Snippet #2622682

Day 21
Belmere

Not long after she left Bliston and Selena, Sylphine decided she was tired of having to deal with people for tonight, and took to the air immediately. The lights of the entertainment district faded away behind her as she flew back to The Wayfarer's Bed and Bar. I'm finally on my way back, she told Pirika. Where was it again? I'm flying this time.

What? You're flying? Aw, there goes my fun...oh, well. Give me a moment to find it. You'd best find a well, in the meantime...

Yes, of course. Right away, Sylphine agreed. Looking through the streets, she finally found one in the center of a small, darkened plaza. It seemed a bit strange that they'd have that rather than a fountain, and that there were conveniently very few people in this place, but Sylphine landed nearby anyway. She was about to take some with her, but realized that she didn't have a way to transport it. "Oh, dear, I really didn't think ahead," she sighed.

She started looking around for something to hold it in, when Pirika's voice returned. Huh? That's strange...there's a man standing on one of the buildings near the inn. Wait...he's looking straight towards it. Uh, Sylphine? It might be wise to get back soon.

A strange man...? What does he look like? Sylphine looked around for a container, a bit more hurriedly this time.

He, uh, has a white mask, an--wait, what the...? I could have sworn I heard someone calling for help...oh, geez. At this point, I'd say screw the water. You need to get back here, NOW.

She didn't ponder for very long. Sylphine took off right away, flying as fast as she could. Pirika was flying above the inn so that she'd know which way to go.

But as Sylphine descended towards the inn, she saw that strange man in the white mask still gazing down--and without a doubt, he had seen her already. Should I do something about him? she asked herself. No...it's more important to check on the others first. Nonetheless, his presence just made her all the more anxious. Pirika...please keep an eye on him.

Got it, Pirika replied quickly. The window's open, by the way.

Angling her body a little, the wind user let herself slide through the window. "Hey! Florette! Is e-" She stopped short. There were two unfamiliar men in the room, wielding wickedly sharp knives and gazing straight at a sobbing Florette. The moment she saw them, Sylphine immediately felt her worst fears bubbling up. No one needed to tell her what was happening.

With a fierce expression, Sylphine raised a hand, and her staff appeared in a flash of green light. Waving the staff in a wide arc, she created a barrier of wind between them and Florette. "Don't take another step!" she barked, preparing to fire off bursts of wind from her free hand.