Guild Wars 2

I need to explain a little before getting to it. I haven’t written fanfic in a while. To that end, it’s going to be rough and well be kind

Ting refers to my Human female Thief – Ting Ryu “Graceful Dragon” it’s a legacy name from Gw1. I fancy in my writers mind her true name is Ashley. She keeps that hidden as she was/is Noble Born. Her Parents were murdered setting her feet on the path of finding out why, and ultimately leading to defending Tyria like many others have. She is in the Order of Whispers. I played GW1 So I have a Hall of monuments referred to in this story as the “Eye”. Beofire is my human Guardian, Yvonne is my Human elementalist. Feldge is my Sylvari Engineer. The voice within refers to Glint, one of the Dragons from GW1. Hence Tings taking of the name “Ryu”. But that’s another story.

Enjoy..

Tings Journal entry..

I’m writing this to make sense of all that has happened. I haven’t written since I was a girl, but.. It all started when I reported to Lions Arch. Scarlets siege was underway, the Miasma alert was lifted and we needed to get the citizens out. Each time we found more and more, bodies.. Even children. The hordes of the Aetherblades swept over the city like locust. They just kept coming and coming. The shoreline was over run with Scarlets minions. There were Krait, Sylvari from the Nightmare Court, Ogres, Charr, Asuran and more..

I made my way through the streets. The smoke, the screams, the bodies.. and the unending battles. The barrels on my pistols were red hot. As soon as I got out of one fight, another took it’s place. I remember a woman screaming as one of them tried to force her into a building on fire. The look on her face. I drew and shot until he stopped moving. She was spattered with his blood, the screaming. I realized I was the one screaming at him, his body no longer moving. The woman grabbed my shoulders and shook me. I finally stopped. I stood there just looking at his body. I heard that voice within, “Move on young one, you have much to do..”. I holstered my guns and ran forward into the ensuing crowd. I stood atop some stairs and looked across the plaza, it was hard to see through the smoke, even harder to breathe. I put my mask on and jumped into a fight nearby. Several Aetherblades were pummeling a Lions Guard soldier at will. I pushed one back drew my dagger and without even looking hit him squarely in the chest. He dropped, the other tried to flee, my second dagger hit him in the back. They both slumped to the ground.

Retreiving my blades and tucking them into my boots, I ran towards the entrance to the Orders headquarters in Lions Arch. I splashed into the tunnel and dove into the water. As foul as it was, it was a relief to be out of the smoke and fire. As I entered our base, I noticed papers scattered around, and heard some moaning. It was a young recruit. He was clutching some scrolls and had a broken club in his hand. Nearby lay two motionless bodies. “I wouldn’t let them take these, kept them safe I did..”. I tried to smile and nodded, “well done recruit”. He motioned me to him “Please don’t tell the Commander I was out of uniform, it’s my first…” He slumped over, his hand slid away and the scrolls fell to the ground. They were covered in blood. He didn’t even know who I was. I wouldn’t have cared about his not being in uniform. He was just a boy. I pulled a drape from the wall and wrapped him in it. I’d see that he got a proper burial, when we ..if we, retake the Arch.

I went up the stairs and out of the grotto. I was in no fit mood. I saw some bladesmen in the bar atop the stairs and without thinking dropped the one closest. I never even gave him a chance to draw. He had scrolls in his belt. I assumed the rest and fired. I remember standing over him screaming..“He was just a BOY!!!” His eyes stared through me, and his mouth offered no excuses. I turned and saw his partner getting ready to throw a lightning ball at me. I dove behind some crates and waited for it to hit the wall. The explosion was deafening. I fired hitting the wall near him. It was enough to scare him into hiding. I made my way to my feet and jumped out the window. “I can handle guns, and blades, magic is best left to those skilled in it.” Rytlocks words still linger in my ears. After all this time.

I climbed down what was left of the stairs outside, and was hit with something that sent me into the canal below. I struggled to the surface and saw the hooded face I had left in the bar above. He was looking for me, and I wasn’t going to wait around. I swam until the water was too shallow and climbed some stairs. Another blast flew past me. I turned and fired as I ran across the landing. I threw myself into a doorway and waited, trying to catch my breath. Finally I stepped out and saw my assailant standing nearby. I threw my dagger and fired. He slumped against the wall and tried to stand. He stepped forward and fell into my arms. I staggered backwards, as his hood fell back revealing his face. He couldn’t have been any older than the recruit I found. He stared at me and said "I’m sorry.. please don’t hurt me.. My friend.. " He told me he was a new recruit in the Aetherblades. He was forced into service. His family needed the money, he had magic, and they were interested in him. The man I shot in the pub took a liking to him and was trying to keep him out of harms way. “Keeps your head down boy, and we’ll do alright, get a bit of coin too..” When I killed his friend, he was angry and scared and simply reacted by throwing ball after ball at me. He was hoping it would scare me off. I saw his eyes losing their light, and his final words were “I tried mom, I tried so hard..” I wiped his face and said “It’s alright honey I’m proud of you..”. He died in my arms.

I wrapped him too. He deserved a burial also. Children fighting children. This is madness. I pushed his body into a burned out building and stood up, wet from the canal, and his blood. I stumbled into the night, the Miasma alert was sounding. I stood outside the arch, shaking and crying. I just walked off into the crowd. My pistols and daggers behind me. The next thing I remember is waking next to the calm waters of the scrying pool in the Eye. Someone was talking, it was Kimmes “She is awake now my Lord..”. Beofire stooped and smiled as he brushed my hair from my face. My armor was in a pile near the wall. I was covered with a blanket. “Beo?, how did I get here..?” Beofire sat down and explained how one of the order saw me outside the Arch, and said I was not doing well. He thought at first I was badly injured, there was so much blood. He was relieved to find it wasn’t mine. “He also left these for you.” Beofire laid a bundle containing my weapons at my side. "No.. get them away.. Take them .. no no.. " I cried. The others came running and wanted to know what was going on. Lady Anise was there. She ushered everyone out of the room. And offered me something to eat and drink. I pushed the food away but accepted the drink, it was wine from the palace.

“Queen Jenna sends her regards and me with some supplies. What was all the yelling about?”. I told her what I’m writing here, and she stood silent for a time then spoke. “Ting, may I call you Ashley?” I nodded. “Ashley I know you have seen and done many things, all in the name of protecting us all, but tonight you feel like you killed instead of defending. Is that right?” I put down my cup, and snarled “I’m no better then they are..I killed a child..a boy.. he .. he… I sobbed and sobbed..” The wine and my exhaustion combined and I fell into a deep dreamless sleep. Seems Lady Anise put something in the wine. When I came too, I saw Feldge sitting across from me. “Hi..” he said. “Are you feeling any better now?” “Too soon to tell” I replied. the others approached and seemed anxious. It seemed I was asleep for several days. I struggled to my feet, and wrapped the blanket around me. Being Sylvari, Feldge didn’t seem to notice my nudity. He was pondering a cup of something. “I’m going back to Orr, Trehearne is asking for me and I’ve indulged myself enough.” I had forgotten about Searian. He took it hard losing her. “Are you ok now?” I asked. “As good as I’m going to get. I still think of her often, The revered Mother says that is good, it means she is with me on the journey still. That made me feel a lot better.” He stood up and grabbed his pack. “I’ll miss you Ting, be safe.. ok?” I mustered the best smile I could and nodded. He was so sweet worrying about me, yet heading off to face the possibility of another Elder Dragon.

I walked over to a crate with my things in it and found my clothes and the coat I wore before I joined the Order. It felt good putting them on. The coat felt like an old friends embrace. I looked inside and saw the empty holsters and places for my daggers. After much back and forth internally I put them back inside my coat and fastened it. Yvonne walked in and handed me some coffee. “Hey sleepy head. All dressed I see. That’s a good start”. “She’s decent guys..” The others walked in. I saw my armor in the corner. “’Vonne, do me a favor please.. Burn those”. She swirled her hand, and a fireball appeared. “You sure?” she asked. “Yes, very..” I replied. She turned and tossed the fireball at the pile and it vanished in a puff of smoke and flame. Beofire looked at me and asked “So you’re done?”. I picked up my bags and looked his way. “Well from what I overheard, Scarlet is gone. And for now. We’re safe. Right?” “For now yes..” he replied. I slung the packs over my shoulder and said “I need some time. If you need me, Anise can find me..”. Anise looked up and raised her cup. “I hope you find what you’re looking for. Safe journeys”. I nodded and walked through the portal.

Ting Ryu. She shed her armor, and set out to find that which she lost…

There will be more to the story as it develops in my mind.

Tings new adventures begin here:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/community/creations/The-Festival-brings-Taimi-something-new/first#post4125140