Fantasy Project Anima

[Srion Receno]

She sighed a bit relived yet in a way slightly disappointed after sitting down for her she didnt move at all. her hands were gentle as they moved against her back. "you have nothing to be sorry about look" she moved so she could look at her back a bit. "I am covered in scars a few more wont hurt me besides I had fun doing it" she said then moved around a bit a she sat there and nodded. "they feel perfect thank you" the gave her a small smile before moving in the sun and laying down, with how wet she was the cloth stuck to her and she wanted to get dryer a bit faster.

 

[From Darkness]

Arty smiled upon seeing her laying down under the sun. The wind felt good, and the warmth of the sun felt perfect. They had traveled quite far from their hometown, and she still find every new things beautiful. Seeing them with her own eyes feels so good. She sat beside Crimson, waiting until the assassin finished drying up.


Gills was getting bored while waiting and decided to dug up the bandits' belongings. Other than extra supplies for them, he found a map for the surrounding area. It mostly covered the area of Serion, Lapant, and Zaebet. Seems that it will be useful later. Judging from the forest they were in, he could see the town which they were trying to get into. Two days...or they could reach it in one day and a few hours if they didn't stop beforehand.

 

[Srion Receno]

"my cloths are still dripping you might as well take a dip as well Prince" she mumbled so only they could hear if anyone was around, but judging by not being attacked no one was. "we will make it there on time dont worry, we have a little time to soak in the sun" saying this she turned around so her back showed to the sky it was nice on the wounds on her back. "dont let me forget my stuff by the water" she said this in a quiet mumble as she closed her eyes letting the warmth take up her body and the cool wind move her hair slightly.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills shrugged while studying the map. He didn't feel too dirty, a little dusting should do the trick. Someone need to keep watch of the horses anyway. He kept on rummaging the content of the pouches, finding more goods inside. A couple of small gold trinkets, a vial of stamina-enhancement drugs...seems that the leader's belongings were more sophisticated than his followers.


"Have you ever been to Lapant, miss Crimson?" Arty glanced at her. "It is an industrious nation with even stricter military than Serion. But the food is good, and the capital is gorgeous..." her words trailed off as she seemingly remembering how the city had looked.

 

[Srion Receno]

"iv only seen it at night during a few jobs but other then that no" she mumbled as she put her head on her arms. her eyes moved around the area then to the princes back, he was cute...what was she thinking him being cute, she wanted to take him out. she shook her head then closed her eyes again as she turned her head to the side, thats no way for an assassin to think. she let out a board yawn then stretched. "are my cloths dry?" she asked the prince who was closer to them.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills lifted up his head which was buried deep in the sack. "Hmm? Wait..." He scooted closer to the branches and looked at the hanging clothes. A drop of water trickled every few seconds, but thanks to the sun, it was mostly dry. He gripped the edge of the clothes and felt the water had left it. Yeah, should be good. "I think it's good enough."


He pulled another articles from the sack. Some parchments. Seems that the leader is also literate. It detailed their robberies and how much treasures they'd accumulated. "...I think it's best to dispose this."

 

[Srion Receno]

Hearing him say that they were dry enough she slowly got up an stretched. "good" she mumbled then walked over to them, not really caring that he was right there. being dry now the cloth around her moved softly against her body as she walked over to the cloths. "still damp..." she sighed then took them off the branch. as she moved away from him she slipped the cloth off when she was out of his sight and started to dress. feeling the cold cloth on her warm body she shivered as she let out a sharp breath. "ok im ready when you two are" she said moving closer to them.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills didn't expect her to just walk up to him like that, and so he quickly turned away. He couldn't help catching a glimpse of her (mostly) naked body, though, and it started to bug him in the wrong way. Damnit...stop thinking weird stuff, brain!


Arty had quickly put her dress back on and walked back to the horses. She giggled upon seeing her brother acting like a little kid. Gills pretended not to care. "Alright, let's go, time is of essence," he jumped to his horse hastily, part of it so he didn't have to think about Crimson putting on her clothes.

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson nodded but before she got on her horse she jogged down to the waters edge and picked up her things then jogged back.putting her stuff in one of the bags on the horse she nodded "alright im ready." after they were all on she started them out back onto the road "is there any maps of this area that show how to get to are destination faster?" she asked moving her horse up beside his. she liked horses but it seamed this road was a lot more of a rough ride then the one they were on and it showed on her body that it was not the smoothest ride.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills took out the map he was reading earlier and threw it to her. He had left a mark on the map denoting their current position based on his estimate. "Going to the capital might be too much for now, it would take two or three more days. I think we should stick with your plan and go to that town you mentioned about. We can reach that place around dusk if we pace our horses."

 

[Srion Receno]

She let go of the ropes to lead her horse as she caught the map and looked at it. "that works for me a nice bed instead of the ground seams more your thing anyway" her tone was flat as she teased the prince about being one, then started her horse in front of them again. she looked at the map with one hand wile she picked the rope up in the other hand as they road on.

 

[From Darkness]

The prince followed suit, pacing his horse so that he trailed behind her. He looked behind to make sure that Arty was able to keep up. Even without much experience with horses, she seems to be proficient enough. He wondered whether it was talent.


"Hey, I'm flexible. I'm not like those weak-ass noble sons," he retorted.


"Hehe...but soft bed and warm food sounds nice," Arty commented with a smile. Seems that her brother and Crimson were getting along better these days. That made her happy.

 

[Srion Receno]

"oh is that so?" she said then turned around on her horse to look at them, with a smirk. "its strange riding with a royals especially ones that dont wine like children though you do act like one" she glanced at the prince with a smile then quickly turned back around holding in a giggle. she was having fun....not her normal blood and death fun, but actual fun for once in her life.

 

[From Darkness]

"Hmm, yes, yes," Gills nodded with a mocking tone, clearly about to retort with another tease toward her. "Well that should be no wonder, considering that you...UGH!"


Before he could do that, though, Arty had rode to his side and elbowed him right on the ribs. He almost fell down from his horse because of that. Seeing his sister's scolding glare, he decided to clamp up. For now.


The land of Lapant was made mostly of prairies, compared to heavily-forested regions in Serion. It was bordered by the sea on three cardinal directions except the east, with only little low-altitude mountainous region. When one looked at the horizon, they could see where the land started to meet the sea.


They rode all day until sunset, upon when finally an outline of a wall could be seen. It was the small town shown on the map. Gills pointed that out, directing at the opening on the wall. The entrance gate.

 

[Srion Receno]

Hearing his reply cut off with a yell she quickly looked back but seeing that it was only Arty she shook her head then continued in silence the rest of the way. this land was always beautiful to her but at the same time it made her uneasy being in the open like they were for so long. seeing the walls she sat up, maybe to pass the time she could take on a small job here. she watched as the entrance became more visible then looked at the prince what will you do at this moment will you be getting a room?"

 

[From Darkness]

They were approaching the gate now. Gills took a quick look from afar. The security seems sparse, with guards only holding up a brief interview before letting people in. Seems easy. A few coins should do the job.


"Hmm? Oh, yeah. a room would be nice. Why you ask though? You're not coming with us?"

 

[Srion Receno]

She looked at him then gave him a mischievous smile. "i will at some point" saying this she looked at the gate again still smiling, she wanted a bit of fun perhaps she was wrong about being good on blood. "when you get a room just leave the window open I dont want to wake the two of you...well mostly you....it seams you need your beauty sleep" she smirked then poked his arm before pulling away from him again.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills gave her a doubting look upon hearing her answer, but decided not to pursue it further. "Oh well, at least stick until we're inside. Let's go, Arty. Keep your hood up."


He had given her the cloak he found at the bandit's camp. It's a ragged-looking cheap piece of clothes, but good enough to lessen the heat and, more importantly, gave her a slight disguise.


Gills led them toward the gate, and when the guards stopped them he tried to give them his most civilized face.


"Greetings, we are travelers from the east. We are here to take a day or two of rest before continuing our way. May we proceed?"


The guards looked at each other for a while. One man and two women...not really seems like a bandit group. But just to be sure...


"Well...it's not like we can afford to take everyone inside...I mean you could be bandits, right?"


"Oh, please don't say that. We're merely travelers sightseeing across the land. Here," Gills shook the guard's hand, at the same time slipping four gold coins. "A token of my gratitude."


The guards gave a knowing smile and let them in.


"Well, that's not hard," Gills quipped, back in his usual flighty tone. The town wasn't as big as the capital of Serion, but it was quite crowded. "I'll go find an inn then. Are you going?" He turned to Crimson.

 

[Srion Receno]

as the words between the guard and the prince were being exchanged Crimson was looking around the entrance for a bar of some sorts. hearing him speak to her she shook her head . "you two can go ahead ill be ummm...." she looked around and finally spotted a bar as they moved deeper into the town. "ill be over there" she pointed to the bar then got off her horse holding the ropes to him. "take him with you I dont want anything to happen to him" she flashed him her excited smile then started to the bar "you two be careful" .

 

[From Darkness]

The prince took her horse's reins, being puzzled by her shady actions. Upon realizing where she was heading to, though, he smiled knowingly. "Well, well, once a drunkard stays a drunkard, I guess..."


"Hmm? What is it, big brother?" Arty chimed in from behind. She had jumped down the horse and now leading it by the rope. Gills did the same but handling two proved to be harder than doing one.


"Nah, nothing. Let's get rooms for us, and stables for these guys. I'm having difficulty handling these two at the same time."


They managed to find a trusty-looking stable and after leaving the horses there, they went farther downtown and then decided to stay on a homely-looking inn. The price was a bit higher than Norman's, but the quality was also leagues better. The bed felt soft, and the room had lots of sunlight showering them with warmth. Arty sunk into one of the bed with delight. Gills ordered them one room while taking another one beside them for Crimson.


"Well, I might take the time to look around and sightseeing. What about you?"


Arty shook her head slightly. "I'll stay here. Oh, please find some info about the capital, please."


He nodded. That was his plan from the start. "Alright then, you stay safe here. I'll be back after the sun sets."

 

[Srion Receno]

hearing the prince say something about her drinking she smirked, she didnt drink all the time. walking in she moved to the back of the bar and waited , if a job was needed they would come to her. Crimson watched people walk in and out of the bar and some getting drunk, she was tempted to get a drink yet she also felt like proving the prince wrong about her drinking. she watched the bar closely as she waited in the corner of the bar.

 

[From Darkness]

The bar was a lively center for citizens to release the steam. Not as rowdy as Norman's back at Serion, but where drunk people gather there bound to come some shady people here and there. Nevertheles it was a respectable setting.


Sometimes though came people like that guy: a small, rat-like man with short stature and trembling nerves. He looked like a bundle of springs, ready to jump anytime something got close to him. The man settled into a corner of the bar and kept to himself, slowly disappearing from the crowds' sight. He looked as if he wanted to ask the bartender something, but he stopped again and again.

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson had spotted the man as he walked in he was the only one that looked scared to actually be in here. she smiled to her self men like this were always fun to scare. she would of gone up to him, but looking at him a bit more she had seen he was trying to speak so she just sat there and watched him fail at speaking with the bartender. as soon as she caught his eye though she smiled and waved at him, she wanted to watch him jump perhaps even get a better reaction out of him. it was quite entertaining to watch him.

 

[From Darkness]

The finicky guy was still fidgeting on his set, nervously scanning the place as if the entire bar was haunted or something. He ws clearly still deliberating whether he should talk with the bartender or not, when he saw Crimson waving at him. He jumped on his seat, not anticipating that someone would pay attention to him. Well, it's like the old saying, the more you tried to not stand out, the more you ended up doing that.


Seemingly deciding that he couldn't take it anymore, he jumped out from his chair and rushed to the bartender. He pulled out a short knife and held it pointing downward, the blade placed right above his chest. The bartender was surprised at his sudden action, but his next words were even more perplexing.


"It's a lovely day today, is it not?"


The bartender didn't expect that sudden question. "Uh...yeah? It is? A good day to drink, Sir."


Hearing that response, the man showed a disappointed look, and quickly pulled back his knife. "Y-yeah, it really is. Unfortunately, I got something else to do, so...I'll s-see you later, heh, heh..."


The rat-like man scurried away in a haste. Entering and leaving without notice, just like a storm. The bartended shook his head. Another weird man. And here he'd thought that he had seen everything.

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson tipped her head as she watched the man all the way up until he left the bar. It was interesting, she smiled to her self as she stood up and walked out. She seen no fun around the bar, but that man looked fun. Smiling to her self she stepped out of the bar and scanned the crowded streets.