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[mai-stories]

The Florist and The Mercenary - Chapter Five: A Break from the Rain

Lily had been washed back towards the trees, downed by the miniature flood. When he came over to help her up, that would be a problem. Due to the amount of water that had soaked through her clothing, her involuntary magic activated, her boots and stockings pushed off as her legs changed into a thick, glimmering tail. Aquamarine scales lined the fish tail, a light blue fluke curling idly as she struggled to gather her footwear back into her grasp. Her eyes came up to meet Irvine's one, an embarrassed blush washing over her pale cheeks. "I.. Can't get up." She admitted, brushing damp locks from her face.

Using her magic to dry off was pointless, as the rain had yet to cease. The only option would be to get that tarp up and dry off slowly. Lily's bodyguard stood over her, one eyebrow quirked up rightfully so when faced with this new development. So it was true, she was definitely a mermaid Considering that they had just met a few hours prior, she was a meek thing and merfolk fetched notoriously high prices at the black market for their scales and tails and tears, and slave trade typically for their natural beauty... He could understand her worries. Irvine reached out and petted her head gently.

"No worries." He told the mermaid girl.

There was an automatic flinch when he reached out to touch her, though she relaxed when he told her not to worry. He lifted her, as dragging her undercover, especially her tail, seemed rude and probably painful. Despite her looks, Lily was surprisingly heavy with that thick tail of hers, so she hoped he wouldn't be taken off guard by that, as well. She hung on when he picked her up, pale fingers curling into the cloth as if she'd slip right out of his hold. He set Lily down, moving to realign the pitons to anchor the tarp over their heads once more, with a little tilt to it to allow water to run off. They now had reprieve from the downpour and could dry out. While he had readjusted the tarp, she took to slowly ringing out her hair and clothing, taking off her apron and ringing that out, too. He went to collect Lily's boots and stockings for her as well. With some extra rope, he made a clothesline to hang up said stockings as well as his soaked jacket. He shrugged off his boots and let a bit of water dribble out. Lily handed him the garment to hang up, looking over at him when they had finished hanging up clothing.

"Despite this, I still love the rain.." He said offhandedly, looking out of the grassland under the rain.

"I do, too. Even when I was confined to staying inside, I liked to watch the rain fall." She said in agreement, pulling her skirt up to about hip level to allow her tail to dry out. It would take a while, however, as she had no towel to dry with, and using her magic to dry would do more damage than good. "There's something soothing about the sound of rain, and the smell afterwards. It's calming." She murmured, curling up and hugging her tail close like anyone would their knees.

"Agreed.." And he took a moment to enjoy it. The constant heavy patter of rain mixed with the water filtering through the treetops didn't bother him in the slightest. He simply reclined against the opposite tree and brought out a cigarette just to hang lazily between his lips. "Never seen a real mermaid, didn't think you actually were one to begin with. Some milquetoast house girl who spent her days inside more than out, yeah, but not a mermaid.." He eyed his charge up and down, lone eye lingering on her tail. "Just thought you were imitating the race for fashion.. I can see why you don't get out to meet people.. The vast majority of us are jerks." He said, taking a long drag before blowing away from the tarp.

Lily looked over at him, noticing his gaze. It made her only slightly uncomfortable, as she wasn't used to exposing her tail to others, so she shifted a bit where she sat.

"Wouldn't make much sense for a gardener to stay inside all day, would it?" She said with a slight smile, the scales drying off in due time.

As it did, the scales started to glow every so gently, beginning to fade and evaporate away from her toes up. The fluke faded into nothing, her toes and ankles slowly reappearing, then her shins and knees. More and more scales disappeared, the girl covering up her legs with her skirt. There would be no need for him to see her blindingly pale skin, as it would only embarrass her further. Still, despite having legs again, she had to wait for the bones and muscles to realign and settle before she could stand, otherwise she'd break or tear something as soon as she tried.

"You're not really that bad.. Better than others, I'd say." She told him, pulling a small comb from her skirt pocket to brush her hair. He had shown some of his colors, but she had yet to see if they were true or not. Unlike herself, Irvine didn't seem to wear his hear on his sleeve. "Could we build a small fire? Something to keep warm?" Lily asked, looking around for some sticks to dry and make a campfire, wanting to warm up while the rain was still coming down.

Without a word, Irvine leaned in and began to dig a hole in slightly sodden earth. Their spot had not been long for the soggy weather to soak in deep, so he dug until he had reached a dry point and made a small pit. He took the relatively dry bark and created something of a nest, then brought out a red crystal. The crystal's lighter center glowed and danced like an encapsulated flame, the edges warm to the touch. The mermaid tilted her head when he brought out the crystal, eyes captured by the dancing flame. Fire was another thing she enjoyed, in moderation, as the small flames were warm and comforting.

"Ever seen a condensed bit of mana? Mainly forms in an elemental way or its pure magic energy. I like to carry a few around. Small ones are pretty cheap since this stuff can be found in the wild if you look hard enough." Irvine explained as he let it fall into the pit, the stone starting to glow. It immediately ignited and created a cozy flame that swallowed up the bark, remaining bright and lively. Hearing this, she wondered if water crystals existed, her hand reaching up idly to touch around her neck. Was that something like her heirloom? "Good for a few hours. Only water magic can put it before then," Irvine told her. "It's gonna burn, burn off all of that magic energy.. I'ts so packed with the stuff that natural water takes longer than most to put it out. You know, throw a fire or lightning crystal hard enough and it explodes," The lightning mage said with a smirk. It was quite the morose fun fact, which may explain why Irvine knew such a thing in the first place.

Lily, however, was so lost in thought, spaced out until she heard him mention exploding crystals.

"That sounds.. really bad if you fall on one hard enough." She told him, looking a little uneasy at the thought of exploding crystals and the shrapnel that would produce. "Do you want something to eat? We can roast some of the meat, if you're hungry." She asked, scooting over to open up her recently bought bag. She dug around to get some bread and a little bit of that cheese, only a small amount to eat so there would be more later. She also got out some of the dried meats, as he seemed like a carnivorous guy.

"I'd uh... like that.." Irvine seemed... uncomfortable now. It might have been a stray drop of water coming down his brow from what had soaked his head, or perhaps a bead of sweat as the usual straight-faced bodyguard brought out a small satchel and stared at it for a moment before gently, very gently, setting it off to the side. Odd how he had never considered that before, not that he was ever knocked on his ass to ever run that risk... but it made him sweat. That movement didn't go unnoticed by the mermaid, a slight smile on her face as he seemed newly wary of the crystals. It was a bit amusing, to say the least. "I'll take some of that meat. Pass me some fruit, too.." A little fireside meal with some chat might be nice. Pleasant, at least... Hopefully. Maybe.

The two of them were quite the contrasting pair. As long as his charge trusted his judgement and his words when it counted. Lily passed him some of the meat and a few pieces of fruit, passing that as well before beginning to make her own meal. A little bit of melted cheese on bread made for a nice snack, she found, and would really warm her up in no time. Irvine had used a stray stick to impale his bit of meat to cook over their open magic fire while peeling the rind from his orange. Meat and fruit, better than most meals that crap hole pub served up to him as half-assed payment for keeping the drunks at bay. He offered a couple wedges to Lily. The mermaid reached out and took the orange wedges, popping those in after eating her own food. The salty taste of the cheese and nearly sour citrus made for a strange yet exciting flavor in her mouth.

"I wish I had bought some tea... Tea goes so nicely with rainy weather." She lamented with a sigh, tying her bandanna back behind her ears to get her hair out of her face. The full force of the storm seemed to have waned, the rain ceasing only slightly in severity.

"You wouldn't guess it by the look of her store, but Zara, the woman who ran the apothecary, sells some great tea. Lots of flavor.. Kind of a gamble whether you get hallucinogens or not, though." It was a note worth sharing, Irvine however murmured under his breath to avoid scaring Lily. She seemed the easily startled type.

He gained her attention by speaking about the kinds of tea that strange old lady sold, and that he guessed right that she would've been startled by that. Being in her right state of mind was definitely preferred.

"It's a little after noon, so when the rain let's up, we could probably keep moving. Do you have that map?" She asked, unsure if he had kept it with him or put it in the bag. Regardless of his answer, she'd look in the bag anyway.

"Map.. map..." With no room to roll it out and Lily still grounded for the moment, he sidled over to sit next to his charge to unfurl the map across their legs.

She did little to no protesting, as it was necessary for them to look over the map. Road markers connected every town, mountain ranges lay to the far west and north, thick forests scattered about, but little in between. Lily looked it over, recognizing where her own home was, though it wouldn't be home after so long. Hollifern was her new home, a place where she could be safe and with her own kind.

"Woodmoore is over here.." The mermaid could not gave been further from any ocean water, though Woodmoore did have its small lake to the east outside of town. "We left from the south and have been following the road. Not terribly far, though.. If we continue then we're going yo see Bardale off to the side.." He rubbed his chin. "Hm.. We'll stop there. See if we can't by coats for the rain or umbrellas. If we have to stop whenever a strong rain pops up, you'll be broke before long." Irvine said. An umbrella sounded useful, or even some sort of waterproof cloak to keep most of Lily's hair under wraps with a hood.

She had spaced out once again, daydreaming now about all kinds of magically waterproofed items they could find in order to keep any accidents from happening. Irvine rubbed his chin again, mulling over a couple things. His lone eye drifted to his partner, his charge, as she seemed to drift away into her own happy thoughts. When the time came that she ran out of funds.. Just what the Hell was he going to do?! No doubt the girl was worried about that herself, what could a gardener selling flowers really make? His hand migrated to the back of his head and rubbed it, the bodyguard heaving a soft sigh and deciding to deal with that when it was necessary. This girl would be eaten alive! A yipping puppy might just scare her out of her skin if she wasn't paying attention! He looked out in to the rain and it had lightened up some. Probably not enough to keep the fish tail issue under wraps, but soon enough.

"Oi," And he gave Lily's temple a poke to get her attention if his voice wasn't enough. "How much gold do you have on you?"

Lily was shaken out of her thoughts by the poke, having tuned the world out, not listening until he made that little bit of contact. She looked up at him, head tilted as he asked her about her funds. She pulled out her wallet out, pouring the contents into her lap and letting her skirt catch the coins. She counted it out: eight gold, two silver, and seven copper.

"This is all I have." She said quietly, eyes drawn back up towards his face, an unsure look crossing her own. Did he not have his own money? Was that why he asked her to pay for all their supplies? She only hoped he wouldn't extort her for more by upping the price now that he knew her secret. "Will this be enough to get to Hollifern? I don't have anymore flowers to sell, so I can't make anymore money. All of my savings went to traveling to Woodmore, even my rent." She said, looking down at the money in her lap, gathering it back up to put into the wallet.

"Depends on how many days it takes us." Irvine shrugged his shoulders, giving his charge the simplest and most factual answer he could.

The rainy season could be rough, thunderstorms and monsoons aplenty sure to assail the land in time and soak their particular part of the country to the core. Given Lily's race and the side effects of her getting too wet, well, her tail suddenly appearing could be a hindrance. Slavers on her fish tail wanting her for their auctions, even worse. He gave her damp head a couple pats and reclined against her tree.

"Don't worry about it. You'll get to Hollifern. Plenty of towns have jobs open if you're ever in need of cash." He said, relaxing now that the danger was gone and he had a snack.

So long as Lily had her magic, rain wouldn't be too much of a problem. Buying some sort of waterproof cloak or raincoat would help keep her dry, and her boots would keep water off her feet for a good while. The idea of doing oddjobs along the way did give her a bit of hope, however. Her skills were meager and common, so she could do just about any job that required cleaning or cooking. She'd even help out with gardens and stocking stores if she had to! She had rested long enough for her legs to stabilize, using a bit of magic to withdraw water from her hair and clothing, refilling her water pouch with it. She reached over and grabbed her stockings and boots, looking over at him for a moment. They were the type that went all the way up to her waist, so putting them on in front of him would be a little embarrassing.

"Could you.. turn that way, please?" She asked meekly, still holding the barely damp hosiery and her boots.

Irvine heaved another soft sigh and sidled off to the side. He turned his back to Lily while sitting just under the edge of the tarp.

"Make it quick." He told his charge as he turned his gaze to the sky.

She took that precious moment of privacy to pull her stockings on, glad there was no resistance and that the rain didn't damage the thin fabric. She laced her boots up before patting her skirt down, making sure it was dry enough before slipping her apron on, tying it into a neat bow behind her back. The clouds were starting to thin out, and rain lightened up to a gentle sprinkle. It likely would not last, but the issue before had been the flood brought on by that... thing. Oh, right. Those monsters.

"Ever seen creatures like that before?" Irvine asked, knowing it was a definite gamble to ask, but he had doubted her before.

"Those monsters? No, not really.. They sounded familiar, though, like something out of a nightmare." She answered, making sure the bag was tightened, secured so none of their food or supplies jostled out. With everything checked, she tapped his shoulder to let him know she was done, though it was gentle and light, as if just touching him would shock her. He turned and nodded.

"Figured I would ask. I've never seen anything like that either.." Irvine couldn't help but shake his head thinking about those monsters. "As far as I know.. There is no natural born creature, with magic abilities or not, capable of doing... all of that." He just gestured a bit, the image of those creatures evolving at such a rapid rate to defend against the damage they take was... Interesting. Her bodyguard ultimately shrugged his shoulders. "I don't even know of a magic that can summon like that. There wasn't anyone nearby... My opinion doesn't matter. I dunno why I'm thinking on it so much... but those creatures, I think they were made of mana. Pure magic energy. ... That's as far as my educated guessing goes," He said as he lit his a new cigarette.

"Whatever they were... I'm sure they weren't the only ones." Lily murmured, lifting up the bag, the straps snagging her hair again. She gave an annoyed sigh, dropping the bag down on a rock before reaching up and braiding her hair into a thick braid down her back, keeping it all in one place to prevent the straps from pinching and pulling at it. The bag was not that much heavier than she had originally thought, so carrying it wasn't a problem. "Pure magic? Hm.." She murmured, thinking back on it. It seemed that the more magic he used, the bigger those things got. They absorbed the magic, but it seemed not all magic was a good combination. The lightning completely tore through their water based bodies, and water could remove the mud quite easily. A cycle of the elements, it seemed. "If it helps, I could use the tarp as a wrap to keep dry." She suggested, looking over at their cover. Sure, she'd look like some kind of ragamuffin homeless girl wrapped up like that, but at least she'd stay dry. Irvine nodded in agreement.

"Better than nothing. Wouldn't want that fishtail popping out out of nowhere," He told his charge. He really did not want to deal with hunters and slavers.Gradually, the rain lightened to a degree that should have been safe for Lily. Luckily, he was down to his last drag and he snuffed out the cigarette butt with a quick, firm stamp of his boot. "I'll throw it over you if need be. Let's get a move on.." He got out under the misty rainfall and tore down the tarp quickly, folding it up and keeping it under his arm for quick access. He took the bag as well. It wasn't heavy, but he didn't want to burden Lily. "We've got another mile... mile and a half, before Bardale. We can definitely make it before night." He said, looking down at her.

Lily looked up in return when he had taken the bag from her, not complaining as it made her walk easier. Puddles from the rain had formed in the pock-marked road, the mermaid couldn't resist stepping in a few, playfully splashing like her kind was meant to do. Her boots were water resistant, all the way up to her knees so there was no threat of water getting to her feet. It was a little fun, and definitely took away the thoughts of danger and hostility that the world had no control over. With the rain nearly gone, the sun would come out to shine, a faded rainbow across the northern sky. Lily hardly glanced up when rays of sunshine came out, a smile on her lips as she happily tapped Irvine's arm and pointed up at the sky. When she was relaxed, it seemed her childish nature came to the surface, the mermaid coming out of her shell now that she felt safe with him. Irvine's gaze followed her eager finger and he eyed the arc of light, and he nodded. Quite the sight, but that was of little interest to him compared to the the little mermaid that had been so meek before. She skipped and hopped into the light puddles, splashed him a bit, but it wasn't like that was of any consequence to him. It was actually pleasant, a breath of fresh air, to see his charge actually having some fun. The child-like wonderment came as no surprise to him. Hell, he gave his cute charge a couple pats on her head she was so cute. Would he admit that? Hell. No. Lily happily accepted the head-patting, as it gave her a sense of security. There was no flinch or even a recoil, the mermaid's trust now in his hands. It was clear to her now he had no intentions of harming her, so her guard was completely down. A couple field mice scuttled out of their muddy homes, as wild as wild rabbits whose fur was dark and matted, sticking up in stray directions. They hopped about in the sunlight, bouncing across their path. One took a sharp turn bounced around Lily even, but it went on its way as well. The quick movement of small woodland creatures caught her attention, making her stand absolutely still. Not in fear, but to keep from scaring the animals. It wouldn't be right for them to scare the little things back into still flooded grass, so she would prefer not to spook them. It still brought a smile to her face to see them bound across the path, and once they were safely out of the way did she continue walking. With abundant sunlight and cleared up weather, the walk to Bardale would be much more relaxed. The rainy season brought its fair share of strife, but there was no denying the change brought on after rain. Something was washed away for a new moment, the air cool and fresh. It was definitely his second favorite time, after a nice rainstorm itself.

[mai-stories]

The Florist and the Mercenary - Chapter Four: When It Rains, It Attacks!

The magical charge of the world, like everything else, was not without its negative side. The more mana mages used, the more residue it left in the world, building up until it could reform elsewhere. Most residual mana was absorbed and recreated as crystals, but that was no the case here. Water congealed into puddles, where they grew and took the shape of small bubbles. Those bubbles displayed black motes of dark energy that plucked hundreds if not thousands of the falling droplets to form small, quadrupedal bodies that were eyeless with gaping mouths, watery teeth forming that started to freeze and become ice. Matching claws sprouted from its legs and froze, jagged icicles formed spines down their backs. These magical monsters, rapid and hungry, spotted a buffet just across the glade and dashed down the road toward the resting pair. Lily turned to see the monsters rushing towards them, jagged icy maws snapping hungrily, following the trail of magical residue from this area. The dark energy within them craved more, a desire to sap away all magic from the pair in the area. The more magic it drained, the more powerful, and these two were chock full of it! About six had come rushing at them, ready to pounce and gnaw away at their bodies, teeth aching to sink in and pull every ounce of mana from their souls. Lily gave a soft shriek, panicking for a moment. She had never seen these before! Just what was she going to do? The rain around them funneled to her, her hand pulling up an orb of water to create the whip. Some kind of defense, Irvine had told her.. She could try it. The only thing, however.. She had no idea how to even use a whip. Instead, she looked up to the branches, using the rest of her strength to hoist herself onto a low branch to safety. The bodyguard turned his head in time to bear witness to Lily pulling herself out of harm's way. Well.. He couldn't really complain.

  "Ugly little creatures, whatever the fuck they are.." He grumbled as he stood up and walked to meet their running pace halfway.

He clapped his hands together, a surge of electricity traveling down his arms to his fingers. Spreading his hands apart created of torrent of blue bolts traveling between his fingers, creating a cacophony of chirps. He sent a bolt of lightning snaking toward the pack, intent on skewering their semi-liquid bodies on his attack frying them or popping them, whichever happened first, to end them before they became a nuisance. Any that came within kicking range, however, would be losing a few teeth! From her perch in the trees, Lily did her best to assist Irvine. She had expected thieves or caravan raiders to attack them at some point, not these odd little creatures. She did her best to keep him dry, too, as she didn't want the electric attacks to hurt him. The lightning bolts did a number on some of them, a couple of bodies taking the brunt of it, stopping short and seizing up, bursting and leaving a puddle of black ooze that seeped away. The shadows clung to the remaining four, the electricity soaking up into their bodies. The mud beneath them began to cake to their claws, the magic properties within them turning them into an amalgamate of elements. Rigid stone spikes grew out of their heads, the icy fangs sparking to life with electrical force. They were getting bigger, the mud in them negating the shocking force that Irvine pumped out.

"They.. absorbed the magic.." Lily murmured from her seat in the branches, rain starting to pour and drench her body.

She had been so focused on the fight, she forgot to keep herself dry. Only her back was getting wet, so she had no mind to worry about it. Instead, she had to find a way to help. Her words were parroted in Irvine's own mind as he watched their transformation into greater beasts. The absorbed magic and reshaped, evolved, to make themselves more resistant to magic killing them. This was a level of adaptation impossible in any living creature, and that ended his silent pondering of just what the Hell were they dealing with. He knew, to some degree. Sparks danced across his body. They could handle meager electric blasts now... But his level of control went far beyond meager! Irvine quickly raised his hands, fingers together and he laid one over the other.

  "Eat this!" He growled as he brought his hands down! The lightning magi was aglow with electricity coursing across his body! A pair of lightning bolts came crashing down with explosive, fiery force. Twin blasts of plasma engulfed the lot left and Irvine readied himself for what might come at him next. The massive surge of lightning struck down towards the leftover beasts as they kept charging onward, the earth broken apart and raising around them. They stumbled about in their tracks, bodies glowing, twitching as the lightning stung them. It only stunned, as the mud absorbed them, though the water within their bodies became too charged and burst, leaving clumps of mud that resembled legs. The raised earth began to shift, a couple of buried weapons from fights long past stuck in the mud. The remainder of the black ooze had collected all sorts of magic, from his lightning to her water, and formed one last beast. A massive amalgamate of the earth and rain, two giant pikes of iron stuck out as horns, surging with electricity. More ice spikes jutted out of its sides, fangs gleaming and frost forming wisps out of its maw. A might roar came from this goliath of the elements, charging for the white-haired powerhouse that kept on attacking it. It spat large rocks at him, determined to knock him down and absorb his magic. One might grow more frightened, no, they surely would in the face of such a monster that adapted to battle quicker than the most seasoned or warriors and magi. Irvine surged with more power. A brief coughing fit struck him, causing a falter in the flow of his electric surge. The power still built with the same chorus of thousands of chirping birds around his hands, which he thrust forward and sent a powerful blast of energy in to the boulder his way. He turned it to smoldering rubble and stalked forward with a glare set on the monster that might kill a normal man.

"Using this much mana now is such a pain." He growled to himself, hands up and coursing with power. 

Body alight with an aura of pure mana, he took a step and lunged at the magical amalgamate beast intent on sundering it! Hands coursing with electric energy, he would kill it! He wanted those horns, first. Irvine went to sever them, the lightning rods, for weapons of his own! Seeing as it was mostly mud from the feet up to the middle of its body, Lily got an idea. She dropped down from the trees, carefully at that, and gathered water in bubbles. She used these to reach out and begin to tear off muddy chunks, revealing the icy sides of the beast. With more and more of its body being exposed, as well as ripping a leg or two off due to rinsing away the mud, she had slowly immobilized the beast in time for Irvine's attack. As soon as his attack struck the beast at the horns, the metal sent shock waves throughout the body, revolting and causing the beast to shriek and howl in great pain. Collecting elements turned out to weaken it, as the metal conducted a great deal of electricity into the body, beginning to completely vaporize it. Bit by bit, the monster imploded, mud splattering away and the iron spikes having been shot out at a high velocity. All that was left was the puddle of black ooze, still crackling, unable to go anywhere. The water that made up its body and burst and spread out like waves. Irvine braved the brief flood and made a note to thank his charge as he loomed over the black globule, the dark matter core of the beasts that had attacked them. He reared his hand back, supercharged it with his electric mana, and brought it down with a furious slam with a crack like lightning that made the sky roil with with thunder. There was a brief burst of light and he drew his hand back from smoldering, blackened earth he left in his wake with no drop of that mass in sight. Dead as dead can be, he straightened his coat and turned to walk back to Lily, even thank her and give her a pet on the head. The aftermath was clear, raised earth and two metal rods, twisted and blackened by being overcharged, lie in the muddy road. Water already began to fill up the large crater, mud breaking up and turning the water dark.

[mai-stories]

The Florist and the Mercenary - Chapter Three:  Getting Ready

"I take it we need provisions? Can you cook?" Irvine asked her, starting to steer her towards the road back to Woodmoore.

"I can cook a few things." Lily said, looking up at him as they went back. Hard labor didn't sound too bad, as she could use her water to push heavy things around and pick things up since she had very little upper body strength. "What about you?" The mermaid asked as she walked alongside him, tilting her head some as he was still a considerable height above her.

"Not at all. The closest I've come to actual cooking is frying rabid animals with my magic, for contracts. And those two jackasses." Irvine replied.

He glanced down at her, noticing Lily's face was one big open book with the word "worry" written over, and over, and over. "The whole point of me training you is to toughen you up for that sort of thing, to deal with slavers and backstabbers like Ernest. I won't be by your side twenty-four seven."

Their travel brought them back to town, to the market place where the mermaid had earned her coin purse and Irvine turned to his shorter companion.

"Buy things. Food. Whatever. I'll cover some expenses and be here to make sure they don't rip you off. Only essential." He told her. "We'll only need few minor supplies," He told his charge as his lone eye also searched for the places he had in mind,

"Ration boxes. A tarp and pitons for when it rains.. Its not like you and I have camping equipment, but we don't need much. It'll be coppers at best, I'm not trying to screw you over." She still needed to pay him his daily fee after all. "Non-perishable foods for the road are essential. Vendors and traders cross every road daily so shopping for food won't be difficult.." Turning his head, Irvine peered over his shoulder with a half-lidded eye, his gaze holding a sort of bored and indifferent glance. Not cold or mean, more or less checking that his charge was still there and had not been distracted by something shiny. "I'd like to visit an apothecary too. For medicine, stuff for poison... That would be such a stupid way to go for you and I just can't abide by that." He told her, much to her dismay.

This guy was so blunt in his words! Her slate blue eyes scanned the area as she slowly relaxed, more comfortable with so many people around, as odd as it sounded in her head. Surely nothing bad would become of her in broad daylight, out in public, so why worry? When he explained the things they would need, she understood, having never really put much thought into that sort of thing. Lily pulled her wallet out, ready to make any purchases so long as he oversaw the spending. She'd buy what he suggested, taking his word for it as he seemed to have better knowledge of the supplies.

"Rations.. Tarp and pitons.." She repeated to herself over and over under her breath, beginning to head towards a large stall.

If she didn't remind herself, her attention would easily slip away, gullibility made her an easy target for shady dealers! Lily bought a bag to carry their supplies in for only two silver, then began to purchase the goods he had suggested. Dried meats, wrapped cheeses, and enchanted bottles of fruits that wouldn't rot were what she bought, as well as a couple of loaves of bread. All of this seemed non-perishable to her, and would make meals easier than having to hunt. As for medicine... She had no idea where an apothecary was, as there was no stall around with such wares. "I got us some food, and water shouldn't be a problem." She reported back to him, lugging the bag with her. It did have straps, though she was careful not to get it snagged on her hair. It took her many years to reach the length it was, and she wasn't about to lose a single strand to some brass buckles and leather straps. "About the medicine, though.. I'm not sure where to look." Lily explained, turning her attention up at his face, though she didn't make eye contact.

Her eyes would avoid his, a habit she'd need to break soon. Irvine eyed his companion for a moment, not a word said as his lightly scarred hand reached toward Lily and he gently urged the pack off of the girl's petite shoulders. He slung it onto one of his own without issue or a word about it, rolling his unlit cig from one corner of his mouth to the other and then back.

"I've got a different place in mind. The owner and I have.. a rapport." He nodded his head again in that manner that encouraged her to come along. Without a word, she continued to follow him, adjusting the bag to make sure nothing fell out or off of it as he took it with him.

On the way they picked up the few minor camping supplies like their tarp, some feet of rope and pitons to anchor the tarp in case of rain. He liked the rain, the moody season was upon their lands and he could feel the first of the clouds brewing while the sky outside was a cloudless blue. That kind of clear weather sucked for hangovers.. it was far too bright. He also helped himself to a couple packs of cigarettes. His traveling buddy was buying, after all. It was a few copper in all plus, a map, because what kind of idiots went out into the world without a map? Food and fresh water were in good supply, he had a flask of booze on his person should another sort of thirst need quenching, and their general camping supplies were set. Lily was a bit surprised he just took the pack without a word, letting him do so, freeing her arms a bit to pick up anything else. After buying the tarp and pitons, it was a bit obvious on her face that she disliked having to buy cigarettes for him. She had never really liked the idea of smoking narcotics, as it ruined lungs and skin, as well as teeth and other vital parts of the body! Sure, magic could undo and erase it, but magic was not always available. That left the apothecary and the building he was headed toward was... obvious. A single floor building, the outside was once a vibrant magenta, surely, but the elements had dulled the color and made it chip and crack. the shutters to the windows outside were a fresher shade of bright green, akin to jade. The window glass was dirty, murky with dust. The door seemed brand new, but one could only imagine why such a rundown hovel like the Red Weaver before the pair needed it. Opening the door released an air of stagnant and stale smoke mixed with sweeter aromas like honey and vanilla. Both mingled in a fashion never meant for such extremes of scent, the inside had a light smoky haze, and the smell was surely overbearing for the poor untrained lungs of a nonsmoker. Irvine, however, was like a fish in water and as straight-faced, unperturbed as ever. As they entered the building that seemed stained with time, Lily was immediately off put by the strong aromas and overwhelming smoke. She coughed a good bit before settling, using her bandanna to cover her face. It was dark, candlelit, where the dirtied windows, and other that could not be seen from their initial view that were boarded up, let little actual light in. There were shelves lined with jarred oddities, free floating or packed into liquid. Shelves of vials, candles, sacks of herb and some were sitting around stuffed in crates. A bell chimed above their heads and from out of sight walked a woman. She wore several long scarves, sequined and shimmering on her body in the dim light, fashioned around like a rainbow shawl that hung down over her stomach. They even wrapped over her head to hide her hair from view. Her skin was dark tanned, wrinkled with a bit of age, and her nose longer than most and hooked. Her magenta robes, glowing in comparison to her building, dragged along her floor as she glided up to Irvine, standing roughly Lily's height in comparison. She looked up at the one-eyed lad through eyes so narrowly squinted that little more than the slight shine of her eyes could be seen. Her rather bony hand brought her smoking pipe to her lips where she took a deep drag and exhaled a steady stream of lavender smoke right into Irvine's face. Seconds of it, where his head was positively lost in the haze before she was even done. Lily waved smoke away from her own face, drawing the bandanna down as the woman promptly blew smoke directly into her bodyguard's face.

"Excuse me.." She managed to squeak out, holding back a cough. "Do you have medical supplies for sale? We just need a few things." She finally coughed up, eyes starting to water at the sheer amount of smoke and fumes surrounding the room.

Madame Zara turned her narrowed gaze to Lily, jewelry jingling about as she tilted her head and gazed at the girl for a few wordless seconds.

"Anti-toxins mostly. Cheap, for snakes or spiders. And my usual, old woman.." Irvine said in the lingering haze around his head.

"Got more business, worthless?" She asked in a grating voice from years of smoking. The colorful and chiming woman turned and plucked vials and herbs from her shelves without looking. She went behind her front desk and brought up a small back, glass clinking inside. "Three gold for all of it. Take it or fuck off.." She told them, setting three neatly wrapped packets of herbs and three vials down of a murky green substance with what looked like some sort of algae clinging to the glass, before taking another long drag and filling her lungs.

"Best deal I've ever gotten. You must be lucky." The newly appointed bodyguard said to his charge as he ushered Lily forward to pay.

She nearly jumped when the woman looked at her, eyes averted once more until she heard Irvine speak. A part of her was relieved he knew what they needed, though she was not as pleased to hear such vile language float about the smoke. She gave a soft whimper when he urged her to pay, money jingling in hand as she put the money on the desk. Already, three gold was gone from her previously thirteen, and after buying provisions and equipment, she was left with even less! She only had about eight gold left now, striking anxiety back into the mermaid's heart. She truly hoped she'd be able to pay him for the trip.

"Is this really all we need?" She asked quietly, reaching up to tug on his sleeve, wanting Irvine to know she was speaking directly to him.

He waved off the lingering haze and looked down at his charge, giving her a nod. "Mm.." He grunted as he took what as paid for, packed it away and nodded to the proprietress, whom exhaled a stream of the same lavender vapor in reply. "We've got the bare necessities. We could use a bit more of maybe something to help replenish mana. The old bat probably has a healing potion or two," to that, Irvine received a rough grunt as confirmation, "but you have to pay me. Start light and we can always get more. Like I told you, there are merchants and caravans moving all across Elestrona."

He had Lily lead their way out with a hand gently placed on her back, "I appreciate the deal." He told Zara.

"Keep her safe. You could use the company." the old smoker told him in her time ravaged tone before the door to her shop shut and she was left alone in the gentle glow. Irvine sighed. He checked the one sack meant for him and nodded.

"Six vials. Old hag was being damn generous today." He murmured to himself as the left the Red Weaver.

Lily huffed a small sigh of relief, glad to be out of the hazy building. Her lungs weren't quite large to begin with, as breathing required two sets of passages for her. She tucked away the packets and fastened the bags before turning to him, curious about what exactly she had just purchased for him. Still, it was none of her business, though she would ask eventually. She needed to trust him more, and that would take a little longer.

"If that's all, then we should start heading south. I recall Port Hollifern being at the southernmost peninsula." She said, turning those grey-blue eyes to him, a smile gracing her lips. "Thank you, by the way." Lily added as she walked a few steps, wondering which direction was south. She hadn't moved ten feet and was already lost again. Irvine's hand came rest on top of Lily's head and her bodyguard oriented her on the right path. Lily's body swiveled into the right direction, cheeks warming at the feeling of his hand on her head.

"No problem. Seems like I made the right choice.." He patted the girl's head silken locks and set off towards the southern gates with her.

They were out of Woodmore, officially on their way to Hollifern Bay with a substantial distance to cross on foot. That would be a lot of days to get paid. Their journey beginning, she found herself more at ease now that she had someone big and menacing to call a bodyguard.

"So, can you use magic or what?" Irvine asked his petite charge, bringing up his hand with fingers curled and spread, making a slim bolt of electricity dance between his finger tips before creating an electric circle across them. As he asked about her magic, her face lit up, that smile returning.

"Yes, I can. It's.. not strong, but I'm trying my best." She said as she pulled out her leather water pouch, popping the lid open and commanding a stream of water out, floating up into a ball in her palms. She wasn't quite able to change its state, but could make it into shapes and control a decent amount, up to half her body weight.

"Hm.." He nodded. "How lucky. All you have to do is soak whomever decides to mess with you.. and I can zap them a little harder." Irvine said with a smirk. It was the first time his lips had turned up into sort semblance of a smile. "Your most useful tool is going to be a whip. I've met a couple water magi before. I'll teach you how control it a little better." Better his charge knew how to defend herself. It made for less for himself worry about.

Lily listened to him, looking down at the water in her hands as he spoke. A whip? She had used water as a prehensile tool before, able to grab things from far away and bring them to her. She hardly thought about using it as a weapon, though. Testing out the idea, she spun the water into a long, thin strand, about as thick as her thumb before letting the base of it cling to her hand.

"Like this?" She asked softly, showing him the liquid weapon as it glistened in the noon sunlight, a light smile on her face. She liked seeing him smile, as it made him just a tad less scary. Anything to lighten the mood around this guy.

"Already got the hang of controlling it like that, I see.." He said with a nod. "I've seen water magi practice by keeping water as a blob and extending like a whip from that. Might be a bit advanced for you." It was just a thought, however. Any form she could use defensively was useful. "As long as you can actually defend yourself if you need to," Irvine told his charge, "it's less hassle for me and I can keep on getting paid." His single eye drifted to the sky and simply watched it as they went down the often beaten path.

"My magic isn't that strong yet. I have to keep it in a reserve, otherwise I wouldn't have any." She said, opening her pouch back up and putting the water back inside. She, too, looked to the sky, then back down towards the road out before them. It seemed this journey would be long, and silence would make it just uncomfortable. "If you don't mind me asking.. What kind of work do you usually do?" She asked quietly, looking up at him now. It didn't seem like he was always a bodyguard, offering lost and defenseless young women protection from one place to another.

"I hurt people." He said, so casually at that.

This was a book, this man, whose cover was bruised and beaten and cracked with words written across the front that were crisp. That could be judged from first glance, his bloody pages held a factual story.

"People who hurt other people, mostly anyway.. I was a bouncer for pubs, threw out mostly drunkards and a few blokes off their asses looking for a fight because they're just mad at the world.." He lit his cigarette finally and took a long drag. Slowly, let the smoke inhalation burn before he blew. "Was a long time before I knew I could get paid for hurting people too.." He smirked to himself. He eyed Lily out of corner of his one, up and down. "What did you do? A maid, gardener?" Irvine questioned, noticing her get up. Not quite fit for adventuring.

The girl's first initial instinct was to take a step to the side, just a bit further away. She couldn't hide how terrified she was of that thought, but she was paying him to protect her. What would he do if she said she didn't have money, just abandon her at some pub or inn for others to pick off? Paranoid thoughts sprung up in the back of her mind, though she brushed them off as just that--thoughts.

"I.. Yes, a gardener.. I grew a field of flowers, and sold them to get the money I needed for this trip." She explained, forcing herself to relax. He seemed blunt and logical, and would have made it known what his intentions were from the start. There was no reason to be afraid, she told herself over and over.. But why was she still so skittish? "I guess I do look kind of like a maid, huh?" She said with an awkward giggle, looking down at her clothes, the plain brown skirt and white blouse covered with her apron, the bandanna holding her hair out of her face and her knee high boots, waterproof and made to walk through deep puddles and streams.

"A bit... I would wager a bad one at that," Irvine told her, blowing another stream of gray vapor from the corner of his mouth away from the shorter girl. "You strike me as the clumsy type.. You try and all that but make a bigger mess than when you started." He said bluntly, not even concerned with any sort of slight his words might cause. He just kept looking up at the sky. Her bit of distance taken did not go unnoticed and he uttered a simple detail. "I don't mess with women like that. You look like you'd crack if I stared too hard, even." He said on behalf of her worried demeanor.

A small huff came from the young woman at his side, a slightly smug smile on her face.

"I'm not as clumsy as you think." She said with a nod, a bit proud of herself that he misread that tiny bit of information about her. Though, she was a bit top-heavy, given that her hair did weigh her down in some cases. Bundling it all up into a braided bun would only make it worse, so she left it down for even distribution of weight. His next comment, though, stung a little. Could he really blame her for being so scared? She didn't exactly fit in with the tough crowd scene. Hell, she'd fit the bill if placed in a dollhouse, not a bar! "Sorry, I'm just nervous. I hardly meet new people, so meeting the right ones isn't always easy." She explained, fingers idly fiddling with a long indigo lock of hair. "You're not all that bad, though." She added with that same smile, glancing up at him. Irvine only shrugged his shoulders.

"You don't have to explain yourself to me. I've known a couple others like you. Hell, I wouldn't take offense to you being afraid of me the entire time from here to Hollifern." He dropped his nearly spent cigarette into the dirt and stamped out half burnt tobacco. He looked down at his charge and their eyes met.

"But you're safe." He told her.

This would be an uneasy partnership, but he had an obligation uphold as Lily's hired bodyguard and would not let her down. Lily did her best to relax more, as his words calmed her after a few minutes. His intentions were right out there, this blunt but honest man, so she could let her guard down around him. Another deep breath, and the tension dropped in her shoulders, steps becoming less rigid and more natural. Just as she began to relax, a crack of thunder boomed from the sky, making her jump and cling to his coat sleeve. The storm was beginning to roll in, rain pattering in sprinkling drips across the glades and forest. Irvine, however, was unperturbed. The gradually intensifying patter of drops across his face and eventually his shoulders was pleasant, but then it stopped. Lily reached a hand up, using magic to prevent water from touching them so long as she didn't break concentration. He could see the rain parting, just a touch, around them. Around an invisible force more like, and his gaze drifted down to Lily. Was she concentrating...? or pouting? The trees up ahead would provide some protection before it got any heavier, so that was their safest bet right now.

That tarp would come in handy sooner than she thought! The pace he took toward the small cluster of trees was leisurely, the lightning mage able to set up their tarp to stay dry. He was in no rush. Lily did her best to keep rain off of them for as long as she could manage, her arms dropping as they settled in a small cluster of trees. The sound was at least a pleasant one, even the beastly rumbling of thunder over head that followed every snap of lightning. The flashes danced across his face, his eye drifting to each one before they appeared in the dull gray sky. The storm brought a small smile to his face. Lily had become somewhat fatigued from her mana usage, though as they rested, she noticed him smiling. She was about to ask him if he liked the rain before something odd caught her ear. That didn't sound like wind or rain, though it did have some familiarity to it... Just what was it? Little did they realize the danger at their backs.

[mai-stories]

The Florist and the Mercenary - Chapter Two: The Switch

Not long after leaving the Lamia's Tail, Lily's anxiety arose once again. She was not familiar with Woodmoore, so she had to rely on Ernest's help. The two made their way back to the market square, unaware of the figure following after them. A figure clad in black weaved like the wind between the passersby, on a direct path straight for one innocent girl out of her depth in this place. Hand aglow, feet silent, he made for what cash his magic would snatch for him... Only for a hand on the small of Lily's back to take her out of the way. The piercing gold eyes of Ernest were set on the would-be thief and his other hand opened. From his palm, from a metallic glow at the center, chains erupted and the figure in black wailed as he was not only tangled up, but lifted into the air by his ankles. Everything seemed to go so quickly for Lily, her hair whipping around when the thief had made an attempt to rob her. She clutched her apron tightly, reaching underneath it to the pockets of her dress in order to feel for her money. She relaxed some, giving a nod to Ernest before she glanced over at the would be thief.

"Bet this fella had his eyes on you from the get go. I doubt he expected a mage of my caliber though!" Ernest bragged and he gently moved his free hand to Lily's shoulder. "I think I got him before he could snag anything. You okay, Missy?"

"I'm fine." She murmured, still breathing a little heavily before looking up at the elven man. 

"Is that common?" She asked him, relaxing more before breaking his hold. She wasn't comfortable with a near stranger touching her like that. "What's going to happen to him anyway?" There were so many questions she had, having never lived in a large city. Were people really robbed out in the open like this? Surely someone else must have seen him. They definitely saw him now, suspended in the air by golden chains that sprung from Ernest's hand. She still didn't trust him any farther than the demure girl could throw him. It was expected, that much was obvious.  

"Only if you don't know who to look out for..." He eyed the thief and smirked, "As for now...!" With a flick of his chains, he swung the thief high over their heads and unraveled them, letting him fly off over a couple buildings. "He can think about what he did and think twice as hard about robbing anyone else today." The Chain Mage dusted his hands off and grinned, "As long as you're with me, Lily, you're in real good hands."

Lily's eyes widened when she watched the thief fly, making her hands cover her mouth. That man could have been seriously injured, thief or not! Still, as much as she wanted to tell him how dangerous that was, a part of her deep down shook it off. He wouldn't do that to her, would he? Chains, though.. She didn't like the thought of those. It appeared useful, but it only made her a bit more reluctant. Slavers and traders used chains to capture particular races for their valuable bodies, so seeing him demonstrate what he was capable of made her all the more wary of him. There was no way he could tell what she was, could he?

"Well then.. Let's be on our way." She said softly, taking a deep breath. A chill ran up her spine as paranoia set in. She had to trust him, she had already paid him and he agreed to keep her safe. The girl looked to him to lead the way, as she didn't know the city well enough to find her way to the southern roads. Ernest saluted, making sure to keep a close eye on his new traveling companion as they made their way through Woodmoore. Finding the southern gates was easy enough, and from there it was a straight shot outside of the city. Actual military presence was non existent in this place. Between the multitude of Magics and the presence of both Grand Magia and the Arcanium Assembly, the need for armed forces was unnecessary in the capital city. Outside of the city was lightly wooded road, pleasant with a cool breeze blowing in from the east. Ernest stopped their pace, looking to Lily as he rubbed the back of his neck. 

"Ah... Lily, uh, I kind of hate to bring it up. It sounds so awkward, but... You still don't trust me yet do ya?" He asked, unusually glum as he peered at her curiously. Long, indigo locks billowed carelessly in the breeze, her eyes turning to him before she gave him a slightly sheepish shrug, hands upturned as she gave her answer.

"Can you really blame me? I've.. never really been to Woodmoore, so I'm a bit nervous." She said softly, a short sigh escaping her. "I apologize. I'm just nervous." Lily explained before she loosened her shoulders, closing her eyes for a moment before looking over at him. "You understand, though.. Why I'd be cautious about strangers, right?" She tried making conversation as she looked over at him, tilting her head slightly. It was still rather early, the sun having passed its highest and was beginning to descend towards the horizon. It was the middle of spring, so it didn't look like it would get too warm later on.

"Because you're a mermaid?" He said it so casually. 

A much more chilling wind whipped by. "I approached so happily.. Just trying to make conversation. I always come off as overly friendly I'm told." Ernest sighed. Rubbing the back of his neck again, he continued to speak. "And my Chain Magic too... Why, I bet you started to think I was some slaver...! Ha ha ha ha!" He laughed, though it was not at all jovial. And like that, the laughter stopped. 

"Stupid little fish girl oughta listened to that instinct." His smile, once so warm, morphed and curled into something wicked. 

Chains erupted from his fingertips in fast moving tendrils of clanking, seemingly endless strands. Each tipped by a wickedly sharp dagger that either hovered threateningly or made to ensnare the girl quickly. With a strong enough hold, Ernest planned to lift the girl up and walk her over to the trees a bit more out of sight. Those dark and uneasy thoughts were proven totally true. Her gaze froze on him, like a newborn deer she tried to run away, though she tripped over her skirts in her frantic panic, unable to get away.

"Hah.. Help!" She cried out, her hands coming up to deflect the chains away with water. She had a canteen hidden under her apron, water popping the lid open and flowing out to her hands in order to keep them from being shackled. She tried getting to her feet, only stumbling even more, struggling to her feet before one chain shackled her foot. "Someone! Please!" She cried again. In the face of danger, she was terrified, her timid voice not quite loud enough to reach the ears of those that were still lingering around the outside of the city. 

Lily tried to pull her leg from the chains, trying to get to her feet once more and run away. She was trapped, though, her water unable to break the magic that kept her tethered down. Using what was left of her water, she formed a bubble around her, keeping herself safe as long as she could hold it. The black-clad thief from before appeared, hands aglow and pressed against the dome to sap away the mana keeping it up. All the while Ernest whipped the bubble in hopes of popping it, wearing down her measly defense and so they could take her away! 

"Caught a mermaid once! She was a lot more trusting, a lot less trouble! Pretty, too. She made us a pretty penny at black market auction! I bet you will, too." Both men started to cackle madly, keeping up the attack as Lily's mana was slowly being sapped, her bubble close to breaking.

Tears streaming from her eyes, Lily was close to giving up. She was so close to letting go, until she felt static in the water around her. A crackle hit their ears, like lightning preparing to snap down on this clear, sunny evening and the air grew charged, their bodies feeling the danger before it struck. Literally. Blue bolts of lightning crashed down on both men, electrocuting them. It was over in an instant and they were left dazed and blackened, standing still until a gentle passing breeze saw to it that they collapsed in groaning heaps, preventing them from breaking Lily's defense. A small gasp of surprise escaped her as she watched her would be kidnappers fall to the ground.

"Assholes.." A hooded stranger grumbled as he walked up to the curled up girl and crouched down in front of her bubble shield. He stared blankly at her from under his hood, past its clear walls and tapped a couple times, the surface rippling somewhat. "Oi. It's over now, girl." He called. The water had protected her from the leftover crackling, the bubble popping when the mysterious man tapped it.

"Please don't hurt me.." She said, backing up in the damp grass with tears still in her eyes.

After the scare those two had put in her, she would find it increasingly harder to trust anyone that came near her now. sure, he saved her, but at what cost? Would he extort her rescue for money? Was he a rival slaver? She was so scared now, shaking on the ground with her arms covering her face in cowardice. The man rolled his eye and huffed.

"If I wanted to hurt you, there would have been three lightning bolts, don't you think?" The stranger snarked to her.

He stood up to his full height and pulled his hood off, towering over her cowering form with no regard for her terror or her anxiety now. The girl looked up at him, his silhouette casting a dark shadow over her as he spoke to her.

"Get on your feet. Let's go..." He reached down to take Lily by her arm, intent on pulling her onto her feet if need be. She flinched at first, but otherwise allowed him to help her up. "You and I are about to have a talk. You must be three kinds of insanely stupid! Walking in to that place without any kind of illusion or glamour to hide the biggest effin' tell for your kind! You waltz right in and practically shout, 'Hi, I'm ditzy mermaid! Kidnap me for slaver auctions! Maybe worse if you feel up to it!' By the All-Magic... Idiot." No malice, no pain... He just rebuked her! 

Not unlike a brother would a sister, but without the tact or familial kindness. No, this was straight chiding and no verbal punches were pulled. It wasn't so much a talk as it was a scolding. How was she supposed to know what about her was a dead give away? She had never even been to a big city like this before! Instead of simply speaking her thoughts and defending herself, Lily just bowed her head, taking his words headlong before uttering a small apology.

"I-I'm sorry.. I didn't.. I didn't know.." She explained, avoiding his gaze as he intimidated her to pieces. She started to calm down, tears ceasing as she tried to take a few deep breaths. "Thank you for saving me." She told him, forcing herself to stand up straight and raise her head to meet his gaze, surprised to find he had one eye, the other covered by a white eyepatch.

She only hoped he wouldn't ask for the rest of her money for this. She needed to find someone else to take her to Port Hollifern. Just then, the thought struck her, like lightning struck those two! But no! No.. Why would he agree to protect her if she was a beacon for trouble? It was a bad idea, so she kept it to herself.

"Don't mention it." He turned and walked over to Ernest's unconscious form. He rifled through the man's pockets and brought out a coin pouch that jangled some as he bounced it in his palm. The white haired stranger walked back to the downtrodden mermaid and took her hand to put two gold in it. "I'm keeping three," Irvine told her bluntly, "One for my trouble," He proceeded to bite one like Ernest had, "One for my words of wisdom," His words of scolding? He bit down on another. "And one for taking you back home. Wise up before you decide to skip on in to situations you aren't ready for like an idiot." The one-eyed man bit the last piece before he pocketed his procured coin and folded his arms over his chest, gazing sternly at the timid mermaid. "Merfolk have the longest hair of all the magical races. It also shimmers when wet, giving away your race. Visit a witch or druid and they can brew up a legal potion to hide that. Pretty cheaply, too. That, or learn how to deal with assholes like that and you won't need to hide. Simple. I won't charge you that advice." He told her, peering down at her with that lone, blue stare.

"My hair..?" She reached up and brought a thick handful of it over her shoulder, looking over the glossy strands. It got wet when her bubble had been popped, so it did take on a shimmering sheen. She grimaced as she realized her mistake. "I see.. I probably should have dressed better, too." She said quietly, taking the thick locks of hair into her hands and weaving the length into a braid, letting it fall against her back before she tightened her cloth bandanna over the top of her head. His words lingered in her thoughts.. He was offering to take her home, but that was not her destination. He suggested it, so she could make a counter offer, right? "Could you take me to Hollifern Bay instead?" She asked him outright, taking out more money from her purse under her apron, looking up at him. "I'll pay you whatever you like if you can keep this from happening again." Lily urged, heart beating so strongly in her chest.

There was a bit of determination in her eyes, as she didn't want to be taken right back to where she started. Taking carriages to each city would only be more expensive, and would cost her a good chunk of change as the roads were often winding and cities far apart. The man's eyebrows rose, mildly surprised that she found her voice so quickly. He had fully expected her to trudge back to her home with her head down and lock herself away after that embarrassing display, but no, instead she was gungho to take this trip.

"...What's your name?" He asked, almost begrudgingly, apparently taking on her request. He watched as relief took over her face, the girl glad that he accepted her offer.

"My name is Lily." She said as she began to dust her clothes off, using her magic to remove any water from her clothing as well as prevent any stains. It was remarkably easy, just threading the liquid through to remove impurities before she willed it all back into her canteen at her hip. She snapped the lid closed, looking back up at him. That icy gaze of his still made her nervous, but he seemed to soften up towards her, in her opinion. She looked back at the two that had tried to kidnap her, hoping they wouldn't wake up any time soon and come after them. All of that metal on Ernest surely must have added some pain, so she pitied him despite his intentions. "I know it's pretty far, so that's why I need help getting there.." She told him, starting to explain her plan. "What's your name?" She asked in return, a small smile on her delicate face. "Irvine Bastio, and I gathered as much." The taller man looked over his new mermaid charge and down at her canteen. "Your magic isn't even strong enough to conjure water from the air." He sighed, running one hand through his white mohawk. Already, the lightning mage could feel in the pit of his stomach that this girl might just be more trouble than she was worth... But damn, was he such the pushover. "Alright. If I'm going to do this, then I have two rules. One, you're going to learn how to use offensive magic and like it. I'll teach you. A single whine or complaint and I'll hand you your gold and walk away. Two, you have to take jobs on the way just like I will. What they are is your choice, but the trip from here all the way down to Hollifern Bay won't be cheap. My payment is a gold a day. Understood?" He explained, holding his fingers up in regards to the rules.

Lily looked up as he made his conditions clear, her face filling with worry. "I.. Well, I suppose I don't have a choice, then." She said with a sigh, nodding as she confirmed that she understood. "How will you teach me, though? Water and Lightning aren't even similar." She said, lifting her hands up, looking down at the pale palms before her gaze returned to him.

"Magic is magic. The mana all mages use, their magic, are extensions of thought and will," Irvine explained almost sagely, walking over to both unconscious men and rifling through their things more thoroughly. He took an earring, each possessing a small topaz stone dangling on a single chain link, from one ear off of Ernest and another off of his thief friend. Pockets pilfered, he started ushering Lily back toward the path.

"Jobs on the way... What kind of jobs would there even be?" She asked aloud, not directed at him as she covered her cheek in thought.  

"Whatever the job boards or businesses offer. Maybe you and I will have to kill a creature or two or do a bit of hard labor. Something." He answered as he brought out his own coin and took a moment to count out his own personal bank. Thirty-one gold, two silver and six copper. A decent amount, good for meals and some cheap inn rooms.

It seemed all Lily had on her was her money, her canteen, and whatever else lied in those deep pockets of hers beneath her apron. Lily  didn't have a map of any kind, nor did she have any extra provisions. It was clear that she had never traveled far from home before! Lily's face grew more worried when he explained the types of jobs they'd be offered. The only thing in her life she had actually killed were fish in the lake she lived beside. Maybe traveling so far was harder than she imagined, but she couldn't back down now.

[mai-stories]

The Florist and the Mercenary - Chapter One: A New Bloom

Blue skies and clear water was all anyone could need when it came to gardening, especially if they lived in an abundant field. The wind blew and scattered clouds formed on the horizon, signaling a storm was coming. A young woman, barely even an adult, stood out in the fields, basket in arm as she collected flowers to sell in the city. She needed the money, not for food or rent, but for travel. A long trip had been planned, and selling these flowers was her only source of income, her only way to pay. After loading up as many as she could, she formed a bubble of water in the bottom of the basket to keep them fresh longer. 

It was as normal as breathing, being able to use magic like this. Sure, someone with Flora magic could grow fields upon fields of blooms in a matter of minutes, but it was the authenticity of hard work and care that made hers so special. After locking up her small rented home, she slid her key into her pocket before beginning to head out. The capital city of Woodmoore was not too far from her home, maybe half an hour's travel if she paid a carriage to take her. Walking was out of the question, as she had to sell her flowers soon. After giving the man five silver, she told him her destination, the carriage taking off down the dirt road. The time slowly passed by, the wagon stopping at the city stables and letting her out, the long haired girl stepping out.

Woodmoore housed the Arcanium Assembly, the governing party over all of Elestrona, the truly magical continent many humans and not called home, and oversaw matters from wartime to those of the magic variety. A collection of the greatest minds and magic users to ever set foot upon soil. It wouldn't take long to reach the market square, the girl nervously looking around. She was much too timid to sell anything here, preferring to just talk to a trader alone. Woodmoore was filled with its typical hustle and bustle, ever daunting and mysterious for one so timid and inexperienced with such a place. Lone people, happy couples and families walked around at their leisure. Vendors and traveling merchants hocked their wares, the latter boasting about their limited deals while they were in town!

 "Spell Gems! Specialty spell gems for sale! Wands, too! Imbued with fun cantrips for the children! Watch at the ends sparkle and blast off bright fireworks into the night sky! Turn frowns upside down with a flick of Tenebrai's Wand of Smiles!" One enigmatic character stood atop a vividly, almost garishly decorated carriage as he energetically exclaimed to all he was one of many merchants dealing in magic items. After bartering quietly with the local merchants, she managed to earn about thirteen gold and eight silver for her basket of flowers, not nearly as much as she wanted but it would do.

The capital was home to a Guild, Grand Magia, where mages of the continent seeking fame and glory and prestige came to take on fantastical quests of adventure and danger! At a pretty copper far beyond what most in the city apart from those in Platinum Rise, the wealthy, sophisticated section of the capital city, could afford. There was also the cheaper, seedier option. A number of bars advertised their mercenary clientele, a  rather denoting title, but as people would take on requests for work at vastly more affordable pay for the common folk... It was fitting. One such place was The Lamia's Tail, a dimly lit structure that smelled of smoke, stale and fresh as patrons blew it from between their lips. Middle aged, salt and peppered bartender included, gruff patrons now and then, the crowd appeared rough, though remain quiet. It didn't seem that much different from any other place.

After selling off her flowers and taking her money, the girl was at a loss. She needed a hired hand to aide her in her trip, but with only thirteen gold, she couldn't afford a pricey sellsword from one of those fancy guilds, her only option to hire someone from less desirable backgrounds. She found The Lamia's Tail, hoping she could find someone to help her. She took a deep breath before entering, her eyes on the floor to avoid eye contact. Her appearance was anything but rough, quite the opposite in fact. Pale, flushed skin and soft hair that hung in long, indigo strands past her body and tucked behind her ears, she was a regular fish out of water. 

The girl said nothing as she looked around, trying not to make eye contact with the more weathered and tough looking patrons. She wanted help, but didn't want to get grisly murdered in the process. She found herself a table in the back, keeping her gaze low as she berated herself for even entering a place like this. Eyes followed her, some curious, others curious. Other eyes followed those curious stares and not the innocent soul that wandered into this dank and stale driftwood dive bar.

 "Hellooo!" A voice sang far more jovially than the imagination could have envisioned for a place like this. He took a seat across from her in a blink, this curious and meek creature who would have sank into her shell, and that shell within another, if she had that luxury. He was grinning, eyes naturally narrow and yellow irises peered past, slightly pointed ears, each with gold piercings, and narrow features gave off an elven lineage. At least one of his parents were elven, it seems. Hair golden blond and spiked up behind a bandanna that covered his forehead, he certainly gave off a friendly air! 

"I hope you don't find me rude, but you sure don't belong in a place like this! No no no, you're way too cute!" He spoke with a smirk, his golden grin wide as he settled into the seat.

The girl looked up when she heard a much too happy voice, her slate blue eyes taking in his rather flashy appearance. He didn't seem to care that he was a beacon of flair, just begging to be robbed if he didn't watch out.

"I.. I'm here on my own accord." She answered rather carefully, not explaining her motivation or any other reason for being there. "I only came here for assistance, not for food or drink." She added, her gaze still lowered as if she was talking to thin air.

There was a certain fragility to her, as if at any moment, her skin would break if he breathed too hard in her direction. She appeared docile and meek, reminiscent of a doll, with porcelain skin and long flowing hair. A silver chain around her neck hinted at a necklace, but she had kept it tucked away from prying golden eyes. The elven man put his hands up and his jovial demeanor subdued, preferring to keep the conversation between them and not attracting double the attention from every eye in Lamia's Tail. 

"I could guess. That's about the only reason a girl like you would ever set foot in this crap hole." He offered a friendly smile and a salute. "The name is Ernest. And that's exactly what I am! If it's assistance you're looking for Missy, ten gold and you've got mine! I don't even care what the job is! I'll take care of it for ya!" The blond half-elf offered that same flashy grin, baring a couple of golden teeth this time.

"My name is Lily." She introduced when he gave his name, only finding it polite to do so. His offer was a bit more than she bargained for, as it was most of her money. She could still find a way to make more, if she truly needed it. He was friendly towards her, even if he was nothing but gold and grins. "The job I'm offering isn't difficult, but it is long. I need to go to Port Hollifern, down at Hollifern Bay. I can't go alone, so I was hoping... to, well, find help getting there." She said quietly, clutching at her apron as she looked back down at the table.

"Would ten gold cover the fee of escorting me all the way to Port Hollifern?" She asked, wanting to confirm the price before she made any show of money. She didn't want prying eyes to know just how much she had on her, so she hoped he'd accept payment when the job was done rather than her paying him now and having him abandon her halfway to her destination.

"The carriage routes don't go all the way to the beach, just town to town. I can't afford to take carriages the entire time." Lily mentioned, looking back up at him. It was true, as the carriages weren't equipped for long travel, but passengers from town to town. This prevented bandits from attacking carriages that needed to make long trips, so unless she had a personal carriage, it would be a trip on foot. Ernest rubbed his chin and chuckled.

"Ten covered my fee, sweet cheeks! That's my Ernest guarantee!" He said jokingly, giving the long haired girl a sly wink. He laid his arms down and four fingers drummed on the tabletop on a steady rhythm. 

"Port Hollifern... Hollifern... At the southern tip of Elestrona, Hollifern Bay?" Ernest questioned, curious and slightly taken aback. He blew a low whistle, looking at Lily as she gave a couple of nods.

"That is quite the journey..." Ernest seemingly mulled over just what was being requested of him here and came back with that same grin, "Ten gold and we'll be on our way... In fact, since you didn't just brush me off, I'll only ask for five gold upfront! Quite a steal, huh?" The blond half elf held out his hand to accept the money.

"You'll be in Hollifern in no time at all. That's my Ernest guarantee." He smiled broadly, as did his eyes, peering at the demure girl across from him. The way he was speaking made her all the more uncomfortable, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him. He was the friendliest looking person in the room, after all.

"All right, five gold now, five gold when we get there." She agreed, pulling five gold coins out of her pocket, holding her hand out with the money gripped inside. She had to trust him with this, her own eyes unsure as she looked into his. He was friendly and charming in a fiendishly fox-like way.

"Have you been there before?" She asked softly, seeing as he knew where the bay was in relation to the city.

Maybe this wouldn't be so hard after all, she thought, her anxiety calming down now that she obtained a bodyguard. Ernest nodded to her as he took each piece of gold and bit down, testing its material. He gave a sheepish smile once he was done, each coin afterwards was polished off and pocketed.

"Habit I've picked up. Sorry about that, Missy. I've been all over Elestrona in my line of work. I typically go for the 'escort and delivery' sort of gigs anyway, so taking you from point A to point B is right in my wheelhouse!" He said as he stood up and bowed, gesturing toward the door. 

"We can be on our way now if it pleases the good lady! If you have any shopping that needs doing, get it done now, because as soon as our boots are on that dusty trail there won't be no stopping us!" Truly a golden beacon of enthusiasm Ernest was, wrapped up nice and almost too neat in a friendly bow. Naive was definitely what came to mind when it concerned Lily, a slight smile on her face as she stood up. She took a moment to check if she had everything still in her pockets and hidden on her person. There was all kinds of trickery based magic, so she didn't want to be completely deceived by this man.

"I'll need some provisions and equipment, but I have water taken care of." She told him as she followed him to the door. This went better than she had expected, though her new companion still had not earned her complete trust. The diminutive girl walked out of the dive bar, still clutching her apron as her heart pounded. Why was she still so anxious? The porcelain skinned doll with long indigo locks was followed out into the bright and shiny daytime rays, flanked by a ray of sunshine that was Ernest. At the bar well behind them, a fellow in white squared his shoulders and a lowered his head with a deep sigh well out of earshot of the two. Under his breath, his deep voice grumbled, "Dammit..." The bar goer downed his drink and tapped twice, calling for another without a word.

[mai-stories]

The Florist and the Mercenary - Prologue

In the kingdom of Elestrona, there exists magic. Beings across the lands possess the ability to create, manipulate, restore, or even destroy with the elements around them. Some were gifted with amazing powers, some were born with them, and some.. have none at all. Along with magic are the magical races, living side by side with humanity. A prosperous kingdom bordered with tall mountains to the north and east, and a long coastline to the west and south. Vast forests covered the valleys and crept up the hillsides, a large lake towards the northern borders, just at the base of the mountains. Rivers crawled all the way down towards the seas, and smaller lakes and springs appeared in the far reaches of the kingdom's provinces. 

The capital known as Woodmoore had been built up from the thickest forests, originally built by elves before more and more races began to arrive in Elestrona. It became the thriving hub of trade and tourism, a melting pot of the races. While some were quick to boast about their abilities and their races, others were not. hiding their identities and preventing their true selves from being seen. Relationships between the races were not always peaceful, and there were ideas and trades that were outlawed when Woodmoore established a government under the name of the Arcanium Assembly. 

A council of different peoples whom worked together to decide the laws of Elestrona, The Arcanium Assembly rose to the highest form, being led by the King of Elves and the leaders of other races. A problem that was brought to their attention was the trading of illegal materials and slaves, as some races produced magical materials that could be used in powerful potions and enchantments. Slavery had been outlawed long before Elestrona came together as one kingdom, and even though it was illegal, the slave trade still thrived in secrecy. Any potions or enchantments that required material from other races were also outlawed, and yet, it did not stop the black markets. This activity pushed some races into hiding, and instilled paranoia in others. 

As Elestrona developed, the government grew stronger, making it harder for slavers and poachers to find targets. The black market was quiet now, in the year 278, Era of King Dommene. However, it was not completely silent. Islands on the outskirts of the coast still operated as slavery camps, masked as islanders doing work on their own accord. It wasn't until 290 that one of the islands completely disappeared from the map, completely vanishing in the midst of a terrible storm. In the year 295 is when our story begins, starting at the largest lake in Elestrona. 

The story of a lonely young woman in search for her family, and how her search changed the hearts of many.