Western Istan Isles.
Ishenvale City.
Start of the 3rd Harvest.
112th Era.
The Duke of Ishenvale City sits alone in his large throne room adorned with his crest in every conceivable area. His wheel chair folded next to his throne and his servants kneel before him. Large windows let the light shine from the glorious rising sun, or should it be called a lowering isle, helping him read the letter.
Dear, My next target.
How are you? I believe you were at the meeting in Kingstock correct? You got a wonderful view of my face too. You've set spot on posters around your city with my face on them. But sadly I remain in the shadows. We will meet soon. Mark these words, Duke. Because you should be wary of the coming days. When gold falls from the sky, your head shall roll through your town square. Enjoy your festival of Harvest. Can't wait to see you.
- The Kingstock Murderer, Alyce Tyr Tenvia.
A bead of cold sweat gently caresses the Duke's forehead. Now his greatest nightmare is playing ball in his yard. And worst of all. He can't see it.
Back at the Blacksmith's Alyce and Cylika are in their new room, originally meant for the apprentices but as they have left the world, Yorham saw no reason they couldn't stay instead. Cylika took a great interest in the inner workings of Xun and is squeezing her plush body feel all her parts. Alyce stares at herself in the mirror of the attached bathroom. In front of her lie a pair of scissors, some bandages, and two pieces dark blue cloth.
She picks up the scissors and cuts her newly blackened hair, she then fashions it into a loose ponytail with one of the cloth pieces. She then takes the bandages and applies them to cover her scars. Finally she looks up and studies her cursed eye. The veins have grown smaller over the past two days. She doesn't understand how it works. But she would eventually get her answer. She wraps the other blue cloth around her head covering her eye. She looks up and smiles, as she can see perfectly through the fabric.
The seal placed on it allows the wearer to see right through but no one else can, like a one way mirror. She likes the way it looks on her, she imagines her pink hair back for a moment and agrees with herself that blue with pink makes sense. She walks back to see Cylika tormenting Xun attempting to figure out where all her bits and pieces are. "Cylika please! Stop!"
"But I wanna know where your voice box is! Are there different settings? Can I change your voice and-"
"No, her voice is set in stone." Alyce's cold voice booms through the room. Cylika and Xun only now realizing she was done cutting her hair. Alyce walks over and sits down on the bed, and begins to pet Xun who lightly purrs like a kitten.
"Whoa, Alyce! You look good with your hair like that." Cylika now getting a really good look at Alyce's face, everything just lined up. Her scars that healed wonderfully. Cylika couldn't help but feel something.
"Thanks, so. How's it been workin' with Yorham?"
"It's been great! I had no idea being a blacksmith was so much fun! I'm learning a lot from him. Back in the slums I had to fashion a lot of makeshift gadgets to get by, sadly I lost all my tools when I was arrested. Else I would make some schematics and maybe you could've used some of my inventions." Alyce pats Cylika on the back giggling lightly.
"I'm set with Xun. Don't need anythin' else." Cylika looks to Xun in confusion.
"But Xun is a plush toy? How can she be useful in combat?" Alyce points to the blade on the nearby table.
"That's Xun." Cylika looks back and forth between Xun and Xun.
"Alyce, I'm confused." Alyce stands up and grabs the sword Xun off the table.
"Designation S.Xun." Then she points to the Xun on the bed "Designation B.Xun." Originally it was just my blade here. But after the accident B.Xun there became my partner.
"Hm, why is your sword broken?" Alyce's stare goes distant for a moment as she remembers the day she received S.Xun.
She walks back to the bed. "A long time ago... My father was trainin' my cousin to make her an extremely powerful fighter, it was for some prophecy bullshit or somethin'. My family line is knee deep in the romantics of storytellin'. Anyways one day I was sitting on a tree stump looking at a book while they sparred."
"I know what it's like being around people who don't shut up about prophecies. People like that need to calm down." Cylika and Alyce laughed a little before Alyce continued her story.
"The blades were around 2 meters in length and rather bulky. My father beat the shit out of my cousin tryin' to get her to learn the hard way how to fight. And her blade shattered at the base. She stared at it and my father grew angry. He grabbed the blade out of her hand and threw it. Just so happened it landed in front of me. I remember it scarin' the shit out of me."
"Well I would expect from a blade being thrown at you!" Alyce pushed Cylika off the bed lightly.
"Jeez girl, stop makin' jokes let me finish!" Cylika sat up and rubbed her head.
"Hehe, sorry, go on!"
"So they went back inside and I just sat there staring at the sword. I had seen some sword fighting manuals when I was looking through my father's library so I picked it up. It was really heavy. Keep in mind I was like 7. I felt a pulse from the blade. I thought it was a heart beat. It gathered some snow while I was trying to pick it up. The word Xun in the Elv language means snow. So that's what I called it. It kinda became my best friend... As sad as that is."
"Alyce, did you not just talk shit about your family being too into romanticizing things?" Cylika sarcasticly jokes. Alyce scoffs and pets Xun a little more.
"Different. I was 7 and I was stupid. I certainly wasn't the same person I am now."
"I beg to differ" B.Xun looking at Alyce with her pale blue glowing eyes.
"Oh don't you get started. You met me when I was only 12, you didn't know me when I was 7. We Rabizens mature faster than you Demys." Suddenly Cylika looks at Alyce in confusion.
"Wait. Demys? But I thought Xun here was an... Artificial intelligence like Yorham was calling her or something!" Alyce looks at Xun. Who nods lightly.
"It's ok to tell her. I certainly like her." Alyce places her hand on Cylika's shoulder and looks into her eyes.
"Xun, was once Demys. Her original name was... Rachel. She was part of my team. She lost her body, but a piece of her remained behind. Her core, much like those gems of Astrel you saw, except it holds the soul of a being. Not everyone has one. It needs to be summoned out of the body and doing that is incredibly dangerous. Luckily we were saved before her core was destroyed. I have it locked away in the pommel of my blade along with my own core." Cylika looks at Xun, and lightly pets her.
"You two have been through so much... How have you not... Ended it?" Alyce looks down and Xun steps forward.
"It's best not to ask that question, Cylika." Alyce stretches and gets off the bed making her way towards the door.
"I don't see why I bothered tellin' you all this. Once my job is done, you can stay here with Yorham and become an amazin' Blacksmith." She opens the door. Then pauses before walking out.
"I need to finish up some preparations. Join me on the balcony if you're feeling up to it." Then, she walks away closing the door behind her.
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