[I wanted to do a bonus chapter than had nothing to do with plot. Just some characterization. I had fun and hope you enjoy it.]
Being the last of their individual races did not mean that the bad ones died and only the good lived. Political mayhem, robbery, gangs, warmongering, and murder, along with other things, did happen within the Last City. Most times the factions handled it, but sometimes, hunters or warlocks were called in when it got out of hand. Titans were too much of a tank to do anything so delicate unless it was one of their own causing it. Luckily enough, most civilians never saw the face of a hunter as it meant someone had to be taken out. Most did not know that more than likely they were undercover and doing recon work. Many actually were scouts coming in and out of the City and happen to be spotted by a civilian. A good way for the people to mistake them as Ikora's Hidden as sometime they dressed as warlocks or titans to avoid trouble. Within the City, Hunters were treated like assassins and backstabbers anyways. Warlocks were treated like evil witches or sorcerers, especially the void users. Many did not understand as 'magic' and 'witchcraft' were frowned upon since nearly the beginning of time. While titans had a different kind of reputation, one that could be just as damaging to their psyche. They were heralded as all honorable and noble. Held to the highest standard. The pinnacle of perfection that left many overworking themselves or betraying the cause overall.
Being Awoken and dressed like a low-level guardian, it was fairly acceptable to be able to slip unnoticed into the City through the merchant entrance. It wasn't like he was Fallen or Cabal. That still did not mean he wanted to be here, sneaking into the City. It had taken him three hours of staring at the Traveler to find it in himself to go inside the walls. He was allowed in as the civilians could feel his light and there were no traitors within distance of the City that required identification to be checked.
He changed into a simple grey cloak with the most non-threatening helmet he owns. It was sleek and without harsh ridges. His shirt was of the same color with a chest bullet proof vest. Simple fatigue pants with a green camouflage color and one sidearm and one knife. He had a small sack on his shoulder. He felt unprotected and underdressed. He could barely feel the Traveler as he focused entirely on not turning around so suddenly. Civilians did not react well to fast movements. So few were born without threats in their lives and spoked like prey. He did not own any armor of Warlocks or Titans and making them from scratch would be too obvious.
It was for a good cause that he was coming in, Hawthorne had gotten sick and most of the farm was busy trying to make up the work as the families slowly came down with it too. Unfortunately, none of them were able to be spared to travel to the City. So, he did and for once doing a favor for them. They needed medicine made of herbs that did not grow in this area easily without expense. That was a good chunk of the drive to come here and acquire them. It didn't help his Ghost could not come out as he would be detected by Tower servers that monitored ghost and guardian positions this way.
The sun was coming low and the merchant area was emptying as it began to close for the night. The time with the least amount of people here meant that he had a large amount of space. There was little chance that someone would touch him by accident and set him off into throwing a knife. He walked in the medicinal area of the market and buried every single instinct to find a covered corner as all eyes turned to him. He still stuck to the walls and made note of all the exits as he reached his destination, following the mental map copy he had memorized from the old mechanic of the farm. Most jumped out his way and parents pulled away their children. He almost wanted to sigh in relief as it meant he would not be bumped into. His hands were beginning to shake.
So much for being discrete. His Ghost grumbled in their link to distract him. This is something I noticed of the City. These people don't see us enough to be comfortable with us. Even the Awoken and Exo of the city avoid us.
A result from Osiris' betrayal of the city and the guardians pulling from City interactions. He stated grateful for the diversion of conversation as his hands calmed and he let out the breath he did not he was holding. The divide is so that something like that doesn't happen anymore. The factions, at least to me, hold too much power over the civilians.
Children ran around the streets in colorful outfits and their caretakers wore the muted colors with the occasional weapons. He agreed with that concept of being armed. This world was a threat in itself and every being should not just depend on guardians to protect and keep their dwindling numbers alive. Not like before where their number was enough to defend the people. Now, they could barely keep their head above the waters.
Banners and civilian clothing strung a top them covered the sun from coming down on them as shadows fell the City. It also meant he could barely feel the Traveler despite feeling its light saturating the floor. Being so high in the mountains, the sun was a harsh mistress. He knew this well after so many sunburns on his normally resilient skin. He found the large red cross on a white flag that dangled sideways off a wall covered in vines with small purple flowers. The entrance was thick purple curtain edged in gold instead of any door. It felt familiar to him.
He let the Traveler's light cover his sense and dull out the rest of the world. He moved the consequential royal purple curtain aside to come inside. He remembered now. An Awoken lived here and still served the queen if the golden symbol logo on the products had anything to say. It was the only thing that kept him from running back out. It was too tiny and cramped enough to raise the hairs on his neck.
"Guardian Hunter. What brings you here?" The old lady snapped. Same attitude that he had been warned about from the Farm radiated in waves from the woman. She was Awoken with a grey tone to her skin and slightly dull, misty auburn eyes. Her black hair was streaked heavily with white. All in one severe bun. Her clothing suspiciously baggy. He knew she hid weapons as well.
You are a warrior race after all. His little backseat driver commented. The little light was soothing him as he almost went for a knife when he registered the need to attack someone so close. The woman had no qualms about getting close to him.
He didn't bother having his Ghost come out. He simple handed over the quickly snatched note.
"Hmph. I tell them to join us here behind the walls. Stubborn humans them!" She snapped at him. He could feel her reaching out to his mind and he delicately shift her away. She was surprisingly telepathically powerful for her age and civilian status. Then again she was the first he had contacted away from the field. She was probably in her late 60's when the birth of their race happened if she looked to barely be hitting 80's now.
He was surprised when she cackled.
"I told Hawthorne that I guessed you were Awoken!" She grinned with a vicious show of teeth. "She came in once having your 'protection' all over her. We are quite a prideful people, aren't we?" She spoke of his mental pheromones that all races gave off much like animals do physically.
They could register it and control it at the same level some animals would do smells. Most times they saturated anything they owned or were around constantly, like family and friends. It's what made a lot of humans unconsciously weary of them as some could 'feel' these markers. To a smaller degree, Exo beings could tell when another had been there. Some could feel emotions as well as they could. Most Exo did not know how they could, but the Awoken did. Some Exo bodies survived being caught between light and dark like they had.
He nodded once at her. He was glad he did not need to explain everything if Hawthorne had spoken to her about him.
For once, I am glad Hawthorne is too honest a person. Ghost remarked.
"I won't tell the Tower, factions, or Vanguard about this. Now here you go." She gave two large gallon tins of cold medicine. It looked like the farm would be drinking tea for a while. He in return emptied the ransack full of fruits, and glimmer to place the tins inside. It left his hands free for when he changed into his proper armor and weapons. The enemy was becoming bolder lately. Risk were not something to take lightly anymore.
She took them and waved him away. Almost sprinting, he exited and leaped up into a balcony and further onto the roof. He heard children giggle with his departure and felt a small relief at the large step he had taken today. He went down by the now dry canal where no one went due to the slug and mud from the Winter run off. He followed it to one of the only large gates in the wall meant for caravans and vehicles.
He felt good knowing people still serve the Queen or at the very least, the royal family. But even knowing that and having a connection to that here, he knew would not be returning to Reef anytime soon.
