Jeann was tired. She couldn't tell if it was from the workout or the constant strain the job placed on her, but either way it was an annoyance she wished she could've avoided. Her bones ached, her muscles screamed, hell, even her armor seemed to weigh more than a man. She wasn't even old, she was still in her prime age with all that entailed. But I'm still tired.
What Jeann was certain she was tired of the most, however, was watching friends die. As Alder raced towards the beast as it attempted its escape, she could feel the tug at her mind to dissascociate against his coming demise. He was going to die, like all the others. And she was going to survive, again.
I really am a monster, I've killed almost as many friends as enemies now. Her needless sense of chasing danger and intrigue had always perked the ears and minds of her friends. She made sure to plan for each possible danger, she'd even studied the patterns of the demons and monsters in the areas. She'd taken every possible precaution, yet somehow they still always seemed to die before her eyes. It was only a matter of time before it caught up to her and Albert. It was a miracle it hadn't already, but then again... Albert was different.
And now she'd caused the death of Alder, the only man from that accursed prison of education she'd actually gotten along with. He was her brother in arms, even if the man had little idea of the actual skill he'd managed to acquire.
And now he's dead.
Jeann looked up and peered through her fingers, trying to decipher the shadows being cast from the light at the center of the chamber. It was glowing a brilliant blue that seemed to pour from the depths of the world itself. She felt a burning, like being too close to a caster during a spell but much worse. Trickles of blood began to pool at her feet, but was seemingly absorbed into the center of the room moments later.
The room was filled with a screaming, a howling of dread and pain. It silenced all, even the sounds of rushing magic-heated energy splitting around her. The shield Gewels would keep her safe from the heat and from the sound, that was the beauty of the armor. She'd need to thank that man again when she went to tell him of Alders death. Poor boy would be hurt worse than anyone. I'll have to remember the spear. He'd want that back after all, no need in having personal tech getting out.
Suddenly, the screaming stopped and the howling light vanished, leaving the room in a strange glow of flickering candles that seemed almost alien after the brilliance of the previous. It was almost too dark in the room to see, but she made out the frame of a few figures supine on the floor. One had its head removed, the other was missing an arm.
"Alder?" She called. No answer.
The surrounding room began to move, almost every guard took a defensive stance against her and the Count strode closer to the bodies. He kicked one figure, the one missing most of its arm, and it groaned.
"Shame." He said "Seems its merged with another one. Doctor?"
"Yes sir, right away." A man said, rushing over to the beheaded figure.
"What is this?" Jeann sneered. Does he know? She tightened her fist around her blades sturdy grip and readied to move. The armor would speed her up, but it could injure her if she wasn't careful. She'd planned to betray the Count for months, why would he suddenly make the move?
"Tieing up loose ends I'm afraid," He said. "I was hoping our man here would be the one that could pull the source out and contain it. Turns out he bargained with it like every other one."
"And the pokers here? That part of the plan? Kill us?"
"Hardly," Philistine looked almost offended "I've no wish to kill you-"
"Could have fooled me."
"-unless you plan to report this."
"Thats a shame," She said "Because thats my friend lying face down there. So I'm pretty sure I have a desire to do so."
"Then I'm sorry, Jeann. Your services are no longer required." Philistine motioned to another guard and waved for him to leave. "Tell them to hunt down the other Pere involved."
"They're gone already," She smiled, her intuition had worked out for once. "Working with Alder only now."
The Count sighed and lowered his head. "I was afraid you'd say that. Hunt them still." He waved, and the guard fled.
"Bastard!"
"Please miss." one of the guards said, "Don't make this harder than it has to be."
"Kill them then," The count turned to the apparent doctor and added "All of them."
"This is madness." Albert said. "You'd kill Pere?"
"What makes you any different than a commoner?" Philistine looked them over and smirked "Aside from the fancy license and wasted gear?"
"Disgusting." Jean readied herself to move, Albert taking similar actions with a pair of daggers he produced from a back sheath. "Well, come on then."
"Don't keep us waiting." Albert added.