"It's stupid. We're here, having fun, while just some kilometers down south, war is ensuing!"
"It's not exactly war, Isalda. The troops that were once there have already retreated, despite laying waste to our land. We're slowly recovering the land, again, and preparing for a counterattack.
Jisvo and Isalda watched as everyone was having fun at the ball.
"Hey, Isalda. Have you noticed that we're almost always at these events?"
"Yeah."
"Yet, you're always screaming about... something contradicting..."
"...I'm a flawed character."
She took a sip of the red wine, placed in front of her. Her face contorted.
"Ack! This is why I don't drink..."
Jisvo let out a light chuckle. He glanced at the glass cup, filled with wine. Then, his eyes moved to an unfamiliar sight. Isalda in a... dress?
"What are you... wearing?"
"D-Does it look bad.. on me?" she asked frantically, a slight red hue coming over her face.
"No, no, it's fine."
⏤ She's... suddenly acting like a girl?
"Even though I'm on the battlefield all day, I am still royalty, y'know? I have to look presentable at times like this." she smiled, coyly.
⏤ I'm starting to become worried...
It became even stranger to Jisvo, when she suddenly tucked her hair behind her ear.
"What... what do you think?"
⏤ Cute.
"I think the smell of blood will always linger on a beast-"
Her right eye began to glow.
"I-I'm joking!"
She sighed.
"Please, be serious, Jisvo."
There was a sort of desperation in her voice. A type of desperation that Jisvo had never heard from Isalda. Usually, she had physical and mental advantages over him.
But now, he has the advantage.
⏤ An Isalda desperate for approval... Shall I crush her spirit right now?
. . .
"It looks good on you. I don't remember the Isalda I know being the type to seek validation like this."
Jisvo shook his head, clicking his tongue.
The sound of the soft violin being accompanied by a serene piano could be heard gently, echoing through the entire ball.
"Aargh! I don't know, Jisvo... It just feels like, I'm wasting my youth."
She slammed her head onto the table, her fists balled. She slowly picked her head up to look back at Jisvo, with an expression filled with sorrow and disappointment.
"Is this how my whole life is gonna be!? Fighting on the battlefield?"
Swiftly, she grabbed onto the glass of wine, with a tight grip. Eyeing it for a moment, she moved the cup closer and closer, before drinking it down in one go.
"Isalda! You know you're a lightweight!" Jisvo reached over to grab the glass. She jerked away from him.
She smacked her lips, a few times, clearly disliking the taste.
"Relax, relax. You're acting like it'll kick in immediately. I just need it to gain the courage to go and socialize."
She stood up from her chair, stumbling a little bit.
Jisvo was thinking about stopping her for a moment but decided that maybe it was a good idea.
. . .
. .
.
"Blagh!"
Jisvo held her hair up, sighing. She wiped the residue off her lip, standing up from her crouching position.
"Waah! That was the worst experience of my life!" she cried out.
It was dark out. The ball was still going, though.
"What happened that made it so bad?"
"I-I was trying to conversate with those... aristocrats... I asked the handsome one for a dance... when we finally started dancing... I tripped in front of everyone! It was so embarrassing!"
Jisvo held in a laugh.
"Wow. That's... awful..."
⏤ This alcohol is really making her out of character.
"I know it is!" she whined.
"Well, how can I make you feel better?"
"You can't! You're incompetent!"
⏤ I guess not fully out of character, stupid prick.
"War is truly a cruel thing, Jisvo. D-Don't you think?"
"Huh?"
Fwsh!
A dart cut through the air, shooting from the shadows.
Isalda quickly kicked it away from Jisvo.
"Eek!" Jisvo yelped.
"Huh. To think you noticed me from the start."
The assassin, cloaked in black, came out of the shadows. Besides the small strand of purple sticking out and their sullen eyes, there was not much you could identify with the figure.
The ball was being hosted in a building built near a forest. So, nothing could be seen from the ball.
"The day I decide to wear a luxurious dress... this happens."
She ripped the dress, to make movement easier.
Jisvo sighed. He placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Huh?"
"You're complaining about how you're always fighting, yet you're so quick to fight, even in this state?"
"... He's a small fry. It'll be quick."
While they were chatting, the assassin had reached the pair.
His palm reached toward Isalda's head.
Psh!
Jisvo kicked his forearm, sending his strike away.
"Hah. So pesky."
The assassin pulled out two daggers, holding them with an icepick grip.
Jisvo grabbed Isalda by her shoulders.
"One mess up, and it'll be the end, Isalda. You're way too tipsy to fight. So I'll handle it for you."
He placed her down. She had a... doting expression on her face, almost.
"Wow. This is really sweet."
"I'm guessing you come from Sar? No matter. I'll kill you."
[Cast: Tempest Daimon]
Lightning crackled, encompassing his body.
"Eek! Your face became scary all of a sudden!" The assassin said, mockingly.
[Cast: Lightning Flashstep]
Jisvo zipped through the air, reaching the assassin and striking him with a punch.
The assassin blocked it with the handle of his dagger.
"I already told you, to get out my way."
Quickly, he spun around fully, striking Jisvo with the back of his foot.
The foot had been blocked by Jisvo's forearm.
Jisvo wiggled his forearm, shaking off the slight stinging pain.
"Seems like-"
Fwsh!
The assassin soared past Jisvo.
Slash!
The assassin sliced Isalda's forehead with his left dagger. It wasn't a deep cut, but blood dripped on the floor.
"Isalda!"
Jisvo ran toward Isalda, the assassin jumping into the shadows again, and fleeing.