The Land of Marsh-Hollow

Kina looked down into Venn's crystal blue eyes as he took her hands for the second time that day. He was kneeling in front of her and she felt her heart race as she saw the sincere concern in his eyes. "I haven't I'm afraid. Mention it that is." Kina looked at the boy with a confused look and wondered where he had figured out she's lost her memory from. Returning her gaze to the comfort of Venn's blue eyes she continued. "I have lost my memory and I know little about myself. It took me an entire day of trying my best to remember just my name." Feelings that she had been bottling up seemed to flow over and tears began to fall down her face. She knelt down holding onto Venn's hands as if a life line and settled herself in front of him. "I know few things about myself. I know my name as I mentioned and I know I'm not from here. But aside from that I do not know why I am here, how I got here, nor how to get back to where ever it was I had been before. I woke on the top of a hill and walked here but aside from that I know nothing." She raised her amethyst gaze and looked Venn in the eyes once more. He was slightly blurred in her tear filled eyes she blinked and saw his face clearly once more. "I'm lost Venn, I...I don't know where I belong." She let the tears fall freely now as she sat there clinging to Venn's hands. She was afraid...that was the truth she was afraid. She was lost and felt empty and no matter how hard she tried her memory seemed to evade her. Yet something of importance kept nagging at the back of her mind and yet she could not remember. "I'm afraid." She whispered between sobs. "I'm so afraid."

"Shh, now." he pulled her close and embraced her with a hug. He patted her on the back to comfort her as the sobs came. Breaking the bond, he waved his finger at the servant who had just brought a food cart in, picked up a strawberry from one of the fancy plates and offered it to her. "Here, have something to eat. It will make you feel better."

Kina let herself be wrapped in the warm embrace that Venn offered her she wept on his chest as he held her and helped her calm down. She couldn't remember anyone being so kind to her even in the farthest corners of shadow memories. When she had calmed down a little he pulled her back up right and offered her a ripe red strawberry and fed it to her saying it would help her feel better. Though nothing could make her feel more safe and secure than to look into Venn's eyes and feel his hands on her supporting her and comforting her. Even the unexpected hand holding meant so much to her. She ate the strawberry offered her and still sitting next to Venn to another eating it as well. Truth was she didn't know when she had last eaten and now she realized just how famished she was. She was also tired and she lay her head on Venn's shoulder closing her eyes exhausted both physically and emotionally just to rest. She heard Dimitri enter the room again saying something and smelled the food but she was so comfortable she wasn't sure she wanted to move. "Venn?" she whispered slightly so only he could hear. "Whyare you here? And where is the Emerald Forest? Is it far?"

Venn relaxed and began his tale. "The Emerald Forest is a most wonderous place. Yes, it is far from here, but well worth the travel. It is not truly a forest, no no. I mean, there are trees. Luscious trees. Taller than you can imagine. But among the trees are tall buildings and houses, all made from emerald. The grounds are rich with it, you see. We trade with other places nearby. In fact, the economy is so great, that everone lives in prosperity. That is why there are no crimes. We are much to joyous a people to commit such felonous acts. Do you hear me, Dimitri? But alas, even one as gratitous as I for the bounty I have been given, I must branch out elsewhere. That is why I am here. I am on vacation. A trip to soothe my senses." Venn took a deep sip of red wine from a copper-looking goblet on the cart. He looked from Kina back to Dimitri. "But why are you here, Dimitri? What brings you to this land? I mean, this foolish vision must not be your only fruitful endevour."

~Stares at Venn~ Yes i do have antoher reason, i have a sister but i havent heard or seen her in such a long time and i have set out to find her, some people i passed on the way here said they saw her here at this inn but when i got here she wasnt here. I am guessing she is heading to teh Emerald Forest but only time will tell. Now it is late you may rest in my room, she is exahusted as it seems I shall be back in the morning i have things to take care of. ~leaves room~ Hmm Venn is arrogant about the Emerald Forest but he has a good heart but the prediction is comming to pass. In the morning we shall see if he believes me I can already feel teh darkness spreading but we will wait till morning to discuss that. ~leaves inn~ Hmm ill stay in a tree for the night. ~jumps up a tree~ Well this has been an interesting night but we shall see what tommorow brings.

The moon was high in the dark blue sky. Stars twinkled against the darkness. She was hidden from view where none could find her. She was scared and horrified at what was going on in her village. Arcreft was her home the only one she had known since birth. Armored men on horseback with flaming torches and swords that shone in the moonlight rode past in a hurry. It was an army like force that had come to take what they wanted and leave none to witness this. Across the dirt road where she was hidden the girl got a clear view of the house across the way. Her father standing in the doorway with his sword at the ready and her mother behind him protecting her younger brother. This was what the girl saw, this was all the girl saw. Her field of vision did not extend past her small house and the corner of her neighbors house. She saw the men on horse back riding up. The man dismounted and set his flaming torch on the ground sliding his sword from it's scabard he stepped carefully up to her father. Her father raised his sword and entered combat the guard returned blow after blow parrying and blocking and trying to fight. But it was all in vain with one swift stroke the sword was knocked out of her father's hand flying too far to reach and he was cut down with the return stroke. Her mother screaming and still holding her son backed into the house as the man set fire to the wooden building. Smoke and fire scared the woman into running out the door only to be impaled by the same weapon that killed her husband and the boy was quickly killed in the same stroke as his mother. The girl wanted to scream her violet hair falling into her face as she tried to supress her screams at her slaughtered family. She cried and cried but stayed hidden until she could hear nothing but the flames crackling as they consumed the dead and the village. Kina woke up her eyes wide screaming. A cold sweat had broken out on her forehead and she couldn't remember where she was. The dream, the dream, oh God the dream. It had seemed so real. She continued to scream trying to draw an even breath.

Venn closed his eyes. The night grew silent and his breath fell shorter and shorter. his heart pumping les and less each time. His mask was sleeping, but he was fully awake. He kept toll of each and every sound within a good radius of where he sat. from the short breaths of Kina sleeping to the blowing of the wind through a dead willow tree outside. He recalled over the recent scape of events. Firs of all, Kina. She was rather curious, but very shy. She was a bit naive to his charms, but that was to be expected. He opened one eye, looking at her from across the room. She was not too bad on the eyes. He himself had seen far greater beauties than this, but all of them held their attractions by unnatural ways. Spells, potions and whatnot. Kina was probably the most sincere of them all. He concluded that she was of no worry to him. He considered Dimitri. He claimed he was a demon, or something of the sorts, but carried on like a crazy, neurotic man, yet somehow able to compose himself. He chuckled inside his mind. He would have to write that down somewhere. He had crazy notions, but some of the stuff he spoke of rang true. Regardless, he was definately one to keep an eye on, but of no actual threat. The minstrel, however. He would never admit it, but the speed in which he exitted the room caught even he by surprise. And his tune was haunting as it was foreboding. Beautiful, but chilling and unsettling. It reflected his character well. And he decided right then and there should he ever see the man again, his guard would be fully up. He would never be caught unawares. Never. As the night passed, Venn started to relax. But then a blood-curdling scream resonated from Kina from across the room. He glanced over at her panting form, unaware of what to do. emotionlessly, he stood up and walked over to her. He drew a concerned look on his face and went to consol whatever had bothered Kina.

Kina felt Venn sit on the bed next to her and gather her in his arms. She leaned into his chest trying to calm herself down. She knew what this was. It was a memory her first since her arrival here and it was the worst possible scene. She knew she was the girl in the dream watching her family and village die while she sat there crying. But there were still so many unanswered questions. Venn rocked her slightly back and forth and smoothing her hair down as she cried. A hankerchief came into her blurred vision she looked up at Venn. He was offering her a nice hankerchief made of soft linen white in color with a V embrodried on it in gold thread. She smiled at him and wiped her wet cheeks. "Thank you, oh thank you so much Venn." she whispered into his chest as she began to calm down. She didn't know why he was being so kind and so sweet to her when they'd only met some hours ago. But she didn't care he offered her comfort and that was what she needed. She stayed in his arms as he continued to hold her until her eyes grew heavy and she fell into sleep once more.

~Hmm that was a rather complex escape just to come back but let him be. Now what i said is the truth she has no memory, isnt that right? Well any way what are you some kind of magician. That perks my interest in you. But we shall talk about this a little bit later, right now I will go fetch us some food and drink. ~leaves room and walks by the room Nagiken~ Ahh so thats were he went but we hsall leave him be. ~goes to kitchen and gathers some rather delicious looking meals~ Well these look good so migt as well take them back to the other two. ~walks past room were Nagiken is an d leaves plate and knocks on door~ ~enters room again~ Here you are enjoy. Just so you know, I'm not in the same room, nor am I on the same side of the inn. Same floor, yes. Nobody is supposed to know where I am. It's not god modding when and assassin is hiding, it's god modding when a stealth assassin can always be found by a demon dragon/human/Goku times infinity with super upgrade cannons, etc. Where was... ~Nagiken was awakened by the scream. When immediately opened his eyse and gasped through his nose, but did not move. 'If I try and unlock the door, they'll hear me...' he thought, 'and they'll know I'm here. It's a good thing they can't read my thoughts. Maybe they still think I'm by the river. Did they ever.' Nagiken thought of all of these things at once while lying in bed. But, all of these thoughts were pushed away by a song in his head, the song "Onnotangu." A sad, love song, about the gods in a different world; about the three beings that created the gods; about the death of the Moon, Onnotangu. It's slow beat played in his head, and calmed him. He almost reached for his hagiku, but could not play music this late at night. Nagiken crept up out of bed, not using a blanket in the first place, walking along the furniture, he grabbed his hagiku and headed for the window all the way to the left, which was already opened from his entrance. He looked out, and saw nothing, but felt something. Something similar to when he had been in the room with the other three. He ignored it, and, eventually, climbed to the flat part of the roof. Flat roofs do not lie over rooms in such places do not lie over rooms, or else the room would collapse. Flat roofs usually were built over storage, where the roof was held up by storage junk. He set his instrument down, and played "Onnotangu," repeatedly. It almost lulled himself to sleep. Nagiken's music kept him sane, aside from darkness. He sat up there the remainder of the night, but only played for about fifteen minutes. His short hair did not blow when the wind did. He frequently would stand up and walk around, looking at the two moons, hanging like tears. He would frequently look to the directions of the Emerald Forest and Mitani Village, and he would think he saw some ogre or a villager come from either direction, but it would only be a tree blowing in the wind. He remained on that roof top all night, thinking of how sad his former job used to be. An assassin always has a sad job because of a boring or formerly sad previous life. He was still an assassin, but he did his own work. An assassin was not complete without any sort of weapon. That is when pulled out the small piece of wood, plugging something at the end of his hagiku. It was a compartment. He pulled out a katana, and began to practice kenjutsu, the art of swordsmanship. He practiced as if there were enemeis in all direction, s othat he would not have to move on this small part of the roof. He made one jump when he turned on his side in the air, kicked out with his right heel, and came from with the katana in his left hand, chopping through the air. When he did this, a memory returned to him. It was a memory of his father. His father, tool, was an assassin. Nagiken often sneaked into his father's personal business. This was too personal. His father dismounted from a horse, and set an estate on fire. He was attacked, but ended up killing the man, and a few children. This memory was stuck with Nagiken forever. But... this time was different. He remembered seeing a young girl, and she was very familiar. Nagiken thought this over for the remainder of his time in the darkness. It could not come to him. After a few hours, he remembered the scream of the girl in his memory and the scream of the one downstairs in the inn; Kina. The connection was perfect. Nagiken was not embarrassed, though the situation was a bit odd. His father killed her father. Nagiken dared not bring this up to Kina, for she had lost her memory, and this would be a devistating thing to bring up at such a time.~ -=}N{=-

Ok first off its fixed so i have no clue were you are, and second im not trying to god mod or any nonsensible bull like that. Im just trying to play my char and last dont mix my char in with other stuff he is no where like goku or has upgraded whatever he is just like everyone else who has their strength and weaknesses he is not immortal or anything he is stabbed he dies that simple, but im sorry if i god mod or whatever i dont know alot about RPG's like you, but anyway... ~wakes and almost falls off tree~ what was that? ~enters inn~ Wonder what caused that? ~walks up stairs and knocks on door~ Well its stopped know. ~thinks to self~ Hmm while i was sleeping i heard a very stange sad song wonder what it was but o well i shall wait for them downstairs. ~heads back downstairs~

Kina woke slowly. The sunlight was just beginning to shine in the windows. The white cotton curtains were floating gently on the breeze that blew slightly through the window. She sat up on the bed and looked around. Venn looked like he had fallen asleep still holding her last night after she had dozed last night after the horrible dream. She wasn't sure he was asleep but thought to be quiet just in case. Kina edged herself over to the side of the bed and stood up smoothing her wrinkled skirt, luckily it smoothed easily. Running her hands through her long hair she opened the door quietly and stepped out into the hallway. She made her way back to the common room. It seemed earie in the morning. The long wooden tables had the benches stacked up on them and the floor had been swept clean. A new fire burned in the fireplace and crackled and popped with the wood. Kina walked straight through and out the front door. She stepped out into the spring sunshine feeling the cool breeze blowing through her violet hair. She turned right and walked slowly around the inn. The scent of fresh dew filled her senses. A wooded area bordered the inn in the back and small wildflowers grew in the space within. Kina knelt down and settled herself in the midst of the flowers touching each of them. She picked several and began to weave them into a wreath. "I wonder where the other two men went?" She wondered allowed to herself as the wove a crimison flower into her wreath.

~Walks around corner~ Ahh there you are and who are you talking too? Did you sleep well? ~sits down with back against inn~ So if you dont mind me asking where do you come from if you remember, maybe i can help you. I have been many places on the journey to look for my sister, and do you have any family? ~Knew this might strike some chords but he wanted to see if he could help here in any way~ If you dont remember thats ok also are you hungery?

Kina sat among the flowers still working on her floral wreath. She listened to the questions that Dimitri had asked her. She didn't look up from her wreath until she heard the word family but she kept her face straight and unemotional and looked him in the eyes. "I'm afraid I really don't remember." She said in her low quiet voice. She had remembered after the dream she knew where she was from but she wasn't sure whom she could trust. She didn't know what other secrets her past held so she wanted to keep her secrets to herself as long as possible until she figured things out for herself. "I know I have never been here before. And I am glad to have companions." She looked back down at her now finished wreath and laid it down on her lap. She leaned back letting the wind catch her hair and thinking how wonderful a day it was. "What about you, if you don't mind. Where are you from and why are you here?" She asked returning her gaze to Dimitri. "I've never met a half demon before."

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