Chapter CCCXLVII:
Winds of Change ~Multehx
Kenzo quietly took up his bevor and reattached it where it belonged. He put his helmet, still partially dinged, on correctly, glancing to Ratch. The robot looked much less than happy, arms folded, leaning back against one of the smithy walls. He remained there, motionlessly watching the other two with mild disgust. But this changed as something in his vision drew his attention away. He focused in on it, pressing a finger to his brow. He frowned, groaning slightly under his breath.
His knight companion walked slowly over, speaking softly, "What is it?"
Ratch removed his finger and frowned. "Seems we have company. Git your axe and follow me," he said in a low tone, heading for the door.
Kenzo nodded, taking up his weapon he had laid on the table and followed his friend outside.
* * *
Outside the Smithy, the two stood side to side, facing a rather desolated plaza. A lone figure stood across from them, eyes bearing a serious glare of determination. Ratch snorted, growling slightly.
Kenzo simply studied this person. It was the first time he had ever seen anyone like this. The fellow wore a deep blue, sleeved cloak that stretched down to his ankles, a matching pair of gloves on either hand, and gleaming black obsidian boots with metal reinforcements on the toes and heels. A silk, blood red bandana was tied tightly across his eyes, a strange symbol appearing over where either one lay beneath it.
But the most unusual was what was on top. What appeared to be a curved blue diamond rested atop his head, tilted so that it was leaning diagonally upward to the rear, beginning just above his bandanna. Strange symbols in white were painted around the edges, a single blood-red "V" just above the symbols at the very front.
"So..." Ratch spoke, "just who are you, you freaky trick-or-treater's nightmare?"
The figure hardly smirked, unmoving. He replied in a voice that was intimidating by the very nature of its tone, "I have journeyed the Multiverse, growing stronger and stronger to accomplish my mission. But now...it seems I can get no stronger."
Ratch smirked cruelly. "Now, that's a shame, it is, but when did it become my concern?"
"I seek the ones who have slain the Time Bender," his words seemed to interject.
To this, uhe robot found no words coming to him, and the knight slightly tensed his grip upon his weapon. Only the wind blew lightly and made any sound in the plaza.
The figure spoke again. "I seek them to make me stronger, as only they can."
"...What...makes you so sure of this?" Ratch frowned.
The stranger raised his hand to his shoulder, opening his fingers upward. A light breeze whistled through them. "The gales have been talking; conversing with this news. I have only listened to them." He lowered his hand again. "I learned of you from their talk. I also learned of something that disturbs me." He turned, tilting his head and appearing to look into the sky. "I have heard...there is another...in your company, who controls the winds. She says she rules divinely over them as I recall. I find this...utterly insulting."
He turned, a
strong wind stirring his cloak with its angry fury. "I command the winds;
I have always had a bond from them, from the instant of birth. I have been
called 'El maestro
"And why's 'at?"
"Because…the winds have told me…they have told me that he is returning. And we cannot allow that."
He put his arms
back to his side and faced Kenzo. "Now, you, sir
knight, you cannot hope to be a match for such power with your head in such
shoddy condition. Hurry in and have it repaired." He then turned to Ratch.
"You too, robot. You look well enough, but you
have some slightly damaged parts. Get them reinforced with the strongest metals
this place has to offer and return here. I shall be waiting. Kindly waste no
time; be rude and forceful with any inside please, we cannot dally for long."