Chronicles of Metal: Chapter 9 - Reap what you Sow

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Beard stood at the cathedral's lookout, watching the smoke rise into the distance against the darkening night sky. Hashigin was on fire. It'd been only a day since they returned from the town, and the timing of this just didn't sit right with him. Vespa and Hexis stood with him, awaiting a couple of Vespa's underlings to return with news.

The door to the lookout gently creaked open, and Tao peered out to join them. "Are they back yet?" She asked earnestly.

Beard shook his head. He didn't like this one bit. They'd been there only a day ago, and weren't aware of any other settlements around, as far as they knew. This felt too ominous to just be random.

Lost in his thoughts, Beard didn't notice that Tao hadn't arrived alone until a new voice spoke up. "My lady?"

They all looked back to find another NCP, another of Vespa's underlings. A small, childlike woman with jet black hair and shiny red eyes. Her limbs where black and segmented like an insect, but her head and torso looked human enough. Aside from her completely red, glassy eyes. Wearing a Japanese kimono, she too would've almost passed as human, if it weren't for the six black spider legs attached to her back.

The arachnid girl lowered her head. "We've finished securing all entrances."

"Very good Ragni." Vespa nodded slightly. "Remain on standby until further notice."

The girl quickly nodded, and backed up to wait next to Tao. A moment later however, Hexis looked up. "Boss?" He nodded upriver, drawing their attention to two objects approaching. "Looks like they're back."

Sure enough, two more NCPs approached the lookout. The first was a large gorilla like monster, but with a beetle like exoskeleton and a long-forked horn upon its insectoid head. A set of insect wings folded away beneath a shell on it's back, and it landed on the roof on the other side of the railing with a thud. The other stood about the size of a small man, with similar insect like features to it's companion. Where it differs through was a furry mane encircling a deer skull like head, and a huge pair of moth wings that folded away like a cape as it came to rest on the railing.

"Falena." Beard addressed the moth-man, then turned to the gorilla-beetle. "Scarafaggio..." These two, alongside Ragni, made up the Lieutenants of Vespa's army. Not as strong as one of the floor guardians on their own, but a potent threat none the less. "What did you see?"

"Exactly what we expected, master Beard." Falena placed a hand over his heart and bowed, speaking in a formal tone not unlike a butler. "The city has fallen into chaos. Flames have engulfed a number of structures."

Grimacing, Beard asked the obvious question. "Are they under attack?"

The two exchanged a glance, but Falena shook his head. "No master. We did not see any enemy forces, nor any trail that would have left behind in a hasty retreat."

That was... Oddly comforting. "An accident then?"

Again however, Falena shook his head. "I do not believe so." That seemed to come as a shock to everyone. "The fires are too... How should I say... Strategic, to have spread accidentally. The gatehouses on either side of the river have been set ablaze, as have a number of buildings throughout the city. But there is very little evidence to suggest the fires are spreading. They all seem localized to the buildings where they began."

Silence fell over the outlook once more as everyone contemplated the news. Well... Almost everyone. "What's that mean?" Tao blurted, voicing the question on everyone's mind.

The obvious answer was arson. Someone went around setting a bunch of fires as a distraction. Something to keep the town guard occupied while whoever set them did whatever they where doing. Beard and his companions had used it several times while playing in YGGDRASIL. A few players attack a big monster to lure it away from its nest, while a second team sneak in and steal the treasure it had been guarding. A simple trick, but obviously very effective.

"Master?" Tao spoke up again, sounding a little worried. "What do we do?"

Again, the answer was obvious. Any one of them had the power to put out a majority of the fires singlehanded. But, Beard just couldn't seem to muster the resolve to care. Whatever it was didn't involve them in the slightest, so why would they bother? It wasn't the first time either. Little things that used to annoy him before hardly bothered him now. But this was the first time it'd involved loss of life. Seeing how little he seemed to care about the plight of these people he'd spent time with not so long as a day ago genuinely took him aback.

"Hey boss?" Hexis spoke up again, breaking his train of thought. "We've got company."

One of his four arms pointed towards the riverbank. A small horse cart was speeding along the bridge, with a handful of riders in hot pursuit. "What the hell?" Beard snatched a pair of binoculars and peered out. He wasn't sure he'd caught a name, but he recognized the driver instantly. It was the fishermen; the same one he and Isabella had met during their venture into town. The girl too, Hazel, road in the back of the cart.

"That looks like our fishermen." Hexis croaked.

Vespa jumped up onto the railing to see for herself, but her eyes widened the moment she lay eyes on the approaching cart. "Master, is that her?" She asked abruptly. "From the restaurant you spoke of? She is the one you and Lady Isabella encountered?"

"Looks like it." Beard nodded, lowering the binoculars. "That's the town guard too. What the hell are they doing out here?"

Instantly, Vespa whirled around and dropped to one knee, lowering her head. "Please master, allow me to help them."

Again, Beard didn't know what to think. His first instinct was to offer aid as well, but he'd been unable to justify it just as he had last time. The diminutive NCP seemed to have no trouble with that though, so much so that he didn't know how to respond. "W-what?"

"Please." She urged. Falena, Scarafaggio, and Ragni all took a knee as well, mimicking their commander. "That food you brought us was some of the best we've ever had. If they are the ones responsible, I would like to aid them however I can."

Beard almost laughed at her. All this was over food? He had to admit, it was good, but this seemed like a bit of an overreaction. At the same time though, it impressed him how quickly Vespa had been able to jump into action. As always, her intentions were entirely unselfish. She was just looking to repay the one who'd fed her solders. Before the calming wave washed over him, he felt the slightest tinge of guilt that he'd hesitated to do the same.

"You know what? Go for it." Vespa looked up, a face full of gratitude, but Beard wasn't finished yet. "Only you though. We don't need to go making a scene just yet." Vespa stood at attention, as he three lieutenants all bowed once more. "Hexis, go with her. But stay out'a sight and only engage if they have a surprise for us. This is Vespa's fight."

The corpse tipped his hat and rose to his feet. "You got it, boss."

"Thank you master." Vespa bowed her head again. "I'll make the guild proud."

Aoi bucked the rains again, trying to goad as much speed out of the horse as she could. She and Hazel had gained a bit of ground when they turned onto the bridge leading to the cathedral. The town guards still hesitated to approach the dark building, but seemed to get over that when they saw their quarry getting further away. Their cart didn't fare quite as well on the hard, uneven stone of the bridge, and it wasn't long before the guards were gaining on them once more.

The shadow of the cathedral fell over them, they were getting close now. Aoi yanked on the rains and the horse neighed loudly. It stomped it's hooves, bringing the cart to a scratching halt. Aoi tumbled from the seat, bouncing off the hard stone bridge with an abrupt grunt.

"Aoi!" Hazel hopped from the bed of the cart and ran to her side. "Aoi, get up!"

Her voice made Aoi's head ring, but she forced herself to her feet and grabbed Hazel by the shoulder. "Run!" She barked, dashing the few short meters to the large double doors of the cathedral. "Hey!" She screamed, pounding her fist against the door. "Please, let us in!" She continued to pound away, holding Hazel tight against her waist. Someone had to be here. Aeirfin had said there was. She couldn't have just ran her and Hazel out here for nothing. Just to be run down and captured, or whatever else these guards had planned for them. "We need help! Please open the-."

Suddenly she lost her breath. A sharp pain erupted in her shoulder and her arm dropped. She lost her balance, slowly falling over on her side in shock. Her head was swimming. Her eyes unfocused. For a brief second, she forgot where she was or what she was doing. All she could think about was the intense pain in her shoulder.

"Aoi!" Hazel's voice snapped her back to the moment, looking up to see her teary-eyed face bawling down at her. She sat up and reached over her shoulder, finding the shaft of an arrow jutting out of her back. "A-Aoi!" Hazel stuttered again, her face a mess of tears and snot.

"Well, well..." Another voice approached. Aoi instinctively wrapped her good arm around Hazel and pulled her in close, glaring back over her shoulder as one of the guards approached. "Was this worth it?" He asked, cocking a condescending eyebrow. "Running all this way, to this god-forsaken place? Only to have us drag you back?"

He and the other guards chuckled. Hazel collapsed into her lap, sobbing uncontrollably into her chest. Aoi however, had a plan. She'd forgotten in the frantic chase, but she still had one of her fishing knives on her. Buckled in a tiny scabbard on her belt. It was small, and not meant for fighting. But it was better than nothing. Worse came to worse she'd defend the pair of them with that.

Sure enough, the guard reached out for them, and Aoi sprung into action. She shoved Hazel away and leapt to her feet. Ripping the blade from its sheath, she aimed the blade at the gap in armor between his chest and shoulder. She was too slow however. He pushed her hand off course, letting the blade snap against his chest plate. He shoved her back, his hand hitting the front of her injured shoulder.

Instantly the pain paralyzed her, and she dropped onto her backside again. The guard stumbled away in surprise as Aoi's knife dropped to the floor in pieces. The others whooped and laughed at her attempt, but the guard she'd struck out at was furious. "Damn bitch." He growled, drawing his sword. "Don't know when to give up, do you?"

"Hurry it up!" One of the others yelled at him. "Just kill her and grab the kid. I wanna get the hell out'a here!"

"No!" Hazel ran to her side, tightly wrapping her arms around Aoi's neck. "Leave us alone!"

He snorted, grabbing Hazel by the hair and pulling her from Aoi's grasp. "Whatever." She kicked and cried as hard as she could, but was helpless within the guard's grasp. "The Viscount won't miss one girl."

The guard raised his sword, and Aoi's blood froze. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't let them take Hazel. She needed help. Someone, anyone. Anyone who could help them. The second she had that thought, she heard a slight click behind her, and the slow groan of a slowly opening door.

She looked back, just as a small glint of light shot over her head, and a plomb of dust erupted from the bridge behind him with a loud crack. The guard stumbled a look of surprise on his face. His grip on Hazel loosened, and his sword slowly fell from his hand. "Wha...?" He gasped, clutching at a small dint in his chest plate. A dint that began to bleed profusely when he removed his hand.

He sunk to his knees and slumped over, dead before he even hit the ground. Before Aoi could fathom what had just happened, something else flew past her. She didn't know what it was, only that it resembled a small human. A very small human. Only a couple feet tall, but with porcelain white skin and small horns clad in a red cloak. Whatever it was pulled something from the spot where the bridge had seemingly exploded. Again, she didn't know what it was. It resembled a spade or farming tool, but the way this tiny creature held it made it resemble a spear. A tiny spear.

The thing raised the weapon to point at the remaining perplexed guards. "If anyone tries to touch them..." It said in a commanding voice. "You'll contend with me."

Aoi could hardly believe her eyes. She wished for someone to save her and Hazel, and someone arrived just as the guard was about to kill her. Well, something, had arrived. She still wasn't exactly sure what, let alone who, it was. But it barked a challenge to the remaining five guards like a guard dog.

A challenge that her small stature could not convey. Looks of shock and surprise slowly morphed into mocking laughter and distain. "Will we, now?" One of the still mounted guards barked, prompting them all do draw their weapons. "Little thing like you doesn't look like much of a threat to me." The creature spun its weapon over in its hand, daring him to try. Snorting, the guard did just that. "Fine, you die first!" With a single buck, he and his horse surged forwards.

The creature didn't even move, even as they drew within spitting distance. All at once there was an explosion of motion. The diminutive creature flew forth, it's tiny spear colliding with the surprised guard's sword in mid air. However, it was the guard who lost the struggle. His horse took off running, but he remained in mid air for a moment. When he fell, it was onto the stone railing of the bridge, just barely catching himself from tumbling into the frothing river below.

The creature landed, deflecting an arrow one of the other guards had loosed. Faster than lightning, it grabbed the first guard's sword, turned, and flung it the guard holding the bow. The blade buried deep into his chest, straight through his armor, and he dropped just as quickly as the first.

Aoi could barely follow what was happening. It wasn't just that her sight was beginning to darken around the edges, but things were happening to fast for her to fathom. The creature charged into the three remaining men. The first stepped up to strike, only to be launched several meters into the air. On the way down the thing caught him by the arm and swung him into the next guard, sending them both over the edge to the falls below. The last guard looked like he tried to stop, but stumbled as the creature passed his leg. He fell one way while his severed leg fell another, but before he could hit the ground, the thing grabbed the back of his armor and yanked him to the ground with impossible speed. Aoi couldn't see what happened to him, but the sickening wet crunch gave her a pretty good idea.

"Dammit." Aoi's breath caught in her throat, as the one guard that'd charged at them was trying to clamber back over the side of the bridge. "What the hell is that?"

Faster than anything, the creature landed on the raining before him, picking the man up by the scruff of his armor. Despite its diminutive size, it held the man aloft over the side of the bridge with just one arm. It didn't do anything after that, just glared daggers into the terrified man. "My name is Vespa Chibisting." It spoke again, in a noticeably female tone. "And you will not harm those two ever again."

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