The Arrival....Of an Innocent?

In an attempt to avoid conflict with others Nolo decided to travel the neutral grounds since it was considered a place devoid of magic and instead a place of trade and commerce. After taking a wrong turn he finds that he wandered into a fairly deserted area so he asks himself "Is this really the right way to the inn?". After trying to find his way back, he ends up going deeper into the area before finally admitting to himself "I'm lost.".

After learning the area from constant perception of landmarks, he decides to sit down and relax for a bit before hearing the cries of a woman. "Who's there?" he yells before investigating the noise. He is shocked to find that the voice is coming from a woman wearing only an unbuttoned shirt so after checking his surroundings finding three unconscious men in the alleyway with the girl, he warily asks while keeping his distance  "What happened here?"

The neutral grounds setting foot here made one young mans body cringe as he felt his ties to the darkness being sealed instantly, As he continued on the path finally reaching the city he headed over to a small café until he heard a loud scream for help. "WHO'S THERE ?" He called loudly and quickly headed towards the scream. As the young man arrived on the scene He noticed a young eight teen year old wearing only a unbutton shirt in a fetal position and a man standing next to her and three other men unconscious surrounding them. Lifting up the hood of his cloak the young man's facial features could be seen even in the slightly darkened ally spikey black hair and piercing crimson eyes. Daemon walked over to the young women and knelt beside her haring her stomach growl he reached into his satchel and pulled out a thermos of warm stew. "Here you sound hungry. "

Lance walked down the streets of the neutral grounds with his hood on so people could see his face. He didn't like it here seeing as he had no power whatsoever. He was walking to the exit of the place so he could leave when he heard a scream come from somewhere behind him.

Lance looked behind him quickly and took off running down the streets to find the source of the scream. When he got to the place of the scream there were already two people there and a girl that was wearing a unbuttoned shirt in a fetal position. Lance examined the scene some more while walking over to the group of people he saw three other guys unconscious on the floor.

He walked over the girl and sat in front of here. He looked at her for a while and patted the girl of the head "It's going to be ok..." Lance said as he tried to comfort the girl. He then pulled out some food that he got at a restaurant in the town and some water and placed it in front of the girl "Eat up." Lance was still staring at the girl when he started talking to the two guys "Were you two the ones who did this to her?" Lance kept rubbing the girls head trying to comfort her.

Nolo sighs at the situation before slowly walking towards the girl to remove his jacket and place it over her exposed body. He then proceeds to open the now battered thermos the girl was holding while answering the Lance's question. "If I was then do you think I would still be around to answer your question? Before you start playing 20 questions let's get this girl some place nice and warm. I don't like the looks of what happened here, and I'm not going to wait to find out.

Lance nodded and took off his coat and put in around the girl so she can be warmer with two coats now. This was the first time he cared about someone in a while. He decided he would trust the man and agreed with him "Stay here guys there is an inn right across the street, I'm going to go get us a room its on me."

Lance ran through the rain and left his coat on the girl. When he got to the inn he asked the guy for a room and paid him. Lance thanked the guy and ran back out to the group.

"I got us a room follow me guys." Lance said as he walked over to the girl and offered his hand to help her walk "You look like your a little weak at the moment let me help you get to the room."

* Daemon simply knealed next to the young maiden and took off his cloak putting his robes and obsidian necklace to the elements and placed it over her then did his best to calm her down after all he was a priest first and a warrior second. " Lord please offer this soul mercy and the strength to live. " He said calmly as he took out a small black leather book and began reading it in a soft voice as the other man returned and helped her to her feet. Daemon then got back to standing upright returning his treasured text to a small satchel tied to his belt . "It's best if we all retire for the evening for a hot shower and food I hope to see you again I the morning. May the black dragon protect you " With a slight bow The young priest headed towards the inn the young man had come from and entered the front door walking slowly to the counter and asked for a room for some food for the maiden and the other two and took out some jewels and placed them on the counter.

The inn keeper simply nodded and handed Daemon a room key who shortly after ascended the stairs and headed to the second room in the upstairs hallway and unlocked the door reviling a simple room with a bed nightstand and a bathroom close to the bed.

The inn was quiet and cozy. Not too many people were around and Leonard was sitting on a chair and eating his meal. This inn caught Leonard's attention once he got in to town, it was his kind of place. However, the peace was disturbed when a group of people came in, and as they opened the door, the sound of rain echoed throughout the inn. It made Leonard turn his head to see who it was.

It seems Lance and another mage, and a priest - which was very unsettling, saved a girl. But Leonard felt that the girl wasn't out of danger yet. He wanted to asses and observe the damsel more and so he followed them. Standing up with his meal only nearly done, he walked in front of the innkeeper and threw a small pouch of gold, enough to pay for whatever he's going to use in the inn.

When he was near them, he reached out to Lance by the shoulder and said "Hey, looks like you boys have a problem? Can I help?" in a calm manner. After he had finished speaking, Leonard let go of Lance and proceeded to the side of the girl. His eyes fixated on her face. She looks lost and troubled. At that moment, Leonard assumed that she wasn't an ordinary girl, regardless of the fact that he can feel magic power from her. From that moment, he stayed close to the girl.

Nolo looks at those standing in the room before realizing how crowded the room was getting. He says to the group as a whole, If y'all wouldn't mind leaving, I think a large group of unknown persons would make the girl frightful when she wakes up. He walks towards the corner farthest from the bed to seat himself comfortably with a good view of the room. "I will stay here to keep watch and make sure she stays safe. I can't trust any of you to do this, since i don't even know you people."

Daemon simply looked at the young man with a distant stare in his eyes. "I am simply a priest  who wishes to help those in need I wish for no harm to befall the young maiden." He said as he turned to leave the room before stopping. "Also the same can be said about you." He spoke in a slight venomness tone as he closed the door behind him and headed into his own room  and again closed the door. As soon as Daemon locked the door to his room he quickly began to change out of his priest robes and pulled out his street clothes fallowing a slightly different color scheme then his robes Daemon preferred all black clothing with bloody crimson boots and a silver Rosario necklace. As he finished changing Daemon slowly put his robes into a large satchel he carries on his back that has multiple pockets sewn into it. Daemon yawned softly as he  slowly climbed into bed and drifted off to a much needed sleep.

Lance shook his head "I cant trust you to do this either man, I don't know you." Lance said as he sat down beside the man and sighed. Lance just kept staring at the girl wandering what happened to her.

"You know... I never really got to introduce myself." Lance said as he turned to the man and extended his hand out to give him a hand shake "The names Lance Knighthunter nice to meet you." Eventually He got tired and laid down on the floor in the other corner of the room.

He yaughned and smiled "Night" He said as he turned over and with that he went to sleep

Now all of them were cramped up in a single room. However, the other man dressed as a priest left to sleep in his own room. Now there were three men in the room, and they all wanted to stay and watch over the girl. No surprise there as this is what any other man would do for a woman. But he can't let these men watch over her alone, no. The presence and danger Leonard senses is a matter that calls great attention. What's more is that he can sense it from the girl.

Opposite the door was the window, it was a simple sliding window that was open, it let in a nice breeze that ventilated the room well. Leonard walked across the room and sat on the window frame. He had his back against the the right vertical frame. He placed his right foot on the other side while his left freely hanged. Leonard then said "This girl's been through a lot, as far as I can tell. So she's gonna need all the help she can can get. Besides, we're all strangers here. We can't just depend on a random stranger to do this or that. We're all looking out for her." with such a sadistic smile in the end and a very disturbing stare. He had hoped to threaten the others so that they'll let him stay there with them. And that very disturbing look turned lighter as he closed his eyes, that made look like a very big smile.

Leonard then looked out through the window and his face returned to normal as he looked out. Right now, there were thousands of possible outcomes, that could all lead in to a fight. When he thought of that, he looked down with his eyes closed. No matter what, Leonard needed to be ready for anything.

'How do you mean it's not there anymore! It has to be, the sensor is never wrong!'
His voice that usually had a slithering creeping touch was traded in for a voice now filled with anger. Anger that whatever the sensory lacrima at his guild picked up, wasn't there anymore. But the location revealed to be a place that Aza'zel Margus Cacaroth wasn't so fond of. A place where his magic doesn't work. So the sensor couldn't exactly pinpoint it's location. But luckily for Aza'zel there were enough footmen of the guild that were just willingly to climb higher up the ladder and please the master. Which was off course also Aza'zel's intention, as well the scientific curiosity off course. He was after all Divine Torments lead scientist.
'Obvious it is around here somewhere! So hurry up and locate it for me, or else it is you who will end up on my table!'
With a devious grim he showed a couple of syringes he always had with him to the group of thugs. Who turned white with fear and quickly hurried.  

After a while the men of Divine Torment returned, and this time with more satisfying news.
'I found ya lead boss!' Just earlier some couple of punks saw a young gal enter a tavern with almost nothing on. Could be nothing, but the boys said she gave of some vibe. Which is impossible around here, seeing that there is nog magic around and all'
A smile appeared on Aza'zels disfigured face, they finally found something what was worth checking out.

The inn itself looked like any normal place from the outside. And had a warm and welcome feeling. Not really what Aza'zel sort of place, but that was something that didn't matter at the moment.
'Well boys, let's get in and find ourselves that specimen'
Just before Aza'zel and his thugs entered he threw a glimpse towards one of the windows, where he could see a young man behind a window.

The sound of rapidly moving foot steps rang through Daemon's dreams abruptly awakening the normally deep sleeping priest who quickly reached for a staff that was tied to his bag and quickly moved to the left side of the window looking out as members of the Divine torment was taking up positions around the Inn. "Damnit of all the places. Alright think Daemon what's the best way to make sure that girl is kept out of harms way and you getting out of here alive.". He thought as he began to piece together a surprise attack for the punks. Silently and carefully Daemon moved to the door and quickly opened it and rushed back into the other room. " We've got trouble Divine torment's coming in you guys need to get her out of here I've got a plan but it's gonna have to have you guys look the other way. " He said quickly as he quickly left the room and headed back for his room to grab his Satchel and headed down stairs after smirking to the other three guys. As the thugs slowly walked into the Inn they began to notice that the floor was wet and reeked of liquor as they look up the saw Daemon siting calmly on the counter holding a bottle of vodka and a black lighter. "Feeling lucky you sons of bitchs." Daemon grinned slightly as he took a deep swig of the vodka and flicked the lighter preparing to torch them and the entire inn around them .

Lance awoke when he heard the girl yelling at some people to go away. Lance hopped up and ran out into the hallway to find one of the group already there he told the rest of the group to get the girl out of here and look away as he pulled out a lighter. Lance understood what he was doing and nodded but he walked up beside the man as he got into fighting stance he looked at the man and smirked "I'm not going to let you handle these shit heads by yourself man. I want to help to, and beside if they lay one hand on that girl.... I will kill them." Lance said with a growl as he turned half of his face to the rest of the group "Get this girl out of here Me and this guy will handle the rest."

Lance didn't really care if the man wanted help or not he was going to protect this girl with his life.

Leonard was still looking through the window, and he saw thugs approach the inn. It was clear what they were after: the girl. Leonard stood up and looked at the girl. When he looked at her, his eyes widened and then he looked away. The girl was up and naked. Why did she want to go naked? It wasn't clear, however, it didn't bother her. Perhaps she was just simply that innocent.

The girl hurried outside to get something to eat. Which Leonard wondered why she needed to that since she could just ask for food. That action further proved that the girl was like an innocent child of some sort. Leonard followed her because he knew thugs were about to come to the inn. And when they did, it alerted all of their presence.

The girl was already at the lobby when she was stopped by the thugs. She reached for an iron rod to defend herself. Clearly, the thugs will do more than just harm her at this state. Then, Leonard caught a whiff of liquor and realized the priest was going to burn the place down. It widened Leonard's eyes, he doesn't want one of his favorite inns burned to the ground.

It was starting to get chaotic and so far, the rest had only done threats and speeches. Action needed to be done to take care of this situation quickly, and to save his inn.

Leonard walked to the other side of the lobby from the second floor so that he could be behind the thugs. He counted three, not much of a challenge. Leonard drew the sword from his back, which he always has on his back, and jumped down while holding the blade overhead. The vertical strike sliced the left side thug in half, the attack also ended up with Leonard kneeling and as he stood, a rising diagonal slash was delivered to the thug next to him, slicing him in half from his waist up to his left armpit. The last thug was able to respond and attack Leonard with a horizontal slash aimed at his neck. Leonard simply ducked down and swept the thug off his feet, which was quickly followed with Leonard getting up and delivering a downward slash to the thug while in midair, and as soon as the thug touched the ground, the blade touched the thug, killing him.

There was a slight pause before he got up, and looked at the priest with the lighter. "Never, ever torch this place, please." he said plain and cold. Then he turned to the girl, with his head down as he could not look at her. With a rather more calm tone he said "Are you alright, miss?"

'kekeke, quite a display we got here. Even setting the place and all it's patrons on fire. Only to keep us out. Not very priest like isn't it'
Aza'zels giggling slithering voice pierced through the silence as he and five of the remaining thugs set foot at the inn, only to see three of his men being cutdown. And while his men looked furious of their comrades being slit in half. Aza'zel only had a mischievous smile on his disfigured face, the usual chesire grin he always had. Feeling no remorse for the ones that laid dead in front of him.
'Anyway, let me! Aza'zel Margus Cacaroth show you how to threaten someone properly. Boys!'

The five thugs quickly dashed forwards and drew their swords, only to end up behind some of the patrons that were still at the inn. Who were silently watching until the thugs swords were held against their throat.
'Seeing that you are all so righteous... well most of you then' With that last remark Aza'zel pointed with his head towards the priest.
'It is only logical that you will hand over the specimen to me, so that my boys here won't slit the throats of these innocent patrons'

Aza'zel kept looking at the hindrance that stood in his way, still smiling and waiting their response. Observing each and every one of them. Coming to the conclusion that this group had met up by mere chance and were as well entangled by the sudden appearance of the naked girl. At first there was the priest that acted a bit irrational for a priest, which was very amusing for Aza'zel. Then there was the young lad who stood righteous in front of the girl. And then there was the one that cut his men in pieces in just mere moments.

Lance saw the commotion that was going on. She was attacking Leo and it was at this moment that he had to make the decision to protect his guild mate or just sit back and watch. He lunged forward to jump in front of Leo but the attack had already been made. There really wasn't much Lance could do about it. Lance watched as she attacked him he wanted to help him but he couldn't do it without hurting the girl so he just watched.

"Hey Girl, calm down will you? He doesn't want to hurt you he is with us. Oh and you should probably get dressed!" Lance yelled out to the girl with a smirk on his face. Lance carefully approached the girl while she was attacking Leo and held his hand out for her to grab "I can help you get home miss just let me help you." He said as he grabbed her metal pole and slowly pulled it downwards toward the ground with it still in her hand. "Calm down please."

It was at this moment when Wolfy crashed through the window of the room they were staying in and flew out into the hall "Lance I lost you a while back! Where did you...." Wolfy cut himself off as he looked at the scene that was playing "What the hell happened here?" He said as he flew over to Lance head and sat down "I see Leo and 2 guys I don't know. Who is this girl? and why are there so many bloody bodies here?!"

Lance sighed "I don't know who these two guys are and I will tell you about the girl later ok? Now let me handle this scene." He said as he turned back to the girl "I will protect you, I don't want to hurt you just please stop attacking my friend. I know he can defend himself but please stop and let me take you home." Lance said still holding out his hand. Wolfy was shocked to see this determination from Lance.

Daemon glared as he flicked his lighter closed and spat out the vodka in his mouth onto the floor and took out his trusty staff from underneath his bag and pointed it like a sword at the vile dog who led the thugs, Daemon wanted to protect the girl but he had to teach the arrogant bastard a lesson from his days as a cleric training hall. In the name of the great one who grants me my strength I promise that you shall join your men in the ground by the time this is all over, With those words said Daemon Practically launched himself off the counter and rushed at one of the few last living thugs to show the young brat what he was capable of and swung at his head as the tug dodged and attempted to run Daemon trough from the front with his sword but Daemon swiftly dropped his staff then caught the mans blade and proceeded to apply pressure to the blade to cause the blade to snap like a twig.

As the thug began to sob over to the lose of his sword Daemon quickly discarded the portion of the blade that he was holding and quickly grabbed his staff and made a slicing motion with his staff striking the thug across his stomach and jaw sending the thug flying into the air hitting the ceiling then falling to the ground as a small pool of blood began to flow from his skull. "May Seiryu have mercy on your soul" He said calmly as he closed his eye while mumbling a slight prayer.

Everything turned into one big bloodbath as the others  turned on the other thugs. However, what really caught Leonard's attention was the naked girl who proceeded to attack him. At first, the girl attacked the other people in the inn, blabbing out words only she knew the meaning to. But what Leonard did manage to piece out is that the girl had remembered something. Because she said something about home, father, and destroying everything. It is clear that the innocent girl wasn't so innocent at all. However, Leonard felt sorry for her, what he found out about her only made him want to help her more, because he somehow felt that he can understand his situation. Leonard may not have had his memory erased, but he too was born of a dark family. The time to act was now, it was time to face this girl once and for all. To help her completely and hopefully carve out a better future. One that she'll remember both during the times she'll have her memory, and during the time she has forgotten everything.

Leonard thought of getting to know the girl in a more personal level, one that can only be achieved when they're alone. So Leonard had to look around for a possible point of exit from the inn, the only thing he saw was the open window near his left side. The path the window was clear, no one was blocking it save a few dead bodies littered on the floor, bathing in their own blood, possibly mixed with the blood of the once person next to him.

Lance was in between Leonard and the girl. Lance took the liberty of protecting the girl from him should the girl struck Leonard. Lance was trying to calm the girl down, and lowered her metal rod. Though at this point, Leonard knew that is a very futile attempt. Leonard had seen eyes like hers before, a smile like hers before, and a craving for blood and destruction like hers before. And he knew all too well that when a person is like that, you'll never get them to calm down.

So Leonard pushed through with his plan on escaping with the girl. He grabbed Lance on his right shoulder with his right hand and whispered "We'll help her alright. And I know how, but I'm going to need your help Lance. I'm going to escape with the girl through that window, make sure nobody tries to follow us. He then let go of his shoulder and with the same hand, reached for the back of his belt. Strapped to that area were 10 daggers, and while he walked past the girl, he twisted and knelt at the same time while throwing the daggers around him, hitting the people still standing, except for Lance, the priest, and the girl, in their leg and shoulder. When he got up, he turned around to face the girl, and carry her from her waist, it looked like a fireman carry and he hurried towards the window.

They slipped through quick and ended up in the narrow streets of town. They were now in the open and that won't end well for any of them. So he had to find an empty building. And he found it in the likes of a warehouse. Leonard carried her with steel arms, so that she won't be able to slip. The warehouse had one big open space near the entrance they came in. Thought crates stacked up here and there, it was a perfect setting for some heart to heart talk in these circumstances. And it's a nice battlefield when things go out of hand. When they were there, Leonard dropped the girl on the floor and hugged her "You're such a lost soul. You're born of darkness from what I can tell. You're not alone, please let me help you." he whispered to the girl's ear with a tone so calm, Leonard had hoped to pass the same vibe to the girl.