Chapter 2: Discord of the Past
The darkly garbed figures ran at incredible speed, but both Lucian and Sapphira were ready with their keen eyes following the attackers perfectly as they approached. Lucian noticed at the last moment just feet from him the change in stride and the slight shift in the way his eye's looked that the assailant was no longer targeting him. Sapphira behind Lucian saw the same thing in her own opponent as well, footsteps changing direction slightly and shifting his weapons aim just a little differently shifting away from Sapphira. In those few seconds when they both realized the other was now the target of the enemies they faced, something mysterious between Sapphira and Lucian linked them and they moved almost as if one being.
"You will not harm her!" Lucian's body twirled around to the left and his massive great sword swung across the open side of the shrouded figure coming from the way Sapphira was facing. The great sword arched through the air quickly with so much power it cut the fiend clean in half with ease sending each part flying in a different direction. Something was strange about it though, the scent and sight of blood was nonexistent even though Lucian had seen his attack hit home on his opponent.
"You will not bring harm to him!" At the same time Sapphira twirled her body smoothly to the right her sword slashing diagonally through the assailant coming from Lucian's direction. The stroke was brilliant as it was deadly, not only deflecting the blade in the figure's hand but also ripping through his chest for a killing blow. The dust on the ground actually danced around the pair as they finished their movements standing where the other had been moments before, swords still held tight and slight grins on their faces.
"So... Who is next...?" Lucian looked up from where his foe had fallen but when he sought the next one there were none to be found anymore just the bodies of the slain. Sapphira looked around in slight surprise as well, seeing that all the other figures had departed in the moment that they had been busy fighting the attackers. A few moments passed before the pair slowly turned to one another, swords still drawn yet the tension from before drifting away on the wind.
"It is strange... we fought in a way only those who have been together for sometime could ever have..." Sapphira's voice was soft with interest as she looked up again into those smoldering golden Wolf kin eyes while sheathing her sword slowly. His long grey furred lowered slowly, smoothing out as his body calmed down from the battle and Sapphira admired his rugged handsome wolf like features.
"Yes, but stranger still is the bodies of our attackers..." Even as he spoke the words, Sapphira looked to where Lucian's gaze rested amazed to see only grey ash remained of the cut down adversaries. Leaning down she gently touched it with her hands, but she could only sense a small portion of the lingering magic which had given them form. Even as she examined them, Lucian found himself drawn into examining Sapphira's elegant form as he was even more interested in her after seeing how fast she reacted to keep him safe. Her fur color was so much more creamy and smooth than most any other Kin he had seen and his longing to touch it, stroke his hand through it was growing stronger.
"If you are done staring... It seems they were definitely made with magic, but I have no idea by whom." Lucian looked away slightly embarrassed that he had been so into looking over Sapphira he failed to notice her turn to look back at him. She sighed then stood up her hands upon her hips, tail swaying slowly behind her but a much more mischievous look upon her face. "It seems the battle is over today... the bandit forces are retreating and I doubt someone as skilled as you would be part of such a group. Now tell me Sir Wolf Kin, why would a warrior like you be on a battlefield in Leopard Kin territory?"
"To be honest I was just passing through... the name is Lucian milady, I am a wandering mercenary for hire. I only entered the battle because some of the retreating bandits ran across me and well I figured I could make some good money off their gear. Now if you don't mind, I would like to know of your name milady and why someone who obviously comes from royalty would be in the midst of such a battle?" There was no surprise in Sapphira's eyes when Lucian guessed at her royal lineage; instead she smiled more at him finding his attention to detail even in the middle of battle very interesting. Her leopard like ears fluttered some in response as Lucian kneeled down before her as it was protocol when dealing with royalty and she felt a blush running through her face, fur rippling slightly on her back. His name echoed over and over in her head as if she had heard it once before, but even as it bothered her she could not place exactly where she had heard it, only that it had been long ago.
"I am Sapphira Alusia, princess royal of the kingdom of Alusia and 2nd in line to the throne and it is a pleasure to have met such a skilled fighter as you Sir Lucian." Her voice was even softer than before and Sapphira smiled slightly to herself seeing Lucian's ears quiver slightly in a way that told her the tone of her voice was pleasant to him. Just looking at him made Sapphira feel strange, as if there was suddenly a small fire blooming within her chest growing warming with every moment she laid eyes upon him. Her name resounded in his mind, something familiar about it and something even more so about the family crest upon the shoulder of her armor.
-Somewhere nearby-
