"Huh, I feel like I'm forgetting something today," Auria said, "Like, some anniversary or something like that,"
"Oh, you're forgetting-" Rockwell started, "Actually, nevermind, you'll find out eventually!"
Auria glared at Rockwell for a moment but let it go and continued walking onwards. They had just reached Faerlie again! Such a long walk and it had been so long since she'd seen civilization! She was overdue for some rest. Yeah, a young Alchemist needed her rest!
Auria approached a local stall vendor, asked for something quick to eat. She was hungry! A five-day walk with the General really takes its toll on your sanity.
"Just like… Three of your Muttrat Sticks," Auria said, "Here wait, I should have some money somewhere here,"
The vendor stared at her for a moment and then something clicked in his head, "Oh! It's the Faerlie Fox! No need to pay for something so small, you've saved us so much, it's the least I can do!"
The vendor then shoved the food into Auria's hands, quite forcefully, so that she didn't even have an opportunity to object.
"Yeah… Alright then… Thank you very much!" Auria gave a smile and trotted off back to the others. By the time she had gotten to them, she was already tearing into her food.
"You pay for those? You didn't steal them, did you?" Senwell asked.
"Oh no, 'e gabe 'em t' meh," Auria said, mouth full of food. She swallowed before she continued, "Said something about the 'Faerlie Fox' I dunno what that is, but if it gets me free snacks, I'm fine with that,"
Auria looked to Rockwell, who was eyeing her food quite intently. Auria thought for just a second before heaving a sigh and offering one of the sticks to Rockwell.
"Here you go, Major General… Looked like you wanted some…" Auria said.
Rockwell gratefully grabbed the Muttrat Stick and ate it all in a single bite! She then gave Auria a big hug, almost choking her!
"Ack! Major General! You're choking me again! Lemme go!" Auria exclaimed, "This is assault!"
Rockwell snickered, "Thank you for helping me out Crane, I'm eternally grateful!" She exclaimed, "Oh, that really hit the spot, thanks!"
Another sight caught the attention of Auria, so she trotted over towards it, though didn't exactly tell anyone where she was going.
Auria wandered over to the intriguing sight, it was a magic show! Ordinarily, she didn't really care for magic, but the woman performing the tricks was just so… Pretty! She looked around Auria's age too!
"Excuse me, pardon me," Auria said occasionally as she pushed through the crowd, "Sorry, my bad!"
Eventually, she had made it to the front! She had the best view from there and saw the magician work her magic firsthand!
The magician conjured many different things, fire, water, earth, even air! She had conjured each of the four elements and many more!
Auria was completely captivated. Even though she could do the same, the woman just looked so happy while performing her tricks! Was this what Auria looked like as well?
As quickly as the show had begun, it had ended, just like that. The woman disappeared backstage for a while but the crowd quickly dispersed, they seemed pleased by the show. It was clearly a rare occurrence in Faerlie.
Auria stayed in place, she wasn't exactly sure why, but it just felt right, and her patience did in fact pay off! Soon after the show ended, the woman reappeared outside and locked eyes with Auria.
"Hey there," The magician said, "Haven't ever seen you around these parts, though you do look familiar… You a tourist? Don't get many of those around here,"
"Oh! Ah! You-are-very-pretty!" Auria blurted out
The magician chuckled and sat on the stage, just in front of Auria, "You're sure an interesting one… Are you perhaps known as the Faerlie Fox? Or the Godless Alchemist?"
Auria nodded, "Uhm, yeah, I'm both of those! Auria Crane, I-will-do-anything-for-you,"
��Well then, my Faerlie Fox, I am Seven, nice to meet you," Seven said, extending a hand to Auria for a handshake.
Auria took Seven's hand and shook it, "Nice-to-meet-you-Seven!"
Auria and Seven reunited with the rest of the group. Rockwell instantly rushed to Auria and brought her in for a huge hug.
"Please don't run off like that without telling anyone! We were so worried, we almost started a manhunt!" Rockwell exclaimed.
"Sorry… Major General…" Auria croaked as she tapped on Rockwell's arm. She was yet again being choked. Maybe the Major General was actually trying to kill her secretly, who knows…
Eventually, Rockwell let her go and went to inspect Seven, "Oh, and who's your friend? You brought home a new woman, I'm so proud, you're finally growing up! I might cry!"
"Her name's Seven… Also… No," Auria said, rubbing her throat.
"So nice to meet you, Seven! I'm Major General Rockwell! Oh, I'm just so ecstatic, this is such a blessing!" Rockwell exclaimed.
Auria was silent, mostly with embarrassment, but partly out of spite. Still mostly with embarrassment.
Lieutenant Ross cleared her throat, gaining the attention of Rockwell and saving Auria from the embarrassment that was the Major General. She truly was a guardian angel!
"We had best be on our way, Seven, will you be accompanying us at all? Or will you stay here?" Ross asked.
"Oh, of course I'll be tagging along, Auria's told me all about her adventures so far, how could I pass that opportunity up?" Seven replied.
Auria and the gang hung out at the train station for a while, waiting for their train to arrive. Thirty minutes, they said.
"And then the whole thing went up in flames!" Auria said, finishing her story to Seven, "That's how I first showed off my skills to everyone,"
"I see! You're really cool then! I'm nowhere near powerful enough to do anything like that, at least not yet!" Seven replied.
The two chatted on a bench for a while before Rockwell came over, she was hiding something behind her back, though what it was was a mystery to Auria.
"So, I heard it was someone's birthday today and I snatched you something special," Rockwell said.
Rockwell whipped her gift from behind her and presented it to Auria. She gave a smile as Auria took the present and began to unwrap it.
"If it's something like soap, I'm gonna riot…" Auria murmured. Though, when she finally unwrapped it, it revealed small vials containing various liquids.
"Oh hell yeah!" Auria exclaimed, "I've got a bit of everything here! You even got some Mercury for me! And some… Oh my gods!"
Auria, in a rare showing of gratitude to the Major General, set down the gift box gently and stretched her hands out to Rockwell. She hugged Rockwell and gave a silent "Thank you" to her.
"Aww, anything for you," Rockwell giggled.
Auria quickly recomposed herself and drifted away from Rockwell, "Anyway… Thanks, I guess…��� Auria commented, "These are very expensive ingredients, thank you very much…"
Auria tried sounding as bitter and uncaring as possible, but, either on purpose or by her own ineptitude, her acting was really horrible, and nobody bought it.
Auria sat back down next to Seven, "Sorry… I got really excited about that, it's just some nerdy stuff, don't pay me any mind," Auria said, trying to lighten the mood with a joke.
"Aww, don't worry about something small like that, I think a little nerdy mode is cute!" Seven said, "So I don't mind at all,"
Out of nowhere, a young looking businessman in a pristine and perfectly straightened and ironed tuxedo approached Auria and Seven.
Wearing a friendly and inviting smile, the man spoke, "Greetings, I am Amleth Sils, I own a rather promising company and I heard of the exploits of the Godless Alchemist, Auria Crane, so I decided to come meet her myself,"
Auria eyed the man suspiciously, "Right… I'm Auria Crane, how can I help you?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
The man straightened his tuxedo and adjusted his tie, "Oh, my company is looking for Alchemists to assist in our work,"
Auria leaned back in the bench and heaved a sigh, "Ah, I'm not really interested in working for a company, I'm an Alchemist, but I don't sell my powers for money,"
The man hung his head for a moment before giving another friendly smile, "Oh, what a shame, I do hope I will be able to change your mind in the future,"
As soon as the man left, the train had arrived! It was strange, since it had only been about fifteen minutes. The train must have been faster than expected, or something like that.
Everyone gathered their belongings and filed into the train. For a group so large as theirs, a single train cart wasn't big enough, so they occupied multiple rooms.
"Hey, Lieutenant, something weird happened earlier at the train station," Auria said as she began to store her trunk away. She kept her new alchemical ingredients out, she wanted to mess with them a bit while they traveled.
"What happened? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention, I was with the others," Ross replied, "Something bad happen?"
"Not really, but this weird guy in a suit came up to me and asked for the Godless Alchemist, wanted me to help him with work, but I'm not interested in that stuff," Auria explained as she stashed her new ingredients in her pockets.
Ross's blood went cold, "Was his name… Amleth Sils, by any chance?" She asked, "Please tell me it wasn't,"
Auria snickered, "Alright, it wasn't Mister Amleth Sils!"
Ross shook her head, "Crane, I'm serious, please tell me it wasn't him," Ross looked genuinely terrified. Again, it was in her eyes, "He's a dangerous man, nobody refuses him and sticks around for long,"
Auria opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a knocking at the door. She went to open it, while Ross watched carefully, waiting to see who it was.
Auria opened the door, and there he was! The same man from before! Amleth Sils!
"Hello, Miss Crane, I've come once again to extend my offer to you, will you consider doing some work for me?"