A New Threat Appears And Learning

"I GOT WORD FROM Gin."

"Gin is out of town visiting family. He's been gone for the past four days." Said Dale.

𝑆ℎ𝑖𝑡. 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑒. 𝑆𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝐼'𝑚 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑡𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒. Thinks Dawn.

"Who are you!?" Kino demands.

"Smoke...."

"Close Combat: Dragon Strikes!"

"Shit I knew you were fast, but damn those punches hurt." Dawn says after spitting blood onto the floor. "They did warn me."

"Who warned you?"

Before she can respond the wall is blown apart sending wooden shrapnel flying everywhere. Dawn is struck in the heart from an arrow that passes through her body, and hits the wall behind her. This is instantly followed by a volley of arrows through the hole in the wall. Making her a pin cushion.

"Everyone down! Kino stay put!" Kiyo shouts.

"Yeah I know!"

Just as quickly as it started it ends.

"No one move," Kiyo orders. "Corym use World Sight."

"World Sight…five of them moving away from us all five are SS ranked."

"Talk about overkill." Comments Abby. "My guess, they're a kill squad, and this fake Dawn was a part of the team. Once her cover was blown they killed her."

"There's another problem here."

"What's that Kiyo?" Asks Leo.

"The first shot hit its mark." Kiyo says, pointing to the body. "So why the overkill?"

"…They knew I was here." Remarks Kino. "The overkill of arrows was just a way to keep me pinned down while they got away. They also had to know I wouldn't give chase if I knew I was out matched, and the only way I would know that is if they knew of Corym's World Sight ability.

"So they know about my skill, and Kino's speed." Corym states. "But how did they know? Kino I can understand. She doesn't hide the fact she's fast. However I actually hide my skill given its rarity."

"Do you think Lilly was working with them?" Asks Luna.

"It's possible. Her stealth abilities are top notch." Kino says. "Who knows how long she's been following us."

"Was Lilly lying about everything then?" Asked Abby.

"Hey guys look at this." This comes from Alice.

Everyone turns to look. Dawn's body had transformed.

"So the fake Dawn was a shapeshifter." Kino said. "I'm glad it wasn't the real Dawn."

"So now what?" Asks Leo.

"You guys should head home. I'll deal with this mess here. However, before you go I have some additional rewards for you guys." Dale says as he opens a desk drawer.

"That's not necessary Dale." Kiyo protests.

"Your wrong Kiyo. I insist you accept these scrolls. After all you guys did far more than what was asked of you."

Dale sets five grey scrolls on his desk. Everyone gathers around his desk.

"What are scrolls?" Asked Kino.

"Allow me to explain." Dale said.

"There are four types of scrolls along with four types of rarities. The first is Elemental Scrolls. It allows someone to learn the element that is written within.

Next is Skill Scrolls, this scroll can boosts one's skill if they already have it. If they don't know the skill that's written they can now learn it if they wish.

Combat Scrolls allow the user to learn a new combat skill.

Lastly the Item Scroll contains an unknown item sealed within.

Each scroll has a unique seal to help identify what it is. And are a one time use. So think carefully before using them. All four types can be used by anyone.

Now the four types of rarities are; Grey Scrolls, those are common and easy to get. Blue Scrolls are rare, and not as easy to get. But not impossible. Red Scrolls are Legendary and difficult to get. Lastly, Orange Scrolls are Ancient and the hardest of all to find."

"What type of scrolls are these then?" Abby asks.

"This one is a Combat Scroll, these two are Skill Scrolls, and these two are Item Scrolls." Replies Dale.

"Leo, Abby, Luna, Alice, and Corym. You guys should use them." Kiyo tells them. "Kino and I are pretty strong already."

Leo, picks the Combat Scroll it reads 𝐷𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑊𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔. Alice, and Luna each take the Skill Scroll. Alice's scroll reads 𝐴𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡.. Luna's reads 𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, Corym takes one of the Item Scrolls. It holds a pair of brown enchanted boots. The description reads 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝐶ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑡𝑎ℎ. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑡𝑎ℎ.

Lastly Abby's Item Scroll actually changes color from grey to red. Its contents reads 𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑜𝑚 𝐷𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑛 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑒. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 owner 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒. 𝑆𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑠 𝑢𝑝 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑥 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝑎 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑙𝑢𝑔𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑓, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟'𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑡. 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑠.

"Huh?!…I've never seen a scroll change colors before. But why did it change colors for Abby when she picked it up and not for me?" Said Dale to no one in particular.

"Maybe because I'm a summoner." Suggests Abby.

"That's a possibility. I'll submit this finding to the Research Guild in the capital. This is one of the fields of study they are investigating. Said Dale.

"What's Armament and Meditation?" Asks Kino.

"By channeling mana around a weapon or body part then condensing it the user can increase one's attack or defense that's Armament. And Meditation recovers stamina and mana. The longer one meditates the more you can recover." Dale explains.

"Are you guys fine with your choices?" Asked Kiyo

No one objects and the party gets ready to depart from Peach Valley after saying their goodbyes.

Abby summons the newly acquired carriage. The carriage body is a bright porcelain white with a dark green door and window frames. Two gold lamps in front one on each side of the driver's seat. The driver's seat is brown leather. The wheels are black with white spokes.

Riding in their new carriage. Abby in the driver's seat. Kino and Corym run ahead of them, and everyone else is inside the carriage. They head out.

"Here's your payment for the completed quest." Rin says

"Thanks Rin." Kiyo replies and meets up with everyone back at the Inn.

"So now what?" Alice asked.

"Let's take a few days to rest up, repair our gear, and then we'll take on another quest." Kiyo informs everyone.

"I'm hungry, let's eat."

"You're always hungry Kino." Luna remarks.

"Alright let's go eat everyone." Kiyo says, trying to stifle a laugh after Luna's comment.

*

Peach Valley the next day.

"Hi uncle Dale." This greeting comes from a small female child. She couldn't be no older than nine.

"Welcome Headmaster Nemo, please have a seat."

"So they've returned, have they?"

"Yes, The Black Archers have returned."

"Does anyone else know?" Asked the headmaster

Dale smiles back at her. "You know it's cute when you try acting stern while looking like a child."

The headmaster throws a kunai at Dale who doesn't even flinch as it passes by his head hitting the wall behind him. "Answer the question boy!"

Dale, unable to control himself, starts laughing. Only when another kunai is thrown and this time Dale has to deflect it does he answer her.

"No."

"Good. So what did you think of my apprentice?"

"Kino right. I like her."

"She mastered Silent Mind in one day."

"Wow, it took me three years to master that one." Dale says.

"Alright let's get down to business. Tell me what happened."

Dale walks the headmaster through everything that transpired.

"So you found a mage's body further in the woods not far from the two summoners who were hanged. You believe the shapeshifter, the summoners, and the mage were working together and attacking this place for some unknown reason."

"Yes headmaster."

"Hmm…So why did the Black Archers show  up?" The headmaster voices this concern without expecting an answer.

"That's another question altogether. For fifteen years they've been silent. So why show up and kill four strangers." Dale also voices this out loud not expecting an answer. "There's no way they didn't know I live here now. After all, I trained and led them. That is until they tried to kill me."

The two continue speaking for quite a while.

*

"Hold on Kino, I have a letter for you."

"Thanks Meg. Let's see, it's from Headmaster Nemo…Holy Shit!"

"Anything we need to know about Kino?" Asked Kiyo.

"Everyone gather in close, and listen." Kino instructs them. "Ok so the ones that shot up Dale's place are a rogue kill squad from the Assassin School. They go by Black Archers."

"Those were the five SS ranked I noticed." Corym reminds everyone.

"There's more here." Kino tells them. "Fifteen years ago they went rogue, after nearly killing their former leader Dale. Everything about them from their age, gender, and appearance is unknown. Only the headmaster's of each school, a select few high ranked Templars, King Arsenio and Queen La-Tif know about them. It goes on to say that after much deliberation it has been decided to inform us about them and to reveal their code names as follows; one, two, three, four, and five. So unless we come across them we are not to go looking for them. This is signed by Headmaster Nemo, King Arsenio and Queen La-Tif." That's it, Kino says.

"Well now what?" Leo asks.

"We do as the letter says. However I have a feeling we'll come face to face with them at some point in the future." Kiyo tells them.

Six days have passed since Peach Valley, everyone is sitting down to enjoy a picnic lunch put together by Erica. They're seated by the lake having just finished training. Yui has joined them on her day off, and is snuggled up next to Leo. They started dating shortly after the twins left for their schools.

"I think we should talk a little about ourselves as a way to better understand what each of us has been through."

"That sounds like a good idea Kiyo. Can I go first?"

"Go ahead Leo."

"I was named after the leader of the lion race Leo Pridehart. Leo and my father Diceros Blackbriar or Dice for short joined together to stop the True Believers. However, some of them made it to my village and started killing us. We fought them off the best we could, but because most of our best fighters were gone a lot of us died. Then out of nowhere Leo shows up. Outnumbered and badly wounded he fought and killed them all however he succumbed to his injuries. It wasn't till the next day we learned that most of the fighters that went out were killed. I grew up hearing this story told over and over again. So I started training to honor both of them. I then enrolled in the Tanker School. This bronze shield was my fathers and this bronze flanged mace was Leos."

"Thank you for sharing Leo. Who's next?" Kiyo asked.

"I'll go."

"Go ahead Luna."

"I come from a big family. I have six older brothers. I'm the only girl and the baby of the family. At some point we had been noblies, but we lost all our money. I don't know the details of what happened because it's a taboo subject in our house. So for me having only been four months old when it happened. I was able to adjust easily to being poor. My mother is a mage so when she saw I had a great talent for magic she started teaching me until I was old enough to enroll in Mage School. This bronze staff was my mothers."

"Can I go next, Kiyo?"

"Sure Alice."

"I grew up in an orphanage, and was raised by The Sisters of Fabulious.

As a young girl I had this need to always help others. The Headnun saw this, and took me under her wing. She taught me healing magic. I enrolled in the Healer School, and this white grimoire was given to me by the Headnun."

"Thanks Alice for sharing." Kiyo tells her.

"I guess I'll go next. However this is a tough one for me so please bear with me." Corym takes a breath then proceeds. "As an elf we are pretty good at a lot of things, and for a long time we stayed away from everyone, especially you humans. That all changed when the True Believers attacked us, and I ended up being taken prisoner. I was…"

"Corym are you alright?"

"Just give me a second Alice."

"Let's stop here for today." Suggest Kiyo.

"No, I can go on… I was tortured both physically and mentally for days on end. I was beaten, cut up, burned, and so much more. Because elves are vegetarian they starved me to the point that when I was finally given food it was only meat and… I ate it vowing to live through this.

Then one day I awoke outside of my village. The scars I had were gone like it never happened. I tried pleading my case before the elders, but no one would listen. For I had no proof of what they did to me. I was labeled a deserter and banished from my home. Shortly after that I met Oz, the Headmaster of the Hunter School. He helped me enroll in his school. The gear I have he bought for me. When I offered to pay him back he declined. So instead I promised him that I would clear my name and restore the honor I lost."

No one says a word. Then after some time had passed they clean up in silence and head back to the Snapdragon Inn.

*

Unknown Location

A lone man dressed in a black robe makes his way to the entrance of a cave. When he's ten yards or so from the mouth of the cave a volley of arrows fly towards him. He doesn't have time to react as he becomes a human pincushion. Two figures walk out and stand at the mouth of the cave arguing.

"Yes! I killed that old fucker. You lose the bet bitch pay up."

"Bullshit. My arrow killed him. You were too slow. So you pay me."

These two are covered from head to toe in black attire. Even their bows and arrows are black. Every piece of equipment is enchanted to hide everything about them; their race and gender, their voices, eye color, hair color, appearance, etc is unknown. This is how all members of Black Archers dress.

"Three and Four! What the fuck are you shooting at?!"

"Are you blind Two? That old man right…" Four turns and points back to where the old man is. Only no one is there.

"Don't you know it's rude to point at people?" The old man asks, standing between Three and Four.

"H-How are you still alive?" Stammers Four.

"Trade secret." The old man replies. "Now take me to your boss."

"Very well sir, please follow me" Two answers.

"Thank you."

"No need Two I'm right here."

Everyone turns to see Five and their boss aka One approaching them. The boss and Five are dressed the same as the others.

"Boss, there was no need for you to come…"

One raises a hand and Two falls silent. "Let's get down to business shall we."

"Here is the item you asked for." The old man hands over a Black Mirror. "So tell me One, did Kiyomaro and Kino meet your expectations?"

"Yes. I can't remember the last time I had a good fight with a strong opponent and you gave me two. They'll be fun to play with."

"Glad to hear it." Replies the old man.

"Our work here is done. Let's move out." Orders One.

Each member of the Black Archers disappears like ghosts into the night except for the named Five.

"About the other thing I asked for?"

"About your daughter, yes?"

"Correct." Five confirmed.

"The one named Corym has the ability to find her. So seek him out."

"Thank you Odie."