Fandom Final Fantasy: The Age of Ophiuchus [Closed]

[Arcanist]

Cookware. She forgot about cookware. Though, she assumed anyone would after seeing Imperial Red flash by the door. She kept managing her smile though, and nodded to the woman who had explained where they might find such supplies. Inside though, she was desperate to run to the hills and never look back. All she could do was manage a nod at Diddy, murmuring, "Alrighty..."

She gave one final farewell to the woman, who waved back, oblivious.

Following behind Didymus, she was much warier than Didymus seemed to be. She just clutched the few of the bags she had, trying to still her nerves. 'You're just a traveller. From Mumukuwi! You picked up Diddy--ah, no, he'll need a different name!--along the way here!' Her mind was jumping through hoops trying to get her story straight. Maybe Didymus would be better at it. He probably made up loads of stories as a thief!

Rather than just stick behind the armoured soldiers though, Diddy opted to walk past them. Kikiti wouldn't have dreamed of doing it, even if they blocked off a shop door.

But it seemed she had little choice if she was to keep up with Didymus and if they were to grab what they needed and to get out of here. So, she swallowed back, mustered up her courage...and just kept up walking normally. She followed Diddy, trying to seem as inconspicuous as she possibly could. She thought it had been acting natural, even as she walked past.

"Hey, you, kid."

Kikiti slowed. She tried not to let surprise sneak onto her face as she turned her head towards the gruff, female voice. "Who, me?"

"Yeah, you," the soldier confirmed, walking closer to her.

Usually, Kikiti didn't let herself be bothered by such tall people, yet here, she thought she was going to start sweating like a fountain. She waited for her to say something else, anything but what she was thinking it was.

"Where's the inn at?"

Kikiti blinked, swallowed back. Where...was the inn at? "It's..." She turned, lifting an arm, willing it not to shake, and pointed. "If you go up, and take a right...it's up near the entrance of town." Was it? Did she get the directions right? Did it matter? What if she just sent them running into Cleon and Reva? What then? It wasn't as if she had a choice. Refusing to tell them where an inn was was just plain suspicious. Not pointing them in the right direction, though...

~***~

Cleon, as Reva had stored what supplies she could on her person, took and pocketed whatever items he could himself. At least the tailor made the pockets on those pants rather wide...he managed to get most in his pockets, bar maybe a potion.

As Reva slid over the other tent across the counter, Cleon couldn't help but flinch and look to the window at the sound of shouting. He was right to have that knot in his stomach. Now though, it twisted further, and he wasn't sure what course of action the two of them were about to take.

He knew better than not to make sudden movements. He was probably already giving it away with his face, and so he just tried to seem passive about it, grabbing the tent kit, and slinging it over his shoulder.

As the boy gathered up the gil, stored it safely, he too was alerted by the shouting, and looked up. He squinted at the window. "The hell...what are Imperials doing down here?" He didn't expect either of his customers to know, so he wasn't really fishing for an answer.

"Look, we get loads of travellers passing by here every day. It's just how it is." The stablehand, despite the presence of Arkidian soldiers in this town, didn't back down and most certainly made his point clear.

Cleon glanced to Reva, asking the silent question of, "What do we do?"

 

[Lucyfer]

It was probably at that moment, as Kikiti stopped and turned around, that Didymus considered she might realize exactly how easy it was to get away with things. When the soldier asked about the inn, Didymus just casually walked back over to Kikiti while she gave some directions, offering a nod, “Yeah, it’s hard to miss,” he agreed.

Kikiti hadn’t messed it up, at least, though now they couldn’t plan to meet Cleon and Reva at the inn.

The guard nodded, and turned back to her companion, “Hey, it’s this way, we need to go get rooms for everyone,” she hollered over, and her companion turned away from his current endeavors to head off the way they’d pointed them.

Once they were well out of earshot, Diddy whispered, “It’s not that hard to get away with things. Most people see what they want to see,” it was not a good tip, he supposed, but Kikiti was bound to understand now how easy it could be to make a life of crime.

Or he’d just reminded her of his crimes and she was going to be angry with him again.

“Let’s go get the cookware and find our friends,” he said, giving no names. She’d no doubt understand why. Cleon hadn’t agreed to any name yet. Damn him.

~***~

“We’re not travelers, we’re now soldiers that are going to defend your lands, as well as the rest of the Arkidian Empire, we should have free service,” the soldier was saying after the man’s gruff defense.

“Just pay him,” the exasperated second sighed, “We can bill it back home,” he said.

“That will take months to get reimbursed on,” the soldier complained, the absolute pettiness of it on full display. They were quite concerned over the paperwork and money, and not who could be lurking around, it seemed.

That still didn’t bode well for Reva and Cleon, though. If they stepped outside, they would be seen, and Reva knew she was enough of a sight to be stopped and questioned, if not arrested.

Reva shook her head, both answer to Cleon and the boy, “I do not know. It sounds like they think these are their lands?” Of course she knew they would, but conversation was a way to linger, a question a way to know what the boy within the shop knew – if anything.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti, actually, was rather surprised at how easy it was to get away with things. Coupled with Diddy's own statement, the Arkidian soldier just nodded, gesturing to her companion to follow along based on the directions that the two of them had given them. They walked on, and Kikiti was left standing there, still slightly stunned.

The girl flinched when Didymus whispered to her about this kind of life wasn’t hard at all.

“Yeah, until you get caught,” Kikiti murmured back, pouting at him. Honestly, she would have thought that he had understood what she thought of his trade by now. It was something she had to be angry with him later about. Every second counted here.

Kikiti faked yet another smile. “Right, yes...” She cleared her throat. She sure hoped their friends were okay, though...

They made their way towards the blacksmith - funny enough, located under the sign depicting a hammer and anvil. It differed from the other shops in that it had no door and very few windows. The forge and anvil were close to the entrance, and on the other side and further into the shop were some wares being displayed, some of which were the cookware that Didymus and Kikiti would have been looking for. Had the entrance not provided some ample daylight and the light of the forge not gave the shop a warm glow, it would have otherwise been consumed in darkness.

Of course, when they approached who they assumed to be the smithy, what with his strong arms working at a sword on the anvil, he addressed them, though without a glance at first.

“What can I do for ye’s?”

“Oh, well, we were told you make and sell cookware here,” Kikiti said, though, noticed how obvious that was with them...almost right beside her.

“Aye, you heard right,” the smithy paused, nodding to some of the wares. “Got some up front here; pots, pans, and the like. I’ve got more stuff at the back there too. You’re free to look around further in.”

~***~

Cleon swallowed back, taking note of Reva shaking her head - to both questions, mind you - and so had no choice but to stay put, at least until they moved forward. As far as Cleon believed, he could have passed for most Ucantis citizens. Though, he truly wondered if that was the case, if he had his sword and other such accessories on his person...

The boy scoffed, his eyes fluttering between the growing argument outside, and Reva and Cleon. “Only way they’d ever claim Ucantis is by wrestling it out of Queen Inara’s hands. That, and they’d have to go through all its people first.” He was thoughtful, for it had just been an explanation, but then why else would Imperials be here? His thoughts were shown clearly in his eyes when he looked back to the Arkidian soldiers.

Of course, it wasn’t the boy’s fault, but it stung Cleon to hear those words and to know that was what the Empire did. They practically cut their way through Ucantis and right to the throne room.

And they hadn’t even stopped when they got to his mother.

“Let’s hope that would never be the case...” Cleon murmured, the words leaving a bitter taste on his tongue. Grief was giving way to vengeance, and he felt he could so easily leave this shop and cut through them in that new lingering feeling.

“Look,” the stable-hand looked between them, the debate still ongoing, even though he was bewildered by their sudden proclamation, “100 gil per chocobo is a good price. I could ask for more, but I’m being generous enough as it is.”

Stupidly stubborn. It’s what the people of Ucantis were - a strong, proud, and stubborn people. Right down to getting their dues for keeping chocobos.

“You might as well be spitting at our feet charging us like this,” the first soldier ironically spat. It seemed he also had something in common with Ucantis - stupidly stubborn, right down to not giving a man his dues for keeping their chocobos.

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus could tell that Kikiti wasn’t proud of him. He wasn’t expecting that, but he was hoping she might feel some relief with getting away, given it was from Arkidian soldiers. The opposite of that would be bad. Getting caught here, a thief and a lalafell, would be terrible. ‘Please find a way to make this work out for me. I need this.’

He didn’t follow the soldiers, or try to slink away, of course.

He followed their instructions and made it to the smithy, noting the pots and pans on the wall. He was quick to grab a skillet, and a deeper pot. He could make most things with that, and he set them on the counter, in plain sight, so Kikiti saw he was going to pay for them, before he went to look for a stirring spoon, some bowls, and a spatula.

“Kikiti, can you help find some cutlery? At least spoons,” knifes would be nice, forks would be a luxury, compared to usefulness, “and some bowls,” plates would be another luxury, bowls were more useful in more situations than a plate ever was. If he made a soup, he couldn’t put that on a plate. If he had some cuts of meat and vegetables, that could still be put in a bowl.

They had to prioritize!

~***~

‘It has happened.’ Reva did not say that, for soon the shop boy would know the truth of the situation. Perhaps, he would even realize later he had helped the Prince, and the Royal Guard in his shop. For now, he could not know such a thing.

Yet, they had to leave the shop, they had to figure this out, somehow. She at least didn't think it'd be considered too strange to watch the events from inside the store. Most wouldn't want to walk out into an argument on the streets.

Thankfully, the soldiers seemed to be getting tired of arguing – however, no less polite about it. The first one took out a fistful of gil, though it only amounted to 100 gil in total, “Here, 100 gil, for six chocobos,” he shoved it at the man, and regardless of if he accepted it or not, he dropped the gil.

The man did scramble to catch it, “I told you—”

“Ron—”

The Arkidian soldier waved them off, “The others will be here later to store their chocobos!” And he started to walk off. The second soldier looked a little miffed by the attitude, and was quick to dig out another 50 gil, before rushing after their companion, speaking low invectives against their actions.

That didn’t quite cover their two chocobos, and certainly not six, but they left the chocobos where they were all the same.

Reva got an idea.

“Perhaps we can help the man,” she said softly to Cleon.

And get rid of a few Arkidian chocobos.

 

[Arcanist]

Didymus certainly hadn’t waited, and got straight to work with gathering what they needed. Kikiti had thanked the smithy, who just nodded, and walked a little further in. She noticed what Didymus already gathered and put them on the counter. She felt rather pleased that he wasn’t thinking of stealing this time. Then again, she wouldn’t want to steal from the burly blacksmith nearby...

She nodded to Didymus before progressing further into the shop to look for spoons and bowls. It didn’t take her long to find them, though, she found herself wondering how many she would take.

Her papa always insisted they had a twenty of each - forks, knives, plates, bowls, those kind of things. Her mama, on the other hand, insisted they settled on nine or ten, for twenty was simply too much, and some people (papa) would just get lazy and never do the dishes. They begrudgingly settled on somewhere around fourteen of each set which lowered over time, due to breakages, loss, and possible theft, though why anyone would want to steal cutlery was beyond Kikiti.

So, she grabbed five spoons, five knives, and five bowls, her excuse being that if one managed to get misplaced or damaged, they’d have at least something to fall back on. She was thoughtful for a moment, before turning to Didymus and asking, “You don’t happen to have a waterskin on you or anything? If we’re going to be travelling and all...”

The thought had only occurred to her. If they were travelling long distances, they’d need waterskins, or at the very least, a sizeable one they could all share. From a medical perspective, she would have shunned the idea, but travelling on the road only gave them so many options. Especially when gil could run tight too...

~***~

Cleon wasn’t sure how long they were going to stand here and make conversation for. He was waiting for one of the soldiers to turn around and notice they were one of the fugitives they were searching for.

Though, thankfully, that hadn’t been the case. The argument was coming to an end, though, it had been louder and more aggressive, and ended up with a meagre sum of gil being tossed at the stable owner. Cleon watched out of the corner of his eye as the first soldier left, and the second after he pulled out a lesser sum, running after the man and seeming to reprimand his actions.

It was still horrible to watch. Still, he felt little pity where Arkidian soldiers were concerned.

When Reva had suggested helping the man, Cleon hadn’t been sure of what her meaning was. He looked back to the man, still picking up loose gil, and the group of chocobos that had been left behind by the soldiers. He was thoughtful and after a moment, wondered if Reva had meant they were to...steal these chocobos. He wasn’t sure, but he didn’t think to ask in front of the boy.

“Yes...maybe we could,” Cleon answered vaguely back. He gave a thanks to the boy, and moved with some of their supplies towards the door.

Once he stepped outside, he took a precautionary look both ways for the soldiers - as discreetly as he could manage it - before a shimmer off the ground had caught his attention. He squatted down, noticing a few coins had been missed by the stable owner. He picked them up and proceeded over to the man.

“Here,” Cleon handed him the gil that had been missed. “...I’m guessing you’ll need every bit of it.”

The man had been counting through the gil. He looked up and chuckled slightly, “Thanks, lad. Though, it’ll be hard to stretch 100 gil to house and feed six of these steeds, I’ll tell ya.”

Needless to say, the chocobos differed slightly. Compared to chocobos used for travelling, they were slightly taller, their feathers seemingly a more vibrant yellow, and their legs stockier. The Empire was known for its impressive breeding, or rather lesser known, their experimental genetical enhancements on the creature

 

[Lucyfer]

Kikiti was wrong to think Didymus was giving away the idea of stealing entirely. If the smithy hadn’t risen from his place and gone to the counter to watch, he would have snuck away some stirring spoons or other smaller things into the sack he was already carrying. As it was, that seemed unlikely, and so he was forced to carry that all up to the counter, as well, wondering if they’d actually have enough for everything.

He frowned at Kikiti bringing up 5 of each thing, rather than just 4. “Kikiti….” He didn’t get to chastise her for it as she mentioned waterskins, and he frowned, then shook his head. No, he was fairly certain none of them had that.

He knew he’d been thirsty on the way here.

Probably still was, he was just learning not to dwell on it, like his hunger. “I don’t suppose you, uh, sell waterskins here, do you?” He saw a few items of leather and skin, of fur, so he had some hope they might find it all here.

A rumbling chuckle escaped the smithy and he pulled some up, “When ya work with leather, ya learn to make a few simple things like this. Are you needing five?” He noted the bowls, and Didymus sighed as he shook his head.

“No, just four…we just need four of the bowls, too,” he said, not certain they even had enough for all of this. No doubt this would end up being more than the attire and clothe that Kikiti had picked up. He just hoped they could get most of it.

~***~

Reva took note of the chocobos just standing there, moving close to one and reaching out her hand. The chocobo leaned down to sniff her hand, shook itself out, and then let her stroke down its feathered neck as Cleon began to speak with the man about the situation. It was almost sad that no one here recognized him, even though it was so close to the capital.

Not even a day’s walk.

Clearly not even a day’s ride. She didn’t think those soldiers had set out last night.

She wondered at what news they may have from Ucantis. “Perhaps there will not be six to take care of,” Reva suggested, turning her attention to the man. She saw him bite his lip. He had an idea of what she was suggesting.

“Now, I’m not in the business of losing client’s chocobos….”

“No, but…they have just left them here with payment for only one.” Reva pointed out, “you are under no obligation to shelter any of the others. If they were to wander off, on their own, it would be no fault of yours, would it?”

Despite her words, though, she considered tempering it with a bribe to make it easier.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti could hear the chastisement in the thief’s voice, and she could already hear what he was about to say. Of course they needed five. The extra one was a safe precaution! Plus, if one had to go without a bowl, or a spoon, or whatever else, there was bound to be some sort of riot over it.

...or maybe she was just being over-indulgent.

She wouldn’t admit to that though.

“Fine,” Kikiti pouted, lifting the extra things. “I’ll put them back...” She did the walk of shame back to where she originally found them.

Would be a shame if Diddy’s bowl went missing.

And his cutlery too.

Kikiti returned to the counter, though, now that she thought about it, did they even have enough to pay for all of this? She supposed they could forgo the knives...then again that waterskin looked like it could send them over budget too. Kikiti held out the hope that wasn’t the case.

“Alright, altogether that’s...”

It was the case.

She thought they barely had enough to cover the bowls and the cutlery, but the waterskins? The price, understandably given the craft, was just as high as the rest of the stuff put together.

She glanced to Didymus with an awkward grin. “Maybe...no waterskins after all...” She said through clenched teeth.

~***~

Cleon had suspected right then. Though he hated to think he was stooping to the level of a thief, he supposed they had no other choice in the way of gil. Plus, compared to what the Empire had taken from them, a few chocobos missing from their repertoire wouldn't be missed highly, would it?

The man, however, still seemed unsure. Cleon could understand why. Facing any of the soldiers’ temper when the found out he had lost their chocobos was something no want wanted to go through.

Though, it hadn’t stopped arguing before. Surely he could be tipped over the edge?

“As far as I’m aware, those soldiers walked into this town claiming they have authority on Ucantis’ soil. They’re acting practically as if they’re a law onto themselves,” Cleon said. They did have authority here, but it wasn’t as if the news had reached Anina from what they had seen today, nor had there been a proclamation yet.

The man hummed, glancing in the direction that the soldiers had walked off. “That’s them everywhere they go, alright...”

“You wouldn’t be bullied by any other traveller that passed by here, would you?” Cleon asked, though, it was a question not to be answered. If he could just break through to that Ucantis stubbornness, perhaps gil wouldn’t have to be used as an extra incentive. “I’m sure my...” He paused momentarily, clearing his throat before continuing, “the Queen wouldn’t stand for such a transgression made against one of her own.”

The man stared for a moment, licking his lip. Cleon thought he saw a of flicker of realisation in his eyes, but it seemed to disappear as quickly. Instead, the man commented, “Chocobos have a penchant for running off at the sight of anything, from experience.” He held up his hand, shaking his fist with the gil in it. “You turn your back for a moment and the next thing you know, they’ve galloped off down to a forest somewhere.”

It seemed the two of them had been in some agreement. Whether he was aware of who he was or not, it didn’t seem to matter, since was convinced enough. Cleon let something of a knowing smile slip onto his face. “Too true.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus wasn’t resigned to have no waterskins, “Two waterskins,” he said, “we can share,” he suggested, and the smithy removed two waterskins, and offered the additional price. Still too much, “We can probably do without the pot, too,” the skillet was more important, he could kind of make stews in it.

No soup, though. The rim wasn’t high enough for all of that.

Didymus continued to negotiate down what they could and could not have, though the bowls, spoons, and knives, never were up for question, nor the two waterskins. They needed more than one in a group of four, he was certain of that. ‘Should have stolen more from the seamstress.’ But noooo, Kikiti had to have morals.

He also should have stolen something here, but the eyes were on him. He couldn’t. The smithy also wasn’t going to act all forgetful like the woman if something went missing.

Eventually, they got it down to something that could be covered, and Didymus was able to keep the two waterskins and the skillet, but he had to put back some things that would have helped make setting up a grill over the fire a bit easier. Oh well.

They got the man paid and Didymus started to tuck the things away, “We should go see if we can find the rest of our friends, let them know what we got,” he said then, so Kikiti would know they weren’t just going to go to the inn and wait. Somehow that seemed like a terrible idea since they sent guards there.

They really needed to let Reva and Cleon know what was up. ‘Or let them go to the inn and find a way to work with the guards, Diddy!’

~***~

Reva heard Cleon’s pause, and no doubt, the man did, as well, as Cleon corrected himself to say ‘the Queen’ rather than his mother. Reva felt a small pang for it, again. For the fact Cleon couldn’t say who he was, and for the fact Inara likely was gone. This situation spoke to the likely truth of it. Had Inara lived, Reva thought things may have gone differently.

Perhaps it would be Ucantis soldiers, rather than Arkidian ones, looking for Cleon.

In either case, the man seemed to be more inclined to agree with them now. He spoke of chocobos running off towards the forest, and Reva masked a small smile with a slight inclination of her head, hiding in shadows, before she would step forward and reach to take the reins each chocobo wore.

Perhaps they could get two others, but right now, two would be good.

Three would likely carry them all, considering Kikiti’s size, though. Four would remain perfect, but they would have to see how tenable that was. For now, Reva clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth, “I think these two have indeed run off to the forest,” she could easily lead them that way.

“They shouldn’t have left in such a huff. Startled their chocobos terribly.” Not a good way to pass them off to someone else, leaving like that, throwing gil – not a good way at all. There was no proper introduction or passing off. It was no wonder they hadn’t been successfully moved into stables.

At least the chocobos didn’t seem to be protesting Reva leading them away.

These birds really did seem mild-mannered. No doubt, they had to learn to be, if they were used so frequently in war. Startling at every sound and knocking off their rider would make for a poor mount.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti nodded. Two waterskins. She supposed that would do. Though, they had to give up the pot in the process, which she supposed wasn’t bad by any means. Still, no soup. Now that she knew that, all she’d want is soup...

Kikiti could almost sense Didymus’ ‘I told you so’ attitude. Only, in this case, it was, ‘Should have let me steal’. She was on the run, sure, but she wouldn’t result to stealing, even if it meant she couldn’t afford nice things.

She hoped that sentiment stuck with her for the whole trip, however long it would be.

Despite the amount of gil they had to squander away for less than the bare minimum of what they needed, Kikiti still managed a goodbye with a smile, and left the shop with Didymus.

Upon hearing his suggestion, she nodded, knowing they needed to find them before they got to the inn and discovered the soldiers there for themselves. “Right,” she nodded, hauling another bag filled with supplies over her shoulder, and beginning to walk on ahead. She tried not to walk so quickly, since she needed to appear casual and not as a fugitive.

Kikiti looked back to Didymus. “Maybe they’re still out looking for supplies. We just have to find the right shop around here...” She knew they were gathering tents and potions and the like. They just had to find the shop that sold them, and hope that they hadn’t missed them.

~***~

“They do startle awfully,” Cleon commented, a hand stroking through one of the chocobo’s thick feathers. It seemed to enjoy the sensation, and Cleon would admit, it did bring him some comfort too.

As much as they could stay and play at this conspicuous word game, Cleon and Reva couldn’t stay here for much longer, and Reva herself knew it. She took both by the reins, the startled creatures that had ran straight for the forest, and started leading them away.

Cleon made to follow her, though, not without a look back to the man. He nodded, and tried to show his gratitude by his eyes at the very least. The man simply nodded before heading inside the stables once again. Nothing more needed to be said on the matter.

He’d find some way to make it up to him though, one day.

Cleon caught up to Reva, then, had to ask in a hushed voice, “Where do we go now?” He didn’t know whether going to the inn was such a good idea in the end, not if there were soldiers around. Though, if they didn’t, how would Kikiti and Didymus find them?

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus kept pace with Kikiti easily. It wasn’t like it was hard, even if she had been hurrying, given her height and the strides she was capable of taking. “We can hope,” though Didymus didn’t think it took that long to buy potions and tents. Those were usually all in the same place, after all.

He had an idea they’d find it at one of the entrances to the town, too, so he moved along with the curve of the main road to set them back on track. Unless they ran into trouble on the way there, or within the shop, which now seemed possible.

Arkidian soldiers would know to look for a viera, and with how rare viera were…. “I don’t suppose viera are more common in Ucantis, are they?” He opted to ask Kikiti as he spotted a viera, and—wait that was definitely Cleon. They had chocobos! His eyes lit up, even though following that sensation of glee was a rush of guilt and anger.

‘You should be hindering them!’

Well, maybe there was one way to hinder them.

“Cleon! Reva!” He called in that yell-whisper, hoping somehow that soldiers might be close enough to hear – or the townsfolk who heard the name ‘Cleon’ would begin to whisper. Hey, it was Cleon’s fault for not picking a name yet, right?

~***~

“We will take these creatures into the forest nearby,” Reva said, “we will tie them up and return to find Didymus and Kikiti,” she hoped that would not be too hard, although she understood it was likely the Empire would soon begin their actual task in the town, rather than just getting set up.

She could imagine that would involve blocking off entrances and going around, looking for them.

She had little illusion about that. They were here to find Cleon.

And she nearly froze as she heard someone call out to them, head whipping around, prepared to act, before she recognized Didymus and Kikiti. She let out an exhale, but still glared at Didymus for that. Still, she would stop long enough to let them catch up, harshly asking, “What are you thinking?” when they were close enough.

Didymus could put on a good confused look, at least. As if he had no idea what he’d done wrong.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti followed Didymus as he seemed to take the lead, moving along near the main road, probably to look for the shop near the entrance of town. She could only hope that they would find the two of them, and soon. With every step she took in Anina, she felt ill at ease, afraid. She couldn't ever remember being afraid in Ucantis - or at least the city.

She looked to Didymus as he asked about the commonality of viera in Ucantis. "No, not that I..." She started, though abruptly stopped when she saw two familiar white, and black spotted, ears. Better yet, there was the long-maned Cleon beside her, and with two chocobos. She couldn''t help but grin, and was about to give a wave to the both of them, so to conceal their identities.

Didymus did a fine job of doing that.

Kikiti was stunned, and it took her a moment to turn to him. She couldn't help but slap his leg with her hand, hissing, "What's wrong with you, huh?!" SHouting the prince's name all over the show like that. Regardless, she had to keep her composure, not look so spooked herself by the name.

Reva had been, naturally, though, reserved a glare for Didymus as the two of them walked up to the two of them.

Cleon, too, had frozen for a moment. He hadn't been sure whether to react to it, to answer to it, what to really do. Though, once Reva started walking, he followed. At least they wouldn't have to go looking for Didymus and Kikiti now, and maybe they could get out of here quicker.

Still, he was irked by Didymus' shouting his name, and he showed it clearly. "We still need to think of...well...names..." He muttered, as if that hadn't been obvious.

"We'll figure that out," Kikiti shook her head, before nodding to the two chocobos. "How did you afford...?"

"That's another story for later," Cleon murmured. Nearby, he saw a few townsfolk had stopped. Not many, but a few. Naturally, they were whispering, eyeing the group. One glanced over to Reva, as if he recognised her. The other two, a pair of women, were whispering. He couldn't hear them clearly, but he suspected 'prince' and 'Cleon' through the movement of their lips. He swallowed back, before glancing to the others.

"We only have two chocobos, so, we'll have to share," Cleon explained. "So...pick a partner."

 

[Lucyfer]

Well, people were talking at least, but Didymus didn’t see any soldiers. He winced a little when Kikiti hit him, even though it didn’t hurt. It was more of a knee-jerk reaction, really. ‘Damn it!’ How did he keep messing up this simple kidnapping gig? “Sorry, sorry,” he said, moving a hand behind the back of his head as he pretended to realize what he’d done.

Reva just kept a glare on him, before her attention was taken away by the discussion of chocobos and sharing.

Although tall, Reva knew she was lighter than Cleon, and likely lighter than Didymus. To share with Kikiti would go against the idea, so it seemed obvious to her how this would be split. “You and I shall share one, and Kikiti and Didymus shall share the other,” she said, and noted the bags they had.

“Give me one of the full bags,” she spoke to Kikiti and Didymus. “Give Didymus your tent,” they needed to divide the weight as best they could. When they were further away, they could figure out how to divide it amongst the bags, but for now, “You and I shall share a chocobo, Didymus and Kikiti shall share the other.”

They’d have the tents, and the weights of the bags, distributed as best they could. Didymus did offer his bag to them, and Reva took it, letting go of the reins of one chocobo to determine the best way to add the bags and tent to it while doing her best to ignore the murmuring crowd.

They needed to get on the chocobos and get out of there as soon as possible.

At least the stable owner had taken his leave of the scene.

A good thing, because they wouldn’t go unnoticed for long.

“Hey! Stop right there!” It was an Arkidian soldier, this one with their partner, still with their chocobos. “Viera! We need to have a word with you and your group.”

Reva just gave him a withering glare.

They weren’t going to outrun him with the weight on the chocobos.

“Get on.” She hissed at the others.

She could still cause them great harm before running away and preventing them from following.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti nodded. Though she would have rather shared with one of the other two, she did suppose that made the most sense if they were distributing weight.

Cleon also nodded to Reva’s decision, having little reason to fight with it himself. After he had given the tent to Didymus, and Didymus had given his bag to Reva in turn, they seemed to distribute the weight rather well. All that was left was to get on them and to go.

That wouldn’t prove so easy, however.

Cleon and Kikiti heads snapped out at the shout. Fear had struck them as heavily as a slap across the face. Kikiti realised and had opted to tone down such fear. Cleon had a harder time doing that and instead tried to divert his look elsewhere. Fear would be a giveaway of guilt.

And guilt would be exactly what they needed to determine who they were.

Hearing Reva’s hiss, Cleon gave a small nod. He thought to try and move slowly and naturally, so not to arouse suspicion. Mind you, enough had been roused with Reva standing there with them. He put his foot through the chocobo’s stirrup and lifted himself onto the chocobo.

Kikiti, however, was placed at a major disadvantage. There was no hope in her hitching her leg onto the stirrup, because she practically reached it at her height. She looked to the chocobo, desperately, and started squatting and pushing her hands down.

“Down!” She commanded with the accompanying gesture. She repeated it a few more times, though, sighed and gave up at its cocked head and soft, confused ‘kweh’.

That only meant she could do one thing.

Kikiti turned to Didymus, pouting, and her cheeks flushing with shame. “I don’t normally ask this...” She murmured, looking away, “but we don’t have the time. Can you...mm...lift me onto the chocobo?” Even saying the very words was embarrassing enough for her.

In the meanwhile, the Arkidian soldier had let go of the reins of his own chocobo, and started advancing towards Reva. His partner wouldn’t be far behind him. Clearly, he intended on investigating further, even more when he saw Cleon get onto his chocobo first. “Are you all deaf? Stay right where you are!” He barked, his hand moving to his sheath as if to signal force would be used should they not comply.

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus was trying so hard not to laugh at Kikiti’s plight. The fact that he was worried about being caught and how this situation could spin out, helped with that. He was quite paranoid about what was about to happen, and his gaze did continue to shoot towards the soldiers and their approach, before attention was called back to Kikiti who was asking for help.

He sighed.

“Yeah, I can help,” he stooped a little, but rather than lift her and further her embarrassment, he cupped his hands together and held them a bit above the ground, “Here, use this as a step up,” he could probably help her a bit from there, but he thought this might be a preferable way to go about it.

Not to mention it might be slower than just lifting her, which he needed.

He needed time.

Reva was pleased none of them were listening to the Arkidian soldiers, though she remained still near Cleon’s chocobo, “What is it?” She asked the Arkidians as they approached, all the while considering what options were available to her to cause enough harm that they wouldn’t be able to follow them out of the town easily.

Or at all.

She could easily take two Arkidian soldiers. “We’re looking for a Viera and her companions, and you fit the description. We’re going to have to ask you to come with us,” the soldier said, as if it could be that easy.

Reva shook her head, “No, we cannot do that.”

“We’re not actually asking.”

“And we are not coming along.”

“All right then—” as his hand went for a sword, Reva lifted her hand up, drawing on the water within the air and bringing it together with a swirl of her wrist. “Wha—!” and crashing down right on their heads, sending at least one into the ground, though the other held their poise the better.

The chocobos, at least, weren’t running off, and Reva grabbed her naginata and moved to plunge it into the throat of the soldier that remained standing. The other would fall after, or run – their choice would determine if Reva turned back to the chocobo to get them out at a gallop, or finished things off so they wouldn’t have time to alert the other soldiers in town.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti was just waiting for Didymus to burst out into laughter over her, uh...little problem. Why did these chocobos have to be so tall?! It wasn’t fair to a creature like her, having to deal with the problems of that, and at the worst possible time too.

She had become resigned to being lifted. When Didymus stooped down, she just readied herself to be lifted like a literal child. She glanced back to Didymus, though, was surprised to see that he had cupped his hands together, resolving to use his hands as a step for her instead. Kikiti blinked, though, she seemed much more relieved.

“Okay, great! Thank you,” Kikiti smiled, putting a hand on Didymus’ shoulder as she placed a foot onto his hand. One she felt secure enough, Didymus gave her that boost up, and she managed to get onto the chocobo.

Now, they just had to deal with the Arkidian soldiers...

For Cleon, he wasn’t sure how to react. He tried not to look behind him so often, else, his guilty face would betray them all. He just gripped the reins, listening to the demands of the soldier, and Reva’s answers. She was bold, to say the least, but she had to be.

And she especially had to be to pull the stunts that she did next.

Water came crashing down on the two soldiers. When Cleon had turned to properly see what was going on, he watched Reva drive her naginata through the throat of the Arkidian soldier in front of him.

Somehow, even after killing a man, watching Reva fell countless others, it still left his stomach churning, made him grow pale, even if these were their enemies. It was not the first time they had killed and he was sure this wasn’t the last.

All he could do now was try and keep their chocobo calm, but its training had clearly done wonders. It barely flinched through the small skirmish.

The other soldier rose to her feet unsteadily, positively drenched. She watched with wide eyes at her comrade standing there, the viera’s weapon poised through his neck. “Sh-shit, Gabe...!” She couldn’t help but stammer out. Though, rather than perhaps take a chance at fleeing, she unsheathed her weapon, starting to see red instead, after the soldier’s body dropped to the ground.

“Viera bitch!” She yelled, charging forward with her sword raised.

It would no doubt prove to be an unwise decision.

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus couldn’t linger long on the ground after Kikiti had gotten up, but he did pause as Reva attacked the soldiers, surprised again with just the viciousness of her. It was easy to see why she had been a royal bodyguard, as she easily dealt with one of the soldiers, before the other made their decision.

Didymus got up onto the chocobo as he heard the pain in calling out the name of one soldier, considering just shooting it off at a gallop, but he knew it would be better to wait for Reva. And he knew, she’d have no problem dispatching one other soldier.

And Reva truly didn’t.

The soldier’s anger didn’t help her in the least, and Reva was able to thrust the naginata forward as the soldier came running with her weapon raised, long before she was in range of the sword. It didn’t pierce the armor, but it did hurt the woman and knock the breath out of her, before Reva charged forward herself. She swung once to disarm, before the next thrust went through that unfortunately unprotected area of the neck.

She flicked the blood off the tip of her polearm before hurrying back to the chocobo that was waiting with Cleon, and swinging up behind him. “We go, now.”

“Wouldn’t have guessed,” Didymus muttered, but was quick to urge the chocobo to follow Reva as she set hers off at a gallop towards the forest to get them out of sight.

The chocobos were leaving a bit of a trail, given how burdened they were. At least in the forest, that would help to obscure it some, as well, but Reva did not like the thought that they may be easy to follow for a bit. Nonetheless, she did not speak to it, just got the chocobos into the forest, and then urged them into a path that made sure to go around tight spaces in trees, and had plenty of foliage and underbrush to mask the stamp of their feet.

Things would still end up broken underfoot, but whether that was a chocobo, or some other creature, would be hard to discern.

“So, uh – how long, exactly, have you been a guard?” Didymus found himself asking, once they were under the cover of trees.

“Over 25 years,” Reva answered.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti heard the cry from behind her, and without looking around, she had known one of the soldiers had been killed. She hazarded a look, only to find Cleon avoiding watching the bloodshed and focusing on keeping his chocobo calm. She frowned, knowing that was probably for the best.

They knew it was the only way, for their safety, but it didn't make the moment very comfortable for the two who hadn't experienced death so close at hand before.

Cleon waited for the sounds of struggle, the sound of blade meeting flesh, the sound of another body dropping to the ground. Those sounds came, and as quickly, Reva's orders behind him. They sent their chocobo ahead first. On the way out of town, Cleon caught the passing looks of townsfolk.

All he could do was focus his gaze ahead and refuse to look back.

They galloped in silence for some time. Cleon hadn't gotten used to it rather quickly. Their trip this morning was much the same. Plus, no one wanted to break the silence, as if someone would pick up on their conversation and stop them, despite no one else being in sight.

Cleon knew they would only be safe for a little while, before more soldiers would be following them again. He had to come to terms that this was the way he was going to live, and for quite awhile too.

They soon reached the cover of some trees, and Didymus was the one to break the silence with a question, which Reva had answered.

"Wow, that long?" Kikiti asked, looking over at Reva. She hadn't realised she had been a guard of Ucantis for that long. Then again, she was young, and hadn't known Reva for any length of time. Still, she looked great for being one for over 25 years.

"A while before I was a thought in anyone's minds," Cleon chuckled a little. It was strange to think of how long he had actually known Reva his whole life. "And you even knew my mother before you entered into her service." Though it was still raw to think of his mother, he knew the two of them were close. They went to the academy together, Reva had been there for her mother when his grandfather's sickness got worse. She was there when she married, supported her when Cleon himself was born. Reva had been there from the beginning of his mother's reign.

It was a shame, a horrible shame, that she couldn't be there for her when her reign ended so suddenly.

 

[Lucyfer]

Reva gave a simple nod. She did not forget that humans underestimated how long creatures like viera lived, and she imagined Kikiti was in the same boat. Given how rare viera were, age was not a common thing. Then again – she did not know how long lalafell lived, either. She just assumed it was akin to humans, rather than viera. She may ask, at another point.

Kikiti seemed young, in any case.

There was still a tightness to the conversation. She understood why; though Didymus did not speak to it directly, his query about her role brought to light the different familiarities with death. She knew Cleon had little experience. She hoped, of course, that Kikiti and Didymus had little as well.

She was not so certain about Didymus.

He had a certain understanding of darker things not yet spoken of to her, but hinted at all the same in his choice of career, and where he hailed from.

“Yes, I did,” Reva agreed as Cleon mentioned how long she had known Inara.

“So, uh…how…old are you?” Didymus finally asked.

Reva sighed. Typical. Still, she did actually answer him. “122 years old.”

Didymus’s mouth nearly fell open, It didn’t, but he was surprised, “Really? How long do viera live?”

“Approximately 300 years, with variations, of course,” like humans.

That was not the answer Didymus expected and it still seemed hard for him to take in. “That is not so important now,” Reva said, shifting the subject, “We need to make sure we lose any pursuit, and consider our next stops carefully on the way to Rozari. I…realize now we should have considered a map.”

Didymus almost palmed his face.

‘Of course.’ The one obvious thing they were missing.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti was about to scold Didymus, for you never asked a woman their age, though, couldn’t help but gawk behind at Reva. “122 years old?! I just hope to look half as good somewhere in my thirties...” Your thirties, as was common for several teenagers to think, was considered ‘old’. “But somewhere up to 300 years...that’s incredible!”

“I can’t imagine living up to that age,” Cleon commented. He couldn’t imagine living up to a much younger age, in all honesty, probably with his own brushes with death and ill-health. Long may that not continue.

The conversation turned to losing anyone on their tails and to consider any of their stops carefully. Stopping at every town would only slow them down, allow the enemy to catch them quicker.

But a map...how useful that would have been.

Cleon frowned before asking, “Would there be any signposts along the way at all?”

“To Rozari? From here?” Kikiti asked, her eyebrows knitted together. “Why would there be? It’s so far away from Ucantis.”

“No, to other towns,” Cleon corrected. “Maybe we shouldn’t use that method the whole journey to Rozari, but at least it might get us by until we stop at another town.”

“I suppose,” Kikiti hummed, tapping her chin. Though, they’d be spending a lot of their time camping. She doubted there’d be signposting along lesser-travelled routes. She turned to look back at Reva again, asking, “What’s the best way to lose these guys? I guess...getting off the main travel routes might help?”

 

[Lucyfer]

“On the main road, there are signs,” Reva was familiar enough with that. She had done much traveling on main roads to find new towns and places to stop in at and restock, “Out here…,” in the woods, off the main trail, and continuing to get further from that, “it is unlikely.”

“The main roads are probably going to be full of Arkidian soldiers soon,” Didymus noted, “if we plan to get a map, and a compass or something, we’d need to do it soon – and we’re out of gil.” He spoke mostly for himself and Kikiti, though he could see by the way Reva’s brows knit together, that she and Cleon had not done much better.

Then, he realized, “Actually, hang on – there might be – there are some packs on the chocobos, let’s look at them,” he brought his own chocobo to a stop, much as Reva did, at first showing a confused expression before realizing he had a point. The Arkidians weren’t native to Ucantis, and these were their chocobos.

Odds, of at least gil to buy a map with, was good.

Reva was quick to descend from her own chocobo, though she would wait until Cleon was off before she started ransacking the new bags. Much as Didymus stepped back, though canted his head to see if Kikiti was going to need his help off. He knew she wouldn’t want it, but he’d still willing give it to her so they could take a look at what they’d inherited by stealing chocobos.

And she got mad at him for stealing a bit of thread.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti did scratch her head at the mention of having no gil. Trust her to get carried away with all those clothing materials. Though, it seemed Reva and Cleon had spent a lot of their gil too, so she didn’t feel as guilty. Still a little guilty. But at least she wasn’t alone.

Cleon hummed. They’d have to stay off the main roads then, and if they were doing that, well, there was little in the ways of signs to actually guide them. And as for buying things...well, it seemed as if neither of them had a lot of gil to spare.

Kikiti looked to Didymus as he mentioned that the Arkidian chocobos may have had something in their packs and Kikiti grinned. “Ah, good thinking! Surely they would have something useful in there for us!” Maps, gil, other supplies, the possibilities were quite endless. Though, it wasn’t technically stealing...was it?

Cleon soon followed, dismounting the chocobo before Reva had started to rummage through the packs. Cleon decided to start inspecting another pack, intending to just look for a map first above all else.

Kikiti, though, spent a little longer tapping at the chocobo to bend or lie down, so that she could dismount safely. “Down! Down you go! Lie...down!” Came the fervent command. Of course, again, the chocobo just shook down its body and remained upright.

The Lalafell caught Didymus’ eye and felt her cheeks go red again. They both knew she had to be lifted down and she detested that fact. She sighed in defeat, carefully turning her body to Didymus and with a murmur asked, “Could you...help me down?” Once she was down, she would start searching through the packs too.

Meanwhile, Cleon has fished out a parchment, rolled up and secured with a ring with the Empire’s crest, and a red cloth to secure it. “I found something,” he announced to Reva, waving it at her. He took off the ring and untied the ribbon, unrolling the parchment, and expecting to see a map of Ucantis.

Instead, it seemed to be a sheet of...diagrams. Diagrams and other notes alongside them. At the top, was the following explanation:

Be aware of the following markings and seize anyone possessing them.
Markings can be identified as freckles showing on the surface of the body, followed by connections between each one, representing particular constellations.
Refer to this parchment closely for reference if markings are sighted.
​

Further down the parchment, two 'markings' stuck out to Cleon.

Marking of Cancer.
Bearer: Cleon Bandoethel, Human, Prince of Ucantis.
Identifiable by the shape of an upside-down Y.
Status: Unawakened

Marking of Pisces.
Bearer: Reva, Viera, Bodyguard to Cleon Bandoethel.
Identifiable by V shape and triangular and pentagonal shapes either end.
Status: Awakened. Approach with vigilance.

Cleon swallowed back before he showed Reva the parchment list. "I...these are...our marks, right?" He asked as if he was trying to make sure he wasn't just seeing things. How on Hyune would they know such things and such information about them if they had only ever faced them yesterday? And the other markings present...they were similar to theirs, only, of different shapes and contortions.

And what did their 'status' mean?

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus waited.

And waited.

And waited, until Kikiti got the hint that the chocobo was not trained to take her command. Perhaps they could teach it on the road, but right now, it wasn’t too important. When she finally did get the hint, Didymus came over and crouched down so she could once again use him as something of a step, just as Cleon was brandishing a bundle of papers.

He straightened up quickly to go take a look at it, brows knitting in confusion.

“Once upon a time,” Reva found herself saying, “before I was, and before you were, the stars fell from the sky and found themselves upon people of Ivocia,” Reva said, shaking her head lightly, “I know not why, but I know it was marked by my people, for it was a moment when She was afraid.”

“She?” Diddy asked.

“The Wood,” Reva clarified, “They noticed the stars on me, but knew not what it meant.” She touched the paper where it said awakened, “I know this to mean that I am attuned to Leviathan.” Her nail grazed along that paper, underlining ‘awakened’, “Because he has told me as much. I know that to mean there is a sort of spirit tied to you, Cleon,” she said, “Your mother knew there was great power within you, too.”

Didymus’s eyes widened. ‘Oh. Oh!’ Something was starting to click in his head, rumors he’d heard around the Empress being a ‘second Leander’, and what that meant, given what Leander was known for – the giant flaming bird. Yet, he’d seen no bird around Zariel or her armies. Yet, now he got it – she was looking for people like this, wasn’t she?

Well, obviously.

She had soldiers out with maps.

“What else is there? Maybe we should try to find these people before the Arkidians do – at least warn them?” Didymus wondered, not yet realizing he was among them, until they started to go through the other signs, and the bearers were unknown. Until he saw one.

Marking of Gemini
Bearer: Unknown
Identifiable by two sets of similar parallel lines.
Status: Unknown; assumed unawakened.

​

He quietly reached to his left hand and looked down at his wrist, pushing up the pink bracelet and noting that he did, in fact, have that marking. “Oh….” But it was unknown. Zariel hadn’t seen. Jagger hadn’t seen. They didn’t know!

 

[Arcanist]

At least Didymus wasn't going to lift her. The arrangement was nice, but she thought chocobos really should be so much more accommodating to Lalafell-hybrids such as her. When Didymus crouched down, she was careful using him to get down. Thankfully, she wasn't so afraid of heights, despite her size, and had rather good balance. She jumped down onto the ground, half-tempted to say, "Ta-da!" though resisted. She was brushing down her dress when she noticed Didymus walk over to Reva and Cleon, who were speaking about something on the parchments. Curious, she also approached.

She wasn't sure what was on that parchment, but when Reva had started explaining something to Cleon and had mentioned Leviathan, Kikiti listened more intently. She had remembered Reva speaking to her about Leviathan the night before, explaining that they had come to her many years ago. Though now, she understood that it was something to do with stars falling? Because it was tied to these people, because of these stars?

It seemed Cleon had difficulty wrapping his head around it himself. Stars falling among Ivocia, markings, a hidden power...he couldn't help but look at his gloved hand, thoughtful. "So, that was why she sent me away..." He murmured. He could understand more now why the Empire wanted to seize him so badly, and now, they'd want to grab Reva too, no doubt. Though, what would they want their power for? To seize the rest of Ivocia? To use them to further their own gains?

Cleon already knew his answer.

At least now they had some more knowledge, particularly on a mark that Cleon only ever understood as a birthmark. But it wasn't as if they were any further forward on that.

Cleon glanced to Didymus, frowning. "Look for them? Wouldn't that be difficult? I mean, there are only eight markings on here, and we don't..." He trailed off though when he saw Didymus' eyes stop on a marking and watched him push up that pink bracelet on his wrist. The 'oh' only confirmed his suspicion. He looked to the mark that he had stopped at, correlating it to the one on his wrist...

...and saw that he had one too.

"The Marking of Gemini..." Cleon murmured, astounded by the discovery.

"Excuse me!" Kikiti shouted, causing Cleon to flinch. "What's on the parchment? Let me see!" She tried jumping and grabbing at it to snatch it out of his hands, though, Cleon willingly handed it to her. "We all have markings that are drawn on these pages," he explained, trying to point out the right ones upside down. "I have the Marking of Cancer, Reva had Pisces, and Didymus has the Gemini marking."

Kikiti rubbed her head as she looked over the parchment. "Capricorn...Taurus...Virgo...Libra...Saggitarius...wait!" Her eyes moved back up. She thrust the parchment back at Cleon. "Hold it up, just like that!" She ordered, to which Cleon complied, holding it up so that Kikiti could see it. As she reached down to take off her left boot, she read the information under Libra.

Marking of Libra
Bearer: Unknown
Identifiable by a triangle with two lines running down from it.
Status: Unknown; assumed unawakened.

​

Kikiti yanked the boot off before grabbing onto Didymus' leg to help balance her and lifted up her left foot to look at. She squinted from the freckle on the second toe, to the other two freckles below it, then the lines running down to her sole. "Oh, oh, oh, look! I have one too! I've got the Marking of Libra!" She threw her foot up to show the other two.

 

[Lucyfer]

It was something that Reva had not fully considered when they were sent away, but it was likely something that Inara had not forgotten. Perhaps she even knew of the Empire’s desires. Reva would never get to ask, unfortunately, but she knew now why she had to keep Cleon safe…and, it seemed, the people she was around.

How fortunate that not one, but two of those with the marks fell into their group in Ucantis!

Didymus forced himself to be still as Kikiti used him to balance and check her own marking, but it did check out. “What does it mean?” Didymus asked, looking to Reva, expecting she would know more.

Unfortunately, all she did was shake her head, “I do not know,” she answered him honestly, “When Leviathan came to me, he did not say why, or how, only that he was bound to me, and he would answer my calls for him.” Reva’s brows remained knit, “He is powerful. It may be the Empire wants more weapons.”

That was possible, but for what? They almost had all of Hyune. ‘Maybe just to hold it….’ “Uh, what is Leviathan? I know the word means something like giant, but….”

Reva chuckled, realizing he had not seen, “Leviathan is a large dragon of water. He comes when I beckon him,” she answered, “It is possible you all have some power bound to you, as well.” Didymus just looked more confused, and cupped his right hand over his wrist, as if he could hide that.

“How did you awaken? How do we awaken?” Didymus continued to wonder aloud.

“I awoke when I stepped into Mist. I do not think it would work for the rest of you.”

Didymus considered his mist bomb.

He considered he may have just avoided getting fucked up by a water dragon. He would not use that Mist bomb. He’d have to get rid of it. Somehow. Maybe he could sell it. “No, probably not….” Didymus sighed. "This is...oddly convenient." Zariel would likely want him to drag back Kikiti now, too. Just his luck. Now he had to kidnap all three of them. This...was not going to work out well.

 

[Arcanist]

"Sounds super helpful of him," Kikiti murmured upon Reva's explanation. She finally put her foot down and gave Diddy a nod of gratitude. She hoped that their...uh, spirit friends, would be somewhat more helpful. Though, trying to even get them to come out seemed to be a problem in and of itself. No way they could figure that out on their own.

Cleon rubbed the back of his neck, frowning in some thought. Reva stepped into the mist to 'awaken' Leviathan...but wasn't that dangerous for her to do? And why wouldn't Leviathan explain about these phenomena?

It seemed they had more questions than answers.

"Oddly convenient," Cleon repeated, then added, "but maybe we're a lot more fortunate than we think. Who knows when they would have found out you or Kikiti had a mark." They still could, especially after they had just found out too. But at least the four of them were together, and not in the clutches of the Empire.

"We were going to stick together anyway, right?" Kikiti asked, looking to each of them. Didymus, well, she wasn't so sure if he would have. But now it seemed as if they had little choice. "Maybe we can find out what these markings mean together. And like Didymus said, on the off-chance that we find someone with a marking like on here," she gestured to the parchment. "We can warn them too."

Cleon was thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah...I mean, it would make the most sense, right?" He looked to Reva and Didymus. "We can find out what all of this means, and what the Empire wants with us, and people like us," he pointed out. He had to wonder though, what kind of power was in each of them. He doubted they would all get something like Leviathan. That would just be boring, wouldn't it?

But then again, he wasn't sure about harbouring a great power. Perhaps it was why his mother never mentioned it to him.

"Yeah, exactly," Kikiti giggled. It seemed as if she wasn't taking in the wider picture, that they were quite literally marked as targets by the Empire. Or perhaps she had and chose not to focus too much on it. They had to be positive about this too, didn't they?