COT Web Story

“I am so sick of this shipment crap!”

“Hush, Ayen! We’ll blow our cover if people hear us.”

The sun of a bright day flooded the graze lands of Kastro with warmth and life. Farmers diligently worked their fields in anticipation of the upcoming Cren harvest. Acres of grain and vegetables stretched out for as far as the eye could see. In a field that lay fell, overgrown with tall grasses and wild flowers, hid two thieves. They stared intently at the nearby dirt road that served as an alternate trade route between Kastro and Alekia.

“That they can do that all day amazes me.” A woman hiding in the field whispered to her companion. She peeked through a hole in the grasses that she created by parting the vegetation with the hilt of her sword.

“True, it must take an ungodly amount of stamina to keep at it all day, especially in this heat.” Her female compatriot murmured as she quietly pushed fallen leaves away from her side.

“No, I mean how do they put up with the boredom.” Ayen replied. Her friend Kai sighed lightly as she checked the green cloth tied over her hand. It served as camouflage for her weapon. Only her forefinger and index finger protruded from the rag.

“Hey, is that him?” Ayen leaned over to her friend and whispered, spotting a lone man walking closer to their position.

“No, our report estimated him to come with the next hour’s shipment.” Her friend whispered back.

Ayen settled back into the grasses, readying herself for another long hour of watching and waiting. She was bored watching the sluggish activity on the road used mostly by farmers. Dozing off and wishing for some excitement, she sighted a tall and well-built man walking along the dirt path. He wore simple clothing that looked to originate from Alekia. His brown shirt was slightly faded and hung uneven from his broad shoulders. His spiky red hair was pulled back into a long ponytail that ended at the middle of his back. Despite his modest appearance, Ayen’s interest was piqued.

“Looks like another farmer.” Kai said, noticing her friend’s intrigue in the man.

The man wore frayed and threadbare red jeans. There were holes of varying sizes up and down each leg of the man’s pants, suggesting he regularly worked in them. Aside from what looked like new boots, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Kai turned her head, uninterested, but Ayen had noticed that the man had a heavy leather pouch tied to his simple cloth belt. She saw that it was full of money, and could hear clink of Goth as he came closer. Her eyes widened with excitement.

“The guy’s loaded!” Ayen pointed at the pouch. “Please Kai, can I? Please?!”, she begged her partner.

“Look at the size of him, Ayen!” Kai warned her. “Fine, but if he kills you, don’t you haunt me!” Kai told Ayen with a roll of her eyes.

“Yeah!” Ayen leaped from the bushes into the middle of the road.

“Idiot.” Kai grumbled, keeping a close eye on Ayen.

“Wow, you’re pretty cute for a farm boy!” Ayen said, posing cutely as she winked at the man. The man stopped and smiled cheerfully at her. His red eyes seemed to fill with joy as he smiled.

“Not often I get a woman jumping from bushes to compliment me.” The man replied with a gentle grin.

“Yeah, it’s your lucky day!” Ayen said as she drew her sword. She wore black leather upper body armor and dark blue pants, both of which tightly hugged her body. She pointed the tip of her long sword at the unarmed man. She pushed her black and silver hair out of her eyes to reveal their crystal blue color. Her eyes shined with the reflection of the man’s pouch. Undaunted, the man continued to smile sweetly as he strode forward.

Ayen held her ground with a cocky smile.

“Nice sword. Is that a Sharom Imperial?” The man asked. He showed no malice, nor any intention of stopping. Ayen arrogantly blew him a kiss and waved him goodbye as Kai tore the cloth off of her hand and threw it over the man’s eyes. Kai charged forward with her metal claws exposed and ready. The man easily evaded the woman and grabbed her right arm, despite his temporary blindness.

“Ha!” Kai boasted as she swung her left hand at the man’s head. A look of horror swept over her face as the metal shattered on impact. The man removed the rag from his eyes, revealing a disappointed face.

“Awwww, I wanted a tough fight.” The man said releasing his grip on Kai.

“Don’t mock me!” Kai screamed, furious. She jumped into the air and kicked the man’s head, only to fall to the ground as if she had kicked a wall.

She fell to the ground with a crash. Taking stock of the situation quickly, she noticed a heavily blushing Ayen being detained by a handsome blonde man standing behind her, firmly grasping her breasts. Kai sat on the ground dirty and confused.

“You alright Crono?” the blonde man said.