Music Word had reached her of a certain red haired someone that had recently traveled through West Fiore. Where was she? Walking through the back woods of West Fiore on her way towards Dawn City. For someone who had never traversed Fiore, the past few months she had made quite a dent in passing through the land. Left in her wake were questions of the red-haired demon and bartenders with orders and jewels to serve him a shot of whiskey from an unknown. Whether the bartenders in question did it or not, she didn’t know nor cared. But statistically of the bars she stepped through, it was probable one would follow through.
Leather jacket, emblazed with the red dragon and lightning, hung open revealing a dark tank top. Knives hidden in her knee high boots and at her back, her whip coiled at her waist. Though her eyes were alert and she sensed something ahead she was essentially distracted. While she was tracking this person of interest, she did not actually want to run into him… yet. Recon first. Information was always invaluable. In her head she was going through worse case scenarios. Her normal clarity was shot. Fiore was good monster hunting ground but… the one who destroyed her life consumed her thoughts. Inhaling deep she realized just how not alone she was… that was when all hell broke loose.
Not just one Bullfangos, but three crashed through the brush making her dive to the side with no other option since she had not been paying attention. A much larger crash and hoof steps revealed a Bulldrome. Razhiel laughed, ‘Hello Boys.’ If she continued to screw up like this she wouldn’t have to worry about him, she would end up dead before anything came about. Wouldn’t that be convenient for him though. That thought crystallized her mind. Death would not meet her here today. The three bullfangos were already charging at her. Reaching behind her with inhuman speed she grabbed her dagger and shot it at the furthest left one, sinking between the eyes. Without pause she front flipped over the middle one, her right hand pushing off its rump to land on her feet. Unfortunate, as she landed in front of the Bulldrome, who proceeded to charge at her. Her only defence was to grab its tusks rather than be pierced. Being pushed back, her boots skidding in the dirt, she heard the other two Bullfangos turn around. It was about to get bad, real fast, unless she pulled up her magic. Last resort…. And it had not come to that just yet… Razhiel may just die from waiting until the last second to use the resources she had on hand, or rather in body. Today would not be the day…
Rena yawned and flipped herself over onto her back to stare up at the sky and the horizon as the sun just began to peek over the top of the treeline. There was no reason in particular why the girl had chosen this forest to camp in for the night, but the view right before the sun arose was beautiful. The sky was tinged slightly with pink and a bit of orange, and everything seemed so innocent and untouched. The surrounding nature was quiet and peaceful, although the mage knew that plenty of monsters roamed around both during the night and at this time. She could handle herself perfectly fine though, and was completely confident in her ability to get out of trouble. Since the girl relied primarily on her magic and sword, she was dressed lightly in an outfit atypical to her ordinary travelling one.
There was no one around, so it was unimportant to be in clothes that were appropriate for others’ eyes. Therefore, Rena was wearing a light pink sleeveless shirt with a white strip of cloth acting as a high empire waist type belt. She wore a rather short in length, pure white, pair of shorts, and light pink ballet flats. Perhaps it was an impractical outfit for a trek through the forest, but it was easy to move around in and didn’t have anything to get caught on. The ballet flats would suit her well for dancing since she would need to be able to turn quickly and be light on her feet. Additionally, they had rubber soles anyways in case the forest floor was slippery due to fallen leaves or such.
The dancer was just about to return to her tent when she heard a loud rustling come from a little ways away and paused to listen. It’s probably just the nocturnal animals or such, returning to their dens. Or maybe the hunters of the day time, beginning to stalk their first prey of the day. She was mostly unconcerned with the hunted animals’ situations-- this was a world where everyone had to eat, herself included, and just because she normally didn’t eat meat didn’t mean that she held no regard for those that consumed it as the main part of their diet. This wasn’t limited to just people, so Rena continued to pack up. But just as the girl was nearly done taking down her tent, she realized that there was the faint presence of a magic user coming from the direction of the rustling. ”Geez. I wonder who it is, making all this racket before the sun’s even fully up. Don’t they know not to go messing with the wild animals?” Rena grumbled, but nonetheless she left her supplies in the clearing and headed off in the direction of the faint magic pulsing.
Eventually, the girl arrived just in time to see a young woman with short, vividly red hair, probably in her early to mid twenties, push off the lower back of one of the forest’s many beasts, and propel herself over its head. The dancer glanced around to see a similar animal, with a lovely new accessory that no doubt had come from this stranger: a throwing knife cleanly sticking out from between its lolling eyes. It seemed that another of the predators was now behind the other mage. And in front of the stranger was a wild beast bigger than the others, likely the alpha of the pack in some way or another, with the woman clenching tightly to its tusks or whatever those things sticking out of its head were, as she tried to stall it. In time to do what, Rena wasn't sure, but just in case it wasn't to do magic the girl decided to go ahead and give her a hand.
Still sighing audibly, she clapped her hands and twirled around momentarily, a bright white Swanfire flickering into existence. Then she sent a flow of flames at the two monsters about to attack the stranger from behind, and watched as they burned into a crisp. It seemed they were some kind of boar or bovine animal, judging by their appearance. Rena then leaped over the burning bodies and landed next to the stranger. She wasn’t really in the habit of assisting random people, but it wasn’t as though she were evil. Plus... Rena was bored, after all. The girl sent another streak of flames towards the giant beast, and didn’t bother to watch if it hit before leaping out of the middle of the fight and turning around to see if there had been any effect. If she had missed due to already being in movement while she sent the Swanfire, the strange mage should’ve been able to take out the animal anyways. And Rena didn’t mind if the attack failed, since she wasn’t really trying either.
Razhiel sensed the approach of another person. The forest was quite dense in this area, she had not expected anyone to be about. Wondering if maybe she should ditch the tusked creature in front of her and face the stranger, there was a burst of magic and the two behind her caught fire and burned to a crisp. She caught this out of the corner of her eye. Razhiel used more of her inhuman strength to hold the beast in place when the strange girl jumped beside her and sent white flames shooting at the Bulldrome. Razhiel let it go and jumped back the second the flames hit. The flames hit the rump and while it began to consume the animal, it went into a rage. Charging, while aflame, straight towards them. Instinct had her roundhouse kicking the creature in the side of the head with such force it sent it tumbling before coming to a crashing halt, fully consumed and burning.
Razhiel turned towards the girl to give her an appraised look. ‘That is some mighty fine flame you got.’ She walked to the first creature she had hit and pulled her blade from its head. Stabbing the blade in the dirt in the ground to clean it, she glanced around. Burning husks remained of those that got set aflame. Wrinkling her nose, she stated to no one in particular, ‘A bit tad roasted Id say.’ Sheathing her blade behind her back once more, she turned once again to the girl. ‘The name’s Raz.’ She was close enough that she held out her hand as she introduced herself. ‘Thanks for the unexpected help.’
Rena was pleased to see that yes, the flames did land. And in what was probably a most uncomfortable and sensitive spot of any living creature, and the girl winced slightly as she saw the animal go beserk and attack the stranger head on. With a bit of interest, Rena observed the stranger kick the beast away in the side of the head, sending it flying through the air and across the ground. Rena surveyed the rest of the scene peacefully as the giant boar or whatever it was animal, burned and the customary scent of scorched flesh and bone filled the air. Rena, as a guildless mage who didn’t have particular care for order or rules, had smelled it plenty of times before. Occasionally it was people, but it wasn’t a habit of hers to go around making bonfires of people.
The stranger shifted around to face Rena and said something about her Swanfires, upon which the girl simply nodded in acknowledgement and a bit of thanks. Rena shifted around, realizing that she had brought her katana with her and accidentally dropped it before leaping into the midst of the fight with the beasts. Brushing off the tan leather, Rena gripped it securely in her left hand before turning to face the young woman, who was busy cleaning off her blade. After walking a bit towards Rena and sheathing the now pristine weapon, the other mage held out a hand and introduced herself as “Raz.” She also thanked Rena for the bit of assistance, even though anyone who didn’t want to see another person be gored to death would’ve given.
”Ah... no problem.” Rena nodded, but didn’t extend her hand to shake the stranger’s. She wasn’t really in the habit of going around doing random good deeds, but the girl did have a conscience. Perhaps it was rude to not shake her hand, but Rena didn’t feel any desire to. Everyone always made the same exact gesture when becoming acquainted with someone for the first time, but Rena didn’t feel as though herself and this stranger were yet acquaintances. And everyone shook hands with everybody. That other red-haired stranger had also extended the same gesture, just after their interaction dragged on. The wind mage, though--
With a start, Rena realized that she too hadn’t introduced herself. ”Ah... call me Krisa, if you’d like. I won’t apologize for not shaking your hand, but I’m usually not quite comfortable with contact with other people.” This wasn’t exactly the real reason, but the dancer supposed that it was true anyhow. ”Anyways, what brings you to traverse through the West Fiore’s forest? Just looking around, or do you have a specific destination in mind?” As a wanderer, Rena knew that most people didn’t care for randomly traveling on a whim. They typically had a goal in mind-- that or they were trying to get away from something or someone, which she supposed was a goal nonetheless.
"Krisa." Razhiel shook her head as she let her hand return to her side. "I would not expect you to apologize. It was rude of me to assume. Different people, different customs..." Violet orbs glances at the tree tops and the brightening of light. Razhiel did not take offense at Krisa's hesitation nor seem bothered by her slightly hesitant answers. She noticed as the other woman picked up her forgotten katana and attached it to her waist. I am actually not from around here, so I am not sure what is and is not appropriate."
Sticking her thumbs in her pockets, fingers splayed on her thighs, she looked back at Krisa as she asked Razhiel what she was doing in the forest to begin with. She gave a sheepish grin, "I am actually on a mission. Since I don't belong to any guilds and have no one besides myself, I pick up any mission I can to help pay for things besides keep life from being to tedious." She nodded back at the creatures, "My fault for traveling before day break but I had finally found a lead and I did not want to lose it."
Lifting one hand and combing it through her short hair, "Never having been here before is also the reason I am on this trail... If it can even be called a trail. Directions from someone who actually lives here may not be the best for someone not as well travelled... Dawn City is where I am headed though."
Rena paused yet again to listens on the woman's response. She was very polite, but in this stuff way that was slightly disconcerting. And her manner of speech as well-- it spoke of being from high society it such, some place where people were wealthy and always proper in their doings. Rena didn't like it, not at all, but nonetheless the girl reluctantly nodded in thanks to the stranger's acceptance of "different customs." It was obvious that she wasn't from around here even before the woman said it aloud in her next few phrases, for otherwise she would be well aware that the dancer was simply being rude and rather cold. Most of Fiore's citizens had no problem with physical contact, and from what she'd observed from traveling, most of them were actually far more comfortable with the prospect than those from more proper and possessing easily offended honor based societies. Of course, Fiore was a wonderful place, but it was a rowdy one.
The fire mage continued to nod throughout Raz's words. When the woman talked about how she wasn't affiliated with a guild or any other group, Rena mentally sighed in relief. It really was troublesome to deal with guilded up mages, and in general the girl much preferred to simply not be involved at all. It would have been unavoidable in this case, but nonetheless it was reassuring to hear that. There were other ways to earn money besides simply doing missions, which Rena was positive this woman knew of. However, it seemed she was determined to make a living solely as a mage. The girl, unfortunately, could not give directions to Dawn City despite having been there only a little while ago. She wasn't sure why Raz intended to go there Most of the inhabitants seem to be aloof jerks, the girl thought to herself, remembering the other red head who had disrupted her plans to visit a shoppe in Dawn City.
"Sorry. Dawn City is a beautiful place, I can assure you. But unfortunately, I cannot recommend a traveling route or even the direction, since my sense of placement and direction is completely inaccurate." The woman had said she was not well traveled. Perhaps Raz was making her first journey out of her home country, which was most likely a foreign land going by her stilted way of walking and the unsure countenance she possessed, despite the obvious fact that she had to have come from a noble or wealthy family, with a polite and yet somewhat innocent upbringing that showed now. Rena fingered her katana subconsciously. Being around strangers made the girl uncomfortable.
But as Rena was not completely impolite, as well as being unwilling to abandon someone that seemed to be completely lost (a state the light haired girl had been in herself multiple times) she took pity on the woman and decided to ask if she required the wanderer's assistance with anything. "I'm heading to Dawn City again, actually. I was just there a little while back to request something from my friend. I also have a campsite a bit of a ways away... I suppose, if you wouldn't mind traveling with a stranger, we could venture there together? Despite my lack of orientation, I have a knack for getting to the right places, as well as a map which I have absolutely no clue how to read. It could be useful to you though, if you wish to journey alone." Typically the girl wouldn't be offering to be a traveling companion but the woman just seemed to be so absolutely lost. And the map really was useless, in any regard.
Razhiel could feel the other woman’s unease and it was confirmed when she started to rub her katana. Razhiel had not done anything to suggest she would act violently, nor did she display any magic so one would assume they could over power her if need be. Maybe Krisa really disliked strangers. When the other woman said she could not help her to dawn, Razhiel frowned slightly. She would eventually get there. Krisa’s offer caught her off guard, especially considering the other woman’s actions and unease thus far.
The fact that the other woman had just recently been to Dawn gave her pause. Maybe Krisa had indeed seen him. Razhiel gave her a relieved grin. "That would be extremely helpful. As for the map, it depends on what I find in Dawn." She nodded into the woods in which Krisa came. "While we are traveling together, feel free to ask anything. Maybe than we wouldn’t be total strangers." Hands once more in her pocket, she glanced back at the approaching sun.
Rena slowly nodded to the stranger, who had accepted the girl's offer. Looking in the direction she had nodded to, Rena waved a hand to Raz, signalling for the woman to follow her. She was unaccustomed to being around other people, but she supposed it was okay... at least for now. Rena walked lightly through the trees on the balls of her feet, at a slow pace that hopefully the other mage could follow her at. The forest wasn't particularly thick in the area she had chosen to camp at last night, which was one of the reasons that spot was selected. The dancer would have been able to see anything dangerous coming at her from many meters away.
The girl eventually got to the site and immediately disappeared into the tent to finish packing things up. The two of them would have to move quickly if they wanted to get back to Dawn City in time for Rena to meet up with her friend and grab the thing she had requested during her last visit. And, they would need extra time as well for whatever Raz was planning to do. The dancer had previously been intending to set out for Dawn City only a little bit after dawn, but it was obvious that that time had already passed. Ducking out of the tent, Rena finished taking it down and then without turning around said, "If you have anything you'd like to bring with you that you don't have here, I'd recommend you go grab it now." Hopefully she would've brought anything necessary with her... but Rena hadn't given the woman much time, after all.
She noticed the other girl was very graceful. Being a dancer, she supposed you had to be if you were any good at it. Her footfalls were quiet. Razhiel followed effortlessly and silently, a sign she was not as helpless as she appeared. Getting to the campsite, she saw it was a good location. Easy to spot oncoming danger. The girl began to move very fast, it seemed there was indeed a time limit. Her foray in the woods was not an expected distraction. She would have helped but it was not her place nor her stuff and she was pretty sure it wouldn’t be welcome.
When Kris addressed her, she looked up from the claw mark on a tree she had been examining. Shrugging she replied, ”I am set. I don’t travel with much and generally eat as I go whether its foraging or hunting if there is a long distance between civilized places… I’d rather travel the in between honestly, some of the cities can be strict and uptight.” She set out beside Krisa, ensuring to keep up as to not hinder her travel companion and her time schedule.
Rena nodded to Raz and then set off at a brisk pace in a random direction. She honestly had no idea exactly where she was going, but there was this feeling of her inner flame tugging her in this specific direction. The girl was absolutely positive that even though she had no actual proof it was the correct way to travel, it would get them back to Dawn City. She had already explained to Raz that the dancer had absolutely no perception of time or place, and assumed that the other mage was okay with that considering that she accepted her offer anyways. Therefore, Rena continued in silence, mentally checking off things that had to be done in Dawn City and whether there would be enough time. It just depended on--
"What are you planning to do in Dawn City? Is there something or someone in particular you're looking for? You mentioned finding something there." If Rena was going to help this woman search for a specific person or object, she would need a more accurate description than what she had. Actually, at the moment the girl had absolutely nothing and no clue what Raz was searching for. If she was even doing that, perhaps she was simply looking around. The woman was finding something was all Rena knew. Absentmindedly, Rena began to hum under her breath, not paying attention to much around her except for that feeling of inner flame, prodding at her and detailing where to go.
Razhiel was listening to that around them when the other girl spoke to her. Side glancing at her she replied, “My mission is to find information on a certain person, any information. And the last thing I heard he had come this way.” Her brow furrowed in thought, “ Let’s see… Red hair, guy obviously, a jacket or what not that sticks out- wings on it, good fighter… I Haven’t got much more than that because I just started out.” Razhiel smiled when Krisa started humming. “If I can help you in any way, ask. I know you have your own plans, so I appreciate the help.”
Rena immediately choked on the next notes of the melody. A- what? A red haired male with a jacket with wings on the back-- WHAT? Rena immediately stopped in the middle of the path and turned to face the girl with a murderous expression suddenly materialized on her face. "Do you mean that guy who couldn't wash his coat? Who had these annoying sunglasses he wouldn't take off? You mean..." Rena glared at the girl, immediately outraged. What was her connection with him? He had been in Dawn City, after all-- that jerk. Such a complete annoyance, Rena had been happy when they had parted and she hadn't seen him for the remainder of her day.
"What's your connection with him? Where's he from?" Rena spat out. Her mood was instantly completely wrecked, but then the girl remembered Raz's last comment. She didn't really need any help, but it was nice of the woman to offer, the girl supposed. If Rena ended up needing to be rescued, since this item was supposed to be somewhat... dangerous... well, they'd cross that bridge when they came to it. Rena usually planned things out better than this and wasn't very hot tempered, but the vague feeling surrounding her request had made it hard to precisely estimate things. That... whatever his name was, had been in Dawn City too. Was this the reason Raz wanted to travel there? She was searching for him?
Honestly… the reaction she got was not what she expected… at all. Raz put her hands up, a slightly amused expression on her face. Wouldn’t wash his coat… traveling a lot. The glare she was receiving from Krisa was quite intense. She wondered what Raven did to elicit such a reaction from the girl. Glasses he won’t take off… Preference or something with his eyes? It seems he has gotten more peculiar. The mention of glasses brought to mind a pair a dark blue eyes. That wasn’t helping.
The next words were spat at her. Keeping one hand up, she used the other to wipe her face. Well now, had I known that would happen I wouldn’t have mentioned him… Gathering information on him is my mission.” Violet eyes took in Krisa and the extreme dislike she seemed to exhibit because of him. I don’t know where he is from besides Fiore in general. Hence the information gathering… What did he do to piss you off so much? When she asked the question she remembered another thing Krisa said. I am not searching for him, I am doing recon. Gathering information on what he is doing, has been doing, who he is exactly… Good fighter, not for me. Razhiel shook her head with the last statement.
Rena paused. She definitely didn't trust Raz anymore, despite the woman's reassurance that the information was not intended for herself. The dancer decided that this woman wouldn't get anything out of her as far as she could help it. "Sorry for spitting at you. I was aiming for the ground." Was all the most polite thing the girl felt she could say to the other mage right now. Hopefully they would just be able to make their way to Dawn City and then Raz could look for that aloof jerk all she pleased.
Marching onwards, her footsteps now firm and harsh unlike the slightly dancing step she'd had before, Rena tried to ignore the other woman. But, she was a curious wanderer at heart, and Rena decided that since they were going to be stuck together for some amount of days-- Geez, why had I offered to let her travel with me, anyhow? Rena thought darkly, -- she should really learn to get along with Raz. Despite the red haired guy having some sort of connection with her, Rena hadn't seen anything particular incriminating about the young woman. Therefore, the dancer finally spoke.
"What did he do to piss me off so much? He is an incredible jerk and refuses to explain his actions until pressed to do so." That was all Rena was going to say for now. She didn't believe what the woman said... how she was only gathering information for someone else. There was just something about how she was acting that Rena felt was suspicious. The girl admitted that she had a natural distrust of strangers, but this was something else. Her instincts, maybe?
Razhiel sighed loudly. She was walking slightly behind Krisa now. Watching the girl’s angry march onward. Peoples' instincts... a damn nuisance. As if having caught what Krisa thought she stated, ”You know you could always decide you don’t want a traveling partner anymore.” She was silent a moment, still following slightly behind her. Without a thought, she grabbed her dagger from behind her back and shot it past Krisa. It lodged in what had looked like a pile of leaves but was a snake. Retrieving the blade she stated with no preamble. “A long time ago the red-haired man did something unpleasant... that affected me greatly.” She looked at Krisa, violet eyes uncaring. “I do not know him. My mission currently is to obtain information as I do not know where he is, what he has been up to since than, and what he is capable of. I am not actively searching for him as I am not prepared to face him.” She turned and started walking down the trail. I am a foreigner in your country. That is as much of the truth you will get and it is more than anyone has gotten. Take it or leave it is up to you… But I will still help you if you need it.”
