Barden and his confidants start clearing out of the area in front of the entrance to Maz square. He does discreetly tell Sito and Cel to wait for Prisca and to keep an eye on what Shaula does or asks about. Shaula hears what he said but doesn't sweat it. She actually feels a bit bad for eavesdropping on a guy like him.

Barden does just care for his people and after what she had done to that diamond statue, he had to be careful around someone of her strength. She doesn’t know his true worries concerning her possible noble status and her feelings towards those who do not worship Osva.

Sito and Cel stand off to the side while Prisca talks with Shaula and Angelidis. Their beastkin ears allow them to pick up the conversation however.

Shaula sighs, not thinking about their eavesdropping in the slightest but instead thinking about Ajax right now and what he must be facing currently. Her eyes wander towards the apartment complex where she had seen smoke rising earlier. It always amazes her how people can build such tall structures. In this world, magic must be an element of the construction process but she

“So… Shaula, where did Ajax run off to in the middle of our work healing people? It became a lot more annoying for me to find people to heal without him around, you know?” Prisca pouts, a slight smile on her face nonetheless. “Honestly, if he’s not a noble, I have even less answers on how he’s able to use such an advanced sense of smell.”

“He’s not as much of a bloodhound as I am, though I will admit, he’s able to remember more scents than me.”

“‘Bloodhound’? What’s that?”

“A-Ah, sorry, I guess that word doesn’t translate. Just think of it as an animal that can track things by scent, especially across long distances.”

“Oh! Like a Faltris beast!” Angelidis interjects.

“Hm, I’ve never heard of an animal like that, what is it?” Shaula asks. Prisca answers, one of her interests being peaked.

“It’s a big tentacled thing covered in eyes that I’ve read the Empire uses to find things by scent.”

“It’s not used here? I would think something like that would be really valued, right?” Shaula asks.

Prisca snorts. “Ha! The Federation wishes it could tame one of those. But, it’s a creature that you can’t keep in areas with humans around. If it sees a human in its territory, it’ll go on a killing spree.”

“J-Just humans? Not beastkin or draconids or–”

“Yeah, just humans. I’m not sure if it’s been proven conclusively but even though it is a land beast, it’s commonly thought of as one of Acquae’s kin.” Prisca adds.

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“Oh… I see.” Shaula simply agrees, not wanting to demonstrate her lack of understanding concerning Acquae. She has read about the old deity in her historical research, but doesn’t fully understand what species it is responsible for creating.

I’ll need to learn about her later. The only thing I know is that she’s a sea god. A bit ironic she’s called Acquae, but whatever. Oh right, almost forgot.

Shaula remembers what Prisca had asked about earlier.

"About Ajax… I'm sorry, Prisca, but I'm not sure where he is at the moment. I was actually going to look for him right now. Hm… Wait, Jelli, do you know where Dzan and Sigvor are?"

"Come to think of it… Honestly, I'm not sure, Shaula. That’s weird, I would have thought they would meet back up at sunset. I wonder if they even saw what you– I mean, the statue’s destruction." Angelidis says, rubbing her chin in contemplation while avoiding saying anything incriminating out in the open here.

"Ah! I think I remember that Sig and he went lifting shit from humans. Though… now I can't remember if I told them to meet back up with us or not."

"Yeah, I can't remember either." Shaula confirms, an eyebrow raised.

Suddenly Angelidis' eyes tremble.

"Wait. Do you think they could have been arrested? There were a bunch of guards everywhere here, right? What if they got taken in because of their activities and… Oh no."

"No, I doubt that. I've been keeping my eyes and ears open for the guards arresting people. I didn't see any sign of a guard interacting with the two of them, at least here in the square. If they got arrested outside of the square I wouldn’t be able to tell, but I think they’re grown enough to avoid facing random cops, I mean, guards."

Shaula's enhanced hearing was able to catch quite a lot of interactions that guards had with members of the crowd. Most of the people being arrested didn’t do anything wrong besides responding to the provocations of the human supremacists around them.

Still, most of the guards remained in the center of the square guarding the statue so Dzan and Sigvor should have been safe lifting coin pouches from unsuspecting human supremacists. The risk of the guards stumbling onto their hustle was quite low. They’re smart enough to pick the right areas in the square to target as well.

Prisca sighs.

"It's a shame then. It would have been nice to talk to those three. Ajax in particular… he’s quite an interesting person with a good sense of responsibility." Prisca remembered Ajax’s particular maturity in the way he handles himself.

He seems to understand his shortcomings and limitations better than a lot of people than she knows in her own life. He honestly doesn’t seem like a noble to her, though she is aware of his connection with Shaula as well as his own unique aptitudes.

I would have liked to talk with him more… get to know him better. He really seems like my kind of person.

Angelidis thinks to herself a bit. Suddenly, she receives inspiration.

"You know, if you want, Shaula and I could tell them that you want to talk?" Angelidis offers. "We all gather at a bar in Astrid. You're a cool person, Prisca… I think the gang wouldn't mind meeting you in a better arena."

Angelidis smiles widely, displaying her sharp teeth. Prisca smiles as well, finding her familiar draconid grin welcoming. She does understand the distance that Barden wishes to maintain between her and Shaula and Ajax. The two of them are in a completely different and dangerous realm of power.

Still… wouldn't it be fine if Angelidis and her own friends are there? At least I can… make sure that Ajax and Shaula don't do anything bad towards them. Yeah, I can tell Barden it's like that! I’ll be their protector! Then I can talk to Shaula and Ajax as much as I want!

"I'd like that actually.” Prisca says, softly.