Gustella, Eliona & Commander Filip Ryth
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The Province of Astral, Dayena City...
"These things hate the cold?" Eliona asks in annoyance as she pulls her cloak tighter around her in an effort to block out the chilling rain. "I happen to hate the cold too. I'm freezing."
"It's not cold enough," Ryth replies as he pauses next to a mystically powered wagon. He's trying to assess if the vehicle is in working order and can be used to transport the three of them to the embassy. "It needs to be cold enough to snow. When they get that cold the monsters hop back to their own reality. Do you gals get snow here?"
Once he's sure the wagon won't function, Ryth turns his attention skyward. He knows it will be snowing in Taroc. But here it's rain.
"Not this early into the season, and not for very long," Gustella answers him.
"Unless you want to ski, that is," Eliona offers.
"Ski?" Ryth asks as he continues leading the sisters down the street.
"During winter an artificial mountain is summoned, and a ritual is cast to create snow and cold over the mountain," Gustella explains. Her tone is apologetic, as if dealing with her sister's ridiculous observation is beneath a hero of the Great War.
"Nah, I don't think we'll have time for skiing," Ryth mutters as he crouches beside an overturned air chariot. He scans the streets ahead. The two sisters crouch right beside him.
"That's a shame, I do enjoy skiing," Eliona whispers.
Ryth enjoys a small smirk. He doesn't have it in him to laugh right now. He glances at the sisters.
"I didn't get your names," Ryth realizes aloud.
"Eliona, and this is my sister, Gustella," Eliona replies while she leans against the chariot, seeking to hide away from the rain.
"Is there anything we should know about the Grimal?" Gustella whispers to Ryth.
"Huh?" Ryth mutters as he searches the surrounding streets once again. "Oh, sure. They hate cold. Uh- They're bigger than we can see. There's more to them than a cat body and the head-thing. That's how they catch people, with their invisible limbs. So if they catch you, swing that hatchet, and you'll hit some part of them. Um... They can't feed on someone if anyone is watching."
"What?" Eliona asks.
"I don't know how they do it," Ryth struggles to explain, as he rises from the fallen chariot and continues to lead the women down the street. "They just make people disappear. That's how they feed and kill. But they can't do that if someone is looking at them. They catch someone, and drag them off to where no one can see them. Then they feed, and that person is gone."
"That's what happened with Savill and Zezilia," Gustella says with a distant voice.
"We'll put a stop to this," Ryth assures Gustella, as he leads the sisters through a courtyard. "We'll find out who's doing this, and make them pay."
Gustella offers the man a thankful smile. Making someone pay for these horrors won't bring her friends back, it won't erase the pain and loss, but it will save others. It will get justice for those she lost.
Eventually, the three emerge from the courtyard and onto the street in front of the Taroc embassy. Ryth pauses as he looks upon the wide structure of proud marble and tall windows. He should be seeing guards around the embassy. There should be someone watching over this tiny pocket of Taroc. Either the guards moved inside of the building to find a more defensible position, or they've been taken and devoured by the Grimal beasts.
After a moment to weigh his options, Ryth approaches the embassy. The sisters follow after him. When Ryth is several paces from the front door there is a small glimmer of red and gold light around the doorway, as the embassy recognizes a member of the High Guard and unlocks the wards in place over the door.
Ryth enters the building. His pistol is held at the ready. Behind him walks Gustella and Eliona. The younger sister still holds the chilled elemental hatchet. Eliona clutches her rain-drenched cloak tightly around herself.
The inside of the embassy is silent. Every move the trio makes echoes through this place, as there is no other noise to compete with. The lights are dim, as if this place is balanced between darkness and a spark of the light that should fill its many halls and chambers.
Eventually, they discover the guards and embassy staff. They're scattered throughout the halls. Lying on the floor, trapped in a deep sleep. Ryth crouches beside one of the slumbering guards and shakes him. The sleeping man remains asleep.
"What happened?" Gustella whispers. Ryth silences any further questions by holding up a hand to her. He's listening to the embassy. Ryth can almost detect something, some noise, deeper into the structure.
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