Post by Flame on Jan 15, 2020 11:59:09 GMT -5
Story Name: Atsumonogatari: Chapter 1
Character Name: Syphalia Minalion
Word Count: 9626How did it begin? Some wanted it recorded so it was written. Some asked for it told, so it was told. Together the stories are what they are, a tale. A tale of coming together, a tale of breaking apart, a tale of people. For them it was simply a beginning. For them it started with the two, friends, smith and quartermaster, sword and rifle. But it grew, those met, those departed. For us, who have been together for so long, there are five. Perhaps four, perhaps ten. But, its simplest said that there are five. There from the start, these tales are mine, for I am the one who experienced it all. I am the one who gained and lost, fought and tried ... I-
There was a clatter as an ink nib pen clattered onto the table. Hands came together scrunching a piece of paper between them. Scrunching it together into a smaller and smaller ball. She held it tight in her hand annoyingly spreading some ink across her fingers and palm as she'd not really waited for it to dry properly. Her fingers crushed it tightly as the small ball was made smaller and smaller. Still, mostly unbothered by the ink plastering itself upon her hand at the moment she manipulated it about her hand. With a flex of fingers it jumped an inch or two off the palm before falling back down upon it. A second time it was done until it managed to splatter some of the undried ink across her arm. Catching it in her palm that time she watched it for a few moments and sighed. Her own stupidity she supposed, her eyes drew themselves towards the ball of ink and parchment.
Dark, dull red eyes stared at it as the ball of paper was allowed to roll across the palm. They narrowed suddenly as in a simple flick of the wrist the ball was tossed into the air. Hand darting forward it picked the nib pen between two fingers twisting it about. And then it swiped forward crossing the paperball as it fell.
Her free hand came below it scooping up the ball closer to wad now. As it landed gently in her hand the wad casually split in two a perfect line dividing it down a diagonal. "Utter ****" Lips pursed and unpursed as her eyes took in the two parts carefully. The other hand reaching forth she split the two halves of the wad apart. Long thin fingers and palms covered in ink coalesced about the parchment wads gripping them tighter and tighter. "Keika ..." Both hands burst into flame in the moment. The flames bit and burnt at the ink-stained parchment until they were as well lit aflame by it. Ashes fell and smoke rose as each was consumed to the bit by the fire and heat. The glimmer of flame was mirrored in her eyes as a thin grin slid across the young woman's face."Can you not stink up the cabin Syphalia."
The young woman, so named Syphalia, turned her head about to see her friend still fiddling with his new rifle. "If you have a problem with that, open a window." She said petulantly sticking out her tongue and pulling down an eyelid in mock defiance of him. The quartermaster, the rifleman, seemed more than happy just to go back to exploring the ins and outs of his new toy. As his dark eyes fell back on it he paused glancing back up towards her. Setting the rifle aside carefully he stood up from his chair by the small table and walked over. "What are you doing anyways?"
"Writing about how it ... we ... the crew began.""Why?"
"Because Lilin wants it chronicled and like hell am I going to let her write it down. I don't even know if she can write properly."
The quartermaster paused eyeing Syphalia carefully. Then he nodded sharing that concern with the crew's self-proclaimed chronicler of stories. "So where are you starting? With our meeting?" He asked mildly curious himself of where this story was going. The Firefly shook her head in response, "Nah, besides we've been working together for longer than the rest. At the very least longer than there has been a crew. In any case that's too long a tale." Syphalia said looking up into the smoke rising above her head. Irritation grew in her throat and she coughed twice gripping her throat softly to massage it. The quartermaster gave her a wary eye before walking over to one of their cabin's windows and pushing it open to give the smoke a place to escape towards. "No, I'm starting with her." He gave a nod in response."Makes sense. Taking myself out she was the first."
There was a nod in return thankful if only barely that there was an agreement on this. "Any advice Arlen?" She asked turning her head up towards him. The rifleman was leaning his hands forward on the back of her chair causing her to tilt backwards so her hair pressed against his abdomen. "No need to be flowery. Just tell it how it was." He said fairly certainly as he stared at the wall that stood before both of them. "Want me to get her? Perhaps her viewpoint, her memory could help." Arlen asked bringing Syphalia paused for a moment.
"Sure if she's free ..." She said as she sat forward in the chair bringing the chairs feet down with a solid thud. "And thanks ..." Syphalia continued as Arlen began to stride away. She pulled another piece of parchment from the stack and picked up her nib again.
-Thud- -Thud-
Eyelids rose to look at the dimly lit wooden ceiling above the head. -THUD- The ringing of something striking the planks above her caused the drowsiness apparent from waking up to dissipate a little more. Arms spread twisting about as a yawn spilled out of the mouth as blankets were kicked off to reveal a simple black t-shirt beneath them. Twice more the foot above her head kicked down onto the floor. "I'm up, I'm up." She yelled upwards to hopefully silence the banging above her.
Two bare thin legs tossed themselves over the edge of the bed landing feet on the wooden flooring of the cabin. Short black hair swung about the ears as the young woman's body raised itself from sitting to standing. The t-shirt hung recklessly upon the shoulders, drooping in places showing its size in comparison to the wearer. A casual yawn left her mouth again as her hand swiped by to pull a sheathed blade into the hand. Lazy uneven strides eventually brought her to the cabin door pressing it open.
Brilliant rays of light fell upon the girl as she squinted into the sunlight of the morning day. "Syphalia." The familiar voice of her only shipmate called out to her from the poopdeck. She took a few steps to her left finding the closer of the two stairs up above turning the sun to her back allowing it to warm her up a bit. The warmth was relaxing for Syphalia as he shoulders lost a little more tension as she climbed up to find her companion at the helm.
"You're up early ...""Not particularly ...
You're barely clothed.""That cannot be why you woke me.
Especially with that damnedable stomping.""Look."
The fully dressed rifleman nodded his head towards the horizon before him. Syphalia tilted her head to see what seemed to be a small archipelago, or atoll, or whatever in front of her housing what looked to be a smaller wooden village. The whole thing looked to be no larger than a small town or something. Even Inlet Grove Stop seemed large by comparison. "Are you sure this is the place?" She asked skeptically as she stared at the dearth of land sitting in front of her.
"The pose does not lie." The rifleman said from behind her. Syphalia turned around her shirt whirling in the wind as she headed over to see for herself. Taking the glass-orb bearing bracelet from her companion looking down at its pointer. It pointed straight at the island before them, aligning her eye with it she stared down the arrow of the compass. Squinting at it she tried to analyze it. "There might be some downward tilt, but it seems you're right Arlen. We've arrived." She said with a shrug and a sigh. That was a little disappointing if she had to be honest. Heading back she returned the compass to him before stretching again enjoying the sunlight. Arlen nodded in response placing it back on his wrist as he eyed the island they were quickly closing in upon.
Before him Syphalia continued to stretch, her arms reached for the sky as she merrily stepped about the deck. There was no one else on the ship but them two, so she felt quite free to be flippant like this. The quartermaster flicked his eyes over her for a moment before looking forward again. "Put clothes on Syphalia." He said more sternly than before. "What are you? My mother?" She responded in mild annoyance. "You don't remember your childhood. How would you know what its like?" The response was quick and more words than she expected. Syph paused and then shrugged her shoulders back at him. "You've got a point." She rumbled her fingers over her chin for a few moments as if deciding whether to follow the orders.
Turning about on her feet with her shirt flapping in the wind she twisted her hands behind her back and grinned mischeviously. "Or perhaps you like what you see too much and its distracting." She said bringing an amused hand before her mouth. Her own red eyes flickered over Arlen who remained stone-faced before her. "Syphalia ..." His patience was wearing, and she sighed. With a flick of her hand she descended back down the stairs. "Fine, fine, I'll be back in a few." Syphalia disappeared back below into her cabin to grab a pair of shorts and she was thinking some sandals to wear.
~ An Hour or so Later ~
With the ship safely moored at what barely constituted a dock and ended up being more of a rickety jetty. The pair disembarked and headed into 'town'. If it could be considered a town, it was more a collection of shanty-style buildings. Hastily stuck together buildings seemed unlikely to weather any of the Grand Line's more crazy weather. Yet that they were still here meant they were constantly being rebuilt, stronger than they looked, or this was one of those rare islands that was safe from most terrible weather. The pair was heading down moving towards the village, which was more just the largest cluster of 'buildings', but was already pulling a lot of attention. Walking down rock-lined sandy paths they passed by piles of crates both full and empty stacked from place to place.
A quick glance gave her a familiar sight of a black-hooded symbol that she unfortunately could not place. "That look familiar to you?" She said stopping in her place before pointing over at one. The quartermaster stopped next to her and turned his head to look, "Not particularly." He said turning his attention back forward. But she was a little more curious, and already uncaring of the eyes they were gathering. She stepped over to the pile of crates to get a closer look at the symbol, it was actually a stamp of some sort printed on the sides of the wooden crates.
"Are you sure? This definitely looks familiar to me ..." She said reaching a hand forward. Her fingers slid against the wooden crate, pressing themselves atop the printed or perhaps stenciled on icon trying to remember where it was from. It felt as if it were on the tip of her tongue. "Syph ..." Arlen said quietly. "Just a moment, its really just on the tip of my tongue."
"Oi! Pinkskin hands off the merch." A voice raised itself finally enough to garner Syphalia's attention. Unbending her back she turned around to see a fishman wielding a cutlass standing upon the path pointing his weapon at her. From the waters edge two more were emerging and heading over to join him it seemed. The swordswoman blinked as she looked at the fishman blankly. "Merchandise?" She said the question apparent in her voice. She glanced back at the crates and then back over to the fishman. "Ahh ... my bad."
Stepping back from the crates she turned and headed back to stand beside Arlen as the three fishman took position on the path glaring at the pair of humans before them. "Right then, lets go ..." She stepped about them carefully leading Arlen about the fishmen and farther down the path into the shanty village. Heckling followed them as they turned away but it was strictly ignored as they entered the small hamlet, maybe it'd be better described as an outpost of the trading type, or just a dump for resources.
The pair was brought pause as a gaggle of dirty children ran across the sand before them pausing to glance at Syphalia and Arlen. The 'leader' if one could call him that was a young boy, dirt smeared across his face wielding a branch about as a thick as his wrist. "Intruders!" He squealed, for lack of a better descriptor, pointing the branch towards Syphalia. A raised eyebrow passed from her to the boy that she towered over being something like double his height. Behind the boy crowded a pair of boys and likewise of girls each she noticed wielding their own makeshift weapon. "Who are ya, and what are ya doin' in our territory." The courageous boy said leveling his branch at her.
"Just some friendly passerbys. You wouldn't happen to know anywhere we could get some information would you?"
The boy turned about and the five of them huddled into a circle passing quiet words among each other. The words passed among them as Syphalia and Arlen shared a quick glance shrugging their shoulders. Not much else to do, they could ask one of the adults who was passively watching from one of the open curtains. But the pair were not in much of a rush at the moment. They just needed some information, their log pose was unlikely to shift in an hour or two at the island so they had time to spare. It was not like the pair was in any particular rush anyways.
"We've decided, that you two seem like nice folk! You can meet Auntie Kit, she's in the orphanage over thattaway" The leader said pointing his stick over to their left. Beyond another pile of crates and a hovel or two, a larger structure rose up, unlike the hovels that were maybe a family at most it was one of the few buildings in this little hamlet that could hold a fair number of folk. It had actually been one of the places they'd thought to investigate but it was nice to have a little more direction.
"Thank you kindly! Keep up the good work." Syphalia said bending down on her knees to stick out a hand to the young boy. He wiped his hands on his cloth shorts before sticking his small thin hand in her own. The pair grinned at each other before she waved them off as they headed off on more of their 'patrols'. Syphalia smiled glancing at Arlen who was looking at her with a raised eyebrow. "What?" The quartermaster shrugged his shoulders at her walking on towards the building they'd been directed towards.
The pair passed through turning a few gazes but were otherwise untroubled by the few folk of the village. Coming before the so called orphanage, they found that it was one of the buildings that actually had a wooden door. Syphalia stepped forward knocking her knuckles against it twice. The sound was loud and resounding as they waited for the door to open. "You can come in." A young voice came from within. Syphalia carefully pulled open the door revealing a large open space. It perhaps had once been a temple, the shape from within gave her that feeling of it. But it was clearly being used as a shelter of sorts given the array of cots in the sides of the building. From the back of the candle-lit hall stepped someone in a nun's habit. Likely the person who'd responded to them.
"I'm sorry, I don't recognize you. Is there something I can help you with?" She asked stepping into the light to reveal a younger face than Syphalia expected. She looked to be about the same age as Syphalia herself. "You wouldn't happen to know an Auntie Kit? We were told if we were curious we might be able to get some information about the island from her by a young rapscallion."
The young woman stepped closer a curious yet unreadable set of emotions on her face. "This young rapscallion wouldn't happen to be about this high" She placed a hand near her waist "And be wielding a fearsome branch?" The woman continued with an amused glint in her eye. Syphalia nodded in return bringing about a sigh of exasperation from the woman. "I take it this means you are the Auntie Kit?" She presumed to place the name to the nun as she stood by.
"Yes but you can call me Sister Katherine. You are too old to call me Auntie Kit and we don't know each other well enough to use my nickname."
The swordswoman placed her hands at her hip looking the nun over. She wasn't sure what to make of her for the time being. "So the information Sister Katherine?" Syphalia prompted to see whether their request would be granted. "Sure, you can take a seat over there. And I'll get us something to drink. I hope water is fine, we don't have much." Syphalia and Arlen nodded as the sister headed to the back of the hall. Presumably it would be to grab the water. And it was as moments later she appeared with a couple of mugs sloshing with water in her hands.
Sat at the table Syphalia led off "Before we start, my name is Syphalia and this mute here, is my constant companion, Arlen. We're just traveling about learning about the world." She started being careful to hide some of the more dangerous facts about the pair. Perhaps foremost of those being that their combined bounty was a straight one hundred million beri.
She responded."Nice to meet you two.
So what did you want to know.""Log pose time would be a good start.
And possibly a place we can resupply."
"Ahh, a log pose takes I believe about four days to set. As for supplies ..." The sister paused her eyes moved around looking for the right words. She pursed her lips in thought, "Depending on what you want, there are some things you can get here." Her tongue clicked in thought, her fingers tapped on the table unconsciously. The nun took a deep breath as if the words were on her tongue but unwilling to be said. "We have some simple food stuffs up here. If that's what you're looking for."
Arlen was the first one to respond to that. "Up here?" The pair shared a glance and Syphalia closed her eyes, she took a breath and spread haki about her. "There's another village, beneath the seas." She said quietly as she felt the mass of beings beneath them. Before the pair the nun shifted uncomfortably.
"Yes ... That'd be Blue Lagoon." The nun said trailing off for a few moments. "They're a fishman and mermaid colony for the most part set in the hollow of this island. Up here is mostly just a trade post for them to trade goods with passing merchants." The pair shared a glance between each other. It explained the arrival of the fishman before, also the crates that were laying about. But still a trading post? Syphalia would expect one of those to be a little higher quality than this ramshackle village.
"Do you mind telling us a bit more about it?"
The situation as a whole confused her slightly. From what she could tell there were no fishman or mermaids living above water. But yet it was the fishman who were watching over the crates being left on the surface. The nun glanced at the two of them, "I wouldn't want you to trouble over it too much." Sister Katherine said firmly throwing a watchful eye over the both of them.
THUNK The door to the building swung open and a young voice yelled out from it. "AUNTIE KIT! AUNTIE KIT!" A cacophony of footsteps stormed the building as four busy bodies swarmed into the building. They ran in like a train screaming and wailing in a way that only kids can do. Nearly tumbling over each other they managed to indentify the location of their beloved guardian and charged her down. In moments the nun was covered in scrambling, crying, little bodies calling out her name.
Sister Kather took them up in her arms struggling to hold the four at once as Arlen and Syphalia watched on. The children looked if a bit dirtier than before and missing their brave leader. "It's tewwible, they, they took him." One of them spewed out the words before anything else could be said. "We tried to stop them but-"
"Hush, it'll be alright. Auntie Kit will take care of it.""But ... but- he's gone, Artur was taken!!!"
Whom Artur was seemed a simple enough guess for the pair watching. As for whom he was taken by, there was an obvious guess but they weren't certain. "Come now children, hush, it'll be alright. Don't worry I'll take care of it. Believe in me." She said, not once, not twice, but as many times as it took for the children to hear it. Whether she believed what she said, that was what Syphalia took interest in as she watched the nun quiet the children down. "Excuse me for a moment ..." The sister said to Syphalia and Arlen before turning to kids and beckoning them along. The children were still sniffling and tearing up but they followed as obedient as they could as the sister led them into the back areas behind this main hall.
Syphalia leaned forward laying her arms before her as a pillow placing her head in the crux of them before glancing at Arlen. "What do you think?" She asked her companion, the rifleman turned towards her and glanced at her for a moment. A wordless conversation spoke between their eyes. "Does it matter?" She paused thinking to herself. Despite her immediate reaction of, 'of course' further consideration made her reconsider if that was a true statement.
She finally decided on her own sentiment for this. "Perhaps not, but I still want to know what you think." In her own way Syphalia had a soft spot for the orphans of the world, having been one herself, from her own unknown past she'd risen to here. The situation in the end, was not one she really thought she could ignore.
"Dangerous, rifle won't be much use, an ambush perhaps, putting ourselves at a disadvantage ...""So you'll come?""I will." Arlen said.
Syphalia grinned back at her companion. The rifleman didn't return the grin but the pair stood up at the same time. There was a nod that slid between the two as the sister returned to the room pausing as she noticed that the pair who'd been talking to her were headed for the door. "Sorry for that earlier. Did you two get all the information you needed?" She asked looking towards Arlen and Syphalia as they turned back to look at the nun. The woman put on a brave face, but she new the truth that she didn't have the power to fight them it seemed.
"We'll be back later. Don't worry, we'll take care of everything."
Syphalia placed her hand on the hilt of her blade causing the sheath to angle upwards slightly. "You ... what?" The sister asked flabbergasted by what was happening before her. The rifleman and swordswoman turned about and headed for the door once again. The pair left the hall with a purpose, they had ideas of how they might reach the true Blue Lagoon, they had a goal and that was all they needed. "I think I still have the bubble blower." Syphalia commented to her companion, "That'll probably work for-""WAIT!"
The pair turned as from out the doors spewed the nun. She staggered on her feet before reaching forward and grabbing Syphalia by the wrist. "You can't!! You'll die!!" The nun said frantically. "Blue Lagoon, its currently ruled by a crew of fishman. They're backed by-" Syphalia looked down at the nun and laughed quieting her for a moment. She placed a single finger upon the sister's lips to quiet her down for a moment.
"None of those are reasons for me to not go."
There was no hint of cowardice in Syphalia's voice. She knew who she was, why she went, and her own strength. It was amusing that the nun cared enough to try and stop her but, it was the nun who didn't understand in this case. "Then ... then ..." The nun started to speak quieted by Syphalia's gaze falling upon her. "Let me come with you." That statement brought her pause. It was unexpected to say the least, the swordswoman looked on at her, how useful would she be. Syphalia was certain going with Arlen alone, but could the two of them protect her if she followed them down.
She turned meeting the dark brown eyes of her quartermaster in passed gazes that conversed. Arlen was thoughtful not with an exact decision but in the end he shrugged. Perhaps, she supposed the answer was from him. "Fine, you may come." Syphalia said, she was perhaps reminded of her foster father, or taken by the sister's own bravery. The reason why she couldn't quite say, for she wasn't quite sure herself, but in the end she allowed the joining. The nun nodded, "Just give me a minute, maybe two, I need to arrange some things." She scrambled off, not back into the building but to a nearby hut.
The pair stood there glancing between each other as the nun scurried off. "Keep an eye on her will you?" Syph said as she stretched her arms out awaiting the nun's return. The rifleman nodded in response, "Do you think she needs a weapon? I dont know if I trust her with a sword ..." Arlen scratched his chin, mulling over the options. "I'll keep her safe. You do the rest." The swordswoman started givign a nod in response before pausing. Her head turned to look at her companion.
"Hmmm?" She raised an elbow up and placed it on the quartermaster's shoulder. "Happy to help huh? Swooning over a woman of god?" Syphalia asked the obvious kidding joke smile upon her face. There was no interest in this next piece of banter from Syphalia and she quickly slid back into her place as the nun re-emerged from the hut and came back to them.
"Right, I got one of the others to cover watching the children for me. Let's go." The sister said. Syphalia pressed her lips into a thin line. Then nodding her head slightly at the sister she turned around heading back towards her ship now with an extra person in tow. The group passed through the town turning eyes once again. More words, more whispers, more eyes followed them now that they recognized a member walking around with the two newcomers.
The watching eyes were quite something. When they disappeared they were very likely to become the talk of the town. For Syph and Arlen this was the norm, they were almost always strangers, and she at least had earned a reputation that made her of notice on occasion. A big-time rookie some said. She snuck a glance back at the sister. If the whispers bothered her Sister Katherine was not showing it in the slightest. She walked stoicly through the small town, Syph turned her attention back forward. A grin grew across her face. Hidden from the sister's eyes she smiled, it was commendable. At the very least a trait Syphalia agreed with.
Apart from those prying eyes the trio faced little trouble making their way to the Dancing Red. They arrived unbothered by anyone at the ship. "If you'll excuse me. I've got to grab it off the ship first." Arlen tilted his head at her for a moment before Katherine barged in. "Quickly please ... Artur's in trouble." The urgency in her voice was noted. "Of course." Syph shot a quick glance at Arlen as she turned and walked briskly up the gangplank and onto her ship.
She was back not too long later, the item she'd needed had been exactly where she thought she'd leave it. It'd been a quick grab, returning she eyed the pair as they stood next to each other talking to each other in whispers. "Saying anything I need to hear?" Sister Katherine glanced up at her quickly giving Syph a curious glance. Way too curious, Syph's eyes narrowed, "Arlen ..." Accusation seeped into her voice as she repeated his name, but her constant crewmate shrugged his shoulders.
A quick inhale filling her lungs with air was all she needed to pass aside the annoyed thoughts. "Got it." She said showing off what looked to be no more than a palm-sized piece of coral. "Hope you don't mind getting a little wet." There was amusement in her eyes as she headed for the sea. Unfortunately outside of specific areas, the bubble wouldn't last long above water so she needed to partially submerge before she began. Cool sea water washed up against her groin causing her shorts to stick to her. Bringing the coral to her mouth she began to blow.
About her a bubble formed, capturing air to keep with her and engulfing her completely into a bubble from which only parts of her limbs stuck out. Happy with the results she took the coral from her mouth deatching it and washing the blowhole in the saltwater before tossing it back towards Arlen and the sister.
"I'll go on ahead. Scout out the area." She said giving only a quick glance to make sure that what she'd said had been heard. And with that she stepped deeper submersing her deeper into the water until she was fully in. Then leaning forward she kicked and started to accelerate. The direct vicinity of the island seemed like the island sat upon a usual shelf like structure, but it fell off much faster than she expected that it would. Moving to the edge she stopped and scanned the area.
It took a little while to grow used to moving about the ocean again. It'd been a while since she last used the bubble coral. Stopped also served the second purpose, Syph glanced backwards towards the two shapes swimming towards her through the water. For both it seemed to be their first time. Uncertain of their movements and unsensitive to their surroundings they swam until they caught up with Syphalia who continued to quietly float in the water quietly. Finally arriving Arlen swung his arm forward tossing an object towards Syph. His estimation was off and instead of flying directly towards her the coral spun through the water slowly making its way in Syph's direction. She laughed, bubbles of extra air rising from her own bubble.
With both of them arrived, she kicked off again diving deeper around the edge of the 'shelf'. There beneath it the truth of the island was made clear. It was in fact the town above the water was the tip of the iceberg. Set upon a massive underwater rock, she looked down to see what seemed to be an entrance deeper yet. From it, light sprouted out illuminating the nearby waters. "Go on ahead. Arlen keep an eye on her." The quartermaster nodded shouldering his rifle carefully as he kicked through the water with the sister in tow.
Coming in behind them Syphalia kicked her way through the water her eyes peeled looking elsewhere. She took a breath, her haki spread throughout the area about her. There were folk all about, a whole community within the rock it seemed, but that was not what was bothering her. Trailing Arlen and Sister Katherine her attention was pulled down, deeper than where they were going even. A Sea King? She wondered to herself, it was definitely a powerful presence beneath. But what it was she was not sure.
Thankfully the trio made it to the cavernous entrance deep in the navel of the rock. Arriving at the entrance they swam into the light within. Only realizing now that they were close it was coming from a numerous amount of glowing plants and coral that were within it. And ahead, they could see more. Bulging out towards them around a dozen yards ahead was what looked to be the edge of a bubble. Arlen and Syph shared glances but Sister Katherine grasped at the hope immediately and began to kick furiously towards it.
Ahh ... well whatever. She thought to herself quickly following the nun towards the bubble alongside Arlen. Before long all three were standing on hard rock breathing regular air. About them sea water flowed, but also air did. Seaplants lived half in the water and half in the air, within the hollowed out rock were what seemed to be homes, paths, and the like. And no humans ... the trio stood our like a sore thumb surrounded by fishmen and merfolk as well.
"Syphalia. Where are we going?" Arlen asked pointedly at her. Beside him Katherine looked at the quartermaster curiously. Her eyes flickered towards Syphalia and then back to Arlen "How is she supposed to-" The rifleman raised a finger to her mouth and glanced back at Syph. She was still fairly new to her powers but still, with the strength of emotion the child Artur was giving off. The fear, it was a beacon in the darkness to her Haki. "Follow me." Her feet beneath her Syphalia beat a path forward, already her fingers found themselves firmly gripping the hilt of the blade sheathed at her waist.
They passed hurriedly through coral and rock houses built into the rising sides of the hollowed stone. Paths of water flowed up and around them, perhaps if she'd taken a moment to look around she'd have thought the Blue Lagoon beautiful. Nothing like the slums that were above. Peeping eyes watched them but none stopped the trio running through, the swordsman, the rifleman, and the nun.
Their run took them finally to perhaps where they should have expected. Rising on a hill of dead corals was a large pagoda-like structure. Surrounding it was a crowd of fishmen, probably fifteen or twenty by her best guesses. They stood their a wall of colorful muscle, blues green and the like, alongside angry faces separating the trio and what was above. What she felt. The group of fishman turned upon spotting them raising a whole array of weapons to stare them down. "I don't suppose you'll just let us past." The jeering and yelling was answer enough.
"You take the left and I'll take the right.""Got it."
The sound of her companion's rifle being cocked was a welcome sound to say the least. "What can I do? How can I-" She started until Syph disappeared flickering away from her and reappearing directly in front of the fishmen on the left side. "Stay out of the way." Arlen responded quickly as he lifted his rifle into the air and let out the first shot. Four more bullets sat tucked between his fingers, the first of them already being readied to fire again.
Ahead of those two, Syph was already in and among the fishmen pirates. With Arlen picking them off with his rifle taking shot after shot to send them toppling, Syphalia was reveling in the chaos. Her blade moved in a dance, her feet swinging about in careful movements as she swerved between attacks. One inhale brought an exhalation, her blade pulled back drawn along her body. "Senpuuki" The katana sliced forward about it spun a whirlwind that thrust its way through the fishmen as it expanded to slice a thousand and one cuts across those that surrounded her.
All in all the whole affair of dealing with the fishman took only a pair of minutes. In the end the moans and groans of those still conscious filled the air. Those who weren't conscious had it better off. They could not feel the pain at least for the time being. "Who are you two?" Katherine's voice questioned Arlen. It was filled with disbelief at what she'd just seen, two humans, a man and a woman had just dismantled more than a dozen fishmen. And neither had more than scratch on their body.
"No one in particular ... well she might be"
Syph shot a glance back at Arlen shutting him up before he said anymore. Her past was not so far behind her yet that it could not catch up to her. She was still a wanted woman. Climbing up the hill to the pagoda she felt it more firmly now, there were only two presences left in front of her. Both of which stepped out onto the pagoda at that moment. The tall shark-like fishman stared down at her, his hand gripped a familiar looking young boy firmly in hand. The boy squirmed, tears like the flood poured down his cheeks. "You'll go no further or the boy dies." The fishman's booming voice rang out bringing her pause.
The swordswoman took a deep breath, she judged the distance without moving lest she give away her plan. The fishman cackled and behind her she could hear the eeping fear of Sister Katherine. The Firefly breathed, her fingers slowly, carefully, wrapped about the hilt of her blade. One... two... three. Her feet kicked the ground and she disappeared. The young boy screamed, as triggered by the motion the fishman began to tighten his grip about the boy's skull.
"Danshira."
The swordswoman reappeared, her blade flashed upwards, it was coated in black, haki weaved upon it. It sliced through the thick wrist of the fishman in a moment lopping the entire thing off. Boy and hand gripping him fell to the floor but Syphalia did not give them a moment's attention. Her blade pulled back in swinging about she brought it upon her opponent. Still lost in pain from having his hand removed the fishman staggered back before her blade which sliced across his chest opening a gaping wound. The fishman roared in anger, blood ran steadily from both of his wounds as he charged back at her. A bundle of muscle and easily multiple heads taller than herself it was an imposing sight to see. Especially with the new bloody ornamentation upon him.
Arms packed by muscle swung wildly at her. Their movement alone felt as if they stirred the wind about them. It rushed by her face giving her a surprise. "What power as always ... though not quite there yet." Quills came to mind, among other things. Behind her the scramble of feet as child and sister were reunited was heartening, but first. As a wild swing brushed by her side, Syphalia let go of her sword with one hand. The force of the punch moving wind caused her to turn sideways a bit. She leaned into that, rebounding back she covered the free hand with haki. In one succinct movement she slammed the fist into the fishman who stood before her. The fishman's eyes bulged and his mouth opened in an O as the air was knocked clean out of him. Legs gave way and the fishman toppled backwards onto the ground.
Syph took a breath as she looked at the unconscious and dismembered fishman. Behind her the trio of Arlen, Artus, and Sister Katherine joined her at the top. "This is the first mate." The sister commented as she looked down at the fishman. Syph paused glancing around, so then where was the captain? She scanned the surrounding and though they have a lot of attention, none of it felt particularly as malicious as it should.
"Ha ... Ha .... You fools" The soft voice of the fishman who'd found his consciousness came as with each word he spurted a little blood-stained spittle into the air until it splashed back down upon him. "He was right ... it drew you away ... we win." Syph's eyes furrowed, what did he mean by that. Drew her away? What did they gain from bringing Syph away. No no that could not be it, it was doubtful they even knew who Syph was. Which meant ... there was a gasp from behind her.
Syphalia turned about and looked, the gasp had come from the sister. Her hands had covered her mouth and her eyes widened. She breathed heavily and without end. Arlen was also watching her with some concern. "You monsters, you you ..." She stammered the dread slipped through her voice consuming it. "What is it Sister?" Syph asked demandingly.
"A fortune .... it'll be worth that much for us!" The fishman cackled and he spat up more blood. "Who will be?" Syph demanded once more walking towards the fishman still hacking upon the floor. Behind her the sister collapsed to her knees. "The children!" She cried out nearly sobbing into her hands much to the distress of Artur and Arlen. The children? Back at camp, the connection now with the pieces laid out was near instantaneous for Syphalia. Seeing the lines and connecting the dots.
Her eyes fell upon Sister Katherine once more. "In that case, we must run. Return to them and stop what's coming." She said gripping the Sister on the shoulders. The sister shook and seemed unwilling or unable to move. Syphalia sighed, well she would do her best to stop it if nothing else. Pulling out the bubble coral she tossed it over to Arlen. "Use this to return." She said before running off before even the quartermaster could respond to her. Taking a deep breath she charged down the way and jumped head first out of air bubble that made this town and into the waters.
This deep below the pressure on her ears was painful. The water as well pushed in on her as she kicked with all her might. Though still fast she was not that which she was on land. She needed to believe the amount of water in her lungs was enough. Her feet kicked beneath her, sending her out of the cave connecting the outer ocean to the innards of Blue Lagoon. That was when she felt it, as she'd felt it before, but this time stronger. Hungrier.
Syph's feet rapidly kicked propelling her through the water, but she felt it. It's hunger, it hunted, the swordswoman hazarded a glance below. Coiling up from the waters below a monstrous fish rose beneath her. An eel, that's definitely what it looked like, on the other hand it was nowhere close to the same size. A sea king if she'd ever seen one. Not the largest, but still quite large. She pressed her lips together Of course it awakens now. Well then come on now. She drew her blade, it'd need a proper cleaning after being exposed so blatantly to sea water but she did not have much of a choice in this case.
The creature shot forward rising up from the depths at speeds she wondered if she could match. So maybe she could have outswam it to the surface. But that would bring about another problem. The two below still needed safe passage out. Which meant, she needed to deal with this one. Bubbles drew out of her mouth. Should've taken a deeper breath She complained to herself as she began to kick to the surface. Below the eel-like creature shot up towards her.
She crested the water's surface peeking her mouth above the line taking in as full a breath as possible before turning her attention back down. The creature was fast rising towards her, This feels oddly familiar. A similar thing had happened to her not so long ago had it. Black haki coursed its way down her blade, Danshira.
The eel creature's mouth had widened to the point that it was larger than her. Changing her position slightly she swung her blade out it contacting solidly upon the creature's teeth. Steel met with impossible strong teeth. The two ground against each other when the massive size and weight difference started to take effect. It launched her out of the water and skyhigh. In the air she floundered for a moment before gravity gave her a semblance of direction.
"Unfortunate, such a magnificent creature." Syph commented. She took a breath as she plummeted towards the sea monster whose mouth was now opened wide. Eyes closed as haki once more coated her blade. "I Sekai" Blade and steel-like scale crashed together. Blood splattered as she cut in but not as deep as she'd like the slash left only a small gash in the creature's coat.
This left her standing somewhat awkwardly upon the creature's mouth. It wrangled and wrung itself obviously annoyed. Syph's balance beneath the moving creature was hard pressed to keep her footing. It shifted once more, its head pulled down before snapping upwards to toss her into the air once more. The creature opened its mouth wide as it did so leaving nothing but gullet for her to fall into. Syph snarled in response as she began to fall. Her blade pulled back once more, then it shot forward spinning as it did.
"Senpuuki!"
A whirlwind of cutting air swirled down upon the creature sliding straight where it was aimed into its open maw. Blood spilled out as it eviscerated the skin within the creature's mouth. Before Syph could fall in with it, the creature's gaping jaw closed as it writhed in pain. She landed uncomfortably scratching against its outer scales. Daihibi Her blade raised and then she swung it down, a blade of air crashing against the scales irritating it more to the point that wounded it gave in and swam away.
Paddling on the surface Syph took a calming breath. Ahh, yes it reminded her quite well of her encounter on Inlet Grove Stop. That was what it was. Now then, her eyes turned towards the shoreline. Concern grew as she saw what was upon it, flames and destruction. What she felt, fear and pain, and hatred. Immediately she began to kick propelling herself through the water towards that small trade outpost atop Blue Lagoon. By some grace of god she noted that at least the Dancing Red seemed unharmed. Far enough away from the town to not have been caught up in whatever was happening.
Coming to the shore she landed herself close to her own ship. For Syph knew what she felt, yes she felt lives. But based on it she hardly thought what she was heading towards needed so much urgency. Not anymore. Her eyes glanced to the ship. It looked untouched, that was good. The splatter of water and pop of air warned her of the arrival of Arlen and then ... Sister Katherine. The quartermaster came ashore and glanced over to the raging flames. A look of heavy concern crossed his face as he glanced to her. Syphalia bit her lip, she had nothing to say.
"What in god's name-"
The sister spoke as she laid eyes upon it. And then immediately she set out at a run. Her ball and chain dragged behind her as she booked it towards the burning trading post. Syph and Arlen followed she was faster than the two expected. "Katherine!" She called out after the sister but the woman didn't hesitate for a moment. The sister had charged straight through the rows of burning buildings and cries. Her intentions were obvious. Syph followed behind slowing down to look.
The trading post Arlen and her had walked through before was nearly gone. Not that there was that much to have been seen before, but many of the wooden structures were aflame, more were destroyed to at least some extent. "But why ..." Arlen paused for a moment before responding.
"They don't need it anymore." Maybe that was it, for such rampant destruction. Syphalia picked through the wreckage for a few moments before she turned her attention elsewhere. To where the sister was expected to have gone. Her care would have only been for her children. Those whom she'd left under the care of a friend when they went down. The pair made their way to where they remembered the orphanage had once been.
Arriving at the outside the building was still standing amazingly. Though smoke rose through the top, the destruction was inside then, just not spread outside yet. She walked forward curiously, she felt two souls inside, but she paused. Before her there was a body, bloody and bruised at the minimum, Syphalia bit her lip carefully as she bent down to a knee and placed two fingers on the person's neck. Arlen glanced down at her, but she shook her head in response. Dead, this must've been the person the sister had asked to help.
From within haughty laughter and roaring screams rang through the hallway. Syph glanced back at the quartermaster before heading in. As she walked through there were no bodies to be seen, no children here. But where? "YOU WILL BRING THEM BACK. OR I WILL GUT YOU." The sister's voice roared from further in. The building was warm, somewhere in it things were burning. Arriving in one of the main rooms of the once orphanage Syph came to see that it was what was burning. Benches and chairs were made piles of rubbles at the side of it set alight by some nefarious purpose.
And in the center, the sister with her ball and chain, and a fishman. The captain, she supposed, Arlen raised his rifle. But Syph put her hand before it lowering his gun. "Don't ... she needs this." The rifleman paused but consented to lower the weapon again and instead they watched. Surprisingly it seemed the sister was putting up a good fight. With two hands on the chain she whirled the metal ball at the end of it quickly to say the least. The ball ran circles about her whistling through the air and keeping the fishman at a distance.
From the outside the fishman cackled. Carefully he edged about grasping a thick sword in one hand. The blade sliced through the air clanging into the metal ball on two occasions. But otherwise didn't do much. The fishman reached out and on a slow swing on the metal ball grasped it about the chain. Stopped in position the chain wrapped about the fishman's arm slamming into his wrist with the metal ball on the end causing the fishman to wince slightly. But he'd caught it.
"Come here missy!" The fishman grunted as he tugged on the chain pulling the sister off of her feet and flying towards him. The sister screamed as he slammed his fist into her gut. Her eyes bulged as she coughed up blood onto the ground. The fishman laughed shouting into the air. From the sidelines they watched. Syph bit her lip, she should help now. She took a step forward watching as the sister continued to cough into the ground. Muscles tightened in her leg as she prepared to.
The sister's hand grasped for something on the ground and another reached and grasped the fishman's leg. It looked down obviously annoyed at her. The fishman kicked out slamming into her side making her momentarily drop her grip once again. "Are you two here for a similar treatment?" The fishman finally taking notice of the onlookers asked as he stepped past the fallen form of Sister Katherine. They gave no answer. He chortled in response. "That's what I thought, puny ****ing humans."
Syph murmured something, the fishman barely picking up on it looked at her with frowning eyes. "What?" He snarled at her unnecessarily. "I suppose you don't have the saying, beware the mother bear?" Unbeknownst to the fishman and to the surprise of Syph, the sister was standing. On shaky footing but all the same. Slowly she began to rotate the chain and ball more and more.
"HAMMER SHOT!" The metal ball which'd been rotating now for a few seconds was launched forward catching the fishman straight in the back of the head sending the fish folk falling forward. He crashed upon the ground but the sister was not done. She marched under turning him onto his front where groggy he lay his head lolling. And the sister began to beat. Powerful punches, showing strength beyond her looks as solid cracking sounds happened as Katherine slammed her fists into the fishman.
"WHERE ... ARE .... MY .... KIDS?!"
Finally it was time to step in. Syph walked forward and grabbed the sister by the arm. Rage-induced strength was quite hard for even Syph to hold back as the sister looked up at her. The anger flower from her face, as tears among other things. "That's enough."
"Gone ..."
It was a whisper of a voice, nothing more, the softest of laughs, such that it seemed like no more than two accentuated breaths. "Sold..." The fishman said once more. Syph bit down on her lip, she knew what that meant. The human auction, she'd no idea what children would go for. But ... she frowned as she still held back Katherine. "Don't do it. It's not worth it." Syphalia said.
She fought Syph still, "I need to. For them ..." The pain in her voice was heartbreaking. But Syph did not let go all the same. "He's already gone ... And doing that won't bring them back." Syph said and finally it seemed her words got through. The sister stopped fighting her grip, and she went limp. Syph watched for a moment before stepping away. Casually she turned about slicing her sword about to whip away any parts that were still burning in the fire.
"Come on Arlen, let's go, leave her in peace." Syph said as she walked over to the quartermaster and the pair of them left the weeping sister on her own in that corpse of her orphanage.
Syph scribbled out those last words and sat back for a moment. "I still carry that day with me. Even after this all." Kitty said from beside Syphalia. She was holding a small necklace in her hand, a small item sat at the end of the metal chains, no larger than her palm. A rememberance of all that she'd lost there, Syph herself had seen it a few times since then. "You two, you saved me that day." Syph paused, had they really? Would any of this have happened without them? Maybe, maybe she was right.
Syph spoke once more."At least I like to think its why you joined us. But I've always suspected it was just because you had no where else to go. Nothing left for you there." Kitty paused and then nodded her head. "That was one of the reasons, Syphalia. But it was also what you said, and also to save them. There was no way I Was going to be able to do it alone." She said with Syphalia nodding in response. Syph tilted her head back, yes saving the children. It had come eventually after hunting the slaver vessel for a while. But her mind drifted elsewhere, to the other thing from that fateful day she remembered.
She clicked her tongue "I still remember when you came to us before we left. Nothing left to you but some clothes and that necklace." Kitty watched her curiously. "Why is it that you remember that? It doesn't seem particularly important to me." She stated. The nun did not remember, but to Syph it had been the beginning. The first person she helped, the first person to become one of the Shoguns truly.
"When you joined us, and then allowed us to call you Kitty, rather than Katherine or Sister Katherine." Kitty looked at her in surprise. "I don't know if it felt that way to you. But in that moment, you were one of us. The start, of all this." Syphalia waved her hand at the room. But more so it was at the ship, at everyone aboard it. Their first member and longest standing.
Kitty watched her carefully before standing up and pressing a soft kiss onto Syph's forehead. "Thank you Syphalia. For everything." There was a soft loving tone to the statement. Syph closed her eye breathing it in for a moment.
"Thank you Kitty. Your help is very appreciated" Syph stood up and extended a hand to her. They shook hands and then exchanged a quick hug. Only then did Kitty fionally walk away stepping out of Syph's cabin leaving Syph alone once again. "How'd it go?" Arlen asked as he poked his head in the door. Syph smiled as she looked back at him.
"Very well actually. Thank you for the suggestion."
