[Trade] From out of the shadows

Nora slipped on their fingerless gloves and secured their intricately stitched scarf down to where they wouldnt trip on it. Golden accented pin needles were used to secure it down, glancing down at the still water surface in front of them the Haedian checked their outfit over, brushing down fabric into place. They needed to look perfect, after all today was a special day.

He gingerly sat down again, retrieving his wagasa, his fan and a pair of ornamental hair pins he was wearing. A few clicks of buttons later and all of the accessories had their hidden blades revealed, white and red eyes gazing down at the shiny sharp reflective surfaces in their clawed hands he extensively studied them to ensure the blades were as sharp as they possibly could be. A treatment of mineral oil and a bit of whetting later, Nora was happy with his preparations and hid the blades as effortlessly again as they had appeared.

Resolve made he rose to his feet again, noticing something in the reflection of the water, he had a visitor. Katholes gaze was almost undetectable- his usually dark crimson coated belt somehow darker than usual as he stood there keeping his eyes on Nora. His eyes flicked between the accessories and Nora but he didn't comment on it.

"I wanted to check on you. Asarb is getting impatient." Nora would have pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance if they didn't have someone with them, rather electing to give the puller a cold smile.

"I see. I was just making sure that I look as sharp as possible." he responded, something darker in his grin. Katholes left ear flicked back and only a second later Asarb appeared next to Katholes from out of the shadow.

Before the impatient puller could even open his mouth, Nora had already gotten up and brushed any shrubbery that was trying desperately to cling to his silken outfit off of him.

"Where is the target?" he asked. The question was simple yet nuanced. Asarbs face contorted into a cocky grin, he was of course willing to cooperate, especially for such a pretty sum, but that didn't mean that he couldn't be as obnoxious as he usually was.

"Oh you know-" he started, wanting to whip a sarcastic remark Noras way who simply bared his fangs into a dangerous smile once again. "Get to the point." commanded the Haedian, Not intending to take any more disrespect from the Puller.

"Or what?" he asked taking a step forward. Both of them were getting ready to strike, yet what Asarb was missing was Katholes insight. He knew Nora was stronger than Asarb and in light of a job they had to finish the puller knew what he had to do. Stepping between the two Reoseans he stood and stared Asarb down. He wasn't about to let Asarb get his way, not when the client had been clear about the fact that their mark needed to be eliminated and that they wouldn't tolerate failure. 

The crimson coated eyes wandered, head turning to glance at Nora. "The target is moving southeast," Katholes said. "Our informant says they’re foraging for a rare herb. They should only have one companion with them for the duration of the trip. That’s your opening."

Short and to the point—exactly as Nora had asked. The tension dissipated.

"Now then—go on and hide whilst I do the dirty work," Nora said, their gaze settling pointedly on Asarb. The jab was unmistakable.

He simply smiled unbothered. "I'll be watching that handiwork." a more temperate response than expected, but definitely not unwelcome to Katholes who was just trying to see them follow through on completing their mission. At least for the moment it looked like everyone was willing to get along.

Preparations made, weapons sharpened and intell shared, the three of them got into position.

Their target? A Mage who had strayed a bit too far into unorthodox magic research. Necromancy was something that scared the masses, but even moreso if it involved the creation of mechanized mindless reawakened servants. Whilst the trio did not know who their commissioner was, they knew that it was someone who wished for such a vile combination of arcane and machine making to erased and its existence forgotten once again. Perhaps it was a rivaling researcher, perhaps a corrupt official who thought commissioning a bunch of criminals was their best choice of dealing with this problem, or perhaps it was someone who wanted to claim the mages research as their own.

After all a body could not complain if its work was stolen.

Whatever the case, it wasn’t Nora’s concern.

What mattered was that the contract was clear. The mage had to disappear.

The warm glow of the evening sun warmed the three Reoseans pelts. Nora was walking with confidence and grace toward the outskirts of town, effortlessly concealing themself in the shrubbery once they had reached the edge of the forest.

 Katholes and Asarb followed Nora, going unnoticed to the untrained eye as they slinked from one shadow to the next, seemingly melting into them as neither seemed to struggle to conceal their normally bulky frame in even the smallest amount of shadow.

With determination in their step they headed deeper into the forest, the glow of bioluminescent plants becoming more and more noticeable as the sun continued to set, Asarb and Katholes stuck close to Nora, only momentarily leaving his side whenever one of them snuck ahead to check on the position of their target.

As they neared the edge of a clearing, Nora caught sight of the mage. A tall, slender figure, their dark robes blending with the shadows of the trees. They knelt near a patch of strange luminescent flora, carefully plucking herbs and placing them into a satchel.

A few feet away stood their companion—another Reosean, this one more alert, their eyes scanning the surroundings. A bodyguard, no doubt.

Nora's grin returned, but this time, it was not for his allies. It was for his prey.

He crouched, muscles tensing ready to strike like a predator preparing to pounce. This would have to be quick. Precise. Efficient.

The contract had been clear. No loose ends.

And Nora never left loose ends.

The glimmer of a blade being pulled was all that the bodyguard would see before the Haedian had found his mark, striking with deadly precision.