Silent Garden Last Fragment

Arch watched as Saleme walked the path that headed away from the desert.

"hmm..." He hummed

"what's the update Arch." Vent echoed in his mind "that was a pretty deep thought hum you just made."

"well the beastman making lunch out of the guards so it's pointless for me to try and restore them. A hunter human girl is at a standoff with the beast man and Saleme is walking in this direction. I think I heard that he's going to the desert to save the world."

"The desert? Is he stupid? Only people equipped for traveling go through the desert. One it's generally beastman territory, two it's blazing hot and the only rest spots are the oasis's and I heard rumors that many of them are full of rough and tough people. Some say they make the royal guard like flowers."

"hmm..." Arch hummed "well maybe he is stupid because the path he's walking doesn't lead him to the desert. Do you want me to intercept him and point him in the right direction?"

"uh... well... you could... I mean I'm trying to look around for royal guard but there doesn't seem to be anyone available they are either in bed or on patrol."

Arch hummed "alright I'll engage him." He watched as Saleme passed by his tree and he turned to lean on the tree and hummed "So off to the desert to save the world are we?" He hummed "hmm... I could have sworn the desert was that way." He pointed behind himself aka the opposite direction that Saleme was going "but eh if you want to go that way, you'll reach the desert in a year or two I think if you survive the journey. It's very foolish to go alone."

In between chunks of human flesh, Sukob would look up at Raija. Preoccupied with his late meal, the leopard beast man didn't pay her much attention, hearing her words in spurts.

"Beast, I thank you for sparing.."
"...killing my people will not be warranted."
"name? Referring to you as beast is not..."

Sukob looked up, a mild irritation lacing his eyes and voice. "Sukob Guerra of the Assassin's League," he responded lifting his head up to guzzle down the rest of the human arm. "Raija. Raija. Raija," He repeated, as if tasting it as the name left his mouth. Sukob looked her over once more, then at Saleme who began rummaging through the corpses.

Sukob instinctively emit a low growl as Saleme touched the bodies. Though he wasn't eating them yet, Sukob didn't trust others around his food. "Leave my d-" Sukob began before Saleme cut him off.

“You were spectacular amazing like a true Beastman hero from my books!” He cheered his eyes filled with wonder. “Granted I wasn’t okay with all gore or the fact you’re eating humans but still!” he stated before spinning around to face the princess.

A bone cracked as Sukob chewed the remains of the human corpse. He watched Saleme curiously as he spoke. Child-like wonder never escaped some people it would seem. His eyes widened when he realized Saleme had referred to him as 'the hero' before departing in the wrong direction.

Sukob let out a sigh, mulling over his next move. He already knew that he'd unfortunately be stuck with a human he'd have to keep alive, but a human without a sense of direction?? As time progressed, Sukob found it harder and harder to find faith in this Tome Seeker.

After completely finishing one guard, Sukob rose to his feet again. He was going to fetch Saleme and return him to the right path. Arch got there first, eliciting another low growl from Sukob. The beast man loathed Sire, but Mech Men made him weary. Always a trick up their sleeves.

From the tree, Mizzix gagged a little as he saw the beastman feast, because it felt like something he should do. He realised, however, that while the view wasn't exactly tasteful, he didn't feel like the human he was feasting on was similar enough to himself to feel the full disgust.

"Creator...you promise that we can bring people together...?" He whispered to himself.

= = = = = = =

Eideara simply stood back a moment and let the others act. The girl was talking to the beastman, Saleme was wandering off and speaking to strangers, and Sukob was eating. Tritonite went pale, but Eideara had been to a few parties where beastmen fought humans for sport. The betting was usually the best part. She owed a few of her trinkets to those fighting pits.

She listened in to their conversation, after all, they were stood right next to her.

"The Assassin's Guild, hmm? Sure it's not the Guzzlyguts Club?" She smiled, her eyes glittering. Beastmen hated sires, and with good reason, and the emotions were usually mutual, but Eideara liked to think of herself as an equal opportunity sire. The glares this one gave her made her smile.

"Quite a feather in their cap, aren't you? Effective killer AND disposal! Sukob, right? I'll ask for you next time I require the service. Don't worry, I won't ask for friend's discount."

Winking at the girl stood with him, she turned to Tritontite. "Mess up that trumpet solo again, Tritontite, and you're his dessert."

She walked towards Saleme and the new boy, catching the end of their interaction. Saleme was going the wrong way.

"This darling stranger is right, cutie. If it's the desert you want, it's the other direction. And if you want to pass the many oases safely, you might need me. Feel free to go in all guns blazing with your new kitty and other assorted friends you've made today, but wouldn't you rather party like a Sire on your way through than risk getting gutted by one? A fight or two is fun and all but thousands might get dull."

Eideara smiled at Saleme. "I wasn't lying to the guards that became Mitten's lunch, you know. I need your help, cutie. I want to fix the Sire culture, and I know how to do it. I'm looking for....something. And I think you know where it is."

She tapped her foot and frowned at Tritontite. "Tritontite, a new person is here and i haven't been formally introduced."

Tritontite scrabbled to find his trumpet, flapping his arms, and stopped as Eideara held up a hand. 

"Stop. It would just be silly now."

“I am the grand archive keeper I know a lot of things. Well maybe not everything, but umm I am extremely book smart okay. Plus for the record I do not know anyone here other than well who he was eating” Saleme stated pointing at Sokube.

“E-eh plus just for the record I could totally taken care of those guards myself. Well not really they took my bow and with this inhibitor siphoning away most my magic I am little helpless till it’s off my neck but I am still capable of looking after myself” Saleme rambled for someone who spent most his life around books he was rather a chatter box.

“Anyway umm, right I am getting off topic clearly wait you said Summerhaze and you Raija....” Saleme muttered before flicking through a few pages of a tome.
Saleme began dashing over to the strangers he had met “A Beastmen hero, A mysterois strangers, A Summerhaze and a lass name Raija to be more specific yes this is fate wonderful spectacular yes!” Saleme shouted as he started flicking through the tomes pages again excitedly.

“You lot will accompany me none of you can say no either because the winged mother guidance is clearly shown here now all of you come to the dessert!” Saleme ordered before charging off and stopping.

“Wait which way did he say it was again?” Saleme questioned looking to his left and right.

Arch just busted up laughing as he walk out from behind his tree. "It's that way!" He shouted as he pointed in the direction of the desert. "and it's desert not dessert." He added then eyed the beastman "but before I become dessert I'm out of here. Good Luck and may the winged mother bless you on your quest." With that he turned and walked towards town gradually increasing his pace into almost a run "Vent I'm coming in." He thought

"so uh what's going on?" Vent asked

Arch sighed "a delusional nutjob is volunteering people to go on a quest with him and I'm putting as much distance between him and I right now. I'm not going to be reduced down to a compass for him as he doesn't even know where he's going"

Vent snickered "see ya in a bit."

Raija returned the beast's gaze with a twisted face, the body under him making her uneasy. "Of the assassin's league. I would've thought you were more..." She paused as Sukob took the arm whole, "Graceful." Nonetheless, she turned her attention to the sire woman, her soft eyes meeting hers with an innocent yearn. "I would like to know, Sire. What culture do you intend to fix. You ravage our town, that is no culture to us. It is savagery." She paused, grimacing as the bone cracked in Sukob's mouth. "We have long disliked the Sire, how can I lend you my tru-"

"A Beastmen hero, A mysterois strangers, A Summerhaze and a lass name Raija to be more specific yes this is fate wonderful spectacular yes!"

“You lot will accompany me none of you can say no either because the winged mother guidance is clearly shown here now all of you come to the dessert!”

Interrupted by Saleme, she sighed and would continue their talk in private. "I shall save my words for a more appropriate time, Sire." Raija said turning on her heels and facing the desert. "I do need traveling materials..." Her hand reached down to her watering canteen, weightless in her grasp. "Unless...." She glanced at Eideara.

Eideara listened politely to Raija's small speech, before Saleme interrupted.

"Really, for a seemingly smart girl, you do tar us all with the same brush. I simply intend to overthrow the Sire Royal Family, of course."

Tritontite gasped aloud.

"Oh, do shut up, Tritontite, larger coups have been pulled off in Sire history, with more murder than is really necessary. Perhaps we are an untrustworthy people."

She glanced back at Raija, inspecting her empty watering canteen. Eideara noted the glance and clicked once at Tritonite, who then poured water from a flask into her empty canteen.

"Like I said, we'll be passing through many Sire terrortories. The desert is an unfriendly place if you're not particularly social with the Sires. Don't worry, I won't see you go thirsty. Then, at least when all of this is over, when I have my throne, and you...do whatever it is you do, I guess, you can say to your grandchildren that you met one of the nice Sire."

Eideara's face darkened a moment, a brief glimpse into her more serious nature, as she thought aloud to herself.

"Or at least a Sire with some fiscal responsibility, with the common sense of peace equaling longevity."

She sashayed towards the front of the group, Tritontite finishing refilling the water canteen and trotting after her after nodding at Raija.

"Let's make some moves."

"The Assassin's Guild, hmm? Sure it's not the Guzzlyguts Club?" She smiled, her eyes glittering. Beastmen hated Sires, and with good reason, and the emotions were usually mutual, but Eideara liked to think of herself as an equal opportunity sire. The glares this one gave her made her smile.

"Quite a feather in their cap, aren't you? Efficient killer AND disposal! Sukob, right? I'll ask for you next time I require the service. Don't worry, I won't ask for friend's discount."

Winking at the girl stood with him, she turned to Tritontite. "Mess up that trumpet solo again, Tritontite, and you're his dessert."

As the Sire princess spoke casually to Sukob, he could only think about mutilating her. He could tell she enjoyed the banter and his responses which only angered him more. “If that idiot over there doesn’t need you, I’ll feed you and your pipsqueak shrimp to the sands of this desert,” He said through clenched teeth, he said gesturing toward Tritontite. To quell his anger, he began eating the last guard left. His brows furrowed as he noticed Saleme barreling back over to the group.

Saleme started dashing over to the strangers he had met “A Beastmen hero, A mysterious strangers, A Summerhaze and a lass named Raija, to be more specific. Yes, this is fate. Wonderful! Spectacular! Yes!” Saleme shouted as he started flicking through the pages of the tome again excitedly.

“You lot will accompany me none of you can say no either because the winged mother guidance is clearly shown here now all of you come to the dessert!” Saleme ordered before charging off and stopping.

“Why do you keep referring to me as a hero?” Sukob questioned quite puzzled. “I follow the Wingless Daughter. The Mother is your God,” Sukob began before he overheard Arch.

Arch then eyed the Beastman "but before I become dessert, I'm out of here. Good Luck and may the winged mother bless you on your quest."

Sukob snorted with laughter, “You probably taste disgusting. Too much metal in one’s diet is unbecoming.” He looked back at the remaining group members. The last guard was nearly only armor by this point. Raija had begun speaking with the Sire, questioning her motives. Though he agreed with some of her questions, Sukob would rather do away with the princess altogether.

"Really, for a seemingly smart girl, you do tar us all with the same brush. I merely intend to overthrow the Sire Royal Family, of course."
Tritontite gasped aloud.

Sukob coughed up a finger. He glared at Eideara, though this glare differed from the rest. It was filled with disbelief and wonder. He stood up and approached her, stopping a short distance from in front of her. “You? You. You intend to overthrow the Sire family? With what army?” Sukob pointed toward her trumpet-bearing sidekick. “The bard couldn’t possibly last five minutes in a fight. How do you to take them out? I’ve led groups of Assassins in that same attempt for a couple years before…” He shook his head as if remembering something too painful to speak on. He pivoted with a growl and walked toward Saleme briskly.

“How do I know you’re not going to lead me on a fool’s errand? I don’t have time to waste. I need those idols,” Sukob said sternly, grabbing him by his shoulders.

Saleme would smile when questioned as if the answer was obvious. “Duh you saved me from the guards meaning you saved the world well almost” he cheered. This elicited an eye roll from the Beastman.

“Alright well, I guess a hero does need to know who he fights for… so sure I’ll show you the power of a grand archive keeper,” Saleme cheered opening the pages of his book, his words definitely containing pride. “Just remove this magic inhibitor, it’s siphoning my power. Oh and umm you may feel a slight tickle or pain,” Saleme smiled sheepishly, not wanting to frighten his savior.

Once Sukob removed the collar, Saleme took a breath focusing on the moment. His standard Human accent vanished. It was clear that he was no longer a naïve scholar. The words that left his mouth were the original native language of the desert dwellers, a mix of Common and Old. The scholar’s body language and mannerism had changed completely as well, while he read from the page. Saleme no longer had the bubbly and eccentric poise anymore, he now had the stance of a warrior yet there was an odd and graceful femininity to the stance. His facial expression grew as stern as Sukob’s was previously.

The words written in the tome would begin reacting as they seemed to float off the page and circle around the scholar's arm illuminated in light each letter shone brightly. “These are the words of the Wingless Daughter...” Saleme spoke, back in his own language however his mannerisms hadn’t reverted.

In a more than confident tone he stared directly at the Beastman as if they were enemies on the battlefield. “Let the words of the Wingless Daughter strike down that doubt with her blade of truth!” Saleme shouted in a commanding tone pointing up towards Sukob’s forehead the words would shoot from his index finger piercing straight into his mind.

Sukob saw a large canyon amongst the vast sea of sand. Looking through the canyon’s divide, he saw the inlet of the ocean. Near the canyon’s base was a desolate run-down village. Seemed nobody has lived there for a very long time. The vision abruptly switched to a full-moon visage of a ship docked in the sand. A small idol of a demonic looking fire-beast flipped in the air, but the vision wouldn’t permit Sukob to find the source. He could only hear an eerie laughter that seemed to echo the entire desert inlet.

Suddenly, Sukob returned to the present and sunk to a knee. After catching his breath, he rose and nodded, to affirm to the group Saleme’s claims, “The fool isn’t lying. He’s capable of leading us to the idol. The quicker we ready ourselves for desert travel, the faster the idol falls under our possession.” Sukob glared at the Sire, “for once I agree with her. Let’s make moves.”