Recruitment Part 3

Walking through the slums of Hollia, a police officer hummed a tune, his steps light despite the grim surroundings. He was on his way to reclaim an apartment room from a resident who had fallen behind on their rent for quite a while now.

' "Farthington Redsworth" Hmph, I knew he would fall behind on his rent again. That useless fellow doesn't even have a real job.'

While he was walking he suddenly heard a loud shout from a woman coming from the alley a city block ahead, "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!"

Hurriedly walking over, he peered into the alley and saw a man being held by the collar of his suit, dangling a few inches off the ground. A woman with striking purple hair held him there effortlessly with one hand. 'Ah, looks like that dude picked the wrong woman to hit on. Tsk tsk...' he thought, shaking his head before continuing on his way.

Farthington raised his hands into the air, "Alright madam he's gone. Would you be so kind as to let me down now?"

Realizing what had just happened I awkwardly let go of his collar, letting his feet make contact with the ground. Walking out of the alley attempting to compose myself, I spoke to Farthington without turning to look at his reaction, "Ahem, next time you need to take action, give me a heads up first."

Dammit, this isn't a romance novel! There is no need for pointless misunderstandings like this in the first place!

Trying to gloss over what had just happened, the two of them walked in silence till they made their way back to the Airblade.

Taking in the unique sight, Farthington inspected the Airblade, "Ah, what a unique vehicle…"

The Airblade had butterfly doors that opened upward instead of outward, similar to a high-end sports car, giving it an air of luxury in Farthington's eyes

Climbing into the Airblade the two of them fastened their seat belts to prepare for the flight.

The electric motors hummed to life, and the Airblade began its ascent, slicing through the crisp morning air. With a powerful surge, it soared into the picturesque sky, leaving the cityscape behind as it headed toward its next destination. The sleek craft cut through the clouds with effortless grace, a testament to the marvels of modern engineering and cutting-edge technology of Trizen.

Throughout the journey, Farthington would repeatedly ask the same question and I would give the same answer each time.

"How much longer will it be till we arrive ma'am?"

"Soon."

--

7/29/1060 7:56 AM

 In the Continent of Ishunay - on the edge of a nameless rural farming town in the nation of Clefton.

As the Airblade descended, its powerful engines kicked up plumes of dust along its path, creating swirling clouds that danced in its wake. The craft's landing gears extended smoothly, preparing for a perfect touchdown as it neared its destination.

Glancing at Farthington, Tokei held the door handle of the Airblade. "I'm going to find the next candidate. You stay put here while I go look for them." 

With an uninterested tone, Farthington seemingly pulled a book out of nowhere from inside his weathered suit. "Alright," he said, his voice flat and detached.

Stepping out of the Airblade, I turned around once more and pointed a finger at Farthington. "Don't you dare even think about messing around… Wait. Is that your book?"

Taking a closer look at the book Farthington had pulled out from seemingly thin air, I realized he was reading his own biography, pretentiously titled "Magical Me."

Without displaying even a shred of embarrassment or guilt, he proclaimed, "Indeed, I quite enjoy reading it. Would you care for a copy yourself?"

Tokei's face was a mix of disappointment and disgust blended into a single expression that lasted for a moment.

Look at this narcissist...

Shutting the Airblade's door, I opened the cargo space and retrieved a cloak, hoping to blend in with the crowd. In Clefton, a Mittelreich country where most locals relied on mana and viewed outsiders from Entwick countries like Tekuno or Erbium with suspicion and disdain, standing out was a risk she couldn't afford.

Opening her map, Tokei noted the location where the second anomaly had appeared. The map indicated that the anomaly had occurred near the town's center. After putting on her cloak, she set off in that direction.

Arriving at the bustling market in the town center 30 minutes later, Tokei found herself enveloped by a vibrant crowd. The air was filled with the sounds of lively chatter, haggling vendors, and the rich aroma of street food. Colorful stalls lined the streets, offering a dazzling array of goods, from fresh produce to intricate handmade crafts. While it wasn't particularly grand, it certainly felt lively.

Deciding whether or not she should utilize the Developer's Eye, I surveyed the market. 'Huh, I wonder how long it's going to take to find this one…' I pondered, observing my vibrant surroundings.

Well since I'm already here, I might as well take a look around myself. Who knows, I might suddenly remember something about my past. Yeaaaahhhh, that's definitely why…

Strolling through the crowded market with my conscience quelled, I smelled something delectable and was drawn over to a nearby food stall.

The owner of the stall was grilling skewers of chicken over a blazing charcoal grill giving off an enticing aroma.

Noticing my gaze the owner smiled at me, "Would like to purchase a skewer?"

--

Afterward, I took a seat on an open bench in the market.

Unable to resist the urge, I ended up buying two of them… Guess I might as well chow down.

Taking a bite of the chicken skewer, my mouth was blessed with its heavenly taste. The tender, juicy meat, perfectly seasoned and grilled to perfection, sent waves of delight through my taste buds.

This is fantastic! I haven't had something this delicious to eat in days…

While she was enjoying her chicken skewers in peace, she watched as a young man about her age walked up to the owner of the stand from which she had bought her food.

The young man had messy brown hair and forest-green eyes. He wore a white shirt with overalls and old, worn-out boots. In his hands were a few bags of groceries filled with a multitude of different ingredients.

He handed one of those bags to the stall owner and received a chicken skewer in return. He then walked toward the bench where she was sitting and sat down next to her.

'As long as he doesn't bother me, I don't mind him sitting here,' I thought, before continuing to savor my chicken skewers in bliss.

As he began to eat his chicken skewer, he turned toward her and tried to strike up a conversation.

In a casual and relaxed tone, as if he were talking to an old friend, he said, "Hey Mirabel, you seem to have had a glow-up since the last time I saw you. Was your hair always purple or did you dye it?"

After I finished chewing and swallowing the delectable chicken in my mouth, I retorted, "I think you have the wrong person. My name isn't Mirabel."

Looking incredibly surprised, he remarked, "Really? Are you not from here then? You seemed familiar to me…"

Replying in a casual manner, I said, "I'm just passing through this area looking for someone," before continuing to eat her chicken skewer.

"So you're not from around these parts?" he asked, his voice laden with surprise.

Swallowing some of the chicken in her mouth, I gave him my answer, "Yes…"

"Can I get your name then? My name is Kaelith Hudson."

I shouldn't give anyone my real name while here in Clefton...

"It's Trixy..."

"So, Trixy, who exactly are you looking for? I might be able to help you out since I know pretty much everyone who lives here," Kaelith remarked with a hint of pride in his voice.

"That's fine, I'll find them myself. I appreciate the offer, though."

"Whatever you want. If you ever need my help, you can come to my house. To get to it, leave from the front entrance of the market and then walk in a straight line until you come upon the blue house with a small red shack. Anyway, I'll be on my way now. It was nice to meet you."

Getting up, Kaelith picked up his bags and threw them over his shoulder with some effort. He then began to walk toward the entrance of the market.

Finishing her chicken skewer, she stood up and stretched a little, feeling ready to continue her mission.

That's enough slacking off, I should probably get to work now. Let me start by checking with Developer's Eye in this area.

Activating the Developer's Eye, her surroundings transformed into a complex web of blue code. Every object and person became a series of interconnected lines and data points. As she scanned the area, a flicker of orange caught her attention. An orange bundle of code peeked out at her, standing out against the blue matrix.

'Woah! I actually found the anomaly really fast again! Lady luck must be smiling in my direction recently.'

Deactivating the Developer's Eye, I felt a slight throb in my forehead.

Looking in the direction of where she had spotted the anomaly, she saw the back of Kaelith as he left the market.