Lyssa frowned at the man who stood before them, suspicious of his charm. One didn't act this friendly to outsiders without wanting something from them, much less outsiders who had made an aggressive move to occupy the city. However, this Otode was right. They had no choice but to go with him for now. She hadn't expected to be allowed to keep her weapon for long, and whatever accommodations he offered were certainly better than the bare stone of a prison cell.
"Very well, then." Lyssa said, stepping away from her hammer. "What would you do with us, Sir Otode?"
The man slipped his hands into the sleeves of his dress, and smiled lightly. "I have a manor, a comfortable one at that. Far more pleasant than the jail cell my comrades would have likely taken you to. You can stay there for the night, and I can take you to the princess in the morning so that you may talk peacefully-" Otode stopped midway and stared at Aesil -her stomach had growled loud enough to be heard.
"...And perhaps some dinner before you retire," he added.
A new arrival, carrying a scent of…nothing. There was a faint whiff of sweat that arose from physical exertion, but what dominated Aesil's nose was the absolute sense of nothing, as a young man came, wearing finer clothing than the food that surrounded her. For a moment, she considered him just another meal, of a blander variety, before the beast-girl noticed something.
There was nothing there. Nothing but nothingness, an incomprehensible 'prey' that she couldn't classify at all. The perplexity of this confused her, just enough that her attention was drawn away from fulfilling her basic instincts and instead focusing on this odd little conundrum. He spoke of a manor and spoke of comfort, before even going on to mentioning food.
The food of the Palace, which, by definition, should be the highest tier of cuisine that royalty could afford, if her knowledge was to be trusted.
Aesil's rumbling stomach spoke for her, as she turned around to face the nothing-man. She'll follow him. If he led them to yet another ambush, she'll just eat him along with the others.
Kanade bowed politely in the Palace fashion toward Otode. "You honor us with your invitation," she replied, thankful that they've avoided a lengthy fight that would have ruined their mission. She can understand that they'd be guarded, the Palace always preferred to keep to itself, but things were getting ridiculous. She unbelted her sword and held it out toward Otode, so he or another could claim it for the time-being. "If we come bearing a message, it would be best if we weren't carrying these anyway."
Otode glanced backwards, and another Palacian in the mob nodded before jogging forward, taking Kanade's sword tenderly. Otode looked over Aesil with a faint smile before turning his attention to Lyssa and her hammer on the ground. The boy at his side followed in tune, lifting up the hefty hammer and stepping back.
Otode nodded at the three girls before clapping his hands together and gesturing at the boy who had retrieved their weapons. "They will be returned to you as soon as you leave, have no worry. I would perpetuate our rivalry by making an off-handed statement about Aesilian weaponry, and how we have no desire to keep them..." he said, turning, "But that would be unnecessary."
He snapped his fingers to make another path through the mob, whilst others rose to the occasion and moved up to the three girls' sides, escorting them just behind the Palace noble.
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Clash! Full Frontal Onsen Assault!
Their room was a tad bit cramped for three individuals, though the lighting, bedding, and smell of the place was more than enough to ensure they couldn't complain. Aesil, Lyssa, and Kanade were given a set of three pristine white beds and pillows to sleep on in the autumn-tinted oriental room. A
maid approached their open door and asked for any requests, sitting daintily just outside.
Aesil...couldn't say that she disliked the room. There was a fulfilling scent in the air, an aromatic perfume or something that made her feel calm, even though she was still so incredibly hungry. The colors were warm as well, reminding her of a fireplace that would soon bring forth delicious, tantalizingly-sweet meat. Turning her attention to the raven-haired maid dressed in what looked like bedsheets wrapped about her in a surprisingly pleasing manner, Aesil tilted her head to the side and asked,
"Food?"
It was unclear whether she was asking for food, or asking if the maid was the food.
Despite the cramped accommodations, it was easy for Kanade to relax. The familiar style of architecture, the tasteful decorations, she'd never been to this house before, but she really missed things like it sometimes. She paid the maid little mind, as she didn't have an immediate need for much. They weren't in jail, and they could rest easy for the night. Tomorrow...well, it could go poorly, but that wasn't worth losing sleep.
"Hm...maybe a bath would be nice," she wondered aloud.
"I can prepare a bath for our guests immediately," the maid said, bowing her head,
"As well as some food for you," she said, indicating to Aesil with her upturned eyes.
"Will there be anything else?"
Aesil pondered over those words, this young lady's virtue of asking if there's anything more that she could help with. It was...this kindness was very much like Efrida's and Kanade's, wasn't it? It was more 'humble', if that was the right word for it, but the root was there and in a way, it made Aesil happy. Almost like having a m-
Her brain shut down and instead, Aesil asked, gesturing towards the maid's prettily wrapped up clothes and then towards her own cloak,
"How?"
The maid was confused for a moment, looking to and from Aesil and her own clothing, piecing together the contents of the one-word question.
"M-my clothing? How did I do this?" She smiled, clapping a hand on her cheek.
"Ah, well I could certainly teach you, perhaps after you're finished with your bath? I shall bring a spare kimono if you'd like?"
Aesil nodded vigorously, her bangs bouncing up and down, before realizing that she should probably...
"Thank."
Kanade grinned at Aesil.
"Interested in trying the local fashion? You might make a good impression if you dressed up for the meeting tomorrow."
The maid nodded and rose from her kneeling position.
"I will retrieve you when it is ready," she said before walking off into the hallways.
"Good impression...and you?" the beast-girl asked, tilting her head to the side as she leaned against a soft wall.
"Hm..." Kanade thought for a few moments, taking the opportunity to lean back in a stretch, which eventually went far enough to cause her to fall onto her back. She quickly got back into a sitting position as if nothing had happened.
"Well, I could borrow a kimono, I suppose. I'm not the biggest fan of all the traditional dress, but it's fun every now and again. Not like I get many opportunities these days."
Lyssa shook her head as the issue of clothing was mentioned, removing her metal mask from her face as she drew her hood down.
"The Palace robes are interesting, yes, but I can and will not remove this armor in a meeting representing Aesil. It's...all I've left of my father." She hesitated as she finished, looking away.
"Okay." Aesil said neutrally, not comprehending at all the deep and dramatic meaning of the knight-lady's words.
"Well...it would probably be a little unusual if we all arrive as representatives of Aesil, dressed as if we belong here," commented Kanade.
"A-anyways," Lyssa stammered as she tried to change the subject.
"I suppose I'll have some food sent up for myself as well once that maid returns. Do you suppose we're being listened in on? I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case."
The feral brunette frowned, as she rocked back and forth on her slightly bouncy bed.
"Listened on? Why?"
"The walls tend to be thin enough, that it can happen even if they aren't trying. I'd say it would be prudent not to discuss anything we don't want someone to overhear." Kanade shrugged at Aesil's question.
"Curiosity, most likely."
Aesil nodded, before closing her eyes, seeing if she could hear anything. There was nothing, not even the footsteps of the maid bringing forth delicious, delicious food. How disappointing.
"Food where?"
Lyssa smiled, agreeing with Aesil.
"Aye, I'm in the mood for another meal right now as well." She glanced at the girl, deciding to at least try to make some conversation with her.
"So...Aesil. What exactly do you like to eat? Besides...er, people."
The beast girl smiled, revealing rows of white, clean, sharp teeth, as she spread her arms out.
"Everything," she said, blissfully, recalling the taste of dinner and Shotaro once more.
Kanade looked thoroughly confused by Aesil's answer, glancing nervously at Lyssa.
"E-everything? Like, you'll eat anything? Wait, what was that about eating people?"
Lyssa paused, looking at Kanade in surprise. She had been there with them when it happened. How the hell had she not seen it? Had she just been too fixated on Konyuu's battle with the angel to notice?
"Er..." Lyssa paused, before shaking her head.
"It's nothing important, Kanade. I'll tell you when we're back home. Anyways, what's taking that food so long?"
"Maybe forgot?" Aesil suggested, before hopping off the bed. Without a second thought, she placed her hand against the door and attempted to slide it open.
As she slid the door open, it seemed as though the maid was already there, nearly opening it herself. She looked surprised but quickly sat down and bowed her head.
"Your bath is ready, I shall lead you to it. Please be quiet as you walk through the halls. There are others sleeping here." She picked herself up and waited for the three Aesil champions to follow.
The maid led them to a stony wall built inside the manor, its 'door' being a simple patterned cloth hanging in front. She pulled aside the curtain and gestured for the girls to enter into the dressing room, where three towels, along with scrubs and a tray of simple but nevertheless tasty-looking fish-based items laid out beside them.
She bowed before speaking, remaining outside the room.
"The bath is further inside. Mind the heat. I will return in a bit to bring you back to your room. Please wait in here or in the bath until then." She bowed once more and wandered off.
"Thank you," Kanade said to the retreating maid.
"Well," she went on to Aesil and Lyssa,
"it wouldn't do not to relax for a while, so I'm going to take a bath." She'd already started stripping out of her armored clothes.
Lyssa easily shrugged her armored robes off, changing into a towel as she eyed the food before her. Without hesitation, she took a plate for herself and brought it into the bath with her, intent on chowing down as she relaxed in the bath.
The mist coming from the hot pool did little to hide the intricacies of Aesil's petite form as the amethyst-eyed girl removed her cloak. She wore nothing underneath there, and her slender frame was decorated with a variety of pale lines, almost indiscernible from her creamy skin. Without any hesitation, she crouched down and stuffed her face full of half the fish dishes that had been brought by the kind maid, having just enough presence of mind to save some for Kanade. Enjoying the rich texture, even though it wasn't quite as filling as Shotaro's own meat, she chose not to cover her still developing breasts as she slipped one foot gently into the water, testing it.
It was a comfortably hot warmth, and with a content sigh and a belly that wasn't grumbling for once, Aesil plunged into the water, making a small splash and a sensual moan at the comfort she had never been privy to in the cold-water shower rooms of the Aesil training barracks.
The bathhouse was spacious, surprisingly, given the smallness of the adjacent room. It stretched wide, at least a dozen yards, surrounded on three sides by a wooden wall painted with a flowing scene that undoubtedly told some sort of tale. The water was waist-deep and shrouded by an ever-flowing steam.
Most surprising of all was its status on the second floor; one the wider end of the room, there was a deck, unreachable due to the grates that had been placed between it and the bath, that looked out over the Palace Borough from atop a hill.
Kanade was the last to actually enter the bath, carrying her own plate of food. She didn't bother wrapping up in a towel either, and had done her hair up neatly in a bun, so it would stay out of the way in the bath. She slipped in quietly and leaned back to relax.
"I'm really not sure if eating in the bath is polite..." She stopped to giggle.
"But what do I care?"
"Polite? Why not?" Aesil asked, making waves as she kicked her legs underneath the tranquil waters.
Lyssa shrugged, popping some fish in her mouth as she relaxed in the hot water.
"Something about decorum. Really, it's only impolite if it's not your bath and there's other people around that care."
"Yeah," Kanade added, around a mouthful of food, no less,
"If nobody cares, it doesn't really matter anyway. We just have to be careful we don't get our dinner soaking wet."
"But it's fish," Aesil stated flatly.
"Fish go in water."
Ninja, The Slayer
Before Kanade could reach for another piece of fish, the metal plate was stricken by something fast and silvery. It made a pang of noise before the entire tray flipped over and dumped its contents into the waters. Her hand was nearly hit by the object, and as the mist rolled over the water, Kanade could see at the bottom of the tub, a shuriken had sunk.
A whistle of air called out nearby the grating of the room looking outside, and the steam around the tub was quickly sucked inwards towards a particular spot before being blasted away to the edges of the room. In its place, a single individual stood, cloaked in black, and quite clearly a ninja. With a jab, the ninja flung a second weapon at Kanade, and thought it struck, her body managed to stop the blade from piercing further than a simple mundane cut.
The moment the tray flipped over, Aesil dived down into the waters and retrieved the fishy contents, taking them in her hands. Bringing the bathwater-flavored pieces out, she asked Kanade, showing her the pieces,
"You want?"
"We've got more important things to worry about," Kanade replied, gesturing to the ninja in the room.
"I've heard of peeping toms, but this is ridiculous." She didn't waste any time in launching a counter attack of her own, forming a small sphere of energy over one hand and throwing at their mystery guest. The orb barely missed the attacker as he bent backwards, his body casually making a ninety degree bend before the man rose up again. The energy ball smacked into the wooden grating, splintering wood onto the floor and into the tub.
Lyssa snarled as she formed a sword of light in the air before her before launching it at the ninja, attacking alongside Kanade.
"Unbelievable." She spat, disgusted by the breach in hospitality.
"You offer your home just to slay us while our guards are down? Sickening." Lyssa's weapon of light shot forwards, lancing into the wood as the ninja seemingly vanished into thin air.
With silent steps and masterful acrobatics, the black-garbed man slipped over Aesil's head unnoticed, throwing a small wire around her neck. The loop fit gently around her neck, before he yanked it viciously back towards the edge of the tub.
Aesil felt a sudden pull, propelling her head towards the edge of the tub. It felt like something was wrapped around her neck, preventing her from breathing, but the pull itself was too slow, and the wire only barely failed to pierce her skin. Slamming her hands against the wooden edge, she stopped herself before she could take a bite of the tub, and instead, used both hands to grab onto the string that she couldn't see, but could definitely feel. Coiling it around her left hand, the beast girl's eyes flared as she snarled, pulling down hard on the string.
Sensing an opportunity as the ninja began to focus on the other girls in the onsen, Kanade raised one arm above her head. With arcane words blossoming into her mind, the pink-haired idol began gathering power for another blast, biding her time for a perfect shot against this elusive foe.
Lyssa conjured another blade of light, this time taking it into her hand and jumping out of the waters. Dashing towards the ninja, she thrust it at him while he was trying to choke Aesil to death. Right before the tip of the blade struck his chest, though, the string broke, allowing him to flip backwards, landing parallel to the ground as his feet touched the opposing wall.
Launching outwards into three flying kicks, he struck the nude knight right in the ribs. A distinctive crack could be heard as she smashed into the waters, waves rising up high.
With a radiant flash and sound of a singular, pure chime, the Primal Words of Kanade reached the pinned ninja, waves of energy smashing into his body endlessly. First, the gi was set ablaze, turning into ash. Then, the flesh was stripped away, wilting like charred meat before breaking into dust. And finally, the skeletal structure of the man, exposed to Kanade's power, simply vaporized.