The Origin of Sithis: Part 4

Dagger, the man in the red robe, and I ran towards Shing Jea Monastery.
"What is happening?" the man said.
"I have no idea, but I'm guessing it isn't good." I replied. We ran to the gates of the Linnok Courtyard, and found them to be locked. Dagger shadow stepped inside, and opened that gates. He looked shaken.
"What's wrong Dagger?" He pointed to the steps down into the main Monastery. It was littered with bodies. Several guards, and many others, all wearing blood red capes with a white skull on them.
"The Crimson Skull?" Dagger said quietly. "This doesn't make any sense, they are pirates, why would they attack the Monastery?"
"I don't know, but we have to do something." The three of us cautiously made our way down the stair, and into the main monastery. Before us, a battle raged. The guards, the headmasters and professors, and some of the older students were locked in battle with what looked to be at least one hundred Crimson Skulls. Several of the Crimson Skulls saw us, and moved to attack.
"Stand back!" the man in red bellowed as he pulled a large scythe from a holder on his back. Dagger and I watched in awe as he ran forward and cut down three Crimson Skulls in one swipe. Dagger gave me a quick nod, and we quickly jumped into the fray. A full blown battle was soon underway.
I ducked under one Skull's sword, shadow stepped behind him, and stabbed him with my kamas. I looked up just in time to see Dagger jump over one Skull, and while in mid-air, bury his daggers into the unfortunate man's back. The man in red was amazing, no enemy seemed to be able to touch him as he cut down the Skulls, one, two, even three at a time. The battle moved down the stairs, and soon we had were right in the middle of the battle. It seemed to last hours, but it couldn't have been more than ten minutes. In the end, all the Skulls who hadn't died, fled.
"Didn't I tell you two to stand back?" The man in the robe laughed as he cut down the last of the Skulls.
"Yes you did, but we didn't want you to have all the fun." I said with a smile.
"Well, the Skulls seem to be fleeing with their tails between their legs." Dagger observed with a laugh as he wiped the blood from his knives. It seemed that their leader had been killed in battle, and the rest had lost their nerve and led a hasty retreat.
"Let's go find out what is going on." The man in the robe said, and we walked through the battlefield that was once the monastery. We approached a group of professors, which included Headmaster Lee, Headmaster Vhang, Sister Tai, and Master Togo himself. Sister Tai was attempting to heal a fallen guard while the other three were discussing what to do next.
"Ah, Gaius Decimus, it is fortunate that you arrive when you do." Said Master Togo.
"I only wish I could have arrived under better circumstances, how did this start?" the man in the robe, apparently named Gaius, said.
"The Crimson Skull, a group of pirates, apparently decided it was a good idea to attempt an attack on the Monastery. There was little damage, and only a few, mostly guards, were hurt."'
"We saw fire from pass, what caused it?"
"Oh, a few of the elementalist students got a little… overzealous. There was little damage, but it made quite a large fire."
"There are some more guards up in the courtyard that were hurt, but it may be to late for them."
"The courtyard? Strange, I didn't notice any get past us..." Togo motioned for Sister Tai to go up and help them. "Anyway, what brings you here?"
"I came on behalf of the Sunspears to see some of the techniques you use here, but I saw a little more than I bargained for. These two..." he indicated Dagger and me, who had been standing off to the side, trying to figure out what was going on, "...especially impressed me. They both fought with skill and cunning. In fact," he turned to face us, "I would actually like to extend an invitation to you. You see, I am part of a guild known as Droknar's Arena Dogs, we are always looking for new members to help us protect the lands of Tyria. I believe that your skills maybe be of help to us. What do you say?" Dagger and I looked at each other, wide eyed.
"I would be honored," I stuttered, "but Master Togo, Headmaster Lee..."
"I think there is little more I can teach either of you that you will not learn on your own." Headmaster Lee said with a smile.
"So, Dagger is it? What do you say?" Gaius asked.
"Well... why not? I'm looking for a little bit of adventure."
"Then its settled. I feel I must stay here and help however I can, but the two of you should get going. Go to Kaineng Center and find the Droknar's Arena Dogs embassy. When you get there, talk to a man named Malus, and tell him I sent you."
"Well, off you two go, I'm sure there will be a boat in the Harbor that can take you to Kaineng. Good luck, and be careful! Kaineng can be a very dangerous place."
"Before I go Master Togo, I just want to thank you for allowing me to train here."
"We've been glad to have you, now go. Your friend is leaving without you."
"Wha..." I look over my shoulder to see Dagger running back up the stairs to the courtyard.
"You piece of..." I ran after him and heard Togo, Gaius, and Vhang laughing behind me. We arrived in the Harbor, but unfortunately, Master Togo was wrong. There were no passenger ships going to Kaineng in the next couple of days. There were, however, cargo ships. So it was a simple matter to stow aboard one and get a free trip to Kaineng.
"Well, I suppose we are going to be working together in the guild from now on..." Dagger said as he sat on a sack of flour.
"I guess so."
"That doesn't mean I like you."
"Understandable." Dagger continued talking, but I wasn't really listening to him, I was just laying on a bale of hay, staring at the ceiling, and thinking about where we were going from here... Kaineng City.

- Written by Sithis