Spring Storybook: Lightsongs Claymore

It was a crisp and cool morning as Persephone rolled out of bed, stretching out her limbs and tail, her wings unfurling out from behind her comfortably. She yawned, looking over at her partner, Emile, still curled up and sleeping peaceful beside her. The sun outside had just begun to rise, casting rays of yellow light through the slats in their wooden abode, sending a feeling of warmth through her as one beam shone against her side.

She took a breath and closed her eyes for a moment, taking in the feeling of peace and calm, and relaxing her body. As she sat motionless, a flutter of feathered wings seemed to go past her window, making her jump and turn towards the sound. She tilted her head, eying it curiously.

She let out a breath, sitting up and looking over at Emile once again. She padded over to him, folding her wings inwards and nudging him gently, trying to get him awake. "Emile," she said, nudging him again with her wing, looking towards the sound. The striped Kebanzu grumbled at first, but soon sat up after a second. "Good morning, Dear," Persephone said, giving him a warm smile. "Good morning, Love." He replied, stepping off the bed. "How are you this morning?" He asked her, stretching and immediately going to groom himself, his tail kept curled around Persephones however. She followed behind him as he walked, and sat down next to him whenever he stopped.

She thought for a minute and looked back over to where the sound had come from. "I heard something outside, actually, I'm going to check it out." She said, standing back up and letting go of Emile's tail. "It was over here." She said, padding over to the window towards the front of their home. The piebald Keb peered out the window, looking for any signs of some animal or creature, maybe a lost Cedar? Was her first thought.

However, she only found a few ruffled feathers, one of her own included in there, amongst leaves and other debris. Persephone tilted her head and backed up, making her way for the door. "What is it?" Emile asked, glancing over at her, a comb still in his paw. "I don't know, I'll go check."

She trotted over to the front door, unlocking the latch and pulling it open. The red Kebanzu turned the corner to see a small leather bag on the balcony of their tree hut like home. She was bewildered, as she had never seen this bag before, nor the feathers strewn about. She stepped over to the bag, reaching out hesitantly before grabbing the strap.

It felt weighted when she held it, trying to assess the contents of the inside before she opened it. Emile came around the corner and peered over Persephones shoulder, who jumped slightly when she noticed he was there. She laughed warmly and hugged him, showing him the bag. "Is this yours?" She asked, holding it up and letting him take it.

Emile looked it over, inspecting every inch and fiber. "I've never seen this bag, no. What's inside?" He asked, pulling the drawstring open.

Inside the bag were a multitude of things, however, none of which told who it belonged to. Emile sat back on his haunches and began to pull stuff out. It held an ink and quill, both capped nicely and with engraved covers; a leather bound journal with rhunes embossed on the spine, and small jewels and trinkets hung from the latigo; various kinds of pens and charcoals with hand carved pencils from other places around Terramessia; and the last was a small statue of a Royal Dandala, clad in armor and poised to strike, a small note was folded and tied to the statue. It read "To Persephone & Emile- Urgent"

Persephone was quite taken aback by the note, eying it and shuffling closer to Emile. The orange striped Kebanzu picked up the statue, and untied the note attached to the Dandala. "Do you want to read it?" He asked Persephone, holding the note out to her. She took the note and quickly unfolded it, the piece of parchment larger than she had thought.

The note reads: Dear Emile & Persephone, we call upon you as knights for your deity, Lightsong. His beloved Claymore has gone missing and we need someone worthy to retrieve it for him. You must travel to his Temple to await further instruction, he will be there to assist in the search, bring whatever gear necessary.

The note wasn't signed and there was no trace of who had written it. Whether they meant to give them the whole bag, was a mystery, but it held interesting trinkets within none the less.

Persephone proceeds to show Emile the note, and looking through the note herself once more. "We have to go then, it's been a while since our last adventure." Emile said, nudging her affectionately. "Oh, it would be a joy to travel with you again, my knight in shining armor." She laughed, hugging him close. "Let us prepare then." He said, sitting up and pulling her behind him with his tail.

They both trotted to a large trunk in the corner of their abode, one old and battered and latched tight. Persephone pulled a key from around her neck, and clicked it into place. The lock swung open and dropped with a thud, Emile pulling the top open. Inside sat slightly dusty, silver armor and weapons. A chest piece molded with a large sun in the center, and shoulder guards carved to look like Royal Dandalas with elegant horns. Persephone picked it up and slipped it on effortlessly, like it wasn't even yesterday. She smiled, looking down at the chest piece, it brought back memories.

Emiles piece was a dark silver, with more patterns than an intricate design stamped on. The shoulder pieces were a sharp metal, with layered angular slabs of metal almost looking like scales. His helmet, however, was quite damaged, a few spikes were missing from the crown-like head piece. He held it over in his paws, then decided he'd wear it anyway, slipping it on.

"Ready?" He turned, asking Persephone. "Ready." She replied, the two making way for the door.