Everyone rushed around, going towards the edge to look at the explosion and the resulting flames in the neighborhood around the building. Norbert standing up so as not to get pushed off the edge, made his way through the crowd, reaching the back.
Scanning along the two sides, Norbert left, further away from the elevator. Reaching one of the ships, Norbert spun his backpack to the front, taking out his torch and a bag of powder. Tossing it in his hands, Norbert lit the torch, seeing it was just a button to create the fire. Holding the bag over, he saw it begin to sizzle. Counting a second, he threw it onto one of the ships, watching as it hit the sail.
If Obsius was correct, this should create a big bang.
BOOOOMM
Norbert was flung backwards from the resulting explosion, flying off his feet as a plume of smoke rose into the air. Everyone just stared at Norbert as he was there. Shaking his head, he slowly went to his feet and stumbled away. "RUN FIRE!" He shouted to everyone.
Nobody else moved as they just watched the fire slowly go out, Norbert staring speechless as only smoke remained. As that stopped, Norbert could see the charred hull with a barrier of some kind around the ship; as the barrier disappeared, a ball of smoke came up, nothing else.
Just staring at his failed attempt at a diversion, someone approached him. "Are you ok? Strange for anything to get caught alight up here?" The individual said.
Norbert turned around, speechless, as he just looked at the person before him. Seeing the uniform, realising he was staring at a guard of the docks. The two of them just looked at what Norbert was carrying, a flame still coming out.
"Sir, what is that in your hand?" The guard asked, waiting for confirmation as they reached inside their jacket.
"Uhhhh, a lighter?" Norbert asked back, hoping he wasn't about to get in trouble.
"And what is within your bag?" The guard asked next.
"Lunch", Norbert replied, looking around as everyone stared at him. As he looked around, everyone began staring at him. Swallowing this was not at all going according to the plan.
"Can I look inside?" The guard asked Norbert, already reaching out to it. Norbert stood, not moving, as he tried to think of something. The guard opened the flap, seeing the sticks to light and the powder bags. "Doesn't look like lunch to me. How about you come with me." The guard said, taking the bag off Norbert.
Realising he would be brought in under charge, two paths formed within Norbert's head—one where he makes a run for it now, trying to light anything else on fire. Or two get captured only to escape later and have a chase throughout the city. As Norbert began to tense up, he relaxed again, taking the second option. As long as his mask was kept on, it should be safe for his escape.
"Ok, officer. Whatever you say." Norbert replied. Following the guard, Norbert gazed upwards, seeing that Obsius was sitting on one of the airships around them. Norbert nodded to the bird, happy that it hadn't been near him, the presence of Obsius being easy to place him from what others had said about the bird. The crowd parting between them, Norbert let himself be walked towards the guard quarters on this level of the docks. The stout wooden building is sitting by itself with nothing around it. Changing to his magic vision, the small building lit up with light. Blinking the stars out of his eyes, he returned to normal vision, waiting for the stars to stop dancing around.
The tiny little shack that looked normal on the outside had some secrets within. As the door was opened in front of him, Norbert stepped through, seeing a common area and a door to the back leading to a room. The guard before him opened the door, gesturing for Norbert to enter. Stopping at the door, the only contents of the room were a wooden table and two chairs facing each other. One was positioned so the door would be on the user's back, stopping them from seeing who entered. Norbert stepped in, positioning his sword as he sat in the closer chair.
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The guard not entering with him as the door silently closed behind Norbert. Turning around, Norbert saw he was the only one in the room, with no other being in the room. As he looked around the room, nothing could gain his attention.
There were no windows in the walls to look in or out, just a rectangular room with a square wooden table and the same wooden chair he was on opposite him. Scooting the chair back a bit, Norbert leaned backwards as he put one foot on the table, rocking himself back and forth.
As time passed, Norbert could hear the murmurings of the city far beneath him, active even at this time of night, not surprised after the explosion that just racked the building. Twiddling his thumbs together, Norbert turned oh his vision in the room; as he looked at the outer walls, it was filled in the same white light, forcing Norbert to turn away.
The other room had less light, and Norbert just stared at it as he looked at the pattern, the circle meaning nothing to him. The activity he was trying for was control as he stared at the magic circle currently on the ground around him.
As he continued to stare, trying to will it to go fainter, becoming only an outline that he could see through and not like a solid object of light beaming into his brain. As time passed, No, Robert just rocked back and forth; he noticed a slight difference.
As he had his eureka moment, the door behind him opened up; Norbert only noticed by the sounds from outside louder than before. Rocking on his chair, Norbert leaned far forward, slamming it down as he turned around. The door behind him was already closing as the person made their way around to the other chair on the other side of Norbert.
He only realised where they were when hearing the chair slide out across the wood and the body sitting down. Sitting on the other side was the same guard as before that apprehended Norbert. No papers were there, just the man holding a knife as he slowly and carefully spun the blade around, examining it.
"What are you doing here." The guard asked Norbert. Any pretence of friendliness from before was gone; only hostility remained.
Norbert looked around the room. "Going to have a nice lunch, a picnic on the docks," Norbert replied instantly.
"Then what's with the lighter and powder?" The guard replied.
"Just brought the wrong bag, it seems," Norbert said, leaning back and forth on his chair, trying to see if he could make it squeak.
"If you don't answer my questions, I must try other methods." The guard said, leaning forward as a scowl formed on his face.
Norbert just smiled in reply as his insides twisted in on himself, worry starting to make its way through him. "But I've answered all your questions. Suppose you don't like my answers, well, tough luck. Or ask better questions next time." Norbert replied. Gazing around the room, he began to see how much time he would need to stay here before escaping.
"Tell me who you are, and take the mask off." The guard said curtly.
"No," Norbert replied instantly, snapping him out of his train of thought, knowing he would be in a tone of trouble if his identity were found out.
"That wasn't a request. You have until three to take it off." The guard responded.
Norbert didn't move at all. "One." The guard said. The words echo off and around the room. "Two" Norbert looked around, finding some way to escape. Was there something he was missing? He asked himself. "Three", the guard finally said as he stood up and went over the table, hand out at Norbert's face.
Watching the marked hand come towards Norbert's face, he pushed himself against the table. Catapulting himself into the door as he tipped the chair over. As he impacted with the door, the room flashed for a second until a crack surrounded him, chips of wood flying with him.
Tumbling on the floor, Norbert rolled, knocking over the table and chairs. Lying on the ground still as bits of wood tumbled to the floor around him. The three other guards standing off,f to the side, stared at Norbert on the ground. The one just stepped out of the room, looking at the mess.
Everyone was still for a moment; as Norbert looked around him, he scrambled to his feet, causing everyone else to act. Norbert, pumping energy through his body, leapt forward to the door, crashing through this one as well, the hinges blowing off as the door remained intact as it slammed against the ground. A puff of dust billowed as the planks by his feet rattled from the impact.
Now outside, he could hear and see the city in panic. Other places in distress, fires scattered over the city of Alasium. Shocked at what he saw, the city panicked; Norbert stood up and stared. As he looked over, he knew he had to find Elizabeth and why she wanted to create so much panic; whatever she wanted would be needed.
But first, he had a job to do as the voices of screaming guards yelling at him surrounded him. Running to the rail, Norbert planted a foot before he hopped down to the floor below, smiling as he did so. Now the fun had begun, and the chase was on.