[IC] Tales of The Radiant Brigade

[vancexentan]

It is another bright, warm, if somewhat excessively warm, day at the city of Zaphias, the Imperial Capital, as the people go about their daily lives doing as they normally would. Merchants are coming today and the imperial knights are on watch. The noble quarter is expecting a party today to celebrate the fact that a group of Imperial Knights, the Harken Brigade, has come back from slaying a rather powerful monster near the Imperial Capital. The nobles are all in a buzz as they insist on the party being thrown including the head of the local merchant's union, Thomas Meijin, whom has given almost half his profits towards this festival in order to honor the men he has insisted on 'sponsoring the Harken Brigadiers' in this event. So with the influence of Meijin and the grant by Lord Pembroke of The Imperial Five (a conclave of advisers to king whom dictate the politicians in the various areas and overall tend to specific regions at a time) the lower quarter's inhabitants are being hired by the dozen to get things together for it. However some of both the quarters are more concerned with one thing, the theft of various blastia around the city than the festival itself which coincides with various members of both sections planning on a mass search around the city to look for the person or persons whom broke the blastia or stole them through the city which has been condemned by the more active members of the Imperial Knights and ignored by the lazier sections. However the knights have outlawed vigilantes from doing much in the past few years due to a massive fight that broke out a couple years back between a merchant's group and the lower quarter. Since then the knights have been rather harsh on the lower quarter leading to some discontent amongst the citizenry. Thus we start out in the afternoon of this radiant day....
===
Mutsu Honda was spending his day like everyone else in the lower quarter...preparing to deal with the heat of the day. He had his usual clothes drenched in sweat and a cold glass of water next to him as he sat more or less still in front of one of the only working blastia in the city. With the heat of the day they couldn't afford some scoundrel to come and wreck things. Of course he'd be welcome home up if he chose to go back up to them but he didn't think he could just abandon the lower section to a lack of able bodied men just yet despite how much fun the festival would be compared to....guard duty. He gripped his old sword, which he had been given by the lower quarter as a gift and he had taken it over the more high quality swords sold by merchants out of sentimental value. Of course he knew he'd have to give it up eventually after all it was really old and rugged around the hilt. It was made by the local black smith's son so he could forgive the poor design. He twirled the thing around for a bit before sighing as he adjusted his Bodhi blastia on his wrist instead. This heat was KILLING him and the only solaces was that he was getting paid for this and that water was nearby. What maniac would try to get this thing in the middle of broad daylight anyways? "Man this heat sucks something fierce! But hey at least I got my trusty sword right....and I'm talking to myself....great....I'm not only sweating, getting sunburn, and dying of boredom but I've turned to talking to myself! I wish I had someone to talk to..." Mutsu commented bluntly as his old friend Cain came over and wrapped his arm around him suddenly from behind. Mutsu almost fell back into the pool of water behind of him before Cain caught him. Cain wore his usual leather clothes and he was almost as black as coal...or at least as black as a white man could look. Cain was a man who spent hours and sometimes days worth of time in the sun and was a Imperial Knight whom his mother had known from childhood. The man was older than him but no less of a friend. "What's wrong little man?! Come on your uncle would hate to see you like this with your face all pouty!" Cain said laughing as Mutsu glared at him through squinted eyes. "Shouldn't you be off partying or getting a sponge bath since your clearly to old to bathe yourself?" Mutsu commented towards Cain whom laughed hard, "Still got your uncle's wit about you? I swear your more like him than your greasy old pa!" Cain retorted as Mutsu groaned but let a small smirk slip on his lips.

[benit149]

The main entrance to Zaphias was bustling with activity in preparation for the festival. Folks rushed in and out of the place going about their business. This was the scene that a pair of young traveling girls entered upon after coming from Deidon Hold in the north. They carried a few satchels chock full of materials from their hunts in the Quoi Woods, which they intended to sell at the merchants’ union shop in Zaphias.

On the surface, these girls were hardly ordinary. They were identical twin sisters, both having neck-length chestnut brown hair tied into a bow, and crisp blue eyes like the sea. If anyone paid careful attention, they would notice that the twins’ walking was in perfect sync as well; when one stepped with their left foot, the other did so with their right.

That was where the similarities ended. The older twin, Krita Shizumori, wore green and orange clothes and reacted to the hustle and bustle with vivid interest. She kept a large wooden staff buckled to her back, and she wore her bodhi blastia as a bracelet on her left wrist. Her younger sister Krile had identical clothes colored red and blue, but she looked more vapid and uninterested. She kept a short scimitar in its sheath on her right hip, and her blastia was a bracelet on her right wrist.

“Phew… Damn, this heat is murdering me!!” Krita wiped her brow. “Pray tell, why did we need to come all this way? We could’ve just sold everything at Deidon and scooted back to Quoi, no problem! I miss the shade already…”

Krile murmured in a low voice, “Our funds are running short. The Eggbear claw we fought so hard to obtain should be more profitable in Zaphias. In addition, there is an unusual amount of activity going on. More activity means more customers for merchants. More customers for them means a higher demand for us to sell rare materials such as this to help meet their quota.”

“I know that. Law of the market and all that stuff. I just don’t like having to deal with people from the Empire any more than I need to. Besides, I keep hearing this whole festival business thing is just the Imperial Knights bragging about killing some monster. Big bloody deal. We do that all the time! This is nothing more than a propaganda scheme coupled with annoying pontificating! I should expect nothing less from the Empire!”

“It would be best not to engage in such attitude while in the Empire’s capital city,” Krile sharply warned. “Whether we like them or not, we still need to conduct business professionally.”

“Pfft! Then let’s just hurry up and get this over with! This rotten weather and noisy city are already starting to become a bad influence on me, and we haven’t even hit the nobles’ quarters yet! Now, where is the merchants’ HQ?”

“I believe it’s this way,” the quieter twin pointed northwest toward a series of steps leading to the center of Zaphias.

[Demous]

Say'ri sighs as she wanders the street, "Why did today of all days I get stuck with all the jobs in areas of the city I've never been before! I'm pretty sure I got every delivery for the Upper Quarter that needs to be delivered today..." she gestures to the large satchel she is wearing. Raiga just gives Say'ri a look which she responds by rolling her eyes, "Ya ya I know Raiga. It's my own fault for taking all of them without looking where they were going. Still it'll be worth the 1.5 times pay I'm getting for it even with this heat."

She looks around hoping to get her bearings but she didn't recognize anything. All the buildings looked the same to her and she had never been in this area in the first place so she was doubly confused about where she was, "Which way do you think we should go? I'm sure you'd have much better luck then me at this point. Take the lead Raiga!"

After she says this Raiga simply nods before turning and heading in a seeming random direction which she follows. After about five minutes later she was came out into an open area with a couple of Imperial Knights standing around an aqua blastia and she grins, "Finally someone I can ask directions from," She waves and shouts at the pair as sge approaches, "Hey, could the two of you help me! I'm kinda lost at the moments and could use some directions... and a map if you have one!"

[vancexentan]

The city in the noble quarter was so busy that the twins had to wait for large groups of men to pass by at a time hauling heavy equipment or otherwise long planks to make stalls for the returning gentlemen who were expected to be back in the city soon. As the twins were moving along a strange boy with slightly spikey scarlet orange hair passed by them accidently knocking into one of them before quickly twirling about and telling them that they needed to move faster before he vanished into the crowd. He looked like a common pickpocket but on inspection nothing was missing it just seemed like another rude kid in the middle of the capital. The locals seemed unfazed by this or otherwise didn't notice the small commotion. However a random citizen with a strange hat came waltzing up to the girls and he was frowning in the direction of the people. "Strange people are coming and going about this city....you two ok? I saw that boy run into you and I thought he may have taken something from you...thieves have been always been a problem in this city especially the noble quarter..." the man said as he glared towards the areas the boy ran towards. The group was nowhere in sight by now but the man seemed greatly distressed over this. However the group in the general vicinity seemed to careless with few acceptations. The man was in casual wear more or less and looked no different than the average well paid person.
===
Mutsu frowned when Cain mentioned his father not knowing how to respond to that he changed the subject. "Look old man have you even reported for your rounds or are there still newbies you've been hazing in to take over your shifts just so you can come and goof off with the less fortunate?" Mutsu asked him as Cain shrugged and smiled widely and before he could respond it seemed that it seemed that the local kids were going to pick on Cain as suddenly a water balloon smacked Cain in the face from behind, "HA got you Mr. CAIN!" a young boy shouted at him as Cain shivered as cold water ran down into his armor. He turned around and grinned at the kids creepily, "You brats I'm going to get you back for that! Time for a dip in the fountain!" Cain shouted as he ran after the kids as they laughed. Mutsu just stared blankly at this because it was normal for the children to pick on Cain whom was rather well respected in the lower quarter despite being pretty well off by all meanings of the word. Eventually Cain got tired out and sat down. "You know something old man you really suck at catching people." Mutsu said with a smirk as the old man grumbled about kids having way to much time on their hands now of days. However before they could get further into the conversation a lady and her pet walked up to him and Cain. "Oh hey there...sorry I don't got a map bu-" Mutsu started to say before he was more or less shoved aside as Cain gave the lady a savvy grin, "Oh hello pretty lady I'm sure I can be of more help to you than this little boy-" Mutsu glared at him and his smirk twitched. He wanted to smack the guy upside the head for his pervy behavior but decided against it but he did kick the man's armor ankle quickly. "Ow you little! ANYWAYS I have a map of the town, woes to me if I didn't I would end up being a poor knight without a map of his own city, I'm sure that a lovely lady like yourself would be heading towards the noble district I mean this dirty little section is only home to people like my friend Mutsu-" Mutsu didn't let Cain finish the line before he grabbed the map from the man's belt and kicked his legs out from underneath Cain causing the knight to fall into the fountain. Mutsu glared at him before apologizing profusely. "I'm SO sorry please don't think of the city less because of him...Cain is a cool guy but he's got a soft spot for women....Anyways where do you need to go I'm familiar with most of the city so I can point it out easy on the old perv's map." Mutsu said as Cain grumbled and was taking off his metal chest plate in order to poor water out of it as he glared at Mutsu out of the corner of his eye.

[benit149]

As the twins were moving along a strange boy with slightly spikey scarlet orange hair passed by them accidently knocking into one of them before quickly twirling about and telling them that they needed to move faster before he vanished into the crowd.

"Shut up, you little rat! You're the one who needs to watch out!" Krita shouted over the crowd.

"Strange people are coming and going about this city....you two ok? I saw that boy run into you and I thought he may have taken something from you...thieves have been always been a problem in this city especially the noble quarter..."

"I'm okay," Krita nodded. "I'm glad to know someone cares in this city, unlike these apathetic-"

"Nothing was taken and you're not injured. Let's hurry to the merchant's HQ before a real thief takes us in," Krile interrupted her sister sharply before she could finish the insult.

"Grr... Thank you for your help, sir!" Krita saluted the gentleman and hurried after Krile. The twins kept a tighter watch on their satchels as they headed towards a house attached to a decently sized warehouse. This was the Meijin Trade House, Tolbyccia's largest merchant union warehouse and one of the Empire's pride and joys. They discovered a short line-up of other traders and sellers waiting in front of the reception desks and waited along with them.

"It seems many others had the same idea as us," Krile whispered.

Krita wasn't as concerned with the line as she was busy rejoicing the cool air inside. "Phew, this feels so nice... I feel like I've died and gone to Heaven..."

"Even though we're in Empire territory?"

"That's besides the point! Where is this nice breeze coming from?"

Krile pointed to a device attached to the wall with a shimmering blue crystal as its core and replied, "That must be an aque blastia converted into an air conditioner. Instead of providing water like that fountain I saw in the lower quarter, this one regulates the temperature inside a building."

The twins continued to wait in line, and Krita was quickly growing impatient with the wait. While she fidgeted and focused her glares on the receptionists, Krile spotted a repairman approaching the blastia and taking out several tools before fiddling with the machine. She raised an eyebrow and thought, The blastia seems to be working fine. Why would someone need to come in for repairs?

She kept an eye on the man as he continued his work. Eventually he pried the core out and placed it in his tool box, then gathered his tools and departed. Krile was astonished that no one else noticed him; everyone was just complacently going about their business as usual, and Krita was getting annoyed with the wait.

"Keep our place in line," Krile whispered and ducked beneath the queuing poles to pursue the thief.

"W-Wait, what? Sis, where are you going!?" Krita hissed helplessly.

[Demous]

Say'ri was startled by the older mans speech to help before raising an eyebrow as the younger one sent him into the fountain. Turning to the younger one she smiles, "Thanks, Mutsu was it, I've been wandering for a while and couldn't find my way back to known territory. I'm trying to get to the Upper Quarter I have several deliveries that need to get there today. I have a list of addresses and if you could give me directions that would be a big help," She reaches into the satchel and pulls out a rather long list, paper, and pen. Raiga growls something which causes her to laugh, "Also some water from that blastia would be wonderful if we could have some?"

She hands the things over before turning to Raiga, "You can go sit in the shade if you would like to this might take some time and we could both use a rest for a while," she turns back to the knight as Raiga heads over to the small patch of shade provided by the blastia and curls up staring at the older knight with her piercing golden eyes.

[vancexentan]

"Well my lady I suppose it is a good as day as any to get lost in the capital because of the festival being held by Meijin's group in town." Mutsu said chuckling as the old man finally recovered from his dip in the fountain to come back over and shove his hand, his wet cold hand, down onto Mutsu's head and rub it really hard getting Mutsu's head covered in water as he turned to face the old man in anger, "What the actual hell old man!? I don't need you shoving water into my head!" Mutsu complained though he did admit it felt somewhat good in this blasted heat. Cain on the other hand just laughed it off and smiled, "Hey I don't mind sitting here for a couple of minutes if it helps the lass out. Go and show her around Mutsu. After all you are more familiar than others with the noble quarter." Cain said smiling and chuckling to Mutsu who sighed deeply, "Um ok then well I suppose I could spare the time to show you around the city. I was going to say I was guardin' the blastia but it seems we got an imperial knight doing that for now. So where is it you need to go? I don't know too many specific houses but I can get you to a couple most probably...as for the water....well I suppose it'd be fine it's not like the blastia is going anywhere I'll fill your canteens if you hand them over for a quick second." Mutsu said if she handed them over he did so if not he simply shrugged and said maybe somewhere else could supply water for other purposes but he can't exactly go around giving away water. Mutsu grabbed his sword and put it on his belt and waited for the girl to show him the instructions. If she insisted he was fine on her on Mutsu would simply sit down and go back to talking with Cain if she said sure he'd go off and help her look around the city.

====

"Blast it!" said a man with a pointy hat as he looked at the fact that the air freezing blastia was missing from it's place in line. The man had a pointy hat and a cowl covering the sides of his face. At his side a small cat followed him and he wore thick glasses so that practically no one could see his eyes. He was tall and thin and seemed like a blastia mage. He quickly called for private mercenaries to go and search for the thief and inform the guards. The blastia was expensive and hard to find so it shouldn't be that hard to find in this city after all guards were on duty today being told to look out for stolen contraband from inside of the city or out of it. The man quickly vanished from view a few seconds later going into a room as the guards went about their duty. Another man nearby however simply stood there and sighed, he was clearly a guard and he had a axe placed on his back. "Next to see Mr. Meijin anyone!? Next to see Mr. Meijin or Lord Fardo the Collector?" The man called plainly as if he had said the same thing so many times it was like putting acid on his tongue.

[benit149]

"Y-Yes!" Krita called out, still frazzled from her sister running off. She approached the counter and said, "I'm here to see Mr. Fardo about selling some materials from Quoi."

"More nia fruit, I would imagine?" the receptionist wondered.

"Well, not really. I know how popular they are to sell for traps, so I figured there would be a lot of nia fruit sold here already. Let's see here..."

Krita shuffled through her satchels, mostly turning up some native plants, wood, insects, and fur from various animals. Then the Eggbear claw dropped out from the last bag, and the man's eyes lit up.

"Oooh, that's really something! Not too many people actively go hunting for Eggbears, and even fewer are able to come back with anything from them! Mr. Fardo will definitely be impressed, young lady!"

"I don't know about that... It was my sister who managed to get it, not me."

"Where is she? Mr. Fardo would be interested in meeting her... Oh, forget Fardo! Mr. Meijin would be honored to meet someone who can slay an Eggbear!"

"She ran off a few minutes ago. By the way, is there some kind of commotion going on?" Krita wondered, noticing the shuffle of guards inside the building. She glanced back at the air cooling blastia and discovered its core missing. "W-What the!? The core was there just a second ago! How did it just up and vanish like that!?"

"Someone must have stolen it while no one was looking," the receptionist admitted. "Rest assured, we have everything under control."

"If you say so..." Krita trailed while thinking, That must be why Sis ran off on me - she's probably chasing the thief down. I hope she'll be okay.

****

Krile dashed out of the trading house and looked around for the fake repairman. She found him walking at a fast pace towards an alley between the upper and middle quarters and took chase.

"Halt!" she called out, alarming the man. "Return that core immediately."

"Core...? What core? I don't know what you're talking about," the thief lied.

"Spare me your juvenile deceptions. I watched you take it from Meijin's while I was in line."

"D-Damn..." he cursed as Krile reached down for her sword. All of a sudden, he retrieved the crystal from his box and threw it at Krile! She caught it just as the man dashed out into the open and called out, "Guards! Guards! I found a blastia thief right here!"

Krile scowled a little at his devilry, and his shouts were attracting a small crowd of people.

[vancexentan]

"Gah! Mikael! Pay more intention! I told you that the egghead genius sent the guards after the thief. There was this kid's sister tailing the thief and we know who the repair person 'works for' so it's not like we're not in the dark in this. Whatever....egg bears are a nice little find. Not many around here have the guts to tail and or fight one. Even though they pail in comparison to most beasts out there they're still a force to be reckoned with....Don't worry I'm a part of the sellsword group Kaiser Faller we will get that blastia back even if your sister AND our guards fail to catch him. Kaiser Faller's have a pact that once a contract is accepted it WILL be carried out unless the contractor cancels it and even then most of us keep it alive." the guard said plainly as another one grunted abjectly as he looked around, "hey why isn't it getting warmer in here?" the guy asked his companion who shrugged, "Probably egghead's doing." the man replied plainly before picking up his broadsword and the other guard took the original man's place in his stead.

===

The repairman in his bright blue garments growled as he found himself in a corner. "DAMN IT!" He said as he quickly went to retrace his steps the girl confronted her and he tried to pathetically lie his way out but it failed rather badly as expected....and then the crowd of guards arrived. Imperial Knights from down the street noticed it and went to move in as well as the Meijin's guards. He shrugged and smiled almost comically. He laughed for a second and then looked at one of the guards who was wielding twin daggers and had a blastia necklace around his neck and then over to the great sword wielding one. "You know you're quite the little pest little girl but at the end of the day the only reason you aren't talking to fishes right now is because of your little friends. The job was to get in and get out cleanly but I suppose that didn't work." The man said casually as if he was just caught in a practical joke. He slowly backed up as he watched the other guards waiting to pounce. "Halt there what is the meaning of this?!" shouted a female imperial knight as she pulled out her sword. But the man didn't notice or care it seemed. Sweat beads came down from his concealed face hidden under his blue cap. "Well I'll give you this you may want to hone the perceptive nature of yours and as for you guards....really? You need to work on your jobs better!" The man said as he smirked and one of the guards said they're practice on him if he really wanted it only for the imperial knight to tell him to back off NOW. However the man didn't seem interested in fighting, "Alright then if you want it back so badly here take it! It's not worth the effort!" the man slowly reached in and pulled out a blastia as he was backed against the wall. He slowly from his case and then suddenly he tossed it up into the air and before anyone knew it there was a huge amount of smoke in the air and the sound of something being thrown and then the clanking of metal on stone. However there was also grunting close to Krile as he there was the sound of loud punches hitting humans. It happened in a blur that only took moments and despite the shouting and charging in of the guards a voice quickly was whispered in Krile ear, "Hey kid....I'll repay you for this hard one day....just you wait." the 'repairman's' voice said to her as it was gone just as suddenly and the sound of glass breaking was heard as the smoke dissipated soon after when a wind blastia attack blew it away. The Imperial Knight lady looked around....and saw four of the ten guards unconscious and with blood coming out of a few of their broken jaws, and some were clutching their bellies in extreme pain. The four were the ones who had Bodhi blastia equipped were all missing their Bodhi blastia...how the man had done all of that was a mystery however the imperial knights quickly made sure panic didn't set in as the members of what looked like the Stanson Brigade went into action.

[Demous]

Say'ri nodded her thanks as she took back the now full canteens, "If you could lead me to the Upper Quarter I should be able to find the houses on my own... Though it would probably be better to have a guard with me..." the last part she mutter to herself before shaking her head and walking over to where Raiga was laying in the shade. Raiga makes a very annoyed sound but gets up and stretches before following her back to the fountain. Say'ri looks at Mutsu, "Well lead the way, we'll follow."

As she waited for him to lead Raiga makes a sound causing her to wince and she gives her a small glare before sighing and turning to look in the direction of the fountain without really looking at it, "They're not all the same you know they can be good just most of them aren't..." she mutters to Raiga before sighing.

[benit149]

"Hey kid....I'll repay you for this hard one day....just you wait."

A chill ran through her body as the smoke dissipated and the surprisingly adept 'thief' vanished like he was nothing more than a bad dream. But to Krile, that threat was real. Had she invoked the wrath of someone she possibly couldn't handle later on? Was she going to be pursued in the shadows? How was Krita going to be affected by this? Should she tell her sister about the ominous message that only she heard in the cacophony?

Krile couldn't let panic get the better of her. Although deeply worried, she appeared unperturbed by the flashy escape, especially now that the Imperial Knights were searching for him. Even so, she didn't hold much hope of them finding this guy and ending her concerns. All she could do was turn to one of the Stanson Bridage's knights as he asked her, "Are you all right, ma'am?"

"I'm uninjured. He surrendered the core to me, so please return it to Meijin's," she reported.

"Thank you very much. The captain would like to get your testimony, if you don't mind," the knight said.

"Understood."

He took the crystal and saluted her before getting his superior's attention and directing him to Krile. She spent a few minutes off to the side with Captain Stanson recounting what she saw in the trading house. However, she didn't mention anything about the criminal's threat towards her - she had little to no faith in the Imperial Knights, especially with the injuries that four well-armored men sustained from one single attacker.

[vancexentan]

"Well assuming those blastia thieves show up I'll show 'em a score or two otherwise it's unlikely we're going to run into any thieves in the imperial capital especially since they're heavily patrolling now." Mutsu told the lady as he led the way into the northern district. A group of imperial knights in green and grey saluted young Mutsu who grinned and saluted them back. "Yeah my family has strong connections to the knights so I don't need to show them ID to get through these temporary checkpoints." Mutsu commented as he walked. He picked up a stone on the ground and tossed it into the air catching it deftly and re-tossing it as he walked. As he walked through the city he whistled and smiled wide at one old lady who did the same back at him, "Hey Granny Stanson!" He called out as the old woman threw him a orange, "And hello to you too Honda! I'm sure your uncle would be proud to see you walking around with such a pretty young lady! And here I thought you were abstinent around women!" The old woman giggled as Honda blushed and chuckled it off himself, "It's not like that I mean she IS pretty but she isn't my date or anything to the festival party thing we're throwing she's a traveler lookin' for some place or two I'm just moving her along. Cain is guarding the blastia fountain so I get to roam free for a bit." Mutsu said as he said goodbye to her. The last thing Granny said was that he hoped the kid knew what he was doing because Cain wasn't the most reliable man she'd ever met and he was a bit queer at times. "Granny means well she's just a bit stubborn...if you'd see how many times Cain has hit on a woman you'd understand. So we close to where you're heading to?" Mutsu asked after a couple minutes of walking.

[Demous]

Say'ri looks down at her list and looks around before spotting one of the houses on the list, "Ah, here's one of them! Hold on I'll be right back," She runs up to the house while Raiga just sits down and and waits by Mutsu. Say'ri digs through her bag as she approaches the front gate and pulls out a small package checking the label on the package and the list double checking that they matched. Nodding she walks up to the door. Knocking she waits until a servant opens the the door. Smiling she holds out the package to the servant, "Package for a Mr. Mitero, some jewelry if you need to know the contents, If you would sign here and pay the delivery fee," the servant nods and signs before handing a small bag of gald to her. Nodding satisfied that everything was done she waves as she heads back to the street, "Have a nice day."

Reaching the street she sees a commotion going on down the road catches her eye, "Hmm... I wonder what's going on down there..." shaking her head she turns to Mutsu, "Well I should be able to find my way from here... Though the guards might give me trouble," sighing she looks back at the list, "The next house shouldn't be too far..."

[benit149]

Krita spoke with Fardo and managed to sell everything in her satchels, especially the Eggbear claw, for a grand total of 3000 gald. This would be enough to cover the twins' travel expenses until they reached Capua Torim on the other continent.

"Thank you for everything, sir," she bowed politely.

"You take care, and try not to risk your lives so much for some pocket change. You're too young to be dying," Fardo replied with a grin.

"I'll keep that in mind..." she said with a slight frown, as she assumed the trader was checking her out. She left in a hurry, speedwalking past the line and out of the trading house. She did take a glance at the blastia without its core and wondered where her sister ran off to. After some searching, Krita found Krile talking to an Imperial Knight while surrounded by a small crowd and some knights running around as if looking for someone.

"SIII~IIIIS!!" Krita called out in her loudest voice and dashed toward her. Her foot accidentally caught a loose brick on the ground and she landed on her face in a rather painful-looking pratfall. "OW!"

[vancexentan]

Mutsu sat down on a nearby bench and had some small talk with a passing pair of knights for a little bit before the girl returned. He had glimpsed that she was carrying something but he didn't say anything about it until she got back, "Oh you're a deliver that's neat! My parents were fighters pretty much so I never really got to see what other jobs were out there. It was all about fighting. When Mutsu looked down the street he spied members of the Stanson Brigade along with a large group of citizens of the city. Did they finally get one of the robbers? Mutsu hoped they did but at the end of the day he was not an imperial knight and it was none of his business. Besides Stanson was known for her abilities to wipe out swathes of monsters on her own only losing to incredibly lucky or talented warriors. "Alright well if you're sure I'll be seein' you around. If guards are a problem I guess I could come with you for a bit longer. But I really don't like making Cain wait." Mutsu commented plainly as he tossed a pebble down the street.

[benit149]

Krile and Captain Stanson clenched their teeth in shock and repressed pity, and Krile rushed to her sister's side to help her to her knees.

"Ow ow ow ow... Aw man, that was awfully clumsy of me..." Krita moaned, covering her chin as it bled a little. Krile took out some cloths and bandages to treat the wound with Stanson's help. After Krita was certain she was okay, they stood back up.

"Well, we better get going," Krile said, then asked the knight, "Has my testimony been sufficient enough?"

"Yes. It wasn't necessary for you to endanger yourself, but I appreciate the effort all the same. Please take care of yourselves," Stanson said.

"Wait, what happened? What's going on here?" Krita asked. "I saw the core missing from the blastia, but I was stuck in line."

"Someone took the core right from under our noses while disguised as a repairman. I watched him the whole time and took chase. He surrendered the core to me but then escaped," her sister explained.

"Did he hurt you!? Are you okay!?"

"Do I look unwell to you?"

"Well, no..."

"Then everything is all right. The Stanson Brigade will handle things from here. More importantly, did you manage to sell everything?"

"Oh, that's right! Mr. Fardo accepted everything for 3000 gald! That's pretty good, don't you think?"

"I suppose that's sufficient enough until we reach Halure, or even Aspio. We could inquire the researchers as to whether or not they need any materials for their studies," Krile suggested.

"Good idea. Let's get moving before this heat murders us!" Krita exclaimed. "Aspio's caverns must be so nice and cool compared to this. Oh yeah, speaking of cooling down, do we have enough water for the trip?"

"I believe we used our last canteen before reaching Zaphias. Stocking up at the lower quarter's fountain would be prudent."

The twins bid farewell to Stanson and left the upper quarter, descending the slope that led to the middle quarter.

[Demous]

Say'ri stares a the castle for a minute before shaking her head, "I'll be fine. I'm wearing some clothes I bought here so I should be fine..." she turns and smiles at Mutsu, "Thanks for the guidance. I'll take it from here. Let's go Raiga, we don't wanna be any later then we already are."

Hurrying down the street Say'ri keeps an eye on the guards as she passes regretting not taking her sword when she left, 'I really hope I don't get stopped today. Getting lost twice is enough trouble for one day...' as she approaches another large house she sighs before heading up to the door and knocking. After a couple minutes an old man opens the door and makes an annoyed face, "One of you again? How many times do I have to tell you no one here orders from a cheap company like yours!"

Say'ri sighs, "Yes, but it is to be delivered here the package is a gift and the sender has already paid in full so it must be delivered. All you have to do is take it. Whether or not you approve you need to take it! All I ask is you take the package and give me 150 gald for my labor, which is half what it usually is. Also I don't think your lady would like missing a present," the man grumbles a little bit but accepts the package, "I'll have the game sent by tonight," Say'ri smiles and nods before heading back to the street and hurrying to the next house.

[vancexentan]

As Mutsu ran down the steps to the aqua blastia down below after a lengthy run all he saw was Cain sleeping on the job much to his own annoyance. He looked at his own shadow and growled even louder noticing it was almost time to have the festival only in a couple more hours would people be partying like it was the new year down in this section of the city. And the imperial knight he had assigned to look after something incredibly important to him...was sleep on the job..."Well there's only one course of action that could stand to rectify this problem." Mutsu calmly stated suddenly as he walked over to the man who was asleep, with marker on his face, and looked down at him. And then promptly kicked his face and caused him to roll back into the fountain of water as the man flailed around like a wild animal. "WHAT THE HELL!? MONSTERS! BANDITS! MONSTERS RIDING BANDITS!" Cain proclaimed loudly and violently as the district loudly burst into laughter. Mutsu simply stared down at him waiting for his real answer, "What the hell man!? Is this how you treat your wing man? I just sat here guarding a fountain for you." Cain told the younger man as he stared at him silently for a couple more minutes before speaking in exasperation, "You fell ASLEEP as a blastia thief if on the lose. My shift is over I'm going to get a drink." Mutsu stated as right on time a man by the name of Mako came over and sat down in place of Mutsu. "Well fine keep your thanks anyway I'm going to go and get my own drink in the barracks!" he said pouring water out of his armor while limping away with a metal boot half full of water and slushing sounds. Mutsu grumbled about the various people he knew in his life, especially his imperial knight companions and his father, as he sat down in the loud tavern. "Hey Anna I need some cider!" Mutsu shouted out as the rusty orange haired woman went about to get him his drink. He shove his sword down onto the window next to him and collapsed his head into his arms and mumbled about the festival....it was going to be hell of a loud time in this huge city.

[benit149]

Krile and Krita were walking past the store in the middle quarter, and several people rushed all around them as the afternoon sun was slowly setting and turning the sky darker. Suddenly, Krile gasped and collapsed to her knees from heat exhaustion. Krita caught her in time and felt her forehead to check her temperature.

"Oh no! You've got a really bad heat stroke!" she exclaimed.

"I'm... I'm okay..."

"No, you're not! We can't make it to the fountain like this! Plus it's starting to get dark, so maybe it'd be better if we got a room at the inn for tonight," Krita insisted, helping her sister to her feet. "We have lots of money, so let's just relax here for tonight, then tomorrow we can go to Halure to find work. Gosh, I don't know how you got this hot so quickly."

"Maybe because I was chasing that thief... and then talking with Captain Stanson for a while..."

"Damn those knights and their self-absorbed protocols. If it was that important to get your testimony, they could have at least done it inside their headquarters instead of forcing you to stand in this horrible heat without water. Come on, we're almost there. You'll get to lie down in a nice room soon enough!"

Krita guided Krile through the inn's doors, and the harried innkeeper managed to reserve one of his last rooms for them before those coming to the festival would book up every room. It wasn't particularly impressive compared to the suites reserved for more well-to-do travelers, but at least Krita could lie Krile down and tend to her needs throughout the evening. Krile laid in bed with a cloth and ice cubes on her forehead as Krita brought supper for them. The crowds were growing steadily more rowdy as the early evening slowly turned into night.

"Damn, I'm never going to get any sleep like this," Krita swore, slamming the window shut furiously. It didn't do much to drown out the cacophony occurring in Zaphias' streets. "Remind me again why the hell this is going on?"

"Something about the knights killing a huge monster that had been threatening Zaphias..." Krile huffed.

"Oh yes, the Empire being a huge braggart, as always. What a joke. Maybe I should get some earplugs from the innkeeper before we turn in."

[Demous]

Say'ri smiles as she puts the last payment into her now empty delivery bag and starts hurrying back to the lower quarter, "That's the last one I can now head back get my direct my 25% bonus for working today and i can then head out to find her house while most of the guards are distracted with the festivities," Raiga snorts, makes an irritated twitch of her tail, and moves ahead, "Yes Raiga I know I've had other chances but now I know a straight path to the Upper Quarter and plus it'll be a nice night so there shouldn't be very many problems."

After about 20 minutes she reaches a small store and walks in while Raiga curls up outside. Inside there are tons of boxes and random stuff piled around the store with a single older gentleman sitting at the counter talking with a guard. Without breaking the conversation he grabs a small sack of gald and hands it to Say'ri. She smiles and nods politely to the guard before stepping into a corner and waiting for the conversation to end. As the guard leaves the owner turns to her, "So any idea how much longer It'll take before you can head back to Dahngrest? Shouldn't be too much longer right?"

She shakes her head, "At this rate it should only be a couple week before I can pay my way back and have a nice amount left over for whatever I may need when I get there," Turning she looks around, "Well I need to get going so I'll see you tomorrow!" she hurries out before he has a chance to respond, 'Well time to go change back into my usual clothes and find her house... This is going to be a pain...'