Xaltwind
The Irish Tree
BlazingBark
CitrusArms
Izurich
LiverisGood
MrSkimobile
Syben
Kaithe DameSeraph Academy
Practice Halls
~~~ @Rune_Alchemist, @Polaris North (RAV) ~~~
As Seleth and Raviel talked, two familiar figures entered the practice hall they were in. "Seleth! Raviel!" Alicia waved at the Dark Elf and the Furred One. "We heard you two were fighting so we came as soon as we were able."
"However, it looks like we are late." The girl wearing the eastern clothes was recognized as Mira Yasunori, one of Alicia's friends and by extension, Seleth and Raviel. "Greetings, Seleth and Raviel. I... hope we're not interrupting anything." The onmyoji girl teased.
"Mind telling us about the match?" Mira then asked.
"Yeah! Yeah! What happened?" Alicia joined in.
~~~ @A Lowly Wretch ~~~
"Say, where does a fellow like myself find some healing around hire? Or is there a cost for such treatmint?"
"Oh, you can head to the infirmary for that." The medic replied. "And don't worry, any treatment is free for tournament contestants."
"Though, are you sure you got hurt? It didn't look like you got hurt much." The medic remarked. "The healers will lambast you if they find out you were just overreacting. But don't worry, they'll fix it even if it's just a bruise or something."
"Anyway, good luck with your next match. I heard you'll be facing none other than Varjan Caldeyron himself."
Courtyard
~~~ @AzureKnight (LIS) ~~~
"Excuse me, Varjan, is everything alright? Please excuse my intrusion, I simply saw a fellow student was bewildered about something and I wish to help lighten his shoulders. Would either of you mind if I sat with you for a brief moment?"
The maid shot you a glare. "Pardon me, Princess, but you need not concern yourself with matters like these. These are matters below your station and thus, not worthy of your time and attention." She said to you in a mocking manner. It appeared she was trying to get rid of you while looking polite.
"Anesh." Varjan tried to restrain his servant.
"Besides, someone like you would not understand the problems that Lord Varjan faces." Anesh continued her assault, unwilling to relent. "So please, save your attempts at appearing caring and concerned to us. We are already your loyal subjects so you do not need to gain our approval and affection."
"Anesh! Stop!" Varjan raised his voice which have indeed stopped Anesh. "Anesh, you're dismissed. I'll see you back in the manor."
"But Lord Varjan..." Anesh attempted to retort.
"Anesh, please." Varjan tiredly requested. The maid did as she was told. She stood up from the bench, bowed to you and her master and left. Varjan then returned to you, now that you two can have a normal conversation. "What do you need, Princess Lisianthus?" He first asked. "Is it something about the tournament? Don't worry, I won't hold back against you and I hope you feel the same." The boy gave you a tired smile.
"Or is it really about lightening my mood? If so, then I must echo my maid's sentiments: Why?"
Western Gate
~~~ @Lmpkio ~~~
"Oi, Nur-laddie, Ya OK lass? What were those scabby doaty dobbers tellin' ya this time?"
Nur looked at you with eyes of irritation. "Why'd you waste your time doing that?" The girl asked. "They're not gonna stop. They'll just come back more fiercer than before since they'll think I rely on people like you to keep them away. They're never gonna stop."
"In fact, where were you?" Nur suddenly asked. "Where were you when all this started? Where were you when I needed you the most?" She continued, her voice rising in anger. "It could've all stopped then and there. But no, you people simply stood aside and let rumor after rumor circulate!" She began lashing out. "Do you even care? Or do you only care if it's within sight?"
"Or maybe, maybe you agree with my tormentors' sentiments... Maybe you also think I'm just a conniving b**** who uses her good looks to get what she wants!" Nur jumped to a conclusion. "Come on! Tell me I'm a whore! A b****! A pig and a cow! That's what you really feel, isn't it?!"
City Square
Unknown Location
~~~ @AzureKnight (HIS) ~~~
"I do have one question. Are we allowed to kill?"
Annabelle sighed. "Sadly, that depends."
"You see, my... well, I guess our, operation here is a simple supply-and-demand market." Belle began. "Contestants in the tournament demand an 'advantage' to help them win, I supply said 'advantage'. It's cheating and illegal, of course, but hey, when has that ever stopped people? Especially if no one would know."
"While the law here is competent and honorable, they're also adherent to principle and protocol. And that's something to our advantage... so long as we keep our tracks clean." Annabelle then eyed Keith who shrugged. "I'm afraid we can't kill people willy-nilly or else we'll be taken even more seriously... than we already are." She eyed Keith again.
"Hey, I did my best! What was I supposed to do against two Beastkin and a dude with a sword and a funny hat?" Keith said in his defense, also revealing a figure who was familiar to you. "You better be glad no one got captured."
"But rest assured, dear Hisana. We will have our bloodshed soon enough. We just have to patient." Belle told you. It appeared she herself shared your penchant for violence. "Oh, but you are free to brutalize and intimidate people as much as you want. Discourage them from investigating our venture." She added. "Now then, you can direct any further questions to our friend Keith. I've other matters to attend to. Farewell for now, Hisana. Your eyes are pretty too~"
Annabelle stood up and disappeared in a flash of pinkish-purple light. "So yeah, please direct any concerns to your pal, Keith North. He will address it to the best of his ability. And by 'best', I mean 'as little effort as possible'." Keith said. "Anyway, if you don't have any questions, we've got a job to do. Namely, protecting our 'assets'. You know, like those two bumps on your chest."
Harassment aside, Keith continued. "We've another warehouse set up to try and recuperate losses. It's probably going to get hit but I'm thinking they're going after the staff instead of the stuff this time so there's that." The mercenary continued. "Then we've got someone named Juan de la Cruz who handles our pay but might be brought in for questioning. Might. But in the event that he does, he's likely to spill. So we gotta protect him from being caught or get rid of him if he's caught."
"Which one you wanna tackle?"
Eastern Gate Town ---> Luminous Cathedral
Warehouse ---> Meeting Room
~~~ @AzureKnight (ENI), @Polaris North (FAY) ~~~
After removing the debris from Tibrus, Faye doused some of the flames with her enhanced wind spell before sending a gust towards Keith which allowed their new Beastkin ally to secure some boxes. Having failed his objective, the mercenary fled.
With Keith gone, Enishi was able to put out the fires that threatened to burn down the warehouse and everything in it. Most of the boxes have been destroyed or burnt to ash but a few were secured.
~~~ @CitrusArms ~~~
"You want some more, huh?!" Keith fired more fireballs at your direction but your trusty shield protected you from the attacks.
When you started kicking some boxes out of the warehouse, the mercenary panicked. "Hey no! Don't do that! That stuff aren't for mortal eyes!" He attempted to get close to you but he was interrupted and blown away from a wind blast from one of your allies outside, allowing you to secure some boxes from Keith's wrath. "Damn it!"
"And I would've gotten away with it if it weren't for you, meddling kids!" Keith yelled as he fled the scene. The fires have also been put out, saving the warehouse from at least collapsing. The situation was as good as over.
------
"Based from witnesses and reports, there was a fire in the warehouse but died before it could completely destroy the building." Athos began to the investigators. "Rebuilding it will not be cheap but it could've been more expensive."
The investigators, including Lumina, were assembled again in the Luminous Cathedral meeting room and were now being debriefed by the Court Mage. "However, you have achieved our objectives and secured some pretty solid evidence for drug trafficking. Enhancers, curses, even just physical drugs were in the boxes you secured." Athos said. "You've all done a very good job."
"I'm curious though. How did this little operation go? How'd it lead to a warehouse almost burning down?" The Court Mage asked of the investigators. "And who is this new friend of yours?" He added, referring to Lumina.