"It is seem as though... This damage... is permanent..."
In the middle of a big forest, two well-suited gentleman stood while looking around; a logo on their back said AAA; which stands for Alcray's Above Authority, similarly to State Security of Sulkos (SSS). One of them panned his head around; looking back and forth to come to the conclusion that the whole part of the jungle was wiped in a circle; because there is a convergence point you can stand and see that all the trees around are destroyed clean off in similar distances, very well be from the one very same attack.
"This... behaviour... is magic, the further from the middle... The less damage. I believe... We could not let this... slide."
A thin, tall man; agitated by the fact that he could only see so barely through two holes in his white mask, attempted to remove it when the other man immediately grabbed his hand from out of no where; the two give each others blank stares.
"You are on duty."
"..."
Understanding the point, he mumbled, kept it on before stepping towards the direction of Sulkos and Alcray's border.
"I believe... the culprit is very... near here... Just need some.... witnesses."
Meanwhile...
"Sing along with me ♪ Brand new shoes oh brand new shoes ♪ I'm gonna get aye leather boots♪"
"Eee eee eik, eik eik eee eik ♪! Kek kreik kik kee eee eee eik!"
"Step on stones or roll on bones! ♪ I'm gonna get aye leather boots♪"
"Don't step on my cloak."
Pearl Magmal is trying very hard to keep his eyes on the pages when Mei is dancing around on the cart, clapping and singing with Esmeralda, to the point it's more like meditating than anything. After years of this; Pearl doesn't even have the ability to show the facial expression known as "being annoyed" anymore. He's more or less surprised at how Marc can peacefully snore through all this.
"Settle down, ladies. We're here." Rina Wenswood slowly exhaled as the young Elf loosen the rein. Turning towards the group, she switched on her more motherly/sistery side and solemnly remind, looking more at Mei than the other three.
"We are stopping for shoes, lunches, bandages and rations, we are not, however, spending more in a place we're unfamiliar with, understood?"
"We're gonna get new aye new boots ♪ oh oh ha ♫!"
"Kik krik eik eik la keeeee!♪"
Still in on their shenanigans, Mei and Esmeralda did not catch any of that; well, Marc too.
Shriekk
A blink later, Mei felt a push of momentum, it was when the wheels of the carriage suddenly stopped rolling — causing the young mage to be carried forwards; losing her balance and fell towards Pearl. Expecting the cool younger brother to catch her, Mei braced herself and opened her arms, she was then stopped midair by Pearl's right hand reaching out and... grabbed Mei's face, effectively stopping her from destroying his book or glasses, in exchange her nose might not be very well.
"Ouh- at appened?" Mei mumbled with her mouth being covered by Pearl, though still being able to move her sight towards Esmeralda landing on Marc's face which woke him up from suffication and the front where the horses were ordered to stop.
"Oh it was nothing." Rina smiled, her eyelids closing in a little; not for a better view, more like to do a snarky expression while continued to move the carriage. "I just thought you should know that we are here."
The town was quite a sight, sturdy walls surrounding its four, lively chatters covers the bustling streets. The group found themselves walking pass at least ten seafood stores/stalls before finding a blacksmith, without another word; Pearl got off the carriage and approached, leaving Mei confused to follow him:
"What do you need here?"
"Fire resistence boots, preferably light steel material, you need more mobile." Pearl answered, already entering to see a man polishing his hammer.
"Wait, no way? You know I only run in leather boots! Those are not clanky!" Mei frowned, reluctantly following Pearl to get her point across, she knows that if she doesn't say anything, he will just order one without asking.
"You have little choice in this matter."
"That's the worst thing a human being could have said to his sister in this exact situation!"
The two left Marc, Esmeralda and Rina outside, continued to wandered around, struggling to find anywhere they can tie the horse's rein and its carriage.
"Too many seafood, and nothing land-animal friendly in sight." Rina slightly squinted, keeping track of the blacksmith from where they are going.
"You don't like fishes?" Marc asked while smiling at his little dragon daughter, who was chomping on her promised chicken leg skewer.
"No..." Rina softened her voice, turning towards a spot where she can see some others carriages are parked "They look hideous."
There were three other horses with their rein being tied to some poles. Marc carefully did a knot around one which was on the opposite far end side; not letting his horse be near any other. When he finished and turned around, Rina had already went ahead somewhere out of view, bringing Esmeralda with her. The young man walked his hand from his forehead upwards to his blonde hair to remove little of his sweats while looking around; noticing the it had grown over his ear now.
'I should get something to eat while waiting for them.' Marc Omal thought, but the idea was very soon interrupted by another carriage, who for some reason; parked right next to theirs, only mere inches away.
"Excuse me, sir. I don't want to be of trouble but our horse is battle trained and could be quite aggressive, would you mind moving yours a bit?" Marc said, a bit insisting since if he'd move anywhere else, he'd be closer to the other horses.
A man wearing fancy long sleeved turned towards Marc, eyeing him up and down several times without a single word before ignoring him and walking away. In which Marc didn't know how to react but get on with their days.