Mission 9
A few days passed, Evelynn woke with an aching pain in her shoulder, longing for the days of a healing potion being remotely available but she couldn't find any useful herbs or any sort of chemicals in the gods forsaken city "funny how they worry more about man made machines then their own bodies..." she laughed at herself, with an arm over her overwhelming eyes. Ever since Garrett was given the gem, she felt more at peace and more in control of her tendencies "at lest, i have an idea what could happen..." she grumbled jumping up despite the pain. Going over to the desk she looked at the glyph book that was left there when Garrett asked about it, the glyphs were altered slightly, mostly the reasons for so they wouldn't disappear. The book use to hold the history of both her clan, the war, and the keepers origins they were written in glyphs and unfinished so the most important information would be passed from mentor to student. "what a life it was..." she mumbled thinking about what life was like in the villages before the glyphs disappeared. She remembered the feeling of the sun and the sight of the huge village, how the houses were designed to be on the branches of any tree, how overwhelming green the forest was in the summers. Even in winter the green bark punch through the white and the training area always occupied day and night by those who wanted to defend themselves. Sitting at the desk she began to write in the book trying desperately to remember how the stories went but they were lost in a fog, then decided to write what happened during the final days for at lest she remember those very clearly "damn, keepers..."
even in the windowless room, Akira always knew what time the outside was begging to transfer to night, Eventually getting up she glided to the book shelf to reveal the one of many secret passages, and began to get dressed in her usual night out clothing which consists of easily hidden armour that flattened her chest with it's light but durable weave of fine bark, black/navy blue customized hooded jacket that was much like her colourful robe but more plan and practical when it come to the length of it, dark leather armour to lighten or avoid damage of the main defence and of course her favourite dagger and a few smoke bombs. "this won't be difficult job... after all it is a party" she muttered to herself reciting in the familiar assassin's voice. Looking over the wanted poster to make sure what she is getting into, the illustration of the man blinked and a smirked. Startled, the Runner looked away "just your imagination.."she chuckled nervously. The light began to fade, a chill ran up her spine, breath shallow as the picture from the poster changed into a murderous and jagged appearance, one that wasn't the noble she was targeting but rather...
The face howled as it spoke in her native tongue, the words melting to shape more of the dismembered head into shoulders, arms, hands. "no.. anything but..." Evelynn hysterically muttered tying to remain calm but her heart was beating uncontrollably, her hands were shaking with no intent of stopping, her chest refusing to take deep breaths as if a giant bolder was on top and sucking her life out. Clawing it's way out, an arm merged from the page reaching for her neck, the face tormenting her as it made contact laughing and moaning telling her "stay still" or "good girl"... darkness took over, she felt her body falling to the ground and the last thing she remembered was the look of the man in the picture, how satisfied "it" looked.
The dream was a memory, a reminder of what she was like as a young girl. She remembered the rubble filled streets from destroyed houses, the heat of the fire, her hair cut short and the male beige clothing she had on reeked of sweat. She watched, hidden in a dark ally way, as the soldiers ran past her chasing the ragged dressed, hysterical women around. This is always the case... no matter where I went, it all ends the same. With chaos. The scene fast forward, taking different landscapes with each passing. Ranging from mountains to deserts, winter to summer, peace and chaos but the vision was the same slumped over, dragging something heavy with a skeleton like person in fount, "warriors" surrounding both of them. Eventually stopping to a familiar lush green forest, she felt taller and restricted from her tightened bandages underneath the worn, baggy, black shirt she wore at the time, a dead rabbit was held in her skeletal hand and a man who wore odd clothing was before her, he wore all green that matched the forest that looked constricting at parts but free flowing on others, he once wore a mask but removed it to not oppose the young teen, his rare, unearthly, turquoise eyes were calm and warming, a look that she had never seen in the years she had lived, the man spoke in the language that was once this region's tongue, he spoke of a place that holds sanctuary that no war can reach and the same place can teach her how to fight back. This is where it all started, my training to become a member of the Serpek's, Akira they named me, which meant "bright" in my own mother tongue. She replied with much doubt and an awkward male tone since she did not have much experience with tampering her voice but enough for it to fool anyone who didn't listen closely.
The memory faded and the room filled her eyes, grumbling to stand the wanted poster shifted back to it's usual illustration and the words on the paper were as if nothing happened -wanted dead or alive - "I shouldn't be having these" she uttered to herself as she heading towards the ladder "over exposure? I'm still recovering?... but i guess I'm on the right track with this target... he must be one of them" with ease the trap door reviled the clouded evening making it easy to hide in the shadows without the concern from the moon. With a quick raise of the hood of her jacket. Akira set out to claim another life it's life.
The baron should have some nice valuables to take, how the hell am I to get in though... Garrett made several rounds, trying to find a way in the mansion as a party was taking place, in hopes of collecting a big haul and returning to his old life before everything decided to take a turn for the worst even though he took care of hiding the gem as part of the agreement, it shouldn't be found anytime soon. Upon finding and ceasing the opportunity of entering a seemly unguarded second story window he found himself to be in the library, even the baron is on the latest trends he smirked, quickly skimming for any valuable/ interesting books before going for the bigger prizes. Dumb... religious...looks wroth while; taking that. With a couple books in hand the thief made his rounds on the second floor, occasionally ducking into the shadows. Pickpocketing guards and house guests as they walked by. Unfortunately most of the dark corners are being hogged by some drunken house guests making Garrett to be careful not to disturb any sessions while dogged around in the halls but can't help but be a little frustrated, every time he needed to disappear some Casanova is occupying the dark corner I always knew feelings will get in my way, I must be psychic. He smirked at his perception and continued down the hall towards the stairs of the barons mansion, to the main floor.
Strange music could be heard in the dim lighted ballroom, some high pitched and plucking of strings that produced a peculiar sound that wasn't normally heard of. The beat of the music was slow as he approached down the stairs he observed that everyone's attention is towards the stage, where a beautiful voice began to sing in some language along with the slow beat of the strange shaped instruments, the dancer looked somewhat familiar but Garrett was too distracted with pickpocketing to look at the provocative dancing when the music picked up in beat. The guests and guards seem to be memorized by the siren on stage that it provided a perfect distraction for the master thief, that he even took some bigger valuables. He eventually looked at the makeshift stage the baron made and saw that it was a very interesting way of dancing, her chest and belly was completely exposed apart from the dazzling cloth she was waring as she moved her hips at rapid pace along with the beat, her belly at times seemed to be disconnected as the dance continued at high energy but the voice of her singing seemed to be sad despite the rest of the music. Realizing he was turning into a zombie Garrett rushed upstairs to finish his work.
Upon approaching to the third floor, he noticed an interesting looking double door, entering he saw many valuables behind glass containers this is probably where he keeps the most valuable items; hope he doesn't come in here often, each piece of the exhibits had a description of where they originated and story of how they existed but if it isn't something fences are interested in the taffer wouldn't take it. Making rounds and reading the descriptions Garrett noticed something that shouldn't be there, for it should be in one the abandoned quarter. The cursed gem was in the glass case the serpent staring at him with it's sapphire eyes, carefully going over towards the jewel Garrett looked at the newly written description, it read:
Upon many studies this gem resides in the east where it is known as Akrfas Shika translating to "Serpents gift" even it's cultural regions the gem bears many resemblance to the pagan religion, for the serpent's breed is most commonly found in the forests north of the city, where it is consider holy ground to the pagans. It is unknown of how the gem has gotten so far east and why it was created and will, unfortunately, remain unknown for the whole country has been obliterated.