An arrow skimmed the side of my face, they're after me. I guess this was apart of the job. Remind me to never do this job again. I quickly ran across each tree branch, glancing back to see them still following me. 

*Snap* I suddenly felt the tree branches leave my footing. A hard impact slammed against my back. I took a second as the wind was knocked out of me. I slowly leaned up, bones crackled in my back. Loud growls and snarls caught my ears. I blinked for a second before seeing many monsters of all different colours and sizes.

"You had to be j-" A dagger came flying at me. *Thunk* It was so close to being nailed in my forehead, I felt sorry for the tree who took the hit. 

"Human meat. . ." One snarled. 

"Oh, you don't want me. There were humans with more meat on them, that way." I pointed to the left. Their heads turned to the left, and while they were doing that, I took the chance and threw my katana into a tree. Making me teleport onto the sword. I pulled it out and made a run for it.

"Sayonara! Suckers!" I laughed and bolted away from them. Your probably wondering why they are after me. Well, I took the contract to get some valuable items back, for the towns people. By the time I got back to the town of Brimsbord, I was out of breath. Dad is going to be so made if he found out I was on the outside of the kingdom, and not training the Glaive. 

The small town was a lively place. Sadly they didn't have much income in the first place. I stepped into the town, having my leather boots caked with mud. I stopped in front of a small tavern called: Choco Tavern. I knew the guy who assigned me to do the job was there. I gripped the small leather sachet. Inside the tavern stunk like booze, smoke, and sweat. Small candles on every table lit up the room. I saw my guy. He was sitting in the corner of the room smoking. Two men sat on each side of him, and he was in the middle. I tossed the items in a small potato sack onto the table. They were stunned at first. The man in the middle flicked his cigarette, and looked inside the bag. Nodding in response.

"Gentleman, I believe we've came to an agreement." I placed a hand on my hip.

"Yes. We have." I waited for them to pull out my gil they promised. 

"Where is my gil you promised? You promised me 10 k gill! Now, where is it!?" I was getting a bit impatient.

"Feel a sharp pain?" Both men laughed. I furrowed my brows as that was not too cool to say. Suddenly two men came up from behind me and grabbed my shoulders. Turning my head left and right.

"We had a deal!" I growled. 

"Well, you just have to decide who to trust." He chuckled as I was being dragged away. I struggled to get out of their grip.

"Hey! Hands off the jacket!" I fumed. The door of the tavern was opened and I was chucked, face first, into the mud. I slowly lifted my face from the sticky, wet, mud. I slowly stood up and wiped my eyes then my tongue. I was caked in mud, head to toe, at least my backside is pretty okay. Off in the distance I noticed something. Someone with a green cloak was holding a glowing pink gem. It was as big as a small satchel. They placed it in a sack and flipped it over their back. That gem protected the small town. Every kingdom and town had one. It was the only reason why the monsters could never find the towns or kingdom. But they were so close to the town border! I took off running after the thief.

"Hey! Stop right there!" I shouted. Man! I must have looked like a crazy hobo. . .

My silverish-white hair, my face, my jacket, pants, stomach, cropped top, was all covered in mud. 

This person was fast. They glanced back at me and ran out of the town, and went towards the forest. I bolted after them, but they disappeared. . . I went around trees and found no sign of the thief.

I sniffed the air as I smelled the scent of gun powder. I followed the trail of gunpowder and then saw a floating anchor. It was starting to float upwards. I made quick work off the ground and into the trees. I took my chance and leaped forward, trying to catch that anchor. I really hoped this time I wouldn't fall. I grasped onto the cold chain, and wrapped my legs around it. The anchor was now raised above the forest. It didn't take long before I climbed onto the ship. Shivers crept their way up my spine. It was smart for the thief to hide their ship in the clouds. No one was at the wheel of the ship. 

I walked down the steps ever so slowly. This ship had the creepy vibes all of a sudden. A swift 'swoosh' sounds was heard. I had no time to react, I was knocked on my bottom. I quickly stood on my feet once more, and took a look around. There was no one there. . .

I closed my eyes and listened to my surroundings. Wind, heart rate, the sound of my weight on the boards, found them!

I grasped onto my katana and spun around again. Sparks flew as I only saw glowing golden eyes. Who were they?

A golden aura surrounded my katana and made my hands burn. Dropping my katana in response, server burns started to appear on my hands.

"Who are you?" I growled. They then chuckled and took out two dual daggers and started swinging at me. I had a back up plan. I took both hatchets from my waste and started blocking and attacking. They were dressed in a dark cloak, the hood obscuring their facial expressions. They started to push me back, backing me up the steps and close to the wheel.

"Just give me the gem, and I will be on my marry way!" I shouted. 

"Why should I do that?" They asked. Suddenly we both fell lopsided. The wheel of the ship started spinning rapidly. The ships started to tip. The large pink gem slid out of the bag and down the floor. The thief regained their balance and took position to turn the wheel. Meanwhile, I leaped to get the gem. Sliding down the ship deck, like a penguin. It was going to fall off the ship! I took the chance and leaped off the ship. I grasped onto the gem and held onto it tight. In that second of falling, I realised I didn't have a plan 'b' of landing. 

I should have thought this through. . .  I thought.

A rope suddenly wrapped itself around my ankle. My body jerked forward and all of the blood rushed to my head. The rope was tugged and I was slowly getting pulled up. This wasn't too satisfying but who is to complain?

When my feet touched the deck once more, a blade was tossed at me. They're still at it?!

I made it in time and dodged out of the way. I leaped to get my Katana and hatchet. More daggers were tossed at me. I quickly did a roll and I swung my hatchets at them. I stooped in time before it hit their throat. They froze in place.

"Who are you, thief?" I looked them dead in the eyes.

"You think I would answer to you?" They chuckled. I suddenly felt a impact to my gut, as I now landed on my bottom. They kicked me in the gut! By the time I looked back up, it was too late!

Suddenly, out of no where a sound of metal hitting metal. Sparks flew and next thing I knew was. . . I was not dead!

"That's enough, Winter! We don't want a dead girl to stain the wood of the deck, do we?" A sweet voice spoke. 

"Fine, fine. Have it your way, Arium." Winter chuckled and placed her swords where her belt was.

This Arium person then re-drawed back her sword. She then offered me a hand, in which I gladly took.

The fog and clouds suddenly vanished, and the sky was a beautiful blue. The sun was shining high in the sky, the sudden gust of wind blew through my hair. It felt nice. All of a sudden I happened to notice the features of both. To my surprise the thief was a female?

She had shining goldish eyes, and long blond ping tails. She was slim and had a devilish vibe about her. Arium had snowy white and blue hair, and blue eyes. With an innocent look about her. A ice blue gem was in the middle of her chest. I thought it went great with her outfit. 

"Thanks for saving me back there, Arium. You have my gratitude." A small smile tugged at her lips.

"Oh! No need to thank me! Winter is always like that, she always looks for a good challenge." I could see why she fought so hard with me.

"What's her occupation, a thief?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Not necessarily, ma'am." Winter chuckled at the wheel. I slowly walked over to her.

"I don't go by: ma'am. And you haven't answered the question." I kept my eyes fixed on Winter.

"I am a Sky Pirate. I never stay in one place, I collect bounty and steal precious things for a good amount of gil." I then happened to notice the ring on her right hand.

"And Arium over there?" I questioned.

"Well. . . It's a long story. Her and her broth Weiss sailed over seas for. . . reasons. They are the last of the Dragon Tamers. They can control dragons, but I personally don't know what happened to her brother." It was super interesting for me to meet a Sky Pirate and a Dragon Tamer. Now, I was going to question that ring.

"Where did you get that ring? Did you steal it?" I glanced up at her. I knew where that ring was from. Only the royalty of my Kingdom could bier such a ring. It the only thing that keeps the crystal in the sky protected.

"Why do you want to know?" She was making me look a bit suspicious.

"If you don't tell me right now. That finger is not going to see another day." In all actuality. . . I was joking. I don't ever think I could do that to someone. 

"A little while ago. . . I found out I was the second cousin to the Lucis Caelum family." It was like time stopped. She was family to me? 

"Why the long face? Who are you?" I didn't know if I should bow or not. So. . . I did it anyways.

"Hey, hey. No need for the royal bull, we keep this a secret." She winks.

"My name is uh. . . Breanne. And I am a high ranking officer of the Glaive." Damn! I wish Father would promote me to a General position.

"No last name?!" She questioned, tilting her head.

"Nope." Maybe I shouldn't have lied to her.

* * * *

I knew we were about to get off in my Kingdom. But for some reason something didn't feel right. My gut was telling me something. It was drawing me to the ground, more than the sky. 

"Lower the anchor. . ." I quietly stated while looking down on the side of the ship.

"Wait. Why are we lowering anchor?" Arium asked.

"Something doesn't feel right. I need to find out what's this feeling telling me." I turned my head back and looked at Winter. She nodded and I heard a *click* sound. The anchor lowered into whatever was below. I took the chance to back up and leap off. I had to admit but my recklessness might get me killed one day. The day will probably come. . . I grasped onto the anchor and started sliding down, when I was at about ground level I dropped and started sprinting. Many grunts, slices, and roars, were heard off in the distance. Before I knew it my eyes met a blood bath. Most of the Glaive were getting slain. Many men and woman were trying to fight all of these beasts off. There was soon too many of them. I then noticed a familiar face.

"You majesty! What are you doing here?" A brown haired female replied with widened eyes.

"Crowe, what happened?!" I asked, then dodging to the side and slamming my hatchet down into the skull of another monster. Crowe and I go way back. She moved to the outer edge of 

"We came looking for you! Your father is worried sick!" We then went back to back as they were starting to come from all side. Eventually Arium and Winter joined the fight. Both were very skilled in combat. But what all of us didn't know was: there was someone hiding behind a tree. He was about 6 ft 2, with red-violet hair, amber eyes, and strong facial features. He appears to be middle-aged and dresses in a black trench coat and pinstripe trousers, an attire he is said to have acquired when he became the chancellor of Niflheim. He wears a red scarf and a hood. I glanced at the home that was nearby, thinking it was our only shot to see why what they were trying to get at. 

"Everyone! Inside now!" Most of the Glaive already got out of there. We took the chance to flee into the home. Winter kicked it open and we all went inside. As we tried to close the door, it just wouldn't shut! I looked to the floor to see some pieces of the lock had fell off. 

"Winter, you broke the lock. . ." I looked from the lock and back to her. The door kept trying to fly open, when suddenly Winter pressed her back to the door. The air became very panic like. Suddenly Crowe started to help Winter. 

"The door is not going to hold much longer!" Crowe grunts. Meanwhile, Arium takes out her daggers. If this goes south, then we're dead!

I noticed Arium wasn't much of a fighter, but when she had to she would fight. Her hands trembled when holding her daggers. Something must have triggered her. I took a quick second, and glanced around the room. It was only a one floor cottage. There was a small kitchen to the left, to the right side of the door there was a living space, and down the middle there was a small kitchen table with six chairs. This place looked to be well kept for an old home. My attention was caught back to the door still trying to open. It looked like it was going to fly off the hinges any moment.

Suddenly the rattling of the door stopped. Silence took form, and it was suddenly very quiet. The four of us gave each other odd glances. Crowe pulled back the white, lace, curtains of the kitchen.

"There leaving. . ." Did they have enough, or was it the fact they gave up?

Winter suddenly slid her back down the door, and sat on the old floor.

"Well, that's something you don't see everyday." Winter chuckled. My right ear then moved from a small sound. I have a feeling we're not alone. . .

"I sense that someone is here." Arium replied with her eyes closed.

"Crowe, check out side, Winter check in here, and Arium you come with me." I ordered the three.

"On it." Crowe then opened the door as it completely fell off the hinges and hit the floor.

Winter started checking around the closet areas near the living room, and Arium and I checked around the dinning area. Arium placed her hand forward and closed here eyes, it was like she could sense through sound.

She then opened her eyes and glanced back to me.

"There is someone on the other side of this wall. . ." 

"How? There is no door way." The only thing I could thing of: there might be a passage nearby. I then saw a beautiful white and black banner with a sword and a lily crest. Something about this banner I knew. 

"This is the banner of the Kay family, a long living generation of honrable warriors. why would it be all the way out here?" I mumbled to myself. It was very strange. . . There family was wiped out a long time ago by the Daemons. 

I then shifted the banner to the side to see a small hidden entrance. Placed both of my hands on the wall and pushed it forward. Small gears turned inside the wall and made the door shift. I entered the room without knowing what was going to be in here. It had lots of light in it from the small window. It seemed to be only a bedroom. I slowly investigated the room. My boots made clicking sounds to the old floor as it creaked and shifted. I suddenly shouted in pain as a sudden hole was in my boot I grabbed my boot as it was staring to feel hot and burning. 

"What's wrong?!" Crowe came running in.

"Someone blew a hole in my foot." I hissed in pain as I fell on the floor. Suddenly a grunt was heard and I turned my head to see Winter had pulled the floor boards up and dragged someone by the arm out. It was a female with long, lustrous, ebony hair, with a bit of red in the inner lair of her hair.

"Who are you?" Winter growled. The shy girl's eyes and mine connected, she was frighten what might happen next.