CW: Descriptions of violence and gore. Mild language. Death [Temporary].
Set in the Trust machine's universe. Focusing on how the Transformations affect LARP'ing, not the transformations themselves.
Enjoy.
Chapter 4 - Saturday Part 2
Sara had expected the battle to be a chaotic mess of limbs and blood, and while those were still a factor, the battle itself had been slow and methodical. The fully armored humans, commanders or generals Sara figured, had been giving orders to the people with the shields. They had formed a shield wall at the front, while sword, dagger, and spear users had been commanded to stab between the shields at the Orcs - who also employed the same strategy.
For some reason the giant insectoid monster was standing still and quiet behind the Orc line. Sara couldn’t fathom why it didn’t simply shred the Elador army to ribbons. It had four spiked legs, holding up a vertical torso with scythed arms sticking out of it. Its head was flat and bug-like, with ridges for its chitinous armor. The monstrosity was 15 feet tall at least, relative to her perspective anyway. She could make out an Orc sat on its lower body, behind its towering torso. The orc seemed to be saddled on it, with reins in their muscular hands. On closer inspection, Sara realized this Orc was female, +1 gender equality to the Orcs thought Sara.
Much of the battle went on and on for a while, a spear stab here, a dodge there. Whenever a shieldsman on either side went down they were dragged back by someone in a red robe, while the line shuffled to close the hole in the wall. Sara watched as a spearwoman near her got hit in the shoulder really badly and she fell back on the ground. Another red robe dragged them away from the fight and began administering first aid. After some time the spearwoman was patched up and back in, stabbing back for revenge on the Orcs.
Some people, however, weren’t so lucky. Sara had looked away in shock as the shieldsman she was next to had a spear shoved through his face. He was dragged away, but not all of his brains went with him. And he wasn’t the only one, stabbed through the heart, stabbed in the neck, stabbed in the face, stabbed in the leg… It was a very gorey affair. Sara knew in her mind, of course, that these people weren’t actually dead, or in pain. But the shock factor of it caused her primal human psyche to cry out in terror each time. Still, Sara was not so easily cowed, and turned that terror into rage for her fallen comrades. Sending many Orcs to the ground in the same way.
“Skork!” came a gruff female voice from the Orc side. The one riding the monstrosity, in fact.
Her voice was joined by other Orcs. “Skork! Skork! Skork! Skork!” the Orcs chanted, louder and louder as the Orc line backed away from the Elador Army, opening a hole in their shield wall.
Some of the more foolish of the Elador army rushed that opening, only for the giant insectoid to move it’s scythed claws in a swift motion. The foolish, and their heads, fell to the floor. Everyone on both sides was silent for a moment, then ‘Skork’ let out a hideous screech, and all the Orcs began cheering.
The commanders of the Elador army were horrified, they had never seen such a monster in all their years of Larping. Usually, in normal LARPs, the monsters were guys in lobster costumes with lots of ‘hp’. And in V-larps, they were more realistic monsters, still giant lobsters mostly, that could maim and kill a man. However, nobody had seen anything like this, with its size and speed, and they were afraid. There were a few murmured comments that only Sara’s beastkin ears could hear about “What was management thinking?” and “They expect us to win against that thing?”
Sara watched as the monster strode forward, slowly. Too slowly, Sara thought. She then realized that they were likely holding back to keep the game fair, and so too must the commanders of the Elador army because one very brave armored man strode forward alone on shaky legs. The Orcs laughed at him as he did so but fell silent to let him speak.
“Y-you shall not deter us! We will f-f-fight your demon!” he said as bravely as he could, drawing his sword and pointing it at the demon in question. “Elador will not fall this day!”
His performance must've worked because everyone in the Elador army cheered and roared with courage. Sara couldn’t help join the chorus of her new brothers and sisters in arms.
“For Elador!” the voices rang out and the shield wall re-engaged the Orcs, splitting in two and leaving a space between both sides, making a four-way battle. On one side was ‘Skork’, the insectoid monster, and on the other was Sara, a spearman, a female dual-wielder, and the brave commander from before with his shield. Sara had decided she wanted to help, and found herself facing down the line at the monster and its rider. To her right and left was the split shield walls of both sides, creating an alleyway to doom between them.
The female orc riding the monstrosity cried out a hearty “Yah!” and snapped the reins. Skork charged in at a speed that could only be described as slow motion compared to its initial display of power. Yet it was upon Sara and her party in moments, it brought its claws down with some speed, yet not too much by comparison to previously, and it collided with someone's shield. The brave shieldsman took a swing with his blade, only for it to bounce off the claw’s chitinous blade.
A young woman, using dual swords and wearing leather armor took the opening to try and slash at the undercarriage of Skork’s body, scoring a clean cut. Skork reeled back in pain and screeched, then brought one of its front legs down on the woman, who was stabbed through the abdomen and pinned to the ground. She dropped her blades in panic and began coughing up blood. Her eyes went wide in a panic and she choked out something, almost with a pleading tone, to Skork. “Can’t breathe, scared of…” Skork shared a moment of recognition with the woman, and brought a scythed claw down with lightning speed into her skull, killing her instantly.
The fight continued however, the spearman stabbed at the orc rider causing Skork to stumble when the reins were pulled to the side by her, on accident, as she dodged. The orc woman never lost her grin however, and with a flourish she grabbed the spear with a hand and yanked it away. “Mine now.” she growled with a wicked grin at the spearman. Skork then went to stab the defenseless spearman, but the shieldsman from before caught the stab with his shield.
The shield was stabbed clean through in an awkward fashion by Skork’s clawed scythe. Yet the shieldsman had escaped the pointed tip on his side of the shield, while the disarmed spearman ran off looking more upset at having his weapon stolen than being afraid of dying. The shieldsman kept Skork’s claw tip lodged in his shield, grunting and struggling to keep his grip on the shield-turned-snare. He turned his head to the party, really just Sara at this point, and spoke through gritted teeth. “Now’s your chance!”
Sara had watched the scene unfold until now, carefully sizing up Skork and his abilities. Skork could very easily shred everyone here, the mercy kill on the woman who was scared of suffocation made that apparent. Yet because he was holding back, it meant Sara had a good idea of how to handle things, and her fellow spear user had given her a great idea. She charged at Skork, or rather his rider. Skork tried to swing at her with his other scythe-claw. The shieldsman grunted, keeping Skork from moving far enough and causing Skork to miss Sara by a hair. Sara lept towards the Orc, who quickly discarded the stolen spear to pull out a wicked looking scimitar.
The orc hadn’t expected Sara to close the distance so quickly, or so easily, and was caught off guard by Skork’s miss. She panic swung her scimitar upwards towards the leaping Sara, causing Sara to lose an arm. Ignoring the papercut-like sensation on her elbow, Sara stabbed with her right arm holding the spear as she landed on the back of Skork, piercing the Orc through the chest with a crunch of bone.
For a few stretched moments, everything seemed to fall silent. Then the Orc slid onto the ground, dead. All the Orcs shouted “Retreat!” and began fleeing back to the sandy dunes of Stormveil. The Elador army was still in shock, it couldn’t have been that easy could it?
Of course not. Skork began freaking out now his rider was gone, swinging his scythe-claws randomly and dangerously, and stumbling around this way and that. Sara struggled to keep her balance on his back and fell onto the ground. Her wound throbbed warmly, but the pain she expected wasn't there. Thank god for the Venn Machine’s pain reduction, she thought to herself. Yet her body was in turmoil, and losing blood was still making her dizzy.
Sara felt herself dragged away from the rampaging monstrosity by someone in a red robe. She saw the trail of blood from the bloody stump where her left arm had been. Her dizziness was getting worse, and Sara figured all that red stuff was why. Yet without the pain, all she felt was a faint throbbing at her elbow where the arm had been cut off. Hmm, actually feels kinda nice… Sara thought to herself.
The remainder of the Elador army was able to take down and kill Skork while the monstrosity stumbled and flailed around. It was easier without the Orcs around anymore, but a few still got sliced and diced by the flailing scythe-claws. Soon though, Skork fell to the ground, dead. Everyone remaining cheered in victory and began heading over the grassy plains back to Elador. Sara was more stable after the bleeding of her stump was stopped and she hobbled with some assistance back to Elador with the army. A bunch of red robes and a handful of priests stayed behind however, and were gathering up the bodies into wooden handcarts.
-----
Esmerelda had spent the better part of an hour trying to re-organise the noble court. The bloody dagger that had been used to try and assassinate her, and that had almost assassinated Enna, lay on a table in the middle of the court. Flanked by two castle retainers, just in case. Esmerelda was on the court floor behind the table, instead of sitting on her throne on the balcony above. She had been arguing with a woman for the past 10 minutes over the dagger's origins.
“Princess, the markings on this blade are clearly Elven in nature.” commented an angry looking noble woman, she had her blonde hair tied up in a bun.
“I understand that, Lady Reina.” started Esmerelda firmly. “However, that does not mean that Ingrassia had anything to do with this. We all know the assassin is linked with the orcs.”
“Then why use an elven blade?” Reina asked, her voice rising. “Clearly it was the elves! We should declare war!”
“Obviously,” started Baron Krow. His slicked back, black hair, and piercing red eyes entered the scene to intervene at last. “the orcs want us to conclude that it was the Elves.”
“Exactly, Baron Krow.” Esmerelda nodded her assent. “A war with Elador and Ingrassia would give the Orcs the distraction they need to ally with Peliharaan, and gain even stronger monsters.”
“And if you’re wrong?” interjected Reina with an incredulous tone.
“Lady Reina. Are you questioning the authority of the Princess?” asked Baron Krow in a very calm and grim tone.
“W-well no, I just…” Reina stuttered, realizing her mistake. “Whatever…excuse me, princess.” she excused herself from the court floor hastily.
“Keep an eye on that one, Baron.” whispered Esmerelda to Baron Krow, narrowing her eyes as Reina leaves.
“Think she’s a traitor?” whispered Baron Krow back. “She did lose the vote to get the princess role, to you.”
Esmerelda just nodded slowly.
“Very well!” remarked Baron Krow, a bit more loudly, clapping his hands together. “If nobody has anything else to comment on, it’s time for a very late lunch.”
Esmerelda nodded, stood up straighter, and threw her arm out commandingly. “Court adjourned!”
All the nobles and their retainers shuffled off to do their own things. While Gregorius took the dagger for safe keeping. “Ah’ve got te get te mah inn fer the remainder of the lunch rush.” he spoke in his usual strong scottish accent.
“Aye.” chuckled Esmerelda. “I'll pop by soon once Enna is better, and Sara is back.”
Greg smirked at the ‘aye’ and waved goodbye to Esmerelda.
Esmerelda was feeling kind of lonely waiting for Sara to get back, so she spent time outside the castle, walking the small courtyard. She knelt to touch at the flowers, and sighed at their artificial nature. Just then someone came running into the castle grounds. “Princess! News from the wall!” the messenger called.
He stopped before her, catching his breath. “Princess. News. From the walls.” he panted out between breaths.
“What is it, soldier?” Esmerelda stood up to face him.
“Was on the wall, keeping an eye out for your retainer and the assassin. When we saw the frontline battle in the distance.” he started, wiping sweat from his brow. “Huge monster.”
“What?”
“Never seen anything like it before.” he said, a bit more composed. “But that’s not the problem.”
“No?”
“Your retainer, they were last spotted heading that direction in pursuit of the assassin right as the war horn was blown.”
“Oh gods…”
-----
Esmerelda didn’t waste any time taking the soldier with her as a temporary retainer while she headed into the city towards the gate. By the time she got there the Elador army was just returning from their fight, most unscathed, some with minor cuts and bandages. She didn't see Sara and became worried.
Waiting anxiously by the gate she eventually caught sight of Sara with the returning wounded and red robes, missing an arm and looking pale. “Sara!” she called out in shock, running to her.
“Oh…hey Essie…” Sara smiled weakly to her friend, supported by an arm around one of the red robes.
“Princess, forgive me, but she needs to get to the infirmary with the rest…” said the red robe, not stopping as the procession of wounded continued towards the castle.
“It’s okay! Get her there at once!” Esmerelda said in a very concerned tone.
“Oh Essie,” Sara grinned weakly as she hobbled with the red robe towards the castle. “do I have a story for you…”
After much hobbling, Esmerelda insisted on being the one to support Sara on the way to the castle. Once there, the wounded procession entered a side entrance leading directly into the castle infirmary. The soldier who was acting as a temp-retainer for Esmerelda was dismissed. The red robes saw everyone into a chair or a bed, and Sara insisted she would be fine enough for a chair. Enna was still there, looking better, and waved to Sara and Essie to come over. Her smile turned to shock as she realized Sara was missing an arm, however.
“Sara?!” she squeaked.
“Yo, Enna...feeling better?” Sara said lazily as she was lowered into a comfy chair next to Enna’s bed by Esmerelda.
“Of course! What happened to you?” Enna asked with concern.
“I would also like that story, you’ve been avoiding my questions the whole way here.” interjected Esmerelda, pulling up another chair to Enna’s bedside and sitting down next to Sara.
“Sorry, little taste of your own medicine.” Sara smirked, her tail swishing weakly.
“Huh?” Esmerelda raised a brow.
“The whole ‘you’ll see’ thing?” Sara’s smirk became a very cheeky grin.
“I see.” Esmerelda narrowed her eyes, annoyed.
“Exactly.” said Sara, sounding very satisfied with her personal revenge.
“Ladies, please.” Interrupted Enna. “Sara, tell us what happened already…”
Sara launched into gratuitous detail, a little slurred at times from the anemia, and interrupted by the odd red robe checking if she needed anything from time to time. She didn’t mention how awful or traumatic killing someone was, however.
“Oh, wow…” Enna said, caught up in every word.
“Well, you did say you wanted to give front-lines a try…” remarked Esmerelda.
“Yeah, but it was a little much for my first time.” she admitted “Do they always have giant monsters like that?” asked Sara, second guessing her initial enthusiasm for front-lines.
“Oh, that was likely something to do with the ongoing political…stuff.” Esmerelda leaned back, folding her arms.
“Yeah?” Sara’s fox ears twitched in interest.
“Yeah. See, as you know, Elador and Peliharaan are in a kind of fractured alliance right now. Technically allies, but secretly plotting.” explained Esmerelda.
“Oh, you did mention something about that before.” said Sara thoughtfully. “And the court seemed to mention it too…”
“Indeed. Well, the current theory is that they’ve been selling scarier monsters to the Orcs lately.”
“Okay, and how does the elven orc-allied assassin play into that?” Sara questioned.
“An Orc ploy to make Elador think the Elves are behind assassination attempts, and go to war with them.” Explained Esmerelda. “After all, with Humans at war with Elves, the Orcs and beast-kin can team up.”
“All a bit complicated, no?” Sara smiled wryly.
Esmerelda just sighed and nodded at that. “Worse still, there might be a traitor in the court who’s secreting the assassins into the kingdom to get rid of me.”
“Damn it…” Sara cursed. “Explains how she got in.”
“Well, I'm just glad the both of you are alright.” interjected Enna, who was silently following along.
“Same to you, Enna. I thought you were dead.” Sara gave a sympathetic smile to her injured friend.
“At least I'm in one piece.” giggled Enna.
“Plus,” her voice lowered, and her cheeks flushed pink. “one of the doctors has been very attentive towards my recovery.”
“Ohhhhhh!” Esmerelda and Sara exclaimed in interest.
“Shh!” Enna panicked, looking around embarrassed. Her gaze lingered slightly on one of the red robes. “Him…”
Sara picked up on it. “He’s nice~” she teased.
“A-anyway, what now? I’ll be good enough soon to walk again as long as I'm careful with my upper body.” Enna blurted quickly, moving on.
“Ah. Well, we can stop by Greg’s tavern later tonight for a well earned dinner.” said Esmerelda. “Before that though, I'd like to try and get Sara’s arm fixed.”
“Oh…how do we do that?” Sara asked, tail swishing slightly with anticipation. Having her arm back would be nice.
“Easy, I know a popular mage who can regrow limbs.” said Esmerelda nonchalantly. She stood up and gestured Sara to the exit. “Let's go.”
“Regrow… but… no way… right?” Sara stuttered. ‘Magic isn't real and the Venn Machines certainly couldn't grant it. Regeneration maybe…but even then.’ She thought to herself, not realizing she had already stood up with Esmerelda and was following her out of the infirmary. Walking face first into the door after forgetting the arm she tried to use to open it doesn't exist. That prompts a laugh from everyone in the infirmary.
“Yeah, okay, ditch me then…” grumbled Enna under her breath. She didn’t grumble for long though, as she was more than happy to watch her favorite red robed hero working the infirmary.
-----
Sara ran through ideas in her mind on how regrowing limbs would even work, she seemed to recall Essie mentioning it before, but she was a little overwhelmed by all the new information on how the larp worked. Soon she and Esmerelda were standing in front of a building, it resembled a miniature church. About the size of a small house, but with the aesthetic of a cathedral. Esmerelda knocked on the door and entered. Sara followed inside and tried to close the door behind her, but failed due to the lack of an arm. Esmerelda saw that and giggled softly, leaving Sara to pout.
A young man, a beast-kin, with a perfectly average build and orange hair approached them. He had cat ears and a long cat tail, also orange, but with the odd black stripe here and there. He wore glasses for his bright green slitted eyes, and had a black robe that only covered his torso before spilling out behind his legs. He wore some kind of black fabric trousers that tucked away into ankle length brown leather boots. His skin was soft and tan, much like Sara’s, but he had some light freckles under his eyes.
“Hello ladies, how can i hel-” he started in a soft voice before seeing Sara. “Oh, limb ritual?”
“Yes Fernando.” replied Esmerelda.
“Ah, and this lovely fox is…?” he smiled warmly at Sara, his tail and ears twitching with obvious interest.
“S-Sara, Mr Fernando, sir.” Sara didn't know why, but he smelled nice. And it was making her feel fluttery. “How does it work?”
“Fern is fine, and I’ll just need an hour to set everything up.” he chuckled.
“You smell great.” she blurted out. “Oh, sorry, I mean, that would be great.”
Fernando laughed loudly. “Ah, that’s funny…sorry. New in town? You’ll get used to the scents eventually."
“I…just tell me what I need to do…” Sara pouted, Esmerelda just grinned mischievously at her.
“Take a seat and let me set up, I trust the princess will fetch Greg for me?”
“Yes, I'll play fetch with you.” Esmerelda laughed and waved as she left to do just that.
“There’s history there, methinks…” mused Sara.
“Bah, used to be in the same party before she became princess, and I became a mage.” Fernando waved his hand dismissing the banter.
“Essie is a bit of a tease when she’s not doing her royal duties.” Sara nodded. And so did Fernando, showing her to a bench.
“Shouldn’t be long for the ritual. I'm the best mage in town, so you’re guaranteed your arm back.” he said, walking for a door to fetch his supplies.
Sara watched as Fernando worked, setting up sticks on the open floor in front of her. He put little crystals on top of the sticks and drew a magical looking circle on the floor with some kind of chalk. He then fiddled with something behind the alter of the church and frowned. “Hmm, needs a refill…” He then left.
Eventually Esmerelda returned with the priest, Gregorius, in tow.
“Hey Sara, where’s the catboy?” asked Esmerelda, taking a seat on the bench and leaning back against the wall.
“He said something about something needing a ‘refill’ or something and left.” Sara said, looking a bit anxious. “Listen…can I ask something? O.O.C?”
“Can she?” Esmerelda looked to Greg, the priest.
“Aye, but only ‘til the cat’s back.” he nodded.
“Go ahead Sara.” nodded Esmerelda.
“Okay so…Magic isn't real, right?” asked Sara tentatively.
“Of course not, dummy!” chuckled Esmerelda.
“But then…all this?”
“I swear I mentioned it…”
“In passing, maybe? It’s all a blur.”
“Right, sorry. Well, no real magic. Instead we perform a little ritual, if the staff like it, then they’ll do what they can to make it happen.” Esmerelda explained carefully.
“How?”
“In the case of regrowing a limb…back to the Venn Machine to fix you.” Esmerelda shrugged.
“But wont they have to redesign my character?”
“Nope. VM’s have a ‘history’ function. You’ll be exactly as you were, even your armor and clothes will be fixed.”
“Oh…so after the ritual…”
“Yup, Greg will take you to the black room from yesterday night, and you’ll be taken to be restored.”
“That took a while though.” Sara sighed.
“Yeah…you’ll be gone around 2 hours, tops, before you’re back in Elador again.”
“Aw man…it’s almost sunset and I wanted to check out the markets some mor-” Sara started to complain.
“Fern’s back.” interrupted Gregorius.
Sara and Esmerelda fell silent and got back into character. Fernando walked in with a bucket and walked behind the altar, the sound of water flowing could be heard behind it.
“Alright, I’m ready, would you like an audience for this?” asked Fernando.
“Nah, just make it good as usual.” Greg shrugged.
“Okay, in that case, Sara please stand in the center of the magic circle.”
Sara stood up and walked to the middle of the circle. She sat on her knees inside the center circle. “Like this?”
Fernando squatted behind the altar for a moment and something clicked. A fog began rolling into the room from the base of the altar. Fernando picked up an ornate looking black staff with an orange crystal on the end of it. He began chanting some unintelligible words and walking around Sara in the circle. He did this in theatrical fashion for a good few minutes before holding out his stave to the smaller crystals.
“Es tath etu, mei go go gora!” He chanted, trapping the crystal of his staff over the other smaller crystal on sticks as he walked around the circle. He repeated the phrase each time. Each crystal glowed faintly as he tapped it.
“Vak vorath!” He sharply pointed the tip of his staff at Sara on the floor, aimed at her missing arm. The crystal in his staff glowed brightly. “Gora vu teth!” He spoke firmly and with power. The fog began to fade, and he lifted both arms upwards, his flowing robe dispersing the fog around Sara in a flourish, his stave in one hand.
“Let this blessing of the gods rest upon this weary soul!” He prayed towards the ceiling in a firm and commanding voice.
He held the pose for a few moments. Then Gregorius and Esmerelda began to clap in applause. Fernando flourished a bow. His staff was no longer glowing and nor were the small crystals on the sticks.
“So…I can have my arm back?” Sara asked nervously, she felt like she was part of a real magic ritual.
“Aye lass, come with me, the ‘Gods’ have approved ye.” Greg smiled and gestured for Sara to come with him.
Sara looked at Fernando with a smile. “Thanks, that was awesome.” Fernando simply gave her an over the top bow, his cat tail showed his appreciation for the compliment though, while the bow hid his blush.
Sara followed Gregorius outside as he led her back to the black room from Friday's check in. Without the carriage the brisk walk took a good 40 minutes. A staff member outside the enclosure noticed Greg approaching and nodded their way. Sara pretended not to see, as per the rules, but Greg openly waved - priests being exempt. Soon she was in the black box, room to her. She could see the limbs and bodies from the frontline battle earlier that afternoon. They were in little wooden handcarts. Some she recognised, and it made her feel uncomfortable. The Orc she killed, still wide eyed. The suffocating woman who was missing most of her skull. And of course, the elven assassin she had killed in cold blooded revenge.
Gregorius noticed her unease and pulled her aside. “Hey lassie, dun worry, they’re being taken to be restored. Ah know how it looks.”
“I…i know…it’s just…human mind, you know?” Sara said, trying not to look at the pile of gore and bodies.
Greg placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Aye, ah understand. It’s no usually this bad, ah promise.”
“They can…hear us right?” Sara asked, shivering as she failed to not look, and caught sight of the elven assassin’s dead body she had killed earlier, again.
“Aye, they’re no actually dead.” Greg looked over to the bodies. “Hear that? Give this one some reassurances when ye all get back, aight?” The corpses, of course, couldn’t respond.
-----
After a staff member had gathered Gregorius and Sara into an ornate box and brought them to the Venn Machine, using a separate box for all the corpses and limbs, everyone was back to normal. Sara was once again Sarah, still wearing her office clothes from Friday. And in place of Gregorius was a surprisingly average looking man, still with a well trimmed beard. But the copper skin, red eyes, and pure white hair was replaced with pale skin, brown eyes, and dark brown hair instead. He was now wearing glasses.
“Aye, ye can stop lookin’. Ahm Mark, nice ta meetcha.” he smiled and offered his hand to Sarah.
“Ah, so the accent wasn’t fake.” remarked Sarah, shaking his hand.
“Haha, ‘fraid not lassie.” he chuckled.
“So, what now? Back in to change back?” quizzed Sarah.
“Naw, ah think it’ll do ya good to watch the bodies return. Come on, lets sit on the benches.” Mark led Sarah to some benches near the Venn Machine to watch the staff restore people from the 1 inch limbs and corpses.
Sarah watched as tiny bodies she couldn’t make out were tossed into the Venn Machine’s door, some vanishing entirely, and some becoming people. The people stumbled out, dazed, but intact. Some seemed sad about their character having died, and others grouped up to bounce around ideas for new ones. Two women approached Sarah after being restored.
One was a tall, muscular woman. Her skin was caramel toned. She wore leather trousers, spiked boots, and a tight leather tank-top. All black. Her abs were exposed, showing a well toned midriff. She also had spiked cuffs and a similar choker, equally spiky. Her dark make-up, darkening her eyes, and black lips made her look ‘kind of like a punk rock, gothic chick’. Thought Sarah to herself. The woman had pixie cut blonde hair, that was clearly unbrushed, and light brown eyes that almost looked crimson in the lighting of the shopping center.
The other woman was shorter, petite in body. She had long dark brown hair, and sapphire blue eyes. Her skin was olive toned. She had a softer expression than the other woman she was with. Her make up wasn’t as bold, spotting only lip gloss and some blusher. Her hair was tidy, and her clothes were perfectly normal. She wore a black sundress, and had dark stockings on. Her running shoes didn’t seem to fit her theme though, being pure white with black stripes. ‘At least this one is smiling’. Sarah thought to herself.
“Hey, you’re the Green fox beast-kin that killed me, right?” the threatening woman asked Sarah in a gruff tone, sitting down on the bench next to her.
“Y-yeah. Who were you?” asked Sarah, a little nervous by this strong and threatening presence.
The normal looking girl with odd shoe choices sat on the other side of her. Mark got the hint and smiled, standing up and leaving to chat with the staff members.
“I was the Orc you stabbed.” she replied, sounding casual, but never losing the scowl.
“O-oh, no hard feelings?”
“Of course not, just saw you moping like a baby.” she remarked harshly “Figured you’d want to know I didn’t feel much when you did, and that it’s not even my first time.”
“Right. Well. Good to hear…” said Sarah curtly, a little annoyed at being called a baby.
“Oh! And I was the elf assassin! I totally didn’t expect you to chase me for so long!” said the average woman. “I’m Zera, by the way!”
“Sarah.” she replied, looking relieved.
“Tia.” said the punk woman, who roughly grabbed Sarah’s hand and gave it a firm shake.
“O-oh. Nice to meet you both. Sorry, about killing you.”
Zera glomped Sarah in a hug “I watched you freak out from my corpse. I felt so sorry for you! I wanted to hug you but I was dead!”
“U-um…right…personal space?” Sarah squeaked through the tight embrace. A little confused by how friendly this woman is.
“Oh sorry!” Zera backed off from her hug. “Anyway, your armor caught me off guard! I thought you were wearing leather, mistakes I guess.”
“What’s this about a freakout?” asked Tia, cocking a brow.
“Oh, she totally freaked. Full on ‘i killed a person, oh god’, and then threw up. It was so heartbreaking.” recounted Zera, enthusiastically, but having a look of sympathy for Sarah.
Tia burst out laughing, hard. Sarah was caught off guard by the break of stoicism.
“W-what?! What’s so funny?” Sarah asked, annoyed.
“You! You actually…! Bwahaha!” Tia bellowed, drawing looks from the other people in the area.
“C’mon Tiaaaa.” chided Zera. “She was distraught! Don’t be mean!”
“Sorry, sorry. It’s just…wow.” chuckled Tia, wiping a tear from her eye. “And then after that, you went on to fight the scariest monster ever, and then killed me?!” Tia grinned, her teeth were pearly white. “You’re badass as frick.”
Sarah wasn’t sure how to take that. “Oh. I mean, it’s my first time and I just got really into it…for some reason.
“Because you are a beast-kin!” said Zera, matter-of-factly. “You probably got angry and it made you fearless. I’ve heard it happens!”
“That makes sense. When you stabbed…wait you stabbed my friend!” Sarah turned to Zera with her mouth agape.
Zera laughed this time. “I was aiming for the princess. Didn’t expect you to hear my throw, or be so quick.”
“This is…I don’t know how to feel about this…” Sarah remarked, backing down.
Tia slapped Sarah’s back, causing her to almost fall off the bench. “Nah! It’s all in good fun. Nobody is really hurt here.” Sarah’s back disagreed with Tia, however.
“Yeah! Besides, you got revenge. What happens in character, stays in character.” Zera gave a wink.
“You would say that…” Tia huffed, folding her arms. “...those poor lads couldn't walk after you were done, Friday night.”
“I…don’t want to know.” Sarah shook her head and held up her hands. “Anyway, thanks for reassuring me. I feel better now.” Sarah stood up and turned to look at Zera and Tia. “I’m gonna get back in, gotta get to Greg’s tavern to meet my elf and princess friends.”
“Byeee! I’m gonna hang out in the hotel for now! Wanna meet here Sunday night and exchange numbers? I’ll give you Tia’s too!” chirped Zera, clapping her hands excitedly.
“Zera, what the heck.” scowled Tia.
“Oh come on! Tiaaaa!” begged Zera. “Sarah seems like so much fun!”
“Fine…she can have my number, or whatever.” pouted Tia.
“Uh…so I'll meet you here tomorrow evening? After the event?” interjected Sarah, feeling like a confused third-wheel.
“Yaa! Bring your blue elf friend too! She was sexy!” said Zera with a wry grin.
“Ooookay. Nice meeting you both!” Sarah waved and hurried away from the odd duo. ‘Still’, she thought, ‘they seemed fun’.
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