[Flashback]Watch your step (Eridanus)

[Nai'shee]

Nai'shee kept running to find out she was there few moments late. Guards were there, already talking to two of mans - captain and Ethaefal, while others were downed. "Wait!", she cried. She just hoped Ethaefal told the truth. If she wasn't there he might thought that they wouldn't believe, so he came up with something. Now everybody turned to look at her. His sigh was fixed on him, instead of provoking captain or convincing guards. She searched for some sign, anything to tell her should she say the truth or not. It would be so wonderful to be able to read minds, really. OOCSorry for waiting and short post, I was really busy and I don't have much idea.

[Eridanus]

The guards had already arrived and the captain was beginning to whine and complain about how scared he was and how grateful he was for the guards having arrived in time to prevent him from being robbed by the dangerous ethaefal.

Eridanus rolled his eyes at the thick dramatization that the captain layered on his speech, and he calmly and reasonably interrupted the man to offer his side of the story. He had decided that lying would not be in his best purposes after all, and if the situation called for it he could request for a hypnotist from the University to search the confines of his mind to verify his tale. As a Magecrafting Major he was sure the University had enough invested in him to warrant going to such an extent to clear his innocence if he asked for it.

There was a sudden shout even as he was laying out his tale in as truthful manner as possible, and he found himself looking at the very same child that he was trying to save earlier.

Thank Yahal for bringing her back to me.

"There you go, officers. She's the missing link. Ask her what happened and everything should be pretty clear, eh?" He said loudly, making sure that his voice was loud enough to float over to where she was.

[Nai'shee]

She heard Ethaefals' voice and understood it was rather perfect that she left before. Now when she came back if she had the same story as Ethaefal the situation will be clear. She gaspingly stood before guards for few moments before she was able to speak. The captain was staring at her with hatred, while Ethaefal barely shown emotions right now, probably because they could've been misinterpreted, but he was obviously relived. She started her story after few moments, after her breathing stabilized, talking about how she approached them and why, she was barely interrupted, because she always remembered what will they ask moment after and added it to story. She said she wasn't aware that they were drunk in the beginning, but that it became obvious later, she told them about annoying laughter and bullying her and how Ethaefal tried to save her. She also said she didn't knew him, she didn't even now his name, but they talked once before. As the story unraveled the captain became more and more nervous, he wasn't sure in his money that much. She stopped looking at him from time to time, afraid if that could seem suspicious. She even told the part about seeing him reveal bag with coins. "Well, if it's like that...", officer turned to face the captain. "I'm afraid you're going with me", he said, with almost sarcastic voice, giving him a sign he won't accept any bribe. They weren't too nice while arresting him, probably to show him his status won't give him any privileges. Still, he murmured something about his father and stuff. Nai'shee gave a big smile to Ethaefal. "Thank you", she said, "I was such a fool".

[Eridanus]

The girl performed her part splendidly well, and it wasn't long til the guards proceeded to arrest the captain and his crew for further questioning. Eridanus thanked the guardians for doing their job to keep the city safe, and they were off.

He looked closely at the girl, not sure what kind of state of mind he was supposed to be in. It had been a rather strange turn of events, to be sure.

"You don't seem to be afraid of anything, do you young miss? What is your name? Do you have at least any sort of family, relatives, home or anywhere you belong to?"

[Nai'shee]

She looked at guards leading captain and his crew out of there. She lost her wish to provoke them. It seamed weird, it relived her to see their backs, but still it was rather sudden for her that everything just ended like this. His first question hurt. A lot. It was like this, but, however, she was so helpless back then, and so unfair. She made him fight for her only because she was weak and everything she was able to do later is to confirm the story. He tried to hard not to hurt that scum of sailors, yet she was completely useless and only anger and fear led her. She didn't want to be weak, she wanted to fight back. Yet, now, she wasn't afraid of anything. Did she consider herself such an unnecessary thing that she didn't care anymore? She didn't know. She simply ignored the question, because he progressed on the next one, as this one was rhetorical. "I'm Nai'shee. Or at least that's what I said my name it was when they found me, I was one", she replied, not really hurt by that fact, more curious about it, "it's probably short for my real name, that was the only thing I was able to say". The word 'relatives' never meant the same thing for her. She never considered her parents and brother she couldn't even remember her relatives. She didn't even have a need to know who they were. They simply left her. That was all there is to it. Her only 'relative' was her father, of course not biological one. And he died years ago. "No, I don't have anybody. But I do belong to Zeltiva and to the sea. That's enough for me."

[Eridanus]

He saw how his first question elicited such a reaction from her. Though she tried to hide it, to pretend like it did not matter to her, she was not a child well-versed in hiding her emotions, and it showed. As if to dismiss the thought she quickly answered his other questions, further confirming his suspicions that she was in fact an orphan.

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance, young Nai'shee of Zeltiva and of the sea. I am Eridanus, son of Leth," the ethaefal introduced himself as well as greeting the girl formally. Unlike most mortals he was not one who cared much about age, status or any other kinds of characteristics mortals used to differentiate others with. To him, people were just that - people.

He observed her with interest, though his outer form showed a dispassionate gaze instead. She clearly showed a predisposition for flux, just as he had when he first arrived on this mortal plane. Yet, what practitioners of flux forgot was that though they may have magically enhanced speed and strength, they cannot hope to win against a martial artist well-versed in techniques and muscle memory.

"Let me ask you, Nai'shee. What do you hope to achieve by talking to them like this? What is flux to you?" He asked, questioning the girl as to her motives. If she provided the right answers that demonstrated the mindset he was looking for, he would impart a bit of the unarmed combat techniques he knew to her.

If not, he would just be on his way. For with power came responsibility, and he did not want to risk empowering someone who may later be a risk to society.

[Nai'shee]

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance too, Eridanus, son of Leth", she answered nodding at her new title - Nai'shee of Zeltiva and the sea. It sounded silly, but, to be honest, she doesn't belong anywhere else. She belonged to the place she left her heart at. Her heart was here. She repeated his name few times in her head, making sure to memorize it. She knew many peoples, but she immediately separated him from unimportant citizens she used to say "Good afternoon" to. She barely knew him, but she knew he was something important, or it was just her curiosity that made her believe so. Eridanus. She suddenly felt ashame again because of being such a careless noisy kid. "I... I just wanted to meet them. I like meeting peoples and I hope it can be good to have some sailor friends, or at least acquaintances, if I really set sail one day", she answered, feeling like making excuses in the beginning, but realizing that what she have done wasn't wrong that much. What was wrong was not paying attention at the fact they were drunk. She told him that she wouldn't do that if she noticed. "I really am sorry for making such a trouble for you. I hope I will be able to repay it someday." She was honest. He went trough all this trouble, even making sure not to harm his own opponents. The way he rapidly asked questions was weird to her. She took her time to formulate next answer. What was Flux for her, really? It's not like she didn't know, but it was too general to explain. "Flux is for me just another one of my skills, or the best one, however. I find it dangerous and I use it only when it's necessary, to escape usually. If I was a sailor it would allow me to carry hard things or defend the ship or even fight in such a situations like the one that just happened." She shrugged, not knowing what else to say. She didn't feel anything emotional about Flux, despite her fathers' hard work to teach her and all nostalgic hours she spent training it as a kid, or joking with other kids using it. However, she felt the consequences, so she stopped shortly. As well, she didn't feel like fighting too much when she finishes this stage of life, this thief part, or at least not without a good reason. She barely felt like revenging something, like aiming on someone for whole life. It was waste of time and good will. But, she was still young and had no idea what lies in front of her. Why did Eridanus like to make her think so much?

[Eridanus]

The ethaefal could almost see her mind whirring as he observed her expression as she went into deep thought as a result of his questions. The child was like an open book, as were most children when they have not fully learned to hide their expressions - not that it was a bad thing, mind you.

If she wondered why the ethaefal made her think so hard, that was because he was trying to, whether consciously or unconsciously, imprint a change in her, hopefully for the better, to give her life reason more than the aimless wandering that she was doing now. It was to transform her vague wish of being a sailor into solid, tangible goals; to transform those aspirations into actual motivations.

"And how do you hope to use it properly if you merely treat it as a last resort? Why didn't you fight back properly in that previous situation? Do you know how to utilize that flux of yours in a battle? To protect yourself? To protect others?"

[Nai'shee]

Well, that's the problem, she thought. She knew it was childish, but she was a bit angry at him. Why does he question her? Why does he question her? Is there any actual purpose? What's the point of answering? But she ignored her emotions, because she had nothing to lose, except few useless feelings she might share. "I do practice, I'm able to stop before I reach my limits that way, but I barely actually use it. At least you, a Flux user, must understand. Or is it different for Ethaefals?", she wondered more than asked, wishing the answer however. "I'm not afraid of pain or collapsing, I'm used to it, but I don't want to damage my body more than I have to. My body is only thing I have." It sounded harsh, but it was bare truth. It was her only owning, her only way to live on, her only treasure. It's not like she didn't have things important for her or like she was desperate, she just knew that that was one thing she wasn't allowed to lose. She would rather lose her life in a battle or by any accident than being unable to move just laying down without anybody to help her. And even if somebody helped her, living with your muscles damaged... she wouldn't be able to call it a life. "I... I can't protect others, or even myself, because I'm weak. Flux is my dominant skill, however, I don't have any experience in battle. I would learn to channel Flux while fighting, but I don't know how to fight." ...and I hate that.

[Eridanus]

She talked about her weaknesses in flux, and she showed quite a surprisingly deep amount of wisdom and knowledge in the art despite her young age. That meant promise. She also demonstrated the will to protect others and herself, which only meant that Eridanus had one final question for her.

"If you had the power to fight... what would you have done then? To those sailors?" He asked softly.

It was the ultimate test of morality, and one that he completely needed to make sure before continuing. He needed to know if she had to compassion to override any anger or vengeful feelings, for combined with flux this would not only make her a danger to others, it would ultimate turn herself into her biggest danger.