The now slightly dusty man walked, and walked, and continued but he got the feeling that he wasn't really getting far, despite the couple hours that had passed and given how fast the horses left him behind, Damion felt like something was off, so he continued to the nearest building he could find. A simply crafted building with clay blocks used to bring it up, Damion noticed it had seen better days of course, due to the ceilings, corners and some of the flooring greatly chipped off. He saw some lights on the second floor of the building, so he went to check for someone who could help him out.
On the ground floor as he entered, he saw a shop, closed, but completely filled corner to corner with thread, fabric, leather, pins and every other thing used for what was clearly a tailor shop, the inside of the building was more than just appealing, unlike the outside. He began his trip up the stairs, giving no mind to the first floor, seeing as it was pitch black when he got there, so he continued up the stairs to the second. The same lights he saw from the outside were still on, he found a desk filled with what seemed like pawned stuff and a couple of timber behind and a simply dressed gentleman right behind the desk who looked ready to close his job for the night.
"Excuse me, I'm lost." Damion began. "Can you help me out??"
Exhausted, he replied, "Where are you looking to go??"
"I'm looking for a tailor, I hear her uncle works in the previous town, Nakka."
"That must be Tasue." he said. "She just left, if you head North from this building, you might find her before she gets home."
Damion held his hand up as a subtle reply as he turned, walked down the stairs and left the building.
The man glanced at Damion from his window on the first floor with a curious look, pulled out an orange com-crystal from his pocket and spoke.
"What is it." A voice, rough and clearly not in sorts to hear from anyone, answered straight from the crystal.
"Someone is about to pass by, there's a chance to rob him and add things to my shop."
"Fine," the voice replied. However, right before the glow on the crystal dimmed entirely to end the call, the pawn shop owner heard glasses clinking and a chant from a group.
Damion had started running in order to catch up with the girl. It wasn't long before four drunk men who stood outside a pub saw him run past them and they decided to follow. He heard the multiple steps, glanced behind him and knew he was in bad company, so he continued running, passing quite a few people in the town, unlike Alloy's experience, he was in the shadier part of town. The Southern side… which also meant he had free space to run without hindering people in the area due to the population being less than scattered grains thrown in a chicken coup by a baby's hand. Soon enough he saw someone who stood out quite a bit, with more vibrant colors for clothes than anyone else he had seen in his brief time in Karuu town.
He got closer and decided to stop and have a more detailed look at the person, she also had a nude brown umbrella that she carried as she walked without a care in the world. He weirdly leaned in, peeping at her face and before he could utter a word, the girl noticed his creepy attempt at peeping and screamed at the top of her lungs.
*****
Ritta and Alloy took a stroll through the wide and lively street that ran across the town, clearly Alloy was more interested in Ritta than the vice-versa. She asked a bunch of questions, all which had nothing to do with gathering information and before long, her stomach grumbled and she immediately clutched it. Ritta watched her cheery expression fading slowly as she knelt down, realizing her excitement for seeing the world was all that kept her going for days without the one thing people needed to survive, "Food… food…" were the only words she managed to say.
"My, my… let's get you something to eat, youngin. Otherwise," Ritta glanced at the path Alloy was trotting through.
"Those horses are going to get new owners."
She began walking toward a food stall and Alloy dragged herself up to follow her, luckily she didn't need to use more energy than what she was left with considering Ritta was also slow. She went ahead to greet the stall owner and asked for a couple dumplings so her new young friend wouldn't pass out, or look more pale than she already did.
"Thank… you… Ritta…" Alloy said, "Ita…dakimasu…" as she began eating the dumplings.
"So, what brings a youngin like you out here?? Are you just passing by on your way elsewhere??" Ritta asked, letting her curiosity, however limited in caring for her age, flow to a starving Alloy who was busy stuffing herself with dumplings.
"I'm gathering… a crew… for my guild." she said, or, tried to, with her mouth full of food.
"A guild huh… why??"
"There's someone… I'm looking for…" she swallowed. "but to get to her, I need people with me."
"I see. So... who's Damion??" Ritta asked.
"He's gonna be the first member of my crew!!" She answered with a sparkle in her eyes. She was rejuvenated, but that's not all Ritta noticed about that excitement. "I wanna help him deal with some of his own issues first in Gami, then we'll see where to go from there."
"You're going to fight Spire… aren't you??" Ritta's voice dropped an octave.
Confusion was clearly painted on Alloy's face, considering she didn't mention the name at all.
"Huh??" She froze as a dumpling fell out of her gaped mouth.
"Gravethorn…"
"Uh… yeah, that's the guy giving Damion a hard time." Alloy replied.
At the same time, she noticed Ritta might've known more about this character than she thought, so she decided to ask.
"Is there something you know about him??
"Yes… He and his br…"
Before she could finish, the sound of screams, shouts and something definitely being demolished filled the air, distracting the conversation that had only barely started.