12 Strategic Tactics (1/2)
Chapter 12: Strategic Tactics
Within the land of Skyworld; Kloud was leaving the knight's dormitory, adjusting his shirt collar. The parts of his arms that were usually exposed, now carried bandage wrappings. He was still fairly bruised up from his duel with Nye, but that didn't stop him from passing through the corridors of the knight halls. His hands were in his pockets and a glum expression on his face; as he trailed further on. There was a view from the balcony of the hall, that showed the landscape of the Rhyme kingdom. He glanced towards it, proceeding down a spiral staircase. The bustling people of the city were nearby, but Kloud kept a distance from the crowds, in an unsure manner. He made his way to a grassy field, just on the outskirts of the city. It was a lush hill, that had a wonderful view of the ocean on the surface below, with lovely cherry blossom trees nearby.
After a brief pause of viewing the scenery, Kloud glanced up. Standing before him at the ledge of the island, was Ayame. Her back was facing him, and her mount was perched not too far off from her, but Kloud's eyes were on the knight of the wind. Ayame's long hair was blowing majestically in the breeze, as she reached to a strand near her face. This made Kloud blush, his heart pounding.
”Ayame?...” Kloud timidly approached her.
She turned back to face him, in surprise. The nearby trees blowing the sakura blossoms down gently around them. Kloud drew closer to her, as her body faced his. They both stood now at arms reach, looking to the other.
”Ayame... I'm-I'm terribly sorry... I don't think I can handle the mission Aoba placed onto me...I just-” Kloud stammered, nervously.
Ayame grew annoyed in the face, about to backhand him. ”You spineless-!”Before she could smack it his way, Kloud shakily took her hand; cupping it with both of his. This caused her to become confused, however she had no further dialog to spout.
”...Truth be told...” Kloud looked to her eyes nervously, his face becoming red. ”I know I'm not the best at being a Templar, and I might loose my knighthood now for my mistakes. I'm perfectly aware of that, but honestly, I've known you since we were kids... When you joined the Templar, any communication became out of reach. I only joined the Templar, to get close to you, because I couldn't before.”
Ayame was taken off guard, completely surprised by this.
”Ayame... The truth is... I'm in love with you.” Kloud stated to her, seriously.
Ayame blushed, leaving room for Kloud to lessen the distance with her, as he drew nearer. Their mouths drew closer, as they were about to kiss.
”Kloud! Hey! What are you doing?” Called Flint's voice at a distance.
Kloud snapped out of it, his eyes shakily staring out to the ocean. Ayame wasn't there at all.
The large wolf man walked up behind the ginger haired boy. ”What, are you day dreaming again?” Flint chuckled.
Kloud sighed, keeping his back to the wolf. ”I was... Just thinking...”
Flint places a paw to his hip, looking to Kloud. ”Well bud, there's no need to get stressed out any longer. I just spoke with Ayame, as promised.” He smiled, winking with a thumbs-up gesture.
Kloud turned around, completely baffled. ”Y-You did!? W-W-What did she say?”
The wolf gave him a smug grin. ”I didn't get much space to explain too many details, but she asked me to lend a hand with this female Amygdala.”
The expression on Kloud's face grew very happy, his eyes even tearing up with joy. ”(She cares about me?)”
”Hey, don't start crying now, Stormy. We still have to handle this objective that Aoba asked you to do. Otherwise, you're through with being a Templar Knight.” Flint stated, seriously.
Kloud snapped out of it, seeming concerned. ”R-Right... We should make haste then. There's no telling where this woman went off to after our duel... ”
”Attaboy. I'll meet you on the surface then, I need to catch one of the hot air balloons down.” Flint began walking off from Kloud.
”Got it...” Kloud turned off to the cliff of the floating island. He sighed briefly, before descending downward, forming his angel wings.
Meanwhile, around the harbor based city of Feirela. The centaur knightress, and her rabbit leashed were making their rounds in the seaside city. They had proceeded near the docks of the pier, when Sally turned to Hige. Many people were bustling about,fromfishmongers to other types of common folk. A few Templar seemed to be patrolling as well.
”I hath need to speak with our comrades in arms. Prey tell, doth thou perchance mind awaiting this steed? Thee Templar barracks arte nay place for a Leashed.” Sally explained, as she looked to that leashed of hers, with doting eyes.
”Sure, 'spose I'll just kick back, and fish for a while. Not like I have a choice any who. I'm just a pet, remember?” Hige shrugged, holding back a sly smirk.
”Splendid. I shan't keepeth thou waiting for too long. Faire thee well.” Sally smiled, heading into what seemed to be a nearby pub.
Hige peered over to the pier, where he noticed some crates stacked against a wall, where there was access to an alleyway. He grinned, with shadows casting eerily over his eyes. ”ku-hoo... As expected.” He muttered to himself, taking a seat on top of the crates. He quickly casted out his fishing rod's string, awaiting a bite.
Within the Barracks, Sally proceeded inside to spot hordes of Templar; all of which taking it easy by the bar. The room was filled to the brim with knights of the Rhyme's army. Sally stepped further in, stopping besides a female Templar mage, in blue attire, who was sitting in the center off the room; looking over a map with daggers placed in it. Many Templar were positioned around her, like they were Knights of the Realm.
”Well met, Skyletra Bleu. Thou hath summoned me? How may this knight be of service to thou, milady tactician?” Sally greeted.
The tactician peered up to the towering centaur. ”Greeting Sally. You took your time getting here, if you don't mind me saying.” She said, with a sharp tongue.
”Pardon mine timing, tis a long trek by foot, I'm afraid.” Sally admitted.
”Tsk. Very well, then let us be on to business, shall we?” Skyletra shifted her posture, to adjust her bangs.
The other Templar's attention became more focused to the conversation between the two.
”As you are aware, we've been assigned to track down our escaped convict, the Angel of Death. The reason this title was placed upon the Amygdala, was due to fates that didn't bode so well; when combat against him took place. He slaughters mercilessly, and many people have fell to his blade already.” Skyletra began explaining.
However, as they were in talks, there was a creak up stairs. In the shadows of the second floor, no one from below had even realized that someone was observing their conversation. Green eyes were peering from above, as shadows casted slightly over the Queen of Fiends. ”...” Nye was watching with a focused gaze, a slightly ajar window not too far behind her. She must have entered through it, but kept as silent as possible.
”Grand Master Aoba has placed a high priority on this target. The Amygdala has been sentenced to the death penalty. This monster broke out of his confines, and has been on the run for several weeks now. People are at risk, while all this violence could have easily been avoided, if he was simply killedupon initial capture, all those years ago. Well, Astrid never did listen to me. Look where that got her.” Skyletra leaned to the table, her fist under her chin.
”(Years ago?... Just how long did they have Jack imprisoned for?...)” Nye was continuing to eavesdrop from the shadows. ”(This has me wondering...)” She furrowed her brows in concern, keeping her ears glued to the conversation.
The conversations of the knights continued, still under observation of the enemy Queen. However, the view shifted to the window, with a view of outside of the barracks. Hige was still perched on some crates, fishing from the pier.
Footsteps drew near, as a sketchy looking man appeared from the shady alleyways of the city. He had jet black hair, and clothes of what seemed to be the style of a smuggler. He leaned to a wall, keeping out of sight. His lazy eyes locked onto Hige, as a crooked grin appeared on his lips. ”Oy Oy...Slacking off, on the job, eh?”
Hige's eyes were shadowed over, as he glanced back with a wide grin on his face. ”She told me to wait for her. I figured, why not enjoy myself a little.”He chuckled, eerily.
”So you decide to fish?” The smuggler slid his hand back, running his fingers through his black hair. ”Oh what times we've fell upon.” He jested.
”What, does my master not approve? I'm just playing the part, Sheesh.” Hige kept his back to the smuggler, as he snickered softly. ”I haven't forgotten the plan, so don't worry boss. She thinks I'm her leashed, and doesn't have the slightest notion that I'm not.”
”Oh, not sure we can work with that, now can we?” The man leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, with a smirk. He was clearly teasing, in a joking manner.
”Guess you gotta punish me.” Hige shrugged, jokingly.
The smuggler's smirk, became serious. ”Jokes aside, Hige. I'll be close by if you need me. I'm not sure where he's hauled himself off too, but eventually we'll find him.”
Hige leaned his head forward, as his eyes trailed back. The shadows casted over his face, ”The Templar haven't had any luck either, Shane. Not sure where he's hiding, but he's gotta be alive. Last time you had a run in with the guy, he was alive. Doubt he'd die that easily.”
”Just keep your ears peeled. If the Templar get wind of him, I want to be the first one who knows.” The smuggler named Shane turned off from Hige.
”You got it, boss. We'll find the angel of death.” Hige smirked.
”That's what I like to hear. Stay outta trouble now, hare.” Shane began to creep back into the dark alleyway.
”You as well.” Hige stated, his eyes peering to the lure of his rod, as a fish tugged down on the bait.
A view of the window was seen, where Nye was still overlooking the Templar below.
”We've been over this countless times, but he keeps eluding our forces... If only we had some idea where he's been hiding.” Skyletra continued.
Nye then noticed a female elf who had been not too far off from the group, and proceeded over to the table, where Skyletra and Sally were in talks. She seemed to be one of Aoba's lovers, the one he referred to as Eclipse.
”Pardon my intrusion, but master Aoba wanted me to oversee the operations of our exploits. I should have spoken up sooner.” Eclipse greeted.
”Of course you'd be here, Eclipse.” Skyletra leaned to her palm, in irritation.
”Greetings, lady spymaster. Is thou well?” Sally smiled.
”I am at least in better spirits than some of our Templar knights.” Eclipse remarked, giving Skyletra a look, as she said it.
”Say what you want. Assuming by the trouble the angel of death has lead us, is to why our master has sent out his spymaster. Do you, or the other assassins have any leads to him?” Skyletra shifted slightly.
”Indeed. Some of my men have told me of whispers, that the Amygdala is keeping close to Belmont city. I have many stationed there on the look out for him as we speak.” Eclipse leaned to the table.