Tales Of Symphonia Fan Fiction ❯ ToS: V.Z.D. ❯ Enter the mysterious white-haired assassin ( Chapter 1 )

“So, you want me to kill the blonde girl?” the cloaked man asked, looking down on the Chosen's group from atop a hill. It was night time, close to midnight, and only their night watch, a red haired man, was awake. “Yes.” The blue haired man said. “I'll need the payment up front...” the cloaked man said, and the other man gave an aggravated sigh, taking out a bag of gald and tossing it to him. The cloaked man caught it, and his mouth, the only part visible from under his hood, twisted into a grin. “Service sought, found, and purchased. It's been a pleasure doing business with you.”

 

The blue haired man had left an hour ago, but the cloaked man was still watching the group, taking in the terrain details. Finally deciding on the easiest path, he started to walk around. When he was positioned slightly to the left and behind the position of the red haired man, he started down the hill. The blonde girl was sleeping nearby, close to the brown haired boy. As he approached the camp, however, he stopped, sensing the red haired man's attention on him despite the fact that he was looking the other way. “So, you know I'm here… guess I can't do things the easy way anymore.” The cloaked man mused, his grin spreading wider. The red haired man, who had been sitting down with his back against the large green creature, stood and turned to face him. “I don't know why you're here, but it's obvious your intentions aren't friendly.” He said. “How long did it take you to figure that one out?” the cloaked man said mockingly, drawing his rapier.

 

The noise of the blade being drawn caused the creature to stir, and when it saw the cloaked man, it growled. This in turn caused the brown haired boy to awaken. “What's going on?” he asked. Even as the red haired man drew his weapon, the cloaked man was sheathing his, drawing his dagger instead and rolling over behind the now standing brown haired boy. Before the boy could turn around, the cloaked man grabbed his hair and pulled his head back so that his neck was more exposed, putting the blade of his weapon against the boy's throat. “Throw aside your weapon or this boy dies.” He said, his tone icy. He was no longer grinning, and had gotten serious. The red haired man stared at him for a moment before tossing his sword aside.

 

“There's a good boy… now, we'll initiate a trade. I want the girl, and if you want this boy to live, you'll hand her over.” The red haired man shook his head. “I'm afraid I can't do that. Protecting the Chosen is my duty, and I won't trade her life for his.” The cloaked man's mouth frowned. “That girl is the Chosen of Mana? My employer failed to mention that in the contract… I'll have to renegotiate things with him now. Hope you don't mind, but this boy is mine now.” Releasing the boy's hair, the cloaked man twirled his cloak over both himself and the boy, and when it stopped twirling, both were gone, and the cloak disappeared, too. “Damn!” the red haired man cursed, and the rest of the camp started to awaken.

 

In the cloaked man's cave home, the brown haired boy swung both of his swords at the man. “Hey, now, would you knock it off? That's getting annoying.” The man said, once again blocking the attacks. When the boy failed to stop, he gave an annoyed sigh, parrying the boy's attacks and kicking him in the chest. That sent him to the floor, and the man quickly disarmed him. “You should learn to listen to those who have power over you. Now, what's your name?” the boy looked up at him. “Give me your name and I shall give you mine.” He said, and the cloaked man laughed. “you're quite amusing… very well, I shall give you my name.” he removed his cloak to reveal short, pure white hair and only his left eye, the right one covered with an eye patch. The eye was deep violet in color, and gave one a feeling of self doubt. “My name is Vladmir Nysarius Agalmir… there are two names that you may call me: Vlad, or Nysar. Now, tell me, what is it that I might call you?” the brown haired boy stood up. “Lloyd Irving, but who are you to ask for my name?” once again, Vlad laughed. “Well, you've certainly got spirit… even in the face of death, you manage to taunt me. So, tell me… just who is the Chosen of Mana this time around?”

 

“Lloyd got captured!? By who!?” Genis asked, almost hysterical. Colette was greatly worried as well, and it showed plainly upon her face. Raine looked like she had a headache, which indeed Genis' loud talking was giving her. “I don't know who it was, and I've no idea where they went. All I know is that it was a man who wore a cloak and used a sword and a dagger.” “Well, then, we'll ask people if they've seen someone of that description and go from there.” Raine said. Genis seemed for the moment satisfied with the plan, but he didn't go back to sleep. Raine and Colette, however, were out within minutes. “I hope we find Lloyd soon…” Genis said. Kratos remained silent.

 

“Ready to tell me her name yet?” Nysar asked Lloyd, who was hanging upside down by his ankles. He had been chained up from the ceiling an hour ago, yet still hadn't revealed the information Nysar wanted to know. “Oh, come on… I've interrogated high ranking Desians who weren't this stubborn!” Nysar turned away, frustrated. He kicked the wall, and held his foot from the pain. Lloyd laughed. “Oh, shut up! You're not helping your situation any… you know what, screw this… I'll take the information by force.” Removing his eye patch from his right eye, Nysar looked into Lloyd's. The eye underneath of the eye patch wasn't blind, quite the opposite. With a crimson pupil, smoky gray color, and the rest of it a swirl of indigo and gold, it could see into the thoughts of others. “So, her name is Colette Brunel… interesting. Well well… Lloyd Irving, mother deceased and raised by a Dwarf named Dirk… actual father's whereabouts unknown, presumed dead. Your past is particularly painful for you, isn't it? Village of Iselia massacre was caused by someone, I knew that much… you think it was you, huh? Quite likely… ah, there we go, our first thing we have in common… we both hate the Desians!” Nysar took Lloyd down from the ceiling and stood him up, placing a hand upon his shoulder and squeezing lightly. “Perhaps I can reconsider your status as a captive… I've an offer for you.”

 

“Have you seen him?” Genis asked, and the old woman shook her head. “I'm sorry, I haven't seen anyone by that description.” Genis sighed and walked away, intent upon finding someone else to ask. After another hour passed, he had had no luck, and met up with the others at the inn they were staying at. “Palmacosta is full of so many people… we'll be at this for at least another day.” Raine said. “It doesn't matter how many days it takes… if someone has seen him, then I'll look until I've asked everybody in the city before I stop.” Genis said determinedly. Colette nodded her agreement. “I know… I was just saying there's got to be a way to make things simpler.” “Perhaps we should ask the guards… they see everyone who goes in and out of the city.” Kratos suggested. “Yes, that would seem the best course of action… Genis and I will do that tomorrow, and you two can keep asking around, just in case someone else has seen him.” Having settled on a plan, they all retired to bed.

 

“Let me summarize the terms… I drop the job of assassinating the Chosen, and in return, you allow me to accompany you and your group, while at the same time helping me with any job I might take along the way. Is that acceptable?” Vlad asked. His eye patch was still off, so he could see into Lloyd's mind, and as such knew the answer before he said it aloud. “Yes.” “Then we have a binding contract!” extending his hand out to Lloyd, they shook, and while in contact, both of their hands glowed for a moment. “What was that?” Lloyd asked. “That, my dear boy, was the `binding' part of the binding contract. If either of us breaks our part of the bargain, the other will know it.” Moving past Lloyd and to the exit, Vlad donned his cloak, placing his eye patch back on before pulling the hood up to hide all of his face except for his mouth, which was spread into a small smirk. “Now, let us search for the others. I've got to get acquainted with them, and I'd prefer not to keep things waiting.” He left the cave, and Lloyd followed. As they walked away, the large stone door closed, sealing itself shut with binding magics that had been placed upon it long ago.

 

Leaving the Palmacosta region, the rest of the group stopped to rest at a house of salvation before continuing their journey. Lloyd missing or not, they still weren't going to stop regenerating the world. An hour after they left, Lloyd and Vlad arrived there. “Man, I'm beat… lets stop and rest.” Vlad said, heading to the building. “We haven't even been walking for more than an hour…” Lloyd muttered under his breath. Was this how he was like to the others? He could see how it got annoying. After resting for an hour, Vlad stood up. “Well, that should last me until this time tomorrow, let's go.” He said, heading to the exit. “Hold on! Don't you want to know if anyone's seen them pass through here?” Vlad turned around and faced Lloyd, a smirk on his face. He pointed inside his hood at where his right eye was. “I got this thing, remember? They passed through here two hours ago, and if we walk nonstop, we should get to where they're heading by the time they start to set up camp.”

 

Sure enough, as they were starting up a hill, they spotted the group starting to make camp at the top. Lloyd ran ahead, and as Vlad stood back and watched, he smiled a bit at the happy reunion between the friends. He saw the red haired man was staring at him, however, and gave a small wave. The man said something to the others, and they all looked at him, but Lloyd spoke, and they seemed surprised. Taking the queue, Vlad walked up to meet with them. When he was close enough, however, the red haired man drew his sword and put it at his throat. Vlad stared down at it for a moment before smirking. “Well, you seem confident… Kratos Aurion, am I correct? Hmm… quite an interesting past you've got there… interesting indeed… I'll not say more than that.” Kratos' eyes narrowed a small bit, and Vlad knew he was getting to him. `This guy has been around four thousand years… that's two thousand more than I've been around.' He thought, his smirk turning into a wide grin.

 

Lloyd walked over to Vlad, who looked over at him. Lloyd's expression was one of warning. “Alright, I'll stop messing around with people's minds…” Vlad said, raising his right hand up. Kratos' blade moved closer so that it almost bit into his neck, and Vlad stopped for a moment. “I merely wish to remove my hood so that I may put my eye patch back on… and I would appreciate it if you would remove your sword. I haven't died for many hundred years, and I don't plan on doing it now.” Kratos stood there for a moment, and the two locked gazes, then the weapon was lowered. “Alright, we'll hear your side of the story.” Kratos said, though he didn't sound any less annoyed by him. As Vlad lowered his hood, he covered his right eye with his hand, holding the eye patch in it. He used his left hand to tie it on tightly enough that it would stay securely on without being uncomfortably tight.

 

“Thank you… now, my name is Vladmir Nysarius Agalmir… Nysar or Vlad for short. I am a professional assassin. That is all you'll ever need to know about me. I had taken up a contract on Ms. Brunel, but the contract was for standard target price… I require much more Gald for such a high priority job as assassinating a Chosen of Mana. Therefore, I've made an agreement with Lloyd to drop the contract. In exchange, I'm going to travel with your party, and along the way if I take up any contracts, then Lloyd has to help me fulfill them. You're stuck with me and can't do anything about it, but at least I'm your friend now.” As he finished, he drew his rapier and pointed it at Kratos. “But I'm going to warn you now: if you draw your blade against me again, then I'll kill you where you stand.” After putting his rapier away, Vlad walked over to Colette and got upon one knee, taking her hand in his gently. “It is a pleasure to meet such a fair maiden as yourself.” He said, kissing her hand and releasing it, then walking away as Genis and Lloyd stared after him with dumbstruck expressions upon their faces. Raine and Kratos raised their eyebrows skeptically, and Colette was blushing slightly, a little embarrassed.

 

 

((Gonna cut it off here for now, I'd love it if you told me what you think of it. There will be future posts to this storyline whether or not you like it, so tough luck to those who usually post extremely negative reviews on all my works.))