During the long road half way from the bridge towards the tavern ahead Gale, Ralian, are still aware of Jin's powerful abilities and many possibilities of Jin escaping despite being captured in their clutches but the light soon fell and the night began coming towards them. Still travelling on the chariot they are a bit far from the tavern but will soon shortly make their way into the night.
"I'll still keep her going, so how about you folks get some shut eye" Geek said to comfort the others.
It was going to be a long night before daylight will rise but none of them felt drowsy one bit and need to pass the time. However Gale is soon to be wondered of question about Jin's past and reason to be on the bounty board.
"So Jin, why were you wanted?"
"Gale do really want to ask questions, when someone could have almost killed us"
"What its a serious question"
Jin a bit surprised to see Gale so intrigued by his past, he suddenly smiled. "Well to be honest, it all happened so fast, I couldn't even process what happened, but it started with me and my friend Venny Lensharth"
Jin starts to tell a tale between the wind caster Jin, and Blood caster Venny. As he summons some small wind constructs as he starts to tell from his perspective of his life.
When I was in my early days before becoming a wind caster, my brother died by someone by whom we trusted most dearly, and I had came to Devandia from other countries as I have been travelling the whole country just to find the man who killed my brother, and I was hanging onto the only two valuables items that were dear to my brother that being a necklace and a mask holding them both as a burden for my pain of loss. During my travels I saw a wounded man on the ground barely hanging on to life, I was hesitant to help him at first but the look into the man's eyes made me feel something within, that he needed my help. I rushed towards the injured man and started treating his wounds. To be honest I didn't understand why myself had to help him, but my heart does speak volume.
"Hey are you alright"
"Yeah, for now I guess"
"Don't thankfully these wounds aren't too deep, a little into your vessels then you would've died for sure"
"Why are you helping me?"
"Why should I, would you want me to leave and you died to blood loss, or worse be ravage by wolves"
"Wow that's kind of harsh" then I managed to bandages the stranger's wounds.
"There the bleeding should stop for now, I suppose we should rest till first light" I soon starts to build a campfire with some logs rocks, and rags "hey let me help" when I finished setting up the campfire the man lights it up using only a dagger, and rocks.
"Hm, not bad, a simple fire starter"
"Yeah, that one way to call it". We then began to settle down near the campfire, but we were not daring to speak one amongst each other considering we have just met, but the man had the courage to speak first.
"So what brings you to this part of the country, you don't look like a resident here"
"I am just a simple traveller, wanting to have revenge on someone who killed my brother"
"Okay, well I can relate to that too, in fact I am also on the path of revenge"
"Why, did someone killed a sibling of yours?"
"No even worse, my whole family died due to one person, and I be travelling upon restless nights to find the man who slaughtered my family" as Venny showed me the blade that killed his family.
"This dagger you see here is what the killer used to kill my family"
"I guess we both have something in common"
"Yeah, but by the way what's your name?"
"Jin... Jin-Sae Akaumo"
"Hm, good name I'm Venny Lensharth" we began to have an easier communication with one another that we have both lost someone who are most dear to us and we wanted revenge on that person.
Back to the present "so did you get your revenge?"
"Yeah but Venny still had to find his killer"
"So the killer is still at large?"
"I'm not sure it's been ten years since I last saw Venny".
A month gone by me, and Venny started travelling together visiting many villages asking questions about the people who killed our loved ones, until we visited a old ruin in south west in Devandia, and coincidentally found two scrolls that wield elemental power that being the power over wind, and the power over blood.
"These could be useful, how about I take the blood magic, and you take the wind magic, what do you say Jin?"
"Sure, whatever you say"
It took three months for both of them to master their elemental abilities because if both of this magic normally it causes them to feel very light headed, and needed a lot of practice before they can use it to their maximum potential. And during their training, they needed more information about their killers whereabouts, Venny and I began to head towards the Capital of Devandia, Alvera, but I used the wind to sense someone behind us and we both raise their weapons only to unsuspectingly see a girl in front of us as we were both confused at first but we already knew that she isn't a threat only holding a wooden sword with a great sword stance.
"Hey kid, what are you doing in a place outside of the gate"
"Back off bandit, don't even think about raiding the capital" I knew that the little girl was trying to put on an act to intimidate us, but it had already affected Venny.
"Did that little pip-squeak called us Bandits!"
"Hey Venny let's not worsen the situation even further. And let me handle this" I knew that Venny may cause more problems so I then started to play along with the girl's acts. "Oh no, you got us, we are indeed bandits. Please we surrender, we are at your mercy"
"Jin what are you doing?!" Venny was confused but he saw what I was doing giving out hand signals and understands what his friend is doing and proceeds to play along.
"Yes we do surrender" trying to do his best impression as the girl with the sword smirks.
"That's what I thought and lay down your weapons" Venny and I soon place down our weapons. But suddenly real bandits came from the bushes to ambush the three, surprising the girl, however, as she was about to retaliate towards the bandits. But they were immediately dismembered by me and Venny using our magical abilities. After all the bandits were easily defeated by me and Venny the girl apologizes to them both.
"I am truly sorry, for mistaking you two as bandits"
"Oh no you don't need to worry yourself. We already know that bandits were nearby"
"Wait, what do you mean"
"Jin here can sense anyone's breathing pattern no matter who they are"
"But she did pretty well tracking those bandits on her own"
"Well it only took time, preparation and planning to discover a pattern, how the bandits work"
"And I suppose introductions are in order. I'm Jin and this is Venny"
"My name is Dani. Dani Vixen" Dani soon helps the two leading them towards Alvera helping them to gain access into the town without question and a gift for helping her with the bandit situation and then meeting Edgar Vixen captain of the 18th Dainsmith Legion.
Back to the present "so you've met Edgar one of the most well respected knights in all of Devandia"
"Yeah, and we also met his granddaughter Dani Vixen that we befriended during our time at Alvera"
"So, this Dani you speak of what happened to her"
"Well now a days she's the newest captain of the 21th Dainsmith legion so good job on her part"
"Honestly I did heard from others talking about Dani too"
"Oh, what were they saying?"
"It was mostly about how troublesome the other knights were when working with her"
"Oh yes, I remember many times that she is on of the most smartest people I know, even if it annoys others, I can still recall how many times Venny and Dani argue over savings, and planning and we were even given a name by Edgar himself, The Crusaders"
"Sounds like the three of you had good terms with each other"
"Yeah, but such good times cannot be hold together forever".
During our time in Alvera, I had enrolled in the spy business waiting patiently to overhear information receiving from people who talked too much, though this worked very well for being able to find good information regarding his killer and his location. Once I told this to Venny, they both headed out and found my killer, and soon made it to his lair, they stormed through the barricades defeating the killer's bodyguard left and right, and soon to confront my killer. The killer tried to make his escape but I threw a boomerang at his shoulder pinning him to the wall.
"So this is where you've been hiding cowards"
"Wait... you don't know what you dealing with"
"Shut up! I'm going to make you pay for what you did to my brother"
"Jin"
"Don't say my name Handikiz, I thought I could trust you, we even helped you, and this is what you replayed me, to my family! you will not be forgiven not in the slightest"
"Wa-wait" I will not listen to what ever that killer says to me, I levitate huge planks. I threw it at my killer burying him in the rubble and set it to blaze just how he left me and his brother to die. Venny sees how I kills my murderer, and knows he need to confront his best friend.
"Hey, Jin how are you feeling"
"Never better" I always tried to hide my pain, but Venny always see right through my confidence.
"Maybe its a good idea if we leave each other alone for awhile" I look at Venny in shock by his words.
"Hey don't give me that face, we both now, we cannot travel together for long after killed one of our killers"
"But what about your killer?"
"Don't I do my best to find my killer, and beside I kind of already payed off my debt when you first helped" Venny pulls a dagger from his back and gives it to me.
"Here go this is for you" Venny handed me one of his daggers
"Why are you giving me one of your daggers?"
"Think of it as a thank you present for our long friendship" Venny soon walks away from me.
"anyways see you later Jin, may we meet again no matter how far we are away from each other" after Venny left me, I takes a look at the dagger he got, and sees a inscription I don't know what it says but might ask Dani for help then I started my way back to Alvera.
Back to the present "so what happened to Venny? Did you ever see him again"
"Yeah, but only through letters"
"So what about that dagger, did you ever decipher what it said?"
"I actually did figure out how to read it" Jin tries to pull out the dagger but knows his hands are still tied up and he ask Gale to grab it.
"Hey Gale how about you get my dagger"
"Um okay... wait you know my name?"
"to be honest you've been talking to each other for a while learning your names were really to memorize. but I am getting off topic."
Jin point his hand where the dagger is placed, and Gale grabs it, they take a look at the dagger and sees the encryption "this looks like some sort of code?"
"Well this Venny guy must not have good writing"
"So Jin what does this encryption say"
"Well it was more of a phrase then a message"
The dagger said meet till three moons pass Alvera, follow the crimson marks only, look for the captain of the respective granddaughter, then to confront your worst enemy face to face
"These were the words I manage to decipher it took me a while to come to a conclusion what it met"
"But I was already too late what he was about to commit".
It took two days to get back to Alvera and meet up with Dani. It took a lot of prep before I could talk to Edgar's granddaughter but once I made it to see Dani she was shocked not to see Venny anywhere.
"Jin where is Venny?" she asked
"We thought it was time to part ways and went on a separate path" I was obviously lying to Dani after feeling remorse for taking revenge on his killer but does not want to tell her the truth, instead I showed her a dagger
"This was a parting gift from Venny" I then show Dani an inscription on the dagger that was left by Venny.
"I thought you could decipher this" Dani agrees to assist me on deciphering the inscription on the dagger and I leave the dagger into her care trusting her as I waits outside until she is done. While waiting I had almost nothing to do, so I started exploring the whole city of Alvera seeing many bakery's, shops, merchants, blacksmiths, potion sellers, and many more to come by and goes to sit onto a nearby bench waiting patiently and looking to the blue sky feeling the cold breeze throughout his body sometimes reminds me of my older brother.
"I hope I did you proud, Vant-sae Akaumo". Hours pass, the light has fallen and the night soon begins, I starts to feel alone though I haven't felt this in awhile ever since I made friends with Venny, and Dani.
"Perhaps I should go see Dani" I got up from the bench and headed towards Dani's place, but once I made it to her place, I felt an unknowing breeze in the house, perhaps an updraft but couldn't sense neither Edgar nor Dani and knew something was wrong. I rushes to Dani's room to see it thrashed with slash marks all around the room even blood stains. I was surprised by this disaster needs to search for clues on the incident but sees a note near the dagger it was a message deciphered by Dani. I read the message knows where Dani and her attacker are at making a run for it, but I had sense guards running into the house.
"why guards at this time" I was too frustrated to think for a moment but I quickly started to pick up both the note and the dagger heading out from the window.
"Its not a good idea to stay, or else they think I commit the crime" taking the path that the Dani had been taken to by the attack was the theatre.
"This is the only place where the crimson marking are leading towards this theatre" without second thought I quickly went inside the theatre and what I saw horrified me. Bodies scattered but only forty corpses was found here.
"What happen here" walking through many corpses I spotted something sticking out onto one of the bodies a dagger and knows who this belongs to.
"This belongs to Venny's" suddenly two criminals tries to ambush me with their claws but were immediately countered by a loud burst of wind.
"Wait were these the same prisoners me and Venny had fought from the west of Alvera". Suddenly I notice a third criminal ready to pounce at me but I quickly uses the wind to forcefully pushes the attacker further down slamming her to the ground. I started to quickly search the three prisoner unconscious bodies .
"Hmm it looks like all they are all the same with those claws". Then more prisoners appeared to ambush me but they were easily defeated by me.
"I can't stand here like, I need to hurry" slowly levitating in the air I had summons a burst of wind to quickly dash through the building's many hallways that are filled with many bodies that were people, I had knew abruptly "VENNY!!!" I shouted his name across the hallway but knowing to be seen, except his breathing pattern is getting closer and closer as I am focusing across the entire hallway. Until I sense someone trying to strike from behind. I quickly reacts with a wind gast punch, and knocks the enemy back.
"Hm, this guy is holding a sword means I must be getting closer" rushing towards Venny's position he stumble upon the entrance to the main theatre room locked and though the doors he senses both Dani and Venny's breathing pattern.
"Oh thank god they're okay. Wait I sense something else" a faint breathing pattern he feels he met the first time, he and Venny visited Alvera.
"wait could that be Edgar's" I has sense a weakened Edgar with no time to spare, I blew wind into the lock to unlock the door then rashly forces it to open with a burst of wind and once through the doors, he sees Venny standing looking forward towards me. Holding a dagger onto Dani's throat bruised and beaten, with Edgar on the ground barely breathing.
(End of chapter 4)