Consequences [Job: Escaped Convict] (Akeya Kuusai/Solo)

Job Description:

A lot could be said about the giant city known as Era. For one thing, it could be said that it was very, very, very big. It could also be said that since it houses the Magic Council, the ones who govern all the mages of Fiore, it was technically a more important place than the capital itself. It could also be said that even though it's such a big place getting an actual home there costed a fortune, seeing how everybody wanted to live in such an important place (except those who fear magic, but those have trouble wherever they go in Fiore).

Anyway, it's a big city, and because of that a lot of stuff happens in it. One thing that happened recently caused the guards of the place to call in the help of the mages. Or more specifically, one mage, who was now standing in front of an officer, waiting for him to finish his explanation about what the problem was.

Akeya patiently waited for the captain to finish his explanation, although it wasn't like he was taking that long. The man was a pretty typical guard: muscular, pretty big, impressive facial hair, heavy eyebrows and a simple chainmail outfit. He could have walked into a random city and he would have been recognized as a captain even if he had never been there before.

"To sum it up, the prisoner escaped when the guards were in between shifts. Kinda surprised he managed to get away in such a short period of time. We would chase him down ourselves, but we're kind of focused on making sure nobody else escapes and you mages are good at this kind of stuff."

Akeya nodded in understanding, also hearing the unspoken words that as a half dragon she probably was good at tracking people. So far the guard had been rather polite about the whole business: he almost did a spit take when she appeared, but otherwise he had been focused on the actual issue rather than her ancestry.

"I'll make sure to track him down and bring him back. However it would help if there were some clues about what he might have been planning."

The guard frowned and scratched the side of his head, his leather gloves causing the ringlets of his chainmail to jingle before he nodded and answered.

"True, although I'm afraid I can't tell you much. Up until now he hadn't ever really caused trouble. In fact he was already halfway past his sentence before this happened. I'm afraid that with him breaking out he'll have to stay a bit longer though. But I don't really know why. We confiscated anything related to his crimes when we took him in, so unless he had some stash hidden somewhere he just ran away for the sake of being free, and he hadn't been showing any signs of getting too frustrated. One of our calmer prisoners, really."

Akeya also frowned, although her mask and blindfold his this act. If there really was no clue she would have to try to find him with nothing to go by, which would make this a lot more difficult...

"If he didn't have anything outside of prison he wanted, maybe he wanted to meet somebody? Did he have any close relatives or maybe people related to the crime?"

The guard shrugged at first, until his eyes lightened up in understanding.

"Anybody who was connected to the crime was captured together with him. However now that you mention it, he did have a small family. A wife, small daughter. The wife visited him from time to time but she was willing to bring her daughter to the prison. Maybe she knows something."

Akeya looked up at the sky for a moment before nodding and turning around.

"I'll return him to you before the day ends."

"That would be much appreciated. Although I have to ask you not to use those wings. I know that would be easier, but...the civilians would get frightened. I hope you understand."

Akeya only nodded again, already walking away. She whistled and out of a darker piece of the room Korikami the shadow fox appeared, following his master silently.

Once outside Akeya stood still for a moment, looking down at her companion.

"You've already inspected his room. Can you track him?"

The dark fox didn't even go so far as to nod, instead motioning for Akeya to follow as he moved forwards with a purpose, the winged ninja walking behind him without bothering to ask any further questions. While she talked to the captain of the guard about possible motives and intentions the shadow fox had focused on finding any physical clues, and from his reaction he had found them. Not that Akeya's own work had been unimportant: having a clear trail was good, but also having some understanding of the escape would make things even easier.

Seeing how they weren't supposed to scare the other people in the city too much Akeya and Korikami kept to alleys and small roads whenever possible, seeing how even if you lived right next to the headquarters of the Magic Council you still wouldn't expect to just see a fox made out of shadows walk around followed by a masked girl with large dragon wings and a slender scaled tail. Well, at least the guards shouldn't cause her any trouble: the captain had understood when she mentioned how she would prefer not to be troubled because of her appearance while helping him out and quickly send out a message that the dragon girl was to only be apprehended if she was in fact committing a crime.

It actually took a while for Korikami to find what he was tracking, not because he had trouble following the trail but because it was just a long trail. It was surprising that the man had managed to get so far without any of the guards noticing him. He either had some way of quickly getting around without just running through the street, or had been extremely lucky. Either way, eventually the shadow fox came to a halt and pointedly stared at a specific man that was occupying the same alley. He looked fairly normal, except he was wearing a hide with a wide brim which in combination with the high collar of his jacket meant most of his face was hidden. Akeya supposed that he had done his best to make it look like a fashion choice rather than an attempt to hide, but it had the same effect in the end.

His part of the job done Korikami faded into the shadows, the half dragon meanwhile also nearly invisible in this small street, where the towering buildings gave her plenty of shades for her innate bond with shadows to cause her to become hard to see. The man didn't seem to notice her at all either, instead hanging out near the entrance towards a main street while trying to nonchalantly look around. Probably waiting for a good opportunity to get lost in the crowd. Before he got that opportunity Akeya reached him, grabbing him by the shoulder to prevent him pulling any tricks like trying to running away before addressing him.

"Greetings. You match the description of Lars Irving, the man who managed to escape prison today. If you're not, you better prove it quickly. If you are, please quietly come with me. I will only use force if you give me no other choice."

The man nearly jumped a foot into the air at the sudden appearance of the half dragon, but her strong grip kept him in place. He stared back at her, quickly becoming affected by her rather intimidating aura. However to Akeya's surprise he didn't immediately give up: she hadn't expected him to have so much willpower. Instead he squared his shoulders and stared her in the eyes, at least so far as he was able to with Akeya wearing a blindfold.

"I didn't expect them to send somebody like you after me. However I can't come quietly, at least not yet. If you want to bring me back you'll have to drag me."

Akeya frowned, her tail lashing out behind her in irritation. So he was going to resist? No, she had to pay close attention. He said that he wouldn't come quietly yet. That suggested he would come quietly at some point. It might be better to hear him out before resorting to force. Her job was to bring him back, and even though she said she would do it before nightfall she still had enough time left to at least talk a bit.

"From the way you speak you would be willing to let me return you to prison if a certain condition was met. What is that condition?"

The man patted his chest, right on top of his heart.

"I've been in prison for two years already. In those two years my wife has visited me regularly, but whenever I asked for her to bring my daughter she refused. I can't really blame her: a prison filled with criminals is not a place that I would want my little girl to see. But I haven't been able to see her for two years now. Before I go back I want to at least see whether she is all right without her father around."

The winged ninja stayed silent for a bit as she considered this. It could be a trap, but she didn't believe it. The man might have enough willpower to resist being intimidated by her being a half dragon (at least, as long as she didn't put more effort into being intimidating), but he didn't seem stupid enough to believe that he could actually escape. In fact from the way he talked he wasn't even planning to do anything besides visit his family. Akeya wasn't the best person for judging humans, but Lars didn't appear to have any magic potential, possess no weapons concealed or otherwise, and while he was healthy he wasn't exactly the most impressive of figures. It would be a lot easier to just grant his wish and then return him. The captain of the guard had also spoken about how he was one of the more composed and calm prisoners, to the point that the fact that he tried to escape caught them completely by disguise. With the mental picture she now had she didn't really get why he ever turned to crime in the first place.

"I told the guards that I would bring you in before the day ended. It's now about halfway into the afternoon, so as long as it doesn't take too long to reach your house we can make the detour. However the moment you show signs of planning something I'm dragging you back. Now hold still for a moment and present your wrists."

Mr Irving stared at Akeya for a moment before nodding and holding out his hands, ready for the handcuffs. The fact that he would be allowed to see his wife and daughter seemed to be enough to make him willing to comply to anything else. Akeya held up a hand as the shadows twisted above it, turning into a long, soft, and tough rope. Binding the man's wrists the half dragon made it so that he would be able to use his hands to some extend, but they were still connected, and she was holding the end of the rope, so if she wanted to she could just pull him wherever she wanted. If he wanted to challenge that, he was welcome to try.

"Now, lead the way."

Once again nodding Lars started walking, testing the rope around his wrists a bit before deciding that he could keep a normal pace without having to worry about stumbling or falling without being able to at least catch himself. Akeya followed, Korikami appearing out of the shadows to curl himself up around Akeya's shoulders and silently watch their prisoner.

It didn't even take half an hour before Lars stopped moving, staring down the street which was on both sides surrounded by a set of average looking houses. In the street several children were happily playing, and a couple of adults were keeping an eye on them while also talking amongst themselves. Following Lars' gaze Akeya noticed that he was focusing on a particular girl who looked roughly 8~9 years old, who at the moment was trying to hide together with most of the other children while a rather large boy was facing a wall and from the sounds of it loudly counting.

"There she is! That's my Marie! She's so much bigger than when I last saw her! Carla really took care of it all on her own. If only I could return to them..."

Akeya shot a glare at Lars, who sighed and turned towards her, smiling as he nodded.

"No need to glare like that. I could keep staring until I crumbled to dust, but I have what I came for. Both Carla and Marie are happy and healthy, and Marie is growing up just fine. I really wish I could have been there for her these last two years, but it looks like I didn't have to worry about her. I'll come with you quietly now. Thank you for at least letting me do this."

The half dragon shrugged, then motioned for him to follow as she led the way back to the guard station where she would deliver him. The guards might not be happy that she made the detour, but honestly this was probably a lot more efficient than trying to drag him back to prison.