Welcome to...uh...no place in particular

“Heh, no kidding.” She laughed, keeping up with Hiro’s pace. There was a bit of silence between the two as they walked through the forest, headed towards the Sisterhood. Trying to prevent the silence from continuing, Shengnan asked a question. “So, kid,” she started, “What’s your story? How’d you end up in the Shadowscythe?”

Shengnan steadied herself after bumping into the man. “Just curious s'all, damn.” She stepped back to straighten out the beast’s body.

“Hm.” He frowned and moved forward when Shengnan was done. He wasn’t really appreciating her curiosity. Especially the fact on how she kept calling him “kid” like he was a small child. He was much taller than her, and possibly older as well. He didn’t appreciate it all. 

“Alright alright, you don’t gotta tell me,” she said, “theres no need to be so sore about it.” She kept moving forward with him.

“Good.” He didn’t want to discuss anything with the woman after that, preferring to walk in quiet. The silence was lengthy, the tensions palpable as they walked. 

Well, that certainly could’ve gone better, she thought to herself. She figured that Hiroto probably had something fucked up happen to him, or something. Hell, if something did, that’d be a hell of a story. She started thinking of the possible things that could’ve happened to him, just for the hell of it. Maybe also to ignore all the tension between them.

He didn’t know what she was thinking of, and to be honest he didn’t really care. He just wanted to redirect the conversation from himself. Delving into his personal life after a first meeting wasn’t in his interests, so he had no need to continue the conversation if she was being pushy. They both just continued forward in silence as they brought the corpse of the monster along. 

“Heh, no kidding.” She laughed, keeping up with Hiro’s pace. There was a bit of silence between the two as they walked through the forest, headed towards the Sisterhood. Trying to prevent the silence from continuing, Shengnan asked a question. “So, kid,” she started, “What’s your story? How’d you end up in the Shadowscythe?”

Shengnan steadied herself after bumping into the man. “Just curious s'all, damn.” She stepped back to straighten out the beast’s body.

“Hm.” He frowned and moved forward when Shengnan was done. He wasn’t really appreciating her curiosity. Especially the fact on how she kept calling him “kid” like he was a small child. He was much taller than her, and possibly older as well. He didn’t appreciate it all. 

“Alright alright, you don’t gotta tell me,” she said, “theres no need to be so sore about it.” She kept moving forward with him.

“Good.” He didn’t want to discuss anything with the woman after that, preferring to walk in quiet. The silence was lengthy, the tensions palpable as they walked. 

“Heh, no kidding.” She laughed, keeping up with Hiro’s pace. There was a bit of silence between the two as they walked through the forest, headed towards the Sisterhood. Trying to prevent the silence from continuing, Shengnan asked a question. “So, kid,” she started, “What’s your story? How’d you end up in the Shadowscythe?”

Shengnan steadied herself after bumping into the man. “Just curious s'all, damn.” She stepped back to straighten out the beast’s body.

“Hm.” He frowned and moved forward when Shengnan was done. He wasn’t really appreciating her curiosity. Especially the fact on how she kept calling him “kid” like he was a small child. He was much taller than her, and possibly older as well. He didn’t appreciate it all. 

“Heh, no kidding.” She laughed, keeping up with Hiro’s pace. There was a bit of silence between the two as they walked through the forest, headed towards the Sisterhood. Trying to prevent the silence from continuing, Shengnan asked a question. “So, kid,” she started, “What’s your story? How’d you end up in the Shadowscythe?”

She nodded, and in a blink of an eye, disappeared in a purple mist. Her body reappeared up in a tall tree several feet away from the clearing. She could hear the beast’s howls of anger and pain.

Shengnan jumped from tree to tree and landed down in the clearing with a loud thud. “You’ve done one hell of a nice job, I’ll tell ya that. Those soldiers you summoned aren’t bad either, better than the ones in the army at least,” She chuckled, “Hey, since that thing’s still alive, I can take it back to the Sisterhood to run some tests. I’ll have to tell the Empress about it, though.”

He smiled gently, dismissing the soldiers with a wave of his hand. They evaporated into thin air, and would be staying in the underworld until they were called upon once again.“Thank you. I trained them myself. By all means, feel free to take it back to the Sisterhood. If it’s easier, I can inform the Empress of the results of this quest while you do so. Or…” He glanced at the hulking corpse. “I can help bring it there. Of course being a sorceress and all, you probably have figured out a way to get it there.”

“…Yeah I have no idea how I’m gonna get it there. I may be a sorceress, but I’m not that smart. I’m not dumb either, though,” she said, “I could use magic to help me, but the Sisterhood is on the other side of Lore. Which is..pretty far.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, walking around the beast as if such movements would find a solution. “I could make it undead, which would enable me to summon it or dismiss it at will, however I’m assuming you want to leave the body intact to get the most out of it.”

“Yeah, otherwise there might not be any chaos left to study.. How ‘bout we just carry it? I think the two of us are enough to lift this thing,” she motioned her hand towards the fallen beast. If it woke up on the trip, she could probably just beat the damn thing with a stick until it was knocked out again.

“Sure. I would teleport it, but my mana has almost been entirely depleted.” He gripped the larger part of the beast, and even with his strength, holding the creature by itself was a struggle. “You can carry its other half. Although it will be a long journey to get back.”

She nodded, and in a blink of an eye, disappeared in a purple mist. Her body reappeared up in a tall tree several feet away from the clearing. She could hear the beast’s howls of anger and pain.

Shengnan jumped from tree to tree and landed down in the clearing with a loud thud. “You’ve done one hell of a nice job, I’ll tell ya that. Those soldiers you summoned aren’t bad either, better than the ones in the army at least,” She chuckled, “Hey, since that thing’s still alive, I can take it back to the Sisterhood to run some tests. I’ll have to tell the Empress about it, though.”

He smiled gently, dismissing the soldiers with a wave of his hand. They evaporated into thin air, and would be staying in the underworld until they were called upon once again.“Thank you. I trained them myself. By all means, feel free to take it back to the Sisterhood. If it’s easier, I can inform the Empress of the results of this quest while you do so. Or…” He glanced at the hulking corpse. “I can help bring it there. Of course being a sorceress and all, you probably have figured out a way to get it there.”

“…Yeah I have no idea how I’m gonna get it there. I may be a sorceress, but I’m not that smart. I’m not dumb either, though,” she said, “I could use magic to help me, but the Sisterhood is on the other side of Lore. Which is..pretty far.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, walking around the beast as if such movements would find a solution. “I could make it undead, which would enable me to summon it or dismiss it at will, however I’m assuming you want to leave the body intact to get the most out of it.”

She nodded, and in a blink of an eye, disappeared in a purple mist. Her body reappeared up in a tall tree several feet away from the clearing. She could hear the beast’s howls of anger and pain.

Shengnan jumped from tree to tree and landed down in the clearing with a loud thud. “You’ve done one hell of a nice job, I’ll tell ya that. Those soldiers you summoned aren’t bad either, better than the ones in the army at least,” She chuckled, “Hey, since that thing’s still alive, I can take it back to the Sisterhood to run some tests. I’ll have to tell the Empress about it, though.”

He smiled gently, dismissing the soldiers with a wave of his hand. They evaporated into thin air, and would be staying in the underworld until they were called upon once again.“Thank you. I trained them myself. By all means, feel free to take it back to the Sisterhood. If it’s easier, I can inform the Empress of the results of this quest while you do so. Or...” He glanced at the hulking corpse. “I can help bring it there. Of course being a sorceress and all, you probably have figured out a way to get it there.”

She nodded, and in a blink of an eye, disappeared in a purple mist. Her body reappeared up in a tall tree several feet away from the clearing. She could hear the beast’s howls of anger and pain.

“It wasn’t anyone that high, just ones barely above my rank. They’re gone by now, though,” She smiled. She may had something to do with the “bully’s” death, but it had been just brushed off as an accident.

“Ah. You dispatched them?” He was surprisingly frank, his attitude unchanged. “Well when I first joined, some people belittled me too. However in my case I challenged them to a fight. I wanted to see if they were truly more capable to the Shadowscythe than I was. Three guesses as to who won.”

“Yes…dispatched,” She cleared her throat before continuing, “Lemme guess, you won? I wouldn’t be surprised; you seem pretty strong. If I were just starting out, I’d know I wouldn’t wanna fight you.”

He laughed. “They left with multiple broken bones and a broken ego. But yes, I won. That’s what years of practice gives you.” He eyed Shengnan carefully. “Anyway you might want to be careful from now on. Setting up an accident for a “bully” of yours may have got you out of that issue, but I won’t recommend doing it again. People might get suspicious.” Looking at the sorceress’ shocked face, he smiled mischievously. “I have my sources.” He spoke cryptically, before going back to throwing daggers in trees.

Sheng’s shocked expression eased into a smirk, “Heh, I can see that. Thanks for the advice. I’ll try to not do it again,” she chuckled. Just then, a low growl was heard coming from behind a few trees. Readying her staff, the sorceress spoke. “It’s here.”

“Finally.” His daggers re-appeared in his hand, and the man smiled. “You don’t mind if I get some backup do you?” He flung the first dagger, which landed on the hulking shadow, which roared in anger. Hiro didn’t looked worried, instead looking with mild fascination as the monster drew closer.

“Not at all,” she stared at the beast until it came out from its spot. The rays of sun hit its royal purple pelt as it swayed back and forth from the beast’s movements. Shengnan aimed her staff at it. She just needed it to be a bit closer…

The monster roared and charged towards them. Trusting Shengnan’s expertise Hiro rolled out of the way, before slamming his outstretched palm on the ground. Immediately several undead soldiers rose from the dirt, bones creaking as they clawed out of the ground. They pulled the weapons off their backs, a couple charging the beast while a few stayed near their master, preferring to work long range. In any case, they were better coordinated than most of the Shadowscythe undead minions that the sorceress saw before.

“It wasn’t anyone that high, just ones barely above my rank. They’re gone by now, though,” She smiled. She may had something to do with the “bully’s” death, but it had been just brushed off as an accident.

“Ah. You dispatched them?” He was surprisingly frank, his attitude unchanged. “Well when I first joined, some people belittled me too. However in my case I challenged them to a fight. I wanted to see if they were truly more capable to the Shadowscythe than I was. Three guesses as to who won.”

“Yes…dispatched,” She cleared her throat before continuing, “Lemme guess, you won? I wouldn’t be surprised; you seem pretty strong. If I were just starting out, I’d know I wouldn’t wanna fight you.”

He laughed. “They left with multiple broken bones and a broken ego. But yes, I won. That’s what years of practice gives you.” He eyed Shengnan carefully. “Anyway you might want to be careful from now on. Setting up an accident for a “bully” of yours may have got you out of that issue, but I won’t recommend doing it again. People might get suspicious.” Looking at the sorceress’ shocked face, he smiled mischievously. “I have my sources.” He spoke cryptically, before going back to throwing daggers in trees.

Sheng’s shocked expression eased into a smirk, “Heh, I can see that. Thanks for the advice. I’ll try to not do it again,” she chuckled. Just then, a low growl was heard coming from behind a few trees. Readying her staff, the sorceress spoke. “It’s here.”

“Finally.” His daggers re-appeared in his hand, and the man smiled. “You don’t mind if I get some backup do you?” He flung the first dagger, which landed on the hulking shadow, which roared in anger. Hiro didn’t looked worried, instead looking with mild fascination as the monster drew closer.

“It wasn’t anyone that high, just ones barely above my rank. They’re gone by now, though,” She smiled. She may had something to do with the “bully’s” death, but it had been just brushed off as an accident.

“Ah. You dispatched them?” He was surprisingly frank, his attitude unchanged. “Well when I first joined, some people belittled me too. However in my case I challenged them to a fight. I wanted to see if they were truly more capable to the Shadowscythe than I was. Three guesses as to who won.”

“Yes…dispatched,” She cleared her throat before continuing, “Lemme guess, you won? I wouldn’t be surprised; you seem pretty strong. If I were just starting out, I’d know I wouldn’t wanna fight you.”

He laughed. “They left with multiple broken bones and a broken ego. But yes, I won. That’s what years of practice gives you.” He eyed Shengnan carefully. “Anyway you might want to be careful from now on. Setting up an accident for a “bully” of yours may have got you out of that issue, but I won’t recommend doing it again. People might get suspicious.” Looking at the sorceress’ shocked face, he smiled mischievously. “I have my sources.” He spoke cryptically, before going back to throwing daggers in trees.

“It wasn’t anyone that high, just ones barely above my rank. They’re gone by now, though,” She smiled. She may had something to do with the “bully’s” death, but it had been just brushed off as an accident.

“Ah. You dispatched them?” He was surprisingly frank, his attitude unchanged. “Well when I first joined, some people belittled me too. However in my case I challenged them to a fight. I wanted to see if they were truly more capable to the Shadowscythe than I was. Three guesses as to who won.”

“Only few are giving up. Most of us are still going at it, like Sister Dawn and myself,” she looked around, “Onto more pressing matters…” Several bones and scraps of armor were scattered around the area. There where footprints bigger than a bear’s leading off into secluded forest on the side of the city.

“It appears we have a lead.” He knelt down to look at the footprints closer. Smirking, he looked at the sorceress. “Well then, would you like to lead the way? Shengnan, wasn’t it?” 

“Gladly,” she took out her wand and morphed it back into her staff. Looking around while following the tracks, Shengnan had her weapon at the ready. “So, how long have you been with us at the Shadowscythe Empire?” She wanted to know more about Hiro if she was gonna battle by him.

“Hmm. Six to seven years?” He followed suit, twirling one of his daggers in anticipation of the monster. “It’s been a while, that’s for sure. What about you? How long have you been in the Empire?”

“I’ve only been around for about…two or three years? So just half as long as you, it seems. Some might say im still a rookie, but I have as much experience as a veteran around there.”

“I don’t doubt it, you carry yourself well.” He eyed the forest carefully, feeling watched. “I’ve heard of a few people who merely joined the Shadowscythe because of the Empress’ appearance. Those who join a cause based on mere looks are the ones who are truly beginners. In any case, in a while you won’t be considered a ‘rookie’ anymore.”