Ralian and Gale were first as they needed to head towards Rawardia an old settlement they once called home since they used to mostly spend their time after completing a hunt for any wanted criminals from their times as bounty hunters. Ralian quickly used a tree and used it as a warp gate knowing it was a little harder to find a tree to Rawardia since they all rely on Jin's wind magic for better travel. But with time limited they needed to head fast, Ralian then found a tree in Rawardia suitable for a warp gate to fast travel.
"Alright I found one, let's get going Gale."
"Right." Gale nodded.
Once Ralian opened the warp gate they quickly moved forward making it to Rawardia, as they stepped forth onto the stone tiles they quickly ran towards the Tavern to find their task manager Miguel. Inside the tavern it seemed to be the same as they were here before all those years ago, they almost felt nostalgic a the sight. But they saw Miguel sitting at a table nearby, already speaking with someone as he gave out the bounty to the person "alright have a safe trip" as the one given information on the bounty, they left as Miguel waved goodbye another of his clients was satisfied.
Waving a goodbye he looked over his left to see his two favourite clients "to my eyes deceive me or do I see my best client in the world of hunting" Miguel he laughed as he waved a signal for them to take a seat, they walk to Miguel taking a seat. "How is it my fellow hunters, ever since your hunt from Livestock you both have gotten a vast amount of reputation you say so myself." However, Miguel notice someone is missing from their team "hey what happened to Jin, I would've felt the wind if he was near?"
They both went silent as Miguel eyes suddenly widen as they shown a bit of sadness as he knew what happened to their friend, as he was quick to act professional towards his most loyal clients. "I see, I guess he bit the bucket... I'm sorry for saying that truly I am. So what brings you both here, wanting to do a task to let out your frustrations?"
They both look at Miguel still having sorrow from their eyes. "Miguel we need information on a old friend" Ralian asked "Hazard?" Ralian shook her head "No it's Yamma we're looking for, do you know where she is?"
Miguel's expression quickly changed to more relief on his face. "Mrs. Azory, you sure? Wanting information on a former colleague who hurt people, isn't that bad for reputation for you guys?" Miguel asked worriedly for his clients.
"Miguel this isn't about reputation, we need Yamma for a task given by Captain Vixen"
Miguel was shocked to hear the sudden news as quickly cleared his throat. "Hold up Captain Dani Vixen of the 21th Dainsmith legion, and you're acquainted with that Captain." Miguel's expression quickly changed to a cheerful look. "Well why didn't you say so, I can definitely tell where Yamma is."
Ralian and Gale's sighed in relief as they both smiled. "Thank you Miguel, you are someone we can trust" Gale said.
"It's always my pleasure to serve a customer, especially if it's you two." Miguel then slides a piece of paper to them. "This has the information of Yamma Azory, she was here for a month during her community service and I think she still is."
Ralian opens the file to see the name Yamma Azory as the title, as it holds all the activities Yamma helped to contribute during her stay in Rawardia. during her say she helped with cooking, storage organization, combat teaching, and tutoring and many more to complete her massive debt. There was also some reviews written by people living in Rawardia. "Miss Azory is very helpful in guarding my garden till I got back while I was sick" written by a weakened Gardner. "This assassin is not wanted here" written by an irritated person. "No matter what I tell her, she is always giving me those death stares" written by a frightened witness, as the list goes on with review.
Until they see the next location Yamma and where she is heading and soon to be currently working in to finish more of her debt, it appears she's working in the tavern where they are currently in. "Wait she is already heading here to the tavern" Ralian asked confused.
Miguel nodded "of course for these few days she is needed to help the old bartender with delivering drinks and food to the customer. My guess she should be here right about now." Then the door opened as Yamma is seen not wearing her hunter uniform. But a more peasant outfit while showing a bit of cuffs on her limbs and neck to show she was still in captive and paying off her debt. "Okay Mr.Bind I'm here, let just get it over with" she said heading into the tavern grabbing a piece of rag and wrapping around her waist as she headed for the main counter for the owner to give her the task she is given. "Alright you see that table over there. Miguel has ordered a drink, and three plates of roasted steak, I want you to bring it to them" the owner pointing towards Miguel's usual table as he waved at the owner.
"Three steaks? Miguel normally eats one"
"Don't question me young miss and do you job with the less mess the better" Bind then hands a tray of three roasted stakes to Yamma, as well a cup of wine, she carries them to Miguel and hands him the drink. "Thanks Yamma" she scoff at him almost giving him a death stair. But her attention was quickly averted as she looks to her left to be shocked to witness Miguel having a chat to her old allies Ralian, and Gale.
"What are you two doing here!?" She yelled nearly dropping the plates, she quickly grabbed two of the plates while Gale was able to grab the third plate. "I think you almost drop this" "always nice as ever Gale" Gale chuckled, Ralian looked at her. "Hey Yamma, been a while. Do you need a chat with us" Yamma showing a stern face hands the three their roasted stake and starts to walk away from the others.
Ralian was quick and stood up to follow after her, nearly grabbing her hand before Yamma sway her arm away. "Don't even think about it Rookie, because of you and Gale's intervening with that wind caster me and my team were hunting we caught and brought to the cells"
"But Yamma we really need to talk to you"
"Or what to gloat about my defeat from you"
"No its about something more"
"What, that caster I tried to hunt along with my pals, before you two and stole the loot. I've heard the stories when that wind caster joined you guys, but a month later I see you two back what's your deal"
"Its about the Enchantress, and Hazard." from their short argument Yamma was shocked and stood in place for a moment as Ralian continue to talk. "Listen you may have not known this but the reason why Hazard left us, because he got a deal with the Enchantress, and she has gone to far, she tries to send one of her elites onto attack Alvera the capital of Devandia, and Jin had to pay the ultimate price for saving Alvera. Now we're trying to find your help into defeating Hazard, and the Enchantress."
Yamma is left stunned of what she heard from Ralian, but felt a bit of frustration still swirling inside her body. "So what, you want me to help you on a suicide mission"
Ralian shook her head calmy, "it's not a suicide mission, it was an order from on of the king's captain to seek you out as Captian Vixen is working on the plans"
Yamma crosses her arms and doesn't believe her words. "Ralian I know you too well, I trained you, took you under my wings while the others were planning their next big moves, and still the amount of time you would just keep pestering me on all sorts of task rambling my head till I join. Listen Rookie, my days being a hunter or a rogue has long been past, I'm just trying to get rid of my sentence as this point I don't got everything left."
"Then how about I do a favour for you, help us and we can lower your sentence, how long is it"
"My sentence was twenty but I've been doing a good with my task as it's been lowered down by five"
"Okay we can lower it by ten or if you do a better job we can free you from your sentence" Ralian raising her hand into a fist facing towards Yamma as she had a moment think about her situation, but sighs. "Fine deal" Yamma then fist bumping with Ralian accepting the deal, as Gale cheers for their accomplishments.
"Well I'll be sure to tell everyone that Yamma has taken another task." Miguel gets up from his seat after finishing his steak, "Gale, Ralian, and Yamma. I wish you all the best of luck" as he left them "so where do we begin" "we'll head back to Alvera. But as for your gear, what happened to it?" "It got confiscated by guards when you two and the wind caster took out me and my team" "then we might as well get you some new gear". Gale then approaches the two being glad Yamma joined the fight "lets head to the black smith first. I still have some gold left" "alright Gale then you lead the way, like the old times" "yeah the old times".
The three head out of the tavern heading first to the blacksmith buying Yamma some off her old equipment, her daggers, leather tunic as well leather armoured leggings and boots, gloves, and her lock picking tools "how does it feel Yamma" "feels like I'm like myself once again. But something seems to be missing" Yamma notices a rugged cloak, she takes it and puts it on "now I feel complete" "alright we better head off don't want the others waiting". They quickly pay for the equipment for Yamma before heading towards the same tree Ralian used creating another warp gate. Gale and Ralian are the first to head through the gate, as Yamma was about to head through the warp gate she quickly senses something and looks back to only see everyone doing their usual.
"Goodbye Rawardia it was fun doing my sentence". Yamma then looks at the gate way and heads through, but little did they know someone was already watching, perhaps a spy from an old friend.
(end of chapter 7)
chapter 8: environment
Meanwhile from a light of today starting to fall, across somewhere towards a river of water as a deer started to drink from the river until it started to glow. A hand reached out as Moria and Ezreal swam up out of the water warp gate. Their clothes may be damped with water, Moria enjoyed the feeling, while Ezrael uses his fire to slightly ignite his body quickly diminishes drying his clothes.
"Smart use" Moria said.
"Not now, but we should be near enough at the enchantress's headquarters"
"Yeah I forgot to mention that she can sense any sorts of magic a hundred meters as well."
The two had a longs ways to go as they begin their long travel, while scouting ahead, and scaling a small hill the leads to a cliff. it may give a wide for though not much to Moria's normal eye sight "do you see anything far away with those keen eyes of a dragon?" Moria asked as Ezrael used his necklace to form his eyes to his dragon eyes as it catches the attention of Moira almost amused at he sight. While Ezrael sees from afar and notice a large crater as towards the side of the crater there is an entrance he turned to Moria. "I see an entrance, but I do suspect it's as they say too good to be true"
Moria scoff and giggle at Ezrael "of course there are many entrances to the Alison's headquarters, we just happened to stumble to the most obvious and definitely a trap"
"Then thus we should find more"
"Can't you see through those entrances"
"I may have the ability to see through the night, but I don't have any see through magic. Thus we should keep moving out of range of the sensors."
Moria groans in boredom as they keep moving, walking around the length of another hundred meters. Moria's feet hurt while Ezrael kept his pace, as they keep to the shadows from any enemies nearly getting caught by one, but as it starting to become night it gives them the advantage of stealth. they continue to walk in the shadows away from the path where enemies will roam.
"So Ezrael, what kind of necklace that the human gave you before to you this appearance. I may have snatch many jewelry from my victims, but not one that can change another creature's appearance"
"Interesting since when has the observer ever wanted to be so curious in my own wares, but very well I will enlighten you. My friend Calem years ago brought this from a strange merchant, as it gave to the user who wears it, the ability to change it form thus my appearance."
"But wouldn't that mean you can turn to a dragon and human from a thought, then how did you find out how to do fuse both?"
"It was not easy, unlike Azulen who is able change at will into any they may think. But with this necklace I wield, it does cause some consequences to the user"
"fishy, such as?"
"When I am in this form I can remove my necklace thus I would remain in my human form till I can turn back into my original once I wore my necklace once again. But another is it give pain for the user who needs to transform, but I numbed that pain years ago, now it's nothing but a stretch"
"Yeesh I don't think I could bare trying it once"
"Of course you won't cause once a Siren with unique abilities can allow oneself to blend in with civilization from their singing, and mimicking."
"You must know a lot about my kind, what else you know?"
"It's not only your kind I have learned about, but I have learned all sorts of species during my time living in civilization for five centuries watching over all"
"I guess lifespans don't change while you a human, darn and I have a lot of time though I reach half way of a century for my age"
"You simply jest Moria, thou I am a wandering warrior, I am still a dragon though my people if they seem me till now. though none would like my keen actions till this day"
"Yeah sounds like those fish jerks back at those reefs I used to live in" she sighs "the only thing I miss before I lost everything"
"Indeed we have both seen the people we call family and cherish what short time they had before moving on" Ezrael stopped walking as he then looks at Moria looking at him with confusion. "In conclusion you and I, are the same but with different motives"
Moria cocked an eye brow at Ezrael before giving him a slight giggle. "you sure as if I feel any remorse who killed my mother, for some they saw what's coming for what they deserve" she giggled more "their screams were pleasureful to my hunger" Moria said with a sass tone while grinning happily.
Ezrael sighs at her as he suddenly walked towards a tree that seemed to be damaged as there were slash marks and subtle scorch marks from torches that here place near by many days ago. feeling the damaged tree felt a bit of sorrow for what it had to deal with as he had to once the same. "Though humans may be selfish and are struck with greed, but there are some with selfless deeds"
Moria grinned as she leaned onto a different tree while stabbing it with a nearby sword that rotting before and uses one arm to lean against the handle. "Yeah sure the angered Druid, the scared changeling, the savior wind caster, the coward little damsel, the wretched blood manipulator, and you the mood killer are always about the people and justice but what does that give you. Even if you save everyone, they will still reject the truth and believe in another who can give them power, look how I turned once have power now about to bit the hand that fed me"
"Perhaps you see it in your perspective, but it doesn't matter to me, all life is precious and unlike me they are all limited to their shortened span of their mortality. Thus when Calem died I made a promise to him that I will make everyone thrive in anyway I can, it's a burden I must weigh in myself for the amount of kindness Calem gave me."
Moria felt the words from Ezrael to be inspiring almost but her pride was quick to sway it away as she got up from leaning against the tree and the stuck hilt of the sword and continued to walk. "Let's get going we're just wasting time." She walked away feeling frustrated and annoyed, and Ezrael can see her doubt on her beliefs of her life "it's working" he muttered to himself as he started to walk with her.
They continue their walk from afar along with what they have spoke with one another seeming to be knowing as they have both similar paths. Moria herself always feel she needed to be the predator, the siren to get what she wants and have her revenge of what she was taken with, but those words Ezrael spoken did pierce her own morals. While Ezrael himself is shown to be calm and confident, but it doesn't sway the matter of his own weakness knowing the burden of loss as he may feel talking to Moria can ease the thought of his burden with another who can also live long the same as him.
Soon they get to another destination Ezrael uses his keen sight to see more entrances as well with her minions carrying some ore filled into carts moving them into the entrances.
"What do you see" Moria asked more clearly and on guard for being this close near her old mistress.
"There are minions of the Enchantress and they seem to be carrying ore, do you know something about this" he asked Moria
"No all I heard was unique ores that the enchantress needs, beside that was Ossom's duty and now he's dead."
"Unique ores..." Ezrael's eye suddenly widen is fear "no don't tell me. The Enchantress has found the dwarves secret treasures"
"Dwarves secret treasures? What does that supposed to be a mountain filled with gold"
Ezrael shook his head "no as I stated before humans are greedy and want to gather the best materials for their equipment, adamantite and mythril are the best ore made for combat and beauty. The dwarves knew this day would come, for extinction, in their last moments they all gathered and buried the treasures full of ore deep into their homes underneath a mountain"
"Now that you recall about those dwarves, I do remember the enchantress giving me one of those dwarves for me to feast on. I think it was a way to silence them or get them to be controlled by my voice."
Ezrael looked at Moria in disbelief, but he had to sway the idea away. "Moria not now, we must head back before it's too late" "too late? Too late for what" "Moria we must find a source of water this instant."
Ezrael quickly grabs Moria before she could have a thought to respond back with, his necklace glowed as he quickly sprouted his wings and flew with Moria trying to get far away from the hundred meters. Flying all the way back towards their original destination as they see some ogres and skeletons waiting for them, Ezrael not wasting a second flicks his tongue and exhales, unleashing a blast of fire burning the enemy. Ezreal quickly landed Moria safely to the ground as she uses her water warp magic on the river of water letting it glow brightly while Ezrael is keeping company with the enemy from slash after slash, flames pouring from his mouth, defeating every enemy approaching them "Ezrael, come on let's get going!" Ezrael leaps towards Moria full force then pushing them both down the gate before the glow diminishes as someone approaches the river "my, my looks like a dragon has escaped my grasp, and tags along sides the traitor" Alison chuckles devious before teleporting away, back to her base as there is something waiting kneeling before her. "How are preparations going Hazard"
"My watchful eye has picked up from my old group as Yamma the rouge of the group has joined their cost against you. Should I end them right now"
"No, let your prey go to their full potential, it's the best way to crush your enemies, as I will be waiting for that dragon hiding in that necklace, it may be a fool's decision to give his friend that necklace, but he doesn't know the power I wield" as she begins to cackle menacingly as everything began to feel like a hurricane as lightning begins to surge around her. "Prepare the army Haard, this will be the end for those who will oppose me" Alison smiles as she summons a portal walking into before it closes with Hazard not being able to take a peek through the portal. But he then left the room to enact the Enchantress's plan.
(end of chapter 8)