Another warm, dry day in the land of Astaria. The sun was high in the middle of the clear sky and a gentle breeze broke up the heat. The Queen was in her drawing room with her court and the King was in a meeting with his councils. The prince wandered the courtyard with a string of girls behind him. The castle was bustling with servants, courtiers and courtesans.

Even outside the palace, in the central city, there were people going about their business with vigor. The market strip was filled with patrons and people selling their wares. The bakeries smoked as their stoves filled with the scent of fresh baked breads.

(Human Form) Athena was within a blacksmith's shop near the markets. She was looking at all the different types of swords. Currently she was looking over a group of swords. The 2nd, 3rd and 5th swords really peeked her interests. But she felt like they weren't right for her. They were a bad weight and they were way too expensive for her to purchase.

She lets out a loud sigh as she stares at them. "Do you have anything else?"

The Blacksmith shrugs as he walks out the back and comes back with a short sword made from wood. Athena just stares at it with a blank expression and gets up "Thank you for your help sir, much appreciated"

She bows as she leaves the smithery and heads for the market

The tavern was rowdier than usual, the heat netting in a thick crowd of customers. Drunken singing mingled with the sounds of chatter. Cama smiled to herself as she loked over the mass of people. Her quick hands moved with practiced speed as she served up ordered drinks, each motion quick and precise. It was one if the reasons her boss kept her around, even if she got a bit...troublesome...at times.

"Cama!" a familiar voice called from behind. Cama's boss, a big burly beast of a man, walked over to her. "Go take a break. You've done enough already."

"You sure, boss?" A smile lit up her face at her employer's nod and, with a quick hug if thanks, Cama threw her apron onto the bar counter and rushed away from the smell of alcohol and into the marketplace. She was one of the lucky ones, and she knew it. Her boss could have turned her into authorities, or made her into a slave. Instead, he hired Cama and treated her like an equal--no, like a daughter.
Cama looked around the market, her pace slowing as she observed the wares.

Having left the estate of Lord Velmont, Sora thought about what her next plans were. She usually just went from town to town, never staying for long. In this case, she actually had a "place" to go back to. Guess I should check out the area. And if I find people wanting a bodyguard, I'll tell Vel. He should be fine with it. If he isn't, then I ain't his "property" any more. No more "place" to return either, but doesn't really matter.

As she started to get closer to the busier market area, a group of burly men approached her, noticing her +Anima birthmark. Giving them a sharp glare, she could see they were ready to attack. It wasn't that uncommon for her. However, she pulled out a slip, showing the mark of Lord Velmont, and the men cowered. Guess it's pretty useful after all. Although, it just simplifies things. Taking care of them is a hassle since more come afterwards. She thought, as she turned away and walked. The men were left "powerless" in front of that paper. Hurting the Anima of another person was a crime, especially of nobles and lords.

With all of the bustle in the market, Sora started to walk into a smithery, seeing a girl with long pink hair, with red eyes in a black dress walk out. The girl was taller then Sora, as well as having a bigger chest. Sora noticed the blades on the girl's hip, keeping alert, unsure of what kind of person she was. She was always cautious. Walking into the smithery, she saw blades on display. However, they seemed so decorative. She sighed at the sight of them, before exiting the store.

The Princess loved her brother, but rather did not like the string of young women that always followed him. When they were little, they had spent so much time together; now, he always had something better to do than entertain his beautiful little sister. She sat in the courtyard, sighing with exasperation as his giggling party passed. "It's as if I don't even exist anymore," she complained to her personal servant: a lowly but polite Anima to whom Sabinne often thoughtlessly vented to.

Still, she wasn't wrong: with her parents busy running the kingdom and her playboy of a brother being groomed for kinghood, Sabinne only existed to look pretty. And as much as she and her family loved one another, it was only a matter of time before she was married off to some high class nobleman's first born son. she was a young, beautiful woman herself after all. The thought filled the princess with dread. "I need to get out of here." Of course, she would never run away; she had much of her mother's loyalty. But the stress of growing and earning more and more responsibility not only as a princess but soon a wife...and then a mother...Sabinne was not excited.

He slammed his axe against the ringed corner of a tree stump. "I love the smell of nature in daylight!" A felled tree's end rested on a large man's shoulder with the other scraping the ground creating skid marks with every step of the lumberjack's stroll. A few others joined him soon after with carts all filled with twigs and kindling all to prepare for the winter that will come. "Today was quite the day would you say so Yuan?" One of them matched his own speed to his. "Let's all have a round at the tavern right after this. Don't worry, its on me!" The large man let out a sincere smile.

"Today was certainly refreshing and exhausting Ferdinand. Nothing is as good as refreshing brewery to relinquish these tire bones." They were not far from the Lumberjack's Mill, where another man stood looking towards them as the group of other lumberjackers drew in close. Ferdinand pushed against Yuan's might gently.

"You above all people shouldn't feel as tired as we are! But hey-- that doesn't matter. We're all just like family in the Guild right?" The two shared a quick laugh.

"That we are, Ferndinand. That we are." The lumberjacks deposited their hard-earned wood and returned to the Guild Headquarters uneventfully.

(same tavern as @Fubsy's)
The sounds of cackling men, lively tavern music and cold alcohol embraces Ferdinand and Yuan. The two men quickly attempted to find an empty seat and made themselves comfortable at the table ordering food and drinks while both idly discussing common rabble.