User blog:TheSnub/March

March
Monster Girl Encyclopedia belongs to Kenkou Cross...

One

In Silence

Koriel Ventris closed his eyes before whispering a prayer to...someone. He didn't exactly believe in the Chief Goddess anymore and briefly he wondered if there were other gods out there. Koriel had only joined the Company two years ago. Since then he and his squad had been taking down mamono and Order soldiers alike. They were a Ranger squad, they tended to favor ambush tactics and long distance fighting. Three men carried crossbows, the leader and one other were the ones who kept them covered at close range.

He went back to his squad, each man dressed in a mixture of light metal armor, dark leather and hooded cloaks. Koriel was an average looking young man, with dark hair and even darker eyes. It was all to easy to underestimate him because of his average looks because beneath the seemingly listless expression was a clever soldier who had no qualms of getting the job done. When he was  younger he had never expected to take up the sword and wield it with such finesse. All he knew in his past life was numbers and how to count them for the Order. He would never do so again. Not after what he had seen in Lescatie. Not after joining the Company.

Sergeant Caleb Nasher was a  veteran in the Company. That meant his word was law, and he expected such respect from his squad of unruly Rangers. A brutish middle aged man with a shaved head, a blak haired beard and fierce eyes he held the squad together by sheer force of will and his insurmountable courage was unquestionable. Leaning against his body was a two handed claymore. Versatile and deadly in his hands Koriel had seen more than one enemy fall beneath that blade's edges.

Sitting on the snowy ground poking the fire was Sven Biers, his light crossbow was slung over his shoulder. He had an innocent veneer towards fighting and had no problems with the blood he had spilled. Koriel didn't ask how he did it as he was afraid of shattering the mask Sven had probably donned. He was a kid only seventeen at best, but most didn't mind. Poor child had nowhere else to go other than the Company when his village was raided by Mamono.

Next to him was his best friend Samuel Croates. Like Sven he was a kid as well but both worked well together and Caleb Nasher appreciated their skills as marksmen. Samuel was a farmer's boy who had run off seeking adventure, it was the timely intervention of Nasher's squad that kept him from becoming the wife of some Lamia who had the boy in her sights. Unlike the leaner Sven, Samuel was a bit broader and stocky with short cut red hair framing a round freckled face and green eyes.

The last member was resting his eyes. Koriel honestly had no idea what to expect from Jacob Arryn but the man was a steady marksman. He carried an Arbalest, a heavy crossbow that could punch through plate mail at a longer distance. This made him invaluable. Arryn was a mercenary who had joined the Company. Rumor had it that his wife left him not because of another man but because she had been turned. Koriel didn't ask either as it seemed a sour topic with the dour looking man. His curly brown hair and beard were groomed, his dark grey eyes were closed as he sat down next to the fire with his pavise shield on his left side.

Currently they were staying with a caravan of folks who were forced to take a longer route to the Eastern ports that would allow them access to Zipangu. This caravan was led by a trader named Gregor, an old cantankerous man who was nevertheless thankful for the presence of armed guards. The other mercs he had with him were a loose, undisciplined lot. Koriel looked even now as some of those men were around their own fires, drinking, laughing or sleeping.

"Look at them," Caleb muttered as he tore into a strip of salted pork. "Bloody thieves pretending to be mercenaries. Pah! Heldane would have a field day with those twerps." He swallowed his food and took a long draught from his favored wineskin.

"They're not part of the company, Sergeant." Koriel commented as he sharpened his knife with a whetstone. "It's to be expected." The sound of a blade being sharpened was dimmed out by loud raucous voices.

"Hmm, makes me think this Gregor fellow has a lot of money." Sven said cheerfully. "I wonder, if this lot dies do we get their share?"

"We die if they do Sven." Samuel chided his friend. "They've got more guys than we do. It's simple numbers really."

"Numbers don't mean much if we're up against a Wurm or a Dragon." Sven countered cheekily. "But hey, if there's a wall of men between me and some horny Earth Dragon..."

"Shut up and stop trying to jinx us Sven." Koriel muttered annoyed. "Remember the last time you didn't shut your mouth about these things?"

"Oh come on!" Sven waved his arms looking offended. "That was only one time!!"

"One time." Koriel shook his head. "It was five of us against a boatload of goblins. I swear, how did we get out of that alive and unharmed again?"

"Tenacity." Jacob said, his eyes still closed. "And that Hobgoblin leader of theirs wasn't very...smart."

Koriel smiled. Yeah, he had to admit those were some good times.

/

"We're moving out! Take your positions!"

The call went out and the caravan was moving once again. Consisting of five full wagons, at least two dozen mercenaries and a five man squad of Company Rangers the caravan seemed well defended. Koriel kept his sword drawn as he and Caleb stayed by the third wagon. The squad was spread out except for Jacob who sat near the wagon driver with his Arbalest in hand. Sven and Samuel were in the back with their own crossbows.

They were careful even if the assignment was boring. It was a cold winter day, snow littered the ground. The going was a little slow but at least they were moving. They'd all be in trouble if there was a snowstorm. Or if a Wurm showed up like Sven said but it was pretty cold out. If he was right about those giant reptiles, they won't be out much due to the cold. Preacher said so, they'd be trying to warm up in a cave or something. Koriel looked to the south. They were going to avoid that area, because above the clouds had changed to a constant grey.

Lescatie...the Fallen City. it had been a few years since he had left that city and joined up with the Company. Avoiding it was the smart idea, even if it was on the fastest route there. Lescatie had once been the jewel of the Order, but no longer. Its walls were ruled now by the Fourth Princess of the Demon Realm herself. There was nothing human there anymore.

Koriel gripped the talisman around his neck. It wasn't just to show that he owed his allegiance to the Company, the talisman had a magical enhancement that kept mamono from approaching. It was a revolutionary idea thanks to Preacher Finley. Unfortunately it had a spotty reputation against some Mamono. It worked with  weaker mamono like goblins or honeybees, it worked somewhat against Hornets... if you had more people with you. Ogres didn't care. And against the higher level mamono like Succubi or Baphomets? You might as well be trying to fight them bare handed.

Still the talisman is better than nothing. But the fortress-town of the Company had hundreds of such warding spells woven into its foundations. Koriel missed the grey walls and the contingents of soldiers that patrolled it daily. He shook his head. Now was not the time to daydream.

"Hey isn't a Centaur village around here somewhere?" Sven asked. "Shouldn't we be avoiding them too?"

"They're reasonable. So long as they leave us alone I have no problems." Caleb said. It was an attitude a lot of the Company shared with him. While they were all obviously ready to kill humans and mamono rushing in with force tended to make things harder. In addition to humans the Company could deal, albeit distantly, with reasonable mamono like Centaurs, Holstaurus, Kikimora or even Lamia. Caleb's squad had at one time helped a young, if naive, Unicorn escape from a band of slavers. Unfortunately she had latched onto the Sergeant who was already happily married. Caleb simply told her the truth when they parted ways. It was sad to watch but the Company was a bit biased on such relations with the mamono.

"Sergeant!" Jacob called. Caleb turned and looked at where the Ranger's finger was pointing. Caleb knew that silhouette instantly form the bestiary. He turned to the front and back of the convoy.

"Centaurs!! We got Centaurs coming in fast!!"

/

The lead Centaur watched the caravan carefully as the two humans dismounted from their wagon. One had the bearing of a merchant.The other human however...she narrowed her eyes as she recognized the talisman around the man's neck. He was a member of the infamous Company. It was getting harder to keep still as the pair approached. Still they were enroaching on Centaur lands and it was imperative that she knew what was going on.

"You trespass on our lands strangers! Speak now, what are you doing in such force?" She declared sternly.

"A thousand pardons milady." The merchant answered just as loud. "I am just a humble merchant seeking another route. Times are dangerous as of late and I have need of guardsmen to protect my cargo."

"I confirm his claims," Caleb's voice was stern. "And we have no quarrel with your kind. We mean no tresspass on you lands and are simply using this route to avoid the city to the south. It is quite unfriendly to humans I have heard."

/

Jacob kept his eye on the lead Centaur. It was a tense atmosphere and despite the cold Koriel found his hands sweaty underneath his gauntlets. He waited while Gregor explained the situation to the Centaurs. Despite this the squad was geared for combat. The other mercs were scared or nervous. One shot and everything would go to hell. He rolled his shoulders as the lead Centaur finally nodded, turned to her cohorts and said something. Soon enough they were off, their powerful legs taking them briskly away.

Gregor and Caleb returned to the caravan. Caleb gave Koriel a relieved smile. Koriel just nodded. No one had died or was taken away. Another day passed without incident.

Part 2
Port Town Troubles

A week had passed but they finally made it to the Port Town of Lowenbrau, one of the more influential ports that was often a destination for traders and visitors from the region of Zipangu. It was also one of the more mamono friendly towns had nothing to do with the Order. The Company was rarely seen here but the looks grated on Koriel's nerves sometimes. He had only been here once or twice and already some of the mamono and their human husbands were giving him cautious looks. Yes he was armed, that didn't mean he was one of those idiots who swaggered about claiming they were the hottest thing on the market. Koriel just waited with the rest of the squad while Gregor and Caleb worked out the price for the guard duty. They were all cold, tired but nonetheless happy that they had made it back alive.

It had started snowing again so that meant they were going to have to stay for a while. Koriel was looking forward to some hot food, an ale and an actual bed for once. While he did miss the amenities at the Company's fortress town any inn was fine.

Lowenbrau had been established in order to easier reach the far lands of Zipangu. Ships came and went and the markets were always stocked with Western goods and also had a number of Zipangu goods for sale. The Gyoubu Danuki that populated the Eastern markets were shrewd though and had a tendency to "accidentally" sell food that monsterized women. One had to be careful in that part of town. Regardless, it was a cheerful port town and the ale was good. Lowenbrau Salted Pork and Roasted Beef was also a local favorite. For cuisine that belonged to the East a Zipangu drink known as Sake was also quite popular among the native sailors and travellers alike alongside the famous noodle dish called "ramen." Because of this crossing of cultures, Lowenbrau is often considered the first taste of the East for Western travellers and  vice versa for Zipangu natives heading into the West.

/

The inn, aptly named The Blessed Barrel, was loud and boisterous but the squad of Company Rangers were suitably left alone. Caleb raised his ale, "To another successful assignment," he said before downing the mug of ale. Koriel and the others raised their mugs in agreement. Koriel immediately went to tuck into the food. The fish and the beef was great but he also made sure to savor the carrots and the potatoes as well. All he had eaten was game alongside salted meats and it would be good to have some vegetables. He chowed down while the others watched with mild fascination.

"What?"

Sven just looked away while Samuel sniggered into his shirtsleeve. Jacob asked for a refill from one of the servant girls, a Kikimora judging from the feathers on her wrists. Caleb kept an eye out. While the sergeant liked to drink like any other mercenary worth his salt, he was still an Order soldier at heart. Koriel finished his food and was just about to call for more ale when something interesting happened.

A woman that surely must be a Troll mamono and her husband were arguing about something but from the way their eyes kept glancing in their direction something must be up. They decided and walked up together. The Troll looked rather scared as she gripped her husband's arm tightly and hid her face behind his shoulders. The man looked like a former soldier but it was clear that he was a farmer.

"Excuse me sirs, could I have a moment of your time?" The man asked looking nervous. "I know you're Company men."

"Aye, we are." Sven answered with a friendly smile. "What can we do for you and your fair lady there?"

"Ashur, I don't think this is a good idea..." The Troll whispered in her husband's ear.

"I know Mary, but it's the only way." Ashur whispered back. He faced Caleb and cleared his throat. "I have need of your services."

"How much?" Caleb asked taking a draught of ale. "The Company's services always require a price. Be it gold or steel, so make it reasonable."

"I have the gold." Ashur the farmer said looking impatient. "It's about our daughter. She went missing."

/

Caleb turned to all of them. Koriel just shrugged his shoulders. Jacob nodded his head. Sven and Samuel gave their assents silently. Sven's grin didn't exactly reach his eyes. The Sergeant turned back to Ashur and Mary. "Do you have any information on your daughter?"

"She's...well like Mary and she is a bit headstrong sometimes." Ashur answered. "There are bandits that roam around this area. Incidents are rare but they happen." The look on the farmer's face said a lot. He didn't want this to happen to anyone at all. Koriel thought about what he said though.

Bandits...With roving mamono the roads are quite dangerous and mercenary work often consisted of guarding merchant caravans from hostile raiders and wild mamono. It was surprising to say the least. "Where was your daughter last seen?" Koriel asked.

"Last week..." Mary answered looking very distressed as she wrung her large hands. She looked very troubled. "She- She said she went to go get some herbs in the forest a few miles north of here. She never came back..." Ashur crushed her to his side with his arm.

"Gear up." Caleb said as he stood finishing his ale. Ashur and Mary moved to the side, their eyes wide. "We're moving out boys."

/

The guards said nothing as the Company Rangers moved out of the gate and headed into the forest. All five of them wore their hoods over their heads to ward off the cold. They pushed on through the snow, Koriel was in the lead. He was sharp and quick on his feet. Caleb was next. Samuel and Sven took the middle, Jacob was the rearguard, his arbalest in hand.

Koriel eventually found something: A crown that was made of flowers. It was enough to fit on a small girl's head. This must have belonged to Ashur's daughter. It was going to be difficult to search, especially since the snow covered the grass. Koriel scanned the area again. It was quiet, the clouds above were making it darker and well...he didn't like it.

Far too creepy for his liking. "We need torches Sergeant." Koriel said to Caleb who nodded. Sven got to work.

"Any clues?" Caleb asked.

"Apart from the flower crown? No." Koriel answered his breath misting in the air. "It's going to be a long search, Sergeant."

"Damn." Caleb swore. "Let's head in, we might as well try and find her." The Rangers headed in deeper into the forest.

None of them noticed the small eyeball following them from the side.

/

Mansion on the borders of Lescatie, the Fallen City

"Ah...That's him..." The Succubus sitting on her throne watched her magic crystal eagerly as it focused on the average looking young man that led his companions into the forest. "And to think, lover...You would run from me in Lescatie."

The mamono was a tall, statuesque beauty with pale skin. Her red eyes gleamed cruelly in the dimness of the old mansion. She was clothed in simple robes but in the light it would briefly show she had almost nothing on. Her tail swished eagerly.

"Ah...dearest Koriel..." She whispered huskily. "I will have you...whether you want it or not..."

/

"Sergeant, patrol." Koriel whispered. "Two men..."

"Take positions around them. Sven make sure the one on the left doesn't get away. Samuel, Koriel flank. Jacob on my signal kill the one on the right." Jacob readied his Arbalest as the rest of the squad took their position.

Caleb watched his men get into position secretly flanking the two man patrol he gave Jacob the signal. The Ranger raised his arbalest, leaning it on his pavise shield. He took aim and let the oversized bolt fly. The bandit on the right simply flew backwards from the force of the heavy bolt punching into his body. His buddy looked around as he drew his weapon only for Koriel to bash him in the back of the head with the hilt of his sword.

"Truss him up," Koriel said to Samuel. "We've got a lot to talk about..."

Part 3
The Long Walk

Lescatie, five years ago...

"Koriel..." The mamono was smiling. But he recognized her. Oh Gods...was that who he thought it was? That one noblewoman in Lescatie who usually lived alone? She was lonely and the routes Koriel took to get to the market usually ended up passing by her mansion, she was nice though. Not anymore. Her eyes glinted with a promise that Koriel did not want to find out.

The youth gulped as he began to back away. She smiled softly. "Don't run...It's okay...I won't hurt you." She tried to assure him. It was hard because the bodies of the two guards Father had with him were on the floor of their small hosue. Koriel just held his only weapon, a knife, in front of him.

She just smiled lightly at him, ''Really? ''Her eyes told the boy. It was understandable. She was a mamono, he was just a boy with a six inch fighting knife that woud probably end up being useless. The succubus walked over, her gait was slow and Koriel did not miss the gentle sway of her hips.

"Master Koriel!!" A guard burst in and stared. The succubus smiled at him. That was more than enough for Koriel to cut all his losses and just run the hell away. The youth burst into a fast run, surprising even the powerful mamono. He rammed the guard aside, leaving him to his eventual fate. Koriel didn't care anymore. He wanted to live, stay human. He heard the stories about the Succubi from the Order soldiers, the Order who did nothing to protect the Ventris Caravans and his father who had died in the now burning market. Well, screw them too.

"Halt!!" An Order Soldier held up his hand. "Citizens-" Koriel's knife bit deep into his side as the fear-crazed youth lashed out at the second guard with a kick to the groin. The Order guard gasped for breath while his buddy went down holding his groin. Koriel's dark eyes blazed with desperation as he continued fleeing. He would get out of this city, anyone who stood in his way was dead...

/

Caliban, Fortress of the Company, present time.

Koriel's eyes opened. He had not thought about Lescatie for a while now. Yawning, Koriel stood up and walked outside of his quarters in the Ranger's Tower of Caliban, the home of the Company. Situated on a great hill the Fortress of Caliban was built overand around the old ruins of a village that had been abandoned long ago. It started out as an armed camp but within the span of about five years it has grown into a formidable fortress and, for some, the only home that members of the Company has ever known. With over five hundred musketeers plus supporting infantrymen, Caliban was well defended. In addition to its physical defenses, Caliban was also surrounded by hundreds of magical wards that kept Mamono away. It worked for a lot of Mamono but Preacher Logan and his cohort of wizards grimly joked that "the wards would at least give the Demon Lord and her daughters the sniffles before they flattened the entire fortress."

The Ranger's Tower was a solemn addition to Caliban. It was here that those who aspired to be part of the Rangers would start their training. Unlike the regular troops of the Company who were the Hammer and Anvil the Rangers were the daggers in the dark. A dark humored lot, the Rangers knew they could be dead within a day or worse taken by the monster girls that prowled the lands so it was understandable.

Koriel ended up in the mess hall, looking for his squad. There they were in the corner eating breakfast. He went to grab himself several biscuits and a large bowl of hot stew. He sat down and began to devour his breakfast.

"Having fun there?" Sven's comment was humorous. Koriel didn't care, so he liked eating. Caleb offered him his wineskin.

"Where are we headed next?" Koriel asked after taking a swig of wine.

"On patrol, we're headed into the West this time." Caleb said waving a letter in the air. "Looks like a town stopped squawking in the mountains."

/

Koriel adjusted the strap on his pack breathing heavily. He wasn't used to the harshness of the mountain trails, especially during the cold winter. Jacob was though so he took the lead. The dour Ranger checked the surroundings as the Ranger squad headed up the steep path towards their destination. He had slung his arbalest over his shoulder in favor for the axe he had in his grip. Its crescent shaped head was forged from powerful steel. It was quite a weapon, not one that seemed to fit the dour Jacob Arryn.

Koriel had seen that thing in action though. The bandits they fought in Lowenbrau's forests simply ceased living when he swung that axe.

They were headed to Ogrin, a rather small village in the mountanous region. It had a rather large mining operation that was important to the Order but most of the time the Order's presence there was often small. Due to its proximity to the mountains Harpies were a most frequent sight, alongside such creatures like Ogres, Cyclops and goblins. At least they should have been frequent. The one Harpy they talked to didn't look too good. Extremely nervous the girl had told them to go back and leave. She then flew off, her wings beating frantically at the air to take her away from the path. Harpies were usually very cheerful. If something had happened up on the mountains to make her this scared then there was definitely something bad going on.

"Need a break?" Jacob asked suddenly turning his eyes on Koriel.

"I'm fine..." Koriel breathed harshly. "I'll be fine."

Caleb exhaled as he saw the sign. They were almost to Ogrin.

/

The town was...empty. It was disturbing. There were no signs of life, not even a whisper. Koriel drew his longsword as the others did thesame.

"Fan out." Caleb muttered. "Find anything that looks important then report in, but be careful."

Each Ranger split up and looked around for anything that could tell them just what happened. A whole town does not end up this quiet. There were stories that other than Mamono there were far more dangerous creatures that lived within the mountains. Darker things that dwelt in the deep places of the world, waiting for the right time to emerge.

Koriel kicked the door in sword in hand. The house was empty. No one was in there. It looked like everyone had left in a hurry. Koriel opened the bedroom. Nothing, apart from the beds with the sheets all over the place. The Ranger shook his head and exited the home and went to the next one. There was nothing there either. Jacob found him eventually.

"Nothing." The dour ranger said shaking his head. "Not even a peep from a mamono."

"This is getting creepier by the minute, did Sven or Samuel find anything yet at the local church?" Koriel asked.

"Let's go see." Jacob said.

/

Samuel and Sven found nothing and they met back up with Caleb in the center of town.

"There's some tracks leading further up the mountain." Caleb told them all. "We should check it out tomorrow morning." Hooded and cloaked all five Rangers shivered in the winter air. "If the weather gets worse we'll probably end up staying here before bailing...I don't like this at all. It's too quiet."

"It's a good cheery place I'd imagine." Sven said his voice muffled by his scarf. "I wonder if they all just moved down the mountain to find a better spot."

"You sure those tracks are human?" Koriel asked wrapping himself up further in his cloak.

"Positive." Caleb answered.

It was going to be another long mission it seemed.

Part 4
Fearsome

Humans often did stupid and cruel things to each other. It was a fact of life even with the ongoing struggle between the Demon Lord and the Chief Goddess. It was as old as time. Humans were good at trying to kill nonhumans. But in the end humanity was more than capable of killing itself over and over again.

Koriel was aware of that fact even as he moved forward, his longsword slaying a man as he tried to run away. The Ranger didn't even bother looking, the still twitching corpse behind him was a good enough indicator that he wasn't soft. Rangers didn't fight like regular soldiers. Various authors, scholars and poets claimed that every fight, every battlefield was glorious. That honor and fidelity rule the battlefields as surely as the bright eyed heroes in legends and stories about war. To a Ranger such things were naive. Foolish. Every Ranger worth his salt tossed away such goodly ideals and proceeded down a lonely, cruel path the moment they swore their allegiance to the Company.

The world was cruel, Koriel remembered as he parried a stroke meant for his head. The Ranger sidestepped the bandit's wild strike then stepped into his guard, hammering his sword into the man's torso. The dying bandit let out a death rattle before Koriel kicked him off his blade. The Ranger kept moving.

The Company had no use for such idealism within their ranks, the Rangers despised anything that had to do with fair fights. The mamono were stronger than the average human, so why would the Rangers fight fairly? This pragmatic view of fighting has alienated a lot of common folk however and the Rangers of the Company are often viewed with hostility amongst the Order soldiers. It was just too bad for them the Company didn't care whenever they clashed with the Order. Koriel himself had killed one knight before. All it took was a cut to the back of the knee. Oddly enough he felt rather sad when he thought of that duel.

There was a loud thud as Jacob turned aside an overhead strike with his pavise. The dour Ranger's axe swung upwards and the bandit went flying backwards, he was dead before he hit the floor. Sven and Samuel fought back to back, two enemies laying dead at their feet. Sven's swordsmanship was flawless, and with a  flourish he added another tally to his name. Samuel was the opposite, while Sven favored the tip of his shorsword and his blade did most of the work Samuel treated his own sword like it was an extension of his body, preferring to smash aside any trickery with broad sweeping strokes.

Caleb smashed down one bandit with his Claymore. His next strike slew a bandit and the wily Sergeant kept going without remorse. Nothing stopped him, not even the brute who was shouting obscenities as the Claymore descended upon his head. "They're dead." Caleb said as he wiped his brow. Fifteen men had died on the mountain, but the villagers had at least been partially avenged. Ogrin's folk was no more, either enslaved or worm food. But they had found at least some of the bandit tribe that was responsible.

They didn't save anyone.

Part 5
Reunion

A few weeks later

It was raining which made the town smell even worse. It was out of Order territory so things were dangerous now. Human settlements this large were rare outside of Order protection. Then again Arkham wasn't exactly normal in the first place. Koriel  passed by a carriage full of pale faced folks who were leaving town to head towards Order territory.

Arkham. The name was known to many mercenaries abroad, it was known usually as the first stop for many an adventurer that was heading into mamono territory. Strangely enough mamono avoid the place, some say it was built on an ancient battlefield that was still haunted by the angry spirits that rested there. It was the prmary reason why it remained a human settlement...for the most part.

It was a creepy town to be honest, a lot of mamono inhabit the region but somehow due to its rather disturbing nature it has not become a Demon Realm. Criminals were a plenty but even they would not accost the Ranger as he headed down the street. He was supposed to meet someone here, a contact who knew why Ogrin was wiped out by bandits. The contact was an old friend of his deceased father and a trustworthy source of information.

The last bandit Squad Nasher killed in the mountains had a letter on him, that letter was marked by a crest. A crest that Koriel recognized to his horror. He kept that secret from his squad, something that made him feel guilty when he left Caliban in secret to pursue the owner of that crest.

Lady Alejandra of Thoron, a lonely noblewoman who came to Lescatie to escape the political situation with  her family. Koriel had talked to her only once or twice before she became a mamono. Now, she was after him. And somehow she knew where he was at all times. Koriel kept his hood over his head. His light armor was nondescript, nothing on him had Company markings save for the talisman in his pocket. A shortsword was buckled onto his belt alongside his fighting knife.

"Hey there~" A Lamia had approached him. "You look mighty lonely...Ssshould I keep you company ssssir?"

Koriel saw that the road was clear and crossed the road as quickly as possible before going down another route. The Lamia, who was drunk, just shrugged and slithered away.

/

Koriel kept moving until he got to the darker areas of town. There were beggars in the streets, just sitting there. They did not dare approach because the Ranger was armed. Koriel looked around as he looked at the note in his hands. Sheltering it from the rain, he realized the ink on the paper was getting hard to read.

He swore angrily under his breath.

"Hello there, Ventris." A sibilant voice caused Koriel to turn drawing his knife as he did so. The younger man standing in the tattered coat was holding a blunderbuss in one hand. The other carried a curved sword, a messer. He had bone white hair strangely enough, but it was his eyes that gave Koriel pause. They were a dark, stormy grey filled with a fierce intelligence. The guy was smiling as he inclined his head.

"Are you MIkael? Of the Red?"

The man, aptly named Mikael, smiled.

/

MIkael of the Great Haze, that was his title. Despite the blunderbuss and the messer, he described himself as a sorceror. He was also the contact that Koriel had gone to see. Mikael was a member of the Red, a rather secretive sect of magicians whose origins date back to the era of the previous Demon Lord. MIkael was the son of a bloodline that was known to be masters. The Red were known for their fearsome skills in battle, even more so when they sided against the Order when the new Demon Lord took over. SInce then the Order has tried to eliminate them. But few ever succeed in bringing down the sorcerors of the Red.

He was also quite...eccentric. His house was a small shack sure but it was filled with oddities. Koriel passed by a shrunken head as Mikael prepared something to eat, he whispered a few words over a selection of vegetables and looked over each one. Finding them passable he then chopped them up with a knife before dumping them in a pot of broth alongside diced up chunks of meat.

"You must be hungry, Ranger Ventris." Mikael told him. "Go ahead and sit down somewhere."

Koriel took a stool and sat as far away from the shrunken head as possible. As the stew boiled Mikael shifted his coat and took a seat in front of the Ranger.

"Why were those bandits in Ogrin?" Koriel asked suddenly.

"Your bandit friends were actually looking for you." Mikael answered. "They were worth every penny their master spent." He smiled grimly. "She must be quite upset that you have eluded her but then I do not pretend to know the mind of the one who pursues you."

Koriel swore under his breath. "You know Lady Alejandra?"

"I've met her." Mikael said. "It was long before she became a mamono, about the time she left for Lescatie. She was lovely to be sure, but unlucky in love. I have not seen her for a time but from the story you told me she has changed..." His tone was sympathetic. "You have my condolences my friend."

Koriel just sighed. "So how the hell am I going to deal with her? She's a succubus now, and I know that they're strong."

"You want my opinion? Start praying. The Inma are not to be trifled with." MIkael laughed grimly. "They do not know much about combat, that may be to your advantage but she is no longer human. Succubi are dangerous because they know how to seduce a man, they are very influential towards human psyche. They have no need of combat skills to get what they wish."

"But what about Alejandra herself?" Koriel asked. "What can I do to...dissuade her?"

"Ah now comes a more serious problem." Mikael told him. "Lady Alejandra was known to be obsessive. As a mamono, her obsession towards you has probably doubled. She will find you. And you must be prepared."

/

Mansion on the Borders of Lescatie...

Alejandra frowned as she watched the magic sphere. There was...interference she could not see anything clearly. That was impossible, she had been perfecting the creation of this familiar for five years, she could see everything Koriel did and she knew where he went at all times. She loathed any interference. Again her thoughts turned to her object of affection. It saddened her to think that such a mild young man would turn towards men like the Company. Now? Her lovely Koriel was now a troubled warrior. She ground her teeth.

He deserved better than that.

"Mistess..." A Kikimora whispered. "There is someone who wishes to see you."

"Who is it?" Alejandra asked irritably.

"Amora, milady."

/

Amora. She was one of Lady Deruella's retainers if she remembered correctly. A succubus like herself but a bit more...enthusiastic.

"Alej!" Amora ran towards her when she left her quarters. A bit on the short side, Amora was the sweetest girl Alejandra had ever met. Both succubi kissed each other's cheek before sharing an embrace. "How have you been?" Amora asked cheerfully. "Still pining for that boy?"

Alejandra sighed dejectedly. "He's no mere boy, Amora. A Ranger."

"From the Company yes? That's...rather dangerous for you." Amora said. "Is he alone?"

"I cannot tell," Alejandra said. "There is some kind of interference. I can't see him."

"Well, that's disappointing." Amora commented sighing. "Come on, what's so special about this human anyway?"

"He doesn't deserve to be so sad." Alejandra answered wistfully. "I-I don't know. But I want him." She shivered. "I want him all to myself."

Part 6
The Great Bastille of Navarrone

The Order was known for its brutality against heresies against the Chief Goddess. Its inquisitors were maniacal, their methods cruel and inhumane. It was no small wonder that many of its members defector outright betray the Order for the mamono. But for every heretic there are tens of thousands of faithful whose loyalty to the Order is unshakable.

Those who are judged to be heretics are brought here to this tower. The Great Bastille was built to intimidate. Navarrone was an Order City but even now there are mamono that easily infiltrate the walls of the city. If it was seriously this bad, then Koriel had an easy time getting in. Mikael had sent him here in order to find someone who could help him go toe to toe against a sucubus.

Just why exactly he was heading here was beyond him, but he wasn't going to question a sorceror. The Ranger had slipped into the city, easily going passed the two young guards at the gate looking for anyone suspicious. The Order was not very fond of the Company but they still had not rescinded the Diabolus Hereticus call on most of them so it was best for Koriel to keep things close to the chest.

Navarrone was on one of the routes that would take caravans to Lescatie. As a result, refugees from the Fallen City had taken up residence here. A lot of people ended up displaced when Deruella had invaded Lescatie and taken abode there. A lot of those people had turned into mamono and still more of the mamono were headed towards Navarrone. In response the Order leaders had doubled the garrison of soldiers at Navarrone.

Judging from the angry crowd that was forming in the central square, Koriel guessed things weren't exactly peachy. He avoided that area of town the moment Order soldiers massed at the right side of the central square. He moved faster the moment he heard the familiar sound of crossbows launching their bolts.

He turned an alley and knew he screwed up the moment he sensed someone behind him.

/

Acolyte Valeria drew her weapon as she spotted her quarry. "Halt!" She pointed her mace at the cloaked stranger. "By the Order of Her Holiness' Inquisition I order you to turn around and identify yourself immediately!!"

/

"Wonderful." Koriel muttered to himself as he tensed up. He looked to see that the barrels and crates to his left were high enough for him to get up to the rooftops. Making his decision Koriel jumped up the pile of barrels and crates and onto the roof.

"Hey!!" The acolyte clambered up to get him. Koriel simply kicked a barrel into her face as he started running across the rooftops. Bloody hell, he wasn't a member of the Assassin Brotherhood in anyway. He must have looked like a right idiot as he jumped and clumsily landed on another rooftop. He saw that the acolyte was coming at him still, looking quite angry.

"Ah dammit!" Koriel sprinted, nearly slipping off once or twice. He winced as a crackling spear of lightning sailed over his head. "You crazy bi-"

He slid to a stop as he saw three hooded figures observing him from up high. One raised a hand. The acolyte behind Koriel screamed then gurgled as a third hooded figure launched an arrow from his longbow that punched into the acolyte's spine. She was dead.

Koriel drew his sword, dreading what was coming next.

"Tell me brother, what does Victory Demand?" The lead hooded figure called. The voice sounded familiar.

Koriel lowered his weapon. "Victory Demands Sacrifice!" He called back.

/

"You're the dumbest bastard alive you know that?" Sven said grinning as he clapped Koriel on the back. "Why'd you leave all of a sudden Ventris?"

"Why'd you follow me?" Koriel asked in return. Their hideout was an old abandoned house that had a basement that was decently sized, and clean.

"Obviously because you're in trouble," Caleb said. "You were acting strange when we found that letter on that bandit. So we explained your situation to the Company. Rorke says to keep you safe if you found something of importance."

"It's...a personal thing, Caleb." Koriel said looking at all of them. "Someone's after me..."

"Well damn..." Samuel commented. "What, you're doing this out of some morality that your buddies are in danger?" Koriel scowled at him.

"We got your back." Jacob said simply as he unstrung his bow.

/

"So...what has been going on?" Koriel asked as he devoured his sandwich.

"Not much, although I hear that Hein slew an Inquisitor when they got too nosy." Caleb said.

"Really?" Koriel looked surprised. "Which bastard was it this time?"

"Olga Fitzgerald," Caleb anwered. "Sadist wench. She was demanding the location of Alan Rorke. I heard Hein killed most of her retainers and just drowned her in a lake before going on his merry way. Now the Order wants any Company member alive and unharmed."

"Oh wonderful." Koriel muttered. "First a bloody succubus wants to get in my pants, now the Order's after anyone who wears the talisman. Great." He sighed.

"Wait...a succubus?" Sven asked. "Did I hear you right?"

"Yeah...it was during the fall of Lescatie. There was a noblewoman that I knew back there, my father was a merchant you see and I often ended up passing by her house to get to the market."

"...She wants you. Badly." Jacob's statement simplified the matter.

"So, a noblewoman wants your hand in marriage. What's the big deal anyway Casanova?" Sven raised his hands in confusion. "If she's hot you should go for it!"

"She's a particularly powerful succubus." Koriel answered grimly. "Yeah that makes it a bit more complicated, Sven." He ate his sandwich while the rest did the same. Wasting food was unthinkable.

"So...why are you here exactly?" Caleb asked Koriel who answered.

"There's a contact here who may be able to help me. Problem is things in Navarrone look like they're about to explode."

/

The Order had its hands full. Good, this would make it easier to infiltrate. Hisami Yuki did not like this. But her client had said that this job was quite important so the Kunoichi agreed to find this man. Her problem was the amount of people she had to watch. Still, the client had given her quite a bit of detail. She may get lucky, she may not.

The Kunoichi's tail swished impatiently as she looked up at the moon. Her first objective was to secure entrance into Navarrone, next was to find the target and nab him. The third and final objective was to keep him out of harm's way as she brought him to Lescatie. That would be the hardest part of her mission. The client says the man was part of a particularly infamous group, a Ranger of the Company if she remembered correctly.

Yuki tried to get some sleep as she wrapped her cloak tighter around her body. She had a long day tomorrow. She was excited. She would prove herself to the village. And maybe...perhaps the client would be disinterested in her quarry and she would be able to bring the man back to Zipangu.

Part 7
Burst

As the week passed by th situation in Navarrone was getting a lot worse. Riots were becoming a lot more common. Order soldiers were also seen in the streets in greater numbers. It was hard to move around sometimes and Koriel was still looking for the contact. The Ranger was getting frustrated but he sucked it up and kept looking. He was going to have to face his pursuer someday soon and already he was getting worried.

/

"Wait." Jacob stopped suddenly as they approached their hideout. He unbuckled his axe from his belt as the others drew their weapons as well. Sven kept the rearguard as Jacob opened the door slowly. The house seemed ramshackle as usual but the basement door was open, judging from the light coming from the stairs.

"Son of a-" Caleb muttered his longsword in hand.

"Order?" Samuel queried as he shifted his falchion from one hand to the other.

"Hopefully no," Koriel answered as he moved towards the basement. "Cover me Jacob."

As Koriel descended down the steps he didn't notice the wire trap or the smoke bomb attached to it. The nonlethal explosive detonated covering the house in an acrid smoke. The Rangers started coughing. Koriel closed his eyes, coughing harshly. He then grunted as something slender wrap around his waist and dragged him off, he felt Samuel trip over his body.

/

"Ah damnit!!" Sven rushed in with his sword drawn only for the Kunoichi dragging Koriel with her tail to punch him in the head. He was out cold.

/

Koriel, still under the effects of the smoke, realized he still had his sword in hand. Something that felt mildly sharp bopped against his head.

"I wouldn't try that if I were you." A cool voice warned him. "If you try and cut my tail I will be forced to restrain you further."

Damn... Kunoichi were particularly dangerous. While Koriel had never encountered one he had heard stories from survivors that they were master infiltrators and were more than capable of taking on an unprepared Rangers. ''Restrain me will you? ''Koriel struggled harder and his boot finally made contact with the kunoichi's head.

/

Yuki gave a pained cry as the Ranger kicked her in the head. With her concentration broken, her tail loosened up enough for her quarry to unbind himself. He rolled onto his feet sword in hand and faced her. Yuki felt her heart skip a beat. Since she had ascended to her current rank most men leered at her or stared in fright. She was not prepared for the Ranger's lifeless glance.

The man's stance tightened...then he turned on his heel and ran for it.

"Ah hey!" Yuki  chased after him. "Get back here!!"

"No!!" Was the reply. Grumbling about cowardly males Yuki gracefully swung through an empty merchant stand as she chased her quarry. The Ranger suddenly made a sharp turn down a side street. Yuki made the turn easily but had to jump over a stack of crates as the man knocked them down in her way.

She growled angrily. This was not how she wanted this mission to go. Now she was probably attracting attention to herself. The Kunoichi upped her pace even as she heard the clamor of metal and the sounds of a riot gone wrong ahead.

Shoot. Today was going to be a lot worse it seems.

/

The moment Order soldiers started swinging at him was when Koriel realised he made a mistake. Swearing liberally as he kicked the corpse of a soldier off of his blade Koriel looked for a way out. He ducked a swing meant for his head and parried another strike before hammering his shortsword into the man's torso. Screaming the man died in agony as Koriel ran by his body.

The Ranger kept moving even as the citizens of Navarrone and the Order's soldiers clashed in the streets. The kunoichi was hot on his heels.

/

An arrow from Jacob's longbow settled the account with an Order Archer as Caleb led his squad through the crowd. They weren't here to help the rebels, they were here to recover their teammate before things went bad. Any Order soldier that got in their way would be neutralized.

"I saw him!" Sven yelled pointing his finger. The boy was right, Caleb saw the rear tails of Koriel's cloak. Unfortunately for them he also saw the dark pink flash of the Kunoichi as she neatly catapulted herself over a group of Order cronies before heading after Koriel.

"Come on that mamono's after him too!!" Caleb waved his squad forward.

/

"Damn." Koriel looked for an exit, and saw none. Trapped in an alleyway and without a weapon he heard the soft foot fall of the kunoichi behind him.

"You are hard to find, Koriel Ventris." She told him. "You will come with me."

"Why, so I can end up a sex toy for whoever hired you?" Koriel spat back angrily. "What part of no do any of you not understand!?"

"I am sorry about this," The kunoichi told him sincerely. "But it is my mission to bring you back, my client means no harm to-"

Koriel turned, his dark eyes blazing with anger. "I said no." He snarled. Something inside had snapped and all he felt was all consuming, pure hatred against his pursuer. It was frightening. The kunoichi recoiled as she drew her ninjato.

The Ranger in front of her tightened his stance as he went for his fighting knife. The kunoichi brandished her blade at him, aiming for a nonlethal strike. Koriel stepped into her guard and hammered an elbow into her chest.

/

Yuki gasped in pain...then jumped back as a knife blade nearly made a cut on her throat. She could have died here, she realized. The Ranger was aiming to kill her. It wasn't the first time someone had drawn steel on her. But she usually managed to restrain her quarry before they tried anything else.

That probably wasn't a good thing now, she realized as she looked into the cold, furious eyes of her target. The kunoichi sighed as she mentally prepared herself for battle. She was going to have to make this quick. She didn't like the sounds of the riot getting close to their position. That and she had seen the other Company Rangers coming after her.

Part 8
Capture

A Kunoichi was a dangerous opponent. She was not only skilled in psychological combat but also physical. Swift, skilled and agile her movements were like water. For a human Ranger, Kunoichi were amongst the most dangerous opponents they will face.

But every Ranger was taught to never, ever give up. Their charge was the same as all of the men and women who wore the talisman of the Company: The complete destruction of the enemy. So Koriel did his best to uphold that ideal. But saying it and taking action were two very different things. Especially if the Kunoichi he was up against was waving a three foot long sharp instrument around. Every move was perfect, every strike exploited his defense. His fighting knife wasn't of much use against a master swordsman. Or swordswoman in this case.

Koriel was losing. Badly. As he raised his knife the Kunoichi feinted left and went for oneof his legs, her blade was reversed. So she wanted himalive did she? That was one advantage. Koriel sidestepped the blow and went in for a jab to her stomach. She grabbed his wrist to try and pry the knife out of his hands. Koriel did not like that idea at all so he stepped in and grabbed her wrists.

/

Yuki did not expect him to grab at her arms and she had to catch the boy's incoming fist to keep it from slamming into her head. The kunoichi could hear the riot intensify. Not good. If chaos engulfed the city even she might not be able to keep her quarry in one piece. Lady Alejandra's wrath was not something she wanted to face. As these thoughts went through the Kunoichi's mind she did not see Ranger Koriel moving his head back.

She knew something went wrong the moment his forehead smashed against her face. Stars blinked through her vision and then she heard something terrible. The sound of blood curdling rage. The Ranger slammed into her and forced her down. Hands wrapped around her throat and ''squeezed. ''

Yuki started gagging, reaching for the Ranger's arms trying, trying to pry the Ranger's fingers off her throat. Her legs dribbled against the ground as the Ranger choked the life out of her. When she found purchase on his hands he lifted her head up by the neck and slammed the back of her head into the ground with enough force to make her ears ring. She looked up at the boy with pleading eyes. What looked back at her was a snarling face and blank dark eyes filled with nothing but hate. And fear.

Why?

Did he not see that she was trying to keep him alive? She wasn't trying to kill him. She didn't want to hurt anyone...

Yuki saw black start to enter the corners of her eyes. Then she saw the Ranger's head snap to the side as another Kunoichi punched him in the head. She just lay there looking at the sky breathing heavily.

"Oy."

Yuki continued sucking in air, raising a hand. An annoyed harrumph. She then felt her head being inspected by a more familiar kunoichi with bright red hair. Oh...It was her.

"Oy, Yuki-chan." the other Kunoichi said gruffly. "Yuki-chan, you okay?"

''Yeah I'm okay no thanks to you. ''Yuki would have grumbled but the lack of oxygen stopped that notion. She just nodded. The other kunoichi grumbled and hauled her compatriot up. "Th-Thank you Sanae-chan."

"Whatever, just help me get this fool boy up and let's get out of town." Sanae gruffly picked up Koriel by one arm. Blood leaked down the side of his face. Yuki shakily got to her feet and psyched herself out. She took the other arm.

She felt very tired. But she felt happy at the same time.

Mission complete.

/

"Damnit," Jacob said as they looked around the empty alley. He hefted his axe over his shoulder as he took in the signs of a struggle. This was not good. Caleb swore under his breath as he deliberated. This was not good. A Ranger had been taken by the mamono. Caleb knew that was pretty much a death sentence. But he knew Koriel, the boy wouldn't let some monster take him without a fight. He looked at his squad of Rangers. Samuel and Sven looked angry. Jacob kept his impassive mask but the dour faced Ranger's eyes told him all he needed to know.

"I'll send a message to the Tower. Get ready boys we're going for broke." The Sergeant hefted his Claymore.

"Where to?" Jacob asked.

"Where else? Lescatie." Was the answer.

"Ah Lescatie, city of heroes." Sven remarked. "I hear it's lovely this time of year."

/

Thoron Mansion, Lescatie

Koriel woke up to the feeling of cold air and the rough scratch of rope against his skin. He realized he was in a cell. The Ranger felt for his gear, and sighed when he saw that his knives were gone. Even his lockpicks were taken. Apart from his clothes he was unarmed. He tried the rope. Nope no good, damn he should have paid better attention back in escape classes. Then he scowled as he remembered that Strider Shin was an unsmiling, overly paranoid lunatic who had sadistic tendencies.

The Ranger stood up as he heard the lock on the overly thick door creak and it opened to reveal a Kikimora.

"Lady Alejandra wishes to see you. I am going to escort you to her."

"Not interested sorry." Koriel refused.

The Kikimora sighed. "Lady Alejandra only wishes to talk to you. She has no interest in harming you." The mamono's voice was gentle. "Please."

"No."

Part 9
Endure

"What do you mean he refuses to eat?" Alejandra demanded, her eyes filled with concern.

"He refuses to eat milady." The Kikimora said. "And he wants nothing to do with us." She was rubbing her arm, the same one Koriel had thrown his chamber pot at.. "He threatened to kill me if I kept pressing." Koriel had also threatened to beat her brains in with the same chamber pot he had thrown at her and was reluctant to approach that cell.

"Aww?" Amora sat up from lounging around on her spot on the couch. "We're all nice! He should be happy! Bring him out here!"

"That would not be wise." Alejandra told her then made a decision. "Thank you." She told her maid. "I will go there myself."

"You sure you don't need me around Alej?" Amora asked. She looked perturbed.

"This is...something I wish to do alone." Alejandra answered. "Please, Amora."

/

Alejandra found Koriel sitting down, his back against the wall. The succubus was surprised. Most men were very vulnerable to the charms of a mamono, especially a high ranking one like her. The reaction she got was him attempting to run away.

He was fast, but she was faster than he was.

Alejandra calmly grabbed his arm and, holding back, tossed him back into the cell. She didn't want to do anymore after that. She sighed.

"I see that you're not eating." She looked down at him and the platter of untouched food.. Koriel had grown quite nicely. His frame was lean but tough. The scars and the weathered look in his coal black eyes made him much more alluring. But the fear and hatred in them. She sighed.

"I am not trying to harm you." Alejandra told him trying to convey sympathy.

"That's what they all say." Koriel's reply was cold. His tone shocked her and made her sad. "And look what happened to Lescatie. And my father. What else do you want to take from me, Lady of Thorns?" He spat on the floor, a few feet away from her shoes. It showed his contempt for everything she stood for. "My home you already have. My father's dead. My life? That doesn't come cheap."

"No." Alejandra whispered. "That's not what I'm after."

"What?"

"Koriel." The succubus's voice was pleading. "I don't want to hurt you. I just..."

"You want a slave?" Koriel sneered his voice disdainful. "Well...tough luck. Just leave me alone already. I'd ask you to just go jump off a cliff and kill yourself but unlike us puny humans, you Inma are practically immortal."

Alejandra bowed her head. She turned and left, the door of the cell closing behind her.

/

The pattern repeated after a time. Alejandra decided to ask her Kikimori to simply give her Koriel some bread and water on a tray, she also ordered them not to say anything lest they provoke him. She asked them not to put anything in the water as her guest was being difficult.

And so the succubus turned to spending her time with Amora and the other Inma of Deruella's court asking them for advice. She was loathe to go into the city proper to ask Deruella herself as she seemed busy being interviewed by the Wandering Scholar.

Alejandra was hopeful that she could turn the Ranger around. She smiled lightly as she looked down from her balcony at the garden of her estate. Oh! She could see it now, the young man in the cell offering his hand to her and they would spend hours in the gardens.

"Madame." A very matronly looking Kikimora approached from behind. She was Alejandra's head maid and she was the most faithful companion the former lady had.

"Yes, Lucia?" Alejandra heard the maid. "I am sorry, I was just thinking after..."

"The young lad in the cell yes?" Lucia stood beside Alejandra who looked forlorn. "You have caught quite a prize milady, a Ranger of the Company is not easily swayed."

"You've...met one before?" Alejandra looked curious.

"It's just a rumor milady." Lucia said. "But one that has some truth."

"I...I never even hurt his father." Alejandra said as her hands clenched. "I don't understand Lucia, why does he blame me? It was the Order who took his father! They let him burn in the fires of that battle!"

"Grief has a way of making someone very bitter, milady." Lucia explained patiently. "And your Ranger has suffered plenty. In his eyes, you are the reason for his suffering. A preposterous notion but loss-loss can turn the kindest young man into the most jaded soul."

Alejandra sighed. "It will take time, won't it?" She asked Lucia.

"Time...It is not the ultimate healer but it can help."

Part 10
The Attempted Murder of Alejandra of Thoron

"Milady! Milady!"

The cry of one of her Kikimori startled Alejandra from her nap. She was covered by a thin sheet on one of her sofas in her private lounge. Alejandra looked to the Kikimori who was wringing her hands in worry.

"What is it young one?" Alejandra rubbed her eyes.

"The-The Ranger collapsed! He has a fever!"

That made Alejandra's guts turn cold. She stood up and wrapped a shawl over her shoulders. "Take me to the cell! Now!"

/

Koriel Ventris felt like he was dying. ''Is this how I'm going to go? ''He thought to himself and oddly enough he felt...calm about it. ''Doesn't seem too bad, the headache could leave of course. She must have poisoned me.''

He coughed once. ''And I could stop coughing too. That hurts. I wouldn't be surprised if I was poisoned. Damn these mamono. ''He smiled feebly as he shivered. ''Good. I hope she sees this, but I'm not going to just roll over when she just poisoned me. I'll show her how a Ventris dies. ''

/

Alejandra waited impatiently for the cell door to open. As the Kikimori unlocked the cell, a chamber pot smacked right into the maid's face, concussing her. She went down, unconscious.

Alejandra stumbled backwards, surprised and dreading just what she was about to see.

Koriel Ventris was pale, feverish and shivering. He was sick and tired but his eyes glared in defiance as they locked onto hers. "You." He rasped. "So was this how you wanted it to end? Poison me and bring me back to life like some kind of demented pet?" He smiled at her, an unhappy expression that was filled with rage.

"Koriel..." Alejandra whispered backing away as the Ranger limped after her, even feverish he was still dangerous. He had snapped, and all Alejandra could feel from him was a determination to bring down as many of his enemies as he could with him. The fact that he saw her as a threat brought tears to her eyes.

"Well, I would say no." Koriel said giving a hollow laugh. "But you mamono don't understand the concept of no don't you? You just take, and take, and take until nothing's left." His words stung, Alejandra felt the tears coming even as Koriel wrapped his hands around her throat. "But guess what, monster. Either I get out of Lescatie alive...or I die here after taking as many of you as I can with me. Don't worry, I've done some bad stuff same as you. We're all going to go to Hell anyway. This is what you wanted right? For me to focus everything on you?"

Alejandra started to gag as Koriel squeezed. He coughed, still feverish. But he was determined to kill her. She was so scared and so sad. Why was he doing this?

"When we get there, we'll have quite a long time to have a nice chat." Koriel growled and squeezed her throat harder. '''"And I'm going to make sure that you know just how much I hated you...with every fiber of my being." '''

Koriel...Alejandra reached for his hands. ''Please, please. This isn't what I wanted, I didn't poison you. I love you, I love you. Please...Please don't kill me. ''She closed her eyes as Koriel raised a fist.

"This." Koriel gasped. "This is how Koriel Ventris dies! Victory Demands Sacrifice!!"

I love you... Alejandra felt her eyes closing. Please...

Part 11
An Understanding

Koriel woke up to see that he was in another cell. So he wasn't dead...Huh. He wasn't happy about that.He just felt numb.He sat up and looked around. Was he still in the Thoron Estate? He wanted to look at his reflection, if he wasn't human then he'd kill himself. He'd rather die than become an Incubus without any will of his own.

The Ranger felt his clothes, realizing that he still had the Company Talisman in his pocket. He kept it there. Numb, weak and tired. That was the perfect combination. He lay back down and stared at the roof.

He heard the sound of a door opening. "Koriel."

He closed his eyes. Hot, unabated rage flowed through his blood as he stared at the roof with hate. He knew the voice.

"What?"

Beyond the bars, Alejandra of Thoron watched her unwilling paramour with sad eyes. "I was advised to kill you."

"Okay, do it then." Koriel told her. "But I'm not gonna just lay here and let you kill me. I told you before, I'll kill as many of you monsters before I die here."

Alejandra let out a sob. "Why, why are you doing this?"

Koriel grit his teeth. "Why? I didn't ask to become like this." He told her, his voice growing louder until he was screaming. "I didn't ask you to kill my father, I didn't ask for Lescatie to be invaded! I didn't ask to work my fingers to the bone to keep my head held high!" He had suffered enough and this...this stupid demon didn't understand that.

Alejandra shrunk back as Koriel reached for her throat. She began to cry again, upset that he was so angry. "I didn't ask to be locked up in a cell by some messed up freak who can't understand the meaning of no!" He snarled. "I didn't ask for any of this! But some Demon Lord and a God who can't keep to themselves decides to just mess everything up for everyone else!"

His rant continued. "So why!? Why continue with this farce! Why me!? Why the hell do you want me!?"

Alejandra watched him sink to his knees and begin to sob. "Let me go...For god's sake just let me go..." He refused to look her in the eye. "Let me go, you sadist."

She kept away from him. Alejandra ran from the cell, unable to comprehend what she had just done.

Let me go...

She locked her door and covered her ears.

Just let me go...

/

Months pass.

It was winter in Lescatie.

There was no way he could escape.

Koriel scratched at his hair before looking out the window. The Kunoichi guarding his room was already pissy so he wasn't going to even bother to ask her permission to go outside.

Stupid homicidal girl...He mused to himself.

Months...A Ranger who was missing for such a time was already considered dead. The Company had been the only thing he had. And now here he was in the mansion of a succubus who was madly in love. His life...sucked, to be honest.

Koriel smirked bitterly to himself as he leaned back in his chair. He was way too young to feel this old. His old ragged clothes were replaced with new ones. Alejandra's maids were very fussy but he ignored them as best as he could. The Ranger heard the door open and rolled his eyes. The Kunoichi held the door open as Alejandra stepped in almost timidly.

The Ranger didn't even bother to hide his scorn.

"H-How are you...doing?" Alejandra asked lamely.

"I'm stuck in my room. What do you think?" His tone was laced with disdain.

There was a loud crunching noise. Koriel and Alejndra turned to the Kunoichi who had nearly crushed a part of the door in her hands. The Ranger rolled his eyes.

"Yuki." Alejandra stated.

"This young man needs to be taught respect." The Kunoichi announced.

"Go ahead." Koriel stated calmly. "And I'll finish what I started in Navarrone."

"Enough." Alejandra stated firmly. "Yuki, please. Back to your post." The Inma watched as her subordinate left the room with nary a look back.

Koriel couldn't care less if she had decided to walk into a volcano. The Ranger simply sat down in a chair. The room was spacious but hardly adorned. Koriel barely had anything save for his clothes, his cloak, sword and his fighting knife. When Alejandra had asked him for it, his answer was that it used to be his father's, a memento. He told her outright that she could take it out of his cold, dead hands.

"There's a party tonight, I was hoping..." Alejandra trailed off as she noted the look of disgust that appeared on Koriel's face. "...You could come with me."

"I'm just going to stand there and look like an idiot." Koriel told her.

"It's fine if you just stayed with me." Alejandra said gently. "There's going to be good food if you'd like." She knew she was pushing it but he had to be going crazy being stuck in his room for months. He only ever got out to take a bath or eat. He refused to interact with anyone in her household.

But he was talking to her now.

That was all that mattered to her.

Part 12
Scourge

In the end, Koriel had no idea as to why he decided to accompany Alejandra of Thoron to her little get together. Still, if there was one thing he could get out of this. It was the fact that his Company Colors were recognized  and mamono were less inclined to talk to him.

Koriel kept the hood of his cloak down. He wore a black tunic underneath light leather armor, his mudstained grey pants and boots worn but still serviceable. His sword and fighting knife hung in their sheathes on his belt. The Company talisman was in open hostility around his neck. His clothing upset Alejandra but she wasn't about to say anything because this was the only way she could actually get him out of his room.

She stood waiting for him in a beautiful dress that Koriel had no time to look at. Had he been a happier man, he would have told her that blue suited her real well. But Koriel was not happy, he was just a prisoner in a cage. No matter how gilded his cage was, it wasn't home. Lescatie wasn't home anymore. Koriel didn't know anyone, not since the city had been sacked. He knew no one else, other than the Company. Whatever friends he had were with them. And he knew they would surely kill him now as they would anyone who came from the cursed city of Lescatie.

"Ready to go?" Alejandra asked gently. Koriel looked her in the eyes.

"It's not like I would have had a choice anyway." He muttered under his breath.

"Eh?"

The Ranger sighed. "Let's just go already."

/

The Thoron Estate was large enough to accomodate a lot of mamono. The banquet hall was lit up with a magically enhanced chandelier that made Koriel wonder how much souls it took to light up. The Ranger leaned against the wall, looking agitated. Alejandra had already walked off to talk to several other Inma, the group of gossiping ladies of the court were taking glances at him. Koriel barely restrained his disgust.

"Hey."

Koriel noted the young man standing to his left. His dark brown hair was unkempt. He was tall and lean, he had the look of a soldier on him judging from the muscles underneath his shirt. He wore simple clothing save for the sword at his side. The Ranger's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What?" Koriel answered.

"You seemed kinda lonely." The young man leaned next to Koriel. "Just thought you could use some company."

Koriel shrugged. Whatever. If the bastard wanted a friend, he had another thing coming.

"So...what brings a guy like you out to Lescatie?" The young man asked. "I thought you Company types didn't like being around Mamono for too long?"

"It's not like I had a damn choice." Koriel answered coldly. "Being kidnapped obviously doesn't give you a lot of options."

The young man raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Sorry, I was just making conversation."

Koriel sighed and went back to looking at the floor. Why he didn't tell this guy to piss off was beyond him. Whatever. The Ranger took another glance. "So what's an Order soldier doing here then?"

"Ah, you noticed." The young man said smiling slightly. "I'm Elt. Who're you?"

"...Koriel Ventris."

"Ventris? You were the son of Uriel?" Elt asked. "Of the Ventris Shipping Company?"

"Yeah." Koriel said. "You knew him?"

Elt shrugged. "I might have escorted a caravan leader who worked with Ventris, back when I was just a recruit. I lived here back when it was an Order state."

"I did too. It was a miserable pit." Koriel spoke. "Probably still is."

"It's not so bad anymore." Elt spoke. "At least there won't be much suffering now that the nobles in charge have all run away and Lady Druella's in charge."

Koriel looked at him briefly. So Elt knew the ruler of the city. Huh. The Company would have killed for that kind of information. "That must be nice."

Elt grinned. "Well, I met her through my old friend." He scratched his hair. "And there she is now."

Koriel tensed up as his hands clenched into fists. Wilmarina Noscrim, everyone knew who she was. Heroes were incredibly rare individuals. A Fallen Hero was even more dangerous. The former hero of Lescatie wrapped her arms around Elt giggling.

"Ah, Elt." Her voice was sweet as honey. Koriel kept his eyes straight ahead as Wilmarina regarded him with a raised eyebrow. "You made a friend?"

"Ah, yeah!" Elt nodded vigorously. "Um, Mary. This is Koriel Ventris. He was the son of Uriel Ventris who...well, he was killed during all the fighting a few years ago."

Wilmarina smiled warmly at Koriel, who had to fight back the urge to bolt out of the mansion, out of Lescatie, out of...well, he wanted to be anywhere but here.

"It's nice to meet you." Wilmarina curtsied. How she did it with such a short skirt, Koriel didn't know. He bowed stiffly.

"Likewise." Koriel said

"Lady Alejandra speaks highly of you." Wilmarina said. "My condolences, I know losing someone is...is painful."Her warm smile neer wavered. "You're angry and scared. But you shouldn't blame Alejandra, she wasn't there."

"How the hell do you know how my father died?" Koriel asked his voice  suddenly  louder.

"We found him." Wilmarina answered gently even as the crowd turned to regard Koriel who was clenching his fist. "He had been cut down by Order soldiers by mistake I believe."

Koriel's eyes narrowed. "Where is he buried?"

"Would you like to visit your old home?" Wilmarina asked. "Elt and I can take you there if you wish."

Koriel didn't take the bait so easily. There was going to be a catch. He knew it. So he asked.

"What's in it for you?"

Wilmarina shook her head smiling. "Nothing." She said simply. "I am merely helping someone from my city, which I still love."

"We don't bite." Elt nodded alongside her. Their smiles made Koriel angrier than he should be. He just exhaled through his nose. FIne. He'd go along with this. At least he'd get to see his father again.

The next day...

Koriel dusted off his father's tombstone before looking to their old house. Or what was left of it. The blasted ruin barely looked like the humble home it used to be. The Ventrises weren't a very rich merchant family but they had enough coin to get by. Koriel walked through the yard, not even bothering to care that Alejandra and Elt were walking behind him.

The Ranger stepped into the ruin, smelling the ash. His eyes surveyed the ruined living room. He remembered his lessons, reading, writing, mathematics. There was a day that he was going to take over the family business. How much did he lose to the Order and the Demon Lord?

He clenched his fist.

"I wonder how much of my things were stolen?" He asked out loud talking more to himself than to Alejandra or Elt. "I remember having a lot of books about math. I hated math."

Koriel brushed some ash off of the ruined wall. "Father used to have conniptions when I skipped out on my lessons.: He gave a rueful laugh. "That was...what, ten years ago?" He shook his head.

"Koriel?" Alejandra asked gently.

"I'm done." Koriel said sternly. "I...I want to go."

Alejandra smiled. "Of course." She nodded. "But if you want, you can visit any time."

/

Yuki stopped when she saw Koriel Ventris in a secluded area of the yard. He was practicing sword drills against an imaginary opponent. Yuki watched intently. The Ranger was fast, for a human at least. His sword skills weren't that bad either. Fast, brutal. He went for the neck or the joints.

Yuki realized that he was practicing against an armored opponent, like a knight in full plate. Order Knights were dangerous foes but judging from the way Koriel moved, he was experienced fighting such foes. She admired his dedication to keeping such a skill in top shape.

Korie swung his sword once then lowered it, panting. He scowled and turned to regard Yuki with a slight glare. "What?" He called out.

Yuki scowled right back. She stood waiting however as Alejandra approached, carrying a pitcher of cold water for Koriel. The Ranger sheathed his sword. The Inma smiled as she set the water down on the ground and sat down in the grass.

