Moonlight Flit [Mori / Sveta]

"...Here we go again."

Mori thought to himself as he looked through the window of his new room, the moonlight casting a long and ominous shadow. Here he was, safe for the moment. His status as a guild member gave him just a bit more to lean on. The Coragyps wouldn't be stupid enough to march through Galdin with their Cavean emblems in the light to find him. Cavea and Galdin were on... less than amiable terms... as it stood. No need to start a war over him. No, the normal search parties wouldn't dream of such a trespass. It was the phoenix he was worried most about.

His careful reverie was cut short as an opening door echoed in the previously silent hallway. Light footsteps made their way into the hall, and the door was slowly and quietly shut. Soon, the steps faded away. The assassin waited in silence, his mind already racing to determine who else could be up so late. A passing minute answered the question for him as the doors to the guild opened. From his window, Mori could see a small figure looking around and shutting the door. Simple enough to figure out.

"Hm. And where are you going, little elf?"

With a piqued curiosity, Mori hooded himself and departed after the elf, making sure not to lose sight of her, and making doubly sure not to be seen. There was something about this girl that wasn't normal, and he was going to find out what it was.

Sveta's vision adjusted to the dark almost immediately. While sensing the darkness around her, her vision was just about clear as day. Just another perk of being part elf. A midnight outing was not uncommon for the girl, who had always found herself the more nocturnal type. Her affinity with the stars after being revived made this even more prominent. Sometimes she would get feelings of emptiness or loneliness if she didn't go out to see them every once in a while.

A part of town Sveta had spotted on the way to the sewers earlier had caught her eye. It was definitely not the nicest part of Galdin; evidence of crime and homelessness was everywhere. However, it was pitch-black, perfect to see the stars. The elf girl eventually found a tree to sit under in a small park and closed her eyes in silent concentration.

One with the Stars
Feelings of heat shot up through the markings tattooed on her left side. The girls body worked quicker to heal damage, and the effects of her previous exhaustion started to fade. Sveta winced slightly as her wounds stung with healing, but the dissipating pain made her mind feel much more clear and refreshed.

Just as she started to relax, a very familiar voice rung though her head.

“You are being watched, child.” Zed’s voice was hard to hear, unless she focused to the point of straining herself. That telepathic bond was going to need some practice… Sveta didn't exactly know how to respond, on top of her calm state being broken. She gripped her wand from her belt and a small flame built onto the end.

“I know you're there, stranger.” She spoke calmly, not even bothering to get up. Her eyes and wand were focused on a tree that Zed stood by for her convenience.

Following after the girl was easy enough. Mori stuck to the shadows and hid himself behind building corners, moving only when he was sure he was unseen. His mind raced as he continued his tracking. Thoughts and theories of where she was going and why she was out so late were tossing around in his head. All the while, he kept glancing around himself, making sure he was safe as he went after his target.

His movements led him to a park in the darker part of Galdin, closer to the sewers they had been near a while ago. Mori felt strangely comfortable in these shadows, his years of experience imbuing him with confidence. Hiding behind a tree, he kept his eyes trained on the elf. He couldn't quite figure out what Sveta was even doing out here. Maybe he was just wasting time.

And then, she spoke. She hadn't even gotten up. How could she have known he was there? He was too good to let himself slip like that. No, there had to be something more. There had to be something more. Mori could worry about that later. His priority was getting out of this mess. This unofficial mission wasn't important enough to change his appearance. Escaping now would mean forfeiting a chance to learn more about his strange new acquaintance. There was only one real option to take, and he didn't like it.

"...Put the wand down. I'm not going to hurt you."

Mori held his hands up as he left his hiding place, a firm mask of annoyance plain on his face. Let's just hope nothing goes wrong.

Sveta sighed at the momentary pause. Silence was no good. She wasn't really in the mood to light some creepy stalker up tonight. Ever since she'd left home, she'd been a target. Cute, small, seemingly ingenuous. It pissed her off. She was a lot of things, but not weak.

And then the familiar voice came out. The girl lifted her brow as she let the fire die and latched her wand back to her belt at his request. Interesting...

"Hmm. And what brings you out here? Out for an evening stroll as well? You could have asked to join me, you know. I'm not opposed to company."

She knew she was playing dumb. Something was up with this kid for sure. Sveta allowed herself to bring her guard down slightly as Zed was standing defensively next to her in case there happened to be...Conflict. Sveta didn't exactly get off on the right foot with Mori, there was plenty reason for caution.

"...Or were you following me for something else?"

Mori kept his mouth shut. Getting angry at the elf's stupidity would only lead to rash decisions. A million different scenarios ran through his head as he glanced quickly around the area. Above all else, he needed to be sure this wasn't a trap. Remaining calm, even in the face of what was once an impossible situation, was the only thing the assassin could do.

His arms fell to his sides. The fingers of his mechanical hand twitched slightly as he forced himself into relaxed preparation. If all went well, he could save this little plan of his from failure.

"How did you know I was following you?"

A simple question, if not a little loaded. He expected Sveta not to give a straight answer. She had something to hide, and Mori was going to find out what it was.

Sveta appeared relaxed, yet poised, even as she carefully watched Mori's body language. There was a hint of uncertainty as he looked around. A smirk crept across her lips that she couldn't quite control. He had no idea.

While she did appear composed, she knew better that she had to come up with something, and quick.

"Why, because you just said you were!"

She clasped her hands together, with a victorious grin. That was as good of a save as she was going to get, for now. Pretending to be a sitting duck...Sveta wasn't really earning any credibility with this one, anyways.

"Have a seat, it's my turn for questions." Sveta motioned to the grass in front of her.

"So, tell me. What reason do you have to follow me around, hm?"

What an annoying little elf. She had a strange, childish confidence about her. If she wasn't one of his supposed allied, he'd have tried shooting her. Even if he wanted to, however, he knew there was something about her that made any display of hostility a bad idea.

Mori glared at the elf as she gestured to the grass. It pissed him off that she was calling the shots right now. Begrudgingly, he sat down before her, still ready to get the hell out of there at a moment's notice. Now, it was his turn to play the interrogated.

"You want to know why I was following you?"

The gears were turning in his head. Answering this one was all too easy.

"You left in the middle of the night to come here. I'm only making sure one of my teammates isn't doing something stupid."

Sveta watched carefully as Mori sat down. She tapped the end of her wand, using a bit of magic to give the area a gentle light. She forgot for a moment that humans couldn't see in the dark as well as she could. The annoyance on his face became all the more clear as it was illuminated slightly.

Even if he was rude, the company was kind of nice.

"Well, I appreciate the concern. I just came out for a walk, that's all." She spoke dismissively, looking back up to the sky.

"There's too much light near the guild hall, so you can't see the stars." Sveta explained, her voice seemed to become more gentle as she watched the lights in the sky.

"Usually I stay out by myself. But now that you're here, you might as well stay, right? Let's talk!" Needless to say, the night time put her in a better mood. She was willing to give Mori another chance to prove he wasn't a total jerk.

Just a walk? Obviously, she wasn't out here to do something stupid. Maybe if he'd followed her back into the sewers, or maybe into an alley, he would have thought differently. Just being outside to stargaze seemed like a legitimate excuse, although coming out to the shadier part of Galdin didn't exactly sit right with him. Nevertheless, Mori accepted her reply in silence.

Things seemed to be falling into place. Any remaining hostility between the two had faded out, leaving an amiable elf and an intrigued assassin. This was going to be easier than he thought.

"...Hm. I don't see any reason to leave now. The question now is, what do you even want to talk about?"

Sveta's pointed elven ears perked up once Mori took her up on the offer. While always being the extroverted type, she didn't really have the chance to talk to people as much as she'd like to. Half elves weren't exactly popular in her home village...

It made her feel a lot better to know that she was on the way to making another friend. Especially out of someone she was sure she wouldn't get along with.

"Well, I was curious. You seem like a solitary fighter, so what brings you to a guild like this?" Sveta asked, trying to word herself carefully. Didn't want to overstep any boundaries, after all.

"I didn't really plan on joining, I just kind of ended up in Galdin at the right place at the right time. Adventuring sounded great, so I just jumped in. Kind of silly, I guess."

Small talk was not Mori's area of expertise. Unless he was disguised, he preferred to keep his thoughts to himself. It was rare for his conversations to be about something other than mission briefing or strategy. Saying the wrong thing at the wrong time could be disastrous for him. Here, though, merely talking could give him some sort of insight on this curious elf.

"You joined on a whim? Did I hear that right? I don't know if I should be impressed that you made it."

Mori's memory shifted back to the fighting in the sewers. He could remember Sveta roasting some vines before being snatched up and poisoned. He distinctly remembered having to bound from Cecil's shield in order to cut her down.

Heh. Risking his own skin to save a team member from what could have been certain death. What happened to cutting losses? His old crew wouldn't have believed it.

"As for me... I've been travelling for a while. We have similar situations, actually. I was merely here when the opportunity presented itself. For me, it was less about adventuring and more about advancing my own position. Being a guild member carries a sort of authority and protection with it."

"Yep! It was a pretty impulsive decision, but...There isn't much better for me to do, now that I think about it. My skills are much better suited here than a peaceful village, I think..." Sveta trailed off, thinking of home.

She felt a small twinge of homesickness, but this was all for the better. She'd regret it if she turned back now. After all, she was doing so well. Her first mission was cleared, and she was on the way to making a new friend.

Still, she couldn't help but second guess herself after her slip up. Sveta couldn't remember exactly what happened, the last thing she remembered was her throat burning with spores. The elf girl seemed to zone out for a minute, trying to piece everything together.

"Oh? That's a fair bit more pragmatic. I guess that's to be expected from someone with experience." Sveta spoke, smiling as she brought her knees to her chest. "I hope having an amateur like myself on the team isn't too much of a hassle!" She lightheartedly poked fun at herself, giggling a bit.

Mori flashed a crooked smile at the elf. He had her figured for an amateur. Then again, he had most of the team figured for amateurs. There was no doubt he'd seen and done more than all of them put together. At least Sveta could admit she had a lot to learn.

"Contribute what you can and don't put anyone in a dangerous situation. Do that, and you won't be a hassle for anyone. Simple as that. I've had to say that to too many new teams. The ones that survived won't ever forget it."

Just thinking about the number of headstrong idiots he'd been forced to work with wiped the smile from Mori's face. A few deaths played out in his mind, reminding him of why he worked better on his own, or with one particular partner. If only she wasn't out for his head. What bittersweet memories. But, back to the matter at hand.

"...I think this team has potential. I've already had my share of unexpected surprises."

The girl listened carefully as Mori shared his veteran's advice.

"I'll remember that. My job is more along the lines of saving people, anyhow." Sveta gently tapped her wand with a smirk. "I'd be a pretty poor healer if I ended up getting people hurt."

Sveta's tendencies to protect others before herself was what made her such a unique sorcerer. If anything, she was more likely to get herself hurt in action. Sveta's chipper demeanor noticeably shifted to something darker, as she felt a familiar sting in her stomach.

Her selfless nature was the death of her, and in this line of work, it might be again.

Shaking her thoughts off as subtly as possible, she turned her attention back to the human boy. His compliment brought that bubbly smile back to her face in no time.

"You think so?? I'll try my best not to disappoint!" The elven girl smiled modestly.

As the girl had just finished speaking, the nearby bell tower began to ring as it normally did at the top of the hour. One in the morning...Don't humans usually have a bed time?

"Ah...Have I kept you out too long?"

A healer? Good. Any medium sized group needed a healer with them. They were staple members of a team, even in Cavea. If Mori's memory served correctly, the healing elf also had ways to fight back on her own. Between that and the mysteries surrounding her, it was wisest to keep her on his good side.

Mori caught on to some sort of change in the elf's disposition. Was it something about hurting people that dampened her mood? A little prodding might be in order sometime down the line.

Before the assassin could say anything more, the bell tower chimed to one. For being out a little late after an incredible fight, Mori felt the fatigue sink into his body. It was a fatigue he wanted to fight. He raised a hand in objection as he shook his head.

"It's fine. I'm used to late nights. I can stay for longer unless you want to go back."

Sveta couldn't help but feel a little flattered that someone wanted to stay out with her this late. A human, no less. A small smile set in on her lips, even. If the people of Esfir knew she was becoming friends with a human... They'd be furious.

"Ah, you're sure? Don't push yourself after working so hard today." The girl gently reminded him, a well-meaning sternness in her voice.

"...I'm glad you're staying a bit longer though." She said quietly, after the chimes of the tower dissolved into soft ringing. Sveta paused for a moment, thinking of how to say what she wanted to ask him.

"I noticed something during the mission...Your arm. It is mechanical, is it not? Please stop me if I'm overstepping any boundaries. I would hate to ask too much." The elf spoke carefully and kindly, making herself clear as possible.

Sveta knew if she kept asking questions, he might have to ask her some as well....

Would Mori regret staying out late? Not likely. Mori was killing two birds with one stone. Just by sitting and talking, he could learn a thing or two about Sveta and build even a modicum of trust with her. This wasn't exactly how he imagined sating his curiosity over the elf. Sometimes, the simple methods were just better.

Mori looked solemnly at Sveta, conveying a silent and subtle dismay. Of course the conversation would come to his arm. It was hard, after all, to keep it concealed in the middle of a fight. The rest of the team would find out about it eventually.

"You know the answer to that already. I don't want to talk about my arm right now."

Hopefully, the terseness of his words did not dampen the mood too much...

Sveta immediately felt a pang of guilt in he chest at the assassin's response to her curiosity. She was never the best at speaking carefully, no matter how hard she tried. She waved her hands in front of her dismissively, trying to come up with the right way to apologize.

"A-Ah, I understand.  My apologies, I should know better than to question such things." Her hand subconsciously drifted to her stomach, the scar there feeling like a similar subject. Everyone had their sensitivities, right?

"Those kinds of questions are not unfamiliar to me as well, after all." The girl sighed softly, retaining a softened smile on her face.

"My differences are a bit more obvious than yours, so I'm used to it, I suppose." She tapped her cheek, bringing attention to her eyes.

"I'm sure you have your own curiosities about myself, yes?"

Mori watched the elf carefully, gauging her reaction. He followed each of her movements the best he could. The hands at her front. The subtle drift to her stomach. Mori made note of that especially. It wasn't something to ask about now, but he was sure he would find out about it in due time. The answers he sought certainly wouldn't reveal themselves so quickly.

His attention came back to the elf's features. A few obvious differences, of course. Elven features, with a trace of human. Questions flew in Mori's head. What to ask, what to ask... Ah. The eyes. Right. He took a few seconds to think about how he wanted to word his next question.

"...Hm. You're the member of this team I am most curious about. As you said before: Stop me if I cross a line."

What a formality. All the better to put her at ease for his rather... hostile question.

"Think back to before the sewers. When I threatened to kill you. You said it would be the last time I threaten you with death, and you would silence me yourself. What gave you the confidence to say that to me?"

"Should I be flattered?" She smirked, raising an eyebrow.

Sveta watched carefully as he asked, unsure of where he was going with it. She was used enough to questions about her appearance, where she'd come from, about her magic...

Something this direct was to be expected, but she wasn't entirely sure how to answer this one. Zed had taken over her completely in that moment, she barely remembered it. Sveta's eyes moved back up to the sky, while the gears worked in her head. While her appearance was dominantly elven, the cleverness hadn't exactly developed so much...

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zed bow his head in a silent apology. Good to know he wasn't immune to recklessness as well.

"Well, to be honest, it was a bluff. I didn't know how skilled you were at the time, so I spoke recklessly. It seemed to keep you away for a while though, so perhaps it worked?"

"Really, I'm not dangerous at all. Such a shame, right? I'm confident it's fine you know this now." Zed could feel a bit of guilt as she spoke with silver-tongued lies. It was his fault she had to do this, but she'd become very used to dishonesty. It was the safest policy in her situation. Still, it was uncertain to Zed if she really thought this way. There was sincerity in her voice. In all honesty, Zed was really the only part of her that was dangerous.

"Faking it sometimes is the best someone like myself can do. I'm really more suited to protecting others than myself, unfortunately..."

Mori listened on intently as Sveta told her little story, focusing his attention on any cue that could tell him more. His jaw tightened in annoyance when Sveta's truth came. Something told him it wasn't an entire truth. Still, for such a ploy to work... Her words both angered him and intrigued him. His suspicions had been correctly placed, after all. None of the others were more interesting than Sveta.

For a while after Sveta finished talking, Mori was silent. He lowered his head and closed his eyes. He couldn't shake the feeling that Sveta was lying about something. Mori felt an urge to stand up and walk away, to leave the elf alone in the dark for her deception. At the same time, he felt respect for her. He, of all people, could understand the need to mislead others. Honor among thieves, after all.

Finally, Mori looked back at Sveta with a smile.

"...I see. I understand and accept your reasoning, because I would have done the same thing. Still, I advise you not to be so reckless around me in the future. Next time, I might decide to call your bluff."

Sveta watched tensely as Mori seemed to take in the truth. She'd upset him a bit, she was sure. The elven girl already looked apologetic, as she silence between the two started to grow. Her fidgeting hands mirrored her discomfort, as she feared offending him even more.

She was tempted to leave, but that wouldn't be right.

"I don't particularly enjoy lying, but..." Sveta trailed off, unsure. "I've lived on my own for most of my life. I'm sure you understand the dangers of letting yourself be vulnerable. You prioritize survival over trust, or die. I know well enough that trust means nothing to the dead."

She spoke solemnly, but still trying to stay lighthearted.

"I hope I can find a way to live that will allow me to be honest." She finished, the quiet wish was confirmed as she looked up to the stars.

She felt her face heat up as the boy smiled at her. She just wasn't used to that at all, the girl even had to avert her eyes from him as he spoke.

"Well...I can only hope I have no reason to lie to you. Sadly, I can't promise you anything. Maybe someday I'll be able to, I would like that."