Guild hunt

Elaine strolled through the streets of a strange town called, Clover. How odd she thought that almost every town she visited was named after a sort of vegetation. She shook her head and marched through the street, though Clover was only a short distance to where she was residing in Hargeon, she had heard of places called guilds. Places that harbour magic folk such as herself, help them train and maned them on missions to earn money. That sounded like her kind of place. She smiled contently, her brown armour catching the eye of many people, children cowered at the spikes along her shoulder.

"Maybe, I should change~" she hummed as she watche d a child run away crying, calling her a scary monster; she couldn't blame him, her armour wasn't exactly inviting. She smiled again and caught the attention of the young boy. "It's alright~ watch this!" She smiled and dragged her foot in a semi circle, creating a white magic circle around her. Her body glowed the same colour breifly before it dissapeared. Leaving the young girl in a brown mid thigh sundress, a large white sun hat with a brown bow and white slip on shoes. She giggled; "magic" she whispered to him before walking off.

"Now~ guilds, guilds, guilds...." She wondered if she could just walk into one and announce herself a member; though that seemed to bold and rash. The doe eyes girl huffed to a stop. How did you join guilds.....? She groaned and placed her head in her hands, "oh no~!" She whined, "I know nothing about this country!! I've never even seen a guild!!" She mock-sobbed. She kicked up a rock into her hands and whipped it at a tree, "ah I am so foolish!"

Elaine could feel whatever it was behind her before it actually spoke. It was powerful, and made every hair on her body stand on edge. Her clenched her hand slightly, holding her breath, ready to summon any weapon at any given notice. It got closer and closer to her as she became more and more tense. Finally the thing tapped her on the shoulder. When she turned around, it had been a man. A normal man, just like everyone else. Except the power reading she got from him, was amazing. Off the charts or perhaps other worldly. She let go a bit of the breath she held.

"Ain't to savy on this country myself, but I am in a guild so I may be able to help you, learn....something." He began, she looked at him and had to do a double take, sure people in this country had weird hair colour and sometimes strange eye colours. But his, his were gold. Like setting sun gold. That's a first..... She thought, looking at the eyes a bit closer, they certainly were an attention grabber but she didn't want to seem rude or over step her place, so she looked down to the ground; just as she was taught as a child.

"Do you now?" She asked, pushing her blonde hair over her ear, a few stray strands following the pattern of the wind.

"Also, heads up super spiky armour normally scares people who aren't used to fighting. Try using less hardened clothes when you don't need it, aaaaan if it mean anything to you I think you look beautiful in the dress." He smiled at her, again with the bright golden eyes she could feel. Even if she wasn't looking at him directly, she could always feel him looking at her. When he told her that compliment she brushed slightly pink. Getting complimented by a stranger didn't happen often to her back home, so it was quite new and she wasn't to sure how to take it. She laughed lightly, brining her gaze up to meet his, wide brown eyes shining.

"You're telling me." She giggled, "I guess I know now. Armour she stay for the fights. And t-thank you. About the dress, I don't own much, but this is my favourite." She smiled up at him kindly, one hand holding her hat from blowing away.

"Name's Azurius by the way." He said, sticking out his hand towards her, she looked done at his hand for a moment, frowning for a split second before extending her hand to meet his. She took his hand a shook it, giving him another smile.

"I'm Elaine. Elaine West."

At his first sentence she laughed nervously. "I-" she started and pushed out a sigh, "I don't get complimented often. The armour is more of a....shield. If anything. My teacher's idea really." She confessed sheepishly. She looked up at the boy, still holding her hand in his and she squirmed awkwardly. She was far more used to courteous bows, or being kissed on the hand, something her suitors back home did. She wasn't sure if this was a custom in this new country or not.

"Your hands are soft." He mumbled. Her eyes widen, face turning another shade of red, deeper this time. A huge gust of wind blew her hat if her head and billowed her dress around her knees, wild blonde hair whipping in every direction. He quickly apologized and dropped her hand, it fell limp to her side, eyes still slightly widened. She brought her right foot behind her left, crossing her leg and tapping her pointed toe on the ground. An awful nervous habit.

"Uhh....I know there's a few decent places to eat around here....if you're feeling hungry, or just wouldn't mind a change of scenery. I may not personally be able to answer all questions, but I have my own way of getting answers without needing to go far." He explained. As sketchy as that may have sounded to her, he gave off a rather reassuring aura. A vibe her teacher had called it. Something that you could see in people's eyes, the way they moved, the way they held themselves and the feeling they gave off on first meeting them. His aura was different. Confusing and non readable. It was frustrating if anything. Though before she could formulate a response, her stomach made a low embarrassing growl.

Food. That's true, she hadn't eaten in a while. Maybe some food wouldn't be that bad, even if it was with a stranger. She put a hand on her stomach and have a soft smile. "Food sounds....good." Her stomach growled again and she laughed a tad harder, "very good."

Elaine turned around as requested, a brief woosh not from the wind filled her ears behind her, a few seconds later she was told to turn back around, and as she did, her hat was placed back on her head. She fought her hand up gingerly and touched the rim. How did he-? She shook off the thought. It was magic, it must have been, there are all sorts that she didn't know of. Maybe hat-retrieval Magic? She laughed at that thought. He materialized a book in his hands, eyes wide, materialization, amazing. Her equipment and armour worked the same way, but she enjoyed seeing it anyways. It filled her with wonder.

The place he brought her was quite nice, she felt as though her summer dress didn't quite suit the dress code. she tugged at her dress slightly before following him inside. The first thing that happened was the waiter, Lance, mistook them for being in a relationship. At this proclamation Elaine kept her head down. Don't look. Don't engage. It happens. She thought tentatively. She was used to this. While Azurius strung out full apologies she smiled and shook her head. "That's quite alright. You are very handsome but I feel the same way. Being in a relationship with someone I first met, is...." She searched for the correct wording, "....not my style." She finished, smiling slightly.

When they were asked for beverage she ordered a simple Cafe au Lait. "You had questions about guilds. Please, ask away." He asked of her kindly. She pushed out a content sigh, removing her hat and placing it on her lap.

"Let's see....were to start?" She hummed, then clapped her hands together, an idea coming into mind, "I want a place of acceptance, freedom..." She smiled again. "Things I never had the chance to have back home." She didn't mean to go that far, she cast her eyes down again. "I want a place that when I practice magic, people don't look at me like I'm a freak. I want a place where people won't cast me away for something a practice. I want to know everything I can about guilds, the best ones around." She said, determination flaring in her eyes. "Which is the closest one around here? Do you belong to one?" Questions pouring out of her mouth most likely faster than he could reply. She couldn't help herself though, she only knew of magic guilds of what she had read in books, heard in the radio or seen on the TV.

But she wanted proof. She wanted the real truth coming from someone who has seen what they are with their own two eyes. "So, tell me everything." She repeated, eyes shining childishly.

As he told her all information her eyes got wider and wider. He began to spoke about his past, materializing that book in front of him again. He began to also speak about his rarest type of magic. That he was not human, not completely at least. She was taken back by this, it was a lot to process but he told her to be quiet. So she nodded, not saying a word; silently taking in all the information she could. He explained that his guild was based on knowledge, and books, learning. All the things she loved. All the things she lived and breathed back home.

"It's okay, my magic was seen as different too. Back home, back home....no one practices magic. So when I started learning about it, reading about it, practicing it. It drove my parents into a frenzy. They shoved me out of their life. All because I could change my outfit at will. All because I could summon a weapon by thinking about it. They cast me aside like common filth." She spat. Gripping the fold of her dress tightly. He continued to speak, about lounging the guild, becoming his friend. That made her feel warm inside, belonged. She didn't really need to hear much more after that. She nodded. He wanted her even to be on a team with him. Her! On a team with an angel, of sorts she supposed.

When he placed his hand on her shoulder, she looked up and smiled at him, placing her hand over his before he removed it. A team. A family. A new start. "Okay." She nodded, whispering the word so quietly even she couldn't hear it very well. "Okay. I'll do it, I'll join your guild, and would be grateful to be your partner." Even though this was overwhelming and new she couldn't help but say yes. She had a good feeling about this. When the waiter came for taking the order she smiled up at him kindly, "just the house salad please." She asked, folding in the menu. She gave her new partner a determined look. "So. When can we start?"

Elaine was amazed. Never had she heard of a magic that could create life itself, and chain itself on to a different owner every time. She blinked once, as the small dog materialized she was amazed at how effortlessly he had done it. She smiled when he told her not to believe that her magic was limited to one thing. This made her think of all the spells she had learned, all the techniques she had spent years studying. The younger boy who had just come up to Azurius looked at her, "so miss, what can you do? Can you do any other kinda magic??" He asked her excitedly. She took in a breath and nodded.

"I can do kind of what my partner can do, I can make things appear for me. But I cannot make life." She smiled sadly, "but I can do this." She stood up quietly, dragging her foot around in a semi-circle, changing her clothes into Lightning Empress Armour. She could understand if it did look a tad....heavy. It was high combat armour, made to conduct electricity at her will.

The kid's eyes went wide. Elaine smiled and raised the weapon that accompanied it, a javelin. She sent out about a dozen tiny little bolts of light, much like fireworks they were different colours. And when they reached the high ceiling and made a small pop, hundreds of tiny butterflies made of sparks filled the room, dissapering before they hit anyone's head. "I can summon weapons and armour to my disposal, sadly I cannot give you anything of mine, but I trust you will take good care of your new companion." She stated, the young boy nodded happily then ran over to go sit down back with his parents.

She released her armour and tossed her javelins aside, dissapering before it ever hit the ground, she sat back down with a huff and a smile. "So? What about that? I think we make a pretty good team already!" She smiled at him. She wasn't joking either, there was something about them that just worked well together, maybe it was the magic similarity, maybe she just felt comfortably and confident around him; she wasn't really sure. But it didn't seem to be a problem, so she was fine leaving it be.

She heard his compliment and smiled, "it's just trick. Something small to amuse children." She confessed, pushing a stray hair out of her face and looking away sheepishly. As the waiter also threw in his two cents about her magic while placing down her salad. She thanked the waiter and dug into her food, smiling contently as of finally having something in her stomach after many hours. She saw that Azurius was enjoying his food as well. He then proceeded to ask her if she wanted accompaniment to a town called, Hargeon. She put done her fork and smiled.

"Yes please. I don't know much about anything in this country. Let alone how to get around. I arrived here by ship, and if I am to take a train, it will be my first time." She confessed. That was true, in her old town she either walked or was escorted by carriage. So the concept of a train actually brought her excitement.

She was pretty baffled when he used Celestial Spirit Magic. She thought that he had only one kind of magic, so when he put his hand on shoulder and the magic circle appeared over their heads, she unconsciously moved closer to him, leaning into him slightly. They arrived in a matter of seconds at the station, Elaine stayed glued to her spot, slightly dizzy and nauseous. She had never been teleported before and she wasn't quite sure if she was a fan of it. She shook it off an accepted her ticket from Azurius. Then looked up at the big machine beside her.

"Ahhhh so this is a train!" She smiled, "it's a lot bigger than the books explained." She mumbled, glancing all the way down the track to see where it ended. She spun back around and look up at Azurius, holding her hat down so it wouldn't fly off again. "So...." She began, smiling up at him, "I didn't know you could use two types of magic. Celestial magic is amazing too. I had no idea it was possible to learn more than one." She mumbled the last part, placing her finger on her lips.

Elaine hadn't quite expected him to start undressing the minute they got into their cabin. "W-what are you...." She murmured, red faced. He assured her not to worry, but how could she not, a seemingly handsom young man just began undressing in front of her. How could she not panic? He began to explain the origin of the scars that decorated his body. There were so many that she lost count. Dozens were all over his body. Some a lot larger than others, she could tell the size of the blade just by a quick gaze. She gingerly reached out a touched one, this. This looked like torture. The real scars that he had to live and see everyday of his life.

Between the silence the train lurched and sent Azurius tumbling towards her, both hands on either side of her, her hands slightly outward in a 'stop' motion inevitably planting both hands on his chest, she shut her eyes when his hands hit either side of her, she slipped out a quick "eep." When she opened her eyes she was staring solely at his chest; this only made her face glow even more red. The train suddenly lurched into the opposite direction, sending Elaine on to the floor in a feet of lost balance. "Ouch." She groaned, standing up and looking at her scratched knee.

She then looked up to her partner, who was gripping both seats tightly. She stood up shakily and sat down next to him, placing her hand over his, then giving him a kind smile. "It's okay Azurius. It's okay." She told him, squeezing his hand lightly. "Just take deep breaths, you should've told me," she paused and saw his pale face, "that you don't like trains. I would have never agreed."

As he fell on to her lap she moved her hands just in time for his head to hit her lap, he stretched out his hands, falling comfortably. She turned very red, keeping her hands up as he mumbled a tired apology. She could only smile, she placed one hand on his head and ran her fingers gingerly through his hair. A calming method her mother used to do to her when she was little and couldn't fall asleep. She took off her hat and tied her hair up with a brown bow. As she she looked down at her partner she couldn't help but laugh slightly, muffling the sound so she wouldn't wake him she looked out towards the window, watching all the scenery pass by her.

Still running her fingers through his hair she started to hum lightly. "What made me stick out in the crowd Azurius? Hm?" She whispered, looking down at the sleeping figure bellow her. "Why was I so special?" She laughed and looked back out towards the window. Fields passed her by, open waters and tall trees. She couldn't help but feel the excitement rise within her. She was going to join a guild, finally. And she had met him, she had Azurius now. So there was nothing to be afraid of. Yet, she was sure that the pounding in her heart and feeling in her gut were not just because of her new travels; it may have something to do with the man she now called her partner.