Waking up at the crack of dawn, Lyssara was met with an empty tent and a letter. 'I'll be gone for a few minutes.' No specification of where or when he would be back. Giving a faint sigh, she recalled her estoc to which she pulled from her inventory, her golden mask something she chose not to use at the current time.
There were no warns with it but her mind still harbored the fear with the last one. She raised the blade, the god level item dazzling in the morning rays before a faint hum buzzed from the tuck. She made a faint slash eliciting a small wave of black and white flames that instantly incinerated a nearby tree turning it into ash.
The sight making her pause before wondering what other wonders she could do with it. However before she could think of anything else, the sound of her empty stomach scowled at her begging to be fed. Glancing around the camp, she noticed some food Jarren ha prepared to which she helped herself to.
'When will you be back?' She couldn't help but wonder as the words from the book echoed in her mind. She had been asking herself whether she had the strength to ask him, the answer still alluding her but now her curiosity was eating her alive. With a grunt, she cleaned up the camp and packed up the tent.
...
'Still not back yet?!' Her thoughts interrupted with a faint skitter in the bushes. Without a second thought, she reached out for her tuck showing her blade at what laid in front of her. The air grew tense and with each passing second, the sound of her own heartbeat filled her ears.
*Whoosh*
What emerged from the foliage was none other than a wandering gray hare. It's crimson eyes locking with her figure tow which she let out a sigh of relief.
*Shriek*
The creature let out an unnatural cry as it's small body began to mutate and convulse into something far more abhorrent. It's back had spines protruding, it's eyes growing smaller as it's ears grew longer. It's hind and front legs stretching out turning out into lanky and skinny limbs that seemed straight out of a nightmare.
It's breathing filled the air, the once adorable hare was no more. Before she could make a move on the beast, she realized the trace of jade dripping from it's once small maw that was now laced with rows of jagged canines that threatened to tear her flesh.
'That green vile again? Is the game bleeding into this world as well?' She couldn't help but wonder as she knew that Jarren was capable of making words merge. 'Then wouldn't that mean the world that I train in is another world?' However recalling another thought, this mused shattered.
'Jarren said that it was a game, everything made of pixels and code so it can't be a merge once more.' Still the vile she saw made her feel that there was a connection between the game and the real world. Flashing her tuck, she instantly closed the distance between her and the hair and in a single motion brought the hare down.
Her estoc naturally wiping off the crimson tainted blood that marveled her. The creature now lay motionless however before she could rest, it made a swipe with the goal of slicing her head clean off.
*Whoosh*
Blocking the blow, the hare's hand was easily cut off without much effort that sent the beast into a raged frenzy. Using it's hind legs, it made a massive leap into the air fleeing the scene. Before she could give chase, a voice behind her halted her movements.
"I'm back." Jarren stated casually with his hands behind his pockets, a faint stain of red on his face. She turned her head with bewilderment and skepticism. "What was that damned beast? Is the game merging with the real world?" Jarren didn't give an answer as his gaze drifted back to the carriage.
"You read my book, no?" His question making her freeze. "It's...I didn't- It was-" Before she could come up with a response, Jarren brushed over the matter. "Did you think that I was wrong about you?" Her eyes opened with shock.
"...No. However now I'm sure that you won't tell me." He tilted his head into a playful manner, his smile slowly tugging on his lips. "I don't mind divulging with you, after all how will I remember you if I don't get to know you?" It felt like an insult and yet his tone was that of concern. "You already know everything about me."
He gave a low cheeky laugh. "We'll be late to Reuthar, the day is already half spent." She parted her lips and yet no words came out. She could only make her way to the coach seat and the carriage was off.
...
A few hours lapsed and once again the silence settled between the two. "So when are you going to tell me?" She shot up facing the road ahead that was packed with overhead flora and dense shrubs all over. "When the time is right, that is if you survive till then." The horses gave a low neigh as the carriage bobbed due to the unrefined road.
"I take it that Callista didn't take the news very well." Her eyes drifted to the mark on his face. "The miss? She was far from pleased but I managed to cool her, the blood however isn't mine." Her breathe hitched, unsure why herself as she pursed her lips. "How?" A question she hadn't planned to ask and yet it somehow escaped her lips.
"There are many ways of culling a cat. Trinkets, toys and in the case of our miss is games. However she was rather selective this time and opted for a promise, something I'm drowning in with her." His chuckle self depreciating as he lightly whipped the reins.
"You don't want to be with her?" She went on with her questions. "That's the opposite as I would love to play with her however her lack of charge is what...bores me. With reality as her oyster it's baffling with how reserved she is." Lyssara's eyes narrowed hearing this. "You sound impatient."
Jarren glanced at Lyssara, his smile tugging further before the space around him contorted. "You really aren't all that boring as he said." His figure melted and replaced with Callista, her pearls flashing that made Lyssara's hair stand on end. Her gray eyes seem to read her with a mere gaze, her hair unfurled as she wiped off the mark.
"Miss Callista! I'm so sorry with what I had initially sai-!" Lyssara yelped recalling what she had initially stated however Callista stopped her with her index. "You were merely stating what was on your mind and there is nothing wrong with that, besides it's not like I can't probe your mind either way."
Her words followed with a chuckle as she gazed at the road ahead. Far off a town could be seen come into view, backwater with a casual glance. "I'll let my dear take over, it was fun prodding you after all." With a ripple of space her figure vanished and Jarren now sat next to her. "She can be quiet curious with glimmering toys."
Jarren joked as a screech could be heard not far behind them. Bringing the carriage to a halt, the two looked back to see a small pack of mutated hares, their uncanny frames enough to drive one mad. "I'm sure that you can deal with this easily." Jarren lazily mused as he remained seated on the coach, his book flashing in hand.
She gave a desparated sigh before making her to face the horde. "And don't kill them to quickly, it would be too boring." His remark enough to make her throw her estoc back at him however she restrained herself, aware that this was one of his games. 'He usually isn't this active, it could be another trick Callista is playing.'
She told herself as her estoc gave a faint glow in her hand.
[{Echo Step}]
In a flash she closed the distance and with a leap into the air, her body was coated in black flames that made her burn akin to a miniature sun, her audience being Jarren who gave a mocking smile through her encounter.
With a twirl, she formed a small swirl of flames that warded off the hares and with a slash bathed the forest in her black inferno. And just like that she was done, her concern about Jarren didn't seem to bother her at the moment as she looked back at Jarren who had his gaze locked onto her frame.
"You're terrible at taking orders, princess." He stated placing his book down. "I never planned to play your games honestly as intended." Her remark sharp as with a snap of Jarren's fingers a newly made gown wrapped around her. "Well I hope that you can behave as we have to make it to Reuthar in time."
His tone shifting into that of humility however her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Another game of your to play? More masks?" Her muse met with a low chuckle. "I'm merely obliging with the miss above or she will have my head." His words filled with mockery as his attire and face changed as well.
His jet black hair now replaced with a hazel nut hue, his obsidian beads now a light tint of black as royal attire donned his figure. "Make yourself useful then, we have to make it to Reuthar or mother will be rather displeased." Her apathy bleeding through as she boarded the coach.
'She sure knows how to get into character, maybe a set piece valuable in the next play.' He wondered as he whipped the reins once more and the coach began to trudge ever so slowly towards the town into the distance.
...
"A new pair? What is a noble doing in a town like this?" A question asked only to be met with a hush. "Keep your voice down, after all who knows who's else might be listening." Voices could be heard murmur about the whereabouts of the noble daughter and his esteemed coachman. "With most of the elites holed up in the capital of Thaloriel, it's rather odd to find one all the way out here. It would be a shame should anything happen to them."
A chuckle was shared with the group of brutes that began their plans. With the rampant rage of abominations plaguing the lands of Arcania, people of not just Reuthar but other kingdoms could barely fend them off. Some had chosen to submit to Redfall, others still hanging in the balance with the false guise that they would be able to make through it.
And Thaloriel was such a kingdom with a stubborn king and an even far more stubborn public. "Alright, it would be best to split up for now, we'll do this on the agreed date." The voice a murmur as other voices agreed before splitting up. With the decline of the royal family's influence over it's own kingdom, Thaloriel similar to other kingdoms had fallen into pure chaos.
If not Redfall then the fates of other human kingdoms was anarchy, new feudal rulers taking up power and with the rise of technology in the world of Arcania, people who were well versed with Earth's technology were well paid and taken care off thus it was impossible to find such a person so casually or in a backwater town Jarren and Lyssara were in.
Most of these individuals were either already sold off to the wealthy or they had met their demise at the harsh rules of the new world or at the people who masqueraded as heroes back then. "Maybe this is heaven's wrath on us for what we did to the other world." One of the brutes mused, his tone slurred indicating his intoxication.
"If the heavens were real then they wouldn't allow such revolting beasts to be. So stop moping about and get your ass back home!" Another shouted, half annoyed, half drunk. The man let out a small hiccup before bringing himself to his feet and taking his leave.