Step: The Fields of Fire

[Izvilvin]

((Open to Step members Anenfel, Rakh and Banda))

A powerful wind blew through the field of the fallen, setting the tall rows of grain to dancing. To any who visited the land, the field was not unlike any other in the world. In truth, this was a wasteland of corpses who were not worthy of life.

The two warriors had been in the field for hours, perhaps a full day, without ever once seeing or hearing one another. Still, their blades were always at the ready before them, for they each knew that a single lapse in concentration was what stood between victory and defeat.

A single step was remarkably slow, as a warrior would look and listen carefully for any sign of their opponent. Considering that the plains were as large as a Radasanth-sized chunk of land, this test of endurance and stealth was the culture's greatest. Suddenly, one of them stopped, his leather armor creaking ever-so-audibly as he took careful heed. Some kind of had made him aware, or perhaps it was merely a sense.

Then he spun, as quickly as he could, the katana he held whisking about to take his opponent across the gut as the warrior fell to a knee. The attacker gasped, dropping his blade, as he felt the cold steel slash cleanly through him. He'd been so sure that he was going to strike the opposite warrior from behind, that he hadn't prepared for the possible counter attack. This was a mistake he would not live to regret.

The victor sheathed his sword as his opponent's blood spread along the ground. Around him, the grain began to turn a red tint, soaking up the blood like sponges. Eventually the entire field had become crimson. The change signified the end of the duel, and the winner's right to his prize.

----

Grains were not in shortage in Corone. At least not typical ones. The continent's government had tapped into a well-established rumor that the grains, when enhanced by blood, could be used to create a very flammable, yet stable liquid. Obviously, such a commodity could equip the military to make them an even more formidable force, using fire spears or other unpredictable weapons.

The only organization set to the task was Step, Corone's elite military force. Step had hundreds of agents, but a core group had been compiled in recent times, to deal with such difficult tasks. After all, one or two agents could not always get the job done. For this, three were needed. Two to infiltrate the lands and find a time when it would be most plausible to steal the goods, and one single agent to find a means of bringing the goods back, before meeting up with the infiltration team to carry out the actual plan.

Anenfel was teamed up with Izvilvin, an unlikely pairing if there ever was one. Anenfel was half-elven, so it would make sense if half of him was hated by Izvilvin, or vice-versa. The two had met in the Citadel two months or so prior, where Izvilvin had eventually bested the warrior. They'd left on good terms, which the Drow figured was fortunate, given their current situation.

In the distance, Izvilvin could already make out the massive field, which had grown white once again. He had no idea what the culture of the people here was, and wasn't sure whether or not avoiding them completely was the best course of action. He looked over to Anenfel, who walked beside him, and wondered what he thought.

((Suikoden references rule))