@Cuccoruler@Banana
Claire took a look at the ruins of San Fracisco. It was way worse than she thought. She had avoided visiting the city, as she had spent a time living there back when everything didn't go to hell and back. She had some rather fond memories of Djing in some clubs in the city. It wasn't the best city, as fog was spread in random parts of the place for about half of each year, but it was still fun. The sun showed up in parts that mattered the most, and a ton of the big sights were only slightly less grand in reality as it was in advertisements.
Now the place was just as wrecked as the other unoccupied cities and towns on the planet. Anything that was still standing was covered by Mother Nature's version of revenge. Vines and shrubbery and all sort of wild plants, invasive ones, and plenty of weeds. Despite what some people used to say, the place didn't look as good as they fantasized. It only made the place look like Silent Hill if it had a secret garden of herbal inhalants.
...and then Xoxi left and returned with actual ingredients for herbal inhalants. Claire chuckled at the sight. She didn't even know if such a thing would affect Cia that much. Though, maybe it was the thought that counts. Still, Xoxi said something London, causing the Music Goddess to tilt her head in confusion. They had just gotten there, and they were about to leave? But there was an entire town to explore. Why leave now? If Cia can't handle walking around empty ruins, then how will she ever see the survivors? Besides, Claire had some things of her own that she had to get.
"Wait, hold up. Let's take a look around first. There's some places I want to check out while we're here."
The figure stood where he was. He had been doing so for a while. Yes, he had spent some time thinking about the three travelers that he spotted. They had clean clothes, so he assumed that they had some valuable loot on them. Even if they didn't the clothes themselves would probably fetch something of worth to the right person. And no person in their right mind would travel without something to protect themselves. Those items would be useful to have as well.
Still, that wasn't what he was thinking of at the moment. Right now, he was focusing. Fusing two spells was an easy feat for a Duskician. Understanding the concept came natural to them. Combining two high-level spells, however was understandably difficult. Teleporting far distances was hard enough in and of itself. Teleporting in a way that didn't have him appear inside another person's body and killing them both was even more so. So, he had to cast a long-range teleportation spell, fused with a spell that manipulates darkness in a way that allows the user to detect the presence and positions of those standing in large shadows. This took time, effort, and focus. He'll be tired at the end, but he'd be where he wanted to be without complication.
His eyes were closed, and his breathing was calm. The instant his spell was ready, his eyes opened, and darkness surrounded him. He sunk into the shadows as if he was in water, and rose up in a den outside the ruins of San Francisco. Near him were the members of the Bandit group he was in. Six other individuals who were waiting patiently for his return.
There were four Mirifakino Exiles, waiting around. They were the grunts of the group, doing nothing but what they're told. They were exiled for being mere followers in the violent tribes. Those who could not think for themselves had no place. The violent ones of the Mirifakino held dreams of becoming legends, and despised those who held dreamt of anything less. Thus, they were forced to wander about until death. They were found by this group, and joined as they had no other means to survive. These Exiles wore the masks that showed this status, so that any others would know to show them no kindness.
The other two were pretty much different. They held a bit more of a position among them. They were certainly no followers. Though none called themselves the leader of this group, these two held themselves in high regard. As such, the exiles held them in such positions as well. The first one was a Myceling that looked to have a sort of short-temper, while also holding some sort of dark humor. He was a former soldier of the Myceling Kingdom that went rogue because of some murders he had committed to gain his rank. His name was Jerry. Jerry Pie. He joined the group after holding his own against the Exiles, and being promised that he'd gain wealth with them. The second was an Inkling that looked to be way too laid-back. His name was Resin, and he just sort of showed up one day and joined without permission. The others had no argument with his joining, as the inkling was smart and creative enough to plan out some successful robberies without much going wrong. The others didn't really know him that well, but most of them couldn't care less.
In any case, the figure took a moment to catch his breath. They all looked at him expectantly. He spoke to them,
"I've found some new...worthy targets."
Claire took a look at the ruins of San Fracisco. It was way worse than she thought. She had avoided visiting the city, as she had spent a time living there back when everything didn't go to hell and back. She had some rather fond memories of Djing in some clubs in the city. It wasn't the best city, as fog was spread in random parts of the place for about half of each year, but it was still fun. The sun showed up in parts that mattered the most, and a ton of the big sights were only slightly less grand in reality as it was in advertisements.
Now the place was just as wrecked as the other unoccupied cities and towns on the planet. Anything that was still standing was covered by Mother Nature's version of revenge. Vines and shrubbery and all sort of wild plants, invasive ones, and plenty of weeds. Despite what some people used to say, the place didn't look as good as they fantasized. It only made the place look like Silent Hill if it had a secret garden of herbal inhalants.
...and then Xoxi left and returned with actual ingredients for herbal inhalants. Claire chuckled at the sight. She didn't even know if such a thing would affect Cia that much. Though, maybe it was the thought that counts. Still, Xoxi said something London, causing the Music Goddess to tilt her head in confusion. They had just gotten there, and they were about to leave? But there was an entire town to explore. Why leave now? If Cia can't handle walking around empty ruins, then how will she ever see the survivors? Besides, Claire had some things of her own that she had to get.
"Wait, hold up. Let's take a look around first. There's some places I want to check out while we're here."
Meanwhile...
The figure stood where he was. He had been doing so for a while. Yes, he had spent some time thinking about the three travelers that he spotted. They had clean clothes, so he assumed that they had some valuable loot on them. Even if they didn't the clothes themselves would probably fetch something of worth to the right person. And no person in their right mind would travel without something to protect themselves. Those items would be useful to have as well.
Still, that wasn't what he was thinking of at the moment. Right now, he was focusing. Fusing two spells was an easy feat for a Duskician. Understanding the concept came natural to them. Combining two high-level spells, however was understandably difficult. Teleporting far distances was hard enough in and of itself. Teleporting in a way that didn't have him appear inside another person's body and killing them both was even more so. So, he had to cast a long-range teleportation spell, fused with a spell that manipulates darkness in a way that allows the user to detect the presence and positions of those standing in large shadows. This took time, effort, and focus. He'll be tired at the end, but he'd be where he wanted to be without complication.
His eyes were closed, and his breathing was calm. The instant his spell was ready, his eyes opened, and darkness surrounded him. He sunk into the shadows as if he was in water, and rose up in a den outside the ruins of San Francisco. Near him were the members of the Bandit group he was in. Six other individuals who were waiting patiently for his return.
There were four Mirifakino Exiles, waiting around. They were the grunts of the group, doing nothing but what they're told. They were exiled for being mere followers in the violent tribes. Those who could not think for themselves had no place. The violent ones of the Mirifakino held dreams of becoming legends, and despised those who held dreamt of anything less. Thus, they were forced to wander about until death. They were found by this group, and joined as they had no other means to survive. These Exiles wore the masks that showed this status, so that any others would know to show them no kindness.
The other two were pretty much different. They held a bit more of a position among them. They were certainly no followers. Though none called themselves the leader of this group, these two held themselves in high regard. As such, the exiles held them in such positions as well. The first one was a Myceling that looked to have a sort of short-temper, while also holding some sort of dark humor. He was a former soldier of the Myceling Kingdom that went rogue because of some murders he had committed to gain his rank. His name was Jerry. Jerry Pie. He joined the group after holding his own against the Exiles, and being promised that he'd gain wealth with them. The second was an Inkling that looked to be way too laid-back. His name was Resin, and he just sort of showed up one day and joined without permission. The others had no argument with his joining, as the inkling was smart and creative enough to plan out some successful robberies without much going wrong. The others didn't really know him that well, but most of them couldn't care less.
In any case, the figure took a moment to catch his breath. They all looked at him expectantly. He spoke to them,
"I've found some new...worthy targets."
