Priscilla stayed with Jensen and Hallie in their cozy cabin, she would rest in one room while the couple took the other. Jared and Ferro meanwhile got to re-familiarize themselves on the floor. The days were peaceful and long, they learned about each other and worked on their teamwork. They'd train in combat, trying out different formations and combinations to see what would be the most effective. Everyone had their own specialties and this time was a great help to them in adapting as a makeshift team. Priscilla found herself fitting in great with them, using her speed came the easiest to her, even harnessing the wind around her skin felt almost instinctive despite her disconnect from the markings that etched her body in their warmth. Being so agile she could easily work around the others, defending and attacking as she saw fit.

As the days passed, through their repeated rigorous training she felt her connection with the powers dwelling inside strengthen, each night as she lay in bed she could feel a tickling on her shoulders, wriggling free and moving ever so slightly. Each morning she'd find herself moving ever so quicker, the wind whispering in her ears ever more clearly. It was a thrilling feeling, and a freeing feeling.

Each time Jared would slam a warhammer down at her she'd weave through the space gracefully, dodging it without breaking a sweat. She'd punch or kick him in the ribs launching him away. Never hard enough to truly hurt him; for they were practicing after all. But still, she made her presence known as they took turns battling one another. Surprisingly it was Ferro who she disliked fighting the most, the man's eyes could follow her movements the best of anyone, it made it so he could ensnare her in trickery a lot more easily than the others. And when she was going against multiple of them, or it was two against three, they'd still find themselves in a standstill most of the time.

Each day became a memory she couldn't forget, it was fun— incredibly so.

But as time passed, they soon found themselves at the day of the Imperial Legion's arrivals; and the day the dance troupe would perform too. It was a strange feeling for Priscilla knowing that she'd been back for a little over two weeks already. The world with time was such a drastic comparison to the world without it. She wore her garment now adorned with leather straps and light armor that sat atop it. She retained the charm of an enchanting woman, but gained the qualities of a veiled danger, a dagger hidden away— waiting to strike. At the center of the armor lay an emblem of an enraged boar— Jensen thought it funny considering the woman always called him one. The rest of the group had similar attire, Jared wore a more heavy armor that better suited his size. Jensen as well showed up as a mixed brawler, bare chested and light, but his steel covered fists proved to be a fierce beast to go up against.

As the group made it to the town square they gawked at the sights they beheld; the town put stringed lanterns up illuminating the streets with a golden gleam, the stalls were bustling with masses as everyone moved from one to the other happily, enjoying the taste of the town's food an drink. A large platform sat isolated in the middle, with several rows of chairs surrounding it. To the side benches lined up with the Imperial family's crest pinned beside it on a flagpole. They prepared everything for the dance troupe's performance, and for the Imperial's enjoyment. As the gang was about to approach, Ferro felt a smack against his side as a miserable old man smacked it with his walking stick.

''Get ou'ma way.'' the man cursed as he limped past Priscilla and the rest. His face was a miserable scowl without a semblance of joy, his rotundous body jiggled in his baggy attire that was two sizes too big for his body. The man looked like he hated everyone, everything, and even himself. Yet despite that he still found himself in the most active place in town, eager to be a nuisance to all. Jensen clicked his tongue in disgust as he watched the man waddle off.

''That's ol' Kane.'' he said, shaking his head. ''Man's as miserable as money can buy. He's one of the wealthiest merchants in town, already ninety seven years old, but refuses to retire or die. He's so hateful he made a orphanage worth of children cry when they went out for a walk with a local sister.''

They were about to continue discussing, when the sound of cheering broke them our of their stupor. The thudding of metal echoed through the streets as several dozen fully armored men approached the town square. As the men approached a tall well dressed man stepped up onto the platform.

''Welcome greetings to the Imperial Family's mighty warriors!'' he said with excitement. ''Please— take a seat for now! The Azure Dance Troupe is here to entertain you tonight!''

The leading man took his helmet off revealing a serious square face and cold expression. A true man that had seen countless battlefields in his life, he ruffled his short hair before taking a seat and waving for the others to do the same. The men looked around at the streets with mixed reactions, at the end of the day they were people who lived either on the frontlines of conflicts or in the comfort of the Imperial city; a town like this was hardly that impressive to them, but still most of them at least pretended to be pleased. In reality they just wanted to see the dance troupe's performance, even within the Imperial city it was difficult to catch them performing since they always traveled about.

''Ladies and gentlemen... the greatest performance you've ever seen and will ever see again— will now begin.'' a man said with a hoarse voice from behind the platform.

Figures walked up onto the platform, veiled in thick cloaks that masked their bodies fully. The lantern lights flickered out as darkness swelled in the starry night sky. The figures moved rhythmically around the platform, as two figures drummed vigorously behind the platform. All eyes were on them, filled with excitement and enjoyment. It was a mystical sight, their bodies moved gracefully and with dignity across the massive platform. Only Priscilla found herself feeling a strange tension in her heart as she watched the performance, the whisper of the wind screaming in her mind.

A woman's scream startled the crowd as they turned to a stall owner, in front of her sat ol' Kane slumped over himself seemingly dead, from age, or choking, or a heart attack. Nobody really knew— or had the time to figure out as the sound of gurgling filled the street. It was an eerie sound, a bestial guttural breath that chilled the blood in people's veins. Several people had the mind to relight the lanterns, illuminating the crowd in its golden hue. It served to provoke a chained reaction of screaming as all turned to see the dance troupe performers.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

There they stood disfigured, their mouths slit open to the ears as they hung open and bare of tongue and teeth. Their emptied eye sockets hollow and devoid of the life one would expect. Dried blood circled the rim of the sockets as they stared soullessly into the crowd. Panic ensued as the masses began to flee. The wicked creatures lunged at those nearest, ripping into them with a vile aggression that ripped flesh off bone as they pounced unprovoked. The Imperial guards reacted quickly as they took out their blades and attacked.

''Everyone get back, demons are invading!'' the leading man shouted as he swung his blade at the performer closest to him. The creature felt the steel slicing through his arm as his head rotated behind himself, staring at the guard with his hollowed eyes. The man winced as he looked at the disgusting creature before retaliating with his blade once more, aiming for its throat.

Nearby a creature lunged for a child isolated from its parents, Priscilla reacted quickly as she shuffled towards the creature, she twirled her leg gracefully as she kicked it straight to the temple, knocking the creature back. She grabbed the child and ran back to Jensen and the rest. They helped steer people out as the guards confronted the strange atrocities that consumed the dance troupe members.

''What the hell is all of this.'' Jensen muttered with disbelief, the happy town square became a river of blood as the two dozen performers assaulted the town with frenzied aggression. The Imperial guards were too slow and too relaxed in the face of it, they should be attacking with lethality, but they were trying to capture them instead. ''Jare, let's take them on.'' he yelled to the big lug nearby.

The two men assaulted one of the creature's with a flurry of strikes, Jared struck his warhammer down towards the creature's limbs in an attempt to slow it, while Jensen slammed his fist towards its head. They continued comboing their strikes relentlessly, maiming the creature with every strike.

''Stay out of this!'' the leading guard yelled out angrily. ''These creatures need to be sent to the Imperial Cathedral for study.''

Jensen sulked when he heard that— he wanted to continue but they didn't want to risk the plan for the sake of some unknown creatures. Priscilla on the other hand ignored it as she took a dagger in hand and began shuffling swiftly towards a creature that was furthest away from the guards, she shoved the blade through its neck reading up and out of the back of its skull, she flicked her wrist removing the dagger easily as she slid off towards the next one. She didn't look back nor did she check if they were dead, she had to be quick and strike before the guards could react and admonish her. In a series of movements she struck seven of the creatures before she buried herself into the crowd away from the guard's notice.

As the creatures slumped to the ground lifeless the guard roared furiously, ordering his companions to strike quickly and capture the rest.

Once all was done, the guards pristine silver armor was covered in red blood, the town square was riddled with several dozen fresh corpses, severed flesh and missing limbs, and the solemnity of the masses as they few remaining stragglers wept and vomited at the sight of the horrible attack. The guards roped up the figures and tossed them into a carriage they repurposed, blanketing the things inside from the outside's gaze. The guards looked around with chilling expressions, but they gave up and began to walk off.

''Wait!'' one man said with urgency. ''Mighty warriors of the Empire, thank you for saving us!'' he said with a fawning smile, before adding. ''Might you tell us— what were those things?''

''It's nothing you need to concern yourself with.'' the leading guard said flatly.

''But, Sir...'' the man said shortly, before the guard stopped him.

''Quiet! I said don't ask, so don't ask.'' he mentioned sternly, as he waved for the guards to head off.

''We'll be back tomorrow for the recruitment. Clean up and be prepared.'' he added before turning off and heading off as well.

Priscilla stood by Jensen and gazed at the Imperial men with discontent. 'Since when are the Empire's guards so careless for their own people...' she thought as she took in the sight of the bloodied bodies. It was gruesome how flesh and blood flew through the air with abandon. 'Praise the Star, what were those creatures even...'

''You did good, Prissy.'' Jensen nudged her with his elbow. ''Those dogs were too cruel there, for the sake of capturing samples for the church they sacrificed all these people...'' he said with annoyance.

''Mhm... Still confident about them not turning us into fodder in the sandlands?'' she asked sarcastically as her eyes never left the sight of the lifeless masses.

Jensen scowled slightly at her comment, more unsure of himself than anything as he truly didn't know anymore seeing their display. ''They weren't like this before... I don't know what's gotten into them.'' he said with a sigh.

''Let's just wait and see what happens tomorrow. We can judge based off of that.'' Jared added with some helplessness. It was such a good event, and it turned into a dance with death instead.

''Yes, let's do that.'' Ferro and Hallie agreed.

There wasn't much else for them to do; it was an unheard of situation, people died, and their hopes seemed injured in the process as they saw the guard's treatment of the people outside of their circle. They could only wait and hope for tomorrow to bring word of what those things were— why they attacked and what the next step was. Would the guards proceed to the border? Or would they head back with the captured performers? The group quickly left the town square heading back to Jensen's cabin, for the time being they could only pass the night and return tomorrow.

As they walked through the woods Ferro suddenly gasped. ''Oh, shit!''

The others turned to him with confused glances as they stared at his shocked and bewildered expression. Their expressions clearly asking him what happened.

''I just remembered— did anyone see Lady Bellum in that mess?'' he asked with concern.

''Huh— I haven't. But, Ferro. I don't think that was the real Azure Dance Troupe even... so Lady Bellum wouldn't be there either if so...'' Jensen said, shrugging it off. There wasn't a reason for Lady Bellum to be among the monsters that attacked the town.