Fantasy Project Anima

[From Darkness]

Gills crept up into the window slowly, afraid of losing his balance. He glanced toward the darkness behind him. Arty was over there...although he couldn't see her clearly from this distance. He was a bit worried leaving her alone but she got Crimson's clone, so it should be fine. "Okay, here goes, HMPH!" He let go of the hand farther from the windowsill, and used his other hand as pivot point to swung inside. He landed right in front of the window, and he saw that Crimson was waiting for him.


"Lead the way, master infiltrator," Gills said with a hint of teasing in his tone.

 

[Srion Receno]

After he was inside she shook her head and slightly rolled her eyes at his comment, then started to walk along the walls quietly. she could hear voices coming from one of the rooms but was unsure what room just yet. walking further down she found the room and the sounds "this is it you ready?" she looked at him with a smile. her plan was to knock on the door and then move out of the way so they only seen him, she would then use her magic to get in on the other side of the room. she didn't wait for him to answer before she put her plan into action and knocked on the door.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills followed her from behind, glancing around whenever he heard something. She had finally stopped on a door, and he could hear sounds coming from behind it. Could this be the one? "Well, this could be..." he didn't even have a chance to answer. Crimson had knocked on the door and just...disappeared? Gills was confused.


"Oi, what kind of plan is this?!"


Right at that moment, the sound stopped. Murmurs came from the other side, alongside the sound of footsteps coming closer to the door. Gills wasn't ready for this. Oh come on...his hand moved to the rapier on his hip, readying himself for the worst.


The door opened, to reveal two women, most likely maids based on their clothes, looking as dumbfounded as Gills was. For a few seconds there were uncomfortable silence, and when Gills peered behind the two, there were no one else in the large, fancy room. It seems the maids were cleaning when they knocked.


The maids's eyes were quickly fixated at the weapon Gills was holding on. "Oh shi..." too late. The women opened their mouth, about to scream to the top of their lungs.

 

[Srion Receno]

seeing the women open the door she almost laughed, it was a rare thing she was wrong. she looked at them for a moment then quickly moved behind the women. she coved there mouths with her hands "shhh come now he wont hurt you he is a nice guy." she smirked and moved between them slightly so they could see her face. "but me on the other hand well...id just be still if I were you" she looked at each of them in turn waiting for there answer.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills was about to tackle them down, but as expected, Crimson managed to silence the two in an instant. The maids looked at her with fear in their eyes, unable to move even the slightest. It was like a prey being stared by the predator. Fear took over their body, freezing them in one place. Trembling on their feet, they nodded upon hearing her threat.


"Hmm, they could be useful," Gills remarked. "Hey, try asking them about the King's chamber. They're maids for the inner palace, they should know where it is exactly."

 

[Srion Receno]

she looked at the two and smiled "you heard the man who will tell us or better yet show us the way?" she tightened her grip on there mouths. "with out yelling is the best for you" she smirked as she started to let go slowly. she had no idea if they would scream or not, but they were sacred so perhaps they would cooperate with them. she had to form a new plan now that someone had seen them.

 

[From Darkness]

The maids were trembling even more with every words she said. When she let go of their mouth, they didn't even try to scream. They just clung on each other for dear life, eyes closed with tears starting to fall off on the sides. Well, expected. Any normal people would've been reduced to jelly after being in close proximity with Crimson's killer vibe.


Eventually, one of them turned at the two intruders and spoke, interrupted here and there with sobs, yet with a firm look, "...if I...show you the way...will you please spare this kid...?"

 

[Srion Receno]

she smiled at the two trying not to show the blood lust wanting them to trust her. "you both will live if you show us with out any problems" she had no need to kill these maids so she did not mind making this deal with them. she kept smiling at them there faces were delightful, but not as much when it was a male they always got to her. "but any screaming will put you in worse condition then you are now" she moved her hand to her hip were her dagger was. she really was not in the mood for any screaming unless they had something to scream about.

 

[From Darkness]

The two huddled even closer upon seeing Crimson's dagger. It seems that negotiation was success, but they still can't let one of them free. Gills decided to guard the rear while they followed Crimson, pointing on the way to the inner chamber. Passing through the door at the end of the hallway, they met another hall, although smaller than the previous one. The path was long but straight, until they ended up in a large, high door as wide as the hallway itself.


"T-this is...the inner chamber..." the maid pointed with her trembling hand. "W-will you let us go n-now...?"

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson walked quietly behind them as they started to walk, after a wile they stopped at a high door. she looked at it then turned to them as one maid spoke. "I will in a moment" she smiled then grabbed the other girl as she quickly took her dagger out. "open it and nothing funny ok just say they have guests...I dont need this dagger to kill her, but....it will make a lovely red all over yours and her dress" she turned to Gills with a smile. " do you have anything you would like to add or shall we get this started?"

 

[From Darkness]

The girls kept on trembling, but they had no other choice but to do what she said. Gills just watched the entire ordeal, getting restless as he was sure the ones behind this door would be the King and...the Queen, or the Dragon Princess to be exact. He was preparing himself for the encounter. "No, I guess it's fine. Do it."


The maid knocked on the door, which was responded by a young male's voice. Gills noticed that one. It's the new King.


"Who is it?"


"I-It's me, Your Highness. I'm bringing tea for you and Milady."


"This late? Oh well, thank you. Bring them in."


Gills took this opportunity to take front and opening the door, concealing Crimson and her hostage behind so she wouldn't be seen immediately. The door opened with slow creaking sound to reveal a large hall with a chairs all over the side. On the end of the hall was a throne, upon which the young King was sitting. The queen was standing beside him, reading on a few parchments. Their eyes grew wider upon seeing Gills at the door instead of the familiar maids.


"W-who are you?"


"Greetings, Your Highness," Gills started, while his hand on the back motioning for Crimson to let the maid go so they won't provoke unnecessary aggression. "We just want to have a little chat. Would that be acceptable?"

 

[Srion Receno]

watching him go in she smiled a bit this was what they had come here to do....talk that was all. being behind him she was able to whisper in the girls ear. "when you are relisted do nothing go back to your job like nothing has happened" as she said this she seen his signal to let her go, she sighed then moved her dagger and put it in its sheath before walking up behind him. she stood there quietly for a yes or no getting ready for ether one as she smiled. she was hoping for a no but was wanting a yes for the prince's and Arty's sake.

 

[From Darkness]

When she was released, the maid couldn't hold her tears anymore. However, the other one quickly hold her hand and dragged her away, not wanting to stay there even a bit longer. Gills didn't mind. What they were about to talk wasn't something for commoners.


"W-why would I want to talk with you? You, stranger, you dare to disturb us. Do you not know who I am? I'm the Lord and King of Lapant, Erunt Srager! Begone this instant lest I would capture and hang you."


"That won't be necessary," Gills stepped inside, not listening to his complain. "I know about your plan to wage war with Serion...no, with all the other members of the Six Kingdoms. I'm here to talk about that."


Gills fell to his knees, prostrating before the King.


"Please reconsider. No good will come by waging war with the other Kingdoms. All it will bring is sadness and destruction. For the sake of the world, please...don't do it!"

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson could only smirk as she walking inside and stood a little out of the way, it was funny seeing a prince go to his knees before a king so quickly. She leaned against the wall waiting for anything them to make a move or a signal to go get Arty...anything at this point. she looked at the king and soon to be new queen not really interested in what was going to happen. though she had the look of boardem her hand was close to her dagger as her other hand twitched ready to cast a spell to get to them quickly if needed. she looked at each in turn, the women was pretty but nothing more and the king young...no wonder he fell to her beauty.

 

[From Darkness]

The King was clearly shook upon seeing this stranger telling their plans right in the open...and more so when said stranger suddenly prostrated and asked him to stop. The young King trembled, his decision started to fall apart. Was war the best course of things to do? Was it...


"My King,"


The Queen's arms were now around his neck, as she brought him into a gentle embrace. "Do not falter, My King. These people are here to cast doubt in your heart. Stand strong. You are doing the right thing."


"Vienne..." Erunt Srager sighed. The woman gave him a soft smile, her fingers caressing his cheek. She didn't seem to mind both Gills and Crimson's presence in the room. If anything, it was more the fun. Gills couldn't contain his surprise.


"Strangers," the woman, Vienne, addressed the two in a nonchalant manner. "There is nothing to be said. There will be war, and there is nothing that you can do about it. Such is the will of the Lord and King of Lapant, and no others shall change his mind. Not you," she glared at Gills, then toward Crimson. "And not you either. Although you don't look like the type who will bend your knees and beg, or do you?"

 

[Srion Receno]

She watched the king and Queen and sighed to her self, it seamed the queen was poison to him but...why should she care this was not her fight. she closed her eyes as she crossed her arms wile she leaned on the wall, but hearing the queen she slowly opened her eyes back up and looked at her. "your correct" she had let her self relax to much as her dark and blood lust stained ora started to show. she pushed off the wall a bit and walked slowly up to Gills. "would it help if i did? she smiled at the queen, as she did this she whispered to Gills. "should I get her now?" her lips were unmoving as she looked at the queen, as she waited for his answer.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills sighed. He kind of know that it would turn this way. No offense to Arty, but...sometimes, peaceful method just don't cut it. "I think so. Do it after I move. I'll distract them," he whispered back, not wanting to catch their attention. The King was clearly uncertain about this, and the fastest method to stop him would be to get that woman. "If we keep that woman captive, perhaps we can change his mind."


With a swift movement, Gills pulled out his rapier. The yellowish hue spiraled around the blade, the leftover from that time when they fought against the bandits. The prince swung his Animus down, and the stored force hit the floor hard, sending debris into the air toward the Lapant royalties. "Now!" He yelled.

 

[Srion Receno]

She nodded slightly as she looked at them and waited she had moved her hand to the open door, she could see down the hall and to a window were she would get out at. as soon as he had said go she was already in motion, she started to run down the hall. "Lanuae Magicae Umbra!" she mumbled only inches away from the window. as soon as her hand touched she was on the other side and making her way quickly back to Arty.


-------


as soon as its owner was out side the clone stood up and looked quietly in the direction of were Crimson was coming from. not moments later she showed up slightly out of breath. "we must go now" she said as she grabbed Artys hand. " hold your breath if you need to" she said quickly as she turned back to the way she came. "Lanuae Magicae Umbra!" as she said this the shadows covered them and they were making there way to Gills and the king and queen.

 

[From Darkness]

Arty had been watching the looming shadow of the castle for a while, worried about the well-being of her companions. There was nothing so far. No sign of danger, nothing. But it was as they say, the state when nothing was known was the worst feeling you can have. She glanced at the assassin's shadow clone left to guard her. She was motionless this entire time. However, at this point she had turned toward the castle, seemingly anticipating something. Arty blinked. The next moment, Crimson was standing in place of the clone, looking slightly out of breath.


"Miss Crimson? How..." She didn't have time to ask any question as Crimson suddenly grabbed her hand and used her teleportation Magic once more. The princess closed her eyes, letting her body through the weird sensation teleportation Magic always entailed. She opened them to see that they had crossed the entire distance right into the castle. She followed Crimson through the hall, back to where her brother was.


The sight upon returning to the hall didn't look good, though.


"Oh, you're finally back," Gills gave the two a nervous smile. His right hand was holding the rapier, which blade had yellowish-hue spiral of energy swirling around it, yet there was a stream of blood leaking out on his left arm. There was a gash on his upper arm, rendering it painful to use his left arm. "...I got careless."


In front of them was no longer a young, weak-looking King. Standing before them was a suit of armor in the color of pure white, on his hand was held a sword with intricately-decorated handle, depicting a majestic beast worthy of belonging to a King. This was the personal arms of the King, Erunt Srager. The Animus Artifact Braveheart. The King readied his sword and pointed it sharply toward Crimson, a sign of challenge to the assassin.

 

[Srion Receno]

As they made it into the room she had seen Gills and shook her head. "it seams you have" she said then turned to the king and looked at him with a blank look until he pointed his sword at her. it was a lovely sword and it matched with him with a King. she walked in front of them and sighed "is this truly your thoughts to challenge me then work on killing innocent people" she gave him a blood thirsty with a hint of insanity smile. "you sound like me killing for no reason other then your own instead of finding a peaceful way to get along" she giggled as she put her hand on her hip. "this is why kings are targets because they can not get along....but please kill off people make war" she started to laugh "the more blood you shed the more the price on your head rises" she stopped laughing only to give him a smile of a psychopath. "the world will be beautiful with the blood being drained onto the ground" even if her little scare did not work perhaps it would put a thought in his head, ether way she was ready to defend her self.

 

[From Darkness]

Arty still remembered that face. How could she forgot? She was one of them. A comrade. A kindred spirit. Or so she would have thought, if not for the cruel nature of the world conspiring against it. She could feel the Dragon inside Vienne, and vice versa. Inside her soul, Steel was clamoring like mad, demanding to be let out, wishing to tear off the flesh and bone, wanting to stab his blades to every places possible. And vice versa.


The queen looked at Arty with disgust, then toward Crimson. "So this is your little trick, you wench? Which Kingdom do you belong to? Is this a ruse to kill me -to kill us all? Your words have no weight to my King. It is, after all, a war without just cause. There is no greater good behind it. It is all for revenge, and for revenge only shall blood be spilt."


"After all, I don't think you've ever witnessed the war that we are talking about, young lady..."


Arty's soul shook, her body trembled with ever-conflicting feelings at once. Fear and excitement. Anxiety and bloodlust. She couldn't tell which belongs to whom; hers, or Steel's? She gripped on Crimson's sleeves so tight her fingers turned white. She had seen this before. She had seen this again, and again. And now she would witness it once more.


The space behind Vienne distorted, then contracted, then expanded, its ever-changing form slowly condensed into a spherical object made of thin air. It convulses, it breathes, it wanted release. Alongside the sound of howling wind came out from within the sphere a pair of arms, so large it covered the entire hall. It was colored pure white, as if made by marble, and on each end was a hand consisting of three fingers with curved claws. Each arms had a thin layer of membranes connected from their wrists down into their body, acting as wings for the Beast. Its head jutted out from the sphere, a long-necked lizard-like head with smooth skin as if made of marbles. And then came its body, and finally, with a roar, its entirety broke free from the sphere, the sheer size of it destroyed the walls and ceiling of the room. Yet all rubble were blasted away, leaving them in the wrecked room with the night sky atop their head.


Skyfall, the Tormentor, opened his eyes.


"Have you ever seen the Six Kingdom waging war against each other? No. You shouldn't have. If ever the Six Kingdoms waged war, it would not be by arrows and blades nor Magic," Vienne chuckled. "...It would be death by Dragons."


The King wasn't affected by the commotion happening around him, his sword still pointed toward Crimson, waiting for the assassin to make her move. Standing in front of the Dragon Princess, he certainly fits the description of a Knight. The firm stance he took silently said those words: "You shall not pass."


Taking the chance to retreat back, Gills scooted his way toward Crimson and Arty, his hand still holding the rapier with all the strength he had left. "Well, this is your job," Gills smirked, although his tone certainly sounds desperate. "We need to bring down this fucker. Think you can handle a dragon, master assassin?"

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson watches the dragon appear but unlike last time she was not afraid. She watched it come from it sphere with the same expression she had give the king...she was excited. To face off against another dragon was amazing. Her eyes moved back to the king when he spoke, but not hearing his words she looked back at the dragon.


She could feel Arty on her sleeve but ignored it along with Gills words. "Arty...who is my target....whos blood shall I spill? " she would just target the dragon but could it be killed. Waiting for her answer her eyes moved to the dragon princess...the new queen.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills shook his head. "Isn't it obvious? Go beat that woman up. I don't feel like laying a hand on ladies," he lifted his rapier up, readying to strike the King. "I'll handle this brat. He caught me off guard last time, but he won't be so lucky now. I'll make sure he can't disturb you."


"Miss Crimson..." Arty whispered, her eyes fixated to the ground, not wanting to see Skyfall eye to eye. Fearing that the excitement in her soul would wake Steel. "Please don't kill Vienne...if you can beat her up, just until she couldn't fight anymore...please...?"

 

[Srion Receno]

Hearing Gill give her a target she started over with the intention in killing the women, then Arty spoke stopping her. Crimson looked at her for a moment then sighed calming her want to see the women bleed. "as you wish... I can not promise that I won't go over board...but I won't kill her" she moved away from them taking out her dagger. This will be hard but she will do it...she will not kill this women her eyes have been set on.


She let the feel of the shadows consume her as she moved foreword. She moved her free hand out to the side. "Umbra Clone" she said as a clone was created. "shall we see what I can do in this state?" she laughed lightly. With her Animus artifact active she looked like her clone. "I've been wanting to try this" she put her hand on the clone as she spoke. "multipliciter" as soon as the words left her mouth several dozen clones appeared. "now lets have some fun" she smiled at the queen and the dragon behind her

 

[From Darkness]

The Dragon Princess, Vienne, widened her eyes upon seeing Crimson turned into shadow-like being. "Another Animus Wielder...first is this guy, then you...and that little girl behind you, she is a Dragon, right? You're clearly trying to kill me then. Well, no matter. I'll have you guys exterminated. Starting from YOU!"


The white dragon roared, then flapped his wings toward the numerous shadow clones. The wind turned into scythes, as thin as needles yet as sharp as a well-honed blade. The invisible blade flew toward the clones. One of them managed to slice a shadow being apart, only for it to disappear. Just a clone, not the assassin. Wrong target. No matter, there were still more blades to rain upon them. The dragon flapped his wings again, this time stronger, creating more blades.