Across the Realm of Light, the rich and powerful were contemplating the upcoming ball held in honor of Emperor Francis Ironhart's birthday. For some, it was a place to be seen, an event to show off. Others would use it to settle some business and discuss what should be done about the increasing unrest from the lower classes. The Emperor himself didn't care about such "trivial" concerns and would likely sign whatever edict his advisors put in front of him. But for a Silver Raven's director, it meant the completion of a lucrative contract...

{Destiny Island; Royal Estate - Beach}
Emperor Francis snacked on a shrimp cocktail as he watched members of the court put on a blitz ball match for his enjoyment. It was rather dull so far, so interjecting some new rules seemed in order. He wasn't that familiar with the official rules to begin with, but that hadn't stopped him before.
Away from his father sat Silas, dressed in a linen suit and a wide brimmed hat to ward of the sun. While he watched the game, his mind was truly else where. Unlike the emperor, the crown prince was well aware of the growing political situation. It was a growing danger, but where there was danger, there was also opportunity...

{Radiant Garden; old castle}
The city lights of Radiant Garden shone out into the night, all but one building contributing to the shine. The old castle, once the home and laboratory of Ansem the Wise, had been left long abandoned after Xehanort's Keyblade War, until Prince Silas renovate it as a wedding present for his second wife, the Lady Claudia. Now, their son Lamont lived there most of the year under the guidance of his personal tutors and a few hand picked guards. One of these guards was marching through the main corridor, missing the dark clad figure hiding in a seldom used turn off. Once the guard had past, the figure slinked down the way the guard had come, moving quickly and quietly.
After a turn, the figure made it into the entryway to the castle's kitchens. After a moment of listening, he glanced around and stalked into the kitchens. The room was barely lit, with only a few pools of light from a few appliances and a fixture over a sink. The figure was half way through it when one of the pantry doors started to open. Scrambling, he dropped down and hid under a high table. Praying not to be found, he glanced out to see the heavy boots of another guard. Why did he have to get a snack now? The munching guard past by the table without any sign of noticing the hidden lurker. Waiting for the foot steps to die away, the figure quietly left his hiding place and crept to the kitchen door to the outside.

The doors were locked and enchanted to prevent entree of undesirables, but it was still subject to older magic. In a flash, the figure held a copy of the Keyblade Sleeping Lion. He tapped the lock, which clicked open. Opening the door carefully, the escapee darted out and closed the door behind him. He re-locked it with his blade, then dismissed the weapon. Moving a little faster than before, he came upon a stack of boxes where he discarded the black cloak he had been wearing.

Using a few connected back allies, Lamont Ironhart came out into the still busy streets of the city proper. He was dressed in something more appropriate to a normal person going about their business along with a pair of glasses and a ball cap. His face wasn't generally well known, but some precautions had to be taken. Taking a deep breath, Lamont merged with the crowd. This was a stupid thing to do, but there were things he knew he would only learn if he tried it himself. Plus, it felt good to see the world of his birth up close and not from behind thick walls.

 

{Dark Realm; outskirts of Calik village}

Erinys Ta'gon placed a cracked helmet on the counter of the curiosity shop, eyeing the proprietor with her glowing red eyes.

"Found it in a beast den." She explained as the proprietor examined the helmet with growing disgust. "The thief must have tried to use it to get away from a Heartless pack, but got gutted by-"

"I don't care what got him!" the proprietor exploded. "You expect me to believe this is my helmet? My very magical helmet?"

"Was magical." Erinys said tiredly. "The hound sucked it dry after it gnawed the thief's bones, by the look of things. But i followed the scent you gave me and this is what i found. No way he stashed your helmet and picked up another."

"It was worth 5,000 munnies!" the proprietor bellowed. "Now I'll be lucky to get 50 for it."

"Sorry to hear that. But it happens. Now, we agreed on-"

"If you think I'm paying you anything for this lump of metal," he said, tossing the helmet away "you've got another thing coming!"

Erinys' eyes narrowed.

"You promised 800 munnies for the return of your property." she hissed. "No word on its state, just its return. I risked my neck to hold up my end. We shook on it."

"Pah! Pledges to abominations aren't binding! Begone, noxling, before i call the guard."

The Noxling Ronin gritted her teeth, their white showing up vividly against her pure black skin. A hand shot out and grabbed the proprietor by the throat. He tried to break free, but her grip was like iron. In her other hand, a swirl of darkness left behind a Heartless Shadow the she held by the back of the neck, like one might hold a cat.

"You're not suppose to bring them into the village!" the man wheezed, his eye bulging.

"And you are not suppose to break deals." Erinys retorted in an icy tone. "So here's a new one. You pay me what's owed and this little guy goes away. You keep thinking you can break deals with noxlings, and i drop him. You're the only heart he can feel in here. Think you can get your mace in time?"

The proprietor's bulging eyes swiveled back and forth between Erinys and the Heartless. Wordlessly, he pulled a munny bag from under the counter and dropped it in front of the ronin. Erinys muttered a Stop spell the froze the proprietor in time. Cradling the Heartless in one arm, she opened the bag and counted out the munny. It was high denominations, so she quickly found it was 1,000 munnies in all. She eyed the man who had tried to stiff her, anger smoldering in her eyes. Just taking all of this served the fat man right. Hades, leaving this Heartless with him felt worthwhile. But old Nick had taught her different.

When the Stop spell wore off, the proprietor found that the Heartless had gone and a small pile of munnies was on the counter.

"I'm taking what I'm owed, not a speck more." The Noxling said from the door. "Now, we're square and you don't have to worry about me anymore. Talk to the guards, and I'll be back."

Slamming the door behind her, Erinys stomped through the main street of the village, pulling her hood up. She had a few supplies to get before leaving. Getting them quick and leaving sounded like the best course of action right now.

Seeing the hooded figure gone she decided to see the world's city, and she was surprise of where she is. "Is this is this Radiant Garden?" She asked herself seeing the familiar city that she once heard that the keyblade master became a heartless in this world.

{???: Radiant Garden; Borough}

The figure watched as Alyssa wandered off. Easily distracted. But she would learn. She was set in the other scion's path. Together, they will have to face the future. With this task complete, the figure disappeared.

 

{Lamont: Radiant Garden; Borough}

Lamont glanced behind him as he entered the borough. That guy he had run into had gotten him out of a bad situation, then split. The young prince couldn't really blame him. From what he could see, the lower class people did what they needed to do to survive and keep their heads down. How could grandfather have let things get this way? Did he even know? Did father know? Would he even know if he hadn't snuck out of the castle in disguise?

Lost in these thoughts, Lamont ran into Alyssa.

"Oh, I beg your pardon!" He said quickly.

 

{Radiant Garden; Rising Falls}

As Aurion got closer, he could see that the person's skin was pure black. While Noxlings weren't that common in the Dark Realm, the former delivery boy would have at least heard of them. But this one seemed...further mutated by darkness. He could also tell that this Noxling was a girl.

She stirred, uncurling slightly to raise her head. She didn't seem to really comprehend the words Aurion was saying, but seemed to get that he wasn't trying to hurt her. She reached out a hand, one with what looked like a freshly missing finger.

"What..." the Noxling rasped.

She didn't get to continue as the clouds overhead broke, causing sunlight to stream down into the Falls. The bright light burned the Noxling, causing her to scream in pain. This triggered further mutation, causing her to grow more monstrous, with longer limbs, dark claws, and the fur like substance covering growing over most of her. Her scream became a roar as she lashed out with her claws at Aether and Shala, blinded by anger and pain.

 

{Kira: Lanes Between; Shuttle Aft}

Kira shrugged.

"We could certainly be missing something." She conceded. "He may have had hidden ties to a bigger player. Or he could have been murdered for different motives. Like I said, he's been falsely imprisoning people, so he could have jailed someone with the right money."

The Gunslinger got up and stretched.

"But that's all kind of worse case scenario." She continued. "If our guy is some sort of outside muscle, he gets harder to track down. If it's someone with a personal reason for wanting our poor tax man dead, we thank our lucky stars."

A little indicator light above the door to the cockpit winked on.

"We're coming up on Twilight Town." Kira interpreted. "Shouldn't be too much longer."

She paused then chuckled softly.

"Guess this is your first time on this end of the whole death business, eh?"

"Oh sorry. I'm just surprised of this world." She said before she almost forgot to introduce herself. "Oh I almost forgot my name is Alyssa." She said introducing herself to him.

Radiant Guarden Rising Falls

 

Shala knocked back an arrow and took several steps back. “No not particularly. But we can make it fun. How about a challenge? Whoever gets the most hits on the target without dying wins” she smiles then her smile drained away. ‘And maybe this is a key to remembering...thats hopeful thinking Shala’ she thought to herself before loosing her arrow at the shadowy creature that now stood before them.

- Aurion - Radiant Garden - Raising Falls -

What at interesting sight. The person, the girl looked like a, what was the word? Noxling? Something not that common to the Realm of Darkness, and even more so in the Realm of Light. She looked like she comprehended that he wasn't going to hurt her, and was actually reaching out her hand, a hand that was missing a finger, only for her to scream in pain as the clouds overhead gave way to some sunlight.
"Woah! What is going on? She is changing!" Aurion yelled as he jumped back, "Wait! We must't hurt her. Her transformation is being triggered by something. We should find that and perhaps she will go back to normal!"
Aurion took a defensive stance, just in case the creature, the girl, tried to attack him, but he was looking around the place to try to find out what caused the girl to change, and see if he could think about something to make her stop without hurting her, too much.


- Aether - Private Shuttle - Lanes Between -

"I suppose it is. I'm usually the one dealing the final blow to people instead of trying to find out who is the one responsible for such thing," Aether replied to Kira, "It's kind of exciting really. Now I get to see the other side."
Aether looked at the light above the cockpit winked on, something about it made her try to remember something. What that was, she didn't really knew.
"Well Kira, it seems that the two of us will have to solve this strange mystery," she said calmly, "Let us find out how deep this hole goes. Unless it is only a simple plot for revenge, of course. That would be boring."

(Gah! Forgot to post with Silas last time.)

 

{Silas: Destiny Island; Palace}

"Without direct evidence, even nobles not part of the council will decry swift action, perhaps leading to unrest." Silas answered matter of factly. "Even some in the military are more loyal to the council than to the Throne. That is why I made sure you were stationed here. Your loyalty has been above question."

He paused, looking down at Velvet.

"Do rise. I admire your protocol, but now is not the time. If we are to solve this mystery, we must do so carefully, and only move against the culprits when we are ready."

 

{Lamont: Radiant Garden; Borough}

"No, no. My fault entirely." Lamont apologized. "Just wasn't looking where I was going."

Tilting his head to the side, Lamont peered at Alyssa. There seemed to be something...familiar about her. He wasn't really sure what it was, but he felt like he should know her.

"Oh, right." He said, Alyssa's introduction pushing away other thoughts. "I'm...Lars. Pleased to meet you. Are you new to Radiant Garden?"

 

{Radiant Garden; Rising Falls}

The Noxling bellowed as Shala's arrow struck. Glowing eyes flashed as they focused on her. Snarling, the Noxling launched herself at the assassin, claws out stretched for an attack. A hazy smoke came off her as well as the scent of singed hair.

 

{Kira: Twilight Town; Shuttle Aft}

Kira chuckled.

"Boring, but quick." She replied. "Not a bad trade off."

She hit a button on her armor and her helmet reformed around her head.

"Don't have much to give you as far as gear." She continued, her voice now modulated from her helmet. "Got everything you need for now?"

"I think so. Earlier I was at Destiny Islands almost got my hand cut off then I met this hooded figure who brought me here because of some destiny with a balance." Alyssa said as destiny embrace appear that it surprise her since she summon kingdom key earlier.

- Aurion - Radiant Garden - Raising Falls -

Aurion watched as the creature, as the girl launched herself at the strange girl that appeared out of nowhere. There was little time to do something.
"Watch out!" Aurion screamed, "Get away from her!"
The ex-delivery boy pointed his keyblade at the creature and focused. He didn't wanted to hurt her, she looked like she had been in pain before. Instead, from the tip of his weapon multiple chains made of dark energy were shot towards the creature in an attempt to stop her from reaching Shala.


- Aether - Twilight Town -

"Well, there is a first time for everything," Aether said, "Am I right?"
Apparently she wasn't going to get the welcoming package for joining, or attempting to join, this group, and that was fine. She preferred Luna's toys anyways.
"Oh, don't worry about me, Kira," She said as she put her hand on the girl's shoulder, "I can use my own toys for the time being."
A faint glowing light was blinking from her small wrist watch and continued to do so for a couple of seconds before she let go. The ex-raven then pressed two buttons at the sides of the device and her clothes slowly changed into gear similar to those that Kira was wearing, helmet included.
"You have to love Lunatic's toys, they can do wonders, " She said with the same modulated voice, "A little tight, but I can get used to this. Alright Kira, I am ready to move."

Almost reflexively Shala jumped back, floated for a moment in the air and in her freehand, summoned and pointed her own keyblade at the creature. A barrier formed around herself protecting her from incoming damage. Her expression went from collected to very confused as if she didnt know how she did what she did.

 

 

 

 

Velvet smiled and rose. Her eyes remained on her ruler. “Then shall I proceed as usual until a choice is reached my lord? Or should i rally the troops. Whatever you ask of me, i shall do it. It is my job and duty to serve you in anyway i can, especially when presented with such an honor.” She seemed very happy to be of direct use to her lord

{Lamont: Radiant Garden; Borough}

Lamont looked confused by Alyssa's quick tale, but that soon gave way to utter surprise when she summoned a true Keyblade. He didn't have one of those. Grandfather didn't have one. But this girl did?

"Put that away!" "Lars" hissed, looking around nervously in case they were being watched. "Could get into trouble flashing that around."

 

{Radiant Garden; Raising Falls}

The Noxling growled something unintelligible as she glared back at Aurion. She struggled against the dark chains for a moment, then seemed to be trying to get under them. Her skin and fur stopped smoking where the chains touched her. She moved in between Aurion and Shala as if to shield the former delivery boy, giving the Assassin a warning growl.

 

{Kira: Twilight Town; Shuttle Aft}

Kira gave an appreciative grunt at Aether's wardrobe change.

"Handy." She said. "The boss may have to look into this."

Turning away, the Gunslinger hit a button at the back of the shuttle, opening the rear hatch. The shuttle came to a stop next to a clock tower, its cloaking system keeping the shuttle's presence hidden.

"Oh, and this isn't a uniform." Kira called back. "So when we are done here, I'll ask you stop stealing my style."

With a couple of running steps start, Kira jumped from the shuttle and landed on a platform below the clock itself. She immediately went into a crouch, scanning the area for any watchers.

 

{Silas: Destiny Island; Palace}

"Mostly as usual, Commander." Silas answered. "I will need you to place some trusted, though perhaps not your brightest soldiers on the official investigation of what happened. We can have them chasing after the escaped assassin and her accomplice. While that is happening, I will have you working with my two eldest children in finding the true culprit is. I will be needed to help at least figure head the government until my father's condition stabilizes. Cornelius and Luminara will have more freedom of movement. You are to provide tactical support for them. Has your time in the military given you any experience in investigations?"

"I can't help it. It keeps appearing for no reason." Alyssa said as she dismiss Destiny Embrace. "I always thought only the high ranks could use the keyblade. Why did the keyblade choose me?" Alyssa questioned as Kingdom Key appears that she try to dismiss it.

- Aurion - Radiant Garden - Raising Falls -

Aurion was surprised that the creature glared at him, but more importantly, it seemed that she was trying to say something, although Aurion did not understand. The chains had managed to stop the creature, or at least make her struggle for a moment. Aurion toook this opportunity to look at the Noxling more carefully.
"What can I do? This is not going to stop her forever," he thought,
The Noxling moved between Shala and him, as if she was trying to...protect him? But why? The creature's skin and fur stopped smoking just as the chains made contact with her. Perhaps this was a sign? She also looked as if she was trying to get under them for a moment. As a being of Darkness, or deeper into the Darkness, Noxlings would prefer the dark instead of the blinding Light. On that moment Aurion's mind made a connection. Before the Noxling transformed, sunlight had come through the clouds. Maybe that was the reason she transformed, and why she was trying to get under the chains of darkness.
"Don't attack! I think I understand why this happened," Aurion said to Shala, "It's the light. She needs to be away from the light. It causes her pain and, perhaps, was the reason she transformed."
From the tip of the keyblade more chains came out trying to wrap the Noxling. With enough time the chains would surround her whole body, and maybe, just maybe, make her return back to normal.

- Aether - Twilight Town -

"Sorry, I have the right of exclusivity with these toys. One of a kind and all that," Aether said to Kira, "My contact is, for a lack of a better word, a recluse. They like to tinker to make new stuff, but when it comes to people? That is a different story."
Aether looked outside once the rear hatch was opened. The structure outside looked as a clock tower, it was interesting.
"And here I thought this was a uniform," Aether said while checking the gear, "but I do not want to mess with your style, so I will take it off the moment we finish this job."
The ex raven watched as Kira jumped from the shuttle and landed on a platform, a couple of seconds later she did the same. The moment she landed she took cover and scanned the area for any potential watcher.

{Lamont: Radiant Garden; Borough}

"If that." Lamont thought. 

He had seen plenty of of the upper echelon of Nobles sport fake Keyblade, passing them off as real. Even his was fake. But now he was with someone who could summon the real thing. His mother had told him stories of the old days when the Keyblade chose those of strong heart. This girl had to be one.

"I don't know." The disguised prince said aloud. "But it has to mean something. Such a weapon comes with a great responsibility."

 

{Radiant Garden; Raising Falls}

The Noxling looked back and hissed at Aurion. She was clearly not a fan of being chained more, but it was also offering her protection from the hated light. She was still trying to keep an eye on Shala, but was slinking back in order to get closer to Aurion and his dark protection.

 

{Kira: Twilight Town; Shuttle Aft}

With Aether's departure, the shuttle's hatch closed, making it comes completely invisible. A slight humming died away as it left the two operatives on the watch tower. 

"Alright, we are looking for the tax collection center." Kira said in a low voice. Murder is suppose to have happened in the little twerp's office. Hopefully it will have a sign on it."

With that, the Gunslinger dropped off the Clock Tower, landing surprisingly lightly on the roof of the train station some stories below. After an instant to catch her barrings, she took off running towards what looked like the center of town, using the roof tops as cover and pathway.

Shala looked at the keyblade, horribly confused but there seemed to be a moment of clarity. On the tip of the keyblade flame was conjured. She then swiftly dispelled it. “I-I um... I probably shouldnt follow you.” She takes a step back from the Noxling and Aurion.

 

 

 

Velvet nodded. “As you wish my Prince. My magnet magic will be prefect support for such a situation. Do summon me when you will need me.” She smiles. “As for my soldiers i can think of 3. My lieutenant will not be one of them. That boy is sharp as a whip that one.”

Edited October 27, 20186 yr by HeartOfFerria

"I think it appeared to me after I nearly my arm cutoff by one of the guards in Destiny Islands' market." Alyssa said as she completely dismisses Kingdom Key.

- Aurion - Radiant Garden - Raising Falls -

Aurion had barely any time to react as Shala summoned her own keyblade, his thoughts were focused on the Noxling in front of him at the moment.
"I think that is for the best, at least for now" Aurion said to Shala before looking at the Noxling, "It's alright, she is not going to harm you."
The chains around the Noxling's body loosened, yet still remained floating around her body, just in case she tried something. Aurion noticed that the creature's body had healed at the spots where the dark chains had been, this had to be the answer to this problem.
"You cannot stand directly into the light, right? That is why you changed," Aurion said as he slowly walked closer, his keyblade ready for a possible attack, "I will help you, but you need to keep calm, alright? I'm not going to hurt you."
Aurion waves his keyblade slowly, the chains then began to move away from the Noxling and surround both her and Aurion. After a moment the chains began to form a barrier around them. Perhaps, if she was inside a sphere made of darkness, she would go back to normal.

- Aether - Twilight Town -

"Let's just hope that whoever committed the murder was stupid enough to leave some clues," Aether said, "Make our job easier and all that."
Aether watched as Kira dropped off the Clock Tower, that was impressive, but Aether wasn't going to tell her that. A couple of seconds later she did the same. Aether took a moment to look for more witnesses before quietly, but swiftly, following Kira. They had to stick to the shadows if they wanted to avoid any unnecessary problems.

Shala quietly stepped away. Before running off. “What was that... why do i feel heavier?” She shook her head trying to throw off the strange sensation. “I should probably check if i have a target... maybe that will get my mind off this... and that...”

Edited November 1, 20186 yr by HeartOfFerria

{Radiant Garden; Rising Falls}

The noxling managed a nod to Aurion’s question about the light. As his dark barrier closed around them, her glowing eyes looked out at Shala’s retreating form. With less pain dominating her though processes, she could better process the Assassin’s odd scent. And the blade. The blade was important. The one from the dark had one too, and that was even more important.

With the barrier complete, the Noxling took several moments of silence out of the scorching light just breathing heavily. But she could feel that the light hadn’t been the only problem.

“Too...much...darkness...” she said, words sounding like they were difficult to get out. “Inside...”

She pointed to her chest, where her heart was, then at Aurion’s Keyblade.

“Needs...release..” she continued.

 

[Shala’s target list updated with an address in the Upper Terrence]

 

{Silas: Destiny Island; Palace}

“Excellent.” Silas replied. “Your lieutenant will come in useful as well.”

Foots steps echoed from the entryway to the safe room, heralding Princess Luminara’s arrival. There was a lot of her father in her features, though there was something about her movements that were vaguely ethereal. 

“They are really starting to ask after you, father.” She said, glancing back the way she had come.

“Of course they are.” Silas said with a sigh. “I will deal with them. Commander Linette and yourself should track down Cornelius before starting. The Grey Study has already been prepared for your investigation.”

The Crown Prince started forward, then paused. He gave Velvet a long look before speaking again.

“I’m counting on you, commander. I don’t feel I am exaggerating in saying unraveling this mystery will affect the future of the Hegemony irrevocably. Tread carefully.”

With those final words, Prince Silas walked out. Luminara watched after him for a moment, an odd look in her eyes, before turning her attention to Velvet.

“I suppose you already have instructions?” She asked.

 

{Lamont: Radiant Garden; Borough}

Lamont looked horrified at Alyssa’s mention of nearly losing her arm to guards. He knew things could be bad in the lower classes, but losing a limb with no trial?

“Why would they do that?” He blurred out, unable to stop himself.

He regretted it instantly. He felt like he was showing his ignorance of how others lived. An ignorance he had wanted to cure, but now he wasn’t so sure. 

 

{Kira: Twilight Town}

Kira ran along the roof tops, thankful for the needed silence of this traversal. What was the boss thinking? This was a dangerous enough assignment without throwing in someone new into the mix. He couldn’t have just done it for the laughs, he was smarter than that. So, what was his angle?

Her contemplation distracted her enough to miss a low thrum in the air. A Light Hegemony Patrol Craft rounded a building up ahead, apparently looking for something. Kira swore under her breath and dived for what little cover there was to be had between her and the craft, which was a chimney. The patrol craft’s light played over the roofs, trapping the gunslinger in her hiding spot. If it moved up, the odds of it finding her went up.

- Aurion - Radiant Garden - Raising Falls -

Aurion remained calm once the barrier was complete, simply listening to the heavy breathing of the Noxling. Wondering if it, if she was going to attack him, but she didn't, and more surprisingly, she was talking, or attempting to.

"Do you want me to what?" Aurion asked, a little surprised, "And what do you mean by too much darkness?"

The Noxling then pointed at her own chest, followed by pointing at Aurion's own Keyblade. The significance was obvious, when one thought about it. She wanted him to release the darkness inside her heart. This, of course, was no easy feat. If something went wrong the Noxling could lose her heart, but...she asked him to, she wanted to release the darkness inside her own heart.

"Alright. I will try to do what you ask," he said to the Noxling while raising his Keyblade towards her chest, "I just hope nothing goes wrong."

The ex-delivery boy focused his mind, and his eyes looked directly at the Noxling's chest. The tip of the Keyblade had a faint glowing dark light that floated at the tip for a couple of seconds before flying directly at the Noxling's chest.

- Aether - Twilight Town -

 

Aether was following Kira a few steps behind, looking at the streets for any possible witnesses. When she did not saw any sign of one she looked at Kira's back. The girl looked both focused on her task, and distracted by something. It was at that moment when Aether heard a low thrum coming from somewhere. The ex-raven didn't had the time to react, or tell her new companion, but she did had enough time to jump over to the second floor of one of the houses and hide in a small, narrow opening.

"Damn it. What to do now?" She thought as she peeked over, being careful of not being watched, "I need a distraction. Or else there will be lots of troubles."

Aether looked around for something to use, but the small terrace didn't had much. She picked a small empty pot and stared at it for a moment. She threw the pot at the opposite direction of the Patrol Craft, hopefully catching the attention of whoever was close to find Kira, and give her enough time to find another hiding spot. After throwing the pot she went back to her hiding spot.

Edited November 1, 20186 yr by Elrandir

"All I did was take a apple since I was hungry, and live only in a alleyway as a full orphan. I don't even know my family or where I come from." Alyssa said about to break into tears from what she said.

{Radiant Garden; Rising Falls}

The Noxling snorted something as a response to Aurion's hope that nothing would go wrong. She didn't have that kind of faith, but she didn't have a choice. She closed her eyes as she waited for the blade. The moment the dark light beam hit, her eyes snapped open. She grunted in pain, but didn't shy away from it. Darkness started to ebb out of her, causing her to slowly revert to a more human form. The escaping darkness started to behave more violently, scorching the ground and punching holes in Aurion's dome. The Noxling could feel the dam within her breaking down. Soon there would be a flood.

Lounging forward, she knocked Aurion aside as a burst of darkness escaped her heart. It caused a small crater to be blown into the ground and was followed by a few more. Clinching her teeth, the Noxling held the darkness in for a moment, then let it all out in a beam that shot out, blowing out one of the cliff walls that enclosed the falls. It lasted several seconds, then ended abruptly. 

Collapsing onto her hands and knees, the Noxling gasped for air. She was now in a more recognizable human form, with tattered clothes covering the important bits. 

"Looks...like your...hoping worked." Erinys Ta'gon managed in between gasps. 

 

{Kira: Twilight Town}

Kira was muttering a steady stream of profanity as she considered her options. She could stand and fight, but that would draw more attention than she could handle right now and delay the investigation. Hiding wasn't going to last. She eased out her pistols and prepared to shoot out the light when a crash came from else where on the roof, causing the patrol craft to turn to investigate. The Gunslinger caught sight of Aether returning to her hiding spot. Putting two and two together, Kira cursed again.

"She's never going to let me live this down." She muttered as she holstered her pistol and dove out of her cover in one movement. 

She tucked in and rolled forward when she hit the roof, the sound muffled by something in her suit. She dropped down into an alley, looked around for a frantic moment, the hopped into a dumpster for cover. 

The patrol craft searched for the source of the sound, but found nothing of interest. It proceeded with its route, being out of range of the two women in under a minute.

 

{Lamont: Radiant Garden; Borough}

Lamont felt something harden inside him. This was unacceptable. This was allowed in the capital? How could grandfather stand for this? He tentatively laid his hand on Alyssia's shoulder and gave her a few "there there" pats. 

"Are you still hungry?" He asked, not really sure what to say after a revelation like that.

- Aurion - Radiant Garden - Raising Falls -

Aurion was surprised by the sudden reaction of the Noxling to his attempt to let out the darkness inside her heart. He looked around his barrier, holes were appearing thanks to the escaping darkness of the Noxling, the ground was scorching the ground too.

"Hey, are you alr-"

Aurion did not finish what he was going to say, instead, he was knocked aside by the Noxling as a burst of darkness escaped her chest. The darkness caused a small crater, and the following bursts did too, then came a big one, A powerful beam of darkness shot out of her chest, blowing out parts of the cliff walls. She stood like that for a couple of seconds until the blast suddenly ended and the Noxling collapsed onto her knees and hands, she was now more recognizable.

"Y-Yeah, it looks like it did," Aurion answered as he stood up and walked closer to the Noxling, offering his hand in the process, "I've never tried to do that before, but I am glad that you didn't lose your heart in the process. By the way, I am Aurion."

- Aether - Twilight Town -

It looked like the pot had caused enough distraction for the patrol craft as Aether watched the strange craft fly towards the spot where the pot landed. She remained completely still, her breath almost coming to a stop, as she waited for the craft to, hopefully, go away. Time felt like it had come to a complete halt, the craft's light trying to find the source of the disturbance, but after a few seconds of not finding anything it proceeded with its assigned route. At that point Aether once again breathed normally.

"That was a close one," she thought as she came out of her hiding stop, "so very close. Enough to be uncomfortable."

The Ex-Raven then took a quick peek around trying to find her new partner, taking into consideration the former position of Kira she deduced that she should have jumped down the closest alley. After taking another look around to be sure that the craft was gone, she made her way towards the alley, dropping down and landing silently. There was not much to take cover over there, just a couple of empty boxes and a dumpster. She walked towards it and knocked once.

"The coast is clear, Kira, the craft went away," she said as she quickly walked to the end of the alley and took a quick look outside, "We should move quickly before it comes back."

Aether,  being the honest girl that she was, opted to not bother Kira about what happened. If Kira's standoffish behavior was a sign she wasn't going to react well to being told something. Instead, Aether choose to focus on their current objective.

Edited November 11, 20186 yr by Elrandir

Alyssa look up with tears as she nodded remembering that she never got a chance to eat after what happen at the Capital.

{Erinys: Radiant Garden; Rising Falls}

"It was either that or blow up with the extra darkness stuffed into me." Erinys replied, still getting her breath back. "I'm Erinys."

She took Aurion's hand and got shakily to her feet. With the light encroaching in again, she teetered over to a shady part of the Falls. She knew she didn't have much time till denizens of the Light came to find out what the racket was, but she still needed to regain some strength. 

"Did Dramos exile you here too?" Erinys asked over her shoulder. "At least he didn't stick a mucking dark bomb in your chest."

 

{Kira: Twilight Town}

Kira's head poked up, the optics of her helmet managing to convey the fuming mood she was in. 

"She better not say anything about this." She thought, glaring at Aether.

Aether's call to move didn't actually help the Gunslingers mood.

"I know." Kira snapped in a hiss. 

Climbing out of the dumpster, she moved on, deciding to take a more street level route this time. After a few blocks, she stopped in a dark alley across from an expensive looking building. It was three stories tall, the first two floors looking to be office space, and the top being some sort of penthouse. 

"Alright, assassin." The Gunslinger said quietly. "Reports say records on the second floor were destroyed and our man was killed on the top floor. Find us a way in."

 

{Lamont: Radiant Garden; Borough}

"Come on." 'Lars' told her, offering his hand. "I have some munnies to get you something decent to eat."

Lamont was tempted to take her back to the castle to eat her fill, but that was probably the shock talking. He still had to be smart about this.

- Aurion - Radiant Garden - Raising Falls -

"Dramos? You mean Faedron Dramos of the Dark Crusaders?" Aurion asked while following Erinys, "No. I was not exiled here."
Aurion thought about it for a moment. It was true that Faedron Dramos, leader of the Dark Crusaders, didn't exiled him to the Realm of Light, but he was one of the reasons he wanted to abandon his home, the reason his parents choose to stay instead of coming with him.
"I came here by my how volition. Although, I admit that Dramos was one of the main reasons for leaving home," he answered Erinys, "And what about you, Erinys? I do not think a, what did you called it? A dark bomb? I do not think that is a good farewell present. What could you do to get exiled to this side, and with such dangerous thing inside your heart.

 

- Aether - Twilight Town -

Aether didn't bother to answer Kira, she simply followed her to their destination. After a few blocks they stopped in a dark alley, Aether was looking at the expensive looking building across the street.
"We should be careful in our attempt, Kira. By the look of this building I suppose there is going to be some form of security," Aether said to Kira, "There must be a few choices to get inside, windows, ventilation system, the roof, but first we should take a look around the perimeter. See if there are any kind of security system, cameras, you know, the usual stuff. If we are sure that there is nothing to hinder our movement then we can enter."
The Ex-Raven looked around once more, just in case people were walking by, but she payed very close attention to the fancy building, trying to find any hint of a way to get inside without getting noticed by anyone.