The road was much longer than anticipated for the twins. They were used to short distances to and from Stornval but the more they walked the less dense the population became. They were expecting a new place to stop every hour or so, but the path they tread on just kept winding through the forest. Twigs cracked beneath their boots as a birds song rang endlessly.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AeKRqb8RK
As the sound of a river grew louder and louder, a view of a town grew near. Despite having been walking all day, Ressi perked up and sped toward the town, "Is that it? Are we finally at Donatagun?"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoMIGwOKJc
A sigh escaped Reldin as he shook his head, "No. This place is way smaller than Donatagun. We've only been walking for a day, anyway. We're only a third of the way there."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBH9yEYuOc
Ressi groaned as she slouched, dragging her feet as she walked, "Okay. Where are we, then?"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8mQThDUmR
Reldin took a moment to scan the area, "Hm, it looks like Riville to me."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mHKbA4mQ2
"You sound doubtful, is something wrong?" Kiran asked, concerned.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0dv319pCb
"Well, generally the people are very active, even at this time of night," Reldin pointed out, "Yet no one is out right now."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13BJb8Tv2B
"You say 'this time of night' as if it wasn't dusk right now," Ressi said with a laugh.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yCwI9mOtH
Reldin shot her a glare as he crossed the bridge into the village. "Oh, hasn't Archibald mentioned he has family here?" Kiran mentioned.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xJPp8p7yS
"Yes, his sister lives here with her family," Reldin affirmed, looking around. Riville was not a very large town. It reminded the twins of their hometown of Storn Falls with how quaint it was. The houses were small but nice looking and they stood alongside the path to the center of town, which had a dirty statue of a hooded figure with wings protruding out the back.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVufQU8z4l
"Hey, Reldin, what is that?" Ressi asked, pointing at the statue, "It looks like a laguelle but instead of animal ears and tail it has wings!"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BsIUFZy6y
"Technically, that is a laguelle. The laguelle you're used to are beast laguelle, but the statue is that of a bird laguelle, or volnte. Volntes always have wings, though some are more bird-like with beaks, tails, or even have feathers all over their body," Reldin explained.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0LvKYxGlN
"Ooh. Okay, so why is there a statue of one here?" Ressi asked.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgfCANvqjQ
"Read the inscription."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCMO0KUgPA
Ressi obeyed and squinted at the iron plate. The hero of our town. The volnte who held back the Dynis menace. The hero requested to remain anonymous.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5uWJMdGKH
Ressi frowned in confusion, "Why would a hero that required a statue in remembrance want to remain anonymous?"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uNDVG5C5a
"There could be many reasons. Perhaps they did not become a hero on purpose, they could have been passing by. It could be they did not want to be known for this action, they could have been on the run and wanted in another kingdom. They probably didn't even know the villagers built this statue in the first place," Reldin answered, not quite succinctly.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx761fFGP6F
Ressi raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth to ask yet another question before Kiran interrupted. "So, will we be staying at Archibald's sister's house for the night?"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoF0IybLWG0
"Might as well," Reldin sighed, "Follow me, I know where it is."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNLCMkO2jB
The twins gave each other an excited look. Neither of them had met Archibald's sister, they've only heard stories of his dear little sis. They were very eager to finally see the unknown Ardra Egros.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkleWDDklE
「◐」
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5nF7Lgjk7
Reldin lead the twins up a short, cobbled path up to the door of a small home. Not too small, it was actually a bit larger than the other houses around it, but it was much smaller than any house in Stornval. The mage knocked on the door and some shouts were heard within.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpKthaJGtc
"Who in the hell could be knocking at this hour?!" A deep, feminine voice called.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVf9J3x2si
A softer voice groaned, "Sweety, it's barely after dusk, it's not that late."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvn7x8RvpjH
The first voice continued yelling, "Well with all that's going on, I'm surprised someone's even outside!"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96aXG1mHvF
The second voice calmly shushed the first, "So will you get the door or will I have to?"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRJEIg5tuN
"I'll do it, I'll do it!" There was some muffled shuffling before the owner of the first voice shouted, "What is it?!" It took her a moment. She blinked, her eyes widened, "Rel-Rel is that you?!"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3SlkiS8Ku
Reldin groaned, "Please don't call me that."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlfyH7ZucY
The large woman laughed and pulled the mage into a bear hug, "It's been a long time, my good friend!"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMq2nL33hk
"Reldin, is this Archibald's sister?" Kiran asked, completely unfazed by the scene.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdQhp6PoX6
The woman dropped Reldin, who was used to such affection due to being so close to Archibald, and turned her attention to Kiran. "Sure am! Ardra Egros, at your service," she gave a mock bow before pulling the owner of the second voice out the doorway, "And this is my hubby, Ikati!"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIGqY31x7l
The pale laguelle grimaced at the sudden exposure to people, "Please keep it down honey, you're going to disturb the whole town at this rate." He swished his jet black tail back and forth angrily, his cat ears pointed.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYXVbCcoqj
Ardra just laughed, "That's the grumpy love of my life for ya! Come on in, you three, I have some leftovers you can have!" She turned around and walked in her home, leading her husband with an arm around his waist.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDYRMleuI3
The company followed Ardra in, Kiran closing the door behind them. The inside was quaint, to their left was the dining room and kitchen area that had a simple set up; some cabinets, a counter, an open hearth, and a set of a table and five chairs. To their right was a bedroom area with a bed for two and three roll-up beds. On those beds were three children that looked around Martina's age.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpxXPiHxyg
"Hey, kids, we got visitors!" Ardra announced. The three stood up curiously. "Alright I got three of these little snots, tallest one's Haylei, she's fourteen. Next to her is her brother Bailey, he's twelve. And the small one is Arale, who is nine."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogDY80eKwk
Ressi took a moment to process the information given. Haylei, clad in pink, was pale and had dark cat ears and a tail that matched her father's. Bailey, who was wearing blue pajamas, had fair skin and had blonde cat ears and a tail. The smallest, Arale, wore green and looked the most like their mother, with dark skin and blonde hair and the only child that didn't seem to be a laguelle. Ressi let out a small chuckle as she realized all of their names rhymed.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AVK03afbc
Ardra continued the introductions, "Kids, this is your uncle Reldin, as I'm sure you remember, and… oh dear, how rude of me! What are your names?"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlM9HbeGjp
"Ressi Victor, Official Guardian of Princess Martina Garamond!" Ressi said, loud and proud.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaMSTWExc7
Kiran gave a somewhat sheepish wave, "And I'm Kiran."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9Kii3yvYz
"Ooh! So you're the twins! Archie has told me so much about you!" Ardra gushed, "Though I've gotta say, I thought you two would look more alike, being twins and all."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOk2dFHQh6
They had never really thought about it. They really didn't look alike. Ressi, on one hand, had long blonde hair, light blue eyes, freckles, and her wardrobe was composed almost entirely of red. Kiran, on the other hand, had green hair and matching green eyes and wore almost entirely green. They looked complete opposite despite their builds being similar. "Well, I mean, we're the same height!" Ressi mentioned.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20QuqVTMrY
Kiran scoffed, "That's not true, I'm at least an inch taller than you."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyN3Wj8nIU
Ressi was about to bark back before Ardra simply laughed, "Well, you two certainly act like twins. C'mon, let's get you guys some dinner."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX8qZw3xsz
「◐」
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKMzlCdtqB
Ardra served the company some stew and sat down at the table herself. "Well, come on, dig in!"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOptUodMJhd
The twins gladly complied but Reldin simply asked, "So, why is everything so quiet around here?"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5qfCsV1QI
Ardra dropped her smile and sighed, "You really know how to get straight to the point." She looked over at her children. Arale was fast asleep already and Bailey was on the verge of sleep as well. Haylei, however, was silently curious of the guests and stared at them from the comfort of her bedroll. Ardra looked back at Reldin, "Well, you wouldn't believe it if you didn't see it."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwrwAkIeJs
"See what?" Ressi asked, face stuffed with stew. Kiran kicked her leg to subtly remind her of her manners.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqzy07mMxd
"The robot," Ardra said. "Usually they're friendly folk, scary, though, all armed to the teeth but they're friendly. This guy, this guy's different."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5hfMu2scg
Reldin seemed interested, "Different how?"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEAB6YFswl
"Well, this guy is huge, for one thing. Bigger than the centurions that guard Fort Dynis, y'know?" Ardra looked astonished as if she was just looking at it, "I couldn't even see the top of him!"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYQUjnKn1t
"That's hyperbole," Ikati said, face resting in his palm. He's clearly heard this before and was bored of it, "I could see his head clearly."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Hl2a0m3P4
Ardra scoffed, "Yeah, whatever. Your cat eyes see everything."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx6E3oazqj
"That's racist, honey," Ikati replied, unfazed.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbCerZj0AB
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Anyway," Ardra continued, "The guy was massive and he used that height to his advantage! He was all yelling and such like, 'Submit to the rule of Korzion or else!' or whatever. That, of course, got everyone all freaked out. They stay all locked up in their homes and whenever the big guy comes back they cower in fear as he causes a ruckus!"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboGUVGQQU5
"We're doing the same thing, Ardie," Ikati interjected.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hk3GNk8iA
"It's for the children, 'Kati! We've gotta keep the children safe!" Ardra shouted, "Besides, it's not like he has many weaknesses, y'know, being a robot and all."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMh61sRD4h
"I told you there's a guy on his shoulder."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWh2VvLjUi
"And I've told you you're crazy! If there's a guy, what does he look like?"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5U2LjNeR8f
"Well, he has light blue skin and long, dark blue hair and wears a hunter outfit. He looks vaguely robotic. He also has a quiver full of arrows but I haven't seen his bow yet," Ikati described.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6zaBaOVaA
"Well that just doesn't make sense, why would he have arrows but no bow?" Ardra challenged.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAZlJaJMbc
Ikati shrugged, "I don't know maybe he just hasn't brought it yet."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj8ZALcriC
"And what do you propose his name to be?" Ardra demanded.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtdemqTYHO
"That's an unfair question but I think I heard the big guy say 'oh.. sure…' oh, right! 'Oshura!'" Ikati figured.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6280hKi4n
Ardra just shook her head, "Anyway, we got off track. That's why it's so damned quiet here."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3XJwtcouU
Reldin processed all the information just given to him, "Well, the three of us have plenty of battle experience. Why don't we just take down this robot guy, or guys, when they come back?"
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCTGRCxAw7
"Oh could you?" Ardra looked delightfully surprised, "That would be great! We couldn't get the knights yet from Stornval since it's such a recent problem but if you three could deal with it, we would really appreciate it."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt1krOksKD
Reldin simply shrugged, "It doesn't sound too difficult. The twins and I will be ready first thing tomorrow morning."
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTguxIWojN
Ressi gave them two thumbs up, "Yep! You can count on us!" Kiran nodded in agreement.
678Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLXoPFO1FU
"Then it's settled!" Ardra stood up from her seat, "Here, let me find you some bedrolls, you'll need your beauty sleep now, y'hear?"
ns216.73.216.100da2
然後按「加至主畫面」