The Reality of Illusion (Akari)

[Fallacy]

Timestamp: TBA by player The streets of Alvadas were unusually calm that day. The crowds that line it were thin, and traffic within easily flowed. Like a fish in water, the route that people took seemed natural and unhindered even by the occasional stall that could be found within the market. There was a quiet murmur of conversations, a buzz that could be heard, but unless one was listening then not one word could be made out. Together the collective voices sounded like that, noise. Akari could be found roaming these streets on this quiet day. There would be gentle air and feel to the bazaar, but also if one were more in tune with the energy and reading it they would find there was a hint of malice, a little speck of disorder and corruption. Something was going to happen and it was going to happen soon. The mellow and alright feel will soon turn on its head and it seems that everyone was blissfully unaware. Women and children going up to stalls buying what they wanted or needed. The exchange of coin, the presence of artwork, necessities, food, all were present and with such temptation something had to happen. Given not every day, but then again this weren’t just any other day. It was a calm, quiet, almost sleepy day in the marketplace and with a small shriek of ‘thief’ from a woman and an accusing point of a finger at man who was fleeing the scene with bag in hand the sleepy feel was dispelled and a sense of urgency came rushing in on a gilded horse. The energy of the place turning from calm to dramatic, to sleepy to awake, and everyone was looking, watching the man run off though no one went after him.

[Akari]

79th Summer, 510AV She still wasn't used to the city. Alvadas intrigued her. More than a few times she had been walking down a street and ended up where she started, thoroughly confused. Once, she had rounded a corner and found herself almost knee deep in water. She had quickly learnt to giver herself extra time to get anywhere, though sometimes even that didn't help. On this particular day, she resigned to simply wandering, making sure to avoid any streets that seemed paved with something other than normal paving. She had ended up at the Bazaar, a place she had never visited before. It was worlds away from the one in Syliras, where people jostled and rushed. Here it seemed calmer, quiet. Akari stood by and watched people, watched the interest on their faces when they found something interesting or unique. She had a niggling sense that something was amiss, but she was unsure of what it meant. It could just be that she was still very much unused to the ever-changing city. She sharply turned as a loud shriek of "Thief!" rang through the market. Her keen eyes quickly picked out a man weaving his way through people, clutching a bag. Nobody moved. Why wasn't anyone chasing him? Her eyes narrowed and she figured that someone had to. Off she went, moving quickly after the mystery man, rounding a corner. She was strangely thankful that she was following him. It was an odd thing to feel in such a situation, but she felt useful for the first time in a while. That and she didn't want to get lost. She made no effort to be quiet, her feet pounding out a loud rhythm as she ran. She had no idea who this man was, for all she knew, he could be incredibly dangerous. What have I gotten myself in for?! All the same, she pressed on, trying to gain on him as he fled.

[Fallacy]

The people just stood there and watched as the lady ran after the thief. It was not that they did not want to help, but more like it was not their place. Such things hardly happen in Alvadas, and if, when, they do it is usually seen as a desperate cry for attention on the one guilty of the act. That and who would be crazy enough to start something in the city of illusion? Well, you would have to be either pretty confident or pretty stupid to do something like that. This thief however would fall under the more confident side. As the man ran down the streets he dodged people, or what people that got in his way. Most would just move out of the way in fear of being hit, and then they would watch as the lady chased after him desperate to get whatever he stole back to its owner. Was Akari the only shining beacon of light that Alvadas had? Of course not, there was a guard set in place, but those in Alvadas work slightly different than they would in any normal city. Rounding a corner the man stopped running as a wall presented itself to him and with Akari right behind him he did not have any other choice… Turning around bag of gold in hand he smirked at the lady that had chased him all this way, “I must say, it seems the city favors you.” He glanced at the wall, ”I’ve never been presented with an obstacle quite like this. Now,” he began emerald eyes locking onto Akari, ”You can turn around right now and tell everyone that I got away or you can die right here.” he told her in a tone that wouldn’t tell her if he was bluffing or not. There would be a cocky almost arrogant air about him as if he thought himself so much higher up than everyone else. It was this kind of person whose actions would lead to self-destruction, but when or how would be left for fate to tell.

[Akari]

She rounded another corner, the ends of her long coat flapping behind her, stopping short as she turned. The man had stopped, a solid wall present behind him. She saw his face for the first time, and that arrogant smile that told her he regarded himself rather highly. She glanced quickly at the wall and then back, the stolen bag hanging from his hand. Favors me? She didn't think so. She just got lucky. Or so it might seem. However perhaps that wasn't the case. Perhaps she was unlucky. Most people wouldn't be smiling in such a way if they became trapped against a wall. Most people would probably drop the thing and flee. Not this man. Akari must have found the one person who didn't do that. His eyes found hers and their gazes locked as he delivered an ultimatum. Inside, she flinched, but that didn't show on the outside. Her face remained impassive. She was not a fighter. Not yet anyway. The girl had ambition to become a Shinya, but her skill was a long way off for that. The most training she had was hitting a dummy in the Syliran Knights training ground with no instruction. One of her tanto swords was hitched to her belt, a habit she had gotten into recently, but she made no move to draw it. It was hidden under her coat, safely out of sight. "I'm not going to lie." She was surprised at how steady her voice was. "But I'm not going to die either." I hope... Her hand twitched over her coat near the sword hilt, but she still did not draw it. Hopefully she wouldn't need to. Surely someone would have alerted a guard by now? If worst came to worst, she would have to shout.

[Fallacy]

The man would sigh and a visible shift of weight to one foot to the next marked that he was getting a little antsy, ”You’re not going to lie, but not going to die either?” he laughed, ”Girl those are the choices that were presented to you and you choose one of your own making? Do you really think you are in control of this situation?” he asked sounded a little offended by her coolness to the entire situation. Taking a threating step forward he made the movement heavy and evident as if he wanted her to react to it. The man wore clothes all of the same color, orange. With such an out there color to be wearing it did not look like the clothes were meant for a subtle appearance. Was he so confident in himself and his abilities that he wore the orange to stick out from the crowd? A closer examination of his features would show a obvious scar across his face, though it would be obscured slightly from his longer brown hair. His eyes were a greyish color, filled with years of experience and it was evident by looking into them that they had storied to tell. Though the man didn’t look it he was rather skilled in many different things, though one thing was sure, he was no killer. He would just have to scare the girl enough so she runs away. Smirking his grasp on the purse that he stole tightened as he lunged a heavy fist at her, though even to someone such as Akari it would be evident that the speed of the attack was much faster than it should it have been. The attack wasn’t meant to do any real harm; just to scare her into running away. Little did the man know that the guard was already on their way. There was little that could happen in the city that escapes the cities attention.

[Akari]

Akari kept her face impassive. It was something she was good at, her emotions rarely showed any more. Though looking deep into her eyes; not just glancing but looking properly, would show you more. Right now, there would probably be the faintest hint of worry. How could there not be? She didn't know how to fight, not really. And now she was up against this over-confident thief, stuck down an alleyway with no real clue as to what she should do. Yep, she was probably screwed. She forced herself to stand straighter, to act more confident. Perhaps if she did that then this thief might not take the situation so lightly. Did she think she was in control of this? Of course she didn't. But she had the feeling that the thief wasn't either. She wasn't sure why, but there was something in the air. The city was in control. She was pondering this when he lunged. Luckily, her reflexes were good, so she managed to move out of the way quick enough. His fist still came close though; she could feel the rush of air as it passed near her face. On impulse, her hand grasped the hilt of her sword, and she loosed it from it's sheath with a ringing sound. Before she realized what she had done, she was standing with it pointed at the thief. A sudden rush of real confidence came to her. "I don't think I'm in control at all. But I still know that I'm not dying today." She paused as footsteps sounded nearby, growing louder with each passing moment. The city guard were coming. How they knew she wasn't sure; perhaps a citizen had told them? Akari slowly lowered her sword, eyes still fixed on the thief.

[Fallacy]

The man seemed confident but he was surprised by the girls reflexes and ability to dodge his punch. Quickly he regained his composure and was able to step back in time for the tip of the womans sword not to touch him. Admiring the blade he smiled, ”So, it seems you are not just any woman.” he seemed rather pleased by this fact and took a step back to put distance between him and the sword. The last thing he wanted was to be gutted. What was in the purse was… well, it wasn’t worth his life that was for sure. Throwing it up in the air and catching it with one hand, the ringing of metal still in his ears a haunting reminder of what was between him and her. Though his smug grin soon faded as the footsteps could be heard, reinforcements and always at the most inconvenient times. The bag firmly grasped in his hand he looked at it and then back at her, ”Here, take it!” he said throwing the purse high in the air; the bag easily sailing over Akaris head and into the main street again. She had a choice, find the bag or corner the criminal. With that out of the way and accepting of his fate he looked behind him and again the city had shifted. The wall was no longer there and he could run free. Spying the guards as they turned the corner he knew that if he stayed much longer his chance of escape was next to none. Jumping back he gave an almost childish wave to the brave girl who had so bravely faced him, ”Next time we meet I won’t go so easy on you” he told her before sprinting away into the crowd. She could follow him, if she wanted, but at the speed and pace that he was now going at it wouldn’t be long before he would lose her again. ”Mam,” a voice from behind her would chime in distracting her from any thoughts of pursuit. ”are you alright?” the voice would be deep and sound quite commanding. When she would look to see who it was she would see a man whose uniform would immediately inform her that he was part of the guard of Alvadas. There would be two more behind the taller man who donned short blonde hair, the other twos features were blocked out by masks and armor. It seemed the guard was more secretive than many others. ”Please don’t worry about him.” him, of course, being the thief that wore orange, ”We will handle this and he will be brought to justice.” the conviction in his voice made it clear that he firmly believe that statement. ”In the mean time could you come with us? We have strict orders to bring you with us for the report.” Even though the sentence was phrased in a question there would be no doubt that the man was only being polite and it was an order to follow them. He just did not want to rough her up and if she would come without resistance they would begin to lead her though Alvadas. The streets seem to twist and turn and if she was paying attention then she would notice that they were passing the same building over and over again. It seemed that they were traveling in circles when finally they reached a rather unsuspecting building, a simple one, one that seemed almost too simple. One of the guards knocked twice, paused, and then once more two times before grabbing the handle and opening the door, holding it, waiting for Akari and the rest of them to enter. Once done he would follow closing the door behind him. The room would be dimly lit and inside there would be others, guards standing at attention and in the center would be rather nice looking desk. The wood was dark and had a polish to it that seemed to shine in the light. Behind the desk, sitting in a rather fancy looking chair adorned with pillows was a rather formal looking woman. Her hands, gloved in white, crossed over her lap as she looked at Akari entering. The dim light would reveal an elegant looking dress, purple in shade, but the color could not be so easily identified as it seemed to shift just like the city itself. The exact shade of purple never quite being the same tone, maybe it was a trick of the light? Her hair was done up nice and pretty, braids colliding in one another and forming a complex beauty about it. ”Hello.” The woman would speak, her voice breaking the silence that hung in the room. ”Welcome, have a seat,” she motioned over to a wooden chair that was in front of the desk. Akaris chair though was not as fancy, plain wood, and looked like it had been taken out of some tavern of a sort. ”I am Alluvia Lighting member of the Azure Triad pleased to meet your acquaintance.” There would be a slight pause, ”Tea?” she asked as she picked up a small tea cup with a single flower on it, purple of course were the pedals. Akari could have sworn that the tea nor the cup was there just a moment ago. If she would look down there would be a cup for her too, steam rising from it. ”Now before I tell you anything,” she sipped the tea from the cup before setting it down, her eyes falling on the warrior now, ”I must ask if you are interested in protecting Alvadas and if so would you be willing to work with me and the guard to accomplish our goals? I was informed about how you heroically chased after that thief. It was very impressive…” Something would tell Akari that her words might not seem all that they are, and just like the city are shrouded too in illusion and falseness. Though in a city where illusion reined could a lie not be the truth, and could chaos not be perceived as order? oocSorry for the delay. Just getting back and swamped with grade requests and other things x.x

[Akari]

For some reason the man seemed to take pleasure in finding out that she had some way to defend herself. He appeared to look on the blade with a sort of admiration. In any other situation Akari would have been pleased; the sword was one of her most prized possessions.

A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as the thief’s grin faded, almost like she had stolen it and was now using it for herself. Though she did blink in surprise when the bag flew right over her head and back into the main street. Her non sword-hand jerked, almost as if she wanted to catch it, but she stayed put. She followed his gaze to where the wall had been. Akari was momentarily confused; she hadn’t noticed the wall dissolve. All she could do was look on in confusion and probably bewilderment as the man waved, of all the things he could have done, and ran off.

She hesitated for a second. If she ran after him again her chances of finding him would be difficult at best. She could hear the crowd from here and the man had gotten a good start. Though all further deliberating was abruptly cut off as a voice sounded behind her. The guards were here at last, but they were too late. As Akari turned to them, she returned her sword to its sheath beneath her coat.

“I’m fine.” The man who had spoken was rather tall, well over a head taller then herself. His companions had their faces covered and it made her slightly uneasy. A light frown graced her brow for a moment. The thief would be well away by now and she doubted that any of the guard had even seen his face. But he didn’t seem to be worried at all which was curious. Then again, the entire city was curious.

“I – yes okay.” She fell into step behind the man. Her face was calm, but her mind was whirring. She had been summoned? By whom? If it were the guard then surely they would have just questioned her there and then. She had no acquaintances in the city, she didn’t know anybody.

Even if she had been paying attention to their route it would have been futile to try and work out where they were headed. She vaguely registered that the buildings they passed seemed to be exactly the same, but she was worrying too much to actually think about it. She almost walked into the back of the man she was following, but caught herself at the last moment. Stepping into the room she had to blink a few times. The dimness was a stark contrast to the daylight outside and it took her eyes a few seconds to adjust. The sight she was presented with surprised her. Would she ever get used to anything in the city?

The woman she saw looked both out of place and right at home at the same time. She was dressed elegantly, her dress made of a strange purple fabric. Akari thought it was the same shade as her own coat, but as she stepped closer it appeared a different colour entirely. Cautiously she sank into the offered seat, never once taking her eyes off the woman. She blinked again at the introduction. Azure Triad? She had no idea what that meant. Perhaps it was a house of some sort. Her gaze flicked to the table and settled on the tea cup. Had that been there when she walked in? Akari wasn’t sure. She looked at her cup with scepticism and chose not to pick it up.

Akari paused for a long moment after the woman spoke again. She had the feeling that Alluvia knew a lot about her and it was rather unnerving. The words didn’t seem to make sense. Of course she understood them, but they just didn’t sit right. All the same, Akari tried her best to form a coherent response.
“Protecting the city would interest me I suppose.” She decided not to mention the goals. She had no idea what they were – for all she knew they could be something bad. Then again they could be perfectly harmless. “But… I wasn’t planning on staying in the city for a lengthy period of time…” Akari felt like she had been thrown right into the deep end of something she had no hope of understanding. She gave her teacup another cautious glance, almost as if the liquid might splash out and burn her of its own accord.

[Fallacy]

Alluvia waited oh so patiently for the answer, again taking another sip of tea. Nothing was more relaxing to her than a nice cup of tea made by herself. It just had such a calming effect on the mind and allowed one who drank it to see situations just a bit more clearly. It was amazing to her what food could do not only to the body, but also the mind and spirit as well. It not only fed the physical needs of people but fed the others as well. As a fine chief herself she would be best to ask about that, but this meeting wasn’t to discuss or swap recipes, no, it was to discuss serious business. Real serious business. Nodding and setting the cup down when the answer came, ”Good. Protecting the city is my top priority myself.” she looked past Akaris shoulders and to the door. Light was coming in… with a quick nod the light would fade, the door itself all but disappearing and along with it the light. Now the room was just lit but the candles that clung to the walls and even a couple placed on the table. ”No tea then?” she asked looking at the cup remaining untouched. A hint of a frown came to her face but it was quickly replaced by a loose smile, ”How about a cookie?” she asked as a platter of cookies appeared in between them. The cookies would be simple sugar cookies, but they would feel and smell like they were fresh out of the oven. Taking one of her own cookies she bit into it laughing a bit in her head having hidden everything with illusion and making it all appear one at a time should be freaking her out. She watched Akaris face for a reaction of any sort. She like playing her little games, but this was no time for game. It was for serious business. Real serious business, but that does not mean one can’t enjoy themselves with sweets and tea does it? She was trying her best to make this little meeting as enjoyable as possible; all the while trying to get things done. That was her goal. ”Oh and however long you stay does not matter to me. You are here now, are you not? What is keeping you from helping now. You should really stop thinking of the future, we will deal with that when the time comes.” she smirked finishing the cookie and then taking another sip of tea, empty, she sat the cup down, ”So, what do you say? Will you help us keep the peace in Alvadas?” She needed a straight cut answer from the woman under question. If she would agree Alluvia would shift in her seat slightly to get more comfortable. It is hard telling how long she had been sitting there waiting for the guard to bring her this young lady. The candles flickered playing with the shadows they were casting. ”You see, right now Alvadas is under threat from an unknown enemy. Whoever, or whatever, is doing this is effecting the very fabric of illusion itself. From what we gather the Illusion is changing into a form of landscape and then is stuck there, quite literally, stuck.” she paused a moment to let the woman in front of her to absorb the information she was giving out, ”The landscape doesn’t seem to be shifting. For the first time, if I am correct, Alvadas is immobile and this condition seems to be spreading across the city. At this rate the entire city will be warped in just a couple of days…” she took another sip of her tea, her cup somehow refilling itself, ”This is where you come in” there would be a soft clink as the cup was set down again, ”Your mission is to go to the heart of this all and figure out what is happening. In thoughts of caution I feel obligated to warn you that this state of being of the city that you will be entering is highly unstable and unpredictable. Even though it might seem stable there is a lot to be said about something that which remains unmoving against a current; like a rock in white rapids.” She gave her a smile waiting for anything that she might have to say. Alluvia always hated going to outsiders for help, but sometimes this was the quickest and most efficient of eliminating a threat to Alvadas. That, and a good way for the Triad to remain ignorant to her movements.

[Akari]

Akari kept her eyes trained on the woman sitting opposite her. The chink of a china cup returning to its saucer filled the silence in the room before the response came. When the outside light faded, Akari’s eyes narrowed the tiniest bit. She hadn’t heard anybody move to close the door. In fact, she hadn’t even heard the door actually close. The light had just… vanished, seemingly at a nod from Alluvia. There was definitely something odd going on. She should have expected it, being in the City of Illusion, but still.

Choosing not to turn and look, she instead followed Alluvia’s gaze to her full tea cup. When the platter of cookies appeared, Akari’s eyes widened. It was all she could do to keep herself from gaping or bolting out the non-existent door. The tea may have been on the table already, but the cookies definitely hadn’t been. The hot liquid drink was suddenly infinitely more appealing. Her gaze flicked back up to meet Alluvia’s and she managed to shake her head. “Uh… no thank you.” To prevent being offered one again she reached for the tea cup and took a sip.

Akari paused for a moment and digested the woman’s words. How could she not think of the future? It was something she did every day. She took another sip of tea to gain a little more time. “I… yes. Yes I will help you.” She really had no idea what she was signing up for, but she hoped it would give her an idea of what guarding a city was like. After all, that was her ultimate goal. To be a guardian of Lhavit.

The silence stretched between the pair for a few moments. Akari watched the candles flicker, wondering how they were doing so in the absence of a breeze. She set her mostly-full cup back onto its saucer to listen to Alluvia’s next words.
The city is under threat? Her mind immediately jumped to the thief she had chased less than a bell ago. But of course it couldn’t be him. He was nothing more than a common criminal right? As the woman continued on about the cities illusions being corrupted, a light frown worked its way onto her brow. It sounded serious, but Akari knew nothing about the city. Not really.

Akari’s mind was so busy trying to make sense of everything that she didn’t notice Alluvia’s cup had refilled itself. As the woman stuck a mission on her, she blinked in surprise. It sounded ominous and very dangerous.
“I..” Of course, she couldn’t say no. Not after she had already said yes. “Will I be on my own?” Perhaps it was a little childish to ask, but then again Akari suddenly felt very small and inexperienced. She didn’t know the city very well at all, and she was certainly no city guard yet.

“I mean, I will try to help you. I’m not quite sure I understand how though.” She could investigate of course. Anyone could do that. But she had little grasp of illusions. Her shock at the tea and biscuits ought to illustrate that much.