...help us out here? We need to remove those bandits to recover the medicine inside the carriages.””[/b][/color] She pointed towards the downed vehicles. [b]”Absolu~tely!”[/b] Taurus twirled his labrys. He looked towards Damien, then Argus, and then (for quite a bit longer) at Trixie. [b]”You guys just moo~ve on in behind me. Those bandits are easy pickings,”[/b] he said confidently, walking towards the robed men. [hr][hr] Meters away, the three individuals watched as the Dragon Heart mages prepared themselves. The one in the center, a slim young man covered in a black robe, reached to his neck, pressing down on a circular glyph [b]”M’lady. They’re here.”[/b] A voice spoke back into his head. [b]”As expected. Use the Lacrima. And be careful.”[/b] The man snorted. [b]”Careful? These mages aren’t even their top combatants. A warm-up, that’s all they are.”[/b] The clown got into the telepathic conversation as well, pressing on his own glyph. [b]”Ain’t that right? Where’s the robot girl you told us ‘bout? I’m looking forward to that fight.”[/b] The voice scoffed. [b]”Believe me when I say they’re resilient. I knew my dearest brother, and my nephew, and the new Guild Master, the old fool. Those mages will put up a fight. If you expect otherwise, you may face greater danger than you anticipated.”[/b] The middle man relented. [b]”As you wish. Preparing offense.”[/b] He removed a small detonator from his pocket, and after a brief pause, pressed the red button atop it. [hr][hr] The men in the black robes, meanwhile, were laughing and playing a game of cards when they noticed a group of people. They then began to go haywire, screaming and panicking. They expected a few Council Knights, perhaps, not an entourage of talented mages. Their panic was only interrupted a shrill beep. “Huh?” one of the bandits said, before an explosion emerged from the carts, loud as could be, blue energy wrapping around the bandits. Needless to say, the medicine was screwed, and all the bandits were as well, caught in the explosive blast. Smoke rose from the smoldering remains of the shipments. The Cow Spirit and his summoner alike were both bewildered. What had happened? [hr][hr] The man in the distance laughed, unclipping his dark robes and drawing his blade, Venom Fang’s polished metal glistening in the distance. He sat back into a stance. Their distraction was his opportunity. [b]”Frappe Rapide!”[/b] [hr][hr] Sara, still standing in the distance, noticed something. One of the figures in the distance removed their cloak and drew a sword. But before she could call out to anybody, or even blink, really, the figure vanished, crossing a great amount of distance in a single movement, and slashed. The Golden Bull stood motionless for a moment, before dropping backwards, giving a pained “MOO!” before returning to the spirit world in a myriad of golden light. Sara stared at the attacker in utter shock, watching him twirl his blade. He was a young man, not much older than Sara herself, with a mane of blonde hair and piercing green eyes, lean and pale. He’d be considered good-looking, perhaps, if it wasn’t for that bleak, emotionless face, and of course, the sword. The man looked up at the mages. [b]”Greetings. My name is Jean Vali, Mage of the Spider Legs guild. I’ve been tasked with your apprehension and, if you fail to complain, your extermination. Now, unlike my colleagues-”[/b] He nodded towards the two approaching figures. [b]”-I’m not bloodthristy in any way. Killing is only necessary when it’s just that. So please, do me a favor…”[/b] He twirled the blade and pointed the tip at the Mages. [b]”...and surrender while you’re alive, before things get ugly.”[/b] [@Esran] [@Raijinslayer] [@Quincy] [@pkken] [/center]