"Gods damn it all," Vandal cursed as he dug his fingers into his bag, "I'm all out of charges."
Moryuu put his hand in a pocket and pulled out some lead weights, ones that looked like they came from the fishing shop.
"Happened to pass by," he said offering the balls to him, "go on, you'll need them."
"My thanks again," said Vandal with a smile.
Again, the stranger had made him suspicious. How did he know about the shop and my use for it? Regardless, he did not feel unsafe with him, though he felt this man had been spying on him and his companions.
Up ahead, a pillar stood, glistening in the rain.
"This again?" uttered Vandal.
"Part of the shift," said Moryuu.
"Shall we?"
"Of course."
Van placed his hand upon the wet surface and let his energies flow. He felt the stone vibrate at his touch and felt the water part from the surface. The grooves began to glow, and, where his hand was, the stone split. The grotto created was big enough to fit his arm through.
"Let's see what the gods have in store for me," joked Vandal as he wrapped his fingers around something wooden.
"What is it?" asked Moryuu.
"My, my," said Vandal, stunned, "this ... how ... in here of all places?"
His eye did not lie to him. The twisted grip had swirls of scarlet and black, suggesting it was made from the wood of the Cye Tree, an ancient species that was believed to have vanished with the Great Magus thousands of years ago in Aventyne. The metal was constructed out of an alloy of brymstone, an extremely rare metal thought to be found in the veins of the twelve hells; the demon kings would make swords and armor with it according to myths.
"Are you alright, Vandal?" asked Moryuu leaning into him.
"This is a weapon of legends," muttered Van, "yet here, I have obtained it so easily."
"Is that so?"
"Only two are known to exist back home. My mentor, Winston, has one."
"What about the other?"
"I guess ... this must be it."
Something about the appearance of this pistol made him feel closer to home. He inspected the dogs: each one had an enchanting gem locked in place, one a diamond, and the other an onyx.
"Bet your just itching to try it out, eh?" Moryuu patted him on the back.
Van nodded, smiling like a fool, and let the legendary pistol hang on his belt.
Farther down the road he had an opportunity to use it. A group of umbras had gathered around something, most likely to feast on some unfortunate beast. Or maybe someone. Anxiety gripped Van's heart. He immediately fired Leonette at the crowd, forgetting all about his little prize. Please, don't be Nu, he hoped.
Moryuu sprang closer, swinging his tonfas at the dark creatures. When he saw their meal, he sucked air through his teeth.
"Vandal," Moryuu said solemnly, gesturing the gunner forward to look at the corpse.
Before them lay Ladnavia's half-eaten corpse, a large cut across her throat.
"If it wasn't me," said Vandal flatly, "it would have been someone else."
Moryuu frowned at the body, and Vandal sensed disappointment in his expression. Strangely enough, he found himself remembering one memory of him and his now-dead wife.
King Hardigan's son and his friends once cornered him in the courtyard and threw rotten fruit at him. "You don't belong here, poacher's boy," they had shouted, "this isn't a pigsty, you know?" Ladnavia saw his torment and stepped in. She struck one of his abusers, the son of a vassal, in the face with a shovel the gardeners had left lying around. As the bully bent over to pick up his teeth, Hardigan's son and the rest ran off with the others. "Stand up, my future husband" Ladnavia had said, "you are embarrassing me."
Did she do that for me, Van questioned himself, or for herself? The memories of her cruelty against him and others made him accept the latter.
"I have no time to waste, Moryuu," said Van as he reloaded both Leonette and the pistol, "I have to find my friends."
Behind a corner, they heard voices. The duo ran into a coffee shop and hid behind the counter. The talking grew louder as they walked down the street. Van peeked over just enough to see who it was.
Gideon, Magpie, and Caecius marched through the rain. Caecius carried Nu, who was knocked out. Nu ... but what about the others?
"What do you plan to do?" asked Moryuu when the group had gone.
"I'm going to follow them," answered Van.
VANDAL'S INVENTORY:
BULLETS: 9/12
BANFROW: 50%
10% used per shot
The pistol:
Credit to Pinterest
ns 18.68.41.177da2
