Nonexistant Enigma

The young girl in the black clothing and clashing, red and white scarf eyed the room around her, her black, twin-tailed hat bouncing as her head moved from side to side. Raising an eyebrow at the seemingly exasperated mayor of the town of Levre, the young girl wondered if the reason for this gathering had anything to do with the strange figure behind the politico. "Mertvi Dodavatel," the girl introduced herself, her voice having a strange accent that made her voice have a deep tone to it, as well as overpronouncing most of her consonants, "may I be asking what we came here for?"

Looking around at the others gathered, she noticed that many of them passed off as quite strange looking, even scary. Mertvi herself was not excluded, for she had a terrifying ability in conjunction with the flute that hang to the side of her black dress frilled with red and white. She grabbed the long instrument, a black, ivory tube styled much like a bone, with small holes over the top of it. Putting one side of the instrument to her lips, she put three fingers of her left hand, and one from her right hand, onto the holes. Blowing softly, Mertvi played a quiet C note, the sound ringing through the room.

 

"Redulas Abbott Shiretome." was the first words that came out of the young man. He has black hair and bloodred eyes, with a gaze that could send chills down one's spine. Sporting a jacket with a white top and a red bottom, with baggy pants and wearing bracers. In one hand he has a hand of playing cards while in the other, he has a cigarette.

He leans against a wall a puts the cigarette in his mouth. Then while getting his lighter, he responded to the client "I don't care where your going, but like hell if I'm doing this for free so start talking numbers." He leans against the wall to get a good look at his "companions." They're pitiful, every last one of them. he thinks to himself quietly. He breathes out a puff of smoke to calm his nicotine cravings.

 

"Interesting gathering," the tall man with the unruly, long black hair and uncaring vacant eyes spoke aloud, glancing around at the setting. What was supposed to be a normal mayor's office now seemed to be a circus with a motley assembly of...questionable peoples within. "Thanatos Remerall," he stated, a terse introduction. He looked down at his right leg where an odd little creature with a pumpkin head was clinging and looking around excitedly. "This would be Halloween," he gestured down at the creature. "He doesn't speak. He's an idiot. But he's my idiot." The creature squealed in delight, ignoring the idiot comment despite it obviously lacking in the intelligence department. They had been traveling together for a long while, so their relationship was tight, even though Thanatos remembered a time where he just wanted to slice the little thing up.

"I don't really care for money," Thanatos continued. "I'm a volunteer, after all. Volunteers don't get paid." He shot a dangerous glance at the rough-talking gentleman leaning against the wall. Seemed like he had an attitude problem that was in dire need of readjusting. At least their female companion seemed...nice. There was something odd about her, but the word 'odd' meant nothing in this room full of freaks. He caught sight of the cloaked figure behind the mayor. It was unsettling, to be sure. Its presence...what did it mean?

 

Thanatos grimaced at what was posed to them. No idea where it was. No idea if it even existed. What. The. Fuck. His eye twitched slightly in annoyance. Where were they supposed to go? Where did they start looking? What were they supposed to do?! It didn't make any sense. He let out an exasperated sigh, trying to get his thoughts in order. If all went well, the figure would know how to get there, but just needed escorts. Maybe. Or maybe they'd be wandering the world forever and a day. He looked down at Halloween who was doing some odd jig on his shoe. It would probably go wherever without the slightest care in the world. So why couldn't he? "Fine. I accept the mission. Not like I had anything better to do anyway," he said firmly. It was sure to be an...adventure, to say the least. With the freaks. Delightful, he thought as the idea crossed his mind.

 

So the mayor revealed what this whole thing was about. The assistant that had recruited Mertvi refused to tell her anything, and this was probably why. If that person had told her about this "mana temple," she would have refused right then and there. however, now that she was put on the spot about this snipe of a task presented by the mysterious figure.

"If you had been asking me this earlier," the young Flutist started, her accent somewhat difficult to understand, "I would not be saying this. However, because you are asking now, I will say yes. It should indeed be proving to be fun."

 

Redulas got up from the wall and spoke to the dark figure."Ok, I'll take you to your 'mana temple' thing since I'm getting payed for this anyhow." He glares at the swordsman. "Atferall, I can't be shown up by a certain someone." He puts out his cigarette for later. "So, when do we start?"

 

Thanatos didn't have anything to say to that lout of a mayor, so exited the office through the open door and awaited the others. They had two possible directions, or at least viable ones, to choose from: north and west. His eye twitched again as frustration pulsed through his mind. Where the fuck were they supposed to go? He grimaced as Halloween began to climb up his side, eventually making it to his shoulder. He moved his head over a bit as the little creature whispered something in his ear that was inaudible to the others. Thanatos nodded in comprehension after a few seconds and Halloween leaped down to the ground before quickly grabbing hold of one of his master's shins. "So, I have no idea what the fuck this thing just said to me, but let's go west. Hell, we can spend an eternity grasping straws and not get anywhere, so let's pack up and move out. Draw up your last will and testaments before you leave; we'll be but bones on the side of the road before we find his supposed place," he stated, obviously unenthused with what they had been tasked with, but they weren't getting anywhere trying to figure out where to go...because the place could be fucking anywhere.

Don't have anything to leave behind; an untimely death would be fine by me, he thought, though not sarcastically as one would think. He wasn't looking forward to death, but what was he really living for in this town? Not much, to be perfectly honest with himself. This, he knew, so maybe this journey would be good for him. Like self-discovery or some shit.

 

Following the Mirage Swordsman outside the mayor's office, Mertvi blinked as the sun, which was much brighter than the light inside the building, shone right into her eyes. "I would say that we should head west as well," she said softly, again pulling her black flute out of its "holster," "hopefully that way is better."

Then, Mertvi put her flute up against her lips again. As she blew softly, she played a quiet tune that seemed to almost be eager in itself. As if the music was looking forward to this adventure they were to soon go on. While still playing, Mertvi looked towards the direction that she and the swordsman had, in a way, voted for, wondering what would lie ahead of them if they chose that way.

And wondering what they could miss out on in the direction they did not choose.

 

Redulas walks out of the office to wait outside to decide where to go. He lights up a new cigarette in his mouth and tries to gather his barrings. What no map? Some help you are. he thought. He was being practically thrown out to the world to find something that may well take all of his life with a couple of children, a swordsmen and his pet, and of course, the shadowlike figure. He checks to see how many smokes he had left only to find that he only had two left with his half smoked cigarette left. Glad I'm getting money for doing this. he thought.

Grabbing a piece of paper and a pen from his bag, he made note of where they were. He used the info that the mayor gave to find out that this town was surrounded by a forest. So no matter where we go, we'll be in a forest. he thought. He put the pen and paper away and turn to the swordsman and the girl with the flute."Ok, we should head west until we get out of this forest." he told his "companions".

 

[Mertvi starts at cell E9!]

Looking into the forest after her newfound team member spoke, Mertvi saw the three imps. Her eyes widened, for she finally got a chance to put her skills to the test. She took out her flute, holding it in preparation for the impending battle.

In the corner of her eye, Mertvi could see something in a small clearing on the other side of the trees. Right away, she figured that she would get it, if only because she herself would not be doing much fighting.

 

(Redulas starts at H8)

Redulas looked at the altar boy funny for his comment. This is why I hate kids he thought. He moved out in the open to see one of the disgusting things. He wanted to get going so he can get paid. He pulls out the cigarette he put out earlier and lights it. Well I needed to excerise anyways he smirked. He draws out a hand of cards and yells to the Imps, "Hey you ugly fucks! Wanna play?"

 

Thanatos starts at G8.

No sooner had they left to go on their elaborate search for some place that probably didn't exist, they came into contact with some...imps. Tricksters by nature. "Should be fun," he muttered to himself grimly, drawing his sword. But in that one instant, his entire demeanor changed. He grew deathly silent, and the gaze of his eyes spelled out death for his opponents. His entire body was still, tensed. The katana he wielded seemed all the more fatal in his hands than it would if it were in the hands of another. It had always been that way. He was so keen with the blade, it wasn't even funny. This stance he took right now...he was gonna mess some shit up. Bad.

Halloween starts at G9.

The little pumpkin-headed creature had clung onto Thanatos's leg and stayed there as the ventured into the forest, deeper and deeper, until they were surrounded by trees. Upon seeing that his master had stopped, he hopped off and stood behind Thanatos's legs, peering around them to see what they were up against. Frightening creatures, to him, but he had his master by his side, so there was no way he would lose. He muttered something incomprehensibly and waved his pointy stick in the air wildly...in preparation of battle, I guess.

 

(Redulas moves to H6)
(Redulas attacks Ennuyeux with Ivy Shackles)

Redulas charged into battle towards the imp in front of him. They'll be annoying if they keep running around, he thought. He then creates a tangle of vines and wraps around the small imp. "Hopefully that will stop you, little disgusting brat!" he yelled at the imp, knowing it probably doesn't know what he is saying. He coughed from the cigarette. I swear these things will be the death of me someday. he told himself.

 

Thanatos moves to G7.

Saying not a single word, Thanatos took but a solitary step forward...and disappeared as if he had never been standing there. He reappeared right behind the imp that Redulas attacked and slashed at it with his blade, only to disappear again, reappearing at the imp's side and dealing another slash. It was apparent that he wasn't going to stay there either, for he disappeared again. This time, he flashed into existence right in front of the imp, slashing it head on before disappearing once more and reappearing in his original position as if nothing had happened at all. The look on his face was still of deadly solemnity and not a single word did he utter, even now. No witty remark. No annoyed statement with the word 'fuck' littered amongst the words. Just silence.

Thanatos uses Flash! [Warps to H3]
---Thanatos links a basic attack against Ennuyeux! 6 Dmg! (ATK)
---S-Ability Never Too Close activates! Thanatos uses Flash! [Warps to G4]
---Thanatos links a basic attack against Ennuyeux! 6 Dmg! (ATK)
---S-Ability Never Too Close activates! Thanatos uses Flash! [Warps to H5]
---Thanatos links a basic attack against Ennuyeux! 6 Dmg! (ATK)
---S-Ability Never Too Close activates! Thanatos uses Flash! [Warps to G7]

MP: 3/15

Halloween moves to G8.

The little creature moved forward with his master and watched him go to town on one of the imps in awe. Though he was very well aware of how his master fought, he couldn't help but be amazed each and every time he saw the swordsman in action. He thought back to the one time he was on the wrong end of that blade and shuddered. At his current position, he couldn't unleash any of his skills. He waved his pointy stick around emphatically; his master had completely been negligent. He knew the little creature couldn't cover a lot of ground quickly and decided to get in the way. Halloween crossed his arms impatiently and waited.

Halloween waits.

 

Mertvi moved to where the strange pumpkin being had just been. Then, putting her flute to her lips, she began to play. The tune was a confusing one -- note ricocheted off of each other like rubber balls. As the notes rang through the forest, a dark grey mist swept out from Mertvi's flute. The mist formed itself into a figure that seemed to be looking back and forth in confusion. As the figure caught sight of the imps, it began to focus more, but still obviously bemused.

[Mertvi moves to cell H9!]
[Mertvi uses Bemused Spirit! Zimast(Bemused Spirit) summoned on cell H8. MP: 26/30]