Ex-Assassin's At Play [Solo: Riley and Maddox]

[Merc]

[Both characters are mine, and this mission counts as a solo for each of them. Kay thanks~]

Name: Death Knights: Attempted Assassination
Rank: C
Posts Limit: 3
Objective: The Death Knights, an assassin's guild that have popped up in several branches across Fiore, have been particularly active lately. It is rumored that they are targeting a certain noble, whom is now seeking protection. Head to them, and protect them from the lone assassin (whom, while alone, is still quite a considerable thread). If the target dies, all rewards are forfeit.
Reward: 250
Exp: 35

Riley ran her fingers lightly through her hair, walking along the dirt path that ran through Kunugi, a farming village that was generally a rather quiet, safe place, unaffected by the darkness of the world. Usually, at least. On this particular day, darkness insisted on spilling out into the streets of the peaceful village.

The source, walked between herself and a man that looked strikingly similar to her, her older brother. Between them, was a rather esteemed noble, an old woman whom apparently had a lot of power, back in her day (and was rumored to currently be making the decisions for her heir), not that either of the siblings really cared for such a thing.

As they walked, the woman seemed to take interest in the 'peasants and common folk', as she had frequently been, rather loudly, calling the people that they encountered along the trail. The two stood back at this, carefully watching the old woman as she picked up some fruit, observing them carefully, as though expected them to suddenly turn into a precious gem or something of the sort. Riley stifled a chuckle as she watched the woman, bringing a hand to her mouth to quiet the sounds which threatened to escape.

[Maddox Aquila]

Maddox, whom was a great deal taller and older than his sibling, was clad in his usual outfit, complete with the bow on his back and many, many hidden weapons that had been stashed along his body. He didn't have any particular interest in the old lady, whom kept trying to convince him to carry her, much to his annoyance, and several times he would have been glad to kill her himself, but he refrained, huffing and reminding himself that he could no longer do such things.

His good eye was as sharp and keen as ever, observing their surroundings, even as they came to a halt to allow the old battleaxe to annoy the townsfolk as much as she was doing him. While she did this, he took his place alongside his sister, sparing her glances, but for the most part keeping his gaze fixated on the woman they were designated to protect.

As much as he hated the woman, he had to admit that she had good tastes, if she decided that the best people to hire for the job were himself and Riley - two people trained in the arts of assassination, the old school arts at that, which did not involve magic or anything of that nature.

"Ironic, is it not?"

[Merc]

Riley was watching carefully as the old woman interacted with a farmer, or at least a man that looked like a farmer. One never really could tell when assassins were involved. Nevertheless, the townspeople seemed to recognize and trust in the man, and considering this was a last minute detour it seemed incredibly unlikely that anything too intricate would be set up.

"Hmm?" She first asked, turning her green eyes to her older brother. After a moment of contemplating his words, she gave her head a bit of a nod, "the fact that you're on the other end of this process?" She asked, watching him give a bit of a nod of confirmation, "it is rather ironic, but I prefer you on this side," smiling a bit, she looked around as the wind ruffled her hair, "doesn't it feel much better to do good?"

She fell silent for a few moments, in which she seemed unsettled by something. In response to this, her eyes began to turn a purplish-clack color, which seemed to seep out into an aura. It was unclear where she was looking, at least to anyone looking at her, but she could plainly see the darkness inside each person. As she had expected, the townspeople were relatively pure, though surprisingly the woman they were protecting seemed to have accumulated more sins than a man that stuck out in the crowd.

"I think he's here," she whispered to her sibling, giving a subtle tilt of her head in the direction of the target.

[Mana Remaining: 112/120]

SPOILER: Click to show

Spell Name: Sin Eater's Eyes
Type: Sin Eater Magic
Level: Feeble
Range: Self; Sight
Description: A spell that Riley casts which turns her eyes a purplish-black color while it's effect is active. This spell allows Riley to see the accumulation of sins within people. Everyone has at least a little, but those with a large aura or core of darkness are quite obviously unsavory people. This aura of darkness is plainly visible to her, be it day or night, as long as the person is within her range of sight. She can choose to keep it active for as long as she pleases, at the cost of a constant drain to her magic supply, equal to the cost of a Greenhorn level spell. This spell is the manifestation of the sins of Angelo's betrayal of her, which she absorbed upon his death.
Drawback: Can only detect those within Riley's range of sight. Cannot see through walls or anything of the nature.

[Maddox Aquila]

"Aye," was all he managed to say for a few long moments, picking lightly at the black material that covered the lower half of his face. "I suppose I do prefer this... As difficult as it is to act in the manner that everyone seems to prefer I carry myself in..." He mumbled, allowing his hand to fall to his side in the process of doing so.

He rather easily noticed the change in his sister's composure, as well as the spell that was seeping from her eyes - though he had no idea what it meant. Maddox remained quiet as she nodded towards someone she found to be suspicious, and rather than looking, which would alert the man that they were aware of him, he calmly strode forwards, looming beside the old woman and effectively blocking her from the assassin's range of sight.

He acted rather casually as he leaned over her, grasping at a stray apple that had fallen onto the table, he replaced it rather gingerly in the basket, his chest practically touching the old woman's back.

She suddenly leaned back into him, giving a bit of a hungry grin, "my, my, what a sturdy young man you are... I feel ever so safe in your hands."

Outwardly, he did not respond to this, but inwardly he felt his stomach roll. No... Just... No...

[Merc]

Riley cut the supply of magic to her spell, inhaling a little slightly as she brought one hand to rest on her hip. Now that she had identified the suspicious man, she could follow him easily enough. Judging by the fact that he kept coming, she assumed that he either was not aware that he had been spotted - or he thought so much of himself that he believed he had the upper hand.

She took a step back, just sort of glancing around absently, her green eyes catching a glimpse of metal glistening as the man came towards her, attempting to pass her - and stick her with a needle in the process of doing so, believing it to be concealed by his sleeve, and a subtle enough gesture for her to miss.

Perhaps, if she was anyone else, it would have been. But she was an Aquila. She caught him by the wrist, smiling a little as she did so, "that's a very old trick... But, it wont work on me," she pointed out. The man seemed startled, immediately raising his free hand to cast a spell at her as he did so.

However, a dark aura appeared around her, swallowing up the pathetic spell in the sheer pressure of her magical might. She was silent for a moment, the chill of the aura fading away to nothing, "guess I was right... It was you, after all." She murmured, and rather than allowing him to cast something else, she flicked her wrist, instantly causing the man to slam face first into the ground.

[Mana Remaining: 93/120

SPOILER: Click to show

Spell Name: Sin Eater's Senses
Type: Sin Eater Magic
Level: Intermediate
Range: Self; Passive Activation
Description: This spell is a bit unique compared to her other spells, as it activates on it's own accordance, acting as a sort of sixth sense when something, be it a spell, item, etc, attacks an unsuspecting Riley. The aura flares outwards, neutralizing a spell (and the effects of said spell) of equal or lesser level. This spell is the manifestation of the sins of Angelo's wickedness in the Tear Desert, which she absorbed upon his death.
Drawback: Can only activate once per thread, at which point the spell goes into a state of dormancy. Does not activate for spells that are of higher level. Costs 50% more magic than other Intermediate spells, due to the quick activation and outputting of magical energy

Spell Name: Gravity’s Grasp
Type: Heavenly Body
Level: Mediocre
Range: 50 feet
Description: Riley flicks her wrist before suddenly gravity itself grabs a single target, yanking them down and slamming it into the earth with surprising force - pinning them down for a short time as well as crushing them with gravitational force and pain.
Drawback: The spell has a two post cool down between uses, the target can only be pinned down for two posts, and if they are stronger then Riley they can shatter the binding.

[Maddox Aquila]

Maddox cast a glance over his shoulder to spy his sister grasping onto the attackers wrist, and he had to admit that he was rather surprised that she had the physical strength to do so. Additionally, some sort of protective aura appeared around her, inhaling the spell that the assassin had tried to cast on her - before her hit the ground with enough force to cause something in him to crack.

The ex-assassin chuckled a bit, as it seemed her was unneeded, but he soon peered down upon the old woman, who was peeking around him.

"Hmm, and here I thought the short one was just a decoration," she mused, narrowing her eyes a bit as she watched Riley bind the man with magic, while the local law enforcer (pretty much a one man show considering the size of the village and such), came over to arrest the man.

Maddox shook his head a little, "not quite... But at any rate, it seems like the threat has been immobilized. For the time being, at least. Let us continue towards our destination," he said, taking a step back as his sister joined them, the trio continued along their route without further incident.

[ORANGE]

Approved