Norbert twirled his new cheap new mask as he came out of the inn, having placed his protection helmet back in the inn. Heading over to Beckia's to have it appropriately engraved, Norbert whistled as he walked through the crowd. The noise pierced the area as people stared at him.
Entering the shop, Norbert called Beckia, "Hey ya, didn't expect to see you soon but wondering if you can add some protection enchants to this cheap thing." Norbert said as he flipped the mask in the air.
Beckia looked up from her work. "What are you coming in here with that? And after I made you a better one the other day." She responded.
Norbert just nodded. "I know, I know it's the way it is. Need something that doesn't look so custom but wants to see if you can give it some extra protection so it won't just shatter on first impact exposing this face to the world." Norbert said.
Beckia just nodded. "When do you need it by." She asked.
"Would like to be before sundown as I need it for tonight," Norbert said.
Beckia just raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't recommend going out tonight. Word on the street, something big is going on."
Norbert just nodded. "Well, thank you for your concern, but I would like it if you could spice up that mask a bit," Norbert said.
Beckia just nodded. "Oh, I'll spice it up all right. Free of charge. I have wanted to get my hands on this version for a while, but they are sadly always sold out. Kids just love the red and black theme" Beckia said.
"Well, I'll see you later today," Norbert said back with a wave as he left the shop. Looking out at the tree, Norbert saw the airships come and go. Obsius was already flying off and heading to the trees; Norbert started walking, wondering what he would find and a way to cause a distraction.
***
As the sun set as Norbert returned from scoping out the docks, finding out what he could. After looking, the best idea he could use as a distraction was to light a torch and see how many flames he could create. Asking around the city, he could find a store with torches and flammable power he could spread around with an easy-to-use lighter, at least the easiest.
With his supplies in his backpack and clothes changed to others not having Frontier colours or uniform, Norbert went into Beckia's shop again. He was not seeing her working away for the first time but only the mask sitting on the desk. Picking it up, Norbert flipped it around and put it on his face, happy to feel that it didn't seem different than before.
Hoping the protection would work better than nothing and it had a fully charged battery, Norbert looked out across the shop, smiling at the items, hoping the mask would save his face tonight. As he walked out of the shop, the sunset, he looked up at the tree, wondering which dock to do. Deciding on going big, he would work his way down the tree, jumping between the platforms as the powder trailed behind him.
He was walking through the city, looking out for anyone else looking around, trying to stir up some mischief for who knows what reason. Able to find the tree's base quite easily, Norbert was surprised by what he saw.
There, at the base of the tree, was a line heading inside. Taking a quick glimpse before adding to the line, Norbert saw that it was an elevator sent to bring people up. Off to the side was another elevator; looking at the cargo used, Norbert realised it was for the produce that may come in and out of the city—only seeing the two different entrances, even though the base was massive.
Walking to the queue, he slowly went forward until, finally, he stepped up to the plate. "Highest floor possible, please," Norbert asked the attendant.
Receiving a nod in reply, the attendant punched in some keys, the door opening in front of Norbert as they directed him to go inside. Norbert nodded his thanks in response and stepped in. As the doors closed around him and he felt his body going up, he remembered the same with the other trip he went on straight after the previous person entered the elevator. Shaking his head, trying to think of how it happened, he whispered, "See, Luck, I would also call this an elevator. Don't know how it works, though." A single mote of light appeared before disappearing as the doors opened.
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Stepping out quickly, not wanting to be stuck in there, he saw the doors slide again, the tree of the trunk forming around it like it was never there. Norbert stared at it. A minute later, another person came up. Trying to remember from the line they were pretty far back. Shaking his head and stopping his thought on trying to bring it all together, Norbert looked out across the platform as Obsius took off from his shoulder.
Looking around the dock seeing the main circle coming off the tree trunk. Equal distant with crates and people moving about. Extending from parts of the circle were boardwalks, bowing in at he center, allowing the airships to sit within the docks, nestled with ropes attached to them. Norbert saw the airships coming in and out, mostly stopped for the night though that didn't stop some of them. At this altitude, mainly the rich were here, not wanting to look up to others, and in case anything spilled off the side, they wouldn't get hit from any higher floors.
As Norbert looked forward, seeing the wooden docks beneath his feet, he stepped out to the edge next to the rail. Looking down, he saw the next docks, several meters down. These being offset with the one he was on, in case something fell, it would only go down a single floor or possibly two at most and not to the ground far below.
Moving his eyes up, he watched over the city, the lights starting to go on with the setting sun. As he looked down on them, the hill slowly sloped downwards until it petered off into a forest around, a river cutting through it. Beyond that, Norbert couldn't see in the half-light of the seeing sun. Sitting down, feet hanging over the edge, Norbert kicked them as he waited for the day to end and the night to begin.
Sitting there as he waited, he realised he was never given time to start his distraction operation, just notified that it would start tonight. As the sky turned from orange to dark, the lights all around the docks lit up with magical lights.
As Obsius rested back on his shoulder, Norbert turned to the bird. "All the same as before?" He asked the bird. Receiving a chirp in reply, Norbert nodded, smiling as he rubbed Obsius.
"Where would I be if you didn't follow me for this long?" Norbert asked the bird.
Only receiving a handful of chirps in response, Norbert nodded his approval. "I guess your right. But on another note, are you ok with being so far from your forest?" Norbert asked Obsius, as it had been months since he was with the bird. As he wondered how much longer he had to spend with the Frontier, not like he would care too much the amount of time he was spending there.
As the sun wholly set, no light upon the horizon, Norbert knew that night had finally come; the time for action was upon him. As he started to get up, he put his leg back down again. Looking at the sparkling city, Norbert asked, "Hey, Luck, am I making a mistake doing this?"
As he looked over at the city, no motes of light appeared; thinking it was odd, Norbert asked again, "Hey Luck, you there?" and a single light appeared.
As Norbert just stared at the light, following it with his eyes, Norbert asked the previous question again, only to see it disappear. He considered what this meant, saying, "So, it either doesn't matter if I do it or not, or you can't see that outcome." Norbert said. Watching the light disappear, he realised he had asked more than a yes or no.
"Single light yes for first option, two lights yes for second and no lights for no," Norbert said, adding that rule to the communication list between them. Seeing a single light appear then disappear before a single light appears again. He nodded his approval of it, confirming that no matter what option he took, there wouldn't be any history change. Whatever would happen tonight would be set in stone.
He was shivering at the thought of destiny now being followed out when something that can see the future sees no other path. "So, are you and your buddies ready for the show? Have the popcorn and Fanta out?" Norbert asked.
Receiving a single mote of light, Norbert chuckled in response. A thought occurred to him. "Does any other gods talk to their champions like this, or only in the intermission.?" Norbert asked.
Receiving a single mote of light in return, Norbert nodded, confirming his thoughts. "Do they also use motes of light or just talk like normal people?" Norbert asked. Two motes of light appeared.
Scrunching up his face in annoyance, Norbert was about to ask why they didn't talk normally when he felt a presence behind him. Someone was coming up next to his ear, and he felt a hair tickle the tip of it. A hand went to his shoulder as he felt the person lean forward. "Don't question the will of the gods." Luck whispered to him.
Staying stock still, Norbert slowly turned his head, seeing her standing in the half-light before turning into motes of light and falling off the side of the dock where they dispersed.
Looking down, he heard people point at them, nodding their thanks and whispering to each other. Norbert just nodded his head in understanding, knowing that he wouldn't talk anymore tonight.
As he just stared, he saw an explosion lit up within the city; several seconds late, he heard it, the wind slightly blowing through his hair. The airships around him lurched a the new current. Getting on his feet, Norbert told Obsius, "Looks like its time to start operation 'Run FIRE run!'."