[RP] - Spirit Shards

"Finally I got away from those bloody fools." Was all Vex could think to himself as the Ignavis was almost at the capital. It was to him at least a very slow ride, and it made him think to a while ago. It was shortly after he found a way to harness his magic power, that he was caught. Most people when found out that they are born with the rare magic power here on Umbra are sent to The City of Magic. Most go so they can learn to use the arcane art lost to their people since the world split. Now mind you Vex at first wanted nothing to do with his magic, he his it since birth. But ever since the incident in which he lost control of himself, and later made the eight gems that lay in his sword things begun to change.

Vex strolled into the City of Magic, hoping to learn from one of the schools there how to fully control this force now. Since he now had this nagging thought constantly biting at the back of his mind. Well all that changed when a one of the Dark elf's spotted him in the streets. He shouted something Vex couldn't make out but he was soon swarmed by a drove of the elf's. They managed to subdue him ad lock him away somewhere, for the next ten years he was a test subject. They wanted to know why and more importantly how he created the gems he did through magic. The gems contained small traces of having elemental power, no one that could use magic has ever condensed magic like this before to this kind of extent. Since they kept him and his sword separated the barrier seal which kept his more sadist side at bay slowly waned. The rest was a blur all he could catch glimpses of in his now semi dreaming state were of him punching and or flipping the occasional guard. He didn't even know how he got his sword back.

Everything didn't make sense to him, why hadn't this happened sooner? Why did it take ten years for his other self to muster enough control, when it should of happened in theory to at least a day? As his train arrived in Acies he felt like he would know the answer once he got to Eternus. "Strange I never wanted to go to Eternus before, but now I have this feeling that I can't but help to go.

Ferion was sitting by himself at a bar at what he guessed was late in the evening, well he guessed it was late, though never could really tell in the city of darkness. The waitress would occasionally walk up to Ferion and refill his glass. "Thank you very much" is all Ferion would say, as he stayed silent listening to the other people that would come in and out of the bar talk about how great the festival was going be. Ferion smiled as people kept talking about the festival. "Thank you very much for the drinks" Ferion said as he put money down on the table and left. Ferion was slowly walking home passing by the busy crowds who all came for the festival, when Ferion noticed a Human male almost passing outside the inn.

Ferion walked into the inn without talking to the human male at all. Ferion knew in the inn lady well so he walked into the inn real quick.
"Hey Izzy what is with the human outside?" Ferion asked the lady in front of the inn, in a low whisper as so no one could hear him.
"Hey yourself Ferion, he didnt have enough money to pay for a room, so I guess he still out there." She told him with a smirk on her face.
Ferion reached into his pocket and pulled out $1000 and gave it to her.
"There Izzy next 5 people get in for free, and one of them are that human male outside your inn passed out, now go tell him he has a room." Ferion said and left the inn before Izzy could say another word to him.

Ferion passed the human male again without saying another word as Ferion headed back home. Ferion passing all the people looking out for anyone who would try to steal from him, for thats what the city was known for really, thieves, people selling "miracle items" and the what his father use to call them "religious nuts."
Ferion one never to really believe in the gods, saw the line forming outside the shrine for offerings of many kind to the god Acerbus. Ferion walked by the shrine when he thought he heard a strange voice, "come in..." it was a very small whisper he looked around and saw no one. Ferion trying to ignore the voice as he again headed back home till he heard it again "into the shrine..." it said. Ferion looked at the shrine, he only been in there three times in his whole life. Ferion not knowing what the voice was, decided to actually listen to it and headed into the Shrine, without any offering to any gods.

The wolven prince rode astride his giant tiger mount into the holy town where the the ceremony commemorating the 500th anniversary of the mythical war of the Gods would take place. While he had often came on such festivals to pray for the fallen Goddess, today he had another reason to appear in town.

His brother vanished many years ago after their father tried to force him into an arranged marriage. What puzzled Robert was the fact that Simon was kidnapped, and there were signs of a struggle in his room. In Robert's mind, if escaping his ordained nuptials was the reason, Simon could have just snuck out of the castle.

Now, rumors of his brother having been last seen here in this town gave Robert hope of finding Simon and learning the truth about what happened that night. Once he arrived, he stabled his mount and gave the stable keeper ten gold to cover the mount's feed and stable space.

His first order of business was the shrine. While he could easily start asking random people questions about Simon's whereabouts, having the divine blessing of the Goddess Aduro would certainly aid matters. Still, he could not help but muse how this all began because Acebus was so self-centered that the god would not allow the couple that fell in love to have their happiness.

"A true ruler cares about those around them, despite their rank." he muttered to himself before he entered the shrine. Robert often made offerings to the Goddess, but not tangible offerings. His offerings were acts of compassion, justice and fairness and the peace that came from those actions.

After being greeted by the priestesses, the young wolven prince knelt down before the altar and offered to the Goddess the accumulated karma of his actions.

As sunlight shone through her small house, Lucia awoke to it's blinding rays. Moving herself from her bed and getting dressed she observed herself in the mirror before brushing her hair straight. Once she felt sufficiently awake she grabbed a pre-made sandwich that was ready from last night before arming herself and leaving her house. She wasn't expecting a fight but she felt more comfortable going with her weapons, a token reminder of the life she once lived and what she wanted to live as.

Upon leaving the house she headed to her nearby destination, the airship station. Though new to the world today's Festival of the Gods was a special occasion for their use and since Lucia was the adventurous type she couldn't pass up a rare opportunity. That aside she heard of a girl who sold a special kind of fruit she wanted to try, life was for the experience after all.

Keeping her hood pulled over her head she walked to the airship station and quickly boarded, though her excitement wasn't physically apparent, it was still there. Not long after she was on board they set off while Lucia observed the view from the deck, remarkably for a new vessel it moved an incredible speed, far greater than any beast she had ever encountered. Before she had time to even look around they had already arrived and prepared to dock, the trip however had certainly satisfied her curiosity, seeing the world from below was an experience rarely given.

Getting off the airship she looked around for a way out when she spotted a young cute girl with silver hair waving, initially she thought at her till it seemed rather random and directionless. Before she could get out of her eyeshot a man dashed past her, grabbing her basket, a quick glance showed they were some strange type of fruit, perhaps the girl was the fruit seller she was looking for? It certainly made things simpler. Her pirate side however had other plans for the girl, no treasure escapes Lucia.

And those words were true for this would-be thief, she wanted the fruit and the thief wasn't about to run off with them, grabbing her crossbow from her back she fired two shots at him, piercing him through the legs, forcing him to the ground. Walking over to him she ignored his cries of pain as she gathered up the fallen fruits and returned them to the basket before, still ignoring the thief, walked past him and returned to the silver haired girl.

Holding out the basket casually she decided to speak first "I assume this is yours, sweety?"

Staring at the inn, the fair-skinned warrior could only sigh as she shook her head. This was very unlike her, who is almost always decisive. The moment she wanted to do something, she would just do it, no holds barred. It was also because she wanted to pay her parents a visit that she returned after a good 7 years.

Yet here she was, standing in front of her family's inn, filled with trepidation. It was almost as if she was about to engage in a battle of life and death.

In a sense, it was. After all, she hadn't left her family with their consent. Slated to be the next owner of the inn, her parents had planned to groom her in the business, but her mind and soul was already elsewhere. She wanted to be a warrior, and once she set a mind on something, she only made sure it happened...

... And so she left home. Without even a letter.

To reappear like this must be quite the surprise.

Fiddling with her jet-black hair, Celestia sighed as she wondered if she should go in.

Oh well, if I see something unusual, like blood around here, maybe...

She hadn't finished her thoughts when a man drenched in blood appeared and stepped into the inn. Cursing under her breath, she figured she better do as she said.

Walking after the man into the inn, she waited in line, amusedly listening to her mother's attempt to over-charge.

The man clearly couldn't afford it, and was soon storming away. Grinning at his misfortune, she stepped forward in line instinctively.

"CELESTIA?!"

Startled by the loudness, Celestia snapped her head back to look at her mother, and then remembered why she had been so fearful of staying in the inn.

"WHA-WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"

"U-u-uh," Her usually confident demeanor shattered, Celestia could only stutter as she struggled to answer.

"I'm home, uh, hi."

She said it almost as if it would settle things. Celestia's mother certainly did not think too kindly of it.

"But I'm still running a business here. $200 for a night."

"What! But Mum!"

"Or you'll join that man over there! Shoo!"

"Urgh, okay! Okay!"

Angrily producing her pouch, she took out the money and dumped it on the counter. Turning about, she stormed out of the inn, and leaned against the pillar, only to realize the same man she spotted leaning against it on the other side.

The man looked almost as if he was about to pass out. Feeling a sense of compassion, she walked over to his side.

"Hey, you need money a'ite? I could give you the cash you need, but you'll have to do something for me."

The truth was, Celestia was planning to help him, but she figured he may not take kindly to such kindness. That, and she figured it was better sense to get something in return.

"So, what say you?"

The ship finally docked, this was only the second time Asher had ever seen it and it was just as magnificent as it was the first time!! She felt a rush of excitement go through her as all the people from across the land started to pour out from it. There were at least 500 people aboard the AirShip.
"Welcome to Primo everybody!!" She said with joy, just about to pick up her basket of fruit to put on the docking counter but before she could even reach down a thief had run past and scooped it up!

"Ack!! No, No come back!!!" She cried out, this was unusual, there were a lot of thieves around Relucesco but none were ever so daring as to try and steal something in front of so Many people. She looked around, and considered chasing the man who was covered from head to toe in a cloak so no one could see his face, but she'd never catch him.
Then suddenly she saw the man drop... it took Asher a while to figure it out but it seemed as though he had been shot down. The girl looked around quickly for whoever did it, her silver locks swaying about as she turned her head. As she looked back to the thief who was still on the floor, she noticed a really beautiful woman kneeling besides him, collecting the fruit that he dropped when he fell, for a moment Asher thought maybe this woman was going to steal the fruit too... but that thought disappeared when she noticed the woman walking towards her.

"I assume this is yours, Sweety" the tall woman said

Asher blushed, she was so relieved that there was good people like this around "Thank you so much Ma'am!" She said with a cheery smile "I am so grateful, how can I ever repay you?"

As the silver haired woman confirmed it was her basket, Lucia approached her and dropped the backet in her expectant hands.

"I am so grateful, how can I ever repay you?"

Letting out a small giggle Lucia loosened her cloak, revealing the majority of her leather suit as she approached, bodies barely inches apart "I'm sure we can come to... Some arrangement" finishing with a light wink as she moved her hand down the side of the silver haired woman's body and walked past her "i'm sure we'll run into each other again soon cutie, perhaps you can repay me then..." after leaving a playful pat on her backside she refastened her cloak and moved on.

Leaving the airship station she looked around the nearby area, spotting a tavern she decided to head there. One of the many things she kept from her pirate days was the love of a tavern's atmosphere, as well as it's danger, especially since she was a woman and as such, the prey of wandering eyes.

Entering through the tavern's doors she approached the barman and ordered an ale, it had been a while since she'd tried alcohol outside her town so she decided it was worth a comparison.

Stevie had grown use to life on the street here in Primo, but that didn’t mean he liked it. The sounds of the city, even a village of this size, were aggravating to his senses. The Nymph in him wanted to be in the woods, with nature. Sometimes it was almost too much for him to handle. He’d start to lose track of his thoughts, and wouldn’t be able to focus.

In order to escape the chaos that city live had him, he would often go out and live with nature for long periods of time. It was necessary not only in order to control his magic, but also to appease the part of him that longed for the language of the trees. He could barely understand them, it was only like vibrations in the air, but that was enough.

He hadn’t been on one of those trips for quite a while, and he was starting to crave one. His magic was like a living thing and he knew that it would want out eventually. Not that it could do an extreme about of damage, but even a little bit of power uncontrolled, he knew, had certain dangers. As much as he often disliked people, he didn’t want to harm or kill anyone who had done nothing to him.

Today was the day of Aduro, an anniversary of the War of the Gods. Stevie had little faith in the Goddess, it didn’t have much of an impact on his life that they had fought that many years ago. If he ever worshiped anything, it would be his own magic. It had been there for him when he needed, and it wasn’t just some isolated being that had failed in it.

Still he had to admit that a part of him looked forward to the festivals. There was a lot to do, and it was a distraction from the fact that he was basically homeless, and had no one to care whether he passed a day in a bed, or a day in the gutter. People were more pitying around this of the year as well, no doubt hoping to appease Aduro with their charity.

He didn’t care for what purpose they did it. It was likely that tonight he would have a hot meal and a roof over his bed, there was little more he could ask or hope for. Perhaps he’d even find a meaningless fling on this night of the Goddess, and he could share a night of passion, and happiness. It had been long time since he’d felt either.

It had taken Vex a good two days of travel to get to Eternus, it might have been a third. The constant running was all a blur to him. His hardest time was getting out of the capital, apparently one of the magic guards sent word of Vex's escape and the city guard was on look out for him. He managed to sang a cloak and rub enough dirt on his face that the guards at the exit to the city didn't pay him no mind. Once he was a good distance away he broke out into a full fledged run, never stopping for more then thirty minutes to catch his breath or a quick rest.

Now walking into the city two things came to mind. The feeling ebbing at him to come to this city now settled down, now it was more of a pulling to a certain section of the city. Second he smelled, far cry from that he actually ranked and it was sicking to him. So now the next order of business way to find an inn.

Trudging through the city barely able to see what building was what, he saw two people talking. Being turned off by the male of the two hearing he would lay someone for free, he decided to ask the female of the two for advice.

Coughing to clear his voice and trying to make himself presentable despite his appearance he asked, " excuse me Miss, but could you be so kind as to tell me where an Inn may be?"

While asking he made sure to keep his cloak closed around his sword, as if not to give off any false impressions.

What came next... Asher did not expect... the woman who saved her crops from the thief had slipped her cloak off, revealing her busty chest. Asher gulped... mostly because she had no idea what was going on. She took her eyes from the woman's figure and brought them to the her face. "I err..." she muttered but was cut off...

"I'm sure we can come to... Some arrangement"

The lady then traced her hand along Asher's body, making the girl shrink away a bit, she really had no idea what was happening... this woman was obviously much different than she was...

"i'm sure we'll run into each other again soon cutie, perhaps you can repay me then..."

And with that, she tapped Asher's butt, making her squeak "Eep!!" she jumped forward a bit, turning to look at the woman who was walking off. The elfling glared. She had such mixed feelings of thankfulness and confusion... and what kind of repayment was she after??
Asher shook her head, she couldn't think about it anymore, she had to do her delivery rounds. So she placed the basket of fruit on the Docking counter with a little sign <Dear Visitors, please feel free to take a Gooji Fruit.> and headed off to do her deliveries.

After an hour of making deliveries Asher only had one more to do, and that was at the Bar. Bar Keep Motley made beverages with the fruit, he was her best customer.
After this she would head off to the shrine with her offering for Aduro.

"Hi Motley!" She said happily as she entered the in through the swinging bar doors. "Here's your fruit for the week. They turned out extra juicy today, Aduro must have blessed me!" She placed the basket on the bar and as she was leaving she looked to her right and who might she have seen but the same woman who had saved her just a few hours before. "Oh....Hi" she said not wanting to be rude, so she walked over to her and smiled "Thank you for saving me again. I'd really like to repay you by showing you around the city..." She flicked her hair behind her back a bit as it was getting in the way and reached out a hand to the lady "My name is Asher, would you like to accompany me to Aduro's Shrine? It's really a beautiful sight and I could use a body guard." She joked. "I'll even give you a couple of my famous fruits!"

Spending a good deal of time of time in the tavern, downing pint after pint of ale Lucia, even with her history as a pirate still had an alcohol limit which had now been passed. Now freshly intoxicated it didn't stop her alcohol quantity from rising, clearly this ale was sufficient for her.

While continuing to drink more and more, she heard a faint sound behind her.

"Oh....Hi"

Lucia turned to face the owner of this voice, looking at who she assumed was the girl from earlier, a mischievous grin quickly appeared on her face.

"Thank you for saving me again. I'd really like to repay you by showing you around the city..."

After saying this, the girl offered out her hand, though Lucia was in no fit state to be shaking hands, let alone much else competantly...

"My name is Asher, would you like to accompany me to Aduro's Shrine? It's really a beautiful sight and I could use a body guard."

"I'll even give you a couple of my famous fruits!"

At this point it was practically an invitation to the now drunk Lucia, slowly pulling herself to her feet from the bar stool she wobbled clumsily before using the bar as a support for herself. Trying to focus her sight she looked at Asher's face before gazing over the rest of her body.

"Well... If you're offering... I guess I can't refuse..!"

To the shock, and in the male viewer's awe Lucia pulled off her cloak, revealing her entire leather suit before lunging at Asher with lust-filled eyes. Forcing her hands on Asher's chest and her weight causing her to fall back-first onto the table, as she was about to move onto her a sudden cold chill rushed over her body as water began to drip over her. Looking to her right was one of the waitresses with a bucket that until a moment ago, was filled with water.

Shortly afterwards Lucia returned to some state of her senses, realising the position her and Asher were in she began to slide off and grabbed her cloak and put it over Asher. Though she was soaked too, Asher was the one with the least clothing and Lucia was an ex pirate and no stranger to cold water.

"I suppose this once I apologise for that..."

At this Lucia began to walk out of the Tavern, to save them both face, once she was outside she felt the cold wind blowing over her, looking around she noticed a lot of male attention was being focused on her, though a grip on one of her blades quickly turned them away.

[OOC: My bad. I skimmed through the posts, and didn't actually realize this snippet of information.... >.< Noted. And I should've mentioned this in the character bio as well, but she has the problem pronouncing the letter 'r' in speech.]

"What would you like in return? I don't usually take money to please a woman but in this instance I am desperate. Usually I'd lay someone like you for free"

It took the greatest of efforts to hold back her extreme desire to punch him. Nevertheless, surveying him from top to toe, she figured it actually was possible that she would lay someone like him as well - though she would most certainly not put it that way. That, and having returned home for the first time after so long, she certainly didn't want her mother thinking she had been sleeping around for the past 7 years.

Still, she couldn't resist noting that this man is really handsome - and that she had almost nothing to get him to do for her.

"Well, if you do 'ealize you are suspicious, then that's good. I know a st'ong warrior when I see one, and that alone, would se've me well."

She was thinking up her request as she spoke.

"Hm, pe'haps... You could be my bodygua'd?"

It was 'perhaps', because Celestia knew for a fact that she can easily protect herself from virtually anything that didn't use magic. That, and it isn't as if she is some kind of political figure who's a target for assassinations. In fact, she would welcome such attempts on her life - it was one of the motivations for her quest after all.

"Oh well, anyway, you'll get you' room soon enough."

Turning back into the inn, she hurriedly got out of sight, leaving him no chance to question her motives. No doubt, her one real motive was just to 'donate' the money to him - it just seemed rather rude to behave as if he was a beggar.

Placing the $400 on the counter, Celestia sighed as her mother snatched the money of the counter.

"2 Nights?"

"Actually, one. The other $200 is for that man outside."

Celestia's mother raised a single eyebrow, looking at Celestia almost curiously.

"What?"

"Hm, a regular customer has already paid for the next five patrons."

"Hey! Then I have no need to pay!"

"Thank you for your kind patronage. This money will ensure the free lodgings of the 5 patrons AFTER you."

Growling at her mother's laughing frame, Celestia stormed out of the inn again to inform the man.

"Ugh, paid fo' it al'eady. Come in when you're 'eady."

With that, she quickly turned and left to grab the keys from her mother, leaving one set for the man. As she went up, she was still scowling at her mother, who was all smiles as she stared at the inn's front doors.

Vex grunted to himself at the other mans jest and somewhat mocking town he took with him. He didn't think his ragged appearance and weariness from his travels the past three days left him so miserable in appearance. All the more reason for him to get to an inn and get himself cleaned up.

Walking up to the building the other man stumbled into, Vex took off the hood of his cloak. His face was a mess, almost ashen grey from the mix of dirt he smeared over himself and the sweat from his tireless running. His hair a mangled mess almost took a curly look to it. The only thing that seemed to define him were his pale gray eyes. They gave off a piercing look and made it seem that the mess in front of these people was not true to how he normally would be.

Walking up to the counter he could already see the innkeeper partially snarling at him, someone of his appearance walking into this place. Her glare never lessened as he asked "Excuse me miss, but do you have a room available?"

The women gave him a curt glare before she tossed him a key "Luckily for you someone already paid a room in advance for some guest, or I'd throw you back out on the street for your miserable appearance, coming into my inn like this. I am trying to run a business here not a shelter."

Vex took his key and thanked the lady for her kindness, finally after getting to him room and taking a look around the place which wasn't to shabby mind you. The only though that came to mind was "Finally I can get cleaned up and out of this rag."

Before Lucia had much time to move herself out of the area, she felt someone grab her arm from behind, something that under normal circumstances would be answered with a dagger to the throat. However, her reaction was stopped when she heard who it was...

"I am taking you to the temple! You've ruined my day, you're going to Pray for forgiveness or so help me, Aduro!!!"

Lucia wasn't even paying much attention at this point, religion wasn't something she really concerned herself with.

"What a shame, such a cute girl getting mixed up with something so... Meaningless"

After finally being dragged to the temple and pretty much shoved into the statue and ordered to pray for forgiveness, something Lucia wasn't even prepared to entertain.

"Let me think... Hmm... No"

With that she folded her hands against the back of her head and walked away, until realising her treasure was still there, and she wasn't about to just walk away from her. Taking a look back at Asher she realised that though she'd given her her cloak it wasn't serving the purpose she had intended it for...

Walking back to Asher she, without a word grabbed her by the cloak and pulled her in closer to her before tightly fastening it to cover her and keep her warm.

"I can't be letting my cute little treasure catch a cold now, can I?"

Letting off another little wink she, moreso for reaction than anything else kept her grip on the cloak and gave her a playful kiss on the lips before walking off outside, she wasn't going to leave, she just found her such a fun toy to play with.