The legion of Destruction is led by seven Lord Ravagers, Emanators of Nanook. However, an eighth was hidden away from the cosmos forgotten and out of sight.
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"Boss one more bowl of noodles please!" A customer raised his hand and shouted into the kitchen as a voice boomed from the kitchen. "What are you a pig?!" The voice inside responded.
The boisterous bustling atmosphere of the restaurant hummed and reflected the busy night life outside.
The joyful scene splintered and froze as the door to the restaurant opened.
A surge of cold seemed to invade the air in their bodies freezing their lungs. Everyone stood confirming the man's features.
The unusual constantly shut eyes.
The dark indigo colored hair in side part.
And a single red jeweled ring on his finger.
A breath of stale air escaped everyone's lungs as they deflated.
"Benefactor Bahn~ What can I do for you?" The storekeeper instantly rushed out rubbing his hands together in a nervous manner.
The storekeeper looked at the cold blank face only to meet the usual shut eyes. The man, Bahn, simply reached into his robe and pulled out a rolled up piece of paper.
"Your contract stipulates that you should be repaying 200 strales per month in order to repay your loan." His voice asked in a teasing manner, it was quiet, but it echoed throughout the whole room.
The dissonance behind his shut eyes, poker face and his teasing personality sent shivers down the spines of everyone who witnessed it.
The storekeeper's face began to look like he had been steamed in a sauna.
"Do you know how much has been repaid?" Bahn asked with a simple tilt of his head and fake pout.
A small pool of sweat began to accumulate on the wooden floor.
"Oh no we can't have the floorboards ruined by this can we?" Bahn bent down and personally used his own handkerchief to soak up the sweat before the item itself disappeared in a dreamy blue wisp like flame.
"Anyways where was I? Oh right, you are four months behind on your repayments. You have one more month to catch up on your repayment schedule. Payment can be made straight to the Whistling Flames Merchant Guild." His thin smile gave creeps to everyone else in the room.
The tense atmosphere was instantly broken as the tall man bent over in pain.
A loud thud was heard as the sound of a wooden fan came crashing down onto his head. "Ouch what was that for Yun?"
His head turned towards the new presence that had struck his head. Instantly he clammed up upon seeing her face.
Two vicious hands grabbed his cheeks before spreading his lips into a contorted smile.
"I told you before, stop scaring our clients! Smile properly, every time people think you're plotting to kill them secretly."
Everyone sighed at the presence of the foxian in the room. Tingyun, the Head Representative of the Whistling Flames Merchant Guild.
Also the fiance of the man terrorising the streets with his smile.
Her tail swept back and forth as her ears twitched in exasperation.
"Play nice ok?" She retracted her fingers pinching on Bahn's ears before apologising and adjusting an identical ring on her finger.
"However, we do still need the payment due by end of this month ok? Don't worry about it too much, it's interest free. Although they'll likely send someone again~ Who they send? I couldn't guarantee." Tingyun spoke with a airy manner although the serious undertones were a clear message.
Clearly saying, "Hey I don't mind if you don't care about repayment, but they'll definitely send someone. And I can't guarantee it wont be this guy again."
Tingyun's gaze feel upon Bahn as the storekeeper caught on quickly.
"Very well Miss Tingyun. I'm sure we can work something out within two weeks." The storekeeper replied immediately.
Life or death, only a bumbling fool would know how to choose.
Everyone knew that if you crossed Bahn or Miss Tingyun, then your fate was sealed. Some call him the Lord Ravager of Interest. Always haunting the streets and stalls, making sure you repaid your dues.
Of course Bahn would always simply reply with his strange smile.
"Lord Ravager of Interest? What Ravager? No Ravager here."
The pair soon walked out of the restaurant and onto the streets. "Come on, let's have a meal before going home." Tingyun grabbed his hand and lead them onto a busy street.
The two sifted through the crowds before arriving at a high end restaurant. Bahn sat down with a sigh as his graceful noble figure slumped into a living breathing potato.
"Tired." He spoke as laid his head onto the table while waiting for the food to come.
Tingyun sighed, "I know, sorry to put you into a hard spot. We're really low on man power for chasing debts. Originally we never even gave out loans."
Bahn simply smiled gently, "I know, I know. I just want some peace and quiet with you. Just spend the days going about peacefully."
Tingyun smiled too, thinking about the imagined scene.
Soon the piping hot food arrived as the two dug in with contrasting eating habits.
Tingyun took small bites and ate slowly while Bahn also ate slowly but with big bites.
A finger poked at his stuffed cheeks before prodding them a few more times. "I'll never understand how your face is so soft and clean with simply splashing water." She asked.
Bahn simply shrugged, "A natural law of the universe perhaps." He replied.
His expression soon scrunched as he turned to open the door of their private room. "I'm going to use the restroom, be back."
Tingyun simply watched as he left, frankly she had no idea what he was trying to hide but as long as it wasn't another woman she'd remain content. He'd have to think she was an idiot to miss the fact he was a pathstrider.
So it must be something to do with combat considering he was aware of her distaste for combat.
Her ears twitched listening for the sound of fighting, her nose sniffed the scent of the air for a bit before realising no fluctuations occurred at all. No sounds of fighting, nothing.
No energy signatures either.
Maybe he did just go to use the restroom.
~~~~
The moment Bahn exited the room he observed the groaning individuals eating in the restaurant as they soon screamed in pain before tree branches sprouted from their body.
Three mara-struck here, a coincidence? Perhaps.
Before they could even move they all disappeared with a wisp of ethereal blue. In an instant the panic inside the restaurant vanished, everyone looked confused as to why they stood up.
The existence of the three mara-struck seemed to have vanished from the world.
~~~~
"I'm back~ Miss me?" Bahn soon entered the private room with a joyful mood feigning relief from using the toilet.
Tingyun simply gave up feeling disgusted and just returned to eating and chatting.
"So vacation?" Bahn asked.