And how do we know that you're not just going to go to the Guard and tell them all about this conversation? Clearly we're trusting you with this conversation just as you're trusting us by not running the hell away and getting us arrested.
>Having the discussion at all about a prison break would at least get them pulled in for questioning, never mind being thrown into the mines themselves. Of course, Logan's comment wouldn't go unanswered as Elias fires an unimpressed look at the mercenary.
And you're certainly not helping. You wonder why you haven't gotten a date yet.
>Of course, Leo was very impassioned about this. So much so that she removed the wrappings. Well, so much for a low profile, but what was done is done...And fortunately, they managed to get a lead from it. A whole bunch of new prisoners in Shaft B, including a pregnant lady. Bingo. Elias leans forward in his seat slightly.
No, that's certainly not what happened. They were commissioned to smuggle crystal through a train service, but an inside man turned on them and made them into scapegoats for the real masterminds. They had to suffer the fall, while he and his friends walk free.
I don't think that's particularly fair, especially not for the pregnant lady, and so we're going to fix that. The question is what you're going to do with that knowledge.
Leopon-dji 25 Mar 2016 1:40:17 AM No.41300319>>41302446>>41302494
>>41299601 Not a cat. Leopon. Six-legged feline beast that can shift into another world to stalk its prey.
>Her ears flattened to show her displeasure. It was a common mistake, but that didn't make her any less irritated. Logan's comment didn't help, either; she rolled her eyes and began re-tying her headscarf. At least it led to some bit of information. Shaft B with a new batch of prisoners. Their only lead. They had to pursue it.
>>41299608 Elias speaks the truth.
>Scarf successfully tied and hiding her ears, she adjusts herself slightly.
We never intended to hurt any one, just to get enough money to live in peace...
>She shook her head.
But you do not have to worry about that. All we wish for is some assistance and information.
>>41299608 >They sure got themselves involved in something complicated. Raill couldn't really make heads or tails of the summary, but overall he knew they were looking to break out some people who weren't really all that bad and they knew it was going to be very dangerous. According to all the rules, he should report this to the guard and let them take care of it, but at the same time these people really seemed convinced that this was the best option. Plus, they had a point, sentencing a lady who was carrying a baby to the mines was a little too cruel.
>>41300319 >Now everything was starting to get a little weirder.
So a magic cat. Okay.
>That was about as far as he was willing to stretch his understanding of that whole concept. He already had to cope with the idea of them asking him to help some prisoners escape, this was a lot to thrust upon someone at once, especially when it was so out of the ordinary.
I'm Raill... Raill Rogers. And I'm not a kid, I'm thirteen! That's old enough to work!
>At least that part he could answer, but the problem still remained. These people wanted him to help them, but was risking his job worth it? There was very little in it for him, in fact there was nothing in it for him at the moment aside from a little bit of knowledge that was barely relevant to him. Feeling a little pressured and unsure, he opened his jacket, revealing a small brown animal which looked a lot like a mole.
What do you think, Horus? *Squeak Squeak!*
>Logan caught sight of the mole and felt a strangeness overcome him. It was incredibly similar in feeling to the cat that always hung around with Janet, that something simply wasn't right with the creature. Despite that, there wasn't anything hostile about the oddity, in fact it felt rather welcoming if anything.
Alright then, Raill, all we need you to do is find us a way inside the mines. You don't have to help any more than that, and once we're in we'll take it from there. You can deny having ever seen us or had anything to do with us. I guess there's not much we can offer in return, hrmm...
>Reaching down, the mercenary gripped the hilt of his blade slightly. All in all the three of them didn't have that many things that might be worth something to a poor kid like this whose only option seemed to be manual labour, and though they didn't know his reasoning behind choosing to do that over going to school it was still a tough choice. But he did know one thing.
Ever been interested in knowing how to swing a sword?
Huh? Wait, you mean like an actual weapon!? No, no... I'm way too small and weak for that... or that's what the guards said...
Wait, you applied to the Royal Guard?
A lot of places. I just needed some kind of money from somewhere. No-one else would take me so I volunteered for the mines. I even tried the Terminian reserve, but they just laughed...
Alright then, kid- I'm not a kid! - fine, fine, I get it. I've got a great idea.
>Logan's usual grin spread across his face and he looked over at partially-elven friend. This would only ever end poorly for anyone that caught such a gaze.
Elias, my man, why don't you teach the kid a few combat tricks?
What!? I can't do that! My frame's too small, I just get beat up by the others if I try to-
Beat up, huh? All the more reason to know how to defend yourself a little, and that guy over there's the perfect sort to show you how. He's an S-Rank mercenary, y'know! Tippity top tier in the best guild on the continent, there's no-one better to show you how! I'll even throw in a free meal for ya, how's that sound?
Then all you have to do is find us a way into the mine, and you can forget all about the problem. We'll be gone before you know it.
>Raill shuffled in his chair. He wasn't sure exactly how to take any of that. The mole in his jacket shuffled out and jumped onto the tabletop, suddenly turning around to face Raill and standing up, squeaking rather a lot at the young boy almost as if it were actually trying to communicate. Feeling a little manipulated by this, Raill sighed and looked over at Elias, still not entirely certain.
>Elias' eyes immediately widen as he's roped into yet another one of Logan's half-baked ideas, to the detriment of his sanity and blood pressure. He's dimly aware that this is probably vengeance for his jab at Logan's lack of dating prowess, but he's too caught off guard to vocalise it.
>He turns back to Raill, eyes alighting very briefly on the mole-like animal before he winced and looked back to Raill himself. Like Logan, this creature rubbed him the wrong way. It was like he couldn't look at it for too long or his head started to throb. He had the same problem with Janet's cat, but he always thought he was allergic to them. Though, being around Leo for so long disproved that.
>Back to the young miner himself. Judging from his desperation for money to resort to the mines, he was no mage...And given his small build, he hadn't been looked at for military work. Poor kid. A pang of sympathy reverberates through the half-elf. Like Leo, another victim of the cruelty of Termina's system. If you ain't a mage, you ain't nothing.
...Size doesn't mean much. I know someone only a little older than you that can fight with the best of them.
>Janet was also a mage, but he was electing to not mention that little detail for the purpose of his pep talk. Well, if the kid was any kind of savvy businessman, which was unlikely for a thirteen year old but still possible, he'd want to learn first. Which meant more waiting, but at least he'd have something to take his mind off things, and it was their only lead.
>Elias nods at the young miner, tapping the propped up sword next to him on the hilt.
Sure. I can teach you. I'm no expert with a blade, and a sword like mine wouldn't be good for someone of your frame...But it couldn't hurt for you to have some way of defending yourself.
>Unconsciously, Elias' posture shifts slightly. His arms fold and the thoughtful expression morphs into an uncharacteristically hard one, his eyes practically boring into Raill
But I expect you to learn well. I won't tolerate any messing around. Is that clear?
Leopon-dji 27 Mar 2016 7:58:38 PM No.41303163>>41304958
>>41302446 >"So a magic cat?"
Sure.
>That was one way of simplifying it. Leo wasn't particularly pleased by just how far it was dumbed down, but if it kept the kid from scratching her ears, then so be it. She pulled the final knot of the headscarf tight before flicking the hood up.
Alright, Raill. My name is Leo. These are my companions, Elias and Logan. I hope the sharing of names contributes to your trust in us.
>The squeaky creature made her wrinkle her nose. Some tiny part of her was telling her to chase it, while the rest of her was more irritated than anything by its presence. Its voice reminded her of the redhead at the guild.
>>41302494 >Looking between Logan and Elias, the beastkin rose a brow. Teach the kid how to fight? What shocked her was that he didn't know how to fight in the first place.
I hunted my first kill at age 7 at a height less than yours, and could defend myself against a full-grown man at the age of 12. Do not let anyone ever tell you you are not strong enough.
>She had to admit, Elias' strictness as a teacher was a little scary. She leaned away from the half-elf.
If you require a shorter blade, I have used my own for over ten years... but unarmed techniques might be more useful with somebody without a blade.
>>41302494 >>41303163 >The way the cat, Leo, was talking about killing like it was some kind of prideful thing bothered Raill a little, and it settled a little doubt in him about what was really going on here. At the same time they didn't seem to be bad people, and they'd already explained their story. If they were desperate enough to trust the first person they met who could help, then it must've been a pretty dire situation.
>Fighting hadn't really ever been something he was good at, and it wasn't something he'd taken an interest toward in particular, it just so happened that a lot of the easier to get into jobs with decent pay were focused around it. Mining had been a nice compromise, but hidden beneath the surface of it all was a slightly harsh environment between bullies and the bullied. Fighting wasn't what he wanted to learn, but if he could protect other people through fighting then it almost felt like a responsibility to learn. That, and maybe it'd get Horus to shut up a little.
No messing around. Got it.
See? Kid's eager enough, and it just so happens I know a place that's perfect for it. You guys can fight with sticks or something.
>Logan smirked at Elias's reaction to his little incentive plan, but at least the bait had hooked a promising response. All they had to do was spend a little time at the old trainyard, and maybe they'd have what they needed by the end of tomorrow.
You guys can go til sunset and then we'll meet up here tomorrow morning after that.
>After that, well... that was the part where everything started to get a lot more complicated.