Empire of Starland

[kevinhdobson]

"I didn't buy you to be my slave. I bought you so that you might be a little happier and skillful. Just call me Kevin, everybody else does," Kevin said smiling gently. Looking at her gently he added, "I was adopted into the noble family."

 

[SaphireTsuki]

Happier? Her? One hand lifted to her forehead, confusion clear on her face. Still, she had but one job... serve her master, even if he didn't want to be her master. And if serving him meant living happily, then so be it. "Yes si- kevin." How strange... to call a non Arcana by their given name... and at their request. Would he regret it someday? She didn't know, but such was her fate if it happened. The Fey would probably not be happy with her if they realized she'd thought that, so out the window that thought went.

 

[kevinhdobson]

Kevin kissed her forehead as the rode into the countryside and away from the prying eyes of the city. Sighing to himself he said, "Have you read about the ninja families on the edge of the Empire?"

 

[SaphireTsuki]

H-huh? He just... on her forehead... And then she mentally shook herself. Not the time to wonder about him being affectionate... if that's what that was. "The ninja families... yes, I remember that only two or three of them swore to serve the Emperor, and the rest certain noble families. They were famous for some clans having Arcana blood in their clans, allowing them to use mild magic to assist their natural ability to hide, correct? Though those who had the blood were actually weaker, and less accomplished, than those without it."

 

[kevinhdobson]

"Well, imagine one of the weaker families being adopted by a noble family. Not because of the offer but because they found the child abandoned on the roadside," Kevin said telling Saphire about himself. As they rode towards the next town over, he felt trouble coming up from behind them. In his mind, he located all of the bandits stalking them.

 

[SaphireTsuki]

She did, and... didn't like the result. "Once they found out about it... the nobles might not react well. In fact..." Danger... she summoned a tiny bit of air, just enough to block any ranged attacks, focusing even as she kept talking. "I'd say they'd probably try to keep it quiet. Maybe send that ninja off to serve somewhere out of the public's eye... just to keep safe. Depending on if they have Arcana blood or not they might even try to sabotage the career of their son or daughter."

 

[kevinhdobson]

"Really, at least you have a good grip on my past," Kevin said smiling as Cenarius stopped. Looking as five bandits appeared looking menacingly.


"Leave your goods and the woman and nobody gets hurt," one said.


"Afraid I can't do that. If you don't leave me alone, your lives will be the forfeit," Kevin said his eyes blazing. As one attacked him, Kevin quickly unsheathed his sword and killed the man. Looking at the others he said, "I'm more than your average man from a noble family."

 

[SaphireTsuki]

Her eyes narrowed, one hand raising as well, and quietly she began to chant. "Waga te ni kaze tachi wo atsumete, waga teki wo taose, waga mikata wo mamotte, waga no keiyaku no na no moto ni... kaze no tsurugi!" The wind around her blew softly, before rapidly expanding and hitting one, two, three of the bandits, knocking them back on their feet, their weapons cut cleanly in half. Behind her expanded a slightly glowing spread of seraphic wings, but they faded so fast that if you weren't looking for it you'd have missed them. She rapidly drew an arrow, eyes cold, aiming for the man who'd ordered Kevin.

 

[kevinhdobson]

Kevin shoved his palm towards the guy who had ordered him. The man was sliced apart by wind. Sighing to himself he said, "They never learn."


Smiling at Saphire he said, "Did you get a glimpse of my power?"

 

[SaphireTsuki]

Nodding slightly she kept her eyes on the bodies she'd defeated, making sure they weren't getting up. "You're strong, even as only one of the blood, and not purebred. The Path might open for you, if you wanted to take the Pilgrimage with me one day." Rare though it was, the Fay did sometimes accept half-bloods, or those descended from the Arcana. "If nothing else... I could teach you a few wind spells, if you wanted." Though from what she had seen... he didn't need spells, if all he was doing was pushing the element into his foes. She'd stay in the back, then, and act as backup for him.

 

[kevinhdobson]

"Well, if that is want you would like," Kevin said floating onto Cenarius. Smiling, he felt better now that he had used a little elementalism. Then Cenarius started to trot towards the next town where they would stay the night.

 

[SaphireTsuki]

That's not how it works... He continued to confuse her, so she just ignored that bit. Silently she continued to observe how he worked the horse, though she didn't know if he did anything with his feet.... at least she knew how to use the reigns for now. The coming town, overgrown as always, tugged a bit at her... this was the town she'd been born in, wasn't it? No, it was farther away... but it looked just like it. Of course, all towns looked the same, but... No, now wasn't the time for that. She kept an eye out for an inn they could stay in... well, that Kevin could, at least.

 

[kevinhdobson]

"Saphire, are you alright," Kevin asked as he found an inn for the both of them. Paying for the room, Kevin got Cenarius and the mule taken care of. Getting his items, he brought them into the room and fell asleep fully clothed on the bed. While he slept he dreamed about the powerful Arcana he had ran across ten years past. She would've been Saphire's age, he dreamed about her often.

 

[SaphireTsuki]

"I'm fine." She followed him around, but when he had fallen asleep she jumped down, shaking off the almost-memory. Something about the place she'd been found... the magic she'd used that day had been frightening. All of the Arcana had been adamant that she leave, and... she'd complied. It was, after all, important she not destroy nature. Learning to control her excessive power, starting her training from the age of nine... she had been young, but once she could read... by spreading out her magic she'd found a balance, but if she pushed all her power into any one element she could still cast magic as powerful as that day, maybe more so. IT was a sobering thought...


Once she'd gotten into the stall near the mule she gathered some hay, making a bed for herself, and she drifted to sleep. That night she dreampt of fey and monsters, of hope and hate, and... of a chance at love.

 

[kevinhdobson]

Kevin woke up the next morning and walked his things over to the mule and Cenarius. Seeing Saphire he said, "You could've just grabbed my sleeping bag to sleep in. Since I wasn't going to use it."


Getting Cenarius and the mule ready, Kevin sighed to himself. He was almost completely adamant that she was the girl from his dreams. Smiling gently, he placed her on Cenarius and walked them out of the town in the direction they were going. His eyes focused because their job would take them out of the Empire. His first time since the attack.

 

[SaphireTsuki]

"Huh...?" A yawn, her barely awake, and up she got, stretching slightly. And then she walked after her mast, shivering slightly in the morning chill. She could warm herself up with a heat spell, but no... that was not a good idea. What if she needed the strength later? Besides, he was walking around as normal, she could too. Next time she'd make a cloak... one with a heat-trapping enchantment. It was simple, and might be of use if they went onto a mountain or something. Rapidly she caught up with Kevin.

 

[kevinhdobson]

Handing Saphire his cloak he said, "Put this on. It's made from dragonskin and will help keep you warm. You remind me of a girl I came across ten years ago. She was a strong as you and also as pretty. We are headed to the outside of the Empire."

 

[SaphireTsuki]

"I... remind you of someone?" How could that be. If he'd met her... on that day.... wouldn't he have died, like all the rest? Or maybe he had been protected by something. Not that she knew... that spell had... it'd made her forget most of the day, so she really didn't know. Still, she stood there for a few seconds, just holding the cloak. And then she wrapped it around herself, blushing slightly while glaring a little bit. She could have handled it, after all! Not that it wasn't gentlemanly of him. Even adopted nobles have manners, it seemed. "Out of the Empire... do you know why?

 

[kevinhdobson]

"Yes, a child of the Empire had been kidnapped. I'm the only person who can track the child down. I spoke with my adopted family after finding the location of the child and they allowed for me to come and get an Arcana. Seeing your name and I had to get you to come with me," Kevin said honestly as they left the town.

 

[SaphireTsuki]

"I see..." Rescuing a child... that was a worthy cause. Still... to call them a child of the Empire... that must mean the child is incredibly important. Merely getting lost is rarely work for someone who fights the foes of the Empire, like her master... So. "What do you wish me to help with, Kevin? I have spells that can track, using wind or earth, but... I must have an object of the childs to use them, else I'd be mired in too much information to find them."

 

[kevinhdobson]

"I can already track the child. He was kidnapped, I requested this job from the Empire. He's my adoptive brother, Jesse," Kevin said looking at Saphire with a bit of anger in his eyes. Then he added, "They demanded a ransom of 25 million sunshine. I asked for this job to only get paid 500 sunshine."

 

[SaphireTsuki]

She held in a gasp... his own brother? Of course he'd want this job. She nodded, "Then... I'll do my best. Some spells I have can let me go unseen for a while, not indefinitely, but... I might be able to find and free your brother when we get there. Then we can... crush these fools." Magic swirled around her, anger obvious and the deadly look in her eyes reminiscent of ancient battlemages, but it quickly faded to her calm gaze once more.

 

[kevinhdobson]

"Saphire, please remain calm. I have to find out the location of the kidnappers. To do that i'll have to go somewhere I haven't been in over 10 years," Kevin said as they made their way to Dracokagure.

 

[SaphireTsuki]

"Yes sir." She nodded, taking a few breaths to calm down. Her master obviously wasn't overly-upset yet, so she could do no less than be as calm about it. So, to the edge of the Empire, away from the forests and grasslands. She kept her pace steady, always three steps behind Kevin, always looking ahead, and she began to go over the possible spells she could use to help them.

 

[kevinhdobson]

Kevin's eyes flashed open and he clapped his hands over his head saying, "Earth, be thy shield."


A shield of earth appeared over them blocking blades of magical and non-magical entirety. His eyes changed as he saw betrayer ninja of Arcana blood. One spotted him and said, "So you can harness the power of the elements as well?"


"A whole lot more than that," Kevin said as he shot a barrage of magical arrows at the man.