Justicia Lorelei: Stream of Time

So I accepted a job which takes place in magnolia, the client’s name is Silver Frost and is a proud owner of a litter of puppies. I just thought this job would be so easy since they are just puppies, I mean what can go wrong? Maybe I can take one of them as part of the reward, I never taken care of a puppy before and it would be just so cute and adorable too! So I went out of my way from the guild waving the folks goodbye and stormed out of the guild in a hurry. I started up towards the mountain ridges until I reached the cliff. Twenty feet below me was a set of train tracks that would lead me to Magnolia and all I have to do is catch the train from here.

Well I always did love a free ride so why not? Its free and heck so am I to do whatever I want.

I waited for a few more minutes and decided to sit on the cliff gazing at the sun while humming a few tunes. It’s good to be alive to see the sun like this; I wish the same for my family too! That day will definitely arrive as long as I don’t give up!

In a few minutes the rails started to shake.
The train was coming this way and I can feel it from here.
One free ride coming right up as the bulldozing train started to beam through.
A leap of faith is all that it took for me to.....

… barely make it on the train. I almost tripped and fell off but I’m going to be alright!
To me this is the only way to travel, get a ride across the region for free and no worries at all as long as I’m not caught. I sat on top of the train smiling at how smart am I for doing so but then the train was about to reach a tunnel that will exit the mountains.

Without hesitating I jumped down between a passenger cart and a delivery cart to avoid being slammed into the rock wall ahead and then I entered the passenger cart.

I know I should have taken the supply cart but I can feel guards in there. I walked through the red carpet and rest my bottom on one of the passenger seats. Then trouble comes my way as the train conductor comes in to check everyone for their tickets.

Well I don’t have a ticket, I hitched a free ride here.
Of course I wouldn’t be here without a plan so I did.
With a little bit of magic its possible for me to replicate a train ticket.

“Trace.. on..” And then its copied.

“Ticket please.” Says the conductor as he reached out his hand for my ticket.
I gave the magically crafted ticket with a huge grin. “Here it is!”
And the poor sucker accepted it, once again I’m smiling at how smart I am.
It took me a few hours to get to Magnolia since the train had to make a stop in the Neutral Grounds first and then Magnolia Station.
Frost’s home is a tad bit far from the station; I think it was the seventh block or the eight blocks to the west of Magnolia. I am so glad I have a photographic memory and if not, I would have forgotten what’s written in that post and where to find it.

Magnolia city can be a maze, I’d say some houses may have little differences but they do share the same similarities. Perhaps it’s because they were constructed by the same architects cause almost all the building layouts in magnolia are too similar, heck I wouldn’t even blame anyone from mistaking someone else’s home.

I hopped down the platform and made my way towards the client.
I started walking slowly because I couldn’t help but think about the puppies I’m going to look after.
I just can’t help but hold both my elbows and imagining that I’m hugging five puppies at once.
I just can’t contain myself; I’m a bit of a sucker when it comes to cute things like them.

On my way there I saw a bunch of kids ganging up on what appears to be…. Three puppies.
They were pushing them with their shoes! And poking them with sticks!
Well that’s not a nice thing to do on small innocent little puppies like them!
I just couldn’t have it that way so I shouted over to the boy who were picking on them.

“Back of shorties!” The turned around, surprised to see me behind them.
“What are you doing to these poor little puppies right there? Leave them alone!”

The taller of the boys started walking my way acting all high and mighty.

“Oh really? Sorry but these shorties only take orders from me!”
I wore an unimpressed expression afterwards and told him this. “Umm sorry mister but those puppies belong to me, I’ve been looking for them.”

Well I don’t’ know if its actually the puppies that belonged to the client but I guess I can take a gamble and see if I’m right about it. Even though they aren’t, I’ll just keep them to myself!

“Sorry lady, finders, keepers, losers, weepers. Now get out of here before I call the entire gang upon you.”

Boys and their aggressive nature, they never change. These lads would be perfect candidates for the Hyena corps and would pass without a trial. Well only one thing to do about it now and that is to make a dash and grab for the puppies. I knelt down and passed the tall guy and grabbed the three puppies that were about to run and hopped on a fence that divided the alley.

“If you want it, you have got to catch me first boys!”

And the tall boy started cursing, commanding his minions to try and catch me.
I guess they are about to learn, they can never catch me, after all I’m way faster than they ever were. I started hopping off the walls of the building, ascending upwards till I reached the roof of one of the buildings. The puppies were shivering scarred because they are high up. I guess I should take it easy on them since they are new born little things they are.

Ugh how could I forget they are just little puppies with little fragile hearts? Well now I have a gang after me but that is only if they can catch me that is. I checked for a route towards the clients house before I try and descend downwards. Once I knew the area is clear I descended down slowly, grabbing on to wires that hung up laundry and descended down with ease.

I must treat these little babies with care, or else their lil’ hearts will pop out.

With the use of my magic, I was able to project a huge basket enough to fit all of the puppies in it. Well now at least I won’t have any trouble carrying them around with two arms. In a matter of minutes I managed to reach the client’s door and knocked on the door twice.

“Hello? Mister Frost? I’m the Infinity Hydra mage that accepted your request!”
Darn it what I’m supposed to do? No one seems to be answering the door.
I guess he’s not home but what will I do about these puppies then?
I can’t entrust them to just anyone knowing that street gang is after me but I guess I should sit at one spot and hope he comes back.

Then I started hearing a puppy yelping. It’s a cry for help and it sounded like its coming from… the pipes!
Sweet mercy how did it get in there? I have got to pull it out; it seems scarred of being stuck in there. So I yanked its tail out and got the little one out of the pipe easily. It was gnawing on an old worn out sock. I took the sock off and put it in the basket with the rest, now I have like… four puppies to take care off now but where am I gonna find their food?
I do hope the owner returns, these puppies are starving.

Glad the owner didn’t take long enough to get back, I was getting worried for these puppies.

“You’re frost right? Silver Frost?”

He seemed surprised. “You’re the one that accepted my request correct? I believe the puppies you have in the basket belong to me.” He come up to the basket of puppies and held it up high.

“But wait where are the other three little ones?”

“Uhh.. Three?”

“Yes I do believe we are still missing three more puppies. “

“Anywhere they might have gone off too?”

“Well they would be at the meat shop, why don’t you go over there and see if you can find them? Seeing them gnawing on the basket tells me they are hungry, if you would mind.” He brings the basket full of puppies up and enters the door. Without waiting for half his sentence I strolled off to the meat shop.

“Alright now where would they be hiding?” I looked left and right, underneath the tables and but they weren’t there, I was starting to get worried if they might have gone into trouble or that they’d never be found.

No they must be near here somewhere I just know it.
Upon walking into another corner which is a few minutes far from the meat shop, was the same gang of delinquets who has been bullying the first set of puppies from before and it so happens they were expecting me to come.

“HEY ITS THAT BITCH! HA HA, COME TO CLAIM YOUR PUPPIES EH?”


Find the Puppies

NEEDS EDITING

House repair just seems to be the ideal job for Justine, after all her structural mastery would be of great help to her endeavors. She had to wake up early in order to see to the job as quickly as possible, so she packed her bag and grabbed whatever money she’ll need as it seems that she may require to sleep the night in magnolia. Of course as usual, she would exit from her guild and run across the pathway leading to the main road, take a left towards a cliff and jump down the train that would come by here so early around the hours between four and five in the morning. Justicia prefers to be as cheap as possible when it comes to money, ever since she left the Hyena Corps, her savings and income has somewhat dropped to the point that she had to go for drastic measures.

Once again she easily hitched a free ride on a train heading to Magnolia. It’s a miracle that she wasn’t caught yet or perhaps the security on this train is rather poor, thank God there aren’t any Rune Knights on board and if they are, they would have noticed. Rune Knight Security is harder to bypass than the ones in Crocus, unlike the soldiers of the Kingdom, the Rune Knights are more committed to their duties and that alone deserves some respect. At last the train comes to a complete stop, after giving a fake ticket she hopped down the train and headed straight towards her destination. Of course the first instruction to be followed is to move towards the client’s house, walking past through several blocks and corners, she finally made it to the client’s house.

The client’s name is Josh Weeatherstein and the reason for his request was because of a recent storm that tore a few worn out walls of his wonderful home. He’s around 50 years old, though he may still have some fight left in him, his age prevents him from doing the chore alone the job must be done within two days before the next storm comes, according to the weather news. Justine seemed to excited about this as its going to be her first time to enjoy repairing a house knowing that her magic would be great in this application.

A few knocks on the door, there was no answer.
Justine tried to peep through the window trying to call out to the client but he wasn’t there.
She knocked again and still no answer and then she began to wonder if her client is asleep or that she arrived too early. No she has to come early for the job knowing the storm is due within two days. Looking around to the other houses, a few residents have already started their repairs. At a distance just down the road, there was a cart full of wooden planks being pulled by the horse. Riding the cart was none other than Josh Weatherstein himself as he waved his hat up.

He seemed to have expected her, he was smiling in an expression of relief.

As the cart comes to a complete halt, Mr. Weatherstein dropped down from the cart gently. Introductions were made and gestures were exchanged. Weatherstein asked if a girl like Justicia would be up for the job.
Her answer, she is more than enough to get the job done within the day and smiled with confidence, and seeing that, Mr. Weatherstein has faith in her that she will. First was the roof and the gutters, while Mr. Weatherstein manages the wood work below, Justicia took care of the job on the roof. Before she gets to work, she has to feel the structural integrity of the roof itself. She pressed her hand on a panel and began working her magic. Though it may not be completely visible how it works, her magic courses through the upper area like a living vein and once the desired structure has been occupied by her magic, she makes her analysis, then use the appropriate measures and repaired not only the places that were torn off by the storm but also replaced some parts of the roof that would seem like it wouldn’t survive the storm. The house was old, its no surprise the razor winds chopped off a few blocks from the roof itself. After repairing and replacing every damage and weak panel on the roof, all that is left for her to do is reinforce the entire structure with her magic. She touches the roof again and begins to focus, once again the entire roof is filled magical veins not seen by the naked eye as the durability of the roof has been like as it was years ago. Thought it may not look like it, its sturdy enough to even withstand a blast.
Not even a single droplet of rain will get through this roof.
Once the roof was finished, only a few wooden boards remain and it’s only an hour afternoon. All that is left to do now is the Porch, removing the tree limb didn’t take a while and once it was removed, the repair for the Porch and the floorboards were underway. It only took her half an hour to finish everything. Last but not the least is treating all the wood that has been put into place. Justine was then tasked to come to the carpentry in order to buy a full set of borate that would be used to preserve the wood and prevent it from ever having dry rot. Alas the sun was about to set and right before you know it the job was already done. Mr. Weatherstein was pleased to know that the work was done so quick he given Justine the reward money and offered for her to sleep overnight which Justine happily accepted. Justine enjoys Josh’s hospitality and the comfort of the couch. As soon as Weatherstein looked out the window, night began to fall and a few lights were lit on the roof of their neighbors.

Weatherstein thought that maybe he should come and help with but somehow felt anemic after all the work he did reinforcing one of the walls. Justine noticed this and when Weatherstein greeted her good night and walked slowly towards his room for bed, Justine stood up and grabbed the set of tools and head out into the night to repair the roof of the other houses. Of course with the storm coming in soon it would tear off more of the worn out walls and structures of every home in the neighborhood. He jumped on to the first roof and knelt down before a panel. Much like what she did before, she began to chant a spell that would analyze the structure of the building, reading the integrity and the durability. Since some of the neighbors have made progress, it was less work for Justine as she proceeds to repair panels one by one. She had done this multiple times over and over to each roof and wall that she could find that is all worn out. Some of these buildings house a happy family with children, should the structure fail, they would have nowhere else to live and she didn’t want them to be homeless perhaps its one of the reasons why she was committed to the job and not only by repairing Mr. Josh Weatherstein’s roof and house. As dawn breaks, Justine was found asleep on top of somebody’s roof, it was a surprise that she managed to finish seven houses that needs repair in a single night. She exhausted most of her mana reinforcing walls that would seem like they’d tear down to the point that it was like it aged younger.

Justine’s magic was beautiful well at least when it comes to things like this as she provided a far more durable and greater shelter for everyone. She woke up on the couch on Mr. Weatherstein wondering if all her efforts was a dream. She was greeted then by Mr. Weatherstein and the owners of the houses she had repaired. Everyone gave her thanks as she accepted them gracefully.

“Well everyone needs a good shelter from the storm.” She said.

She woke up late afternoon at that time, the same time when the winds were starting to blow causing the trees to start swaying. It was time for her to leave and when she exited Weatherstein’s home, many of the families of the homes she repaired came to her with thanks as they would have not repaired their home in time for the storm. She did enjoyed the compliments and gained some favor in the neighborhood and when the sun had already set, Justine was long gone, taking another illegal and free train ride back to Infinity Hydra. A few weeks later, Justine received many offers afterwards and all because of the feedback that she did for one of the neighborhoods in Magnolia.


Ready For submission
House Repair