The Old City

0.67: Moonlit Clash Part 1

Relia was hot with the thirst for blood, and this battlefield was a fountain.

The Badlands were riddled with corpses, already frying in the summer sun, with limbs littered about. A light dust storm had built up, throwing up wave after wave of dirt into the air. But the golden uniforms of Magnar were easy to pick out, and Relia went wherever they were fighting. Frustratingly, she was paid by the epaulette, so she did waste a few moments after each kill ripping them off the bodies.

But there were so many soldiers that she would have plenty of fun this day.

As she approached a new group, she brought her great axe around and severed one man's head before he'd even realized she was upon him. Her momentum carried her through the next man too, and the third, a terrified scrawny boy scrambled to unsheathe his blade too late. By the time he hit the ground, Relia was already tearing the others' insignia off to add to her collection.

She looked around again and found another group fighting. This time the golds outmatched the blue of Khioss. She covered her face and sprinted toward them, but was stopped when she felt something slice her back.

She turned, confused, and only saw a strange whirl of dust, as though displaced by something that had once been there.

"Gah!" she cried as something again cut her arm this time. Her grip on the axe weakened as pain radiated from her triceps. "Who the fuck did that?"

"You're not a very good assassin."

Relia twisted again to see a small woman – Hell, she looked more like a child – standing behind her, an eagle perched upon her shoulder.

"You'll pay for that," Relia cursed.

The other woman tilted her head. Relia knew that look. She embodied that look. This woman knew bloodlust. She wanted Relia's blood on her hands immediately.

Well, it was about time someone put up a damn fight.

Two blocks where Marek tried to overtake the Black Phoenix's base, earlier that night.

Violence hung sharply upon the air. Relia could smell it. The assassin paused and Garam, her attentive shadow, froze not one step later. They were always in sync.

She could not see their enemies, nor could she sense their aura, but she could feel their bloodlust. That was much harder to hide.

This would be a bloody night. Her favorite.

She set her axe down and waited, staring into the open darkness. The moon was high tonight, not quite full, but bright enough to illuminate the entire square with its silvery light. This place had been residential up until five years ago, when Lucien established their base. Since then, all the inhabitants had moved out, leaving a mess of dilapidated buildings, perfect for hiding. Doors hung off hinges and most of the windows were broken, but they were good enough for the guppies. Many of them lived in the otherwise vacant apartments to be near in case they were needed.

Lucien always seemed to need somebody to do violence.

Fortunately, the Enforcers didn't make her wait long. They began to step out of the shadows and Relia licked her lips, whetting them with malice. Two squads of eight approached, flanking them from both sides with weapons raised. The men carried more batons than blades, but she knew the batons could give a wicked blow with either.

"Relia Kartem and Garam Metis!" called a man whose blue uniform was adorned with a golden chevron atop either shoulder. A captain.

Finally, a challenge.