"So let me get this straight." Rashen said with sheer fascination in his voice, "You compress the air around you and focus it into a single slashing attack?"
"Yes." Macy replied,
"And it can cut through anything?" Rashen asked again,
"For the hundredth time yes Rashen." Macy replied glaring at Rashen,
"Sorry but I just think that's so cool. Gayle don't you think it's cool?"
"Supah cool." Gayle responded absent mindedly,
"It's just that I know a very skilled wind tamer but I don't think I've ever seen him do something like that. In fact I don't think I've ever seen any wind tamer so something like that." Rashen said excited but Macy on the other hand looked terrified,her face turning a slight shade of red,
"Drop it already Rashen!" She warned and Rashen complied. He didn't get why she was so against him complementing her,but then again he had never been one to understand how girls function.
It was a beautiful morning, one week after the defeat of the Madam Rosaline the Queen of Thieves and the effects were already apparent. The rate of robbery had greatly reduced, although pickpocketing and burglary were still commonalities Rashen was at least satisfied with how things turned out so far.
It was the end of a really long month, Rashen's first month of being an Imperial Soldier and he was already making waves.
The trio were in their more casual clothes as they walked down the streets of Bludvalley. Gayle kept tuning his guitar while Macy was on the lookout for anyone breaking the law, Rashen believed that Macy would dish out punishment to anyone who performed even the meager act of littering.
"But there's still one thing that was never clear to me." Rashen said, "While I was carrying out my investigation I heard from Hanabi and even Miss Marun made mention of it. What where you two doing with Garle?" He asked. Macy looked delighted at the change of subject,
"We never told you huh. It's kind of a long story." She said,
"I'm all ears."
"Well you remember that I was suspicious about how that building exploded on the day Miss Marun introduced us to the Grittshore Watch? I decided to carry out my own investigation and while going through the remains of the building I found a burnt rusty piece of metal with a pretty funky smell.
"I did a little more digging with Gayle and discovered that the metal was the kind used as containers for special cooking gas."
"Cooking gas?" Rashen asked intrigued.
"Yeah. Cooking gas is really cheap but it's also very sensitive and highly combustible and because of this landlords in most residential areas in Grittshore don't allow them for risk of explosions."
"I'm guessing that people weren't always compliant with the rules."
"Exactly. Even before we got here there have been multiple cases of those explosions."
"So how'd you handle it?" Rashen asked,
"Well you were too busy with your investigation so I had Garle help us instead. We tracked down the people making the metallic containers and had them lead us to the people buying them."
"And they were?"
"Illegal gas miners with sub standard makeshift refineries. Everything from how they mined to how they refined the gasses was extremely dangerous.
"Obviously we tried to make the arrest but they were being difficult so Gayle and I beat the crap out of them."
"They weren't too seriously injured right?" Rashen asked nervously,
"Well they're alive, that's all that matters."
"What?"
"I think one had internal bleeding." Gayle added,
"WHAT?!!"
"Anyways we found out that there were more of those miners and refineries scattered around Grittshore so we had to get to work finding each and every single one of them and arresting everyone involved from the producers to the suppliers."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah and it wasn't easy. Some of the producers hired some serious muscle for protection but it wasn't anything we couldn't handle."
"So that's why the Watch cells are full I assume."
"Yeah." Macy said,
"Good time innit." Gayle concluded still focusing on his guitar.
All the excitement on Rashen's face was gone,
"I feel terrible." He said,
"Ya look terrible too." Gayle said,his mouth speaking faster than his brain could think. Macy elbowed him in the ribs.
"Why do you feel terrible?" She asked,
"Because I was mad at you guys. I thought you were pretty unfair for disregarding my theory and I got mad at you. I didn't know you guys were out there putting a stop to those illegal miners....and you still helped me with Madam Rosaline, something I couldn't even handle by myself." Macy smiled,
"Don't worry about it Rashen, at the end of the day we're still a team,we help each other out. It's not a competition or anything you know."
Rashen couldn't help but smile,
"Thanks Macy."
"Besides" Macy started, "You not being with us on those raids was probably- no definitely for the best."
"And why is that?" Rashen asked a little dejected,
"Those gases are extremely unstable and highly flammable. Your fire may be weak but it's still an explosion hazard."
"Yeah okay I get that but....but... it's not like I need my taming ability to fight,you know that." Rashen said coming to his own defense. Neither Gayle nor Macy replied.
"You guys know that right?.....right?"
The trio finally arrived at the junction leading to their final destination,the Grittshore Watch. At the junction they met none other than the Head Watcher himself, Garle Opinston.
"How are you cadets?" Garle asked and as usual,he had a warm smile on his aged face.
The four walked down the street leading to the main building.
"So how are things coming along with the children?" Rashen asked,
"Oh it's wonderful. We've had each and everyone of them checked and luckily they're all okay.
"We also managed to find an orphanage in Lambrid directly under the Imperial Forces willing to take them in."
"Wow!" Macy said with a look of astonishment, "It's incredible how you're always on top of things Garle."
"Oh no. You have Marun to thank for that,she was kind enough to make a few calls for us."
"What about the workers?" Rashen asked, "Despite how things are working for Madam Rosaline was basically their means of livelihood."
"Don't fret Rashen,the Watch has been working non-stop to find better working spaces that meet their areas of specialization. We've got almost all of them new jobs already."
"That's good to hear." Said Rashen brightly.
Outside the main building was packed. There were carriages and the Watchers were giving instructions to the carriages,Hanabi,the Garle's personal assistant, was one of the Watchers present and she was animatedly writing down instructions in her note pad. Also outside the building were the recently liberated children playing around not minding the affairs going on.
"Alright Garle we'll be getting the reports Hanabi wrote down for this month,Miss Marun wants to go through them and compare with hers." Macy said,
"Then perhaps I'll take over her duties for the meantime while you sort things out." Garle replied. He, together with Macy and Gayle,went on to meet Hanabi while Rashen chose to stay behind and overlook things on the outside. Just then he got a nudge on the back,
"Hey Hell-Wings." Almyrah said with a bright smile on her face.
"Almyrah! You're looking good." Rashen replied pleasantly surprised to see her. She was indeed looking good,far healthier and happier than she was a week ago. "Hell-Wings?"
"Yeah that's what the others are calling you. Don't take it to heart." She replied cheekily,
"Oh no I think it's cool. Definitely a lot more creative than what I've been called before." He replied. There was a short silence between the two as they watched the children running around playing,among them were Lekan, Bazey, Nunji and young Dontei. They all looked healthier as well.
"I can't thank you enough for what you did." Almyrah said, Rashen could hear the sincerity in her voice, "When no one else could...when no one else would you saved me...you saved us."
"It wasn't just me." Rashen said, "You took that first step when you gave us her- Madan Rosaline's- location. All this is possible because of your bravery Almyrah."
"Thanks Hell-Wings."
"Oh!" She said abruptly, "Come on I wanna show you something." She led Rashen farther away from the building and only stopped when she was certain nobody could see them.
"What is it?" Rashen asked slightly concerned. Almyrah stretched forth her hand,her entire body became tense and her face look strained. All of a sudden what came from her hands were flashes of lights coursing through her finger tips, flashes Rashen had only ever seen up in the heavens on a stormy night. He reached out to touch it and on contact he could vividly recall the same sensation he felt when he caught Almyrah in the rooftop chase.
"Lightning." He said in astonishment. Almyrah eased up and dropped her hand, the lightning vanishing. "How long have you had it?"
"A few months ago. I couldn't control it though,it never came to me willingly, only when I was really angry or stressed. I could feel it coming when I was attacked by that crusty looking guy you saved me from."
"And how long have you been able to do it on your own?" Rashen asked,
"Few days ago. I've been practicing and I seem to be getting the hang of it."
"That's incredible Almyrah." Rashen said in genuine astonishment, "Who else knows?"
"Well I couldn't really tell Madam Rosaline because I was afraid of what she would do to me if I did...I also couldn't tell the others because I didn't want them to worry about it."
"So I'm the only person that knows? I'm the only person you've told?" Almyrah quickly got flustered,
"Y- Yes." Rashen couldn't help his grin.
"What are you smiling for!!?" Almyrah flared up, obviously trying to hide the fact that she was flustered.
"Nothing. It's nothing...it's just that this takes me back." Rashen said recalling when he first revealed his blood red flames to Argins Ganadel,the same man who practically saved his life.
"Well don't get too excited because pretty soon you won't be the only one that knows." Almyrah said,
"Oh yeah? Why is that?"
"Well I assume I'll have to tell everyone since I plan on joining the Imperial Academy there in Lambrid."
"Are you serious? You're joking right?" Rashen was positively astonished.
"I'm dead serious. Believe it or not you've inspired me Hell-Wings." She replied with sincerity in her voice. There were more than a million things Rashen wanted to say to her,but he settled with,
"I'll support you in any way I can Almyrah. I promise."
"Also..." Almyrah started as the two of them were headed for the main building, but before she could finish her sentence she got all flustered and began muttering to herself.
"What was that?" Rashen asked. Almyrah took a deep breath,ran in front of him a boldly, without a hint of shame said,
"And when I'm done with my training at the academy we're going to get married."
"WHAT???" Rashen exclaimed louder than he would've liked to.
"Shaddup! You're too loud." She said, "Believe it or not it seems I've fallen for you."
"Almyrah...we can't." Rashen said reasonably,
"Why not? You trying to say I'm not pretty enough for you?" Almyrah flared up, using Rashen's rejection as an excuse to hide her embarrassment.
"No it's not that...it's just that you're a fifteen,a minor and-"
"So what? It's just a three year difference. Besides by the time I'll be done with the Academy I'll be nineteen so don't go falling for other women y'hear me?"
"Almyrah I don't think-" but before he could finish she ran back to the main building.
"We heard all of it just in case you were wondering." Gayle, holding his beloved guitar,said out of nowhere.
"Seems like you've found yourself a bride in four years." Macy said with a smirk on her face. She held the files they got from Hanabi in her hands.
"It's the first time I've ever been confessed to by a girl." Rashen said. He didn't know what was more embarrassing,the sudden confession or the fact that Gayle and Macy heard it.
"Wasn't really a confession,more like a proposal." Macy corrected him,
"Yeah and by the looks of things it doesn't seem like ya got much of a choice there buddy."
"Anyways. We should head back to Hq, wouldn't want to keep Miss Marun waiting."
"You guys go ahead, I'll stay and help the Watch set things up with the Coaches."
"Ya sure ya just don't wanna use that as an excuse to spend some quality time with ya bride Rashikins?!" Gayle snorted and Macy laughed.