Trouble Around The Corner

Darkness crashed over the city as everyone got ready for bed. The people who could still walk the streets had already returned to their homes and the animals had gone silent. The two of them were still searching through the streets with the little time they had left. "We should be stopping soon." Reminding himself of that, he turned a corner as he checked another alleyway. Relia stayed by his side the whole time while they looked for another person. Most people they found that were sick had been in areas like this so Xilo had given them priority for searching. His best guess as to why was because they didn't know what else to do, some were dirty or their clothing were torn in pieces.

"See anyone, Relia?"

"...No..."

He still felt a little bad for leaving her alone for a bit so he had been paying extra attention to her. Besides some small things here and there she had stayed mostly quiet. "I think I messed up." Relia was always a quiet person but this felt different. It felt like he was walking on ice whenever he talked to her, like she would break in just a touch. Carefully exploring the dark alley, Xilo made sure his senses were spread out around him. Walking in this kind of an area brought out a lot more dangerous things than just some sick people. There was also a chance for criminals and scum, thankfully they hadn't met any yet.

"Could always change."

"....?"

Tilting her head she looked up at Xilo as he mumbled to himself. She was a little worried about him however she had bigger problems at the moment. Azalu had disappeared again while the voices in her head attacked her. She had noticed it ever since she had left to find Xilo. At first she thought they would have faded away but that wish died fast. They had just gotten worse and now she was trying to deal with it all on her own. "Give us your life." a small chorus of voices bounced around her head as she sensed a presence up ahead. Xilo had already caught it though as his pace sped up.

"Someone's here."

Shuffling forward, Xilo followed the Alley and turned a corner into a dead end where he saw a man lying on the ground barely breathing. His clothing was clean however his skin was the opposite, it was dirty and bruised. Hurrying over to his side, Xilo checked for any signs of the poison as the man coughed quietly and hard. Xilo was surprised he didn't cough up his insides with the condition he was in. "Found it." Finding a small trace of the poison in his blood, Xilo picked up one of his arms as he threw it over his shoulder. Slowly lifting him up he tried to speak calmly to the man to settle him down if he was in a panic.

"We're here to help, try to concentrate on just staying still and breathing right. We'll get you the Soaring Blades Clan. Relia, let's get going, we don't have much time."

The man barely registered the voice he heard but he nodded his head in agreement as he stopped struggling. Relia stepped ahead as she went back around the corner while she did her best to drown out the voices. Her small body stopped like she had slammed into a wall though as she looked at their exit. Standing in the way were a couple of rough looking men who were holding weapons. Turning the corner with Relia, Xilo saw her body frozen as he wondered what had happened. Following her eyes he saw the men blocking the way. "They don't look very friendly." He hadn't sensed them before which meant they had just showed up.

Adjusting the man he was carrying on his shoulder he spoke up at the men holding large swords.

"Something we can help you with?"

Putting his body in front of Relia, Xilo made sure he was in front of everything. He didn't know if they were hostile yet but it was better to be safe. Judging by their aura they were a little bit weaker then him but with the man on his shoulders he was at a disadvantage. Looking at their target, the group of men smiled as they moved closer without saying anything. They ended up failing to finish the job the first time but they wouldn't make such a mistake again. No witnesses would be left either.

"It's unfortunate for you and your little girlfriend there, you got involved in something you shouldn't have by accident."

"Does that mean you'll let us go?"

"Heh, nice try but no. Alrighty guys, you know what to do."

In the small alleyway two men from his little group ran forward with swords in hand as they slashed at Xilo. "So these were the people who beat up this guy." He had noticed when he was checking for poison a couple of bruises around his skin. He hadn't paid them too much mind at the time but it seemed like these were the guys who did it. He didn't really know why that was the case, he just knew the man was sick. "Haa.. why am I like this?" Asking himself that question a dagger spawned in his hand as he swerved to the side. Stabbing the man in the side, he saw blood come out as he removed his dagger and kicked him to the ground. With the next one coming straight for him, he blocked it before quickly jumping backwards slightly. Watching the man slip forward Xilo stabbed the man in his back as he shoved him into the ground and pinned him there with his foot.

Pulling his Astral Dagger out he kept his foot on the man as he looked up at the group who had grown more angry.

"Three more, shouldn't be too bad. Relia can you make sure these two don't stand back up, while I take care of this?"

"....Nn...sure..."

Dropping the man off his shoulder, Xilo charged at the three remaining men.