Selina: The Flower of Carnage

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She began paging through the menu. It had been a few days since she last had anything to eat besides for rice and her body was craving for some nicely prepared veal. Normally she wouldn't have paid for two expensive meals but since the kid didn't complain for most of the walk, she'd treat him for a job well done. Besides, it wasn't like once they reached Oren that he'd be sticking around.

"Hey short stop. I want the veal." Selina said to the still blabbing waiter. "And hurry, you've been chatting for more than fifteen minutes straight and neither of us really care to hear about my 'adventures' against the barbarians of the south."

The green skinned man then nodded and faced Jon, "Sir, what would you like?"

"What's veal?" Jon asked.

"It's calf meat. Younger meat, makes for a fancier meal. You know, rich people bullshit and the such." Selina responded. "For a country boy like you...I'd go with the pork cutlet. Pigs are a dime a dozen in these parts since gobbies like pork even more than the Germans do." Of course, no one really knew what a German was save for a few of the really old timers, it just sounded like a word one would use in a metaphor.

For Jon, this was a completely new experience. Meat was hard to come by back on the farms, save for the chickens. Cows were all used for their milk and oxen were what helped drive the plows. Pork was a very rare meal that was saved for special occasions like a wedding. There was a small smirk on his face when he realized that Cara would have to wait a few more years to have some.
 
There was no way Jon was going to pass up the opportunity to make Cara angry, even though she'd never know about this. Veal sounded delicious as well, but Selina suggested pork, which he happened to really enjoy... He remembered having a few bites in the past when he attended relative weddings.

"The pork cutlet, it is."

He and Selina handed in their menus, that annoying waiter finally leaving. Clearly, she didn't want to discuss her past with anyone. Still, he could not help but feel curious about it. Barbarians? In the south? Both were concepts he was unfamiliar with. Aside from learning more about her as a person, he'd be learning about who and what else this world shelters. Or, used to shelter.

"What was he talking about?" he asked, looking interested but still mellow. "It's fine if you don't want to talk, though."

Some form of conversation would be nice. Sitting here with a stranger, completely silent, seemed awkward to Jon. He was staring at a glass of water that was sitting in front of him, counting the ice cubes over and over again to keep his mind a little bit busy. She strictly said he wasn't allowed to stare at her... So he was doing his best to avoid it.
 
"What he was talking about, eh?" Selina responded while buttering up a piece of bread. "You really wish to know?" She was asking that more to herself than she was to Jon. "A long time ago, I was a member of the White Wolves. I doubt you've ever heard of us back in your isolated commune, so I'll say this much. We were a band of a thieves that went around attacking any carven that was heading towards the Kingdom of Oren. The Tsar and his nobles support the slave trade around these parts. Any idiot that wanders around without an escort is generally rounded up by the night. Which is why I slapped that damn mole man around. They are in on his trade."

Selina then engulfed the piece of bread. She, like Jon, hadn't eaten in a long while.

She paused for a moment to take a drink of hard liquor that the goblins had poured for her, "The goblins here have a tale about a Starwoman coming many decades after a great war that'll save them from slavery from the humans. You know, a fucking messiah sort. I guess that I fit their role of one of those fayes. I personally find it to be bullshit. I'm just a warrior, not a savior. Yet, every time I come back to this place they treat me like a goddess. I get good deals and breaks. They might be creepy looking buggers, but they are great hosts when they like ya."

Selina took another drink, "You can look at me now that we aren't in public. I was being serious when I can't have people looking at me endearingly when on the road. Since my tribe is dead and all."
 
Jon listened closely to her words, evidently intrigued. He looked up slightly, making a sour face at the mention of slaves. There were times when some of the lazier, though wealthier, people in his village would employ a foreign being to do work for them. Except, they weren't paid... They were given poor looking meals and only got to sleep for a few hours in uncomfortable places.

And then, she mentioned a Starwoman. From the stories he's heard, she definitely did suit the description and quite possibly, the role. Whether or not that was the truth, she was denying it. Jon wasn't going to interrogate her about it... Getting his jaw broken in a public environment did not sound pleasant.

"Huh..." Jon reached for a slice of the bread at the table, spreading on a generous amount of butter. He looked at it hungrily as the hot bread made it melt and took a bite with a quick swallow afterward. He set down half of it on to his plate so he could finish speaking, even looking at her since she said it was acceptable,

"Definitely something to take advantage of. Besides, you can't be a Starwoman. You're an ice princess."

He chuckled and made a teasing grin, not taking his eyes from her for a moment as he finished his buttered bread. That wasn't a name she appreciated, but it seemed to fit... Making her a little angry could be fun sometimes. There was something amusing and adorable about it, but at the same time it was terrifying.

"I'm sorry, though." His expression got somber. "...you know, about your tribe."
 
"An ice queen, you say?" Selina raised an eyebrow. "That'd mean I worked with ice magik. No thanks. I am not one to use elemental magiks. Too complex and doesn't allow for the quick thrill of battle when you're in hand to hand combat. Maybe, I'd like them more if I were from a scholarly background..But that's a whole another topic."

Jon was right in the fact that she didn't like being called an Ice Queen, though she probably took the term a little too literally. Her eyes looked back at him with a fierce glare and her lips were tightly shut,while he buttered up his piece of bread.

Then when he mentioned that he was sorry to hear about the loss of her clan, her shoulders seemed to slum a few inches. "Yes...It was not a good affair. Had been with them for most of my short life. Closet thing I ever had to a family, but c'est la vie. If one can't take care of oneself then you are screwed over worse than a young worker in a politicians' office."

Selina didn't go into more detail than that. It wasn't any of Jon's business to learn about her past, since he wasn't going to be sticking around past the next morning when they would reach Oren. Just then their food came.
 
A depressing sigh came out of Jon as he set a palm over his face, laying back into his chair. Yet again, this woman shot down his attempt at humor... Nothing could upset him more than that. Making people laugh--women in particular--was one of his specialties. That wasn't going to get anywhere with Selina, though. Her heart seemed to be as icy as her eyes. It couldn't be completely that way because after all, she was letting him travel with her.

During the rest of their conversation, he just made a wry smile and nodded when it was the right time. Their food arrived, giving him a reason to not pay attention to her. The food looked and smelled so good, anyway. It'd been so long since he had a meal like this one!

With the best manners, he cut and swallowed his meat, savoring every bite. He kept his eyes on his plate to not seem rude, however he'd take a glance at Selina every so often. She didn't seem to show any enjoyment towards her meal like he did... Just cut, chew swallow, repeat... Not even a hint of a smile. There did seem to be something else, though. He had to look again with better focus to be certain he was right in seeing them.

Fangs.

Jon swallowed his last bite a bit regretfully because he was suddenly feeling sick. The sudden image of Selina tying him down to feast on his blood came to mind. While the thought of her tying him down was not so bad, dying because he was sucked dry of his blood wasn't settling right. He should have known... She was traveling with him so she could eat him!

He needed some air. After setting down his silverware, he stood up and said, "Ah, excuse me... I'm going to step out for some air." He then grabbed his pack and slung it over his shoulder, his pale face nodding with a meek smile.

Being reintroduced to the foul smelling swamp wasn't so nice, but at least he felt safe. Jon walked away from the diner, biting his bottom lip all the while. It was no wonder she was so white skinned, private about her looks and mean to him! He was going to be her snack! Though, what if he misjudged her?

After wandering beyond the civilization, he stopped and sighed, deciding he should go back so he could at least reassure himself of what he was thinking. That wasn't going to happen, though. A rope came flying towards him, tightly wrapped around his arms. While he struggled, the rope tugged so his ankles and wrists could also be tied up.

"What the f-" His curse was interrupted with a huge piece of tape was slapped over his mouth by a goblin. Honestly, Jon wasn't afraid... Just annoyed. Was he going to be targeted EVERYWHERE he went?
 
"Heheheheheheh....Stupid humanboy. Go in swamp, get eaten. Smell like beef you do. Nice, nice meat." Jon then felt his rib cage get kicked by a fairly muscular feet. The goblin was barefoot compared to the more civilized ones he encountered in the village. He felt a sharp pain enter his side, as several dull toenails now began to dig their way into his flesh. "He's a bit on the lean side but me beats Nancy Pancy can cook this little wanker into a good snack."

Jon had mistakenly entered the region of wetlands controlled by the Red Foot, a band of rouge goblins that refused to live the "human way" like the goblins of Swamp Village did. "Panzy Nanzy can't cook for shit. You know dat." Another goblin spoke, "Let's forget about the wanker. If he have no fat on is bone, what good is he for meal? It be like chomping on bunny. And we all hate 'em bunny." The goblin that had jabbed Jon growled back, "You just as bad as human wannabe. We eats humans to get der strength. Then they fear us because we have der souls! Meat's back on the menu boyus!"

Jon then felt his body get uplifted by the trope of goblins and was roughly carried several yards back towards the goblins lair. He could see where he was headed. It was a desolate looking spot, a few earthen houses and it smelled like a combination of motor fuels, rotten eggs,and skunk all rolled into one stink bomb. He was in too much pain to take a closer look around. On the entrances of a few of the goblin's homes were human skulls stacked up in neat rows. It turns out that these goblins were well known to be "head hunters."

Just then the goblins stopped moving. Their ears peaked up. There was something in the woods. Jon couldn't hear what they heard, since goblins have a much better sense of hearing than humans do, but it was like a sharp buzzing sound. It was followed several more until the goblins of both gender were running around trying to take cover. The buzzing sound came from several metal bullets. None of them hit any of the goblins, but several did strike the totem of the band's war god, Z'eoeelelen.

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" A man with a large set of lungs then shouted. "Alright ya mother fuckers. Drop the boy and you'll be free to go on with the nasty lives you live."

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The goblins then saw a man with a white beard and long gray hair. He was armed with a pistol, though strapped behind his back was a Thompson submachine gun. "I told you assholes a thousand times before. There is no hunting of fellow humanoids allowed. It's been in the treaties ever since we all got here. And as the closest thing you have to law, I'm about to bring a rain of bullets down on your sorry asses if you don't drop the kid."

For being notoriously evil, the goblins were actually a fairly cowardly group if a human decided to go up and fight against them. "Ekkkk, it's the Samman!"

"That's Samson, you toadstools for brains!" The old man then kicked the goblin that had kicked Jon. "Okays, okays...You can have the string being. Just leave us alone!!!!" The goblins quickly ditched Jon and all fled into the tall grasses of the swamps.

"Hahahahah...Always win against 'em. Just speak swiftly and carry a big stick." The old man then pulled out a knife and cut Jon loose from the ropes that bonded him. "This part is gonna hurt more if you have facial hair..." Samson then ripped the duct tape that shut Jon's mouth shut off. Jon then screamed.

"I did give you fair warning, kid."
 
Jon felt like his life was slipping away already as he lay there, helpless for himself. No matter what, he was going to be eaten alive! At this point, being drained by a sexy vampire woman sounded a lot better. He was filled with more remorse as he thought about this...

Before he could close his eyes and give in, bullets came spiraling towards the goblins. His eyes widened as he heard an elderly, but strong voice threatening them all. 'Good riddance!' he yelled in his mind as the law breaking critters fled.

Samson warned Jon about the pain of the tape being removed... There was no time to prepare for it, though. He rubbed at his face now that his arms were free, his eyes moistening but not crying. By putting his hands to the ground, he pushed himself up and looked the old man over. Never in his life had he seen an elderly person with such miraculous weapons and spirit.

"Thank you...Samson?" The kidnappers mispronounced the man's name and were quickly corrected before, but Jon couldn't be one hundred percent positive.

He sighed, feeling embarrassed. Once again, his ass had been saved by someone else. An old man and a woman... Both happening to be more skilled than he was at just about everything. He got his pack secured again and said,

"Okay, I want to get out of here." Jon made a crooked smile and began walking the way back to the diner, Samson accompanying him and rambling about things Jon didn't know or understand. 'I hope Selina won't be pissed off at me.'
 
Selina sighed, after Jon left. It was clear that something was disturbing him. She could sense that his heart rate had begun to increase. "Whatever, prick. If you want to run away, so be it." She muttered to herself. "Waiter get over here." The black suited goblin then tiptoed over. "How much do I owe you? She asked. "Oh, oh...Well, we can just say it's on the house. You are our local hero." Selina then took one last bite of her meal and walked outside.

About a half hour later...

It was clear that Jon was now gone. There was no sign of him anywhere in the town. Once again, Selina sighed. While the kid was a bit of a sapling, it had been nice having a travelling companion. It had been a long time since she was able to interact with someone outside of the random bar room brawling. Selina then sat down on a bench that had was starting to dry rot. "Well this sucks." She then pulled out a cigarette.

Then all of the sudden, she noticed a small grey ball floating her way. It was a drone, of some sorts.

In response to seeing it, she gave it the finger.

"You're as lady-like as ever, Miss Orion." The drone said. The device then broke open, revealing a tall male figure with long white hair that reached down to his thighs, tied back by a ponytail. Much like Selina, he had the same pale complexion and hair color. Though, he had handsome green eyes that gave more expression than Selina ever did.

"What do you want Tager?" Selina said dryly. "Too lazy to come in visit me in person? Having holograms doing it for ya, makes you very lazy."

"Selina, it's been long enough. Come back to the Clan. I've been working with the Kin. All the charge will be dropped if you just come back with me. I have considerable political ranking now."

She shook her head no. "You showed my Clan no quarter. You put everyone to the sword." Selina never liked crying, but she felt several trickles come from her eyes. "Tager, you have a lot of nerve coming here....Just leave me alone."

The figure in the hologram then sighed, "Selina. I said, stop playing around. You're the only one of your kind in the entire world. The Kin don't want to see you doing any more of your stunts. You keep crossing the line between the human world and mine. We watch over the humans for a reason. Need I remind you."

"Fuck off." Selina responded, "I don't break any of the Kin's taboos. So you can kiss my butt."

"Fine. I didn't want for it to come to this, but you leave me no choice, Selina."

Coming from the woods, was the sound of something like a jet pack. Descending from a tall fir tree, several androids surrounded her. They all raised their polymer blades and pointed them at her. "Jerk. Bringing in the bad boys, when I'm unarmed."

"It's not my fault that you didn't follow the number one rule of a traveler, don't get yourself killed." Tager's hologram said.

Selina then grinned, "Well, at least I went down against the one person I consider a worthy foe." Stamping her feet on the ground, the robot guards then charged at her. Although unarmed, she had an ace up her sleeve, her hidden powers that came with being not fully human. A small amount of off grey light then engulfed the robotic guards, blinding any visual signatures they could have picked up. Selina then began to run, even faster than she had during her training earlier that day.

"You can't keep running forever Selina!" Tager said. There was a slight chuckle in voice. He knew she was going to do that. But what fun would it have been, if he brought her via machines instead of capturing her in person? "You've been letting your guard down for these past few weeks. Next time, I will not let you so easily escape." The hologram then faced two of the androids. "Keep trailing her like you have been doing. Inform me of her movements and keep up to date, once she finds another village to rest in. I want this one to be burned down. She needs to be taught that she can't keep hiding in the countryside."

Using the little time she had left, Selina gathered her merge belongings, leaving behind much of the heaviest items behind in the tavern she had planned to spend the night at. Now she was only armed with her polymer blade, a repeating carbine, and a canteen. "Shit and a pile of it. Good thing that boy got the hell out of dodge when he did..." Without thinking much about where she was going, Selina had come back to the diner she had eaten at.

"....." Standing before her was Jon and an older gentleman. "Gah....Well, looks like you found yourself a friend Jon. Don't have time for introductions right now." Staring behind her, she saw the androids in the background lighting the goblin settlement on fire....
 
"Thanks again, Samon." Jon said as he walked side by side with the old man, admiring the weapons he was putting away. "My name is Johnathon, but I normally go by Jon."

"Please ta meetcha, boy!" The old man said, making a hearty laugh. He gave Jon a strong pat on the back. Jon widened his eyes with surprise and hoped that Samson didn't smash anything in his pack.

Samson's ramblings came to a pause when they confronted Selina. Jon was going to introduce this new 'friend', but she seemed to be in a hurry for some reason. Although her face still looked as stoic as ever, he could sense some negative energy stirring up in her. He followed her gaze as she looked behind her to a scene of...setting the place on fire?

"Selina, what's going on?" he asked worriedly. There were figures in the distance that looked human, though there was something artificial about them. He felt no regret leaving the farm, but seeing that the world was so violent outside of it put him in shock.

She was the boss... Whatever he decision was for the moment was what they were going to do. Now probably wasn't the time to apologize to her for leaving earlier. All he had on him was a pocket knife that belonged to his Father, which he highly doubted would serve as any use. In his opinion, they should run away. This place was terrible anyway!
 
"The bad men people that were following me, finally caught up." Selina responded, with just a hint of uneasiness in her voice. Samson then looked at the young girl before him. She had white skin, blonde hair that was nearly white like his hair, and was relatively small compared to most humans her age. Although he had no formal introduction to her, Samson knew what she was right off the bat.

One of the androids then picked their signatures up and began to move towards them. Samson then more or less shoved both Selina and Jon to
the ground. Selina and Jon, were both draped under the old man's long trench coat. The Android was now standing above the trio. The Relic Guardians were vaguely humanoid looking machines that stood around six foot, five inches tall. Their heads were shaped something like that of a stork, with a long frontal piece that resembled a beak. Two yellow eyes beat down on them. It only sensed Samson, since these models weren't as advanced as some of the others in Tager's arsenal. An old man wasn't going to be much of a danger to them... Or so it mistakenly thought. The Relic Guardian then stomped away looking for any other signs of life.

"Jon, take your friend here and get your arses moving now!" The old man then demanded of the farm boy. "Those are the Relic Guards but first thing, first. Miss, could I see that sword that you have strapped on your back?"

Selina then raised an eyebrow, "Why? It's not much of a combat weapon against those robots..."

"Just let me see it!" Samson then growled, "I may be old but I ain't an idiot. I've been fighting these wankers long before you were even a thought in your mom's tummy. I'll give you my gun as collateral."

"Fine, fine!" She withdrew the blade and tossed it at Samson, while he gave her his Thompson. Selina then felt her wrist get grabbed by Jon. He began to run and she was now forced to go along with him! She tried to force him away from her, but it wasn't working. Jon may not have been as magically or combat experienced as either of his two new acquaintances were, but he was determined to make up for the wrong he had committed against Selina. A rough way to apologize but it'd due for now.

"Been ages since I last used a Kin's Blade...This should be interesting." Samson thought to himself. He soon trailed behind the Relic Guardian that had targeted them earlier. "Hey, fugly. Here's a gift from a loving fan!" With a sharp grin on his face, Selina's blade then lit up a bright blue. A wave of Kinship energy then was emitted from the weapon. It was similar to the spell Selina had used to dodge the robots on first contact but more concentrated and focused. The Guardian was then blasted away while, the other two focused on continuing to burn down the down. Samson had his moment of fun and soon followed slowly behind Jon and Selina.

"Let go of me! If that old man is going to fight, I should too!" Selina demanded. However, Jon's focus was getting the hell out of the Goblin village! "He's an idiot if he believes that sword will save his hide!" She then pulled the submachine gun lower and aimed it at the back of Jon's head. "Just because you're a coward, doesn't mean I am. Go save yourself. I was meant to die on the battlefield."

She then felt herself being flung over a massive shoulder.

"Now, now Missy. You need to relax and don't assume things about me." Samson said. "You have some explaining to do once we get out into the swamps. Why are those bots chasing after one of their own and why don't you know how to use this weapon properly?"

With that both he and Jon began to run as fast as their legs could carry them, while Selina was left dangling over the shoulders of the muscular old man. Her sword was still in his hands, while his firearm was strapped around her slender form....

End of Episode 2​
 
Episode 3: The Waltz of Flowers​
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She called out for help. But it was too late. The Kin's airship fleet had landed in this small village of Fenwick. They had heard rumors about the Flower of Carnage being in this region. The rumors about this child were tenfold and seeming impossible for many of the Kin to believe to be fact. How could a half blood be able to out maneuver them for so long? How were her parents? Why had such an sin have been created in the first place?

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The Kin had been summoned to this region by an unknown collaborator, whom had also revealed to them that there was an Altered Flower in this town. Two sins that the Kin would not allow for the humans to have. An Altered was any human that displayed a high potential for the Craft (magic) and thus could be a grave danger for the peace between Oren and the Kin....

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The officers led their Relic Guards into the village. Unleashing a wave of terror, the small rice growing community had never seen before. Armed with little more than some sickles and a few shot guns, the militia of Fenwick stood no chance against the Kin. "I want both of the Flowers found!" The female noble then demanded of the Guardians. "Turn every house into rubble if you must!"

Her name was Edelweiss Dietrich. Like Tager, she had been given the orders to hunt down Selina and bring her back to the Kin. However, Edelweiss had little interest in Selina. If one of their kind had been foolish enough to fall in love with a human, that was their own damned fault. Humans were a thorn in the side of the Kin and they needed to be reminded, which one of the beings of this world were in charge.

Much like what was occurring in Swamp Town, the village had been burned to the ground. However, unlike the ultimate death that awaited the goblins, humans often went for high prices amongst Kin nobility and for the entertainment of the people of Oren.

"Inform the Tzar that we have some 'gifts' for his games. As long as we keep the old bastard busy, the less of a chance that we have to deal with a long drawn out war." Edelweiss said.

"My Honorable Dietrich, what about the lack of evidence that we've found either the Flower of Carnage or the Altered human for the Elders?" Her guard asked. "Fufufu. Forget about them. That's why Tager is wasting his precious energies, going off on a wild goose chase to find the Flower of Carnage." Edelweiss didn't understand that man's interest in Selina, she was no were as beautiful and refined like she was.

A few short hours later, several units of Oren soldiers started to round up the few remaining survivors of the raid. This was just another transaction in the uneasy relationship between the Kin and Oren.

From this point onwards, the soldiers would force the prisoners to march through the Amos Swamplands. The idea was simple; weed out the strong from the weak. It'd take four days to reach Oren from where they were located.

However, the small band of slaves had been wandering around the swamps for several days. A great deal of their large numbers had been picked off by the Red Foot. The skulls that Jon had seen in the Red's camp, had belonged to this band. The slave drivers had also been picked off by the goblins, leaving a group of 20 some, wandering around lost. None of them knew these lands. Some could argue about the only man that did was Samson.

Little did the arrogant Edelweiss know, but the Altered Flower was amongst their ranks.

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Her name was Alia and on her back was a young child that she had named Nana. The girl was probably no more than five years old but seeing so much death, Alia doubted that the child would ever speak again in her life.

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None of the survivors knew what would happen next. However, fate would soon deliver them into the arms of the other flower, Selina.
 
When they could finally stop running for a moment, Jon put a hand to a conveniently placed tree and hunched over while catching his breath. He watched as Samson put Selina down and they exchanged weapons, an intense silence between the three of them.

'What the fuck have I gotten myself into?'

After clearing his throat, he straightened himself up and looked to the two of them, mainly waiting for something to be said before continuing to walk. Samson mentioned a hideout not far from where they just were and certainly not far from where they are currently. The old man had good intentions of trying to spark conversation to ease away the awkwardness, but Jon just didn't feel up to talking... Samson seemed to trust Selina, but Jon wasn't sure he did, even if she saved him from that damn mole thing the day they met.

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Samson's hideout happened to be the ruins of an airship with a heavy technological feel to it. It was being covered with plant overgrowth where critters could nest on the outside. People rarely passed through this area and if they did, the broken down ship wasn't given too much acknowledgment.

From the looks of it, the ship has been shot down or just crashed during an incident. It was maneuvered by humans from a distant planet, such creatures not seen for roughly one thousand years. In fact, no one knew of this history except for the Kin. The fall of this mighty ship is likely at the doings of the Kin, as a matter of fact.

When the trio arrived at the ship, Samson went ahead inside, leaving Jon to stop and stare at it with awe. There was a certain beauty to it to behold as nature turned something destructive into a shelter for several species. In the distance, there was a figure stumbling towards the ship that shaped into a woman as it got closer. At her shoulder was the head of an exhausted child that was falling asleep, her arms hardly able to stay wrapped around this woman's neck.​
 
Selina decided to plop herself on one of the wooden benches that Samson had hand crafted. Jon had wandered to the opposite side of the ruined airship, looking at the various symbols and languages written on it. Selina wasn't that interested in the old machine. She knew that they were taboo for a reason. It all went back to the era of the Great War. The very conflict that brought the Kin down to rule over mankind and all the other beings on the planet.

The old man had broken several of Selina's road rules, but unlike Joshua, she hadn't been able to list them off to the old man. Plus, knowing her luck, he was the archetype of dirty old men. "Shit on a shingle," She muttered aloud. It was loud enough that Samson back out from the entrance of his home. "We've gone deeper into the swamps than I wanted to. This is going to reroute us by several days."

Samson then stepped out of his home, "You complain a lot, you know that right Missy."

"What's it too you?" Selina asked.

"You're one of the Kin. Why are they sending Relic Guardians after you. Last I heard, they only used those damned robots on humans dumb enough to get themselves caught using advanced technologies." Samson replied.

"None of your concern Mister Samson. They view me as a danger. I'm not going to say much more than that." Selina responded.

"....So is that why you are heading towards Oren?" Samson asked next.

"Yes. They won't break the Treaty, not even if I am to become a citizen. I know the dangers that await me there." Selina said.

"Does Jon know?" Samson asked.

"I informed him that it is a city of sin. I don't think he realizes what I meant by that though." She said.

"I see...."

Just then Jon came running towards them. Behind him was one of the rice growers and a young child....
 
When Jon ran in, he set down his pack and heaved a sigh of relief; that thing was getting heavy. He flashed his two comrades an apologetic smile for walking in much later than they have, also for bringing in strays. The two females looked desperate for help, though. They were dirtied with soil and blood and it was crystal clear that they were tired. Sadly, he didn't take the time to know their names, so he just said,

"They were walking in our direction and need help."

Ali looked like she was about to drop Nana as the comforting environment got to her. To avoid this, Jon took the young girl from Ali and carried her to a bundle of blankets where she was instantly wrapped up. As for the elder sister of hers, she took a seat on a uniquely crafted chair next to a table with food crumbs scattered at the top. She put an arm on the table and meekly smiled at Samson and Selina. Her gaze drifted to the man that was tending to Nana, some sort of passion softening her expression. A sort of My hero expression.

Looking to her lap, she finally introduced herself and the little girl, "My name is Alia and that's Nana. We come from a village called Fenwick... We're the remaining survivors."

Jon stood up from the bedding when Nana fell asleep and took a seat in the empty chair where he just looked from person to person. He himself was feeling exhausted, but tried not to let it show.
 
Alia had fallen asleep. Samson then walked over to the resting woman and placed an old rug around her. He didn't have enough blankets to go around. The lighting in the kitchen was a few lightblubs powered by a weak electrical current that Samson jimmy rigged from the old airship's computer system. The designers did say that the power source could last for generations...

"She has a slight fever and look at these bite marks. Goblins." Samson said. "Somehow I doubt that any goblins would keep human slaves, unless they were nobles. And around here, there are none of those sorts."

"Then it's clearly humans." Selina said in return.

"Slaves...Wandering through the swamps. This is not a good sign." Samson continued to speak to Selina. The young woman and her sister had fallen into a deep slumber. "Since when is forced slavery ever a good thing? It's not like the tribal version, in which someone forms a non-binding contract. At least in that form, there's respect from the top." Selina responded. "It's not the slavery thing I'm considered about Selina. It's the fact that there are probably drivers searching for these two. If they..." Selina then grabbed her rifle and placed it around her shoulders. "And where do you think you're going?" Samson asked. "To take on the drivers." The old man did nothing to stop her. At this point, Jon had come into the kitchen, where they were discussing what should happen next. Selina looked at him dryly, not so much to offend him, but more to keep him at bay.

"I'll be back by morning." Although, she was tired, Selina would continue to push herself.



It was around three in the morning and about the only sounds of life in the swamps was the croaking of frogs. Selina held her rifle at the ready. Unlike the eyes of humans, she could see things in the night. So far there was no signs of any human activity. So she kept walking forward. It was doubtful that the drivers could have lasted this long in the swamps without being spotted by the Red Foot clan of Goblins. However, since Samson had shown up to their front door, the Red Foot would be doing any raids tonight.

About an hour later, she pulled a dry piece of bread out from one of her pockets. It wasn't the best of foods but it was better than nothing. She then came across a clearing in the brush. There was a camp here, well at least there used to be. About twenty headless corpses were scattered throughout the grounds. Some of them had been cut open and upon taking a closer look, the water was still dyed in red. The smell was overbearing, so Selina then wrapped her face and mouth with the veil she had worn while traveling through the Rice Country.

Snap.

She turned around to see a man wearing a tattered uniform. "What...What the hell are you?" He asked pointing a pistol at Selina. "I am a ghost. Leading the dead to the other side." The soldier then cocked his rifle, "Bullshit. You're one of the Kin. You sent those goblins out on us! I know you did! I knew our commanding officer made the wrong decision to trust freaks like you!" Selina then rolled towards the man and then side swiped him. "You are too slow to take me on in hand to hand combat. I didn't send any fucking goblins your way." By this point the man started laughing insanely. She then picked up his pistol and hurled it deep into the swamps, where it slowly sank into the marshes. "You, you...Can't leave me out here to die! That'll break the truce between the Kin and Oren!" She looked at him, "You're right. If I were still a member." She then grabbed the soldier and forced him to his feet. "As far as I'm concerned, you can rot here. You took people hostage and forced them on a death march. It's not my fault your fellow drivers left you behind." She then tossed him what remained of her bread loaf. "Here. This is more than you deserve. These swamps aren't that hard to get lost in. Follow the goblin trails. They'll led you to somewhere." With that Selina then slung her rifle over her shoulders and walked back towards Samson's home...
 
A few hours after Selina walked out of the shelter, Jon trailed out with his hands in his pockets. He began to follow her trail, though he decided not to venture too far. Jon felt like he has been enough trouble for her today, and she did give a somewhat threatening look earlier that still made him nervous.

During the stroll, he came to realize how bitter the air felt and the sun wasn't lighting the sky too well since it's been a rainy season. He should have brought a jacket... Jon was so used to waking up early to work on the farm though and a jacket was rarely necessary because all the work kept him warm.

As he started walking back towards Samson's home, Jon realized he was a little bit lost. It didn't occur to him that it was this dark outside and he didn't think to grab a source of light. He swore under his breath and put a palm to his face, tensing because he put too much strength into it. Often times, just because of his poor combat skills, Jon forgets how strong he truly is. Work as a farm boy tends to build a lot of good muscle and stamina.

When he brought his head from his face, Selina showed up, her eyes nearly piercing the darkness with a glare. He smiled nervously while looking away from her. From what he could tell, she was dirtied with mud. No blood, though. That was a good sign, he assumed. She began walking side by side with him and asked,

"Is the old man awake yet?"

Jon shrugged. "He was asleep when I left." From there, they carried a conversation, Jon feeling uneasy during a lot of it...

"There's no drivers to worry about. If there were any left, I'd say the goblins sent them packing."
"Oh. Is that good news?"
"I encountered one. He tried to shoot me. Figures. And no... I didn't kill the man."
"Think you'll see him again?"
"Not sure. Tossed him a small loaf of bread. Even if he is from Oren, I doubt that he'll prove to be much of an issue."
"Well, that was nice of you."
"I guess. I never kill a human or Kin, if I can so help it. Though there's times I wonder, why I even bother. ... So. You really wish to continue to travel to Oren?"
"Yeah. Don't know what else I'd do."
"And then where will you go from there? I'm asking, since my goals are different from your own. I plan on becoming a citizen."
"Heh, I'll just have to see. I just hope for a better life. A fresh start..."
"Then you are probably better off becoming a traveler. I met one once...They traveled around on motorads."
"Hey, works for me."
"Though once we reach Oren, it's probably best that we depart ways. Unless you decide to stick around with Samson, the Kin will go after you as well."
"Thanks for the warning..."
"Not trying to be an ice queen. Just stating the truth. Which is always a downer..."
"Yeah... You can say that again."
"Heh. Now I don't normally say this, but I'm sorry that your adventure into the world hasn't been a smooth one."
"Could be worse. I bet I'd be dead or a slave to someone if you never showed up."
"This is true. Just remember the number one rule while traveling, keep yourself alive."
"A rule I can't forget."
"At least you'd better not. How are the two new comers doing?"
"They seem ill and exhausted. It worries me."
"From what I saw last night...I know why. Their band was wiped out by rouge goblins. Nasty sight...."
"That sounds nasty alright. God..."
"Yeah. They were lucky alright."

While Jon nodded in agreement, they arrived back at the home of Samson. The two of them entered to check on the new additions to their group and to discuss their next move from here.
 
Samson had woken up a few minutes past five. He been woken up by Nana's cries. The child had a slight fevor from being outside for more than two days. The rains had probably mad her sicker than need be. Pouring some tea into a small cup, he had the child drink it down. It was bitter and Nana protested, as would most children. The strange thing was,even so Nana spoke no words. This woke Alia up. She blinked her eyes and looked around tiredly

"Did you sleep alright?" Samson asked.

"Yeah...thank you." Alia responded.

"No problem, dear. You're welcomed to stay here as long as you need to. And don't worry I'm not some kind of old sicko. Hahahah."

"You're so kind. Heehee. What was your name again?" Alia felt bad for already forgetting this kind stranger's name. But by the time they had reached the ruined airship, Alia was beyond exhaustion and much of her memories were hazy.

"My name is Samson Grant. I believe you said your name was Alia, correct?"

"You got it. Nice to meet you, Samson."

"There's some more bread over on the table. Try to take it easy on the food. I know you're straving from your ordeal. However groging will make your condition worse." He pointed to a make shift table made out of a crate for the center and an old wooden door.

"Oh, thank you. I'll have a bite in a moment. I'm not too hungry right now... How is Nana?"

"She has a slight fever. It'll pass in a day or two. Since Selina hasn't returned yet, I can guess she's sent any drivers away. But that's what happens when you have a Kin in the region. No one would try to mess around with them."

"So that's her name. She looks like another woman I saw when my village was burned down."

"Another Kin? That's strange. Well more in the sense that the Kin seem to be more active than normal."

"I know, it is strange." Alia said distantly.

"I know it's asking a lot...But do you have any idea as to why your village was attacked?"

She bit her lip for a brief moment but then spoke, "I don't want to go into detail, but they're after me. Though, I don't think they know that I am the one they're looking for..."

"I see. So you broke one of the Taboos. Oh well. Not your fault."

"They burned down all the houses, looking for the other flowers, too. It was horrible." Alia continued to look off towards the door. Just in case Selina came walking in. "Nothing of the town was spread. Almost as soon as they got there, the Kin rounded up any survivors and sold them on the spot to Oren!" Alia decided not to go into any details deeper than that.

"Other flowers, eh?Never heard of a "Flower" before. Well I know what the plant is, but not in the context to taboos." Samson then sat down at the "table." Alia soon followed suit. "

Heehee, I don't know either. I just remember hearing them shout about finding a flower and capturing her..."

"Interesting...I think I'm beginning to form a picture about Jon's little friend." Samson said.

"Hmm?" Alia asked

"When I was in the Goblin village with Jon, there were three Relic Guards burning the place down. And they were going after the girl. Nothing about a "flower" but...If there were two major attacks in the same region...." Samson said.

"Oh, I'm sure there's a connection. That's awful... Poor little goblins." Alia now felt sadder than before, even if she had been attacked by the Red Foot. She knew that Swamp Town was a safe haven.

"Yes...But the question is why are they going after one of their own..." Samson said, scratching his beard.

"I bet she did something bad! So she ran away." Alia said.

"It is possible. Though she seems fairly naive for a Kin being. She doesn't even use her blade like most of the Kin seem to." Samson said.

"She actually uses that gun she carries around?" Alia asked, perplexed. She had always heard that the Kin only used highly advanced polymer blades...

"Yes. I've only known her for a few hours and I can tell there's something vary unorthodox about her. I fought against the Kin in the last war. She's not like the soldiers I've met."

"I really wonder about her, then..."

Just then Jon and Selina entered the scene.
 
Jon rubbed at his arms after walking into the home of Samson, mainly to remove the cold from his flesh. He smiled to the old man as a greeting, nodding as well before looking to Ali. The young woman made a nervous glance to Selina, which Jon made a note of. Not that he blamed her... Selina could be pretty intimidating.

He walked over to the loaf of bread Samson had on the table and got himself a piece, eating it politely with no complaints. It had a dry texture, but food was food to him. After consuming half of the slice, he took a seat on a chair that was facing backwards, his arms hanging over the back of it as he looked at the two women.

"So, Ali, how are you feeling?" Jon asked.

Ali smiled brightly, a noticeably cutesy charm to it. "Much better already, thank you." As the two of them conversed, Selina went to get a drink of water, silent as usual. Jon rolled his eyes at her backside and then said to Ali, "That's great!" The woman smiled and nodded in response, looking down at her lap and instantly looking back up when Selina spoke,

"Best that you continue to rest up for the next few days, then. I'll draw any of the Kin away from the region."

Jon made a smirk and took the risk of joking with Selina, "Wow, for once, I agree with you on something!"

Selina was not amused. "You've only known me for 72 hours..."

Ali was giggling at the mini conversation the two were having, detecting the love-hate relationship they shared. At least, that's the way she saw it. Selina seemed to lean more towards hate and nowhere near love.

"At least Ali thinks I'm funny!" Jon claimed proudly, chewing the last of his bread with a triumphant smile. Finally, a laugh! This journey was getting too serious for him.

The warm environment seemed to ice over when Selina replied, "You're also dealing with a person that has been through worse stuff than you've seen. So pardon my lack of humor." This caused Jon to put a palm over his face and mutter that he shouldn't even try anymore.

"You're catching on," Selina stated, making a quick look to Ali as she said, "I have to wonder how you two are even in the same room!"

"I saved him from a Mole Man and promised to take him as far as Oren," she explained, taking another sip of her water while Jon sighed and looked at the ground a bit shamefully.

"That's nice of you." Ali said sweetly. "Heh, I guess... I also haven't slept in weeks, so I'm more pissy than normal. As they say, suffering is the only way to make the body stronger" Selina replied.

"Oh, people really say that?" she asked, looking to Jon who agreed, "Yeah, it's sorta true."

Selina told them, "Well, my people do at least. I can't really say for the greater population....Since I find most annoying." There was a pause. "I guess that's one thing I have in common with Jon. Maybe."

"Amazing." Jon commented, twirling his finger in the air. They had to get back on track, though,

"So anyways, Jon let me know when you wish to get going from this place. I try not to stay in the same place for more than 3 days at most. And I think you know why, now."

Jon made an understanding nod. "Yes, right. How about tomorrow? Ali and Nana should be feeling better then, right?"

Ali's face lit up, all sickness she showed seeming to subside as a smile spread across her face. "Ohh, you guys will let us come with you!?"

Selina tried not to look annoyed as she answered, "Ehhh, I guess... But do you really want to go to Oren? If you are in fact a slave, they'll have a bounty on your head if they find out."

"I'll be okay," Ali responded, her expression a little more serious. She was one of the altered, so she had special capabilities; she just didn't use them that often.

"I'll ask one more time." Selina was stern. "Are you sure?"

"Yep!"

"Then so be it." Selina said, "I asked three times and that's my limit. Then I'll assume you know the dangers that lie ahead."

Ali made a sheepish smile. "More or less." Although she was weary of this woman, what other choice did she have? She was certain if any bad unraveled, Jon would come to her aid.
 
Meanwhile, in the ashes of Swamp Town....Tager stood crossed armed, while Edelweiss sat in a fancy chair that had been salvaged from the ruins of the diner that Selina and Jon had eaten at. In her hands was the small orb that Tager had used to speak to Selina via hologram. It showed Selina using her Kin magiks to avoid the claws of the Relic Guards.

"You had her in your grasps and she still got away?" Edelweiss then grinned. "If she weren't a half breed, I'd say I'd be impressed."

"She's very cunning for having limited abilities. I think it'd be a shame if we just locked her away like the Elders want us to do."

"Ohhhh, how sweet. You have a crush on the little girl." Edelweiss then looked at Tager with angelic eyes. "None the less, we have more than just her to worry about now." Edelweiss then watched a recording from one of the Relic Guards that caught a blurry image of Jon, Selina, and Samson running into the swamps. The details were rather blurry and the only known figure was Selina because of her bright white hair. "It seems like she's picked up two allies and has headed into the swamps."

Tager continued to look stern. Not even his leather greatcoat moved an inch. He was looking cold and cancelated. His long white hair drapped over his shoulders and was held back by a long pony tail. "So you are suggesting that we follow them into the woods? If any humans are helping Selina, they are breaking the treaty that was signed by their ancestors."

Edelweiss now had a long slim cigar in her mouth. She then took a puff. "See, this is were you messed things up by chasing after her. She'll head towards Oren."

He then scowled.

"Don't give that sort of attitude, young man. You are a lower ranking officer in the Royal Fleet, than I am."

"I am sorry My Honor." Tager responded. He didn't like Edelweiss very much, she was much too old fashioned in military knowledge. Selina was proving to be more of a challenge than they had expected. Knowing what, this woman would be too busy trying to raid human settlements than going after a real foe. This is why he liked the spunky half breed. She didn't let the old ways stop her. She had a fire in her heart to try and outdo them all. However, Tager did wonder why she had decided to bring humans along with her. Were they hostages or something more ingenious?

"Send in some of the old scouting units of the Relic Guards. I want to her be driven out of the swamps before she makes contact with Oren. Tell the drones to keep within 5 miles of the borders with the kingdom. No need for a major war to break out over such a trivial little girl." Edelweiss then told Tager, while she watched her company of body guards march around in formation. "Oh, this is splendid."
 
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