Chapter 1: Xavier

Xavier

While peaceful there still shows a darker side to the capital city, Bagatelle. On the edge of the light and dark were the greatest thing a mercenary like me could hope for, cheep rates. I hadn't found the peace I was looking for, since funds would soon dry up and I would be right back at the merc hall looking for jobs. It may have been a bad idea to take the advice from animals the size of two-story tavern, but the feather was convenient to travel on.

I did what any other mercenary would do in a city like this, found a quiet wall to wait on. Side streets like this one were busy enough that I could keep an eye out as people walk by but not enough that there were crowds. There were several hours to go until most places would open for supper and I didn't have anything better to do. They had decent walls in this part of town, at lest until something came colliding with me

Someone shorter than me, must be a kid of some kind, there was a glimpse of stray hair of a vibrant violet color. Brat didn't bother to say anything as it wandered off. Not much for it either way. Waiting around the sun moved a bit further along before several types in solid polished amour approached passersby.

"Were looking for a young girl." One said loud enough to be heard as they asked through the crowds.

"Have any of you spot a child by itself?"

"You sir, in the gray amour there." One of the guardsmen from the platoon had approached me and the wall I was leaning on.

"Were looking for a runaway child, young girl nine years old, purple hair." I evaluated the man for a moment, he had what looked to issued amour of the city pratol, no crest or insignia though that placed him in a unit.

"Saw nothin" I dropped my voice an octave, despite that it was still high pitched. I also accented it as hard as could. Clearly the man felt I was a pointless peon because he left after grunting. Watching them sweep the area I couldn't be sure of their identities, better to not get involved.

He didn't seem bothered by my eyes or the fact that my face was covered by a visor plate. Grunting without saying anything, he ignored me and moved on. It took several minuets for them to canvas the area before they continued down the district streets.

Damn it. I couldn't let a young girl like that who was possibly kidnaped to her own devices. If she had violet hair than that meant she had decent magic. They were prime targets for a wide variety of no-good endings. There were faint wisps of mana that I could follow from where the girl had collided with me. Giving it a few measures before moving from the wall, I slowly followed the trail.

It was a pale gold pixy dust that filtered about, an odd color as the roads and buildings faced more and more decline. Cracks and dark soot began to appear In the corners, rubbish and refuse made more appearances. Damaged windows, torn walls, and a stench of unwashed humanity registered. My hackles were raised, and I missed my arsenal. Since I was armored and projected contained violence no one seemed interested in messing with me.

The outskirts of the slums were a tense place. No one owned them and those seeking to survive had to determine if this was a customer or a member of a ruthless crime organization. Most gang members wore markings, and as a knight looking type I suppose they thought I was a worker or hired muscle.

It become more obvious that I had stepped over some boundary as the demeanor of the individuals changed. They were more wary, naturally arranging themselves in formations. It was then I heard some minor commotion, faint but in the direction of the magic traces. The rift raft behind me seemed to move in close in as I approached the small side ally.

"Hey! Let me go I'm a princess! You're all going to get it I swear." Vibrant hair had spilled out and you could catch a flash of golden eyes if the lighting was right. This must have been the kid, for a moment I thought about negotiating, but the way they were jerking her around and toying with her, there wasn't a question on the next course of action.

I wasn't a grand mage, or a summoner or any other skilled magic user in big robes and pointy hats. What I did have was incredibly efficient strengthen and reinforcement magics, with a body trained to take the abuse. Five thugs were present with another setting down on an old crate. The girl was dangling by an arm, and I knew from experience that it was painful. The first of the toughs to notice me arrogantly sauntered closer.

"Eh, this is Black Note territory, and you best mo-" I didn't bother to wait for him to finish. I drove my palm into his nose, leaned forward to break his balance, then slammed his skull into the hard cobbles. He might have died; I didn't bother to check since it was certain he wasn't moving.

"What the hell is with this shrimp, you mad over a girl." The surprise wore off quickly, and rather than draw the blade at my hip I tried to get out of this without any more fighting.

"Girl owes me coin; I'd like if you didn't damage her." I tried not to let my voice crack, I was short, 5'2" had brilliant blond hair that had bright princess pink streaks and my eyes were the same soft rose as my hair. I checked all the boxes off on the cute type, but I was a cold brutal warrior, the person i was and my appearance were a warzone.

"Tsk, step off punk, we acquired it fair and square."

"I don't have any debts with you! I don't know you at all, stop trying to shake me down!"

This brat didn't figure out I was trying to help her. The others responded, small carriable weapons appeared in hands. Regretting that all I had on me was a strait long sword, I drew and moved to the wall to cover my left side.

"Take her, we will show this mouth." Said the closest tossing the girl to the seated man.

The youths took a moment to talk big to psych themselves up.

"Looks like you're losing your life today, messing with the Black Note gang!" What a bunch of blowhards.

"Right brother, this shortie aren't going to see it coming."

Magic came in mostly three forms, outward, inward, and ritual. I sucked at ritual, and my mana capacity for outward was laughable, but since I was a freak of nature it worked out. Hyper efficient spells with stacking effects meant that when I blocked it was like striking a steel wall. The brute had no idea what to do when he lost feeling in his hand, nor any idea when I simply lunged in quarte. I took care of my steel, so it beautifies blossomed out his back. The others were quick to work together. Stepping back from one parrying the next, slowly moving back. Once there was space I started to produce.

Stab the shoulder joint to incapacitate, kick to the sternum into his friend. Several steps forward to sweep under a ribcage. Lean back from the lunge, downward ax strike at the joint removing the limb. With three down two dead the last guy who was clutching the girl, threw her to the ground. Stumbling on his crate he rushed away, I let him go, I didn't kill those who had their backs turned to me.

The girl grunted and tears formed in her eyes, looked like she scraped her legs when she was tossed down. I didn't have time to dick around, so I snatched her up by the collar and tossed her over my shoulder. Once they figured out what I had done, I might be fighting half the district.

"Hey let me go!" Tiny fist pounded my back. I ignored it and the carnage I left in my wake. In order to not get caught up in something, I made my way towards the central guard post, they could sort this out if she was some kind of high noble.

"This is not how you treat a princess." She pouted, clearly unhappy about her treatment as a sack of potatoes.

"If the princess wishes I can find another group of men to leave you with. Be silent if others find that you're a princess than you can expect far worst outcomes." I coldly shot back; I think my voice was deep enough that the seriousness was conveyed.

"You're a meanie." The child exclaimed from her rough perch. She was at least smart enough to not mention being a princess, not that she ceased complaining.

A detachment from the central watch posts came to pick me up. Covered in blood carrying a small child must stand out. They at least listen first since I was so cooperative, and the supposed princess supported my story well enough.

"I'm not going to thank you!" This girl. No wonder she wouldn't stop fusing with those men who accosted her.

"Even I know you thank those who risk themselves for you."

"Ow, why did you hit me." I had rapped her on the head when I reprimanded her.

"D-de-demon!" With that she ran off crying, hopefully she would get back to her folks.

"Thank you for your cooperation, your free to…Sir!" Law keeper stopped what he was saying as someone in shinny plate amour with a golden insignia walked into the room.

"Are you the one who hit the young lady." He was tall, and you could feel the battle magics on him, not a guy to pick fights with.

"Yea, kids got to learn somehow when they step so far out of line." I had no regrets for whacking the girl, I made sure it was light enough that she wouldn't be hurt.

"Well than what did you say your name was kid?" Irritated, but aware that he had to have high rank, I just answered shortly.

"Xavier."

"Well than Xavier, as captain of the place guards, I will be placing you under arrest for assaulting a member of the royal family."