Archbishop Judas's Office
"EXCUSE ME ARCHBISHOP Judas, may I enter?"
"You may enter. Oh welcome back Bishop Anansi. Please have a seat."
"Thank you sir." Bishop Anansi sits down across from the Archbishop. "So what did you wish to speak with me about?"
"I have received reports that there are two individuals who are seeking to undermine our One True God's teachings. Have you heard anything about this Anansi?"
"I have not. Who are they?"
"I don't know yet. I want to send Rien to investigate the matter. What do you think?"
"That's an excellent idea sir. I'll inform her immediately."
"Make sure she knows it's recon only. She is to kill only if it's absolutely necessary."
"Very well. I'll take my leave now, and make the arrangements."
"Thank you."
Bishop Anansi's Office
Seated at his desk, Bishop Anansi calls out. "Are you here?"
"I am." Loki appears in a chair across from Anansi.
".....What the hell are you wearing and why do you look like that?"
"After we spoke last, I popped by Earth and learned a few things."
"Such as?"
"For starters I learned that there's this thing called a TV series, and wouldn't you know it they named it after this God." Loki points to himself. "Oh and that British fellow–handsome bloke by the way."
"Clearly. Otherwise you wouldn't look like him now." Said Anansi.
"He was the perfect choice to play moi." Loki's all smiles.
"Careful Loki, your hubris is showing."
Loki's smile only grows.
"What else did you learn?"
"Cosplaying."
"You play dress-up all the time. How is cosplaying any different?"
Loki was aghast at Anansi's comparison of playing dress-up and cosplaying.
"How dare you. I'll have you know good sir that the only similarity the two share is that they both involve wearing an outfit to transform your look, but they differ in purpose, effort, and context.
Otherwise they are completely different."
Anansi puts his hands up in surrender, "Alright I get it. I was wrong. I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize to me. You need to apologize to all the cosplayers who pour their heart and soul into it."
"Fine I will. But in the meantime can we get down to business?"
Nodding his head in agreement, "Very well." Loki snaps his fingers and a box falls into his lap. "Do you want a pop-tart?"
"Would you please stop screwing around?"
"Are you sure you don't want one? It's cherry."
Anansi just sits there staring daggers at him. Eventually Loki speaks.
"Let me guess. Archbishop Judas has targeted the two otherworlders as planned."
"So you already knew then."
"Yes. I also know you're sending this Rien person to investigate them.
Tell me Anansi, will she interfere with the plan?"
"Not likely." Replied Anansi.
"Good, I'll let the boss know the plan is moving forward. So if there is nothing else I'll be going."
"Just one more thing before you go Loki."
"What is it?"
"Can I have a pop-tart?"
Loki smiles at Anansi and disappears without giving him a pop-tart.
****
"Will I be fine with what?" Kino asked.
"Welcome back sis. Who're your friends?"
"I'm Abby, a C-ranked summoner."
"Corym Elyra. I'm a C-ranked hunter"
"Come sit, let's eat. I'm Leo Blackbriar by the way. I'm a D-ranked tanker."
"It's nice to meet you guys. I'm Luna Crestfall, a D-rank mage."
"Alice Rose. I'm a healer and C-ranked."
"I'm Kino's twin brother Kiyomaro Kurosaki, but you can call me Kiyo. I'm a SS-ranked warrior."
"And I'm Kiyo's loveable twin sister Kino Kurosaki, and a SS-ranked assassin."
"That loveable part is debatable."
"You know you love me." Sang Kino, swaying side to side on her stool.
Kiyo sticks out his tongue and Kino returns the jester in kind.
Leo signals for the waitress, they order, and dig in when the food arrives.
During the meal the twins inform everyone that they're from another world and what led them to where they are now.
They swap stories about their time at their schools and some of the things they learned.
"Hey Kiyo, now that you can wield two swords, maybe if you get a third…"
"Nope. Not happening."
"But just think…"
"Kino, it's not happening."
"Fine. Be that way."
"What are you guys talking about?" Alice asked.
"Kino is talking about a famous pirate book from our world. One of the guys in the crew fights with three swords."
"Does he use magic?"
"Nope. He holds one in each hand and the third is in his mouth."
"Huh, why his mouth?"
"That's just how it is."
"Alright let's get down to business." Said Kiyo. "Does anyone have rare or extremely rare skills? I have the extremely rare skill: Command Over the Elements."
"Does that mean you can use any element?" Luna asked.
"Yes, but as of right now I can only use it in conjunction with my katana, Onyx."
Kino speaks up, "my ERS: Converse, allows me to talk with all living things."
"Like birds, dogs, cats, and insects?" Asked Alice.
"Yes."
"What about monsters?"
"Don't know; haven't tried yet."
"You can try communicating with my summons." Offered Abby.
"Sweet, let's do it."
"I have a rare skill: Yin and Yang," said Luna, "this allows me to use both light and dark magic at the same time."
"Can't all mages use light and dark magic?" Kino asked.
"No. Mages can either use one or the other, they can't use both. There are even some outside of the mage class who can use one, maybe two of the elements.
Now I tell you guys this because having this skill also allows me to use magic not associated with the elements."
"Such as?"
"Telepathy for one."
"That could be very useful when we're out on quests, and it would pair well with my rare skill: Hawk Eye." Said Corym.
"Seriously?!" Leo exclaimed. "You have that skill on top of being an elf?"
"I do."
"How far out can you see?" Kiyo asked.
"If my view is unobstructed then I can perceive everything about one to two miles out."
"Hey guys, let's table our conversation on skills til we're alone." Said Abby. "Folks are glancing our way."
"Then let's shift topics. Are you guys fine with me being the party leader outside of quests?"
Everyone nods their heads in agreement.
"Okay. Now the reason I worded it that way is this. Corym, with your Hawk Eye skill you'll be able to better command us on quests. So I would like you to lead us, and give the orders."
"Is there a reason for this, Kiyo?"
"I'd like you in an overwatch position."
"What's overwatch?"
"Overwatch is someone who provides support for a person or group from an elevated vantage point. Monitor the terrain. Provide covering fire if needed. And relays changes as they unfold."
"Tell me bro, how is Corym supposed to relay information to us if he's…" A light bulb goes off in Kino's head. "You want Luna to use her telepathy, don't you?"
"Yup. You good with that Luna?"
"I am, but the range is limited to a one hundred meter radius from where I am."
"That's still a pretty good distance." Remarks Kino.
"Next our battle formation. I want the vanguard to be Leo, Kino, and myself. Corym on overwatch. Luna, Alice, you guys will be the support team. Abby, you'll be the rearguard. We'll rotate as needed."
"Why am I in the rearguard, Kiyo?" Asked Abby.
"We need someone strong, protecting our six and making sure no one attacks Alice."
"That's fine, but if they're B-ranked or above I'm screwed."
"Abby, I can tell just by looking at you that you are stronger than you appear."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, so are you fine with protecting Alice?
"Very well."
"Thank you Abby. I'll try not to be a burden for you."
"It's fine Alice, don't worry about it."
"Ok so unless anyone has anything to add I say starting tomorrow we spend a few days training together before we take on our first quest."
With no objections to Kiyo's decision, everyone turns in for the night.
****
"What do you guys think? Doesn't this area seem like a good place for training?"
Kino had found an open area with a decent sized lake and tree grove; about an hour away from Snapdragon Village on foot.
"What do you have in mind for our training, Kiyo?" Leo asked.
"How about one on one combat? This will give us all a chance to see what everyone is capable of."
"Um Kiyo, I'm not trained in combat." Alice voices her concerns.
"Alright, you can just watch." Kiyo replies. "However Alice, just because you're a healer doesn't mean you can't learn how to fight. I'll leave it up to you."
"Leo and Kino, you guys are up first. Then Luna and Abby. Corym and I will go last." Kiyo announces.
"Alright Leo, come at me with the intent to kill. If you don't I'll put you on your ass." Kino taunts.
"We both know you'll just use your speed to dodge." Counters Leo.
"Inventory." A black hole looking thing appears beside Kino. Kicking off her shoes and slipping off her socks, Kino places them in the black hole. "There, now it's a fair fight."
"I doubt that."
"Begin!"
"Shield Charge!" Leo runs towards Kino.
His bronze round shield is thirty centimeters in diameter, it's held in his left hand and is positioned in front of him.
Shield Skill "Shield Charge." The user is able to charge with superhuman speed, strength, and momentum to ram a target with great destructive force.
Higher skilled users can break through solid matter such as cement walls, or force fields.
"Ole!" Kino shouts as she sidesteps Leo's attack. This is followed up with smack on the ass as he runs past.
Turning on dime, "Shield Throw!" Leo throws his shield.
Shield Skill "Shield Throw." An unconventional technique where the user throws their shield like a ranged weapon.
Higher skilled users can control the shield to change direction and call back their shield after throwing it like a boomerang.
Kino leans her torso nearly parallel to the ground as Leo's shield sailed over her. She had pulled off Neo's famous slow-mo bullet dodge from The Matrix.
Leo is still running towards her, with his flanged mace raised overhead he brings it down.
Kino hits the ground and rolls left, avoiding Leo's mace attack. She immediately pops up and jumps on Leo's back. Maneuvering around, Kino gets Leo into a standing triangle choke. Leo blacks out in seconds.
After releasing the hold Kino taps Leo on his cheek until he comes to.
"Next up!" Kiyo shouts.
"Don't hold back Luna."
"Same to you Abby."
"Begin!"
"Fire Magic: Fireball!" Luna's opening move is launched not from her staff, but her left hand.
"Reflection!" Using her axe Abby reflects Luna's attack back at her.
Magic Skill "Reflection." The user can reflect any power that is launched against them without being harmed. This serves as a means of self-defense and counter attack.
"Ice Magic: Ice Wall!" A wall of ice rises up just in time to block her own fireball. However the ice wall blocks Luna's view. Allowing Abby to move in from behind and tap Luna on the head with her axe handle.
"That's it. Match over!" Kiyo calls out.
"Alright, Kiyo and Corym are you guys ready?" Kino asked, taking over for her brother.
"Yeah!" Corym answers.
"Same here." Kiyo replies.
Because Corym is a ranged fighter. The two are standing ten meters apart.
"Begin!"
Corym nocks an arrow and lets it fly. Kiyo draws Onyx from its scabbard, and cuts down the arrow.
"Double Shot!" Corym shoots two arrows at once at Kiyo while on the move. Kiyo dodges.
"Triple Shot!"
Kiyo cuts down all three. Corym continues to shoot and move.
"Arrow Rain!" Corym charges his arrow with mana and fires it skywards. Once it reaches a set height, it splits into two hundred and fifty arrows and descends at a high rate of speed.
Kiyo touches the tip of Onyx to the ground, "Gedan-no-Kamae: Air Dome!"
Sword Skill "Gedan-no-Kamae." Appears as a defensive posture, but is used to deflect blows and create striking opportunities. The sword is held low, with the tip pointing toward the waist (in Kendo) or down toward the knee or ankle (in Kenjutsu).
By presenting an apparent opening to attack, the stance allows the swordsman to transition quickly into a tsuki (thrust) or an upward strike.
Kiyomaro uses this stance for deploying defensive element magic. The arrows strike the air dome and bounce off.
Kiyo transitions to an upward strike. "Iaijutsu: Vertical Guillotine!"
Blade Skill "Vertical Guillotine." Users can project matter/energy in a way that allows them to cut or pierce through matter.
Kiyo's attack grazes Corym's left arm, shaving off the top layer of his leather bracer, hits a tree, splitting it in two.
"I give!" Shouts Corym.
"Match over!" Kino calls out.
"Sorry about that Corym. I took it a little too far."
"No worries Kiyo. Not the first time I've had to get my armor repaired."
"Still though, I did overdo it."
"Let's take a break and go over everything that's happened." Suggests Kino.
"We'll change partners after the break." Said Kiyo.
The party then spends the next four days training like this.
****
Snapdragon's Adventures Guild
"Hmm. Which one do I want?" Kiyo mumbles to himself.
"Do you need help, young man?" Asked an older gentleman walking up.
"I'm just not sure what quest to take."
"Try this one."
"Oh, why this one?"
"No reason."
"My apologies for not introducing myself. My name is Kiyomaro Kurosaki."
"My name is Odie. Seek me out anytime I'll be around."
"Thank you Odie. I'll see you later."
"Hi Kiyo, what can I do for you?"
"Hey Rin, I'm here to take on a quest."
"Okay no problem. That board over there has all the job quests posted on it. Just pick the one you like, and I'll inform the client as well as put it in your file.
"Once the quest is complete you can report back here or to any adventurers guild to collect the reward. If you fail a quest you'll have to give a detailed report on why you couldn't complete it. So let me know what you pick."
"I already picked one." Kiyo hands her the quest sheet.
"Are you sure Kiyo? It's B-ranked."
"I think we'll be ok Rin. Don't forget, my sister and I are SS-ranked after all. Plus Odie recommended it."
"Who?"
"That older gentleman right… odd he's already gone."
"Well alright then I'll let the client know you're on the way."
"Thanks Rin."
Outside the guild
"So where are we going first?"
"Well Luna, we're heading over to Peach Valley to handle some earth bears."
"Earth bears, how many are there Kiyo?
"Six in all Leo."
"Six! Are you sure we can handle it?"
"We'll be fine Luna. I know it's a B-rank quest, but with Kino and myself here you guys will be fine. Also taking on higher ranked quests will boost your experience and help you guys rank up faster."
"Okay I'm in."
"What about the rest of you guys?"
With everyone in agreement they gather up the necessary supplies needed for the eight day trip. Then set out for Peach Valley on foot.