As Virginia, Lindel, Kokichi, Libra, and others followed the strange light outside the penitentiary, the voice gradually became louder again as they grew closer to him. Around the corner, behind the building, normally completely out of sight and mind of the normal citizens of the town, the light became visible again, floating around the area as though looking for something. The alley itself was a rather unappetizing display, with two corpses of handcuffed men dressed only in rags thrown on the floor unceremoniously, their bodies surrounded by flies and maggots. They had likely been there for days. More than likely, one could guess that they died in captivity and then were thrown out by one of the guards like garbage. To the side, there was a door -- a backdoor, even -- that led inside, but it was easy to assume that the door was locked.
Meanwhile, the glow slowly began to fade around the source of light, as though everyone's eyes were getting used to the appearance of such a strange entity. Before long, the figure took the shape of a tiny male humanoid figure, roughly six inches in height, sporting long ears and wings. His back was turned to everyone, and he began to talk to himself again.
"Eugh... Yeesh. Can't wait to get outta here... If I can even find a way through. I wonder... if I can fit through the keyhole! Could I?!"
...
"No. Dang it!"
It didn't seem that he noticed the group at first, until he happened to look behind him, coming face to face with everyone. And from there, the little pixie-like creature stopped, eyes wide in surprise as he froze.
"Uh... Hey. You can... uh, you can see me, can't you?"
He was clearly startled by their presence. The creature maintained his pause for another moment, before braving to speak again.
"Uh... How's it goin'?"
This was a bit awkward, even if it might have only been one-sidedly.
@Khan of the Mardu @Yun Lee @Raptor Jesus @Alex Azure @Takumi @Jeremi @Penitentiary
At the market, the man sneered as he looked over at Ben, raising an eyebrow more at his clothes than his attitude.
"And just who are you supposed ta' be? Listen, you, don't butt into situations that don't concern you! That brat over there tried to steal my food! But oh, I caught him! I have ears like a hawk, and eyes like a rodent," he said, putting on an intimidating face, as if to try to make himself look animalistic to demonstrate such qualities.
"Oh, please. It's not like that shit you got there actually counts as food. May as well just be carrying around lumps of your own shit, that food's so rotten!" The boy exclaimed, rubbing the side of his face where a small bruise was apparent,
"So don't worry if you thought I was just a homeless kid tryin' to fill his belly. I was sooner thinkin' I'd assassinate someone with those toxic looking tomatoes! They look good to throw if nothing else!"
"Keep that up and by the time I'm done with you, you'll bruise as easily as a tomato!" The man exclaimed, as though he already forgot Ben was there. Before the boy could even respond, the man suddenly drew a knife from his stand, walking over to the boy and holding the weapon in a less than friendly manner.
"Actually, in fact... I think I know just what to do with you!" He said, reaching down to grab the boy by his collar, to which he tried in vain to resist. Gasping in shock as all she could think to do was watch in the back with Sumia, Miki shielded Yuki's eyes, not wanting her to see this violent display, even if her mind might have... interpreted it a different way.
To say the least, the situation elevated rather quickly.
All the while, the people at the market just kept coming and going, barely even giving nervous glances at the situation as they passed by in the meantime.
@Crow @Atomic Knight @Yun Lee @Jeremi @Market
"Wh--?!" The man at the middle of the crowd exclaimed, stopping in surprise as Siegward stepped in, followed by Astolfo, Soraka, and Lucatiel's following interventions. The crowd also quickly died down as they appeared, murmuring in confusion and concern as they wondered just what was going on now, all the while Constantine stood to the side, uncomfortably scratching his head.
"Ah, bollocks... And I was just jokin' about the public execution thing. Wanted to have a damned giggle, but... hard cheese," the blonde mumbled to himself. He started to get weird looks as well, as his clothes and cigarette started to stick out, not that he seemed to visibly care.
"What is the meaning of this heresy?! Who are you people, and what right have you to determine this mindless wench's fate?!" He yelled upon recovering from the shock of their appearance, pointing a bony finger at Siegward and Astolfo,
"You are no royal knight! Why are you dressed like that? Are you here to make a mockery of the kingdom?!" He barked, before shaking his head at their words.
"Doesn't need to die? Take a gander upon her! If you would refute death as a means of salvation for this cursed wench, then let her defend herself!" He continued, pointing next to the woman herself. As the group took a better look at the woman herself, it soon became clear that... she was not capable of defending herself.
Her eyes were wide and curious, like a wild animal or an infant, and her gaze was aimless, uncomfortably looking around, all the while sputtering and moaning in confusion, as though she did not know what was going on. She held enough intelligence at the very least to know that hers was an undesirable situation, subtly squirming against her binds that kept her tied to the post, but she held little more in her mind that could be called "intelligence," as it seemed she couldn't even speak coherent words.
"Buh... N-Nngh... Uhh..."
In short, she truly had lost her mind. But the question was how she
truly lost it. It couldn't have been the brand by itself, after all, not that the man and the rest of the crowd were very aware of that.
Looking to Lucatiel, the man glowered.
"By ending her, we are releasing her soul from the grasp of black magic! There is no life left for her! Only an abyss of suffering! Suffering that is bound to spread, like an infected seed! And you will not get in the way of this!"
From there, people in the crowd began to walk forward, attempting to grab everyone and pull them away from the scene, hoping to keep them from further interrupting the show, as the man defiantly raised his torch once again and touched the bundle of sticks with it, setting it on fire and watching it slowly make its way up to the woman, who began squirming harder and helplessly screamed in fear.
"Go on, then! Save her, if you dare stand in the way of justice!!" He yelled, as though practically daring them to make a move.
@York @Tutski19 @Otto @Minerva @Town Center
