9 Lilith the Virtuous Maiden

[GABRIEL AMOUREUX. Town of Friendship, Southern Vales, Avalon Sanctuary. Orange Day, 13th Week of Winter, Year 5008 of the Avalon Calendar.]

Gabriel finished recounting the story of how as a child he used to sneak into his merchant uncle's library to read forbidden books on magic. The tale climaxed with a recounting of when he'd finally been caught by his uncle, who had threatened to punish him. However, Gabriel had turned the tables by naming the maids he'd caught his uncle with in the very same library. Thus, earning his uncle's silence in exchange for not reporting such findings to his uncle's wife.

The reactions of Aurora throughout the story had provided him with some important information. Her ways of thinking were quite different to others.

Firstly, it was clear that Aurora strongly disliked infidelity. Inferring that she had been affected such in the past. Either that or she was a hopeless romantic. This was different from most women her age, who simply accepted the fact that rich and powerful men kept mistresses.

Secondly, Aurora didn't baulk at the fact that a child would be willing to report on an adult. Nor that a child's words would be believed over those of an adult's. This entailed that she valued truth over authority, or that she had no grasp on the relationships between senior members of a family and their younger juniors. These were beliefs more likely to be held by commoners, than nobles.

Finally, Aurora had shown a keen, child-like interest in those parts of the story which focused on magic. Without the fear normal people possessed towards the dangers of magic. This reinforced the fact that she was suffering from severe memory loss. As anyone with even the most basic of educations, would be aware of the dangers inherent in magic. Due primarily to the damage caused by the War of Mages.

Tap. Tap.

The coachman tapped on the carriage to indicate that they were almost at their destination. Soon, the carriage slowed down. Gabriel flung open the door, as soon as the carriage stopped. Dramatically leaping out and eliciting a laugh from his companion. He then assisted Aurora with disembarking. Before nodding to the coachman to leave the couple alone.

"This place is beautiful," laughed Aurora.

"That's why I chose it," agreed Gabriel.

The place Gabriel had chosen for their picnic was a stretch of grass. Bordered by a dark green lily pond on one side and a grove of purple flowered, winter jacarandas on the other.

"Why isn't anyone else around?" Aurora inquired.

"This area is quite far from the town centre," explained Gabriel. "So, getting here requires a coach. Furthermore, the broken path that leads here, sneaks through the winter jacaranda grove and requires a very skilled coachman to navigate. That's why so few come here."

"So, we're alone?" asked Aurora biting her lower lip, in a manner which Gabriel found innocently endearing.

"Yes," said Gabriel as he began to unpack the picnic basket.

Once the blanket had been placed and the basket unpacked, Gabriel patted a spot right next to himself. Indicating for Aurora to sit down. As expected, she instead chose to sit elsewhere, avoiding direct body contact. Indicating that either she wasn't interested in Gabriel, or that she was playing hard to get.

"You can come out now," said Gabriel as he stood up and pulled out long a black feather from his coat pocket. "This is a perfect place for an ambush."

"What are you talking about?" asked Aurora in alarm.

"It's alright beautiful rose," soothed Gabriel. "I was talking to the men hiding in the shadows."

As if his words were some kind of conjuring spell, three men emerged from the tree cover. They were all wearing form hugging, black clothes and black balaclavas. They began to silently advance on the couple.

Their lack of conversation and demands, indicated two things. Firstly, this was a planned attack, wherein each group member already knew their roles. Secondly, they weren't here to rob but rather for something more insidious.

Aurora stood up and placed herself beside Gabriel. Indicating her trust towards him.

"Don't worry Aurora, I'll dispose of this useless trash," said Gabriel, as he placed his hand on the small of Aurora's back.

The taunt didn't elicit any reaction. The men were clearly professionals and not some random thugs who were easily distracted with simple psychological tactics.

The men finally stopped five meters in front of the couple.

"Are we going to run?" asked Aurora.

"They're Beast Masters, so we can't run," Gabriel stated.

The positioning of the trio made it clear that they were Beast Masters. A normal trio of assassins would have spread out to cover their target's escape routes. However, these men stood close together, to ensure they could easily communicate.

Also, the distance they stopped at would mean they were not planning on a melee attack. Furthermore, if they had planned on a ranged strike, they would have opened by sniping from cover instead of coming out.

As predicted, the three men all reached into the leather poaches attached to their belts. Each withdrawing, then throwing various items in front of them. For a split second, the items glowed with a bright light, before seemingly transforming into three Mystical Beasts.

Gabriel quickly identified the three summons and calculated a strategy that would provide victory while ensuring his and Aurora's security.

The central Mystical Beast was an Earth-type grasping clay mound. It had the appearance of a fifty centimetre tall mound of ochre clay. Which slowly but constantly sprouted small protrusions that resembled baby forearms and hands in size and shape. Considered one of the weakest of all Mystical Beasts, it was primarily used for field support.

To its right, was a three meter long, razor mandible stag beetle. A Steel-type Mystical Best with overwhelming bite attacks. While on its left, was a Wood-type four meter long, three-headed venom serpent. Both of these Mystical Beasts were favoured by assassins.

"Wait," the man in the centre of the trio suddenly spoked. "I recognise that man. He's Lord Amoureux. A noble who pretends to be a fool but is actually a skilled tactician known in the criminal underworld as the Smiling Shadow."

"My fame precedes me," Gabriel smiled.

"As a sign of respect, we'll let you to go Lord Amoureux," said the man who had previously spoken. "However, the girl must die."

"No," replied Gabriel. "How about you tell me who hired you and then promise to leave my companion alone? In return, I won't kill you."

"Don't be too full of yourself!" exclaimed one of the other men, who was a fair bit shorter than the other two. "It's three against one and you don't even have a Mystical Best yet!"

"Enough talk!" the final member of the trio exclaimed in a gravely voice. "Decapitating Bite!"

The razor mandible stag beetle immediately flew towards Aurora. It's meter long mandibles opened and aimed at her neck.

At the same time, the short man ordered his three headed venom serpent to attack Gabriel, "Three Venoms Strike."

The leader didn't issue a command. Its grasping clay mound independently activating the support skill; Clay Armour, which conjured a thin layer of magical clay armour to form around the other two Mystical Beasts. The clay armour's main purpose wasn't to provide primary protection for the grasping clay mound's companions, but rather it added to their innate defensive and offensive strength.

Aurora instinctively tried to step back, but was firmly stopped by Gabriel's left hand on her lower back. Before she could protest, the Decapitating Bite attack had reached her. While the three jaws of the three headed venom serpent were a mere few centimetres from Gabriel's face.

However, instead of the quick victory which the assassins had been hoping for, the two attackers were sent flying back as if they had hit a s sold wall of gale force winds.

"Thank you Lilith," said Gabriel to his Mystical Beast.

A slim, perfectly proportioned woman suddenly materialised beside him. Her naked form boasted unblemished pale skin and luxurious, midnight black hair which reached to her feet. A pair of black feathered wings sprouted from behind her shoulders. Her slender black tail was playfully wrapped around Gabriel's right hand which was still holding a feather.

"Clay Armour!"

"Slicing Razor!"

"Venomous Spit!"

The three assassins shouted instructions in unison.

"Walls of Wind," ordered Gabriel.

The razor mandible stag beetle once more bounced off an invisible barrier of air. However, this time the impact was much stronger and if not for the Clay Armour enhancement, the razor mandible stag beetle would have experienced serious injury.

Meanwhile, the three balls of green spit which shot forth from the three headed venom snake, were simply dispersed.

"Surround them," commanded the lead assassin.

His two companions quickly barked orders, as their own mythic beasts spread-out, to allow for a multiangle attack.

"Noxious breath," instructed Gabriel.

"No," said Lilith. "Not unless you change the move's name to something else."

"Clay Armour!"

"Slicing Razor!"

"Three Venoms Strike!'

The enemy returned to their assault. They attacked again and again. Hoping to find a gap in Lilith's defence. However, the razor mandible stag beetle and three headed venom serpent discovered the Walls of Wind fully sealed their targets from attack.

"Retreat," commanded the leading assassin.

"Stone Shackles!" a voiced shouted.

Suddenly a pair of meter long scorpion claws reached from the ground and grabbed the feet of the lead assassin and his short compatriot. They tried to smash at the constraints using their own swords as well as attacks from their Mystical Beasts. However, the were unable to free themselves.

The gravelly voiced assassin, realising that their ambush had been turned on them, jumped upwards. He grabbed onto the legs of his razor mandible stag beetle, then ordered his Mystical Beast to fly him away.

"Please use Noxious Breath," Gabriel pleaded with Lilith.

"I don't know of such a move," Lilith replied.

"Alright. Just knock those guys unconscious," Gabriel sighed in exasperation.

In all his studies, Gabriel had never heard of a Mystical Beast who was able to over-ride a Beast Master's command, simply because they didn't like the name of a particular power.

"Sure," Lilith smiled.

Activating her Noxious Breath ability, she sent forth an invisible, nearly odourless cloud of gas towards the two captured men. At full strength, this cloud was enough to instantly kill animals as large as a horse. However, Lilith reduced the level of venom so as to merely render the assassins unconscious.

With their masters out of action, the Grasping Clay Mound lay itself down. While the three headed venom serpent slithered towards the pond and began to fish.

"Well done Gabriel!" the short coachman shouted as he emerged from the woods.

By his side was a meter and a half long scorpion with oversized pincers. It's brownish-grey coloration and uneven dull shell, would allow it to easily camouflage in a rocky environment. It was an Earth-type Mythical Beast known as a venomous stone scorpion. A favoured companion for highwaymen and other robbers.

"Thank you Lucas," replied Gabriel, before turning to the venomous stone scorpion "Also thank you Janet."

"What about me?" asked Lilith.

"Thank you, Lilith," Gabriel laughed and reached out to pat her head, which was at the same level as his own.

"I'm not a dog," grumbled Lilith.

Yet she made no move to stop the head patting, and her tail tightened around Gabriel's hand.

"I'm sure a guard patrol will be over here soon," stated Gabriel.

Although the entire battle had taken less than five minutes, the guards within the Town of Friendship were a well disciplined and motivated group. Thus, Gabriel expected a prompt response.

"Alright," sighed Lilith. "I know I'm a national secret, so I'll go back into my feather."

"Thank you," said Gabriel.

Lilith's form shone and gradually shrunk down until Gabriel was holding a second long black feather in his hand.

"Was that your Mystical Beast?" asked Aurora, who was still slightly shaking from the shock of the dangerous and fantastical battle.

"Yes," affirmed Gabriel. "She's an Air-type Mystical Beast known as a Lilitu, and goes by the name of Lilith the Virtuous Maiden."

"Virtuous?" asked Aurora pointed out. "But she was naked."

"Of course," laughed Gabriel. "Mystical Beasts prefer not to wear clothes, including armour. They also rarely wield weapons. Instead relying on their own powers to win in battle."

"I…." Aurora seemed to want to say more but then simply stopped and muttered to herself. "It's probably a cultural misunderstanding."

"If you say so," said Gabriel, not understanding the meaning behind Aurora's words.

Lucas had finished tying up and unmasking the two assassins. Then walked towards Gabriel and Aurora. He took off his top hat and tipped it towards Aurora.

"A pleasure to meet you my lady," he said. "I'm Lucas, but my friends call me Shorty. While my enemies call me; Please Don't Kill Me."

"Thank you for your help Lucas," Aurora bowed her head. "I'm Aurora."

Gabriel noted the arrival of half a dozen elves, clad in silvery chainmail. Over which they wore green surcoats with a picture of a thick silver ring at their chest.

"It seems the guard have arrived," Gabriel stated.

"Lord Gabriel Amoureux," the leading guardsman addressed him.

"Guard Captain," greeted Gabriel. "I'm so glad you've arrived. I was attacked by three assailants. Thankfully my bodyguard managed to defeat and subdue them. Though one of them did get away."

The guard captain looked Lucas up and down before nodding his head, "Well done. You should be proud for being of service to your lord."

"Will you be taking these two into custody?" asked Gabriel as he pointed towards the unconscious assassins.

"I know those two," one of the younger elven guardsman stated. "They're wanted with the kidnaping of a noble. The request only came through to the Adventurer's Guild, just as I was starting my shift late this morning."

"So I get a reward then?" Lucas rubbed his hands together and grinned.

"You'll have to take this up with the Adventurers' Guild," stated the guard captain.

"Lucky you," the young elf congratulated Lucas. "Someone was standing in the way, so I didn't quite see the reward offered. But it was from the Wright family of the Kingdom of Helm. So, it should be substantial."

The Wright family were a merchant family, whose wealth rivalled that of Gabriel's own Amoureux family. Only another group with equal footing, or one that was desperate, would dare to target the members of such a rich pedigree.

"Lucas, go to the Adventurer's Guild and collect your reward," ordered Gabriel. "Take the coach. Plus take Aurora and see if there's been progress on the request in identifying her."

"As you wish my Lord," Lucas tipped his top hat.

"Where will you be?" Aurora asked Gabriel.

"I'll be going with guard captain," said Gabriel. "To provide a statemen on what happened. As well a description of the assassin who managed to flee. Don't worry. If we are unable to find your family today, you can stay at my manor. Lucas will take you there."

"Thank you," Aurora smiled.

"You're most welcome beautiful rose," Gabriel smiled back, before kissing the soft pale hand which had once more unknowingly grabbed hold of his own.