[Trade] Exercise and Espionage

"This is annoying." a grunt followed, Asarb hated this kind of work, especially because it hadn't been his choice rather it had been forced on them by a certain someone. Him talking netted him a piercing stare from their black and hot pink coated Haedian 'co-worker'. He simply grinned in return thinking himself untouchable.

He and Katholes had gotten caught selling fake alchemical brews in Warrenfall which had amounted to selling weird brews of tea and were now on the run from the authorities. Luckily, they'd managed to escape to Vitalus, where they could lay low for a while until everything had blown over. 

Once they arrived, however, they learned that Nora was setting off on another "little mission." Since they weren’t wanted in Vitalus, Katholes and Asarb agreed to tag along—on the condition that they wouldn’t have to be too active. After all, they still needed to keep a low profile. It was a convenient arrangement. Make a few Krones while hiding out? Sounded like a sweet deal.

The job itself was simple: find out what Astarot was doing so far from Roenden. If they got caught, Nora would simply pin the blame on the known criminals—Katholes and Asarb. In his mind, it was a simple yet effective plan in his mind.

In the time since Asarb and Katholes had last seen Nora, he'd been busy making a name for himself—or rather, making his presence in the criminal underground known. No one realized that the real purpetraitor was actually Nora. After all, who would expect a Haedian from the Tranquil Clan to be involved in anything shady? The biases others held toward his clan worked as the perfect cover, and Nora couldn’t be more pleased with how flawlessly it played to his advantage.

Because of that, the Haedian could still walk the streets freely if he chose to, flaunting his intricately crafted, eye-catching fashion. He knew how to draw attention. And yet, no one suspected a thing.

The trio of reoseans had been observing Astarots dealings in Vitalus from an abandoned tower on the outskirts of town which lay partially destroyed, the fragments of it suspended in air by an unseen force as if frozen in time. It had been difficult for the two vayrons to make it to the top of the tower, whereas Nora, being a haedian didn't have any issues. Haedians were adept at climbing walls and gliding was also a skill they possessed thanks to their wings, he almost made it seem trivial.

Astarot had spent most of the day on the outskirts of town, guided by none other than Aither. The two had started the day idly bantering, but now they were moving farther from the settlement—presumably to hunt or embark on one of Aither’s famed adventures. The chaser had a reputation for always being on the move, so it had only been a matter of time before they set off again.

If the group didn’t reposition soon, they would lose sight of Astarot that much was sure. A glance was cast over his shoulder again at Asarb and Katholes who weren't actively keeping eyes on Astarot and rather were lazing off behind Nora. Some physical exercise would be welcome, he decided with a grin.

A small knock on wood to gather the twos attention later and after an elaborate handsigned message telling them to get a move on and move in on the target Nora was already gliding down the destroyed tower to get to ground level so that they may slink closer to the target.

It had been a while since a mission required them to move out into the wilderness, no less one where they were supposed to merely observe their target. Noras forté was to charm and banter their way closer to their victims before they did whatever their contractor wanted them to accomplish. Not this time however.

Noras feet made contact with the grassy ground below, the impact of their landing almost unaudible and gracious like a cats'.

His grin widened as he observed Astarot through the ajar entrance door to the tower, taking the moment to slink outside and into the shrubbery the second that the pullers eyes were away from the tower. Katholes and Asarb followed as quietly as they could, yet they had to leap down onto floating platforms, climb down furniture they used as ladders that barely held together and with such a precarious descent they couldnt help but create quite a bit of noise. Nora cursed them in his mind, once again summoning their patience by reminding himself that these twos purpose for being here was to be the scapegoat in case that they got caught.

It would be preferable if they remained undetected but if they didn't well, Nora wasn't attatched to either of the two reoseans and wouldn't be heartbroken if the two of them were to take the blame.

As the haedian advanced and set after their target Katholes and Asarb finally made it to ground level. The two of them were not out of shape, yet climbing down the broken tower had made them second guess their fitness. A quick glance was exchanged between the two pullers before Asarb took the lead and set after Nora, vanishing into the surrounding shrubbery. Katholes set after him, but kept his distance. His and Asarbs goal after all was to lay low, so he was going to make sure that he wouldn't get spotted. Asarb was responsible for his own actions and Katholes did not intend to police him on where the pullers priorities should be.

Ever since their first meeting with Nora, Asarb had been itching for a fight and thus it came as no surprise that Asarbs personal goal was to keep a close eye on Nora and see what he would do.

The puller didn't so much bat an eye at the thought of being spotted by Astarot or Aither as much as he was deadset on not letting Nora leave his gaze. He would figure out how toget Nora to fight him, show Asarb what he was really made of. Asarb knew there was more behind that pretty boy fascade, especially since they were so well-versed in the skills needed to do what they were doing.

Nora advanced, keeping a steady pace to allow him to keep up with Astarot and Aither, it was hard to listen in on the full conversation as the haedian continued on cautiously as to not get spotted but what they were able to piece together left them quite unamused.

Astarot was merely here to see what Vitalus had to offer, quite far from what Nora had hoped for.