OOC: This thread is open by request. If interested, please PM me. Thanks!
Thaedes was a city she could get used to. It was much bigger than her last home, which was not much more than a lean too in the woods. She hadn't really preferred living in the wilderness, feeling lonely to be surrounded by so many trees and so little buildings.. and well, people. People always intrigued her, the way they spoke, how they spoke, what they spoke of, what they were doing, how they were doing it...
And the stories. She could listen to other people's conversations for hours. Their voices were a humbling thing, and though consequentially, the recently decimated city of Thaedes lacked in the human population, it still held an abundance of opportunities- or so she kept telling herself, night after night, into the silence.
It seemed not many squatters or scavengers dared to take refuge here, even with so many prime targets to steal from. It was the idea this place was cursed, or on some sort of a 'watch' from the Grand Duke, or his General, or whatever it was people did in the army with this war and had some sort of power. She wasn't familiar with how this all quite worked. She could only assume the Grand Duke was this enormous person who had a lot of money and had to be charismatic and loved by a lot of people to have so many fight in his name.
But this only added on to her naivety. Sure, she heard the right story about the Grand Duke, and other nobles and other war conquests, but because of just who she was...
Vels took the seed of knowledge and made her own tree of it. Had anyone actually heard her side of the history of Connlaoth or its politics or why the war was even happening, they'd probably lock her away- for her theories weren't exactly realistic, and her visions of Ansgar? Let's say she had never quite grasped who he was and what he did. She just knew you could pray to him and hope your wishes were granted.
It seemed people with money, in her opinion, had better luck with this, so every time she came upon money, she used it to 'wish' and 'pray' for things like she had seen others do. Though her wishes and prayers had never entirely came true, she had heard enough from others to know that 'faith takes time'.
It was that exact mantra she repeated to herself while wondering through the deserted city. She had been here several months and had already began to see a new population of people take homage here. She knew well enough who were the good and bad people, but it was the shades of gray that had her the most wary. She didn't like not knowing things (and there was still a lot she truly didn't know!), so when she climbed over the collapsed wall by the Eastern Gate and landed in what she had presumed to be an empty allyway, she was a bit startled when a pack of gruff looking men turned her way.
From their appearance she could only deduce they were either war veterans, or just your typical set of rough collared men she'd rather not stick around to learn more about. But before she could consider a means to escape, one of the men called out to her.
"Hey, girl, what do you think you're doing here?"
And though uncertain if they were a harmful bunch or not (as again, these were men she hadn't known nor had time to study), she found herself mute from hesitation, but when the man asked her again,
"What, you deaf or something, girl?"
She felt anger rise up from her belly as the words just came out, "I'm just walking through!"
And from such a haughty reply for something so minuscule, the men laughed.
"Girl, how long have you been here? You should know better than to walk the streets alone in a cursed city."
At such a claim, she squared off her shoulders and continued to glare, cheeks turning pink.
"I know how to handle myself! Do you? Cursed cities don't scare me!"
The men laughed again.
"Maybe you've got a point there. Curses don't have anything on thugs. Do you know what thugs are?" the man asked, giving a more devious grin as his men began to fan around him. Their shadows, though shallow, were deep and dark in collar.
Vels narrowed her eyes.
"I heard they're real ugly and mean."
At her reply, the men were still laughing.
"You got that right, though I think we're quite pretty, don't you agree?" the leader asked back to one of his men. "Perhaps we should teach this little street rat some manners." And as they began to approach, Vels could see the shine of metal knives and other blades slip out from their pockets. Not having much on her but the pole she had used to vault up onto the crumbling wall, she held it up infront of herself defensively.
"Stay back, I'm warning you."
"What? You aiming to do something with that stick of yours, little girl?"
And it was about this time she wished she had looked both ways before jumping from her perch on the wall. She had been careful with every decision and action she ever made up to this point- and now she had to wonder just how she'd get out of this mess. There were six men to one.
Odds hardly seemed in her favor.
However, six men fell to the floor, some with less teeth, and a few other with nice plump, black eyes. Though not all men had been taken out when Vels went about,s winging her long pole with blind violence, it was enough to get her hte break she needed. Without another thought, she sprinted down the alley away from those men and hoped to whatever Gods existed they didn't follow.
Unfortunately, for Vels, though she had given a good number of the thugs a good beating, half of them(three) were quick to pursue her through the alleys and were followed by the reminder soon after. For the next few minutes this continued until they all reached a dead end, in the form of a two houses worth of rubble in the street. Vels will see she was bottleneck in front and the crooks behind her who won't make the same mistake of underestimating her twice.
With their knives at the ready they approached like confident yet enraged predators, preparing to torture their new prey however they see fit. Yet none of the gang or Vels realized they were being watched from the shadows. Suddenly an eerily smoke like mist filled the street they were in. It covered up everyone's vision for a minute before it slighty faded, revealing a new figure that stood between Vels and the thugs.
Clearly it was a man wearing dark and gray leather armor, gloves, and huntsman boots. His face was covered in a sliver plated knight's mask with a hood over its top. Draped over the shoulders was a torn beggar's cape. All present can clearly seen this masked man was armed with two one handed swords, short in length but longer than daggers.
"Pray tell, what business do men like you have need to harm a girl?"
Nemesis finally asked in a harsh voice filled with judgment.
Heart pounding inside her ears, she was trapped. She felt her stomach drop as she clenched her jaw, and gripped her make shift weapon tightly. She held it out defensively and narrowed her gaze on the men.
"Don't come any closer!" she warned, but as the men laughed it off, the sudden mist had them all off guard. Panicked, Vels looked to the mist, then to the men, and dropped out of their sight, hoping to use their tactics against them (as she presumed the men who had chased her conjured up this sort of magic to fight dirty).
However, she hadn't gotten far when the mist cleared and the masked man stood before them. All the girl could do was stare, mouth agape. His words hadn't fully registered nor who they were spoken for, but she was not about to let her guard down.
She pointed her pole in the new man's direction offensively and demanded, "I could ask you the same for following me!"
The men, however, weren't deterred by the woman's bravery nor the sudden appearance of this strange, masked man. But they changed their attention to Nemesis for the moment and one sneered,
"And what the fuck do you care?"
The men looked him up and down.
"What, you some kind of soldier looking for a piece of action around here, cause you got another thing comin'!" barked one of the other men.
"Soldiers ain't welcome here." said another.
"Thaedes and it's trash is best left to us," replied the first man,a nd it was only then that Vels noticed the scar going across this bald man's head. She grit her teeth and turned away from him and returned her attention to examining Nemesis's attire. The thugs had pointed something out important, and if he was a soldier, or any sort of lawful authority for the Grand Duke...
She'd rather not be apart of this catastrophe waiting to happen- but it seemed she was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and she kept her ground between the group of men- and this strange, mist conjuring masked man.
Predicable Nemesis thought upon taking in all of their reactions. The girl he was trying to save saw him as a unknown threat and these cutthroats mistaken him for a soldier.
"Hmph. You're all mistaken. I am no bootlicker to the Grand Duke or his ink." He answered with barely veiled disgust before continuing.
"Your hands are stain with the blood of the innocent who still linger in these ruins. I am only here to avenge their suffering."
Swiftly, he rushed forward with cat-like speed, cutting off the head of the leader with the body falling backward. Then another thug on the left had his throat sliced with blood gushing out and falling face down. Finally the rest of the gang were able to react and all attack the masked man together. Yet he parry and dodge their assaults repeatedly, as if their movements slow to him.
Fear kept her into place, even as all instincts inside her brain were telling her to run. And that same, repeating screaming command kept pounding away inside her head until when Nemesis was facing the last set of men, she finally found some strength to move, and whirled around at the toppled buildings, and began to scramble up onto the rubble. It was hard work, and a lot of the rubble was crumbling beneath her, but the last thing she wanted to be was dead-
And as far as she was concerned, no one on that street was a friend.
A minute later, there were three more men cut down and the last man on his knees, screaming in complete agony having his right arm chopped off. To end his suffering, Nemesis run him through the chest with his left blade. Then the viglnate remembered the girl! He hoped she escaped but when turning around to his concealed horror, saw her climbing the rubble at her peril.
If she had flee by the way of the street, he wouldn't follow but Vels was at risk of being crushed by the unstable stones. Killing a bunch of goons wasn't worth the price of this youth dying. Sheathing his swords, Nemesis went up, after Vels to save her.
"Stop! I won't harm you, swear by Ansgar."
At the sound of his voice, she gasped and turned around, an dlooked from him to the pile of men left in bloodied heaps. She didn't even reply to his calls, she simply turned away from him and climbed faster.
Even from the distance, Nemesis can clearly see that the young girl was afraid of him. I was trying to save her. He told himself, but in his heart, Nemeisis knew that Vels only saw the killer, not but the rescuer.
"Don't throw your life away like this. You can come down and run away, I'll leave you alone." He called out in earnest once close enough for her to hear more accurately. Due to all of the movement, the topside of the rubble started to collapse and began pouring down in their direction.
Seeing a large pile of rubble begin to fall their way, Vels thought quick and pressed herself up against a recess in the stonework, however, the rubble came down anyways, sharp rock and dust rushing their way and making it impossible to see or breath. The rocks were painful, scraping against her body as they came down and making it harder for her to hold on. She had climbed a good ways up, and if she lost her grip now- she knew she wouldn't be any better off than those men laying dead int he street.
Like Vels, the masked crusader took cover in his current postion that offered more proection. as the derbies fell in a great pile. Parts of his clothes were cut and torn but he stayed put, enduring the pain.
I won't forgive myself if she dies like this.
When the pile finally stopped, Nemesis looked up and saw Vels who was holding for dear life a few feet above him. Just as he was about breathed a sigh of relief, when the stones Vels held gave way. She began to slid down seemly to her death but with one arm viglante caught one of her hands in time. Then with all his strength Nemesis pulled her up to the left side with enough space between.
Panting heavily, he commented.
"You don't trust me, I understand. Just wait till we go back down and I'll be out of your hair. Deal?"
She let out a scream as she fell, but it was swallowed up as she was caught and pulled up beside none other than the masked man. Her eyes were wide with fright, uncertain just what was going on, and before she could think, she tried shoving the masked man away.
When shoved, Nemesis stood his ground and her grabbed her hands firmly. Seeing the sheer fear in her expression, he shook his covered head in resignation and spoke.
"Listen to me, girl. If I meant harm, I would've let you fall moments ago." He let those latter words sink in before adding.
"You want to stay alive long enough to flee follow me down. Staying here or going up isn't an option for either of us."
Vels just stared at him, still wide eyed with fear but found herself only able to nod. She was at least able to register enough to know she ought to listen to him, but a sudden clap of thunder over head had her gasping, and involuntarily moving closer to his form.
Nemesis let her take hold of him, upon a thunder's roar. He calmly told her eveythting was going to be okay, like a parent would. The thought distracted him with hidden sorrow but he forced out for the time being.
"Hold on tight to my back." He said quietly and once she did, he carefully proceeded downward. It took several cautious minutes before it was safe enoug to slid to the ground. Upon landing, Nemesis let go of Vels before asking.
"Are you injured?"
Once on the road, she was quick to take a step back from him. She looked him over warily, but at his question,s he looked down at herself as the pair began to get soaked by rain. The cuts burned, even with the cooling affects of the rain.
"Injured?" She shook her head. "No more than you."
It seemed he got scraped up from the rubble, too.
Nodding in acknowledgment, Nemesis felt the slight stinging effect of the new cuts over his upper body. This was noting compare to the great fire that once consumed his skin, he reminded himself... With that out of the way, Nemesis focused back on the bodies that still laid nearby.
As detestable the men had been in life and no doubt currently, in death, he needed to check for possible clues on their corpses. Nemesis was looking links for similar gangs in ruined Thadeus, this bunch likely weren't only ones that lurked in this dead city after all. Just like rats, there is always more.
"You may go now, as you wish girl." He commented while the rain slighty increased in volume. Then Nemesis began searching the bodies one by one.
Vels held her breath. She tensed, fully prepared to run, but her mind raced over the thought of going through the bodies. She was a scavenger and anything she found was an aid to her survival. Seeing how he was looting one body, she moved behind him to another one, and worked as quietly and quickly as she could, keeping her eye on Nemesis and hoping there'd be at least something of value on one of the corpses she got a chance to check.
He finally found something from the third body, he searched. It seem to be a little hand drawn map of the city in its current condition. On the map were spots displayed as hideouts for fellow brigands in Thadeus. While pleased with the success of his objective, Nemeisis took sutble note of Vels looting the dead.
No doubt she had stolen and salvage as she can manage. While Nemesis was a vigilante, he didn't go after young pickpockets who stole to survive. His targets were those he considered corrupt oppressors and murderous zealots. The amusing thing for Nemesis is that some people who knew of his exploits may think of him in that latter view.
"Take what you want, I have no other interest in whatever they may have on them."
He was about to leave when Nemesis stopped himself. As much he felt the need to keep fighting, the masked man told himself he needed to stop talk with those he fought for. He seriously doubted the Grand Duke ever considered speaking with his common subjects
"What's your name?"
Vels froze, sill crouched over the first body she was finishing looting when he spoke. Not sure of what to say, she remained quiet. That was until he asked her her name.
"My name?"
A strange question to ask, to be sure, but she still said nothing, staring at him cautiously as the rain continued to pelt the ground. She looked away, just long enough to move over to the next body that was untouched and began to look for more valuables.
It's obvious that the girl was still mistrusting and afraid of him. Well the fact he killed six men in an violent matter and wore a mask would make anybody wary. He wasn't seeking graidtude or praise for his actions, but he needed to maintain the connection to the people or else lose what's left of his humanity.
"That's okay you don't need to tell me. I will give you mine though...Nemesis." He said while making his final preparations to leave.
He imagine that name would sound strange to the girl.
It did sound strange. Her face twisted in confusion.
"Nemesis?' she repeated, looking at him questionably.
"It's more of a title than than actual name to be honest." Nemesis confessed. Waving his left hand around over the corpses and asked.
"Do you know why I killed these men?"
It was an uncomfortable question in an uncomfortable situation, but he wanted to get this girl's honest impression of what happen, no matter what it is.
She felt a lump for in her throat, body freezing and stomach chilling at such a question. But her eyes never left him, still too afraid she might end up just like they were- dead on the streets, illegitimate blood.
"Should I care?" she asked, cautiously, but guarded.
The fear in her eyes and the urchin's own question revealed much to Nemesis. The girl saw only a dangerous man that masked himself and killed people. Beside that she had own concerns to think about such as survival. The latter part was obvious to the vigilante by now. He doubt further words from him will convince her otherwise.
Perhaps he should try another means to gain insight from her and the other scavnagers that roamed these parts. Even so he will speak once more before leaving.
"You don't need to fear me, I don't punish those like you child, who are simply trying to survive. Farewell."
With that statement, he threw another smoke bomb that covered his exit from the young thief's view. Moments later it faded away, with Nemesis out of sight.
"Farewell?" The reply came angrily. Was that all? But before she could question anything,s he was choking on his farewell smoke. Once the smoke had passed and she saw the strange man long gone, she figured to cut any losses here as she turned tale and began to navigate her way back towards the place she now called home.
She was tired, however, and very sore after the whole ordeal. The rain didn't help much either, and as she continued through the fallen city of Thaedes, she looked nothing more than a drowned rat. And though she was still guarded, she was tired and distracted enough not to notice eyes looming from the shadows.
Nemesis kept a sutble watch over Vels away from her view during the midst of her journey. He dealt with the few other watchers that made threatening approaches in the dark toward Vels, discreetly as possible.
Done, Nemesis decide to try out his new experiment. Shortly before Vels reached her destination, she came across what appeared to a struggling figure in front of the rubble filled street, trying to find shelter in the rain. It was a man in brown leather rags, with wrappings over most of the face, inculding the eye sockets that hinted blindness. Only a dark tan skin was displayed from the nose and mouth. The hands were bandages, and he carried a stick with his right hand, using it to feel his way on the path.
Suddenly the "blind man" collapsed to the ground on his knees, by triping on a middle sized rock. He grunted and swore until he heard the girl's steps. Turing around, the man who seem to be in his thirties, spoke in a raspy voice filled with fear.
"Who there?"
Though eager to get back to her 'home', and extra cautious after what had already happened that night, she had every right to just ignore the man, though the longer she watched him, she saw how he struggled. Not entirely sure what to make of him, was he blind, or just drunk? His words made her freeze and she frowned at being noticed.
"No one of concern. I was just passing through."
"Oh thank Ansgar, I thought for a moment there, you were one of those mad dogs that roam out here sometimes." The ragged man said with relief. His face pointed vaguely in Vels' direction, but he kept turning left and right, trying to pin-point the exact location of his new company. Such a display that would a person believe he was blind.
"You sound like a girl there if I am not mistaken. Anyway don't mind me, just trying to find shelter in this storm."
Suddenly a loud thunderbolt crack very close and scared the vagabond into screaming and falling down for cover. His body shook in utter terror that hinted of a deep fear from loud noises.
Still wary, she watched the man and wondered what was wrong with him, as he was looking all about in all sorts of directions. She still assumed he was drunk, until she got a better look at him and realized, he was blind.
It figured she'd notice this just as she decided she ought to make her leave, for the rain didn't bother her, why should it this stranger? But even the thunder took her off guard as well. She grit her teeth, still debating whether to stay or leave before she cursed under her breath and looked around for some sort of nearby shelter. Once one was seen, a visible over hang near a former tavern, she made her way across to him.
"Do you need help?" she asked, feeling silly for even inquiring, but really..
She was still on the fence about helping the man out. But even she knew she couldn't just leave him like this in such weather.
"Its thunder not cannon. It's thunder not cannon." The man on the ground muttered loudly again and again that even Vels could hear it.
Clearly, the source of his fear for loud noises came from cannon fire. He slowly got up on his knees upon hearing Vels' apporch. When she asked if he needed help, the blind-looking man bowed his head, in shame that he was reduced to this state so easily. Still whatever pride he may left in himself, wasn't enough to deter him from the offer.
"Okay...okay I do. Just anywhere out of this storm." He pitifully confessed to Vels.
She had seen others who howled in fear- from dark memories that turned them mad from the war. Her heart went out to him, even as she hesitated, but she had already committed and there was no backing out now. She moved to his side and offered her arm.
"Here let me help you. Hold onto my arm."
And grimacing at the weather, as it seemed the rain was coming down harder now, she gave a gasp.
"We need to hurry. Come, this way. There's a small alcove and a ruined building that will give us some shelter."
And she gave him a light tug to indicate they needed to get moving, just at the same time a bright flash of lightning struck a nearby building, forcing Vels to back away as thunder boomed and parts of the lightning hit building fell.
Her heart was drumming, but now was not the time to panic. Taking the blind man's arm, she took off, dashing into the vacant building and hoping to the Gods the storm wouldn't get any worse.
Displaying desperation, the "blind man" felt Vels' outreached arm and took it. Getting up with help and taking his walking stick with the other, the individuals press on from the mercliess storm that besieged the ruined city from above. More thunder rang out it and the sound of a collapsed building seemed to nearly drive the vagabond into panic again, but he restrained himself from further outbursts.
When they finally came inside, the man finally let go of Vels and sat on the dirt-filled floor. Panting, he took a minute or two to collect himself.
"Thank you child."
He paused before adding.
"I am...John."
Her heart was still racing, but seeing the man settle down, she released a sigh.
"I'm... Vels." It felt odd giving her name, but what did it matter? The man was old, blind- and she hardly felt there would be any repercussions for helping him.
"So... do you live around here?" she asked, feeling awkward as she wasn't exactly much for conversation, or even knew how to properly interact with another human being.
John stayed slient for a second before answering.
"Sort of."
He asked Vels, in turn.
"What about you, the same thing?
She paused, feeling awkward, but replied in kind.
"Yeah." She frowned, looking down at her boots before over at him. "Sort of."
"Tell me about it." John replied with weariness, staying sited where he was. After a few minutes of awkward silence between them, John spoke up with a short chuckle.
"I would ask why a young girl doing out here in the rain, but that be stupid considering me being here in my condition."
He pointed at his bandage covered eyes in self mockery.
She looked at him, to the bandages over his eyes before asking him, "So you had an injury that made you blind?"
Such a question should be expected but it still appear to cause John frown, not so much at Vels but more at the question itself.
"The war is what did this to me." John repiled with a bitter-filled voice. Taking a deep breath and releasing it he explained further.
"It was some bloody fools with a cannon. Not only did it took my sight but my home too."
Thunder roared again outside, causing John to cover the top of his head with both arms and shake again in fear.
Frowning, she moved nearer to him, but not close enough to touch.
"It's only thunder," she assured him, while a second rumble purred and gently shook the ground.
"A cannon you say?" She looked away, towards the rain. "I can relate. I lost everything to the war too." And she didn't know why she was telling him that. She supposed it didn't matter.
"I am sorry to hear that Vels. Hopefully things get better with you younger folks when this d*** war is over."
Saying that, John slowly pulled out of his rags, a half bitten loaf of bread. Dividing it up, he chewed his small portion and hand out the other so Vels could take it. Of course, it wasn't pointed at the girl directly but the gesture would be enough to make her aware that she was welcome to take a bit.
Vels said nothing, watching the man and found herself curious at the offer. Though hungry, she wasn't sure she should take this man's food.
"Don't worry about it. I've got my own rations stored elsewhere. You eat it."
It was a lie, but he didn't need to know that. She was used to going hungry.
With an amused sort, John commented.
"My eyes are gone but my ears still working little girl. I can usually detect lie when someone trying to tough it out. Don't pity me, just take the bread and eat."
Embarrassed, she went quiet a moment before taking the bread. Hastily she ate, but her throat was dry, the bread was hard to swallow.
John carefully chewed so not to choke himself from the hard bread. This continued for a little bit between the two.
"By the way I heard some recent stories from coming out from the land. It's seems the Grand Duke is going draft everyone and their mother for the war. Many folks not happy about that."
The older beggar mentioned as he finished another bit.
"Draft?" she blinked, not understanding. "What do you mean?"
Parts of her life had been in ignorance.
Seeing the girl's expression pretty much told "John" that Vels didn't understand what he meant as in draft. Scratching his left shoulder with one arm, he explained as best as he could.
"Draft, basically means being forced into doing or joining something, even though you or I may not want to. In this case, the Grand Duke wants more people to be part of his army to keep fighting this bloody war for him."
"So..." she went on, carefully digesting what he had said. "He's forcing people into the army?"
Her face was that of disgust, and though he wouldn't be able to see it, he surely could hear it in her voice. "That's revolting! The war is bad enough a scar on this land- but now it's a mandatory thing? For any and all to fight?"
With a disgruntled huff aimed at their mentioned ruler, John went on.
"That the idea apparently. The only ones that would be exempted as cripples like me and probbaly noble boot lickers that our Grand Duke may have."
He lowered his head in contemplation before adding.
"Though I did hear whispers of a noble that was enforced the draft in his town was killed by some strange masked man, some weeks ago."
That news struck a cord.
"Masked man?" And she moved to lean closer to him, anxious. "WHat sort of masked man? Why did he do that? WHen?"
Could it be the same man she had run into here?
Displaying a surprised expression, it took the "blind man" a few seconds to recover so to answer his fellow vagabond's questions.
"They say it was some sort of a man that wore some kind of a mask that looks like a knight's helmet. They say he killed the blue blood for being corrupt and oppressing his folks. The freak claimed it so from what some refugees told me. Like I said it happen weeks past, two or three perhaps near the capital."
He rubbed his head some more as if he was trying to remember something.
"They say his name was Nem. No it wasn't that sorry, it was Nemesis I think. Sounds weird to me for a fellow to give yourselves a name like that. Why you ask Vels?"
"Nemsis?" she repeated the name, then grew strangely quiet. But after a moment, she shook her head. "Oh.. n-nothing. I just...."
She looked out towards the street. "Looks like the storm is clearing." Though it still rained.
"That good news." John noted before he paused then swore in exclamation,
"Angsar's breath! I almost forgot about the craziest part I heard about that madman Nemesis. He saved a Mage who was accused of the killing of he committed then defeated a couple of guards before
cutting down one of those Mordecai in single combat for everybody to see. The Mordecai was one of those beasts who burn down our home here."
With an amused chuckle, he shook his head.
"I say that's madman to do all that, but I would still buy him a round of ale at least for that last act."
Vels hadn't realized she had been leaning in close to listen with a held breath. That was, until she finally released that breath. She shook her head.
"Mad man indeed, why earlier I-" But she paused and clamped her mouth shut. The old man didn't have to get all worked up, believing the same crazy man was here.
"Let's just say I have heard of him and well... some of his crazy, bizarre actions. But it's strange... Do you think he's disfigured? Is that why he wears the mask? It seems strange. Then again, if I were to go against the government, I guess hiding my face would make the most sense but..."
She paused to think, frowning.
"No, Ithink I'd want my enemy to know my face. Ugly or not. Just to rub it in their faces, like salt in a wound."
And she had no idea why she was telling this poor old man all of this. Perhaps stressful situations just did that to a person.
Shrugging his shoulders at the girl's new questions, John just added his own opinion.
"I really don't care about his mask, since I can't see but his actions got my attention. It isn't just the regime he went after apparently. The freak slew two magic users who were actually burning people alive, civilians mainly. Yet then he recuses mage children from a mob in another town. Honestly, what you think that fool trying to prove?"
"Prove?" Vels wrinkled her nose, disgusted. "That most men are idiots and we are the enemies of ourselves."
Very interesting "John" considered to himself. His questions had been pretty much answered. As if on cue the storm finally stopped.
"Well it's sounds like the rain and its mess is gone. I better get going, don't worry girl I'll manage from here. Thank you for helping someone like me. Blessings of Ansgar be upon you."
Using his stick as leverage and to feel his way out, John proceeded to walk with some caution away from Vels. Once out of sight however he took off the bandages revealing that he wasn't actual blind. Several minutes later in the shadows of an nearby alleyway, Nemesis surfaced where John once was.
Back to work. The masked man told himself as he prepared for his next task.
While 'John' spirited elsewhere, Vels realized she was still without food. Hunger drove her out of her little cove, but she knew she'd find little here in means of it. Perhaps it was best she venture out of Thaedes and towards a place more crawling with life...
Or perhaps she could try to catch a rat for dinner. It wasn't the best food, but she'd eaten it before. IN fact, she ate rat meat far too often than she'd have liked. But meat was a generous thing and she could go a few days off of one meal of it. Bread, on the other hand, was a whole other animal. And if she had the means, she'd steal a loaf and devour the whole thing herself!
Dreaming about it made her mouth water. Picking up her staff, she used it as a walking stick to move about through the rough terrain that was the remains of Thaedes, and began to make her way towards the city's end.