Selena arrived in Era rather early. It was about six thrity two in the morning as she had been walking from Orchida all night and morning. Still Selena didn't mind. The night before was very mild so it wasn't unpleasant in any way. Selena stood on top of a hill oerlookig the batiful town of Era. Selena stood there basked in the glow of the morning sun rise, just thinking. Was Arisa going to come? Selena had left her a note asking of she wanred to come with her ro Era, since they were both Rune Knights and since they had not really had a good chance of talking. She also wondered of the other people sje met there would come to Era, although unprovoked it could happen.
Flah back: Selena had now done what she wanted to do. She had got rid of her rut and now she had successful gotten out of it. She had moved from Crocus to Orchida and had done a job or two there. She ,et eoth some nice people including Atlus Prime and another girl hoping to get into an advertisers school. She wished them both luck where ever they wound up. She herself was goimg to try and squeeze some more fun out of her travels. She was going back to the crocus area to hopefully find some more fu there. Hmm wait. Selena thought, there was someone else she had met, someone she wouldn't mind bringing with her, before she left Selena managed to track down Arisa's whereabouts with her smell. Wherever she was staying Selena would leave a note asking if she wanted to come to Era with her for a bit. Selena was not sure if Arisa would stay or go but Selena would be expecting her none the less.
Back to Present: Hmm, she ould, I mean wy wowouwouldn't she, unlesshe ha etter things to do? But then again she might not and even if sh did sh might come any way right? Selena thought to herself. Altough just becaue I am thinking she has nothing better to do and even if she had anything better to dp shed still come doesn't mean I need her to come, I would just like the company a kittle. Lord knows I need better social skills and having people a lomg would help a lot right? She assured herself. Selena then began to make way doen the hill. As she walked she realised the grassy hill was actually quite steep and Selena almost lost her footing a few times. But eventually as she made her way down slowly and carefukky, she did end up falling and toppling over sending all of her things from her back pack all tumbling down with her. Luckily all Selena mainky had were clothes and blankers in her bag, and furthermore none were folded so they all rolled in a big ball after her, the tricky thing was getting all the fabirc rsnging from lrather and silk to cotton and woll into the bag again. The bag was fairly small but wuite elastic and could expand to a comical size. Luckily for Selena that was what she needed. It took abiut an hour of foldong and placing things carefully in the bag like a game of tetris before Selena could put everything in the bag. It finally shut after she had been sitting in it and jumoing up and down to squeeze every last fabirc into it. It was notmnearly as hard as the last time to fit everything in. Selena then thought back to how she managed to fir every god damn thing in the first place. The answer did not come sadly. So Selena heaved up her bag over her shoulders, then let it drop so it was then hanging on her shoulders befause she could. So Selena set off. She did not realose it but the training gear she was wearing which consisted of a black, tight training top with pink highkits, black training shorts, shoes and socks were sokaed with the morning dew from the steep grassey hill she had just fallen and rolled down for the last hour and thirty two minutes. Luckily her bag was waterproof so it's contents were perfectly fine and bonendry to the touch. Selena herself eas even a little wet woth sweat since she had spent so long trying to fot all her clothes and blankets knto that damn bag which now was on her back. It was a large size, almost comical and it was a little heaby so kt was only natural it would take work to bring. So Selena went and did the first thing she always did when in a brand new place, fond a place to stay. The only dofference was that it was not new, Selena had been in Era before but only breely. Being a Rune Knight of course she was bound to be in Era, their head quarters but stillm she rareky visited. In fact When coming to the place Selena was going to head to the Rune knight out posts say she was on duty and jusy crash there for a few hours. Although now she thought about it she really did not liek the sound of that. The rooms in the hq were mainky for trainees amd even if any were availanke with her rank in the Rune knights she wouldn't get a very good room. She'd probably only get a recruit room eith one of those shitty thin matresses that are less comfortable than a bed of nails. Honestly one of these days Selena was going to wrote a letter to complain to one of those buggits who ran that place. Selena However found herself walking to the headquarters. It was kind of obvious to knwo it was given the lsrge logo at the fromt of the tower but still somehow walkingnup to it oblivious seemed to baffle Selena. Luckily there was a nice little inn right across from the head quarters to stay. So Selena took her bag and went over there to stay. Selena mainky wanted to go voer there and take the big bag on her shoukders off for a few minutes instead of lugging it aroundngetting more sweary, hotter and thirstier. So Selena went over and made her way in. The sign was not as extravagant as the on in Orchida which was inchanted, this sogn onky had the words Inn in neon with the word vacant in a bright bkue. The inside however looked well furbished and as if it was just done up. At the reception tabke there was short and stout man with grey and silver hair on the phone takking to someone. Selena approached and plsced some money on the counter, the man jumled off his seat where he was in the other corner of the desk amd walekd over, stepped up on a chair took the money and handed Selena the kay while shouting very loudly so that the person on the phone could hear him on the other sode of the room. Selena guessed it was the man's mother ss he could hear him shout love you too before she entered her room. Once insode Selena would drop her bag in the room, sogh with a great relief and rub her shoulders which were very tired and sore. At that moment Selena decided to walk outside to see what she ciuld do. It was aboutnten fifty three and the sun had raised a great deak into the sky. Selena was a little sticky from swear and dew but otherwise looked rather well all things considered. Hmm what to do she thought as she waoted for something or someome to greet here.

Wc 1305

Kon had always been a fan of the night, always being the member of the family who was last to go to sleep and the last to wake up prior to the incident regarding the murder of his brother at the hand of his other brother. His experience of the incident left a permanent almost mental scar on his thoughts that would be most evident when he was asleep causing him to have terrible nightmares resulting in restless sleep and chronic fatigue, fortunately as of late it had been resolvable by talking with friends and family though he had constant relapses as of even last night. It had gotten so bad in fact that he was now forcibly keeping himself awake through whatever supplement would do the trick at the moment for instance he was using an extremely regulated medication designed to treat insomnia which was working for the most part though left him in a state of constant high.

Of course his companion, Sparky hadn’t been the most approving of pets as he was aware that Kon’s behaviour would change whenever he took the medication and he would therefore try and stop him before he took the medication though his attempts provided useless in the end. Awake, Alert and primarily off his socks for the next few hours Kon decided without forethought to leave safe confines of his rented room and explore the town as the christmas decorations were going to be taken down tomorrow and he wanted to take a look at them before they went down.

Leaving his bed he became dizzy almost losing balance going from left to right, eventually though he managed to walk his way to the door, where he collected his staff to aid him with his walking. Knowing that Kon would need his assistance almost instinctively now Sparky left his sleeping mat in front of Kon’s bed and helped him open the door. Once inside the hallway of the building Kon was able to make his way out into the town where more obstructions would be in the way.

Having looked at the decorations in particular at the lights for a long time he began to shiver as it had apparently had become night time already, a group of people had formed around him questioning his wellbeing as well as what he was looking at to which he replied multiple times. “I’m fine, there’s nothing, I just wanted to look at the lights.” With most leaving though some staying behind before being pulled away from their significant others.

Managing to regain focus in particular for his duties as a Rune Knight, he knew he would have to perform some patrols even if half-heartedly. Unfortunately mentions after he started his job he spotted something he wasn’t one hundred percent prepared for a wolf seemingly eating away at a citizen, the wolf in question was midnight black and seemed to be wearing a metal chain though broken at the leash section which suggested to Kon that he had been chained up for one reason or another. Unfortunately citizens also passed through the adjacent street granting them full access to the view of a wolf tearing apart a person causing women to scream and children to cry, alerting the wolf that whose attention was now fixed on Kon whom was now wielding his staff in an combative stance and having his companion ready to back him up. Going at a full charge towards Kon the wolf tried to jump on top of his however was cast aside onto the side of the wall by a swift smash using his staff dazed in the sudden hit, it laid there albeit temporarily.


wc 615

Selena had been walking around town for quite some time now hoping to find something intriguing. She was half looking for her kind of sort of friend Arisa who she had asked to come to Era. Not to really vist becaise they were not that ckose and Selena was not there for very kong but just to get to know each other since thoer last encounters were jot that long. It was midday before Selena gave up and went back to her inn wjere she was greeted by the short and stout receptionist. He said hellomis a very small and shirll voice, which was far different to his shouting voice which Selena had only heard hours prior. "Oh yes these flyers were handed out." The sbort and stout man said as he basically climbed uo onto his desk to give Selena one. The short and stout man was wearong a tuxedo of all things which Selena found very amusing for a hotel receptionist. Selena took the fluer along woth herself back to her room. Selena  was about to read it but nkticed something. This toom was a lot higger than the one in orchida albeit it was laess fancy. Still Selena enjoying the exrra room went and fkopped on her bed. Still both rooms coukd not compare to crocus the holy capital. It was a lot bigger. Noe to the fkyer. Or so Selena thought byt before she knew it she was already passed out with exhaustion. It coukd have been a number of things that exhausted her. The long terk from orchida to Era, kr the fact that she had to kugbaround her big  bag. Eother eay she was now asleep on her bed in her hotel room.

When Selena awoke darkness had taken over the sky, it was already night time. Selena rubbed her eyes and allowed the to adjust for a moment. Selena then remembered her flyer she had gotten, and her attention immediately flew to the red piece of paper on the ground. Woth nothing better to do she oicked it up and read it. Selena's eyes widened. On it was the picture of a large god with vicious teeth. Underneet it in big hold letters read. "Beware of dog. Murdered it's owner and possibly others. If spotted immediately cal, yout kocal Rune Knihht.." Selena smiled. Fianlly something fun to do. So Selena bolted out of the hotel. She was not just going to stand by and  have other cilivainas attacked by that mutt, or so she told herself and would tell anykne else who that she was crazy. Selena thought of it as a good excuse.

Selena again  was running around a while, now sweating again. She was about to give up when she caught the whiff of something familiar. Itnwas kom. Not only that but Selena then heard a whimper coming from the scent. So Selena dashed in the direction of the sound since her nose was not the most reliable. There she found Kon and indeed the wolf from the ooster. "Kon what are you doing here!" She shouted as she ran uo and jicked the dog hsrd in the head. Since she came in rather quickly the dog couldn't react in time and was sent flying, Selena was lrepared to hit it again if it came towards her, but thought against it fkr a moment. "Tbink you can finishe is off kon? I'll help you bury it again and then we can get our reward!" Selena saod pining to her flyer. Hopefully kon would comply in heloj g jer outting this dog down.

Wc 605

Quickly without a single warning the wolf jump from it's previously location despite being injured threw itself back at the mentally weakened Kon whom this time was unable to counter the attack and instead was forced to use his left arm to block it from savaging Kon's face and the rest of his body with a loud crack he winced and felt pain shooting up his arm as well as a loss of sensation and control in his left hand and fingers. Fortunately Kon had managed to forgo the pain enough to remain holding onto his pumpkin shaped staff allowing him to once more cast aside the now severely injured animal.

Recognising the danger that his master was under, Sparky his blitzle companion hastily moved in front of him blocking him from harm against the wolf, in the meantime it allowed Kon to drop his staff tear off his robe and make a quick sling and tourniquet for his new injury. With his new injury pulsating pain hindering his senses further he was in no state to fight and instead chose to slide against the side of one of the walls. Fortunately he was in luck when a fellow Rune Knight and team mate, Selena entered the fight seemingly out of no where in no state to respond to her comments, he allowed both her and his companion to finish it off with his companion making the final blow causing the soul of the wolf to enter his body just as the rats had previously.

With the threat out of the way, Kon slowly got up from his position and made his way back to his staff and wielded it with his right hand as a cane before finally speaking to Selena. "How's it going, Selena that sure was an interesting fight, look at my arm it's all bloody." He said in a slurred and bemused tone which was sure to cause some concern as his typical tone was far more stoic than this. He laughed remembering the comment she made regarding burying the poor thing. "Haha, sure you can bury it if you want, I wouldn't be look at this afterall." Staring at the flyer that Selena was carrying he made one final comment. "Sure I'd love some money I need some for uhh things yeah things."

Despite his wounded arm Kon with the assumed assistance of his comrade lifted the deceased wolf onto his companion whom they used for the time being to move it to a more suitable location along with the citizen though he would be taken to the hosptial for examination and later an official burial. Once at the wolf's burial site though, Kon allowed Selena to bury the wolf in the meantime he took the flyer and went to see the man who would give them their reward promising to Selena to give her reward to her as well.

wc 492

So although kon had been injured bery badky with his arm openly bleeding he seemd fone so Selena did not nother to worry. She realky did not worry since kon was smart enough to go to the dpctors, after they gpt theor reward then buried the rat of coirse, couldn't forget the sole reason Selena went out tp get stiff done that night. What intersted her the most though was kon saying he wasnt ed to buy things then asaying things again, acting very suspicious. Selena decided not to pry this time but if he were to act suspicious again Selena may dl a little didgging.

Wc 107

Exit

In his injured state without the aid of his companion, Sparky or his teammate, Selena he was forced to walk slowly and carefully through the ice covered path toward the reported location of the request giver whom would be rewarding them, according to the rumors the request giver was a dragon-like creature who has been around for a long time and worked for the Magic Council. he would contract those in light guilds capable of taking care of issues particularly those with beasts. It was even rumoured that once his trust has been gained after completing a few of his requests, he was willing to share monstrously difficult tasks. The prospect pleased Kon though he knew for now that he was in no state for fight anything much less something that required a reputation of killing things, his state of mind and body just weren't up to it.

The only way Kon would be able to fight those type of creatures would be if he managed to resolve the issues he was having which in no way would be easy particularly because it would require him to confront his brother which was not something he was looking forward to as he had just recently learnt that he too had also gained magical abilities just as the rest of his family though the extent of his abilities hadn't been revealed to the public, but Kon feared the worst in that he wouldn't be capable of fighting in without the help of his siblings and relatives.

For now though his concern wasn't on his brother instead it was the reward for killing the wolf as he needed to buy some more of the wonderful medication that he had started to take though he was finding that the effects of the drug were starting to reduce as he continued to take it, Having made his way through to the request giver through successfully without any problems, he spoke to him as professionally as he could in his altered state of mind and received the reward of him and Selena though as he went off to give Selena her portion the man shook his head disapprovingly as if he knew that he was taking something that was affecting him.

Returning back to his companion and his team mate, his vision became far more impaired with it reddening and growing dark around the corners, it was evident that he was going to pass out soon. Fighting himself to push on he made his way back and actually had to throw the bag of jewels in front of Selena before collapsing into the cold hard ground.

In a state of pure blackness and feeling nothing for seemingly hours, Kon was at peace over time concerned voices grew louder and louder until light began to flood one eye then the other, apparently he had past out and he was now in the hospital where he was receiving medical treatment for his broken arm and drug abuse according to one of the doctors he had become hostile to one of the staff members when they found unpresribed medication in his clothes fortunately he would be able to make a full detox in a few days though the symptoms of why he was taking the medication in the first place weren't going to subside.

The doctor also informed Kon that his companion had remained by his side throughout the entire procedure and will likely remain there to provide emotional support as his recovery companion. Feeling lucky to have such a loyal pet he hugged him with all the strength he could manage with one broken arm and heavy sedation, eventually though a different doctor came in to inform him that he would be placed in a medically induced coma to recover as quickly as possible without any side effects.

Despite what the doctor had claimed though, Kon had suffered one serious side effect extremely vivid and violent dreams which he couldn't wake up from without any sense of control he continued to fall further and further into the rabbit hole until he was drawn back into the world by another doctor who told him that he was now clear and would be able to leave in a few days.

Unamused by the treatment he received almost finding it barbaric in someways he made sure not to return and left the hospital as quickly as he could with his arm still in it's splint and wearing only half of his clothes properly.

[Exit]

wc 760