DATE TBA by Noya
"Crimson Storm? Sounds like a term used by people to make themselves feel better about their lacking skills." The youth in the Surya Plaza laughed at the ring leader, a young man in his late teens, tall and yet bulky. An intimidating dao swung at his hip.
Noya had been in the Surya Plaza, observing the hustle and bustle of the crowds, eventually talking to a group of boys who seemed to know eachother well. It turned out to be a mistake - they were arrogant sword users. SWORD, the Dao to be specific. And they dared to make fun of the axe, and her lack of skill in using it!
"I bet you could not use the axe correctly in any slightly dangerous situation," the boy continued to laugh, nudging the other boys as if to say 'Look at how funny I am!' He needn't have bothered. They were all in hysterics anyway. Noya was not happy. There they were, insulting the very thing that was most dear to her - her axes and her ability to use them. "I am better at the axe than you would ever be at the dao," she pronounced haughtily. Only her mother was allowed to criticise her use of the axe.
The boys looked skeptical. A Myrian - Myrians were soldiers to be sure - but against a Lhavitian, who loved their dao and spent every hour they could at the Tea House? Arrogance, too, clouded her judgement. But the ring leader smirked, taking a couple of steps closer to Noya - he had a plan, to bring down this stuck up woman a few notches. "Go to the Misty Peaks. Alone. Bring me back something you yourself have killed, and I'll believe you. Here, in twelve hours." Without even waiting for an answer, the group of boys swaggered off, leaving Noya no opportunity but to meet their demands or to lose face - it was no question which option she chose.
As such, Noya found herself walking out of the Amaranthine Gates, nodding towards the Shinya stationed there respectfully. Down, down down she went, until she was well and truly out of civilised Lhavit. Looking back over her shoulder, to make sure there were no guards coming her way, she ducked down a smaller, less travelled path which led off into the undergrowth. She was off the track. Now to find something and kill it.
The world outside of the track was entirely different to the glittering built world that Noya knew. The undergrowth was feral, wild and untamed. Colours were splashed here, there, everywhere and there was a constant cacophony of noise, with squawks and growls and the rustle of vegetation. A light wind was in the air as Noya looked around the place. It was a different world, and it was beautiful - but spoke loudly of danger and instability.
Noya continued down the path, the noises of game nearby, and yet none appearing to her eyes. She was sure that there were plenty watching her, however, and as she was travelling she spotted, sporadically, yellow bloodshot eyes gleaming out from the undergrowth. Potential game, yes, but she was not going to make a move until she was directly attacked. She didn't know what might come to the animal's aid.
The game did indeed make a move. A mangy, dirty wolf slinked out of the undergrowth. Its eyes were rolling and its fur was matted and smelly. It crouched back, snarling at Noya. Noya halted, then took a step forward. The wolf growled again, with a bit more of a howl to it. One more step and the wolf would attack. |
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