I fixed the tripod on the edge of the roof, making sure it wouldn't budge before resting the stock on my padded shoulder. After making my last adjustments I took aim, setting my sights on a distant airship.

As soon as the sights of my scope came to focus I let the crosshair roam the airship's deck. Scanning, as I jumped from person to person, systematically checking their profiles until finally, my sights landed on a hooded figure, a faint shimmer on his person.

My crosshair followed as the figure walked down from the quarter deck. Seeming to have just finished a conversation with the captain as the man in question waved him off.

As the figure stepped onto the main deck he reached up, tugging off his hood as he tilted his head upward. He took in the sights of Daffodil. Peering at it’s towering spires as they went up into the sky and disappeared into the clouds.

A glimmer catches my eye. Silver hair dancing in the air as the wind blew at his face. The person, a young man that appeared to be in the cusp of his teenage years, had a plaintive look on his face as he walked. Immersed in his thoughts as he looked at the grand city before him.

As he walked towards the landing platform, he bid farewell to the deckhands, waving and giving curt nods to the rough looking men as he walked by them.

As he steps onto the landing platform, his feet stop and his eyes wander around the aerodrome as he takes in the sight of the docking bay. He just stood there, still, as he looked at the other empty bridges.

The landing bay of the aerodrome was devoid of people. And the airship he had arrived on was the only recent one to land on port.

As such, save for the airship's crew and the young man. The landing bridges were completely barren.

It's an unusual sight for an aerodrome of this size. With landing decks designed to accommodate dozens of airships at a time; and built with smaller platforms connecting perpendicular to a wider, main bridge to accommodate more people.

But with such a sizable structure left without any other ships or people, the aerodrome was left with a gloomy atmosphere.

The young man was somber as he proceeded to walk the empty platform. He was wearing a white cotton shirt with a black coat, black trousers and black leather shoes. Add that to his looks and he looked the part of a typical young noble.

I wouldn't have blamed anyone for mistaking him as one either. If it wasn't for the info they gave me I would have thought so too. But upon closer inspection, he does carry himself with a certain gravitas, one you can only get with experience.

You can't just cover a wolf in wool and expect it to act like sheep, it seems. That boy has seen some action, no doubt. From his subtle mannerisms, to his posture, there's no hiding a warrior's poise. Unusual to find in one so young, yet not at all unheard of in this age and age.

His body has been tensed ever since he set foot on the landing bridge. Even with the morning twilight I can see a faint glow on him. It's almost like he's ready… for something. He shouldn't know, but. Is he expecting an ambush? Does he know? I didn’t get to think on it further when the answer to my question came quicker than expected.

The young man suddenly jolts. His body moving into a ready stance, arms raised and body lowered as his body glows under the light. A series of sparks goes off from atop the observation platforms overlooking the bridge just as he gets into position.

What-?

I, truly, was not expecting this turn of events. There was no mention of this in my information package. 

As such, I could only watch, dumbfounded, as confetti started raining down from the overlook.

There was a crowd of what looked like... thugs, now visible on top of the observation decks. Violent looking people, holding confetti and waving signs as they shouted at a visibly perplexed youngster. There was a jovial atmosphere as they waved down at the shocked young man, jeering and laughing at his direction.

As the young man seemed to realize what was going on, an impish grin broke his shocked expression. A childish smile, one that made him seem harmless and aloof, clueless even.

I watched as he waved back at the ragtag group with vigor. Shouting and smiling at the faces above. The whole scene made him look like a kid finally reuniting with his family. Hell, he might be.

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After finally crossing the landing bridge and setting foot onto the aerodrome, his body goes stiff. Eyes catching sight of a tall unassuming man. The man wore a grey pinstripe suit, with matching trousers and a fedora obscuring his face as he leaned on a wall under the overlook.

It seems the man was waiting for him, as the man put out his cigar and walked over to the statue of a young man.

His strides were carefree and unhurried, his attitude completely contrasting that of the young man's. The boy's face was stone still like the rest of his body, his previously jovial attitude gone in a puff of smoke. What replaced it was a serious, if somewhat apprehensive look.

The young man reaches out a hand, but the grim looking man only ignores it. Instead he stared into the young man's eyes, a severe expression on his face as he seemed to scrutinize him, sizing him up.

Their eyes meet for a couple seconds, and the young man is the first to break the silence. His expression starts off a bit guarded, but as he kept talking his face became more fierce and decisive, and at some point of his one sided barrage the severe expression of the grim looking man cracked.

Although the young man didn't seem to notice as he was so engrossed in his own world. But before he could continue his spiel, his expression changed to one of shock as the older man suddenly reached out and took his hand.

Held in a firm grip, the grim looking man shook his hand. They exchange a couple words, this time without any tension, and the face of the young man settles to a small smile as he nods to the older man.

And as if waiting for that moment a new figure enters the scene.

From within the aerodrome a new figure makes their appearance. The older man seemed to know who it was, as he tilted his head their way, a sly grin on his face.

The young man's attention was drawn and there was a different kind of tension as his eyes seeked out the new arrival. A young woman with deep purple hair stands at the entrance of the aerodrome. Sporting a blooming smile on her face as she stared at the young man. There was stillness in the wind as the young man's body relaxed, his face glowing as he stared back at the young woman. There was no shimmer as the rising sun showered them in its light.

Now.

*BOOOM* A deafening roar explodes from my rifle and a flash of light speeds toward the aerodrome.

I quickly reset my position as I tracked my bullet. Watching as it raced across the sky, to my target. Again, I loaded another bullet into the chamber whilst my eyes traced the other bullet's trajectory.

There was no such thing as a guaranteed hit at this range.

My target stands still, as if deep in thought, still, as he stared at the woman. Right… on…-

A bright smile settles on his face.

And on mine as well, -target...

I let out a sigh of relief as I watched his torso explode.

After confirming the hit, I unloaded the extra bullet and quickly went about disassembling my rifle. It barely took me a minute to take apart the rifle. Bare bones as it is, stripped down with only the minimum needed to maintain accuracy.

With practiced ease I packed all of the components into a single case, the pieces fitting snugly in the hand held compartment.

I had the time to spare, so looking over my perch one last time, I checked to see if I missed anything. Then a strong breeze blew my way.

I took a deep breath and the smell of roses assaulted my nose. Huh…?

To my left, a cloud of smoke explodes as something heavy crashes onto it.

I stared in disbelief for a split second before my instincts screamed at me to move, and I quickly jumped off the edge of the roof without missing another beat.

I hear multiple crashes on the roof as I plummeted to the ground. Damn! How!?

300 meters.

Reaching inside my jacket I grabbed a silver medallion, a clear crystal embedded in its center.

6. 5. 4. 3. Activate!

A ball of air surrounds me and the semi-solid sphere negates the momentum of my fall, only pushing my body towards the ground.

As I deactivate the medallion the sphere vanishes and I fall to a crouch. Immediately, I sprint down the busy streets of Daffodil, leaving behind a small crowd of curious onlookers in my wake.

I should be able to make my escape at the market district. At the very least I should be able to lose them in the crowds.

So I ran straight into the heart of the festivities. Despite most of the people of Daffodil still being at the town’s center for the war commemoration, the markets were already bustling with activity, with crowds of early comers checking the food vendors and souvenir stalls lining the streets.

Just as I thought. Soon enough I heard a pair of footsteps following behind me. I thought I would be able to outpace the enforcers but it seems they're more competent than I expected.

The crowd began to thin and I cut into a nearby alley before I lost my cover. But as I ran through the alley I heard a distinct crack from behind me. Without thinking I dropped to the ground, just in time as a bolt of blue energy whizzed over my head.

I rolled to the side just as another bolt burned the ground I was on.

Standing up I leaned my body into the alcove on the wall to stay out of sight. This isn't looking good. A bitter thought crosses my mind as I grabbed hold of another medallion; a silver medallion with similar engravings, only this one with an obsidian crystal.

Peaking to my right, I could see light seeping into the alley. No, I'm almost there.

"Come out with your hands up!"

My mind goes on overdrive as I ran contingencies through my head. My final pitch for survival, but try as I might to assess my situation I found no sure way to come out unscathed. Seems I have no other options left.

"...yes, 13th street. Herding and Jackson Avenue… affirmative. Hold!"

I slowly walked out with my arms raised, stopping as he said so.

"Get on your knees!" I complied with the command, unceremoniously dropping to my knees.

Watching closely, the masked enforcer approaches me with wary steps. "Don't try anything funny." He says grimly.

Don't worry, Enforcer, I have nothing funny in store for you.

With his wand pointed at me he stops just out of reach. "Get on your stomach, now! And arms behind your back."

I get on my stomach and do as he says.

I hear him approach, circling behind me before stopping to probably ready whatever restraints he had. I waited, and as he lunges for my arm- I bite down- *crack* and were consumed by a black cloud of miasma.