With the three factions set on acquiring the necessary edge to emerge victorious in the war to come, the coming years filled the world with a miasma of anticipation and dread. Though all-out war had not yet broken out, mysterious skirmishes would occasionally rear their heads all over the globe. Destroyed villages, razed fields, kidnappings and murders... These events would only become more common as the race for power picked up its pace.
Rota: Sorry, I'm late this week...
Rotavitea knelt down next to a grave, flowers in hand. Inscribed upon the tombstone was Clavia's name.
Rota: The workshop has been especially busy. Seems like there's a tournament happening in town... A lot of warriors have come to purchase the best weapons and armor they could find. We've really made a name for ourselves, Clavia...
She lays the flowers down by the grave, as the little black and white fox appears from behind her and walks over and lays down next to them.
Rota: Lele, show some respect...!
The fox shakes its head, then sits back up. It appeared like she had grown accustomed to the name she was given.
Rota: Anyway, I was cleaning out some old dusty drawers the other day. Look what I found...
Rotavitea pulls an ornate silver bell from one of her pockets. Lele seemed especially agitated when she saw it. Almost immediately, she begins snarling and barking.
Rota: Lele, stop! I know you don't like it, but Clavia should know I found it.
Lele quiets down, although she still showed her teeth in anger... Her eyes were permanently locked onto the bell, emitting a slight glow. It seemed like she was casting some sort of magic on it.
Rota: I recognize the inscriptions... I guess Ballo must have given this to you, right? Don't worry. I'll keep it safe. It's the only thing we've left of him, after all... Well, that I've left of him. For all I know, maybe you're already together again. He was certain that would be the case, moments before he passed...
She safely stores the bell in her pocket once more. The glow in Lele's eyes subsides.
Rota: ... That's all I wanted to show you today. Sorry I can't hang around for long, but we've a lot of orders to take care of. But I'll make it up to you next week, I promise!
Rotavitea stands up, and Lele follows suit. Together, they exit the graveyard and walk into the bustling city streets. It appeared like they were far more crowded than she was anticipating, as Rotavitea struggled to even make her way through the main avenues to reach the workshop.
Girl with pink eyes: Oh...!
In the confusion of the crowd, a young woman stumbles into her, causing Rotavitea to fall with her bottom flat on the ground.
Rota: Ouch... Hey, watch where you're going!
As Rotavitea falls, the bell is thrown out of her pocket, ringing several times as it rolls around the ground. Lele seemed extremely perturbed by this, and immediately focuses her attention on it again. As soon as she does, the bell stops ringing.
Pink wind rose: Excuse me? You're so damn tiny I barely saw you! You should be the one paying more attention...
She looks the woman in the eyes, and immediately notices how peculiar they looked... Her irises were pink, and her pupils shaped like the wind rose. Accompanying her was a man whose eyes were almost as strange -- his were a deep blue, with pupils shaped like ensos. They seemed to be roughly the same age. He crouches down to grab the bell, yet stops as soon as he senses a peculiar nearby presence. Instinctively, he looks toward Lele.
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Blue enso: Well well... There's something I haven't seen in a long time.
Lele barks and snarls and, just before she manages to lunge and bite the man, Rotavitea grabs her and pulls her back.
Rota: Lele, stop that! And you lady, you're lucky I'm in a rush, or else...
Blue enso: Oh don't mind her, she's rude to everyone. Including me.
The woman rolls her eyes as she crosses her arms.
Pink wind rose: Oh, cry more, would you...
He then extends the bell towards Rota. As she grabs it, the man helps her stand back up.
Blue enso: Sorry about that. Have a good day, yes?
Rotavitea did not seem amused, yet she chose not to engage further and carry on her way.
Rotavitea: People these days...!
Carrying Lele around, she tries to calm her down, yet it seems like she was still fixated on the two figures that had just stumbled into them.
Rotavitea: What's gotten into you...?
In the meantime, inside a nearby tavern...
Virno: Oh come on, what's gotten into you?!
Virno was sat down at the bar counter, next to a man with a scruffy beard. He was still donning the Lion's mask, yet now it had been adorned in leather and metal, making it seem almost regal in nature. He had a dark brown cloak around him, and was enjoying a large cup of ale.
Virno: Spit it out, Pocna!
That man was Pocna, Virno's swordfighting instructor from when he was younger.
Pocna: Young Virno, I've told you already -- I've a bad feeling about this tournament. We ought to skip it and attend the next one...
Virno pulls his arm to the side briskly, whispering in his ear
Virno (whispering): Hey! We've talked about this before... I'm not Virno anymore.
Pocna's eyes widen, as he was caught by surprise by his own lapse of attention.
Pocna: Sorry, Sir Vivi... It slipped. But I mean what I tell you, I can't explain it, but-
Suddenly, the two figures enter the tavern.
Pink wind rose: Alright. We're looking for a Vivi, supposed to be the undefeated tournament champion... Anyone seen him around here?
Blue enso: Dammit, Bazren... Couldn't you at least be more subtle?!
Bazren (pink wind rose): No time to lose, Xayn. Besides, not like anyone's paying attention...
Indeed, the tavern was as noisy as it was before. None seemed to acknowledge them or their inquiry... Except for Vivi and Pocna.
Vivi (Virno): Huh... Looking for me.
As Vivi was about to stand, Pocna grabs him by the wrist.
Pocna: Please Sir, if it's a fight they want, do take it outside...
Vivi smiles, pulling his arm away.
Vivi: No promises...
He stands up, walking towards Xayn and Bazren, waving his right arm in the air. In place of his missing hand, he now sported a cast iron gauntlet. As he approaches, he notices his wind currents do not bend around their bodies as they do with normal humans... Instead, some seem to pass straight through their flesh, as if there's nothing there.
Vivi: Well well. What's the deal with you two? You seem like a couple of walking skeletons...
Xayn (blue enso): S-skeletons?! Hah! What a strange sense of humor...
His voice trembled with anxiety. Virno could tell by the shift in his body's posture that his remark had caused a certain unease within Xayn... Bazren, on the other hand, seemed entirely unvexed.
Bazren: Let's cut the small talk.
She takes a couple of steps toward him, stopping mere inches away from him.
Bazren: Listen up, Vivi... We've a deal for you. I've come to kick your ass in this tournament, and if I win... You'll be at our beck and call -- our own mercenary of sorts.
He squints slightly, his brow raised in suspicion.
Vivi: Hm. Seems like a rather one-sided deal so far... But I'll humor you -- and what if I win?
Took her a few moments to reply.
Bazren: I didn't account for that. Do you have a plan in case your sun does not rise in the morning...?
Vivi couldn't help but smile at her overflowing confidence. There was something about her he found surprisingly difficult to resist... Though he could not see her, her voice and demeanour was enough to grab his attention.
Vivi: You've got some guts... Let's see if you're all that.
He extends his left hand for a handshake.
Vivi: I'll take this "deal" of yours -- but you won't like my terms and conditions when you're beaten.
As the three factions move behind the scenes in their quest for domination, Virno had made quite a name for himself, fighting and honing his abilities in several tournaments around the world. Together with instructor Pocna, his guide and teacher, he had spent the last years amassing fame and fortune... In a way, his childhood dream had been made real.
Yet, his tale was far from over...
... This is simply where it becomes greater than just himself.