So what does the flower do?
"It is special rose, and very dangerous, even pricking yourself with its thorns will give a curse of death,"
"Wait, why didn't you tell me that earlier?!" I could've pricked myself and died!
At this, Lacer looks at me like I'm an idiot.
Oh, that's when it strikes me. We're a cult specialising in death. So why wouldn't they have countermeasures against curses of the same kind?
Yeah, I just panicked. Ignore that spiel.
Anyway, carrying the pot, we bring it back to the hideout where Lacer takes it away to do some other stuff to it.
Did he order that flower for some kind of collection? Is Lacer secretly an exotic gardener?
Hmm, that would be quite fun to imagine, but considering that the flower in its base state is already capable of cursing people, I would think it was a component of a ritual or something. Something supernatural and cult like.
I could return to his previous accommodation, but that felt boring.
So I split with the others and wandered around for a while eventually entering an alleyway,
Of which, I notice an abrupt change in atmosphere. It was relatively dark in here. The alleyway itself was relatively wide, and one could feel the sketchy vibes emanating from it.
"Ay, you got the stuff man?" A hooded figure suddenly appeared behind me.
The hell? When did that happen?
Judging by their voice, I deduce that it was a female, perhaps in her early to late twenties. Though I was unsure of how to answer her question.
What was the 'stuff'? She was probably referring to money.
More importantly, what was a woman doing out here, this late at night?
"Money?" I'm a bit unsure but she's probably a beggar asking for money.
The lady fumbled through her pockets and a barely audible, "Damned it," could be heard.
"Ah damn, just gimme a while, I'll get it next time," What is this lady on about?
"C'mon man,"
She titled her face to look towards me as she spoke in a begging tone, she was just slightly shorter than me, perhaps by two or three inches.
Her navy blue eyes stared deep into mine.
That was creepy. It was like she was trying to drive a bolt through my mind.
She definitely didn't seem normal, in fact, the atmosphere change in this alleyway seemed to be due to her presence.
Deciding it would be best to leave before the situation escalated. I swiftly turn around and briskly strode out of the alleyway.
"Hey, wait!" A certain essence in the surroundings started to be pulled towards her. This felt somewhat familiar.
Leave me alone! I don't know who you are.
The essence materialised into a semi humanoid form, and it hit me. She must be a kingdom agent!
I've seen this type of magic before. A unique type of magick that only the Kingdom possesses, making it all the more obvious as to her identity.
A star summoner.
Using the special essence that permeates through the realm known as star essence, they would pool it together to form a silvery white silhouette, which most of the time looked like a ghost with a flowing waist with no legs, and arms that ended in nubs instead of fingers.
Although it is called a summon, it would be more akin to the creation of an artificial elemental. This was a unique ability of one of the two unique mage archetypes of the Astra Kingdom.
Capable of harnessing the essence of starlight and condensing it into minions to fight for them. However many have the misconception that they are only capable of summoning at night when the stars are out, however, Star Summoners are capable of summoning at any time, and can actually be said to be stronger during the day. It is not common knowledge that the sun can also produce star and starlight essence, and quite a bit at that, something that the Astra Kingdom capitalizes on.
After all, I've worked with a couple star summoners in my time in service.
Alright, no time to dawdle.
I bolt out of the alleyway, moving in an irregular pattern around all the random bits of trash in the area.
Looking back, the semi humanoids who should've looked like a white ghost instead resembled pitch black demons.
There stood seven dark summons, each arm ending in a point, it had a wide 'mouth' that opened way wider than a human should, where dozens of needle like teeth protruded. It looked like something out of a nightmare.
Damn, star summons don't look like that! She must be an elite they called in.
Good thing that by the time she finished materialising her summons I'd already hightailed outta there. Looking back, I cloak myself with the darkness around. A minor ranger technique I picked up.
That was a close encounter, I'm not even sure whether Laffer could win against those things single handedly.
Actually thinking about it, these might be the bane of the dark arts, as the dark arts utilises the life essence of its victims to gain momentum and bulldoze platoons of soldiers, however, these summons were said to be lacking any of that.
Standing on a rooftop and looking back into the alleyway. The crazy lady withdrew her demons and they dissipated into nothingness. She's dangerous.
She even managed to sneak up on me, not to mention that strange dialogue she started with.
Tsk, I should probably alert the others about this.
I watch her for a couple moments, burning her visage into my danger list as I slink away.
…
The wondrous star summoner, Marielle Goldburn was in a tight predicament. Though this could also be considered a stroke of luck.
She had been part of the guard force for a while now, but hadn't really achieved anything notable… well, not notable as in the meritorious kind of notable.
When she first joined, there were high expectations on her, as she was a talent in the summoner circle, though consistent mishap after mishap, had led everyone to doubt her competence.
However, with a great increase in drug related activities in the past couple of months, this was her chance. She had always wondered what drugs were like and this was a prime two for one chance. She could try out drugs whilst also apprehending a drug dealer, boosting her merit.
Absolute genius! She stoked herself.
"Ay, you got the stuff man?"
Right now, she stood in a dark, dank alleyway. Opposite to her stood a man wrapped in black. He was certainly a drug dealer, he even asked her if she had money, as if he dealt with broke drug addicts on a daily basis.
Sacred stars! She was acting too suspicious though. To think she actually forgot to bring any money, if the dealer got suspicious he might flee.
At the moment, there were at least three meters of distance between them, if he wanted to run, he would probably get away.
Ah shite! The guy was turning around and seemed to hurriedly walk away. She had to catch him! Focusing on the essence in the surroundings, she filtered out all the redundant and unnecessary essences and weaved the starlight essence together with her own.
Perhaps feeling the shift in the atmosphere, the dealer made a run for it, he was fast. Very fast. Without a doubt, he was experienced at evading the law.
Her concentration was on her spell, though by the time she finished it, the dealer got away.
*Swish*
Her summons surrounded her, and looked around as if they searching for prey, however, with no orders, they simply idled.
"Sigh, to think I let them get away," she seemed disappointed that the dealer got away.
"My drugs…" correction; she seemed disappointed that the drugs got away.
Unsummoning her summons, she left, rather dejectedly.
Dragging her legs back to the guard barracks, she met the stern look of her team captain, the killjoy, Hayley Brigers.
"Where were you?"
"Hah, long story but essentially…"
Telling a long winded and exaggerated iteration of the night's events, she made excuse after excuse to try and convince her captain.
Though, as soon as she finished the description of the drug dealer, her captain suddenly spoke up.
"Wait. Describe him again,"
"Ah, oh yes, the scoundrel was covered head to toe in black, yeah, and he was a drug dealer and, and, he also had a crossbow. Though, I think he stole that, so he's also a thief!"
"Enough about that!" Hayley was sick of her random tangents, "The man, what was he like? Do you know where he went?"
"Uhm" She stammered, "He was definitely a criminal, and uh, he kinda just disappeared,"
"Marrielle, I hope you know, that if I get a complaint that a citizen was assaulted tomorrow, I'm not gonna be happy,"
What?! "I thought you were my captain!" I thought you were supposed to trust me?
"Oh, I do trust you, I trust you so much that I'm totally not tempted to call disciplinary enforcement on you, totally not,"
At this Marielle shut up. It looks like she was getting on his nerves again.
After a minute of composing himself, he spoke again.
"Sigh, however, despite how much I doubt you, that encounter seems especially suspicious, and since nothing happened I'll let you off this time,"
Yes!
"Oh, and next time, get a buddy to go with you next time,"
"O-okay,"
Yet again, everything goes semi alright for the awe inspiring star summoner, Marielle Goldburn!
"Why am I stuck babysitting all the junkies?" Hayley sighed watching her skip away.