The next day aurelia was moving through the buzzing market early in the morning. She stopped by a bar filled with group of scammers called pirates. "i need your help" she said her voice steady
"we don't have time-" aurelia cut them off by dropping a small bag of coins. "50 dinars. Do i ave your attention now?"
…"hmm you have 2 minutes"
"i heard you know a way to enter celestria" as soon as those words left her mouth a dagger flew past her ear stabbing the door behind her. She swallowed hard he breath hitching..
The king of the pirates came out of the shadows. He had one eye pierced his clothes were a mixture of patched and overused clothes he had long locs tied back and he had lots of piercings. Needless to say he had a dangerous aura.
"noble ground dwellers. Is this the reputation they've made of us? You think money will make us bend down and lick your feet?" he said as he stalked towards her. Aurelia was unconsciously pushing closer to the door as if wanting it to swallow her. With a shaking breath she finally said "I really need to get to celestria if not money then what do you want"
"i am pretty sure you know about the crystals" aurelia's heart stopped "what's the name again.. ah skyshards. If we help you reach there you bring us skyshards"
"you have got to be kidding me.. the skyshards are highly garded by the Atherion concil. I-"
"IF.. you can't bring it then we can't help you" .. smirked and turned to leave.
"fine" aurelia said her voice barely above a whisper "i will bring the skyshards just help me"...
Eyes squinted in suspicion then he called one of his minions whispering him something. The guy then went to aurelia urging her to follow him.
Aurelia did so as they went deeper in the market, she couldn't help but notice how the environment was dirty and reeked poverty. They stopped at a small barely-standing house, as they got closer aurelia pinched her nose the place was reeking so bad. Then the guy abruptly stopped and pointed at a guy laying on a swing, before she can ask any question the pirate was gone. Aurelia swallowed hard still pinching her nose as she walked towards the guy.
"hey" she said looking up at him
"the guy looked her up and down and got down from the swing "do i know you what is a pretty girl like you doing in this dirty manhole? Hm?"
Aurelia was caught off guard by his simpleness "i came from the pirates and-" "BUAHAHAHAHAHAHA" the guy burst out laughing clutchinghis stomach, "you? A pirate? Best joke ever"
"what?! No i- hmmm forget that 'i need to your help to enter celestria' that's what i said to the pirates and they sent me to you" aurelia explained
"Well that changes everything.. hmm my name is zephyr at your service princess" he grinned Zephyr has dark, tousled hair and sharp, mischievous eyes that seem to catch every detail. He's lean but strong, dressed in practical, dark clothing that allows him to blend into shadows. He carries a set of specialized lockpicks and a dagger, though he prefers to rely on his wits over violence.
Zephyr grew up in the slums of the ground-level city, an orphan who learned to survive through petty theft. He quickly honed his skills, becoming a legend among the underground networks. He has a personal vendetta against the floating cities, especially after a failed heist resulted in the capture and execution of his mentor—a former noble who had fallen from grace.
"i am Aurelia" she smiled
Zephyr kissed her hand "that will be 200 dinars princess" Zephyr smirked
"ok! That's great" zephyr raised an eyebrow he expected her to complain about the price but her easy acceptance.. irritates him? "fucking rich bitches" he muttered under his breath. "when do you olan on leaving?"
"not now but first i need your help to get back to the market"
aurelia followed zephyr out of the manhole until they reached the market. She needed to meet caius at theplace they were yesterday. As they stood there in the market Aurelia was debating whether to tell zephyr about her plan when suddenly zephyr dodged an attack and did a back flip to stabilise himself. Aurelia was suprised when she saw caius holding his blade. Zephyr clenched his jaw and pulled out hus dagger and cauis on the other hand tightened hus grip around his sword. Before aurelia can react zephyr attacked caius who lunged foward too. Aurelia quickly reached fir her blade but it was missing.. matter of fact all her stuffs were gone. Her head started spinning her money her pendant her blade… they were gone. "STOP the fuck are you doing!?"
"i saw this man stealing from you" aurelia's eyes snap to zephyr who instinctively started running, Caius whisted to his horse and ran after him while aurelia was left behind too stunned to speak.
Zephyr ran through the busy market knocking some fruits and bumping into some guys while Caius was breaking tables and practically destroying the market with his horse. Suddenly he lost track of zephyr. "tch"
"CAIUS!" Aurelia yelled as she ran towards him breathless.. "haah haah did- hmmff did you catch him?"
"no; he dissapeared. What did he take?"
"That bastard took my purse, my blade and my pendant" aurelia said still breathless
"This is not good" cauis ran a hand through his hair
"Those pirates. I'm sure it's them, they planned it out.. zephyr.. zephyr-"
"Wait- his name is zephyr? As in zephir the mangoose" cauis said getting down from his horse ignoring the glares from the villagers that he destroyed their stand.
"The mangoose?"
"He is a well know thief Skylar! And you said pirates? Do you realise how dangerous this is?"
"You know nothing about the underworld"
"Just 'cause i live in celestria doesn't mean i don't know pirates!" Cauis voice raised a bit which angered aurelia. She pushed pass him, her back to him as she said "let's not talk about this meet me tomorrow at the same location as yesterday we are not here to sympathise but to find the skyshards" she walked away, leaving cauis alone in the messed up market....
"Tsk"
The sky started getting dark announcing a huge storm.
Cauis went back to Celestria.
Aurelia knew this storm was not a good sign.
They wounder what awaits them tomorrow.