Strange objects and bad senses of direction

Winter flicked her tail hard, causing her to suddenly veer right. She smiled, relishing in the powerful feel that she got whenever she swam alone, feeling so liberated. She giggled in delight, and thought about why she was coming to Mythicos. She had a job that required tracking down some guy and handing him into authorities. Apparently he wasn't particularly dangerous, so she thought that she wouldn't have any trouble rounding him up. But luckily (or so she thought) Winter had had the sense to leave Erythraeus early, so she would have a few days before she actually had to start working.

Winter decided to slow down a bit, as she could feel her muscles tiring out. She recognized the place she was currently in to be the open sea surrounding Mythicos, meaning that she wasn't too far away, though she couldn't see  the actual city yet. Sighing in happiness, Winter glanced down, then abruptly swished her tail so that she was still. Swimming down to a rock, she brushed away some of the seaweed on top of it, her curiosity piqued. Picking up the thing that made her stop in the first place, she examined the object in her hands. It was about the size of her small fist, and a dull blue in colour. It must have been made from some kind of rock, because it was slightly rough under her hands, though it had been  carved into the shape of a closed fist. There was also something carved onto the back, but try as she might, Winter couldn't make out what it said. Smiling, she examined it for a moment longer, than put it into her shoulder bag. Someone must have dropped it, though how long ago, Winter wasn't sure of. She pondered on what sort of past it could hold; who had it belonged too? What did those strange carvings on the back mean? Was it of great importance to someone? Sighing, Winter put it out of her mind. She wanted to get to Mythicos before it was too late, and night was already falling.

Winter looked around. Still no sign of Mythicos, and it was now pretty dark. She wondered if she'd somehow managed to get lost. To be honest, she wouldn't be particularly surprised, with her horrible sense of direction. She hesitated, not wanting to go too far in one direction, in case it was the wrong direction, and bit her lip. By now, she was sure that she had managed to get lost; what a pain. "Well, guess it's a good thing I left early..." she muttered, smiling sardonically to herself. She really hoped someone stumbled across her. Laughing quietly to herself, she visualized herself getting stuck out on her own in the dark. Yeah, she really hoped someone came along...

Azrael looked up from the tombs that were laid out on her desk; her amber gaze looking out the grand window from her chambers. Her room being in one of the taller towers of the castle made it so she had a spectacular view of the city. As the sun set on the surface the city began to plunge into darkness, and in that darkness the true beauty of Mythicos shined through. A strong light burned from the castle walls itself, strongest in the middle it gradually spread out to a soft green glow throughout the emerald city. If one would go up closely to the green gem walls and looked carefully they would see bright green wisps circulating throughout the gem. The wisp being Caeruleus in its purest form...Azrael could spend hours looking at the Caeruleus move throughout her walls. But the mark of the city glow meant merfolk would be returning to the safety of the kingdom. It also marked the chance for Azrael to slip out without notice.

Azrael although being the heir to the crown, looked nothing like her younger siblings. Everything about her was more angular then the rest. While her siblings sported pastel like tails with large long flowing fins much like her mother, Azrael's took more after her father's side of the family. Although decretive in its own right, it was sharper and more angular, meant for fast strong movements. Although unlike the rest of her family who's tales were of a pastel color, hers was a deep royal purple, while her fins a more transparent purple. However Azrael enjoyed the difference, she found her tail complimented the rest of her, which was pale in color. Her skin being a pale white, with dark purple markings and her hair being as silver as the moon that hung in the sky at night. Azrael's hair reached past her rump going all the way to the bend in her tail. It was tied in a messy braid with pieces falling about her face.

She put away her books and put on her leather armor, it covered most of her tell tale stripes, and she placed a cream on her face that covered the ones on her face. She had previously wrapped white gauze around her wrists, arms, torso and all the way up her neck. She found the armor chafed less when she wore it like this. She placed her belt around her waist, it contained a set of throwing daggers; it was wise to bring a weapon with her. She glanced over at her glaive in the corner....despite her reluctance to admit it a certain blue haired man was correct in it being to recognizable. So she would leave it behind on her outings; fortunately for her in her armor like this she wasn't as recognizable as the crowned heir. Her armor was worn from well use, seeing how she trained with the guard for years. So its years of use showed. With a rare quirk of her upper lip she was satisfied.

Azrael look leave from her great window, swimming around the castle and darting out into darker waters. As she left the light of the city behind her own fins took on a soft purple glow. Sparks of light shimmering throughout its veins; it was faint but memorizing up close. Quick powerful strokes propelled her through the water. Her journey carried her out into open water when a site made her slow to a stop. Her carefree look melting back into the stone mask, while her face did not give way to her surprise she couldn't help but be puzzled to why there was a mer person just sitting out here.

"Most folk travel inward to the city at this time...predators come out when the sun goes down"

Winter started in surprise, and quickly turned to see who had spoken. She relaxed as she saw a woman covered in armour- perhaps she was part of the military? Beneath her leather armour, Winter could make out bandages underneath, and wondered if the woman was injured, then dismissed the thought. She didn't look like she was in pain at all. Winter realized she had been silent a beat too long and grinned sheepishly. "Haha, sorry, yeah, um...I'm kinda lost...I don't suppose you know the direction of Mythicos?" Winter felt slightly even more embarrassed as she waited for a response from the lady, and instead took the time to look at her more curiously. The lady was beautiful, with pale skin and long, silver hair, and her tail was deep purple.

Wondering what the lone lady was doing out here in the open seas, Winter subconsciously reached into her shoulder bag and touched the strange blue fist. She didn't even realize she had done so until she felt it's semi-roughness beneath her finger-tips, and glanced down at the small blue stone that was just peeking out of her bag. Then, realizing that not giving the stranger her attention might be considered rude in a place as high-class as Mythicos (though it certainly wouldn't be rude in Erythraeus), she quickly turned back to face the woman. As she did so, her arm came out of the bag, with the fist still in it, and she quickly stuffed it back in embarrassment.

Wondering if she was annoying the lady, Winter opened her mouth to apologize. She wasn't used to going out of her way to be extra polite, due to her upbringing in Erythraeus, with Adaros caregivers. By nature, she tried to be kind to everyone- especially strangers- but her kind was a lot more relaxed, and she was unsure of the proper Mythicos etiquette to greeting random strangers in the open sea, even though she had been to Mythicos a couple of times.

The girl was an odd one who was content to stare; she arched a regal brow at the girl who sat staring dumbly. But Azrael was capable of patience when the time called for it and she quietly waited for the girl to collect her wits. When she did finally speak it would seem that she had gotten herself lost. She continued to stare before seemingly losing interest. Well if Azrael was to take a guess the girl was a foreigner.....Mythicos citizens tended to be a bit more polite then this.

"I do know where the city is"

Well she did ask if she knew, not whether or not she'd show her. But whether the girl heard her or not was to be determined. She seemed a bit more interested in what was in her bag rather then what Azrael had to say. Azrael crossed her arms across her chest, still trying to figure out what to make of this odd ...if not a bit spacey girl. Azraels face was that of stone revealing no emotion, her cool amber gaze still staring the girl down.

"Where do you hail from girl?"

Hearing the woman ask her a question, Winter blinked and took notice of her carefully blank features. A lot of people tended to hide their emotions, preferring the privacy, but Winter saw no problem in showing how she felt, unless hiding emotions was necessary, such as if she was working. After all, if people understood how you felt, surely they would warm up to you faster and it would be a lot easier to make friends? That's what Winter thought after her own experiences, anyway. Smiling, Winter answered the woman's question. "I'm from Erythraeus, the best kingdom in all of the seas!" Winter winked and grinned, to show she was joking, though only half joking. Finally, the previous statement that the lady made registered in Winter's mind, as she hadn't been paying much attention, and she smiled even more in relief.

"Wait, you know where Mythicos is? That's great! Could you please help me find it? Whilst the creatures you mentioned before sound thrilling, a hot yummy meal is really calling to me right now..." As if to prove this point, her stomach chose that moment to interject. A little sheepish, Winter rubbed it, then looked down at it. "Shhhh, I'm trying to make a good first impression." She whispered at it, then blushed as she realized that she still held the other woman's attention. Man, she really needed to work on lengthening her attention span...she hoped the other mermaid hadn't heard her talking to her stomach... 

As she turned to look at the woman once more, she noticed the rigid, straight-backed way with which the woman held herself. She looked like it was natural for her, almost as if she'd been raised this way, and Winter straightened her slouched back slightly in response. She knew that not all Mythicos folk were so stiff as this lady from her previous exploits to Mythicos, and couldn't help but wonder if the lady was high class. It would certainly explain the ease with which she hid her emotions, as well as the slow, clear way she spoke. But Winter wasn't a hundred percent sure, after all, she'd been wrong many times before...

Her face showed no hint of amusement, or distaste when the girl declared her city to be the best. Odd choice of words for someone so close to Mythicos. You would think when one was visiting a city they would take care not to say anything that may offend the actual inhabitants of the city ...especially to one whom they were asking for help. Surely the people of Erythraeus raised their young ones to know better. Then again, The Girl known as Felicity did not seem to have much manners either, although they were significantly higher than this. Even if it was a joke it was still slightly rude, but to scold one who was not of your kin was also rude. So she would say nothing, and her face gave away non of her disapproval.

As she thought the girl did not seem to have been listening for a response to whether or not she knew the way to Mythicos, for it was some time after she had given an answer that the girl responded to it. Then on top of everything else she began to talk to herself. At this point Azrael did indeed frown as her eyebrow remained arched at this odd individual. She had indeed heard what the girl had said to her stomach which was growling loudly.

"You're failing"

With that she turned and began to swim back the way she had came, resigning to the fact her plans were once again dashed by a foreigner. It was her duty to help those who came to her city. She waved her hand to motion for the girl to fallow, for she doubted the spacey one would think too.

"Come or I will leave you behind"

Winter noticed the other mermaid frown disapprovingly and arch a silver eyebrow. Hearing the lady say that she was failing to make a good impression, Winter blushed and hoped that she hadn't offended her too much. She began to apologize, but the woman began to swim away. Wondering if the lady had simply gotten impatient and didn't want her to follow, Winter hesitated, not wanting to come off as annoying. Her question, however, was answered when the lady gestured for her to follow.

Quickly doing so, Winter cleared her throat. "Um, I'm sorry if I offended you or anything, I'm not really used to Mythicos etiquette yet, and I guess I'm a bit of a ditz. But...my name's Winter. May I ask for yours?" Winter put in extra effort to sound more sophisticated and polite. By now, she was assuming that the lady was upper-class, and that meant she would be educated in etiquette and all that fancy stuff. When Winter had been found by her Adaros caregivers, though they had said to respect your elders, they never really cared about her manners, so Winter supposed she was a bit lax. Winter really didn't want to offend anyone or make any enemies, so she decided to try and suppress her natural ditz, after all, she loved meeting new people and making new, interesting friends, and this lady seemed particularly interesting; What normal woman swam around in the open seas after dark? Then, Winter smiled at the irony of that, for she realized that she had just described herself.

Waiting for the ladies reply, Winter fiddled with her bag clasp, then simply stuck her hand in her bag and once again felt the stone fist. Winter couldn't fathom why, but the thing brought her comfort to tough, and she smiled serenely, then looked back up at the other mermaid, still awaiting an answer.

"In my experience asking a question and listening to the answer when it is given is basic etiquette among all four kingdoms. I have visited each kingdom and I am quite aware that every single one of them have at least basic etiquette. While tedious details may vary greatly the roots remain the same."

Excuses, how she hated excuses; if the girl truly lacked even the basics then she was likely to doom herself in Mythicos where etiquette was valued above most.

"A word of advice; learn the basics quick if your rude to the wrong sorts you'll find yourself in the stocks fairly quickly."

Azrael did note that she at least attempted to show better manners, it was an improvement at least. Although she had hoped that the girl wouldn't have asked for her name, of all the manners she had to remember it had to be the one to introduce herself.

"My name is Razeal ....what on earth do you keep fiddling around with in your bag?"

It was an anagram of her name, one she used when she was out and about in a non princess disguise. She had used it already one before so the name came off her tongue as any normal name would. Although she did wonder what on earth was so captivating to the girl. She could hear her rustling in her bag again.

Hearing the lady say that she should actually wait and listen to answers to questions she herself had asked, Winter smiled sheepishly. Yeah, she had been told that in the past...a lot. Hearing her say her name, Winter smiled and decided to try the name on her own lips. "Razeal...that's pretty, I've never heard that name before." It sounded strange on her tongue, but not in a bad way. It also reminded Winter of something else, but try as she might, for the life of her, Winter couldn't remember what it was.

When the other lady- or rather, Razeal- asked what was in her bag, Winter grinned, happy to have someone to share her findings with. Pulling the small fist out of her bag, she showed Razeal. "I found it on my way here. I don't know why, but I feel a strange connection to it. It kind of brings me comfort...I guess that's a pretty weird thing to say though, neh? Especially considering that it's just some random thing I found." Laughing lightly, a thought occurred to Winter. "Hey, I don't suppose you have any idea what the strange marks on the back mean? I tried to decipher them before, but couldn't figure it out."

 Softly, Winter held out the small object to Razeal. Razeal knowing what the marks meant was a long shot, but, you never knew. To be honest, Winter was just enjoying sharing it with someone. People rarely held her same interest and curiosity in unknown things that she did, unless, like the many store-owners in Erythraeus, they were just trying to figure out the highest price they could sell it for, making up all kinds of fake and amazing tales to try and lure in unsuspecting customers.