Fantasy Project Anima

[From Darkness]

"Your companion doesn't look well," the hooded man said. Gills just shrugged it off before putting on the cloak. He jumped up onto the camel beside Crimson's, and pulled the rein. He motioned for the strangers to pick their own, the rest were practically theirs.

Bowing once again to show his gratitude, the man moved over the camels until he found the one he liked. He patted the camel's head, goading it to sit down. After the seat got lower, he lifted his companion in a princess carry, and then took up the seat, his companion seated sideway between him and the camel's head, their head resting on his chest.

"...Is that...a woman?" Gills murmured, half-asking. The man only gave them a wink.

"Personal stuff. Let's just get moving. Go over there," he pointed toward an arbitrary direction. After all, everywhere looked the same in this vast desert. Not for him, apparently. "If we keep going that way, something good will happen. Hopefully we'll find an oasis."

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson sat up a bit straighter as the man mentioned something. This was humiliating. She was a grate assassin reduced to this weak state. When they started off she was quick to get going along side Gills. The look on her face never really changed, preferring it to look irrated then in pain. Did the travelers really not have an idea of where they were going? Just going forward? She sighed as see pulled the cloak around her more.

 

[From Darkness]

The scorching sun didn't make the journey easier, but the cloaks sure did. When Gills asked about it, the man merely mentioned that cloaks were a common sense in this region. It would be unthinkable for the riders earlier to not bring extras.

"It would seems that I had lost my manner these days. I am Anjin," he nodded courteously. "And this is my companion, Namu. Our meeting must be a gift from the goddess."

"Yeah, sure," Gills scoffed. But it might not be too smart to antagonize someone in this unknown land. Not to mention he was way more knowledgeable than him, and Crimson was useless at the moment. "I'm Gills. And this is..." he glanced at Crimson, "Uh...Rose."

"Don't use my real name here. And I don't think even your nickname is safe," He leaned toward her, whispering. Not like she didn't know about it. She didn't look so good though. "Hey, are you really okay? Do you want to rest a bit?"

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson listened to the conversation not really caring about names, unless they were useful for her missions she had no reason to remember there names. Hearing gills she just nodded. He was right, who knows if this man is even safe at the moment. They could be leading the two into a trap. The thought made her hand grip her dagger tightly.


The rest made her look over with a weak smirk. "You care that much?" she laughed softly then shook her head. "I am fine...I am getting a little rest on the camel. When we stop I will get more." truthfully the heat hurt. It felt like her already blistered skin was being burned off her body. She needed sleep as well, perhaps she will just take a nap as they walk. Even as she thought this her body started to slouch forward. Her mind waiting for him to talk as her eyes started to close.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills snorted, turning away from her. "I don't care. I just don't want our fighting potential diminished," he said in a defiant tone. His face was starting to blush when she teased him.

Anjin looked at the two with an amused smile. "So, Gills and Rose...I see. Good, it's all good," he laughed out loud. Gills didn't really trust him, but for now he was the only one they could count on, so they had no choice.

It wasn't long, however, before he caught a sight of something. A...palm tree? There was something like a palm tree in the distance, could it be...

"An unclaimed oasis. It's our lucky day," Anjin smirked, pacing his camel to go ahead of Gills and Crimson. This prompted the Prince to pace his camel as well, wanting to rest as soon as possible.

 

[Srion Receno]

Hearing his answer Crimson laughed softly. He cared. It was cute. Her eyes closed as they continued in but snapped open when she heard oasis. She was still out of it, but she paced her camel with gills. Getting there would definitely mean rest..hopefully anyway.

Once there she just kinda slipped off. Her body weak making her look for
Support. Thankfully the camel didn't seem to mind her leaning on it. She watched the others silently, waiting door something to happen.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills moved his camel toward one of the palm tree, intending to tie the rein around it. The two strangers had done theirs, apparently, and Anjin was helping Namu getting down the camel. It was weird that he coddled his companion like that, but whatever, they can do whatever they want.

He started to move toward Crimson's camel since she took so long, but ended up startled upon seeing her slipping down the camel. "What the heck," he rushed toward her, unsure on what had happened. "Hey, are you really fine? What happened?" He forcefully pulled her cloak, not waiting for her to answer, only to see her cuts and burn marks getting worse.

"...Godamnit, you should've told me about this," Gills shook his head. What to do, should they use the oasis's water to cool her wound? Would it still be possible at this stage?

 

[Srion Receno]

The assassin was more out of it then she had thought. Out of nowhere she was sitting in the sand and the prince over her. He was saying something. What ever, she just wanted to sleep. Feeling the sun on her skin, she let out a small groan. "Back off...I'm... trying to cool down" this came out as a mumble as she weakly pushed on gills's chest. Was it always that solid? Her fingers ran over it as she slid her hands down, soon letting them drop after they hit his stomach.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills wasn't used with seeing her like this. Unfortunately, he was at loss on what to do. Part of him wanted to believe that she would be okay after resting, but looking at those wounds, it was too dangerous. At that moment, he felt someone on his back. It was Anjin. His companion was behind him.

"Damnit, Namu...I knew I said they weren't suspicious, but-"

There was a grunt coming from inside the hood. Gills was at loss on what they were talking about. Just when he was about to yell at them, the hooded one shook their head, letting the hood down and revealed their face.

It was a woman, as he had suspected. Her hair was colored in unnatural dark blue, and a pair of blue eyes were staring at Crimson's wounds. The part which surprised him, however, was the wooden bit chained on her mouth, gagging her.

"...Fine, I'll trust your judgement," Anjin moved behind her, unclasping the wooden bit. The moment she could speak, incomprehensible words poured out from her, each one was word of power, a calling for a stronger being.

A transparent-blue sphere appeared above her, and from within cold wind blew. Tendrils of water burst forth, tangling up with each other, climbing up the sky until their form created a large creature, the head of a slit-eyed dragon. A few tendrils sprouted on its side, and these formed on of the dragon's limb, which started to move toward Crimson.

"What are you-" Gills was about to jump toward it, but Anjin grabbed his arm firmly, not letting him move.

"Just watch."

The dragon's clawed hand crashed into Crimson, but instead of being solid, the hand melted into splash of water right before impact, causing her no feeling of pain. Instead, the water seeped into her wounds and burn marks, giving off cool feeling. The wounds were beginning to dry and close up, while the burn marks slowly disappeared, as if there was none of them in the first place.

"What the heck..." Gils cursed under his breath.

"...Mist, return..." the girl ordered. The dragon faithfully obliged, returning into a torrent of water before getting sucked back into the sphere, which slowly contracted until it became a tiny dot. Namu fell on her knees right after the sphere disappeared, with Anjin catching her from behind.

"Anjin...please..."

"This is why I don't like it," Anjin sighed. He put the wooden bit on her mouth, chaining it back in place. Only after that could she finally close her eyes and let Anjin support her weight, losing consciousness in the process.

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson heard the noises and looked up. A dragon? Here? What were the odds of that? A small smirk went to her face. Well she was dead. Her hand grabbed her dagger, but she was past even moving anymore. Before the water got to her, she blacked out. It was the weakest she had ever been, and her body can take a beating, but this was just to much on her.

A cooling feeling moved through her body. It was making the pain leave her. Once there was no more pain her body relaxed just laying there. Though her body was fixed she didn't wake up. The magic she used took more out of her then the wounds. Thankfully she was able to sleep instead of laying there in a beep nothing until her body decided it was hurting to much to let her sleep.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills quickly ran toward Crimson. Miraculously, her wounds had been healed...or at least they had closed up, preventing any danger from infection. He glared toward the two strangers, but finally just sighed and let it go. Anjin was carrying the girl on his arms.

"I'm sure you have a lot of question. We as well. But for now, let's just set up camp and rest. We all need it."

He just went along with Anjin's suggestion. He carried Crimson on his back and placed her under the shade of a palm tree, until they managed to erect two makeshift tent using whatever canvas they had in the riders' belongings. Anjin placed Namu in one of the tent, while Gills went to put Crimson in the other one. Let her sleep for now.

Funny. Now that everything had somehow settled down, he felt tiredness assaulting his mind as well. He decided to lay beside her, turning around so their back were facing each other, and then closed his eyes. It would just be for an instant, he thought. He couldn't sleep...not with...the two strangers still...around...

The Prince finally lost to his own fatigue.

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson opened her eyes not sure what was going on. Her head felt fuzzy as she looked at a back? She sat up and looked down. As she slept she had turned and cuddled to the sleeping prince. Her face went red and that's when she remembered the dragon. Rushing out she looked arou at the back landscape around her. It must of turned night as she slept. No dragon. With a soft sigh she streched. Man she felt stiff, but no pain? She looked down confused. It was gone. All that was left was sorness and the want for sleeping longer.

 

[From Darkness]

A bonfire had been set up in the middle of the grass patch between the two tent. From the tent across of theirs, came out Anjin. His cloak was turned aside, revealing his native Iroqirin clothing, which was covered in light armor. He must've been a ready fighter beneath that cloak. He showed a daring look, with short brown hair and brown eyes, the color of dirt. Looking closer, there was a horizontal scar above his right eye, although it seemed to be an old one.

"I thought that guy had woken up, but instead it was you, miss. Are you feeling better?"

He moved closer toward the bonfire, and then took seat on the grassy ground, cross-legged.

"Come over, let's enjoy the warmth of this flame. I think your boyfriend is really exhausted, contrary to his appearance. Just give him some more time to sleep."

 

[Srion Receno]

Seeing the fire she frowned, unfortunately she had enough of it for her to never be cold. Hearing the tent move her hand quickly went to her dagger. She watched him all the way until he sat down. Hearing him she frowned. "He is nothing of the sort" she mumbled before sitting on the other side but away from the fire. The little heat she was getting was enough. "There is a possibility he will sleep until day" she looked up to see the stars. "I am guessing it was you two that helped me?" She asked looking back to him.

 

[From Darkness]

Anjin stared into Crimson's eyes the entire time he was talking, as if looking for sign of her lying. So far, he looked satisfied.

"'You two' is a miscredit. It was all Namu who saved you. You should thank her later," he laughed. "Well, you already saw what she could do. All I could ask in return is just that you wouldn't tell about this to anyone else. Just keep it a secret between us four, okay? Make sure your boyfr- sorry, friend, understand that too."

He sighed, then looked up at the sky.

"Really, this is such a hectic day. We finally got away from Quantan, but got caught up by the army in the process. Thankfully, you people showed up. This was clearly, the Goddesses' work," he nodded with eyes closed, as if giving a prayer. "Although, that power your friend had showed before...that was intriguing. I don't think a mere sword can produce such a strong shockwave. How did he do that? That was no Magic."

He stared into her eyes again.

 

[Srion Receno]

Was this guy really looking into her eyes? She frowned slightly before nodding. "I will thank her when she comes out then" after saying this she went silent. This was not something she could be quiet about, she needed to tell Arty. Her eyes never left him as he continued to talk. Really she would not tell him anything, sitting there was her best and favorite choice. She was an assassin, information didn't come free and not at all when it came to a job. When he stopped talking she just looked back at him, her hand on her dagger.

 

[From Darkness]

Anjin let out a sigh.

"Not going to tell, are you? This is complicated. On one hand, Namu would be mad if I hurt someone she had just healed. On the other hand, I have to keep her safe. No matter the cost. That's why..."

He suddenly stood up, pulled out a scimitar, and then pointed it toward Crimson.

"My name is Anjin Rashua. I will hereby test you. If I deem you unworthy of Namu's trust, then..." his grip hardened, "I'm sorry."

With a quick footwork, he decreased their distance in a flash, his sword swung toward her neck.

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson could feel something was up as he spoke him standing and issuing a challenge just confirmed it. Though she always looked for jobs and loves getting into fights, she was just to tiered for this. Her movements were just as fast, blocking the blade with her dagger. She seen no reason to use her shadows just yet, well hopefully at all. Using it up now would just be a pain. "I'm not in the mood for your challenge, leave me be" she looked up at him with a warning glare. She was not going to be the happiest person if he actually made her fight him over her not talking.

 

[From Darkness]

When she blocked his blade, he didn't push it any further, instead he jumped back to create distance between them. His stance, however, was still in fighting mode. He wasn't done yet.

"If you won't talk, let me make a guess, then, that should be fine, right?" He shrugged. His eyes fell upon Crimson's dagger. "Animus artifact, is that it?"

He lifted his scimitar up toward the sky, and focused on Crimson. "Scatter, my blade. Locust Swarm."

His blade disintegrated. More precisely, they tore themselves apart bit by bit, until they became tiny pieces. However, each pieces were shaped just as sharp, and a slight touch from any of those thousands bit was enough to bleed someone to death. The blade bits swirl around Anjin like a small sandstorm, as if protecting him. With a flick of his finger, the bits flew toward Crimson, threatening to swallow her.

 

[Srion Receno]

Seeing him jump back she sighed. He was really planning on doing this. "It's not nice to fight a women who is not fully recovered" she said this as she quickly jumped from her spot just before the things hit her. "You are right. I'm guessing yours is the same?" Gripping her blade she turned to Shadow and jumped into the darkness of the desert. Shadows she doesn't have to make always helped with low magic. Seconds after she threw a glass needle at him. She didn't have many, but the goal was to try no to use the magic she already was. "Just stop this now"

 

[From Darkness]

The blade bits failed to reach their target, but they soon returned to Anjin's side, deflecting Crimson's needles effortlessly. He seemed to be satisfied after seeing Crimson's ability, though, since Anjin held up his blade's hilt once more, pulling the bits back into its scimitar form.

"You're right, let's stop this."

He sat back near the fire, sheathing his scimitar back to his belt. "Is turning into shadow your Animus' ability? Not a really useful ability offensively, but I can see its use. Ours are both strong defensively, I don't think we can settle this quickly. Please accept my apology and let's have a truce for now."

 

[Srion Receno]

Seeing him pulling the sword together she figured it was over and walked out. Only when he sat down did she put her dagger away. "It's useful for me" she said this as she sat down, her hand still on the hilt of her dagger. He drew first for no reason this made him untrustworthy in her eyes. "I don't understand why you attacked me in the first place" she frowned as she slightly glared at him. Now not only was she more tiered, but she was annoyed. "I did nothing to you" that was almost a laugh, she killed people that she had never even met before.

 

[From Darkness]

Anjin laughed out loud.

"Sorry, sorry," he put his hands in front of his face together. "I have to be sure. I am not in the position to trust anyone at the moment. Not before I can bring Namu back to my place."

Right when he mentioned her name, the girl came out of their tent. The blue-haired, blue-eyed girl, still clad in her cloak, walked toward Anjin before plopping down beside him, leaning her head on his side. The wooded bit was still on her mouth, but she didn't seem to care.

"Namu had decided to trust you, so I might as well. And trust starts with honesty. Thankfully, for one thing I can be sure that you guys weren't sent by Iroqirin. You're one thing, missy, but your boyfriend over there is unlikely. So I can introduce ourselves clearly now. To tell the truth, it was a big gamble to tell our name to you guys before this, but you didn't react to it, so that's fine, although it was a bit saddening, I felt like my popularity had gone down a bit," he laughed, which made Namu pushed him with her shoulder, as if telling him to get serious.

"Alright, alright...so let me introduce myself again. I am Anjin Rashua. People around here called me their leader," he grinned. "The leader of Ankara, that is. Just a small group of people seeking to dethrone those Iroqirin royal fools."

Namu shoved him again.

"That's the truth, oi, stop it. We're not big, just around five hundred thousand. And this girl here," he patted her head affectionately, "this is Namu Ariesthi. The water priestess of Iroqirin kingdom."

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson listened carefully as the man spoke. She probably heard talk of his name, but she never took any jobs on him. The heat wasn't something she enjoyed. Mostly now though. "Having a dragon princess gives you a good edge in a battle" she said this as she leaned forward a bit her eyes never leaving the man. After his random attack she had no reason to trust he wouldn't do it again.

After a moment she sighed. "I have no reason to know any of this nor do I care to get into any fights with you or beside you. I have my own fights to worry about." She then turned to Namu "I am grateful to you for healing me though. It was quiet painful" she smiled slightly before looking to the tent. When is that damn prince going to wake up? She thought before looking back to the two.

 

[From Darkness]

The girl nodded, her expression showing that she was happy to hear Crimson's words. Anjin, on the other hand, wasn't too happy with that.

"She's not a weapon," he grunted, his eyes grew darker, "and I won't forgive anyone who think otherwise. Not even a king."

Namu leaned closer to him. It seemed to be effective for calming him down. He let out a sigh. "Alright, where were we...right, the kingdom. You guys caught up with us in the right moment. Those riders you guys sent away were guards from the capital. I had just rescued Namu from that accursed place. There had been some difficulties along the way, and we got separated from my comrades. I had thought that I would need to dirty my hands, but lo, came two saviors out of nowhere. It's like a dream!"

He snickered, slapping his knee.

"Aaaanyway, you guys had just painted a big red target on your back. Those guards most likely would've thought that you're my comrades, and they have good memory, you see? I guess what I'm saying is...there's still a long way to my hideout, and the desert is too dangerous to travel alone."

He leaned closer toward the bonfire, toward Crimson. There was a smile on his face.

"How about it? If you got nowhere to go, why not escort us to my hideout? Your powers are convenient. I can...compensate you later. I'm not stingy, you know. Can't be stingy if you're planning to overthrown an empire."

It was clearly a dangerous smile.