"Sh*t, with all this people new people I can't even take three steps without bumping into some Mancer or what not." A burly man cursed as he entered a house shutting the door behind himself with more force than was necessary.
"Easy brother Lewis, you might just bring down this building with naught but your voice". A woman dressed from head to toe in red spoke up in a bored tone, her eyes trained to a tome she held at hand.
Lewis turned to her dropping the grocery bags he had just brought in, causing some of the produce to fall out and roll on to the creaky floor boards.
"Want to repeat that sister Nevaeh" Lewis turned towards her his eyes glaring at her.
"Enough, both of you. I've just received word our exit from this place has been secured, we leave tonight. Brother Ethan how has the Oblation been doing?" An older man draped in a robe, so red it seemed as though it was dyed in blood, spoke.
He turned to address another man who was playing cards with two figures completely hidden under their cloaks.
"Eh, the brat's all right" Ethan spoke his voice hoarse, as he focused on the cards he held at hand.
"Make sure it is ready for the departure by sundown" The older man emphasized once more as Ethan gave a nod to show he was paying attention before playing a card.
The people continued with their individual duties as they all eagerly awaited the time of their departure.
*****
Maria had changed into a new outfit with her suitcase placed beside her. Her eyes were fixed on the array she had etched into the ground using potassium carbonate and Kultrop.
With a sigh she turned her lighter on and lit the the array causing blue flames to rise up, the flames were quick to run across the array. Once the flames met, all her alchemic tools which were enclosed in the array broke down to dust instantaneously.
Maria observed silently as her array burnt out. With naught but ashes left she picked up her suitcase and turned to leave when she saw the intruder. The sudden appearance caused her to leap back.
The suitcase in her hand fell to the floor with a thud, as she pulled out her lighter, "no need for all that". The intruder's distorted voice did nothing to ease her nerves, without uttering a word she took in the appearance of this stranger.
His face was obscured by some sort of red gas mask, where she believed his eyes would be visible was hidden in the shade created by the hood he wore, apart from his distinctive mask, he was decked in black from head to toe.
"A tower Alchemist, how intriguing". The intruder tilted his head to the side as he continued to observe her, "I'll admit I wasn't completely certain when I first saw you. I merely thought you a skilled hedge alchemist who had managed to grant herself such inhuman looks... but then I saw her."
Beads of sweat had began to form atop Maria's forehead as her mind began racing, 'he had spoken of Matilda did that mean he was here all that time? No, no that couldn't be the case even if she had failed to notice him there was no way Matilda would fail as well'.
The intruder unaware of the thoughts of the Alchemist before him, continued his gloved hand now supporting his chin. "Turns out you were from the tower, well I guess that isn't the case any more. I wonder if your friends here knew? Did they even know your real name?"
"Who the fuck are you?!" Maria cut the masked man off, her impatience wining over the other emotions that warred for dominance her head. "Oh my, where are my manners" the intruder suddenly slapped his hands before him with the sudden action causing Maria to flinch.
"You can call me Rubedo, how about you, would you prefer Cleo or Maria?" Rubedo questioned with genuine curiosity. Maria at this point was focusing on the now identified Rubedo. The name he gave suggested he was somehow affiliated with Alchemy, but nothing else.
"Maria" Maria answered, "you can relax you know, I have no intention to harm you. My goal is the same as your mentor, this was a mere... what is the word I'm looking for. Hmmm, oh well lets just go with spontaneous. This whole visit was a merely a spontaneous one."
There was a moment of silence as the two simply observed each other, "Okay then, unfortunately I have something important to do but when I'm done. I'll find you so we can talk about this 'foolish dream' of yours". Hearing the words 'foolish dream'
Maria almost lost control, wanting to question Rubedo but her sense of reason held her back causing her to just silently observe the masked intruder who simply merged into the ground before her.
Maria was dumbfounded, that should not be possible. This was not Alchemy as she did not see any array, and she knew the various abilities Mancers could achieve, this, this was most certainly not one of them. At this point only one thought popped up in her mind, even though she knew it was improbable, impossible even.
"Magic"