CREDIT
The streets were crowded, and she picked her way through the masses confidently. The few weeks she had spent actually living in Etzos had done wonders for her assertiveness when it came to the streets. As she passed through the crowd she felt a hand grope her ass, squeezing hard. Not again. No more She reached out, just barely catching his hand as it retreated, and yanked hard, pulling with all her strength.
This asshole... She had given up counting how often it had happened, but this was the last straw. It was about time that she did something about it. She had made sure she was dressed plainly, and her braided hair was the furthest thing from attention-grabbing. Granted, it nearly reached her legs when unbraided and was slowly becoming redder as she aged, but she still felt herself blush with anger.
The man staggered slightly, and came to a stop. He turned around, disbelief crossing his face. He was a greasy man with thin scraggly black hair that ran over his scalp like string. His face didn't look like it had been washed in at least an arc, and his clothes were more patches than not. He looked like one of those who lived in the tent city surrounding Etzos, those who couldn't even scrape together enough money for a rental house.
Alex's other hand dropped to her waist, as she pulled at him, and unsheathed the Pugio there. She quickly stepped towards him, furtively glancing around before she did so. Can't have any guards seeing this. None were in sight, and she let anger fill her body. She felt herself begin to change, her body aching to explode into Avriel. Her fingers begin to grow longer and sharper, but she forced the change down, moving past her anger.
She stood mere inches from the man now, her dagger held lightly by his stomach. It was hidden from others by her cloak , but she had to reach up on tiptoes to speak in his ear. Hardly fear-inspiring if I totter and fall...
"You ever touch me again, and I'll take your manhood home."
She left no room for misunderstanding, but the man began to laugh, his hands going to her shoulders. Alex couldn't tell if he wanted to grab her or push her away, and she left him no time to do either. She jerked the dagger upwards, trying to cut his waistband. That should be humiliating enough.
She succeeded, but her grip was too firm. The dagger slid easily through the skin, lightly cutting him as it did so. She danced backwards as quickly as she could, nearly stumbling. The dark grey pants fell to the ground, bunching around his ankles. He wore no undergarments, but the smell that arose as they fell nearly made her gag. He looked down in shock, his hands finding the small laceration that was just beginning to well with blood.
"Why you little..." He snarled as the blood dripped downwards. He leapt forward, his hands looking more like claws than Alex's ever had. He had forgotten about his pants, however, and toppled over. He sprawled across the dusty ground and those passing by turned to look at the pair of them. Alex turned tail and ran, dodging through the crowd, knife still clutched in her hand. She didn't want to be noticed at all. Dammit, this was not part of my plan. She soon dodged down a side street.
Shit. What did I do? She had enough sense to tuck the dagger back in its sheath, after finding a grimy puddle in an alley to rinse it off, but the deed was done. She stilled her frantic gasps, focusing on slow and steady breathing. Leaning against the rough wall, she retreated inside of herself, shutting out the noise of those passing by. The cold stone of the wall behind her cooled her off, and soon her heart rate relaxed and she felt herself enter a trance.
She stayed there for a few bits, before she returned to the world, feeling decidedly calmer. She exited the alley and rejoined the crowd, walking quickly away from where she had cut the man. I should really make an effort to wear a hood for the next few trials, just to make sure I'm not recognized.
She doubted anyone would bother trying to find her, but better safe than sorry. She continued around the outside of the city, looking for smaller, dingy hole-in-the-wall type bars. With my skills, I'm not gonna be able to find anyone willing to be straight with me, and I haven't made myself known enough for them to approach me. Waiting around isn't good enough for me. I need to get there faster. I can only learn so much from Mr.Gardener anyway.
Arc 716, 105th trial of Ashan
Alex woke up, excited. It was her day off, and she had been working nonstop since she had returned from her trip out west. She got up and quickly dressed, her day already planned out. Alex grabbed a small purse, and headed for the door. She locked it behind her and tucked the purse securely beneath her waistband. The streets were crowded, and she picked her way through the masses confidently. The few weeks she had spent actually living in Etzos had done wonders for her assertiveness when it came to the streets. As she passed through the crowd she felt a hand grope her ass, squeezing hard. Not again. No more She reached out, just barely catching his hand as it retreated, and yanked hard, pulling with all her strength.
This asshole... She had given up counting how often it had happened, but this was the last straw. It was about time that she did something about it. She had made sure she was dressed plainly, and her braided hair was the furthest thing from attention-grabbing. Granted, it nearly reached her legs when unbraided and was slowly becoming redder as she aged, but she still felt herself blush with anger.
The man staggered slightly, and came to a stop. He turned around, disbelief crossing his face. He was a greasy man with thin scraggly black hair that ran over his scalp like string. His face didn't look like it had been washed in at least an arc, and his clothes were more patches than not. He looked like one of those who lived in the tent city surrounding Etzos, those who couldn't even scrape together enough money for a rental house.
Alex's other hand dropped to her waist, as she pulled at him, and unsheathed the Pugio there. She quickly stepped towards him, furtively glancing around before she did so. Can't have any guards seeing this. None were in sight, and she let anger fill her body. She felt herself begin to change, her body aching to explode into Avriel. Her fingers begin to grow longer and sharper, but she forced the change down, moving past her anger.
She stood mere inches from the man now, her dagger held lightly by his stomach. It was hidden from others by her cloak , but she had to reach up on tiptoes to speak in his ear. Hardly fear-inspiring if I totter and fall...
"You ever touch me again, and I'll take your manhood home."
She left no room for misunderstanding, but the man began to laugh, his hands going to her shoulders. Alex couldn't tell if he wanted to grab her or push her away, and she left him no time to do either. She jerked the dagger upwards, trying to cut his waistband. That should be humiliating enough.
She succeeded, but her grip was too firm. The dagger slid easily through the skin, lightly cutting him as it did so. She danced backwards as quickly as she could, nearly stumbling. The dark grey pants fell to the ground, bunching around his ankles. He wore no undergarments, but the smell that arose as they fell nearly made her gag. He looked down in shock, his hands finding the small laceration that was just beginning to well with blood.
"Why you little..." He snarled as the blood dripped downwards. He leapt forward, his hands looking more like claws than Alex's ever had. He had forgotten about his pants, however, and toppled over. He sprawled across the dusty ground and those passing by turned to look at the pair of them. Alex turned tail and ran, dodging through the crowd, knife still clutched in her hand. She didn't want to be noticed at all. Dammit, this was not part of my plan. She soon dodged down a side street.
Shit. What did I do? She had enough sense to tuck the dagger back in its sheath, after finding a grimy puddle in an alley to rinse it off, but the deed was done. She stilled her frantic gasps, focusing on slow and steady breathing. Leaning against the rough wall, she retreated inside of herself, shutting out the noise of those passing by. The cold stone of the wall behind her cooled her off, and soon her heart rate relaxed and she felt herself enter a trance.
She stayed there for a few bits, before she returned to the world, feeling decidedly calmer. She exited the alley and rejoined the crowd, walking quickly away from where she had cut the man. I should really make an effort to wear a hood for the next few trials, just to make sure I'm not recognized.
She doubted anyone would bother trying to find her, but better safe than sorry. She continued around the outside of the city, looking for smaller, dingy hole-in-the-wall type bars. With my skills, I'm not gonna be able to find anyone willing to be straight with me, and I haven't made myself known enough for them to approach me. Waiting around isn't good enough for me. I need to get there faster. I can only learn so much from Mr.Gardener anyway.
