Mana Star System: Soul Rebirth 60 60 A Taste Of Her Pas

It wasn't far, about a 10 minute walk from his house. The route was scenic, filled with older ladies selling flowers that seemed resistant to the overbearing heat, and older men who sat outside their porches smoking from their pipes. It was a quaint existence, one that filled Donis with a gentle warmth, unlike the environment.

He didn't want these people to suffer from the Sandracons, nor did he want them to even worry about them in the first place. The people here seemed welcoming of outsiders. It could have been because of how remote this place really is, but he didn't care, it was still a pleasant sight.

Arriving at the building, Donis noticed that the guards here seemed more relaxed, and instead of standing attentively at the doors, they had been in a half seated position, with their weapons lowered. There were two guards near the door chatting amicably, dressed in the normal garb, but plated with steel chestpieces and shoulderguards.

The building itself seemed closer to a prison, rather than an outpost for militia. A large square and sandy looking building with seldom a window. The door, or lack thereof, was a series of steel bars that were framed into the shape of one. It did leave a bit of a boring-but-cruel taste in Donis's mouth.

"Halt, what business do you three have here?" said one of the guards, stiffening up.

Striga pushed Donis forward lightly with a smile on her face. Looking back Donis saw her smirking and sighed at the idea of being the one to speak.

"We're here to report of an incident that happened not 5 minutes outside the towns walls," said Donis, mustering up his most succinct voice.

"Incident? Here in Baoruin? What could have possibly happened?" laughed the other guard.

���There was a pack of Sandracons that attacked myself and my teacher here," said Donis with a slight bit of annoyance.

"Sandracons? This far out, I highly doubt it kid," said the guard who spoke first.

"He's telling the truth. The kid lost his arm but had it regrown with a [Greater Limb Restoration Potion]. I'm Dr. Gilbert, do you not believe me either?" he said with a smug look.

"Oh Dr. Gilbert, sorry, we didn't recognise you! Please, come in, our captains actually here," said the guard.

Dr. Gilbert placed his hand on Donis's shoulder and smiled at him. Donis felt grateful for him stepping in ever so slightly. He didn't want to waste more time on fools who didn't want to do their job.

Walking in, they found the interior just as boring as the exterior. Bare walls, little to no furnishing and just a series of hallways that lead to single rooms. It seemed like a waste of s.p.a.cing and poor interior designing. Even though things were poorly done, they still managed to find the captains office and they were quickly let in.

The captain was seated behind a stone desk, seemingly pulled out of the floor rather than made specifically for him; an extension of the bland surroundings. He looked to be in his 40's, a stout man with a receding hairline. Not the image of a captain, at all.

[Name: Laurius Horrigan]

[Age: 55]

[Level 46][85% EXP]

[Mana State: Essence]

[Health: 1,350]

[Mana: 2,430]

[Occupation: Captain of the Baoruin Militia]

[Strength: 46]

[Perception: 47]

[Agility: 39]

[Intelligence: 51]

[t.i.tle: Attritionist, Steel Will, Duty.]

"What do I owe the pleasure of meeting the great Dr. Gilbert and his uh.. merry crew?" said Laurius in his scruffy voice.

"Oh no need for the pleasantries Horrigan. Donis, please, tell him what you told the guards outside," said Dr. Gilbert in his most sarcastic tone.

"Uh, well, sir Horrigan, there was an incident not 5 minutes outside of the town. A pack of Sandracons attacked myself and Striga here. I lost my arm in the incident and required a potion to regrow it," spoke Donis with a small bit of nervousness. Being stared down by such an authority figure put Donis slightly on Edge.

"Hmm.. Boron, is it true?" said Horrigan, placing his hands underneath his chin.

"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't," replied Dr. Gilbert.

The captain seemed to mull over his words, and sunk into thought.

"That causes, uh, problems for this town. How long ago was this?" he said while removing his hands from his chin and placing them on his sides as he sat back.

"It was yesterday. We would have come sooner, but we didn't think about it until Dr. Gilbert here suggested we come and warn you guys," interjected Striga.

"Yesterday? It's either an early scouting pack, or it's already been going on for a while. Thanks for your help, you're dismissed," said the captain, shooing them away with his hands.

"Just like that Horrigan? Are you even going to actually check this out? These two killed the entire pack, and they have the Hunger mutation," said Dr. Gilbert, almost sneering at the captain.

"You ask me to believe these two killed a whole scouting pack that had been mutated by Hunger?" laughed Horrigan.

"Yes, we did kill them. They're outside your town walls, we came here to see if the militia of the city are actually going to their job for once," said Striga, contempt clearly heard in her voice.

"Oh yes, Striga, welcome back. I see you're as wrathful as the day you left here. Fine. We'll send a proper scouting party. If your claim comes out to be true, we'll compensate you for your work in clearing out a pack. Once again, you're dismissed," commanded the captain.

The group all looked at each other and didn't know what to do next, so they decided to screw this fool and actually leave. As they all turned around, the captain cleared his throat before he spoke.

"Oh and Striga, your family aren't in that home any more. When you left like that we ended up kicking them out for insubordination. I hope that doesn't complicate things for you," laughed the captain.

Striga froze on the spot. Her fists clenched tightly, knuckles turning white. Donis looked over at her and could see a deadpan face stare into the doorframe ahead of her.

"You. You did what exactly?" said Striga, hissing her words out as she turned around slowly.

"Ever since you abandoned your duty here, we kicked them all out for aiding a local criminal. You. Is there a problem?" spoke the captain, slowing the laughter until he was just barely smiling.

"I abandoned my duty? If you so much as even make that joke again, I'll kill you in your seat there before you even know what happened little man," the words flowed out of her venomously.

"Are you threatening me Striga? I'm the captain of the militia here now, you can't do that anymore," pointed out Horrigan.

"Threatening you? Me? Never. I'm merely stating the facts. Would you care to see if I'm a liar too?" spoke Striga as a dark atmosphere enveloped the room, the lights dimming ever so slightly. The killing intent that was pouring out of Striga was almost visible.

"Just like your brother, always so quick to violenc-" said Horrigan right before Strigas eyes flashed white.

Striga tried leaping across the room but a single hand from Dr. Gilbert stopped her in her tracks entirely. The strength behind that mans grip was monstrous. She looked at him bewildered, unable to understand why he had stopped her.

"We're not here to end petty squabbles, we're here because there are Sandracons threatening the livelihoods of the good people that live here, Striga. Remember that and cool that head of yours," spoke Dr. Gilbert with a solemn tone.

After looking at him, and then to Donis, Striga let out an enraged sigh. She brushed the grip off of her shoulder and headed out the door. Donis looked more bewildered that the ever composed Striga could have a side like this to her.

As Donis went after Striga, Dr. Gilbert turned to Horrigan and just smiled bitterly.

"You're still nothing but a c.o.c.k in a large mans uniform."

"I'm an official appointed by the RI. Good luck getting rid of me now Boron," laughed Horrigan.

Dr. Gilbert found Donis with his arm around Strigas shoulder, who was now slumped over in an alleyway. He knelt down beside the two and just sighed.

"He's just an a.s.shole Striga. Don't worry yourself with men like him. They act all high and mighty but behind their brave facade is a little brat with too much power," said Dr. Gilbert in her general direction.

"He's right Striga. Look, if can, we'll come back and kick his a.s.s one day okay?" said Donis, uncertain of what to say to the shook Striga.

"Thanks guys. If I find out my family is hurt in any way, I'll come back and personally shove his fat toes up his a.s.s and pull them out through his mouth," said Striga.

"Oh lord," said Donis and Dr. Gilbert in unison.

"Oh no, that guy isn't going to want to see what else I have planned for him."