Ch2 - Electric Assassin

There is the spark of life, and the electrocution of death.

Purpura stood, atop a hill.
He was looking down at a small encampment.
A gentle breeze caught the long scarf ribbon.
Why a scarf?
Tynan's siblings employed headbands, colored leather branding.
Though it could be worse, Tynan's mother (the Queen) did employ the use of a branding iron.
Purpura watched people move, he was to high up for anyone to casually see him.

Below he spotted his target.
The target was a male, dressed in black and brown.
All leather, reminisce of a steampunk style.
Why an assassin was at a camp like this, Purpura did not know.
It was too open, kept the assassin exposed.
Purpura was standing at the edge of the cliff.
He questioned himself a moment.
Did he have a slight inclination for the dramatic?
Yes.
Yes, he did.

So he leapt from the cliff.
He had too much fun with his job at times.
As he fell, the other assassin finally looked up.
However, it was just a moment too late.
Purpura crashed into the male, using the male to cushion his fall.
Purpura got up, as the other assassin grunted trying to get up.
Purpura quickly formed a long spike in his palm.
He grabbed the male pulling him up, before stabbing him in the chest a couple times.

He released the other assassin who bled profusely, but didn't fall.
Instead the assassin glared at Purpura, clutching at the worst wound.
The assassin quickly threw a chain at Purpura, who leapt away.
Purpura was crouched, as the other assassin, tugged the chain.
It dragged along, before his whipped it after Purpura.
Purpura jumped back, dodging again.
But the chain magically extended catching Purpura's leg.
The assassin then smirked, as the chain suddenly sparked.

Purpura grunted as electricity shot thru the chain.
Purpura growled once it paused, before it electrocuted him again.
He quickly formed blood into a slice and cut the chain.

Purpura jumped up, and the other assassin moved his chain.
Nearly catching Purpura again, however he tackled the assassin to the ground.
He quickly sliced the male's throat, before the chain grabbed his torso and yanked him away.
He grunted as it electrocuted him again.
The other assassin got up, and held his throat, as blood soaked his clothing.
Purpura grunted again, the level of electricity having increased.

He formed another slice to cut the chain.
The other assassin sent stronger pulse of electricity.
The blood dropped, as Purpura struggled to remain standing.

Purpura fell to one knee, before staring at the other assassin intently.
He then put his hand out, his whole arm shook.
The assassin clutched at his throat more, as he began to bleed more profusely.
The electricity began to dull, and Purpura stood again, focusing more.
Suddenly the assassin collapsed, the chain fell, the electricity gone.
Blood loss, quick way to make someone lose consciousness.

Purpura went over, and cut the male's throat deeper.
Curious, he lifted the hand with the chain.
It had no electrical components, clearly the electricity was the own assassin's ability.
Purpura waited a moment, the assassin was taking too long to die.
Somebody could find him, and let a healer patch him up.
So, he knelt touching the male's chest.
He focused, and listed to the heartbeat speed up.
He'd force the male to bleed to death.

Finally the heart could take no more, and gave out.
Blood soaked the ground, and Purpura stood.
He took the assassin's picture out of his pocket.
On the back was a small purple hand-print.
The was how Tynan liked Purpura to claim a target.
Purpura dropped the picture on the assassin's chest.

If he took a target for Tynan the pictures had the hand-print.
And he was to leave the picture on the target.
Tynan needed certain people to know it was his reach that killed certain targets.
And with this current battle of wills against his sister?
Tynan had to be sure she knew he was punishing her.

Purpura rubbed his torso, staring at the ground as he moved to leave.
He paused, to a sword pointed at him.
He looked up, to see a group of soldiers.
It didn't surprise him that their fight had attracted attention.
He was more surprised that it took them this long to act.
"You have trespassed on land controlled by Princess Crudelis.
We are under strict orders to apprehend you."
Purpura sighed, still holding his torso.
He felt like his insides had been cooked.
Another soldier spoke, but Purpura didn't hear the words.
He just wanted to find a healer.
A soldier moved closer slowly, as if approaching a wild beast that was sensitive to speed.
He barely touched Purpura's arm.

Purpura quickly grabbed the soldier's arm, twisting it round.
He held the soldier as a shield, and backed up.
He kept backing away, holding a blood dagger to the soldier's throat.
Finally when a good distance away, he pushed the soldier away and sprinted away.

He walked along, having exhausted his ability to run
Yet, still clutching his torso.
He realized he was in a forest.
He sighed, as he orientated himself and kept walking.
He stopped, and sat down against a tree.
His eyes drifted closed, he could help his organs stay alive.
But it hurt, and took all his energy to do so.

His eyes blinked open.
Knelt next to him was a purple haired neko.
The neko was gently holding their hands to Purpura's torso.
Their hands glowed a faint green.
Purpura grunted a bit.
The neko looked to his face.
"Oh, good you're awake.
I'm almost done.
You know, you are allowed to come home for any reason.
You don't need to collapse in the forest.
The trees just said somebody was hurt.
I guess the forest's magic still pulls you in."
Purpura looked away.
He had recognized the forest.

Trustless forest.
Anyone who needed sanctuary would find themselves in it.
His mother was a gifted healer & herbalist.
And offered healing to anyone.
There was no judgment, no discrimination.
His mother would heal anyone in the forest.
Made ointments, and tonics.
The forest grew all the herbs needed.

Finally the neko moved their hands.
"There you go."
Purpura got up, as did the neko.
"Please, do be careful."
Purpura nodded, and began to walk.
"Who gave you that ribbon?"
Purpura paused, and looked back to his mother.
His expression curious, and slightly confused.
Why did his mother care?
"Oh, I guess it isn't that kind of ribbon...
You really should do more research on our culture."
The neko began walking away.
Purpura felt curious, but he had other targets to deal with.