abyssianmelody | [Chapter 03 - Scene] Unexpected Meeting

"Kyle Dunamis? I didn't expect to see you here." Raine approached him. "Then again, this place is crawling with Malkuth soldiers..." She sighed, looking around. But she gave a cordial smile to the fellow orphan. "Is everything all right with you, Kyle?"

“Ra-Raine... Sage?” Kyle was half shocked, neither he was happy or sad. But he couldn’t believe that he able to see Raine again. “Yeah, I was about to say the same thing! How long was it, half year already?” Kyle chuckled then glanced to the large group of soldiers, “You’ve heard, haven’t you? About the fallen Akzeriuth. So as been said that the empire of Kimlasca turned out to be our enemy, and his majesty had decided to decl—“, before Kyle could continued, he realized it shouldn’t told by anyone including local civilian. “I-it’s best you shouldn’t be here. The north port is unavailable right now. So I suggest you could stay here for couple days.”

((OoC: I'm guessing this is after the other log? If not, I can change this post! :D))

Noishe, at Raine's side, stared curiously at the young man before them. Raine seemed to know him....huh. The beast wondered from where... Frankly, that was only half of what was on his mind at the time, because the other half was occupied by joy at seeing his brother alive and well, annoying as he is. However, Kyle's words piqued his interest.

Fallen? Akzeriuth....what was that? But that thing has 'fallen?' The white-and-green arshis did not know what this meant, but he could sense the bad connotations placed on the phrase. Worried, he glanced up at his silver-haired companion and waited for the conversation to resume.

[ooc: That's fine, Kaze. Since Taco's been busy, we can assume that Marta and Tenebrae are finishing up their shopping and can crash this log later on.]

Crossing her arms, Raine let out a smirk. "Were you always this uptight? Then again, you always did have trouble with sleeping in... I suppose the military really does change a person, doesn't it?" Raine mused aloud. She indeed had heard about Akzeriuth, and while she would have loved to go to ground zero herself in order to determine what exactly had happened, she knew that wasn't an option at this point in time. "If the north port is closed, then we may need to travel by land. We should probably discuss our next destination, though..." She looked at Noishe, and back at Kyle.

"This is Noishe. He... follows me, but he's quite tame."

Raine was right. Since Kyle joined the military, he’s a bit changed, well almost. “I guess so, my sleeping habit still stuck within me if you ask. Indeed I ended up troubling everyone and got several punishments because I failed to report myself for the duty just in time.” He chuckled as he embarrassed himself. He just gladded that Raine didn’t meet him in Grand Chokmah. Otherwise, Raine would look down on him because of his silliness. Kyle glanced to a dog like creature. “So I should say Raine has new bodyguard? Haha, I’m just kidding.” Then he patted its head gently. “It’s nice to meet you, Noishe. I’m Kyle Dunamis, Raine’s my childhood orphanage. We’ve been grew up together for long time.”

Heard that she will travel by land, Kyle without hesitate approached next to her. “Whoa, wait a minute. You’re not planning to go to Kaitzur, aren’t you?” By listened his tone, Raine could notice he was worried. If she’s going to Baticul, there’s possibly she will safe. But if she’s heading to Rugnica…

SUDDENLY. MARTA.

... No, really. Marta had finished up her business and now was running toward the small group consisting the woman and the arshis she did know. Albeit slightly. Tenebrae remained at her side, though he padded up in a slightly calmer fashion. He didn't see where the rush was, obviously.

Marta stopped close to Raine and took a few moments to catch her breath before looking up at the older woman with a smile.

"S-Sorry I'm late! The guy selling the gels was a pain to find ..." And then she noted that they were one more in the group. Some ... blonde kid. Either way, she smiled, and held up a hand to greet him.

"Hi there!"

Tenebrae, meanwhile, caught up and stood beside Noishe, snorting a little at Marta's expense.

"Notice she didn't buy anything she was trying on earlier," He commented to Noishe amusedly in their own native arshis language.

Tame? He was not tame, thank you very much. Were it not for being in a city, Noishe would have come up with a witty retort. Of course, they were in a city. Stupid cities. He hoped they could leave soon...

At Kyle's introduction, the arshis nodded, though his head pat was...well. It was demeaning! ...But it felt nice, the sacred beast had to admi--no! It was demeaning! He drew his thoughts from the demeaning action and grinned at Marta's antics.

"Remind me again why exactly you're traveling with her? Somehow, It doesn't seem right." Noishe replied to his replica.

"We just came back from the Zao Ruins." Raine commented, crossing her arms as she grew accustomed to the fact that the two sacred beasts would always just talk in their own native tongue and she'd have a headache if she ever tried getting a clue as to what they were saying. "I was thinking of checking on the Cheagle Forest since I've heard that the local ecology was somehow changed. That's within Malkuth territory, right? You already know that I'm a Malkuth citizen, and the Keterburg Academy has already issued me a travel permit." Raine held it out for Kyle to see. She could tell something was on Kyle's mind, but asking outright wouldn't do any good as she found out from most of the denizens from the Orphanage.

Another sweet girl appeared with her dog, what a lively group. Kyle returned back a smile and wave to Marta. “Uh, do I need to introduce again? Name’s Kyle Dunamis, Raine’s childhood orphanage. Well, you see… The trade business was closed for awhile. If you’re looking for items, you can go to the inn. I’m sure they still run some small business for needed supplies.” He hoped at least he could give her some information and that’s how soldier able to help the civilians.

Kyle raised his eyes even wider. “Cheagle Woods?! You can’t go there!” His high pitched voice could hear by several soldiers around him. Kyle blinked and quick apologized to them. ”I can’t talk here. Let’s go somewhere else that no one listens to us.” He dragged Raine’s hand, hopefully her companion will follow him too. He took everyone all the way to the empty area near the bar.

Wait, wait. What?

She just got here. And now this 'Kyle' guy was dragging her new traveling companion off with him. WHAT.

Well, she was interested in what Kyle had to say, anyway. So she started off after them.

And this seemed to be one of the only times in which Tenebrae and Marta shared the same sentiments, for he, too, followed along.

"The Isofon," He answered to Noishe in response to his question, as if it were obvious.

The arshis original followed. He had nothing else to do, by any means than follow. "You have to remember that the pack alpha never felt the need to indulge any of us with information about the outside world...except for about fonons and basic stuff. But that was not what I meant!" It was a surprise, really, that he was able to stand his "brother," as much as his words got on everyone's nerves.

The comments of the two human friends intrigued Noishe. The Cheagle Woods? As in where the cheagles lived? Other sacred beasts? Now thiswas interesting... The wolf-like creature kept his ears open for further discussion.

Finally, Raine was going to get some answers. She didn't necessarily enjoy prodding Kyle on to take these measures, but she knew that people didn't have loose lips unless you loosened them for them. Finding themselves in an alleyway, Raine crossed her arms. "Okay, Kyle, what is going on? You're not the type to get all flustered around a pretty girl such as Marta, so there has to be something going on. My bet's on the government." She sighed. What was Malkuth thinking?

Two ladies were staring him, plus two more creatures. Kyle wasn’t fooling around when comes bad situation especially the incoming war. He had to explain as well discuss with them if needed. “You see, after Akzeriuth fall, the high councils had assumed that it was Kimlasca’s fault and they rejected Malkuth’s peace treaty. Also, we’ve been reported that Princess Kimlasca, Colonel Curtiss and the others were there during the fall. I’m not so sure if they’re still alive.” He paused awhile before he continued the main point, which he supposed to be kept quiet.

“The next fall will be in St. Binah, that’s what I’ve heard. We don’t received any orders yet, but to stand by… for upcoming battle against Kimlasca, which will be held in Rugnica. Yet, I have to lead my troops. So, please Raine. For your own safety and the others, don’t go to Rugnica.” Both empires had clashed into war only because of the fallen mines. At least Kyle had warned them before they faced the battle field.

"A war ..?" Marta asked, wide-eyed at the news. She'd been traveling for quite some time, and had heard about the fall of Akzeriuth in passing, which, at the time, she hadn't believed.

But now? No, it was real. She bit her lip. What was going on? Why was all of this happening? Was this to follow in accordance with the score? Had the score predicted something like this?

A part of her couldn't help but think that perhaps her father may have been at fault. But, despite how much she truly loved her father, a lot of the blame for anything and everything in her mind seemed to automatically amount to him nowadays.

"St. Binah ... Wait, if you know it's going to fall, is anyone doing anything to try and find a way to stop it?!" Marta asked, suddenly afraid for the people living in St. Binah.

"At the least, it'd be a good idea to evacuate the area! Are there any evacuations currently happening?!"

Tenebrae fell quiet for several moments. He wasn't quite certain what to make of this.

"This is odd," He commented to his brother. "Hod fell similarly to this, I presume?"

(OOC: I'm assuming Tenebie filled Noishe in as to what exactly their home was and what happened, sorta? ^^;))

Falling...evacuating people...and war? Most of the words and phrases spoke of concepts foreign to Noishe, yet some still held a deep foreboding over him. The white-and-green arshis growled softly, under his breath. Hod was home... Home had fallen... So, did they mean that the same was going to happen elsewhere? His hackles rose and he involuntarily shivered.

"I...think so. There were cracks in the ground, and people were screaming...I escaped with the Ring and in some burst of insanity or other went out into the ocean. I don't know what came over me. I was just so... scared..." The arshis admitted to his brother. He hated admitting fear, yet...it was true. "So the cheagles there and...the people, too, I guess, might all die, too?" A strange sense of...sympathy washed over the beast. A sense of empathy... he had, after all, gone through the "land falling" sort of thing. No...they shouldn't die...they shouldn't lose their homes...

Even if they were human...

[ooc: yeah, we can just assume so. sorry about the random time-skipping and everything. the other log's just about done, though.]

"So, the gloves come off, do they?" Raine crossed her arms as she lifted a hand to the side of her face, ruminating. "Tensions between the two remaining militaristic world powers excluding Daath were always bad, but Akzeriuth is the perfect excuse for either side to challenge the other for the remaining land. Why they'd want to is beyond rational explanation for me, but no wonder you don't want us anywhere near Rugnica." Raine looked at Kyle and gave him a small smile. "You've always been a good kid, Kyle; thanks for looking out for us, but next time, could you skip the game and let us know straight up?" She lightly tapped his forehead with her finger in a quasi-disciplinary manner.

She thought, and she thought. And she looked at Marta when Marta gave her altruistic suggestion. She turned back to Kyle. "Is the government doing anything about St. Binah, or are you just turning away anybody who's heading over there so that nobody thinks that they're wrong? A strange strategy, but this is the government we're talking about."

[ooc: Oh my, I checked the review and I think I just mess up the actual story from TOTA. Is it fine I change the plot a bit? Silly me~]

Kyle made a small winched when Raine tapped his forehead. Then he smiled of her compliment, though he was good boy but sometimes a bit stubborn. “I-I’m not a kid anymore!” He embarrassed. “Honestly, I had no idea how we ran out each other. I’m just glad that I can help. But it’s better not to tell this situation in public. Everyone was scared, and so the soldiers too. They rather not to discuss about this matter but our first priority is to keep the citizens safe.”

As he listen every word that came out from her, he was thinking. What was happening to this world? What the government was planning to do? Though he couldn’t find the answers, but one day he will. He turned to Marta as he noticed she was worried about St. Binah more than anyone else. “You can keep your worries, Miss Marta. Eventually, the residents of St. Binah figured out there’s a sign from where they stood; an earthquake. The strange is, the tremor only felt around area of St. Binah, excluding Cheagle Woods. We received their message soon after that and in return, we sent them our soldiers to aid them. General and I had been planned to evacuate those residents to the nearest town, Engeve. We didn’t receive any result yet. I hope they’re doing fine.”

"Oh, good," Marta breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled at Kyle. "I'm glad. I'm sure you guys are doing what you can to get those poor people out of there."

Tenebrae snickered at Marta's concern, which made her nudge him a little with her foot.

"I-In any case, since the place is becoming a battlefield, where else can we head off to in the meantime without getting caught up in everything? I-- err, we can't very well stay in Chesedonia the entire time, right? It'd get seriously boring after a while. Seriously." Marta giggled a little, trying to cover her almost-slip. She really couldn't stay in one place for a long time ...

She didn't want to keep Tenebrae away from his brother, though. So, if Raine was all right with it, Marta wanted to stay with her for just a little longer ... she knew Tenebrae would follow her if she left on her own. She wanted to find a way to make it so that she could escape without him knowing, so that he could stay with Noishe, and she could ... well. Not put anyone else into the situation she was currently in. She felt bad enough with Tenebrae involved now ...

Tenebrae sighed.

"That sounds about like what you're describing with Hod. Again, I'm glad you made it away safely, brother. It's a shame, what happened to the rest of the pack, but it's all in the past now. We'll remember them, and live on for them."

In a single, brief moment of vision, Noishe realized there was another reason that Marta did not want to stay. He wouldn't ask now, but he knew he'd have to later. Or else bug Tenebrae about it. Now that area Raine had wanted to go was going to become a battlefield? Fun stuff, that. How the arshis hated fighting... He was startled back into his senses by his brother's comment.

"I'm glad I did, too, and...well, you never know. Maybe someone else escaped, too? Surely we're not the last arshis. Though, you are right. Even if there are no survivors...we still need to remember everyone else." Noishe sighed. He glanced briefly at Tenebrae again, curious as to his companion's demeanor, but...he'd ask later. He would be more polite than the stupid other furball.

[ooc: It's also partially my fault, so I'll try to see if I can at least get a broad outline we can use for the future and post it in the OoC comm for further plotting. I'll put it up when I get around to it.]

The fact that the government wasn't actually doing anything about the people in St. Binah left a somewhat bitter taste in Raine's mouth, but she also knew that even if she wanted to, there was nothing that she could do. She didn't hold a high-ranking government position, nor did she have access to any sort of mass transportation. However... "If St. Binah is going to fall as did Hod so many years ago, what guarantee is there that we'll be safe anywhere else? If we can't prevent St. Binah from falling, we could at least attempt to ascertain exactly why the land is falling so that the other areas around Auldrant won't fall." She looked to her traveling companions. "What do you all think?"

With Kyle’s rank, he also couldn’t do anything. He still had long way to go. Thinking of Raine’s fact, it could be make any sense. But he didn’t have strong proves to support the fact, which made him almost gave up to think. After all, Kyle wasn’t smart anyway. “I don’t even know if the other area besides St. Binah would fall. But think again, Raine. We don’t even know what made them fall. There’s something may cause it. Oh man, my mind really twisted about this.” If Raine was said there’s possibly the other area will fall, then Rugnica would be first to fall. But there’s where the war will occur!

Glanced at worried Marta, she’s had a point. Chesedonia wasn’t safe anymore. “Talking about safe place, I think you can go either Daath or Grand Chokmah. As I said earlier the port was closed… But maybe with my permit, you and the others could take a ship to either two locations without me.” That’s right, he wasn't allowed leave Chesedonia.

... Daath.

Marta instantly shook her head. "If we take that route, Kyle, it's either Grand Chokmah or bust for me. I wouldn't mind going the way Raine suggested, though, and trying to figure out if there anything else that will fall. But where would we start? The score that might hold that information is either kept under lock and key, or it's undiscovered at the current time, I'm pretty sure."

Tenebrae could see that familiar light in Noishe's eyes as he realized something; and he knew. He knew that he suspected something about Marta.

It was a good thing he intended to explain that to him, wasn't it? Just ... not now. When they had time. And when they weren't talking about what to do next.

"I don't really care where we go. I don't really know what to do now. But maybe..." The arshis held his breath. This St. Binah place could become like Home, like Hod. Maybe he should try to prevent it? Like an arshis could do anything, but...still... Noishe released the breath and met Raine's eyes.

"I would like to continue traveling with you all. If there was something we could do..." No one deserved to lose their home as he had... Except maybe those researche-no, perhaps not even them.

"True... scientifically speaking, there's no real explanation as to why even Hod fell in the first place." Raine continued her musing, more or less oblivious to what everybody else was saying. "I mean, nobody went ahead down the hole that's in the world, and somehow the water level in the sea isn't lowering even though there's a big waterfall..." She thought aloud. "Almost no research has been openly done. The only people with funding enough to even attempt an investigation would be under the mercy of the governments, which are at the mercy of the Order of Lorelei..." She began mentally connecting the dots. "Not that we'd be able to get very many willing answers if we go to Daath directly."

Kyle crossed him arm, thought deeply with their responds. As Raine said, they won't get much information if they just go directly to Daath. "Then, how about Grand Chokmah? I believe there's few researches still doing their research in our head quarters-"

"First private Kyle? Sorry to disturb but we've been looking for you."

A voice cut into and Kyle turned to the alley entrance, there's a soldier who has been waiting for him. He wondered how he got him here. "Sorry everyone, I need to excuse for awhile." With that, Kyle left from the group. He gave them some chances to think about it.

After Kyle left, Marta was quiet for a while. She then looked to Tenebrae and offered a sheepish, almost awkward sort of smile.

"So, Grand Chokmah?"

Tenebrae bowed his head a little in thought before nodding.

"There isn't much other choice, is there?"

Marta shrugged. "Unless there are any better ideas. I wouldn't be opposed to crossing the battlefield, but Kyle seems so genuinely concerned that I'm not sure I'd want to go against his warnings."

Noishe paused to think for a moment. Well, if Raine said Daath would not hold very many answers, she was probably right. What did the arshis know about those types of things? "If it's our best bet, then Grand Chokmah it is." He agreed. What else could they do? Well, whatever everyone else decided to do, he would accept and follow. Unless it was bad or foolish. He would be quite the vocal beast then.

Marta, too, was right. Crossing a battlefield might not be smart...Noishe loathed physical violence. That's not to say he would not defend himself, but... It was best to avoid such conflict, or run from it.

"Why don't we consider Sheridan?" Raine suggested out loud, still ruminating. "I mean, if Marta doesn't mind." Raine only just met Marta, but Marta didn't share anything about her destination... but Raine went out on a limb to assume that Marta didn't want to be anywhere near Daath. "Sheridan is a city of fontech, much like Belkend, after all. We may be able to find interesting research there."

Not too early and not too late neither, Kyle returned back to them. He seems satisfied on what he had done, without noticed that he was smiling. As he turned to the girls, he attempted to not interrupt their discussion. It was them to decide which location where they think is safe. All he had to do now is wait their final decision and help them with his might.

Marta thought on it for a few moments, and then nodded.

"Sheridan ... haven't seen that one yet."

Tenebrae opened his mouth to speak, but closed it upon seeing that Kyle had returned. He nudged Marta a little to indicate that he didn't mind going there.

Marta, unfortunately, didn't understand what he meant at first.

"Jeez, Tenebrae! If you had to wipe your nose, you could have-- Oh. Oh, um, okay, I get it." And with that, she smiled at the others in the area.

"Sheridan sounds like a good idea! If you don't mind us tagging along, Tenebrae and I would be glad to come with you all."

Noishe pretended to know what and where this "Sheridan" place was, but he didn't care. It was as good a place as any, he supposed... The arshis nodded his consent.

"To...Sheridan, then?" He glanced at Kyle briefly. Was the soldier not coming, then? He had duties or something, didn't he... Wait, pause. Did he care about traveling companions? He wanted more, even humans! Geez, he was getting soft...he was no human-lover! ...Yet a lot of these people seemed ni-no! Stoppit!

Raine gave a soft smile. Miss Lualdi certainly seemed to be an interesting individual, so it wouldn't be such a bad thing to have her tag along. Plus, Tenebrae certainly seemed like a marvelously fascinating individual, and she couldn't pass that opportunity up! In addition to Noishe?! Now this was luck in its purest form.

"Sheridan it is, then." She nodded, turning to Kyle. "Thanks for your help, Kyle... could you do me a favor, though? If you happen to see Genis, please tell him I'm at Sheridan."

Since Kyle left them awhile, he had no idea what made them change their location to Sheridan. Why he didn’t think about that place earlier? But after all, Raine chose the wise decision to avoid any collision between Kimlasca, Malkuth and Oracle armies. He let out a sighed of relieve, he had nothing to worry about their safety anymore.

“No problem, Raine. You have my word. So you ladies head to Sheridan then? Let me escort you to the port, I’ll assign a special vessel for you to the location.”

The port indeed closed for a moment, without any permission of officers. At least this was their last opportunity to escape from the region.

[Chapter 03 - Scene] Unexpected Meeting

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