Fantasy Project Anima

[From Darkness]

=== NEXT DAY ===


He wasn't sure how long he'd slept, but the first thing that he saw when opening his eyes was the cheap, albeit soft, surface of Norman's Inn's bed. He couldn't miss it from anything else because he'd spent lots of his nights here while waiting for the bartender to fetch him new books. The last thing he remembered was arriving on the Inn around dawn...when he finally sat up on the bed, he could see that the room was bright, sunlight coming in from the window.


Argillys groaned. Did he just slept for an entire day? He must had had underestimated his fatigue. His hand moved to his hip, feeling the rapier. It was still there. He sighed with relief.

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson had stretched in her sleep with being sleep deprived and the alcohol she was sure to sleep for a wile. she laid out on her back breathing lightly, her mind aware that he was awake yet her body was resting. she was vary relaxed even if she did not trust the prince laying in the bed beside her. the only out of place thing was her dagger was moved up to her head in the middle of the night.

 

[From Darkness]

The Prince slowly got up from bed, still groggy from the long sleep. When he looked to the second bed, he saw Fang sleeping there, seeming without any care for the world. His face blushed wildly. That wasn't how a lady should act, especially with a guy like him around! Wild imagination started to run amon in his brain as the red on his cheek grew brighter.


Finally he sighed and scoot closer to her. She seemed to be sleeping, judging from her breathing. So defenseless...I could've done something to you right now, you know? He sighed again.


"Is she really the one you were talking about, Arty...?" He leaned closer to her face, his breath literally just a few inches from her, before abruptly pulling back. "Is she, really...?" He whispered, more to himself than to anyone else. After a moment of silence he went to the door and opened it slowly so it wouldn't wake her up.


He would need to change his appearance if he didn't want anyone to notice. Perhaps Norman can help him.

 

[Srion Receno]

She opened her eyes after feeling him leave her and quickly grabbed her dagger, what was he doing so close to her? slightly angry she quietly went behind him and brought her dagger to his neck right as he opened the door. "what were you doing?" she said in a cold yet tiered voice. she was still tiered but she had to know why he was so close to her. "and were are you going?" she had no trust for this man and now that he pulled that it made it worse. she stayed behind him to hide her blushing face as she pressed the dagger closer to his neck.

 

[From Darkness]

The sudden feeling of sharp steel on his neck was nostalgic, as well as horrifying. It was only after a few seconds of dumbfoundness would he finally realized what had actually happened. There could be no one else who could've done that. "OH. Oh...you're...awake? Haha...ha..." He laughed nervously. "I'm...just going down to get new clothes. I can't go out like this, people would notice me immediately, right?" He flashed her his usual nonchalant smile.

 

[Srion Receno]

"yes im awake, but what were you doing close to me?" she growled moving the tip to the middle of his neck. was he trying to kill her and just didnt have the guts to or perhaps he was trying to take advantage of her. each thought made her push the blade closer to him, but the thought of him taking advantage of her made her blush turn darker red.

 

[From Darkness]

"Huh?" He was taken aback. Oh, she WAS awake back then? Oops. "Oh! Err...I'm sorry, I'm...I'm just...your face actually look so innocent when you're sleeping so I guess I was just really surprised and have to take a good look to make sure that you're still you. Heheh..."


Okay, that's a lousy excuse, but that's actually kinda true...

 

[Srion Receno]

she thought for a moment then sighed "fine I will take that for now" she mumbled then put her dagger up. "im going back to bed wake me up properly next time or you will not have a head" she snapped then walked back to her bed and crawled in on her side facing away from him. he was lucky that she was still tiered and didn't feel like pushing farther at this moment. she wondered if he had seen her outfit, then bit her lip. why would she care what he thought of it....maybe Norman will say something to him about it. she started to get irritated with herself as she laid there with her eyes closed, why is she wanting him to see her outfit?

 

[From Darkness]

After the storm had left, Gills sighed heavily. Damn, that was scary...he watched as she climbed back to her bed, her back facing him. He thought of asking her to come with him but after what had just happened perhaps that wasn't the wisest thing to do. "Well then..." He cautiously closed the door, and only after he fully closed it could he relaxed his tense body. "Okay, now to get prepared."


The bar was lousy as always, shady people around drinking Norman's cheap ale. Said person was attending to some random patron at the counter, but quickly came toward him when he saw Gills coming down. When he saw Gills's face, he squinted, his face full of disapproval.


"I can tell what a guy had done for his night, and yours is not a lively one," he muttered. "Not getting laid, eh? Are you too chicken to do it or the missy not up to it?"


"...Not now, Norman," Gills retorted. He's still going on about THAT? "I need new outfit. Something...bland. You know. Something that can help me blend in without being noticed."


"Hmm? What's that? What are you going to do anyway? You're not thinking about doing something criminal, now, do you?"


"Nah, I'm..." He suddenly thought of a good excuse. "Truth be told, I'm going to take her out, and I don't want anyone to notice me. You know I'm...rich, right? People might talk...eh, you understand."


Norman seems to take that explanation better. A knowing grin appeared on his face. "Ah! Of course, of course! I got just the thing! You can take them now if you want, follow me."


He took Gills to the back room where he kept some choices of clothing. Most are civilian clothes, some seemingly foreign materials from other nations. A typical storage room for an underworld broker, eh...

 

[Srion Receno]

hearing him leave she sighed, there was no way she was going back to sleep. she didn't want to get up after telling him that she was going back to bed, but she didn't want to just sit there ether. Crimson slowly sat up and looked at the wall "maybe i can get away with sneaking out the window....I do need throwing needles" she shook her head, she was going to get up and just walk out the regular door. he was nothing to her so why should she care what he thought or said. getting up she walked to the door after making sure the gold was strapped tightly to her along with her dagger.


walking out of the room she locked it up then started into the bar. looking around she didn't see the prince so she walked into the bar. "its crowded" she mumbled as she worked on getting though with out being noticed by the men in the bar. she didn't want to be bothered but then again a fight or flirtation might be fun.

 

[From Darkness]

As expected of the capital, even the Norman's Inn was chock-full of people in the noon. From outlaws to people living in the slum, many people spent their days here just lingering about or enjoying a few mugs of ale. Here and there under-the-table transactions took place, a common occurence in the underworld. Most people were keeping to their own, although many were just losers spending their hard-earned money on booze. The kind of people who'll just lose everything in a few days even if you gave them gold enough for an entire lifetime.


Three young men, roughly the age of twenties, took interest of Fang and decided to block her way. They were oblivious to the dangerous aura she was emanating. Perhaps it was the foolishness of youth? Some of the people in the dark corner looked at them with pity, but nobody cared enough to stop them.


"Hey big sister, how about having fun with us?" The middle guy, a man with tattoos on his arms, started the conversation. "There's a parade today, how about we go out there and chill around?"

 

[Srion Receno]

Seeing the three men stop in front of her she smirked but her smirk turned into a smile shortly after he asked to go out with her. "oh my~ the three of you are wanting to have fun with me" she put on her sweet and innocent look as she put her hands behind her back, to push her chest out a bit more. "its so unfair three handsome men and one girl" she let out a little sigh then gave them a sweet smile. "it sounds like fun but sadly.. i have something to do" she sighed sadly and turned her head to hide a more sinister smile with her hair.


she was ready for a fight but loved playing with her pray before taking them down. Crimson decided that she would keep acting like an innocent girl that cant protect her self. "but perhaps next time?" she asked looking up at them.

 

[From Darkness]

The men was clearly bewitched by her now. It was clear from how they looked like wolves trying to swallow her whole, though what the other, more veteran people of the underworld was looking was a scene of three little puppies trying to take on a vicious lion. Some even gave them a sneer. But of course the men didn't notice. They were too busy focusing their attention to Fang.


"Now, now, don't be like that," the middle guy, seemingly the leader of the trio, hooked his arm around her shoulder, "we'll be paying for your expenses of course. It'll be fun, I swear." As he said that, the other two men moved closer to her, effectively blocking her sides such that they were surrounding her. The middle guy then touched her on her thigh. "Such a beautiful body, big sister~"

 

[Srion Receno]

"you really know how to get a girls attention" she smiled shyly at them trying not to cut the man down as he touched her thigh. "but please touching me makes me nervous" she looked down with a slight pout. "your words are untrue anyway i dont have a beautiful body" she sighed then moved away from him a bit. she loved batting them it was fun to have them think she was nothing more then a pretty face in a sexy outfit. she slipped her hand slightly over her dagger so they would not notice as she waited for when she got board with them, and there touching.

 

[From Darkness]

"Oh don't say that now, you're really pretty you know~" the man still obnoxiously tried to get closer to her, not even sensing the danger. He was about to grab her arm when suddenly Gills shoved himself between them, blocking him.


"Hold on a bit, she's with me," he declared firmly. The Prince had changed into a simple clothing; a cheap-looking shirt and vest covering it. His hair was combed to the side, and there's a hint of dusts and dirt on his face, giving him a less-refined look. Seems that Norman gave his help on the "make-up".


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"Huh? Who the heck are you? Don't you dare meddling in our business!"


"Trust me, you DON'T want to mess with her. If you value your life, that is..." Gills replied, with a rather sarcastic tone. It's not really a lie, after all.


"WHY YOU..." the young man looked like he wanted to punch Gills at that moment, but he stopped dead in his track upon seeing Norman standing menacingly behind the Prince.


"No fighting in my inn. If you don't like it, then GET. OUT."


And with that, the three men scrambled away like frightened puppies. Laughters can be heard everywhere around the bar.


"Phew...I saw that. You're...going to cut them to pieces if I didn't interfere, right...?" Gills asked her meekly, his eyes staring at her dagger's tip.

 

[Srion Receno]

she had seen his arm and waited for it to reach her, her smile had changed a bit to more of a blood thirsty one as he inched closer. her heart was racing excitingly, she was just about to pull her dagger out when the prince got between them. his actions has shocked her and she was vary close to punching him needing to take her energy out on something. hearing him worn them only made this feeling worse as she clenched her fist.


Watching them look scared she glanced behind her seeing Norman behind her she gave him a smile, as she tried to calm herself down not wanting to upset him. turning back to the prince she sighed "no what makes you think that?" she had to force herself to let go of her dagger as she said this. her body and eyes still showed she was on the edge of her slight blood lust and that any little slip up could set her off.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills could feel the tension rising from her, just like a prey can feel its predator homing in on them. Ugh...was it just better to feed those guys to this wolf instead? But he can't have her butcher them now. It's not just about moral, if things went bad the city guards might get involved and everything will go south. For now he need to calm her down. What to do, what to do...


He unconsciously took a better look on her. Now that drowsiness had left, his mind was clear and under the sunlight peering through the bar's windows, he could see how the new clothes suited her. "Beautiful..." He muttered it out without even knowing, but soon realized that he had just said it out loud. He grew flustered, a wild blush threatening to bloom on his cheek, and ended up waving his hand again and again in front of his face.


"OH, err, I mean, I forgot to tell you until Norman mentioned it just now. The Enethil Festival will be held soon, and so the city is having a parade to prepare for the celebration. It could be interesting, how about checking it out?"


His eyes showed a tinge of bloodlust in the split second that he finished his words.


"The High Priest, Arthur Lancwein, will show up there after all.

 

[Srion Receno]

Looking at him she had noticed he was looking at her but not at her. hearing him say beautiful and get flustered confirmed that she was right. blushing slightly she nodded "ya the three men you protected from me were trying to get me to go with them even offered to pay for all of my expenses" she looked away from him and sighed as she crossed her arms. "perhaps i will see them there" she smirked then turned to him as he said there target will be in the city. looking at his eyes a small smile appeared on her face.


"alright Gills we shall go" she walked past him as she started for the door, then turned and gave Norman a cute smile before she left the prince behind in the bar. she would not kill the priest tonight but do more of a recon mission first to see what they would be dealing with. Though the three guys she would have no problem killing. walking out of the darker bar into the light she blinked a few times to get use to the light. "its vary bright out" she mumbled before turning to wait for him to catch up with her.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills frowned when she gave Norman the smile but not to him. Realizing his sudden facial change, he reverted to his poker face but Norman didn't fail to notice that. "Hahaha! Go get 'er, boy!" With a hearty laughter, he slapped Gills's back so hard he was thrown out through the entrance.


"Ouch, damnit, old man..." He muttered. His eyes squinted a bit when he saw how bright the sun was today. When his eyes returned focus, he could see Fang waiting for him at the end of the alleyway. He strolled toward her.


The city was always lively, even at night, but moreso under the sun. Stream of people never stopped moving, coming and going through the central road. The parade should be in the town central further down the road.


"Let's go?" Gills offered her his hand, as if asking her to dance with him.

 

[Srion Receno]

she shook her head with a small smile after seeing him stumble out of the bar then turned back to watching the crowed. It was beautiful seeing the decorations and hearing the parade coming. With out her meaning to her face showed a bit of a more peaceful happiness even when she was not smiling.


Hearing him ask to go she nodded but did not take his hand, she was never one for that type of stuff. Walking a little ahead she looked back at him "I'll be slow this time so we can stay close" she gave him a teasing smile then started to walk again. She still did not touch anyone as they walked and kept her hand slightly over her dagger which was right next to the bag of coins.

 

[From Darkness]

Hah, so much for being a gentleman...but he kinda saw it coming, and expected nothing from the start. With a brisk pace he tried to keep up with her. If...this is how 'slow' means to her, he wondered how the 'fast' one would be. Still, it wasn't an impossible feat for him to walk beside her this time. It was also thanks to how the crowds were less savage than yesterday. Perhaps everyone was in the mood for festivities.


Truth be told, it was also the first time he had taken a walk among the citizen. Most of the days he'd spent cooped up in the library, while his outside trek was always under the moonlight, and it was always a single route toward Norman's. Seeing the vibrant city filled him with mysterious happiness. It was that feeling which made you believe that being alive is a wonderful thing.


"So, you know about the Enethil Parade, right?" He tried to initiate a small talk with the assassin walking beside him. He figured that because she was always busy doing...whatever assassin thingy an assassin does...she wouldn't be familiar with these kinds of stuff. "It is a precursor to the Festival of Gods. Hmm...the story went like this."


"In the beginning, there were two Gods. The source of Life, Animus, and the scion of the World, Anima. The two Gods were at odds with each other and a great war broke between the two. In the end, the two Gods lost their life on each other's blade. But from their death arose their descendants, the Three Gods: Enethil, Rovenkin, and Aenwen. The Three took pity on the broken world and restored it anew. And since then, our people had revered them as the Three Deities. We sung prayers for Aenwen at the first sight of snow, we held banquet for Rovenkin when hogs burrowed out of the ground, and we held a parade for Enethil when the sun shone the brightest. At the end of the parade, we held the biggest Festival for the Three Deities."


Gills shrugged after finishing the story. "Well, that's actually...just superstition. From the books that I've read, the Three Deities were only a symbol for the changing of seasons. The celebrations were people's way to address those changes. Prayers so that we can pass the winter safely, banquet to celebrate the passing of winter, and the festival to celebrate the harvest for the year. Anyway, this belief seems to be widespread in this continent, and the Priesthood is the one who supposedly has the closest connection to the Deities."

 

[Srion Receno]

He was right she had not known this was one of the few times she was even around during the day and it showed from her pale skin.she wasn't really interested in why they held the festival, but she said nothing as he talked. When he had stopped talking she moved off the the side were it was not as crowded as the rest of the road.


"if that is believed then why go after the priest wouldn't there be panic?" even with it crowded it was safe to talk no one was listening to a word she said. She was slightly interested in his motives for wanting to do this, mostly because of the look in his eyes as he spoke about it.


She looked up at him then turned to look at the crowd, she knew people that were in the area so she scanned the crowed to see if they showed up. Not wanting to admit it she was also sorta looking for the three guys, only to stay away from them.... Possibility. "have you ever been to any of these? " she asked as she quickly glanced at him then back at the crowed.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills shook his head with a sad expression. "Honestly, this was a first for me too. I've spent my years in the library, diligently devouring books like there's no tomorrow. I believed that knowledge is more important than...all these things. But I guess I'm wrong after all. This is beautiful, alright?" His eyes shone like a kid's as he scanned the area. They were getting closer to the town center, and as the road got wider so was the amount of people. Peddlers were all around the perimeter, shouting their wares to any potential buyers nearby.


He was clearly avoiding her previous question. But he realized that wouldn't be possible. He let out a sigh, and replied her in whisper. "I've told you my reason, right? As you can understand from my description, the Priesthood held a great power on people's heart. And the one at the top is the Head Priest. By eliminating that person, we can replace him with someone else. Someone that is more...obliging, to the royal family."

 

[Srion Receno]

She nodded it was true the town had become vary beautiful. "you should get out more you would learn a grate deal if you do" she mumbled then glanced up at him for a moment. "the world is a beautiful place you should get out more" saying this she stopped then looked at him. "your kingdom is pushy and one day it will come back to bit you...but saying this ill still do your job as agreed and as soon as I get my sword the Priests head will be yours" she said in a slightly cold tone, she always took her job seriously and was not going to stop now because of some cute prince.


She turned away from him then started to walk again into the crowed. "has the priest ever seen you before?" she asked as she moved away from a family, they always made her uncomfortable. She had to stop thinking about the world and focus on her job "we need to figure out were he is staying and who will be around him" the more she talked about it the more she gave off a dark calm feel.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills was a bit surprised when she got a bit closer to him. When he looked at her direction, there was a family of four walking nearby. Seems that she was uncomfortable around people like them. A father, a mother, a little boy, and semingly, judging from afar, his younger sister. They seemed to be enjoying themselves. Gills felt a weird knot tightening on his stomach. The royalties never felt like a family for him. Even his mother...all she ever did was isolating herself in her room. Perhaps Fang was uncomfortable as well? He slowly led her further away from them.


He smirked when she said the Kingdom was pushy, but made no other comment. Upon being asked about the High Priest, however, he showed a more serious look. "He'd seen me before when I was younger, but I don't think he remember. I'm not the type who interacted much with the Priesthood...wait," he abruptly motioned her to stop. They had reached the city center, and there were a stage propped up in the middle. People were crowding around it. On the top stood six people in white robe whose face was half-concealed by their cloak. And then, surrounded by those six people, was one single man. From the intricate design of his robe as well as accessories worn on his body, one can see that he was the leader of them.


It was a man with a soft face, yet having a firm bearing. He stood calmly on the stage, unaffected by the ever-increasing crowds. Once or twice he would gave off a charismatic smile and waved at the children calling for him. While the other sixes had intimidating feel around them, his was a calming one. The contrast focused people's attention at him as they called for his name.


"High Priest...Lancwein..." Gills murmured slowly. A smile formed on his face, his hand hovering atop his rapier. Not now, not now...patience...