Scare Away Those Thugs; Job

MADE BY VEL OF GS

She wasn't depressed, no that simply wasn't in her nature. However, the girl was exhibiting signs of depression yet that still wasn't exactly the word to describe what she was feeling. She had slept for a few days after returning from the Unknown Lands with Lekuna, her wounds tended to while she was passed out. After awakening, Venir found that she simply didn't want to do anything. All she did for days was simply sit in her room only leaving it when absolutely necessary. This was abnormal for the incredibly social girl, just sitting in her room in silence was almost unheard of. "I'm not depressed." She whispered out loud, her fingers absentmindedly circling a scar just above her hip. She wasn't sad or lonely, but she was undeniably empty of her usual brightness, in its place fear had taken over.


It echoed over and over again in her head, her finger still tracing the physical remnants that the bullet had left on her body. The wound was long since healed but like a child who picked at their scabs Venir poked at the scar. It was a little indent perhaps half an inch at most but it didn't feel right to her. There was a part of her that wanted to leave her room, to go out and talk to her guild mates but at the same time she wanted to ponder in silence while poking at that little scar. A sudden knocking upon her door startled her. "Oh no I'm not ready to talk!" Venir panicked thinking that perhaps the guild master or Katherine had come to have a talk with her. Instead a piece of paper was slipped underneath the crack of the door and a voice was heard from outside. It sounded almost unfamiliar to Venir as it had been a week since the two mages had last spoken to one another.

The platinum blonde sat idly for a few moments, fingers still tracing the circular scar. However, dull red eyes couldn't help but drift over at the paper upon the floor, Lekuna's earlier words echoing in her ears. She still made no move to get off her bed and instead stared at the simple piece of paper. It was there again, the feeling of wanting to go out but the other darker feeling of wanting to just stay in her room. "I can't let her go by herself though...." With that thought in mind Venir rolled out of her bed, carefully picking her way over to the paper. She gave it a glance over before sighing, "I have to do this!"


It didn't take long for Venir to get ready considering it felt like she had nothing but time on her hands for the last few days. She was bundled up tightly in a warm jacket and scary, her platinum hair pulled up into a bun making her look almost mature. At the guild entrance she caught sight of her usual partner but she didn't run up to the time mage. In fact her approach was rather quiet compared to how she would normally. "Lekuna!" Venir finally called out, her own voice sounding strange in her ears, was she choking up? There was a distance of sorts between them, not a large one but it felt impossibly large to Venir. She wasn't afraid of the time mage anymore but she didn't know how to voice that to Lekuna. There was still a certain fear there but it was not the fear of Lekuna but the fear of hurting her. She was now perfectly aware of what she was capable of and it terrified Venir that if push came to shove she could hurt the time mage.

"Here's the job description..." She held the paper out with a shaky hand, her warm breath puffing out into the chilly air. She was clearly trying to grasp for words, trying to figure out how to let Lekuna know that she was okay. "This job sound fun huh?" She asked trying to give Lekuna a half-hearted smile, in the spirit of the other jobs they had taken together.

Do you feel my heart beating?

made by Wolf of GS

MADE BY VEL OF GS

Venir caught on to what Lekuna was gonna say her voice twisting into a grimace for a moment. She could be oddly perceptive for a child. "Though it's probably gonna be a piece of cake for us huh?" She quickly cut in doing her best to lighten the rather somber mood between them. It clearly didn't do what Venir had wanted it to but still the two were slowly working it back up to where they had been before. Venir had only given the job a quick glance over while in her room so she didn't catch the meal part but she seemed rather happy about it. "A free meal?" Her stomach audibly growled at the thought, "Then let's hurry and get this job done! I'm hungry!" She gave the time mage another smile, albeit awkward, but she was lightening up. Not wasting time she moved towards the guild towards not quite running but not quite walking, simply moving just fast enough to once more put distance between the two mages.

Giving the doors a hard push they finally gave way to the little girls brute strength and slid open with a creak. Venir was promptly met with a cold breeze that nipped at her nose and cheeks. The snow had built up to be at least waist high for Venir. "Oh!" She gasped looking at what was practically a wall of snow in front of her. She sent a quick glance over to Lekuna before looking once more at the snow. "I can do this..." With that thought the child took a step forward into the snow. She waddled forward a bit, each step causing her to shiver. The snow didn't move out of her way as she walked, if anything she was like a tiny bulldozer trying to go through so the snow kept accumulating in front of her. Finally perhaps only a few feet out into the snow Venir stopped. "I'm stuck!" She couldn't move herself forward anymore. She turned once more to Lekuna, sniffling and shivering now. Her nose and cheeks were bright red nearly rivaling her crimson irises. While most children enjoyed the snow Venir wasn't particularly fond of it. Or rather she liked it when there was only a little bit of it and she had nowhere to go.

Do you feel my heart beating?

made by Wolf of GS

MADE BY VEL OF GS

"Ah thank you." She muttered as Lekuna helped her out of the snow. She gave a forlorn glance to the path they would have to walk on. There was simply no way she could get through all that snow on her own. Venir moved so that she was directly behind Lekuna and followed along silently. She delicately placed her own small feet in the footsteps that the time mage created upon the snow. Slowly, and surely she followed the time mages steps so that her own journey was easier.

The hardest part of any journey was getting in and out of the Phoenix mountains. The harsh terrain, harsh weather, and occasionally harsh inhabitants was Eclipse Soul's best defense. Once out of the mountains it wad relatively easy to get to Hargeon Town. "Isn't it nice to finally be out of the snow?" Venir chimed in as she squirmed out of her heavy coat. The warm sunshine was more than enough to bring a smile to her face, "When was the last time I felt the sun on my skin? I was in my room for so long..." The fresh air and sun was quickly raiding her spirits after so much gloom.

"It looks alright. Kind of bland." It really wasn't anything special, it did have a rather homey feel to it though. "Not nearly as cool as the cosplay cafe." Despite how utterly embarrassing that cafe was to Venir, she also found that it was rather fun. "Maybe they'll turn into a cosplay restraunt after we scare the thugs away."She pondered as she entered with Lekuna, glancing about the empty restraunt. The smell of food was the most pleasant thing in there. It made her already empty stomach rumble in anticipation. Venir eagerly watched Lekuna and the man interact, eagerly hoping that they'd hurry up and finish the mission so she could eat. The man gave Lekuna a strange look obviously unsure of the child the time mage brought along but he said nothing of it. Soon enough Venir was at the windows of the restraunt peering outside at strangely empty streets. Off in the distance she could almost make out some figures approaching, "Lekuna?" She asked while waving the other mage over so she could also see the figures.

Do you feel my heart beating?

made by Wolf of GS

MADE BY VEL OF GS

"Mhmm! They have to be the bad guys!" Venir nodded her head, platinum hair bouncing with the motion. She watched the men approach for a moment longer before following after Lekuna. She slid into the seat next to Lekuna, listening attentively for the men to enter. Upon hearing the creak of the door, Venir stiffened next to Lekuna. It wasn't that she was afraid it was more like she was anxious? Nervous maybe? Lekuna's voice startled Venir causing the girl to watch her approach the two men. "Oh no what do I do? Do I follow? Or should I stay?" She remained seated until one of the men knocked over a napkin stand, creating a loud clatter. The owner of the restaurant had taken a few steps back from the rising tension in the room. Clambering up to her feet Venir gave her best glare to the men, a rather frightening look in her red eyes but her childish face made it seem almost silly.  

The men's sudden laughter made Venir pause in confusion for a moment with a dumbfounded look on her face. "These guys are weird." She couldn't help but think as she did her best to maintain a somewhat serious face. The insult would have been brushed over if not for the fact that Lekuna was there. "You can't talk about Lekuna like that! Apologize!" Venir demanded her voice cutting through the air like a knife. One of the men snorted and the other had to try and contain another fit of laughter. "Come on apologize and just leave the owner alone or else!" Venir attempted once more, it would make her more than happy to avoid a fight if possible.


The man's face grew suddenly dark as he looked upon the two. Sending one last glance to Lekuna Venir let out a breath of air she didn't realize she had been holding. "Or this!" With a firm tug the young mage yanked off the charm to her bracelet and her transformation began. Its flashiness did not go unnoticed by the two men. Despite her being young the fact that she was a mage seemed to have startled them. Even though it was a silly transformation with a pink frilly dress and staff, it still alerted them. If Venir was a mage than more than likely, the dark haired woman was one as well.


One of the men stayed as the other rushed out to go get the apparent backup. By now the owner of the restaurant had lost all color in his face. He had asked them to scare away the thugs but he didn't imagine that they would be fighting in his restaurant.

Do you feel my heart beating?

made by Wolf of GS

MADE BY VEL OF GS

At least, Venir did not initially charge at the men who had dared to insult Lekuna. While, it seemed that Venir was a bit hasty to fight she didn't actually want to have to hurt these men. She simply wanted to make a point in proving that Lekuna and herself were more than what they seemed. She let the older woman try and talk things out with the thugs, all the while she gave them her harshest glare. One moment it seemed like the man wasn't going to attack despite his words and then next thing Venir knew his fist was flying at the time mage, and blood was spilled. "Lekuna!" She gasped, gritting her teeth and glaring at the man. She quickly slipped her hand into her card holster pulling out one of her cards. The man had caught on to what she was doing and rushed at her.

"Ah!" She shrieked diving to the side, her small stature allowing her to avoid him with ease. She rolled beneath a table, her small body able to squeeze into what little space was provided. "Include!" She whispered absorbing the card into her staff and awaiting for her attacker to come and get her. Feeling a hand grasp at the back of her hair, Venir let out another shriek this time laced with a twinge of pain. She flailed kicking her legs out managing to hit hard enough to make him grunt and release her. Once more, she rolled her way out of grabbing distance. "Shoot!" She pointed her staff at the man who barely registered her words as a bolt of electricity hit him in the chest. Her convulsed once or twice before hitting the ground unconscious.

She turned around just in time to see her partner in crime give one of the men a face full of salt. She marveled for a moment at the time mage's ingenuity before dashing to her side. Stopping a few feet away from Lekuna Venir winced slightly at the man's shrieks, their loudness hurting her ears. "Think they're scared yet?" She inquired, holding her staff at the ready while carefully watching the screaming man and the two guard by the door.

Do you feel my heart beating?

made by Wolf of GS

MADE BY VEL OF GS

"We'll just have to try harder than huh?" Venir sighed doing her best to think about what might scare a full grown man. Before she could ponder much on how to scare them off Lekuna walked towards the remaining thug. She kept her eyes on the time mage and thug, perhaps she'd learn something from the other mage. Maybe Lekuna had a plan to scare them off? All seemed well until the thug produced a heavy metal chain as soon as Lekuna was in distance. She saw the flash of the metal as it struck her partner and that was it. "Lekuna!" She gasped before narrowing her crimson eyes a the thug who had struck her partner.

Unconsciously, her hand slipped once more into her card holster, grasping for the one she could do the most damage with and quickly. For a moment it felt like everything was going in slow motion for the young girl. Her hand had just pulled out her card of choice, while the thug once more raised the chain to strike again, and somehow Venir had managed to get her feet moving towards her enemy. The light pink heels created little taps upon the ground with each step she took, a few steps in she had managed to place her card upon her staff. "Include!" She shouted the staff shining with a bright white light as it absorbed the card. The chain was poised like a viper ready to strike now and with a final burst of effort Venir pushed herself farther forward.

The sword felt incredibly awkward in her hands for more than one reason. She hadn't installed her other card, the one that made her an adept swordsman so currently the young girl was going off of what limited knowledge she had of weaponry. The other reason why it felt s awkward was because the memories that were brought up with it. She hadn't used the blade since their last mission, and she could recall perfectly what she happened to do with the gleaming sword. "Ahhhhh!" She called out raising the sword, the blade so clean she could see her reflection in it, just in time for the chain to strike her weapon. The two metals hitting each other created a sharp, crisp ring as the heavy chain met with her long-sword. The impact made Venir brace her feet into the ground and wince slightly. At least the thug seemed somewhat surprised at how quickly she came to defend Lekuna. "Do something!" Venir cried out unsure if she possessed the skill to really even charge at the thug with her sword, blocking and keeping the chain where it was a much more simple task.

Do you feel my heart beating?

made by Wolf of GS

MADE BY VEL OF GS

Despite the girls best efforts the chain did not remain wrapped firmly about her sword. The thug managed to pull it back with ease and had just enough time to strike her charging partner. Once more, Venir had to watch as Lekuna took a nasty looking hit. Still, the time mage much to Venir's surprise managed to push through the pain and hit the thug. She watched as the man crumpled to the ground groaning, the chain loosening as the man's grip softened. "Let me heal you!" She called out rushing over to the other mage. She slipped a delicate hand into her card holster and pulled it out. However, by the time she had placed the card upon her sword and reached Lekuna, the woman was no longer there. Venir glanced about clearly confused for a moment as to where the time mage could have possibly gone in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Finally, she spotted Lekuna just outside of the restaurant. The time mage seemed fine much to Venir's relief so she slipped her heal card back into the holster.

"More!?" She sighed at the thought of having to fight more of these guys. She then glanced around the shop noting the owner cowering behind the counter. He seemed rather fearful of the thugs but at the same time he seemed a bit upset. "Oh!" It finally dawned on her as she looked at the destruction they had caused within the restaurant. Hesitantly, Venir went outisde to tap Lekuna on her shoulder. "I think we should probably keep this outside....We shouldn't destroy anymore of the chairs and stuff in here." Truth be told it would be much easier if they had some space to work with as well. "If we're lucky maybe the leader of the thugs'll show up! Then we can teach him a lesson! No one messes with Eclipse Soul mages!" She nodded as if to herself. Briefly, she noted the hammer in Lekuna's hands, a weapon she had never seen Lekuna use before. "I wonder what it does?" She figured she'd find out soon enough as a few figures appeared down the street. The sea breeze ruffled the young girl's hair, pushing her bangs up and out of her eyes. "Let's hope these are the last one's!" She sighed her grip tightening upon her blade.

Do you feel my heart beating?

made by Wolf of GS

MADE BY VEL OF GS

Venir nodded her head as if to say "no problem" to Lekuna, she didn't dare speak aloud though. Not while the men were approaching them. As the weaker of the three men spoke, Venir couldn't help but smile a bit. Finally, someone who was actually scared of the Eclipse Soul mages. "What an odd thought." She couldn't help but note with a small grimace at just how pleased she was that someone was actually afraid of her and Lekuna. Repressing the urge to chase down the one that fled Venir turned her attention towards her enemy on the right. "Best of luck." She breathed out to Lekuna, a little disappointed that they couldn't cut off the thugs at the head of their operation. "Oh well scaring them should be enough for now." With that thought in mind Venir took a deep breath, raising her sword as she stared down her opponent.

"Ahhhhhhh!" She yelled her standard battle-cry charging forward almost blindly at the man. Just as she reached him, swinging her sword downwards, the blade only sliced air. "Huh?" She could've sworn her enemy was right there. A sudden harsh shove from behind sent Venir sprawling forward and her sword clattered out of her hands. "What-" The man gave her a malicious grin, apparently having moved behind her before she attacked. "How'd he do that?" She couldn't fathom as to what sort of trickery the man had done, having not yet realized that her opponent was a mage. Once more, Venir attempted the same attack only to meet the same result. It was only when she was sent flying a second and then a third time did she take notice of her partner. "That guy's a sand mage then that must mean." She narrowed her eyes at the man she was currently facing. "He must be using magic to move around really fast then..." Gritting her teeth Venir once more clambered up to her feet, her sword in hand. Now all she had to do was figure out how to hit someone who much faster than herself.....or perhaps the man was teleporting? "I suppose I better figure that out first....Wait....How do I do that?" Somewhat distraught as to what to do Venir charged forward once more.

Do you feel my heart beating?

made by Wolf of GS

MADE BY VEL OF GS

Time and time again Venir stuck with her charging method only to meet the same result. "Ow!" She groaned out once more rolling across the stone pavement of the street. "Well, at least I figured out he's not teleporting..." The thought wasn't as comforting as she would have liked. She only figured out he was moving fast because if she focused hard enough she could feel a slight rustle in the air each time he moved by her. "I can't keep doing this..." She rubbed away at the few small scratched here and there. She was lucky, it seemed like the speedster was just toying with her right now, simply pushing her around. Venir didn't even want to imagine what it felt like if he actually went to attack. Despite just getting pushed around, it still hurt to be sent sprawling at high speeds. The bruises and scratches littered across her body attested to that.

Sending a tearful glance over to her opponent who seemed to be growing bored with this game, Venir had a sudden idea. "If I can't attack him...Then I'll defend." Slipping her hand into her card holster once more Venir found the perfect card. "Include!" She mumbled placing the said card upon her sword but there was no apparent change in the girl or sword even as the card was absorbed. "Here goes nothing!" Once more she raised her sword high above her head running at the man as fast as her legs could carry her. The moment the man seemingly disappeared from her sight, Venir knew what to do. Turning on her heel, Venir held her hand out bracing herself for the attack that she knew was to come. It seemed as if she was wide open and the man bought the bait, rushing towards Venir this time ready to throw a punch but his fist soon met with a barrier and the rest of hid body, moving to fast to slow down, hit the barrier as well. A rippling motion in the air in front of Venir soon gave way to a glimmering white shield that the man had run right into. He seemed dazed, as many would be if they ran full speed into a solid object. His hand seemed worse than his body though, bad enough for Venir flicker her red gaze elsewhere for a moment.

"Wait I have to finish him...." However the young girl paused looking at the still dazed enemy. Her sword was in hand, ready to deal the final blow when necessary but she could only stand and stare. She had never really attacked a human like this before, except for once. The shadow creatures and imps were different than this sort of thing. Closing her eyes the platinum haired child shakily raised the shining sword, that looked almost more deadly than usual in her gloved palms. After a moments hesitation Venir brought the blade down...

Do you feel my heart beating?

made by Wolf of GS

MADE BY VEL OF GS

The sharp ring of metal striking metal rang in Venir's ears. The parry that she received was unexpected allowing the blade to slip free of Venir's hands and the girl to be sent backwards. She hit the ground with a small grunt, for a moment the young mage was confused. She looked about almost in a daze, crimson irises catching the relieved and horrified expressions of the small crowd that had gathered, and more importantly she spotted the unconscious criminal as well as a certain time mage. The confusion was evident on her face for half a second before it vanished. "What was I thinking?" She echoed back suddenly unsure of herself, almost feeling wounded. She wasn't expecting to be scolded nor did she want to upset or even scare the time mage.

Before she could help it Venir found herself crying because unfortunately she didn't have an explanation or an excuse to give Lekuna. All she could repeat over and over was, "I don't know." or "I'm sorry." but any legitimate reason failed to fall upon her lips. She simply lacked the words to describe what had happened, instinct or some darker nature had taken over her. Instead of voicing this she let the tears and apologies spill forth from her lips and reached her arms out to the time mage. "Don't be mad Lekuna, I'm sorry I didn't know!" Now she was clinging onto the time mage all fear forgotten as the fear of scaring Lekuna away had taken its place. "Please!" She begged looking up through blurred vision at the woman. She held onto the other woman for what might have seemed like forever before loosening her grip. Sending a forlorn glance to the unconscious thug Venir released her magic, returning once more to her regular clothing, all weapons and evidence disappearing with it.

She sniffled once and then twice, her button nose scrunching up with the motion, before she once more took notice of the people around them. A scarlet blush dusted her pale cheeks and in embarrassment, the mage once more clung onto Lekuna, hiding her face in the mage's cloak. "C-Can we get food now?" She inquired, her voice muffled against the fabric. "And forget this ever happened?" She added as an after thought, not wanting to discuss her incident any further.

Do you feel my heart beating?

made by Wolf of GS

MADE BY VEL OF GS

"Different from goblins and monsters? As in they don't look alike?" She mumbled quietly so that those around could not hear her ignorance. On some fundamental level Venir understood the difference but it didn't stop the question from slipping through her teeth. Before she could fathom as to what made her ask such a silly question when deep down she knew the answer, Venir pushed that thought away. It was in her nature to push the negatives away, so focused on the positives that she simply had no room to focus on real problems involving others and herself. Or rather if there was a problem with someone else she'd desperately try to fix it but if she was somehow involved in that problem then it was simply better to ignore it. Much like how she ignored the many internal questions she had about her own actions at times, as well as her own curious existence, and lack of memory. Not to mention the fact that Venir was awfully quick to push the killing subject aside, wanting to neither discuss or acknowledge it further.

Once, she was assured that the time mage was not mad at her Venir seemed almost satisfied. She was still worried, perhaps anxious, and much like a kicked puppy she felt the need to redeem herself but didn't know how. At the mention of food her stomach grumbled loudly once more suddenly reminding her that she was indeed very hungry. A sudden pat on her back made her gaze nervously flicker up to Lekuna. That simple touch was almost confirmation that the time mage wasn't mad at her, and it almost had Venir back to her cheery self as if nothing ever happened. Yet still, she felt as if she had to tread lightly around Lekuna not wanting to get scolded by her twice in the same day, especially with how their missions seemed to be turning out recently. "I don't want Lekuna to not want to go on any more jobs with me. What if she leaves?" The worry struck her fast and hard enough to falter in her steps for a moment. However, that worry was quickly pushed aside as well, "Lekuna wouldn't leave."

The inside of the restaurant was already getting picked up by the owner by the time the two entered. The inside was pleasantly quiet compared to how outside had been with all the people. The silence only helped soften the chaos in the little girls head, helping her push all the recent events away. "All taken care of!" She beamed to the owner, who apparently didn't see the rest of the battle that had taken place. Once more, her stomach audibly grumbled inciting a laugh from the owner at the sound.

Do you feel my heart beating?

made by Wolf of GS

MADE BY VEL OF GS