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Aria stepped out onto the soaking city streets just on the other side of Logata Castle’s walls. She closed the door behind her, and it appeared that she had managed to remain undetected since she slipped out of her bedroom earlier in the night. She dropped the keys she had acquired from the guard into her bag. If she ever needed to sneak back into the castle in the future, they would come in handy. For now, she was only interested in getting away.
Aria began walking down the empty street, creating distance between her and the castle. The road sparkled as raindrops bounced off it’s stone surface. The precipitation had eased up to a drizzle as the night became more humid, but the fog only grew thicker. It was so murky that the yellowish moon was a faint glow above, without any definite shape. By now Aria was drenched to the bone. Her wet leggings clung to her skin uncomfortably, and she was glad that all she decided to wear for a top was her metallic breastplate. But still, she appreciated the weather more than she condemned it. Without the rainfall and the mist, she would not have been able to get around stealthily.
She continued ambling down the street, relieved that the hard part of her prowl was complete. There were a few homeless souls sprawled here and there along the edges of the road, covered in mucky blankets and jackets. A filthy mutt merrily trotted towards Aria, holding a bone in his mouth. He begged her to toss it for him to fetch but she disregarded him, not wanting whatever germs the bone possessed. Shops and common places passed by on her left and right, almost everything was closed at this hour. There were only a few buildings that emitted light, mostly bars and living places, but they still appeared to be desolate. However, she did come across one particularly rowdy tavern, where she could see plenty of folks drinking and jigging inside. A flute played a lively song accompanied by a drum and a lute. And for the love of Din, Aria had never seen so many drunks at the same time! One man stumbled around outside of the bar with a rather large bottle in his hand. “You look lost little lady, come inside!” he called, and knowing the disturbing shout was directed at her, Aria’s pace picked up for a while until she felt alone once again.
Further down the street it grew dead silent, to the point where it gave Aria an uneasy feeling. It had gotten so hazy that she couldn’t see the details on her hand if she held it would in front of her. She told herself that there was nothing to be worried about, and that she was too strong to be scared, but something just wasn’t right. There had been word that there was a killer loitering the quieter parts of the city, and that he had already claimed a few victims for no determined purpose. Aria had never thought about it much and for the most part doubted it, but now she was getting the unsettled feeling of being followed. As she continued, she kept trying to reassure herself that things were fine, but at just the slightest, irregular sound, her eyes darted around, only to realize that it was something harmless.
Soon Aria had managed to relax a bit more, and before she knew it, she was nearing the city’s outer walls. All of a sudden, her body was flung aside, and she found herself on her back against the cold, hard ground. A figure loomed before her, and through the mist she knew he was glaring down at her with no virtuous intent. “You shouldn’t be out this late at night,” were the taunting words of a wicked voice above. “Now I’ll have to make you my prey.”
At her first instinct, Aria rolled to the side, hopping to her feet. She drew her blade, ready to strike at any moment. Whoever it was who had crept up on her did not know what they were getting themselves into. She hadn't been so frightened for years, but Aria knew she was going to get out of this alive. Just the feeling of her rapier in hand gave her a feeling of confidence. “How has nobody dealt with you yet?” she snapped. It was typical of her to jeer at her opponent during a brawl. “Looks like I’ll have to. We can’t have psychopaths like you wandering around.” With that, she bounded behind the body, and it looked like they were too sluggish to follow her movement. Hyperactively, she drove her blade through his back, and it slid back out as the body helplessly slumped to the ground without a word. The scuffle had ended quicker than she had expected.
Aria cursed to herself as she backed away, shocked at what had happened. When she left her room earlier that night, she hadn’t been expecting to end up taking someone’s life. This was her sword’s first taste of human blood, and a sense of guilt devoured Aria even though she knew the person got what they deserved. They were no doubt going to harm her, and others as well. There possibly could have even been a bounty on her attacker’s head. Aria turned back to her original course and continued towards the outside of the city. She held her rapier, letting the rain wash away any trace of blood. She couldn’t bear the thought of having someone else’s body fluids on her equipment.
Trying to clear her mind, Aria focused on the city wall as it finally entered view. She stayed on the road and arrived at one of the city gates at last. There was another soldier keeping watch on whoever and whatever went through the gateway. As she expected, he gave her a little bit of trouble but she could still get through. He let her know that she was headed towards less safe lands and had her show him her weapons. He also asked why she was leaving before sunrise, and she told him she was simply getting an early start. Surprisingly, the guard didn’t mention that as a teenage girl, she was too young or weak leave the city alone.
The guard allowed Aria to proceed through the gate, and before she knew it she was well on her way to finding what she was looking for. As to how she was actually going to find anything, she was left quite clueless.
*Aria moves to Logata Field*
Aria began walking down the empty street, creating distance between her and the castle. The road sparkled as raindrops bounced off it’s stone surface. The precipitation had eased up to a drizzle as the night became more humid, but the fog only grew thicker. It was so murky that the yellowish moon was a faint glow above, without any definite shape. By now Aria was drenched to the bone. Her wet leggings clung to her skin uncomfortably, and she was glad that all she decided to wear for a top was her metallic breastplate. But still, she appreciated the weather more than she condemned it. Without the rainfall and the mist, she would not have been able to get around stealthily.
She continued ambling down the street, relieved that the hard part of her prowl was complete. There were a few homeless souls sprawled here and there along the edges of the road, covered in mucky blankets and jackets. A filthy mutt merrily trotted towards Aria, holding a bone in his mouth. He begged her to toss it for him to fetch but she disregarded him, not wanting whatever germs the bone possessed. Shops and common places passed by on her left and right, almost everything was closed at this hour. There were only a few buildings that emitted light, mostly bars and living places, but they still appeared to be desolate. However, she did come across one particularly rowdy tavern, where she could see plenty of folks drinking and jigging inside. A flute played a lively song accompanied by a drum and a lute. And for the love of Din, Aria had never seen so many drunks at the same time! One man stumbled around outside of the bar with a rather large bottle in his hand. “You look lost little lady, come inside!” he called, and knowing the disturbing shout was directed at her, Aria’s pace picked up for a while until she felt alone once again.
Further down the street it grew dead silent, to the point where it gave Aria an uneasy feeling. It had gotten so hazy that she couldn’t see the details on her hand if she held it would in front of her. She told herself that there was nothing to be worried about, and that she was too strong to be scared, but something just wasn’t right. There had been word that there was a killer loitering the quieter parts of the city, and that he had already claimed a few victims for no determined purpose. Aria had never thought about it much and for the most part doubted it, but now she was getting the unsettled feeling of being followed. As she continued, she kept trying to reassure herself that things were fine, but at just the slightest, irregular sound, her eyes darted around, only to realize that it was something harmless.
Soon Aria had managed to relax a bit more, and before she knew it, she was nearing the city’s outer walls. All of a sudden, her body was flung aside, and she found herself on her back against the cold, hard ground. A figure loomed before her, and through the mist she knew he was glaring down at her with no virtuous intent. “You shouldn’t be out this late at night,” were the taunting words of a wicked voice above. “Now I’ll have to make you my prey.”
At her first instinct, Aria rolled to the side, hopping to her feet. She drew her blade, ready to strike at any moment. Whoever it was who had crept up on her did not know what they were getting themselves into. She hadn't been so frightened for years, but Aria knew she was going to get out of this alive. Just the feeling of her rapier in hand gave her a feeling of confidence. “How has nobody dealt with you yet?” she snapped. It was typical of her to jeer at her opponent during a brawl. “Looks like I’ll have to. We can’t have psychopaths like you wandering around.” With that, she bounded behind the body, and it looked like they were too sluggish to follow her movement. Hyperactively, she drove her blade through his back, and it slid back out as the body helplessly slumped to the ground without a word. The scuffle had ended quicker than she had expected.
Aria cursed to herself as she backed away, shocked at what had happened. When she left her room earlier that night, she hadn’t been expecting to end up taking someone’s life. This was her sword’s first taste of human blood, and a sense of guilt devoured Aria even though she knew the person got what they deserved. They were no doubt going to harm her, and others as well. There possibly could have even been a bounty on her attacker’s head. Aria turned back to her original course and continued towards the outside of the city. She held her rapier, letting the rain wash away any trace of blood. She couldn’t bear the thought of having someone else’s body fluids on her equipment.
Trying to clear her mind, Aria focused on the city wall as it finally entered view. She stayed on the road and arrived at one of the city gates at last. There was another soldier keeping watch on whoever and whatever went through the gateway. As she expected, he gave her a little bit of trouble but she could still get through. He let her know that she was headed towards less safe lands and had her show him her weapons. He also asked why she was leaving before sunrise, and she told him she was simply getting an early start. Surprisingly, the guard didn’t mention that as a teenage girl, she was too young or weak leave the city alone.
The guard allowed Aria to proceed through the gate, and before she knew it she was well on her way to finding what she was looking for. As to how she was actually going to find anything, she was left quite clueless.
*Aria moves to Logata Field*