"Who?" the Bartender grunted, his eyes casually drifting over her body, but his attention glued to the white skin of the top of her bosom. His wife's brow threatened to turn upside down as she glared in anger at the man but he didn't seem to notice.<br/><br/>"A blind boy." Myra said, "Has-a-blind-boy-come-though-here-lately." she spoke slowly and pronounced each word carefully to get the man to listen and understand.<br/><br/>"W-we see alot of patrons everyday miss." He managed to say, finally getting a glimpse of his wife's threatening demeanor, "I haven't noticed anyone in particular who seemed like they couldn't see."<br/><br/>"He was wearing black clothing and a hood."<br/><br/>"That could be over half of my patrons." he replied.<br/><br/>"He carried a large staff covered in cloth." she added. The Bartender paused for a moment, his eyes going to the ceiling as if recalling something. Myra took a swig of her ale.<br/><br/>"Ah, that white haired boy." he said, "Yes, I do believe I remember him. They say he did miracles at the Church. Hard to believe but everyone had much respect for that boy and he was very friendly."<br/><br/>"Where did he go?"<br/><br/>"I believe I heard him mention he was going to Colen." The Bartender's Wife said, "If you leave now, perhaps you can catch up to him!" She made a slight shooing motion, a look of annoyance on her face. Sighing, she finished her ale and sauntered to the door as the Bartender started to get bantered by his wife. Myra was out the door and just leaving town when she realized she hadn't let go of the stein.<br/><br/>Behind her she heard yelling and glanced over her shoulder to see the bartender lumbering after her, a club in his hand which he flailed about wildly.<br/><br/>"GET BACK HERE YOU THEIVING WENCH!"<br/><br/>"Sheesh! Why is he getting this riled over a stolen stein?" she muttered aloud, but then glanced down to look inside the beer mug, to see a small amount of gold coins. Her eyes went wide as she realized what she had done. The man shouldn't have left his coin chest open behind that bar.<br/><br/>She began running, the daggers on her belt bouncing along with her chest, but still she held the stein tightly.<br/><br/>"Colen....Colen.....gotta get to Colen...." she huffed. Closing her eyes she concentrated just as the Bartender began to overtake her. He swung his heavy club towards her head but something odd happened....<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">*WORP*</span><br/><br/>It was an odd sound, nothing like anything heard before. Almost like a thrum of an un tuned lute, but much louder and as if heard from inside a well. The club fell towards her head, but she suddenly disappeared and he missed, but a sudden backlash of air blew him back on his ass. He sat in the mud, eyes wide and confused...<br/><br/>---------------------------<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">*WORP*</span><br/><br/>She appeared five feet above the ground in a stone alleyway and fell on her back in a large pile of hay. Cursing quietly she struggled to climb out and pull straw from her hair, then dumped the coins into her own purse with a sigh. The stien, she left on a barrel on the corner.<br/><br/>Stepping out of the alley, she gazed around at the large city. Her eyes went wide and she felt a familiar twinge in the back of her mind as her gaze swept across an open market that lined the street she now stood in. Visible shakes set in as she tried to contain herself. There was no way she could walk down this street without getting in trouble. She had to find him before she got thrown in a dungeon again.<br/><br/>Then in the distance she spotted a cloth covered staff above the crowd. Standing on a box she saw his hooded head, being led by to other people into a tavern. Between them, a full thriving market and dozens of open pockets. How could she get over there?<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">*WORP*</span><br/><br/>Again a short blast of air blew skirts and tapestries off racks as she vanished, appearing again beside the Tavern around the corner. This time she landed properly and dusted off her pants before circling the building and she followed a cloaked man inside.<br/><br/>It wasn't hard to find the boy. He sat with his staff propped up against the wall beside him, two other guys sat across from him. She casually strolled across the tavern and took a seat in the booth behind the boy, her back was now to his as she listened. The Barmaid came by and asked for their orders<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">"Quail and potatoes, please." he said, then gestured for his companions to order, waiting until the barmaid had taken their orders before continuing, "My name is Ren Kuran. I've been travelling around these parts. I suppose my reason is just to help people, really. I met a nice couple of nobles who offered me a ride here in a carriage. Might have gotten lost otherwise."<br/><br/>Halieu took a drink of water then realized they hadn't introduced themselves. "Ah, yes," he said, "forgive our poor manners. My name is Halieu Hitsugaia."<br/><br/>It seemed Rian's mood had improved slightly after having something to drink and he swallowed what was in his mouth, ready to introduce himself. "And my name is Rian Hakitsu," he said cheerfully.</span></span><br/><br/>The Barmaid then came to her but Myra waved her off. With a polite bow she continued on and brought the boy his food. Myra fiddled with a candlestick on the table. She could hear him quietly eating behind her, but when he finished, there was a quiet pause before Ren spoke again.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Something's......off." he said, "People are on edge for some reason." his head slightly tilted towards the men at the bar, as if he glanced at them, but his eyes blankly stared at his plate.<br/></span><br/><br/>Myra glanced over her shoulder and then looked to the men at the bar. They were indeed acting suspicious, nervously glancing around the bar, keeping their heads down as they did so. All except the man she had followed in. He was more laid back and casually sipped his drink as he scanned the room. How a blind kid could tell the men at the bar were shifty confused her.<br/><br/>She shifted in her seat and the bag on her back that she had removed to sit shifted beside her, the quiet clink of something metal could he heard inside. Opening the flap she peered inside and saw the bronze candlestick she had been fiddling with a few minutes before, not even noticing it was gone from her hands. Sighing heavily she removed it from her bag and put it back on the table, sliding it far to the other end where she couldn't reach. Her eyes then went to the boy's staff leaning against the wall. An intense feeling of want washed over her. She thought about jumping up and just grabbing it, then running or teleporting away. But the people sitting with him were unknown and might try and stop her. The jewels in that thing must be worth a fortune.<br/><br/>She glanced over her shoulder at it. It was resting just between them, so close yet she couldn't just take it. Casually she let her arm drop to her side and slowly reached behind her to try and touch it. When her gloved hand contacted the wrapped wooden staff, she gasped as a strong image of wings and feathers flashed in her mind. She was suddenly reminded of the priest who had raised her, and she realized she was heavily contemplating actually stealing a blind boy's staff that he probably used to get around. It was like trying to steal a crippled man's crutch!<br/><br/>Hanging her head in her hands she felt horrible, Her red hair hanging over her face. She actually pursued this boy for miles trying to get ahold of this thing and at the last moment had a revelation that aligned her morals. Whether it was the touch that made her realize or something else, she felt like the worst person in the world. She jumped when the boy spoke again.<br/><br/>"Excuse me a moment." he said, then stood up, turning around to face her, "Are you alright?" She nodded, not lifting her head to face him. She just about took his only support. He felt a comforting hand on her shoulder and she looked up to see him smiling, his blank eyes staring through her.<br/><br/>"Myra. Don't worry. It's alright. I didn't think you would do it." he said quietly, "Please, join us."<br/><br/>"What? How do you know my name?" She asked, her eyes wide with surprise.<br/><br/>"I knew you were following me from the time I visited your church." he said, "People talk."<br/><br/>"How did you know what I was..." She couldn't finish it.<br/><br/>"Call it a gift." he said, "Please." He motioned for her to sit with them. She hesitated for a moment then grabbed her bag to take him on his offer. Sliding into her seat, Ren sat as well.<br/><br/>"Um, Hi." she muttered, keeping her gaze to the table.<br/><br/>"Let me introduce you. This is Myra, a friend of mine." he said, "This is Halieu and Rian."<br/><br/>"Nice to meet you." she mumbled, her cheeks turning red from embarrassment. All she could think of was why Ren wasn't mad at her for trying to steal his staff, but maybe he had plans for her later to get her back or something.<br/><br/>"Such fortune I should run into you here, friend!" he said with a smile, "What brings you to this fair city?"<br/><br/>"I....um....I dunno....Vacation?" she said uncertainly. She shifted again in her seat and again something in her bag clinked inside. Giving the bag a sligh squeeze, she clearly recognized the shape of the candlestick she had put back before. When the hell did she have time to steal it again?!<br/><br/>She sighed again, then became serious, "I heard you say something was wrong? What's going on?"<br/><br/>"Things feel.......off. I sense danger." Ren said, the smile faded from his face...