The air ... feels different. Susan rubbed her finger and thumb together in a slow rotation while searching for the right words, any words to describe the shallow sensation. But all she found in the few seconds she fell in such a scrambled but focused state, was thin. As if out of breath after being smothered past natural limits.

"Commander Vain!" the soldier from before called multiple times. The last finally springing a reaction. The woman deigning fur blinked. "What is it?" Julian swallowed. "Our orders?" This time his words appeared in a low, passive state compared to before. The commander, as if just opening her eyes glanced around the area. The first her eye caught was Folen, still holding a knife to the stranger’s throat, chin forced high, inching away from the blade as his own sight remained still, aiming in her direction. They were a stoic, a empty grey, a rayless sky. But soon blood reeled the commander’s eyes left, a small amount, spilled onto a fallen blade, but no where else. And steps away, one of the girls held the other, slowly stroking her hair as a voice seemed desperate for air. "Breath … breath," the woman with red hair chanted. "What happened?" Julian squinted. "El- Commander, what do you-"

"I asked a question, Julian." The Commander spoke in firm tone. Recognized, the soldier straightened, setting his sights forward, likely at nothing at all. "The leader of the mercenary unit, a detachment connected to the rouge organization known as Red Desert received a signal from their client to either attack or capture the young girl." A pause was uttered in between his assessment. "The white hair’s associate stepped in front of the intended victim, possibly to defend her. In her case, the attacker appeared to be after blood, but before his weapon reached a violent gust of wind drew, hindering visibility across the area. Seconds later after the wind ceased, the attacker was ... gone."

"Gone?" Commander Vain questioned with a furrowed brow. Julian confirmed with a hesitant nod. "For a short period there was confusion, but after, most surrendered willingly after being surrounded."

"Which leaves Folen." Julian glanced to his leader, then to the politician. Now only he and his hostage alone were circled by unspoiled spears. Fear was all that could be found in the man’s leaping eyes. Quickly leaving no room for logic or sense. "Correct." Julian noticed the eye contact between the hostage and the recently updated knight. He as opposed to his leader wore worry like a priest black then. Flicking between the two to be certain. "Were you right?" The knight didn’t break eye contact to answer the question. But he, and the bodies of steel listening in could tell she wasn’t ignoring him. "I'm not sure," she replied as her legs were on the move. "Standby." Julian and six of his comrades offered salute as Elda approached the intended victims.

Megan saw her coming from the small distance away while Susan’s wild breathing had finally calmed in her sister’s arms. "How do you feel?" Megan asked, still brushing the girl’s winter hair. She could hear the girl swallow before speaking. "Better."

Megan’s chin turned as heavy steps scratched the dirt. The heroic knight now stood present, bringing a graze of awkwardness in the air as their glances met. A rough groan following as Folen’s face met the ground and his hands- like his compatriots- were tied behind his back. The hostage eyed the politician with a neutral stare. "Go," said the girl as she raised her sibling’s head by both cheeks, "speak with Crow for a moment," the seemingly older of the two insisted. The third set of grey eyes turned to Elda after nodding. Even with a unsure look, the girl didn’t decline the request. The two watched as she parted, her gaze occasionally meeting the sun.

"Will she be alright?" The redheaded woman turned to the commander, her comforting demeanor shredded in a instant. The knight exhaled, "I’m here to apologize. For putting you and your friend in danger unnecessarily." The woman with fur and steel lowered her upper half stiffly, as if unused to the act. "It was foolish, and unacceptable." Megan’s lips were as still as her eyes, before and after they had ran up and down the woman’s shelled figure. "Why are you here, knight?" Her words weren’t loud, but unquestionably clear, even when inaudible to watching eyes. The commander’s chin leaped when hearing the voice. "I-I don’t understand?"

"Is it forgiveness?" The woman’s brow and eyes fell. "Yes, I am ashamed of my actions."

"Why?" The response took the knight by surprise, so much that her words had nearly slipped away. "I could have gotten you three killed ... that is more then enough to damage my honor as a warrior-"

"We have no interest in your honor, Commander Vain," the odd girl shot back. Then leaned in, close enough so her voice could surly only be heard by one. "I'm surprised really, you still have yet to ask where the blood came from." Elda’s eyes widened, then flew to the stray blade. Megan, still wearing a neutral glare pulled back, fixing her posture before glancing back to Sue. She was laughing, hopefully at Crow’s interesting new personality. It deserved some well placed wit.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Slowly the commander's lips slowly bended into a smirk, and her eyes filling with intrigue rather then- regardless of confusion. "You three aren't from here, are you?" Megan gave the knight a glance, the way she said here made her nostril twitch. Indeed, the small act was noted by the knight, but couldn't be determined negative or not. By the girl’s silence, it was indicated she would rather not answer (Not that it made a difference). Megan turned away from the impulsive leader, seemingly finished with the conversation. But as if she forgot a deed in need to be complete, the one with scarlet hair gracefully rotated with one arm behind her back, gaining the commander's attention before tapping the bottom of her chin with the spine of her finger, then with the same grace, spun again, stepping past the now approaching man to the girl with white hair’s side.

The knight’s face grew stiff as her eyes kept on the young woman’s back, clearly somewhat bothered by her odd actions. Though her thoughts were cut short when her attention was redirected to the former hostage, who now came forth to her while pressing a handkerchief where the knife had been held against his throat. Before the two came within feet apart, he dropped the accessory drenched in red, unveiling not a single sign of a wound. Releasing a grin so wide Commander Vain could hardly hold contain even if she tried. He reached and lifted the handkerchief on the go, walking now with a shifting posture, his voice still soft, but now calm and sharp as a hum. Above all was the transition in his eyes, instead of regaining light and warmth, an unmoving cold was claimed. The knight woke from her thinking as he placed his hand on her armor, where her shoulder laid underneath. "If I were you commander, I would be thankful I was here instead." By the look on her face when she met eyes with the man, he could tell she'd lost track of him. A peculiar detail. But soon enough, her widening grin returned.

"Instead? Is there another as interesting as you three?" The small grin he offered sent chills down the arm he barely touched. "Perhaps." By his next step the demeanor of hostage had been wiped away completely, this time instead of either extremes, it walked down the line, very much comparable to many citizens of a young Idyll. The commander's eyes stayed on lier’s back, and her grin fading. Across his shoulder she met eyes with Julian, his face mimicking her own.

A tap was felt on her shoulder, opposite the stranger’s hand sat. She turned to find the girl with white hair. Shame took the knight’s face as she considered the girl, who offered her a hand. "Sue is my name," she said with fire in her eyes. Elda lowered her head on the extended hand below. "How could I shake your hand when I have yet to apologize?" Sue kept her eyes on the knight’s. Wandering in the sea of powerful blue. "I know you meant well. Mistakes are made for a reason." The commander sighed, then took Sue’s hand with a firm grip. "I am Elda, One Hundred Man Commander Of Brew. Sue gave half a smile. "I'm glad we met, Sue."

"Like-wise," the girl replied. "Do you three have a place to stay?" Sue shook her head regrettably. "The you all are welcomed in Brew, for as long as you need." A thoughtful look overwhelmed the girl. "Will there be food?" Elda snickered, "plenty." Susan swirled around the commander and yelled for the man staring down the road. "Crow! We have a place to stay now!" the girl spoke with no shame. Crow turned his head away from the raven circling the sky, with a look that ranged between annoyed, surprised and a scowl.

A cold wind blew as Elda walked to and climbed up her horse, shaking her head all the while. "The positives and negatives of living, coincidences," she murmured.

Sue watched as the Knight mounted, her eyes unmoving the entire time. As if fate warned the girl, Megan appeared near with a hand upon her own forehead. "Oh n-"

"HELL YEAH!" Sue screamed, again with no shame. After soldiers (specifically near Julian) failed to hold in their laughter, all while questioning if the girl with white hair held blood ties to the commander, Elda Vain threw a pantheon of foul language into the air, along with irrational evidence to prove she was indeed twenty-three years of age.

The women took a deep breath after and glanced upward. To the peaceful blue skies, daunting as ever. "Mount up men, we’re heading home."