Headed by a Snake

The blonde, blue-eyed archer and the rough, dark-haired warrior met each other's gaze, their faces mere ilms away from each other.

"So you're the Chosen One, huh?"

"Thou Art Correct. The Chosen One Is Me."

Barza Keith had sheathed his two blades, hanging them behind his body in an X. He crossed his arms, striking a handsome pose as his shortened dark hair waved in the chilly wind.

The blonde archer, Tamaki, was naturally handsome, with sparkling, innocent eyes and fair skin. Their heights were similar and though Tamaki was far younger than Barza, his pre-teenage body claimed much less muscle mass than the veteran mercenary.

His lanky appearance, however, did not detract from the passion in his voice as he fawned over Barza, "The Ivory Judge sect has foretold legends of your arrival... How only you can save us from total annihilation. How may we address you, O' Chosen One."

"Thou Hast the Right Of It. Mine Name is Lone, Lone Shadowdark."

"Lone Shadowdark… A great and mighty warrior name… Lend us your strength, O' Chosen One!!! We can offer you riches beyond your wildest dreams! Recognition from the 4 great families! Large-breasted women as your many concubines! Ancient treasures from--"

Taree watched the Chosen One and Tamaki from the side, standing next to the sandy-haired boy. He was really interesting... his name was... Bucket? and his ears were slightly... pointy. Taree wanted to touch them, but she figured that would be rude.

And he held a spear and a slight smile. Suddenly, he covered his mouth with his other hand and started to giggle.

Taree looked to him in wonder. Tommy told her that he'd deal with the Chosen One but he didn't say she couldn't talk to his companion. The boy was younger than her, for sure... but he looked pretty strong-- especially with the way he jumped over the Gann by vaulting with his spear.

Taree kept her hands innocently behind her back and she leaned her whole body to meet the seated boy's eyes. "What's so funny?"

The boy gave a bright, unapologetic smile, "That's my brother! He doesn't usually talk like that-- but Lone's a great guy!"

Taree tapped her delicate cheek with a finger, "Oh, okay. I thought all Outer Worlders talked like that?"

"Maybe? I wouldn't really know," Bucket shrugged.

The boy suddenly raised his eyebrows as if remembering something. He fumbled through his satchel before revealing a cloth wrapper, offering up its contents. Taree stared at the unwrapped piece of dried meat with sparkles in her eyes.

Taree and her brother had been running for hours. She was tired. Her entire body, but especially her legs, were sore and her feet ached and hurt. She wanted to cry at Yoshio's betrayal, at how desperate her mission was, at the declining state of her sect. But more than feeling sad and helpless, she was angry. She wanted to beat Yoshio to a pulp, break his bones. She wanted to commit the unforgivable crime of destroying his dantian, rendering him incapable of cultivating, and returning him to his family as an ordinary mortal.

Getting the help of the Chosen One and his companion was the first step she needed to take. She gleefully accepted the boy's gift.

"Thank you," Taree smiled. Her mom always told her to be thankful of honest gifts, and the boy seemed more honest than any cultivator than she'd ever met.

The boy blinked in embarrassment with reddening cheeks. Then he smiled so wide that his eyes closed, "Wow! Your smile is beautiful."

"Thanks! My name is Kimura Taree-- oh, but you can just call me Taree."

"Oh, okay. My name is Pale. Nice to meet you, Taree."

Pale? Not Bucket? Okay.

Pale. Lone. Taree thought their names were mysterious. If she could recruit them both, she and Tamaki had a chance to survive, "Warrior Pale, are you… from a prestigious family?"

"Um, I guess so? My dad is the greatest solo gladiator on the western continent."

Taree nodded in her heart, excited. Son of the greatest warrior on the continent sounded impressive, indeed.

"Is he your backer? I mean... Did your family teach you the Way of the Spear?"

Pale shook his head with wistful eyes, "My family? I didn't really have anyone except my dad."

Taree gripped her robe with her tiny fists. She had spoken too quickly. Her family gave her everything she needed, from pills and healing balms to teachers and training. She should have known that someone outside of a martial sect could only grow strong if... they lived a hard life, and were forced to become strong or perish.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay." Pale gave her a warm smile, "My dad will come back when he finishes his quest. I have Lone, my brother. And I have the rest of Guild Invictus. They're the ones who taught me how to use a spear. Oh! And Boss Tycon said I'll be more useful once I can learn at least one Offensive Skill and one Movement Skill."

The girl's heart thumped in her chest when she understood Pale's implications. The Guild Invictus that Pale was talking about was like a Sect. And it wasn't a lowly sect if it could distribute techniques to even its youngest students. If she could request for aid from his guild, she might do more than save herself and her brother-- she could save her family and all of the Ivory Judge sect.

Taree stood up and bowed as deeply and low as she could.

Pale shot up in embarrassment and surprise, "Taree?"

"Warrior Pale! I'm begging you! Please, help me save my sect! Guild Invictus is our only hope!"

…

Barza had been so excited to be the Chosen One. The last time he remembered being chosen was in a P.E. Class as a child. And he was chosen last.

The archer, Tamaki, was promising far too many rewards as the Chosen One. It was so overwhelming that Barza was beginning to get cold feet. Out of professional curiosity, he asked about the legends concerning his title. That's when the troubling signs began to show.

The Chosen One from Tamaki's legends was able to move great beings with a word or even a wave of his palm. His eyes could delve deep into the soul of any man, causing great fear and horror, or even the sense of indescribable awe and deep, unquestioning devotion. The Chosen One could even talk to great and mighty beasts, commanding them as he saw fit to either protect or destroy.

Barza could definitely, absolutely not talk to animals.

He couldn't do any of the other things, either, but the talking-to-animals ability was something he couldn't even fake. Animals hated him. Cats hissed at him. Dogs growled at him without reason. Horses looked at him with arrogance and contempt. Even the little piglet that guided him and Bucket to the Gann lair shook its behind with disdain at him.

And all that talk of saving an entire sect sounded like far too much responsibility for just him.

He strongly considered it. It would get him away from Boss Tycon-- no, all of Guild Invictus' crazy training, which broke his heart as much as it did his body. He could get away from Dragan's cruel mockery and from Wroe's empty compliments that only made him more disappointed in himself. And trying to perform to Boss Tycon's expectations was absolutely impossible-- the man never smiled! And his golden eyes were like that of a predator's! He had nightmares of the man turning into a literal snake and devouring him whole!

And all he had to do was save a sect hidden in the mountains from an entire Muto family bent on the sect's destruction.

Both plans of action had pros and cons.

As Barza's thoughts drifted, Tamaki was still talking.

"--and after y'all get married, I can retire at the ripe old age of 30. I've got this fishin' hole, half a malm away from the old house. Now the catfish aren't nothin' to write home about, but--"

The sharp twang of a longbow split through the air, cutting Tamaki's hopeful dreaming short.

Barza gripped the hilts of his swords, quickly scanning the area for the arrow's target. But as if to answer his question, blood spilled from Tamaki's mouth and he collapsed forward, an arrow stuck in his back.

"Hey! Hey!! What's wrong?!" Barza dropped all pretenses of his flowery speech, as he held the blonde kid in his arms. Spotting the arrow on the boy's back, he reflexively reached to pull it out.

"Lone, don't!!" Bucket rushed to his side, spear at the ready. "Boss said if you take out the arrow, you'll open the wound and he'll start bleeding!"

Barza nodded and placed the boy down as gently as he could. Taree stood beside Bucket in a combat stance, weaponless, but still exuding a sense of danger as sharp as a sword or spear.

"Tamaki, hold on! Warrior Pale! Chosen One! Yoshio's men are strong, be on guard!"

Barza unsheathed his swords... Wait, pail? She meant Bucket, right?

A white-robed figure on a tree branch tossed a longbow aside. With a leap, he descended to the forest floor, his fist pointed downward. The forest floor cracked and rumbled with the weight of the strike, sending rocks flying. The handsome dark-haired man stood and cracked his gloved knuckles, imposingly.

"O' Great Expert. It seems the traitorous Kimura girl and her brother are trying to deceive you. Might I offer you the truth?"