Summer Fumbles, Tumbles and Rumbles

The summer sun was shining all through the town of Hargeon as the warm weather brought with it a wave of summer fun. The pair of Exceed had found that the world they had come to certainly was full of things to do. The whirlwind of days passed by as everything and the kitchen sink was explained to them. The Rune Knight handbook. code, and lots and lots of interrupting people to ask them what words like "insubordination" meant. Everyone in the guild so far was nice enough to help them with things be it finding their way to the kitchen to steal fish or finding their quarters after getting stuck in the hallways for the third time in a day. Sure Jellisha was snappy when upset or frustrated but luckily her sister was there to calm her down some from screeching at people. They had even managed to find a neat spell to disguise them as humans. Of course, the very first time this was shown off, clothes didn't exactly manifest with them, leading to an incident report that Grappa still couldn't understand.

Now though, Mythal, Serilda and them had come to one of the town's few public beaches after talk of how it would be nice for the twins to get some exposure to the elements. The two had been expected here as being guests of honor from far away, though two additional bodies wouldn't seem like such a hassle. They set out for a mini vacation as the twins tagged along and soon found themselves shifting more to their human disguises due to their fur adding extra heat to their already warm bodies. Today, the twins came dressed ready to have some fun beach fun as they appeared in chipper spirits. Even the stoic and usually grumpy Jellisha matched Grappa's excitement for the day's events. Their feet met the sand while Grappa would stretch and then point at the endless blues before them. The beach had people mulling about, with tents and stations built across the sands full of stalls hawking gods including seafood, toys, accessories and more. In the center of it all was a large bonfire, reserved to be lit for when dusk came. People passed them by, welcoming them to the festivities while some even would recognize the two.

"Race ya to the water, Jellisha!" "Eat my dust, sis!"

The two took off running to the water, kicking up sand from their sprint to the beach, each laughing as hard as the other. Once close, Jellisha tackled her sister and the two were sent tumbling onto the ground together in a ball of flailing legs and arms. They found their way into the water and would be seen helping one another stay afloat while Jellisha was trying to teach Grappa how to swim. Just as she was getting the hang of not letting her head submerge below the water level, a cry broke loose from one of the tents across the way. The top was currently in a blaze, with the platters of fish and other assorted seafood being thrown about as customers fled away from the tent. Four small specks of fleeting orange light danced around the flames to a beat unheard to all but them. As soon as they appeared the group dispersed, presumably in search of more things to burn.

"Not the seafood! That's the best part of the festival!" Grappa whined, Jellisha pulling her back onto land on her back while simultaneously trying not to drown herself. When they got to land, the two spun on their heels and went to go find Serilda and Mythal. "Guess the vacation's over then..."

Mythal had a family.

It was an unexpected, completely uncoordinated and certainly unplanned development in his life but there was no denying the obviousness of it. Serilda and himself, along with Xiuhco and Gren, had already fit the bill of a family before they had happened upon the Exceed egg in the storage room of the Rune Knights. Two fateful touches of their hands had awakened Grappa and Jellisha; two Exceed twins who had been left behind for reasons unknown. The two had quickly formed a connection with the two God Slayers and for their own part, it was impossible to not enjoy their company. They had become their companions, more like daughters in a strange way. It had been wrestling around in the back of his mind for some time but now that he was here, at the beach, on a literal family getaway, it was undeniable. There was the degenerative part of his psyche that railed against the knowledge; demanded that he run away and put as much distance between himself and this light, airy happiness. But the days of that controlling his actions had been long gone. The truth of the matter was he was happy how his life had turned out. It made things… especially his future… a lot clearer.

He’d never planned on having kids, having a lover, having this kind of life. He had expected, at one point or other, he would wind up dead in a gutter or killed during some mishap on a job. His very existence had been a farce, his body meant to encase a goddess and his own soul reduced to ash. And he had lived his life with that knowledge for the longest time, believing himself worthless, along with the rest of Earthland’s residents. It was true irony for him to be here, on the waterfront, playing in the water alongside the two Exceeds that had become, essentially, his children. He didn’t voice it to anyone, even Serilda yet, but it truly filled a part of him he thought would always be empty.

While Serilda was taking it easy on the beach, Mythal was in the thick of the mess that was the watery fun. Grappa and Jellisha had taken off running to the water and Gren and Xiuhco had followed right after, each hound just as excited to jump and play in the ocean water. Mythal had come up close behind, chuckling to himself as he watched the foursome play in their own unique way. After the two transformed Exceeds had made it into the water, he was there to coach Grappa alongside her sister, helping her to find the confidence to swim on her own. But before they could even properly get into it, a loud screech tore through the air. Many of the beachgoers stopped in their tracks and turned towards the source of the sound, a fiery plume drawing everyone’s gazes. Food was being knocked all over as the customers ran for their lives. As he watched, Mythal caught sight of four glowing sources of light moving about the flames, performing some kind of tribal dance with the very laps of fire.

A flash of light to his left didn’t distract him as Lux appeared. “Ugh finally something to break this ridiculous outing. I was going to throw up if you all got a big head family portrait,” the Lightbringer complained.

“You’re more than welcome to lock yourself away then,” Mythal replied easily as he followed after Grappa and Jellisha. “I’m sure there are other stands with food. Just… looks like we’ll have to do a little work on our vacation.” The absolute last thing he wanted to do was Rune Knight work when they were supposed to be taking it easy but there was no denying the situation needed rectifying.

“More like bug zapping. Those little pixies think their ‘light’ is all that? Time to show them what the Lightbringer can do,” Lux said, flexing his fingers as he disappeared in another flash of light. Mythal stared at the spot for a moment, his eyes narrowed slightly. It was odd but… Lux actually looked more tangible during this instant than any other time before. To add to that, ever since they had come to this beach, really since the summer air had set in, Mythal had felt his powers take a step back. It wasn’t enough to alarm him but it was enough for him to notice. Perhaps there was something about the summer that weakened his powers. Longer days, shorter nights maybe.

But he couldn’t worry about that right now. As Serilda was taking care of the fire, Mythal raced down the corridors of tents and food stands, looking around for any sign of the pixies. Movement to his left brought his attention to two of the pixies, whistling in front of another food tent in preparation to attack. As he marched towards them, he spotted more movement to his right. “Girls,” he called out to Grappa and Jellisha, nodding towards the two pixies that were idling nearby. He knew the two Exceeds were perfectly capable of handling them themselves.

As for Mythal, before he could even think of an offensive spell to halt the two pixies in front of him, Lux appeared in another flash of light. His hands snapped out and grabbed at the two balls of flames, his fingers squeezing each one tight. He grinned a malicious grin as he squeezed with all his might, resulting in two fiery pops, followed by a low sizzling. He opened his hands, releasing the ashes of what was left of the pixies. “That’ll learn ‘em,” he said, brushing his hands off.

“Really? When there’s people around?” Mythal asked, disgusted.

“Oh sorry, was I supposed to capture them in jars and use them to bring me back to life?” the Lightbringer asked sarcastically, scoffing. “Give it a rest, Myth. They’re fire sprites – they live only as long as their fires burn. Squelch the fire, no more pixie. Then no more carnage. If anything, I did you a favor.”

But Mythal wasn’t listening anymore. He had turned and headed back in the direction of the other pixies, wanting to check on Jellisha and Grappa.

With the addition of Xi, Gren and Mythal following after them, the twins would be hard pressed to say that they weren't enjoying themselves greatly. Each had some problems at first swimming as cats that had transformed recently into humans did. They had grown so used to doggy paddling that longer limbs and a heavier body meant that swimming in their Exceed forms wouldn't be the most optimal way to make their way around in water. Serilda and Mythal's two hounds had been quite friendly despite them being dogs and most of their kind viewing cats with as much hospitality as a dark guild to a Saints meeting. Grappa would keep a hold of Xi while watching as Mythal coached Jellisha first on how to swim. It must have been so strange for the man, holding a much smaller body than his that looked up to him and cared for greatly. It was almost like a daughter of sorts, though both would be hard pressed about calling either of them that. Jellisha was probably too stubborn to admit these feelings and Grappa...well, she was probably clueless to what parents were without a dictionary being involved. At one moment, Jellisha felt Mythal's hands on hers as she looked away with a blush on her face. Maybe depending on another person wasn't so bad...Not that she was just going to admit that to him. It took ten minutes or so before the stoic twin got it and would soon be racing all around the water. "Haha! I'm doing it! I'm actually doing it!" Grappa was next who struggled much like her sister but was slowly getting the hang of it.

"Kinda like this?" "Yeah. Don't tuck your legs in before yours arm and try to push yourself forward."

It was honestly a perfect moment for the group, until the fire sprites showed up and ruined all of it. The panic ensued as each caretaker would go their separate ways to deal with the problem. Serilda used her magic to douse the flames by summoning a large clump of snow onto the flames. Which meant that fish was still on the menu! Score! Mythal did his own thing and killed two of the sprites on his own while Grappa and Jellisha were left to defeat the final two fleeing away from them.

"Grappa!" Jellisha called out. Her sister caught up with her and would nod, her fingers interweaving with her sister's. "Ready!" They would take one final step forward before twisting their body and summoning their wind magic around them while aiming at the two targets. Jellisha swung Grappa around before shifting her balance to the side as the momentum carried them both forward at great speeds. They boil coiled together, legs outstretched as the warm air condensed to a drill shape and sped through the fleeing pixies, cutting them into (lovely) fiery poofs.

When they slowed down, the twins would celebrate and strike a heroic pose. "Haha! No match for the Rune Knights!" Jellisha spun around facing the sky and pointing a finger at it, as if it to taunt something. "Is that the best you've got? C'mon out and send us your-"

Bam! In a blink of an eye, a much larger poof appeared, a strange furry goat man...thing socking Jellisha square in the gut with a vicious sucker punch. The force sent her flying back some few metter as sand was kicked up upon landing. "Jelli-" Grappa was interrupted as the beast would pick her up by the chest and hold her into the air, letting out a terrifying roar. Grappa squirmed in his grip, trying to free herself from the monster's grasp. "S-Serilda! Mythaaaaal!"

Oh hell no.

Mythal had all but ignored Lux’s blithering to turn back and check on the girls and see how they fared. It was an oddly satisfying moment to see them bond together and stop the other two fairies from causing any more destruction, a smirk on his face that many would have called father-like. While still young in certain mannerisms, the two Exceeds had taken up their positions within the Rune Knights with a serious sincerity that had made a lot of their number proud. It was also amusing how well they worked together when they weren’t bickering or finding ways to tease and joke with one another.

But much like Serilda, his enjoyment came to a quick end when the goat-headed creature appeared directly on top of them. The towering giant was large even by Mythal’s standards, meaning that he was practically a skyscraper compared to the two Exceeds. He watched in horrified disgust as it hit Jellisha first and sent her flying away then grabbed Grappa and unleashed a devastating, if not nightmare-inducing roar. Serilda reacted quicker than him, possibly because she was closer. In a snap she was hovering before the creature, her own anger seeping out of her like a fragrance. She roared back at the goat creature and he watched as the magic imbued in it seeped into his flesh and cut off his ability to breath. It freed Grappa as it clawed at its own neck and chest, trying against hope to find some way to breath once more. The Voidwalker ordered the Exceed to check on her sister, creating the opening that Mythal needed.

In rush of movement, he was crouched right in front of the creature. Upwards he fist rose, striking the struggling creature in the jaw and sending him flying up into the air. As he spun head over tail, the Darkness King turned to Serilda. “They alright?” he asked, more concerned about the Exceeds than the creature spinning in the air. He extended his arm outward and then pushed it up, causing the shadows from the tents to jerk upwards and take the form of massive fists. Each one slammed into the goat, one after the other from different angles. The last one came down as a strike to the stomach, sending the creature soaring down towards the ground. Where Mythal had set his first served as its landing spot, a posed arm that the creature crashed into and bent over. The air and determination it had showed to yell at the Exceeds left it in that moment and it went completely limp as it laid on the extended fist.

Mythal glanced up at it and then dropped it off to the side. Lux appeared on top of it, crouching on its back and bouncing a few times. “Phew. He’s not getting back up. But looks like you got two more challengers!” He said with a laugh as he pointed past them. Mythal glanced over as two humanoid creatures burned into existence from a flash of light. They were female in shape, with hair that was glowing as bright as candles. Several swirling symbols were on their flesh and magic was pulsating off of them. “Want me to have a go at them? I’m feelin’ pretty spry right now.”

The terrible creature's grip tightened around the small human shaped cat while she struggled to free herself from the beast's grasp. Her emerald eyes flew over towards her poor twin who had been sent being thrown across the way. Thankfully her savior came in the form of Serilda who materialized directly in front of the monster that had her by the throat. She looked the beast up while Grappa watched a little from a few feet above. In a brilliant and dazzling display, Serilda roared, unleashing a vibrant twilight torrent from her mouth as the magic burned the monster that had the Exceed. It was so powerful that it rammed itself down his throat. The thing dropped her immediately and clutched its windpipe as it to savor every last morsel of oxygen that was inside of his lungs. Grappa hit the sand with an audible "whump" that thankfully cushioned her fall. The girl got up and hurried over to Serilda who told her to go check on her sister.

"Yes, Ma'am!"

"Jellishaaaaa!" She started on over to the trail of sand that might as well had been a runway for Jellisha's exit. Across a good four yards or so was her sister who lied face down in the sand. "There you are!" Grappa hurried over to her defeated sibling and soon knelt over and flipped Jellisha over on her back. A mixture of great pain and humiliation was painted clearly on her sand ridden face. "I'm okay..." she coughed horsely as the wind knocked out of her was just beginning to trickle back in. "I feel like I just got hit with the mess hall build." Grappa helped her sister back up to her feet and looked back over at the fight ensuring since they had grown absent from it. Seri and Mythal had made quick work of the goat man hybrid thing since they last checked in on things but it was nice to see that they could just demolish any monster like that. Jellisha wobbled a little while she tried to walk again but looked to be in chipper spirits after the punch.

Just as the cause of celebration had arrived again, two more challengers entered the fray. "So more wanna try and ruin the party, huh? Let's-" She took one step and nearly topple the two of them again, with Grappa being the one to prevent her from falling. "You should really lie down." "Now way! Not when they need our help!" "But-" "C'mon!" Jellisha's form exploded in a plume of smoke as she returned to her Exceed looks, with her sister following suit behind her. The two women of flames were near their guardians as the twins flashed their wings and sped over towards the fight at fast speeds.

"We're here!"
"We're here!"

The twins raced around the two targets and flashed their claws, Aero magic forming around them to sharpen them to the level of a sharpened knife. Grappa split from Jellisha's side as the two circled the flame spirits and began to bombard them. Each cat raced past them, their claws raking the fire filled forms several times before returning back to Mythal and Serilda's side.