The records were sketchy of where exactly on this planet Lord Frieza died. Some kind of wilderness, was all Mynia had managed to find in the Rangers' reports. This wasn't surprising. The Rangers were scouts, trackers, hunters. They weren't Scribes. Perhaps she would have to send Scribes to pore through the volumes of this planet's knowledge.

There was also the oddity of how the known records of Mr. Satan's exploits failed to mention anything about Lord Frieza, and yet made a big deal of this automaton, Cell. And of course his defeat of 'Beavis' the Destroyer. Without a doubt, if Lord Beerus ever found out that Earth misremembered his name, he would be sure to destroy it. At least, that was what she thought, based on the stories his angel told them.

And so, having descended in a combat shuttle - non-combat models had long ceased production due to the trying times - the Suzerain attempted to explore the wilderness of this planet. Perhaps she could find a clue about the whereabouts of Lord Frieza's demise. Where Mr. Satan presumably trounced him. Perhaps it was an earlier incident that the hero had decided not to share.

Perhaps in his humility, he kept secret his defeat of the Sovereign of this universe, and lived a peaceful, secluded life, until Cell made a show of his threat to the world. And that is why he was most remembered for that particular foe.

Truly, this Mr. Satan was quite the figure. It was unfortunate that he died before her time. Mynia would have loved to sit down with him and discuss his exploits. The methods he used. His motivations...

For this particular excursion, she chose a place out in the wilds, isolated from major civilization. There was something in this area that drew her to it... a sense of confusion... distortion... One might even say that in the vicinity of this place was some phenomenon that confounded her ability to sense ki.

The Suzerain walked. Across grassy plains, under trees, past rocks, alongside a crystal clear river. The enchantments of her cape protected it from any filth. Her armor, on the other hand, required no such thing. After all, a good polish was its own reward. The longer she wandered, the more she became convinced that she wasn't really going anywhere. At least, until she spotted the path.

Now that was a sign of sentient activity. It wasn't particularly developed. A simple dirt footpath that could have been formed by decades of people and livestock walking along everyday. Trampled out of the grass, and connecting two places with relatively high foot traffic.

Perhaps she would find some answers here. That was when her senses picked up on a force. Too high to be an animal, that was for certain. It was no doubt the power level of a sentient, one who possessed the insight to train in order to increase their power. But for what purpose? Protect? Destroy? Conquer? Collect?

There really was only one way to find out. The Suzerain began to walk up the path, following her senses to the source of the energy. Until she spotted a figure in the distance, headed her way. A woman, dressed in what appeared to be the combat attire of those who practiced martial arts on this world. A fellow warrior, then, map in hand as a guide.

Clearly, she had a destination in mind. Alternatively, she was lost, and was consulting the map to find a way. There really was only one way to settle this question, of course. That was to speak up.

Raising her hand to lift up an imaginary visor - a gesture that in post-chivalrous societies, evolved into the salute - she called out. "Hail, fellow warrior. It appears you are headed down this way. Do you mind if I asked why?"

As Mynia approached, she paid close attention to what the martial artist said in return. Shinzo Forest. A name implied the existence of a local civilization to name it. There also existed a well-worn road. The density of the population was not important. Only that enough people lived here to give this destination a name.

And any place with a name was bound to be of some significance to these people. The Suzerain nodded. It was settled, then. Her next task would be to follow the path that now lay before her, and the traveler who would journey down this path. Perhaps in this, she might find a clue to the whereabouts of Lord Frieza's demise.

"I am headed in no particular direction," she responded as she met up with the traveler and took on a slightly brisker pace, given the other fighter had indicated she was in a hurry. "I am a tourist here, in search of local affairs. If heading in the direction of this Shinzo Forest means I will experience more of this land, then head in that direction I shall."

If the reasoning seemed overly simplistic, perhaps it was. But in a land of wilderness, where everything was open, the most reasonable thing to do was to follow the roads. Especially the well-trodden ones. These would eventually lead to civilization. If not in one direction, then certainly in the opposite direction. Since this direction went to a forest, then it only made sense that the civilization was down the other way.

While this may have been so, the first person she encountered here happened to be headed for the forest. So instead of 'getting lost' along the road, stumbling about in search of habitation, it was better to associate herself with someone else. While Mynia had no concern for her own safety, given the degree of her own power, there was the very real concern of disorientation.

What was causing this confusion? Was it possible to stop it? Did the answer lie somewhere in the forest? Would she find a clue on the whereabouts of where Mr. Satan slew Lord Frieza here?

As the two continued down the road at a brisk rate, the Suzerain decided it was time to make more inquiry. Questions could only be answered if you asked them, after all. "So what brings you to journey to this Shinto Forest in such a hurry? To rescue someone? To slay a foul beast? Perhaps it holds some rare medicinal herb you are in dire need of?"

It wasn't so much that she read anyone's minds. But traveling to a forest to retrieve medicinal plants was one of several things that a warrior would probably be up to if they were headed in the direction of a forest. Not every forest housed a terrifying beast, and people didn't always get lost in forests, but these cities of trees... forests... were a special part of nature. Filled with useful plants both known and waiting to be discovered. Whether it was for medicine, or an ingredient in a wizard's spell, or a material for some powerful weapon, there was no denying the use of a forest...

The Suzerain briefly wondered about this young woman's reaction. Psychic powers? She didn't possess such a boon, no. To read the minds of others would be quite the gift... and others might say a tool of tyranny. It was, however, not such a thing that was given to her. The Sovereign was said to have had an almost preternatural skill at deducing people's motivations.

Unsurprisingly, this coupled with powerful telekinetic attacks also meant that he indeed owned psychic powers.

This ability, however, was not something he passed on to his children. Or at least, not something he passed on to his reasoning child. Was it some sort of test, then? To deprive her of the ability to read minds, and instead, reason out the workings of those minds, in such a way that it might be more useful than normal?

This had been something she had thought of many times, and the question of psychic powers only brought the thoughts back. Nevertheless, there were more important things to do right now, such as learning more from her new traveling companion, answer questions.... and find the cause of that growing confusion. It hadn't yet reached the level of discomfort, perhaps because she had been on many battlefields, and exposed to many substances in her lifetime...

"I wouldn't say getting one of three guesses correct counts as having psychic powers." One might have taken that as a lighthearted way of saying 'no', but the serious tone with which it was said indicated she was merely speaking matter of factly, rather than joking. "It is simply that rare medicinal plants tend to be found in places of high biodiversity, such as forests. That, and those three guesses are based on my own personal experiences."

Rescue a distressed person. Slay a ferocious beast. Retrieve a rare medicinal plant. Yes, Mynia had had many such experiences on various campaigns. While it seemed beyond the duty of a Suzerain to do such menial tasks that could easily be left up to her Knights, she needed to serve as a model, one who practiced what she preached. It was only fair.

"I'm afraid I'd rather be in a person's company at the moment," As much as directions to this woman's village would be most appreciated, her present state of inexplicable confusion meant that she might not find her way, even when instructed. "My sense of direction appears to be compromised at the moment, and I haven't the faintest clue why."

"Even if Shinzo Forest really is dangerous, I think I can handle myself," with this, the Suzerain called forth her Holy Lance, brilliant bluish platinum glinting in the sun in woven spiral bands. A weapon of tremendous power, fashioned for one who was intended to one day succeed the Sovereign of a Universe. "The true threat is losing one's way."

In another flash, the Lance vanished, returning to its place in voids only its master could reach. The young woman introduced herself as 'Asuka', proffering forth the pleasantries of introduction. In return, she received a nod of acknowledgement, and a handshake from an armored gauntlet. "My name is Rhomynia, of the Chief Scholar's House of Fullbuster. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. As you say, I am from elsewhere."

Perhaps she meant more than 'tourist'. After all, a tourist, in some definitions, only spoke of someone from the same planet, or even a nearby planet. From another galaxy or universe, on the other hand, might not have been something they were familiar with. Not in the context of a tourist, certainly...

When the martial artist mentioned the armor, the Suzerain blinked, and brought her free hand up to rest on the breastplate, in thought. "Yes, this was forged by the best smiths in my country, and has served me well." She gazed at her companion's own attire. "If I'm not mistaken, your garb is also meant for martial combat. It appears to allow for much freedom of movement."

The two continued on in the direction of the forest...

Corpses. Quite a lot of them. It wasn't an unfamiliar sight, seeing as the Suzerain had walked many battlefields before. However, this appeared to be more of a massacre than a proper battle. That made it no less gristly, but one had to wonder, really. Who, or what, would go through all the trouble of murdering so many people who only wanted to get some medicinal plants?

Animal instinct? Or some true intention? She needed more information before she could parse a logical answer. The Suzerain's eyes narrowed as they continued on. Both in deeper thought at the possibilities explaining the motives behind this ghastly deed, and at the fact that this... interference and confusion... was intensifying.

It wasn't quite a migraine yet, but it had already reached the level of a minor discomfort. It appeared that her young companion, however, had not steeled herself so well against this effect. Perhaps it was inexperience in dealing with mental interference, or a biological susceptibility to this substance, if it was physical in nature.

Either way, this would prove troublesome when they encountered the ones responsible for the earlier murders. Yes, it was not a matter of if. It was a matter of when. If it was an animal, then this forest was its territory, and it would protect it. If it was some kind of sapient entity, or entities, then they would have reasons to assail those helpless people.

And as the two of them were already past the bloodbath, they were even deeper within this mysterious force's land.

"It is uncomfortable now. More than just a disorientation. We might lose our way if we aren't careful." Not quite a headache, nor something that would keep you up at night. More of a heaviness than anything else, but it was definitely enough to slightly bother and keep her from maximum focus.

"That could be a possibility," a third one, to be precise. "It might also be psychic in nature... or perhaps something airborne..." Mynia was a knight, not a scholar. She did not possess the full knowledge of the sciences, much unlike the Sovereign before her, but she knew enough about reasoning and the importance of education to put them as major priorities for her star nation.

Before anything else could be said, however, a bright white sphere flew up into the sky from the canopy and exploded. Given the ki she could sense emanating from the resulting false moon, it was now clear that the massacre was perpetrated by sentient beings... sentient beings capable of harnessing ki.

A few moments later, and a pair of giant apes dressed in the signature Saiyan armor rose up above the canopy. The Scribes had informed her that Saiyans were capable of transforming into powerful Great Apes, which greatly magnified their power level.

This was only confirmed when her companion spoke of them by name. Great Apes.

It seemed, however, that she was not the most encouraged. In which case, the Suzerain would have to snap her out of this fear. Placing a hand on the younger woman's shoulder, she started. "Asuka. Do you not need that medicinal herb? Which is your greater fear? These beasts? Or losing those who you have set out to cure? Come! We fight not for ourselves, but for your village!"

Her message delivered, she materialized her Holy Lance in her right hand and stuck two of her left fingers in her mouth to whistle aloud. Just beside her, reality distorted... bending until it snapped open into a crack, out from which emerged a brilliant white armored stallion.

With no hesitation, the Suzerain hopped up and mounted herself on this steed and took the reins. "Regulus! We charge the one on the left!"

At this command, the horse reared up before galloping on thin air, rising with each step, ferrying its master up into the sky, and aiming for the bright red vulnerable eye of the one on the left. The Holy Lance glowed bright with power, and instead of merely running it through, she would fire a brilliant golden energy beam to soften up her target before striking it with the force of a meteorite. The battle had begun.

In the heat of battle, it was a key factor to keep a tight focus on yourself, your allies, and your objective. And while for most people, it was a challenge to spread the focus to all three elements when such a great distance separated them, she possessed what amounted to a metaphorical eagle's eye. All she needed to do was to sense that familiar power that flowed through her companion, and how it fared, to see if she was alright.

Even as the White Horseman dashed across the sky, she could feel surges, dips, ups, and downs, as Asuka struggled, succeeded, and took on damage from her personal engagement. Her focus remained on her foe, however, the hulking Great Ape stomping through the forest without the difficulty one would expect from being so huge. It seemed that size was not a detriment to their speed, a truly fascinating observation.

Still, this nonsense he spewed from his mouth was almost as terrible as the "bad breath" that it entailed in the form of gigantic ki blasts. Clumsy and uncoordinated. Flying past with some of the worst aim she had ever seen. Likely a result of some sort of mental pollution of sorts, that had corrupted his thinking. The madness was as palpable as his words, and almost as laughable.

Always a valid tactic in warfare was combat of the psychological nature. Especially if your opponent was already slightly unhinged. This one was no threat to her, at any rate, and it would be a fascinating exercise to see just how well Saiyans - even mentally disturbed ones - would react to what some of the locals had described as 'trash talk'.

The Scribes had described the Dominion as one of the dominant military forces in the Galaxy, to which many Saiyans swore fealty. As such, it was a force to be reckoned with. It was an interesting thought experiment. To pit a power that possessed many warriors on the level of Knights against the pure statistics of Albarica...

And yet, she was not allowed to pursue such things outside of thought experiments. Fortunately, she was not her battle-hungry sister Spathrax, who would no doubt attempt to invade the Dominion if given the chance. The key point here was numbers... that same reason why even the intervention of a God of Destruction could not end the eternal war.

There were simply too many of them. And they weren't too shabby as warriors either.

She would have to test the mettle of the Dominion herself later on. For now, though, this would be nothing more than a baseless assertion to see if she could rile them up further.

The Suzerain scoffed at the top of her lungs. "Fools! You fell victim to the Dominion's rule? If so, then my White Empire will easily trample you underfoot!"

To emphasize her point, she tugged on Regulus' reins. The armored white stallion galloped straight into the path of one of the ki blasts. His master thrust her Holy Lance into the gigantic ball of violent energy, puncturing it through and through. The swirling golden vortex of its power spun harder, faster, brighter, until the sphere of power was engulfed in its light.

"If your goal is to liberate yourselves from the tyranny of the Dominion, then your weakness is as clear as day!"

"Shut up, Dominion Dog! We will be free of you soon!"

More blasts, just as erratic as before. It seemed his delusion that she worked for the Queen of the Saiyans was too strong for him to even acknowledge her words, words that implied she ruled a different star nation.

It was pitiful, in a way. If she could force herself to feel pity, at any rate. The heart was deceitful above all things, and the only way to be victorious was to control it. While Mynia had not yet fully mastered her heart after all these centuries, it could be argued that her heart was far more powerful than most. It was clear, then. Her opponent had become mad, as he was blinded in one eye.

In such a case, then, negotiation was in no uncertain terms, off the table now. The only way to proceed would be to break them down with overwhelming force. Rearing up at her command once more, the royal courser whinnied with anticipation of the next move.

The Suzerain tapped deeper into her power and that of her Holy Lance, which brightened as it spun once again, golden energies forming a spiral to orbit the weapon. "To the Earth! Charge, Regulus!"

Releasing all that pent up energy, the stallion surged forth, down at its target, as the light of the Holy Lance grew to envelop them both, transforming into a spiral shooting star that struck the ground beneath the Great Ape's feet. A brief split second of a low rumbling was quickly eclipsed by a violent explosion that engulfed the giant beast and everything within twenty feet of him.

Dirt, wood, and trees were vaporized. Rock was blown up into the air. As if a golden volcano erupted from underneath. When it subsided and the dust settled, a neighing horse and its Knight stood atop the prostrate, unconscious form of the Great Ape, its armour and fur visibly burnt from the attack.

Regulus had tasted proverbial blood and desired more, his Master's tight grip on the reins the only thing keeping him from charging the remaining ape. Mynia looked in the direction of Asuka's power, lowered, from having been struck earlier, no doubt. "This one is all yours, Asuka! Show me the skill of Earth's warriors!"

So did the Suzerain observe her traveling companion's skillful attack that most certainly broke the back of the other remaining Great Ape. The Saiyan race had a fearsome reputation. The records indicated that three of them participated in Unvierse 7's Tournament of Power team. Of course, as it were, when it came to such things, it was improper to make generalizations based solely on race.

Saiyans staked their pride on being a mighty warrior race. But clearly, not all members of a race are created equal. Perhaps these Saiyans were the bottom of the pack, which was why they ran away from the Dominion. Regardless, Asuka's attack was brutally efficient, the kind that Mynia would welcome under the right circumstances.

It would seem, however, that the warrior had in the process, pushed herself to the limit. Maybe these Saiyans weren't in the rump of their race, if defeating one for a fighter like Asuka meant a mutual knock out. In this way, one might consider the possibility that the Suzerain was beginning to lose her assessment of certain standards that were beneath her power. No. That should not have been the case. She would have to pay more attention to the abilities of those surrounding her.

Approaching her traveling companion in the last moments of consciousness, she would nod in affirmation. "Your skill is impressive, Asuka. And you have done very well in eliminating this obstacle." Slowly, the young woman's eyes shut.

The Suzerain would pick her up and set the unconscious body atop the saddle of her steed. "And now, we shall continue on our quest to procure those herbs your village requires..."

Easier said than done. Aside from the fact that her headache had grown more prominent the deeper she went into the forest, the disorientation that kept her from finding the way... Well... she had no idea what this herb looked like at all. What was the most rational thing to do, then?

Perhaps to wait for her to awaken. But one must also consider the contexts. Time was of the essence. And so the superior option would be to spend the waiting time picking unfamiliar herbs by herself. Once Asuka awakened, then there would be time for her to identify which one was the specific medicinal plant that she required.

The risk, of course, was that if this malaise they were currently experiencing was the result of a plant, then one of these plants might be the cause, and they could be continuously inhaling the dangerous agent.

But it was a risk she would have to take. Nodding to herself, the Suzerain took her steed, upon which she placed her traveling companion, and then wandered into the forest, plucking whatever herb seemed unusual...

Rhomynia stared down at the unimposing young man standing in front of her, surrounded by beautiful white forest flowers. Hair and eyes as dark as the longcoat draped over his shoulders and the blade he wielded in his hand. While most people wouldn't think twice about his nondescript nature, she understood the reality behind this apparently innocuous character.

"Why am I not surprised to find you here?"

The young man only smirked in response. "Is that any way to talk, now? After all, we haven't seen each other in such a long time, Dear Sister."

"The only thing we've had in common since you gave in to your weakness is the incubation chamber," the Suzerain responded, drawing her Holy Lance. "Not even the blood that flows in our veins is the same anymore."

The young man laughed at her comment and brandished that dark blade, playfully swishing it about. "Your words wound me deeply, Sister. Right to the core. But surely you can't deny that despite my so-called weakness, this has only made me stronger, right?"

Mynia charged at full power, a brilliant golden streak that dashed across the forest grass and vaporizing anything caught in her path. "This abominable force that wields you might be power, but it is not strength if you haven't earned it!"

Her 'brother' parried the joust, ever so slightly pushing her off course with such precision that she missed him by mere inches. "We never had to 'earn' a thing in our lives. Father created us with our destinies set in stone, our potential established. Think about it. Back when your handlers 'trained' you. Was there any difficulty at all, or did you master your 'training' almost immediately? Was it your effort? Or was it your talent?"

"I know what I've fought for." Rhomynia broke off her charge as soon as she knew she would miss, and instead settled for thrusting the lance in his direction. He parried it to the side and swiftly countered, his longsword sliding up along the head of her lance and stabbing into her shoulder.

She winced visibly, her opponent taking advantage of the opening and rapidly stepping into point blank range as he drew a second sword.

"You never earned any of that, did you? Your surrogate understood who and what you are. And so he handed everything to you on a silver platter." The dark man placed his second blade along her neck as his face closed in to hers. "Such rank hypocrisy. You can't even live up to your own standard. Tell me one good thing you've really fought for. One good thing you've given your all."

Through gritted teeth, the Suzerain began to charge her free fist with energy. "I'm fighting right now. I'm giving my everything... to become God of Destruction!" Spotting a moment of opportunity, she threw that fist into an uppercut that would be sure to strike his chin with enough force to crack a planet.

Instead, it went straight through him. "What the..."

The young man only smirked as he stepped back. "I guess we'll see when the time comes." With that, he disappeared, leaving the Suzerain in a clearing full of beautiful white flowers.

It was only after checking herself and seeing that she wasn't even slightly wounded. That was when she realized, this whole time, that she felt none of the malign power that one would expect from someone whose Heart was active. That was not Black Emperor Arcuros, the Horseman known also as Famine. Though he was indeed crafty as he was powerful, it was not him who was behind the headaches and disorientation.

It was a completely different force entirely. It had to be. Whatever it was, it had materialized the doubts and fears within her own mind. She had to retain her control, lest it completely take over.

So what then was causing this?

Mynia looked around. There was only her, the grass, and these beautiful white flowers... Could it be them?

Mynia stared coldly at the two new suspects who appeared. From their attire, scientists. From their words, the puppet masters behind this little charade. Were it not for the fact that she still needed to find the curative herb in question, she would have instantly vaporized them for being nuisances.

What science they researched was clearly in the realm of mental interference, and it would have been a simple matter to extract any notes they had from their charred remains after. That being said, had acquiring this research been her first priority, it would have been far more practical to simply threaten them.

At the very least, they seemed to be capable of telling that she was rather powerful.

They had absolutely no idea.

That these insects would dare demand compensation from someone far beyond their petty affairs was fascinating. Was it because they were unaware of just what exactly had ruined their experiment? Were they actually significantly more powerful, but merely concealing it? Or did they simply not care?

One would have to wonder what kind of arrogance, idiocy, or madness one would have to possess to demand some form of reparation from someone who did not even register them as specks. And yet they did so.

"Were I capable of being amused, I would be laughing at this sheer insolent audacity." Beyond their notice, but certainly within hers, a faint power level rose. "Instead, I would proffer that you take your little science fair experiment elsewhere, because I have no time for such childish pursuits."

Empty words, one might add. Mere fluff to distract them further, until, surely enough, vengeance came from behind. If there was anything to be learned about test subjects for such things as mental interference, it would be that one would be safe to bet on how it would be foolish to step down into the testing area without sufficient security.

Or without a sufficient power level. One or the other.

"Though it seems you have ignored your own safety protocols at your own peril."

As the broken Saiyans revealed themselves in thanks and paid them in return, the Suzerain could only nod. "Your strength is impressive. Do not think that this is where it ends. Receive this freedom with joy. Go and begin anew."

Whether her words meant anything to them or not did not matter. She had spoken her piece, and assured them that any warrior worth their scars should continue on. For now, there were more important issues to deal with. For one, the application of this medicinal herb, this... Nikko Flower... to Asuka. And then, to bring as much as necessary to her village.

It was rather ironic, one would think. The very object they searched for was the same cause for their trouble. A beautiful flower with altruistic healing properties. But just like a rose with thorns, this Nikko was not all wonders and delight, as it housed a very insidious dark side within its petals.

Nobody ever did explain to her how this plant was to be used. But if the basics of medicinal plants were anything to go by, it should suffice for one to crush the plant in question, and apply its juices to the affected areas.

So did the Suzerain take the Saiyans' parting gift and crush it between her gauntlets, metal plates squeezing the juices out of the beautiful flower. Concentrated fragrance within it wafting up into the air. This was indeed a very pleasant scent, perhaps seeing some additional function as a decorative plant.

In combination with that, perhaps the TekScribes could also take a look and study its properties, that they could exploit it somehow. They were a long way from the White Empire, and any local resources that could substitute for their supplies would certainly be much appreciated.

Mynia spread the juices across the cuts, bruises, and wounds that littered her associate's body. While she was unsure if this would be sufficient, the only way to find out now that nobody was around to tell her was of course, to experiment.

And so she did, making sure to find and cover every inch of injury with this rejuvenating balm. This work done, she would place Asuka back atop loyal Regulus, and proceed to pick as many of these flowers as would fit the girl's pouch, as well as the one that hung from the steed's side.

She had no idea how many people needed this, and so she would be sure to take as many as possible. There had to be enough to be studied and replanted aboard the Eildon's gardens, after all. "This day is far from over, but it seems to me that I've found quite a few answers."

Yes, these answers would suffice for now. Asuka's village would benefit greatly from this endeavour, and so would the Expeditionary Fleet...

A strange journey born from quite literally wandering this particular wilderness. As it turned out, a fortunate coincidence led her to a rather fruitful meeting, and a potentially useful discovery. After assisting with a search for medicinal herbs, which ironically also served as the cause for most of their trouble, one might even say it was an investment of time well-spent.

The Suzerain had gathered a large sample of this brilliant white flower, and sent half of it away with the Rangers. As one would expect of this elite cadre, they came and went without anyone else really noticing they were there. Regardless, they would perform their duty with the utmost diligence, and soon, the Apothecaries would break down these plants to study their unique properties, as so helpfully explained by the mad scientists.

Who were now thankfully out of the way.

As for Mynia herself, she had slathered her injured but worthy companion with some of this plant, and tucked the rest away in a pouch that seemed to have been sent with Asuka for the purpose of gathering them. And so, with the unconscious champion in tow, she would find her way out of the forest, back to the road, and follow it to the village.

The brilliant warhorse Regulus of the Great White Stable carried their combined weight like it was nothing. As one would expect of a steed of fine upbringing, keeping up a relaxed gait as he cantered down the road to a settlement that had what clearly served as a house of worship.

The immediate recognition by the guards of her traveling companion made it much easier to confirm that this was indeed the place they were looking for. Identifying Asuka as 'the Champion', they greeted the newcomer and shifted to a challenge.

A rational response.

After all, she kept their champion unconscious at her back. For all they knew, she had beaten Asuka and simply come here to loot the village. Showing no change in her stoic expression, the Suzerain parsed some thoughts through her mind, checking their appropriateness before finally sending them through her mouth.

"My purpose here is simple," Mynia responded as she stepped off her horse and gently brought Asuka down into a bridal carry. "To assist your champion, Asuka, in delivering these precious medicinal herbs to your village."

Did it matter that it might be seen as embarrassing to be carried in such a fashion? Not to the Suzerain, at least, who was more concerned with keeping her comfortable. A knight's lift was probably not as comfortable, considering how that worked out, but given how it was designed to get comrades off the battlefield - and that could be a pretty big battlefield - was the best compromise for the one being carried, and the one doing the carrying.

"Feel free to distribute the herbs to your apothecaries for processing," with a short, slim note of a whistle, she called her steed to follow as she made her way to the gate, paying no heed to the spears that had been brandished. "As for myself, I shall be bringing your champion to a bed, where she can recover more comfortably. We have just completed an arduous quest fraught with danger. Like Saiyans."

Of the various shrine maidens who were in view just earlier, a new one joined the fray. Judging by what the voices from behind her were yelling, she was one of great importance. More significantly, she held great concern for Asuka.

The Suzerain walked up to her. "Your champion has fought with honour and skill. Be proud that she serves your village, for she will go far as she hones her abilities." She drew a device from somewhere on her person and passed it on to the head maiden. A circular tablet apparently fashioned from decorative white stone. "Should she ever wish to seek an audience at my court, she may contact me this way."

This said and done, she would bring Asuka to wherever they would guide her, and set her down on the bed. If they asked her to stay until they could speak again, so be it. But if they did not, then she was best to be on her way back.

The Rangers, no doubt, were watching her every step, and were already eager to hear her own side of the report.

But such was the fate of a head of state. There was always someone, somewhere out there, who required her attention. As a leader, it was her sworn duty to return and resume command of those who followed. Individual journeys such as this were not to be taken lightly, and must serve their purpose. Any extra time spent would have to be properly justified.

At this point, she could very much say that she was satisfied with the outcome...