Thelvalli Saga: Wayward Zodiac

~ M E M O R Y ~

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All was quiet in the Fields of Ardres, save for the sound of a single Yildricht flag billowing against the wind, tattered and stained as a testament to the broken spirit of the man holding it. The lone knight Reyan used the flag as a crutch to keep himself on his own feet as he trudged through the bloody aftermath of a battlefield now littered with the dead. His pained footsteps roiled up the shallow creek beneath him as he tried to keep a steady breath.

In. Out.

Victory was a fleeting sentiment in the mind of the sole survivor. The dying cries of his comrades and foes alike still rung fresh in his ears. Reyan's eyelids grew heavier from his body giving out to injury, with each blink becoming slower and more prolonged with every pace. He dropped the flag and collapsed to his knees, ready for the earth to reclaim him when he spotted a figure approaching from the horizon. His savior on horseback. A woman of the cloth with a golden scepter in hand rode in to Reyan's rescue; her scepter producing a light to guide her way. It was truly a miracle that Archbishop Ilona Coreth herself had come to Reyan's aid.

Ilona dismounted from her steed to tend to the knight, supporting him up by the neck as she hovered her scepter over his body. In seconds, Reyan's wounds closed up and his body healed to the point where the physical toll of battle was forgotten entirely. Reyan gave his thanks as was the expected gratitude, and Ilona returned a teary-eyed smile as she wrapped her arms around him. Their relationship was one concealed away from prying eyes and was the object of irony. A holy woman committed to celibacy and regarded as a pinnacle figure in the church, and the kingdom's most inspiring knight sworn to upholding values of the just and pure.

It all started an innocent exchange of words - as most circumstances dictate, with Reyan vowing his undying loyalty and protection to the archbishop, kingdom, and crown some odd years ago. As time passed, Reyan's love for his kingdom narrowed and became exclusively directed towards Ilona, and she herself danced among the blaspheme and returned the sentiment. Now here they were in each other's arms, with the priestess playing the rescuer to the knight. The both of them kept a secret from the world, and the pages of history would never speak of it if they could help it.

The silence and respite is broken when they hear the gait of horses closing in on them. More riders from the Republic of Steigeon was what Reyan believed, most likely reinforcements to finish the job. He was half-right, in the sense that the pursuers were from Steigeon, but they did not carry the republic's banner. Reyan and Ilona mounted their own steed and attempted to make their retreat, but they were cut off from both sides and eventually surrounded. The Steigeon man leading the charge was a bespectacled man with chestnut hair, wearing a brown leather jerkin over a waistcoat. He raises his hand and the other riders ready their rifles; a weapon that the kingdom of Yildricht refused to wield. On his signal, the riders aim and fire, knocking Reyan and Ilona off their horse and incapacitating them. Both their bodies are then bound by ropes and placed onto the back of a wagon, ridden off to their fate.

Steel blades clashed together and rang out. The sound echoed and sent vibrations running all the way up her arm. Lucille twisted her wrist and swung, bringing the blade around in a sideways arc. The blades met again, clanging together before sliding past each other. She took a step back, her foot digging deep into the sand. She gripped her sword tighter to stop it from shaking so much. Her opponent advanced. Hotaru's blade thrust forward and feinted to the side, making Lucille miss her swing. Lucille jumped back, stumbling over her feet as Hotaru's blade whizzed down her nose, missing by less than an inch.

Hotaru advanced again. She pushed into Lucille's territory and didn't let up her swings. Lucille flicked her sword, parrying blows she couldn't avoid and knocking Hotaru's blade aside. Sweat soaking the leather-bound hilt slipped the sword right out of Lucille's grip. Hotaru knocked her sword to the ground and pointed her blade at Lucille's neck in one full movement. They stayed, breathing heavily and letting the sweat drop from their brows. Slowly, Hotaru pulled her blade back and sheathed it with a little smile.

"Still needs improvement," she said. "But I think we've done enough for today."

Lucille sighed and collapsed to the ground. "My arms feel like jelly," she complained. "You could try taking it easy on me, you know."

"You'll never improve if I don't push you." Hotaru blocked her sight of the sun as she sat down behind Lucille's head. She was smiling, of course, because she always smiled after beating someone in a sword fight. It's just practice, she would say. It can't hurt to learn how to fight. Learn how to be her sparring target, more like. Lucille rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, whatever," Lucille groaned as the adrenaline flushed away and the sting from her bruises became the only thing she felt. She closed her eyes as a breeze came through; a small respite from the blistering heat. "If we stay like this, I'm gonna be as gold as my hair." Hotaru giggled a little.

Three mountain peaks scraped the skies around their little home in the valley and the forest rang with the song of wildlife. Hotaru picked at Lucille's hair, watching the girl stare off. Hotaru had to prod her a few times before Lucille glanced up. Blue eyes blinked back at her.

"You seem distracted today," Hotaru said. "Wanna talk?"

"Nah."

"You sure? I'm here to listen if you want to talk." Hotaru edged a little closer and started twirling her finger in Lucille's hair.

"I dunno, really. I had a dream. Well, it felt like..." Lucille made a vague gesture with her hands, "like an old memory, you know? There was this battlefield. Some soldier, some kind of knight, collapsed in the mud. He ended up getting healed by some priestess but...ugh, I can't remember anything else."

"It's amazing you remembered this much. I don't think I've ever dreamed anything worth remembering."

"I'm sure you have, you just don't remember."

"That isn't very helpful, Luci." Lucille laughed a little but stopped when Hotaru sprung to her feet. "Grandfather?" Lucille picked her head up to look. Their grandfather - an old knight with facial hair as white as snow and wrinkles covering nearly every inch of his body - stood apart from them with the cabin home behind him.

"What's up, Grandpa?" Lucille said, raising her hand at the old knight.

"I trust your sparring match went well," he said. Reginald - Ser Reginald - was one of the old Yildricht Knights, so he always had this air of nobility surrounding him. Not the better-than-thou kind of aura, it was more like the refined gentleman kind of aura.

"Yes sir," Hotaru said. "Though, Lucille got distracted."

"I did not."

"And then she lost."

"...Okay, that I di- wait, we're supposed to be training not competing!" Hotaru giggled again as Lucille groaned and let her head hit the ground.

"Hotaru." Ser Reginald's fixed expression did not change, and Hotaru shied away from it.

"Y-yes sir?"

"Good work. Lucille."

"Now wait just one sec-"

"You need to stop getting distracted during a battle. Competition is the key to improving. Your form is not bad, but you need to have confidence in your abilities in order to use them properly. How is your magic training going?"

"Swimmingly," Lucille said flatly. She groaned again when her grandfather didn't change his expression. He rarely did, but it still made her mad. "Alright, I get it. I'll work harder."

"Good," Reginald said, nodding. "We are headed into town today, so back your bags and get your saddles. Eris is coming as well."

"And knowing Eris, she was ready for this yesterday," Lucille muttered. Hotaru giggled again.

~ M E M O R Y ~

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She grabbed his hand, biting her lower lip as she dragged him along the smoke-filled halls of the decadent den. Her mischievous giggles turned the heads of a few number of scattered patrons before they went back to their waterpipes. The man nearly tripped over his own feet several times trying to keep up with her, as she led him through silken curtains of royal purples and molten reds. Now that they were alone and away from curious gazes, she threw the man onto the feathered bed and pounced upon him like a ravenous lion. Her fingers made quick work of his shirt, tearing them to shreds while her teeth made their way to his belt.

She tossed her coat to the side and flipped back her hair, moving in closer to drag her tongue across the side of his neck. In turn, she felt his hot breath against her as the strings of her corset loosened to reveal her exposed curves. His wandering hands traced up and down her sides as she mounted him. She bit onto her finger, saliva trickling out of the side of her mouth with every motion of the carnal dance.

It wouldn't take long before she was the one on her back, legs coiled around him. Their movements hastened, going quicker and quicker until her back jerked and arched up - her fingers digging into the folds of the covers before she fell back limp and winded. Deep into the night when she was fast asleep, the man stood from the bed and dressed himself. He grabbed one of the candles by the bed and lit it upon the window. Within seconds, the sounds of horses could be heard approaching the den...

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The castle capital of Yakasa nestled fittingly into the palm of the surrounding crags. The leveled path spiraled upward to the towering gates. Two watchmen were posted in front of the town and offered no resistance to Lucille and her company when they would pass through. Cherry blossom petals showered the streets from the mountain wind, and all the citizens were lost in their bustle and merriment. Paper lanterns were hung by every house, and men were all about, setting up thick wooden posts. The enthusiasm of many locals soured upon seeing Lucille's group, staring with judging eyes and turning to each other in hushed whispers.

One man, however, would show a warmer reception to the outsiders - particularly Reginald. He stood in his open-air tea shop, laughing heartily as he waved them over. "Over here! Over here!" he beckoned. "Reginald, so good to see you! Are you visiting for the annual festival this year? Or perhaps you came for my country famous tea and sake? Nobody brews like Kanbei!"

Oh shiiiiit.





The blackness that surrounded him as the candlelight flickered from the window into nothingness felt sticky. A good kind of gross. Satisfaction. For three seconds. The blackness quickly replaced itself with shafts of blinding light – Silvertongue cursed and threw his head under his pillow.

. . .

"Fuck me," he snarled. He shucked the blanket covering him to the floor, leaving the young man in only his skivvies and a generous coating of cold sweat. He attempted to lay back down but there was little chance of getting comfortable again. Especially with one particular problem down south. Nevertheless, he laid there for a minute more before forcing himself up and adjusting the waistband of his shorts to trap the aforementioned issue. A sigh escaped his lips as retrieved his blanket from the floor and tossed it back onto the bed unceremoniously.

Another night, another dream, but the girl – he swore he had seen her before. Had he slept with her?Not likely... it had been awhile. And he would certainly remember her. There was something about her not easily forgotten... a couple somethings. He shook his head as he entered into a semi-outdoor room with a large basin in it. A snap of his fingers and the empty tub began to rapidly fill with water from nowhere – a delicate trail of steam wafted upward. He removed his shorts and stepped in as the water level reached his calves.

"What a strange dream," he mused as he sat down, allowing the warm water to combat the cool sweat clinging to him. Even if he hadn't slept with her, the vision certainly gave him enough to feel like he had. He sunk down a little further. "Ahh well..." Perhaps it would be for the best. He didn't necessarily have time to mess around with women now; too much on his mind with the upcoming move. He had nearly exhausted the mages in this town of their spells. Finding new targets was of greater importance than handling carnal pleasures.

At the moment anyway.

Lucille pumped her fist in the air and cheered. Her horse shook his head and sighed at her shout. The capital was finally in view. They took the short way around the mountains to reach the valley, but every time they came down it seemed to get longer and longer. The top of the hill was still a ways away, so Lucille fidgeted in the saddle, making the horse even more upset with her.

"Careful, Lucille," Hotaru said. "Asher looks like he's gonna buck you."

"Oh, he won't do that, will you Asher?" Lucille leaned forward a bit and rubbed the horse's neck. She grinned when the horse sighed again, though this time he lowered his head a little and trudged on. Lucille puffed out her chest at Hotaru. "See? Totally under control."

Hotaru shook her head and smiled. Eris sat on the horse with Hotaru, snoring while Hotaru managed the reins. The freckled, red-haired girl was always sleeping these days, for some reason or another. Around her neck curled a fox with snow-white fur, also asleep. When they reached the city gates, Hotaru gently nudged Eris and Rokko awake.

"Wuzzat?" Eris slurred. "I'm awake. What'd I miss?"

"Nothing, we've just arrived," Hotaru said. Eris stretched her arms and legs out and yawned.

"Ugh, I feel like a tumbleweed." She rolled her shoulders a bit, making Rokko swing around her neck and cling to her small jacket instead. She yawned again.

The city was certainly beautiful today. It wasn't often the cherry blossom trees shed their leaves quite like this. Lucille smiled the whole way through the city, occupying herself with the view rather than the sour looks shot in mostly her direction. Lucille and Hotaru stopped their horses when Kanbei greeted their grandfather.

"Kanbei," Reginald greeted, bowing his head slightly out of respect. "I'm afraid not. We have business elsewhere in the capital. Perhaps another time."

"Uncle Kan!" Lucille grinned at him from her saddle. "Been awhile, yeah? Do you remember me?"

{Lucille}

"More important than tea and sake?" Kanbei widened his eyes as if Reginald's words were utter blasphemy. "What could possibly be more important than tea and sake?" Kanbei's curious expression turned into a sheepish smirk when he had come up with a guess. "Oh ho ho ho... Reginald, you old dog, you. Found another ladyfriend, eh? I know better than to stand in the way of a man out on the prowl. Ha ha! Carry on, then." Kanbei waved back at Lucille as her horse trotted by, returning a smile. "How could I forget little Lucy? You've certainly grown since I last saw you. You be sure to keep your grandfather out of trouble now. We can't be having him have too much fun, bah ha ha!"

A commotion was culminating at the plaza, with four men in the imperial garb rushing through while carrying an injured man on a medical apparatus. "Stand aside, stand aside!" the soldiers yelled. "The prince has been mortally wounded! We need to get him to the castle immediately! Stand aside!" The royal palace was a behemoth of a structure, dwarfing every other building in the kingdom. The imperial soldiers went past Reginald to cross through into the castle's courtyard, where several physicians ran out to see the prince. Herbalists applied medicine and bandages to the prince's lacerated body, but he would not open his eyes. They were quickly losing him.

"Poor Prince Shoji," Kanbei shook his head. "The country may be united, but it seems the emperor still has some bitter enemies."
---

{Silvertongue}

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The slums of Mavaly were home to many pickpockets, brutes, and other roguish types. For the less criminal of the neighborhood's population, beggars and bards would seek to solicit donations from passerby. The air was on the brisker side on this day - many of the more decent folk stayed in their hovels next to their warm fires. A little crow would perch onto Silvertongue's window, watching him bathe. It cocked its head, as if intrigued by human anatomy. The loud rabbles of the people below began to stir up when a particularly distinguishable figure appeared in the neighborhood. He dressed in a lavish blue coat over a frilled white shirt. The nobleman was accompanied by two other men  armed with pikes.

"Peasants!" the man shouted, using a boisterous tone that caused the crow on the windowsill to fly away. "Do you know what time it is? Why, it's my most favorite time of the week! Time to pay your taxes! You should all be aware how this goes by now - I'm very aware of the destitute state of you sewer filth... so not everyone will have to pay... so long as I reach an amount that I deem satisfactory. Consider this a collaborative effort on your part, for your gutter needs you! I don't want to have to send in the watchmen again to tear apart this rat's nest, so I hope you are all willing to cooperate."

"We ain't got no more!" a resident shouted back. "You've done nothing but bled us dry! Haven't you had enough? Or would you take the last crumb from our plates, too?!"

The nobleman scoffed and turned to one of the pikemen. "Kill that man," he ordered. One of the pikemen chased after the man, impaling him on the lance. The victim gasped and gurgled blood, squirming about until his entire body went limp and lifeless... then kicked off the lance.

"On my word, I can turn this entire place into a meat skewer," the nobleman threatened. "So you children of the mud better be on your best behavior. I won't ask again. Now gather your coin and come forth! I desire a new armoire for my chambers."

Lucille laughed and grinned at her uncle - though only an uncle in name. Her grandfather - also only in name - wasn't as amused by Kanbei's little jest. He cleared his throat and was about to speak when soldiers rushed past them, spooking Asher and making him neigh and buck, throwing poor Lucille back on her ass. She hit the ground and groaned.

"Ow, that really hurt!" Lucille shot a glare at her horse. "Bad Asher!"

Hotaru was at her side in an instant, already helping Lucille back on her feet and gathering the horses together. "Are you alright, Lucy?" Hotaru asked, glancing about the other girl and brushing dirt off her dress. "I told you you shouldn't rile Asher up so much."

"Yeah, whatever." Lucille watched the soldiers go into the castle courtyard and lay down the prince. She saw the wounds on his body, the deep cuts and gouges, the nicks and dents in his armor. Herbs and poultices wouldn't help him. He needed his skin stitched back together to survive those wounds. Lucille jogged over to her horse and snatched up her staff - just a long, wooden thing with a bit of a gnarled end. "I'll be right back," Lucille said.

"I'm coming with you." Hotaru would follow Lucille whether she wanted her to or not, so Lucille ran off after the soldiers and the injured prince. They walked closer to the soldiers together, the scrambling physicians doing all they could to keep the Prince alive. Lucille gently but firmly tapped the butt end of her staff on the ground, keeping it there before letting go. The staff remained upright and Hotaru stood in front of her, slightly to the side. She'd keep the soldiers at bay if they tried to stop Lucille.

A golden light began to glow from Lucille and her staff. "Glow of the morning stars," Lucille half-sang, half-chanted. "I beseech you, hear my prayer. Show mercy upon the fallen, and let him rise up again."

The golden light grew stronger, warmer, as it flowed from Lucille and her staff. Nearby flowers were brought into bloom. The scratch on Hotaru's nose disappeared. The soldiers would feel the power of the healing magic too, aches and bruises and scars, old and new, were replaced with clean, perfect skin. The Prince, too, was touched by the golden light. Cuts and gashes closed up without a trace. The blood on his body turned to water, purified, and dripped from his skin, dragging the dirt and mud with it.

Lucille lowered her arms and staggered back. Hotaru caught her and held her up. "Your Prince is fine," Lucille said though deep breaths. "Though he will need rest. Much like I will. Oh gosh, that hurts. Hotaru, find me a good place to sit down, please."

"Yeah," Hotaru slung Lucille's arm over her shoulder and guided her away from the soldiers and the Prince. Lucille glanced up and saw Reginald looking on from afar, a smile on his face.

{Lucille}

The soldiers gripped the hilts of their swords when Lucille approached, wary of the foreigner and her intentions. Hotaru stood between Lucille and the soldiers like a foolhardy pup staring down the entire wolf pack, but the tension quickly eased. A soothing aura swept through the courtyard, erasing scratches and injuries. The prince's body was also basked in the healing magic of Lucille's chant, and soon his body was mended to a pristine state. He opened his eyes and signaled the soldiers back when they tried to help him to his feet.

The villagers widened their eyes in awe and curiosity, crowding closer to Lucille - poking and pinching her as if she were some alien species. The crowd would catch sight of the prince walking towards them, and dispersed as he got closer. A young woman stood at his side, advising him not to approach Lucille.

"Prince Shoji!" she called out to him. "You musn't go near the foreigners!"

Shoji turned his head back at the woman momentarily before paying her warning no heed.

"I owe this young woman my life," he said. "I don't know what she did, but because of her, I am standing here in better health than I've ever been in a long time. I should at least know her name."

The prince walked up to Lucille and bowed in gratitude, much to the woman's chagrin. "Do excuse my retainer's manners, or rather lack thereof. Sayaka can be very overprotective of me, especially in the case of foreigners. I am in your debt, and if there is anything you wish for, then I shall do everything in my power to accommodate you."

Hotaru was the one batting villagers away from Lucille, one she found a place to seat the tired girl. She couldn't get rid of them, despite her fervent attempts to dislodge fingers from their sockets. Whatever happened to being treated with disdain for being a foreigner was surely gone by now. At this rate, Lucille would be harassed without end to heal the sick and the lame and who knows what else. The crowd did part though, and the Prince, back on his feet already, bowed to Lucille.

Lucille's ears went red as she held up her hands. "O-oh no, I couldn't possibly...I did nothing more than..." She wriggled her nose. She did save his life.

Hotaru cleared her throat. "She means it was nothing, Your Highness, and she does not want for anything."

"Yeah," Lucille nodded and stood up, her staff lay forgotten on the stone. She bowed a little from her waist, though she kept her eyes up at the Prince. "You really shouldn't be walking about though, you'll end up passing out again. You need bed rest. And make sure you eat plenty of fruit, no meat or anything tough for at least a day- ow!" Lucille rubbed her arm where Hotaru had elbowed her. Lucille scowled a bit before giving the Prince a smile.

"She is Lucille," Hotaru said easily. "Lucille Lehtonen. I'm Hotaru Nakajima, her friend. It is very nice to meet you, Prince Shoji."

"You don't have to trouble yourself with me," Lucille said. "Honest. I just wanted to help, yeah? You don't owe me a thing."

"Careful, young miss," Reginald said. He finally made his way to their side. He left the horses behind with Eris - there wasn't a girl more capable of handling three horses in the whole village, probably. Reginald, too, bowed to the Prince, though only just, before turning back to Lucille. "You might find having a Prince indebted to you might one day save your life."

"I don't need you to tell me that, grandfather," Lucille said, frowning at him.

{Lucille}

Prince Shoji laughed at the amusing exchange between Lucille and Hotaru. "It is with great honor and fortune that I meet you both," he said, keeping a humble tone. "If you change your mind and are ever in need, please find me again. If there is nothing else, I must return to the castle and report all that has transpired to my father." He bowed again before walking away towards the doors. Sayaka's sharp eyes remained fixed upon Lucille and Hotaru, remaining ever cautious of them. When the prince made his way inside, Sayaka turned to follow but stopped in her tracks as a large gust swished by.

Sayaka looked back with widened eyes as a new figure walked through, passing by Lucille's party without sparing them a single glance. It was a rather intimidating woman - scantily clad save for pieces of black plating and an apron piece secured around her endowments. A long, black cape flowed from her pauldrons, flourishing in the wind with every step the woman took, and her snowy hair following in similar fashion. Hoisted over her shoulder with a single arm was an impossibly heavy black sword.

"Cygnus Xanreh of the Sword Sisters... or would you prefer 'The Black Zanbato?'" Sayaka addressed the newcomer. "Why have you returned? The emperor has already stated that he will not face you in combat. You should have no business here."

"I'm very well aware that your so-called fearsome emperor would rather play politics than clash his steel again," Cygnus responded. "But as much as I'd like to set back off to the mainland to find opponents that are willing and worthy, I find that such a task proves troublesome at the moment. You see, your little pirate problem has escalated to the point where the majority of your ships remain docked and refusing to sail. If Takada is going to refuse my challenge, then he should at least have the decency to provide me a way back."

"You do not make demands of the emperor!"

"I'm trying to be reasonable about this. If I need to tear apart the entire castle to get his attention, then I will do so - and I promise you, it will be easy. Allow me audience with him, and we can avoid such needless destruction."

Defeated, Sayaka scoffed and stood to the side. "Very well. However, do not try anything suspicious. One misstep and the guards shall have their flintlocks and blades to your throat. We will be watching you."

"Good, you might just learn a few things then. Hopefully one of those things will be how to treat a guest."

Hotaru's ears perked up when the newcomer woman was introduced as a Sword Sister. Lucille too, looked up in admiration. Neither expected to be meeting a renowned fighter like this, here of all places, or at this very moment. Lucille couldn't stop Hotaru in time, the girl was already marching after the sister. She stepped in front of her just as Reginald put his hand to his face. Hotaru put her chin up, her feet together, and her lips firmly closed. She bowed at the waist.

"Cygnus Xanreh, Sword Sister, I am not sure how to address you. I am Hotaru Nakajima and I am humbled to be in your presence." Hotaru did not lift her head, and continued to keep her position out of a grand respect. "If you are looking for a duel, I would be honored if you let me challenge you."

Reginald sighed and shook his head. He made his way to Hotaru and lifted her up, pulling her aside. "Enough, child. My apologies, madam. My granddaughter did not mean to offend, and will cease her actions at once."

"But grandfather-"

"No, Hotaru. We're leaving."

"But the festival!" Lucille was on her feet now. "You brought us here for the festival, right? Come on, let us stay for that at least."

Reginald steered Hotaru away from the Sword Sister, though Hotaru squirmed in his grip, trying to break free. She turned her head to the woman. "I would challenge you, someday," Hotaru said before Reginald could push her away.

{Lucille}

Cygnus stopped in her tracks to face her eager new challenger. She watched Hotaru bow and issue her offer with a stern face. Her stoic gaze remained glued to Hotaru, even while Reginald apologized on Hotaru's behalf. Cygnus' eyes were sizing Hotaru up like a viper, as if she could gauge the young woman's strength and skill with a simple stare. "Who taught you to be so brash and reckless?" Cygnus finally spoke. "When a Sword Sister duels, it is to the death. A little minnow should know better than to swim with a shark. Know that a battle is not something I take lightly. I doubt your blade has even taken another life. You are, however, more than welcome to seek me once your sword has tasted the blood of the worthy... if by then you still possess the fortitude for it." Cygnus hoisted her sword back over her shoulder and disappeared into the palace without another word.

Another man would approach Lucille afterwards - they were quite the popular bunch today. He wore a   silk robe, and it was clear by his appearance that he was not a native of Saikuo. "You..." he said to Lucille. "I watched what you did from the crowd. You have the gift! I haven't seen such potent healing since... the good Saint herself! Girl... what is your name?"

Hotaru scrambled back into a proper position and bowed to Cygnus as she departed with those last words. "Thank you very much," Hotaru called after her, smiling from ear to ear. Once the Sword Sister was out of sight, she straightened her back and saw Lucille smirking at her. "What? What's that for?"

"Oh, nothing," Lucille sang, sitting back down on the edge of the fountain. "Just admiring the scene, is all."

Hotaru opened her mouth to retort but stopped when Lucille was beset by another man who, like themselves, was not a native by the looks of him. Reginald furrowed his brow at the approaching man and kept his eyes locked onto him while Hotaru made her way to Lucille's side.

"I'm afraid I don't know much about this Sage," Lucille said slowly, glancing to Hotaru for help. When she shrugged, Lucille looked to her grandfather instead, but he was preoccupied with something else, it seemed. "But I'd wager she didn't become exhausted after using her powers. My name is Lucille, and this is Hotaru, our grandther Reginald, and Eris is there."

"Thrilled," Eris said roughly, arriving to the scene a little late. She squinted at the robed man. "Who am I greeting and why?"

"Eris, don't be rude," Lucille scoffed.

"Ah, where are my manners?" the robed figure laughed. "I beg your pardon, I am Brother Raymond of the Safiran church. I am a missionary sent here overseas from Yildricht to spread the word of St. Safira herself. What I saw from you, young lady, I have not witnessed since some odd twenty years ago from our own Archbishop Ilona. Tragically, she disappeared off the face of the earth along with Yildricht's most famed knight. If you possess the healing touch, then perhaps you are destined to become a saint." Raymond's attention was solely focused on Lucille, paying no mind to her party. He bowed forth in respect before he would ask a request.

"Young lady, would you come back with me to Yildricht? Pontifex Tydris would most likely want to speak with you about your gift. If you become a part of the church, then the other priests and priestesses can help you harness your talents to their fullest potential."

{Cattleya}

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A peaceful calm set upon the Hiraga Sea, with only the noise of soothing waves hitting a ship wading through the water. A crew of swarthy and crude buccaneers worked the deck, while a young and dainty woman bundled up in a hammock. Her boots were kicked off to the side of the hammock while she slept with an eyepatch over her right eye. Her rest was interrupted when the ship's cabin boy barged out into the deck in a panic; immediately scrambling over to her. Distraught and hysterical, he shook the hammock until the woman fell flat onto the deck, making an audible "Oof!" on impact. She got up to dust herself off, and then placed her hands onto her hips to make an annoyed stance.

"What gives, Bernard?" she griped. "Don't you have anything better to do than to wake me up?"

"It's terrible, Cattleya!" whined Bernard the cabin boy. "The captain! I... he..."

"Whoa there, young buck," Cattleya said, rubbing her eye. "Now tell ol' Cat here what happened, nice and slow."

"I... I saw the captain naked!" Bernard cried. Cattleya's face remained blank for a mere moment, before her lips gradually cracked into a smile.

"Pfffft.... eheheheh... hahaha..." she snickered.

"It's not funny! I was just went down into his cabin to ask him what we should do with our new ammunition crates and then I saw..."

"His cannon baaaaaaaaaaaaaalls?" she grinned sheepishly, falling onto her back into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. "Wait 'til the boys hear this!"

"No!" Bernard protested. "Don't tell anyone! Promise me! It's bad enough I had to see every wrinkle and fold... I don't want the others to make fun of me for it!"

Cattleya stood back up and made a gesture of her hand moving past her face, as if she could somehow manipulate herself into instantly taking on a more serious demeanor. "You seem to be in... shall I say, quite the predicament? But ol' Cat here will keep her lips sealed."

"Oh, thank y-"

"For a price," Cattleya smirked, tenting her fingers together sinisterly.

"A price?"

"The ultimate price."

Bernard gulped. The unpredictable young woman now had him at her mercy. A glint shimmered across her eye as she revealed the cost of confidentiality. "You shall give me..." she boded. "OOOOOOOOOOONE... alpaca."

"An... an alpaca?" Bernard repeated.

"An alpaca," Cattleya confirmed.

"Are you serious?"

"Ye."

"But what would you want an alpaca for?"

"So I can rub my face into its fleece, what else would I do with one?"

"How am I supposed to get you an alpaca? We're in the middle of the ocean!"

"Iunno, but you have one week."

"One week?!"

The crew began to stir a commotion when one of the pirates climbed down from the masthead with a spyglass in hand, informing everyone of what he saw. Upon hearing the ruckus, the captain himself - a tall and portly shape of a man, stepped onto the deck.

"What are ye scallywags rabblin' on about?" he thundered, in his craggy voice.

"I've spotted a ship, Cap'n!" the lookout said. "Port side, it looks like it's from Saikuo. What should we do?"

"We do what we always do!" the captain responded. "We board 'em and loot 'em for all they've got! Full speed ahead! We'll let 'em know who owns these waters!"

"Ooh! Ooh!" Cattleya perked up excitedly. "Can I make the announcement this time! Can I? Can I?"

The captain looked down at Cattleya and stroked his beard. "Alright, ya wee lass. But remember, ya got to be all scary-like."

"Uh, I know how to be a pirate, doy."

Cattleya skipped eagerly to the ship's head and waved at the passengers of the other ship as they neared. "HI, NEW FRIENDS!" she shouted. "WE'RE PIRATES AND WE'RE GONNA BOARD YOU GUYS AND TAKE ALL YOUR STUFF? IS THAT COOL? COOL."

The captain brought a palm to his face.