The Beginning of the Assault

I'd heard stories of Kocu but I hadn't ever been there myself.

I had to admit I was a little surprised when we arrived at the station.

Kocu was the very southernmost island in all the Orochi Isles, due to it's distance from the capital it was easily overlooked by The Council of Exorcists allowing it to deteriorate into the poverty and underdevelopment that it was by the time of our visit.

The station had an old aged sign reading 'Khrom' the name of the town we disembarked at.

The village bordered the ocean where barnacle infested docks would stretch into the great blue along with the fisherman's boats docked with thick but fraying ropes. The boats were the only exception to the condition of the docks, they were well maintained if not a little rusty, they were definitely no Leap 'O' Faith that much was for sure.

A powerful odor emitted from the barrels full of fresh fish which proved that the village was at the very least not going to run out of food.

The houses (of which there were no more then ten) were outdated and needed a tune up evident by their rotted wood and meager attempts of repairs in the form of planks of wood poorly nailed to cover cracks and the like.

Still, there was a simple beauty in in Khrom, the feeling of the cool ocean breeze was second only to Kume beach, the ocean view was certainly something I could used to, I wanted to jump right in, but seeing as I couldn't swim that would likely end in tragedy.

The village was surrounded in thick forest which provided plenty of wood for the village along with protection from the chimara, not that they'd have to worry about that anymore.

Awaiting us at the station was both Sieg Torrikkusatu and a girl with long straight golden hair, equipped with a katana at her side and a golden breastplate depicting the Golden Chariot crest. Her striking blue eyes were completely fixated on Aceil and her cheeks were flushed red for reasons I couldn't begin to understand.

 My leading assumption was that she was Lyn the other member of The Golden Chariot that Master Pops informed us of, the one that would be occupying Kenki along with Sieg and the love birds.

"Uh, guys, why is she looking at me?" Aceil asked in concern as he shrunk back, avoiding the gaze of the swordswomen.

Out of nowhere, a ball the size of my head formed completely of black flames blazed past me as it headed straight towards an unsuspecting Toan.

Yet he would still disperse it with the most casual wave of his hand.

"Ah, I was waiting for you. Kiddo. Nice work with Hellfire, only demons are capable casting those flames, however while they are hotter then most flames they are a lot more difficult to control making them easier to dodge or even disperse using Mana." Toan explained in his best teacher voice.

As Toan spoke of Hellfire I couldn't help but notice a certain look in Cloris' eyes.

Regardless, most of Toan's lecture seemed to go over the boy's head.

The boy of crimson hair and eyes charged at Toan full speed ahead.

 "My name is Eyr Brok!" He shouted.

 "Very well. But if you don't mind I'll keep calling you kid." Toan answered as he extended his arm, halting the boy in his tracks by placing his palm on the boy's head.

 "Uh, who's Eyr Brok?" I asked in confusion before noticing the Draconum Familia pendant hanging from his neck, identical to the one Toan lost. 

 "It's a long story, one we don't have time for. I'll go over the plan one more time." Toan said as he did just that after shooing away Eyr that is.

 "Team Sieg consisting of Sieg, Lyn, Kenki, Lilac, and Nosora, will circle around the Guildhall and wait for my signal to enter through the rear of the estate in hopes of eliminating the Lunastray Master. Meanwhile Team Okami consisting of the rest of our forces, will assault the main entrance as a distraction hopefully thinning out the Lunastray force and making Team Sieg's job that much easier. Of course this will all only begin after I distract Krim. And that's it any objections? Too bad because the rest of our forces are already waiting on us." He explained in a rehearsed voice, giving out orders was never his specialty.

"Let's show them what happens when you make a member of Draconum Familia cry!" I cried out vigorously.

********

Occupying Sieg and Lyn was even more nerve racking then I imagined.

Even Nosora and Lilac were uncharacteristically quiet as we navigated the thick, vast, forests to approach the Guildhall's rear, apparently they had done some scouting before so I shouldn't have been so nervous but alas that was exactly how I felt.

 "Oh by the way, I would like to ask you a question regarding your runes." Sieg said perfectly casual as he stepped over a particularly large root.

My heart nearly skipped a beat. The world renowned Rune Lord who mastered every rune known to Rexia had a question for me? 

I was wrong when I said I was nervous before, compared to how I felt when he said that, I was perfectly calm before.

 "Oh yeah? What's that?" I replied sweating profusely.

 "Rune Smithing. Is it a trait that can be taught? Or is it more hereditary?" He continued completely throwing me off guard whilst simultaneously holding back a branch to allow me and everyone else to pass like a gentleman.

 "Rune Smithing? What do you mean?" 

"As I'm sure you know, Runes are magic symbols that require immense Ether to activate, Runist and Runies are the only Casters with enough. Of course we can't actually access our Ether though which is why we need Rune Pens in order channel it. Runes are incredibly powerful and the ancient ones are even more so, I as a Rune Lord have access to everyone of them." He continued in a humble voice, nonchalantly bragging as he retook the lead.

"However, you are the first Rune Smith I've ever seen. As skilled as I may be, I am incapable of creating my own runes. And so I wanted to know if you could teach me, or if it's something that cannot be taught." 

For a fair amount of time we just silently navigated to the rear of the Guildhall, my bewilderment prevented me from answering.

For all my life I'd been able to create Runes, I didn't speak to other Runist or Runies very often so it's not exactly like I had anything to compare myself to.

Was it really that unique?

 "Uh, Kenki, don't you think its a little rude to just leave him hanging like that?" Nosora asked breaking me from my silence.

 "Oh sorry about tha-"

Lyn interrupted my by raising her finger to her lip as though she was shushing a child.

 "We're here." Sieg said, his voice lowered to a whisper.

Its foundation was of a sturdy yet elegant polished stone which held it's magnificent smooth dark wood walls that would put even ours to shame, the manor was decorated with numerous windows all of which were covered by a scarlet curtain and most of which housed a beautiful flower bed. The estate was surrounded in a tall wrought silver fence that separated us from the courtyard of the Lunastray Guildhall were we would make our entrance.

It was for me to believe that such a pretty mansion belonged to such evil people.

"Whoa, this place is-" Lilac spoke just as bewildered as me, however Lyn interrupted her mid sentence.

"Small? I know, it's hard to believe they're rank two. Their Guildhall is tiny compared to ours." Lyn bragged unintentionally, gaining herself a glare from three sets of eyes, along with a tap on the head from Sieg. 

 "Ow." 

 Suddenly an ear rupturing explosion thundered throughout the air.

 "I guess that must be the signal." Lyn said as she covered her ears.

 "What a Toan thing to do." Lilac and Nosora said in sync which was annoyingly cute.

 "Well, let's not keep them waiting."

 And just like that our assault began.