Under A Smoldering Moon

[Sebastian Arcturis]

[roughly a year ago]

He wasn’t supposed to take missions alone. He wasn’t supposed to take missions, period. But Bastian failed to see how he could be a proper Warden Inquisitor if he wasn’t pulling his own weight and taking his own orders. He couldn’t ask other people to risk their lives when he could do a job just as well or better.

Besides, the last two times he had gone out with a partner, that partner was either killed or maimed. At least this way, he had less families to talk to should something happen. Not to mention most found the Warden Inquisitor’s company boring or annoying or down right unbearable so asking someone to join him never went over well. He was capable on his own, and they could be off doing something more productive than getting in his way and talking too much.

This mission, Sebastian found himself in the southern region of Teronna. He was here to follow up on reports of deadly thefts near Saryus. As such, he was leaning against a tree on the outskirts of town, leafing through the coded reports to reacquaint himself with the details.

Five victims as of a week ago. All alive, all travelers that were armed but alone on the main road at night. None could describe their attacker, only confirm that it had been a single individual in a cloak. Most claim they wielded some sort of glowing weapon, but none agreed on the type (dagger, axe, hand scythe, what have you) but all had horrible burns with unclear origin, likely fire or chemical. Or magical. Certainly not the wounds of melee weapons.

If the Inquisitor had to guess, fire was more likely. Though whether it was a true mystic or some soul who had appropriated an ancient magical weapon, Bastian wasn’t yet sure. He had one of his own and knew they weren’t to be trifled with anymore than a mystic. Regardless, he wasn’t about to let someone wield magic so openly and not pay for it.

He sighed, folded the notes back over well worn creases and tucked it into his coat again. A quick glance around him at the orange glow and soft purple shadows told him he still had a while before dark. There was quite a lot of cloud cover so the night proved to be rather warm and dark, despite whatever light the golden moon provided. Best to get walking and see if he could make himself much of a target or happen upon any scenes of the crime.

Aiden de Sardet

[Aiden de Sardet]

The lower the sun sunk in the sky the more Aiden could feel that familiar tingle running through him. It always started out as a low buzzing in the back of his skull. Something easy to ignore. Though as the sky turned from a bright blue to soft purple color the low buzz began running down his spine and to his finger tips and toes. Turning more into a feeling of pins and needles.

As his parents retired to their room for the night Aiden decided sneak away. This time for more of a walk slightly further from the estate than he normally did. The night air felt good on his heated skin as he stretched his arms over his head. Of course he'd heard about this cloaked figure that had been attacking travellers. He was curious mostly. Though there was a sense of territory. A need to protect the area he'd grown up in.

As he walked sky turned darker except for the light from the rising moon. Aiden had to take pause. His hand against a tree as his senses heightened and he was hit with a rush of sounds and smells. He blinked a bit as he adjusted and continued until his eyes landed on a stranger. A mercenary? Or was he the attacker? He watched him curiously for a moment before stepping closer.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

The 'stranger' made no effort to conceal himself. While he possessed no uncanny abilities of his own, he still kept alert to his surroundings. Most of the locals knew about what was going on to avoid the roads at night at this point, but Bastian wouldn't be surprised to see a few other travelers or even some local militia or guard types. Not everyone was scared, whether they should be or not.

He sorely regretted not carrying a torch with him, but it was light enough to see and to be honest, he didn't want to scare away the theft anymore than he could help it. He wasn't exactly an innocent or easy looking mark, so he had to make sacrifices somehow.

There was a flash of gut instinct, that feeling of eyes on him making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, but as far as he could tell, he was still alone. Whether it was the theft(it was still early for that character, the sun only just dipping behind the hills) or someone else or just a stray animal, Bastian wasn't too bothered. He kept his arms relaxed at his sides, knowing he could easily reach his blade or the bow on his back if he had need.

[Aiden de Sardet]

Aiden didn't particularly need a torch. Even without the light of the moon he was able to see better at night than normal people. Not to mention his other heightened senses gave him a better lay out of the world around him. Often making a torch more of a hindrance than not having one. There were a few soldiers making some late night rounds. Even what seemed like a few braver, or more stupid, people leaving from the tavern on their way home.

Perhaps it was a bit too early for the attacker to be out just yet. Aiden kept his hands relaxed at his side. Letting himself appear unthreatening. Though he wasn't exactly the scrawny, lanky teenager he had been a couple of years ago. Since working out more, training with some of the soldiers on their off time in town, and working more with his power he'd muscled up a bit. Though he hardly seemed as threatening as one of the soldiers. Or the man ahead of him.

Aiden took to the trees. The place he felt most at home. Still close enough to watch the road and people passing by. He was mostly hidden away. More so as he climbed one of the trees. Lounging on the thick branch and letting his leg dangle below him.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

He nodded passing greetings to the soldiers that passed by and kept clear of those who smelled like ale. Bastian had once had a bad habit of drinking too much himself and while he didn't worry about slipping back into that particular vice, he knew well enough to give drunks their space. Most of them seemed in enough control of their faculties however that he didn't think twice about tailing one to see if they got jumped. Besides, odds were good they were local or broke, and this thief had a specific victimology they followed and him not being a local was enough for Bastian.

He passed by the tavern with only a thoughtful look. Not that he planned to stop, but he had to at least pretend as much. He needed more distance between himself and the nearest populated place if anything was going to happen, so he kept walking until the moon rose higher and the road grew empty once again.

Better. He stretched his arms over his head and paused at the next rise in the path, as if checking his bearings. Which was when he had that feeling again, but different. He glanced up and down the road and then quickly up.

Only to find a young man lounging in one of the nearby trees not twenty feet away. Bastian studied him a heartbeat, one hand tightening on his belt.

Weird. Probably not his thief, but weird.

[Aiden de Sardet]

Aiden didn't exactly try to hide himself though he certainly wasn't calling attention to himself either. He lounged cassually in the tree watching the moon raise higher in the sky. Feeling that familiar pull of something much deeper and more primal inside of himself.

The sound of footsteps coming towards him was enough to catch Aidens attention. He turned his eyes to the man he'd seen earlier. Watched his hand move to his belt. If he were some kind of mercenary or soldier he was likely preparing to pull his weapon. Just in case. Still, this only made the younger man give a sharp toothed grin.

Aiden leaned his body until he fell over the side. His legs catching the branch being the only thing that stopped him from tumbling head first to the ground. Watching the man upside down almost made him want to laugh. "Evening." He called instead. Perhaps just to make the man a little less apprehensive.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

He didn't move as the young man...fell. He supposed that was the word. Clearly he was in control of himself and while the show of athleticism was cute, Bastian wasn't interested. None of the other victims had mentioned such an encounter in their evenings so he merely eyed the man up and down (or down and up?) before seeming to come to some less than interested conclusion and turned back to his study of the landscape.

Bastian kept his hand on his belt even as he moved on down the road.

Children. He didn't get being playful or teasing or showing off. Probably never would.

The warden continued on for quite some time after that, leaving the boy in the tree behind. If he followed, Bastian was generally aware of the tail, even if he could never pinpoint where he was. He hadn't seemed malicious so he didn't worry over it.

There was however, after an hour or two of walking, something else that started to bother him about the empty road. Which, funnily enough, was exactly the feeling he wanted. That 'too quiet' feeling. Where Bastian relied on experience and instinct, Aiden had much more keen senses and he could likely pick out the scent of another person ahead of the 'mercenary.' Or course, there had been other travelers earlier in the evening. Nothing about this one (at least from this distance) sparked anything out of the ordinary.

The wind shifted slightly, pulling in a few more clouds, making it difficult for Bastian to see more than a few meters ahead. He breathed deeply and yawned.

[Aiden de Sardet]

Aiden wasn't terribly concerned with the mans dismissal of him. He hadn't greeted him in some attempt to strike up a conversation. As odd as that might sound. He'd greeted him as a sign to prove he wasn't a threat. As the man turned away from him he pulled himself back up into the branch though this time in a crouch.

It was best for him to stay in the trees at the moment. The theif had been attacking easier targets. He doubted he'd show himself if he saw the two of them together. Aiden did follow after the man though. Moving from tree to tree easily. He was comfortable and confident in his body. Jumping quietly from branch to branch came as almost second nature to him.

The scent of someone else down the road caught his attention. He paused and sniffed the air. The smell of leather, steel of some sort of weapon, dried blood? It was old and more faint than any other smell but Aiden was far too familiar with that smell. Those weren't exactly reasons to be terribly suspicious but it did put him on edge.

Aidens muscles tensed as his nails dug into the bark of the branch. He wasn't going to leap just yet though. The figure of the man was still a bit further down. He also didn't want to interrupt any ideas the stranger had. It wasn't as if the man looked helpless after all.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Bastian supposed it was just as well he left the boy alone. He realized there could be others out here seeking to teach the thief a lesson and while banding together wouldn't lure the person in, saying hello and not jumping each other went a long way to forming a little trust.

The creaking of branches behind him was a bit..eerie considering it wasn't that windy. His strange monkey friend, he guessed, from the glimpses he got and what he recalled of the boy's build. It didn't make him feel comfortable regardless.

Aiden was probably smelling Bastian. The warden's blade was kept clean, but the rest of him...well, he cleaned up when he was on guard duty at least. See, their theif didn't smell like steel or blood, they didn't carry a weapon on them, mystic that they were. They did, however, as the figure drew closer, smell like seared hair and burning flesh, ever so faintly. Not something a normal human nose would pick up unless they buried their face in theor clothes but Aiden would get a nice overwhelming whiff.

The smaller figure moved to the other side of the road as they passed Bastian, skirting around him with a strange involuntary subservient grace that had the warden assume they were female. Another quick observation showed she was unarmed.

A moment later, unfortunately a heart beat too late, he had another observation. Three strides behind him, she paused and turned back to him and snapped her fingers and then Bastian could smell it too.

As she leaped toward him, right hand extended, fingers glowing in a blur of intense heat, the warden brought his sword up to block with a surprised shout. The magical blade looked like a finely crafted regular sword in this state but its inherent magic was enough to withstand the blow and surprise the woman. She blinked at him and swung again, only for Bastian to dodge and block and back away from the oppressive heat the woman controlled in her hands.

"Feisty soldier boy," she teased. "Give me that pretty sword and I'll let you live. With a parting gift," she purred, flexing her fingers. Bastian doubted all of that considering she had tried to go for his head the second time and not just his arm.

[Aiden de Sardet]

The burning smell filled up his senses in a way Aiden wasn't prepared for. Of course he'd smelled burning flesh before but rarely human and even the smell of seared fur and singed flesh on animals wasn't pleasant. He shook his head as if trying to shake the smell itself away. Elementals were annoying. More dangerous as well.

He watched the figure walk by with one hand over his nose. Hopeing it they weren't the thief. Looks like luck wasn't on his side. For a quick moment he watched as she turned and attacked the man. She was quick but not as quick. Aiden tensed and jumped from his branch. Landing on top of her with his full weight as he dug his teeth into her shoulder hard. The momentum of his leap caused the two of them to roll before he felt something very hot against his back.

He tossed her to the side with a yelp before getting back to his feet and spitting out some cloth he'd ripped away from her in the struggle. His stance more of a wolf ready to jump again. A low growl rumbled through his chest as he snarled at the woman. It seemed his little sneak attack caught her off guard for a split second as well as the deep bite wound on her shoulder.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

She yelped in shock and surprise at the weight on her shoulders and crumpled to the ground. The teeth she only barely noticed considering she was smart enough to wear leather armor on her torso and arms and legs. While Aiden's bite was enough to sink through the treated hide as it might on animal prey, while it certainly hurt, it wasn't so deep.

As they rolled, she had something else in mind. The magic she had summoned to her hands was not exclusively tied there. While she scrambled to press bare hands to any part of the young man's body to burn through his clothes to his skin, she brought the same superheated magic to her shoulder where his mouth was. "Like the taste, beastie?" She teased, as they separated.

He'd find singed holes in his clothes, likely a few minor burns on his back, and potentially some in his mouth as well. Certainly all he would be able to smell and taste for a while was her burning flesh scent which in itself was painfully overwhelming.

Bastian, meanwhile, used the opportunity to stab her in the back. He didn't have time to be precise considering he now had some strange kid to look out for. He was fairly sure he missed anywhere immediately lethal and she didn't hold still for him to make corrections. She screamed as the blade pierced first her armor and then slid into her back and in that moment it was clear she wasn't winning this fight.

The theif pulled away and feinted toward Aiden. The warden instinctively put himself between her and the boy. Clearly something about his demeanor had tipped her off that he wasn't just some mercenary but a more...lawful sort because she seemed to have planned on him moving. She spit in the wardrn's face. While it didn't carry the full force of her magic, Bastian flinched in half fear (well, everything she touched melted so spit was scary) and the rest in actual pain.

He landed on his side in the dirt, frantically wiping his face as her spittle burned on his skin and she took off into the night.

In that brief moment though, he'd caught a glimpse of her face. And she knew it. It wasn't the outcome he wanted, but it wasn't an entire loss.

[Aiden de Sardet]

Aiden had been prepared to get burned. Not that it felt nice by any means but having been more ready for it helped ignore the majority of the pain. It was more the taste of burnt leather and flesh in his mouth that was the most distracting.

Still, as she moved towards him again the younger man prepared to tackle her again until the man stepped between them. What the hell was he doing? This was exactly how people got hurt! He couldn't be distracted by him too long though. As she ran off Aiden gave chase keeping up with her without issue. As he reached out to grab the blood soaked part of her cloak she turned quickly to grab his wrist.

Searing pain shot up his arm forcing him to yank back with a rip as he tore off part of the cloth. He stumbled back, holding his arm and the cloth to his chest. As she ran off again he panted in pain but smiled. As disgusting as her scent was he could find her now.

Aiden quickly turned and ran back to the man out of worry but couldn't help an annoyed growl seeing him again. He tied the cloth around his uninjured wrist before moving next to him. "Don't wipe at the spit you'll only rub it in more." He warned quickly as he pulled a hand towel from his pocket. "Dab at it with this. Then we can find some water to properly clean your face."

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Sebastian took a breath. It hurt but after a heartbeat of panic, he determined he wasn't about to lose an eye. It was easier to take it slow after that. It was more a misting of boiling hot spit than anything else and he was quite accustomed to heat. One didn't wield a burning blade without having their fair share of burns.

While the boy dashed off after the woman, he tugged the green sash from his waist and patted himself dry with a wince.

The warden picked himself and started after the pair. Clearly the boy was reckless and it was not on Bastian to save his hide. It was nice having so much less pressure.

Seeing the boy amble back, and growl and attempt to...nurture? The warden growled back at him in a clear suggestion that the boy was not in charge. Bastian did care for people who treated him lile he was stupid and they were the smartest person in the room. Was it true by comparison? Very likely, he wpuld admit, but he knew that already and they didn't need to be the center of attention or worse yet, act like he needed to be 'handled.'

But beyond the growl, he ignored the young man at first, sheathing his blade and following after the woman, one eye to the faint tracts on the ground. He pulled out his waterskin while he walked and poured some of that on a clean part of his sash to 'clean himself up.' It wasn't the best, but it was enough for the moment.

[Aiden de Sardet]

Aiden bristled as the man growled back at him. His usually soft features hardening into a snarl as a defensive instinct. It wasn't that he thought the man was dumb or even that he might be smarter than him. Intelligence wasn't a concern for him at the moment. The boy was more of just a naturally nurturing person. Perhaps he got it from spending time with his mother.

Nevertheless as he was ignored Aiden pressed the cloth to his nose. The burnt smell was almost enough to make him gag but her blood was what he was focused on. He didn't need tracks in the dirt to follow her now. If the man wanted to ignore him that was his business.

Aiden focused for a moment before taking off after her again. Moving past the man as his body worked on following her scent. Focused on nothing else but a hunt. Like tracking a wounded animal through the woods at by his home.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Bastian didn't pay the boy's returned snarl any mind. If he was going to throw a tantrum over something he started then he was quite welcome to do so. While the warden found the boy lacking in social skills, he knew he wasn't one to judge.

As for the nurturing...he simply didn't understand it. Nor did he understand why the boy was chasing after the mystic. It was not his job.

He didn't move quickly, but despite the darkness, his footing was sure. The young man was tossed a curious gaze as he moved past and the warden caught sight of the cloth on the boy's wrist. Was he...tracking her by scent? The warden picked up his pace to keep up with Aiden, but kept checking in with the road and then as it moved off trail and more directly toward the town, the underbrush around them.

He heard the river before he could see it in the dark. Well, so much for tracking on foot. If they could just figure out if she went up or down river...

Left to his own devices, the warden guessed toward the town. But he paused first and glanced at the stranger with him.