Even if I couldn't see the sky, its influence was everywhere. On the storefronts all around us, in the long shadows cast from each and every citizen, and in the bright shine it left reflecting against my mech. I couldn't see it, nor could I directly feel it with my helmet on, but I was glad the sun was here regardless.
Once I was well enough to go beyond the confines of our base once again, I made sure to organise a patrol with the others. I was eager to get out of the base after all that time cooped up within the infirmary. As much as I liked the base, the city's vibrant energy and constant activity was what I needed to really wake me up.
Now, Equinox was together again. Everyone was wearing their costumes bar Sigura, who said she wanted to go in her casual clothes 'for training purposes'. If she wore that defensive armor, fights would be too easy. Or... so she'd said. To take it a step further, she'd expressed a desire to get weighted clothing made for herself too. It was a good strategy, and I could understand the desire for strength, but did she really want to compromise her safety to increase the risk and Experience gained from a fight?
Maybe that was fine for her, but I wouldn't take that same risk. The thought of Streiphen's worried face and angry comments echoed in my head, rolling around without showing any signs of stopping. Had he even forgiven me for attacking Big Tooth alone like I had? I couldn't tell, and I didn't have the heart to ask him directly, not when I was uncertain whether I could spot a lie or not. I wasn't going to put him in that situation again, and my mech had been restored. All of it had been reformed and covered with my bright silver 'costume', a layer of metallic Ironmaw Spider thread.
Streiphen wore his sky blue jacket peppered with silver stars and that black eye-mask that did little but highlight the stars in his eyes, striding along next to us without a care in the world. Fareel was wearing his 'costume' too as he tagged along, a skin-tight wetsuit with a pattern akin to blue scales all over it. It made him look almost naked from afar, a trait that the grinning Fishfolk seemed to delight in.
Now, the four of us wandered the streets of Divastyr's Sova region at a casual pace, keeping our eyes peeled for trouble while soaking in the brisk city air. Sigura had told us that the recorded battles had been spread around, and I could see the evidence of that all around us.
Word had been spreading fast about the return of the Velvet Star, as was the fact that Equinox was part of it. The pointing, staring, and comments among civilians that watched us pass through were less... judgemental. Whether that was due solely to the Don's influence, or because of our work to get a better reputation in their eyes... I wasn't sure. Still, I was enjoying the attention, distant and neutral as it was. It was a refreshing change of pace from our usual reception in the public eye.
"Looks like it'll just be another quiet day, I bet," Sigura groaned, her head lolling to the side with both hands in her pockets. With her shirt, shorts and sandals alone, nobody would've guessed she was the person among our group hoping for a fight the most. "There was *nothing* worth doin' yesterday, and there's still nothin' going on."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Streiphen asked, looking up at the towering Half Nekari through his tough eye-mask. "It means there's less crime! We're doing a good job, Miss Sig- erm... Sunburst!"
"Yeah, I guess," Sigura shrugged, glancing to the left in the direction of Fareel and me. Fareel only responded to the glance with a goofy grin, giving a thumbs up with his webbed hand while I nodded the front of my mech in affirmation.
It meant less growth, but less enemies, too. Less *reasons* to become stronger. This alone was a sign that we'd been doing well, even though we hadn't been here long.
"We can still train and learn how to use our abilities more effectively Miss Sunburst, there's plenty to discover and nothing to worry about!" Streiphen chirped, walking confidently ahead of us at the front of the pack.
"Yeah, but training will *only* get us so far," Sigura drawled. "We won't gain *real* Experience without actual combat. We've just gotta hope that-"
The sound of a heavy impact followed by several yells of shock interrupted Sigura's griping. Her ears perked up atop her head as her eyes snapped towards the street corner the sound had come from.
I saw Streiphen's eyes widen with recognition as he realised where we were. The sound had come from the adjoining street, right in front of Bookwyrm. A robbery? I wasn't about to let that go unchallenged on our watch, especially if I wanted to get a full bookcase to match that of Conahan's impressive collection.
"[Let's move,]" I said, prompting Streiphen to transition into a jog with the rest of us following suit.
We turned the street corner, coming across a scene that I hadn't quite expected. Standing in the middle of the road was a collection of Goons wearing full face ski masks to hide their identity from those without sight like mine. They were all garbed in leather armor that looked like it could take a hit, and each was armed with a metal blade or similar weapon. One of the Goons was groaning and lying flat on his back, sprawled out on the road before gradually getting back to his feet, bits of dust and dirt falling from his back.
Bookwyrm wasn't what these people were targeting. Instead, they seemed to be facing towards another store very close by. 'Balgramor's Burgers', a red family restaurant with a brown roof and a symbol of a thick, juicy burger symbol beneath the name. From within the clear windows, children were looking out into the street from within, even as worried parents tried to pull them away from the danger.
Sigura's face was warped into a mixture of shock and annoyance, a mixture I could understand once I saw what, or *who*, the Goons were fighting.
"If you're gonna put up a fight too, we'll take you down, hasbin! Where's that shitty guard from the other day? Tell him to get out here or we'll start getting serious!" shouted one of the Goons.
The guard...? I recalled a Lapin man frequently standing outside the storefront, but why would a family restaurant need a [Bouncer] or [Bodyguard]? As much as the idea left me thinking, it paled in comparison to the realisation of who these people were fighting.
"The man you're looking for was let go the other day. I'm the guard that works here now," spoke the new guard of Balgramor's Burgers, a hulking Tierakin covered in brown fur. He was clearly recovering from injuries if the bandages hidden beneath his round, bulky leather armor were any indication. One fist was clenched tight and raised, leaving no questions as to how that Goon was knocked to the ground. Despite his injuries, the towering man, the *Orc* with the blond mohawk, seemed unwilling to stand down.
"I've got this one, Yur," Sigura said, stepping forward with one arm stretched out to the side, stepping forward despite the distance other civilians were keeping.
"Listen up!" Sigura roared. "Leave now unless you want your asses kicked!"
The sound of her voice caught the attention of the guard, the Goons, and the civilians alike as murmurs began to spread.
"The Velvet Star?" the Goon who'd spoken murmured into the fabric of his black ski mask. "What're you doing *defending* him? Do your fuckin' job and kick *his* ass!"
"He's not a threat anymore," Sigura responded, not stopping her advance as she moved between the Orc and the Goons. She looked over her shoulder, one piercing golden eye landing on the stunned face of Belcher, one of the former Big Tooth members. "My *job* is defending the Don's territory from assholes like you. If you try anything else, I'll make sure you regret it."
Clearly not taking the hint, each and every Goon held their weapons aloft in Sigura's direction, [Mantles] glowing bright as colour flared to life around each and every one of them.
Sigura didn't flinch from the threat, nor did she activate her own [Mantle]. She did nothing but sweep a heavy stare over the street, the weight of her glare and the simple action of her fingers flexing and claws snapping out serving to keep them in place. She wasn't armored, nor was she using [Mantle] or magic. Her presence alone radiated fighting energy, and those in the masks could clearly see it, each taking a step back while glancing at one another.
Sigura's expression contorted with anger once she saw their growing apprehension, raising both her arms.
"No, fuck it. I've had enough of people like you causin' trouble and then runnin' off," Sigura said, taking a deep breath before she darted forward.
"Shit! Raise your-" the Goon that had spoken barely had time to finish his sentence before a heavy punch in his gut knocked him clean off his feet.
[Releases] flew and [Mantles] thickened, all in an attempt to take down Sigura. Calling what followed a 'battle' would've been generous. It was more accurate to call it a one-sided massacre as Sigura's speed completely overwhelmed the enemy. She didn't suffer a single hit, her blinding punches and kicks snapping out to defeat each Goon in turn without any difficulty. Six Goons fell to the ground from six of Sigura's attacks, all under thirty seconds.
The civilians watching all around us were stunned, even if we were used to it. It was a show of force. A demonstration of the Don's power.
Or... well, that's what those around us likely saw it as. In reality, Sigura was just blowing off steam.
"[They're all alive, aren't they?]" I asked tentatively, walking towards the aftermath with ginger steps as Sigura began to relax. I knew this *could* have been settled more peacefully given enough time, but it was better Sigura got small outlets like this rather than causing real damage further down the line.
Sigura leaned down, her hands gripping the back of one Goon's leather armor. Without any effort, she lifted him off the ground, throwing him towards the sidewalk with the same ease of a person throwing a ball. The Goon groaned as he landed, clutching his stomach while unwilling to get up.
"They'll be fine," Sigura said, picking up two more Goons before flinging them over to the first. The first one she'd thrown groaned as his two companions collided with him. "I didn't hit 'em that hard, they're just weak."
Once all six Goons had been left in an injured pile by the footpath, their weapons still scattered on the road, Sigura walked up to them, casting a long shadow over the group with both arms crossed.
"Move and I'll hit you again. Try to use a single ability, Skill, Spell, or Luster Art, and I'll beat you until you can't move. You'll lie there and wait for the damned, lazy ass Watch, got it?"
Her words left no room for disagreement. She got nothing but groans from them as I began to silently pick up their weapons, doing my part in keeping the city clean of stray metal. It could've been a hazard for children coming out of the restaurant if left alone, after all.
Turning away from the pile of groaning Goons, Sigura's heavy stare locked onto the eyes of Belcher. The injured Orc grimaced, shoulders hunching up as the Half Nekari Chimera gave him a look that said *You do anything to piss me off, and you'll be next.*
"What the *fuck* are you doing here, you idiot?" Sigura drawled, crossing her arms.
"I'm... I work here," Belcher responded awkwardly. "I'm the guard for... Balgramor's Burgers."
"You took a job as a fuckin' bodyguard with your injuries?" Sigura asked as Streiphen walked past the Goons, standing in front of the windows as he worked to ensure those inside knew that it was safe with gentle waves and a reassuring smile.
"I need some way to get food for me and the others. Our reserves won't last forever, and much has been confiscated," Belcher admitted. "It is... really not that taxing. A spot opened up in this store's staff, and they urgently needed someone to fill the space because of... those Goons."
Belcher jerked a thumb towards the now groaning pile that Sigura had very quickly dispatched of. Fareel was in the process of rifling through their pockets. One of the Goons grimaced, looking like he was about to attack or slap Fareel's hands away before a murderous glare from Sigura shut him down.
"I was... in the right place at the right time," Belcher finished.
"You're recovering from using *Boost*, dipshit," Sigura snapped back. "The only 'right place' for you is in a bed."
"I haven't had to use my magic, just... [Mantle], and the occasional Skill," Belcher replied, his eyes dropping to the pavement beneath his hooves.
"You shouldn't be *moving*, let alone doing anything usin' your Gods damned Soul," Sigura lectured, tapping her sandaled foot against the ground.
"We need to integrate. We lost, and it is important we fall back into the hierarchy," Belcher told her. "Many are... still angry at the Don's actions. They wish to strike back, even if we are all certain it is meaningless. We must put the battle behind us, even if my younger comrades are unwilling to give up on a fight that has long since ended. I must set a good example for the others."
"By working at 'Balgramor's Burgers'?" Sigura asked with an arched eyebrow.
"It's... a start," Belcher replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.
I couldn't help but feel surprised at how... civilly Sigura was handling this. She was speaking to a former Big Tooth member without knocking any of his teeth out. She sounded more like a parent or [Teacher] scolding a student than a former enemy. It was... nice.
The civilians around us had appeared to get into that relaxed mood too, laughing to one another. For a moment, I felt relaxation settle over me too, right up until the words they spoke registered.
"Why're you even still around?" one Half Elven man asked, jeering at the injured Orc. "You *lost*."
"Showing your face here after all that shit your group did, and you have the *nerve* to get saved by the people you lost to? You are a disgrace of a Caster, and to the good name of Scander!" complained a gruff man with ginger hair.
"You can't even-"
"*Mind your own damn business!*" Sigura roared, turning her head around as the sound instantly shut the crowd up. The civilians around us were stunned, shocked into silence by her outburst.
"[Please move along everyone. This matter has been dealt with,]" I added, spreading my [Telepathy] to all present, ushering them away with the wave of a metal leg.
"The Velvet Star is handlin' this, so go about your *own* damned business," Sigura snarled as the simultaneously frightened and annoyed cityfolk began to disperse, leaving the street or turning back the way they came. I took the moment to approach the pair.
"Greetings, Homebound," Belcher said, bowing his head as I approached.
"[Hello...? Belcher,]" I replied awkwardly. This was... strange. This whole interaction felt a little surreal given our history. An enemy one day, and now... a guard for a restaurant? I didn't feel any *real* animosity towards him, not anymore, but this still felt strange.
"How have you been doing?" the Orc asked, glancing past the decidedly still annoyed Sigura to look at me. "I heard... you were injured badly."
"She gave as good as she got from what we heard," Sigura said.
"[I... I did...]" I responded, a mote of annoyance tinging my voice. Despite Belcher's wince, I wasn't about to hold back what I needed to say. "[That happened only because I was unprepared. I let my guard down, but it won't happen again.]"
"It was... impressive, Homebound," Belcher said, slowly lowering before he sat on the pavement, his back against the wall of the restaurant. "I did not think any Anvil Caster could stand against the boss and *win*. As a Sword Caster, he should have had the advantage."
"Yuri was just that much stronger," Sigura commented, her heavy stare landing back on the Orc. That stare made me less inclined to disagree with her, even if I didn't believe that to be the case at all. "She's healing, but *you're* worse off than she is. Worse still, it was self-inflicted."
The venom in her voice was palpable, a feeling enough to send a shiver run through my body, even if it wasn't directed towards me.
"Yes... Most of us are... fine," Belcher murmured, his eyes once again failing to meet Sigura's glare as they dropped down to earth.
"*Most?*" Sigura snarled.
"Some... did not make it. The Boost was too much for some to handle, and inhibitions were weakened."
"Real fuckin' shock, isn't it?" Sigura snapped back, eyes narrowed. "You had to have known that was really stupid. What the fuck were you thinking? How could your shitty ass boss *agree* to let you do that?"
Belcher's eyes filled with shame before they closed, obscuring the world from his sight as a long, deep breath entered his snout.
"We believed the Don to be a good man before he-" Belcher stopped, glancing at the Goons to his right. "-*Retired*. Our people would be devastated if he were to take power and disappear a second time. We could not let them go through that, after what it had caused the first time."
It didn't sound to me like 'retired' was the word the Orc wanted to use.
"Yeah, bet all your people didn't want to have their protectors all suddenly disappear or die, huh?" Sigura growled.
"That was how I felt, and others felt the same," Belcher replied. "It was not a perfect decision, but we believed it to be the right one. We did not all share the same motives and drives, but our goal was the same. For one reason or another, we made that choice *together*. As a group."
"Yeah, and look where *that* got you," Sigura drawled.
"I will not be able to cast like I used to, not for some time," Belcher admitted.
"Obviously, you idiot," Sigura snapped back.
"And... Boost is known to heighten one's strongest traits. It has a tendency of shoving all else to the side, and... If I said something offensive that I did not mean, I apologise."
Magic is a reflection of the user. Spells are a representation of their traits and understanding harnessed through Aera. When those traits are heightened, one's magic grows too, at the cost of balance and moderation. I couldn't imagine what would 'heighten' for someone like me, or Sigura. The thought of Boost was horrifying.
"You didn't," Sigura responded with a sigh. "Your Gods damned actions pissed me off more than anything you could've possibly said."
"I do not know what the others may have done or said, but if it is not too much, I ask that you forgive them too," Belcher continued.
Sigura looked over her shoulder, casting her gaze back towards me. It took me a moment to process what she was trying to communicate. Or... at least what I *thought* she meant.
"[Boost enhances a person's strongest traits, and magic reflects those traits. It was reckless of your leader to give Boost to your Casters with destructive magic,]" I told him. I didn't want to outright call some of their group's Casters' character into question, but people with offensive magic tended to have some form of volatile nature to their identity.
"Sharktooth?" Belcher asked, eyes locking onto my helmet. He seemed to know exactly who I was referring to. Not wanting to openly sling mud at what might have been Belcher's friend, I let the silence do the talking.
"He is... damaged, but not a bad person," Belcher sighed, catching my meaning as his eyes fell once again.
"'Damaged'?" Sigura prodded. "That's not what I'd call someone who's magic *erodes* anythin' it touches through water-"
"His magic is not a reflection of his personality," Belcher cut in, eyes meeting Sigura's. "He... 'Sharktooth' lost his father young. He was a [Sailor], a brave man that lost in his battle against the sea to supply his family with food. He did not take it well. When Big Tooth formed, he wished to regain some semblance of control over it all, to provide for others of our kind like his father had once done for him. He fears the sea, but it is part of him now. He channels it to eat away at all else like it did to his father. *That* is what his magic reflects, not his personality nor any malicious intent."
It was... strange, to hear that from Belcher. It hadn't been difficult to tell that Sharktooth was quick to anger, something I'd been able to use during my fights against him. It...
"Divastyr is a scary place," Belcher sighed. "Everyone wants to try and fit in *somewhere*, lest they get... swept away."
I didn't know whether Sharktooth was one of the Casters that hadn't made it. I didn't know whether I had the strength to ask either.
"[You have my condolences,]" I said, even if nothing beyond that came forward.
I saw activity at the edge of my vision. A pair of brown furred Horses pulling a wagon with the symbol of Scander's flag on the side turned the corner, swiftly approaching us. The man holding the reins was in warm, padded leather armor, looking towards the aftermath of the battle. The Horses whinnied and stopped as their eyes landed on me, refusing to take even a single step closer than they had. Despite the [Wagon Driver's] repeated attempts to urge them forward, they wouldn't come any closer. I was more worried about Belcher's opinion of us than I was about the Horses, so I wasn't about to let that get to me.
The back doors of the wagon opened up, allowing a group of four more men to climb out, all wearing the same garb with weapons strapped to their person. Divastyr's City Watch.
"We received a report that there was a robbery going on," one of the [Guardsmen] said, looking uneasily between Sigura, Belcher, and I.
"Bit late, but the report's right," Sigura said, jerking a thumb towards the six Goons, which had shifted into semi-sitting positions after Fareel had relieved them of whatever had been in their pockets. "You're lucky we were here to do your own damn job for you."
Sigura's words were punctuated with a growl, one that made two of the [Guardsmen] hunched up. The man in front gave a nod to his fellows as they brandished a collection of handcuffs, working to restrain the Goons as they were hoisted to their feet.
"We can't be everywhere, and our funding isn't getting any better, Sunburst," said the man in front, a red skinned Darkling with a tail and two straight horns poking out from his uniform. "We're not overjoyed with this arrangement, but things should get a little easier now. The Don treats people around here better than most."
'Better than most'? Was he comparing the Don to Big Tooth? Or to people in the other regions of Divastyr?
"We're not sticking around here to make small talk with the damn Watch. If you've got what you came for then leave," Sigura groaned, arms crossed.
"We were hoping you'd help us with something," the Darkling [Guardsman] continued. "There's a pair of troublemakers frequenting the area, and we were hoping you could sniff them out if you weren't busy."
"A 'pair of troublemakers'? [Delinquents]?" Sigura snorted. "We're not running a Gods damned day care."
"We don't know much about them, but they're both young Casters," the Darkling replied, unruffled. "They're both Anvils from what we've been able to guess, and they've committed several low-priority armed robberies. My men told me you've been patrolling around with nothing to do for the past few days, so this is something you could work towards, Sunburst."
"Great, so now I've got the damn Watch stalkin' me too?" Sigura drawled with a roll of her eyes.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"You're part of the Velvet Star now," the [Guardsman] replied stiffly before turning around. "Everyone's eyes will be on you, for better or worse."
Without another word, the man joined his fellow [Guardsmen] as the last of the Goons were guided into the back of the wagon. With a flick of the reins, the [Wagon Driver] turned the Horses around, heading back the way they came.
"Tch," Sigura groaned, looking away from the disappearing wagon. "Not even a little reward for somethin' like that? Ungrateful bastards."
The Orc sitting next to us rose to his feet, giving the Half Nekari an apologetic look.
"The Watch are in a difficult position. If I had the coin to spare, I would have rewarded you myself for the assistance," Belcher said, trying to appease her.
"I wasn't *askin'* you for any damn money, I'm talkin' about *them*. More people loungin' around not doing anything while gettin' rewarded for it. People like that're so damn infuriatin'," Sigura grumbled, narrowing her eyes at the street corner they'd turned from.
"[Do you know who the pair the Watch spoke of might be, Belcher?]" I asked the Orc, hoping to take Sigura's attention from her anger.
"Not sure," he replied, reaching one hand up to rub the back of his neck. "I'm... not a good person to ask for rumours or hearsay."
"What about those Goons?" Sigura asked, turning her attention back towards the Orc. "Any ideas?"
"Erm... I don't know," Belcher replied with a shake of his head. "From what the boss- ah... my new employer told me, the previous guard for this restaurant did something to upset a local criminal. Perhaps he said or did something to anger them, but I do not know the specifics. I was just told to... 'watch for trouble'."
That wasn't much help, but at least we knew to keep watch for a potentially angry criminal with a vendetta against a family restaurant.
"Got it," Sigura replied, turning away. "Let's get goin'. We're wastin' daylight standing around here with 'Belcher'."
"Ah... thank you for the help, Equinox," Belcher blurted out, taking a single step forward. "And... Call me Dayn."
"Dayn?" Sigura echoed, raising an eyebrow as she looked at him from over her shoulder.
"Yes... Dayn is my name. I am... not part of Big Tooth anymore. I don't think 'Belcher' fits, not anymore. That was my name alongside Big Tooth, but... that is over now. I've left it behind," the Orc replied, his voice quiet.
"[How is...]" I spoke, trying to get the words out.
"Hmm?" the Orc murmured, his eyes turning towards me.
"[Big Tooth. How is he doing?]" I asked, managing to work up the courage to ask.
"Ah..." the Orc sighed, looking away. "He is... stable, for now. He will not be fighting any time soon, but it is unlikely he will die from his wounds unless his condition worsens. Red Meat is still looking after him, so I have confidence he will... eventually recover."
The thought sent a stab of guilt through me, an unfair feeling that my heart left me to deal with. It was a *battle*, and he broke the rules of conduct for this city. He should have been prepared for the consequences of breaking those rules, and I'd come out okay in the end.
It was logical, but the thought still nagged at me.
"[Understood. Thank you for the help, Dayn,]" I replied, working to keep my voice steady.
The Orc opened his mouth to reply, but Sigura swung an arm upwards, holding an open palm out towards him.
"Save your damn breath and focus on recovery, will ya? There's only so much 'thanks' and 'I appreciate your concerns' I can take before you start to *really* annoy me. If you don't conserve your energy and get better, your people will be down another person they need, so shut it," Sigura said, turning to look away from the Orc as she began to walk down the street, beckoning us forward with an arm. "C'mon, let's go."
With a smile and wave, Streiphen said his goodbyes to the injured Orc. Fareel gave him little more than a nod, and I did much the same. His eyes were on us until we turned the corner, and although he didn't open his mouth to say another word, I could see the small, lingering smile on his face.
"Annoying bastard," Sigura grumbled, stuffing her hands into her pockets as we wandered the streets of Divastyr once again. "You'd think he'd have *some* qualms about speakin' to us after the fight, but no. 'Course not."
She sighed, looking over her shoulder at me as I followed along, half my legs tapping against the sidewalk while the other half tapped against the pavement on the road.
"Well? Any idea where to look for these two, Yur?" she asked, and I had no idea how to answer.
"What about those places from before?" Streiphen asked, chipping in. I was glad he saved me the embarrassment of not being able to present a good answer. "Like... the warehouse place where all the bad guys met up, or where we fought the Chained Wolves?"
"Yeah, guess we could look there," Sigura replied, her expression absent minded as both eyes turned skyward. "We still owe the Chained Wolves an ass kicking for all the shit they pulled."
"[We're strong, but not enough to beat them head-on, Sigura,]" I reminded her.
"Not *yet*," Sigura corrected. "If not for that damn Kitsune it'd be so much easier."
"[Kumiho,]" I corrected her back. "[And yes, she's an issue, but we don't know the full extent of their group's abilities.]"
"Mhm," Sigura nodded. "Mental effects are annoyin' as Abyss. The Don didn't seem keen on wastin' resources fightin' him either, so we can't rely on his help."
"So... should we look in deserted places?" Streiphen responded hurriedly, his hands fidgeting slightly in front of him as we walked. "They could hide there and other people wouldn't be around to see them, so that's where we can start!"
"That doesn't help much, pipsqueak," Sigura responded, looking back at the path ahead of us. "There's a lot of deserted places 'round this city."
"Hmm..." Streiphen murmured, his fidgeting coming to a stop. "Which ones would *we* pick if we were in hiding?"
"[They might not be in a deserted area at all,]" I added. "[It's possible they're in a residential area and using magic to cloak themselves or items they've stolen.]"
"If *that's* the case, we're sunk," Sigura responded with a carefree shrug. "We'll have to leave it in the oh so capable hands of the Watch."
Next to Streiphen, I watched as Fareel looked away from a restaurant we passed with bright eyes. Although I felt jealous of his ability to smell whatever must have been inside, my focus was on the blue glow coalescing around his hands. A set of three [Water Spheres] appeared, warping in shape as he skipped ahead, holding them in front of Streiphen.
"What're those supposed to be?" Sigura asked, raising an eyebrow. "A fish, a coin, and... a wrench? What're you tryin' to say?"
I wasn't sure either. With the fish and the coin... was he trying to suggest we investigate the docks? That was far from here, and it was unlikely the criminals travelled that far just to-
"Oooh, I get it!" Streiphen chirped, eyes widening. With a heartwarming grin spread across his face, he looked back towards Sigura and I. "Fareel says they'll be near places that have things they want! Like food, or money, or metal! They're Casters like Yuri, aren't they? Anvils?"
"How in the name of the Gods did you get all that from his damn game of charades?" Sigura asked, exasperation heavy in her tone.
"I think I'm just getting really good at this!" Streiphen replied with a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his neck.
"What do you think Yur?" Sigura asked, looking towards me. "Think it's worth givin' a shot?"
"[If... if we want to do this today without intel, it would be best to scout them out and avoid a direct confrontation. If we find them and confirm their identities, we could ask the Don for information on them and attack at a later date,]" I responded, trying to fill my voice with more confident authority than I felt.
"We'll be fine, Yur," Sigura grinned, looking back towards the footpath as another cluster of civilians stepped out onto the road to let us pass. "We can use [Insight] to roughly tell how strong they are anyway. If they're out of our depth, we'll back off and fight 'em another day."
"[What...?]" I blurted out. "[Is that something you can do?]"
"'Course," Sigura grinned. "I've been practicing the Luster Arts, Yur. They're useful as a God's blessin'. That's why *you* need to learn 'em too, even if you only master the base three."
The original three Luster Arts. [Insight], [Mantle], and [Release]. The last Art posed an issue for me, given my lack of... conventional limbs and means of attack. Streiphen had tried to help me out the previous day, but his advice hadn't granted me any sudden epiphanies or realisations.
"[You're certain *every* Caster can use all three, Sigura?]" I asked.
"Positive," she nodded. "Everywhere I've looked for info on 'em said the same thing. There's no exceptions. Anything with a Soul can learn to use all three. Even Animals and Monsters have learned to use 'em too."
"Really?" Streiphen asked, eyes wide.
"Yeah. Some creatures can coat themselves with [Mantle], use [Insight] to track down food or spot predators with certain types of abilities, or [Release] to knock flyin' creatures out of the sky," Sigura grinned. "It's more common with Magical Beasts, but even things without flashy Skills or Spells can use 'em. It's just about figurin' out the way that works best for the creature."
I wasn't sure how useful [Release] would even be for a Caster like me. I didn't need range given how my abilities worked entirely within my 'zone', but... If it helped with Aera control like Sigura said it did, then there was no harm in trying to learn it.
"[You've... read up a lot on this,]" I asked, feeling a little out of my depth. "[Alright, I'll try a different approach once we get back to the base.]"
Even if I still had yet to properly learn [Release], the other two base Luster Arts were childs play. Spreading Aera more densely through my [Sensory Zone], the world lit up through the use of [Insight].
"[Where to?]" I asked, focusing as much on observing the region as I was on walking. It was a little disorienting seeing the world light up with coloured mist and light, but despite all the Souls, artefacts, and Aera in the atmosphere, I was used to focusing on multiple points at once using my zone. One more layer of 'sight' wouldn't hurt.
"*Finally* I'll be able to make use of all my walkin' around," Sigura grinned, glancing at the signs of businesses all around us. "C'mon, I know a good spot close to here."
Giving Sigura the lead, the rest of us followed along, allowing her to guide us through the streets of Divastyr before coming to a stop in front of a building I'd never seen before. It was a long store with two stories, all painted in a dark grey colour only a shade or two lighter than Streiphen's skin. One look in the windows caused my [Honed Vision] to begin going wild, and I couldn't understand why Sigura had kept this place a secret from me.
'Steel Soul' was the name of the store, if the sign above the large double doors out front were any indication. The rows of shelves on display in the front window were filled to the brim with products. Old scrap, metal of types both familiar and alien, and tools akin to the ones I'd been given by Shafu. Standard metal wasn't the only thing worth catching my attention either. Both on the shelves and beyond, my zone caught sight of a multitude of magic items.
Scrolls bound to limited use abilities, Soulbinders, Heat and Cooling Boxes, Temperature Pipes, Soul Forges, Wands, Rune Tuners, magical prosthetics, Shabti, Golems, and even more expensive and intricate looking magic items I'd never even heard of before. 'ArcSuits' and 'Drives' were alien to me, but with the blurring rainbow of mist within the store my [Insight] could detect, my curiosity was beginning to soar through the roof.
"[Why did you keep a place like this a secret?]" I asked, unrestrained wonder filling my voice as I idly wondered whether I could fit in the door if I squeezed my legs and helmet in a little.
Sigura blinked, looking towards me with bright eyes before her mouth curved into a smile. Her shoulders slumped with relief as though a pair of cinder blocks had been pushed off of them.
"My bad, Yur," Sigura grinned widely, her expression relaxing. "Didn't expect you to react like that. Sorry for not tellin' you, Yur."
"[It's alright, Sigura. Maybe... maybe they have a catalogue! Streiphen, would you mind running inside to have a look?]" I asked, turning my mech slightly to face the smaller Chimera.
Streiphen's face lit up, and his head turned back towards the store.
"Okay Miss Yuri! I can do that now before-"
"Actually... It's a pretty big shop, pipsqueak," Sigura said, leaning down to plant a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I'll go in with you so you don't get lost."
It was *that* big? I didn't want to impose, but if they were offering to go inside... No, I could wait. We had a job to do, sort of. If I wanted to enjoy this fully, I needed to get everything on my mental to-do list checked off before I could commit to it.
"[If that's the case... we can come back later,]" I told them, hoping I sounded resolute.
"You don't need to sound *that* disappointed, Yur," Sigura grinned back. "The damn shop ain't gonna run off the moment you take your zone off it y'know."
"[I... suppose so... Sorry for getting so worked up,]" I responded sheepishly, feeling my sides heat up beneath the cover of my mech.
"Nah, it's... nice, seein' you so enthusiastic about somethin'," Sigura replied, both hands stuffed into her pockets. "Never really got to see this side of you that much back in the brook, so this is refreshin'."
Ah... I felt my body heat up a little more, and had no idea what to say to that.
"[Let's get going,]" I told the team. "[We can... come back here later.]"
Sigura nodded, rolling her eyes as she turned around, using one hand to beckon us forward as she stepped into a side alley next to the store. Although part of me wanted to pry open the dumpsters around us to check for any scrap that might've been thrown away, I held myself back. Old habits die hard.
"What's back here?" Streiphen asked, looking up towards Sigura, his face still coloured with a smile.
"Old residential area, didn't look like it was used anymore," Sigura replied, glancing upwards as we neared the end of the alley.
"Why?" Streiphen asked, his head tilting to the side.
"No idea," Sigura shrugged back. "I just jumped over it one late afternoon and saw none of the lights were on. Nobody walkin' through it either."
Our group emerged from the alley, not wasting a moment as we continued walking further from the populated street housing the Steel Soul store. Graffiti, broken windows, litter, and the signs of rodents and other small creatures indicative of an abandoned region began to seep into my awareness.
With my [Insight] active and aware, I caught sight of the first clue's flecks of foreign Aera before I saw the clue itself.
"[Casters using magic to the north-west,]" I spoke, my [Telepathy] reaching all three of my allies.
"Multiple?" Sigura asked, taking both hands from her pockets.
"[We're not close enough for me to see, but...]" I focused as our group began to wordlessly pick up the pace. "[Multiple. There's a fight happening.]"
Sigura's smile brightened as soon as the words reached her.
"Is it bad?" Streiphen asked, not turning to look as one hand reached for the hilt of his warped blade.
We pushed onward, and more of the region ahead entered my vision.
"[There's a number of Casters wearing costumes and disguises fighting... a collection of Constructs.]"
"Constructs?" Sigura echoed with a raised eyebrow.
"[A cluster of Dolls and Golems,]" I told her, unsure what to make of the strange altercation. Did someone who owned them all have issues with these Casters? "[They're being led by a huge suit of red armor.]"
They weren't some [Knight] or [Warrior] either. Even from this distance, I could tell the set of full plate armor wielding a broadsword was empty. There was nobody inside it. Although I didn't recognise many of the flesh and blood Casters, two more entered my awareness as we drew ever closer, crouching together around a few small artefacts within a building.
"[Two familiar Casters,]" I informed my team, voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Enemies?" Sigura asked.
"[I don't... no. It's... Sparks and Firecracker.]"
Sparks and Firecracker. Even if we'd only 'met' them once, we'd never spoken. Our only encounter had been brief, when we'd crashed a meeting of criminal Casters in the area gathering in a remote warehouse. The two Casters were Anvils according to what the Don had told us, and given that they worked as freelance Casters while doubling as spies for him, I was inclined to think *this* information was accurate.
"Really? Some of the Don's men?" Sigura asked, her chest deflating slightly.
"[I'm... not sure if they're members or not. They're freelance, Casters that can be hired for other groups for work. Still, we should try and ensure they make it out of this unscathed.]"
"Got it," Sigura nodded, trying to regain some of her lost enthusiasm. We were dealing with full-fledged Casters, not Goons, yet it seemed to me like she was hoping to run wild without a care like she had earlier. "And Yur?"
"[Yes?]" I responded.
"*We'll* handle this. You can offer support and tell us where the enemy is, but you're not fightin'," Sigura told me, voice firm.
"[Wait!]" I blurted out. "[But that isn't fair on you all. I've mostly healed, and you shouldn't have to-]"
"We *want* to, Miss Yuri!" Streiphen chirped. He seemed to take the comment in stride. Had they spoken about this before the patrol began? "We've been getting stronger! Besides, this is a good chance to show you."
"[Show me... what? That you've grown?]" I asked as the distance between me and my teammates grew, the three of them breaking out into a jog.
"That you don't have to fight alone, and that you can rely on us too, Miss Yuri!" Streiphen replied, eyes bright. It was... strange to hear from someone so young. Reassuring maybe, but strange. He sounded so, *so* different than the boy I'd first met in that dark, confusing facility.
"[Alright,]" I conceded, stopping at the edge of a street corner as the other three members of Equinox dashed out into an open street in the midst of battle.
After a deep inhale, Fareel's chest puffed outwards, expanding like a balloon before expelling a cluster of transparent eggs. They seemed less... flimsy than usual, rolling along the concrete rather than messily sloshing on the ground. The tougher shells cracked, allowing a multitude of blue insect Familiars to spill forth.
The bugs worked to scurry between the legs of Sigura and Streiphen as the pair brandished their weapons and advanced on the enemies, with some of the insects leaping up onto their bodies and clinging to clothes. The pair glanced between their enemies, analysing the state of the battlefield.
A number of Casters in costumes were attempting to push some sort of wide metal cart on wheels, one with a number of wooden crates on the top. Peering within through my [Sensory Zone], I saw a collection of assorted metals and artefacts through the cracks. Were they transporting the equipment lawfully, or were the Constructs defending their stolen produce?
I had no way of knowing, but my allies went straight for the Constructs, readying themselves to defend the group of fleeing Casters. If they ended up being the criminals, I had no doubt we could apprehend them afterwards. As long as they didn't get far, they wouldn't be able to run from the sight of my zone. Even if I wasn't contributing to the battle itself, I could handle that much with ease.
The Casters were injured and fleeing, a number of cuts and bruises lining their bodies in places where their reinforced costumes had been cut through by the Constructs. The group were attempting to cover their retreat with magic, albeit with very limited success. The pavement had a blue sheen over it, looking more like ice than concrete, and a dust storm hung in the air to lower visibility. Neither seemed to deter the Constructs as the Golems and Dolls made slow, steady advances on the weakened Casters. In a battle of stamina, Constructs would always come out on top. If left on their own, the Casters would be caught.
It was best to take down the aggressors first. My team didn't want me worrying about them or straining myself, but I could at least set up walls if needed.
Still... the Casters were moving slower than they should have. Even though the cart was on wheels, it looked incredibly heavy. That, or the Casters themselves were pitifully weak. Around the group of Dolls and Golems, I saw that both Streiphen and Sigura were holding their weapons more tightly. Streiphen's arms wobbled lightly, even if the warped blade was all his hands had to bear.
Through my [Insight], I could see a grey wispy 'mist' of Aera coalescing around their weapons and the wheels of the cart, creating an ever present thrumming sound in the air. Some sort of gravity effect that targeted metal? It didn't seem to be focusing on their bodies, nor the rest of the cart. Did that indicate the Constructs sought a peaceful resolution, and were designed to weaken those fleeing with metal?
I was glad the others were here. Fighting in these conditions would've been tough for a Caster like me. Staying at the edge of the mist was simple once I could detect it, and I scurried at the edge of the street, staying as close as I could without my mech being weighed down.
Then, both sides collided.
With a deep breath, Streiphen swung his blade against the sword of an armed, expressionless Doll. Despite the weight and his trembling arms, he managed to hold his own.
Sigura's fingers clenched more tightly around the metal hilt of her blade, grinning as she leapt over the line of Dolls, going straight for the larger, rounder Golems. Her arms came around in an arc, slamming into the side of a clay Golem. The hardened exterior, despite being coated in a brownish [Mantle], broke against her bare blade, sending cracks through its form. She seemed to be the only person on the battlefield not using [Mantle], despite being the most proficient person in our group at using it.
The Golem turned its single, glowing red eye her way, focusing entirely on her. Both of its rounded arms came forward faster than I'd expected they could, seemingly undeterred by the injury. Sigura's smile widened, taking a step back before swinging her blade once again. The Golem's hands slammed together in a clap, catching the blade mid-swing. The eye began to light up again, Aera coalescing around it as if prepared to fire a beam or wave.
In a flash of blinding motion, Sigura's leg snapped upwards, a golden-orange blade of [Release] firing from the limb. Despite the Golem's reinforcements, the blade cut straight through the Golem's neck, severing the head. Pulling her blade from between its hands while chipping the clay in the process, she cut off the forearms before slamming her foot into the beheaded Construct's chest, cracking the red crystal within as it collapsed.
The Casters that had been escaping turned their heads in shock, stunned by the sudden reinforcements. All of them had some form of mechanical parts affixed to their bodies or their costumes. Were they a team of Anvils?
Their eyes weren't just locked on Sigura either. In the midst of fighting two Dolls wielding axes, Streiphen moved with what looked like superhuman grace. Alongside his emerald [Mantle], a cloud of dark grey gas laden with stars hovered around him, the same smoke he'd used in previous fights. While dodging the calculated swings of the Dolls, he seemed to float in the air as though weightless, making maneuvers that normal Casters couldn't. His boots touched down on the ground as another flash of green and black kicked against the ground. Using [Release] with a miniature shockwave, he gained enough force to bring his mangled blade around in a deadly arc, knocking an axe from his attacker's hands with ease.
Despite the weight on both Sigura and Streiphen, the weapons of the Dolls weren't affected. A grey coloured Golem in the back was emitting the 'mist', selectively choosing what got weighed down. I wanted to help, to at least take the burden of the gravity effect away. I could find a way to deal with it, couldn't I?
Unfortunately, the Dolls chasing the Casters weren't going to sit idly while they tried to track their reinforcements. They burst through the dust storm, converging on the fleeing Casters as they yelled with horror. Small blasts of fire and ice exploded from their hands, but despite the damage dealt to the Dolls, they continued forward as a group. Unfeeling Constructs without any sense of pain or self-preservation, beings even more dangerous than the standard Zombie or Skeleton given their metal frames.
If the Casters got injured now while I was standing here doing nothing, it would be my fault. Would the Constructs stop at merely retrieving the merchandise? With how little the Watch did around here, would their employer choose to take justice into their own hands? Would they *kill* these Casters to ensure they didn't cross the Constructs' master again?
I could create a wall. That wouldn't be too taxing on my Soul, and I could handle-
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Streiphen roared. The sound cut off my train of thought, and I felt my awareness snap towards him. Two armed Dolls had converged on him once again, more coordinated than before. In unison, the two swung their blades. Even with his ability to float, could Streiphen dodge? No. Instead, he tried to block, swinging his blade upwards to knock one Doll's weapon backwards. But the second blade, he had no way to-
The muscles in Streiphen's arms clenched beneath his reinforced jacket. Despite the momentum and weight of the blade, his body supplied him with a temporary burst of strength, bringing the blade back up for another swift swing in less than a second.
"[Second Strike]!" Streiphen cried out. Another Skill. The sort of Skill a [Swordsman] might develop, one wielded by a child. The swing caught the Doll off guard, cleaving their body through diagonally while sending the Construct careening backwards.
There was a look of determination in Streiphen's eyes. He wore a focused expression, one that reminded me of the look he'd had during the fight against Venison.
He'd been training hard so that he could be strong. So that he could be of use. That look in his eyes was one I admired, one I hoped that my own eyes would've held, if I was still able to see like others could here in this city. Those eyes were worlds apart from those I'd first seen back in the facility. Back when we'd first met. I still remembered that look of empty despair. The sheer, sad hopelessness in those eyes.
*You can rely on us too, Miss Yuri!*
Those words echoed in my head, refusing to let me forget them. I could leave this to the others, even if the inaction pained me. It was a show of trust in my *team*. My *friends*.
The Dolls continued to converge on the group of quickly weakening Casters. From within the dust storm, a cluster of small, blue insects leapt onto the attacking Dolls. They scurried up the bodies of the Constructs quicker than they could react. As small as they were, they had the advantage of numbers. But more than that... they were stronger than they looked.
With teeth glinting against the plainly coloured [Mantles] of the Dolls, they bit down, razor sharp fangs digging into their metal bodies. Several dropped their weapons, instead prioritising this new foe, slapping and striking at their own forms. As fast as the Dolls were, the tiny attackers were faster, darting around the bodies of their opponents before leaning down for another bite.
As well as metal, they dug into the dark grey uniforms the Dolls all wore. None of the uniforms had any recognisible insignias on them. Did that mean they weren't acting as security?
"Heads up!"
The voice of a young man called out from across the street. I watched as the Casters by the cart leapt to the ground to take cover as my awareness focused on the speaker.
They were a Human, maybe just over the boundaries of adulthood. He wore a black undershirt with a jagged lightning insignia over the breast, and an unzipped bright yellow jacket over it. He had blond hair slicked back along his head, and a wild look in his eyes as he lobbed a small ball of metal with the same insignia on his shirt along it, one glowing with a golden light.
The Dolls' eyes turned towards it in unison, spotting the flying projectile. Looking inside a nearby house, I saw Fareel's eyes turn a bright blue with [Insight] as he worked to track the projectile. All along the bodies of the distracted Dolls, I saw the Familiars he'd created (birthed?) expel large volumes of water from their bodies, suddenly drenching the Dolls in liquid.
The flying projectile bounced once off the ground, crackling with energy as arcs of condensed electricity danced along the bodies of the Dolls. Scorch marks coated the uniforms and 'skin' of the Constructs as they fell to the ground in unison, clanging hard against the concrete. The Familiars also went lifeless from the shock, but they'd fulfilled their purpose, leaving the Doll pursuers twitching and unable to get up.
"Move, move, move!" one of the Casters roared at the others. Once they began to push the cart again, their eyes widened as they glanced over their shoulders. The wheels moved properly now. The gravity effect was gone.
Sigura pulled back her fist, which was now coated in a deep gold/orange [Sheen] that covered her skin with a light that looked like she'd dunked her forearm in liquid metal, out of the shattered chest area of the grey bodied Golem. The last Golem.
The arrival of Equinox had turned the tides of the battle.
I barely had time to call out before the red-tinted axe of the Possessed Armor swung right for Sigura's neck. Whether because she sensed it or heard it coming, or perhaps by sheer instinct, she ducked her head as the swipe passed just over the tips of her Cat-like ears. She rolled forward, spinning mid-motion to face the final opponent, her blade in hand. With a grin, I watched her swing the sword upwards, clashing with the red armor's axe. This Construct looked strong, built with tougher materials than that of its allies. I found it hard to believe that a simple store would use a Possessed Armor as a way to defend their wares.
More light caught my attention. Next to the Caster with the bright yellow jacket, I saw another. A Human of roughly the same age with spiky red hair in a matching crimson jacket with a black undershirt adorned with a flame symbol. He wore a manic grin as he planted a pair of black gloved hands onto a metal box, the end of it hanging out of an empty window-frame. It was pointed directly at the clashing pair of warriors, a number of circular barrels on the end of it. Even from here, I could detect the lit flames and fuses crackling within.
"Duck!" the red haired Caster roared as the box exploded with colour.
"[Get down, Sigura!]" I called out to her at the same time.
With her [Sheen] coated arm, Sigura delivered another heavy blow to the Possessed Armor, forcing it to take a step back as the sound of whistling filled the air. She quickly crouched, landing on all fours as the projectiles made contact with the Possessed Armor.
Although I'd only seen them a few times, it was easy to identify what had been fired at the towering crimson Construct.
Fireworks.
The front of the Possessed Armor was covered with an explosion of crackling lights and miniature blasts of colour, each of which sent a shower of sparks drifting down to the ground around it. Wave after wave of fireworks collided with the Construct, and I watched as a number of crackling sparks drifted down, landing on Sigura's clothes and skin before vanishing. Heat like that wouldn't be enough to harm Sigura. She could handle far worse.
"What?!?" the red haired Caster exclaimed, eyes widening in horror as the smoke and colour cleared. "Even *that* wasn't enough?”
Black marks and stains of colour had been left on the Possessed Armor, yet it hadn't sustained any damage beyond that.
"We'll need to get paid more for somethin' like *this!*" cried the yellow haired Caster next to the firework-user.
Sigura rose to her feet, a fire in her eyes that surpassed any that the explosive projectiles had formed. She sheathed her blade, clenching the fist coated in the glowing [Sheen]. I watched as the space around her forearm began to distort from the heat. Without delay, the Possessed Armor gripped the handle of its red-tinted axe with both hands, bringing it down in a deadly arc, aiming to bisect the Half Nekari Chimera.
It would have been a simple matter for Sigura to dodge. She didn't.
"You're tougher than you look, tin can," Sigura grinned. "I'll need to give the Gods my thanks that somethin' worth fightin' actually decided to show up today."
Steam rose from her [Sheen] coloured hand as she swung it forward to meet the Construct's vicious attack. Even before contact, I saw the red-tinted metal begin to melt from sheer proximity to her hand. She punched straight through the axe's blade mid-swing, leaving the Casters that had been about to make a run for it stunned. The strike didn't stop there, continuing even further as Sigura planted her fist in the center of the Possessed Armor's body, melting through the enchanted, reinforced metal with ease.
"[Overheat]!" Sigura roared, taking another step forward as she drove her arm shoulder-deep into the massive Construct. The metal around her arm began to melt and slough off in viscous chunks. This was... the same Spell she'd used to melt through the massive metal doors during our escape from the facility.
No... this was even *stronger* than that. The [Sheen] focused the heat, concentrating it into a single point that exploded outward through the Construct on contact.
The Possessed Armor dropped the useless weapon, swinging its clenched fist around with force, slamming it into Sigura's shoulder. She didn't activate her [Mantle], nor did she attempt to dodge. She took the hit, planting one foot against the concrete to ensure she wasn't pushed back from the impact. Then, she began to slowly pull her arm out from within the Construct, causing it to melt further and fall apart completely by the time her limb was free.
"Eh," Sigura shrugged, still wearing a toothy grin. "If that's all you could take, maybe you weren't *that* good after all, scrap heap."
With a resonant, metallic clang that signaled the end of the battle, the Construct's intact [Gladiator]-like helmet fell to the ground. Wearing a triumphant grin, she planted the base of her sandal-covered foot on its cheek, turning her head back towards the stunned Casters.
The enemy had been obliterated. The only ones still somewhat cognizant were the collection of Dolls writhing and bitten half to pieces on the ground laying by the now unmoving cart.
"Let's get out of here!" one of the Casters said in a panic. Despite his tone, none of the others made a move.
"Don't even *think* about runnin' unless you want what happened to this guy to happen to *you*," Sigura drawled. She snuck her foot underneath the heavy metal helmet, kicking it up into the air a few times while balancing it on her outstretched limb as though it were nothing but a football. The helmet was pushed into the air one last time before her leg snapped around in an arc, kicking the headwear in my direction, causing it to clatter against the pavement, bouncing twice before rolling to a stop right in front of my mech.
"You've got a few seconds to tell me what's goin' on before I come over for round two," Sigura said, taking her first steps towards the Casters as she cracked her knuckles, her [Sheen] fading away to normal skin.
Then, the pair of concealed Casters climbed out from behind the ruined wall of the building they'd been hiding in. The Caster with the yellow coat had needed some reassurance from the man in red, but now they were walking across the street, [Mantles] flaring to life as they stood between Sigura and the cowering Casters by the cart.
"You go, we'll hold 'em off," the Human in red called out, his [Mantle] a mix of red and yellow with small crackling flickers of colour along the interior, the edges waving like flame.
"Y-yeah, we'll do that!" the Human in yellow affirmed, his [Mantle] a deep gold colour with a crackling, erratic looking lightning pattern at the edges.
The Casters by the cart were stunned, glancing between one another with disbelief before they began to turn around.
"R-right! We'll leave it to you!" the leader called out in response, beginning to push the cart away and down the street. They didn't look back once.
I could have stopped them, but I was supposed to be taking it easy. Seeing as how my teammates were leisurely approaching Sigura instead of giving chase, I elected to do the same.
"*You're* gonna hold us off, are you?" Sigura grinned, cracking her knuckles as she approached the pair.
"Abyss *no* we're not!" the red-clad Caster said, raising both of his gloved hands to show he was unarmed. The palms of both gloves were a deep red colour, too. "We'd be nothin' but puddles like that ghost knight if we tried! You're with the Star, right? We're just keepin' up appearances."
"Yeah, yeah! Appearances! That's all!" the Caster in yellow echoed. He was shaking lightly as his [Mantle] dropped. The red-clad Caster did the same, dropping the Aera around him.
"And how'll you manage to convince 'em you just beat us without making *us* look bad?" Sigura asked with a raised eyebrow, her toothy grin growing. "We might have to rough you up a bit for the trouble."
Now both of them were shivering.
"It's fine!" Streiphen chirped, sheathing his blade on his back before linking both hands in front of him. "We can say we talked it over! Or... maybe that they paid us to look the other way with info or coin!"
The two Casters in coats looked at one another in shock, and then back towards Streiphen. Was it because of his age, or what he'd said?
"Yeah! What the kid- er... the young gent said!" the red-clad Caster blurted out, craning his head upwards to look at Sigura's eyes.
"Yeah, what he said!" the yellow Caster echoed.
My legs clacked against the concrete, prompting both Casters to turn their heads, looking at me with similar shock.
"[You're Shocks and Firecracker, aren't you?]" I asked, *just* in case Sigura was coming anywhere close to attacking them for fun.
"The whole gang's here? Equinox?" the red coat Caster, Firecracker, murmured.
I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret at his choice of words.
"[Yes,]" I replied curtly.
"*You're* the housewife lady?" the yellow coat Caster, Sparks, asked. Firecracker balled his gloved hand into a fist, striking his companion across the back of the head.
"[E-excuse me?]" I spluttered, a noise that left Sigura grinning. At least one of us was amused. I had *no* idea where the confusion had stemmed from.
"He's mistaken, Miss Homebound. Sparks here's just a little slow," Firecracker explained, trying for a smile. "It's uh... just a cultural difference."
"Yeah! That's all!" Sparks added, rubbing the back of his head. "Didn't mean nothin' by it! Thought you knew what it meant here!"
"[What do you mean?]" I asked, sending the message to both.
"Some towns 'round Scander use a 'Huntbound/Homebound' system for runnin' a household, yeah?" Firecracker replied as Sparks began to nod along furiously. "One hunter, one housekeeper, y'know? Keeps the family rounded."
Oh... 'Homebound' had other connotations here. That wasn't too far a stretch from what my original intentions had been, but... well, I hoped that the people of Divastyr as a whole hadn't made that misinterpretation.
"Guess that makes me the 'Huntbound', huh?" Sigura grinned, throwing a look my way.
I tried not to make the reddening of my sides from the connotations beneath my helmet too obvious in my speech. Maybe she just hadn't caught the implication.
"[Can you e-explain what you were all doing here?]" I asked, wanting to move from this topic as fast as possible.
"Yeah, we were workin' as bodyguards," Firecracker nodded.
"Freelance guardians or [Thieves]!" Sparks added.
"We protect people like them, or we do robberies to secure stuff. We don't go after nothin' too expensive, just some basic stuff to help supply people 'round the place, yeah?" Firecracker continued.
"Well, if these two were the ones the Watch were annoyed about, we can't just take 'em in for the rep," Sigura shrugged, letting out a soft groan.
"[Who were those people? The ones you were guarding, and the Constructs?]" I asked, glancing at the Dolls that had gone still not far from us. They seemed to be unconscious, or... whatever equivalent to that Dolls *could* experience.
"Another group that work 'round these parts," Firecracker told me. "We were earnin' rep and good standin' with others like the Don wanted. Those Constructs? We don't know much, but we heard there's groups of 'em all over the place, staking out Steel Souls all over the city."
"[There's more than one of those shops?]" I asked, more for my own curiosity than because it was relevant.
"It's a common chain for [Builders], [Inventors] and other Casters, and those things want a monopoly!" Sparks informed me.
"People buyin' stuff above a certain price get attacked by those things," Firecracker told us, jerking a thumb towards the inert Dolls. "We think they're from another region of the city comin' into the Don's turf."
Another region...
"Why not just rob the shop itself?" Sigura asked.
"Steel Soul has good security and great contacts!" Sparks told her, not shivering *quite* as much as he had before. Was it fear, or just nervous energy? "Easier to attack customers than raid the store!"
"We've been preppin' for a battle with 'em, gatherin' supplies from other stores to build some artefacts first," Firecracker told us. "But they're, uh... *way* tougher than we thought they'd be, if my [Firework Barrage] didn't even put a dent in 'em."
Oh... Good thing we helped out here before I tried to convince the others to buy me something.
"'Gathering?'" Sigura echoed.
"We don't have much money without jobs, yeah?" Firecracker replied, trying to give Sigura a winning smile that clearly had no effect. "So... sometimes we gotta take a little for ourselves here and there."
"Just a little!" Sparks echoed with another round of furious nods.
"Whatever," Sigura shrugged, a comment that caused both of their shoulders to slump with relief. "You can be the Watch's problem. We'll keep an eye out for these Constructs and shit and let the Don know."
"You'll tell the Don we found it out, right?" Sparks asked, looking up at her with wide eyes. "Put in a good word for us?"
"Don't push your luck, shrimp," Sigura drawled with a roll of her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, we'll say you helped out."
That seemed to be enough to placate Sparks, who shot his partner a wink that I doubted my allies caught.
"C'mon, I've had my fill of fighting for a while, let's go get something to eat," Sigura grinned, crouching down to stretch her legs. I saw both Streiphen and Fareel perk up at the simple mention of food.
"[And... check out Steel Soul? Now that it isn't being guarded by Constructs?]" I asked hopefully.
"Yeah, yeah, and check out Steel Soul," Sigura grinned back.