Skarlet awoke, she was laying on Amber's lap, the girl had her hand resting on Skarlet's head. You've grown rather fond of me huh. Though even as she woke she still felt extremely tired, the mana in her veins felt thick like syrup.

She sat up and gazed around, they were riding on Beatrice once more, heading for the port town of Ulmet. The clouds passed by beneath them lazily.

"I think we'll get out of the country without running into the church," Cody spoke to her as he saw her get up. "You've been sleeping a lot recently are you ok?"

"Yeah, just been tired that's all." Cody sighed at this, he was reminded of what he saw the day they killed Aries. Her sword is sucking her dry, he thought as she gazed lazily ahead, just like Amber.

"Oh, that reminds me, you haven't told me about Amber yet." Cody's words jolted her and she gazed at him with a firmer gaze.

"Oh yeah, you don't know." Skarlet gestured to the girl beside her, "I picked her up on a commission, she's been through a lot. But I've been trying to help her, besides she has nowhere else to go."

"I thought you would have considered her a burden."

"I think if anyone is a burden it's me." Skarlet explained, "I'm. . . terrified of failing her I guess."

"You're a good person Skarlet."

"Really, I don't feel good." She replied, turning to brush Amber's hair which had gotten disheveled in the wind. Beatrice slowed in the air and Cody gazed over her wing.

"We're here," Cody announced as Beatrice descended into the hills, Skarlet hopped off, she seemed to be drowsy. "Come on, let's get to town and start looking for a boat." Cody took her hand and she didn't resist, which was a little odd but he brushed it off as they headed to town.

Cody paused as they reached the town entrance, there were holy knights guarding the entrance. He pulled Skarlet to the side, Beatrice and Amber followed as they made their way around the outside. Ulmet wasn't walled so having guards actually served little purpose, they slipped into the city mostly unnoticed. Cody pulled his hood down as he saw the wanted posters and holy knights practically everywhere.

"This isn't good Skarlet, we may have to fight our way out of here, or fly on Beatrice."

"I, very much wouldst pref'r a boat." Beatrice spoke up, "The trippeth to gulress wouldst beest too far f'r me to flyeth without rest in between." Skarlet didn't respond, but seemed to get more alert. Her ears swiveled back and forth, they headed straight to the docks.

They stepped out onto the sea-side street and Amber paused causing Skarlet to look down at her. She was gazing out at the sea, her nostrils flared as she breathed in the salty air.

"It's pretty, the first time I've seen it myself." Skarlet spoke up, Cody paused and turned back to look at them, a vacant smile on his face.

"Yeah. . . It's beautiful." He spoke hesitantly, a faraway look in his eyes, it cleared up quickly and he turned. "Come on, I don't like being in the open like this." Skarlet nodded, and they made their way to the first boat. An old fisherman with a greying beard and balding head covered by a knitted yellow cap. He wore pretty basic clothes and was digging through a crate beside his boat.

"E-Excuse me sir." Skarlet spoke up as she approached, the man sighed.

"What is it?" He asked, glancing up at her, he paused as he caught Cody in the corner of his eye. "Oh, are you looking for a ship out of the country?" His voice was suddenly kind and inviting. Skarlet felt a shiver and instinctively shook her head, she took Cody's hand and yanked him back.

Cody was confused as Skarlet pulled him away, turning down their ride. As they walked though he suddenly heard a shout from behind, Skarlet bolted forward, yanking Amber up into her arms. She was gone into the crowded street, Cody noticed behind that the city guards and some knights in armor were pointing at him.

Cody leaped forward, down one of the streets, the knights gave chase. He pushed people out of the way as he tried to put distance between him and the guards chasing him, slipping down an alley, he gazed around for someplace to hide. Beatrice had melted into the crowd, while Skarlet and Amber had vanished, seemingly upwards onto the rooftops.

"Stop!" A voice yelled behind him, causing Cody to leap forward once more, he weaved down the intersecting alleys trying to lose his pursuers. He skidded to a halt as he ran into a wall, a dead end.

"Nowhere to run, give up-" the knight paused as Cody turned and drew his sword. A familiar face greeted him though leaving Cody at a loss for words.

"Hey man, what happened? Thought you were Kozak's hero." The man held up his hand and the knights behind him backed into a circle, the man drew his sword and held it in front of him and spoke in a more professional tone. "My name is Aldwin, it's an honor to have this duel with you sir hero."

Cody sighed as he drew his sword and lowered into a stance, "Aldwin, It's good to see you again my teacher." They circled each other, preparing for a clash.

"Why'd you do it?" Aldwin asked, he seemed truly perplexed.

"What? betray the church, I fell in love." Cody joked, "But in all honesty, I believe I'm chasing the right path. The church doesn't agree and deemed me a criminal. Do we truly have to fight here man?" Cody asked tiredly.

"Sadly, I do have a duty, and I must fulfill it." Aldwin said with a heavy heart. "I'll be taking you into custody."

"Yeah, that's what I thought, then let this be our final duel to see whether I have surpassed my teacher or if I still need more of your training Master Aldwin." Cody leaped forward with a diagonal slash, Aldwin parried, Cody rolled with the parry and barely dodged the blade as it whisked past his ear. Damn, he's gotten better.

Cody, brought his waist low as he followed the spin for another slash, this one sideways. Aldwin back stepped Before taking a big step forward and a downward slash before Cody had finished his swing. Cody was forced into a back step, only to block as another swing came at him. He grunted as the blade slammed into his with a weight, gasping as it turned and slid down towards his hand. Cody gasped and his sword was knocked and he fell back, Aldwin stepped forward for a strike. Cody rolled backward, kicking his sword, it bounced towards him.

"Shoot, almost had me, didn't realize this was too the death." Cody joked as he picked up his sword, Aldwin shook his head.

"No, I knew you would be able to avoid at least with your skill. Though having your sword back wasn't as expected, You've improved." Aldwin continued pressing, Cody blocked and sidestepped several more attacks. This is tough, I'm gonna slip up, does he intend to make me fall in a duel to keep my name or maybe he hopes I'll overcome him? Don't get your hopes up, you're too far above me Aldwin, Damn, to come this far before realizing he'd been holding back in our training this much. Cody thought as he took a hit to the shoulder he winced as his swordplay got a little sloppy.

He defended a strike, successfully parrying and finally landing a hit on Aldwin's armor, the Swordsmen chuckled as he pivoted and initiated a downward diagonal strike aimed at Cody's legs. Cody barely blocked, but it staggered him and he stepped back. With a swift movement, his sword was knocked from his hand and he was on the floor with a blade in the ground next to his ear.

"Your loss Cody, splendid swordsmanship though, you even improved during our fight." Aldwin smiled as he held out his hand, "I'll talk to the church about all of this, hopefully we can get it resolved yeah?" Cody took it and got to his feet. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something, Aldwin had turned back to his knights.

Cody dashed forward, grabbed his sword and turned, running towards the wall he leaped raising his hand up. Aldwin turned and bolted towards him.

"Cody!" As he yelled that a hand gripped Cody's and yanked him up onto the rooftop.

"Hey there cat." Cody smiled as he gazed at Skarlet, she blushed a bit as she stood up and yanked him along.

"Come on, we have to go before they get after us." She explained as they leaped across alleys, she let go once she confirmed he was keeping up.

"Where's Amber?" Cody asked as they ran.

"Left her at our hiding spot." she replied as she skidded to a stop.

"Where's that?" Cody asked stepping up to the edge.

"Below." Skarlet replied before shoving him over the edge. Cody fell through the open skylight of a warehouse and landed in a large tank of water, from the taste of was likely sea water. He coughed as he swam up the edge and pulled himself out. Laying in the growing pool of water as it drained from his clothes and hair he looked up at Skarlet who just landed beside him. She'd used a bit of earth magic to push herself sideways to avoid the tank.

"Did you enjoy that?" He asked as he sat up.

"It was. . . Refreshing, maybe I should have taken a dip too." Sure smirked at him before turning to Amber.

Cody turned to look at the tank behind him but immediately leaped back with a yelp. There was a fish staring at him. "Stupid. . ." He mumbled with a glare at the fish.

Amber was sitting on an old couch, a low table in front of her. She was staring off into space as usual, but her head turned as Skarlet spoke.

"I'm back." She announced as she headed over to sit by her.

"Was that ok, you'll be charged as an accomplice, and added to the wanted list." Cody asked as he squeezed water from his shirt.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Y-yeah. . . I think so, it felt right. Besides, it works for us." She replied, "tonight I'll distract the guards while you take a ship, you may have to threaten a captain."

"Yeah." Cody replied, not mentioning that she could have left the country legally if she hadn't saved him.

“Wow, so you betrayed the church for a girl? How sad.” A voice spoke next to Cody’s ear, he leaped into action, ducking under the blade that came at him.

“Julius!” Cody exclaimed as he spun around and back stepped, but the gaunt corpse of a man had vanished once more.

“Amber!” Skarlet shouted suddenly causing Cody to turn to see the girl being held at knife point by Julius.

“Come on Cody, time to go back, you wouldn't want these adorable beasts to die for you, would you?” Julius threatened, his black beady eyes narrowed in Cody’s direction as Skarlet drew her sword.

“Cody, who the fuck is this?” She exclaimed, anger etched onto her face and swirled in her eyes, but Cody just sighed as he stepped forward with his own sword.

“He's my mentor from the Capitol, and one of the people hunting me.” Cody explained, suddenly Julius winced and shoved the girl away from him. He held his side, Amber tumbled to the ground and a bloody knife slipped from her hand. She hit the ground and didn't get up, though she was still breathing.

Skarlet leaped forward and slashed, Cody also stepped forward. Julius recovered rather quickly and blocked Skarlet's strike. Cody grabbed Amber and pulled her out of the range of the fight.

Skarlet took one hand off her sword and cast a fire ball at Julius who simply dodged before throwing a knife. Skarlet gritted her teeth as it embedded itself in her shoulder. Cody stepped forward and thrust his sword at Julius's abdomen. Julius kicked Skarlet in the gut and spun, bringing a blade he parried Cody's thrust and slung another knife. Cody dodged as Skarlet sank to her knees, shit poison!? Cody frowned as he realized the knives were laced.

“Julius, I'm gonna give you a chance to back down. If you don't I won't hold back anymore, I might kill you.” Cody spoke calmly as he reset his stance and Julius stood in front of him with his hands hidden in his cloak.

“Cody, you’re naive to think you can best me.” Julius spoke coldly before leaping forward with a spining flip, four knives came fast at Cody, he blocked one, dodged the next, blocked another then winced as one stabbed into his leg. Shit, Cody frowned as he took one hand off his sword. He chanted a quick incantation creating a shield of light before he leaped forward and smashed the shield into Julius.

The lanky assassination placed one hand on the shield and leaped up while pushing down, pulling a leg forward he kicked Cody in the face and sent him sliding back.

THUD, Cody slammed into the fish tank with a grunt of pain.

“That you're best, hero. Do better.” Julius drew a short sword called a rapier from somewhere before taking a fencer’s stance. Cody frowned, pushing off from the tank he took a step forward.

Julius also stepped forward and sent a volley of thrusts from his rapier. Cody blocked most of them with his shield as he close the distance, Julius Smirked as he spun around the shield and targeted Cody’s flank. Cody transformed his shield into a spear and thrust it at Julius who’s eyes widened in surprise as he barely dodged. Cody then slashed with his sword and forced Julius to finally block, locking them into a battle of strength.

Julius rotated his stance and easily pulled out of the block, sending another jab at Cody's side. Pain bloomed from his hip, Cody hissed in pain as he suddenly stumbled. I'm struggling to keep the poison at bay due to the pain.

Julius ducked, a look of Surprise once again painted guys face as Skarlet barely missed decapitating him. Julius stepped back as a kick smashed into his chest and he flew back into the fish tank with a resounding crack and clanking sound.

Skarlet wasn't done though, using the momentum of the kick she flipped backwards and slung her own knife.

Julius cocked his head to the side and the knife embedded itself in the glass with a tink like sound. Julius smiled as he stepped forward.

"Missed me cat!" He began to lunge forward when a odd creaking sound caused him to pause. Skarlet wasn't even looking at him anymore as she grabbed Amber and leaped up into the air with a burst of wind magic.

With a crescendo of cracking and breaking sounds the water was released with a roar and crashed into Julius with full force. Cody reacted later than Skarlet, creating a shield of light right before the water crashed into him.

Cody was sent flying back into the wall, after initially coming into contact with the water the pressure receded until he could move the shield behind him. As he smashed into the wall the shield shattered and the water enveloped him for a moment before receding. Julius was laying on the ground coughing a few feet away.

Cody took the chance to stab him in the back, pressing his knee into the back of the man's neck.

“Ha, ha, damn. Two on one wasn't in the cards for me eh. Shit.” Julius coughed up blood as it dribbled down his chin.

Cody stumbled, his whole body ached “fuck me.” Cody grunted. Skarlet suddenly hit the ground, landing on her back while holding Amber in her arms. She was unconscious, the poison had likely done that. Cody felt his strength fading as well, but he ripped the poisoned knife from his leg. He then stumbled over to Julius, falling to his knees and rummaged through the dead man's clothes for the antidote.

Eventually his shaking hands found a glass bottle filled with a blue liquid. He drank about half before crawling over to Skarlet and lifting her up. His vision was fading as he made her drink, the bottle fell and shattered on the ground. Cody felt his strength leave as he collapsed as well.

Cody lay on his back and gazed at the sky above through the sky light. Shit, that was a rough fight, we're lucky he was trying to capture me otherwise he probably wouldn't have had an antidote on him.

Cody sighed as the clouds seemed to fade out one by one and the sky was losing its color, really he was just losing consciousness.

When Cody woke it the middle of the night, the sun replaced by the moon. He sat up and looked around. Skarlet was already awake.

"We need to go now. I've got everything I need so I'm gonna go cause a commotion. You get us a ship, Beatrice will pick me up when the time is right. Just get that ship on the water and on a trip to Gulress got it!" Skarlet exclaimed before dashing out of the warehouse, leaving Amber to Cody she headed straight for the dock.

Skarlet raised her hand to the sky and lit a fireball, it didn't take long for the knights to appear, Skarlet drew her sword as she took a breath.

"Drop your weapon and surrender beast, we'll be interrogating you for the Hero's locati-" Skarlet rushed forward, a blast of wind spun her and she slammed the sword into the knight's armor, she used the flat of the blade in order to knock him away. The other knights tensed up as they watched their Leader smash through a wall.

Skarlet wasn't finished as she used another air blast to launch her upwards, she blasted several fireballs downwards clearing a path as she landed and pushed through them.

"Arg! Get her!" Aldwin exclaimed as he crawled from the wall. Pulling his sword out he dashed at her the knights surrounding her and pushing her back. Aldwin swung and Skarlet brought her blade to meet his with a loud clang of metal.

~

Cody approached the edge of the dock with Amber following him. He was adjacent to a ship, Cody sighed before diving into the sea. He swam up to the ship and began climbing up the back, a glow of yellow light guided him to the captain's quarters. Cody slipped in through the window, Amber right behind, and drew his sword silently, the sound of coins being counted on the desk filled the quiet room. Though being soaking wet kept him from being stealthy enough and the Captain rose and drew his own sword. "Good evening sir." Cody spoke as the Captain turned around, "My friend and I need a ship." a sudden sense of Déjà vu overcame him but he brushed it off

"And you think you can just have mine?" The captain asked, stepping forward and slashing at Cody. He parried, knocking the captain's sword from his hand and stepping forward to place his blade against the man's neck. "This can be a simple transaction where you agree to getting hijacked for a profit or I can actually take you hostage. . . What do you think?" Cody asked as he held up a bag of coins.

The captain gazed at the coins, it was a hefty bag, he looked at Cody and nodded.

"You got yourself a deal son." The old man agreed, and Cody released him. The man took a step back and ran a finger against his neck. He was dressed like a typical boat captain, he had a thin white mustache and a curly white beard.

"Let's get ready to leave then." Cody gestured to the door.

"What about your friend."

"Don't worry, she'll make it." Cody assured him as he sat down in the chair, the captain nodded before stepping out on deck.

"We're leaving, leave anything that's not already on the boat or in your hands!" The captain called, Cody smiled as he spun the chair around to gaze out the back window.

"Huh, to Gulress we go. Guess I'm finally leaving my home country." Cody mumbled as he stared out into the sea.

Skarlet blocked several sword strikes, twisting and turning, using her agility to stay just out of reach. Though she was slowly being backed towards the docks, they cut off her escape routes one by one till there was only the ocean behind her and the knights in front of her.

"There's nowhere to run, I must admit, you're truly a skilled swordsman and mage. Though it's over now, drop your weapon and I'll try to put in a good word." Aldwin spoke with a hint of admiration, she truly did blend her skills rather well together.

Skarlet bowed before turning and running towards the sea, "wait!" Aldwin called but she didn't stop and leaped out over the sea, hand outstretched like she was trying to grasp something, but instead, something grabbed her.

"A dragon!" One of the knights exclaimed, Skarlet was carried away by the dragon. She waved to the knights as she was carried to the boat that had already set sail. Beatrice dropped Skarlet on the deck, scaring the crew as she landed, she brushed herself off as Beatrice transformed and landed beside her. They made their way to the captain's quarters where they met Cody drinking with the captain.

"Quite an entrance Skarlet." Cody stood up and approached her, "no turning back now eh, we move forward now into both our uncertain futures and destiny."

"Heh, yeah, destiny." Skarlet sighed as she approached the window and watched Ulmet fade into the distance. "I've left everything I ever knew, but I'm hoping where I'm going, where we're going is better."

"We'll come back." Cody assured her, "there are people we're leaving behind."

"Yeah." Skarlet rubbed her arm as Maria's face appeared in her mind. "I'm gonna get some sleep." Amber had moved from Cody's side to Skarlet's. There was a couch to the side of the quarters, Skarlet settled onto the couch, Amber sat down on the floor laying her head against Skarlet's shoulder.

~

Slam the sound of a door opening roughly announced the entrance of Maxwell. He strode into the room and dropped into his chair. His hand landed on his face with a deep sigh.

"How troublesome."

"For you, things are going great for me." Griax smiled happy as he closed the door softly.

"Yes I see, you've claimed my most important pawn and made it a piece in your game instead."

"True, Skarlet it's definitely not the vessel of despair anymore. And that's practically impossible to make her back into one."

"Thanks to you everything would have been great if you hadn't decided to involve yourself. I asked you to play your games on the other side of the world."

"But it's no fun to play alone."

"Well, that's only because you're fun involves interrupting the plans of others."

"Okay, true however doesn't mean we can't still play. I'm not going to directly interfere and neither are you right so pick a new pawn. I'm sure you have a couple of things stored away I know how you operate. I'll focus on Skarlet for now and you do your best to kill her."

"This is a warning, if you push any further I'll have to stop you with Force."

"Ooh that would be fun, father said siblings really shouldn't be fighting. But you know what, father isn't here right now." Griax smiled before turning to leave. "Oh by the way, you might want to turn your eyes toward Madreachia, there's a high chance something will go awry there and this time it won't be my fault." With that last warning, Griax was gone.

"What am I going to do, I spent so much time setting up all the Domino's. Orchestrating each and every misfortune. I made her life hell for what, just so she can slip out from underneath my fingers the last moment. So she can find people who understand her? don't give me that shit!" Maxwell swiped his hand across the table knocking everything onto the floor in a fit of rage. "She's a monster I created, the solitary fool, destined to wither away in pure despair. Yet for some reason she's smiling while taking care of that child and making friends. This was not part of the script." He paused and got to his feet as he started to pace the room.

"Wait, a monster I created. . . Skarlet isn't the only monster that I've painstakingly created. I didn't think about it before but. . . yeah that could work." Maxwell seemed to realize something as he stopped and began to laugh. "Yes of course, and on top of it I'll be able to kill her and get the sword back. Yes! She's headed to Gulress right now if I remember correctly. That's quite fortunate, I recently sent Gordon there. And there's that whole debacle that I've been carefully curating with the werewolves." Quiet laughter and paper scribbling filled the room as Maxwell began to formulate his new plan. The new Target set in his crosshairs was unaware as she stepped onto a boat bound for Madreachia.

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TO BE CONTINUED. . .