Ballistic Coefficient

All around her, the city burned. Pale could only watch as the flames engulfed building after building, steadily consuming anything in their path. Inky-black smoke and ashes filled the sky, all but blocking out the sun as they curled upwards into the clouds, spreading their sickening miasma like they were carriers of the plague. Pale coughed as a wave of smoke washed over her, gritting her teeth and bringing her arms up to block the worst of it from entering her eyes.

As soon as the smoke curled around her, it was split by the sound of a woman screaming in terror. Pale instantly tensed, her gaze narrowing. Her shotgun was missing, but her .45 was still on her hip, its familiar weight serving as a grim reminder of her role as an envoy of death.

That was what she had been created to do, and it was all she'd ever aspired to be. Today, it would be no different.

Pale ripped her handgun from its holster, pausing only to make sure it was loaded and had a round chambered. After that quick confirmation, she pressed forwards, leading with the muzzle of her weapon. The woman's screams intensified for a moment before suddenly being cut off with a sickening squelch. A revolting wet gurgle filled the air, and Pale winced, knowing she'd been too hesitant.

Yet another failure added to the ever-growing pile.

Still, though rescue might have been out of the question, vengeance was still on the table. The woman might have been murdered, but Pale could still make sure her killer died screaming.

She pressed on, cautiously creeping through the burning city. The flames intensified all around her, and a small cough forced its way out of her throat, but Pale didn't care. She had failed her last mission; she would not fail this one, even if it was simply one being undertaken out of retribution.

She was, after all, nothing aside from the missions she completed.

Heavy footsteps from off to the side caught her attention, and Pale turned, her finger already stroking her weapon's trigger even as the tall figure emerged from the smoke. Her heart sank into her stomach at the sight of him – that familiar, well-muscled frame, topped off with a mane of golden hair, and that ever-present smirk.

"Well, well," Sven said, a hint of venom dripping into his tone as he stalked towards her. "I wasn't expecting to find you here."

Pale didn't wait for him to say anything more. She pulled her handgun's trigger once, twice, three times, and watched as splotches of red began to blossom across Sven's chest. Still, despite the rivulets of blood streaming down his body, staining him crimson, Sven showed absolutely no reaction, continuing to stalk forwards even as the heavy hollow-point rounds tore through him, eviscerating flesh and bone alike.

She stood her ground, continuing to pull the trigger even as he closed the distance towards her. Finally, the slide on her handgun locked to the rear, signifying it was empty; Pale stared at it in dismay.

"Nice toy," Sven commented, cracking his fingers as he got to within a few yards of her. "Shame it doesn't seem to work all that well. Perhaps it will work better after I shove it down your throat."

Pale's eyes widened, and without a second thought, she turned and ran, swapping her spent magazine for a fresh one as she did so. She sprinted as fast as her legs would take her, uncaring of where she ran; she paid no attention to her destination, her only concern being that it took her far, far away from Sven.

It was a surprise, then, when she somehow found herself back in the center of town, among the burning buildings once more. Pale searched the area, the grip on her gun turning white-knuckled. A nervous lump formed in her throat, and she swallowed it, hoping it would do something to alleviate her pounding heart.

"Are you lost?" Sven asked, his voice somehow echoing all around her. "Or maybe you simply want to die, given your failure back at my camp."

"Show yourself," Pale demanded through gritted teeth. "Come out so I can end this once and for all."

"You don't seem to get it, do you? You can't kill me. Your handheld weapons couldn't do it; your explosives couldn't, either."

Pale twisted and turned, searching for Sven, but to no avail. Movement from the corner of her eye suddenly caught her attention, and she whipped around, squeezing the trigger in the same instant. Sven stiffened, the vague outline of his body barely visible through the smoke engulfing the town. As Pale watched, he took one shaky step forwards, then fell to the ground and began to writhe in agony, clutching at his throat. She cautiously approached, keeping her weapon trained on him, only for horror to dawn as she drew closer and the figure she thought was Sven gave way to something else.

The moment she saw the white-furred ears and tail, Pale threw caution to the wind, tossing her handgun aside as she rushed forwards, dropping to her knees to cradle Kayla's head in her hands.

"Kayla…!" Pale managed to gasp out. She grit her teeth as she took in the scene in front of her – the bullet had penetrated Kayla's throat, but somehow missed her spine and brain stem completely, leaving her in pain but very much still alive. Kayla's eyes darted around fearfully, like a wounded animal caught in the jaws of a predator, as her hands clutched at the gunshot in her throat. Blood spurted out from around her fingers with every heartbeat, the arterial spray splashing over Pale more and more as the seconds ticked by. Tears poured from Kayla's eyes, and her mouth worked over and over as she tried to speak, but the only thing that came out was a series of agonized gurgles.

"Don't talk," Pale ordered, placing one hand on the wound in Kayla's throat as she desperately rifled through her own pockets, searching for medical supplies. Her pockets were completely empty, however, and as Pale's heart somehow sank even further, she turned back to Kayla, her whole body trembling.

Kayla gave one final, shuddering gasp before suddenly stiffening, then letting out her last breath. Her eyes glassed over, and she stared lifelessly up at the sky. Pale froze, locking eyes with her friend, before clenching her fists hard enough to hear her joints popping. She stood up with a feral yell and turned around, intent on hunting down Sven once and for all.

She was completely unprepared to find him standing there already, a wicked smirk on his face.

Before Pale could do anything, Sven reached out and grabbed her by the throat, then hoisted her into the air. Pale coughed and sputtered in his grasp, trying in vain to either break free or bring her gun around to shoot him, but to no avail – his grip remained ironclad. Through her feeble gasps for air, she cracked one eye open and locked gazes with him, hatred smoldering between the two of them the entire time.

"That's what you don't understand," Sven told her, his voice cold despite the smirk etched across his face. "That thing you're feeling? It's fear. Tell me, how does it feel to know fear for the first time?"

He loosened his grip enough to allow Pale to respond. She didn't give him the satisfaction, however – instead, she merely spat in his face. Sven's grin faded, and he scowled at her.

"Very well, then," he said. "Goodbye, offworlder. May you find eternal agony in the three hells, along with your companion."

His grip tightened like a vice, and with a sudden snap of her neck, Pale catapulted awake.

​XXX

Pale sat up gasping for breath, her body covered in a thick sheen of cold sweat. She looked around, her heart hammering in her chest the entire time as she searched for threats, one hand falling the empty holster on her hip. After a moment to collect herself, she lowered her head, bringing hand up to wipe the sweat from her face.

"What is wrong with me…?" she muttered.

Footsteps from outside the wagon caught her attention, and Pale paused, reaching for the combat knife still sheathed at her waist.

"Pale?" Kayla asked through the curtain that separated the two of them. "Are you okay in there?"

Pale couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief at hearing Kayla's voice, both because it meant there were no enemies around and because it proved her dream was just that. Slowly, she allowed her hand to fall from the hilt of her knife, instead wiping the final remnants of sweat off her face.

"I am fine," Pale answered. "Why do you ask?"

"Well… Evie and I were asleep nearby. You were dreaming something fierce – it woke us both up. Is there anything you want to talk-"

"I told you, I am fine," Pale insisted, cutting her off. She rose to her feet, then approached the flap at the rear of the wagon and threw it open. Kayla blinked, surprised to see her, but Pale was unperturbed, and merely stepped out onto the ground. The two of them stared at each other awkwardly for a moment, neither of them sure what to say, before Pale finally sighed and brought a hand up to rub the back of her head.

"...I'm glad you're okay."

Again, Kayla blinked before averting her gaze, directing her attention to the ground nearby. "...I wouldn't go that far. I didn't sleep very well…"

"I can imagine." Pale let out another sigh. "I'm sor-"

"Don't," Kayla warned her. "Don't do that. It isn't your fault he's dead, and apologizing for it won't bring him back. He's gone, and there's nothing we can do about that."

Pale wasn't sure how to respond. Instead, she gave a small nod in understanding, then looked around once more. "Where is Evie?"

"She's making breakfast right now. Nothing special – just some eggs and fresh vegetables. But I don't think either of us have eaten in some time, so…"

"I'll be sure to thank her for the hospitality," Pale replied. She eyed Kayla up and down, a small scowl crossing her face. "You still look exhausted."

"Ah… Evie had me stay up with her. Said it wouldn't do me any good to go to sleep so soon after what happened, although I slept so terribly, I don't know whether she was right or wrong in the end…"

"Still, you should get some more sleep," Pale urged. "I'll go talk to Evie, try and figure out what we should do next. That is, unless you have something particular in mind?"

"Next…?"

Pale nodded. "Yes. Our mission is over at this point."

"But what about Sven?"

"You truly think he survived that bombardment?" Pale shook her head. "He'd be the first."

"But-"

"If he makes himself known again, we'll deal with him then. For now, though, it's not our concern."

Kayla looked like she wanted to argue, but thought better of it, instead giving her a small nod.

"...Okay. And, as for our next move… perhaps we could attend the Luminarium?"

Pale tilted her head, confused. "The what?"

"The Luminarium – it's the biggest magic academy in this kingdom," Kayla explained. "I've… always wanted to go. B-but, I swear I'm not being selfish! I figure, if there's any information that can be used to help you return home, it'd be in their library."

Pale brought a hand up to her chin in thought. "I'm not opposed," she admitted. "I would have to know more about it before agreeing to anything, though."

Kayla winced. "That's… about all I know, unfortunately. Perhaps Evie could explain more?"

"I'll ask her, then," Pale said with a nod. "For now, you get some sleep. You look like you need it."

Kayla nodded, then turned and began to walk off. Pale did the same, moving in the opposite direction, only to pause when Kayla suddenly called out to her.

"Hey, Pale?"

She stopped, then turned back to face her. She found Kayla standing there, staring at her. Kayla hesitated, then let out a sigh.

"I'm… really glad it's the two of us together," she said, a thin smile crossing her face.

Pale blinked, but after a moment, she returned Kayla's grin with one of her own, then nodded. "So am I."

With that, both girls turned and began to go their separate ways.