Western Istan Isles.

4.5 Miles from Ishenvale City.

Start of the 3rd Harvest.

112th Era.

The two guards nod to their commander. A large man, with an even larger ax strapped to his back, it's blade is similar to Alyce's broken sword. The man also wears a gauntlet that has wires that connect to a shoulder piece. They emit a light red glow. "I get it now." Alyce snickers under her breath. The large man grabs a rifle and marches over.

"As you have admitted you are the Kingstock Murderer, you will be executed in Ishenvale City by the Duke, personally. Your meager reign of terror is over." He then smashes the rifle over Alyce's head and she falls unconscious.

1 hour later. 

3 Miles from Ishenvale City: 

Alyce awakes in a dark cart, her head throbbing from the pummeling she received. Her clothes are intact, however everything except her plush Rabbit and a few rations were taken. Alyce places the Rabbit in a sitting position next to her. "HAHAAHAAA!! I can't believe it! We have a free ride to Ishenvale City!!" Alyce giggles to herself. "We have what, maybe another 3 miles to go?" she stares at her plush toy. 

"Easy, I'll kick my way out of here when we're a mile away, get that dye back and your other half and we'll be off to the Duke's execution! Ooooooh should I send him a letter to make him piss his pants in fear!? I looooove doin' that!" 

She stares at her plush toy some more. "I know, I was hoping to use one of those Astrel shards to power your body up again so you can stretch but they took 'em, the bastards." Just then she looks surprised at the plush toy and up to the corner of the cart. She hadn't noticed originally but there was another passenger.

A small, busty girl with shoulder length ginger hair with bandages as a shirt and rugged pants sat huddled staring at Alyce. Her misty grey blue eyes glare at Alyce in a mix of fear and confusion. As soon as she notices Alyce's own eye staring back at her she shuffles closer to her corner of the cart.

"Oh, hey there cutie. Didn't notice ya." Alyce adjusts her position into a more comfortable, casual sitting position. All the ginger does is shift back more. Alyce takes note of her light skeletal frame. "Damn, let me guess you haven't eaten in days huh? You eh, want some food?" Alyce pulls out a small wrapped cloth that contains a few fried apple slices. "'Ere."

The ginger's eyes change from fear and confusion to just plain confusion. She shifted closer to Alyce, and flinched when Alyce put her hand out farther. Eventually the ginger made it to Alyce and took the apples. As she ate one her eyes grew wider with happiness. She let out a sigh and looked up to the friendly rabbit girl. Alyce smirked "Hehe, there ya go. So, you got a name cutie?"

The ginger looks to the ground as she eats another slice. Under her breath she let's out "Cylika."

"So, Cylika? That doesn't sound like a name of a local. Where you from?"

"I don't know what you would call it. But everyone so far has called it the slums."

Alyce's eye stared with concern. "T-the slums? So, you're a... Helf-Elven. Never knew they were so cute. Thought they were meant to be ugly abominations?"

"I'm one of the lucky ones. I was subjected to the mutations when I was 60 harvests old. Most are mutated when they're freshly born or still in the womb." Cylika takes another bite of her fried apple slice.

"Heh, forgive my askin'. But what is a Helf-Elven doing so far away from the slums. I thought you were sent there to be away from public eye."

"I used to be a thief. Stealing from the overseers to simply get by. Eventually I was caught. And sent to an Elv Prison. During a raid however I was taken by the Demys who threw you in here. Been in here for awhile. No idea how long though due to the lack of windows."

Alyce pets the ear of her plush toy. "Hmm, if you were to be set free. Where would you go?"

Cylika looks up puzzled "What? I don't know. Haven't thought about it."

"Because... A Thief could be very useful. Would you.. Care to accompany me in my work?" Alyce looks up to Cylika with a sinister grin.

"What kind of work?" Cylika leans closer intrigued by the offer.

Alyce rubs her finger along the side of the plush toy's head. "The kind where you make the heads of those who have wronged many, roll. The kind where you avenge all those who have been slaughtered and tortured for another's gain."

"Who are you?" Cylika asks.

"A murderer. Who's about to break out of her chains once more."

"No. I'm sorry. I don't want to be a murderer. Especially if it makes me insane like you." Cylika shifts back to her corner. Alyce giggles a little.

"That's fine. Just be sure to stay out of the way."

1 hour later.

1 mile from Ishenvale City:

"Alright. fightin' time!" Alyce stands up and holds her hands up against the door. Cylika watches from her corner.

"The door is reinforced oak. It won't break from anything." As she finishes her sentence Alyce's right arm glows with the blue vapor and she sweeps down the hinges of the door and kicks it outwards. The door flies into the horse pulling the cart behind them. It's neck is broken and stumbles causing the cart to drift off into a ditch.

"Well Cylika! It was nice meetin' ya! Enjoy your freedom!" Alyce runs out and around the front of the cart. She takes out a small cloth that contains a few pieces of a thick blue gum. She pops a piece and begins to chew and her eye glows. The guards are now armed and shoot a volley of bullets at Alyce. She hops back holding her arms in an X position blocking them from hitting her face, the bullets tear through her clothes but bounce off her body leaving small specs of dark blue mist emitting from the holes. She swings her arms down, her right arm glowing with the blue vapor which has become even thicker than before.

The guards throw aside their guns in exchange for blades. 20 men charge her, the first comes from the left with a horizontal strike. She blocks it with her right arm, the blade colliding with her black bar. She pushes the blade up and spins left gaining momentum to strike the guard's sternum shattering it. Another comes from behind as she finishes off the first. Alyce side steps his clear vertical strike and slams her right elbow into his gut, the force pushes him back and his internal organs are torn to bits. Another three rush her at once all three going for a thrust. Alyce back hops and charges a jump. Her legs making a ticking sound and getting shorter. As the men all finally converge on her she releases her built up power behind her legs and jumps over them. The men surprised didn't have moment to think before Alyce had kicked the left one so hard his ribs cracked and sent him into his comrades.

As more fighting goes on Cylika shakily steps out of the cart. Her right leg being limp she holds herself against the cart's wheel. Watching the short battles occur in front of her. Amazed by the super human feats preformed by the girl. And even more amazed by the vapor coming from her body. Suddenly a hand covers her mouth and an arm wraps around her neck. Her body too weak to fight back she's dragged off.

As Alyce finishes the last of the guards she makes it to the head cart to look for her supplies. However they aren't there. "Hmph, wonder where they..."

"Somebody! Please! Help me!" Alyce glares in the direction of the clear call for help. The jolt of her head reveals her dead eye once more. It glows with a pink flame. Her teeth grit and she lowers herself into a sprint position and charges her legs once more.

Cylika is pinned up against a large tree. The large commander of the unit holds her neck tightly. "Heheh, stupid bitch. I've had to lug you around for 7 days now! And my Commander wanted you aaaaaall to himself. So I couldn't let anyone touch you. But now. I can keep you as my own little pet. So I want a little test drive." He looks in the direction of the caravan. "That other bitch will have her hands full with my men. So I can stay here and have fun with you all I want." As he tears away the bandages that cover Cylika's chest, she looks up to the man in fear to see his head being smashed to the right by a boot. He is sent flying and Cylika covers herself. Backing up gasping for air.

Alyce slides, recovering from the launch. When she comes to a stop she stands firm and stomps her foot, her blue vapor illuminates around her leg and her arm. She tears away the tucked in portions of her pant legs and exposes her knees. Black plates that cover the inner workings of her false legs. Black bars similar to the one on her right arm expand out of the back of her calves and releases a cloud of smoke. The hiss of steam is accompanied by Alyce's long sigh.

"Hehe, finally. I was fast enough."

-Author's note: I understand that this piece of writing has some strong themes. I did my best to avoid going into detail. If you are offended or believe I should have warned you better please, submit a comment voicing your displeasure. I will also mark this as Mature if it is deemed necessary. I personally do not see any issue, as I have only used a few choice words and avoided a lot of graphic detail that I could have gone into. Once more, if you are upset please let me know. Thank you for reading! I hope you'll Subscribe to Ainavale, things only get more interesting from here.