Shemha
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PL: 396,617
Super Majin (x31/35)
Zeni: 52,398
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Post by Shemha on Apr 9, 2016 0:14:26 GMT
She needed to be stronger.
Since her arrival on New Vegeta that fact had become far too clear. Each and every individual she had met thus far that was any value to the Empire was stronger than her, most by a large margin. She had yet to be granted an audience with Habana or Zucceta, but from what she heard those two were the true core of the Solar Saiyan Empire in terms of power. While Captain Jala had accepted her offer of service, the Majin felt there was little she could truly offer such powerful individuals if she could not obtain similar power. What might the ant offer the Saiyan it shared the sidewalk with?
With the desire to better serve those she now swore herself too, Shemha had taken to the streets, one of New Vegeta’s market districts to be more exact. Like most civilizations, the Saiyan home world had a thriving economy, those not of the warrior caste spending their days providing the Empire with whatever goods or services they had to offer. A few inquiries amongst the guards had led the red female to this particular street. What she sought was a set of training weights, weighted clothing that she could use to enhance each and every one of her exercises. Several soldiers had explained the usefulness of such tools and Shemha had thought it one of the quickest paths to increasing her usefulness.
In truth this was the second time she had been to this particular area. The day before yesterday she had made her original visit. After a relatively short search she had located the mentioned vendor, a shop known as Triel’s Custom Gear. A store such as this was hardly out of place in a militaristic city of a warforged race like the Saiyan’s, but out of the several she knew of this one came with the best reviews. A short fitting session was all that was required of the Majin before she was told to return in two days to pick up her equipment. The point was also made that full payment was to be delivered upon pickup. Perhaps the shop’s patience for purchases on account was past its limit.
For Shemha it was no bother. Her former master had always preferred a payment for services rendered policy and that was how the Majin now operated. Several soldiers had suggested she hit up the armory and see what they might provide her with, but she did not feel such a request would be right. With only a few days of service under her belt, it was wrong to ask for handouts in return. She had more respect for her superiors than that. Paying for her equipment was the correct path and in the end it would prove her devotion even more. Thankfully the fitting was quick, the weighted wrist cuffs she had decided on snug to her wrist, but not so much that they limited their rotation. After several minutes of testing out the weight she paid in full and was on her way.
When she stepped back out into the moderately busy street, her eyes lifted to the sky. The day was a clear one, perfect for taking to the air, but the Majin refrained. Another lesson from her former master was that too often those who possessed the power of flight forgot what it was like to have dirt beneath their feet. At the moment she had no duties that demanded she rush back to the barracks and taking the long walk back would allow her body more time to adjust to the weights wrapped around her wrists. Besides, this would allow her to mingle more with those she now shared a home with, even if many stared longer than was polite. If New Vegeta was to be her home and the SSE her chosen faction, it was best to know the place.
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Post by Negi on Apr 9, 2016 3:15:36 GMT
Negi strolled through the streets, fingers crossed behind his head as he stared at the sky in wonder. The young Saiyan had never felt so... At peace. He had just defeated Kabocha, the Elite saiyan who had killed Negi's twin brother. Simply for getting in his way. Negi had struggled, and struggled for five years to avenge his brother. And he had. Strategy and patience had been his true allies that day. But Negi had only achieved this through the man who became his master. A man who had not been born an elite warrior, but had worked hard to gain his power. The man had helped Negi break through the walls, taught him Ki and zenkai. Now, though, he was ready to explore the world, and his master agreed that he had nothing more to teach the boy. They parted with laughter in the air, and now Negi was free. He wasn't sure exactly what he wanted to do or where he wanted to go, but he was happy enough to wander. This was the first time he had ever been in a city. Seeing shops all over, peddlers marketing their wares. Saiyans and other allies of the SSE dominated the streets. Suddenly... A man screamed out angrily. "You jackass! What's your problem?!"
The crowd cleared off to the side, trying to avoid trouble. They eventually dispersed to reveal a much larger saiyan standing with his back turned toward Negi. In front of him was a shorter man, at least a hundred pounds lighter. But Negi sensed something about him... He felt the man's ki flowing and growing, as if he was waiting to strike.
"What, you think you could take me on? HAHAHA!"
The large saiyan continued to laugh, and the smaller man began to writhe with fury. Then, Negi realized that the shorter saiyan was faced in his direction. His heart began to beat, he wasn't sure what to do. "Oh, you piece of shit! I'll KILL YOU!"
A blast of ki burst from the man's fingers. It shot through the big warrior like a bullet. Negi turned around to dash out of the way. There she was. A majin? She was in the way of the ki blast, and if it hit her she would definitely be killed. Adrenaline built up, and suddenly the world seemed to slow down. Was this the Zenkai he had experienced earlier? He felt the power within building, almost an entire half stronger than what he had grown to before. It felt... Amazing.
But he needed to stop thinking and focus. He turned toward her, and it didn't seem like she knew what was going on as she was making her purchases. She stepped and turned away with weights in hand as he dashed toward her. The young saiyan leapt forward and crashed into her, and both would crash to the ground as the ki blast ripped through the stone. Standing, Negi brushed off the bottom of his gi. "Oh, sorry," he reached his hand out to help her up. "Sorry that I had to knock you over. My name is Negi. What's yours?"
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Shemha
Moderator
PL: 396,617
Super Majin (x31/35)
Zeni: 52,398
Tag: @shemha
Posts: 1,044
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Post by Shemha on Apr 10, 2016 3:52:24 GMT
Shemha heard the raised voices, a clear dispute somewhere through the crowd. Not the tallest of creatures she couldn’t exactly see who was involved in the argument. Ultimately she did not care. The problem’s of the general public were not her concern. Sure she wished to understand New Vegeta and its culture more, but that did not mean she had to get involved with the everyday citizens of the Empire. Unfortunately for her, the disagreement between two of those very citizens was about to overflow and force her to be involved. In the end it was not their shouting, the scuffle or even the blast that had unintentionally been sent in her direction, but the third party that took her to the ground.
With a small grunt she hit the pavement, as a Saiyan male tackled her for what seemed no apparent reason. Of course when she heard the sizzle of the energy blast that had nearly struck her, it was clear the collision had been intentional. Her eyes blinked for a moment as the figured moved off of her, rose to his feet and extended a hand. The gesture was a polite one as he offered to help her back to her feet so the Majin accepted with a small smile. Unlike many of the individuals on this planet, she was not aggressive and took no offense that he had tackled her to the ground now that she understood his reason. As her soft hand clasped his, her red eyes scanned him over.
Without a doubt he was Saiyan, an exceptionally fit one as well. Likely a warrior in some fashion or another, but that was about as definitive as saying a particular tree was a plant. Back on her feet in an instant, she too brushed off her clothes as well. With each simple movement she felt the extra weight strapped to her wrists and although such basic actions did not drain her, she began to understand the reason the training equipment would be effective.
”There is no reason to apologize, your intentions were honorable. It is a pleasure to meet you Negi. My name is Shemha. Are you a warrior of the Solar Saiyan Empire or simply a citizen who takes the safety of others to heart?”Although she did not excel in the humor department, there was a hint of a jest in her tone. In the minimal time she had spent around the local barracks she had not seen the male so she figured it a valid question. Her assumption had been that he was of the warrior cast, but it was never really safe to assume. With nowhere to go she figured it was at least polite to engage in conversation, Negi had just protected her from what would have very likely been a rather uncomfortable experience.
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Post by Negi on Apr 12, 2016 17:41:42 GMT
[Sorry for the wait, I've been a bit sick for the past couple days]
The smaller Saiyan who had blasted the elite stood still for a minute with expressionless eyes before realizing the possible consequences of his actions. He bolted off, stumbling drunkenly as he darted down a dark alleyway, and it only took a few moments before the marketplace was bustling once again. Not surprising, considering the generally aggressive nature of Saiyans overall, as well as the commonality of conflict on SSE planets.
Looking down toward the steaming hole implanted in the cobbled street behind the two, Negi was struck by an intense sensation of déjà vu. Serori’s torn, burnt, brutalized body flashed through his mind like lightning, and didn’t cease until the Majin’s voice distracted the young saiyan’s mind.
“Well,” he started, scratching his chin vacantly. “My name is Negi. I’m kind of new here. I haven’t been in the city since I was…” He paused. “Young.”
A smile touched to boy’s lips as he turned back to look into Shemha’s eyes. Behind the red he could sense a power greater than his own within her. His tail twitched nervously, but not in fear. Sheer excitement, mostly. She was the first person that the boy had actually met since he had defeated Kabocha, and avenged his twin brother’s murder. Before Negi had met his master, Kyuuri, his only friend had been his brother.
There was a sense of confidence, and a smile in his eyes as he continued to speak.
“You know, I’ve never seen a Majin before. I never expected you to be so… Bright.” He hoped that she would pick up on the joke, but he had never been the joking type during his five years of intensive training, and wasn’t sure whether she would be offended. Negi turned his head down and grimaced, wanting to smack himself. What if she thought he meant she was stupid? Or Majin being stupid in general? He knew he needed to stop overthinking these things, but it was just a part of his nature.
“I mean, your pink skin. Anyways…” He said, trying to cover his ass just a bit. “I was born on Vegeta, so I guess I’m technically part of the empire, but I’ve spent the last five years out in the Tuffle ruins away from civilization.” The boy shut up for a second before changing the subject. “So, what brings someone like you to Planet Vegeta? Surely not because you like Saiyans.” He motioned over his shoulder to the small pit.
“You know, you’re interesting. Why don’t we take a seat and talk? I’ll buy us some food.”
Negi pointed toward a nice, fenced off outdoor seating area outside of a nearby café. A nice hanging ledge would shield them nicely from the blazing sunlight. If she accepted, they would sit down before he ran off to purchase a small buffet before returning.
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Shemha
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PL: 396,617
Super Majin (x31/35)
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Post by Shemha on Apr 13, 2016 22:58:30 GMT
(No worries! Take your time with posting, I am not going anywhere.)
On her feet, Shemha took a casual stance as the boy reintroduced himself, that and the small pause in his voice indicated that perhaps he was not the best conversationalist. Despite that he came off as friendly enough; he had saved her from taking that blast and then proceeded to help her to her feet in the most gentlemanly of ways. How strange that she would almost have her head taken off by a drunken saiyan with clear anger issues only to be engaged in conversation with another male of the same race moments later. The former would hint that the generalization of Saiyans as violent creatures was not always accurate, although it did seem to hold true more often than not.
Soon she felt she understood the reason for his confusion, he had never met a Majin before. Although not unheard of, her race was one that did not stroll past you on the average day. Shemha herself had never met another of her kind and only knew they existed because of what little Ront had taught her concerning her own species. Halted approach to conversation aside, Negi shared one characteristic with her form master that kept the female from taking her leave. He said what he wanted, even if it might have come across as offensive.
Thankfully for Negi, the Majin he spoke to was of a calm nature, his bright comment did nothing to offend her although it did bring confusion. The slight tilt of her head was likely enough to show she was unsure of what he meant. When he clarified he was referring to the color of her skin, she glanced down at her bare arms and upper chest. She had never thought the tone of her skin too bright, but she supposed when compared to the flesh of Saiyans and Humans, it was more vibrant. For those reasons she responded with another small smile to show there was no harm done.
”…Thank you.” Shemha stated slowly after a moment of hesitation. The reason for her delayed response had nothing to do with him. From a young age she had been brought along to her former master’s business meetings, many of which took place over a meal, yet as his servant she had never been privy to the meals themselves. Instead she had sat behind Ront to either take notes or sit with her hands clasped gently on her lap. A request to talk over lunch was simply…unexpected.
After she had a taken a seat and he had returned to the table, she would answer his question from before.
”As for why I am here, the answer is quite simple. After the expiration of my former master, I found myself quickly growing board with my mercenary line of work. Such tasks, while they do have their importance, are trivial in the grand scheme of things. In my travels I had heard of Queen Zucceta and those that serve her, that serve her goals. I figured myself a good fit for the Solar Saiyan Empire. So here I am, in their service and as a resident of New Vegeta.” Usually forward and honest, Shemha felt she had no reason to hide her current station or the reasons behind it. Although, talk of her reason for being here made her curious of his.
”Have you no military experience? Forgive me for assuming, but your build suggests you have combat experience at least.” As she voiced her question, the Majin shifted forward to gently fold her hands together on the table. Much about her might seem rather formal, a result of her conditioning as a mercenaries assistant.
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Post by Negi on Apr 14, 2016 3:16:02 GMT
Negi relaxed as he shoveled food into his mouth. He could still hear Shemha clearly, and while some might find it rude to eat while another spoke, Kyuuri had never had an issue with it. It did give Negi a little time to think about the Majin's words, considering that he had never really bothered with flavor. Nourishment was all that the the young saiyan needed, and his hearty eating gave him an excuse to listen without having to respond till she was finished. Finishing up one last bowl of rice, he swallowed as he thought of what to say.
"Zucceta, huh? My old master told me about her. She's supposed to be the strongest Saiyan on the whole planet." There was a bit of awe and admiration to be found in Negi's eyes. He had always wanted to meet her. Ever since he had come to the city, he had thought about asking her to apprentice him. He had never considered the idea that she would turn him down - Kyuuri hadn't.
"As for the whole 'military experience' thing, the man who trained me used to be an officer in the Solar Saiyan Empire. He wasn't born an elite, and he spent twenty years fighting for the SSE before he decided to retire," he picked his teeth vacantly. "I guess that counts. Plus, I killed an Elite saiyan warrior once."
Leaning back casually, Negi naturally did not notice any of Shemha's formalities. He was twelve when his twin had died, and he had spent five years basically living out in the ruins as he focused on his training. He had only learned basic table manners, most of the time through conditioning like when he got slapped across the table for chewing with his mouth open.
"Yeah, I can hold my own. I've been looking for new adventures - that's why I came to the city.
A thought popped into the boy's head, and he stood up abruptly, leaning over onto his arms with his elbows locked. Eyes wide, he couldn't contain himself. Everything seemed to burst out all at once, and he was lucky he hadn't flung bits of projectile spit onto Shemha's face.
"Have you ever met Zucceta? You are part of the military? Have you traveled through space? You should spar with me! I want to fight for Zucceta too!"
Realizing his child-like outburst, he blushed and sat back down, crossing his arms. His hair seemed almost to cloak him as he retracted himself inward.
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Shemha
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PL: 396,617
Super Majin (x31/35)
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Post by Shemha on Apr 15, 2016 14:30:13 GMT
Many Saiyans had appetites to match their hunger for battle. On multiple occasions she had seen an eating method similar to that of Negi’s, the “I cannot shovel it in fast enough” approach. Far be it from her to judge another, but to consume food in so sloppy a way was not her style. In this scenario the odd cultural habit granted her the time needed to explain her presence on New Vegeta without interruption…as long as you didn’t count the clatter of empty bowls being stacked.
When she was done, and he was done with his servings, she picked up a bowl of rice for herself. As she allowed him the time to talk, deliberate and controlled movements brought helpings of rice to her mouth, the Majin’s way of eating a stark contrast to her tablemates.
He clearly held admiration for Queen Zucceta, a stance that Shemha easily understood. From all sources the Saiyan Queen was as formidable a warrior as the Universe had to offer, not to mention the ruler of the SSE. Unfortunately, she had yet to meet the woman in person, but she doubted that would take place soon. A Queen often had little time to spend fraternizing with her soldiers, especially those as low ranked as Shemha. It would also turn out his combat experience was rather similar to hers, his training delivered by the hand of a former military teacher. Her former master had been the same, not a soldier of the Solar Saiyan Empire, but with true military experience none the less.
His sudden rise to a standing position had the female’s eyes go wide. The abrupt movement had her slightly on the defensive incase the quick movement was a prelude to some form of attack. It was not and thankfully Negi had finished his last bowl of rice a short while ago or his excitement filled string of questions might have left Shemha with a rice splattered face. With the realization he was not about to strike her and only come at her with a barrage of questions, she enjoyed several more mouthfuls of rice before she set the bowl down on the table.
”Sadly no, I have not met the Queen. While I am part of the military, I am sure those of us who serve rarely get a face to face with her, much is to be done to keep an empire moving. For a moment she paused as she noticed the slight redness in his cheeks. Another of her small smiles attempted to show him there was no reason for embarrassment before she continued.
”A spar would likely benefit us both. If you wish to serve Zucceta, I can promise you that you will need to be stronger. From what I have seen, we are above the average soldier, but nothing when compared to the Queen and those she depends on most. I intend to improve myself as much as possible for I did not travel all the way here to simply blend in. Service to another is nothing if you cannot excel at it.” It was the truth, her truth at least. Whether he believed it was his choice to decide. With a small shrug Shemha resumed her meal.
Several months ago, she would have never said those words. The blending of her original personality and Ront’s had indeed changed her outlook. With each day that passed amongst the other soldiers, she felt the desire to be stronger grow. Perhaps it was just her own drive to be worthy or maybe the mentality of those around her held influence, either way, she needed to improve.
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Post by Negi on Apr 19, 2016 18:54:28 GMT
Negi sat back and contemplated. In front of him sat a member of the SSE military, and it seemed that joining the organization would be easier than he would have thought. The idea of being controlled didn't vibe with Negi's personality, but after seeing Shemha simply roaming around, doing her own thing. It made the young warrior reconsider his past assumptions. Besides, it would mean that he could continue to improve and make some zeni on the side. Maybe he could get his own space ship! With that thought, he was decided.
“So, it seems like you are here all by yourself. Maybe you could help me join the military, too.” He looked up toward the sky, eyeing a few puffy white balls of water. “I’ve never been off this planet in my whole life… I want to see other places and battle strange enemies and grow stronger.”
The young saiyan did agree with Shemha – one must excel to stand out in a crowd, though Negi felt more that he would be serving himself, not just the empire or Zucceta. Without dedication toward self improvement (physically and mentally), a person could never truly surpass those obstacles that life seems to enjoy throwing every which way. Eventually, they would crash into so many walls that it would break them down or cause them to simply give up altogether. Certainly not something that interested Negi in any way.
He realized that he had not known this Majin for an hour, and he was already spewing forth his life story. Rarely had Negi met another person who he could even have a conversation with. He smiled, stood, and stuck out his hand as if he were shaking with a merchant with whom he had struck a deal.
“Let’s make a pact. From now on, I’ve got your back and you’ve got mine. Sound good?”
The boy waited for just a few moments before he laughed aloud.
“Also, you eat like a bird.”
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Shemha
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Post by Shemha on Apr 20, 2016 13:09:15 GMT
Negi’s view of the Solar Saiyan Empire might have been wrong from the start. Although not a member for long, Shemha felt the organization did not ask for servitude, but dedication. Now, those could be seen as hand in hand or something separate entirely, it was all a matter of perception. When it came to the Majin she felt her dedication to the SSE was all that they required, Captain Jala having only talked about their desire to see their ranks grow. The woman herself had been likeable enough, but Shemha did tend to enjoy the presence of authority so perhaps her perception was jaded. Either way, the red skinned female was not against assisting him, he seemed genuine enough and if he had half of the drive he said he did then her would do well.
”I might be able to get you an audience with Captain Jala...but I must worn you I hold no rank of influence, so this is not a promise.” She was forever practical. The idea of optimism and pessimism made no sense to her, both seemed like incorrect approaches. It made mucu more sense to simply look at the facts and information before you, then let them guide you to the most sensible solution. There were positive outcomes and negative outcomes in life and you arrived at either through the realty of a particular situation. Your personal desire was usually a small factor.
When her tablemate stood for a second time during their meal, she wasn't sure what to expect. Another string of questions perhaps? What he offered was even odder than his outburst before. The two of them hardly knew one another, yet he would make a proposal of mutual benefit. Through her life the Majin had learned to be cautious of others. Not outright distrustful, but to approach situations and individuals with the knowledge that honesty was a virtue often discarded these days. That aside, Negi was different than most of her acquaintances. Energetic, loose with his tongue and rather forward. In a way...it was refreshing. Most of her time was regimented and involved those who preferred schedules and tasks.
”I accept. For now she did and would continue to honor her words for as long as he kept her cautious trust. Although, her allegiance to the SSE came first.
A small smile took shape on her face as she clasped his hand with hers. ”Perhaps, but I think that is far better than eating like those round little creatures...oh, what are they called, pigs?” She knew exactly what they were called, but she allowed herself to have some fun. The Majin had a sense of humor even if it was rarely seen and a bit rough around the edges.
”Now, before I even make mention of you to Captain Jala I wish to test you myself. Forgive me for you are friendly, but I have no knowledge of your capabilities. I find it best to learn about another first hand, don't you agree?” There was a real possibility that she would mention him to Jala, yet she was not so foolish to do so without and information to support such a recommendation. She assumed he would accept as he had mentioned before he would like to spar against her. On top of that, she needed to grow stronger. Even if he proved inadequate, the exchange would at least provide her with some practice.
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Post by Negi on May 3, 2016 21:40:27 GMT
[Short-ish exit post so we can close this thread and move on ] For so long, Negi had focused on avenging his brother. Now, though, he had no real goals set before him - unless he chose to serve as part of the Saiyan military force. The boy didn't bother contemplating for very long; if it meant adventure and power, he was in. Cracking his neck, he leaned onto the table with his elbows with fingers crossed in front of his chin. "It doesn't really matter if they take me or not, but it is a good opportunity for me," he stated, an honest reply to Shemha's statement of her own SSE ranking. "But either way, we definitely need to beat each other up. And yes, they are called pigs, though I prefer 'swine' thank you very much!"With that, he stood up and focused his ki outward. The food was already purchased, and he wasn't too worried about the table or the small bit of leftovers. "I have a place that's perfect for training. Follow me, if you can keep up!"The boy floated upward a couple of feet, then blasted off into the distance... Hopefully Shemha wouldn't mind if she got yelled at by the owner of the restaurant. [Zeni plawks, and if you wouldn't mind, could you go ahead and post it into the grading thread when you are done? Thanks!]
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Shemha
Moderator
PL: 396,617
Super Majin (x31/35)
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Post by Shemha on May 4, 2016 0:21:16 GMT
With a blast Negi was in the air, their table and a few of the ones closest to them suffered from his quick departure. His manners seemed to be a small issue, but nothing she could not live with. The idea of testing herself in combat against someone so close to her own level had her intrigued. Strength was something she needed and training with Nega was one of the ways to get it.
As the not so happy owner of the partially dirtied restaurant made his way towards the table, she strapped the weighted cuffs she had just purchased to her wrists. The pull was instant and it was clear the added poundage would make her work harder for each movement.
“What is the meaning of this? Can’t people see this is a quality restaurant and not some corner tavern?”
”My apologies good sir, I do not believe he realized what would happen if he departed in such a way. I will make sure to scold him when I catch up.” Although the man’s face made it clear that wasn’t exactly an adequate answer for the mess that had just been made, he had little choice but to accept it. After she dipped into a low bow, Shemha too lifted into the air. Her ascent was much more controlled and far less messy. In a few moments she was high enough to take off after Negi without tossing food and dinner ware through the air. More effort was needed to move with her weights slowing her down, but she was intent on catching up to her opponent to be.
(Zeni as well please!)
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Post by Kizuki on May 17, 2016 2:52:36 GMT
Shemha: +3,963 Zeni New Total: 4,180 Zeni
Negi: +2,039 Zeni New Total: 2,539 Zeni
(Adding now.)
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