Is This A Robbery Or A Theft? [Mission | Celeste]

Job Info:

”Hmh…” Imai hummed as he eyed the job board. He was currently inside the Red Dragon’s Inn, having just jumped from Yggdrasil with Sei hanging onto his back, and enjoying some cheap soda pop. He was feeling figuratively ill as he hadn’t been called in for duty in a while, now… perhaps he should take the initiative and see what troubles needed solving? Although, this pause between throwing flying stars - actual, imitating matters of what constructed a star - made him think a lot; especially about ideas… jumping from plane to plane used up a lot of energy. He should get a vehicle! Yes, of course! A vehicle! The mere thought of it made his mouth water.

“Sei… what do you think? I go this idea…” Imai began conversing with the adorable alien, “So, next time I’m off to somewhere far out in the map… I take this awesome vehicle! It-It-It’s like, I make a vehicle, it can be a car slash plane at the same time, it’ll be lit! And, also, yes, a submarine for when I travel down to Atlantis or somewhere else! Ingenious, don’t you think?” Despite being an alien - the main factor of having a functionable spaceship that can travel to other dimensions at all - Sei simply gave Imai the head-tilt. It was confused - how was he going to make it? With his own hands? With his magic? Sei didn’t assume that light and gravity and planetary objects could form a spaceship without some serious specifies.

WC: 254

Celeste would already be in the Red Dragon Inn,  she sat further into the interior of the building,  at an oak wood table with a yellow cloth on the surface, she had her sketch book in her hand drawing many odd celestial beasts. The young sabertooth wizard never knew what these images meant though surely enough it would soon reveal that these entities resemble her true power,  she kept delicately swaying the pencil along the paper for a few minutes until she heard someone enter the Inn,  the boy caught her eyes as he had quite the energetic expression similar to her own. Celeste glanced over at the floating pink creature and blinked for a moment as the organism was rather unearthly she thought but amazing nonetheless.

As the two went over to the quest board she thought maybe she could tag along on whichever mission they would decide to go on,  she closed her sketch book and took it with her over to the mission board. Celeste chuckled while overhearing their conversation, “ Oh hello there,  I couldn't help but just introduce myself,  I heard you speaking about vehicles,  nice to meet you guys I'm Celeste” she said with a cheerful grin.

WC: 204

A question mark popped up as Imai heard an unfamiliar voice from behind. It was from a young girl who was curious about his blabbing a moment earlier, and honestly, he feared that he had made himself a fool in front of her or anything… further listening to her words, it didn’t appear to be the case. Perhaps she was just curious? Either way, if no ill thoughts prompted her to come here, then he’d behave; he turned around to finally face perhaps the cutest little girl that he had ever met. “O-Oh, hello there,” he greeted joyously, “Yeah, uh, about that… I was just thinking out loud is all! I swear, I didn’t know that you heard me!” Sweat pearls were already dropping off his head as he tried to eliminate any misunderstandings, but… was it for naught? Did he worsen the situation?

“I-I’m Imai!” he greeted, “And uh… wait, you’re a Sabertooth wizard too! That means-“ He hadn’t seen her before, so she must’ve been new around here… or perhaps she’d been long gone on some large, vast adventure. It was likely the former. “A-As a matter of fact… hehehe,” he spoke more confidently as he scratched his nose with his index finger all shonen like, “I’ll be seeing more of you around here. I am the Ace of Sabertooth, after all.” Sei would fly around Imai’s and Celeste’s heads with upmost curiosity about the God Slayer and her sketch book. “I was thinking about getting a vehicle myself, so I don’t have to jump from country to country… oh, that reminds me, are you free for now?” He had eyed a job paper on the quest board that requested help against a gang of robbers in the Forgotten Deserts, and this could be a good way to learn more about Celeste.

“I was thinking of going out and bringing a lot of stolen goods from some robbers… I could use a helping hand, if you don’t mind.”

WC: 254 + 330 = 584

It was a relief to know that the other guild members were mostly family orientated, she smiled and listened carefully as he had spoken, she blinked her golden eyes once he proceeded with the dialogue, he became rather startled by the fact that she over heard him. Celeste chuckled a bit," Sorry If I took you by surprise there, I think you have a resourceful idea though! I never drove one  myself before.." she stated. As Imai introduced himself she found him very friendly, it gave her comfort that she didn't have to make an extensive effort to even talk to someone in the guild as well. Once he recognized her as a Sabertooth wizard she held her left arm using her right hand, slightly embarrassed that it  took some time for him to notice," Yeah! I've been around si-" she was cut off as he spoke about how she not only would be seeing more of him around but he was also one of the guild's aces, which is a very powerful position to be classed upon.

Celeste's eyes widened as she had never knew he was an ace, she smiled while expressing her brief complete trance of awe with exaggerated stars in her eyes," Woah! That's super cool! I've been in the guild for a while, I've recently recovered from the battle that required us to defeat the culprits responsible for taking away our beloved guild hall" she explained.  As Imai discussed how he wanted to purchase a vehicle in order to increase his effectiveness in travel she supported the idea greatly," What ah wonderful idea! I usually prefer to fly, it's pretty exhilarating when your up in the clouds" she'd say with a giggle. His proposition for participating in this quest was very appealing to the young wizard," Sounds like a plan! Let's get those stolen goods back to where it belongs!" she shouted with her fist raised up high.

WC: 323

Wait… the culprits who destroyed the previous guild hall paid them such a ‘nice’ visit what felt like years ago. You were telling me that this little blonde had been in a hospital or nursery for that long? So long? How long? Imai had never met her before… shit, he felt a little awkward now. What Ace just forgot about a member like that? No, no, no… perhaps Kenna-nee knew her from back then. Yeah, that could be it.

“… I can’t fly,” he admitted to her comment, “But I can run pretty fast. Now, these bandits won’t stop themselves – jump on board!”

He suddenly walked up in front of Celeste, turned his back to her, lifted her up on his back and proclaimed: “We’re off! Close your eyes, girl, this’ll be over quickly-” before he dashed out of the inn at high speed. Before a dozen seconds had passed, they were out of Ace of Spades.

If Celeste opened her eyes again as Imai slowed down, she would notice that they were out in the middle of a clear, endless desert. The subtropical climate, the change in temperature, the humidity change and the strong rays of the sun all would’ve probably shocked anyone who travelled from A to B in such a velocity.

“Huh, maybe we’re lost… hey, you’re- wait, you’re a Dragon Slayer!” he suddenly exclaimed to her – it would sound very sudden and unpredictable, but Imai’s magical sensory was off the charts and unique. He could often tell the type of magic just by the taste in the air. “Just like Kenna-nee! Do you think your supposed Dragon Slayer senses can help us out here? This area appears too empty…”

WC: 283
TWC: 867

Celeste didn't really mind that he couldn't fly, he is a valuable member to the guild nonetheless she figured due to his rank, she gave him a faint laughter that existed only for just a moment before she hears him comment that it was time to get going essentially. She agreed and was startled slightly as he told her to jump on board, even so she quickly reacts as he turns around to face his back to her. Celeste leaps onto his back while holding her arms securely around his neck," Okay! I can't wait to get started it's been so long since I've been on real mission like this.." She says while narrowing her golden eyes, she leans her head sideways onto the back of his head. Ever since she had been out of action she has felt nothing but disappointment due to her lack of improvement, suffering severe damage from the fight it took years before she felt confident in herself again, she always felt that she was left behind but it was her own fault in the end for exerting her body too much back then.

In that instant everything around her felt like a blur, she closed her eyes just as he tells her to, she couldn't believe how fast they were going, she could feel the force of his feet rapidly hitting the pavement has they soon arrived in a completely different area. Once they had soon decreased in speed Celeste narrows her golden eyes, as they open eventually she blinks at the environment," Woah.. that was really fast Imai! You're unreal y'know." She explains happily before getting off of his back, she started to drench sweat as the sun's rays flourished along the land of the vast desert. She felt she was going to need some water soon or this place was going kill her of dehydration," Aww man.. the desert... Why do people have to steal stuff and bring them here.." She complained while examining the area, her ears twitched as she tried to hear anything suspicious around them.

As Imai said that they could've been lost she slowly turns her head towards him," I thought you knew where we were going!" She says while blinking as he knew what type of magic she possesses, she was confused at how he knew that so quickly so she noted to herself to ask about it later. "O-oh. I didn't know you were so perceptive, well I guess I could try.." She says while focusing her sight, she could see very far distances so she would surge wind around her body and pounce into the air, while airborne she twirls as her long blonde hair flutters about in the wind. She would then notice an ancient city nearby, perhaps that was where the Cartel HQ was she figured as she started to capture an odd scent coming from that general direction. Celeste descends back down beside Imai," I see some old ruins I think in that direction,  you can take us there to get a closer look, a lot of people are there too so let's be careful.." She says while getting back on Imai's back, once he would start running she would immediately get off his back to follow his lead once they got close to the ancient city as he had way more experience than her in these situations.

WC: 566
TWC: 1,098

Imai took great pride in his physical capabilities, regardless of his inability to explain just how he had gotten this powerful. Was it Kenna-nee’s influence on him? Had she, by any chance, imbued him with some demonic essence in hope of protecting him from harm akin to the legend of Baldur? Or had he just been training efficiently, reaping the fruits of his own, self-earned actions? Funny, he didn’t know himself…

“Pretty smart of them, y’know,” he commented back, noting on Celeste’s complaint, “Perhaps to make it as inconvenient as possible for people to track them down… not like it would stop us, anyway! Can’t wait to see the look on their faces when we crash their hideout!”

After his statement about her magic, Celeste showed signs of shock and surprise to hear that from him. It tasted like Dragon Slayer Magic… ew, he didn’t want to phrase it like that; she emitted the fragrance of a Dragon Slayer, to say. The same kind of fragrance that his dear Kenna-nee emitted. It was all in the taste… urgh, why was it in taste, though? His body was acting so weird, lately… tasting magic in the air and stuff like that. Since when was he able to do that, precisely?

Uh, a question for another day… Celeste spotted old ruins in the south-east direction, most likely used as a hideout for bandits like the Cartel. “Oh! Nice observation, Celeste! A+ for those sharp eagle eyes of yours!” Imai complimented her tracking skill as she returned to his back, “If we reach somewhere a hundred meters away from them, we can try and search for a sneaky entrance.”

He let his feet do the trick and transport himself and Celeste across the dune, kicking up sand like a storm before they finally reached the location 100 meters away from the ruins…

But… his advance towards them had brought unwanted attention due to the sandstorm he kicked up in his run. “C-Celeste, I might’ve overdone it-“

“H-Hey, is that a sandstorm?! Who’s out there!?”

“Oh!” He was panicking at first, but his brain conjured up a genius plan! “Celeste, can you make a tornado? One big enough to cover the ruins, so we can sneak past them?” He would continue running around the ruins, kicking up sand behind them both to aid her if her magic power was insufficient in doing all the work itself. He had to help; as Ace, he was basically her senior, and seniors had to perform amazingly in front of their underclassmen. He wanted her to look up to him as the amazing mage that he was!

So please, Imai! Don’t screw around!

WC: 445
TWC:

As Imai had made a comment about how clever it was for them to bring the shipment into harsh conditions as such, Celeste sighs while internally agreeing that it was an effective way to prevent anyone from discovering them so easily. She chuckled at his enthusiasm as it encouraged her to give it everything she had, she too was anticipating to observe the look on those thieves faces when they would proceed with the attack. Celeste would blush as he compliments her tracking skills, she rubs the back of her long blonde hair,"Th-anks, I might've been knocked out for a few years but I like to think I still got the hang of my magic to a certain degree now." She explains while looking at her palms before she leaps on Imai's back once more. The option to safely search for the shipment did make her feel a little better however she wasn't sure if they had some sort of sensory based magic user among them so she contemplated briefly before feeling the force once again as Imai had started to accelerate closer to the ancient ruins.

During the motion Celeste realized something as Imai was running, a dust trail started to fill the atmosphere giving away their location away fairly easily to those who are a distance from them, even so imai already knew this apparently as he had told her that he overdid the running a bit. She narrowed her golden eyes," Well, they now somebody is here now." She says while blinking as she hears Imai suggest that she uses her power to create a big enough tornado to conceal their physical form, brilliant idea she thought. Without haste she leaps off his back, surging wind all around her she closes her eyes," O' swift wind..." She mumbles inhaling the air around her to increase the potency of her attack, her cheeks started to expand suddenly before she shouted proudly," Sky Dragon...Roarrrrrrrrr!" She says in which then a massive stream of wind collides into the sand causing the sand to flutter about with the wind around the perimeter of the ruins, making it difficult for the targets to visibly see them.

"What the hell is going on here?! Find whoever is doing this now!" a voice echoed from inside the ruins, it sounded like the guy who was leading this business no doubt, Celeste would soar low and grab Imai by his arms to pick him up from the ground. She would land inside the ruins safely, by now the winds had started to subside causing the sand to settle as well,"Okay, since they are distracted for a little while it should be less guards patrolling the interior, we obviously can't get in through the front, do you see any other way inside?" She asked while crouching down to remain hidden from any passing guards.

WC: 478
TWC: 1,367

Celeste went into action quickly, conjuring up a large storm and flying away like a soaring dragon girl! It appeared that his aid was completely unnecessary; her Sky Dragon Roar coated the ruins in flying sand and caught the attention of all the marauders inside who stormed out to blabber and complain about the sudden weather, while some were warned of incoming enemies.

While thinking of a plan of attack, Imai found himself floating above the sandy ground and popped up a question mark for a brief second. “H-Huh? Oh, you can fly… wait, HOLY SH-MOLY, YOU CAN F- I mean… h-holy smoly, you can fly…” he commented on the event before finding himself landing inside the ruins through an opening.

Now they just needed to get to the inside, but some guards were still patrolling around the front entrance without having been alerted by the sandstorm. “Okaaaaay… hmh… got an idea,” Imai whispered back to her as he hid away from the guards’ visions, “Since you got Sky attributes… how about you suck a lot of air away from them? They’ll feel very tired, dry-throated, thirsty perhaps, hazy… then they’ll leave to get something to drink.”

WC: 197
TWC: 1509

Celeste arched her eyebrow at Imai as he suggested something she wasn't exactly an expert in just yet, she only recently obtained such a power so it was going to take some time before she could be able to freely remove the air around someone. It required the precise and disciplined mana control that she just didn't possess right now, she whispers in a soft tone while ensuring that she doesn't expose their location," I can't exactly do that yet Imai, I know my limit so I'll have to keep training before I can get a firm grasp on that kind of spell." She explains before turning her head to examine the guards, they suddenly had came out with some moonlight sphere, it started to radiate a wave of thermal energy, causing it to read heat signatures around the area.

"OVER THERE! GET THEM NOW!" One of the guards says while pointing in there current direction, eager to slaughter any who trespass on the temporary hideout, Celeste widened her eyes as the guards were approaching them," I guess it is only one way.." Her golden eyes scan each guard," Fight!" Celeste shouts with passion while balling up her fists, she sprints towards the guards," Go, give em hell!" She encourages Imai in which then she would hold out her palms horizontally, summoning teal magic circles upon both of her palms and concentrating her magical energy sharply to cause a glistening aura to form. The color was whatever resonated close to them both  manifesting only for 3 posts," Enchant!: Atlas the Breeze!" She chants, for Celeste it was yellow aura as she enchants both of their bodies to increase their speed and magical power, they also would feel as light as a feather.

Zig-zagging along the pavement with her enhanced speed it was difficult for them to even keep up with her visually, Celeste chuckled a bit before striking the guards one by one, she uses their body to leap off one before targeting another with a swift assault of punches and kicks. Each guard groaning in pain as she was taking them down fairly quickly, even so more guards started to exit the front to the thieves head quarters at this point due to hearing an intense battle outside.

WC: 379