Fantasy Project Anima

[Srion Receno]

seeing the reaction that the man had she smiled more, it was a nice sight and made her night a bit better. she was about to say something else when the man had come back with the news that there boss was there. hearing this she held her breath as she waited for there leader to come out. seeing the man she held her dagger tightly as she waited for him to attack or do something.


hearing his voice she could not believe it and when he stepped into the light and seen Norman she smiled at him. "long time no see!" she said in a relieved happy tone as she slid off her horse and walked over to him. "what is a handsome guy like you doing out here?" she asked as she put her dagger away. as she walked up to him it was hard to ignore the pain now that she knew it was just him, and sliding off that horse hurt a lot. she smiled up at him as she put her hands behind her back as she tried to push the pain back.

 

[From Darkness]

It took a bit of time, but finally the gears clicked on both Gills and Norman's head. The bulk bartender let out a loud laugh, while Gills and Arty leaped down from their horses and joined Crimson. The bandits were all stunned with this development. Did..did these guys know their leader? What the heck happened?


"Oi, you guys are blind as shit! These are my friends here. What were you trying to do with them?!" Norman snapped at the vice-leader, who squeaked and jumped back a few distance away. "Well...seems that we have a few things to catch up with," he gave Crimson a huge smile. "Let's not talk in this place. We have set a nice camp in the forest. You guys can rest there for a while. Oi, we're leaving! You guys better treat my friends with care here!"


The bandits scrambled around in a hurry, taking the reins for the horses and led them into the forest. Some of them bowed non-stop at the trio, muttering apologies again and again. After it was all said and done, Norman led them into a clearing deeper in the forest, where the bandits had set a few tents and gathering around a large campfire. They were roasting meat, and horses other than the ones owned by Gills and co. can be seen as well.


"Neat, right? Take a seat, and munch on if you'd like to. We have plenty of them cooking. So! Tell me, how did you guys end up here? Did you come back from Lapant just now?"

 

[Srion Receno]

She could only smile relived that it was only him and fallowed him happily. She really didn't hear him talking nor did she pay attention to the bandits apologising to the. She could only walk her smile getting fainter and fainter as the pain got worse.


When they finally got there she sat down next to the fire slowly and relaxed a bit on her arms to relive a bit of pressure off of her. "nice little set up you have Norman do you think you have anything to drink?" she smiled up at him ignoring his questions, for Gills to answer. She was hopping it would dull the pain if he did have something.

 

[From Darkness]

Norman ordered one of his lackey to get him a bottle of wine. "You sure are a steadfast drinker, lady. I like that," he took a seat near the fire beside Gills, while Arty sat beside Crimson. The lackey quickly returned with an unopened bottle, and some crude wooden mug, seemingly self-made. Norman poured one for Crimson, then another for himself and Gills. Good timing. The night could have some warming up.


"So, what's the story?"


"Well..." Gills was about to start when Arty interrupted.


"Excuse me, Sir Norman...is there any healer here? I think miss Crimson need to be attended to..." she was looking at Crimson's chest, instinctively knowing that there's something wrong with that.


"Huh? Oi, call Jacque," Norman waved to his men. A intelligent-looking young man in ragged bandit outfit followed soon after. He looked a bit cowardly like the rest of his companions, but otherwise showing some sign of capabilities.


"Are you hurt somewhere?" Norman and Gills had moved closer to Crimson as well. "This kid knows a bit about medicine. He should be able to help you."

 

[Srion Receno]

She smiled at Norman as he had someone bring them something to drink, then looked at the fire as she rested. When the wine finally got there and she was handed a mug she happily drank half of it down wanting it to work fast.


Hearing Arty cut Gills off she looked at her and sighed, why did she need to worry? She sighed as she watched a guy come up to them, he looked like he could be scares away easily though he did look like he knew a thing or two. Watching them come closer she blushed but hid it in her cup drinking the rest of it down.


"guys it's just a couple of broken and fractured ribs" she held her hand to her chest as if to keep them from looking. "Ill be fine!" she got up embarrassed and moved away from the three guys. She sat on the other side if Arty as she turned away from them still blushing.

 

[From Darkness]

Hearing that it was 'just' fractured ribs, the men sighed in relief. Arty was the only one who looked as if she was seeing a dying person. She abruptly stood up, her expression clearly showed that she wasn't taking it that lightly. "How can you say that so nonchalantly?! What if it becomes serious?" She was saying that with such fervor that everyone on the vicinity stopped what they were doing and just stared dumbfounded.


"Err...little lady, it's just a fractured ribs. It'll heal by its own..." Norman spoke up. Arty's glare shut him down though. She then turned to the healer boy, Jacque.


"Can't you do something about it?"


"N-no...there's no need to expressly treat it if the wound isn't serious...a-although we can apply some medicine or wrap the rib area to ease the pain..."


"Then do that! Sir Norman, can we use one of the tents?"


"J-just use that one," he pointed toward a tent in the middle. "It's for storing our things, but there's still much space left..."


"Let's go, miss Crimson," she tugged on Crimson's sleeve, urging her to come. Then she turned to the healer boy again. "You too, come with us."

 

[Srion Receno]

She laughed lightly sending pain though her, she thought it was funny they only heard the non life threatening part. "yes it's just fractured ribs I'll be fine Arty" she smiled at her just before her sleeve was being tugged on. She sighed there was no point in arguing with her.


Crimson slowly got up and fallowed withbher hand over her chest. She didn't like people worried about her it was weird. She looked over at the healer and sighed again. "OK.... Fine" She mumbled walking into the tent with Arty.

 

[From Darkness]

Once inside the tent, Jacque went out again to get the necessary herbs for his medicine. He had handed Arty some wrapping cloth for use around the fractured area, so as to lessen the pain and stopped the bones from breaking even further. He noted, though, that they shouldn't use the wrap for too long or it might have bad effect for her breathing.


Arty began to, somewhat forcefully, undress Crimson and made her sit on a chair in the middle of the tent. She had shut the tent's entrance so that there will be no...curious people looking their way. She stopped a bit when she saw the sign of healed wounds on Crimson's back. Proof of numerous battles she had fought. Most of them are life-or-death situations.


"...I'm sorry, miss Crimson...you always got hurt because you helped us..." she murmured.

 

[Srion Receno]

She wasn't happy having to be half naked in a camp full of men, but she had finally let Arty help her get her top off. Feeling strange like this she covered her chest with her arms as she bit her lip.


Hearing Arty she sighed again. " don't apologize for me doing my job it's fine" she reached her hand over her shoulder and felt her back a bit."I've been though worse then a few broken ribs and burns" she laughed lightly before flinching. Now that it was the two of them she didn't mind showing a slight pain.

 

[From Darkness]

There was a faint squeak from outside the tent. Arty peeked out from the entrance to see Jacque coming back with a bowl of self-made paste of crushed herbs. "You can apply this to the wound to relieve the pain for a bit." She said thanks then ushered him away. No boys can enter for now! She went back to Crimson and applied the salve on her body.


After that, she opened the cloth and started wrapping them around, careful not to make it too tight. "You...I guess you won't understand," Arty sighed, giving her a sad smile. "I...don't want to lose you, miss Crimson. I always felt you like a big sister to me...I...don't want to lose anyone. Not brother, not you, not Sir Norman...I don't want to lose anyone anymore..."


A few more round and she finished the wrapping. She gave her back a gentle tap. "There, it's done. I hope it's not too tight."

 

[Srion Receno]

she smirked hearing that she would not allow any males in not even the kid with the medical know how. As Arty started to put the stuff on Crimson shivered from her gentle touch. she sighed as she then started to put the wrapping on. "look I have survived many types of injures I wont die" she laughed then grabbed her chest. "its like I cant die almost and as for the others i sure they will ether"


she got up and felt around moving here and there, the paste was helping her to feel better a bit anyway. "it feels fine" she turned to Arty and put her hand on her shoulder "everything will be ok we are all strong and stubborn" she smiled at her slightly then picked up her shirt and started to painfully put it on.

 

[From Darkness]

Arty still gazed at her with that sad, longing expression for a while, until she shook her head and smiled cheerfully. "Hmm...yes, yes, that's right. Miss Crimson is stronger than anyone. I'm sure if it! Let's go back, then."


She opened the entrance after seeing Crimson fully clothed. Gills were talking with Norman around the campfire, with empty bottles of wine scattered around them. Seems Norman was the one doing the drinking, as Gills still looked sober while the bulky bartender was already red. And crying. Seems the red wasn't from wine but from all those tears.


"I...I don't know that you siblings had been suffering all this time...ooohooo..." it's kinda weird to see such muscular man crying like a little girl, but actually most of the bandits, who were listening to Gills's story, were sobbing too. "Ooooh...what a sad fate you have, my child!" He rushed toward Arty when she went out of the tent, and pulled her into an embrace. "And you...Red Fang, a famous assassin, to set aside your difference and deciding to help this kid...you're a hero! Guuuuh!" He cried bucket again.

 

[Srion Receno]

seeing Norman crying then call her a hero, she rolled her eyes yet she smiled. "I am no hero but I would not mind more to drink, though not enough to cry" she laughed lightly as she patted his arm, then started to the fire. getting there she slowly sat down next to the warmth of the flames. "i dont know what you told them but its now depressing around here" she looked at Gills then leaned back on her arms letting the warmth relax her from the chilled air.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills scoffed upon hearing her comment. "Well I just told him the truth. Granted I don't tell him everything, but at most it's all correct."


"Well, I guess you're wondering what I'm doing here?" Norman had joined them once more, with more bottles of wine and ale. He poured them for Crimson and Gills, then for himself. "So. After you guys left, things weren't going well in the city. There was a strict curfew applied, and suddenly the guards were deployed everywhere. The underworld was practically being suppressed. It was the order of the First Prince, the leader of the military, and so most of my patrons were apprehended. That Prince is really bad, man. Oops, sorry, Gills. He's your brother, huh?"


"Don't mind. I don't like him either," Gills smirked. The oldest son of Serion King had complete control of the military, with his authority just one rank before his father the King. "He has always been a strict person. No fun. He has no mercy for people who he deemed evil, and for him it is every criminal and people who threaten the Kingdom. Even if it's children. He's...not a good man."


"It's like you say. Some of my friends gave wind about the situation before it escalated, so I took flight and departed from the city, just a couple of days after you guys left. Figured I'd go west, seeing the forest is denser this way and so more place to hide."


"Aaaand, guess what? I met these guys," he pointed toward the bandits. "Tried to mug this good ol' Norman. Gave them some beating. So I ask to meet with their boss, and he's this really bad guy who can't take joke. So I pummel him 'til he's out of his breath. I was about to continue my journey when these guys begged me to be their boss. So...I guess that's what happen? Hahaha!" Norman gave a hearty laughter.

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson listened to him talk as she drank the wine then laughed slightly as he had finished his story.she was tiered and still hurt but didn't care much at the time. "have they told you what happened when they tried to mug us?" she giggled remembering the mess she had made. she sighed happily at her thoughts then pouted slightly as she finished off her mug of wine. "Norman may I have some more i can still fell things" she giggled as she moved her cup against the ground to him with a smile.

 

[From Darkness]

Arty looked like she wanted to complain when Crimson asked for more drink, but Norman was more than happy to oblige. After all, they always said that alcohol is the best cure for pain. "Sure, sure, here you go, my lady," he refilled her mug with ale. Gills raised his mug too, and Norman did the same. Funny that Gills would drink that much as well. He didn't strike Norman as the type who drink much. Yet that night the Prince just felt that he wanted to drink away. Arty just sighed watching the three. She can never understand why people like to drink so much.


"Oh they certainly told me alright. Said there's this scaaaary demon in shape of a woman, slaughtered ten people in a bloodbath. Honestly I didn't think of you back then, but, you know, I felt so familiar with that story. Now I know why. Hahaha!"


He downed his mug in one go. "Going like this reminds me of my old days. I told you before, right? I was a bandit once. Well, like these guys here. But I was not an ordinary bandit. An ally of justice, I might say! We stole from the rich and give to the poor. Whenever a shitty noble or people in power are trying to repress people, we will be there. Ah...those glorious days...anyway, now that I'm in command of this operation, I want to do that gig once more. Or at least lead these kids toward that goal. That's what I'll turn them into. An ally of justice!"


He roared. The older members didn't seem to like his story, only nodding out of respect, or fear, yet the younger ones cheered and whistled, the idea of being an 'ally of justice', being novel and sounding cool, riling them up.


"So for most of these days we just patrol around here, taking down any shitty bandit troupe that we meet along the way. Some of the new guys are from those kind of group. When we find rich snobby guys mistreating their servants passing through, we mug then and either freed the servants or ask them to join us. The rich guys? Eeeh, not important, as long as they're not women I don't care on what happened to them."

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson smiled at Norman as he talked this was a nice change in pace. she actually almost felt normal even her smiles and laughs were real. Is she thought to hard on it, it was probably the bath house that had caused her laughter to become this way.


As she sat there listening and drinking she started to feel tiered. Like her pain she tried not to show it, but the night she had was starting to fall on her. She drank down what was left in her mug then laid back. She flinched feeling the painnof laying back on the ground, but Norman's talking and the noises of the camp soon had her sleeping silently next to Gills.

 

[From Darkness]

Norman was still talking tales of his past exploits, and seemingly more of his men started to come over as well to listen. Arty looked like she had listened to this a million times, yet still paid attention because it was interesting anyway. Gills was the only one who had averted his gaze and went off somewhere else...specifically to the assassin who had fallen asleep beside him.


"Hey, Norman," He interrupted the bartender, who had gotten a bit tipsy from all that drink. "Any empty tent for us to sleep in?"


"Hmm? Just use the one your sister used earlier."


"Thanks," he refused the offer for more ale, then proceeded to swiftly pick Crimson up bridal-style, to the surprise of everyone else. Ignoring the whistle and cooing of the men, he brought her back to the tent, and made a rather sloppy, but acceptable, makeshift bed from the soft materials he could find before putting her down.


"...You're such a handful," he sighed. The alcohol had been running on his system for a while now, and it was to numb off this pain he had felt for a while. It wasn't from any kind of wound. It was eating away on his brain. That feeling...he wasn't ready for it before, but thanks to Norman's ale, he managed. It was such a lucky coincidence to meet them. Butthatfeelingwasstillthereandeatingintohismindandalthoughhehadsucceededtocurbitsvoracioushungeritstillscreamed. He shook his head. Not now. They still had a long way to go. Not now...


He sat down beside Crimson, clutching on his chest. He had to endure. For Arty's sake. "...yeah, it's all for...her sake..."


He made the saddest smile on that dark of the night.

 

[Srion Receno]

Something had woken her as the sun began to rise. Crimson sat up quickly and looked around her heart was racing. As she looked around her eyes fell on Gills then to the entrance of the tent. She held her chest trying to ignore the pain from yesterday bother her. Slowly she moved out of the tent trying not to wake the two sleeping there.


Making her way out she sighed as she fresh air went into her lungs. Standing there she tried to stretch the soreness out of her muscles.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills slowly opened his eyes. He was laying on the ground of the tent, beside the makeshift bed he'd made yesternight for Crimson...although now the ground was covered with sheet, and there was something small curling in front of him. When he looked down, it turned out to be Arty, leaning her head on his chest while sleeping soundly. He didn't remember when he fell down to sleep, although he remembered feeling someone burrowing into him. He smiled and pat the princess's head, making her let out a satisfied sigh.


He started to stand up, careful not to wake Arty, to see the light coming from the entrance. Seems that morning has come. He made his way outside only to see Crimson. There was nobody else around, although he seemed to see one or two bandit lackeys sleeping with their head bobbing up and down on the trees nearby, likely playing the role of ineffective night watch. Seems that alcohol last night really knocked everyone out.


"Good morning," he casually called out to the assassin.

 

[Srion Receno]

Hearing Gills come out of the tent and say good morning she looked over at him. "I wouldn't say it is good" she smiled at him as she rubbed on one of her shoulders. The sun was making it's way slowly through the trees making streams of light touch the camp. "the weather is nice" she said as she stood there trying to get a not out of her shoulder

 

[From Darkness]

Gills approached closer to where she was standing. He was now able to see the sun peeking out from beneath the trees, lazily climbing up to his usual spot in the sky. He was rubbing his hand together, his body shivering a bit. "It's still cold outside. Seems that summer is about to end," he remarked. It felt weird that these guys were once their enemies, but now they were sleeping and drinking among the foul bunch. The world is really a strange place.


"Hey," he called out, "Is your ribs okay now? That was uncharacteristic of you, getting hurt like that. Usually you just went out from the battle unharmed while your enemy become nothing but bloody soup..."

 

[Srion Receno]

She nodded at his comment about the weather then hearing his next words she rolled her eyes a bit. "fractured and broken rips dont heal over night.....and I was worn down from using so much magic" she smiled thinking of the state Riz was in. "you should see he though I came out like this as she was bleeding" she smiled at him then started to work on the other shoulder.

 

[From Darkness]

He squinted upon hearing of Riz bleeding...this woman seems to like blood too much, now doesn't she? "...Nothing can change you, huh...oh well, just be careful. Don't want to make Arty sad," he patted Crimson's head before walking away.


There were a few tents erected, and Gills peeked in one by one. Most of them was a group of guys jumbled together, sleeping like logs, until finally he found Norman snoring in the middle of a tent while some of his subordinates curled up on the sides. They must've slept together but the big guy shoved everyone away while sleeping. "Oi, Norman, wake up," he slapped the bartender a few times until the guy rose up with a dumbfounded expression.


"Enemy attack?!"


"No, dumbass, the sun is attacking. Get up."

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson growled at him as he walked past and patted her head. "I won't" she mumbled as she walked over to the almost dead fire and started to build it up again. "who dose he think he is touching me" she mumbled blushing a bit. "I should cut his hand off for it" she crossed her arms as she looked at the now roaring fire.


As she looked at the fire she smiled slightly wile she brought her knees up to her chest. "I guess I should be slightly nicer...." she laughed to her self. "that's no fun"