Lemina grumbled to herself as filled a pack with Starlights and Dover Nuts.
"One of my 'duties'? I know exactly why that blimp suggested this..."
In the perch on the corner, Thundra moved her damaged wing slightly. It still stung a bit, but it was healing nicely after that mage cast a Heal Litany on it in earlier that morning. She shifted on the perch and listened to Lemina berate Borgan.
In the previous hour, the Junior Premier had received the 'suggestion' to head off to Meribia in order to represent the leaders of Vane. A meeting of the government had been called to discuss the recent rise in monster activity throughout Lunar. Lunn's main dojo was to be the assembly place for representatives from as many towns as possible. The meeting was scheduled for late the next day.
Of course, Lemina resisted a bit due to just who offered this idea... Borgan. She knew he only wanted to get rid of her AGAIN to spend some quality time with Miria. Unfortunately, she didn't have any excuse not to go... no classes were scheduled for that day. Her mother nicely agreed with Borgan's suggestion.
"What a creep."
About an hour later, Lemina stood at the gates of Vane. Impatient, she glared toward the guild mansion.
Thundra shook her head as she watched a group of four mages slowly walk toward her with their purple robes blowing in the slight wind.
These wizards were sent to accompany her to Meribia for two purposes. First, to appear as associate representatives of the town. Second, to serve as bodyguards for Lemina on the trip. She was certainly annoyed by their presence. Its not like she couldn't handle a short trip... or the Fatal Hoppers or Killer Wasps that would be in the way. Taben's Peak was no longer a danger either... Nall would keep those bandit DragonKids of his in line.
She twirled her wand for a moment and regarded the raven on her shoulder. Despite the bird's injury, Lemina insisted on taking her on the trip. Not only would Thundra probably be useful in an attack, she also didn't want to leave the strange creature in Borgan's hands... who knew what he would try to do with her.
Thundra herself seemed to agree. Actually, she wanted to get a look around this world to find her friends and those two evil mages. Not being able to fly, this nice blond girl's mission seemed her best bet for travel... plus she liked Lemina a bit. The Junior Premier did fix up her wing.
As the mages readied themselves to go out. Lemina regarded the small door that led to a set of stairs to the west. It had recently been decided that the Cave of Trial would be refurbished with guardian monsters and eventually renewed as an entry procedure to enter the Vane Magic Guild... at least for those who wouldn't pay the entrance fees...
"Ready fellas? Then let's get on with this," she said aloud and began walking down the hill stairs into the wilderness of the eastern Katarina Zone.
"Ramus better leave me the heck alone... I AM making progress toward reviving the guild totally after all," Lemina thought to herself as they left Vane.
Thundra only sang a pleasant tune...
"C'mon Whitey! I'm leaving now... are you coming or not?!"
Nall sighed. Ruby could get so hot and impatient sometimes... that's what he liked about her.
"Yeah, yeah... I'm on my way!"
On the outdoor platform at the top of Taben's Peak... home/hideout of the DragonKids... a pink cat with a red bow on her head was perched upon one of the railings near the elevator.
Ruby spread her little wings and stretched out for a moment as a young man in a type of armor walked out onto the platform. He had a short mane of white hair with a tuft of red at its top. Ruby yawned.
"What took you so long?"
Nall frowned. "Well... someone has to lock up Althena's Sword now that it isn't needed... I don't see you doing that with your paws."
Ruby angrily flapped over into his face. "Hey! I'm working on it still! How long did it take you to get this morphing thing right?"
Nall looked away. "Uh..."
The kitty giggled, "Thought so."
Nall gave her a bad look and then began to concentrate. In a brief flash he was gone. In his place was a white cat with a red stripe at the top of its head. He rapidly flapped his wings and the two of them flew off toward the east.
"Tell me again why you'd rather fly in that form too," Ruby murmured to her companion.
Nall shook his head as they soared through the blue sky.
"Most people are still scared of our normal forms... and don't you think it'd be weird to see a person floating through the air-"
Ruby interrupted, "So seeing a cat flying isn't weird to humans?"
Nall sighed and rolled his eyes.
They watched Vane approaching below them.
"By the way," Ruby asked, "Have you heard from Black and Blue in awhile? It's been a good week since I talked to Blackie."
Nall stared at her, "Wha? Don't you know you can just 'think' to them? You can chat with them any time since we're all linked. Jeez, you've been thinking like a cat rather than a dragon too long, Ruby."
Ruby considered setting his fur ablaze.
"Anyway, Azuren and Shade are going to that big assembly in Meribia tomorrow to find out what's going on in the towns at the far edges of Lunar. There's no real reason for more than one of us to go, so its no problem that we pull this little trip of yours... who are we seeing first anyway?"
"Jean at the Carnival... its still east of Nota. Maybe Gwyn afterwards and then back to Lemina and Ronfar when we come back this way."
The two flying cats flew onward to the east.
"Ah! You're awake finally!"
Ryko slowly sat up to find herself on a cot in her own training dojo. The voice came from Kara who was lying atop the bed next to her.
All around them were similar cots. It appeared that the facility had become a makeshift hospital for the many wounded in the previous night's siege.
Ryko felt a little dizzy as she looked around the room. Fighters from all venues of martial arts were there in addition to the hurt common folk. Kara herself bore a number of bandages around her stomach, most likely the result of the shield slash she had taken from Sakof.
The girl checked herself. The sword wounds and wolf scratches she had taken outside Horam had been treated and covered... now if only she could get rid of the headache...
"What happened after that giant cretin went down?" she asked her acquaintance at her side.
The Bunny Karate fighter made a short motion with her hands around the room.
"Sakof was apparently the general of that monster army. When we killed him, most of them retreated. Those left were soon taken care of." She continued, "There were a small number of casualties, but tons of us were injured as you can see."
Ryko coughed for a moment and looked down to see Jan's blade still stuck in her belt.
"Its too bad you were asleep... they were ready to treat us as heroes for beating that thing if there weren't so much injuries," Kara giggled.
"There's supposed to be a big discussion about it tomorrow in Meribia. The Wong dojo master is sending several representatives by boat in about two hours," a voice behind her said.
Ryko turned to her other side and saw one of the virtual ninjas who fought with her. He was still clad in his outfit. His mask was off, revealing a young man with light brown hair.
"Hm... maybe I should inform him about what I saw outside Horam before the attack started," Ryko wondered aloud.
"What?" Kara quested.
Ryko responded, "I went to look for my friend Jan... you remember her, right?"
Both the man and Kara nodded.
"Yes...the swordswoman... I don't remember seeing her in the fight."
"Well," Ryko went on, "I found her sword near a smoking crater to the west of Horam. There were several parties of those attackers around... including one who tried to kill me and grab her sword... seemingly searching for something. The nasties who I beat up mentioned something about a sword that they thought was taken into Horam... I think that's why they attacked. But it couldn't be Jan's blade they were after, could it?"
The ninja took all this in and thought.
"Maybe you should tell the master all this...I'm sure it's pertinent information."
Ryko agreed and stood up... then staggered a bit on her feet.
Kara quickly stood up and held her up.
"Looks like you need a hand," the Bunny Karate girl said, smiling.
The virtual ninja got to his feet as well. "I'll come too. My name's Talm by the way." He helped steady Ryko as they walked past many of her fellow students... all injured. Talm only had a pair of bloody bandages on his left arm and right leg but didn't seem to display any real pain.
The trio of martial artists trotted toward the Wong dojo, aghast of the amount of damage done to several buildings.
Ryko quickly told everything she had seen and heard outside of Horam to the master.
The old sensei listened intently. At one point he asked to inspect her friend's sword, but found nothing special about it. The local magicians who lived in Horam couldn't detect anything either. It appeared to be just a regular long sword. The monsters were probably mistaken in their identification of it.
He looked long at the three young people in front of him and thought of the few people that hadn't been injured in the battle. Someone had to remain at Horam in case the monsters came back... and he didn't want to leave the place defenseless by sending a several of those who could defend it to Meribia. Until healers came from Meribia, Zaback and Raculi by ship they were going to have to make due with whoever was left. The trio who stood in front of him looked like they were in okay shape but they seemed too young to have such a responsibility. Still...
Kara was starting to feel uncomfortable under the master's gaze. Why wasn't he responding?
The mentor finally decided.
"I'd like it for you three to take this information to the assembly at Meribia."
Talm bowed and grinned. Ryko and Kara were a little shocked.
Ryko responded, "Wouldn't you rather send some official (and older) representatives?"
The old man shook his head, "No, not only can we not spare those who are not wounded, I think this will be a good experience for you children."
Ryko thought about this for a moment. Perhaps if she did attend a big meeting like this, she would be able to learn some information about what happened to Jan or at least look around for her in eastern Lunar.
Kara spoke, "What about the semi-tournament? Will we be back in time to get ready and participate?"
Nodding, the great teacher responded, "Yes... the tournament will be pushed back a few days due to the attack anyway... if anyone is well enough to participate by then. I don't expect this to be a long assembly, but if it is I shall give you a letter for permission to use Master Lunn's remaining training dojos in Meribia to stay in practice." He added afterwards, "Will you consider it? The boat to Meribia is leaving the port in about an hour from now."
Ryko huddled up with her two fellow martial artists and whispered for a few moments.
"Alright. The three of us will represent Horam at this meeting," Talm answered for the group, "For the honor of Horam and its wounded and perhaps to find the cause of the strike."
"Good, thank you my young friends. Please pack your things quickly and return here before heading to the dock."
The trio bowed and walked out of the building.
Ryko and the others ran to their separate dojos and informed their respective masters and hurt students of the mission. Each was wished well and told to return soon with news.
The black-haired girl quickly changed out of her gi (finally) and into normal clothes, then put her training outfit and a few supplies in her pack.
She met Kara and Talm (who had both done the same little tasks) back at the Wong dojo and proceeded inside. The master gave them a letter to present to Master Lunn or his assistant if he was not in. Also, he provided them with a few hundred silvers for expenses.
In fifteen minutes, they were on the surprisingly steady boat, heading off to the northeast...