<Location: Waterfall, Forest, Outskirts of Kyaro Town>
"Tsk. Slippery rat actually went and jumped..."
A young man, presumably in his early-mid twenties, dressed ornately like a noble and wielding a broad, black claymore, looked down on the large waterfall, flowing and heavily pouring down a steep drop. He lowered his weapon, placing it by his side, as if a fight had very recently concluded.
"Well... if a certain someone didn't threaten her life, she wouldn't have considered the notion of escaping. My goodness, I wonder why His Majesty sent a brute like you when we were tasked with making her cooperate."
A female voice trailed behind him, the figure treading slowly towards the claymore-wielder. She looked down on the heavily pouring mass of water as well. Her apparel suggests that she, like the man beside him, is an individual of high standing. She was bearing a brown tome on her right arm, holding it close to her chest.
"And if a certain someone just ensnared her with vines in the first place, we wouldn't be in this situation."
"Oh, relax. Miss Vale is one-of-a-kind, after all. If she died over something like this, then it just goes to show her value is nothing to write home about."
The maiden closed her eyes, smiling all the while before turning tail. There was no possible way they could give chase given the speed of the current below them. Their target would have been outside of
her field of influence by now.
"Besides... You're enjoying this so-called hunt, aren't you? A little fun to mitigate war stress wouldn't hurt, right~?"
"... So you're telling me you let her escape on purpose?"
She stopped for a moment, a slight grin painted on her lips.
"Hmph. Hypocrite..."
The two walked together, heading back the way they came from.
"The nearest point where the current ends is the village of Toto, beyond the pass. You're supposed to be Highland's best tracker right now, Flora Magus. Don't screw this up for us and find her immediately. We can't let her delve too deep into Jowston's borders."
"To hear that from you somewhat irritates me. Also, bossing a girl around... Not very romantic, are you?"
"Shut up."
<Location: River, Outskirts of Toto Village>
Beyond the seemingly endless blue is a mass of uncertainty and dread, for a bloody conflict with the clear goal of supremacy is being drawn up little-by-little. The whole continent is affected, and the civilians are in a state of alarm. The alliance created almost a century and a half ago to serve as a counterforce has been heavily splintered, and their main adversary grows stronger with each passing day. Truly, it is without exaggeration that Elysia has seen better days.
"Ngh...! This one's a fighter!"
"You can do it, boss!"
"Yank its ass like there's no tomorrow!"
It was the peak of daylight, the sun's rays beaming down the torn land. The mercenaries of Rast were off-duty; the ideal opportunity to go fishing. Not only would it serve to fill their inventory, but they'll also be donating a portion to the needy, ravaged and the homeless caused by the country's degradation. A warcry unfit for such an activity echoed across the deep blue, as the young mercenary named
Weis finally caught his prey.
"Nicely done, Weis!"
"Whew... You put up a good fight, my friend... But in the end, I stood victorious.", Weis proclaimed, tossing his catch on a large, wooden basket.
"Well, I think it's about time we wrap this up for today. Call the others and let's pack it up, boys!" Wiping away the sweat caused by that battle along with the heat of the sun, he, carrying their haul along with his two companions returned to the temporary camp where they parked their horses.
"Captain!" A fellow mercenary ran towards them, in a hurry.
"What's the commotion, Jegan?" He inquired.
"We found a woman washed up on the riverbank near the village. She''s at the tent at the moment."
"What?" Wasting his time no further, the mercenary captain rushed over to the camping tent they set up along with the subordinate who brought him this news.
"Her breathing's light, but she'll live. She has a few cuts and bruises on her arm and a slight concussion. Probably dragged by the heavy current." Another mercenary, the oldest among them in his late fifties, concluded as he finished inspecting the female's condition.
"Your orders, Weis?", the old man stood up and faced him.
"Please go to the village doctor. See if we can get assistance. Kayneth, rally the others and pack up."
"Right."
"Sure thing!"
His subordinates carrying on with his orders, the young captain was left alone with the soundly unconscious waif.
"Well, at least she's alive... what a relief." He exhaled, his worries thrown out of his system.
"Only an idiot would let herself be washed away by the current... She must have been running away from someone... or something." Weis speculated, silently watching over her. A few minutes have passed, and in a moment of silence...
"?!"
<Location: Mercenary Fort, Rast / Jail Cell>
"So you're awake."
Weis spoke, having made his presence known in the cold, silent ambience. He was outside the cell, his back slumped on the stone wall in between the cell's bars and his arms were crossed.
"You're currently at the mercenary fort, Rast." He appeared before her, opening the cell's bars with a key and entering.
"My apologies for having you wake up and confined in a place such as this, but I'm afraid we'll be having you interrogated for the time being."