User blog:JeielYozama/Tale of The Mark Maker - Caballan

''Yo GUYS! Gooomenasai deshita! My insolence is simply intolerable. ''

''I'm really sorry I postponed the release of the new chapter. The original manuscripts for it was lost when my writing platform broke 5months ago. So..I had to restart. From scratch. And, just to announce: I'm rewriting the Mark Maker chapters for a clearer story line sometime soon. If you wanna check the newer additions to the stories (fewer or not), be my guest. So... read on! Marden makes his coolest landing... finally. :D''

 

 

MARK MAKER 7 - Caballan

 

**********************************************

 

 

Zmey..

 

 

Zmey....

 

 

Zmey, YOU IDIOT!!

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

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<p class="MsoNormal">In the dead of the night, I never guessed I'd be doing something completely underhanded as to run in search for a Mamono.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal">Yeah. Some Hero I turned out to be. All that training I put myself in, the magical enhancements and spells I took great pains into learning to make me numb against Mamonokind, flushed down the drain. Kaput. Lost in a blazing wall of flames known as 'feelings'.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal">If Master Caballan and Chyrene saw me now, they would've agreed on stomping me flat.

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<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Ignoring my bated breath, I ran into the darkness of the forest path, scattered moonbeams illuminating the trail ahead. I searched high and low for the Chimaera named Zmey -and no matter what I did to keep my breathing to a minimum, it didn't work. There was a feeling of dread etched in my throat, trying to suffocate me.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">She left for somewhere. Problem is, I have no idea where she might've gone. There are thousands of places she could be have gone, even as I speak.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Why did I even leave her to her own devices, after everything that happened?

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

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<p class="MsoNormal">I touched my formerly-broken arm, made slightly better by Zmey. The signs of the torn muscle and fracture, all gone, after a quick-heal spell she used alongside natural herbs.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Why.. would she do this for me?

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">In the first place, she was...

<p class="MsoNormal">A Chimaera, whom I never would've met had the circumstances been different.

<p class="MsoNormal">A Mamono who should,by all reason, hate me, a Hero.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Yet.. circumstances have been done with, leading to the happening that is now. Blaming herself for my hapless injury she made a medical marvel and is missing still. Now I'm in a rut worse than when I patched up Ryla in that cavern and spared Ada from bearing a permanent emotional scar.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Where could she be?!?!

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"ZMEY!!!!"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal">There was no answer.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"Zmey GODSWEAR IT, WHERE ARE YOU?!!!"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">This time, what reached my ears were the cawing of midnight ravens and nothing more.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal">I immediately noticed the rush in my nerves. It was downright distracting.

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal">''No good. I'm being rash about this. Calm down.. Think''.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">I inhaled deeply and contemplated.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Based on what she's done, the healing isn't nearly finished. She sped up the regeneration process, but my body's energy reserves, which were key to the whole immediate recovery, were holed up dry as a drawback. She probably left again to search for a fatigue-reliever. Assuming I wouldn't wake up to find her missing.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">For now, I'm pinning my hopes on that assumption. Somewhere in the mountain area, she's knee-deep in her search for a herb.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">''Alright. I know what to do.''

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal">Chanting in ancient aria, I waved my free hand, weaving signs in front of me. Magic circles burned green in the air as they were fitted on my eyes like a pair of reading glasses.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"OCULI VOLTURI."

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal">The world within my line of sight sunk in a tempestuous grey. Dull colors tinted everything save for a noticeable hue: a streak of yellow, stretching across the forest. Pheromone. All beings emit it, and this one was too big and too strong to be from some random animal.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Bingo.

<p class="MsoNormal">With the spell, I zoned in on where Zmey was headed. The trail of pheromone she left snaked away. It went on past the path of trees and shrubbery until it inconspicuously dragged my eyesight uphill.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Right. Time to -

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">CLINK.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"..?"

<p class="MsoNormal">I stopped.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">My foot grazed on something hidden in the leaf litter. I could have dismissed it as nothing, but then there was a faint glint from it that drew my attention.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Metallic?

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">I guided my foot away, avoiding not to trigger anything. A quick flick of my fingers casted a levitation spell on the mystery object. Another flick, and it was hurled aside. There was a deafening snap as it hit a nearby tree trunk.

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<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">It was a colossal bear trap.

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<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">The size of the supposed tool for hunting made me gulp. It was larger than the usual ones used to catch Demon boars or cave bears. Hunters could have left them here to snag kills venturing down the clearing.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Or it could be from a nearby village, trying to keep out things worse than wild animals.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Mamonos.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Sh*t."

<p class="MsoNormal">The appearance of the trap just heightened my paranoia. If anything, it made me want to hurl myself to where Zmey was to make sure she was safe.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">''I have to find her. Now.''

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal">With the path of pheromone in sight, I ran with my feet guiding the weight of my body. Fists shaking, I kept my eyes up ahead the mountain path. And for a good reason.

<p class="MsoNormal">A ball of light sparked up from the distance, illuminating in red through my empowered sight.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">And from the looks of it, it ain't no pretty sign.

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<p class="MsoNormal">*   *    *    *   *     *

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<p class="MsoNormal">Half an hour past midnight. One sprint was all it took to get to my destination: the foot of the mountain pass.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">My strength was getting sapped away as I slowed down. Even though I was made to last with Hero-built stamina, going on long periods of travel without stopping was an energy-drainer. On times when I do go non-stop, all that energy washes down the minute my speed drops. I could safely say this is one of these times - although I'm thankful I lasted a while longer than expected.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Occuli Volturi's pheromone trail started to hang thin as time passed, clumping off at one point then completely severing off from the main line before reconnecting a few meters away. The area was saturated in so much humidity that as a result, there was this increasingly thick fog that erased her scent. Zmey immediately came to mind: she wanted to lose her captors here.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Too bad. She ain't shrugging me off that easy.

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<p class="MsoNormal">The silence of the mountain was shattered by angry cawing. Fauna, screeching in panic as it fleed for the safety of the trees.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Danger?

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Instincts drew me to unsheathe my claymore. Grabbing for the hilt I drew it from its scabbard, letting the sheen manifest in the otherwise empty darkness. I disabled Oculi Volturi and kept my guard up to a considerable degree.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Without warning, my strength left for an abrupt second and I allowed the flat part of the blade to land on my foot.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"YOW!!"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Claymores are heavy for personal weapons. Mine was kind of a grade above, as it was tailor-made for both physical and magic combat with the special metal used to forge it. If a claymore's average weight is comparable to a 10-year old Minotaur, imagine twice of that now on top of my foot.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">I quickly grabbed for the agonized part, shaking off the pain with my teeth clenched. I was vying not to make any more sounds, lest I wanted to awaken something I wasn't prepared to face. It took a while before the soreness left ---which bothered me. I tried to flex my fingers, only to find them twitching after a short while.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">It was then that I remembered: all my stamina went to healing, so my current state couldn't even handle my weapon when I normally could with my eyes shut.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">In a state like this, I should really avoid a head-to-head collision. Period.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

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<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">A stampede of angry footfalls came within hearing range. Followed by inaudible jeering from your typical angry mob.

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<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Hero-reflexes kicking in, I grabbed and sheathed my weapon, rolled into a nearby bush and crouched as low as possible. They passed my hiding spot in running speed as quick as they came. An entire mass of people. Peasant villagers, judging by the article of clothing they were wearing (Although my vision was limited from where I laid flat, I could see the faded attribute on their clothes. It wasn't that hard to discern).

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">They didn't just charge ahead. They were in one voice, screaming for violence.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"Get HER!!"

<p class="MsoNormal">"Wretched BEAST!"

<p class="MsoNormal">"WHORE oF THE MAOU!!"

<p class="MsoNormal">"SLAY HER! SLAY HER AND ALL HER ILK!!"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Really?

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">It took me nearly everything just to stop myself from landing a ginormous magic circle to neuter them. Whatever hatred they have with the Demon Lordess, Zmey had nothing to do with it.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Using something remotely similar to grind their pathetic anger on. Typical for Mamono-haters.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">As my palms twitched in random and trickled wet in beads of sweat, I waited a few more minutes for the mob to leave. Upon their eventual advance, I broke into a sprint to follow them. I moved at such a steady pace under their noses, utilizing the hedges of green between us as cover. My bag of tools and sheathed claymore bounced noiselessly behind my back.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Even as a Hero, anxiety always gets to me -especially in a case like this.The distance between me and the crowd was a staggering 2 feet. If anyone had the curiosity to lean over the bushes, I'd be spotted without fail and that'd be the end to this mission of mine.

<p class="MsoNormal">However, in the duration of my running not a single soul thought of doing that inevitable, so I was pretty much in the safe zone. That, and I was moving as quiet as a stick bug. Each of my footsteps landed in subtle, noiseless squeaks, as if they weren't touching the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Still, it was nerve-wracking. The hostiles in question weren't Mamono but living people. Whatever comes out of this conflict will affect the reputation of the Mark Maker in the future - and I'm positive it ain't just the good ones I'll be hearing anytime soon.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">In other words, I'm screwed after all this.

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal">..

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal">''Whatever. Might as well go ahead than regret it when it happens.''

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">The floating cries of the townsfolk were my saving grace. They told me exactly where to go, despite the area being dark enough to obscure my sight of everything. Occuli Volturi might just burn my retinas if I had it atop normal vision for too long.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">And.... right on schedule.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">The mob had stopped. They had someone, or something, cornered. Like a pack of wolves on an injured animal.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Zmey.

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal">I hastened my steps until I found myself at a closer proximity to the villagers. I crouched down low and peeked. The bigger brunt of the rioting force had encircled what appeared to be a fragile figure by a precipice. If the person made one misstep, she's guaranteed to tumble continuously, given that the precipice smoothened down to a drop that led to a gorge further down below.

<p class="MsoNormal">The question as to whether the gorge hosted enough water to cushion anyone's fall was beyond definable. It was so deep, the depth hosted a mere scar of inkly black.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">The circling vultures I mean, people - had their eyes glued on the target of their animosity. At the edge of that cliff, acting emotionally stiff when in fact she couldn't even contain her shaking dread, was a black-and-white Chimaera, her hybrid features a chrome reversed from the original members of her race. Her irises gleamed an iridiscent golden-brown, both from its natural color and the merciless glint of torchlight. A paw of hers gripped at the edge of the sweater I gave her not too long ago, and her tattered cloak fluttered against the passing wind.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">It was, indeed, the Chimaera I was looking for. The troublesome monster-girl I've extended to all lengths just to find....

<p class="MsoNormal">... now a sitting duck.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Wait, what?

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Zmey didn't look like she was raring for a fight. She was fidgeting, with her hands wadded up in herbs I couldn't recognize from where I hid.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">She wasn't moving.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Oi, oi... Isn't this the part where Zmey's supposed to bare her fangs and wreck havoc?

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">......

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Can somebody explain what happened to the nearly heartless 'thing' that tore through my greatest attack as if it were a clumped-up ball of tissue paper?

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">..

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">That was when I realized, that image of her wasn't there.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">What I saw wasn't a Mamono.

<p class="MsoNormal">It was a girl gripped in her own fear.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"We implore you all t-t--to listen." Zmey uttered in a half-bait whisper. She hugged the herbs cradled in her arms close to her chest. "Grant us passage. There is someone that we must return to. Someone whom we have to heal.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">There was a desparate plea in that voice. Wanting to be heard. To be understood.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">But no one heeded her. Not one, mortal soul in the ungodly crowd.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"Your devilry ain't fooling us, woman! You're probably on your way to corrupt some innocent fool!"

<p class="MsoNormal">"I'll say, those leaves yo'r carrying might be for some whacked-up potion that'll befoul men!!"

<p class="MsoNormal">"Yeah, CUT it with your FILTH, WHORE!"

<p class="MsoNormal">"You AIN'T GOING NOWHERE!!"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">The words came in, one after the other, between seething teeth and glowering stares. As if the crowd of people weren't a crowd, but a single organism of hate that spouted hate in multiple tongues.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">And Zmey, the focal point of that hate, hadn't budged an inch.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal">"T-That is not true." She struggled to say. "These flowers we've gathered are for fatigue relief. If we don't minister this to him tonight, he will find himself weary and unable to travel the next day."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"LIES!"

<p class="MsoNormal">"CUT THAT INSOLENT TONGUE OF HERS!"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">I was spurred into grabbing my arm. A tingling sensation crawled up to my shoulders as she spoke. Despite looking perfectly fine, the fact that it went through a horrible mishap before hadn't left me completely.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">I was pissed. Have I been siding with backwater humans like them for the last 3 years? Me, who had wished nothing else but acceptance from them?

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Makes me want to reconsider who's the real monster: them or the Mamono race.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Zmey's heel poked a pebble behind her, sending it to a deathly plunge on the gorge behind her. Having been alerted of the danger, she inched forward, but stopped abruptly from nearing the mass of angry men.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"We do not see why we must fabricate a story when all that I have said are true. And we do not plan to inflict harm. We only want to leave. We...have s-someone waiting for us...."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">In the back of my head, I hoped she would just jump off the cliff and fly. Or step forward and move past those people without ill effort. Or charmspeak her way out of this.

<p class="MsoNormal">But I knew none of that would happen. Zmey was standing there, rooted on the spot. Cornered.

<p class="MsoNormal">And a wing of hers, sporting a deep cut that opened a triangle on her supposedly-perfect shape of a skin membrane, told me this was more than what I have guessed.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">She had no way out.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">I wanted to save her. Then again, I reminded myself not to let my emotions run like the last time.

<p class="MsoNormal">Stuck in a decisionary limbo, I clawed at the ground just to bear with it.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">A geezer with overlapping wrinkles stepped forward from the mob and pointed his cane at Zmey. "Your mind games won't work with us, princess. We know what you Chimaeras are capable of doing. Even your words are mere poison!"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"Wh-what??"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"If we catch you here and now, much less end you, we'd be ridding ourselves of a pest! " said a middle-aged woman beside him.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Others began to jeer after them.

<p class="MsoNormal">"We'd spare ourselves of any trouble you'd cause!"

<p class="MsoNormal">"NUISANCE! TO HELL WITH YOUR LOT!!"

<p class="MsoNormal">"And the person YOU'VE TAINTED !!"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Okay, that does it.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">I dipped one knee back, preparing to jump in the middle of the fray.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">".....you are wrong."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"?"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">I stopped, hearing Zmey retort in a raised voice.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">The Chimaera's eyes flared in emotion.

<p class="MsoNormal">"He was never tainted by us, nor by the Mamonos who had been by his side before I have met him. Who are you to say who he is?"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">There was a disgruntled 'Eh?' from the villagers.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Before long, I was hearing from my Mamono kidnapper-turned-friend, the nicest set of compliments I could receive from a non-human.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"He is perverted, like most men of his age. He is serious on important matters, and distracted when occurences are out of hand. He is open to many things.. he is kind to men and Mamono alike."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">She lowers her head, fiddling with the chain by her neck.

<p class="MsoNormal">"He is full of flaws, as of any being in this world, but his actions are pure. He would never consider putting anyone to shame. And most of all..."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"..he is a flame that warms us. That even a Mamono would be willing to embrace. Not as us... but as women.."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Seeing a paper-thin smile materialize from Zmey's lips as she thought fondly of me..

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">... I couldn't help but blush.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"Enough dabble."

<p class="MsoNormal">A bloodcurdling voice snapped, interrupting the moment. It was from a man within the mob who made his way frontward. He was slender bloke wearing a faded shawl over his neck, his hand the bruised-up hands of a miner. His cheeks stood out as solid tiles across the sides of his face.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"You speak of this man with such disconcerted honesty.. It's as if you are infatuated with him. How sad. "

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">What the barnacle is he raving?

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Zmey looked taken aback by his sentence.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"T-T-THERE IS NO SUCH!!"

<p class="MsoNormal">"You can't deny it. With such a person sandwiched between you and those others you mentioned, it will not be long before he is tainted... "

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">The crowd responds in turn.

<p class="MsoNormal">"OH GODS, NO!"

<p class="MsoNormal">"Such a POOR SOUL!"

<p class="MsoNormal">"He speaks the truth!!"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">The man leered at Zmey. Curled his lips while sneering at her --and made his move. He grabbed for her neck-chain.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Zmey is caught in shock. She drops the herbs on her feet.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"?!!?"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">The man tugs at the chain, Zmey following after. She clenches her teeth. Her knees were on the verge of breaking down.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"L-Let us...GO.."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"A Mamono in a state of helplessness that we rarely catch a glimpse of..." He sniggered expectantly. "Surely, you didn't think we'd let this chance slip from our fingers, did you?"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">The jeering townsmen grinned in triumph. They were aboard this brazen act, too.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">And seeing the faces of pure hatred and delight in her torment tighten around her, Zmey's solid shell of a demeanour cracked.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"Don't ...hurt us.. you've crippled...us...enough..."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"Now, now...impairing your only means of flight isn't nearly enough." The slender fellow with the shawl mused wickedly. "We haven't covered the possibility of plucking out your claws...dehorning you as you watched in agony... snipping your hair until you're but a hairless mess.."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">The man tugged at her fiercer.

<p class="MsoNormal">"You'll be having a lot of fun with US..."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"N.N......NO!!!"

<p class="MsoNormal">She broke completely.

<p class="MsoNormal">Zmey's knees buckled in a heartbeat. Strength depleted, she was on the verge of collapse had the guy not had his hands rung around her chain. She kneeled and clutched her chest in panicked breathing. She was having an anxiety attack.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">A wet puddle of water welled beneath her feet.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">The man saw this. Yet, he had not an inkling of care in his eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"We don't want this... no... We implore you....stop.." Zmey choked in her plea for help. Tears began to fall from her eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal">"M...m...Master... "

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"No Master's coming to save you, little wench..."

<p class="MsoNormal">The man wound his hands on one of Zmey's breasts. Cackled in glee at his hapless prey.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"Master.....

<p class="MsoNormal">Mas...ter.....

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">..

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">..

<p class="MsoNormal">... MARDEN... BALE.."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> BAM!!

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"?!"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Zmey was caught dumbfounded.

<p class="MsoNormal">The slender man who had his slimy hands on her turned stiff as a rock.

<p class="MsoNormal">His vise-like grip on her slackened and fell to the side.

<p class="MsoNormal">His body twisted 360<span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:"DroidSans"">° to his compatriots, and there they saw the source of his immediate dysfunction:

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">---a rupture of esoterical green sliced across his chest, forming the runic symbol of pain.



<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">His eyes rolled in milky white.

<p class="MsoNormal">His jaw hung loose, lettting saliva drip and pool on his shirt.

<p class="MsoNormal">And just like that, he tottered a few steps before collapsing, open mouth eating dirt.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">The mob retreated a few steps in panic. Fear of the unknown climbed up their faces as soon as the bright face turned pale.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">For what they saw next as the dust settled, was a figure rising up from a half-kneel, his claymore tipping the KO'ed ruffian in front to the side.

<p class="MsoNormal">A cloaked individual that they soon made up as human.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">....

<p class="MsoNormal">"WHAT...?!

<p class="MsoNormal">"... What IS THIS?!"

<p class="MsoNormal">".......WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Tch.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">I bit my lip. For a second there, I almost tripped on my landing. A dual assault of fatigue and reacting nerves struck me in a blink of an eye, and it was a pain. My weapon had become insanely difficult to handle. Even with Zmey's unwarranted charmspeak in calling my name empowering me, I was mustering all of my remaining strength, just to keep me from dropping the heavy blade.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">But no... I couldn't waver here.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Not when... someone needs a ray of hope.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">I held the claymore with great fervor. Each of my fingers wrapped around the handle, letting magic particles pour within it.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"I've always been told to fend for the right cause. To protect who deserves to be protected. That was what my master Caballan said... when I took the Hero's mantle."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">"To that... I did what the Hero's code abides me to...

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">.....but right now, I highly doubt its you people I'm supposed to protect."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">I raised my light-swathed weapon at the aghast villagers, which as expected, rattled them beyond compare.

<p class="MsoNormal">Who else wouldn't be alarmed, seeing a full-fledged champion of the Chief God fending for a Mamono?

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">I shook my head.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">''Punish me all you want, God. I've made my choice.''

<p class="MsoNormal"> 

<p class="MsoNormal">"Rather than sticking up for people who in their cowardice, left their humanity behind to become the monsters they've feared .."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">I swerved to see the one behind me.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">A Chimaera whose face was now smeared in dust, paws cringing while on her feet but her eyes fresh from tears.

<p class="MsoNormal">..I'd rather stick up for a Mamono who'd risk her neck... to save a screw-up like me."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">********

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">ToBE CONTINUED: MarkMaker 8! Coming a week later!

<p class="MsoNormal"> (Featuring Zmey's POV..  And a new Mamono! )

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">