The Dragon and the Calco

Prologue: Aether and Jayla
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Aether laid on his bed, eyes closed, but not asleep. Daydreaming of different times. Since leaving Dragon Gunfire it had been sometime since he had seen Samarra Inari. Although, now his ex-girlfriend, he still had a certain fondness for her, unable to let her go.

"Aether," said a man at the doorway to Aether's cramped room. He had reddish-brown hair, and was dressed in standard Rune Knight armor. "General Odin would like to have a word with you."

"What is it this time Thomas?" asked Aether.

***

"You've received a new assignment," said Odin, his aid Thomas standing next to him as he sat in his chair.

"What would that be?" asked Aether, sitting in the chair across from him.

"The new ambassador of Minstrel is coming to establish trade rules with Fiore.

"Do you want me to handle negotiations?"

"Aether, we both know that you weren't brought aboard to negotiate.  Although I'm sure you could do it."

"Then what is my mission?"

"It should be rather obvious, shouldn't it?  You've been chosen to act as our wonderful guest's escort across Fiore." Odin stopped as he got up from his chair, walking over to the map behind him. "She'll be arriving on the outskirts of Fiore tomorrow.  You'll have to meet her there in order to transport her to Crocus.  Do you understand?"

"Of course sir," answered Aether.

"Excellent, you should go pack.  You'll be departing as soon as possible."

***

The Outskirts of Fiore

A lone woman, Jayla Lucis, walked through the carts on her train, her features shrouded by the black cloak she was wearing. She stopped at the bar.

"What'll it be miss?" asked the bartender.

"Just water," she answered.

"Excuse me?"

"Do I need to repeat myself? Alcohol dulls the senses, and lessens one's rationality. Hence, I only wish to drink water."

"Fine, could've at least ordered something with a little more flavor though." The bartender turned away from her as he began filling her glass. Two men sat on either side of her.

"Hello miss," said the man on her right. "What brings you to this part of town?"

"Business," said the woman. They were on a train, but she decided to humor them anyways.

"What kind of business?" said the other man.

"Trade," said Jayla, taking a sip of her water. The men seemed to smile upon her swallowing. In a fluid motion one of them latched a cuff onto Jayla's wrist.

"I'm quite sure you're that bitch we were hired to kill!  With those Magic Sealing Cuffs on you're all but helpless!"

She took out a knife and in one fluid motion stabbed the man through his hand, pinning it to the bar table. He screamed in pain as blood poured from his hand.

"It's unwise to announce like that."

"Bitch!" The other man took out a magic revolver, and pointed it at her head. The woman kicked upwards, kicking the gun out of his hand, and catching it herself. She pointed the gun at his head. "Interesting weapon you've got here." She pulled the trigger, and a light beam went through other assailant's head, killing him instantly. She removed the knife from her other aggressor's hand and immediately cut his throat. "All but helpless indeed." She pointed the gun at the bartender.

"What are you pointing that at me for?" asked the bartender.

"Because you're in league with them," Jayla answered. "Judging from their reactions when I took a sip from my drink, they knew you had 'spiked' it, so to speak.  The poison you used doesn't even dissolve in water you imbecile, plus it's less dense than water.  I could see it resting at the bottom of the glass.  With the tiny sip I took, the poison wouldn't have even been able to enter my mouth.  I guess this is the best plan a group of men could come up with." Jayla pulled the trigger, and the bartender flew backwards as he fell to the ground, dead.

Jayla took the gun with her as well as the key to her cuff, went back to her room, not even apologizing to the other patrons for the mess. When she sat on her bed, she removed her cloak, revealing her dark-purple skin and horns. Her tail poking from behind her as it began to sway slightly. She laid down as she prepared to sleep. She'd be headed to Crocus tomorrow morning.