Reign of Terror (Chapter II)

Chapter II: The Call1

The rain pounded hard on the roof of the Tavern. "Sounds like an army of drunken dwarves are attack for my ale." Muttered the owner of the tavern. This tavern, unlike so man in the world, was warm and cozy. It was also well lit. The owner being a very religious man decided that his establishment should be a family orinated place. Drunkeness was fround upon.2

Sitting by the fire where two people. One was a man dressed entirely of black leather. His black bangs hung over his cold grey eyes as he keeped his head lowered starring into his mug of ale. "I have never heard of this person before." He mumbled into his mug.3

Sitting across from him was a ninteen year-old human girl. Young even to humans. She was pretty for her sick and pale complection. She ate slowly at the food on her plate. "He is calling us."4

"Who, Marina," he shouted at her. "Who is calling us!? You keep saying this since I met you!"5

The girl's ice blue eyes periced the man's soul. "The one who will drown the world in darkness. He is calling us. We will obey. We must obey."6

The man looked at her with his mouth open.7

"There are two elements constantly at war with eachother. Good and Evil. They are constantly fighting. Constantly accusing eachother of crimes they both refuse to admit. The third element atches to make sure neither one side becomes stronger then the other. There must always be a balance or else the scales will tip and all life will fall into itself." She paused a moment to close here eyes. She opened them and they were on fire with passion.8

"He is calling everyone in the world. He has different roles planed for each and every person. His will will be done. He is offering us two choices. What choice you choose is your fate. You will either live your life or live in history."9

He walked slowly and tiredly through the empty muddy streets. The rain poured heavily, as if trying to bring down his physical body and his spirit at the same time. He bore a black cloak over his body to provide little warmth through the cold wind.10

His hand outstretched to reach a doorknob and struggled to turn it. He pushed himself into the door and stepped inside of the Tavern.11

He slammed the door behind him and most of all eyes befell upon him. He ignored their gaze and stumbled toward a chair toward the iscolated corner of the room. The man sighed heavily as he slumped down into the cozy chair. His cloack left a trail of water from the door to where he sat.12

The bartender slowly and cautiously approached the man. "Hey? Is there anything I can get for ya?"13

The figure raised his head and gazed at the bartender with sad solemn green glowing eyes. The man shuffled through his cloak and pulled out something. He threw down a handful of gold coins onto the table and muttered, "Something to take my mind off life's heart break." He lowered his head and stared at the table.14

The bartender scooped up the gold coins and went to the bar to pour a drink. He brought it over to the man and set it down on the table. He pat the man's back, "What's got ya down, lad?"15

The man ignored him and took up the mug and gulped down its contents without taking a breath. 16

Kyan held out the mug to the bartender and spoke softly, "That's good.. Maybe you should bring the keg over."17

The bartender furrowed his eyebrows as he realized that this stranger wanted to drown in his sorrows in liquor.18

Kyan raised his head up to look into the bartender's eyes. The bartender stared into the glowing green eyes that had a soft gentleness to them, but yet, the young man apparently strained himself to let go of the tears.19

The doors of the tavern opened and a man in a cape walked in without a single stain of water on him. He pulled a chair and sat down. He placed five gold coins on the table. "Give me something worth this much, bartender," said Cloud. The bartender filled up a glass and gave it to him taking the five gold coins. "Thanks," said Cloud. 20

He pointed his finger at the glass and the liquid slowly rised. He made it enter his mouth and swallowed it. He placed his head on the back of his hand and looked around. He sighed and quietly said "I'm bored..."21

As night fell, a group of three strangers approached the tavern. All were silent as a tomb. One was an old warrior long past his prime, another a great tiger who seemed still very young, and the final companion was a young girl whose features seemed elven yet more graceful. She dressed in black leathers with red dragons everywhere seemed to emit an aura of power and strenght though she was just barley nineteen years of age.22

"Welcome," said the bartender as he watched the two and the tiger enter his tavern.23

"I would like a glass of fine wine, sir," the old warrior said as he walked up toward the bar ans sat.24

"And you my lady?" the bartender asked as he reached to get the gentelman's wine and pur it for him.25

"I want a mug of your best ale. And I'm look for info on some mercenary work."26

The bartender pured her her ale and answered her question, "I don't know anyone in needed of a mercenary but your welcome to work here at my tavern if you want. I can use another bar hand," he said with a warm smile.27

"Never mind," she said as he took a gulp of her ale.28

A man close by played with the remaining liquid in his glass with his finger while ignoring the three entering the tavern. The smell of the tiger is great but Cloud still ignored it by breathing through his mouth. "There is nothing to do these days," he whispered. Cloud stood up and put on his hood. He headed for the exit looking down at the floor with his hands hidden in his cape.29

Kyan raised his head up to glance at the three figures that came into the room and disregarded them. He saw from the corner of his eye the same man that shortly came in after Kyan and was now leaving.30

He lowered his head and stared with empty thoughts into his new mug of ale. He raised his gaze up to see that his table was covered by the other empty mugs of ale that he consumed, but yet wasn't feeling drowzy.31

"It's time to pay up, old man." A voice said at the front of the Tavern.32

The owner of the tavern looked at the person dressed as an acolyte of the new god of unknown origin. "He has given you enough time to pay the tribute." the figure said calmly and coldly.33

"I-I don't have the money. My children are sick. I have to pay the Barber for medicine--" He was cut off.34

"Medicine isn't expensive! Give him the tribute! You know what he promised. Or have age caught up with you and you have forgotten?"35

The owner swallowed his siliva and stood his ground. "I will not pay his tribute. I will not do it anymore." Underneath the figure's hood it smiled sickly. It reached into its robes and pulled out of the air the owners sleeping eight year-old girl.36

"She will serve his cause well. I here that she is a good dancer, old man. She will dance gracefully for our god."37

"Please!" the owner shouted. "She doesn't deserve this! She-" The figure spat as it cut him off. "You choose what she deserved when you denied the tribute! You will have untill next month. The tribute is double! If you miss this deadline she will be a virgin sacrafice for your sins." The figure, with thr sleeping girl in his arms, walked through the door and back to the shadows where it dwelled.38

"Nick," Marina wispered, "we must go. Now!"39

"Yea, to save that girl." he said as he stood up and throw his buster sword over his back.40

"No." she said. "We are going to be in his service. Come."41

Cloud sat outside the taven and looked at the skies while it was still raining. "Please, someone give me something useful to do God." He let his arms rest on his knees and he looked at the ground while it was being pounded by the heavy rain. He slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep.42

Kyan listened to the bickering between the strange figure and the owner of the tavern. 43

He furrowed his eyebrows and gritted his teeth as he muttered to himself, "Death is the last thing I need to hear right now.."44

He raised his head up and continued to mutter softly to himself, "Sacrifice a child? For what cause?"45

He overheard the two of the three figures speaking:46

"Nick," a young woman whispered, "we must go. Now!"47

"Yeah, to save that girl." The man said as he stood and threw his weapon over his back.48

"No." The woman said. "We are going to be in his service. Come."49

Kyan spoke softly to himself, "This is no time to weep.. There are many who could use some help here." 50

He waited patiently for the three figures to leave and stood up, dropping several gold coins on the table. 'I hope this will suffice for the owner for his next payment.' Kyan thought.51

He silently walked out of the tavern and stepped outside. He looked around but the three figures were already gone from site. 52

Kyan lowered his gaze and saw a man currled up next to the doorway sleeping.53

"Well, this is great.. Lost yet again." Kyan grumbled.54

Cloud forced his eyes open and looked up waiting for his eyes to steady. It was the same man he found at the tavern a few minutes ago. "So, I heard you were lost." He placed his hand on the wall to lift himself up and patted the dust off his clothing. "Did you lose those three figures or are you trying to find your destination?" asked Cloud as he leaned on the wall looking at the ground. "I guess you're not interested in my questions."55

As the three watched the events unfold the old man told Avilla to take the cat and follow the guy that just left the bar and seek his help in following the robed figure to rescue the little girl.56

Avila sighed, "As long as it helps me find the bastard that laid waste to my village and murdered my family." she slid off the bar stool and traded out the tavern.57

After they left, the old man retreated to his room at the local inn to die peacefully. He had fulfilled his duty. Tp help the last Dementia warrior and the last Ojenain meet.58