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"I...don't know, we'd have to talk to Engel about that once we get back. But I wouldn't exactly be too surprised if that were the actual case."

He watched patiently as Vahn began to explain the situation to Hono, but it wasn't too long before he found himself sidling over to the cot that held Tellus, sitting himself down with tail curled around his legs.

There were fluctuations all over the magical board with the girl...he could actually feel her struggling against the tides.

This seriously needs looking into... A clawed hand placed itself gently on her forehead, his thoughts deep. But not yet...not til we get to Hollow...

There's supposedly this myth about heavy fighters.

-Tak, tak, thoomp-

I guess people think they have a lot of room for attack absorption and can take a lot of pain or something.

-Krishh-

"AAGRRH!"

I haven't met one yet that I didn't put down in 5 or less moves.

-Poom-

Reiko walked over to his bulky opponent who had his face burried into the ground in front of him. There he stood over the fallen one for a moment, analyzing the damage he had done to his opponent. He was moving. But it wasn't the kind of movement you make when you're about to get up. It's was the kind where it hurt so bad that you had to focus on something like odd short thrusts of your leg outwards to relieve the immense pain. Pretty much kin to jumping around holding your leg after being kicked kicked in the shin.

Suddenly a skinnier man came up behind Reiko and slid his arms under his, interlocking his hands behind Reiko's head. Arching back slightly to keep Reiko from maintaining his footing.

You always encounter this sort of thing when you're out in the street. And it's almost always a large guy accompanied by a smaller one. They aren't fighters, they're thieves. Here to mug fighters with a 2 on 1 setup.

The bigger individual finally made it to his feet and came at the restrained Reiko hastily. However, Reiko quickly thrusted out his foot at the man's face, his heel further smashing in his already broken nose.

Five.

And the larger individual was down. No sign of him getting up again anytime soon. Back on restriction street though, the skinner thief saw what Reiko had done and let his right arm down to whip out a knife out of his pocket. Reiko seized the opportunity to snatch away and turn around to face his mugger but was caught off guard as the man immediately pushed into his upper body and thrusted the knife in at his lower right side.

I almost forgot I was wearing this.

The knife pierced his hoodie and then hit something solid. Reiko had recovered from the surprise by now and pushed the man away. His face relayed the thought of "monster" while Reiko stepped in and punched him in the gut with his left hand, causing him to drop the knife. Then he pulled him close by the collar with the same hand and pulled his right fist back.

There's an attack I have yet to try out but, I'm waiting for the right person. So with guys like this, I always half-a** it.

Reiko's right came around in a sharp hook and slammed into the man's face, a large amount of blood flew from the enormous gash that was torn into the man's face. After that hit, he was immediately released to wobble his way to the ground.

Now that I think about it.. the other way would've been more generous.

Could it be...? Vahn's head was bowed in deep though for a moment, hand clasped over his chin. He was in quite the position... with nothing to go on but these ruins. He felt he should have known was was going to happen... as if he had experienced it all before, but at best it was just an unsure feeling.

Just like that day again... Isn't it....

The cigarette fell to the floor, before getting crushed by the heel of his greave.

"To understand what's going on... you have to understand the kind of man Victor is. We... were brothers, back where I came from. I'm not exactly proud of my upbringing, but it was my upbringing nontheless."

He turned his back to the trio, even as he began recanting a tale that was no more than a legend to some. "Nybelmar....We, sinners are always persued by those Murmillions from the "old world". Persuers from...Nybelmar.... my country. My brother eventually became the leader of these "sinners". However, I know what must be running through your mind. If we are called sinners, then there must be some kind of "sin", right?"

Vahns eyes closed as he found himself drifting...

"There was a war.... a very vicious war between two people. The Murmillions and the Zelandrians...both of whom lived on the continent of Nybelmar. One side was born from the darkness...and the other light. You know how the old saying goes."

"However.....my brother and I....we had our disagreements with...our father. And our father..... w- no, Victor killed him, in battle. Flesh of my flesh...blood of my blood. He who we called "Draeger"... That's why killing him was unforgiveable. Us "sinners", the Murmillions who rebelled and joined with Zelandria, we will never be forgiven for carving into our bodies.....the karma which we cannot escape from. To atone for our sins with death....My brother's ultimate sin....and.... my.....slaying of a 100 brethren."

He found himself on the brink of the past itself now, even as those familiar words echoed out.

"Stop!" The voice echoed throughout the chamber. "Stop it!"

A figure was seen bending forward, as both arms reached and clamped onto something that lay on the ground.

"Victor!"

Hearing his name being called, the figure paused, lifting his head up high enough to glance toward... Vahn.

"What's wrong? What's with that face of yours?" Victor was softly smiling, as blood dripped down his cheek. "Let's go now. To the free world."

Victor stood up from the platform, lifting a severed head with both hands, as he laughed. "Be happy. There's no one that will keep us in." The decapitated head bled continuously, as did the headless body to which it belonged to.

"See....? Father can't do anything." He held the head out to Vahn.

"You've killed him!? .....Draeger!?"

"We're free now." Victor said, outstretching his hand towards Vahn.

All around them, the commotion began to raise to a din, as soldiers finally began forcing their way inside, the other "sinners" fighting to keep them at bay.

"Let's go, Vahn. You're invovled too. I'm going to need your help." He kept his hand outstretched toward his brother. Even as dozens, upon dozens of soldiers began flooding the room they were in....and the images became blurry and lost once more.

"I later had a change of heart....and as a result, turned my back on my brother. Our paradise...couldn't be realized...and she died. However, I later found myself... here. So many years later... and I still can't forgive myself."

Tag...oh gods...more games.

He looked at her, even as Vahn told his story, only looking up sharply as he heard more of the past from his friends life. Twins?! No wonder...he'd seen Victor, seen the uncanny similarities between the two...

Sunstrike thought of the ramifications of all this, thought long and hard on it, and ended up with a slightly woozy feeling, making him sit back. Ah nuts...two souls, twin souls....or one half of...

Circles began to weave through, eating each thought as it started another.

"So this thing that they're hauling up outta the ground...could it have something to do with what happened back then? Something significant...to do in Victor's life..."

Dust moved as he stood up on his hind legs. "Regardless, we gotta get back to Engel before he starts to believe I've run off...What do you say, Vahn...You think the other humans will be up to talking with me?"

Hono's threat made him wince and wave his arms. "Aw c'mon Hono! Twas for your own good! I can't be messin about tryin to save you AND Hollow all at once, you know how lazy I am... sweatdrop "

Tellus looked between the two of them in a bit of puzzlement before glancing at Hono with a 'wtf' type expression. She thought for a moment about her kids and slide her cellphone from her pocket and smiled. She didn't have to do a thing. There was a message from Fae saying that she had all the children and everyone was fine.

"Hono? Mum says Sam and Brenden are fine. There was a small...misadventure but she let yours off at the clinic with the nurses till you get home. Mine are going to e getting a lesson apparently..." The sweatdrop almost visible at the thought of what her two had gotten into this time. But she was relaxed. Her kids were in good hands.

"Mind if I tag along? This seems interesting..." She needed Sunny's help but this seemed more important at the moment. It was one person versus many.