Aura and Spirit

The humans were packed together, typical of their marketplace. It was the afternoon, not late but not early. I sat on the roof that normally was called my perch, watching their outlines from above. Every pickpocketing thief, every con man, I could see them all. And they made me sick. Frowning deeply, I walked to the edge of the roof, leaping into an open alleyway- less light for more comfort.

When will these idiots learn... The more crowded they are, the less money they take home...

Aster was weaving through the crowds swiftly, trying to get away from the group of people wanting his reward.

"These guys never give up, do they?"

He climbed onto a pile of crates, knocking them down as he made a jump to the roof of the building.

"I'm sorry my friends, but it seems I've escaped! Until next time."

He bowed before he fell back off of the building, he turned himself around and landed on his feet, he slowly stood up and came to face to face with a woman.

"Uh oh.."

The man that was suddenly in front of me had a bright life force, full of mischievous energy. His Aura was a bright teal, and suddenly flared with fear. Raising my eyebrow, I quirked up a smile.

"Well hello there. Nice to see you drop in on my alleyway, so to speak."

My katana was in my hand, less than a heart beat. Not at a completely ready stance, but ready enough to defend myself.

Aster bowed, looked up at the woman and put on a sly smile, brushing his sleeves off as he stood up.

"Hello there, friend. I suppose you know who I am, and it seems you've caught me, I have nowhere else to go."

His sly smile stayed as he put his hands in the air.

"I wonder how I'll get out of this one, Alys will not be happy if I am late with the materials again.."

My smile turned into a frown. He seemed to be thinking.

"No, actually, I do not. Should I?"

Under my lenses, I could feel the now-white pupils of my eyes dilate, measuring his aura. He seemed to be in a hurry from the signs he was putting out.

"And you seem to be in a hurry... Thinking of how to leave, how to avoid the crowd trying to find you... and thinking of someone?"

The words of the woman shocked him for a brief moment.

"How did she-?"

The voices of the crowd he ran from got closer, he looked the way they were coming from and back to the woman in front of him.

"I'm afraid I'll have to skip formalities, I'd get out of here if I were you, the people following me aren't the nicest people in town."

He darted toward the end of the alleyway before he was blocked by the people who were after him, along with others that had joined along.

"This.. Is bad."

"Shh. Be quiet."

Grabbing him, I pulled him backward to the end of the alley with me, knocking a few things over in the process. When we reached the wall, I knocked on it three times. When the wall swiveled, I made sure that he was pinned against it.

Why am I doing this?...

"Be quiet and still. 'Tis one of my many hide-aways."

"Whoa.."

He was amazed, but also confused at the woman helping him.

"Hey, thanks for helping me back there! I guess you really don't know who I am, the name's Aster Coliar, just your more than average blacksmith here in Oppidum."

He leaned against the wall, his hands behind his head, he looked around before he turned toward the woman.

"So, may I ask who you are? And, why you helped me?"

Clamping my hand over his mouth, I raised a finger to my lips. As I went still, I pushed out of my body astral, moving my consciousness through the wall to see the people confused. Waiting until they moved away, I went back into my body.

"My name is Azumai Yukiyho. Shut up, no wonder you were being chased."

"Hey, loud or quiet, my face gets everyone's attention, and not the kind you want."

Realizing again that she had saved him, and he wasn't being dragged to the jail by the ear, he blinked twice in curiosity.

"Why aren't you turning me in? I was being chased out there for a reward, I am famous, you know."

"And?"

Frowning, I raised an eyebrow.

"Do you take me for someone who honestly cares?"

Walking away from him, I didn't care if he followed me out or not.

"Hey, wait!" He scrambled out the door, catching back up with her. "I mean, I guess I should be glad I found someone who doesn't care about my reward. Me and my sister DO run the world's best blacksmith shop, perhaps you've heard of it? "Coliar Blacksmith Services"! I'd much rather be known for that! Anyway, since you have never heard of me, you must be new here, where are you from, Azumai?"

"No. I'm not new. And yes. One of your family members makes my swords."

I continued to walk, waiting for him to match my pace.

"Ten forty, silver steel in mix with an oxygen cast of sixty."

"Oh? You must mean Alys, my sister, I was actually making a delivery of materials to her before I was chased!"

Before heading out the alleyway, he ripped a wanted poster of him and stuffed it in his bag, amongst hundreds of others.

"Y'know, for you to not be new here, and not know who I am, I don't know whether or not to feel relieved or hurt that not as many people as I thought know about me." He chuckled slightly, walking with his hands behind his head.

Shrugging, I crossed my arms.

"More along the lines of I didn't care. Anyway. Lets go to the shop."

"Harsh, but I appreciate your lack of caring. Onwards to the shop, now!" He chuckled, walking carelessly.

"What's at the shop, anyway?"

"My order. Tempered Silver Steel mix, wolf medallion. Need it for a concentration point."

Shrugging, I drew my Katana again.

"I think.. We're being followed."

"I wouldn't doubt it."

He looked around, and grabbed the handle of his sword.

"I saw we make a run for the shop, you?"

He looked around the crowds of people, but didn't see anyone that looked remotely weird or suspicious.

"I don't see anyone near.."

"Relax."

I put my hand on his, motioning him back into the alley.

"This way, and don't draw attention you idiot."

"That will be hard, I am the most popular guy in Oppidum! Or so I would like to think."

Following the woman through the alleyway, he looked back and saw a head peek around the corner of the wall.

"They're getting closer, you have an escape plan in mind?"

"You are louder than my thoughts, so shh."

Annoyed, I waited until we got to the leeway, before pushing him in silently. Creating a mirage with my image, I let the fake Aster and Azumai walk down the alley, and waited until the interested people gave chase. When all was clear, I followed the break away alley into the shop.

"There. Your home, my store."

"Alright then, I'll be back with your order!"

He stopped a few steps in front of the back entrance, realizing how late he was. He straightened his jacket and took a deep breath.

"Here goes nothing.."

He walked in casually as he saw his sister, pounding harshly at the sword. Maybe he shouldn't say anything with a hammer in her hand.

"H-Hey Sis!"

He flinched back quickly, Alys stopped swinging at the sound of his voice.

"Where have you been?"

He slowly stood up, Alys staring at him with fiery eyes.

"Oh, you know-"

""OH, YOU KNOW" IS NOT AN EXCUSE, I'VE BEEN BEHIND TWO ORDERS BECAUSE OF YOU!"

"I was being chased by Oppidum's mob again!"

"Why don't you just get captured and get it over with?"

"I've racked up too much of a reward for that, you'd be the same age as Mom and Dad by the time I got out. Um, Azumai's here for her order, is it ready?"

"Yeah, it's over there."

Dropping the supplies, he grabbed the bag and headed out.

"I won't get caught this time!"

"Shut up.."

He left the back entrance and over to the woman, handing her the bag.

"There you go! If you don't mind me asking, what is that?"

"Like I said. The amulet."

Taking it out, I let him see the silver wolf against it.

"Here, lemme show you what it's for... You might wanna warn your sister, though. She sounded grumpy with you."

"Alright."

He walked over to the back entrance, and peeked his head out.

"Hey, I am off to see what the Amulet does."

"What?"

"I'll be back soon!"

He shut the door chuckling to himself with his hands behind his back.

"So, what does it do?"

Sitting down, cross-legged, I put the amulet on the floor.

"Touch it. And... I can kinda show you what I see."