[IC] A Hero Tale: Lystra

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Emilia looked to Lystra, saying nothing as she spoke. The girl shook uncontrollably as time went on, glaring at Lystra as she attempted to lighten the mood, taken aback by her distinct lack of emotive display. "W-What?" Emilia sputtered, "Is this funny to you?" Emilia's regret immediately vanished, and he face welled up with anger. The once oblivious girl without a care in the world turned into a spiteful woman, set on figuring out exactly what the hell was going on. She walked past Lystra, glaring at her intensely with tensed brows, but she passed her friend up and starting sprinting after the mysterious stranger that was headed straight for their camp.

The figure stopped as Emilia grew closer, and turned to face her. His eyes flickered, and the girl stopped, surprised by his strange glowing gaze. She stood several feet away from him, but was too shocked to say anything, especially when he turned around, and she noticed that one of his fists was absolutely covered in blood, along a fair portion of his robe.

"Yes?"

[Rune_Alchemist]

"Too soon?" Well, she tried at least. She'd apologize or something later, though she wasn't exactly sure how to do that. She'd think of something to say, or at least attempt too instead of avoiding it like she typically did with these sorts of things. She owed Emilia that much at least. As Emilia walked off, Lystra sighed and took one last look at Kalo's bloody corpse. It was a shame, really, and anyone dying was bad. She knew that better than Emilia probably gave her credit for at the moment but it was no use in trying to argue. Something was wrong. If Kalo was killed, then whatever or whoever killed him was probably still around here...which was bad.

"H-hey wait!" Lystra took off after Emilia after noticing where she was heading. An odd, green robed individual with some rather...annoying looking green hair she didn't recognize that seemed to be heading for the camp. Now, Lystra may not be the most physically adept people out there compared to Emilia or Kalo but she liked to think she was at least somewhat intelligent. Weighing the probabilities in her head and taking into account Kalo's recent and likely murder and whoever this was...it was likely he was the culprit. Which meant that if Kalo who was likely the most skilled fighter she knew was killed by this guy...well, that was bad news for them.

"H-hey Emilia," She managed to catch up with Emilia, but not before the odd man had addressed her. "I said wait up! I nearly drowned you think I could get some-uh, h-hi." her voice faltered a bit when she noticed his glowing eyes...and the amount of blood it was covered in. It was all she needed to confirm that he was the one that had likely killed Kalo. "That's a lot of blood...are you injured?" If he was the culprit, then he could just as easily kill both her and Emilia. She cast a small glance over to Emilia. Hopefully she wouldn't do anything rash.

[tex]

Emilia turned to Lystra and immediately hid behind her, clasping both of her shoulder lightly. She was the one with the weird shiny shield after all. No safer wall than a strange magical artifact, or whatever the hell that giant plate was. The stranger looked at Lystra, his bright eyes giving off an oddly dull expression.

"I am not injured. I am covered in Kalo's blood," The man said, rather matter-of-factly. He paused and glanced at Lystra's shield. His eyes widened slightly and he looked back to her quizzically. "Where did you get that?" He asked, pointing at the disk of metal that Lystra wielded.

From behind him, Emilia noticed the hulking figure of Kalen making his way across the grassy plain, towards where they were standing. He extended his arm upwards and waved at the two girls, but was too far away to be heard if he spoke. Emilia looked at him and smiled, hopping up and down and waving back. The green haired stranger pulled his head back slowly, and craned his neck around to look at Kalen, but returned his gaze to Lystra again, awaiting an answer patiently.

[Rune_Alchemist]

The fact he just admitted to murdering Kalo so casually made Lystra shiver slightly. Whoever he was, he was incredibly confident and probably had the skill to back that confidence up. She ignored Emilia for now, content with standing between her and whoever this was. She may not be strong, but she'd do what she could.

"This hunk of metal?" Lystra replied to the mans question, hefting the shield between her and the man. "Found it in the lake just now. Emilia almost got me drowned getting to it." She joked, giving the man only half the story. It was the truth though, and that was the story she was going to stick to if pressed. No need to give whoever this was any more information than that. If she could wait until Kalen got close enough to do something, maybe they'd have a chance to get away and warn Fuso, but at the moment the only thing standing between the both of them and perhaps a bloody death was whatever this odd metal shield was. Which, she conveniently had to attached to her arm.

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The robed man blinked calmly, and glared upon Lystra's shield. The silence that followed was agonizing for Emilia, but the fact that Kalen was taking his precious ass time to get across the lakes edge only made everything worse. But to her surprise, Kalen was able to reach them without the intruder uttering a single word following Lystra's explanation.

"Who's this?" Kalen asked, slowing his pace to a crawl. He didn't wait for an answer. "I've never seen anyone with hair like that, before. Are you from-" Kalen paused as he circled the man, catching sight of the blood that stained the front of his robe. The hulking man stepped back, and made his way between the girls and the bloodied man. He noticed Lystra's shield, but wasn't very concerned with its origins in the moment. He was more concerned with who's blood that was. The robed man tilted his head forward and looked at his own body, before meeting Kalen's stare.

"I'm sorry, this is not how I expected to introduce myself, Kalen," The man croaked. Kalen backed away, closer to Lystra and Emilia, with a strange fear welling up from the very center of his chest. "I have already met with your brother, but he was not interested in my guidance. I am sincerely hoping your response will differ from his." Emilia pulled Lystra away from Kalen and whispered into her ear as quietly as she could manage..

"We should run!"

"Where is my brother?" Kalen asked firmly. The man pointed behind him, towards the outcropping.

"His corpse is behind the shattered rock." Kalen's expression didn't change. He looked at the masked man and calmly nodded. Emilia pulled harder on Lystra's shoulders.

"Now!"

"What did you ask him- Rather, what did you wish of us, both?" Kalen inquired.

"I am looking for a student."

[Rune_Alchemist]

Well he was either unhappy with her explanation, or had some problem with the object in question. It was clear he had some knowledge of what the disc was, but she wasn't eager to get help from him after he had murdered Kalo. The silence that ensued was agonizing for the both of them, Lystra holding the shield between her and Emilia. Whatever power that had helped her get out of the ruin hopefully would help her again, but thankfully it wasn't needed. Kalen finally managed to get his slow ass over to them.

A student? She had no idea what that was about, but she wasn't sticking around long enough to hear whatever the masked man was going to be saying. Lystra considered herself lucky enough not to be attacked by the man, and she was very much agreeing with Emilia's sentiments of running. Someone had to go tell Fuso about Kalo and whoever this was. If there was someone that could possibly help here, it was him. Lystra followed after Emilia, running towards the camp and leaving Kalen to deal with this himself.

[tex]

Kalen glanced at the two women as they ran off, but the masked man didn't shift his focus from Kalen for a second. Kalen nodded and turned back to the newcomer, keeping his wits about him as best he could. Emilia was relieved to be away from the two of them, finally. She was certain Kalen could deal with the robed murderer on his own. She wondered though, how Lystra felt about this. Now wasn't the time to be asking questions though.

***

Fuso's tent was silent as his wife slept in the comfort of her bed. Although she was ill, the woman was never found without a high spirit, and a compassion for her people to match it. Fuso didn't need to stay by her side, knowing that she was safe at the end of the day was enough to give him peace at mind. Besides, a simple cold couldn't topple a woman with such resolute fortitude. The tent's entrance rustled behind Fuso as he sat at a small makeshift table, waiting for his sons to return. "Back so soon?" Fuso mumbled, turning around.

To his surprised however, Kalen had not returned with his brother. Rather, it was Emilia and Lystra. The visit unsettled him, it was rare that anyone visited his tent at sunset, or any time of the day, really. Despite his leadership, his people were very independent. Nobody relied on Fuso for anything, beyond keeping their will strong, and rationing their supplies effectively. "Ah, Emilia, Lystra. A pleasant surprise, what brings you to my home?" Fuso asked, "Do you wish to pay good wishes for my wife's health? I assure you, it is unnecessary.." Emilia felt like blurting out the news that she and Lystra had come across Kalo's corpse, along with a murderous stoic, but her tongue turned to jelly in her mouth. A feeling of restraint gripped her like no other, and she was silent, smiling awkwardly like a lost child. She turned to Lystra for guidance. Fuso looked at her shield and smiled. "Oh, a new discovery, is it?"

[Rune_Alchemist]

"Err..." Lystra fumbled with her words as she caught her breath after sprinting to the tent. She'd discuss whatever the shield was later. For now, she tried to think of a way to break this delicately, but failed. There was no way to really tell someone that their son had just kicked the bucket and that their other one might be receiving the same fate. "It-it's Kalo and Kalen!" Lystra finally was able to make a sentence, stuttering slightly, words coming as quickly as she could force them out of her mouth. "There's a man by the lake. He killed Kalo and Kalen is still down there." Hopefully that was enough. The people didn't rely on Fuso for much, but this matter was something that the two of them couldn't solve on their own.

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Fuso looked at Lystra, doubtful that she spoke the truth. He smiled and stood up to face the two girls, towering over them with a posture much like Kalen's. "I've been pranked by the clan's children for too many years to fall for this, kids," Fuso huffed, hastily guiding the girls out of his tent. Emilia grabbed his arm in a sudden stroke of courage, and yanked him out of the tent, hoping Lystra would help.

"It's the truth! Kalen is speaking with that murderer right now- you have get out there and help him!" Fuso's smile disappeared, replaced with a look of anger. His eyes tensed and he ripped himself free of Emilia's grasp, pushing both the girls out without restraint.

"This is not a funny joke, girls, nor is it convincing. I suggest you remove yourselves at once. Go home to your families, lest I make tomorrow very difficult for the two of you." Fuso pointed across the rows of tents towards the lakeside. "Kalen is fetching Kalo, who is, no doubt, training by the lake's outcropping. They will return shortly."

[Rune_Alchemist]

"Please, you have to!" Lystra replied, her voice sounding full of a small bit of irritation and she was giving him a small glare. "I don't care if I have to put up an entire tent by myself or whatever else you want, we are not lying!" Coming from Lystra, that was almost as good as selling her soul. It was the only thing she could think of to possibly say that could convince him. If it didn't then she wasn't sure what else she could do. For all she knew, Kalen was already dead, and that man was coming up here to do something to the rest of them. She ground her teeth silently together as she waited for his response.

If he didn't go down there and do something, then she might just go back herself. Maybe...maybe she could do something with whatever this shield was. As much as she didn't care much for Kalo, there was the chance whoever that was, was going to harm Gremma, Emilia and her little brother. She wouldn't let that happen if she could help it.

[tex]

"Enough!" Fuso shouted. Nearby tents rustled as his booming voice awoke several neighbors. Fuso looked around carefully, and shook his head with a hearty sigh. Emilia swallowed hard and pulled at Lystra's shoulder lightly. "I will... Go to the lakeside. But only to appease your silly pride, girls. Kalo and Kalen will likely meet us halfway back-"

"There is no need for that," The robed man's familiar voice crept up on Lystra and Emilia from behind. Kalen was there, and behind him, the short man with green hair. Fuso looked unto him in surprise, and felt his throat go dry.

"Kalen? Where is your brother? Who is-"

"Kalo is dead, father, and I will be going with Zelriane here across the lands as per his request," Kalen announced sternly. Fuso's eyes widened with shock, and he immediately shoved his way past the two girls. The blood littering Zelriane's robe confirmed Lystra and Emilia's story for him in an instant.

"Stop him, or he will die," Zelriane said quietly. Kalen stepped in Fuso's way and rose a hand, blocking his path entirely. Fuso stopped and grabbed his son's hand, while balling up his free fingers into a fist, and immediately clocking Kalen across the Jaw. The single strike sent his son to the ground like a tree, towards Zelriane, who sidestepped the tumbling man without a word.

"You! Trespasser! You- You'll die for your crimes!" Fuso shouted, losing his usually stalwart composure in a matter of seconds. Emilia spun around and hid behind Lystra once again.

"Suicide does not befit-" Before Zelriane could finish, the chief charged his son's murderer and aimed a precise punch for the top of the tiny man's head. Zelriane shifted his weight to the side, placed a single palm on the underside of Fuso's forearm, and struck the hulking chief in his abdomen with the opposite hand. Fuso's exposed back muscles rippled and his body slid back half a foot, dragging dirt and grass with him as he gasped for air. Where Zelriane's fist had landed, there was now a small area of twisted flesh, blood pouring for several rips in Fuso's stomach. Zelriane's movement was fast, almost too fast to see with the naked eye. Several nearby clan members had seen the display, peering out of their tents in horror, not only at Fuso's injury, but at the news of Kalo's death. "It does not befit a leader," Zelriane finished, turning his gaze to Kalen. Fuso's son was still conscious, but didn't move just yet. "Perhaps if you'd taught your first son some respect, he would not be dead right now, and you would still have a successor to your name."

[Rune_Alchemist]

Lystra, for the most part remained silent and passive as always. It could be worse - he could have killed Kalen, and then proceeded to hurt more people. It seemed as though, Kalen had stopped him from doing anything else if he was even planning on it. That was all Lystra cared about, really. A load off of her shoulders really, and she wouldn't have any work to do tomorrow either, so that was also good. She was afraid the universe was suddenly conspiring against her to make this her absolute worse day in the history of existence.

And then it got worse.

Fuso, being himself tried to attack the stranger, apparently named Zelriane. Lystra had to sigh at the escalating situation, resisting hold her head in her hand. Why was everyone around here so intent on making life harder for themselves? Him being taken down so easily was something Lystra had definitely not expected, but she hoped he stayed down and didn't try something stupid. Fuso was strong certainly, but whatever Zerlaine was using was certainly not simple physical strength. She had to wonder if it was similar to what the shield did to her not long ago? She couldn't help but to be curious about Zerlaine and his origins, along with whatever odd ability he was using.

"Uh, Chief...not to uh, be disrespectful or anything, but I don't think that's the brightest idea you've had. Emilia, go uh get someone who can help Fuso here." Whether Emilia did so or not, she looked towards Zerlaine, rubbing the back of her neck in slight nervousness. "Zerlaine, huh? Never heard of a name like that before." She commented. "So, apprentice, huh Kalen? This guy kills your brother and you think that's a good idea?" She laughed quietly before continuing. "I'll admit, you've got me curious about whatever that is you just used." That was a definite understatement. If he hadn't just murdered Kalo, she'd have pestered him until he told her everything - about where he was from, what that was, and probably even ask him about the shield. "But uh, yeah. Not so sure getting all friendly with a guy who goes around killing people for fun. So uh, any other murderous impulses you wanna get over with or are ya done?"

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Zelriane paused as Fuso cursed audibly through a torrent of spit. The chief fell back onto one knee and panted heavily, coughing up a moderate amount of blood as he did so. The short, green-clad man turned to Lystra as she spoke, prompting Emilia to run off in search of help. "I do not act on impulse, girl. Fuso attacked me, I retaliated. Kalo showed me great disrespect, so I killed him. My actions follow a rigid code of ethics," Zelriane barked, slowly making his way past Fuso's hunched over figure. "And there is no trick behind what I just used. This is my fist," Zelriane paused and rose his hand forward, pointing it at Lystra from a few feet away, "It is merely very fast." The man tilted his head towards Kalen and nudged him with one of his feet. "You should be grateful. Kalen's reasons for following me are the only thing preventing me from killing disrespectful pups like you."

Kalen struggled to his feet, and rubbed his face. A giant welt remained where Fuso had struck him, but he managed himself onto his feet without too much issue. That boy could certainly take a beating. He looked at his father in shock. "Is he..."

"He'll live," Zelriane stated firmly, "You'd be wise to keep the rest of your people quiet, however. Perhaps you can start by coaxing an apology out of that one," he hissed, pointing at Lystra. Kalen nodded and glared at Lystra, panic welling up in his eyes.

"Lystra, this is for the clan," Kalen urged, hoping that the girl would offer his new mentor an apology of some kind.

[Rune_Alchemist]

No trick? She was pretty sure most people couldn't move like that, but she wasn't going to question it. As much as she thought Zerlaine was decidedly not a nice guy, she didn't want to start anything. It would bring too much trouble to the clan, and if Kalen was doing this for that reason then she'd be an idiot to try and do something. If an apology was all Zerlaine wanted, she could manage it despite the fact it probably wouldn't be an entirely truthful apology.

"Sorry sorry," She put on her best apologetic smile and shrugged. "I'm just, uh, not really used to this kinda thing. Conflict isn't exactly something I like and I get a bit-erm, doesn't matter, heh." She was probably talking too much, and she didn't want to make Zerlaine angry again. She rather liked living and not having her blood outside of her body. She fell silent, hoping that would be enough to placate the odd man for now. The sooner he left, the better.

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"Apology accepted," Zelrian said, dropping his guard and walking toward Lystra, with an insane shift in mood. "Now," Zelriane reached out and held his palm upwards, "Please give me that shield." Kalen looked at Zelriane in horror, and then to Lystra, nodding. He didn't know anything about her shiny circle of metal, and he didn't care. But even if Lystra was perfectly fine with handing over her newly acquired defense, the shield itself wasn't so willing. Warmth sprouted from within the recesses of the hand-held barrier, surging through her arm in bouts. And then, a voice struggled to reach out for Lystra's mind.

_'No'

"Though I am a patient man, I would prefer that you do not dawdle. Please, hand it over."

_{'Do not'}

[Rune_Alchemist]

Now she was hearing things. A small little voice in the back of her head that definitely wasn't hers. While she was concerned, she had bigger problems to deal with at the moment. Was Zerlaine seriously asking her to hand over this? Honestly, Lystra was a little more than tired of Zerlaine and this entire meeting. Normally, she disliked conflict. If it had been someone like say, Emilia or Kalen who asked for it then she'd probably hand it over after a bit of complaining. To Zerlaine though? She was feeling less than amicable towards him. Odd voice in her head aside, she definitely was not handing it over to him.

"You know," She sighed, done with attempting to try and negotiate with the stranger. "For someone who wants respect you give an awful little of it." The words left her mouth before she could stop herself as a small frown formed. "You kill Kalo, waltz in here and start making demands and scare my best friend. I think you should be the one apologizing...not that it'd mattered. This is mine, I found it, and you should leave before something happens." Normally, she wasn't the type to go threatening people at all, but Zerlaine...well, she absolutely hated the guy, and he wasn't about to get anything else from her. Not the shield, not anything. Did she just piss off watermelon head? Probably, but...whatever this power was that was coming from the shield, was going to have to do its job.

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Kalen's eyes widened. Zelriane's did not. "This is a peculiar amount of confidence you've managed to stir up, girl." Zelriane stepped closer and turned his wrist around, as if he was about to forcefully snatch Lystra's shield from her grasp. Kalen looked away, and several of the nearby clan members retreated to their tents, unable to do anything. Unfortunately, the hunters were on the other side of their small settlement, where Emilia had run off to. There would be nobody here to help Lystra, nobody at all.

---

~ End Of Chapter 1 ~

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~ Chapter 2 ~

_{Lystra's Patron, A Golden Ally}

Zelriane reached towards Lystra's shield without a second thought, without quickening his pace. He looked at Lystra, dead in the eyes, while Kalen kept his gaze averted. "Your courage is wasted, I assure you that much," Zelriane hissed, suddenly latching on to Lystra's shield with his hand, and attempting to pull it from her grasp.

_'No!'

The shield was not having it, but it could not do anything on its own. The warmth in Lystra's body began to grow as the energy within her new possession continued to speak to her. _'Run!' it urged, but there wasn't really any point in trying to escape, was there? Whatever she chose to do, Lystra now had a new companion by her side, and a bounty of energy along with them. But who knew how long it would last?

[Rune_Alchemist]

Welp, this was inevitable the moment she opened her mouth. Zerlaine reached for the shield, and using her free hand she grabbed it. It was still firmly attached to her arm so it wasn't going anywhere anytime easily. Options of what she should do raced through her head. She could run, but it was likely Zerlaine wasn't going to be letting her go that easily. Fighting, though? She was by no means a fighter, but she was also by no means a fool nor incompetent. He was underestimating her, and she'd likely only have one shot if she was going to do something. She struggled with the shield, whatever odd strength that was filling her was doing its job and helped her keep it from Zerlaine long enough to decide on a course of action.

She felt...invigorated, almost as if she could do anything. Misplaced overconfidence? Perhaps, but she wasn't going to let him have this shield. Thankfully, she wasn't unarmed - her knife was still tucked away in the back of her pants. She was glad she hadn't left it behind at the lake when she left her belt and other things to go for a little swim. She could beat him, of course she could. She just had to get a little creative, and a bit lucky. Much quicker than she was used too, she reached for the knife tucked away in her pants and hopefully with Zerlaine so focused on the shield, he wouldn't notice. Wordlessly, she aimed the knife right for the back of the hand trying to reach for the shield, intending on driving it all the way through.

Hopefully, he wasn't too attached to those fists of his, heh. If he let go or gave even an inch, she'd follow it up by bashing him right in the face with the shield.

[tex]

Zelriane's movements were unnatural, but pertained to a disciplined set of rules. His eyes shifted, but didn't ever break from Lystra's body, watching closely as if he was keeping track of her every move despite the circle of metal that divided them. As the knife came up, Zelriane's hand moved back, narrowly avoiding Lystra's attack and pulling back into his primary stand, with his right hand extended forward, his left hand curled low and held near his lower abdomen, and his feet positioned at an awkward 50 degree angle.

"Unusually fast," he whispered to himself, as the girl stepped forward and thrust her shield towards his face. Zelriane's left hand shot forward, and both of his fists opened to withstand the brunt of Lystra's attack. He felt his wrists buckle against the unusual strength of her attack, but he held his ground firmly, both of his heels barely digging into the dirt. "Unusually powerful, as well," he said, louder this time. His thin eyes widened slightly, and he hopped to his right, trying to flank around Lystra's shield with his superior agility, but his estimation of her abilities was far below what it should have been. Lystra could still see him despite his phenomenal physical traits. He thrust his left hand forward after taking his primary stance again, aiming to strike Lystra before she could react with her magical armament.