Felinis: Around here thinks will start to drift a bit. You'll see why

Back in the castle Estelle had often asked Flynn about his friend who seemed to frequent the castle dungeons. The man always seemed to be mentioning Yuri in some context. Most often a complaint that was less a bitter remark and more concerned bickering of a mother hen. It amused her to hear Flynn mention how exhausting it was to deal with Yuri.

Especially, since Estelle had no friends to speak of. Oh, sure she had emotionless conversation with the children of nobleman, but what did it count for when they all just smiled and went along with her. She was jealous of Flynn and his friendship.

But as she looks at Yuri's sleeping form she remembers a brief remark Flynn made once. He had looked exhausted that day like he hadn't slept. When she asks why he canceled their meeting in the library he rubs the back of his neck.

"You see I had to deal with something involving Yuri." Estelle had pressed to know what happened Flynn sighed mournfully. "Ever since we were little he's had moments where… where I need to be there."

"Moments?"

He laughs awkwardly. "He has a bit of a… well, let's call it a condition. He… every time this happens he just… gets away from me." There's a heaviness in Flynn's eyes. "He lashes out occasionally and I have to calm him down. He's usually like that for hours." Flynn grips his hair and Estelle wonders if he might cry in this exhausted state. "I wish I could do something for him. All I ever can do is hold his hand wait."

Estelle takes his hand and rubs soothing circles. "You really care about him." But it's more than that. She sees in the sad way his lips curl up at her gesture and in the red rings in his eyes. Estelle holds him in a hug and presses herself against the uncomfortable armor lovingly. "Have you been together long?"

"No. Yuri doesn't see me that way." The words hurt her, because she knows that Flynn loves deeper than most people.

Estelle wonders now if that condition he spoke of is related to all the strange occurrences surrounding Yuri. It might explain why he seems to have moments where he's not quite there. But where did the horns come in? The material is strangely familiar as she runs a hand on the surface. She's seen this before... right this was the material embedded into a few pieces of jewelry. Estelle thought it was a rare coral, but she must have been wrong. A thought occurs to her that she quickly laughs away and dismisses. It's impossible!

Estelle looks up from the horns to see Repede looking at her with judging eyes. Estelle knows that Repede is just a dog, but as he stares into her she feels caught and afraid. Repede can't talk so there's nothing to worry over, but she still mutters an apology. "Please don't tell Yuri."

The dog gives a gruff bark and stares at her till she places back the horns.

"I was worried." Estelle says trying to ease her guilt in snooping through other people's things. She wasn't one to normally intrude on other people's privacy. She didn't really sleep that night and her legs were tired as they made their way towards Aspio.

The City of Shade had well earned its name by being built into a cavern. Upon entering they could feel the chilling damp air and the gloomy light of blastia.

"It looks like this is Aspio..." Estelle says as she touches the cold cave walls.

"It's so gloomy and damp here... It's giving me the chills, too." Karol mutters as he follows behind.

"It's because the city is in a cavern." Estelle notes factually.

Yuri sniffs his air, but his nose was still clogged. He idly looks at Repede and asks if the dog can smell Mordio. Repede shakes his head and Yuri scowls. They might have taken too long to get here. The knights at the gate look lacked and depressed and stop them lazily.

"May I see your passport, please?" The one on the left asks.

"Our...passport?" Estelle mutters.

"This is an Imperial facility. We can't just let anyone inside, can we? Especially not filthy halfers." The one on the right says.

Karol sighs between them. "Passport? You don't have one of those, do you?"

Yuri steps forward with a confident smile. "An associate of ours is inside. Could you please let us through?"

"If you filled out the official visitation paperwork, then you ought to have gotten your passport from this 'associate' of yours, Halfer."

Yuri pulls out his street smarts and lets out a wide grin. "This is the first we've heard, though. If you won't let us in, perhaps you could call him to the gate for us?"

"What's your associate's name?" The knight huffs.

"Mordio." Yuri says and the knights tense in their spot.

"M-Mordio?!"

"W-we can't help you. You'll need to mail in a request and have a passport officially issued to you." The man stutters.

"Damn, don't budge an inch, do you?" Karol muttered and hid himself behind Yuri from the looming guard.

Estelle approached with a smile. "Excuse me, but did a knight by the name of Flynn happen to stop by here?"

The knight on the right turns to her. "All information about the establishment is classified. We cannot share even small details with outsiders."

She pouts. "So you can't even tell me why Flynn was here?"

The one on the left shakes his head. "No, of course not."

Estelle smiles. "...So what you're saying...is that Flynn really did come here!" Not bad princess. She's quite the trickster if she tries.

"I-I don't know who you're talking about! A knight named Flynn? N-never heard of him!"

"Could we at least leave him a message?" She asks eagerly despite the knights now quiet mouths. Yuri places a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Give it up, Estelle. We'd have more luck asking a brick wall for help." Yuri says as he pulls her along noticing a small curve in the cave.

"But Flynn's inside..." She says while Karol looks up with disappointment.

"What, we're just going to give up?" Yuri presses a finger to his lip and guides them down a narrow path.

"Let's take a stroll around, why don't we? As a last resort, maybe we could go over the walls." As they make their way downward they see a large door that looks like it was likely used for supplies. Yuri huffs in annoyance when he sees the lock. "Doors like this never open when you want them to!"

"I guess we'll have to climb over the wall and open it from the inside." Estelle says a little too eagerly.

Yuri chuckles. "A little quick to jump to our last resort, aren't you?"

She smiles. "Let's wait for Flynn to come out, then."

Yuri sighs. "Even if Flynn comes out, it's not like he's going to bring Mordio out with him." Then there's the chance that the trail has gone cold.

"Well, if Flynn comes outside, we can just ask him to let us in, can't we?" It's not a bad idea except for one thing.

Flynn would never let him get away with essentially beating up a civilian who would normally be charged with thievery and go to court. "He'd never go for a plan like this. He's far too much of a goody-goody."

Yuri turns to the sound of metallic clicks and the turn of tumblers. "Karol, what are you doing?"

Karol cheered in joy. "There, it's open!"

Estelle looks at him with scolding eyes. "Huh...? Y-you can't do that!"

Karol looks sheepishly at his feet. "Your guild specializes in hunting monsters, right? Or are you guys into thieves' guild-type stuff, too?"

"Heh, umm, yeah... Well, I'm pretty much the only one who can do anything like this."

Yuri gently rubs his head with a smile. "Well, good job! Shall we?" He holds the door open for Estelle but the girl scoffs at the idea.

"No, that's bad! We should just wait here for Flynn."

Yuri rolls his eyes and heads in. "I don't have the patience to wait for Flynn to just happen to walk out of this town by chance." Estelle is still looking at him sternly and he sighs. "If you go around following every rule then you could fail to do what's important. Attitude's like that are why I quit the Imperial Knights.".

"But, but..."

He grins and starts to close the door. "Well then, Estelle, keep a lookout for us here, won't you?"

"Wait, but, but, umm...! I-I'm going with you!" She calls chasing after them down the poorly lit hallway.

Karol looks around and snickers. "You know Yuri… Your attitude, your behavior, they don't seem very… knightly."

"Where'd that come from?" Yuri raises a brow.

"I mean we're entering the city through a back entrance, like thieves."

"This coming from the guy who picked the lock."

Estelle finally snaps to yell at them. "I'm just tagging along to find Flynn and now you've turned me into a thief!"

Yuri rolls his eyes. "We haven't stolen anything, sheesh." Once they make their way through the tunnel and past a warehouse they find themselves inside a library. Yuri notes all the people dressed in robes just like his thief, but Repede does not seem to find them worth bothering.

Estelle runs up and begins talking to a man who's engrossed in a thick leathery tome. "Would you happen to know if a knight named Flynn Scifo has come through here?"

The man nods half-interested in the conversation. "Flynn? Ohh, that guy, he was saying something about going to catch someone who'd been vandalizing ruins..."

"Where is he now?" She exclaims excitedly.

"I couldn't say. My research keeps me too busy to pay attention to things like that." The man grumbles. Estelle apologizes and Yuri approaches and notes the estranged look Yuri gets. "What do you want Halfer?"

Figures a research city for the empire would be full of uptight jerks. "Is there a famed mage named Mordio around here?"

"Ack! There are people who want to see that weirdo?" The man gasps jumbling his book.

"So I was right. You know Mordio?"

The man shakes his head adamantly. "...No, uh, I don't know anything at all. I don't associate with people like that!"

"Well can you tell me where the mage is?"

"Mordio lives alone in a shack back that way." He points out of the library and Yuri figures he'll find it easily enough. "Go and see for yourself if you want!" The others trail off silently taking in the reaction as they head out. Estelle stops a few times to stare at the books while Yuri lingers. "What more do you want Halfer?"

Yuri drops his voice. "Do you… do you know anything about a woman by the name of… Hanna Quin?" The man sighs and turns away. "Or Lowell? Or anyone here who might know?" The man is glaring at him and Yuri thinks of what might convince him. Yuri closes his eyes and enters that small headspace where he can find that lost language.

"I need to find this information. Please."

"Ancient Geraios? Cute party trick." The man grumbles. "Any Krytian fool can speak it easy enough. Get lost before I call the guards."

"Fuck you." Yuri spits and walks off to follow his companions to find Estelle and Repede who are curled next to a bookshelf. The dog is reading over her shoulder and is clearly annoyed at her slow pace. Yuri pulls her away with some difficulty as Repede stays behind to keep reading. "Repede come on." As they head through the dark gloomy streets towards where the shack is Yuri notes the stares drifting towards him. Whispers of 'foreigner' and 'halfer' drift in his ears. He listens and half-heartedly and then a word drifts into his ears 'Lowell'. He looks over and sees the weedy man with dark heavy set eyes glaring at him from high up on a stairwell.

Yuri quickens his step till they walk down a rickety wooden staircase toward a shack that seems nice from a distance but on closer inspection in sloppy in its construction. This home seemed design to push Mordio away from the other researchers. Was this guy that much of deviant? Once at the door they see a sign with handwriting that makes Yuri's seem professional.

"Keep out. Seriously. -Mordio." Estelle says as Yuri goes up to door and tries to pry it open.

"I guess this is the place..." Yuri grumbles as he twists the door once more.

Estelle rolls her eyes. "I think people usually try knocking first."

"Looks like no one's home. What should we do?" Karol asks.

"No point in hesitating when you're heading into a den of thieves." Yuri smirks and points at lock and Karol steps up eagerly.

"No. I don't want us to commit any more crimes." Estelle hisses while Karol picks the lock with great ease and opens the door. Once inside they're greeted to a mess of whizzing machinery and precariously stacked books. Vials of strange colors and dirty laundry stay strained across the floor with dishes. A strange crystal jutting all the way to the roof.

Karol grimaces as he cautiously steps through the room. "This is crazy... Who could live in a place like this?"

Yuri shrugs. It's bad, but it could be worse. "You can pretty much live anywhere you can eat and sleep, if you set your mind to it."

Estelle is glaring at him off to the side. "Yuri, don't you have something to say first?"

"Uh...Hello? We're coming in."

Her foot taps on the ground. "And the door?"

"Karol here opened your door. Sorry 'bout that."

She crosses her arms and turns her head. "Honestly, Yuri..." She calls out. "Excuse us, is anyone home?" There isn't an answer and Yuri notes that Repede is sniffing the air in confusion.

Karol looks at the machine's pressed against the wall and the plans in awe. Yuri looks over and gives a small whistle. "Whoever made this was pretty talented."

Estelle states keeping closely to the door. "It's a model of a grand blastia. It's not working though."

"Grand blastia?"

"Grand blastia refers to especially large types of blastia but not limited to barrier blastia." Yuri notes the variety of rich and rare tomes. Some of them old and falling apart at the spine. He walks over to a chalkboard where a large array is displayed. "Oh, a blastia formula. Very impressive."

Yuri rolls his eyes. "Feel free to step inside, if you'd like. Aren't you cold?"

"I've had enough crimes for today, thank you."

Yuri waves his hand. "Meh, it's not such a big deal."

Estelle's eyes widen. "Not a big deal? 'Breaking and entering is a crime punishable by at least a year in prison and a fine of up to ten thousand gald!"

Karol looks at the writing in cringes. "God, have you seen all the writing. Even I can write better than this."

Yuri laughs thinking about an old wise tale Norien had said. "But, they say people with bad handwriting have good hearts."

Karol rolls his eyes. "Well, I have good handwriting and a good heart! How about that?" Yuri chuckles.

"Estelle, do you know what this formula means?" Yuri asks.

"It resembles a magic circle that uses fire, but I'm not sure."

Yuri nods. "At least you understand it a little bit. It means nothing to me at all." Yuri's tried understanding magic in the past but found it fruitless.

The dog let's out a low yip. "I don't think this is the right place." As Karol screams at a figure drowsily rises from a pile of books.

The figure mutters something incoherently as they launch a fire spell that impacts Karol. The hood falls back revealing a small girl with short choppy brown hair. Yuri holds his blade up to her face. "If you can pull tricks like that, why'd you bother skipping town back in Zaphias?"

The thief rolls her eyes. "Huh? Skipping town? Why would I need to skip town?"

"For stealing the core of a blastia from the lower quarter in the capital. What else?"

Her green eyes narrowed. "What? You're calling me a thief. Have you ever heard of 'common sense' Halfer?"

"Sure."

"So you break into a home, call the owner a thief, and wave a sword in their face. What the hell kind of sense is that?" She yells. Repede gets closer and barks and Yuri sighs. Great. Just great." Hey, dog! You stay back, you...you dog!" She then turns to Karol and glares. "And you! Kid! Give him back!"

Karol looks around and the only thing in his hands is a small device he picked up in the explosion. "What do you mean?"

"The blastia, the blastia! Give him back to me!" Karol hands the small machine back in her hands and Mordio clutches it dearly. Estelle approaches with a bow. "W-what's with you?"

"My name is Estellise. We're terribly sorry for barging in on you like this!" She glares at the two of them "Yuri, Karol, you too." Karol's the only one who apologizes while Yuri tries to figure out what to do.

"So...? What do you want?" Yuri explains his story to her and Mordio listens calmly. "Hmm, well Mordio is certainly my name. Rita Mordio, to be exact."

Yuri looks at her and sighs. "Everything matches up with my thief, but you're not him."

Estelle cocks her head. "How can you tell?"

"Repede had the guys scent. If Rita was the thief he'd already haver her pinned to the floor." Yuri huffs. "Now I have no idea what to do."

Rita grips her chin and thinks a moment. "Oh, I think I might be able to help you on this. There's talk that some thieves have turned up in the Shaikos Ruins. I got the info from an Imperial Knight so it should be trustworthy."

Estelle's eyes widen. "Was his name Flynn?"

Rita walks off and they here a muffled yell. "I dunno. I didn't meet him." She comes back with a small pack and book strapped to her back. "Come with me. I'll lead you there."

Yuri looks at Estelle and she bites her lip. "I want to go, but I wait here I might bump into Flynn."

"Just do what you want Estelle." Estelle follows behind slowly while Yuri walks next up to Rita.

"I need to ask you something."

Rita doesn't react to the language or look at him. "Geraios? I guess you don't want these guys listening in… Well, what do you want?" Her words are very rough and almost incoherent compared to his pronunciation. He remembered Garista mentioning that the language was only properly spoken by Krytians and their ancestors.

"Do you know anything about a woman named Hanna Quin or a Krytian man named Lowell?"

Rita clutches her chin. "Lowell… Lowell." She stops and her eyes narrow. "Yes! I think I read that name in a file somewhere, but I can't say I know much more. But as far as I know there's never been a researcher here named Hanna Quin. Sorry."

"Nah, it's fine. Thanks for helping this far."

She shakes her head. "No, I'm just being selfish. There's a blastia in the ruins I've been meaning to check out. If you're around I can use you for extra protection and take care of those rotten thieves."

Felinis: Yeah, so in this version Yuri has no reason to suspect Rita. Plus that language thing will come into play more.