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Likeen. It was a smaller town relative to the MakiaVi. Each type of store only had one or two competitors for their business. In the center sat the town hall, a large stone building that waved the Bravian flag along and the banner of the local lord that protected it. In front of town hall, a rally was being held for the anti-dragon group. About a hundred or so were in attendance, hanging on the every word of an older canine in elegant robes. Majority of his fur was grey, with cold grey eyes to match. "We cannot go back to cowering in fear of these monsters. As we speak, they gain control of our provinces and influence the lords of our land. I say, enough is enough!" The crowd erupted in cheers for their leader. On the top of the nearby clock tower, Edion, Zan and Bellatrix sat scouting out the crowd, waiting for the reaper to strike."How can these people believe this nutjob?" Edion said. "There is some truth to his words." Bellatrix replied. "Dragons used to rule the entire continent. Only recently has it become more even." A faint glow came from Edion's glove as Lien spoke, "I too understand their concern. Dragons terrorized millions in my day. It's interesting to see you all now advocating for equality." Zan replied, "Times change. We need to work towards fixing our ancestors' mistakes."The leader continued his speech, "We will spread our message throughout the country! They will know that they are no longer welcome in our lands! They are the gods' mistake. These disgusting, horrid beasts must be wiped from the planet!" While the crowd cheered, it took everything that team a had to not go down there and fight him themselves. Even Bellatrix grit her teeth in anger. They looked down to see a figure in a black cloak running on the rooftops towards the stage. "It's the reaper!" Bellatrix exclaimed as she jumped off the roof. Edion and Zan followed right behind her flying to the stage a quickly as they could. Two of the city guards stood to protect the stage. The reaper managed to take them both down with one large swipe of his scythe. They did not even slow him down as he charged the stage. The rally leader attempted to flee. Without hesitation, the reaper cut the leader's head clean off his shoulders. It rolled off the stage as his body collapsed in a pool of blood. Edion and his team

reached the stage and saw the reaper standing over his victim's lifeless body."You bastard!" Zan exclaimed. They each readied their weapons and surrounded their opponent. Twenty members of the city guard also came to back them up. "Give yourself up, It's over!" yelled the captain of the guard. For a moment, the reaper stood still on the stage, silent. White smoke began to come from the bottom of the reapers cloak. It soon spread across the entire stage, bliding all of his opponents. The reaper flew into the air, out of the cover of his smokescreen. Bellatrix was able to catch a glimpse of his exit and sent a lightning bolt from her sword, catching him on the leg. The reaper staggered from the strike but still made his way out of the city's borders. The smoke eventually cleared"Damn, he got away." Edion grumbled. "We will find him. Don't worry." Bellatrix reassured. The guard captain walked up onto the stage to meet the team. He was a middle aged tiger with blonde hair dressed in a full suit of plate armor bearing the Likeen crest. His tired brown eyes surveyed the scene of the crime. "Well this is a mess. That makes thirteen deaths now." He examined the team and noticed their tattoos. "Thank the gods the MakiaVi is here. I hope you three know what you are doing." Bellatrix faced the captain giving him a salute. "We are on it sir! We'll get this guy I swear it." Bellatrix relaxed her stance. "Are there any other events the reaper would hit soon?" The captain thought for a moment. "In a few days, there is a march that they are holding. I doubt he will show up till then." "We'll just have to wait." Bellatrix said. "Where are we going to sleep for the night?" Zan interrupted. "Our briefing detailed that we will be staying with an ex MakiaVi member." Edion replied. "He apparently started a farm just south of the city. If we leave now, we can make it before sundown."  "Be careful, there won't be any guards outside the

walls." The captain warned. "We have everyone combing through the city." Bellatrix saluted. "We will captain. Let's move out guys." she commanded.The team began to  make their way to the farm. They flew high into the orange sky with the sun slowly setting to their side. Below were acres of corn and wheat ready for harvest. Near the fields was a large red barn with a small farmhouse not too far away. The team landed as softly as possible as not to ruin the soil below them. "So why did this guy leave the MakiaVi?" Zan asked. Bellatrix sighed, "You were supposed to read the report. He retired after an injury and started a family. Nothing special." Bellatrix knocked at the door. They were greeted by a female red fox with brown hair wearing a simple hand sewn dress. "Yes? How can I help you?" she greeted. Bellatrix pointed to her tattoo. "Yes ma'am, we are from the MakiaVi. We are investigating the string of murders happening in town." "Oh yes of course. Durek told me you would be staying. I'm his wife Seline. Please, come in!"The house was quite simple.  A crude dining room table with matching chairs sat next to a stone fireplace. An steel longsword sat on the mantle. Various herbs and dried meats hung from the ceiling. "Honey, the MakiaVi members are here." said Seline. A dragon with dark green scales and black hair slowly limped down the staircase with a cane.  He looked down at the team as he drew closer. "They sent you new bloods for a job like this? I hope they trained you well." "Like you wouldn't believe." Edion mumbled. Bellatrix elbowed him in the side and whispered, "Mind your manners." They each gave Durek a salute. Durek grumbled, "I ain't a member anymore, no need for all that formal junk. I left that life behind a long time ago." Zan looked up and said, "I was actually curious about that. What caused your

injury?" Durek chuckled, "I was being reckless on a mission. Dragon slayer got me by the leg and crushed it to powder. I can't fight but at least I get to spend more time with my family. Riza! Come down and meet our guests!" A scruffy dragon and fox hybrid with short black hair walked down the staircase. Her arms and legs were covered in green scales but the rest was covered in fur save for a small strip of scales on the bridge of her snout. Short horns sat on the top of her head along with a pair of fox ears. She wore a patched up pair of overalls.Riza looked at the team in disgust recognizing their tattoos. "What are they doing here?"Durek's face tightened. "They will be our guests for the next couple of days while they investigate the murders." Riza scoffed, "You would think they would want the reaper to take those awful people out." Durek yelled, "Don't say such things child. That murderer has raised hell all over the city. He needs to be stopped." "It's not like anyone will miss his victims. Good riddance I say!" Riza yelled in protest. Durek stomped his cane on the ground. "That's enough! I don't want to hear another word of this. Go help you mother prepare the table. Now!" Riza stomped off towards the kitchen, wincing in pain from one of her legs. "Are you alright dear?" her mother asked. "Yeah, I just hurt myself cutting the wheat this morning." Bellatrix gave Riza a suspicious look."Mind if I help with that Mrs. Rikara?" "Sure. Riza, show her where the plates are." "Yes ma'am." Riza grumbled.As they began to set the table, Bellatrix asked, "So, you help out your family on the farm?""Yeah. Ever since dad's injury, he hasn't had much

money to hire help so I have to pick up the slack." "Wow, you must have to use many tools to take care of the place." "I guess so." "Ever handle a scythe?" Riza froze for a moment. "What? Of course I do. It's how we cut down the crops. Why?" "Oh nothing, just making conversation." Bellatrix said with a smile.Seline walked into the dining room with a large pot. "Alright everyone, dinner is ready."Riza traded angry glances with Bellatrix throughout the meal while Zan and Edion were busy stuffing themselves. "So, any progress with the reaper case?" Seline asked. "Nothing yet but I can feel we are getting close." Bellatrix turned to look at Riza. "Your leg is probably hurt pretty bad. I should take a look at it. I know a little healing magic." "I'm fine!" Riza snapped. "I don't need your help." "Riza, you will show our guests some respect!" Seline demanded. "Now apologize." Riza stood up. "Why should I!? They come to our town to defend those bigots! If they truly cared for us, they would be out there killing those bastards!" Durek stood and yelled, "I said enough! You are way out of line!" "But-" "I don't want to hear it. You'll only bring more shame onto our family." Riza's eyes started to fill with tears as she darted across the room and ran out the door. Durek sighed, "I'm sorry. It's been hard for her here. Since I hurt myself during a mission, money has been tight and she blames the MakiaVi for my accident. I was young and stupid. If I had been more careful, things would be better."Riza sat on top of the barn, hugging her knees to her

chest. The moon was her only light as she surveyed her family's farm. "I'm going to be stuck here forever." she whispered to herself. "You don't have to be." Bellatrix responded. Riza jumped, not noticing her presence till now. "Mind if I sit?" Riza left her in silence. "Look. I'm not stupid. I know who you are." "I don't know what you're talking about." Riza mumbled. Bellatrix smiled. "You have a lot of skill. We could probably use you in the MakiaVi." "I would never work for them! My father almost died fighting their battles. I'll have no part of it!" "Look, he did that to protect not only you but the thousands of others that aren't lucky enough to be born on this side of the country. You can protect them too."Riza looked up to see a faint orange glow in the distance. As it grew closer, they could see it was an angry mob, made from the members of the anti-dragon rally carrying weapons and torches. "Oh my god, we have to warn the others." They rushed back to the house. Dinner was just being cleaned up when they arrived. "Those protesters are coming to the house!" Riza yelled. Durek gritted his teeth. "Those bastards. Looks like they weren't all just talk." Riza screamed,"We need to take them on! If we don't, they will burn the house down!" "No, you stay here with your mother." Durek commanded. He looked at the team. "Let them take care of this. They are trained for this." Riza yelled, "I refuse to put my life in another person's hands. If anyone is going to protect my family, it's going to be me!" Riza rushed out of the house and team a followed her out. She picked up her scythe off the porch and prepared to fight. The rest of them readied their weapons as well.The leader of the mob greeted them. "We have had enough of you monsters roaming around in our lands!" he yelled. Edion scoffed, "You come here starting trouble and we're the monsters?" "You started it when you let our leader die! Kill them all and burn the place to the ground." The protesters rushed the house. Edion put his hands together and shot an ice blast, freezing three of the attackers. He quickly shattered them with a barrage of punches. With a few swipes of his scimitar, Zan shot fire at two of them as they collapsed to the ground. Bellatrix quickly darted past a group of them, leaving a trail of sparks behind her. They all fell in unison as she sheathed her sword. Riza battled with the leader of the group. They traded a few glancing blows, both showing a tremendous amount of dexterity as the dodged each other's attacks. They locked their weapons, now face to face as they pushed against each other. "I can't wait to put all your heads over my fireplace." The leader growled. "Go ahead and try it you son of a bitch!" Riza growled. She took a deep breath and exhaled a purple smoke into his opponent's face. He stepped back, coughing violently. The leader stumbled a bit, struggling to even stand. "What the hell did you do to me?!" He wheezed. Riza grinned. "That's my paralysis poison. Pretty soon, you won't be able to so much as blink your eyes. You'll be dead long before then though." The leader grunted, "You think this is over?! One day, the dragon slayers will take over this land. Not even your precious MakiaVi will be able to stand to them." Her opponent fell to his knees and could barely raise his weapon. Riza held the blade of her scythe to the back of his neck. "I look forward to it." She pulled her scythe towards herself and cut off his head. Coated in blood, she glared at the rest of the protestors. "Who's next?" The rest of the attackers began to run away. As they retreated, random insults could be heard coming from the group. "Yea! Come back here again and it'll be your head!" Riza yelled triumphantly. Edion walked up to Riza. "You did great out there." he said. "Where did you learn to fight like that?" Riza chuckled nervously, "Oh you know, my father taught me. The important thing is that the house is safe." They went back into the farmhouse to check on Seline and Durek. When Riza walked through the door, her mother hugged her tightly. "We saw the whole thing. I'm so glad you are ok. Such a strong fighter, just like your father. I'm so proud of you!" Durek put a hand on Riza's head. "So am I. I know you are not a fan of the MakiaVi but I want you to reconsider joining. You have a lot of talent and there are a lot of dragons out there that could use your help." Riza broke free from her mother's grasp.Riza sighed, "I. I can't. Even if I wanted to, they would never allow me to join. Especially after everything I've done." Seline had a worried look in her eyes. "What do you mean?" Riza looked away from her mother. "Riza, what have you done?!" Riza left her mother in silence. Bellatrix sighed, "She's the one we have been looking for." "What are you talking about?" Durek asked. "Your daughter, she's the reaper." Seline's face twisted in anger. "How dare you accuse my daughter! You're just looking for someone to blame for the case you can't solve." "Bellatrix, where is this coming from?" Edion asked. "Sure she has skill with a scythe but tons of people do."Bellatrix pointed to Riza's leg. "Would you care to show your parents the 'cut' on your leg." Riza hesitated for a moment and sighed as she knelt down to undo her bandages. It revealed a harsh burn wound in the shape of a lightning strike. Seline gasped, "By the gods, where did you get that from?" Bellatrix explained, "I struck the reaper earlier today in the exact same spot. Riza has to be the reaper. There is no other way she could get wound like that." Seline looked to her daughter. "Is this true?" Riza silently nodded. Seline's eyes began to fill with tears. "Why Riza?" she asked, "Why would you do this?" Riza yelled, "Someone had to do it! Those bastards have harassed us for way too long!" The energy left her voice as she began to sob. "I

just couldn't sit there anymore. I had to do something."Bellatrix put a hand on her shoulder. "You should join us then. If you truly want to bring peace, come and help us save the millions of others trapped in the west. I doubt Elise would want your skills to go to waste." Riza wiped her eyes. "Are you sure they would take me?" Bellatrix smiled. "We are always looking for new allies."Zan interjected, "And I am certain my brother's kill count is way over ten by now. You should be fine." Riza looked over to her parents. "Is this alright with you two?" Seline smiled. "Of course. Just please be careful." Durek laughed, "Yeah! You don't want to end up like me!" They all shared a laugh as Riza gave her parents a hug. "I will be sure to send the money I make to help with the farm." Edion whispered to Zan, "Wait, we get paid?" Bellatrix shouted, "Alright! Everyone get some rest. We leave bright and early tomorrow morning."