Yami Shorts

 The Painting They all looked up at a large box. It was jet black, just like the rest of the walls of the chamber, almost like it was made of black glass and the whole room was littered by those glowing mushrooms. The box itself was black metal and covered with many black precious crystals and gemstones. In the centre was a padlock, also black. “Tell me-” Cerpheres darted to the lock and looked in the hole. He looked around the box. “What? Can’t pick it?” “Nope! That’s a trick lock…” He purred, more to himself. “And how do you know?” “There’s something wrong with the inside. It seems to be riddled with spikes, I assume that they have many nasty little things hidden in them to kill us. Also, by the size of the lock, it seems to be a holder of something, it could be something very, very nasty for us naughty lot!” “And what will help open it?” “I dunno. Do you have an idea, my dear?” Strena looked around. “Not on the box. Also I don’t think that this is the chest we’re looking for.” H...

 The Temple’s Traps After spending time in the shade Chashathrophogh stood up and looked at the group. “Right, time to get into the temple. So what should you do during this time?” “Look for the way in?” He looked at Cerpheres, deadpan. “What!” “Access the temple door. It seems to have no doorknobs. So there must be a way in by a puzzle so-” She spoke as she looked at the door and lightly stroked it, looking for anything out of place. “-all we need to do is find any gaps.” She looked at each edge but found nothing. She would have huffed at noticing very quickly that it was a dead end, until she saw the waves that she recognized engraved into the doors. Yet she walked away and walked to the side and looked at the doors at the left wall. To see that it was writing of her native land! “‘Let the royal speak their title to enter.’” She translated. “What’s that?” “What it says here. So-” “All royals must declare what we are as royals.” “Prince!” Said Cerpheres. Nothing happened. “Are you...

 Journey To The Temple  As it was night, they all decided to spend the night in the tavern. Yet, as she slept there, Strena looked at Orion and Darkector in her hands, thinking about what Chashathrophogh had said. That Phorap The Mad always wanted to visit the time before The Black. Yet, she too, now had that desire. She too wanted to know what was beyond the veil of nothingness that came before. She wondered if there were old relics of that time, hidden in those ancient tombs… “I wouldn’t think that there are.” Why not Orion? “The gods and goddesses of The First Age Of Gods snuffed them out.” Wonder why they did that? She thought as she drifted off. She woke up naturally early, feeling refreshed. She did not remember her dream, but all she did remember was the strange lion that she saw there. Well it was a lion that turned into a lamb and an eagle at will. The strange creature filled her heart with such peace that she had never experienced before. Yet they all had their bre...

 The Quest Board  Strena had just finished writing about all of Bash’s bounty hunts when she was approached by Chashathrophogh. She felt her stomach drop slightly yet she could strangely feel her heat increase as she tried not to look directly at him. Nor did she want to focus upon his handsome features. No, she had to focus on the fact that he would have killed her under any other circumstances and keeping as calm as she could. “That’s very neat handwriting.” He commented. “Thank you Master Chashathrophogh.” She said, trying to keep her voice as calm and emotionless as possible. “Alright! As I can sense that our dear Dark Lord and Dark Lady are somewhere behind us, probably near Animéga, I need all of you to sit down!” “Why?” “Who put you in charge?” “Do you want a punch my dear Prince Captain?” Cerpheres licked his lips and raised his eyebrow. “Don’t tease me!” He rolled his eyes. Bash and Zaryb pulled him down as Leonardo, an artist who they had picked up from Bash’s bounty...

 The Journey On It had been barely a day since they had taken in Corah Chorak and Bash could not help but think about what he had said to her about her and Strena. She had a deep frown in the centre of her forehead as she looked at the sand and the horizon. She could still feel the heat of the sun beating down upon her. She felt a coat of sweat all around her, with the potion protecting her skin, she knew that she did not need to care. “What are you thinking about?” Purred the oily voice of Cerpheres. She gasped and was about to punch him but resisted it. She looked back ahead. “Nothing much.” He smiled as he came close to her. “Doesn’t look like it! Come on! Tell me!” “No.” “Ohh! Why not?” “Don’t want to give you any ideas.” His eyes lit up slightly. “What like the idea of a fire tornado?” He purred as his face had already become red. “Which, I have to say, that was good. That was very good. It really was such a t-” She punched him, then he looked at her like she was an adorable...

 The Final Job “So are you going to stay here for a while?” Bash and Chashathrophogh called to Leonardo as he painted the temple and them. “No. I am known to be the fastest painter where I came from. Although that girl, Strena had potential to paint and work faster than me!” “Well, what do you expect! She has been trained by me!” “Finished!” He sang after half an hour and walked to the next town to the local bounty hunter’s tavern. “I’m going to see if there is a bounty hunter’s board here.” Bash said as she could feel the sun getting to her. She could also see that it was getting to Chashathrophogh too, regardless of how well he was able to mask it. So she soon found one and saw the poster on the board. “Found a good one?” She let out a cross between a scream and squeak as she accidentally punched Cerpheres. He smiled drunkly as his cheeks became coral. Yet he relaxed his face. “Tell me, when you left the bounty hunter’s tavern the other day, you looked very… flustered.” She roll...

 The Blood Priest  Of The Desert  Bash, after three and a half days traveling and becoming low on the sun protection potion, came to another bounty hunter’s tavern. Bash and Zaryb looked at the board as Cerpheres gave Strena another violin lesson. She looked to Zaryb by her side and noticed that he was quite handsome, however she immediately returned to the board knowing that she did not have the time for romance nor did she want to think anymore of it. The first thing she noticed that most of them were far too easy. Then she found one that caught her eye Jaha Bazel Murderer of the Pharaoh Mu Khutaat, All his siblings, wives and children and illegitimate children. Murderer of; Princess Jiro Of Animéga, Princess Joanna Of The West Kingdoms, Princess Ricco Of The Southern Western Kingdoms, King Jenmrogh Leona Of The Queendom Isles, Queen Jerroh Leona Of The Queendom Isles, Their children and illegitimate children, And Yenovanna Ruby Emerald Of The Stone Kingdoms Reward 100,...

 Another Job  They arrived at a bounty hunter’s tavern. Bash and Chashathrophogh felt the heat of the sun was beating down upon them. They could feel their skin burning as their bodies felt ice cold. However, they knew that protective spells and potions against the heat of the sun would be very pricey in this region. So she walked in with Strena and Zaryb. They looked at the jobs on the board and looked at each of the posters. Her eyes narrowed as they looked for their jobs. “What about this one Uncle Zaryb and Miss Bash?” “Too easy for us. Also it’s clear that Chash’ and Bash need the Sun potion so we need to take something that is on par with our level.” Bash looked at him, shocked. “Hold on, she’s on our level?” “Yeah, I train her day in and day out so that she would be stronger than your average woman twice her age.” She nodded as the took a glance at the girl. Then her eyes returned to the job board again. How hard did he train her? Hayan Hotta Murderer and Thief 10 Rubie...

 The Payment  “Here.” Bash said, returning the bag. He opened it and took out the he owed her before they left and reunited with the rest of the group. “So that’s where you went! I’ve been looking for you everywhere also, didn’t I say stay away from my niece l?” Cerpheres let out a false innocent laugh. “Ohh?” Chashathrophogh let out a sigh. “Anyway, time to look around this place for a bounty hunter station. You will get more if you do that.” Bash smiled at the thought of that. “And will you be sharing that little reward?” “No.” “Oh? But didn’t I-” “I would have taken him down myself. Also, I would have been able to find out if he had a bounty then-” That was when Zaryb and Chashathrophogh burst out laughing. The rest looked at them as they laughed. Zaryb clutched his stomach as they did. This led him to start coughing. He helped him stop. “What was that all about?” Strena asked. “Nothing!” “No? Come on! Tell us!” Cerpheres purred, draping his arms around their shoulders. “I...

 The Assassin And The Thief  They walked on, Bash looked at Leonardo. She could feel that there were things that he was not telling them. Something that was still bugging her. Almost that there was a beehive in the room that was buzzing far too loud. She wanted to ask him a question, but her gut told her that now was not the time to ask them. Yet she knew that he would have to ask him something that would satisfy her curiosity and to make that buzzing less louder. “Tell me, why did you come here?” “A woman approached me a couple of months ago when I was hiding in Accia. She told me to get to the Desert Planes.” “Hold on, weren’t we in Accia at one point?” Zaryb narrowed his eyes as he became pale. “Yes.” “Who was that woman?” “I don’t know. All she told me is to get help from the one with the Bastard Killer.” Chashathrophogh nodded as he looked at Bash. “And did she look blind Cerpheres, just with crimson eyes and jet black hair?” “Yes, she did!” He said, his eyes lighting up....

 The Job The group had arrived in the next town when night arrived. Cerpheres stretched and yawned. “Tired?” Cooed Chashathrophogh. “What do you expect?” He replied with a mock grumpy tone. “I’ve been on my poor little feet the whole day and I haven’t had a single break.” Badh and Chashathrophogh both had developed red faces and hands. Yet so did Cerpheres but his redness was milder. Even though both know that part of that redness was his blushing. “Yeah. I think that we need to take a moment to get out of the sun.” “See, she’s on my side!” “No. I’m not. I just want to get out of the sun and cool down. I can tell that this place is far too hot for us. How can people live here?” “The heat never bothered us! Also most of the water here is either hot or lukewarm.” “But it is cooler?” Suddenly, their skin felt like it was on fire. “I don’t know.” “Hold on, you don’t so happen to be Bash The Touchable?” Asked a random person. Bash turned around. “Yes. Why?” “I have a job for you.” “Wha...

 The Desert Planes  Strena, Bash, Zaryb, Chashathrophogh and Cerpheres handed in Captain Treeleaves. Then collected and shared the bounty equally. Then they approached one of the men that attacked Strena. “Tell me, why did you try to kill me?” She demanded. “We were ordered to.” “By who?” “The servant of the gods.” “What servant?” “The Marked Dragon Fox of the East.” “Does the mark look Animéganesse?” “Yes.” Strena saw Zaryb’s cruel face return, no this was the face of Wolfox. He looked at the man with a snarl. She heard him growl like a wolf. She looked at him alarmed. His face seemed more feral and animalistic too. “Urm…” “He can’t have the girl. She is mine! She is MINE! SHE IS MINE! ONCE THIS BODY IS DESTROYED, HER’S WILL BE MINE AND I WILL NOT SHARE HER WITH ANYONE!” Strena was struck with anger. “I will not!” He turned to her and grabbed her by the clothing in the chest and pulled her up. She had to grab his wrists. “Oh yes you will. That sword proves this as your destin...

 Docking It was a week after the ships came and they could see the sand of the Desert Planes. Strena felt a smile on her face. She felt her heartbeat increase as every cell in her body teemed with excitement. She was finally retiring home. She was really returning home. Her eyes lit up with a sense of nostalgia as she looked at the pyramids. Then the buildings and the people. Yet, as she looked at them, she noticed how dark their skins were darker than her’s. Maybe my skin will become as dark as it ought to be. Yet, as she looked at Zaryb she remembered the truth. Then she felt her excitement turn to focus. After all, she knew that this would help her learn more of the truth of her father. She also knew that she would have to be careful too. She could not afford anyone recognizing her. She also knew that this would be the place where her identity would most likely be exposed. “Are you-” “No. Just fealing……I don’t know.” Her eyes narrowed. “Not scared, but…..” “Concerned.” She nodd...

 A Defended Ship It had been a month and Strena had been training her magic and violin skills. Yet Zaryb covered her fighting skills and made sure that they were all at their peak for her age. During this time at night she wrote down all that they did and enjoyed her time with Bash. Bash had shown her how to truly laugh again and, even though she could tell that the girl was far from a feminine girl by nature, how to be a girl again. To not be this emotionless killing tool and weapon but a real girl, the version of herself untainted by her upbringing. Which, she found, she loved most. On the other hand, when he was not teaching her violin, Cerpheres played tag, hide and seek and all other childish games. This made her feel like an ordinary child again. These things she treasured dearly as she knew that her time in partaking in such things was running out. It was one of these mornings,when Cerpheres was playing tag with her, he tagged her and, as she chased the man to the downstairs...

 Magical Training Strena was still practicing on her violin. She finished her piece when she saw Chashathrophogh and Bash walking on the deck. He had a determined look in his eyes. She tried to ignore this as she put her violin away.  “Right, time to train you two!” He called. “You need to strengthen your magic.” Strena felt her ear prick. She wanted to stay and watch but she knew that the longer that she stayed the more suspicious Chashathrophogh would become. Then the more suspicious he would become, the more likely it would be that he would figure out what she was. Then it would be only a matter of time until he would kill her. So she walked to the door and reached out to the doorknob. “That includes you, Strena!” She closed her eyes in dread as her heart beat increased. Yet she thought that she could not out of this by playing like she did not know what he was talking about. “What?” She asked as innocently as she could. “Oh come on, you’re a child born out of wedlock.” “Wh...