[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/Oq6OQGv.png[/img] [/center]
[center][h2]🔥[color=ed1c24][i]Vară Riemsianne[/i][/color]🔥[/h2][/center]
[sub][@PaulHaynek][/sub]


Vară quickly took notice of Ian’s difficulty lifting the next barrel he planned to use. His throw was sloppy, and thus allowed the fire demoness to swifty dodge out of the way. Back on her feet, she adopted a stance and pointed her polearm at the culprit. [color=ed1c24]“What’s the matter, can’t even lift a simple barrel of water? Let me guess, spent too much time learning how to make up asinine stories?”[/color] She taunted. Wasting no more time, Vară sprinted at Ian and began dealing a barrage of strikes at him. But, the man was nothing if not nimble; she found it quite frustrating that he was able to dodge all of her attacks up until this point. The situation turned even more for the worse when North parried her last strike before elbowing her in the face and taking her axe for himself. 

Clenching the side of her face with her hand, she stumbled back a bit. [color=ed1c24]“D-Degenerate! First you have the audacity to touch my face, then you steal my weapon?!”[/color] she was barely able to choke out her words. Stumbling further back, she only now just took notice that the entire hallway was caught on fire. The initial fire she had started spread further and quicker than she realized. With the reality of the situation setting in, Vară’s heart was at this point racing. The Town Hall she arrived to assist was now, literally, going up in smoke. And the culprit she set herself on subduing now seemed to have the winning hand. With Ian advancing, all she could do was back away, until she tumbled onto the floor. Breathing heavily, she motioned backwards to increase the distance. Though it was ultimately futile, Ian brandished her axe and began to make for the final blow. Unable to think of a way out of her predicament, flashes of her family and guildmates began pouring through Vară’s mind. With a single tear shedding, all she could do was let out a single utterance. [color=ed1c24]“Mother, N-Neil. For...Forgive me…”[/color]

However, just when oblivion seemed imminent, a thunderous crack boomed through the hall. Debris began falling from the ceiling, completely burying Ian right under it. Before she had time to even process what had just happened, the rubble buried her as well…

--

A voice could be heard, it’s speaker not visible. “Vară” it said. [color=ed1c24]“Who, who is that?”[/color] She answered. “Vară, please…” It continued. [color=ed1c24]“...Who is that?”[/color] She replied. The voice, she realized, was one she was familiar with. [color=ed1c24]“N..Neil, is that-”[/color] 

“...wake up!! Please open your eyes!!”

Suddenly, snapping out of her stupor, Vară awoke. She turned to see a bewildered Neil seated beside her. Seeing her awaken caused him to pull her into a strong embrace. He explained that they couldn’t reach her in the city hall due to the fire. She lightly turned to see the town’s center of administration had been reduced to a mere pile of charred rubble. Her heart sank, understanding that it was her fault it happened in the first place. She looked around to see the city folk had gathered around. She then turned back to Neil with a sad smile. [color=ed1c24]“Neil, please forgive me. I don’t think that the mayor or the Blue-Eyed Savior are going to be too happy with me...” [/color]

She then fell back into his arms, returning his embrace.

[hr]

[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/WEtPntO.png[/img] [/center]
[center][h2]🌊[i][color=00aeef]Nagare[/color][/i]🌊[/h2][/center]
[sub][@PaulHaynek] [@Restalaan] [@13org][/sub]

Nagare continued to struggle against the band of mamono, doing her best to stand her ground. At that moment, her comrades began to make their move. Not a beat later, Nagare felt the hefty weight upon her tail subside. She realized that Ditzy took out the two orcs that threw themselves at her. He then targeted the Minotaur, locking her down in another one of his mighty holds. Ada rushed behind him, slashing their tendons and ankles so they could no longer move. Sir Reed was next, entering the fray he single-handedly fought both the Lizardman and Salamander off of her. Nagare understood that Reed was a veteran knight and obviously knew his way around the battlefield, but she hadn’t realized just how skillful a fighter he actually was. 

He then shouted at her to freeze the two combatants. Nodding in confirmation, she quickly charged her energy and let loose a mighty burst of frost at their adversaries. With that, the two lizards had been subdued. Thankfully, Reed had used their bodies as a shield to prevent being frozen along with them. The ogre, now livid, came from behind and grabbed Sir Reed by the neck. To quickly turn the tables, Reed used what was perhaps the oldest trick in the book and shouted, pointing at nothing in the distance. To Nagare’s surprise, the ogre was successfully distracted. Reed took advantage of this and used his fingers to pinch a specific area on the ogre’s neck, causing her to immediately fall unconscious. Nagare had never seen such a technique, she wondered where Sir Reed had learned it.

Regardless, the battle was now over, Nagare and her friends against all odds reigned victorious! Before the elation could set it, however, Reed hastily made his way toward the ice serpent. He reprimanded her for not transforming into their dragonic form sooner and stated they needed to hurry and leave before the band of monsters had a chance to recover. 

[color=00aeef]“But...Sir Reed, what about the - “[/color] Before she could finish her sentence, Ditzy had sprinted for the caravan and found the kidnapped man. Having brought him back, Nagare felt a sense of relief and amusement due to Ditzy. [color=00aeef]“That was wonderful Ditzy-kun! Sir Reed, we’ve accomplished our quest! I certainly think it’s fine now if we leave. Go ahead and hop on everyone!”[/color] Nagare then began to blush out of a bit of embarrassment. [color=00aeef]“I’m, I’m not actually used to carrying people on my back, so the ride may be a little bumpy. But, I promise to do my best!”[/color] 

If everyone’s business was concluded, Nagare would proceed to carry her comrades back to the Guild Hall for some much needed R&R