Cards Show the Way (Gaia Intro)

The wind felt nice upon her skin as the Fire Dragon Slayer sat atop one of the many higher rooftops of Ace of Spades. She’d probably sat there for a few hours now, just staring off in the distance and trying to spot small changes within the environment. A type of sensing training if you may, as well as a method of getting used to her newfound slayer senses through the most simplest of efforts, scanning each single change that happened around her; the changing of the light as the day progressed, the scent of newly-baked bread from a baker several blocks away, the pitter patter of children’s feet on the cobblestone road underneath her. And through this simple training she also watched over the people she’d sworn to protect, for even in the city under Sabertooth’s protection did crime stick up its head. And like a vigilante, she would take care of it and disappear again if it crossed her path.

Yet at this point there was no sign of crime in sight, only a small red dot staring back at Kenna from a chimney right across her. If one could sense the essence within the small being, it would be a warm sensation, one equal to fire but without an actual physical body of its own. ”Shinta… I can see you.” The slayer sighed gingerly, having the small dot jump up and float towards her. The dot turned out to be a small wyvern-like dragon barely fitting the palm of her hand, which she now held extended towards it to function as a landing platform. Small claws wrapped itself around her fingertips as it settled in on her palm and let out an endearing roar, earning it small pets from his creator. Shinta turned around and stared at Kenna, who looked back at it and gently nuzzled its face. Shinta was the manifestation of her first attempt at creating a follower with her new powers; her very first self-established fire familiar. And although she’d tried to command it from the start seemed to react like a newborn puppy, meaning she’d first tried to teach it things like flying… even though it wasn’t an actual sentient being. It would disappear after a while, but as of late Shinta seemed to be able to remain here in this world more often, yet lacked the proportions of an actual summon. Hence why she had decided to train Shinta in hiding and camouflaging techniques by making him hide, while she herself would then need to find him by only using her eyesight. Two birds with one stone.

At this point she’d spent two hours playing hide and seek with the fire essence wyvern, who now seemed ready for a small nap. Kenna smiled at it and put it in her shoulder, struggling to get up after having sat cross-legged for so long. The armored maiden stretched her sore legs and groaned softly as she peeked over the ledge of the rooftop. The drop was six meters tops, which she in her current form could easily take. ”Here we go then!” Kenna muttered, stepping over the edge without a shred of doubt, only to end up crashing into a pile of wooden crates rather than making a successful landing on both feet upon the street. A slight calculation on her part, she thought as she pulled herself back on her feet, throwing whatever rubble that was still on her off of of her. A man laughed audibly upon seeing the event enroll and walked over, handing her one of the pieces of wood that had been sent flying upon her crashlanding. ”You’d think that by now you’d prefer pillows to land on over crates, Kenna... “ The man smiled at her, with Kenna making an apologetics gesture as she took the wooden piece and nonchalantly threw it back unto the heap. ”I can’t deny that either, oldtimer, but I’m getting there… eventually.” The man nodded in agreement to her statement, letting out a small chuckle. ”In due time you will, but at least the little one seems to enjoy your bravado.” He gave the wyvern familiar a bit of dried fruit, which it eagerly took before perching back unto Kenna’s shoulder. ”Fair enough, he does like my misery a bit too much.” She grinned, after which she left the man to his own devices again and roamed the streets, strolling casually for a while before she stopped dead in her tracks upon smelling a new scent; one unlike the subtle scent of metal that seemed to be present in the scents she’d smelled so far around Ace of Spades’ inhabitants. Yet pinpointing the newcomer was done for her instead it seemed, as not too long after Kenna noticed her guildmaster entering the scene and walking up to a young lady with dark blue hair in a rather unusual haircut, engaging in a conversation that got interrupted soon after by another new arrival it seemed… no, of this one she was sure that he did not belong to Ace of Spades. She would’ve remembered someone the size of a tree, like this man apparently had. The Fire Dragon Slayer swallowed a lump of excitement upon seeing the giant man, promptly walking over to join the threesome despite not knowing what they were talking about, and thus addressed her guildmaster first as to not come across as a random stranger joining people for no apparent reason. ”Seems like you’re attracting quite the interesting company whenever taking Riksqzona out for a walk, aren’t you, Kite?” Kenna smiled brightly at the man before turning at the young lady and giant man, swiftly making eye-contact with both before making a small bow a gentle smile upon her face despite her armored appearance. ”And to the interesting company, I bid you a very good day. Kenna, pleased to make your acquaintance.”