Entropy Through Order: Case Files of the Order of Freelance Mages
Third Order: Sorairo Days
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Second Arc: Sky-Colored
The Surface of Belzac, Pre-Dawn
--
Two Days Ago
The desert was vast, wide, quiet. Its endless expanse was marred only by the dunes and the occasional plateau, parts of dead ranges from a land that saw little rain, only endless sandy wind. Among the sand, small creatures scurried about, looking for the fading shade as the dawn sun began to break over the horizon line. From the east, the very star that had caused part of this blasted land began to show its face.
On top of a particular rock formation that was a hybrid slope/plateau, a man leaned his back against a rock that jut from the surface of the plateau. Wind lapped at the loose ends of his duster, causing it to flow slightly in the air. Glimmers of light danced off the metal studs in the duster and the metal on his boots. A heavy hand rested on his wide-brim hat as tired eyes looked up, brown-gray orbs containing years of experience. As he stared at the sun, his eyes took in the light and seemed to alight him, preparing him for the day to come.
"I wonder..." he said to himself. "How th' day will go?" A second later, he assumed his customary grin. "It'll go well, that's how! Righ'!"
With that, the man turned around and looked down from his vantage point. As if on cue, the sun's rays illuminated him from behind, shining around him. Simultaneously, the wind changed direction and blew against him from behind, causing his duster to billow dramatically. His grin seemed to light up on cue as he looked down at the small camp. Stepping forward, he walked on to the side of the hill and began to slide down it. When he hit the bottom, he walked between the other four heavy sleepers.
"Alrigh' now, time ta get up!" he shouted. "Wide an' awake, kids!"
"Ugh, morning already?" Franz groaned as he rolled over. "Just a few more minutes, sir."
"Stifle it, Franz," Glen muttered as he half-pushed a groggy Emili off of him. "I'll gather our things. Phoenix."
[Ja.] The sword responded.
Emili pushed against the ground and lifted herself, stretching. "
Mou... I hate sleeping on the dirt."
"Tell me about it," Naomi sighed as she stood up and patted off the dirt on her. "This'll never wash out!"
"Aw, come on," Erick said. "It's not tha' bad. Hell, people used ta live like this back on Erusia!"
"Before a little thing called 'civilization' was invented," Emili shot back. Franz groaned and put his duster over his head.
"Come on, guys, I want to
sleep!"
"
Baka no Franz!" Naomi shouted, kicking her older brother in the side, causing him to flip over rather comically. "Get up!"
Franz opened one eye and glared at the girl before sighing in resignation and getting up to a stand. Putting on his trademark sunglasses, he grabbed his duster and quickly put it on as the rest of the camp did the same.
"Ah, 'ere she comes." Erick intoned, turning and standing sideways as he looked over at the sun. "It's a beautiful morn,"
Glen, who was kneeling near Erick as he gathered everyone's belongings, looked up at the sun as it rose. Next to him, Emili leaned on her rifle, and Naomi walked around to the side of Emili and stood with a hand on her hip and a hand over her eyes as she stared at the star. Next to Erick and across from Glen, Franz put his hands in his pockets as he also stared at the sunrise.
"Ayup..." Erick said to himself. "It's gonna be a good'n today."
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
And they walked.
Through the pounding desert heat and sands, they walked. A group of five people, sticking close to each other as they walked next to a large cliff face, and looking every part the average citizen of the planet; dusters, wide-brim hats, revolvers, boots, the whole nine yards. They looked like they belonged as they walked, seemlingly unaffected by the desert heat.
But when you got closer, it was obvious that this was untrue.
Erick, having trained all his life in all kinds of terrain, looked positively in his element. As he walked with the other four, his smile never faltered, his confident gaze scanning the horizon for any signs of civilization or trouble as they walked.
Glen also seemed perfectly calm and collected. Possibly due to being a fire-element mage, he seemed unaffected by the heat as he walked stoically (though his eye twitched occasionally). Then again, Glen had also seemed calm and stoic while standing watch in a blizzard, so it was hard to tell. As they walked through the desert, he took measured steps and conserved as much energy as possible, in the event they were attacked.
Franz seemed less able to cope with the pressure of the sun. He sweated profusely as he hiked, occasionally pausing to rub his eyes. Though he was used to being cooped up in heavy armor during PT training, the sun alone was making the weather hotter than the armor. If his Jacket was on, he figured he would have collapsed from heat exhaustion.
Now, Emili and Naomi...
If their feet dragging was any indication, the two ice-element mages were feeling the heat all too well. Emili was dragging her rifle behind her, and Naomi was about ready to collapse. Only the need to keep going north was the constant that kept the two girls moving, and as they walked it seemed as if they drank gallons of water.
But they weren't complaining. Only one person was.
"I'm just saying," Franz was going on. "There are better infiltration methods! There's a whole other side of the planet to drop on and, assuming they don't have arrays sticking up out of the water, it would have been a perfect place to slide in! On top of that, as vast and barren as this place is, would it have killed us to bring a Warthog? Seriously."
Glen sighed and rubbed between his eyes with two fingers.
He hasn't shut up for an hour. He said to Emili.
Just leave it. Emili replied as she took another drink of water.
The only thing we need to worry about is our dwindling water supply.
She's righ'. Erick said, rubbing a chin thoughtfully.
We've been on this planet for less than a day. Now I thought there was suppose' ta be a town aroun' here somewheres.
There should have been. Naomi agreed.
I remember the global map well. If we are where I think we are, there should be a town somewhere within five or six kilometers.
So where would it- Glen started; his thought was interrupted by a glass bottle falling and smacking Franz in the head, shattering and subsequently sending him to the ground... along with shutting him up... sorta.
"
Ow!" He shouted. "What the hell was that?!"
"Our town," Emili said, grinning, as she looked up the side of the cliff they were walking next to. "There's gotta be a way up there!"
"Righ, let's keep going!" Erick shouted. "We'll follow the plateau face until we find a way up! Come on!"
Reinvigorated, four of the five mages went running along the side of the cliff, looking for a way up. Meanwhile, Franz slowly stood up, shaking his head and making sure he wasn't bleeding.
"It's okay," he said. "I'm alright. Nothing wrong here... Hey, wait for me!" He broke into a run, slowly catching up to the others as they ran alongside the plateau's cliff face. "Damnit, why am I always the one to be left behind!"
Naomi turned around in mid-run and flashed him a smile. "Because you're the slow one, Nee-san! Now hurry up!" She slowed her backward running to wait for her brother to catch up. When he caught up to her, he slowed down and smiled at her, patting her on the head gently. Naomi frowned for a second, but soon her grin returned and she latched on to her brother's arm. Together, the two walked to catch up to the other three.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The town atop the plateau was recessed into what appeared to be a natural hole in the top of the plateau; or rather, the really massive hill. As it turned out, the northern side of the plateau was more of a shallow embankment, a steadily rising hillside that appeared both naturally cut out and artifically altered. Why the town was built
in the hole was odd at first, but Erick figured it out first.
"Image bein' the enemy," he said. "Would ya notice a town in th' dirt on top of a hill? I dinnit think so."
It was odd logic, but it made sense. "Course, this point is now moot with those giant windmills."
Indeed, as the group began making their way down an inclined plane (built out of what seemed to be a part of the plateau itself) into the town, they noticed that there were fifty or so windmills at various points along the top of the rock formation. Further inspection revealed that much of the town had grown outside the hole and sprawled along the edges of it as well.
"Probably from long ago," Glen commented. "This town could be hundreds, if not a thousand years old."
"All the way out here?" Naomi asked, confused.
"Well consider its location, then relate it to a waypoint," Glen told the girl as they walked into the town. "Originally, this town was probably used as a stop for military forces or travelers, and grew from there. From the number of windmills and radio towers, it also probably serves as a communications hub of sorts."
"So they offer communications, and probably power to other nearby areas... or maybe a nearby laser array?"
"More likely." Emili said, then pulled Naomi closer. "Watch it. I've seen places like this. They're always wretched hives of scum and villany."
"O-okay..." Naomi said, nodding. "I will, ma'am." Erick, not having heard them, began to leave the group.
"Emili, you and Jaeger go get us some water! Naomi, Glen, y'all follow me. We're gonna ask around for some information."
"Yes, sir," Naomi agreed, and nearly skipped as she walked alongside Erick. Glen turned to Emili.
"Be careful." he said. "And watch Franz."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!" Franz shouted.
"I'll keep both eyes on him!" Emili answered, grinning. "You can count on me!"
Glen put an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. "Hey, if you need anything..."
"I'm a grown up, too,
baka," Emili said to him, kissing him on the cheek. "You have nothing to worry about!"
"...That just makes me worry more." Glen responded, sighing. "Anyway, I'll see you later."
"
Hai." With that, Glen released Emili and turned back around, walking calmly to Erick and Naomi. Emili watched him go before looking at Franz. "Ready?"
"Yep!" Franz grinned. "Hopefully, this won't take too much out of our time!" Together, the two walked into the main strip, behind Glen and the rest, as they began to search for someone who sold water... and lots of it.
Meanwhile, Erick slowly began to realize that this town was oddly populated for its location and seemingly outoftheway-ness.
This is odd... he thought. To Glen, he said:
You'd reckon the town'd be smaller.
Perhaps Emili is correct, then, in assuming that this place is a hub of... less legal activity. Glen replied.
...Speaking of a hub of "villany", what exactly are we looking for information wise?
I'm hopin' for somethin' like transportation. Erick answered.
I've been noticin' dust clouds in the distance while we've been walkin, and you remember those wheel tracks we'd seen this morn'. We'd figured they'd have vehicles, but not out here in th' desert. Well, not so much.
...we could always... 'acquire' one... Glen mused.
But I haven't seen any vehicles around here.
Neither've I. Erick thought.
"Hey, a bar," Naomi suddenly commented, interrupting the two's telepathic conversation. "Think we can find some info there?"
"Well I reckon we could, darlin'," Erick said to her, grinning and patting her on the back. "...but you're a bit young to go in a bar."
"I won't drink, sir," Naomi countered. Erick looked at Glen, who only shrugged his shoulders, before looking back at Naomi. "Promise!"
"...a'ight." Erick said, slightly uncertain. "Glen, you'll watch her?"
"Of course. I don't drink either."
"That's cause you're a prude, Glen." Erick jested, grinning.
"Yes, sir."
Together, the three went inside. Glen flipped Phoenix upside down and hid it in the back of his duster as they walked in, while Erick made it a point to let people know he was armed.
The bar was what you'd expect: dusty, sandy, and full of unsavory types. Really horrid music that sounded like bluegrass blared from an old jukebox-looking object (which was surrounded by bullet holes, by the way) in the corner, and the various patrons were drunk or in some state of smashed. The three mages made their way to the bar and took seats on the metal stools. Erick ordered up a bottle of water and a shot of whiskey as he made idle conversation with the patrons near him, while Naomi and Glen just took a glass of water.
...are you okay? Glen asked Naomi as she looked back and forth between the patrons.
I'm kinda nervous... Naomi answered.
I haven't seen any bad-looking people like this before.
Well, this is your unofficial first mission. Glen said to her.
Think of it as your first seventy-two hours on the field. We have to deal with these types all the time, and if you plan on joining the Order in the next few years, you'll have to get used to these types.
Some of them are giving me gross looks. Naomi thought as she saw lecherous and, for some reason, angry eyes, stare in her direction.
You'll be fine. Glen said.
I'll protect you.
Naomi looked at Glen, somewhat amazed; she'd never considered him the friendly type, despite his romance with Emili and the fact the Air Wing of the OFM seemed to be on good terms with him. Glen gave her a reassuring look and nodded once before turning back to his drink.
Naomi sighed. She
really needed to stop being so judgemental.
Suddenly, a tap at her shoulder.
Turning, Naomi had to stop from recoiling as a scarred, one-eyed man glared at her. "I don't like you," he said.
"...uh, sorry," Naomi answered, staring at the man. The gruff fellow pulled an equally hideous guy over.
"He doesn't like you, either," he said. "You better watch yourself, little girl. We're wanted men! I have the death sentence in twelve cities!"
"I'll be careful," Naomi replied shakily, her voice wavering slightly.
"You'll be dead!" The man raged.
Glen suddenly moved, putting a hand on Naomi's back and standing up. "This little one is not worth the effort," he said, his voice like steel as he and the man glared at each other. "Let me get you something."
"I'll get you something!" The man screamed, drawing a revolver almost faster than the eye could blink.
Almost.
A gunshot rang, the bullet flying rapidly into the ceiling. The man stared as there was suddenly a sword pushing up against his gun, the blade digging into the trigger guard of the revolver. Glen's steel gaze had gained a few hundred degrees.
"I suggest you stop," He growled.
The man didn't listen. He screamed in fury and pulled out a second gun. Glen was faster, swinging his sword twice; the first off to cut off both revolver barrels, and the second to cleave off the man's entire right arm. The man screamed bloody murder and dropped his other gun. His "friend" whisked away, running for his very life, as other patrons backed away from the bloody scene. Glen looked around once, twice, before using the man's own shirt to wipe off his sword before resheathing it.
"We're leaving." he said. "Naomi."
"R-right." Naomi replied, standing up. Behind them, Erick (who had been watching the entire time) bent down and picked up a dropped set of keys.
"Looks like I got th' info I wanted," he said. "Let's get outta here." Before they left, he dropped a stack of coins on the bar. "Sorry 'bout th' mess."
Together, the three mages walked out, leaving behind a very shocked set of bar patrons.
"That was smart," Glen said to himself. "I suggest we leave as soon as possible, sir."
"Righ'," Erick agreed, jingling the keys. "Now, we just gotta find where these go to."
"I think I know." Naomi said. "On our way up the slope, I noticed a set of tire tracks leading to what looked like a wooden bridge, that led into the side of the hill. The four of you were busy talking and didn't notice it, I guess."
The two men looked at each other. Erick had a grin plastered on his face while Glen had a smirk. "What?" Naomi asked.
"Leave it ta women," Erick said.
"I suppose. I bet Emili noticed it too." Glen commented.
"Oh... Men!" Naomi huffed.
"Guys!" a voice behind them shouted. Turning, the three mages saw Franz and Emili running up to them, carrying massive plastic cases; Emili carrying two effortlessly with one arm (and one in the other), and Franz carrying one in each hand, straining. "I know it's a lot, but I was thinking we could make Franz the supply bitch and he could carry them!"
"Very funny." Franz wheezed.
"...how did you get those?" Glen asked. Emili's smile faltered somewhat. "...you didn't..."
"You were the one suggestin' we steal a ride," Erick pointed out.
"I was
joking," Glen growled. "You didn't hurt anyone, did you, Em?"
"Nah..." Emili said... then looked away. "Well... maybe one... or two... or half a dozen..."
"How was I supposed to know that water is a huge commodity in the desert?!" Franz whined. "And that there was an almost black market trade in it?!" Glen grabbed Franz by the collar and yanked him forward.
"A desert, motherfucker, a
desert!" he shouted, waving his other arm in an arc for emphasis. "Do you see it?!"
"Uh... well..." Franz sweatdropped. Behind he and Emili, screams and shouts could be heard... angry ones.
"Damnit, every time..." Glen muttered, letting go of Franz and sighing. "Right. Sir, shall I get the ride while you hold them off?"
"Be mah guest," Erick answered, tossing the keys to Glen. "Hope you're fast."
"Of course I am," Glen said confidently. "I'll meet you guys on the slope.
Phoenix."
[Jawohl! Sonic Move!]
In a flash, Glen was gone. A half-second later, Erick and the others made a run for it. Emili and Franz dropped one of the water cases each, using their free hands to draw their guns as they ran. Erick pulled out both revolvers as they ran, screaming for the people in front of them to get out of the way. Naomi also drew a revolver.
"Wh-where did you get that?!" Franz almost shrieked.
"I trained for the mission too, Bruder," Naomi said.
"You're not old enough-"
"We'll discuss appropriate ages for people to use firearms in life-or-death situations later!" Emili shouted as gunfire suddenly rang out around them. "Damnit!"
"I got this," Erick said, skidding to a stop. "Y'all keep goin'." As the others ran past him, Erick turned to face the incoming marauders as they pointed every kind of gun at him. Twirling a revolver in one hand, Erick began to walk backward, popping off six shots in rapid succession. Each bullet struck one of the persuers squarely between the eyes; one even passed
through the skull of one to hit the one behind him in the eye.
"Hah!" Erick boasted. "Six shots, seven kills!" As they opened fire on him, Erick leaped sideways, down an alley. Opening the revolver chamber with one hand, he quickly tossed the reolver's companion in the air and pulled out a speed-loader as he emptied the cylinder, quickly reloading it and slapping the cylinder closed as he grabbed the second revolver.
Some of the persuers broke away from the main group that chased Emili and the others, going after Erick as he ran down as alley. He turned a corner, reaching an area between a building and the wall of the hole. Using skill alone, he bounded between the wall and the building, landing on top of the small home. As the persuers rounded the corner, he fired off four shots, three of them hitting as he turned and ran.
Leaping from rooftop to rooftop effortlessly, Erick listened as shots were exchanged by Emili's group and the persuers.
Musta really pissed 'em off. Erick mused.
Ta send this many people after us. Skidding on a rooftop along the main road in the town, Erick hopped down, confident he had lost his pursuers. Running to catch up with the rest, he heard anguished shouts nearby. Turning to look, Erick saw that one of the marauders had taken the time and the effort to stop chasing the rest and try to rob a streetside house.
Erick narrowed his eyes, vaguely remembering a time years ago when he saw soldiers of his own people doing the same thing. He wouldn't stand for it.
Striding confidently, Erick wasted no time in raising one of his guns and pulling the trigger, the bullet hitting the thief in the back and sending him crashing to the ground. He looked at the terrified woman and her children, at their wounded and bleeding father, and resisted the urge to console them.
I'm not th' Hero. He thought.
I'm just a Bringer of Death.
Behind him, Erick heard the distinct sound of hammers being pulled back before firing.
...Sidearm.
[Yes, Gunslinger. Protection.
As bullets fired, they bounced off of Erick's
Protection bubble. A rage consumed Erick's old eyes as he glared at the people who had chased him.
"I'm not supposed ta use this power against y'all," he said. "But y'all have royally pissed off th' Devil today!" Holstering the revolvers and clenching both fists, he summoned up magic power from within. "Lemme show ya how your 'conquerors' try ta do things!
Proton Bolts!" Two balls of light formed in his fists. With a scream, he hurled them forward, through the
Protection field, right into the nearest two people.
The resulting magical detonation forced the group backward and on their ass, their guns skidding along the ground. As Erick strolled out of the shadowy house, he looked like a mythical Titan as he walked out of the shadows, his eyes cold like steel and his motion equally as metallic. "Feelin' scared?" He growled. "Afraid? That's just death lurkin' around." He pulled out both revolvers. "See you in Hell."
Bullets fired as Erick executed his pursuers.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"Okay, so maybe, things didn't go
exactly as planned." Franz said. "But hey, at least we have water!"
Glen sighed as he leaned back in the driver's seat, one arm on the wheel and another on his gun, as he scanned the horizon. As it turned out, the keys belonged to an oversized version of a sand buggy, designed to hold six or seven people plus equipment, thus becoming quite a nice fit for the group. The controls were easy - no more complex than a standard car - and Glen's only problem driving were the constant sand dunes. "Erick and I had to use spells to get things done. Our time limit is tighter than ever now, assuming that any of those people report what happened today."
"Well, they were prolly lookin' for survivors," Erick mused as he cleaned a revolver in the passenger seat. "So we jus' gave them a clue. Besides, it's not like we ain't used spells on a mission before. I remember one time when you used a spell to light a fire, Glen."
"It was fifty below zero and no one could start it," Glen responded as the buggy started up yet another dune. "I had to do it or we would have died. That's survivalism. What happened back there was just... a fuck up."
"Nah, it wasn't too bad," Emili shrugged as she stretched, her heavy rifle lodged between the bottom and top of the buggy. She ran a hand through her violet hair. "Glen, dear, don't be a prude. Besides, once dark settles in, they'll never find us."
"Yeah, but isn't this thing solar-powered?" Naomi asked, stretching up to poke the top of the vehicle, where a set of solar panels gathered energy. "So at night, we couldn't move for long anyway."
"Unless you wanted to walk," Franz said behind them, sitting on the back of the buggy. "But I don't think we'll do that again."
"I agree," Glen said. "Okay, so maybe it wasn't too bad."
"Damn straight!" Erick said, grinning. "Now look, we got less than two days to make it there. Glen, you ready to floor it?"
"Floor it?" Glen echoed. "I think we have more time than-"
"Nonsense!" Erick shouted, almost standing up. He pointed straight ahead. "Ya see that! That's your road, Glen! You gotta drive it! We gotta get goin'! We gotta be the first ones there cause we're the best!"
"Eh..."
"
Yosh! You agree guys?!"
"Of course! Hotblood is always the best!" Franz shouted.
"Well, maybe not hotblood," Emili mused. "But yeah, we are! We got a mission to do, and we gotta do it, no matter what!"
"Um..." Naomi looked almost shy. "Y-yeah. I mean, this is my first mission and all, but I... I really wanna do my best! I've gotta!"
Glen looked back at the others, then at Erick. "So..." he said. "What you're telling me is to just... scream ahead?"
"Yosh!"
Glen sighed. "Hotblood..."
But a smile crept up on his face. "All right, let's play then." Taking his hand off his gun, he reached for the gear shift. "You want speed? Let's go then!"
Glen pushed down the petal, and the buggy lurched forward as it leaped over another dune. Erick whooped in excitement as the buggy almost flew. Emili and Naomi shrieked and screamed excitedly simultaneously, and Franz nearly fell off the buggy.
The ride was on. Their mission clearly ahead, the five mages rolled onward. Above, the blue sky watched as they sped off, to a mission that was theirs.
Yup. Erick thought as Glen's smirk became obvious.
It's a good day, alright.