BlackRoseSiren
Suicharte
Izurich
Jumbus
jasbraq
A Lowly Wretch
Force and Fury
Emeth
Event: Metropolis
What a disaster, Ingrid sighed as the last of the Skugvars quills were removed. She overestimated her own ability and underestimated Abdel's skill as a tamer. Luckily they didn't do enough much harm to warrant them being put down. Either way, Ingrid's efforts bore little results. The captives were silenced, most likely temporal or a deal with some demon. The building was burned and all she had to show for this was a burnt letter confirming their intentions and giving hints that the person who fought on toe with Lu Wong was the help they asked for. Not that she could be sure. For all they know, they could have been the vanguard, making way for more.
Ingrid felt pain prick her as she gave the interview, apparently not getting rid of all the irritant. "I followed Brother Yalen's lead on this," Ingrid told Zihan, "Our companion Abdel was in there when the inn burst into flame. I rushed in to get him out of there. In the confusion his animals must have been manipulated and attacked me and Niallus." gesturing to the needles she had removed. "I attempted to freeze the things in the building to hopefully preserve the building and put a quick end to the situation, but I failed," Ingrid sighed, "My other objective was to preserve the evidence that may lay there," Ingrid offered the burnt letter she found, "It's not much but I think person who fought the Exemplar is the help they were looking for. Other than that, their might be some ties to other groups that question the government based on the what can be read."
"Some of your peers are under the impression that this was a chance find - that we'd not have known had your leader not taken action." Zihan shook her head, not bothering to look up to meet Ingrid's eyes. "I will tell you this, though: it wasn't. It was a trap, purposely set, and one that you were led into." She accepted the paper and rolled it up, shooting a glare at the translator as the mousy girl hesitated. "This is evidence." She held it up and shook her head a second time, tightly. "The only thing you could've done differently - the only count on which you failed - was getting involved in the first place."
Now, Zihan met the much taller woman's gaze, and she did not seem small in comparison. "Our enemies are trying to use you - wildcard that you newcomers are - to foul up an investigation months in the making." She clasped her hands. "There is a vast conspiracy here and we have only probed at the very edges of it. Simply put, it is incumbent upon us to use you first and use you better, before they can." The lieutenant tucked the rolled-up paper into a satchel that she carried. "The only other option is eliminate you, and that is also something they would like, so I've no intention of doing it." Her eyes narrowed, however, and she dismissed the translator now that they were finished. She turned on a heel and made to walk away, before tapping Ingrid on the shoulder. "Ze problem is zat you has the traitor in you group," she whispered. Her Avincian was passable enough for this purpose. She pulled out a signal flare from her back. "You use zis when you to find him. Hour twenty in ze night. We work togezer and stop zis bad man. You do you's job. I do my. You get much ze good sings."
Ingrid took the flare, thinking about who the traitor could be. She had a few ideas but nothing solid enough to act on. She nodded her head.
Zihan nodded in return and offered a supportive smile. "Sank you," she whispered, and there they parted.
She returned to the inn and started with cleaning herself. Of course it was a trap, how set up could it get, Ingrid shook her head as she unwound. The Exemplar, the gray guard, the location, they wanted to show us. We intervened and it caused the carefully created facade of safety to turn into pure chaos and the government didn’t even get much out of it. I’m sure the mess will be pinned fully on us. Ingrid rolled her eyes at the thought but it was whatever at this point. She knew that any mistakes were on us. And in truth we were over zealous to help and solve this.
But now there is a supposed traitor. It made her uncomfortable to think of her teammates like that so soon but it was undeniably a chance though it seemed slim to Ingrid. I trust Niallus isn’t. He’s a bleeding heart but he wouldn’t put me in danger without some warning. Yalen feels like he could be with his condition but I can’t be sure, most likely not though. Trypano is hard, we saw the gods could change form at will, and I know the traveler can. If the offer was made to advance her studies to great heights I could see her doing it though I don’t even think the gods knew what to do with her so most likely not, Ingrid chuckled even considering her. I don’t even know if the Traveler has that level of weird tolerance.
Ingrid now started to seriously consider people. Maura. She is low RAS and disabled. Though she certainly isn’t underprivileged. She seems trusted by her family, has family and personal wealth, and has land in Retan that I’m sure she wouldn’t want to lose. But above all that, she is more than willing to partake in subterfuge and there is no one here other than Abdel she would care to lose, some she may actively want gone. Ingrid felt uncomfortable because she knew that she could be on that list if it was her and with how she acted, Ingrid felt increasingly wary. Ingrid moved on, no need to keep on it, The rest don’t seem of note. Abdel is not cowardly but I don’t think he would have worked so hard to keep people alive if it was him. Rikard is suspicious for his resemblance and how the Violet Enclave reacted to him, otherwise nothing on him. Kaureerah was the most unknown to Ingrid, she seemed friendly to Ayla so there is a real chance that she may be a sympathizer like Ayla comes off as. Apparently she ran off as well so she is very suspicious but nothing akin to real evidence. Eaiko seems to really like water, at the trials some slept in a fountain so maybe it was something like that. Ingrid wasn’t fully on board with the I just wanted water idea. She isn’t even sure anybody is a traitor and this could just get people to fight against each other. She sighed as if she was done thinking about it for now.
Ingrid felt pain prick her as she gave the interview, apparently not getting rid of all the irritant. "I followed Brother Yalen's lead on this," Ingrid told Zihan, "Our companion Abdel was in there when the inn burst into flame. I rushed in to get him out of there. In the confusion his animals must have been manipulated and attacked me and Niallus." gesturing to the needles she had removed. "I attempted to freeze the things in the building to hopefully preserve the building and put a quick end to the situation, but I failed," Ingrid sighed, "My other objective was to preserve the evidence that may lay there," Ingrid offered the burnt letter she found, "It's not much but I think person who fought the Exemplar is the help they were looking for. Other than that, their might be some ties to other groups that question the government based on the what can be read."
"Some of your peers are under the impression that this was a chance find - that we'd not have known had your leader not taken action." Zihan shook her head, not bothering to look up to meet Ingrid's eyes. "I will tell you this, though: it wasn't. It was a trap, purposely set, and one that you were led into." She accepted the paper and rolled it up, shooting a glare at the translator as the mousy girl hesitated. "This is evidence." She held it up and shook her head a second time, tightly. "The only thing you could've done differently - the only count on which you failed - was getting involved in the first place."
Now, Zihan met the much taller woman's gaze, and she did not seem small in comparison. "Our enemies are trying to use you - wildcard that you newcomers are - to foul up an investigation months in the making." She clasped her hands. "There is a vast conspiracy here and we have only probed at the very edges of it. Simply put, it is incumbent upon us to use you first and use you better, before they can." The lieutenant tucked the rolled-up paper into a satchel that she carried. "The only other option is eliminate you, and that is also something they would like, so I've no intention of doing it." Her eyes narrowed, however, and she dismissed the translator now that they were finished. She turned on a heel and made to walk away, before tapping Ingrid on the shoulder. "Ze problem is zat you has the traitor in you group," she whispered. Her Avincian was passable enough for this purpose. She pulled out a signal flare from her back. "You use zis when you to find him. Hour twenty in ze night. We work togezer and stop zis bad man. You do you's job. I do my. You get much ze good sings."
Ingrid took the flare, thinking about who the traitor could be. She had a few ideas but nothing solid enough to act on. She nodded her head.
Zihan nodded in return and offered a supportive smile. "Sank you," she whispered, and there they parted.
She returned to the inn and started with cleaning herself. Of course it was a trap, how set up could it get, Ingrid shook her head as she unwound. The Exemplar, the gray guard, the location, they wanted to show us. We intervened and it caused the carefully created facade of safety to turn into pure chaos and the government didn’t even get much out of it. I’m sure the mess will be pinned fully on us. Ingrid rolled her eyes at the thought but it was whatever at this point. She knew that any mistakes were on us. And in truth we were over zealous to help and solve this.
But now there is a supposed traitor. It made her uncomfortable to think of her teammates like that so soon but it was undeniably a chance though it seemed slim to Ingrid. I trust Niallus isn’t. He’s a bleeding heart but he wouldn’t put me in danger without some warning. Yalen feels like he could be with his condition but I can’t be sure, most likely not though. Trypano is hard, we saw the gods could change form at will, and I know the traveler can. If the offer was made to advance her studies to great heights I could see her doing it though I don’t even think the gods knew what to do with her so most likely not, Ingrid chuckled even considering her. I don’t even know if the Traveler has that level of weird tolerance.
Ingrid now started to seriously consider people. Maura. She is low RAS and disabled. Though she certainly isn’t underprivileged. She seems trusted by her family, has family and personal wealth, and has land in Retan that I’m sure she wouldn’t want to lose. But above all that, she is more than willing to partake in subterfuge and there is no one here other than Abdel she would care to lose, some she may actively want gone. Ingrid felt uncomfortable because she knew that she could be on that list if it was her and with how she acted, Ingrid felt increasingly wary. Ingrid moved on, no need to keep on it, The rest don’t seem of note. Abdel is not cowardly but I don’t think he would have worked so hard to keep people alive if it was him. Rikard is suspicious for his resemblance and how the Violet Enclave reacted to him, otherwise nothing on him. Kaureerah was the most unknown to Ingrid, she seemed friendly to Ayla so there is a real chance that she may be a sympathizer like Ayla comes off as. Apparently she ran off as well so she is very suspicious but nothing akin to real evidence. Eaiko seems to really like water, at the trials some slept in a fountain so maybe it was something like that. Ingrid wasn’t fully on board with the I just wanted water idea. She isn’t even sure anybody is a traitor and this could just get people to fight against each other. She sighed as if she was done thinking about it for now.
Everyone had gone off, but Ingrid decided to snoop around the inn. No one is here after all. Plus there is Yin to talk to with her magical Speaktrout. There even seems to be a little one following her. Ingrid takes the action figure just in case she needs a child distractor.
As she wound her way toward the energy figure that had to be Yin, there was the unmistakable signature of Chemical Magic being used on the child who was with her. Then, there were sonic traces - quiet, whispered ones - and the small person scampering off to another room, seeming to pause and blunder a good few times along the way. Yin rushed over to guide them momentarily before rushing back, closer to Ingrid, seeming to resume her 'normal' task of dishwashing.
Seems there was a little child running around. It was odd that chemical magic was being used. Ingrid walked up to Yin, "Hello Yin," Ingrid smiled, "Child keeping you busy?"
Yin's eyes widened and she all-but recoiled from Ingrid. "I... uh..." Her eyes went to the... talking fish!? She stared at it, unbelieving before blinking a couple of times and gathering herself. "Um, child?" she asked. "Oh, yes. You mean Yong. He is my little brother. Very small, very shy."
Ingrid can't help but giggle at Yin's reaction, "It is quite the remarkable fish. Try speaking into it, it can turn your speech into any language!" Ingrid excitedly offered. A little embarrassed that she failed to determine the size of the kid. "I'm sorry, your brother. Where I come from people get big real quick. Do you want to call him over? I'm sure he would want to see the fish," Ingrid offered, ever curious why she seemed so startled. The kid seemed to enjoy running around, not exactly shy.
Yin regarded her cautiously and took her offer of the speaktrout. "I, umm... it is well past his bedtime anyhow." The magical fish translated it all after a moment. Yin's words were Retanese to herself and their closest equivalent in... Eskandish to Ingrid. The Eskandr's Avincian, in turn, became Retanese to Yin. "This is... pretty amazing, though, if I have to be honest." An almost childish sort of curiosity came over her then. "Where did you get it?" she asked. "How does it work? Magic, right?"
Meanwhile, from behind the door, there were small footsteps: stealthy, but not as stealthy as they perhaps thought they were.
Ingrid nodded in agreed excitement, "In the magic city of Ersand'Ernise, there is an auction where items from across the world are sold! You can find anything there. For how it works!" Ingrid picks it up like she was showing it off, pressing in places, "Originally I thought it was crafted by a group of master mages, ones who had learned all the languages in the world and binded it together to make it. But I don't think that's it! If you feel around when it is speaking it is like moving internally!" Ingrid gestured for her to feel it. Maybe all this exciting talk will lure in the sneaky child. Come young one, can you resist the awesome talking fish?!
Yin was... not so excited to carefully feel over the fish, in truth, preferring to simply admire its ingenuity and perhaps speak into it. "You know, I can speak some Nikanese into it," she chirped, and it worked even for this foreign tongue and with her rather thick accent. "Hey, do you know any other languages?" Yin prodded, holding a smile at bay.
Then, came the sound of small footsteps, and she froze. "勇，该睡觉了！已经过了你的就寝时间。" The fish, however, translated it all: Yong, it's time to sleep! it's past your bedtime.
"I'll be right back," Yin promised. "Yong needs to be in bed. He has school in the morning." There was a small voice from the other side of the door, however, and the fish picked that up too. "Yin, can I come see? Pleeeease? It sounds really fun."
Ingrid lured out the kid and couldn't help but enjoy the current situation. "Alright," Ingrid initially agreed but upon hearing the little ones request, "You know Yin, this may be Yong's only chance to see it, maybe a few more minutes wouldn't be that bad." Ingrid was no mother but a few missing some sleep for a new experience seemed worth it, so she merely offered it.
Before Yin could say (yes or) no, the door opened of its own volition. A boy of perhaps eight or nine years old burst through, wearing what appeared to be some sort of festival mask, only... it looked somewhat... feminine. It took Ingrid a moment to remember the small toy she'd been sold by one of the hucksters in the market today. It was the Black Guard Lucky Dragon!
"Huah! Ha! Hand over that fish, giant lady, for I am Lucky Dragon, Black Guard, and I demand to see it!"
Yin looked at the boy, looked at Ingrid, and seemed at once relieved and absolutely horrified, somehow.
How adorable, and the Lucky Dragon mask to boot. The Giant Lady comment irked her but he's just a kid, I'm sure Yin will scold him later for that. Ingrid did a respectful, if not played up, bow to Lucky Dragon. "But of course mighty Black Guard," Ingrid handed it over to him with both hands, "With this one can speak in the tongue of Yasoi to even the great Mountain Hegelans!" Ingrid kept an eye on it after handing it over, kids were notoriously clumsy and she had felt this one pumping into all sorts of things. She gave a look to Yin that she didn't mind the little one.
Yong grabbed the speaktrout with both hands and seemed to almost... be feeling it with his fingers, investigating its shape and contours. Then, he giggled. "Ugh.... eeeewww! It's slimy!" He didn't let go, however. If anything he seemed more amused.
"Yong, you should sit!" warned Yin. "I think the fish is very valuable. Think about how it makes us hear things in languages we understand." In truth, she had noticed that it was quite indiscriminate. It had translated virtually everything within hearing range. It had even reproduced a tiny fart that the boy had let out. Regardless, its little fishy lips kept flapping and it kept speaking in the voices of the people around it. "I am a hegelan and hegelans don't sit!" retorted Yong, and Yin slapped her palm against her forehead in frustration, letting out a hissed sigh. "You know you can't see anything in that mask. You're going to drop it!"
Yong stopped then, and turned vaguely in her direction. For a moment, the air prickled with warning, but nothing happened except for the boy sitting down. "Hey miss, ready to catch a fish?" he joked. Gently but rather suddenly, he lobbed it through the air in Ingrid's direction.
Ingrid spoke in the various languages she knew and some of the phrases she had picked up from the multi-lingual hub that was Ersand'Ernise. It was overall a fun time, watching a kid play with something oh so magical. She noticed that there was some tension and was ever so curious why. Then suddenly the little rebellious boy decided to lob the fish at her! "Wha-" Ingrid face was of pure terror as she threw her hands out to clutch it with telekinesis and pull it to herself.
"Yong! Why?" Ingrid asked in a raised voice, not outwardly furious but concerned about what kind of kid just throws someone's stuff like that. Something has to be going on here.
He looked at her defiantly and then at his older sister. "I can't see anything in this mask," he growled, paraphrasing her words from moments ago, and her face turned ashen. Ingrid could sense Yin's heartrate rising. He turned to Ingrid. "Sorry for throwing your fish. It's really cool." Then, suddenly, he appeared to tense up in pain, sitting on the edge of a chair, fists clenching. Yin rushed over. "Come, Yong. We need to get you to your room. I'll give you some of the medicine." She began to usher him out before rising briefly and twisting Ingrid's way. "He will not admit it," she whispered, "and just speaking of it can make him... irritable, but Yong is quite sick these days." The issue was that the fish translated, and the fish did not know how to whisper…
Ingrid's concern seemed justified, Yong seemed increasingly upset and with Yin seeming terrified Ingrid had a few suspicions. She rose from her seat, setting the fish down, to get closer to Yong. "Please Yin, let me help. The school trained me as a healer." Ingrid seemed adamant on this. If Yin would allow, she would help them to the room and sense through his body for aliments in attempt to fix them then finally asking, "Can I remove his mask?"
Why did Yin's heart increase like that? Was it just fear or was it chemical magic? Ingrid questioned as she racked her brain for the various things she had read up on.
"Maybe we give him something else to distract him?" Yin tried, bleeding anxiety out into the room, "If you have anything else we could use?"
Then, it was too late. Yong, who had heard it all and had enough - who'd had enough of being hidden and in pain and told to lie - ripped off his mask at Ingrid's words, before his siter could stop him. There was a small surge of magic from her direction, immediately tamped down upon, but it was secondary.
The boy's eyes were closed and the lids swollen. There were stains of dried blood below them, hastily wiped clean at some recent juncture in the past. Weakly, he blinked, and his eyes were bloodshot and dark. "This is what we're hiding," he announced, voice more strident than it should have been. Then, however, it went soft and frightened. "And it hurts, too."
Ingrid initially cringed at the sight, it was grotesque and to see it on a child made it even worse. But with his age and the magic that came from his sister, she had an idea of what it was. Ingrid looked at him more softly, "It's alright Yong," Ingrid tried to reassure, "Come here so I can get a better look," Ingrid getured for him to come close.
As he got closer, she could see the eyes more clearly and it was what she thought. "He's a powergazer," Ingrid stated clearly as she cleaned and healed what she could. Ingrid looked at Yin, "Did you go to a doctor?" Ingrid asked, most likely knowing the answer with how much Yin wanted to hide it.
Yin's face fell, horrified at the suggestion. She backed away, her voice at once somehow raised and quieter. "Nooo!" she wailed. "Nononono no!" She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Ingrid, you don't understand. I don't mean it in a bad way, but you really don't!" Her hands grabbed at her dress, balling up. "This is Retan." She shook her head some more, slumping, defeated, against a wall. "This is Retan..." She began to cry, burying her face in her hands. "I am sorry, Yong. I'm sorry your big sister can't be strong. I'm sorry things can't change."
The boy was anxious now. He stumbled towards her and wrapped her up in a hug. "Don't cwy, big sis. I know you're trying. I know you help me."
She looked up, wiping some tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. "I love you, little brother." she hugged him tightly and glanced Ingrid's way, eyes red-rimmed. "Here is the truth of this place: all of us in this family have the ability to use magic, but we did not pass the state licensing test and..." Her voice sunk. "We are not the type of people they want to have magic anyhow."
"Don't worry, Yin. I'll pass it. You'll see."
She stroked the back of her little brother's head, and then down his neck and back, patting him as much for her own comfort as his, perhaps more. "I believe in you, Yong." She gave him one last squeeze. Then, she rose and regarded Ingrid. "Yong will pass because he has no other option. People like myself and..." she paused for just a bit too long. "others who have it can hide by not using it. He can't, though. His only option is to pass or..." she trailed off, closing her eyes again, and began to cry.
Ingrid gulped as she realized she had uncovered something very uncomfortable, something wrong. They were suffering for just... existing. Retan might have their own laws on magic users and that's fine. But Yong? He was just born different. He's no more menace than any other untrained mage in her eyes yet he might be disposed of by the peace keepers.
Ingrid was nauseous from the thought of it. She tried to speak but it was obvious to Yin that her words have affected her. She didn't disagree with the Traveler's broad message but she was on the side that would loose a lot. They had attacked her and her family, destroy some of their history. But so what? I'm sure that the hundreds in debt or enslaved by her own blood would say she did the same to them.
One thing is for certain, Yong doesn't deserve a fate like this. She composed herself, "Yin, I'm not sure what to say but I at least want to help Yong," Ingrid looked earnestly at her, "I know you said there was a test, maybe I can answer questions and tutor him tonight and we can talk. Yong deserves a long life." Ingrid offered. She would push the issue later but right now she wanted to earn some trust with someone who had to open up a door they did not want to.
Ingrid's resolve to handle this quickly and cleanly was shaken. Yin obviously knows more but how could she root out what could be their only chance at a safe life for her brother? She needed to discuss this with some of the other people but who to let know.
Yin dried her tears, but she still regarded Ingrid a bit warily. "I... the best thing that you can do right now is tell nobody," she replied quickly and adamantly. "If you really want to help us, you will keep this secret."
Then, there was another sound: a door opening some ways distant within the inn.
Ingrid heard Yin's words but there wasn't time for her to consider them. As the person came in, Ingrid held up a hand and scanned whoever came in. Yin had been crying and Ingrid was sure Yong needed her at the moment.
It was four people, all of them men, and moving in a tight formation towards the courtyard. "Zhu Kai," whispered Yin, "and half of his men." Quickly, she began to usher Yong towards the door and the rear rooms beyond. "I know them by their footsteps," she clarified.
Ingrid tilted her head, Oh so wonderful that our keepers have come back and I'm literally the only one here. she waved goodbye to Yong as he was escorted away. "Should we go greet them?" Ingrid asked, offering Yin a hand towel. She didn't want to come off as suspicious to them so she trusted Yin on this one.
Yin accepted it with a small mew of 'thanks' and dabbed at her face where her makeup had run. She took a little bit longer than she perhaps strictly needed to compose herself. Then, she nodded. "We should go greet them, and... don't be angry at them, please. Kai is a good man, and so are his soldiers. They're just doing their job." She began to lead Ingrid towards the courtyard and her voice sunk into a whisper. "In fact, they must know that Yong is here. They can use their magic to sense him but, as long as they don't see anything obvious, they can pretend not to know."
The speaktrout, however, did not translate particularly quietly, and her face went ashen for at least the fourth time that night. She cursed softly beneath her breath in Retanese and, thankfully the fish didn't pick that up as well.
Ingrid went to shut off the magical trout. For all its power, it was damn annoying at times. She looked over to Yin, worried if telling Yin about what happened to them would change her acting. She weighed it and went in for a whisper to Yin, using her own retanesse, "We were attacked today, they may be less friendly." Ingrid didn't say anymore and let Yin do with that information what she saw fit but from Ingrid's experiences, friendliness ends when blood is drawn. She headed over to greet them as she normally would, walking tall and confident. "Captain Zhu," she gave a wave and then a nod to the other guards.
For what it was worth, they pulled it off. The captain held himself together well, but anyone with some abilities in Chemical magic would be able to tell that he was both exhausted and a sea of boiling emotions. "Ah, Ing-ri, Yin," he greeted them, and the two Retanese exchanged a bit of fast dialogue. "看到你漂亮的脸蛋，这糟糕的一天会好一点。" (Seeing your pretty face makes this terrible day a little better.) He turned to Ingrid and smiled... conspiratorially? "你只是像你理解的那样看着我，就在刚才。" (You looked at me like you understood, just now.) In truth, Ingrid's understanding of Retanese was far from fluent, but she could get along in it as long as people spoke clearly and no advanced vocabulary was used. "Well, maybe you know what kind of day I've had," he said, consciously trying to make things easy for her to follow. Dai, Zheng, and Zhang nodded along in agreement, each looking haggard and grateful to be alive. "I think yours was probably the same." The captain shook his head, tired, suddenly. "Don't get into any trouble, okay? Keep my job easy." He exchanged a few more words with Yin that were almost... flirtatious in tone and then the four guardians headed off towards their rooms.
"Oh wait, Caprain Zhu!" called Yin. "I haven't turned up your sheets yet. Let me just do it quickly!" She scurried after him.
As she wound her way toward the energy figure that had to be Yin, there was the unmistakable signature of Chemical Magic being used on the child who was with her. Then, there were sonic traces - quiet, whispered ones - and the small person scampering off to another room, seeming to pause and blunder a good few times along the way. Yin rushed over to guide them momentarily before rushing back, closer to Ingrid, seeming to resume her 'normal' task of dishwashing.
Seems there was a little child running around. It was odd that chemical magic was being used. Ingrid walked up to Yin, "Hello Yin," Ingrid smiled, "Child keeping you busy?"
Yin's eyes widened and she all-but recoiled from Ingrid. "I... uh..." Her eyes went to the... talking fish!? She stared at it, unbelieving before blinking a couple of times and gathering herself. "Um, child?" she asked. "Oh, yes. You mean Yong. He is my little brother. Very small, very shy."
Ingrid can't help but giggle at Yin's reaction, "It is quite the remarkable fish. Try speaking into it, it can turn your speech into any language!" Ingrid excitedly offered. A little embarrassed that she failed to determine the size of the kid. "I'm sorry, your brother. Where I come from people get big real quick. Do you want to call him over? I'm sure he would want to see the fish," Ingrid offered, ever curious why she seemed so startled. The kid seemed to enjoy running around, not exactly shy.
Yin regarded her cautiously and took her offer of the speaktrout. "I, umm... it is well past his bedtime anyhow." The magical fish translated it all after a moment. Yin's words were Retanese to herself and their closest equivalent in... Eskandish to Ingrid. The Eskandr's Avincian, in turn, became Retanese to Yin. "This is... pretty amazing, though, if I have to be honest." An almost childish sort of curiosity came over her then. "Where did you get it?" she asked. "How does it work? Magic, right?"
Meanwhile, from behind the door, there were small footsteps: stealthy, but not as stealthy as they perhaps thought they were.
Ingrid nodded in agreed excitement, "In the magic city of Ersand'Ernise, there is an auction where items from across the world are sold! You can find anything there. For how it works!" Ingrid picks it up like she was showing it off, pressing in places, "Originally I thought it was crafted by a group of master mages, ones who had learned all the languages in the world and binded it together to make it. But I don't think that's it! If you feel around when it is speaking it is like moving internally!" Ingrid gestured for her to feel it. Maybe all this exciting talk will lure in the sneaky child. Come young one, can you resist the awesome talking fish?!
Yin was... not so excited to carefully feel over the fish, in truth, preferring to simply admire its ingenuity and perhaps speak into it. "You know, I can speak some Nikanese into it," she chirped, and it worked even for this foreign tongue and with her rather thick accent. "Hey, do you know any other languages?" Yin prodded, holding a smile at bay.
Then, came the sound of small footsteps, and she froze. "勇，该睡觉了！已经过了你的就寝时间。" The fish, however, translated it all: Yong, it's time to sleep! it's past your bedtime.
"I'll be right back," Yin promised. "Yong needs to be in bed. He has school in the morning." There was a small voice from the other side of the door, however, and the fish picked that up too. "Yin, can I come see? Pleeeease? It sounds really fun."
Ingrid lured out the kid and couldn't help but enjoy the current situation. "Alright," Ingrid initially agreed but upon hearing the little ones request, "You know Yin, this may be Yong's only chance to see it, maybe a few more minutes wouldn't be that bad." Ingrid was no mother but a few missing some sleep for a new experience seemed worth it, so she merely offered it.
Before Yin could say (yes or) no, the door opened of its own volition. A boy of perhaps eight or nine years old burst through, wearing what appeared to be some sort of festival mask, only... it looked somewhat... feminine. It took Ingrid a moment to remember the small toy she'd been sold by one of the hucksters in the market today. It was the Black Guard Lucky Dragon!
"Huah! Ha! Hand over that fish, giant lady, for I am Lucky Dragon, Black Guard, and I demand to see it!"
Yin looked at the boy, looked at Ingrid, and seemed at once relieved and absolutely horrified, somehow.
How adorable, and the Lucky Dragon mask to boot. The Giant Lady comment irked her but he's just a kid, I'm sure Yin will scold him later for that. Ingrid did a respectful, if not played up, bow to Lucky Dragon. "But of course mighty Black Guard," Ingrid handed it over to him with both hands, "With this one can speak in the tongue of Yasoi to even the great Mountain Hegelans!" Ingrid kept an eye on it after handing it over, kids were notoriously clumsy and she had felt this one pumping into all sorts of things. She gave a look to Yin that she didn't mind the little one.
Yong grabbed the speaktrout with both hands and seemed to almost... be feeling it with his fingers, investigating its shape and contours. Then, he giggled. "Ugh.... eeeewww! It's slimy!" He didn't let go, however. If anything he seemed more amused.
"Yong, you should sit!" warned Yin. "I think the fish is very valuable. Think about how it makes us hear things in languages we understand." In truth, she had noticed that it was quite indiscriminate. It had translated virtually everything within hearing range. It had even reproduced a tiny fart that the boy had let out. Regardless, its little fishy lips kept flapping and it kept speaking in the voices of the people around it. "I am a hegelan and hegelans don't sit!" retorted Yong, and Yin slapped her palm against her forehead in frustration, letting out a hissed sigh. "You know you can't see anything in that mask. You're going to drop it!"
Yong stopped then, and turned vaguely in her direction. For a moment, the air prickled with warning, but nothing happened except for the boy sitting down. "Hey miss, ready to catch a fish?" he joked. Gently but rather suddenly, he lobbed it through the air in Ingrid's direction.
Ingrid spoke in the various languages she knew and some of the phrases she had picked up from the multi-lingual hub that was Ersand'Ernise. It was overall a fun time, watching a kid play with something oh so magical. She noticed that there was some tension and was ever so curious why. Then suddenly the little rebellious boy decided to lob the fish at her! "Wha-" Ingrid face was of pure terror as she threw her hands out to clutch it with telekinesis and pull it to herself.
"Yong! Why?" Ingrid asked in a raised voice, not outwardly furious but concerned about what kind of kid just throws someone's stuff like that. Something has to be going on here.
He looked at her defiantly and then at his older sister. "I can't see anything in this mask," he growled, paraphrasing her words from moments ago, and her face turned ashen. Ingrid could sense Yin's heartrate rising. He turned to Ingrid. "Sorry for throwing your fish. It's really cool." Then, suddenly, he appeared to tense up in pain, sitting on the edge of a chair, fists clenching. Yin rushed over. "Come, Yong. We need to get you to your room. I'll give you some of the medicine." She began to usher him out before rising briefly and twisting Ingrid's way. "He will not admit it," she whispered, "and just speaking of it can make him... irritable, but Yong is quite sick these days." The issue was that the fish translated, and the fish did not know how to whisper…
Ingrid's concern seemed justified, Yong seemed increasingly upset and with Yin seeming terrified Ingrid had a few suspicions. She rose from her seat, setting the fish down, to get closer to Yong. "Please Yin, let me help. The school trained me as a healer." Ingrid seemed adamant on this. If Yin would allow, she would help them to the room and sense through his body for aliments in attempt to fix them then finally asking, "Can I remove his mask?"
Why did Yin's heart increase like that? Was it just fear or was it chemical magic? Ingrid questioned as she racked her brain for the various things she had read up on.
"Maybe we give him something else to distract him?" Yin tried, bleeding anxiety out into the room, "If you have anything else we could use?"
Then, it was too late. Yong, who had heard it all and had enough - who'd had enough of being hidden and in pain and told to lie - ripped off his mask at Ingrid's words, before his siter could stop him. There was a small surge of magic from her direction, immediately tamped down upon, but it was secondary.
The boy's eyes were closed and the lids swollen. There were stains of dried blood below them, hastily wiped clean at some recent juncture in the past. Weakly, he blinked, and his eyes were bloodshot and dark. "This is what we're hiding," he announced, voice more strident than it should have been. Then, however, it went soft and frightened. "And it hurts, too."
Ingrid initially cringed at the sight, it was grotesque and to see it on a child made it even worse. But with his age and the magic that came from his sister, she had an idea of what it was. Ingrid looked at him more softly, "It's alright Yong," Ingrid tried to reassure, "Come here so I can get a better look," Ingrid getured for him to come close.
As he got closer, she could see the eyes more clearly and it was what she thought. "He's a powergazer," Ingrid stated clearly as she cleaned and healed what she could. Ingrid looked at Yin, "Did you go to a doctor?" Ingrid asked, most likely knowing the answer with how much Yin wanted to hide it.
Yin's face fell, horrified at the suggestion. She backed away, her voice at once somehow raised and quieter. "Nooo!" she wailed. "Nononono no!" She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Ingrid, you don't understand. I don't mean it in a bad way, but you really don't!" Her hands grabbed at her dress, balling up. "This is Retan." She shook her head some more, slumping, defeated, against a wall. "This is Retan..." She began to cry, burying her face in her hands. "I am sorry, Yong. I'm sorry your big sister can't be strong. I'm sorry things can't change."
The boy was anxious now. He stumbled towards her and wrapped her up in a hug. "Don't cwy, big sis. I know you're trying. I know you help me."
She looked up, wiping some tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. "I love you, little brother." she hugged him tightly and glanced Ingrid's way, eyes red-rimmed. "Here is the truth of this place: all of us in this family have the ability to use magic, but we did not pass the state licensing test and..." Her voice sunk. "We are not the type of people they want to have magic anyhow."
"Don't worry, Yin. I'll pass it. You'll see."
She stroked the back of her little brother's head, and then down his neck and back, patting him as much for her own comfort as his, perhaps more. "I believe in you, Yong." She gave him one last squeeze. Then, she rose and regarded Ingrid. "Yong will pass because he has no other option. People like myself and..." she paused for just a bit too long. "others who have it can hide by not using it. He can't, though. His only option is to pass or..." she trailed off, closing her eyes again, and began to cry.
Ingrid gulped as she realized she had uncovered something very uncomfortable, something wrong. They were suffering for just... existing. Retan might have their own laws on magic users and that's fine. But Yong? He was just born different. He's no more menace than any other untrained mage in her eyes yet he might be disposed of by the peace keepers.
Ingrid was nauseous from the thought of it. She tried to speak but it was obvious to Yin that her words have affected her. She didn't disagree with the Traveler's broad message but she was on the side that would loose a lot. They had attacked her and her family, destroy some of their history. But so what? I'm sure that the hundreds in debt or enslaved by her own blood would say she did the same to them.
One thing is for certain, Yong doesn't deserve a fate like this. She composed herself, "Yin, I'm not sure what to say but I at least want to help Yong," Ingrid looked earnestly at her, "I know you said there was a test, maybe I can answer questions and tutor him tonight and we can talk. Yong deserves a long life." Ingrid offered. She would push the issue later but right now she wanted to earn some trust with someone who had to open up a door they did not want to.
Ingrid's resolve to handle this quickly and cleanly was shaken. Yin obviously knows more but how could she root out what could be their only chance at a safe life for her brother? She needed to discuss this with some of the other people but who to let know.
Yin dried her tears, but she still regarded Ingrid a bit warily. "I... the best thing that you can do right now is tell nobody," she replied quickly and adamantly. "If you really want to help us, you will keep this secret."
Then, there was another sound: a door opening some ways distant within the inn.
Ingrid heard Yin's words but there wasn't time for her to consider them. As the person came in, Ingrid held up a hand and scanned whoever came in. Yin had been crying and Ingrid was sure Yong needed her at the moment.
It was four people, all of them men, and moving in a tight formation towards the courtyard. "Zhu Kai," whispered Yin, "and half of his men." Quickly, she began to usher Yong towards the door and the rear rooms beyond. "I know them by their footsteps," she clarified.
Ingrid tilted her head, Oh so wonderful that our keepers have come back and I'm literally the only one here. she waved goodbye to Yong as he was escorted away. "Should we go greet them?" Ingrid asked, offering Yin a hand towel. She didn't want to come off as suspicious to them so she trusted Yin on this one.
Yin accepted it with a small mew of 'thanks' and dabbed at her face where her makeup had run. She took a little bit longer than she perhaps strictly needed to compose herself. Then, she nodded. "We should go greet them, and... don't be angry at them, please. Kai is a good man, and so are his soldiers. They're just doing their job." She began to lead Ingrid towards the courtyard and her voice sunk into a whisper. "In fact, they must know that Yong is here. They can use their magic to sense him but, as long as they don't see anything obvious, they can pretend not to know."
The speaktrout, however, did not translate particularly quietly, and her face went ashen for at least the fourth time that night. She cursed softly beneath her breath in Retanese and, thankfully the fish didn't pick that up as well.
Ingrid went to shut off the magical trout. For all its power, it was damn annoying at times. She looked over to Yin, worried if telling Yin about what happened to them would change her acting. She weighed it and went in for a whisper to Yin, using her own retanesse, "We were attacked today, they may be less friendly." Ingrid didn't say anymore and let Yin do with that information what she saw fit but from Ingrid's experiences, friendliness ends when blood is drawn. She headed over to greet them as she normally would, walking tall and confident. "Captain Zhu," she gave a wave and then a nod to the other guards.
For what it was worth, they pulled it off. The captain held himself together well, but anyone with some abilities in Chemical magic would be able to tell that he was both exhausted and a sea of boiling emotions. "Ah, Ing-ri, Yin," he greeted them, and the two Retanese exchanged a bit of fast dialogue. "看到你漂亮的脸蛋，这糟糕的一天会好一点。" (Seeing your pretty face makes this terrible day a little better.) He turned to Ingrid and smiled... conspiratorially? "你只是像你理解的那样看着我，就在刚才。" (You looked at me like you understood, just now.) In truth, Ingrid's understanding of Retanese was far from fluent, but she could get along in it as long as people spoke clearly and no advanced vocabulary was used. "Well, maybe you know what kind of day I've had," he said, consciously trying to make things easy for her to follow. Dai, Zheng, and Zhang nodded along in agreement, each looking haggard and grateful to be alive. "I think yours was probably the same." The captain shook his head, tired, suddenly. "Don't get into any trouble, okay? Keep my job easy." He exchanged a few more words with Yin that were almost... flirtatious in tone and then the four guardians headed off towards their rooms.
"Oh wait, Caprain Zhu!" called Yin. "I haven't turned up your sheets yet. Let me just do it quickly!" She scurried after him.
Ingrid spent the rest of the night waiting for Niallus, still conflicted on the revelations that she had learned. She hoped that Niallus would give her the normal comfort she finds in him but it seemed the conflict in her couldn’t be explored with Ingrid constantly worrying about being overheard. Still him being there at the end of the night brought up its own easement for her to sleep soundly.
Ingrid awoke still wanting to talk to someone about this but had a hard time thinking who she should reach out to. Maybe she would keep open and listen to other people and try to get a feel. Everyone went out last night so I’m sure there are things to share and things said if they don’t.
Lastly she went to Yalen to try and procure some topical pain medicine for supposed aches and pains. Hopefully getting some time to speak on his perspective on all of this. Ingrid found some trust in his words since he was a man of the cloth.
