Headlamps of the Hart/A Grand Tour [Trip/Rich]

Elise seemed to almost be in a mix of apathy and shock to Harlock's reaction to the situation and fearing that the prince's anger be somewhat directed at her she remained quiet and out of the way of the group. Jazmin for the most part was a little horrified by Harlock's sudden turn to despair and crestfallen attitude. So she was just trying to keep her body language relaxed and welcoming despite whatever fear she held in her mind. Jazmin felt a little too... unsophisticated to really comment or speak her mind to Harlock. Not being a comforting or motherly type, she had no words to try and soothe the prince. Just trying to stand in support of Filia and be accommodating to Harlock she tried for a weak smile.

Despite the psionic ripples that permeated from his own body, Harlock could perhaps feel that his energies were like a coin being tossed down a well. A pit of darkness all too willing to swallow whatever was tossed into it only offering the perception of a granted wish. Natrually his energies rippled throughout space-time like they should have. Harlock's father and all his kin may yet feel this SOS, but faintly. Unable to precisely pinpoint the prince's actual location. But Harlock knew that this signal was nothing more than a hopeless gesture. Sure the tossed coin made ripples in the water at the bottom of the well, but who's to say anything at the bottom of the well could see the top and vice versa. Yet the well as an entity facilitated all of this. Playing host to the coin and praying on the wishes of the one who threw the coin. Passively naturally, no one was forced to toss a coin and no one promised that the wish behind the coin would ever come true. Yet the coin still fell through the well and still landed at the bottom as one would expect. But a darkness that lay between the surface and the water at the bottom created an intense mystery. Making you believe that perhaps something really happened to the coin on the way from the top to the bottom. But in reality it just fell through and landed in water at the bottom.

Jazmin sighed and rubbed her head, looking to Filia. "I suppose that's true. Come on Elise. Let's get back to the surface." Elise and Jazmin started heading into the facility and headed for a set of emergency elevators that would take one from the bottom of the facility to the surface. Revealing that they were actually inside the northern most Nuclear Powerplant on the mountain overlooking the settlement. Perhaps the survivors had been mislead as to this facility's purpose as a powerplant and was in fact a missile base. Looking at it from this angle, it made sense. THe massive walls at the base of the mountain was a military base. The plant up here was clearly a weapon's research facility that used the spent nuclear waste of the central facility to be turned into rockets. Also explaining why the AI needed this facility. It would be her new source of weapons, detonating her virus all over the north and finally allowing her access to missiles that could even spread her virus to new worlds if the missiles were Intergalatic. The military must have covered up the true purpose of this facility from the public and the AI was conning Harlock into giving her control of a facility that would have fulfilled her victory.

-

The Inn-Keep looked up from her duties and nodded, "aye we got some fish in from the monger. Hope you aren't too picky about fish, and I'll grab some of the red wine you lot had the other night." She'd accept the money Liline had provided Sephus and informed him that she would bring the food to their room when it was ready. This left Sephus sometime to himself before he had to return to the room when the grub would be ready.

Filia didn't like to see Harlock like this, not that she ever has before, but at the very least his desperate attempt to try and get them help with this Psionic SOS might be useful... Too bad for her that she was far from the truth of that. Their captor had other plans for this, the SOS would certainly get out but their exact position was likely hidden. For all she knew their rescuers could pass them in an adjacent system and never find them until their captor wants them to be found.

Filia was in no position to try and calm the prince down... On the contrary. She had the thought that this might serve to bring reality to him. Then again as someone who suffered the fate of being a puppet with her mind and body being warped in the service of some monster before, she wasn't really the best person when it came to being nice or comforting. She was just about getting the hand of not having a terrible attitude all the time, something Wolfric was doing his best at helping her with despite the fact that he liked seeing her all bashful and pleasant around him exclusively. He couldn't be so greedy as to deny her the possibility of getting friends.

To stop her mind from sinking into a similar dispair at the thought of never getting to see her lover again, Filia walked with Jazmin and Elise as they traversed the halls and rode the elevators to the surface. The slow shift in temperature started to give Filia a eerie feeling before the doors opened  to blast them with the icy winds of the arctic. Stepping out into the cold, Filia looked down to look upon the settlement that Harlock had told them about. "This... This is it. You managed to teleport us this close to the settlement in  that strange warp space Jazmin! But... How come we were in the other reactor...?" Filia looked back and up above, looking upon the reactor building as she narrowed her eyes... This was far too convenient. "Harlock said that the AI needed to link to this place so she could complete her plan... And... And we just left him down there." Some worry did start to bubble in her chest, Harlock wasn't in a good frame of mind right now and he just might be desperate enough to try and end all this right now. Then again... That same AI did just try to kill them. If he looks around he might find the missile controls and try to take control of the facility itself. "We... May want to try and get Harlock. If he tries to take hold of the base then he'll definitely try and nuke that AI."

________________________________________________________________________________________________

With the matter of food taken care of he gave a nod to the Inn lady and decided that he should do some light exercise outside while Liline had her bath. Even though he had the cheeky idea of interrupting such a bath he put aside his desires and use them as fuel for training for the moment. With a soft sigh he steps out of the Inn and makes his way behind the inn and abit away so he doesn't interrupt or disturb anyone with the sounds of his training...

He did his best to find a nice little spot that would be out of peoples way, while still making sure that he knew his way back, where he would sit down on the cold ground and got himself in a meditative position. Focussing his mind inward as he manipulated the magic within him. On the fire that dwelled within and the darker impulses he was suppressing. On the outside all this would translate to the air around Seph growing warm, the grass beneath him no longer damp as he controlled his fire to a fine point.

Jazmin looked down at the settlement below and seemed amazed, "To think this reactor was actually a missile base all along. I think I know why that AI wanted Harlock to turn this place back on, huh? The AI'd not only get to infect this region but she'd launch nukes everywhere... Who knows the damage that'd cause?" Jazmin seemed lost in thought for a moment but suddenly nodded, "Yea, let's get Harlock now... Doctor, stay put." Jazmin rushed back into the facility to find the prince, hoping he'd do nothing stupid.

---

Sephus remained undisturbed for quite some time. But he could have sworn he felt a faint presence, maybe it was an animal or some such creature. Though he was shaken from his trance when he heard the subtle noise of a rifle being cocked. Opening his eyes he saw one of the women of the sheriff's posse. Her long hunting rifle pointed seemingly at Sephus. She fired but the shot whizzed past Sephus' ear, not so much as leaving a mark. Spinning around Sephus saw a pale corpse fly back, the woman lowered her rifle and placed a cigarette to her lips.
"Sorry about that, lad. Hope I didn't frighten you. Couldn't risk wasting time telling you about the blueman you had stalking you." She approached him slowly and offered a hand to Sephus, "name's Agnes. I seen you get off the ship a day ago, easy to remember when non-creach come through here." After helping Sephus to his feet the woman approached the pallid figure who had stalked Sephus. She lightly rolled it's head to the side revealing the creature resembled a drowned corpse. A few more women came rushing over from a field, one carrying a large lantern.
"Fair shot, Agnes." One of the women said before waving her hand in the air, the burly Âne man and Miss Marjorie Duncan walking over from the nearby road and lifting the corpse over his shoulder. He wrapped it in a shroud and hurled the corpse off the side of the nearby seawall.
"Aye, foreigner. Just be careful next time you stay out. Blue men like that can scale the seawall sometimes." They all seemed to smile at him before pushing each other around playfully and wandering off.
"You'll have to forgive them, Mister Sephus. They're just doing their jobs." Miss Duncan spoke, "And I hate to keep running into you, but part of my job as sheriff is to oversee these night time hunts. Make sure the girls don't get distracted and actually keep the town safe. I know you'd have defended yourself well enough." She removed her hat to tip it to him.

Filia didn't want to think of the kind of Chaos this AI could get into with this amount of military ordinance at its disposal. To that end she did give their new friend Elise a look as she and Jazmin start to head back inside to stop Harlock from doing anything dumb. "I still believe you have nothing to do with what's going on now. But you better give it a good think on how you're going to help us stop your creation Doctor. Otherwise she might not wait to try and get enough nukes to harm other planets."

Once she gets into the lift with Jazmin and start to head down, lights begin to flicker and fade again and again as the lift slightly jostles in place before starting to reach the bottom. There wasn't a loud sound of a generator starting up... So Harlock must be trying to power local systems with his own strength without activating any external connections for the AI to try to sneak in.

Filia looked worried as she pried the elevator doors open herself to step off. "Dammit, Harlock must be trying to get the weapons online... How the hell did he figure out this place had nukes??"

Harlock would be stood in the main room, already in his Pure Light state, hand plunged into the hard metal of the console as he grips the internal power cables and wiring as he forces it to hum to life, eyes flickering between the screens that flicked on and off as his gaze switches to try and bring the military systems back online and under his complete control. Once he spots his friends enter the room  his manic gaze flipped to them as he froze on the spot, not sure what to do but looking as if he shouldn't be quite tested right now. "I figure this place isn't what it seems to be huh...? I got the idea of what this place might really be once she attacked us at the city limits. And seeing the sophistication of this place as its backup generator came up once we started exploring.. Clearly military! This place has weapons that she wants to use to spread her mutated influence... Am I right? So why not use them to blast her to smithereens!"

---

Detecting the faint presence, the subtle yet tempered hints of the hunt... The air around him grew hotter than what the usual climate would allow, his own hunter instincts starting to flare as clear crystals began to slowly creep out of his forearms to look like spines along his arms. His Hydralisk nature showing through as his ranged shards could still be created, though they were clearly ripping up his sleeves as his nature has him on alert, his crystal spines able to pierce reinforced steel and the armour plating of shuttle craft when he was a Hydralisk. Now that he was smaller than he used to be, less biomass devoted to the creation of these spines... He could still piece flesh and body armour easily.

To hear that the cock of a rifle, he couldn't afford a bullet in the head at this range. Opening his eyes and seeing the shooter in such a close range, it only annoyed him more that he didn't notice them as he bolted with speed enough to kick up the dirt and twigs under him and most importantly away from the shot, using a crystal wrenched from his arm to slow his agile burst of speed as he dug it into the ground and got ready to throw it at the-

Huh?

His arm was raised above his head, a fan of 6 inch crystal blades in hand while his gazed was fixed on a creature that had managed to get behind him... Seemingly having happened upon him and used the opportunity of his being here as bait to take out the monster. He didn't like it but he could understand the priorities of it. Her eyes were a deep yellow, his normal human gaze was more serpent-like in appearance now. But as he recognised that the danger was from a different source they settled back to the cool blue they had been before.

Looking up the Creach woman that saved him the effort of scuffling with a drowned corpse-like monster, he lowers his readied spines and accepts the hand up. Likely being seen as an oddity now that he's shown he isn't exactly what his false appearance shows him to be. His true appearance being far more monstrous than human. "I would have still liked that heads up. Still.. Thank you. A fine shot." He says looking back to this 'Blueman' as Agnes introduced herself. He looks back up at her and returns it. "Sephus of the Firstborn, a pleasure to meet you Agnes. Even if I was about to attack you for that shot" He says as he looks to the serrated spines in his hand before lowering it to his side. Leaving them here would be a bad idea.

Once more of the Sheriff's people start to worm their way out of the woodwork alongside the ever pleasant sheriff herself, Miss Marjorie Duncan, he wondered if this was a stunt to try and gain some of his favour. Using their common knowledge and his inexperience with the area to gain some sort of gratitude from him for saving his life... He doubted it. But the potential was there. His attitude was mostly just wary but agreeable, not showing any hostility as the group was messing with each other as they started to move on.

As the good Sheriff said she hates to keep running into him it sparked a small smirk to appear on his lips as he relaxed. "Am I that unpleasant? Here I thought we got along well enough." He jested, teasing the good Sheriff lightly for her choice of words in this matter despite him knowing well enough what she meant. But he was more agreeable as she spoke up with a story as to bumping into him here. "I will admit I wasn't expecting to be attacked. Your people do a pretty good job, but I would have still appreciated a 'duck' or something." He says as he looks to sheriff with a more appraising eye as she mentions that she knows that he could defend himself. A rather interesting thing to say.

"...'Well enough'? I'd be as tall as you if I wasn't wearing this human facade and covered in armoured scales. All Imperial officers of the Firstborn have to have some level of human metamorphosis when they leave to vacation in other civilisations that aren't accustomed to seeing a Firstborn military species. Well... Without it developing into screaming people and blasters trained on us for looking like monsters." The Lord commander said as he smiled up to the sheriff.

Jazmin stepped in with Filia as the good doctor nodded at the strange women, "I swear I'll atone in anyway I can, as long as I don't die that is. I'll be here waiting for you when you rescue your friend." The doctor went and sat on a nearby rock as she watched the elevator doors close and the pair descend back into the facility.

Jazmin grabbed her wrist with worry, "oh no... the bloody fool is going to try something foolish, I know it!" The moment the door's were open and the two could feel the facility's power surge, Jazmin rushed to where the pair had left Harlock. Jazmin watched in horror as the man she'd come to care for stared at her with frenzied eyes. She gasped and covered her mouth with one hand.
"My word, Harlock, you must stop! There's no telling what kind of attention you're drawing to us by reactivating this facility even if you're not connected to the main power! Please, stop whatever it is you are doing so we can talk about this! We'll never escape this hell if you rush foolishly into an outcome like this! We have to consider all sides and think of a proper plan, damn it!" Jazmin shouted with a mix of anger and sadness. "I know... I know this is a nightmare, but we need the prince who's cool under fire right now. Nuking the AI might not destroy her. We must think Harlock, we must put our heads together. Please calm down, for Filia, for me?"

-

Agnes was sure surprised at the sudden transformation, but when all was said and done she let out a hearty laughter, "Well lad, if I'd have know you could do that I'd never have even got close to you. Good lad, an odd one to be sure but welcome at that!" She would smile and begin regaling her comrades with a tale of what Sephus had done but moments ago.

As Miss Duncan approached she laughed a little nervously and used her thumb to twirl the ring on her middle finer, perhaps a nervous twitch of hers. "Oh, no! I did not mean to imply that you were in anyway unpleasant, I simply wished to convey that I did not wish to keep imparting you with the notion I may be spying on you." She let out a deep breath and adjusted her glasses, "well at least you're acquainted with the dangers that lurk here. The bluemen, they are soulless creatures. Devoid of all life save but what the cursed ocean fills their bodies with. I suspect that lack of life is what allowed it to sneak up on you, but at least my girls now know you can handle yourself, eh?" Miss Duncan would remove a pocket watch from her waistcoat and read the time. "All the same it is very appreciated, your form is most fair, my good sir. I shall let you back to your duties and pray we meet again in a friendlier situation. Good evening, Mister Sephus." She would trail after her posse leaving Sephus to return to the inn.

He'd find food awaiting him, along with a rather eager Liline who awaited his presence in their room by sitting near the window gazing out at the sleepy town illuminated by candle light. Her hair was not done up but hung low in a messy sprawl. She simply wore a bathrobe to conceal her frame as Sephus entered the room. The two would share the rather romantic meal near the window before Liline made certain advances towards the firstborn officer and spirited him to the bed. Leaving her bathrobe on a chair behind her so she might enjoy the lord commander more intimately.

The following morning, Sephus would arise to find Liline dressed and waiting by the front door of the inn, to which she jested. "You certainly sleep heavily after such intense evenings, don't you dear Sephus? I figured I should not disturb your sleep."

Filia gave a nod to the doctor as the elevator doors closed, the doctor will get her chance to make this right. Of course as soon as they closed Filia started to really worry about what exactly was going to happen when they got back down there. Of course when the lights start to flicker a pit opens in her stomach. He isn’t stupid enough to betray us, he’s too soft. He’s trying to get control for himself… The Zerg in him will try to grasp at straws and bitterly try to snatch victory.

Once they got to the main room where they left Harlock, Filia let Jazmin do the talking. The Prince had more of a connection with her than she did and it might be best to let him hear some sobering words.

Harlock, still snapping his vision between the flickering screens and the girls, still shivers and fidgets as Jazmin starts to shout at him. The shouting certainly grabs his attention since he’s never heard her shout like that before. Never really having anyone shout at him like this before. But his frenzied eyes only grew more desperate as he shook his head “N-No you don’t understand, we NEED to blow her up now! She knows about the ship we have in orbit! She already has her way off the planet! She doesn’t NEED the reactor or this base anymore! She’ll REPURPOSE OUR SHIP!”

The pit in Filia’s stomach grew as she grit her teeth. That had to be a lie… No they did mention their ship earlier before running here… That AI was in ear shot. It was certainly a worry… But the Firstborn Kingdom had tech that was beyond the level of this world. They had Cyber Warfare suites to handle enemy AI hacking attempts. “Harlock, she can’t get to the ship. Even with her satellites in orbit, the ship can just shoot them down-”

“UNLESS HE WRITES HER GETTING THE FUCKING SHIP!! DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?!” Harlock snaps back, making Filia grit her teeth more as she flinches slightly. She didn’t like it but she couldn’t dispute anything about that stag headed writer coming up, for all she knew he was the one that gave Harlock this mental breakdown for something else to take place.

As Jazmin asked Harlock to calm down after he snapped at Filia, Harlock didn’t look like he wanted to keep calm. Calm was what got them in this situation in the first place… Calm was what got them abducted from home and sent on this suicide mission by that crazy writer. His mind was set, the AI had to be destroyed no matter the cost. This planet wasn’t real, these people weren’t real, they were real. He was being sane right now, the two of them aren’t thinking straight surely?! He was about to go back to seizing control again before he could feel this doubt swimming in his chest. For a long few moments he stared into space as he wondered if he was really right about this. He didn’t know what kind of missiles these were… For all he knew firing them could strengthen the mutants. He needed cruder missiles, like napalm… Anything besides nuclear weaponry.

After that long moment of self doubt he stopped pushing more power into the systems to bring them online under his control but did not pull himself free from the machinery, his vision just panning up to Jazmin before speaking. “For you… M-Maybe… Nuking her won’t work. I-I… I need better weapons. Lots of raw firepower she can’t control.”

---

Seph did not keep up his true form very long, just long enough for them to get a gander at it and for his point to be proven on his size matching the Creach woman’s, he didn’t know how much he should reveal about his people to strangers even if they had good intentions at first glance. Still he did his best to appear respectful even in the monstrous form he had taken. He did give a wolfish grin to Agne’s as she said she wouldn’t have gotten close to him if she knew. “Ah come now I don’t bite. I do appreciate you saving me from the shuffler even if I could handle it.”

He does notice Miss Duncan’s nervous tell and keeps it in mind, he may need to use that as a way to gauge any conversations they have later on if he needs to press her on something. Or if he needs to steer clear of a certain topic of conversation. After returning to the human facade he had he gave a gentle smile to miss Duncan as she tried to smoothly get across her point. “Relax Miss Duncan. I’m teasing you, my people are rather aloof. Something to keep in mind if you ever encounter anymore Firstborn, we’re very hard to annoy and enjoy testing the social waters. Despite our beastly appearance, we’re soft on friendly faces. If you do want to see us upset, you need only ask the Zerg.”

At this point in time it was rather clear that the Firstborn Empire, with the help of afew other allied civilisations, beat back and shattered any Zerg world in their path until they ultimately beat the united hive over the world of Duxton in The War of Two Blades. A conflict that arose because the Zerg targeted the previous King, Zether’s, children and tried to kill them. A rather extreme example but it was clear enough that they will rise to tackle an issue as a united species. Until that threshold, they are an understanding and forgiving bunch.

Once Miss Duncan said her farewells he gave her a wave as he started to head back to the Inn. Thinking on the other dangers lurking in the dark, not that he could not handle such deceptive evils of course. He just needed to worry about being caught defending himself with magic.

Of course, such worries melted into the cool night air once he returned to the room he and Liline were staying in, with the latter waiting for him in nothing more than a simple bathrobe to catch him by pleasant surprise. He enjoyed the meal they shared together before following his lover and shared in the bliss of each other's company.

Later that morning, after washing up and getting dressed to meet Liline at the Inn’s front door, he did give a smile to her jest. He wasn’t ashamed by sleeping in after such a tiring night. Moreso impressed that she still had energy to spare. “I thought you’d find it flattering that I can sleep so soundly in your company my love, besides it just means I’ll have to try harder to make you worn out next time. The fact you have more energy than me is… Well nothing short of amazing.”

Jazmin slowly approached the fuming Harlock and with each reproach he made she took a step forward. Until she was within a distance so she could touch him, but she did not, not yet anyhow. Jazmin gazed at him with stern eyes and an exasperated tone, she was hurt but she couldn’t be angry at the prince. The situation was horrible, the lack of control for beings as powerful as Harlock and Filia must have been torturous. Even for Jazmin the knowledge that she had been used as a puppet to being everyone to this planet, well it made her feel like she was nothing more than a worthless scrap only fit to ensnare her betters into this trap.

Jazmin perked up a bit however and she rested a hand on Harlock’s shoulder, breathing warmth and radiating life in a cold dead place. “Harlock, way I now see it... we either the roll the dice and blow that AI sky high or we find some other way to fight her. Personally, I’m not willing to play puppet any longer.” She huffed triumphantly and walked to the control panels Harlock was fiddling with.

Jazmin turned back to Harlock, “power this thing back on. I’m blowing this facility sky high with us in it.” A smirk had grown on her face when she was working on the panel. “The bastard has to end the story, as we’ve seen he plays by some stupid rules and bends things to favour his outcome. But I say if we abruptly end the story we’re free and there’s not a damn thing he can do about it.” Jazmin spoke with such confidence and such a manner of speech, Harlock hadn’t seen her act this way since he first met her and the other Liline back on that gas giant so long ago. Something had changed in Jazmin, as if she had shaken loose something.

-

Agnes thoroughly enjoyed the show despite its brevity, and seemed to express as much to her compatriots as she loudly boasted about the actions of Sephus in those moments, practically weaving her own little story as to what Sephus had done.

Now Miss Duncan respectfully engaged with Sephus in his conversation, and thanked him many more times for his kindness and patience before rushing off to join her posse. Now Miss Duncan was a bit too old to have been taught Firstborn History in her days in schooling, coupled with her education in law she would have likely only barely heard of the Firstborns, but that being said, the Bezannian and Firstborn Empires had become public allies, on friendly terms. With permanent embassies established on Bezembay and Castameer, though Shanalotte had never managed to visit the firstborns in person. Though Miss Duncan was aware of the Firstborn Empire as a whole, she was inexperienced with its history.

Liline was much amused by Sephus’ remarks when he finally joined her, and as she began to stroll she jested to him, “my dear Sephus, I am surprised you do not have more energy. You are a soldier are you not? How can you be expected upon to lead a battle at first light after spending all night strategising?” Liline followed her jest with a hearty giggle and a smile as she headed for the centre of town with Sephus in tow, and as the two approached the town square there was an odd break in the dense fog and clouds this morning. Far off to the east, standing alone on a large down was a might castle. The spires barely visible from this lowly point in the town, the dark stone and black tile roofs sticking out from the grassy downland.

“My, that must be where our host intends to entertain us I suppose? Tis a much more imposing place than I had figured it to be. Then again, I never did have knowledge of what Creach castles looked like. That is certainly a change from the more traditional palaces and chateaus I’ve seen on Bezembay and Dernby.”

Harlock was twitchy as Jazmin kept taking steps towards him but he didn’t overreach more than he already had. He did flinch slightly when she rested her hand on his shoulder but her words did disarm him… That was until he opened wide with disbelief when she said that she wanted to blow this place sky high with them in it. This many warheads, all this firepower. There was no way to survive it. But he really hadn’t seen her this sure about anything since he first met her and Liline on that station in what seemed like a lifetime ago. Maybe… Maybe this would work.

Conversely Filia thought that Jazmin had lost her mind too, until it made a weird sort of sense. If they ruined the story then he won’t want to keep them around to keep ruining them… They could go home… “This sounds insane! But… I’d rather try this than keep falling into despair. Do it Harlock.”

He was wary, still fidgety from his outburst, but honestly anything was better than letting himself fall deeper into this hopelessness. Since his hands were still inside the machinery he did give it a jolt of energy to power everything back up to the state that Jazmin can get control of it. “Okay Jazmin, I trust you. Make this right.”

-----

While Liline’s cheeky dig at his lack of stamina did sting for him, her giggle did lighten it since it was surprisingly cute of her. He loved it, even if it was when she was teasing him. “How cheeky you are my dear Liline, I won’t be so easily beaten next time, not after wounding my honour so.” He spoke confidently, determined even, while he followed her into the centre of town.

With the fog and clouds split they could finally see a mighty fine castle in the distance. It paled in comparison to most of the other grand structures he’s seen on his journey with Liline but still very impressive. That would be until he learns that the castle belonging to their most gracious host will entertain them later. He wondered what it looked like inside… Still he had to admire its strategic positioning for a castle, a marvellous place to have it. High up, hard to siege with weapons and at a clear advantage for aiming down their foes. Not as good for orbital weapons but then it was a castle and not a planetary Fortress so that was easily forgiven. “My my, a fitting place for our host to live considering her station. A fitting strategic fortification too.” He says before he looks back to Liline.

Jazmin let out a long breath and put her hand on the launch button. She looked to Harlock and Filia and smiled, “well here’s to seeing you all on the other side?” She smiled brightly and depressed the button. A loud alarm filling the base as the launch sequence began. After a few moments there was a bright flash, and Jazmin covered her eyes. Then there was a terrible fire that rolled over all three, had Jazmin not been empowered she would have been incinerated within moments but her new powers prevented this as she let out a shriek, inaudible of course. There was no noise anymore, just that fiery heat and the brightness. Jazmin was being torn piece from piece in the nuclear flames as Harlock and Filia would have been as well.

Their powerful bodies allowed them to survive more than most could, of course, but this could not save them from several warheads detonating within their direct vicinity. Jazmin would be the first to finally vanish from the light, reduced to ashes after a minute or so. Filia would be the second to vanish. Then it would be Harlock, finally succumbing to the nuclear fire and breaking apart to bits. Then there was nothing, each floated alone in a chasm, no noise, no sound, and bo senses at all.

There was no weight or wind, only nothing. Before like a terrible bellow from an enraged animal, the blackness was ripped open like a page tearing down the middle. The three would find themselves standing back on Castameer, right in front of that restaurant they would have entered and where they were supposed to have met that… creature. But now, it was a normal Firstborn restaurant, not an anachronistic cafe. Jazmin looked around slowly as her senses came back to her, and when they did she jumped over to Filia and Harlock and grabbed them both close. Tears streaming down her face and nails digging into her two friends.
“We… we did it, we’re back.” She whimpered like a child.

-

Liline walked with Sephus for sometime before smiling, and holding his arm she remarked, “why yes, it’s a beautiful castle. I do agree, these creach have a way with buildings that you just don’t see many other places. And must I say, this place is nothing like anywhere in the empire I’ve been. This sleepy village, the grand castle, the bustling big city. Hang me! The place confounds the mind.” Liline jested, and the pair entered the train station they had been at before.

The train ride back to Cadhainn was as short as it had been before. Stepping down from the train, Liline made straight for that shop that they had been at before, for her arm.
Liline remarked along the way however, “it seems so long ago that you and I were hunting down a criminal so far off. With terrible bitterness between us as was caused by our distant relationship. My lord, I am truly endeared you saved me from my past life.” She sighed softly and continued walking, “had I not met you the moon only knows what would have become of me. Finally I am ready to put this behind me and join you, perhaps we can forgo my plans for a colonial tour and just sail back to your empire? Perhaps it would be better to leave everything behind and start anew as an athalian like you?”

The seconds that elapsed as Jazmin’s hand moved for the button there were hundreds of thoughts roaring through the head of the prince, he was scared of what was going to happen. Was it really going to be this simple? What if all this was real and they were about to die for real?? His physical body was losing its illusion and mimicry as he was already starting to shrivel back his more waxy jello like Changeling body. The fear of death was just enough to overpower his fear of being forever trapped in this horror story…

Fillia too feared the nothingness that could come after but she had already been there twice before… She was no stranger to it. But she had no desire to die pointlessly… Noticing the young Prince’s fear she just set her hand on his shoulder. If this was it, then at least she was going out on her terms and not living as some twisted abomination.

As the sirens begin to blare all around them and until the bright flash of atomic light overtakes them all, Harlock could do nothing but shiver and resist against the nuclear fire that blew them all into oblivion. It was all over…

In that empty chasm of nothingness there was a brief moment where Harlock had thought that he really was dead. He had no idea what an afterlife was for one of his kind, no one had thought of it before… He couldn’t sense anything, nothing was there… Until an ear splitting screech raged all around him, light forming as a crack formed before…

?!

They were standing in front of that new restaurant that they were originally heading to all those months ag- Wait… Did…. Did they never leave Castameer? For that matter… Was this still the same day? These thoughts naturally flowed through Filia’s mind before she got embraced by both the Prince and a very teary eyed Jazmin, The Prince was barely holding it together as is right now. She wanted to cry too but she just started to pat them both on the back and comfort them. “Yeah, thank the stars we’re back... “ The natural distress that was coming off of Harlock pulled the attention of the Palace Guard caste in no time, helping the trio back towards the Palace so they could calm down out of the public's eye. It would be bad to see the Crown Prince break down into tears right there, especially if everything that just happened was somewhat real and they have been missing for months now.

If they had then they would all notice that Castameer looked somewhat different, new banners replaced the ones of the old Kingdom. Everything had a more imperial feel to them. They wouldn’t know it yet but Castameer and the Firstborn had recently undergone a massive overhaul in their society, rallying under the banner of Harlock’s oldest sister Alicia, formally known as the Sun Eater Princess before she became the Empress of the Firstborn Interstellar Empire.

-----

Sephus chuckled lowly to Liline’s jest, he still liked the aesthetic of this planet though. Going back to using the basics and couple it with advanced tech was rather beautiful in its own way. Though he found the castles rather adorable. “A stellar performance love. You might have quite the career as an actress ahead of you.” He says as they board the train to Cadhainn.

Once they were in the subterranean city he followed Liline right for the prosthetics show so she could pick up her new arm. Though as she brought up a past that seemed so distant now he couldn’t help but be slightly bashful, keeping his overall composure as best as he could as she called him ‘Lord’. Though the bitter reminder of their past did hit him, it was a rather dark part of their time knowing one another. He didn’t know how to respond at first, her previous life was all she knew up until they had crossed paths again since their initial time on that agri-moon dealing with petty slavers and bandits. Back when he was naughty but a lowly Hydralisk before he was uplifted and made Lord Commander for his leadership skills.

He did regret some things between them, mistakes and issues that will likely be overcome with time. But saving her was not something he regretted one bit. “It seems too fresh to call it all a distant memory. But I am glad those spotty days of the past are behind us.” Though she asked something that was quite strange to him. ‘Start a new life as a Firstborn like you’

(I know you put Athailian but Sephus is a Firstborn, a zerg. silly goose)

Truthfully he was actually looking forward to those colonial tours, but if this is what she wants then maybe it’s time to head back. He has been rather selfish, he wonders if his subordinates hate him for leaving them with his work for all the time he’s been travelling with Liline in Bezi space… They totally hate me.

Sephus looked at her as they kept walking for the shop with her new arm, he was rather bummed but she didn’t say that the tour would never happen after this. The two of them could easily embark on it some other time, next time as tourist and former resident instead of ex-agent and political chauffeur. Though hearing her say that she was ready to put her past behind her was somewhat comforting, he knew she struggled greatly to get where she was before it was taken away from her. “Going back home does sound nice. Though I will admit I was looking forward to the tomfoolery of the colonial tour. Though what do you mean with that last sentence?”

Jazmin was quiet the entire trek back the palace. Her mostly pained expressions betrayed her feelings of shock and horror. The moment the trio had any privacy Jazmin would collapse in tears and panic, falling to the floor with short sharp breaths. Her trauma seemed to manifest quite viciously as she held her head low and sought no comfort. It seemed best to just let her get it all out.

Indeed much had changed, new buildings and relationships had been formed. The once distant empire had become of regular diplomatic correspondance with another. A certain home nation of Jazmin’s had become more active in its diplomacy with this Sun Eater Empress.

-

Liline had enjoyed his company and comments before and during the train ride to the capital of the world. And she had engaged deep in conversation with him while they walked, even slowing her pace so as to properly apply her faculties to the conversation at hand.
“It was just an idea, we need not go back if you do not wish. I just thought I’d offer the chance to, so as to not cause you distress. I should hope my dragging you here has not caused problems. I wish to not be the source of any more issues or problems, especially not to the man who carried me from the darkness.” She would squeeze his hand with that and nod.

Liline spoke with much care and grace put into her words, carefully crafting each sentence before she uttered it. Her words came much slower than normal as if she put a great deal of thought into them.

“Perhaps it would be best to go on with our tour then, and truly breath deep the spices and flair of this golden era before anything spoils it.” As the pair walked to the store however, there was a large crowd assembled in a main square. Along the footpath to the shop was a collection of massive buildings some political and some businesses. Most importantly, at the center of this main square was w gargantuan statue of Emperor Jasper and High Chief Mary VIII, with Mary standing on a large rock sword passing her sword to Jasper who was accepting it in a dignified manner. But atop a building that lay directly behind the statue was a large projected screen, distinctly bezannian in the near perfect video quality marred with a silvery-blue colour tint making the whole picture appear nigh black and white, and a grain over the film. All a product of the camera lenses that bezannians used.

“-our dear empress of many years was found dead this morning on Bezembay, having suffered a stroke the night before. Empress Shanalotte having passed quietly in her sleep was attended to by nurses and physicians most of the day. The three princes and princess of the empire make their journey to Bezembay to make preparations for the funeral-“ The newscaster on the screen spoke, and the large crowd of Creach assembled had all removed their hats. Sephus could even spot a few of the well dressed creach women shedding tears in private. These amazonian women with hats in hand and handkerchiefs to their eyes and noses. Liline gasped silently but kept walking, just listening to the broadcast.
“Truly rather tragic… I always liked our Dear Empress, Shanalotte. But I suppose she was due to go any day now, a shame she could not reign for longer. The Shanalottan era was… a good era for all Bezannians.” Her voice was… conflicted, and Sephus could hear just a hint of resentment in her voice, a tinge of insincerity.

Once the trio had been brought back to the Palace, allowed to have their time to process everything that had happened, Jazmin was allowed to have her time to herself with Harlock staying for the time being while he adjusted to being back amongst the expansive hive mind, his people were happy for his return. Same for his sisters, his memories of what happened were something that they were meticulously picking through to try and understand just what had happened to him and who they should punish for this transgression, soon learning that such a thing will likely be hard to do.

Filia however was soon brought out of the room and in the embrace of her Athailian lover, Wolfric, an ex-prince of the Athailian people whose brother had allowed him to become a Noble and an ambassador to the Firstborn people. The pair had been taken to a side room where he and Filia could reconnect. Filia and Wolfric exchanged telepathically, Athailian’s find telepathy a more intimate form of communication afterall. Filia had shown him everything, all of their time in that fake reality and the time they had spent journeying… And in turn he had shown her all that happened out here in the real world, the rise of Zether’s Daughter Alicia while Zether himself explored his Dragon heritage in the Nebula. Iammelon’s civil war and the Union’s victory. The Athailian people’s integration into the Nebula as a protectorate.

-----

Sephus was happy that she was considerate of his feelings in giving him the chance to take them both back home to Castameer. Though he wondered why she kept being so formal with him now that they had quite the informal relationship, he wasn’t going to call her on it yet. He’s happy to let her develop at her own pace. Though he could tell that she was putting great care into choosing her words, he did miss her teasing however. “You, a source of trouble or issues? Perish the thought.” He playfully said as he squeezed her hand back, it was true that they had some bumpy patches in their time together but that was in the past. “I’m lucky to have someone like you at my side.”

He liked the idea of continuing their tour, though he was unsure if anything bar worst case scenario stuff like war or the like could ruin it. He could imagine it but he didn’t like to entertain such a thought, if something like war were to happen then he would most certainly be recalled back to Castameer.

On their walk to the prosthetics store he would naturally take notice of the commotion in the main square. Something was clearly going on… Only to gather that the Empress had passed. Is a terrible thing to hear of a ruler's death. It was something that he did not want to experience in his lifetime… So his heart went out to those around him, he could sympathise with the idea of losing a beloved ruler, not really knowing but feeling that the affair.

He kept his pace with Liline as they went, though he could feel the conflict in her as she spoke, it would seem that Liline had quite the mixed opinion on the late Empress. “Good for Bennezians, likely no one will deny that… Though is something wrong, love?” He says as he aims to get them down towards the store, away from so many prying ears as to avoid an incident with grieving passersby. He had no doubt that Shanalotte was a decent Empress to her people, but an Empire forged on conquest is not always popular with the conquered. No matter how many generations pass.

Jazmin would continue to spend her days in the company of the Prince Harlock and her companions here. They had been through so much together and she was happy here, to be free. She also needed mentors for her new powers and help with all that she had experienced. From Westina to Castameer and all across the new protectorate, Jazmin would remain loyal to Harlock and the protectorate of which she was now apart of. Forever bound to the side of her friends.

Thus the story of Jazmin came to an end, her travels continuing in the company of her dear friends, though she would voice to abstain from any adventures for the time being.

-

Liline just shrugged as they walked away from the square, she continued to hold her hat in her hands out of respect for the empress departed but she kept quiet with her answers. Speaking only in a hushed tone, basically a whisper. "I am from the colony of Maharajah, and it was only by means of stowing on a merchant ship did I make my way to Bezembay. I travelled across the empire by way of ether just to arrive in the great capital only to live in a basement for six years. After nearly being put in an orphan's house and later into a common house. I saw the darkest parts of the empire, the poor and weak and sick. Those who had no jobs or wealth and some who had no name to even go by. The places I stayed had murders and robbery and rape and drugs more common than the phrase 'hello.' The darkest parts of Bezembay did I see for nearly eight years of my childhood and two of my teens. Until I was whisked away by sinister agents to become a pawn for their schemes and plans in protecting an empire I never believed in. And now here I am, shaped by all different forces standing as a different person expected to shed a tear for the empress who reigned over my whole life until this point. I know she did not perpetrate anything I experienced but... how can I be expected to show love for her or her empire when it was I who suffered with millions of others under her reign. Knowing that her son will bring no significant change to the place where I grew up and that countless other children in a billion other places will experience the same things I did." Liline shook her head and finally pushed open the door to the shop.

The Craftsman, Isabelle Livingstone was hard at work in her shop. She was sat in a large chair behind the counter, eyes closed and snoring slightly. Her apprentice was using a balance scale to measure out some kind of powder but as the pair entered the shop he tapped Miss Livingstone on her shoulder causing her to snort and jolt upright, "Aye bastard!" She cried but as she got her bearings and calmed down she turned to Sephus and Liline, "Oh, it's you two. Boy, fetch the arm and clean your hands. I know you got soda and lime all over them." She moved to the counter and started cleaning up the workspace as the apprentice wiped dust off his hand and ran to the back of the shop. "Welcome back, miss. I was up all night getting your piece together and it be my finest work!" When the boy came back with a large chest, Isabelle opened it and put on a pair of white cotton gloves. The arm within was made from high quality wood, metal, and ceramic plates. Strong enough to endure any hardship put to bear. She helped Liline put the arm on, plugging in the vital components and using plates to cover up the connection point. After making some last minute adjustments with a screwdriver, she backed away and allowed Liline to use her own arm. Livingstone smiled and happily accepted her payment, bidding the two a farewell.

As Sephus attempted to leave the shop Livingstone whistled at him and beckoned, "hold a moment there, lad." She approached him and removed her gloves. "Now I seen that lass as a customer for many years now. Been seen her treated like cat piss for most of her life by everyone around her. I may be an old craftsman, but I swear upon the moon which shines o'er the jagged mountain. Hurt her in the same old way and I'll kill you."

Listening to Liline recount her past, it was understandable that she would have a pretty colourful view of the Empire, only seeing its darkest parts while everyone lorded over the achievements… It was strange to him. The Firstborn had no concept of class outside of species specialization, all would live for the sake of their leader. This was the way of their predecessors the Zerg and it was also their way. Then again that was because they were designed that way… Though this does not mean that Sephus was ignorant or naive enough to think and know it did not exist. The barriers and evils that different societies may hold was knowledge that was bestowed onto them by their All father, the King of Blades while he was still so. He did this so that when they were faced with them eventually it would not frighten or anger them in a way that will make them stand out too much. Ironic given their relation to a xenoplagic scourge that can infest entire worlds.

Sephus listened to the hushed whispers of hers as they travelled through the streets towards their destination, and while he had no real experience to call upon that would relate to this he could still try to understand. “You will always be expected to love your nation, no matter where you live. But expectations are not always something you must follow. I would say that you should be the change you want to be… But I do not know if that may work here. Regardless. Injustice will always exist, and those in power will exploit it for control. So I believe we do what we must to make things better for who we can help… Perhaps more good will spread that way.”

Now that they are finally at the shop, Sephus steps inside with Liline to see the old craftsman ‘working’ in her chair at the counter. Sephus gave a light smile to this as he said nothing as her apprentice woke her from her slumber quite animatedly. As the new prosthetic was brought out in the box and Liline unveiling it, he admired how… Rustic it was. Low tech wasn’t a bad thing, and from the looks of it the level of craftsmanship was very impressive indeed. His opinion was just rather coloured from living in a High tech society for so long… Along with having the perks of being able to go to a military medical centre to regrow his lost limbs. Though getting to see her move it on her own was rather nice.

He was about to leave with her before a whistle catches his attention, curious about why the old craftsman would call him over; he lends Livingstone his ear. He was certainly surprised to be told that she’d kill him if he treated Liline badly… Oddly enough it was a notion he agreed with. Though he could tell that the gruff old girl cared for Liline. And he was happy that someone other than him cared for her well being. He crossed his arm over her chest, placing a balled fist over his heart. “I would just as soon take my own life than bring her any more misery… But now I have more reason to behave myself.” He says with a smile before he relaxes some.

Livingstone smiled and let out a snort, striking up a match to ignite her smoking pipe. "Then you look after that lass, and keep your eyes on your backs when you travel up to Dhonnchaidh Castle, the laird is a perfectly honourable woman, but her clan is strange these days. Ever since the war they veteran members have been dying off and their replacements lowlander thugs. If I had my head on right I'd say the duchess of duncan'll be wanting a favour of you relating to our lady friend's previous employ. If I'm right, she's scared for her own daughter and granddaughter's primogeniture within the clan." She would let out a few puffs of strong tobacco which quickly filled the workshop. "Just be safe out there, now get out of my shop before you scare away my customers." She smiled and sat back in a large wingback chair, kicking her feet up next to a fireplace.

Outside the shop, Liline had fastened her new arm in place and was using a small pick to fine tune some screws in the hand portion of her arm. "Damn that woman, she always leaves the fingers too tight. If I weren't more aware of her work I'd be prone to break a class or shatter a poor fellow's hand without adjustment." She looked over to Sephus, "but at least I know how to tune these blasted contraptions. Shall we off? We still need to collect my uniform from the local army tailors before we make our rendezvous with our dear duchess." Liline would continue with her dear partner in tow towards the inner city, the same office they had been to the day prior. The grand building upon which she would make the acquaintance of the same receptionist and office staff before they delivered to her a trunk which contained a pressed and fitted uniform for Liline, along with her array of awards and honours with the requirement she return them as these were a formal rental uniform to stand in for her proper one. Once the trunk had been collected the pair made for the rail station just as before and took it home for an evening of rest before their big day.

As the hours to leave drew near, Liline had stepped into her dinner uniform for the occasion. It was a rather formal grey uniform with black trousers. The trousers had three red stripes going down the leg, two large ones with a central thin strip in between. Over her tunic she wore a belt which had a sword affixed to it. As for decorations she wore a small rank bar across her left breast with three distinctive medals across it. A silver circular badge on a red and blue ribbon which she explained was the Badge of Army Service 1st Class, a silver cross on a blue a silver ribbon which was her Imperial Cross 2nd Class, and finally she wore a silver star which had a pair of swords above the star on the loop attached to a blue and red ribbon which she explained was her Grand Cross of the Empire with Swords, equivalent to earning two separate Grand Crosses. The different levels of Grand Crosses were the base cross, the cross with swords, the cross with branches and swords, and the gold grand cross. Finally she wore three additional honours, affixed to her left breast below the bar of awards was a large silver and gold star. This large star fixed below the bar of other medals was her Order of Arthurian Valour, which was accompanied by a red sash over her shoulder tied in a bow at her waist with the same star fixed to the bow, and a smaller version of the star on a ribbon which she wore around her neck. Though she did not wear a hat as she was a retired officer, likewise she did not wear a brassard showing her rank, cuff title showing her unit, or shoulder boards for her regiment. She did however put on a pair of white cotton gloves and polished knee high officer boots.
"I loathe these uniforms, hate wearing them. But it wouldn't be appropriate for me to show up wearing a suit or a dress since this is a formal function. I'll just be glad when I can take this damn thing off."

Seph was glad that he managed to get a favourable reaction from the old woman, though her warning of the Duchess on their trip up to her castle did catch his attention. He did figure that she was after something given Liline’s history and she didn’t seem to know much of him but she got a glimpse of what he was capable of out on his walk the other night… He was sure this was going to turn into something interesting for himself and his lover but he wasn’t sure How interesting.. At least not yet. Though from the sounds of the warning it would appear that the Duchess is worried about losing her power… And she might want Liline to take care of her daughter and granddaughter's unchecked ambition. “Cheers for the warning. Though it would be fair to say that the Duchess and her spawn are the ones who should be wary if they annoy Liline.”

He gave a smile to the old woman and gave a chuckle to her telling him to clear off. He obliged, but knew she was teasing him. He left the shop seeing Lilin get used to the new appendage she got, messing with it to make sure it's just right. He wondered why she would get a prosthetic like this still but it wasn’t like he could argue the point of getting something more high tech with how the people of this nation valued their older aesthetic. A focus of form and function over needlessly flashy looking tech. As long as it worked, and worked well then it was alright… What strange people.

Sephus smiled at Liline as she complained about shattering a poor guy's hand if she wasn’t careful adjusting her new prosthetic, which surprised him. He really couldn’t misjudge the technology here even if it was strangely rustic and low tech looking. “Sounds useful to me, but I guess not everyone needs to have their hand broken.” He says only somewhat teasingly. “And of course, I’m curious as to what the Duchess could possibly want from us to appear so often on ‘pure coincidence’..”

Sephus kept to Liline’s side as they walked the streets towards the army tailor they had been to the day before, greeted by the same staff and now beach before the same trunk as yesterday. Once that was secured they took the railway back to the tavern they were staying at to get dressed.

While Liline was getting dressed, he had his own dress uniform delivered to him by a Firstborn courier who met him outside of the establishment alongside with a new communicator and some interesting news during his holiday related absence. It was interesting to find out that the King has stepped down and an Empress has taken his place, the first daughter has ascended the throne… And he got to keep his job. How lovely! Once he stepped back inside and got himself ready he could see the dress uniform Liline was wearing, a rather dignified type of attire. He almost let himself say aloud that this kind of formal wear didn’t suit her but that would be a half lie. “I can get what you mean, I hate putting on my dress clothes but thankfully for you it's a one time thing. Hopefully. I have to keep wearing these kinds of things when we go back to Castameer once in awhile.”

His own dresswear looked more similar to how a general would be dressed. A grey trench coat with padded shoulders, a flared colour and with his Lord Commander bars on the collar, with five medals being present on his left breast. Three of them had the appearance of a five pointed star with a purple ring being present in the centre of them. With the last two being different, one was a single ivory white bar with a single gold band around the bottom of it and the last being a bronze bar. The star medals were for his service in the royal brood when they were taking their fight to the Zerg infestations out to the north 30 years ago… The Bronze one was new, signifying his dedicated service. And the Ivory bar with the golden band was for his role in playing during the War of Two Blades as he was part of the ground team who led the assault to the Queen of Blade’s stronghold and aided in her final detainment. Under his grey trench coat was a dark grey uniform with a long collar that obscured his neck along with black pants and boots. The collar of the formal uniform shirt had two buttons with three gold bands on the right side of them. He also had a belt with a silvery engraved buckle.

Sephus messed with the high collar that came up just below his jaw with a grimace, he hated how it was both tight and loose around his neck. So fiddly too. His dresswear was also made to be durable with the sleeves being loose so that he could create spines more easily without destroying the coat thanks to his Hydralisk nature. “I much prefer something that's sleeveless and without a collar that messes around too much.. How's your arm? Will it get caught on your uniform?”

Liline shook her head as she pulled a glove over her mechanical hand, she wore white cotton gloves on both hands. "My arm will be fine. Immaculately designed for this type of device. I can hardly notice anything out of the ordinary, but then again I have been without an arm for many years." With that she went to inspect Sephus' uniform before she pulled a piece of lint off his shoulder and ran her hands along the shoulders to brush off anything else. She smiled to him and peered out the window to spy Miss Marjorie and a long black car waiting for them.
Liline strolled for the car to which the good sheriff perked up and removed her hat. "Aah, good. You're both ready." The Sheriff was wearing a large inverness cape over what appeared to be a black Prince Charlie Jacket and a blue and yellow kilt. She wore tall wool socks and ghillie brogues. She opened the door to the limousine and smiled to the couple. "Her Grace looks forward to your entertainment." Liline entered the car first and slide to the opposite side of the vehicle. The limousine was spacious on the inside, a driver in full chauffeur's uniform sat at the front. When Sephus entered he could comment on the luxury of the vehicle, the carpet was soft and thick, the seats plush, and there was even folding tables for the passengers. Though unlike a typical car, the rear had two doors one which opened backwards and one that opened forwards, this elongated back made the car a limousine. But there was a second row of seats in the rear that faced the one Liline was sitting on. Once the couple entered the car, the sheriff also climbed in the back and closed the door behind her. She sat opposite the couple and faced them. The car set off with four headlamps piercing the darkness. It raced up dirt roads, which it glided over effortlessly.
As the vehicle crossed the hills and left the village, Sephus and Liline would occasionally spot a sentry or two posted in a small stone tower. And every time they passed one the sentry would play a note on the bagpipes. As the car reached the castle in front of it the portcullis raised and the vehicle entered a large courtyard. At the center of which was a large spire like rock made of a brilliant emerald mineral. It radiated some form of magic as Sephus could tell. When the car pulled into the courtyard proper, the doors were opened by a pair of guards. They wore kilts and doublets with large bonnets. On their hips they had large cutlasses and slung on their backs were rifles.
Upon noticing that Liline might have been peering at the stone in the center of the courtyard she spoke again. "Aah, so you noticed the Creag? It's all that remains of an ancient fortress, built here by the meascthans at a time that predates sentient creach." She smiled, "It is quite old as you can see. Unfortunately so worn down the original purpose is lost to time. And no anubite has been this far out to catalogue the piece." She coughed and walked inside. Removing her cape and passing it to a nearby servant before turning again. "I will join you two again at dinner. Before then, the Tanist of Her Grace will see to you." She bowed her head and left. They were then approached by a stockier creach woman in a similar suit, but her fingers dripped with heavy jewel encrusted gold rings. A brooch of a flower wrapped around an antler was pinned to her fly kilt.
"I am Anne Duncan the Fourteenth, Tanist to the Chieftain Elizabeth of Clan Duncan. I am pleased to welcome you to Castle Lyall. If you'll follow me, the chieftain has requested your presence in the arboretum for tea before dinner." The broad-shouldered woman who towered over Sephus turned and began walking. Judging by her arms and legs, this Anne was perhaps the clan's champion. She lead the pair through the castle, it was an ancient place. Heavy stones made up the walls and floor, the ceilings were so high they were shrouded in darkness. Carpets had been laid over the floors to make them more appealing. Wooden beams lined the walls and ceilings in neat places. Electric lighting fixtures were fitted in place of a sconce or a chandelier. Mighty tapestries showing the clan's proud heritage were hanging on the walls. Mixed among them were also hundreds of paintings, mounted big game head, and medieval suits of armour. After pushing open heavy iron doors and grabbing an electric lantern, the Tanist headed down large stone stairs. While she could have taken each step one at a time in stride, Sephus and Liline would need to take two steps for each stair in stride because of how wide they were. When they descended three flights of stairs or so, the Tanist set the lantern on a hook and pulled a lever. An iron door slide open on a rail, powered by an electronic gear. When the trio stepped through into what appeared to be an airlock, the door closed behind them. There was a brief moment where all the cold air was suddenly flushed out of the room. Sephus and Liline were subjected to a sudden wave of hot and humid air. A metallic ding heralded the opening of the door in front of them.
What was stretched out before them was something truly unique, juxtaposed to the ancient castle above this room had smooth stone walls in the shape of a pyramid. All four walls came to an apex at the ceiling. The room was dim, with only lights mounted on the base boards shining up to create a rather dim room with warm light. The air was full of butterflies and there were trees positively everywhere. It was truly like a forest in this chamber. Hundreds of trees were growing here.
"Watch your step." The Tanist spoke, and it was a fair warning. As she stepped out of the airlock and continued walking the couple could see stepping stones stretched out for a dozen yards or so. In between the stepping stones was about four feet of water. Stepping into the room proper revealed the whole thing was flooded, and most of the trees had been planted in a strange sand-dirt composite. After following the stepping stones, they stepped onto a stone which was about fifty feet in diameter and which seemed to serve as the central part of the room. At the centre of the main stone was the biggest tree of them all, its tallest branches growing towards the apex of the pyramid. Sitting at a small iron garden table was an old creach woman. She wore a fine suit and had thick spectacles on. She was reading a book and had a fine porcelain cup of tea in front of her. Her suit was mostly covered by a full length kilt, which wrapped over her shoulder and tied in excess around her waist. In her lap was a child, perhaps four or five in age. Sitting quietly and listening to the older woman read the book aloud. The child was wearing a tartan kilt that was wrapped over them like a shawl.
"Your Grace, I present Miss Liline and Lord Sephus." The Tanist announced, to which the old woman closed her book and put it down.
"Ooh, welcome. Come and sit with me a while. Girl, fetch more tea for the guests." A previously unseen Meascthan servant in a dress bowed and rushed to get a tea pot and cups for the Tanist and the couple.

Sephus looked at his uniform after Liline had just dusted him down for lint, he really should have paid closer attention to it. It has been ages since he dressed up like this… Then again he hasn’t been to any sort of formal functions for months even before he came on this trip with Liline.

He followed her out of the Inn and up to the long black car waiting for them outside, giving a courteous nod to the sheriff as she removed her hat. He noted that she was in some spiffy attire too. After hearing her greeting he followed Liline into the car, again he was pleasantly surprised by how large the interior was.

“The limo has better interior design than my apartment…” This put a few things into perspective for him… He really didn’t take his role as Lord Commander of the Firstborn Military that seriously. Perhaps he should look into buying an estate once he gets back… Maybe ask if he can get a private ship that wasn’t a frigate… He wondered if their cat was okay… He did leave him in the care of her royal highness, Princess Keris, so it was likely that the little feline was being spoiled rotten.

After a lovely ride over the dirt path up to the castle, Sephus could definitely feel the tingle of mana in the air… Like a thunderless storm, a very welcome feeling in such a harsh empire that didn’t much care for the fantastical. As a Zerg offshoot species, mana was something they liked to have around instead of spreading the cancerous creep that would sustain their populations.

He looked to the glistening emerald source of the mana, the imposing spire in the centre of the courtyard had easily drawn his gaze but he couldn’t tell what exactly this emerald mineral was for or why it was magical in nature. He was growing curious. “Now that’s an interesting sight…” He remarked with an appreciative gaze, eyes sparkling with fascination. But soon enough the car ride was over, and the door beside him had been opened by a guard. He’ll have to ask someone when he has the chance.

Or so he thought. He actually got to hear about it from the sheriff once she noticed Liline had taken an interest. “The Creag…” He repeated to himself. He thought it odd that they would enshrine the remains of an ancient fort within the courtyard of an entirely new castle. Though he was very interested in the history of it. A fortress that predated sentient Creach? Now that was really something. Proof that someone else was here before them perhaps? It might even give some insight to their origin mythos.

He certainly wouldn’t mind getting a closer look and seeing what kind of magic was radiating from it. Now he wasn't a scholar of the mystical arts by any means, any guess he would venture would be from a soldier's strandpoint. The former King of Blades might be able to glean something from it, Zether was an ancient being that gave rise to his culture after all.

Alas, they were brought inside. Spire appreciation time was over. Once the sheriff bid her leave he would say his goodbyes before someone new had come along. The Tanist to the Chieftain, the next in line to be the Chieftain if he understood this alien terminology right. It was a good thing he decided to do some acquired reading on Creach cultural hierarchies before this. Shame he was still utter pants in other matters of formal functionaries.

He could never get over the fact that these women can tower over someone like him. It was bad enough that their allies in the nebula had Taurus and whatnot that already stood a good 13+ft to his 7ft when he wasn’t using this 6ft human disguise. Though in saying that it wasn’t like there weren’t Firstborn species back home that didn’t tower over him… He was a Hydralisk after all.

Still… Back to the present he could easily see that this woman was likely the clans champion. He didn’t know if he could beat her in a fair fight, not without seriously injuring her… Or ruining his nice clothes. He might have the speed advantage, and perhaps a magical advantage too. Though she could definitely do some damage if she caught him.

He continued to follow the Tanist alongside Liline as they ventured further and further into the old castle, the interior befitting that of an auspicious clan with deep roots to the land. Though soon enough some really large stairs had to be traversed… Looking back to the Tanist he could easily guess why he needed to nearly jump down every step they took. This place was built for their large stride in mind, not these stubby human legs. He wished he had his serpentine tail still. Legs were so fiddly… But kicking was fun. And running.

Soon enough, once the Tanist opened a large iron door and they got blasted with warm humid air, they could see just where she had been leading them.

Inside past the iron door was a more refurbished looking pyramid space, smooth stone and a rather lofty looking interior instead of the worn stone of the ancient castle above them. He was going to haphazardly step inside, though thanks to the Tanists fair warning he did see that there was quite a wet looking drop waiting for him if he had continued. “Oooh, thank you.” He worried that it might be cold, but given how warm the room was when they opened it… He honestly might not have minded the surprise dip.

He made his way across the stepping stones, helping Liline cross them if she so needed it. He looked around to the flooded room, seeing the strange trees planted in some strange composite soil while they made their way to the central stone that had the largest tree on it, a truly towering thing.

And there in its shade, sat at an iron garden table was an old Creach woman in fine attire. This must be the Chieftain. Once he and Liline were introduced he gave a respectful yet short bow and accepted the invitation to sit, being courteous by pulling out Liline’s chair and seating her first before he settled into his. He didn’t look surprised when the unseen servant suddenly appeared and went to get their tea. Though he was impressed that they could hide very well. “Quite the disciplined servant… They must be very useful.”

The duchess smiled as her two guests and the tanist joined her at the table. She ran her hand across the child's head and passed her to the tanist who sat the child on her knee.
"I am the Chieftain of Clan Duncan, Elizabeth Duncan. You've met my daughter, Anne. And the wee one is my granddaughter, Mary. I'm pleased you've accepted my invitation." She said leaning back. The meascthan returned and placed tea cups in front of everyone, as well as offering to put sugar and cream in the tea. After she served everyone the meascthan was dismissed back upstairs by the chieftain.
"Aye she's disciplined, enough. Not my first choice for a servant, that girl. Hired her from Cadhainn. More of a second rate servant than I'd like. But her predecessor unfortunately departed from my service. She was the best, finest servant I've ever had. But she got married to some poor lowlander. The two of them ran off to Maryburgh or moon knows where. Forced me to find a replacement, so I have that one working for me now. She's a knife-ear so she's light on her feet, and she doesn't each much. So she has that benefit. But she's slow. Enough about the servants of the house for now. I trust the two of you have enjoyed your time on Tir Creachdair?" She smiled. At a certain point in the conversation she would abruptly stand, causing everyone at the table to do the same. She paced for a moment before walking to the large tree in the center of the room. "Clan Duncan has rooted itself on one of the oldest developed spots on the planet you know? I'm sure you were able to admire the Creag as you arrived. A stone from the original Lea Odarin fortification when they landed here. Though their short-lived colony is fairly unknown, there are little signs that remind us they were here. The stone itself is dated about fifteen thousand years old. But as you can tell this room is maybe only four thousand years old. Built by my ancestor, Isadora. Originally built as a shrine to house the gift of the Great Impdhia. You know him as the Great Emperor Jasper. It was a seed of the Hoppish God Tree. The two thousand foot tall tree which ancient hopper's worshipped. Cut down as heresy by Jasper when he besieged the planet. The seed he gifted to Clan Duncan is believed to be the last in existence. As one might guess Tir Creachdair is too cold to grow this tree in all its glory, so she built this room. Over the years it has become a sort of passion of the Duncan Chieftains to add to the arboretum. I have made a few contributions to this room, m'self. But this tree here serves as our most prized possession. It is why I spend so much time down here. I reflect on what it means." She put her hand on the bark and ran her fingers along it. "Lord Sephus, I understand you are a warrior yourself. Counter to our good Liline here."

Sephus was easily reminded of the stark contrast of how other nobles treat their help and staff compared to the fairly sociable and friendly manner that the Imperial Family of Castameer’s leadership treat theirs. Even himself, who served the 3rd princess as a bodyguard after his ascension from a lowly Hydralisk and before his promotion to Lord Commander. Elizabeth's treatment and casual manner of berating the servant was personally distasteful to him but he knew better than to project his warped sense of ‘right and wrong’ on another species. His own moral compass was likely bizarre and horrendously naive in the eyes of these aliens. Something Liline has likely wrestled with on occasion.

Still. As he sipped away at his tea he would still be fair in his reply. “A shame that you would find yourself shorthanded on such short notice. It is a selfish thing they did, though we are all inherently selfish creatures.” Personally he didn’t dislike the predecessors decision, she did what she thought would make her happy even if it meant running away with her lover to parts unknown with nothing to their name. Honestly? He loved that. But he still sympathised with the fact that now that ire was likely being placed on this new girl's shoulders… Poor thing. She seemed quite capable. With her natural talents she would be better suited as a bodyguard but these Creach value strength above guile it would seem… Honestly he wouldn’t mind taking her under his wing if he had the time. But that was just a fanciful and empty thought to have right now.

He gave a pleasant smile as he savoured the tea, enjoying the temperate and soothing warmth around him. Loving the warmer climate, revelling silently in the heat. Firstborn were creatures of a warmer climate by design. “I’ve rather enjoyed my time here, I’ve been learning so much. And got to enjoy some of the more interesting wildlife. Though I will admit the cold ill suits me.” He wore humility well, of course he did so with grace. He played the part of regal Lord Commander well when he wasn’t being mad or nerding out over something. That and he knew he had to tease Liline with a shameless smile in her direction. “I’ve loved every moment of our time here despite the cold.”

Once the chieftain arose, so too did he along with the others. Watching the older Creach move to the old tree behind her… And he was rather impressed with this specimen, this living relic of a past nearly lost. A rather nostalgic sight. It too reminded him of his lord. He was their father, their master and by all rights their god. But he liked to be referred to as Zether.

Once the chieftain asked of his past, asking him if he was a warrior, he nodded all too happily. “Indeed I am, I started as a simple footsoldier in my Lord’s army, back when it was Lord Zether who ruled the Firstborn and not Empress Alicia. One of millions of cogs in an engine of progress. I served my King, my God, my father, with loyalty and distinction. Enough to serve the Imperial Princess. And more than enough to become Lord Commander.” He wore his accomplishments, his scars and his changes with pride. He regretted nothing of his ascension. While this job can be overwhelming at times, he would not trade it for anything. “And while I might be a interesting counter to Liline, who has lived a life of an all too different type of line of duty, I still cherish her all the same.”

“Why do you ask? Curious to hear some tales of conquest? I’m afraid they aren’t suitable for young ears, my early years are not so tame as to be boorishly facing off against pirates and their ilk.” He says because of the presence of the young Creach in their presence, and he was not lying. Stories of Zerg battles, Firstborn cleansing worlds of Zerg hives and the brutal Brood wars that were fought along the early cluster of stars that later became the Firstborn Territory were anything but tame. They were bloody, gory and beastial. It made wars of independence look tame in comparison.

The tea was strong and had a good flavour profile, though it had a hint of some kind of floral addition. Though the specific flower was lost on Sephus as he was not from Bezannia.
"Good, good. Tir Creachdair may be an odd planet but she has her beauty. And the cold does good to up your strength." The chieftain said as she walked back to the table. Though when Sephus asked if she wished to hear tales she laughed, "no, no. I was thinking of a friendly wager. Miss Liline is true enough a combatant, and her skills are in no question. But I should very much like to see yours. Leave your tea and let us be off." The duchess said as she started walking for the door. The tanist lifted the little one up and put them on her shoulder before following. Liline stood as well and looked to Sephus with a smile.
"You're in for it now." Liline whispered as she passed. The party left the subterranean arboretum and headed upstairs. Despite the chieftain's age she used the stairs unassisted. When she reached the top of the stairs she proceeded to move through the castle until the group entered a new area. It was through a set of wooden doors, a large stone carving of a hammer resting in a skull above the door. Inside was a large empty room, there were two rows of pillars close to the walls with ample walkway between the pillars. Opposite the doors were six large windows that looked out into a wide valley below the castle. The Chieftain smiled as she entered and turned to Sephus.
"A friendly wager on a game of honour. Lord Sephus I wish to be entertained and to admire your strength. You'll face Duncan's finest, Anne." The chieftain said as she clapped her hands. Anne whistled and a servant entered from behind Liline and Sephus.
"Yes, my lady?" The servant spoke.
"Fetch the dinner guests." The servant bowed and left swiftly. It took but a few minutes for the room to fill with about two dozen or so Creach women. They were mostly middle aged and older, wearing fine dinner suits and their kilts. Even Sheriff Marjorie was in attendance. As the room filled, the guests took positions behind the pillars. The placement of the pillars clearly defined the arena in which Sephus and Anne would duel in. Sephus was taken to a side room at the far left side of the room and Anne walked to the far right side. He was shown what was an armoury.
One of the clanswomen assisted him, "right, listen up. Rules are no killing or grievous wounds. And no magicks, this is strictly a duel of honour so respect that. You win if you can land a cut anywhere on your opponent. If you get cut raise your arm above your head." The women would help sephus out of his uniform. She neatly hung his uniform up and threw loincloth at him. "You'll wear this, since you're not a woman you're not allowed to wear a kilt. If you need help wrapping yerself I can assist. And take your shirt off." The clanswomen then showed him the arms that were available to him. There were swords of many varieties, rapiers, sabres, claymores, and basket-hilts. There was also a lance, an axe, and a knife. Depending on which weapon Sephus selected the clanswoman would drill him on how to hold and wield it. She would do this regardless of his knowledge and would scrutinize his form intensely.
She then offered him a pair of goggles to protect his eyes, "if ye want these will protect your eyes. But I think you wont need them, only the children wear them." Before he could accept or decline she decided to put them away. She then slapped his back and pushed him to the center of the arena. The Tanist Anne was already waiting for him. She too had removed her dinner garb and was only in her kilt. Indeed she too had removed her shirt and matched Sephus in his exposure. Her body was remarkably unblemished aside from three or so large slashes across her chest and one on her shoulder. They looked like deep and old wounds. Anne was wielding a basket-hilted sword.
The chieftain announced from behind the pillar, "A bumper of relish for the duelists!" A servant approached the two with iron mugs, each filled with what was presumably beer. Anne picked up one and raised it to Sephus before she drank it like a shot. She then put it back onto the tray she removed it from and raised her sword in the air. Sephus has been instructed that this was a traditional salute, and that he was to touch the blade of his weapon to hers and hold it there. Their two line judges would then hold their own blades under Sephus' and Anne's and tap the ground then the blades twice each.
With each tap both Line Judges loudly announced, "Ready! Set!" And when their blades tapped the ground the second time both shouted, "Attack!" And quickly backed away from the two. As soon as the order was given, Anne dropped her blade from the salute and went for a simple but quick feint on Sephus' right before attacking his left. Despite the quick nature of Anne's attacks her strikes were powerful.

It was true that the flower in question that gave this tea its unique taste was lost to the Lord Commander, but that did not mean he did not enjoy it any less. He could argue that the cold sapped at his strength but he was a guest, and whining about the cold was unbecoming of him.

Hearing that the Chieftain wished to make a wager, Sephus raised a curious brow to this as he listened intently. She wished to test his prowess? For what reason… Well… He wasn’t one to shy away from a challenge. “Oh hoh?” He exclaims, a fire beginning to churn in his heart. It has been a long time since he has had the chance to fight in any sort of contest. The last time was when the Old King of Blades announced a mighty contest for the role of Lord Commander. Though the truth in that was that the finals ended in a tie, and his opponent told him that he only joined to test his mettle. Though it would seem he shouldn’t be too excited. Liline’s whispered words did make him wonder just what he was getting himself into, but he wasn’t going to do this half heartedly. He gave Liline a confident smile and followed after her all the same.

He was impressed at how spry the old chieftain seemed to be, with how easily she got up these stairs made for giants. Once they got back up into the castle they were brought into a new area, which wasn’t surprising as they were pretty much B-lined for the vault under the castle to meet the chieftain.

Sephus took notice as the chieftain turned to him and explained that she wished to be entertained. So this is a kind of contest. He thought to himself as she explained that she wished to admire his strength as he faced off against the clan’s strongest. This was going to be an interesting event then. While he wasn’t the strongest of his race, or the best with magic, he was very sure of his resilience and speed. He watched as the Chieftain called for the dinner guests to gather and the servant departed to do so as he rubbed his chin. “Then I will do my best to make sure no one is disappointed.”

Soon enough he was taken to a small room, the armoury, thanks to one of the Clanswomen that accompanied him. She even explained the rules to him. And they were simple enough. No magic did limit what he could do, but he understood that it would be too much of a handicap given the nature of magic… This was an honourable challenge. A test of strength and skill. What he didn’t expect was to be stripped down and made to wear a loincloth… Needless to say he was embarrassed being left in nothing but his small clothes.

Maybe I should fight in my real body… That would be fair right?

Since this was a test of honour, he saw no need to handicap himself for spectacle. If he was fighting a creach, then it would still be a fair fight if he was not in this human disguise.

So he stripped down and snapped his fingers, breaking the seal on the transformation spell that changed him into this squishy pink mortal body. His form swelled, growing from 6ft to a lean 7ft tall. His true body is lean and athletic, strong. His scaled hide was as white as snow, the horns on his head holding a splash of crimson, with black accents marking parts of his body and a tensile tail sprouting down his back. He tied the loincloth well to avoid any mishaps. Though soon enough he’ll wonder why he bothered.

Being shown the array of weapons he did browse them for a good long moment. As a member of the Firstborn, weapons were not native to them, their bodies were weapons of war… They were the most lethal tool they would ever need. But this was a contest of honour, not slaughter. So he thought of his own fighting style and which weapon would best fit that. He was surprised to see a lack of spear type weapons… But given the geography of Creach, it wasn’t very likely that they'd had to deal with cavalry. Finally he decided upon a Rapier. Not the best for defence but he knew it would compliment his speed and agility well. Though he was drilled in how to use it effectively by the same Clanswomen that brought him here, she was harsh but fair in giving him the basics. The offer of goggles was refused, he wouldn’t need them given his own healing ability. Even if his eye was injured, it wouldn’t be permanent.

He was heartily slapped on the back and sent into the arena. “Ow..” He says under his breath before he continues stepping out into the arena. And there he would see Tanist Anne wielding a basket-hilted sword. A decent choice, reach and her hand wouldn’t be an easy target. He was trying to remain professionally composed despite the fact that she was as exposed as he was at this point. He had to admit. Facing this mountain of a woman was going to be a challenge.

When given the mug of what he presumed to be beer, he mirrored the Tanist as he raised it towards her before he did his best to empty the whole mug, doing so in three gulps before handing it back to the servant. He then raised his weapon up and held it against the Tanist’s after being instructed that this was the traditional salute.

He waited on the go, mentally preparing for the fight ahead. The Tanist was no doubt a swifter than anticipated opponent thanks to her choice of weapon, relying on his smaller frame and agile pace may not entirely be the best here but he had to at least try… Anne will no doubt try to keep things close. She likely won’t let me create much space between us… At least that was what he was thinking.

And now they go.

The feint to his right was ignored as he started to dart to the right, he aimed to play close to the Tanist to use her larger frame against her while being swift enough to keep from any backhanded strikes she may swing for room, he was aiming for a glancing strike into her side with his Rapier. Only enough to graze and draw blood as was necessary. He was right to be wary of her attacks, that left strike was as fast as it was powerful... He'll need to be wary of that if he was going to last.

The tanist seemed to retreat only slightly after her first attack, she allowed Sephus the right of way as it were in terms of attacks. Though after a few swipes from Sephus it was clear Anne was studying his tactics and gauging his skill with his weapon. She batted off most of his attacks with ease as she tightened up her form and brought her sword closer to her body. But rather unexpectedly Anne suddenly and quickly grabbed Sephus' dominant wrist with her off hand. She used Sephus' momentum against him and threw him away from her, as she pivoted on her heels to slash at Sephus' back. It would be nigh impossible for any normal human or creach to avoid a blow like that, but Sephus could avoid it with some inhuman ability.

Anne was surprised at Sephus' resilience as she threw him, she seemed to have decided that would be the final blow but it was not meant to be. She returned to her dueling stance and went for a lunge this time. While Sephus had maybe considered himself lucky to avoid that backslash, he would find himself in a position where he had almost wished Anne had put a slash on his back. Her attacks were far more aggressive now, and she was picking up speed. Anne had clearly decided the contest was over after studying Sephus briefly, it was now time to finish him. And she was doing everything she could to end the fight. Her slashes, when blocked, had such force that Sephus could feel a rush of air from the blade, some slashes nearly knocked him off balance just from guarding. But the end came when Sephus held up his sword to block an incoming attack and when the two blades collided he would find his poor rapier shatter along the point of contact as Anne's blow had completely cleaved through the rapier's facet. And with her strike Anne's sword went all the way through and left a cut across his shoulder. Though, depending on how fast Sephus was in terms of recognizing his predicament... he could throw a small jab and place a nick along Anne's side at the same time her blade would collide with his shoulder if he made no action to avoid the shoulder slash. Perhaps, a tie would be better than an inevitable defeat.

The initial backstep gave Sephus some hope that he could do more, but he soon realised his novice skills with a rapier, nevermind any other weapon here, was mighty outclassed by the Tanist’s close combat experience.

‘If only I had been born a Brutalisk!’ He thinks to himself. He was more suited for ranged engagements even with his innate talent for agility and precision being transferable to this situation. But the Tanist had her bases covered. Even as he aimed to slash and thrust at her with the rapier she easily batted the weapon away. As infuriating as it is, he couldn’t help but admire how she could control the battlefield like this…

‘I need to be faster. I need to focus all my strength into speed. Overwhelm her with it if possib-?!’

His train of thought was broken as the Tanist grabbed his dominant hand, his right hand, and threw him away from her. Aiming to slash into his back. Fortunately for him he could get out of it. As she aimed to close the gap to shash at his back, his tail would lash out and crack like a whip in her face to give himself a moment of peace by making her flinch before he brought it around and gracefully controlled his body in the air so he could land on his feet and face her with the rapier in hand.

After she missed that backslash Sephus put all of his strength into his agility, which gave him some advantage for the moment. Unfortunately the Tanist was gaining on him, and getting faster still. Which started to make Sephus sweat bullets as he started to push himself further and further just to dodge a ‘simple’ slash now.

Her ‘simple’ slashes brought up dust clouds. Now she was getting aggressive, faster and determined to beat him. While he was just putting his all into dodging. Sephus was starting to really feel the pressure.

‘N-Not good. I’m starting to reach my physical limit! I can go further if I use magic but that's not really allowed in this duel!’

His main option was to guard and try to deflect the blows, but each of them felt like he was being hit by a car. He did his best to try and steer the damage away so he didn’t feel the full brunt of the blows but that was hard enough… Then her next blow caused his rapier to shatter in his hand. The Tanist could really see his eyes widen with that, the panic, his mind racing for solutions as they studied the area around him. He recognised that he was being backed into a wall… This next action was going to decide the next few seconds of this.

Defeat was likely.

But he risked it all on a gamble. A Tie.

Her side was unguarded. He aimed for it with all the strength he had left in his body, a jab that would nick the side just as Anne’s blade clashed against the sturdy white scales of his shoulder, with her strength that blade would slice the first layer of scales and hit the layer beneath, there would be no serious bleeding, but there would be some destroyed scales and some blood thanks to her breaking through the third layer before she got to the internal squishy innards.

If he was successful in getting it off then he would have still skid slightly back from the force of her shoulder strike, enough for him to likely need to go to one knee as he used his tail to keep himself from falling over. His entire body was shaking with how tense he was, once he relaxed he was likely going to just face plant from him pushing himself to the point of bruising his muscles, even snapping afew just to keep up with the Tanist.

Still. He hasn’t stopped smiling ever since she seemed determined to end the fight on her terms. That smile wouldn’t falter no matter how much trouble he was in.

And even if he tied or lost now that smile would likely stay.

He had fun. He fought with his physical everything. So he was content with it either way.

As Anne's final blow came into contact with Sephus' shoulder, he knew Anne had not gone full force on the attack as she only lightly cut his arm. Enough to draw blood and nothing more, painful but nothing debilitating. Though as Sephus' blade came into contact with Anne's abdomen he could hear audible gasps from the crowd. They were quickly followed by slow applause however, as Anne stood up and nodded to Sephus.
"Underhanded, but fair." She said as she walked off in a hurry.
Sephus' coach approached him from the side, "Aye lad you're in for it now." She shook her head and helped him up. She brought him over to their original corner and she opened a small tin and held it under his nose. Sephus was hit with a bitter and foul smelling herb that filled his nostrils, it made him nauseous. But after a few seconds he felt normal, relaxed even. Like all the strains of the previous duel had vanished. "That little tonic should make you right as rain for this." She said as she snapped her fingers at a meascthan maid who came over with a tray. The coach grabbed a bottle and a brush made from a twig off the tray and quickly painted something on Sephus' chest. "Oh right, forgot to explain this to you. Since you tied with the Tanist in weapon combat you're progressing to the next stage. You're going to be in unarmed combat now. Since you could not resolve the game with weapons you're going to resolve it with your fists and claws to make the match more fair. You're going to kill your opponent in this next match, but don't worry, lad. The rune I put on your chest will preserve your life. If you kill the Tanist or vice versa the rune will break and you'll walk away from this engagement unharmed." She spoke quickly. After she examined the rune she sighed, "there, it's done. Be careful with that, it's an expensive rune. But it's active now, so get back in there." She shoved Sephus back into the arena proper where Anne was waiting. She had a similar rune painted on her chest.
The tanist sighed, "Sorry we've reached this stage good lord commander, been a while since I've had to engage in Reanach. But take it as a compliment to your skills I suppose. Are you ready?" She said, Anne had an apologetic look on her face, like she was already sorry for not having been decent enough to end Sephus earlier.