M
Melon Kid
Guest
Original poster
"There have been dark times in the world of Laoa. Millennia of war waged, nation against nation, species against species - brother against brother. But for every era of despair and violence these blood-soaked lands have seen, there was always a light at the end of every tunnel. The ones we call heroes and legends, who accepted the call to action and freed the people from a life of misery, if only for a while. But now, things are different."
The man kicked up his boots on the desk and lounged casually back into his chair, puffing on his cigarette. Short, messy black hair covered one eye, and the other narrowed. It gleamed beneath the sunset's orange rays, peeking through the window slats. The room went silent a while, and only smoke was between the man and the one who stood before him.
"There's no light at the end of this tunnel." He drew the cigarette back to his lips and paused. "You know what, though? We make our own fire. And our own light." Lowering his feet back to the ground, he leaned forward and put his hand out for a shake. "So let's trail blaze that tunnel and show that mad emperor bastard what for, huh?"
Qinlan, City of Naara - Year 5 of the New Dynasty
Evening fell, and Spring breathed life into the city's natural landscape once again. Soft, pink petals fluttered gently from the heavens, shining like little stars under the lantern lights. Waves of color painted the mountains this night, as the trees in full bloom perched atop the cliffside and all manner of loud, foreign merchants walked to and fro along the busy bridges for the week long market fair peddling their goods. While the mood was unmistakably festive, there has been a noticeable drop-off in both excitement and traffic in the recent years. Tensions have been high not only with Tiansheng, but between the six nations as well and no amount of poorly written public ballads could hide that.
Speaking of which, a certain young man occupied a small corner of the plaza. A small stage with a sketchy backdrop and cheap props were all he needed to entertain - and 'educate' - the audience of impressionable children before him, he knew. Breathlessly, he rushed from end to end, playing every single character in this little visual tale. The slapping of his shoes against the wooden boards was almost without pause, and by now the children were almost without patience.
"Back! Back, you foul dragon!" Shichiro yelled boldly at the empty air, swinging his sword wildly. "Know you not who I am?"
He sheathed his weapon and hurried a few feet ahead, adopting a completely different posture and voice. "Hmph. A mere human presumes to challenge me? A snort from my nostril could turn your mortal flesh into dust."
He ran back to his original spot and spun around, drawing his weapon again. "A mere human? I am Ia! Slayer of the six generals! Champion of Laoa! An overgrown beast knows nothing of true battle! TASTE MY STEEL! GUOAAAAAAAAA--" A small rock smashed against the side of Shichiro's head.
"Ouch! What the goddamn--" The young man turned and instinctively shielded his face with his arms as more stones came flying his way, pelting his ribs and elbows.
"This play sucks!" one said, rising from the crowd and throwing an apple core. "Why are you making the mad emperor sound like a hero? He's the bad guy! You're stupid!" The children booed, drowning out his whines as they began chanting 'Off the stage! Off the stage! Off the stage!' as they encircled him. One of them climbed up and pantsed him, leaving him in his briefs as the girl ran off with his sash.
"H-Hey give that back!" he panicked, stepping his way down while trying to hold his pants up. "You little shits! Get back here!"
"Ewwww! Run away, the pantsless creep is coming after us!" The children laughed and scattered in all directions, leaving the hapless young man exhausted and alone in front of the now empty play stage. With a deep sigh, he slid down against the wooden frame onto his rear, looking solemnly off to the side.
Well. I hope everyone else is enjoying their day. Because this was not worth the pay.
Using the stage as support, Shichiro stood up and grabbed the cord that had fallen at his feet along the way to tie around his waist. He grabbed his swords and with a mighty huff, left the scene to find the event manager and let her have an absolute EARFUL about this travesty.
***
The mayor waited nervously, distracting himself with the festivities outside his window. Occasionally, he glanced to the guards just to make sure they were still there. He had heard all kinds of horror stories about this hunter - some were of their feats, but most were of their brutality - to meet such a fearsome being in person. . . shivers ran through his trembling arms. When footsteps began to echo in the rooms beyond, he froze in place and held his breath. Louder, and louder. Louder, and louder. The footsteps became deafeningly close - they were almost to his office, just one room away. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Silence.
The door slooowly creaked open and the first thing he saw was a large, bony hand on the handle. The mayor swallowed nervously. The door was halfway open now, and the figure's body was masked in shadow. After what seemed like an eternity, it spoke. Its voice was surprisingly soft and pleasant. For a second, he almost lowered his guard.
"I heard you had a fox problem," said the voice.
"Y-yes, that we do. Please, come in. . . master hunter," the mayor said, eyes widening at the colossal human ducking under the door frame to step into the room. A heavy belt of severed kitsune tails was strapped to the hunter's waist. It must've numbered up to fifteen - no, sixteen tails, of various shapes, sizes, and colors. And he was certain that was not all of them.
"There is. . . business to discuss. . ."
The man kicked up his boots on the desk and lounged casually back into his chair, puffing on his cigarette. Short, messy black hair covered one eye, and the other narrowed. It gleamed beneath the sunset's orange rays, peeking through the window slats. The room went silent a while, and only smoke was between the man and the one who stood before him.
"There's no light at the end of this tunnel." He drew the cigarette back to his lips and paused. "You know what, though? We make our own fire. And our own light." Lowering his feet back to the ground, he leaned forward and put his hand out for a shake. "So let's trail blaze that tunnel and show that mad emperor bastard what for, huh?"
Qinlan, City of Naara - Year 5 of the New Dynasty
Evening fell, and Spring breathed life into the city's natural landscape once again. Soft, pink petals fluttered gently from the heavens, shining like little stars under the lantern lights. Waves of color painted the mountains this night, as the trees in full bloom perched atop the cliffside and all manner of loud, foreign merchants walked to and fro along the busy bridges for the week long market fair peddling their goods. While the mood was unmistakably festive, there has been a noticeable drop-off in both excitement and traffic in the recent years. Tensions have been high not only with Tiansheng, but between the six nations as well and no amount of poorly written public ballads could hide that.
Speaking of which, a certain young man occupied a small corner of the plaza. A small stage with a sketchy backdrop and cheap props were all he needed to entertain - and 'educate' - the audience of impressionable children before him, he knew. Breathlessly, he rushed from end to end, playing every single character in this little visual tale. The slapping of his shoes against the wooden boards was almost without pause, and by now the children were almost without patience.
"Back! Back, you foul dragon!" Shichiro yelled boldly at the empty air, swinging his sword wildly. "Know you not who I am?"
He sheathed his weapon and hurried a few feet ahead, adopting a completely different posture and voice. "Hmph. A mere human presumes to challenge me? A snort from my nostril could turn your mortal flesh into dust."
He ran back to his original spot and spun around, drawing his weapon again. "A mere human? I am Ia! Slayer of the six generals! Champion of Laoa! An overgrown beast knows nothing of true battle! TASTE MY STEEL! GUOAAAAAAAAA--" A small rock smashed against the side of Shichiro's head.
"Ouch! What the goddamn--" The young man turned and instinctively shielded his face with his arms as more stones came flying his way, pelting his ribs and elbows.
"This play sucks!" one said, rising from the crowd and throwing an apple core. "Why are you making the mad emperor sound like a hero? He's the bad guy! You're stupid!" The children booed, drowning out his whines as they began chanting 'Off the stage! Off the stage! Off the stage!' as they encircled him. One of them climbed up and pantsed him, leaving him in his briefs as the girl ran off with his sash.
"H-Hey give that back!" he panicked, stepping his way down while trying to hold his pants up. "You little shits! Get back here!"
"Ewwww! Run away, the pantsless creep is coming after us!" The children laughed and scattered in all directions, leaving the hapless young man exhausted and alone in front of the now empty play stage. With a deep sigh, he slid down against the wooden frame onto his rear, looking solemnly off to the side.
Well. I hope everyone else is enjoying their day. Because this was not worth the pay.
Using the stage as support, Shichiro stood up and grabbed the cord that had fallen at his feet along the way to tie around his waist. He grabbed his swords and with a mighty huff, left the scene to find the event manager and let her have an absolute EARFUL about this travesty.
***
The mayor waited nervously, distracting himself with the festivities outside his window. Occasionally, he glanced to the guards just to make sure they were still there. He had heard all kinds of horror stories about this hunter - some were of their feats, but most were of their brutality - to meet such a fearsome being in person. . . shivers ran through his trembling arms. When footsteps began to echo in the rooms beyond, he froze in place and held his breath. Louder, and louder. Louder, and louder. The footsteps became deafeningly close - they were almost to his office, just one room away. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Silence.
The door slooowly creaked open and the first thing he saw was a large, bony hand on the handle. The mayor swallowed nervously. The door was halfway open now, and the figure's body was masked in shadow. After what seemed like an eternity, it spoke. Its voice was surprisingly soft and pleasant. For a second, he almost lowered his guard.
"I heard you had a fox problem," said the voice.
"Y-yes, that we do. Please, come in. . . master hunter," the mayor said, eyes widening at the colossal human ducking under the door frame to step into the room. A heavy belt of severed kitsune tails was strapped to the hunter's waist. It must've numbered up to fifteen - no, sixteen tails, of various shapes, sizes, and colors. And he was certain that was not all of them.
"There is. . . business to discuss. . ."
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