Gwendolyn
*The devotee felt a little more at ease now, knowing that Cynthia and the rest of the tavern staff would be in safe hands now. Yet, great shame began to burn inside of her chest. Heavy and warm, she'd hate to leave Ben's body in such a state. He was deserving of more respect, rather than having his cold body against a wall. Flies arriving, felt like an object of now usage. Almonde only knew him for a few moments, but the pain was still strong. She'd snap out of it, as Noctis's voice rang into her ears.*

```"Huh? Oh right. You know, you should have told me your name. If we're gonna take down a bunch of criminals together."```

*In hopes of distracting herself from mourning in a bad time, she'd ask the man's name in a calm tone. It would provide a quick breather for the devotee as they'd make their way towards the shop. Luckily, it was still opened. Her hands began search her pockets, finding a handful of silver. She felt a little silly for wasting a gold piece for some chocolate, then again... It wouldn't be a waste. Her blue eyes expressed a hue of grieve and sadness, luckily her helmat hid her emotions. Looking at the shop, it didn't seem like much... But there was a chance that the thieves sold or hid their stolen goods here.*

```"Keep your eyes open for anything suspicious, they could have your sword and armor here. If I stole them, I'd hide them in a place like this... Out of view of course and under the table deal."```

*Almonde said as she'd stop at the door, turning to look at the handsome man. In this lantern light, she could understand the barmaid falling victim to his charms. But, handsome men were the last of her concerns now. She'd grab the old metal door knob and twist it.*

```"Try to look around if you get the chance, I'll see if I can distract and question."```
Justin
Velaris, home of the elves.

Ifrit never thought she'd ever step foot in this place. A land lush in nature, towering with the arts and wisdom of eons ago. The smell of magic could permeated in the air, eyes of villagers and their military everywhere. For as beautiful as the land was, it held just as much dangers. How easy it was for one's secrets to be found out or how easily you could be marked a danger to Velaris if taking the wrong step. She'd always been careful to avoid it. It would be bad for a dragon like herself to be discovered here.

But then Noctis happened. And that strange message.

A shiver went down her spine and she grit her teeth an anger. Her insides twisting.

She did not enjoy whatever that was. That strange, disembodied voice of someone she did not know ringing in her mind. A warning, that held no merit, speaking of their crew's captain having been in danger, but alive. In Velaris now so suddenly.

She hadn't believed it at first, but when she'd searched the last Noctis had been, she found nothing but the carnage of a battle amongst the woodlands. A battle and no sight or scent of Noctis.

She'd snuck away from the crew to investigate the claim, transforming and flying as fast as her wings would take her. It took no more than a few hours before she'd found herself in Velaris. Her body still ached from her shifting back to her human form, but pressed onwards. If this was truthful, she'd need some answers from Noctis. Maybe smack some sense into him for not getting the rest of the crew involved in whatever trouble he'd been in.

Making her angry? Worry?

Worry?

*I've barely been on this crew for more than a week and already this captain puts his life in danger.*

She shut her eye, focused on listening to the sounds around her. The shops and streets were busy with townspeople selling their wares and chattering on about whatever nonsense, but the dragon was all too focused on if she could hear Noctis anywhere.

**"...To the shop."**

A familiar voice pierced through the rabble and noises, making Wisteria turn her gaze towards where the noise came from. Keeping her hood up as she traversed through the townspeople, she ignored the looks she got as she pushed through whoever had been in her way, turning corners and roads until she heard a different voice.

**...Take down a bunch of criminals together."

Her eye narrowed, processing what bits and pieces she was hearing. What had Noctis gotten himself into? And so far away?

*He's going to answer when he sees me regardless.*

Turning a corner, the dragon pulled back into the shadows, spotting the fabled man in front of a shop. He was dressed differently than normal. His armor gone, along with his sword. Strange considering he always had those with him. And beside him was someone she could not recognize. A woman.

She frowned at the sight. He disappears, says nothing, travels partly across Aeterna, and still seems to have time to help some woman in need?

Wisteria groaned, staying close tot e shadows as she waited for the duo to go into the shop. "I think I'm going to kill him myself for having to put me through all this."
Thomas
"My name is Noctis Camille." The man responded, his grey eyes still on the rooftops while he pulled the device out from his pocket, the hidden blade. "I am no one of consequence really, just a traveler right now." That was mostly the truth, though on further thought, perhaps it was entirely the truth. Most of his demigod power was gone and his mana was innecassible, he was no longer Noctis of the 11 demigods, he was just... Noctis. The thought made him feel terrifyingly small. It made him furious. As she spoke he turned his head to look at her, glancing from her to the shop and the down at the hidden blade. 

 "Would you? You wouldn't be a very good thief, then." Noctis said with a dry laugh as he fiddled with the contraption, examining the mechanism that let the hidden blade slide out. It was an incredible device- he wished he'd had it during his time working as an assassin for Scipio. Still one wrong move would slice of his fing- ah. That explained it then. However if he could reverse engineer it so it came out over his knuckles instead, perhaps it would be less effective for assassination but deadly in a straight on fight. 

"As you wish, Sister." He said, frustrated that she was bossing him around so much. It had been some time since he'd been bossed around at all. Even during his own time, he'd become a general of war, a hero of the land, an infamous monster- but never someone to be bossed around. He truly was no one of consequence now. He felt alone, tired- had his crew gotten his message through his father? How would they react? They'd been together out of necessity- likely they'd all just scatter again and he'd never see them.

His mind danced to Eliza and Wisteria. Eliza had been sent away on a mission, he knew where she was and where she would return to, she could be found again. Wisteria however... The strange woman that had found him, the exceptionally powerful fire mage who had an exterior as tough as dragon scales and yet something kind and beautiful hidde

N within her. AH! Eliza, Esme, Wisteria- none of those three women put him in any way capable of thinking of what was at hand. 

Getting his damn sword and armor. 

"Check his hands, remember." He said, and they entered the shop.

The shop itself was *Very* Strange. It was dimly lit and had rows upon rows of shelves, strange trinkets lined the wall from broken china to a ships anchor against the wall, to old ratty dolls and stuffed animals and moth eaten dresses. Barrels in the far wall contained swords, spears, staves and other assorted weapons- most looking in a dreadful state of disrepair or looking chipped, rusted and splintered. It was a junk shop through and through, with old farming tools and equipment. 

Perhaps Almonde had been right, this would be a good place to take stolen goods. The moment they entered, Noctis began to look for trapdoors as he moved to the shelves to examine the items. 

Meanwhile- an interesting sight sat behind the counter. He was a massive man standing at 6'5, with shoulders as broad as they were muscular. His long legs were propped up on the counter and he had an old leather book in his hands- wearing simple and loose clothing. He also wore a black glove on his left hand, his right had all of its fingers. 

However what was the most interesting thing... Was his face. It was *Horribly* Scarred. His mouth looked slit open, his skin ashy grey, his right eye was burned and a clouded white and his hair a greasy jet black. The man did not speak as they entered, his good eye which was a lovely hazel color, watched Almonde and Noctis closely.
Gwendolyn
*Upon hearing his name, she'd begun to wonder if it was any history on their last name. As a humble traveler, he had too many oddities to confirm that. His divine features, his body healing unnaturally quickly despite not having lost his mana nor magic. It was clear that he was hiding something, Almonde simply assumed the young man had lost a fight and simply wished to appear mysterious. Yet her thoughts on him were twisted and uneven, unable to truly figure him out.*

```"Right, Noctis. Just a traveler. What? It's the last place you think, which makes it perfect. I guess it's just a gut feeling, hard to explain."```

*The devotee said with a calm tone, the young woman would steal in her youth. Her best methods weren't to run away, it was to act natural and hide in plain sight. The thieves could have safely stored their stolen goods here and went back into the tavern for more goodies to steal, a theft's greed can match that of a dragon. She'd take note of looking at the man's hands.*

*Entering the shop, she'd take a moment to look around. Scanning the wall of weapons, she'd approach the large man on the counter. Upon seeing his fingers were intact, she spoke with a friendly tone.*

```"Oh gosh, hello! You're a human just like me! I thought the city would be filled with elves. It's lovely to see familer faces around here. Do you sell any cool local trinkets or something I could bring back to the Capital? Oh, my brother is searching for a cool elvish sword but where's the magic in that? Right?"```

*The devotee spoke with a soft and warm tone, her eyes locking with the eye of the scarred man. She'd lean on the counter while swaying her head, left and right.*

```"I really like your scars! I bet you fought a dragon or something. You'd be surrounded by ladies in the Capital, I swear!"```
.

*The devotee would say in a playful manner, while distracting the massive man. Hoping to get his attention, she'd pull out her staff and began to show it off.*

```"I recently got this from another store! It wasn't as cool and exotic like this, but its a unique staff used by holy elf clerics. Can you believe that? Do you have anything like that?"```
Justin
Watching as the duo made their way into the shop, Wisteria silently made her way towards the entrance and opened the door; silently slipping inside and sticking close to th e walls and corners. The shop was dark and held little lighting, the walls and shelves stacked with various rickets and tools that ranged from passable to simply trash yet to be discarded. 

An amber eye darted to where Noctis was; keeping himself busy looking at the shops wares and letting his new companion do the talking. Chatter and nothing more, but from what she remembered hearing from them while searching for Noctis, they were looking to stop criminals? Just what had he gotten himself into?

*Just more questions to get answered.*

Deciding to not let the unknown woman spot her, the hooded Wisteria quietly moved to inspect the wares as a guise, quietly moving closer to where Noctis was keeping himself busy. He seemed focused on searching for something, not even noticing she'd walked in. Normally he was quite intent on his surroundings. And he felt... Off. Usually she sensed some form of power off him. Or some unnatural pull when she looked at him. 

Yet there was nothing. 

Something was wrong. Much more than just this situation.

Standing but a few inches beside him as her eyes looked to the outside world through a nearby window, she tilted her head towards Noctis, speaking quietly so only he could hear.

"You look quite busy for someone who's in danger, eh Noctis?" Wisteria whispered, her tone leveled as her eye moved to look at the man beside her.