Vistus: Storm Queen

Dear Journal,

I want to go home.

-

Lorelei watched the feeble lights of an airship flash in the night sky, almost drowned out by the city’s multicoloured fluorescence. Even as high up as the airship, the lights still penetrated the sky. She leaned her head in her hand, her arm propped up against the desk by the window.

Three women took up space in the simple apartment room, each occupying their own corner. Yuli sat closest to Lorelei, glancing at her occasionally but otherwise keeping still. Gentle violin music hummed in the otherwise stifled room, played by the pale Feln in the blue dress sitting on her sofa, her back straight as her bow danced across the strings. Her head lay on her violin, eyes closed, brow furrowed subtly as long, slow notes wavered in the air.

Lorelei closed her eyes as she listened, allowing herself to bathe in the music. Waves of green lapped like an ocean tide, the scent of earth calling her home. Leaves swayed in the breeze the music left, and she was transported back home.

The music picked up tempo, and white cottages built themselves upon the forest foundation, shortly followed by villagers painting themselves into the scene. Their faces were blank, thankfully. They came dangerously close to expressing whenever the music hit too low a note, but the Feln on the violin pulled back before it could happen.

The tranquility of such a scene awed Lorelei with its beauty, and she could not look away. Villagers played and danced and crafted beautiful magic that painted the forest a rainbow of hues, and eventually peaceful smiles filled their features. There was something about it that spoke of melancholy; her chest tightened, her breath caught in her throat, and a vague cold took hold of her body. It was the type of chill that pricked the heart rather than the skin.

This was what Greenglade should have been.

If everyone had been patient, if their words had been bathed in honey rather than poison, Lorelei would not have had to take action.

The music picked up again, delving into frantic, short notes, and suddenly Lorelei was a child being led deeper into the forest by her peers, further and further from their village.

”I want to go home,” she said.

“Come on, don’t be a baby, we’re so close!” A child skipped ahead of her, a gleam in her eye.

Lorelei got the distinct feeling something was wrong when they stepped into a clearing and everything went deathly silent. Not even birds sang. Another child ushered her forward into the open space, grinning. “Here we are!” he declared.

“There’s nothing here,” said Lorelei. She regretted those words as soon as they left her lips.

The violin paused on a long, low note.

”Of course there is, silly. Just wait a bit. I promise it’ll come out soon.”

“What will?”

“You’ll see.” Already most of the children had left, and this one looked ready to join them. “It only works if one of us is here, so the rest of us have to hide.”

“What works? What do you mean?”

When Lorelei turned to look for the child, he was gone. All of them were. She was alone in the clearing, suddenly very aware of how vulnerable she was.

A growl sounded behind her.

Slowly, Lorelei turned, moving as though possessed.

Small, narrowed eyes met her gaze, freezing her body. Slobbering jaws opened slightly, breathing hot air in her direction. A large Wolfbeast glared at her, crouching only a few steps away, its hackles raised, making it look even bigger than normal. The look in its eyes spoke of only one thing: to feed.

Lorelei called for her companions, but none met her cry for help.

The violin returned  to its slower, more somber tone, but Lorelei’s cheeks were already damp. She brushed them with the back of her hand, opening her eyes to watch the other Feln cradle her violin.

“You play beautifully,” she whispered.

The Feln opened one brown eye, catching Lorelei’s gaze and holding it for several moments. She gave a small smile, keeping Lorelei in place in case her eye did not. Then the spell broke; she removed her bow from the strings, ending the music, and set her violin down.

Yuli looked up, watching in silence.

“You say that every time, darling,” said the Feln. Liliana, Lorelei thought.

“Well, it’s true,” she replied with a shrug.

Liliana laughed quietly, a melodious, restrained affair. “I do practise every day.”

Lorelei knew, for she had listened every day to the sweet melodies pouring from Liliana’s violin. Her music took her to faraway lands where she herself could not go. She had resigned herself to what was essentially house arrest over the past four months, knowing she had to lay low while Fericeus tracked her. She knew him. He was like a Wolfbeast with a bone, only a hundred times more persistent. Not unlike her, really. 

Only, the house she had arrested herself in was not her own. Going back there would be too obvious. No, instead she had found solace in the violinist currently sitting on the sofa.

After their confrontation in the rain four months ago, Liliana had taken Lorelei and Yuli in. At first, Lorelei had been tempted to leave, suspecting Liliana of ratting her out; but betrayal never came. Liliana had listened with an open mind and an open heart to Lorelei’s story. She had already known of the Greenglade incident upon taking them in, but made no comment on it.

A week or so into their new living arrangements, Liliana had finally let slip the catch. Lorelei could not say she was too surprised, but she had hesitated on agreeing to the deal. Now, four months later, Liliana was still harbouring her and Yuli, and only occasionally pressed the topic. Lorelei was impressed by her patience and persistence.

“Listen, Liliana…” Lorelei fiddled with her thumbs. She was out of her element here. Tensing and hesitating were not in her book. “What you said… I don’t know if I can do that for you.”

“What I said?” The Feln tilted her head only slightly, a surprisingly childish act from one who conducted herself with grace and maturity. When realisation clicked, she simply smiled and said, “Ah.”

“Just ‘ah’?” Lorelei blinked. “You do realise I’m essentially rejecting your request?”

“Yes, ah,” repeated the violinist, looking down at her instrument. The smile stayed for a few more feeble seconds as she attempted to reconcile with the facts. “Is it…” She met Lorelei’s eyes and held her again in their pained embrace. “Is it truly not possible, Lorelei?”

Lorelei found herself resenting her position. On the one hand, why should she care about rejecting Liliana? They had only known each other for four months, and in that time Lorelei had been trying her hardest to treat her with suspicion. Yet Liliana had stayed, or rather let Lorelei stay, knowing what she had done. She was still waiting for the pen to drop.

Would Liliana kick her out if she said no again?

“I mean, at the moment, it isn’t,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “It’s beyond my power, and anyone else’s, I imagine. Even amplifying gems would not be enough.”

Liliana listened, her eyes never wavering. Lorelei wanted her to look away so she could breathe properly again.

“Maybe if you had very powerful magic. But I think that’s impossible for a regular Vistian.” Lorelei felt herself floundering. She wanted to stay in Liliana’s company, but she couldn’t deny that what she had been asked was beyond her capabilities.

“Hm.” Liliana picked up her violin again. “Alright, Lorelei. I trust your words. But I know in my heart there must be a way. I will not give up hope.” She put bow to string. “I cannot afford to do so.”

-

The blaring lights of Chrome's Edge gave way to sunlight during the day, making it look more like a regular city. The tall buildings towered over the streets, but none held a candle to the structure in the centre of the city. A clear crystalline spire stood proudly among the buildings, glowing as it caught the sun's rays. While impressive in the daytime, Laerya knew the crystal truly shone at night. The Chrome Tower would emit its own kaleidoscopic light, mimicked by the neon of the lampposts and bulbs that lined some of the more prominent buildings.

Laerya sat on the roof of one of the smaller buildings, watching the sea of Vistians traverse the streets below. She had tried to hide among them, but kept getting swept up in the crowds, carrying her away from the music hall. When she had tried to stand firm, the sea would growl at her to keep moving. She hadn't been to a Nemonian city in a while, and forgot they could be so cutthroat. 

She fiddled with her sunglasses, where the scanner rested in the lenses. Supposedly the illusion would flicker when detected, like a bad signal on a television screen. So far, Laerya only caught light facial alterations used in place of makeup, and those had been few and far between. Illusion magic was not a common branch of Light magic.

Classical music floated up from the hall Laerya was watching, the only entertainment on this mission, which was swiftly becoming more dull the longer she waited. She should have expected it to be mostly people watching; there was no guarantee the thief was even here today. "Ugh, how long's it been?" she grumbled, looking at the faraway clock standing outside the train station. An hour and a half had ticked by since Jazz's airship had dropped them off at Chrome's Edge. "This is gonna be a long day."

-

Elora growled as someone barged into her again and she stepped to the side, allowing the stream of people to pass. It took all her willpower not to push them into the wall. She swore Jazz placed her in the busiest part of the city on purpose.

Part of her wanted to get this mission done as soon as possible so she could resume her carefree travels. Another part begged for Jazz's forgiveness, longing for the days when they were friends going on assignments together. What a poor imitation of that lifestyle this was. She knew Jazz didn't forgive her, and didn't think she ever would, even if Elora proved that she had changed.

Have I, though?

Well, she hadn't lashed out at any of the irritating commuters pushing past her. That was something, but it wasn't good enough. She remembered how she had nearly attacked Laerya at the tavern, and hung her head low.

No, she hadn't changed. Still quick to lunge at those who angered her. Still quick to get angry. She had insulted Laerya so carelessly when the poor girl didn't deserve it. She didn't even know her.

It was true Laerya didn't have magic, though. Elora still found it hard to believe that hollow-- that non-magic users existed in her family, however distant. Every Flamefur was born with magic coursing through their blood. Somewhere down the line, their Lightningdancer cousins had mixed with the magicless. Why? 

She thought of Jazz again, and understood a little. Jazz was not blessed with magic, yet she held her own on the field as well as any mage. Granted, she had blasters to help her, but even without them she was a force to be reckoned with.

The magicless can't do half the amazing things mages can, that's a fact. But I guess I didn't have to go that far. Regardless of how Elora felt about them, in the end, she had still upset Laerya. She was grateful the girl had given her the time of day after that; Elora was not sure she would if the situation was flipped.

She had two people to seek forgiveness from now, and both of them were magicless. Elora snorted. How do I get myself into these things?

-

Akorri blended in with the crowds better than any illusion master.

He weaved through them, retraced his steps, circled the jewellery shops he was assigned to. He found it ironic, even a little cruel. A part of him - a rather large part, though he didn't want to admit it - yearned to swipe the shiny pendants locked beneath the glass. He was better than that, though. Hopefully.

He figured he actually would end up in jail if Jazz found out he took anything, but that paled in comparison to the disapproving glare he would receive from Laerya. No, it wasn't worth it. Besides, he would be no better than the thief they were trying to capture. He left the Red Rogue title behind, buried in the ditch he once called home.

His eyes lingered on a deep ruby ring shining from the sunlight. His fingers traced the window, pressing into it slightly. Akorri didn't need to look at the price tag to know it was expensive. I could sell it, get us enough money to stay in luxurious hotels, he thought. Or maybe Jinny would appreciate it, to make up for her giving me her amulet? 

She wouldn't appreciate stolen jewellery. He shook his head, turning away sharply, shame flooding through him. His old mindset still haunted him despite the distance he tried to put between himself and it. He used to steal because it was the only thing that gave him happiness, however brief. Now, he was in a better place. He had to keep telling himself that. 

Did Jazz assign him to these stores to test his resolve, or was she just insensitive? Akorri honestly couldn't tell. 

With thoughts of Jinny, however, came thoughts of last night. The talk they’d had on the airship still left him with a warm feeling in his chest, and his qualms regarding the mission temporarily faded.

“You are truly brave.”

His face exploded with heat and he clutched his chest, his heart fluttering like a bird in a cage. Jinny had called him brave? The boy who hid out in a hole for years because he couldn’t face reality? Akorri had liked to think he’d come a long way since then, but to hear Jinny say it…

Guh! His stomach leapt, and he fought to keep a straight face. In his attempt to retain composure, he rammed his sunglasses into his face when pushing them up and winced in pain. Gosh, Akorri, you’re stupid.

Why was he even thinking about Jinny right now? He was distracting himself from the mission! If the thief snuck by while he was busy reminiscing about a simple chat he’d had with a friend, he’d never forgive himself. What a thing to get distracted over.

Still, the face she’d made when he told her he had been reading Cherry Moon was not something he could stop thinking about even if he tried. The way her blue eyes sparkled, the huge smile on her face, her tail wagging like an over-excited puppy’s…

Akorri’s cheeks felt like a volcano, and this time he could not stop the goofy smile spreading on his face. If that was how she reacted when he discussed something she liked, he would get into all of her interests. 

Wait, wait, this is a bit weird... Akorri blinked. I mean, she… He shook his head vigorously, the glasses nearly slipping off. No! You have more important things to think about right now!

He looked back at the crowds, trying desperately to cool down his face, and just as he did, his eyes flew to a particular Feln. She had pale green, almost white fur and a long, mint green river of a ponytail flowing elegantly down to her hips. The bejeweled bag resting on her shoulder and the regal way she carried herself among the surly crowd were all Akorri needed to know she was the thief's next target. And sure enough, walking a few people behind her was the flickering figure of a cat, his features impossible to make out due the constant distortion. It was like looking at a near-broken television screen while having terrible vision.

Akorri wasted no time slinking into the crowd, following the distorted figure. The Feln did not notice she was being tailed, and no one in the crowd gave a second or even a first look at the cat as he slithered past them with urgency. Akorri kept his head low, matching the people around him to avoid suspicion. 

He pulled up the phone he borrowed from Jazz and entered a text to the group, thinking it better to type than speak lest the cat hear him. Found him wearing a cat illusion. Following green hair Feln. Heading for... He paused. He didn't know this city at all, and every street looked the same. Where were they going?

The cat glanced at Akorri, and though he could not see the cat's features, he recognised that split second freeze. Oh, come on, what gave me away? he thought. The cat swept through the crowd with a burst of speed, and Akorri was forced to follow, weaving through the Vistian obstacle course. It was the glasses, wasn't it? He seems smart enough to spot hidden scanners.

The cat was gaining on the Feln, and as he did so, his appearance started distorting wildly through Akorri's glasses until it resembled something familiar. Akorri almost crashed into a commuter from shock.

The cat was no longer a cat. Akorri was now rushing towards the Feln, his gloved hand outstretched. Only a few people noticed the cat had suddenly changed shape entirely, and they only gaze quizzical looks. There were now two Akorris running after the Feln, with the illusionist in the lead.

This is so weird. Akorri ran faster after himself, irritated that this person had stolen his look. Even through the ever-changing shape of the fake Akorri, he could still make out his own appearance. Just as he was gaining speed, the illusionist's hand snapped forward like a snake, yanking the Feln's sparkling bag from her. 

"What the-- Excuse me!" the Feln exclaimed as she was pushed away, watching 'Akorri' run off with her bag. She gave chase, removing her gloves as small, colourful shards appeared at her fingertips.

This looks bad, Akorri thought as he quickened his pace.

-

"That thief stole my bag!"

Elora stopped mid-yawn, her glasses pushed up to her forehead to rub her eyes, and watched as a familiar red-haired Fillian propelled himself towards her, a bag under his arm.

"Wait, isn't that the Lightningdancer's buddy?" she said.

He was closely followed by a stuffy-looking Feln, who held herself with grace even as she ran, her heels hitting the pavement with loud clicks. She threw a blunt gemstone at the Fillian, narrowly missing. 

Behind her was...

"What the hell's going on?" Elora exclaimed.

The exact same Fillian was tailing the Feln, gritting his teeth. He was not carrying the bag.

Elora thrust her glasses back down, and saw the first Fillian's body warping before her eyes. Dang! It's the illusionist! Without further thought she ran ahead, but as she stuck her leg out to trip the approaching illusionist, he swerved past her, leaving the person behind him to fall victim to Elora's leg instead. "Shit, sorry!" she shouted as she hurried after the fake Fillian, Akorri and the Feln just ahead of her. I ain't letting him get away, no matter how many people I trip!

-

"How long has it been? Five hours? Feels like five hours." Laerya looked at the clock. Less than half an hour had actually passed since she last checked. "Oh, come on!"

"Stop at once, thief!"

Laerya's body shot up and she almost fell off the roof. "Yes! Finally!" Her eyes zeroed in on the source of the noise, and then almost bulged out of her head. There was no mistaking him, even with his features muddled by her glasses. The thief with the bejeweled bag, running right ahead of a mint-furred Feln shooting diamonds at him, was Akorri.

Hold up! No! Laerya refused to even consider that he had gone back to his old ways. Sure, Jazz had placed him where temptation would be greatest (on purpose or not, Lae couldn't tell), but she knew he would not give in to his desires.

Her belief was proven right when out of the crowd emerged another red-haired Fillian, this time not holding anything. His body wasn't warping. Without a second thought Laerya jumped off the roof to join him--

Elora appeared behind him, right in Laerya's line of fire.

Oh no.

She tried to twist her body, but it was too late. She barrelled into Elora, the Lucive's face kissing the ground with an unceremonious crash. Laerya stood on top of her for all of a second before jumping off at lightning speed, her shocked face unable to do justice to just how mortified she was feeling on the inside.

"I am so sorry!" she gasped. Elora probably hated her even more now, and just when they were starting to repair their relationship! Relax, maybe she'll think it's funny, she thought desperately, with all the hope of someone who had just been caught cheating in an exam.

Elora unplastered her face from the concrete and delivered a glare so fiercely searing that Laerya felt her insides catch fire. She was only half-certain that Elora actually could not do that.

Okay, she doesn't think it's funny. Laerya fought against the urge to run away and held out her hand to Elora. "Let me hel--"

"Just go after the thief!" Elora spat, her hackles making her look like a porcupine.

"I will." She didn't have time to think about how Elora was definitely plotting her murder. Every second wasted meant the thief getting further away. "But you're coming with me." Knowing Elora couldn't think any worse of her, Laerya grabbed her hand, jolted her upright, and sped off into the streets again, yanking Elora after her.

Even with the crowds to navigate, they were a blur of purple and black to passersby. Laerya felt resistance from Elora but kept speeding along with her cargo, refusing to lose the thief. Her efforts were rewarded when she saw Akorri times two again heading down an alleyway. She turned sharply, tossing Elora around like a ball on a chain, bunched her legs, and leapt onto the roof of the building bordering the street.

"What are you doing?" Elora gasped, landing clumsily beside Laerya. She stumbled, but Laerya was quick to pull her upright and continue leading her along the roof.

"Following the illusionist," Laerya replied, allowing herself a small grin at Elora's perplexion. Sure, she wasn't a magic user, but that didn't mean she couldn't accomplish feats like jumping onto the roof of a tall building at lightning speed. That was all her own. Well, mostly. Air magic ancestry certainly helped, but the ease at which she hopped, swerved, danced across the platform, looking for all the world to be a purple blur mid-flight - that was all years of intensive practise.

"Slow down, I can't--" Elora tripped, but was righted by Laerya before she could blink. 

"Nope!" Laerya's grin spread fully. She was in her element right now, and she wasn't going to stop, not even for Vacerus himself. 

It also felt great to stick it to the arrogant magic user.

Once she was ahead of the fake Akorri, she leapt down into the alleyway, steadying Elora beside her. She released Elora and clenched her fists, tensing her muscles to spring at him as he approached.

"Where did you learn to run like that?" Elora breathed, coiling into a fighting stance of her own.

"Practise." Laerya smirked.

Elora eyed her with the shadow of a genuine smile. It flickered out instantly when the Feln cried out ahead of them, and 'Akorri' came into view, bag in hand. 

"The police are right behind me! You will not escape, you miscreant!"

Elora and Laerya exchanged looks behind their black shades. "The police?" they echoed.

It would be far-fetched to say that not even Laerya, master of speed and quick-thinking, could follow what happened next. However, even far-fetched claims can have a grain of truth to them. This one had the whole bag.

In one swift movement 'Akorri' turned, tossed the bag, and leapt into the air, a flash of light exploding from his palms. Laerya had to shut her eyes, the beam piercing even through her shades. 

When she opened them again, Vistians clad in blue police uniforms had appeared as if materialising from the air. And in front of them, bejewelled bag sparkling cheekily from behind his cradling arms, body absent of distortions of any kind, was Akorri. A ring of diamonds as tall as him stood proudly embedded in the pavement around him, not unlike a ritual sacrifice, though a little more glamorous.

Laerya swung her head wildly, daring someone's face to flicker before her eyes, but everyone stayed frustratingly still.

"It seems I must do everyone's jobs for them," said the Feln, lips curved upward with the slight suggestion of a playful smile. "There you are, my dear officers. Now, if you don't mind, I will be taking my bag back."

This spurred the policemen into action, flanking Akorri's stylish prison with blasters raised. "Sir, you are under arrest!" The rest of their well practised mantra fell on Laerya's deaf ears as her brain tried to catch up with the situation. How was this even happening right now?

"Aw, man," Elora mumbled. "I didn't even get to punch anything."

-

The dreary scent of disinfectant stung his nose as Akorri looked around his grey cell. A lonely bed of ambiguous age and cleanliness in one corner and a lavatory of even more ambiguous age and cleanliness in the other. Lines decorated the wall by the bed, suggesting a game of some sort. Hopefully it was simply the remnants of naughts and crosses and not a list of how many days the previous guest had been staying here.

The bars slammed on his face, and the policemen walked off.

"Well." The Red Rogue blinked. "About time I ended up in one of these, to be fair."