Chapter Text
It was a softer winter this year than the past ones, perfect for traveling by trains, as they were not incapacitated by the snow drift or avalanches that fell from the mountains, making for precarious travel in the best of times. He tried not to let that bother him, as he boarded the train- warm and stuffy compared to the howling winds and cold white blankets that covered the outside of the station. He had a plan, a role, and a job- and curses to the gods if they did not let it go without a hitch- spending so long, crafting the fake ID’s, wearing the perfect smiling masks, with each article of clothing chosen with the utmost care.
The train was worn, as old as the train station was and about as traveled in as well, not the best means of travel that he had experienced in his ‘many lives’, but regrettably what he needed to travel in on this day. Hopefully, the connections from this place to the Leatherbelk station were fast and efficient, for it would do him no service to be held up in such a way.
He opened his cabin, thankfully no one was there, no disturbances would be met, and he could plan for his route and what he would do when he got to his destination. This would be an easy way to pass the time, an easy way to plan his report for Zero Order.
Oh, if only things worked out that easily, the world would be a much more easily understood place.
The bombers were sent by one of their own; he knew it in the marrow of his bones.
Also, John was pretty fucking sure he knew which bastard it was.
The bombers disturbed his peace, so obviously, the justice for this crime was death to them all. And it was truly unfortunate that they disagreed with this assessment, and even got mad when John suggested kindly that they take it up with god. (By electrocuting them, SURE, but they were so rude about the whole affair.)
“Oh, you’re a mage, wonderful,” Someone stepped out of the cart next to John, dropping a limp form onto the ground. Said limp form was a frostbitten bomber. “The bombers don’t seem to have magic, we should head towards the upper carts- cut them off and release the carts from the train.”
Ludger Cherish, fallen noble and on his way to snag a job at Theron Academy.
And also John’s target. Oh my gosh, lucky me, I can have him dead by dinner. “What?” John tipped his head, eyes straying towards the dead bomber. What was his target even doing in this cart? Wasn’t he supposed to be three carts over, where all the other nobles were, like sipping wine or some shit?
The gentleman blinked and straightened up, his sword flashing in his right hand, the rapier’s blade was thinly serrated along the edge with ice, where blood dripped down towards the ground. Ooo, how scary, this might be a fun fight.“You’re a mage with combat experience. We will head towards the upper carts and cut off the assault, then, after they’ve been herded, cut the train cart off.”
“Combat mage?” John ‘smiled nervously’, keeping his eyes hidden behind the squint as he observed the fallen noble. Zero Order hadn’t informed him that his target had combat experience in close range, he had assumed he would be like every other magic user. Shoots from the back and supports others. Obviously, placing magic circles on combat weapons and using them is difficult to do, but very interesting; it’s been a while since I’ve attempted to fight someone with a skill set like that before. “My apologies, but I was just using a spell- I’m not experienced with… that kind of thing.” This should have been easily believable; the man had only seen the aftermath of the dead bombers that John had killed and not the actual combat. However, Ludger’s blue eyes sharpened as he listened to John.
Well, John wasn’t one to bring a knife to a sword fight, but he assumed Zero Order wouldn’t mind if John cut the noble’s throat instead of eliminating him quietly. Would make my job easier, ‘oh nooo the bombers killed him with this long and beautiful knife! Whatever should we do?’
“Your aim is remarkable for someone who claims to be a non-combatant-” Ludger was cut off by a different voice at the front of the cart.
“Oh, they invaded this cart as well?”
Another one? Wasn’t everyone else busy with the bombers?
“You two are similar, are you brothers?” Ludger blinked between the newcomer and John. However, John was far too busy blinking and staring at the new comer to answer the question. May Zero Order strike me down, is that Machiavelli?! What the hell is he doing here? Also, this made his job a lot harder to accomplish; whatever disguise Machiavelli was in now looked disturbingly close to John himself. How come he’s walking around with my face? He could choose any face; he’s done it before, and yet he’s snatched mine! Honestly, kind of flattering- but identity theft is not a joke! It’s a serious business through which I acquire most of my funds.
Also, John had disguised himself to look like Ludger.
And aside from the fact that Ludger had grown horrible, horrible facial hair and Machiavelli having long hair, the three of them looked very similar.
Am I going to have to kill both of them and claim my own face back? Or did we both make ourselves look like Ludger? Is Ludger THAT big of a target?!
Either way, I’m going to kill Cherish, and then perhaps Machiavelli and I can share some tea. I have been following his work for so long anyway.
“Ah, no, I’ve never had the pleasure to meet this man in my life.” Machiavelli tipped his head, “But the two of you-” John would have loved to hear the end of that conversation, alas, a particular person sent particularly nasty people after him!
Translation: the door that Machiavelli had just come through blew off its hinges, and the three of them had to duck or rush to avoid being swept up in the flying metal plate.
“How annoying!” John looked over at Ludger; the man was far out of his knife’s reach now, truly an unfortunate turn in circumstances.
Ludger and Machiavelli moved with astounding efficiency as they rushed the gunners. Machiavelli shot a flame bolt at them that slammed into the front man while Ludger rushed them, sword raised and sweeping the blade left, before he had even reached the group.
Ice shot from the ground, impaling the front row, which Ludger used as a platform to jump to the back, where the bomber’s mage was.
No! Not my pay raise bum-rushing a fucking mage!
Haha, who am I kidding? I don’t get paid.
Machiavelli followed close behind Ludger, a bolt of fire exploding the ice that Ludger had put down, causing the blast to slam the ice shards into the other combatants.
By the time all was said and done, they had renovated the train cart (it having the roof completely removed and all) and had puttered their way into Leatherbelk station.
And Ludger was still no closer to being dead than he was before.
The detective was just as confused as everyone else seemed to be. Thankfully, he couldn’t seem to arrest anyone- if Ludger had been taken, John would have had to go to jail again, and killing people in jail was not fun.
“Where are you going?” Ludger frowned at John, who had been following him.
“To Theron Academy, I’m a new professor!” John ‘smiled brightly’ at his soon-to-be-dead target.
Besides, John always did like seeing an overwhelming sense of dread come over his targets when they realized this annoying little shit was going to be trailing after them. It was a perk of the job.
Ludger’s flat look was well worth the new plan John was going to have to concoct to slip into Theron with Ludger.