Saturday Morning
"No Ravi, you can't have more than your sister just because you are older. You'll all get the same amount, and not a penny less." The raven haired one chided the small gaggle of children in front of her, as the bustling and yelling of the plaza swirled around her. She could see the excitement and wonder etched into their faces as they waited eagerly to be released; it wasn't often that she got permission to take her charges into the city itself, but apparently something big was going to happen and she had little choice; secretly she suspected the leader of their small village was trying to push her towards bigger and greater things again.
Grinning she swept a strand of hair back behind her ear before nodding once,
"Now then, you each have your buddy, yes? And the flare I gave you? Good, now don't go playing with it willy nilly, I'm serious only use it if you're in serious trouble, because if you do and you're not about to be eaten by someone's pet you'll be washing laundry for the next hundred years." Her eyes glinted with mischief as she inspected her charges again, they all were staring at her wide eyed, sincerely believing that she'd find a way to make them do chores for the upcoming century.
"But Misses Elysia, what if it ain't no pet but one of them ADF's tryna take us in for loitering?" The question came from the youngest of the group, Vi, a small girl around the age of 5, she was clinging onto her older sister's skirt startled and unsure about being in such a bright and happy place. Elysia chuckled ruffling the girls hair gently before crouching down getting eye level with the girl.
"Now if they were doing that, don't you think that everyone else here would have already been arrested?" She grinned in reply before nodding once,
"Half-point for the nice use of vocabulary but your sentence structure could use some work." She winked as she straightened up catching sight of the small girl's smile, bright and innocent a complete opposite of the grown woman's.
"Alright, scram the lot of you. When the sun hits high noon I want you all back here in a single line." The dismissed kids scrambled off, eagerly taking off in every directions to inspect the stalls and the store vendors. What little money their small town had to offer she had given to them to spend, she'd wager most of them would simply end up buying sweets or small toys. The older children might be a little more practical and buy a new hat or a shirt. Grinning she laughed softly watching them easily weave through the crowd, the smaller ones clinging to the hand of their older partner. They were good kids, and she was grateful for the chance to be around a different style of kid raises then what she was raised on.
Stretching she herself looked around wondering just what she should do for the next hour or two, the sword swaying comfortably at her hip seemed out of place amongst all the new age magi-tech and high powered rifles the rest of the courtyard was littered with. Even this early in the morning the plaza was highly crowded, and the hot sun was already beating down on the open area, shrugging she decided to forge into the throng humming softly as she sidestepped around hooded figures, common folks, merchants, hunters armored to the teeth, patrolling ADF, most of them giving her a wide berth on account of her eyes. Deep yellow, sparking and alive, a mutation from her first commune with a crystal, her crystal; it laid humming, singing to her, pressed against her stomach hidden away from prying eyes. The hub of activity seemed to be centered near a stage being hastily thrown together, speakers where being erected, banners and tables advertising 'The Great Reclamation Project' curious she turned inward into the group heading towards the front of the stage. It seems more and more of the ADF presence center around the front of the stage as councilman and big named figures starting filling onto the scaffold, whatever was going on it was big.
”As of today, we are invoking the "Ambrosian Conscription Rule".A sigh left the mage's lips, she knew a draft when she heard one and if she wanted to keep in good standing with the city and not have them look into her she had no choice but to comply.
'That damn bastard probably knew about this and sent me here on purpose.." An image of the town mayor popped into her mind, he was laughing at her of course, he was always pushing her to become more active in the city. He wanted her to gain support to have supplies and traders come visit and revive their town's economy.
'Guess he got tired of asking...' A wry grin found it's way on to face, a quick glance up put the sun close to high noon. Slipping her way back out of the crowd, she headed back towards where she had first corralled her children debating on when would be best to sign up; a pleased grin replacing her thoughtful look, seeing her charges well behaved mingling in a small circle eagerly sharing what they bought with each other.
"You should put that away before someone swipes it from you." She chided before swiping the new hat of Erin childishly flopping it onto her own head sticking her tongue out at the group, the older girl yelped in surprise before jumping to take her hat back returning the gesture before giggling.
"Miss Elysia, are you gonna help out with the project the Jarl was talking about??"Ravi asked looking up at her curiously, he didn't want her to go but he figured since she was such a nice person she'd definitely be the type to go out and help expand the world they can live in. He also had complete faith that she would return and teach them all about the new things she had seen.
"I was thinking about it, do you guys think it be a good idea? I would be gone for awhile, and wouldn't be able to teach you for much longer." She posed her reply as a question, smilingly softly at the cheer of replies she got in response, after all she really didn't have a choice but if they could grasp it as their own idea then she wouldn't have to worry about them so much.
"Alright, alright. Can you guys wait here a little longer while I go and sign up? After that we'll head home."