P51 - Going With The Wind

The wind in High Aurae carried more than just the scent of sky and smoke--it carried words. Secrets. Promises. And tonight, it carried Vailen, leaping across rooftops with a grin slicing through the haze.

"Can't believe they put me on recon duty again," he muttered, twirling one of his smoke-drenched daggers. "I know I'm charming~ but I don't have to be everywhere."

Below, the plaza buzzed with energy--food stalls glowing amber under lanterns, music humming through the breeze. Aurae lived between clouds and chaos, a city built in the sky, but tonight it felt grounded... alive.

Vailen landed near a glowing awning and spotted Thess, silent as a shadow, perched atop a distant spire with her sniper-bow glinting under moonlight. She hadn't noticed him, or rather... pretended not to.

With a cocky smirk, he pulled out a smoke-bomb from his satchel and vanished into the mist.

Poof.

"Do you ever walk like a normal person?" Thess asked dryly, not even glancing his way as he reappeared beside her. Her silver hair swayed gently in the breeze, eyes locked on the horizon.

Vailen leaned forward, elbow on his knee. "Where's the fun in that~? Besides... You'd miss me."

Thess sighed, her gaze unwavering. "You're a distraction. I already have one of those."

He blinked. "You have another me?"

"...A cat. She talks less."

He grinned.

Moments later, two figures stepped into the rooftop's light--a tall figure in polished armor and a shorter one with windswept hair and eyes like burning coal.

Jira stood with arms crossed, his spear slung over his back like a banner of war. He looked every bit the battle-hardened tactician he was rumored to be.

Beside him, Mirel walked with sharp poise, dragging her glaive like it was a part of her soul. She said nothing, but her glare sliced into Vailen immediately.

"Guess the gang's all here," Vailen said, standing up and stretching. "So who's dying tonight~?"

"We are not here for games," Jira said sternly, voice carrying that paladin-like authority. "We've been summoned for a classified recon sweep--Sector 7 of the Hollow Rings. Disappearances have increased. This time, scouts found ash. And only ash."

"Aww, you invited me to an ash party?" Mirel sneered, twirling her glaive once. "How romantic."

Thess finally stood, grabbing her bow. "I'll lead from above. Vailen, you stay ahead and scout with smoke cover. Mirel--"

"I'll burn them first, ask later."

"...Right."

Vailen winked at Thess. "Looks like someone's been doing her homework-"

"Vailen." Jira stepped forward. "No showboating, we don't know what's waiting in the Rings."

In the Rings

The wind here was... dead.

Fissures cracked the once-floated city ring. Buildings slouched like corpses, and a distant hum--like a haunting lullaby--echoed through the alleys.

Vailen crouched near a broken well, fingers brushing black ash.

"Fresh," he whispered into his comm orb. "Whoever—or whatever—is behind this, they're close."

From a rooftop, Thess aimed her sniper-bow and muttered, "I see movement. Four figures, humanoid, no aura signatures. They're dragging something."

"Let's intercept," Jira ordered.

The team converged. Quick. Silent.

As they cornered the figures in a courtyard, Mirel called out, "Hey creeps, forget something?"

The figures turned.

Their eyes glowed red. Skin pale. Veins... hollow.

Wraiths of the air.

They charged.

Mirel spun forward first, unleashing a gust-powered slash that cleaved the first one in two. Thess sniped the next mid-dash, clean through the temple. The remaining two rushed Vailen and Jira.

Jira planted his spear into the ground and cast a protective wind dome. Vailen ducked under it, then vaulted high.

"Time to dance, baby~" he sang, blades flashing like twin comets.

Slice. Slice.

The courtyard fell still again.

They all looked at one another.

"This wasn't just a raid," Thess murmured, stepping into the ash pile. "This... feels like a message."

"Aurae's under attack," Jira said grimly.

"No," Mirel corrected, voice low. "We're under attack. Someone's testing us."

Vailen looked towards the sky. For once, he didn't have a grin.