Western Istan Isles.
Ishenvale City.
Start of the 3rd Harvest.
112th Era.
Cylika walks out onto the balcony. Alyce leans against the wooden guard rail watching the crowd go by. Suddenly a plume of confetti is launched into the air and several strangely dressed Furrkens jump through the sky. Several large vehicles pass by, different music blasting out of each one as different bands play their foreign instruments.
"Whoa, Alyce what is this?" Cylika inquires.
"A parade, it's like a movin' party." Alyce's ear jumps up and her head follows. "There. The big yellow float there. That man is my target."
Cylika watches as the float passes by, the man poised atop the over sized boxy vehicle appears meek. His frail mustache curled in a spiral, his jet black hair is gelled back. He wears an average looking doublet but the colors are something else. Shades of purple and yellow that were vibrant, more so than the clothes Cylika had stolen previously. However a shine caught her eye. A scabbard for a long blade, near the top was a trigger mechanism. Like on the guns she had studied. The blade looked to have been curved and the handle was extremely ornate. Sadly that's where her observations ended as the float's safety rail blocked the view of the Duke's lower half.
"Whoa. I... I want that doublet. I wonder how much it could go for."
"I'm more interested in gettin' me a fragment of that blade he's... Wait." Alyce pauses and backs up covering her mouth. Her eye wide with fear, or was it joy.
"What is it Alyce? Is something-"
"The bastard is in a wheel chair." Alyce slouches down, once again leaning back on the guard rail. She stares at the Duke, making direct eye contact with him. The two hold each other's gaze for but a moment and Alyce stands up, and walks back in. Cylika giving chase.
"Wait! Hold on, Alyce! Does that mean you're not going to kill him?" Cylika grabs a hold of Alyce arm. When she turns around to face the little Helf-Elven Alyce bares a large grin.
"Of course not. If anything it solidifies what a liar he is." Cylika lets go of her arm.
"What?"
"I mentioned before, a Core is the manifestation of soul. Remember?"
"Yeah, where are you going with this?"
"You see, the reason we summon the Core, is because it awakens powers within us. The ability to control Astrel, increased life span, strength, agility, and... The ability to heal almost any wound with a simple mixture."
"Wait what does this have to do with the Duke?"
"He is like me. A Merk. A warrior subjected to the same ritual as me. He should have been able to simply drink a potion and regain mobility in his legs."
"But what if he lost it? Like his leg was cut off during a fight?"
"See, then that would make sense. But, he has both legs." Just then Yorham walks up the stairs and greets the girls.
"Hey there kiddos. What're you talking about?" Alyce spins to him with a smirk on her face.
"Yorham, perfect. Why is the Duke in a wheel chair?"
"Oh, well a few years back he was attacked by some assassins. They shattered his knee but he survived, obviously." Alyce rubs her chin for a second in thought. Cylika's eyes grow wide as she asks her own question.
"Why is it bad if the Duke is a Merk?" Both Yorham and Alyce look to each other. Yorham nods to Alyce while she goes back to thinking.
"You see, Merks are bound by an oath when they join. Merks are Merks till the day they die. They may not leave the organization for any other profession unless there is no other option. Such as the organization completely collapsing. So for the Duke to be a political figure with ties to the organization while it was still up and running-"
"It would cause an upset, and Merk units would be sent to arrest him for breaking his oath." Alyce looks to both Yorham and Cylika. She slams her fist into her other hand.
"I got it! He staged the attack to show the public, who may have been talking about him being a Merk, that he was able to be hurt. He probably healed up right afterwards but kept the broken old man story going so quell the public's gossip." Yorham and Cylika nod in agreement to this theory.
"Well, now that we got all that figured out. I finished the armor you requested Alyce. Thanks to your friend's magnetic pull for all things expensive it'll barely cost you a copper Peilen." He smiles and holds up the box he's had in his arms. Alyce only now realizing he was carrying it.
"Thanks Yorham, a new set of gear should help me out in the future. Reduces the amount of traps and plans I need to have." Alyce takes the box from Yorham.
"Oh, and there was some things left over so I made a jacket and some other clothes for you Cylika. Don't want you walking around in rags."
"You didn't have to, Yorham, but thank you nonetheless." Yorham nods to the two girls.
"Now Alyce, I know you'll be making your move tomorrow. But what is your plan?"
"That, Yorham. Is something you'll have to wait and see. Just make sure you get a vantage point of the town square. Yorham nods and turns to walk back down the stairs and into his workshop while the girls take a moment to dress.
Alyce dons her new armor. A simple tan shirt where she rolls up the sleeves along with a deep red vest with pink accents both made of Astrel cured linen. She puts on her tan-grey tights which are lined with a pink dyed Astrel cured leather. She wraps her belt around herself and puts on a second belt that lightly falls to the left, a large pouch is attached to the drooping belt, which has a wrap on the bottom of the bag. She wraps a simple pink ribbon around her boots which she then ties up. She hooks her Astrel Generator to her belt, and links the cords to the shoulder piece of her Gandalam, then leads them down to her gauntlet and into a glove that is able to conduct Astrel extremely well. Finally she puts on her hat, which has a 6 pink square decoration on the left side. the top of the hat is a deep red matching her Gandalam and her vest. And the brim is a simple brown.
See the design here: https://rabbit297.deviantart.com/art/Alyce-Clothing-697934996
Cylika throws her new jacket on. It's brown and the sleeves are covered in fur, it has a single pouch on the left side and a small pale blue piece of fabric falls from the half coat. She also puts on her new jean shorts, also lined with fur. She rolls up her new stalkings up her legs then notes the strange metal object in the box. When examined further it appears to be a brace for her leg to allow her to walk easier. She puts it on and takes a few steps around the room not having as much trouble as she usually did with walking.
See the design here: https://rabbit297.deviantart.com/art/Cylika-2017-Recolor-679236259
The two exchange kind words about how they both look good in their new attire. And Alyce trails off in thought, staring out the window. Preparing for the upcoming spectacle.
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