Open Reflections

[Naomalily]

Emerald green eyes marveled at how serene it all was. It was a deafening silence that griped her subconscious as her mind tended to wander those dark corridors that others perhaps try to forget or shy away from. The only thing she could remember was suffering and weakness. They were either scared or envious, she'd survived the trials of there betrayal.

Eyes wandered to the fickle flame of her lantern and she seemed to reflect upon the fires image, she could see something within the flames the visage of a damsel with flowing long hair she seemed to sway to the cackling rhythm of burning oil. There was something about that seeing what you wanted to see like playing pretend when reality was just around the corner. A hushed murmur escaped her lips in a whimpering tone.

Mad....

Promises that she never fulfilled or kept, the young poisoner still felt so wasted on herself. It was her hands that molded naomalily into what she was. She only felt the awkward social angst and that forlorn that came just after it. Her heart sank in resentment, it was but a memory now but every once in a while the wound resurfaced only to be mended and tucked away with the sweet memory of her shocked blue eyes that faded as life slipped passed her. Naomalilys only solace was that her last breath was her possession.

Standing before the reflective judgment of the mirror her dour look softened. The physical features of angst and resentment pushed back until finally what was left was a meek aloof girl or rather the perception of one. The glass never lies, and it was hard trying to play a good girl against the measure. Toying with the strings of ones heart was difficult work, while these things were never easy practice makes perfect.

But something was missing, the human element. She'd never know how well she could manipulate those around her unless she attempted it.

With that a puff of breath from soft lips snuffed the lanterns flame as she stepped outside for fresh air.

It was brisk outside but her black cloak provided warmth although her frailty still felt the chill down to the bones when the stark bitter winds hit her figure just right.

[Sarina]

Sarina was walking through the dark street of the night time Sunberth. Sunberth, while a dangerous place to be during the day, was even more so during the night. At this time of night he majority of the citizens were asleep or at least in their homes. This was the time when no one but drunks, bandits, thieves and kidnappers roamed the streets. This was, at least partially, the reason Sarina was out. While she would never stoop so low as to steal from a generic drunk who was passing by and might as well be handing her all their money, she did enjoy taking from those in the same line of work as she was. Those that took what is not theirs were generally more secretive about themselves and thus more of a challenge to steal from. Other than that they were dangerous and Sarina having something in=important of theirs to hold over their head was always good should she ever need to. With her black cloak wrapped around her she was doing her best to keep herself flowing with the shadow so she herself wouldn’t be seen.

Rounding a street corner she spotted someone. Sliding back around the corner she watched them from her hiding place. The first thing Sarina noticed about the girl she was watching was her emerald green eyes. They shone brightly in the light of her lantern, which was the second thing Sarina noticed. Most people who traveled around at night would not bring any light so as not to attract unwanted attention from people Sarina. This girl was either extremely brave or extremely stupid. Sarina, going by the girl’s frail figure, guess the later. She could tell the girl wouldn’t be very good in a fight.

The human had a sort of strange aura about her that bothered Sarina bit. Maybe it was the glowing eyes, maybe something else but something about the girl just seemed off. If Sarina had to guess she would defiantly guess this girl practiced magic. Sarina, not having met many magic users before wondered what kind of powers the girl had, if in fact she did have any. Like most of those in Sunberth, Sarina wasn’t exactly fond of magic users but she didn’t automatically hate them either, especially if she was only guessing they did magic. Provided she did do magic the girl might be of some use to Sarina in the future.

Now Sarina was presented with 3 options. She could assume the girl had nothing to do with her and leave. She could do what she had come outside to do in the first place and steal from the girl. Her final option was to approach the girl and see if she could get her on her side in the case she would need her. Sarina, having the philosophy that the right people at the right time could make all the difference, decided that allying with the possible magic user was a good idea.

Taking a series of rapid shallow breaths she ran increased her heart and thus breathing rate. Taking a few steps back to give herself a running start she sprinted around the corner. Stopping abruptly in the courtyard area the girl was standing in she gave the black haired girl a distressed look the in and out of breath voice gasped, “Help! Help me! They are catching up!” She glanced behind her in faked fear. “Please, you have to help me!”

[Naomalily]

Perhaps the young thief was right, who would be that naive to walk around after hours for a breath of fresh air? Did Naomalily really think that walking around with a hefty purse of one hundred gold rimmed mizahs was a good idea? It would seem That sadly she was a foreigner from the desert city of ahntep, and with that a new set of rules that she had to adapt to. But the soap maker was a curious piece of work, why would she leave herself so exposed to danger? It was as if this stupid little girl was asking for trouble.

Of course Naomalily was a surprised when a woman came barreling out of a corridor being what she genuinely believed was afraid. And that word they, she really didn't like the sound of that no not at all. Confused and bewildered by the blindside Naomalily responded.

I'm afraid I can't fight my way out of a wet paper bag, but if you keep running ill point them in the other direction. It's the most I can do, your close to the aquiler hot springs there are people there better suited then I for that task.

Naomalily pointed to the direction of the aquiler hot springs, while keeping a watchful eye on where the desperate woman had come from.

She wasn't going to throw fisticuffs against brutes with weapons, for all she knew this person had done something unjustifiable and she wasn't going to throw her life away by upsetting a lynch mob.

[Sarina]

The woman looked genuinely surprised as Sarina came stumbling into her serene section of the road. “I’m afraid I can’t fight my way out of a wet paper bag, but if you keep running I’ll point them in the other direction. It’s the most I can do, you’re close to the aquifer hot springs there are people there better suited then I for the task.” Was the woman’s reply to Sarina’s plea for help as she pointing in the direction of the hot springs. From the information the woman had just given Sarina she could tell she was from a different and more peaceful city, all the more reason she could be a magic user. There was no way anyone could live all there life in Sunberth without at least being able to put up a bit of a fight.

Staying in character Sarina glanced in the direction of the hot springs. “I can’t. They are there too!” Sarina paused and caught her breath. There was no way she could know the people who were chasing her were at the hot springs if they were really chasing her but she doubted to woman was going to pick the out the holes in her story, people never did. “Where are you from?”Suddenly reverting back to her normal self, Sarina striated her curved back and smoothed out her tone of voice. Sarina stood a few inches taller than the woman at her full height and she looked down at her.

She had hoped for a slightly smoother transition to her normal self than the sudden change that actually occurred but it was the best she could pull off in the limited time the conversation gave her to think.

“If you want to stay alive, which I’m assuming you do, I highly suggest you learn to do some fighting skills.” She added the last bit not because she was actually concerned about the girl but in hopes it would convince her to tell her she was a magic user. Sarina couldn’t be sure and so she hoped the girl would tell her instead of Sarina implying it and possibly being wrong. One of Sarina despised more than anything else was being wrong. The only thing worse was being wrong and someone knowing about it.

[Naomalily]

Her conversation shifted and once again she subtly pried for information. It was as if the woman wanted Naomalily to stand up on a podium and announce to her peers that she was a poisoner that she took pleasure in there misery and delighted in using her toxic touch.

There was a hint of something behind the feint curl of a smile, like something clicked. If the mystery lady was being chased, and they were at the aquiler hot springs why would she be fleeing into her pursuers? Her residence was an inn at the springs and there wasn't any commotion she could recall. Usually vengeance, revenge what have you was an obnoxiously loud affair.

We'll I'm originally from ahntep, a land of beautiful sunrises and sunsets. But you gotta have money to keep yourself from being under someone's whip if you catch my drift.

Blinking a few moments her free hand gripped the fabric of her black cloak. Squeezing it for no apparent reason she seemed to be a little shy of the stranger.

Why should I fight? Does someone not like me? I bet it's the baker, he's a sleazy piece of work that one. Hurting people is wrong besides having friends is more rewarding, don't you think?

Her hand fidgeted for something and clasped the soap square from her pocket. When freed she brought it up to her face, eye level glaring back at the girl.

I'm soap maker, it's my sworn duty to clean the filth off these scoundrels with bubbly suds of cleanliness!

Raising the toiletry into the air, she then proclaimed.

The power of minty freshness!

For a moment it seemed like Naomalily had lost her composure, embarrassed her hand slanked back. There was a silent intensity with her before her hand extended offering her the soap.

You can have it, I am Naomalily who are you?

All of a sudden she seemed terribly surprised

Oh my I seem to be rambling, aren't you in trouble?

[Sarina]

The woman explained she was originally from Ahnatep. Sarina ran through her mind all the information she could about Ahnatep. She knew it was a bit more structured than Sunberth but less strict about laws than other cities. Sarina thought that allowed pretty much anything. She couldn’t remember specifically if they allowed magic but she guessed they did. The girl’s next question surprised Sarina. She asked why she needed to fight.

“There is always someone in Sunberth that doesn’t like you.” Sarina figured she must be really new to the city if she didn’t know that much about Sunberth. While this surprised Sarina it wasn’t anything in comparison to the next statement she made. Pulling a piece of soap out of her pocket the woman announced that she was a soap maker. Raising the soap above her head the girl proclaimed in a loud voice.

“The power of minty freshness!”

Sarina stared at the woman in disbelief. Losing her composer completely she said, “A. . . Soap maker? You’re a soap maker?” Suddenly Sarina acknowledged how stupid she had been. This whole time she had been going around thinking this woman was a magician and here she was, accually being a soap maker. The woman’s hand fell out of the air and Sarina could tell she was embarrassed, a feeling Sarina shared. Holding out her arm the woman offered the soap to Sarina.

“You can have it.” She said, a bit dejected. “I’m Naomalily.” She quickly changed the subject. “Who are you?”

Numbly accepting the soap, she replied, “I’m . . . Sarina.” She hadn’t been this wrong in a long time.

A sudden look of surprise passed over the girl’s face startling Sarina back into reality. She expected Naomalily to say she saw something move behind Sarina or something like that but instead she said, “Oh my I seem to be rambling, aren't you in trouble?”

“Yes,” Sarina said fully regaining her composer. She realized this girl, while she wasn’t a magician as a occupation she could possibly do it in her spare time. Looking strait into Naomalily's unnaturally green eyes she said, “This is important, if you can’t help me with this we are likely both dead. Do you know any magic or anything like that?” This was a rather blunt and direct way of getting information but Sarina hoped it worked.