A History of Greed

[Yari Rafanas]

The air was sweet and the temperature perfect, as it seemed to always be. The hills and trees glimmered underneath the bright gaze of the sun, a endless amount of sunlight bearing down on the valley. Like the painting of a perfect world created form the mind of the most talented artist, it existed in a place far away, apparently unoccupied. Unobtainable and without corruption. Infinite serenity.

A breeze ran through the fields and brushed against a young man. He barely swayed, a lone and imperfect figure amidst flawless flowers. His clothing dark. His armor darker. He was a blotch on the environment--a disease that had been welcomed into the world's warmth. The spirits of Concordia had whispered to the gods of Althanas, pleading to let this boy's soul live on forever in this comforting environment. The gods had seen that the forest spirits had trusted him, thanked him, and owed their entire life to him. In return, he was brought here. A reward fitting for a selfless hero.

Years passed.

The youth gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. He couldn't bear to look at at anymore. This place of peace was a prison. No soul born to live free could be contained here. He would spend an eternity in these fields? No human trained to embrace greed and arrogance could welcome this as their afterlife. He would exist without possessions... without conflict, and he was to accept this as his fate? Certainly, a king of thieves would not be granted a holy knight's heaven.

His magics swelled and his anger grew. A shimmer of light, and his blades were drawn. He would cut himself from this world without opposition. The gods knew it, and they did not attempt to stop him. They cried only briefly as he slashed through the air, dimensional blood staining the landscape. Relentlessly, the imprisoned ruffian ripped and shredded his surroundings in a fury. The darkness leaked through, bringing with it the joyful vices of Althanas. With each swing of his blades, he smelled the world he had left. He felt the lives of those he saved, those he hated, and those who pursued his kind. He could hear the sounds of war and corruption, but also the laughter and bliss. He could taste the grimy air of a city on his tongue, but also the sweat of lovers united. He had been away from all of it so long, it was almost overwhelming. So excited, he nearly stopped. No, he couldn't. He had to break through. He wanted what he had left. He would have what he left. Now.

[Yari Rafanas]

Amidst Althanas' wonders, the thief did play. Alive again. He welcomed the games of his past, he journeyed the trails of the forest he saved, and he tasted the life he had been torn from prematurely. Though with each day, he strayed further and further from his former brothers, absorbed in the idea of complete freedom. He robbed and raided the earth, an unstoppable highwayman. Many were left in wonder, others whispered of a king's return.

Months passed.

The bandit continued to give in to desires and lived freely again, writing new tales of greed and adventure. Soon the rumors spread, and the youthful bandit could keep his resurrection a secret no more. He returned to his forest home, raising the legendary daggers of the true King of Thieves high in the air.

Arrogantly, the young man proclaimed, "I am Yari Rafanas."

The bold statement brought many back to the ranks of the Bandit Brotherhood. He rallied warriors, old and new. Brutes with enormous blades, scoundrels with silver tongues, and forest outcasts -- all welcomed him as their true leader as the ranks of the reborn brotherhood swelled. The woods of Concordia creaked under weight of their free spirits. There were those who doubted his words, as many had seen his body broken. There were even those who buried him. However, the resemblance was uncanny. The King of Thieves had made an impossible return.

Selfishly he asked them to follow him into war against those who betrayed him--those who abandoned the name of the Bandit Brotherhood. Gild Sorrain and the others had tarnished the name and left everything he had died for to rot away under the rule of Radasanth. The fortress and their riches were uprooted and taken to some distant island Sanctuary where everything changed. There also lay legendary weapon belonging to the youthful royalty, and he would have it.

With the strength of many, their quest for revenge and to obtain his lost spear began. The brigands assaulted the sea-side ports of Jadet in search of a vessel to move them across the waters. Guards stood little chance against the surprise attack, buckling under each blow and making way for Yari and his thieves to assume control of a ship worthy for a king. They made way for the Sanctuary with no pursuers.

Days passed.

The waves crashed relentlessly against the stolen ship. There was no rest from the rain. Althanas was bitter. Rafanas' blatant disregard for the serene gift of the afterlife would be punished. The weather thrashed and beat upon the sails, growing angrier with each angry howl of the winds. There was little an experienced sailor could do to thwart the storm's plans, let alone the collection of bandits. In moments, victory belonged to Althanas. Thrown from his recently-reclaimed thrown, the boy bandit king was lost to the oceans.

[Yari Rafanas]

Yari would have felt robbed had that storm taken his second life. However, as luck or whatever influence would have it, he did not feel as though the waves had crushed the life out of him. No, through some unexplainable circumstance, the young bandit had washed ashore a calm, albeit very dreary coast. He struggled to lift himself to his feet, his garb caked with sand and his cloak still heavy from the water. He winced slightly as he removed the extra garment from his back, his body complaining with even the simplest of movements. His fingers traced his person, finding no gashes or cuts and only his collection of knives still attached to his well-crafted armor. He was all there. He was breathing.

He turned from the shore and looked back to the sea to find nothing. His gaze followed the edge of the beach looking for anything or anyone that may have followed him to this unfamiliar land and again his eyes were met with disappointment. There was no noise and no life crawling these sands. The ship full of his new brothers had either been lost at sea, or was well on its way home. A feeling of abandonment crept up on him, shadowed by panic and fear.

What if it has it happened again? Did I drown? He asked himself. What if I'm dead?

Having experienced the afterlife once before, his tired mind could not help but fret over the prospect of being trapped away for eternity in some distant, vacant world. He asked the question to himself again, but there was no answer—no voice to calm him. It was just as it was when he first passed and his soul's life on Althanas had expired. Quiet. Peaceful. If his heart still pumped blood in that glorious prison, then how was he to tell if he had not gone back? If the trees and flowers there had all felt solid to the touch, then who was he to say that the sand he still felt all over his skin was not real as well? Had he returned to Serenity once more?

His fear turned to determination and anger. If Death had claimed him a second time, then he would know for sure. He had not cut himself free from the heavens to be stripped of worldly pleasures so soon.

Despite the aching of his limbs, he marched forward into the lush wildlife of the world before him. Though foreign in nature, the forest almost seemed to welcome him.

He would find his answer somewhere in this strange place.

[Yari Rafanas]

For hours Yari traversed the strange forests, crossing small streams and hurdling over every fallen tree or obstacle in his path. No matter the height of the grass or the steep the hill, his tired body continued forward on its journey. His quest for answers went on as the sun began to set and the shadows of the woods began to grow, reminding him he was ever a prisoner of time passed and the world's turn. He thought momentarily that he should find the largest tree within view and rest for the night, but he was interrupted by commotion in the distance.

Sounds of heavy boots slapping against dirt came from afar, followed by shouting and that familiar clanging noise of metal armor settling with each step—signs of soldiers in pursuit, a song he had heard countless times as the King of Thieves. Yari grew excited and pushed forward with this memory, yearning to join the chase. Though his legs complained with each stride, he barreled through the brush, clawing his way through the overgrowth. As he drew closer to the light of a clearing, he heard the voices yell a word. “Shempi! Shempi!” they cried. His curiosity grew stronger, propelling him quickly through the rest of the wood until finally he crashed out onto a beaten path, skidding to a halt as his eyes looked towards the setting sun and the source of these cries.

Time stopped to let the bandit take in the sight before him.

Painted against the suns dying light was a young woman, her skin a beautiful ivory; her hair a gorgeous red that seemed to catch on fire as it reflected the light and danced behind her. This passionate image was accented by unique, almost-elven ears and attire that complimented her perfect form while leaving just enough to Yari's imagination. Swaying behind her as she ran by was a slender tail full of life and with the tip draped with moss. Though it would appear odd for a human, the way she floated through the air seemed to suggest this beautiful woman had a strong connection to the world around her. Behind her eyes there was also a certain mischievousness; in her hands was a parcel of some significance.

I am alive, thought the bandit—beauty such as this could only exist on this plane.

Yari blinked as time unraveled and the moment caught up with him. The girl was gone and standing in her place were her pursuers—four disgruntled men clad in damascus ringmail and brandishing their weapons in the brigand's direction. With Yari between them and their fleeing target, it was clear what these soldiers' intent was. Naturally, Rafanas flashed his trademark smirk, welcoming the challenge.

[Yari Rafanas]

The foremost pair of warriors lunged at the bandit without anymore hesitation, their spears aiming to skewer the youth. Yari was weak, but his speed was still superior to these unsuspecting challengers, and he proved it by launching his own counterattack. He slid between the two polearms as the soldiers missed and threw his arms at his attackers, grabbing hold of their faces and breaking their noses in one fluid motion. The shock and pain from Yari's fingers digging into their temples caused the two to drop their weapons and cry out for help. Their voices fell short and their discomfort soon ended as the pair of warriors slipped into unconsciousness. At the same time, the bandit stole a very small portion of their life and soul to replenish his own.

As their energies were taken and used to revitalize the thief, so were their most recent memories. Yari was brought with an almost immediate understanding of the situation, knowing well that the girl these guards were pursuing was an important individual from the nearby city, and she had taken documents and scrolls not belonging to her. He sensed they were not out to hurt the girl, but they had no qualms with killing a foreigner on their soil. For now, Yari decided he would settle for a taste of action, but he would not be stealing their lives.

“Release them!” cried the third and largest of the men as he lifted his broadsword high and charged.

Yari's smirk grew into a grin as he tossed aside the defeated. Deftly, he used his foot to lift one of their spears into his hands and sidestepped the blade as it came crashing down into the mud and dirt. In a heartbeat the bandit planted his left leg on the hilt of the stuck sword and used it as a step, placing his next foot onto the shoulder of the soldier and leaping into the air. As he catapulted from the third attacker, Yari pounced on the unsuspecting fourth—who at this time had yet to join the fray—with both of his legs smashing hard into the soldier's chest. The wind and fight had left the fourth, leaving only the third still trying to lift his heavy blade from the road.

“Stop,” Yari commanded as he stood on the body of the defeated. The third slowly turned around, a mixture of fear and anger evident in his eyes as he stared at Yari and the spear he now held threateningly.

“Get out of here. Leave the girl and her new prize,” continued Rafanas. “They're mine now.”

[Yari Rafanas]

With a taste for action and the appropriated power, Yari left the guards and started quickly after the girl, her scent still lingering in the air. As his thoughts narrowed and his desire to find her grew, so did the rate at which his magics flowed through his body. His powers of time and space helped him cut through the evening air at an unimaginable pace. As he sped over each rock and fallen tree, he yearned to know more about this girl and this land. He wanted to hear her voice and ensure the glimpse of beauty was no illusion. Above all, he needed her to tell him he was alive and breathing—that he was amidst Althanians and had not passed on into another afterlife. As quickly as he had began his chase, the bandits magic helped him arrive mere feet away from the woman he desired. Her form rested against a wooden door attached to a small tower that barely peaked over the treetops, and she appeared tired from her fleet to this sanctuary.

Startled, the girl turned around to face her pursuer. The look in her eyes told Yari she was expecting trouble, but the look passed as she realized there was a young warrior in the place of four sour soldiers. He did his best to smile and not smirk to try and let her know he did not mean any harm, but he could almost taste the tension in the air.

He broke the silence repeating the word he had heard before, praying it did not mean anything offensive, “Shempi?”

There was a hint of excitement and worry in her voice as she replied, “T-that's me!”

He took a step closer, pressing his luck with this delicate situation. He was only an arms reach away from her now. She leaned further into the door, her hand trailing the frame and resting on the handle. As she did so he took the excuse to look her over further. Her clothes were of expensive cloth and remarkably clean for a girl who appeared to be nothing more than a common thief at first glance. Even more peculiar than her attire were her bare feet. He must have looked brutish compared to her. His dark and dirty armor seemed to absorb the approaching night and his clothes still appeared damp from when he washed up from the sea. Perhaps his only current redeeming quality was the soft way in which he spoke to her as he shattered the silence once more.

“Shempi... your troubles with those men are over. You've slipped by them and made away with the prize.”

The girl—Shempi as she had so confirmed—held the stolen scrolls and documents closer to her chest, her other hand now gripping the handle to the door. She looked as though she wanted to celebrate her victory, but Yari sensed she was concerned with his presence.

“They know where to find me,” she replied. “They've just never followed me that far before.” The concern in her voice became stronger. “And you... I've never seen you and now you've followed me all the way here.”

Without hesitation Yari chuckled. “Well isn't it obvious? I'm after a prize as well.”

She tucked even closer to the door. “Don't get any ideas—I'm stronger than you could possibly imagine.”

“Defensive. You couldn't say for sure whether I was talking about you or your books.”

“Does that truly matter?”

“No.” He took another step toward her. “But right now I think it's best we both move inside before your old friends decide to show back up.”

She paused, her green eyes meeting his. She could sense something behind the veil of confidence—something sincere and mysterious like she could truly trust this young man in her home. But his words dripped with desire and she stood her ground. “No,” she answered firmly.

Yari tensed, stunned to be denied so abruptly. In his hasty decision to try and obtain this girl, he hadn't thought for a moment that doing so would prove more difficult than any normal treasure. In his moment of realization, Shempi capitalized on the paralyzed bandit and slid her way into the tower, door firmly locked between them.

If this was his new Heaven, she would have let him in.

[Yari Rafanas]

Yari Rafanas has spent the night in the nearby wood, asleep in a tree as he most often found himself. He slept well enough for having been shipwrecked and rejected by a beautiful girl the day before, but he would have preferred a soft bed in the tower. Perhaps tonight, he thought to himself as he rose for the day. He spent the dawn bathing in a nearby stream, airing out his faded clothes and giving his body a rest from his form-fitting battle wear. After dressing himself in his shorts and vlince shirt, he tucked away the remaining pieces of armor and the spear he stole from the warriors he encountered yesterday in an area he felt comfortable with. He hoped as always that he would not be needing them for a while. Hmm, on second thought, he strapped his clan's short iron blade to his boot. This'll do.

The young man trekked back towards Shempi's tower, lust and want at the foregrounds of his mind. Alive or dead, the young King of Thieves would not be passing on this chance to explore a new world, taste new adventure, embrace the random encounters that awaited him. Nevermind having been thrown off course in his adventures to reclaim his rightful throne as Althanas most notorious brigand. This land would be his new proving ground. This girl would be his first claim to fame.

As he neared his destination, the blue sky roared and the trees ducked low and away from the winds. The whir of technology and power cut through the air above. Yari's brow furrowed as he instinctively tucked close to the nearby foliage, peering through the wavering branches. A ship floated above adorned with rotating blades and a soft blue light breathing out from metal vents attached to its hull. Shaped much like the vessels of the sea and crafted out of wood and metal, it couldn't have housed more than a dozen men with its size, but its smooth handling and the simple ability to fly was impressive enough. Yari had seen them before—rode in their belly once or twice when he was younger—when he was simply a tool for the disgustingly corrupt group known as the Façade. Seeing the airship gave him a hint at what this land could bring him. He questioned leaving his armor as he watched it descend and land in the small clearing in front of Shempi's tower.

Bird-like legs spread from below the ship and dug into the soil. A ramp wide enough for two lowered from its side. Immediately a man began his decent down the plank, followed closely by four armored warriors—the very same from the day before, though one of them was without his weapon for obvious reasons. The leading man was garbed in elegant whites with a hint of red, his hair a shimmering blond, nicely parted and groomed as if he stemmed from royalty. He possessed pointed ears and a moss-tipped tail. The group approached the tower before them. Though further away, Yari could see the door to the tower open to reveal Shempi. Her posture was one of discomfort and worry.

He crept closer to the gathering, staying out of site and low to the ground until he was close enough for his own comfort. Barely out of earshot, his sharp eyes tried their best to watch and gather what information he could about the men. Their leader appeared quite soft-spoken, a smug grin on his face as he held his hand out as if offering something. Yari was slightly surprised to see Shempi leave the door for a moment before returning and handing over what appeared to be the stolen scrolls from the day before. His surprise was followed by disappointment.

Who's this arrogant bastard think he is?

[Yari Rafanas]

Shempi shut the door to her sanctuary, leaning into the frame and breathing a heavy sigh of relief. The group of men had retrieved what she had worked so hard to steal in no more than a few minutes and had now taken to the skies—but at least they had gone. Even without her prize, she was safe from harm or further intrusion.

“He seems like he'd be sore loser in a fight...”

She gasped and turned around, pressing her back firmly against the door. The sense of security was shattered immediately. Her eyes were wide with astonishment as she took in the site of the handsome pursuer from the night prior. He stood across the room leaning casually against the spiral staircase that lead to the upper levels of the tower, a playful smirk across his scruffy face. “What are you doing here?!” Shempi demanded of him.

“Do you want the short story or the long one?” he joked in reply.

The girl eyed her surroundings to remind herself of anything she could use in her defense. A chest full of clothing and jewels, a desk littered with trinkets and collectibles, and of course her table where she had finished breakfast where one knife still lay across the dirty plate. The latter was probably the most useful in this situation she decided, making a quick lunge for the small utensil and holding it threateningly towards the bandit intruder. “How'd you get in here?” she continued her questioning.

Yari smiled wider and calmly held his hands up, “I let myself in through the window upstairs while that jerk and his buddies bullied you. Everything alright?” Despite the cocky tone he used, the concern still managed to leak through in his question, causing Shempi to lower the knife ever so slightly.

“I'm fine,” she answered abruptly.

“You really wouldn't fit in well with a group of liars and crooks. Are you sure you're the beautiful bandit girl I chased last night?” he snickered and she blushed. He could see he was winning her over, so he put his hands back down and slid them into his pockets. She eased even further and lowered the knife to her side.

“I w-want answers, not games.”

“Heh, well we all want something.”

She sneered and lifted the knife at attention once more, causing Yari to raise his hands in defense.

“Hey, hey--relax, babe. If I had come here to rape and pillage like some other ruffians you may be accustomed to, I'd had done that last night. But I didn't, did I? I just came back to check in on you. Those men seemed pretty relentless.”

Relax? Babe? Who does this arrogant bastard think he is?

[Yari Rafanas]

“I'll ask one more time before I--”

“Yari,” he interrupted. “My name is Yari Rafanas, renowned King of Thieves.” He bowed slightly at the announcement, grinning.

“Well I've never heard of you...”

“That's rough, but I can see why. I'm not sure I've ever stolen anything from this corner of Althanas.”

“Althanas?” she asked curiously, causing Yari's grin to vanish.

Damn it all...

Yari slouched, defeated. His mind already began to race with what her response could possibly mean. Had he gone and passed into another world? Had he just reached another isolated, undiscovered region? Was the fact that he was sharing this confusing situation with this beautiful girl just evidence it was all an illusion? His dreams had always been cruel to him—ominous and unforgiving, some with even a taste of the future in them. If only he could know for certain then maybe...

A soft hand brushed against his arm, drawing him from his thoughts. He was surprised to find Shempi standing close to him, knife held behind her back. “Are you alright?” she asked. “I'm not sure what you meant.”

The bandit sighed. “If this isn't Althanas, then where am I?”

“Mirando, in the forest near our capital. Are you from the neighboring regions?”

“I can't tell anymore. But look, I'll make you a deal. Let me stay here for a bit to figure it out? Maybe we can have some fun while I'm at it?”

Her brow furrowed and she moved her hand away. Yari laughed.

“I meant... you know. We could raid a noble's manor or something casual. Make off with his gold!”

“Is that what you think I am? Just some thief wanting to get her hands on anything and everything?”

Yari had to bite his tongue. Thoughts of her hands on more than just his arm caused his grin to return.

“Well I'm not. Those weren't just any scrolls...”

[Yari Rafanas]

Shempi continued with explaining her current situation, diving deep into the details regarding Mirando and its state of affairs. Though uncomfortable giving this information at first, the girl soon relaxed and it wasn't long before she was sitting opposite Yari at the table, finishing what remained of her breakfast and sharing her tales. It was not the fact that she trusted him. It was more a feeling that anything he told her she felt he would relate to it, as if he had been down that path before. Though young, she could sense a strong soul behind him. This scruffy man, so arrogant and mysterious, leaning back in her dining room chair... he had a history.

“To understand why I needed these scrolls, you need to know who I stole them from.”

The man who wrote these scrolls and the blond captain of the airship were one in the same. His name was Warren Stroud. He was a powerful man, in every sense. A man of opportunity, having both been born with it and in being one who captured it at any moment it arose. A man of wealth, raised in money and skilled in acquiring his own. A man of skill, extremely practiced in various forms of magic and capable of standing toe-to-toe with gladiators and goblins alike. Above all else, he was a man of influence and fame. His networks and connections left hardly an alley of the great city Mirando untouched. His success in the markets drew him great profits and many friends, serving to both satisfy Warren's desire for power and benefit the city itself.

Mirando and its people, like many other civilizations, was born from strife and conflict. Starting as small clusters of war-bosses and their parties, eventually evolving into something more. First came the small villages and their lords, still warring with their neighbors for years upon countless years until resources became more valuable than the bloodshed of their kin. As settlements began to share, so did kingdoms, until at last the borders vanished, replaced by roads. Roads let to traffic, and then traffic soon settled into bustling streets. It was not long before the connected powers celebrated by advancing their technologies and prospering from the rich land they all struggled to control.

Warren was a lord of one district of the democracy, ruling with great popularity and with little in his way. Anything he wanted, he bought. Anything his region could not offer, he traded for. When it came time to choose a wife, he chose the adventurous daughter of two successful merchants.

“Whoa, wait,” Yari raised his hand to stop Shempi's story. “You're marrying this guy?”

[Yari Rafanas]

“If he has his way.”

Contrary to the young king Rafanas' first belief, Shempi was not a daring thief with an eye for magical parliaments. While she was well-practiced in obtaining that which was not hers, the girl was much more an adventurer and guide to the diverse lands of Mirando than a pickpocket or scoundrel. With beauty beyond compare and the renown of being the daughter of such a respectful family, it wasn't long before she garnered the attention of Warren. What Warren desired, he obtained.

“Forged documents indicating I'm to marry him at the end of this season,” Shempi frowned, finally releasing the details on the stolen scrolls. “More of a political marriage, than anything. But Warren is a cruel and traditional man. He'd just as soon I be his prize and lock me up in a mansion...”

“So keep trying,” Yari suggested, still leaning comfortably in the chair. “If I were you, I wouldn't have just given them back at the first sign of hostility.”

Shempi wrinkled her nose at the thief. He presumed so much. “Weren't you listening? This man is as close to a king you'll ever meet here in Mirando.”

Yari scoffed, “He may crave a crown, but speaking from experience, he is no king.”

Shempi recalled the young man's title. “And you are? A bit scruffy and alone to be royalty, from my understanding.”

“I am. You're going to have to trust me on this,” he smirked. “I'm something of a legend.”

[Yari Rafanas]

He started with a description of Althanas. Though unlike the details she had given on Mirando, Yari focused mainly on the people of his home. He spoke of how it all seemed that despite the vast, ever-changing landscapes across this world, you could not walk a day without running into a truly unique soul. For every small village and its commoners, there were a dozen children of destiny. Some reveled in madness, others malice, but most just craved to carve their own story into the records so that their name could be remembered—their books tucked away amidst the thousands others lining the shelves in some massive library. Every upbringing held tragedy. Every moment held danger or excitement. Every encounter or battle existed as just another thread in an enormous web of stories.

“By fate, I was given the chance to lead a large group of these men and women called the Bandit Brotherhood. ” Yari elaborated. “They were my family. And to them I was just the man at the helm, leading individuals in pursuing freedom and the right to take everything and anything they deserved. To the rest of Althanas, I was the King of Thieves.”

“And now?” Shempi questioned Yari. Though she was impressed he could claim these things, seeing the thief so far from home and alone made her believe his stories were no longer the case.

“It wasn't long before, um.” Yari caught his tongue. His arrogant tale of his origin held an important detail. Though seen as noble for many, it was the very reason he was alone now, stuck in this strange new world. Perhaps, it was best he saved that chapter of his history of greed for another time. He continued, “You see, I ruled for quite some time, battled countless foes, stole everything they could not protect, but something of value was taken from me by someone I thought I could trust.”

Yari covered briefly how he appropriated a boat and a small crew of brigands. He then described their plan to set sail to a distant sanctuary where the legendary spear of the king of thieves had been sealed away by his old ally, Gild Sorrain. This was the very same ship that had been punished by the gods and stripped Yari of his command, banishing him to the sea and throwing him into the world of Mirando. Though he was confused and angry at this detour at first, each passing moment in the presence of Shempi put these nerves to ease.

[Yari Rafanas]

It was not much longer into their conversation when they were interrupted by commotion at the open window nearby. Much to Yari's surprise, an elegant bird glided softly onto the ledge, the morning light bouncing off of its pearly-white feathers and highlighting its impressive frills and plumage. As it sat comfortably, upright as if almost standing, its tail feather spread wide revealing a fan of beautiful designs, the likes of which Yari was not accustomed to. It tilted its head in the bandit's direction, confused, before it finally directed its attention to Shempi.

The girl stood slowly, grinning, “It's alright Francis. He's okay.” she said as she walked over and cupped the birds head and gave it a gentle kiss on the beak.

A familiar, noted Rafanas.

Shempi turned to the intruder-turned-guest and smiled, her tail swaying slightly. “Warren's visit this morning means I have errands to attend to within the city walls.” Her eyes flitted about the room, as if taking count of her belongings. “Look, Yari... I...”

“You don't need to say it. I'll leave, but I'm telling you right now that I will return at sundown. Could really use a warm place to sleep, you know.” He rose from his sitting position and popped his neck, that smirk of his still etched into his scruffy chin. He began for the door.

Shempi looked to him as if she had something to say in protest. Her lips seemed to almost mouth 'wait' and her eyes spoke loudly their desire to know more about the mysterious brigand. He noticed and simply chuckled in reply before slipping out the front.

Mirando awaited.

[Yari Rafanas]

The capital was something Yari would have described as legendary, almost overwhelming to the brigand. His eyes were used to the scarred city-states of Corone, and were not prepared for the beauty Mirando had to offer. Its architecture felt unique, but stare long enough and one could pick out Raiaerian influences in the designs of the arches, towers, and various housing scattered throughout the streets. White woods and shimmering stone accented each building, with their bases seemingly overwhelmed in a mossy, soft grass. Most buildings only went a few stories high, but deeper into the city Yari spied what appeared to be an entire district of incredible towers, all linked with various bridges and exposed stairways.

It had only taken half of the day for Yari to find himself in the outskirts of the city. As he drew closer, the skies became busier with a variety of airships, letting the young man know that the craft Warren had arrived in was not unique to the nobility of Mirando, but common in fact. Already his mind toyed with the thought of hijacking one and taking it away, maneuvering through the clouds and the unknown. Perhaps it could even be used to take him home.

Concordia...

Rafanas rested in the shadows, his frame concealed by the abundant foliage at the lower levels of the city. His mind wandered momentarily, still uncertain he was even sharing the same plane of existence with his forest sanctuary.

Laughter and commotion from the streets shook him from his thoughts. The Mirandian people were a lively sort, all very busy with the happenings of the day. So busy, in fact, that none of them had managed to see the human man slipping in and out of the alleyways. Surely, with one glimpse, the Mirandians would notice a severe lack of a moss-tipped tail swaying from Yari's behind. He would have to remain in cover, concealed. He could not afford to be discovered while on his quest for information and his hunt for the documents Shempi surrendered without a fight.

[Yari Rafanas]

He had promised Shempi his return would be at sundown, but the mysteries of the capital were too tempting. Yari found himself exploring the city into the late hours of the day. The sun was setting now, casting its burning light against the marvelous buildings. He used the shadows on the dark side of the towers as cover for his ascent into the higher stories, gripping moss and vine carefully as he moved further and further away from the safety of the earth below. Scaling the gargantuan trees of Concordia was one thing he was quite comfortable with, but using the unfamiliar architecture and plant life as footing was quite the risk. Still, he yearned to see what the higher floors had to offer.

The traffic in the sky was dying down now, and the silence it brought was beginning make the bandit nervous. His gut sank as he suddenly felt a strong wind around him, gusts pushing hard against his form. At this height (nearly fifty stories, he counted) one slip and he was on his way back to the afterlife, so he clutched the wall tightly. This was not just cool winds of nature breaking against his back, no. Magical and mechanical whirs were upon him as well, and before he knew it, a spotlight blasted against his form. He was found.

No voices or commands came from the hovering airship, but Yari was blinded by the oppressive lights. He could not see just how large the ship was, or if it was military in design. He began to climb down, reaching for a nearby windowsill before he was stopped abruptly by an arrow let loose. There was his warning. Move now, and these Mirandians may just sink their next shot into his spine.

He chucked under the wind. Warning shots were a sign of weakness. Perhaps it was his own confidence in his worth or just plain arrogance, but Yari knew these men would not risk killing him. They would want him alive for questioning, but they were going to have to apprehend him first.

The King of Thieves moved quickly now, wrestling a vine free from the tower and kicking violently away from the wall. The feeling of weightlessness caused his stomach to drop and he prayed the spirits of Concordia that this vine would hold his weight. Arrows screamed after his decent and the pursuit began.

Many miles away, Shempi paced about, wondering if the handsome intruder liked tea.

[Yari Rafanas]

The momentum of his swing was quick and heavy enough to send the thief crashing through a stained glass window a few stories below, arrows still bouncing haphazardly off the tower wall in a failed attempt to wound their target. The crashing sound of glass shattering was a familiar and almost-comforting tune to Rafanas, for it usually signified action and pursuit. Although he normally would pride himself in being extraordinary in just about any activity, be it wall-scaling, reconnaissance, or leadership, Yari felt particularly at home in combat. His grin widened at the thought, but first he would ensure the fight would take place on his terms.

Yari collected himself quickly, looking about his surroundings. The window he had barreled through lead to what appeared to be a long hall that cut through the middle of the tower. Opposite of his makeshift entrance was another window, much like the one he had destroyed. It was an empty hall, decorated with foreign carvings and paintings, with only a few secured doors along its edges. He was unsure of his next step, but began moving anyway.

However, as Concordia's spirits or whatever Thayne watched over him at that particular moment would have it, Yari soon came to realize there would be no daring pursuit through the tower floors. Before he could even take his second step, a light filled the hallway, originating from the window on the far side. Another second passed and it was clear to Rafanas that this was the same searchlight that had targeted him before. The airship must have circled the tower in anticipation that Yari would leap from the other side. Hmph, I'll just slip out the way I came!

Then came the swooping sound from behind him, accompanied by the thud and cracking of heavy boots snapping glass under their weight. Yari turned back towards his entrance to look upon a large warrior of familiar build, but unfamiliar equipment. The fighter before him was covered shoulder to knee in an impressive blue-scale armor. It shimmered in the reflective light from the airship, looking fresh and sleek as if it had just been ripped from a recently-slain drake. He was armed with a broadsword, which he held confidently over one shoulder, but that was not the most intimidating part of his appearance. This Mirandian possessed a pair of scaled wings, spread and poised in a rather demonic fashion. There was a chuckle from beneath the dragon-shaped helm, followed by a satisfied voice.

“Should have never come to this island, human.”

Any doubts Yari had about the origin of this man's voice were put to rest with the warrior lifted the visor to his helm, revealing the sadistic grin belonging to the Third of the Four Guards Yari had trumped the day prior.

Rafanas' smirk had long since faded, replaced with a snarl.

Alone. No escape route. No armor.

The bandit lifted his iron dagger from his boot and twirled it deftly in one hand,

“Hmph. Should have brought your friends.”

[Yari Rafanas]

Shempi waited until dawn for Yari's return, but the man did not show.

[Yari Rafanas]

Perhaps it was just luck that followed Yari Rafanas all these years of robbing and pillaging Corone that granted him the luxury of having never seen the inside of a prison—a true prison, anyway. Only the Serenity of the afterlife had come close to containing the Bandit King, but at least that land was full of peace and warmth. There he was comfortable. Here, in the deep dungeons of Mirandia, he was cold.

The foreign sensation of steel digging into his wrists as he hung, suspended from a wall opposite the entrance to the cell, was excruciating. The pain wore him down in only a few hours it seemed, but cry and squirm as he might there was no breaking free. Despite his ability to practice magics unbeknown to his captors, his time-tested techniques would only serve to break his bonds. There would be no safety if he fell below. The dark pit underneath him housed a glowing, pulsating mass of liquid. The way with which the guards avoided it suggested a swim would be unwise.

For now he would have to practice patience—something he lacked severely.

Hours passed.

There was little the bandit king could use to judge how much time went by. The only light in his his miserable little cell came from the oozing blue liquid below. It was unnatural and entrancing to the thief. He wondered, from the thick look of it, just how long it would take for him to be eaten alive by its acidic properties and if it was even a possibility. A brief image of his escape crossed his mind—break his chains through his Makaido technique, drop into the liquid and flail violently in the muck until he reached the steel cage gate and dragged his body from the murky tub. There, he could shatter the locks and embrace whatever may be down those dungeon halls.

The pit below gurgled, a solitary bubble popping in response to his thoughts. Don't even try it, it seemed to say.

“Eh, had a bath earlier this week anyway.”