The road was much longer than anticipated for the twins. They were used to short distances to and from Stornval but the more they walked the less dense the population became. They were expecting a new place to stop every hour or so, but the path they tread on just kept winding through the forest. Twigs cracked beneath their boots as a birds song rang endlessly.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCOVfrQUE4
As the sound of a river grew louder and louder, a view of a town grew near. Despite having been walking all day, Ressi perked up and sped toward the town, "Is that it? Are we finally at Donatagun?"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2rTeKs1bS
A sigh escaped Reldin as he shook his head, "No. This place is way smaller than Donatagun. We've only been walking for a day, anyway. We're only a third of the way there."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWvsUlQtRw
Ressi groaned as she slouched, dragging her feet as she walked, "Okay. Where are we, then?"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUhaEGCw70
Reldin took a moment to scan the area, "Hm, it looks like Riville to me."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJU5DLBru1
"You sound doubtful, is something wrong?" Kiran asked, concerned.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8M2lSPYv6
"Well, generally the people are very active, even at this time of night," Reldin pointed out, "Yet no one is out right now."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHPDGeHPuu
"You say 'this time of night' as if it wasn't dusk right now," Ressi said with a laugh.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgxsuPdhlH
Reldin shot her a glare as he crossed the bridge into the village. "Oh, hasn't Archibald mentioned he has family here?" Kiran mentioned.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyFENeseih
"Yes, his sister lives here with her family," Reldin affirmed, looking around. Riville was not a very large town. It reminded the twins of their hometown of Storn Falls with how quaint it was. The houses were small but nice looking and they stood alongside the path to the center of town, which had a dirty statue of a hooded figure with wings protruding out the back.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DOIWGxckz
"Hey, Reldin, what is that?" Ressi asked, pointing at the statue, "It looks like a laguelle but instead of animal ears and tail it has wings!"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nmqZNMtz6
"Technically, that is a laguelle. The laguelle you're used to are beast laguelle, but the statue is that of a bird laguelle, or volnte. Volntes always have wings, though some are more bird-like with beaks, tails, or even have feathers all over their body," Reldin explained.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6NuhoKBNG
"Ooh. Okay, so why is there a statue of one here?" Ressi asked.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiq6mNEsFv
"Read the inscription."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRQG9zdVRJ
Ressi obeyed and squinted at the iron plate. The hero of our town. The volnte who held back the Dynis menace. The hero requested to remain anonymous.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzsguY5MeT
Ressi frowned in confusion, "Why would a hero that required a statue in remembrance want to remain anonymous?"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56mlX4ax6P
"There could be many reasons. Perhaps they did not become a hero on purpose, they could have been passing by. It could be they did not want to be known for this action, they could have been on the run and wanted in another kingdom. They probably didn't even know the villagers built this statue in the first place," Reldin answered, not quite succinctly.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsM45qyhXhf
Ressi raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth to ask yet another question before Kiran interrupted. "So, will we be staying at Archibald's sister's house for the night?"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTsm0vlZLF
"Might as well," Reldin sighed, "Follow me, I know where it is."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxATYFHQzKx
The twins gave each other an excited look. Neither of them had met Archibald's sister, they've only heard stories of his dear little sis. They were very eager to finally see the unknown Ardra Egros.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXUFoDNjCn
「◐」
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2bIdoE0IL
Reldin lead the twins up a short, cobbled path up to the door of a small home. Not too small, it was actually a bit larger than the other houses around it, but it was much smaller than any house in Stornval. The mage knocked on the door and some shouts were heard within.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AqoaQPQgO
"Who in the hell could be knocking at this hour?!" A deep, feminine voice called.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSG3AJWHj2
A softer voice groaned, "Sweety, it's barely after dusk, it's not that late."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOntFdgOGv
The first voice continued yelling, "Well with all that's going on, I'm surprised someone's even outside!"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqJ9pSJ97D
The second voice calmly shushed the first, "So will you get the door or will I have to?"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcPVu1bpT4
"I'll do it, I'll do it!" There was some muffled shuffling before the owner of the first voice shouted, "What is it?!" It took her a moment. She blinked, her eyes widened, "Rel-Rel is that you?!"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAk4lGHNw1
Reldin groaned, "Please don't call me that."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuyDDKUGKk
The large woman laughed and pulled the mage into a bear hug, "It's been a long time, my good friend!"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fk9vJ2qUF
"Reldin, is this Archibald's sister?" Kiran asked, completely unfazed by the scene.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5IN1Fwmdd
The woman dropped Reldin, who was used to such affection due to being so close to Archibald, and turned her attention to Kiran. "Sure am! Ardra Egros, at your service," she gave a mock bow before pulling the owner of the second voice out the doorway, "And this is my hubby, Ikati!"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX29JAC0hC
The pale laguelle grimaced at the sudden exposure to people, "Please keep it down honey, you're going to disturb the whole town at this rate." He swished his jet black tail back and forth angrily, his cat ears pointed.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CAB8JCRc0
Ardra just laughed, "That's the grumpy love of my life for ya! Come on in, you three, I have some leftovers you can have!" She turned around and walked in her home, leading her husband with an arm around his waist.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2ajqk1nkY
The company followed Ardra in, Kiran closing the door behind them. The inside was quaint, to their left was the dining room and kitchen area that had a simple set up; some cabinets, a counter, an open hearth, and a set of a table and five chairs. To their right was a bedroom area with a bed for two and three roll-up beds. On those beds were three children that looked around Martina's age.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLf15qtwaB8
"Hey, kids, we got visitors!" Ardra announced. The three stood up curiously. "Alright I got three of these little snots, tallest one's Haylei, she's fourteen. Next to her is her brother Bailey, he's twelve. And the small one is Arale, who is nine."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLfPMx0hWB
Ressi took a moment to process the information given. Haylei, clad in pink, was pale and had dark cat ears and a tail that matched her father's. Bailey, who was wearing blue pajamas, had fair skin and had blonde cat ears and a tail. The smallest, Arale, wore green and looked the most like their mother, with dark skin and blonde hair and the only child that didn't seem to be a laguelle. Ressi let out a small chuckle as she realized all of their names rhymed.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ236COdls8F
Ardra continued the introductions, "Kids, this is your uncle Reldin, as I'm sure you remember, and… oh dear, how rude of me! What are your names?"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5Npp3i41b
"Ressi Victor, Official Guardian of Princess Martina Garamond!" Ressi said, loud and proud.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFglkvyXjt
Kiran gave a somewhat sheepish wave, "And I'm Kiran."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUPvejmocW
"Ooh! So you're the twins! Archie has told me so much about you!" Ardra gushed, "Though I've gotta say, I thought you two would look more alike, being twins and all."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2m5tFNxcB
They had never really thought about it. They really didn't look alike. Ressi, on one hand, had long blonde hair, light blue eyes, freckles, and her wardrobe was composed almost entirely of red. Kiran, on the other hand, had green hair and matching green eyes and wore almost entirely green. They looked complete opposite despite their builds being similar. "Well, I mean, we're the same height!" Ressi mentioned.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuaHYQ6S5g
Kiran scoffed, "That's not true, I'm at least an inch taller than you."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihi263LJN7
Ressi was about to bark back before Ardra simply laughed, "Well, you two certainly act like twins. C'mon, let's get you guys some dinner."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMevslVxFL9
「◐」
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpQxYzDffR
Ardra served the company some stew and sat down at the table herself. "Well, come on, dig in!"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDyhakpIBV
The twins gladly complied but Reldin simply asked, "So, why is everything so quiet around here?"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPs3UnbltCT
Ardra dropped her smile and sighed, "You really know how to get straight to the point." She looked over at her children. Arale was fast asleep already and Bailey was on the verge of sleep as well. Haylei, however, was silently curious of the guests and stared at them from the comfort of her bedroll. Ardra looked back at Reldin, "Well, you wouldn't believe it if you didn't see it."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhhMprKsq9
"See what?" Ressi asked, face stuffed with stew. Kiran kicked her leg to subtly remind her of her manners.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hEP09pMeR
"The robot," Ardra said. "Usually they're friendly folk, scary, though, all armed to the teeth but they're friendly. This guy, this guy's different."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90qvkvEdhh
Reldin seemed interested, "Different how?"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicVklkac2D
"Well, this guy is huge, for one thing. Bigger than the centurions that guard Fort Dynis, y'know?" Ardra looked astonished as if she was just looking at it, "I couldn't even see the top of him!"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4RgC82Ya9
"That's hyperbole," Ikati said, face resting in his palm. He's clearly heard this before and was bored of it, "I could see his head clearly."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhULHMp44BZ
Ardra scoffed, "Yeah, whatever. Your cat eyes see everything."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStn1nnA08L
"That's racist, honey," Ikati replied, unfazed.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMi4uaQV3b5
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Anyway," Ardra continued, "The guy was massive and he used that height to his advantage! He was all yelling and such like, 'Submit to the rule of Korzion or else!' or whatever. That, of course, got everyone all freaked out. They stay all locked up in their homes and whenever the big guy comes back they cower in fear as he causes a ruckus!"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7D3hJzKOT
"We're doing the same thing, Ardie," Ikati interjected.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUS1z5WFCTU
"It's for the children, 'Kati! We've gotta keep the children safe!" Ardra shouted, "Besides, it's not like he has many weaknesses, y'know, being a robot and all."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjU9hkPQGp
"I told you there's a guy on his shoulder."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4JOw4pOoT
"And I've told you you're crazy! If there's a guy, what does he look like?"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxpWTbgGWS
"Well, he has light blue skin and long, dark blue hair and wears a hunter outfit. He looks vaguely robotic. He also has a quiver full of arrows but I haven't seen his bow yet," Ikati described.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZEjR9swvF
"Well that just doesn't make sense, why would he have arrows but no bow?" Ardra challenged.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAuuZYB9HY
Ikati shrugged, "I don't know maybe he just hasn't brought it yet."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZChc3SJUK
"And what do you propose his name to be?" Ardra demanded.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXL5DsWiJq
"That's an unfair question but I think I heard the big guy say 'oh.. sure…' oh, right! 'Oshura!'" Ikati figured.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvw5uce4oO
Ardra just shook her head, "Anyway, we got off track. That's why it's so damned quiet here."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQImBG5SImf
Reldin processed all the information just given to him, "Well, the three of us have plenty of battle experience. Why don't we just take down this robot guy, or guys, when they come back?"
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGZEPbiair
"Oh could you?" Ardra looked delightfully surprised, "That would be great! We couldn't get the knights yet from Stornval since it's such a recent problem but if you three could deal with it, we would really appreciate it."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpNrhXQ2t3
Reldin simply shrugged, "It doesn't sound too difficult. The twins and I will be ready first thing tomorrow morning."
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73peOU2YxD
Ressi gave them two thumbs up, "Yep! You can count on us!" Kiran nodded in agreement.
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyzFMR1GRk
"Then it's settled!" Ardra stood up from her seat, "Here, let me find you some bedrolls, you'll need your beauty sleep now, y'hear?"
ns3.15.31.240da2
