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Chapter 2
A Teachers Ribbons
NeemaShauku, the art of gravitational dance. A famous art form of Iresian culture, a unique dance where those partaking quite literally alter their bodies adherence to gravity to glide upon winds and swing along the thinnest of ribbons. Needless to say, it is quite the dangerous craft for those performing, requiring spiritual, mental and physical conditioning and if one lost their balance while in the air they would drop like a stone.
Exactly like Qhira had done the first time she had gone into the air. Focusing on her inner self she would become weightless and be blown into the air by a simple fan. However, after losing her balance on the wind she panicked and as a consequence would drop to the ground landing on her stomach with a painful thud.
The young teen groaned in pain as she began getting to her feet “Ow…” She mumbles.
“Well, that’s what you get for forgetting lesson 1.” Came the stern voice belonging to a one Waliya, Qhria’s instructor in that sacred art.
“Trust my senses but never let them be overwhelmed.” Qhira said with a nod “Easier said then done Ma’am”
"Of course it is, now shut up and get ready to go again."
While some might have quit with such callousness Qhira had done nothing but nod in agreement and get back into position for another attempt. Her stubbornness had been one of the reasons Waliya had been willing to take her as a student and it hadn’t failed her in any of her endeavours before or since.
“Okay lass I get that you’re some inter-dimensional badass, but you seem a little too confident, planning on escaping in heels.” Miss Big-shot as she was known, the larger woman renowned for being the best getaway driver in New Tirisfal and one of the big three in the new Mafia. She was the one currently assisting Qhira in preparing for her mission and currently driving towards their target with the Huntress in the back seat.
Qhira had been provided blueprints for the Scarlet Monastary Casino wherein the large ballroom an event was being held and Whitemane herself would be making an appearance. She had opted for an assassination in plain sight, but it was obvious that the moment Whitemane fell the entire Scarlet Mafia would be on her, so she’d need an escape plan.
“It makes the mission a higher risk but not impossible,” Qhira said with that same professional and emotionless tone she took with every client. “If I kill her in the ballroom I’ll have a 10-minute window to get out, I’ll move up the stairs and make my escape out of the third story window, here.” She pointed out a spot on the blueprints
“So that’s it, you need me at the street ready to take off?” The mobster asked raising an eyebrow, clearly not believing it would be that easy on her end.
“Yes,” The Huntress responds directly not even acknowledging her acquaintances’ thoughts as she began straightening her hair. Taking the teeth like stones off of her forehead as well as that gemstone. Finally, she would remove the orange ribbons in her hair and would look back on them a memory flashing through her mind.
Months had passed since Qhira had begun her training, now a mid-teen and she was getting ready for her very first true performance. Or trying to at least, instead of just fidgeting with her hands and shaking in nervousness.
“Qhira!” Came the stern but also concerned voice of Waliya. “I want you to go out there tonight with something.” And as she spoke she produced a set of seven orange ribbons. “These seven ribbons have been passed from Dancer to Dancer for almost as long as the Mother Crystal has shined, each one represents the tenets of KeemaShauku.” As she began putting the orange ribbons into her student’s hair, flat along her head tying behind her head where her dreadlocks began she explained each one once more for good measure.
The Huntress sighed “Now keep these safe!” She said once she had put her accessories into a box and continued getting ready. The only thing left of her usual attire being the MOther Crystal which was hidden under her dress inside her modest cleavage. It would be ideal to leave it out except that well, as sacred as the rest of her jewellery was to her the Mother Crystal was on another level. The last whisper of Iresia, the Huntress had sworn to protect the Crystal and all her people once… and she still held that oath in truth.
By the time she was done the Huntress glanced at a small mirror quickly, a slim black dress that hugged her athletic figure, her curly-hair smoothed out and down to her shoulders and Finishing the look was a pair of stiletto heels. As much as that last piece did miff the huntress she knew it was the easiest way to avoid attention until she wanted it, and maybe she’d be able to turn the impractical attire into something more useful.
“Ready to get out of here?” Miss Big SHot asked once the car was parked just across from the Scarlet Monastery Casino.
“Of course. keep it running and stay out of sight. And remember, if you leave me to escape on my own I will extract a bonus by force!” Qhira said warningly and then left the car before Big Shot could even respond.
“Strength, of body and mind. To always rebound when things don’t go as planned.”
Once Qhira was sure everyone had turned their backs she thrust out her grappling hook and pulled herself up to the fourth story of the building. Expecting the room to be empty the huntress was met with a suit and tie wearing guard looking right at the window. In the blink of an eye she yanked herself into the room and in a flurry of movement had one hand over the man’s mouth and her other arm around his neck, following this was a sickening crack. the harsh sound of a snapping neck.
Once the body went limp it was thrown into a corner and covered in a curtain. hopefully, that would keep it hidden for the ten minutes Qhira needed to get down to the ballroom and kill her target.
Moving deftly through the sparsely guarded hallways. Everything in this building seemed to be built to look Antique and impressive the wood spotless like it was polished as were the wooden desks with potted plants on top of them, though despite the visual Qhira could only smell the rancid smell of cigarette smoke as if most of the people in this building were ready to puff like chimneys. A detail that the predator made sure to note for later.
Getting to the stairwell the Huntress would slip her Belt and daggers off and put them under a small table with a white tablecloth over it. Making her way to a stairwell. Her heels clicking with each step as she found a supply closet on the second story right next to the stairs. Stepping into said closet Qhira laid the Chain Sword against the wall.
“Grace, to be upright and proud throughout the entire dance and beyond.”
Mere moments later and Qhira was taking off her gauntlets and attached grappling hook and hiding them in a potted plant just around the corner to the entrance to the ballroom. From this point on she was completely defenceless, or at least without weapons.
Glancing around the corner to where crowds were officially beginning to get crowded, the parts of the building where there were guards everywhere, and yet just as Qhira had predicted no one seemed to notice her amongst every other well-dressed woman that night. thus with a bit of nimble footwork and a kicked over display Qhira slipped into the ballroom undetected.
The spacious room was filled with the pleasant sounds of jazz music currently a faster tune with more energy to it. Filled with well-dressed men and women either dancing or just drinking and talking, though there were several colours among them red and white seemed to be the most common. and the smell, the air was full of Alcohol overwhelming to anyone not accustomed to it.
“Focus, to Block out all distractions and to keep your goal in your mind’s eye at all times.”
Thus she moved gracefully through the crowd doing her best not to draw attention as she finally caught sight of the Mafia Queen
Dressed in Pink outfit that would have made the morals of a younger Qhira grow fiery with indignation. With flowing hair that reminded some present of a peacocks feathers and clear emphasis on the woman’s curves and with a large staff in hand. Walking in front of the band on stage with an air of dominance and power, and on most days very well deserved in this town given the sheer power commanded by the Scarlet Mob.
Yet as the Wolf moved through the sheep and towards their Shepard another predator was keeping a keen eye out.
The woman with dark skin and a very simple red dress stood with a glass of red wine in hand.
The girl was adorned with straightened black hair, a pair of slick black-framed glasses and a very familiar pair of purple gemstone earrings. “She’s here.” The woman said to no one in particular, or rather no one anyone else could see, for looking through the glasses the woman was wearing would reveal a hologram invisible to everyone else.
This figure a man with dark skin and wearing what might appear like a military outfit with golden shoulder pads and decor along the front with a purple and blank highlights along the garb.
“Good, make sure she gets her mark, from there she will find me.” The man said with a soft smile.
The woman keeping an eye on Qhira nodded. At the hologram before turning her full attention to her own target.
Just in time for showtime as some might say.
For just as the Queen was stepping to the front of the stage Qhira leapt, focusing her powers into weightlessness and flying.
With one fell swoop, Qhira came down on Whitemane heeled shoe first… right into the target’s neck
“Courage; To face whatever challenges come your way head-on”
Qhira lifted her now blood covered heel out of the other woman’s neck, watching blood pool and life leave the queen’s face.
Pure unbridled Chaos is what erupted in the next second, the sounds of high pitched screaming, the crashing of glass containing alcohol and the ear-popping boom of gunfire all aimed right at the stage. Yet despite this chaos, Qhira remained calm. Her breathing remained slow and methodical as were her movements as she dove behind the stage to avoid the flurry of bullets.
Only one guard was behind the stage and he got punched square in the face for his trouble. Now behind the stage, Qhira had a moment before anything happened and at that moment an idea took form. She began searching the unconscious guards pocket for something and… bingo!
A lighter, exactly what she needed the man’s gun was already empty not worth her time to try and grab it but with a little sleight of hand the Huntress improvised… after all there was a lot of spilt alcohol out there. Thus tossing the lighter out the flame brought ignition to some of the alcohol and the flames then spread quickly to the cloth decor.
“Such awful fire safety.” Qhira thought as she tore the tie clean off of the nearby guard and wrapping it around her face for some protection from the smoke.
The smoke and fire provided some degree of cover as the confused henchmen tried to get in her way, though some were successful to an extent the assassin slipped passed them all with ease. However as she ran her lungs began to burn, the makeshift face mask not serving as good a job as she had hoped.
"Resilience; To resist your bodies protests and push yourself to the limits and beyond.
Finally, she got outside the ballroom and away from the smoke, for now. Immediately yanking the cloth off of her face and trying to take some deep breaths. The Huntress’ reprieve was short-lived as she now faced with a smirking green-skinned goblin holding a shotgun, the Hitman known as Gazlow was going spout some snarky one-liner but wasn’t given any time as Qhira immediately lunged towards a plant and pulled out her gauntlets. just as she pulled the gauntlets out the potted plant exploded with a loud crashing sound and the boom of a shotgun.
Before another shell could be moved into the barrel qhira launched her grappling hook landing in the wall behind Gazlowe. pulling her self towards the Hitman and using her knee to whack him square in the face as she went.
The Goblin was disoriented and by the time he raised his weapon again his mark had ducked into the stairwell. “Well bugger,” Gazlowe said as about a round dozen guards came running over in his direction and he along with his new, comrades you could say chased the after the assassin.
“Faith in others in yourself and most importantly in the Mother Crystal.”
As Qhira ducked into the stairway and began climbing as fast as her heeled feet would take her a purple glow began to come from the necklace around her neck, the MOther Crystal lending her some power to speed herself up as she went up to the floor where her escape was to occur.
Keeping ahead of the men chasing her thanks to the power her lungs were still stinging in her chest having inhaled more smoke then she meant to. thus even with the augmentation, they began gaining on her as she opened a door and ran into a broom closet
She heard laughter from outside the door even as she reached for the familiar hilt of a sword and brushed her thumb across a familiar button, her saving grace right now.
As the door flung open the poor thug who opened it would feel a long sword impale him right through the chest and something seep into his blood. Even as he yelled in pain his attacker would turn that into her gain. Flicking the button on the blade and making the Cyber Blood send her his life force. even as the Thug collapsed dead Qhira felt the stinging in her lungs leave, the ache in her feet dissipate and her very body is rejuvenated.
With that, a volley of bullets from Tommy Guns were shot at Qhira who began flicking her sword in quick fast motions blocking each one as she made her way to her last room and on the way out.
“And last but not least, Trust in the person throwing you into the air or the person catching you.”
Qhira would do just that jumping out of the window and focusing her energy into adjusting her body weight she would float down and land without a scratch on top of Big-Shot’s car. “Go!” Qhira yelled kneeling on one knee and punching the top of the car. no one would be able to hear the Mobsters response over the gunshots that Qhria was still deflecting with her sword but it must have been an affirmative because in the next movement the car took off in a successful escape.
It was maybe an hour later when the Getaway driver had finally dodged all pursuers and gotten them back to their given groups hideout.
Getting out of the car Qhira for her part looked… her hair was slightly a mess and her dress had some blood on it… that was it. “Let me out of these heels now!” She hissed angrily walking passed Baby Face and Wise Guy in favour of kicking off the stiletto heels and immediately slipping back into her regular combat-ready boots.
“So you got her?” Babyface asked folding her arms.
“Unless she can somehow survive being stabbed in the neck and lying for well over 2 minutes after her primary artery in the neck was severed.” Qhira said, “now about payment.” She began but was cut off
“About that, before we pay I think I’ve found something that might warrant us a discount,” Orphea said pulling from the table and revealing a file with only a few pieces of paper.
Qhira glared at the Mobster for a second but nonetheless, she took the file and opened it. The first thing she found was a symbol she remembers. 3 blocks making a diamond shape with a black and purple gradient to it. She recognized that symbol. Zeraq’s arm’s manufacturers.
“So about that discount,” Babyface said smugly knowing Qhira realized she was being presented with a lead.
Qhira looked up, closing the file and said flatly “25% off!”
Authors Note
I’m gonna Nip this in the butt right now before it gets mentioned,
NeemaShauku is NOT just random B.S I’m throwing on Qhira for no reason, it is actually my lore explanation for how the Revolving sweep functions, how she’s light enough that she dosen’t seem to hinder the people she’s attached to but then has enough weight to stun them when she comes back for the kick
Also Merry Christmas ladies and gents.
