Wrath Reincarnated

ENVY

Kat walked down the dirt road and made way for wagons carrying artillery shells that passed by. Just when she thought she couldn't be more pissed off, some of the Guardians and Arcanians riding in the back cat-called her. She clenched a fist, but contained herself from launching them all into the woods.

You'd do well to get off the road, Katarina, Whiskered thought. Your new persona would walk on the sidewalks, not stroll through the streets.

"Shut up," Kat said under her breath, but she headed over for the sidewalk, which was made of raised and interweaving bamboo slats.

Don't group me in with the fox, if you'd please. But you and I have barely had any time—so, how are you?

Didn't you hear? I'm pissed off at Jules. Any clue as to why? She surveyed her surroundings, and looked up at the log rooflines of all the wooden buildings, searching for any sign of her Familiar. Her vision had improved, though it was less than half-recovered. Yeah, stay hidden, you pussy.

Et tu, Katarina? I saw your scars.

Kat instinctively grabbed her left arm and rubbed it tenderly. Every sign of her scar, and possibly her Seal, has vanished with the disguise. Her stomach grumbled, and she remembered she'd only had one meal in days, dinner last night, as breakfast was cut short. I'm starving. We're going back to the mess hall.

But The Painter said—

Fuck him. Food. Now!

She marched off, and finally chowed down on her first plate. Ahh, I feel better. Kat went for seconds and thirds in a single trip, and just like earlier that morning with Jules, people stopped to stare at her as she shoveled plates of food down her gullet. Let's talk about my nightmares.

Oh, thank Salvos—

You're not off the hook yet, you little alleycat twerp, but my dreams were of the Nomads and Elementalists, so this mission is no coincidence.

MROWR.

The Painter was in my dream, along with some other blokes, all looking for the Unlock Rune.

You aren't having anymore dreams here, though.

Yet. Now that I'm awake, I feel as if I'm supposed to complete their mission from the dreams, and keep that Rune away from our esteemed tutor. Bullshit missions. I'm not some spy or infiltrator.

Katarina, my dear, you are a Scout…

I don't wanna be, OK!?

I understand that you're upset, but just—

"It's time to find this motherfucker and get out of here." A man passed behind her and stopped to turn to her. They locked eyes for a moment.

"Excuse me, may I join you?" he asked.

Kat's stomach growled again. She looked down at her plates, which still had some scraps. "Sure, fine, whatever. Just don't talk to me."

"Seems kinda the point of joining someone, doesn't it?" Piss off. He took his seat next to her, anyway. Why isn't this guy eating? "Interesting day, huh?"

Stolen novel; please report.

"How's that?"

"So you do want to talk?" he asked with a smile that she refused to reciprocate. "It's just that strangers arrived, and Sins at that. After Marina Veridia, and Shinsora… Crazy times, is all."

"Yeah, the war's coming, and all that other crap. I could care less." Kat stabbed another piece of meat and gorged on it. "I just want to eat more food and get out of this hellhole."

"Not to mention the Desert Mouse is marching north through The Verdant Expanse." Who the hell is that?

Careful, Katarina. Your character would know that information.

"Yeah, well screw him, too." Katarina! "I've heard a lot about him, but what does he look like?"

"Ha!" The man finally began to eat his meal. "Nomadic. Wears a brown cloak. Deep amber eyes. Carries that scimitar with him everywhere." Oh my shitting Salvos. "Many would agree with your sentiments. Many who do not like his…methods." Hoooly fuck. Are you the guy?? "But he is our leader in The Nomad's eternal absence." How do I handle this Whiskers? HOW DO I HANDLE THIS!?

Start by—

"Right, his absence. It can be hard to be away from one's home."

"Oh? You sound like you can related." Kat nodded. "Where might you be from?"

Katarina, I—

I got this. Why don't you go give Jules the key to my room? "Little further north." Like the Elemental Wastes. "Where are you from?"

"What makes you think I'm not from here?" The man rested his spoon back on his tray.

"Please. Neither of us look like we're from here."

"True." He took another sip of his steaming soup. "It's a bit hotter where I'm from."

"Same." Technically the truth.

You're a bit too far gone to care about the truth.

They each took a few more bites, waiting for the other to speak. "Where is that exactly?" he asked. Ohhh I wish I'd paid more attention in geography classes.

Obsidia.

No, too forward. "Somewhere between Riftwatch Outpost and Sylvan Hollow."

"On the border?" That was a bit too eager.

"Near it. Yeah."

"Lot of Elementalists over in those parts."

"Nomads, too." Kat took her spoon and scooped some of the soup in his bowl and ate it. He leaned in on that.

"You know, the rumor mill's going on here about someone in that area."

"I'm not one to gossip." Your first truth so far, Katarina, Whiskers thought. "But I'd love to hear it." It appears more than your image has changed, he added.

"There's an Elementalist spy hunting for the Tree of Wishes."

"Hm." Where to go from here? "I've heard a different rumor." The man's face dropped. "I've heard there are two spies. But they'll never find the Tree if That Bastard Painter can't." Oops. Probably shouldn't have said that. A grin spread across the man's face. Oh, nice.

Katarina, your—

Not now, Whiskers. I'm on a roll!

No, listen to me—

"What's he doing here, anyway?"

Your hair—

"Trying to learn more about my kind." Another truth.

KATARINA YOUR HAIR! Kat's hair began to recede into her scalp and flatten back out. She felt her body shift as well.

"What—" Shit. My voice is back. She broke eye contact and sprinted out the mess hall and into a back alleyway. He followed her outside, grabbed her arm, and yanked her back around.

"Little Red Riding Hood?"

"What…"

"He said I'd find you here," the man whispered. "Kazuma."

"…The fuck!?"

"He said I'd find you here. Said you'd have on a disguise, that you'd have wild red hair and a flat chest and…"

Kat quit listening and her face fell flat as the rest of her disguise faded away. I will kill. Everyone. Involved. With today.

Time to leave, Katarina. He's seen your face—forget the name.

No. We play this out.

"When the leaves fall…" The man trailed off. Waiting for a response?

A password of sorts. Argyle said the same thing to us earlier. Probably a test to see if we were the spies.

More like a warning. Think! Kazuma, Elementalists, the war…Kazuma fled to the Windjas. Wind. Wind Mage.

You've taken too long!

Kat looked around slowly, to play off her hesitation like she was making sure they were safe enough to speak.

"It…seems I was mistaken—" Kat shoved a finger to his lips to silence him.

"Wait. Do you feel that?" Kat was no longer bluffing; someone watched them. The cool breeze swept her hair in her face, and a sudden shift pushed it back the other way. "The wind has changed direction…"

The man relaxed, and his hand fell from his sword hilt. He sighed in relief. "So it is you! I was so worried I'd have to kill you…"

"As if!" Wait, what'd I say?

It would appear you had some help with the password. Someone watches us, Katarina.

"Show it to me," the man demanded.

"Fuck off." Without thinking, Kat covered her ear. Loose strands of hair from the wind fell all about her neck and chest, covering the Seal behind her ear.

"It's the only sure way. The way." With whoever's watching?

"Fine." She ran a finger along her neckline to pull her hair back behind her ear, along with it came her red crystal necklace, which fell down on top of her shirt. He's only staring…at that?

"Good," he said. "We can start."

She quickly pulled her hair back over her ear, and tucked her necklace into her shirt, completely out of sight, whatever it represented.