<span style="font-weight: bold">"My treat." </span>the nearby winged man said as he flashed a winning smile his way.<span style="font-weight: bold">"The name's Sain Darkwing."</span><br/><br/>Rhys gave the man a half-smile. The way things worked in the underground were favors for favors; so having someone simply offer to pay for a drink out of the blue seemed strange. Rhys thought the man might have questionable motives, but he was too tired and hungry to worry about the man's character. He held the cold glass in both of his mucky hands and took a deep gulp before placing it back down. He teetered his stool a bit from side to side so that he could better face the man.<br/><br/>"Thank you, Thank you so much, Sain." Rhys said with a grateful tremble to his heavy bass "I'm Rys'a-... I'm Rhys from underground Melura" he started to outstretch his hand toward Sain but quickly thought better of it; the man probably wouldn't appreciate dirt all over him. Instead, he slid the pastry plate towards him "only fair" he said with a shrug before he began to mess with his hair.<br/>"I don't look too menacing do I?" he questioned the pair "I think it's the hair," he said as he tried his best to make it look more presentable "I used to have it tied into a ponytail or bun but Ilksar made me cut it down: says that only women and royals waste their time with long hair," he let his hands fall to the table and he gave the two an expectant look.<br/><br/>Rhys split his attention as the two men began explaining the odd nature of this place. It was beginning to make sense why he had never seen a creature like either of them before.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"So what's your story?"</span>Donta asked,<br/><br/>Rhys sat stark straight in his seat and could only open and close his mouth wordlessly and stammer out on occasion "I- uh"<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"It's alright if you don't want to say, but we will listen,"</span>his genuineness was very comforting, those of the alienage were much rougher and ever-dubious about approaching enemies<br/><br/>Rhys chuckled "I ah-, I guess I owe you that much huh?" he started as he took a sip of his milk "I'm pretty sure that walking through that door means walking into my execution," he said matter-of-factly. He glanced over at the well-kept entrance. He thought carefully about what he would divulge. Saying that he was a mass murderer who laid waste to a capital city probably wasn't a good idea. He was sure the people here were simply curious and there was absolutely no way this was some interrogation technique; he still had all his limbs and Melurians thought magic use was tantamount to God murder. Still, he'd stick to the minimum.<br/><br/>"I live in underground Melura: I've been there and raised by the rebels in the alienage ever since I was a kid. I look after the kids most of the day, serve as a punching bag for the forces at night, and help the healers on occasion. The people are pretty crude and harsh at times but they're pretty accepting and they stand up for anyone being hassled," his voice had slowly drifted as he spoke. His mind was working through all the faces he'd probably never see again. He shook his head and continued on.<br/><br/>"The rebels aren't much of a force against the Melurians, they're more of a community trying to support the non-humans that call Melura home. The underground gets no support from the city, so we work to keep the community up and running; we've managed to make a little self-sustaining place for our people, and the whole place is well shrouded. The rebels are constantly pursued but no outsider has ever found the base," his chest swelled with pride even though his voice held melancholy.<br/><br/>"To deal with the rebels. The royal alchemist created this... thing.<span style="font-style: italic">The Ash</span>. A parasite that feeds on the life-force of magicals. It hollows them out, and turns them to dust." his words were filled with venom he didn't know he possessed. Only the sound of the trembling glass made him release his milk and place his hands in his lap.<br/><br/>"The Ash spread quickly in the city but it still didn't reach the underground. For some reason, it doesn't affect me. The doctor used this to his advantage: he'd send me to retrieve reagents and research; anything he required in order to find a cure," Rhys was silent for a long time before speaking again. His words were almost a whisper, more to himself than anyone else.<br/><br/>"I should've been more careful, I shouldn't have let her see me leave..." he wiped his face before gulping down some milk and speaking up again.<br/><br/>"A little girl... Riley, she followed me to the surface. I didn't know until I saw a guard taking her. I got myself arrested hoping I could help get her out somehow, but I couldn't let her come back. They stuck all of the magicals in a small cell, all sick with The Ash; no food, no water. She was strong to last as long as she did, but...." he supported his knuckles with his forehead.<br/><br/>"I was last one in that room, so they decided that they would torture me for the base location and then send me to the executioner... so lucky me I guess..." he said slowly and heavily<br/><br/>"Lucky. Me." he said before finishing his glass of milk. He gave a small cough to clear his throat.<br/><br/>"I'm sorry," he said as brightly as he could manage "That was long! You guys must have some stories to tell,"