Treno was probably the worst place to be if you were the best sort of people, but thankfully...none of those people really frequented it very much. It was the city that never slept in a kingdom that had a curfew, it was the place that dreams were made of if you had luck and a lot of gil. It was a place where you could get anything you wanted if you knew the right people and had a good price on hand. More commonly, however...it was known for its casinos that attracted people far and wide. Lionel liked to pretend it didn't exist, but it usually seemed fairly interested when it seemed to be getting a generous helping from the taxes. There was not a day that went by that Treno didn't have dusty and worn travelers from all over the globe trying to get lucky, and generally failing. Yet people hoped against hope that they would be the one to strike it lucky...not that it ever happened. It was a plan shared between two Al-Behd brothers, Sabi and Ezen. Both of them looking a little more dispirited than usual. Sabi was the younger, although it was hard to tell from first glance as they both seemed to look about the same. If it weren't for Sabi's hair cut short and Ezen's settled in a long braid, they'd have been unrecognizable twins...barring their clothes, of course.
"Well, that's it..." Sabi replied dryly, fingers drumming on the glass table. A fine aldgoat leather jacket settled against his chair as he leaned back with a weary sigh. "We made five hundred gil...out of the three thousand we spent."
"Not very good odds," Ezen admitted, reclining back with his drink. It was a stupid plan, but they both knew they had nothing else to rely on. Which is probably why they were too busy sulking to really think of anything better.
"Not even a quarter of what we owe, either...what are we gonna do, big brother?" he sighed, hands behind his head with a frown. What could they do? Not much...as it stood, they were nowhere near what they needed to actually pay off the debt. Not that the three thousand would have helped much anyway.
"I don't know, Sabi...drink more?" Ezen shrugged, taking another drink. He had no idea what to tell him, and that bugged him even more since Ezen was the one who suggested it in the first place. The mercenary business wasn't exactly as smooth as it needed to be, and in Bikanel...well, they were better off just not trying.
So they decided to try their luck at Lionel, by way of Treno. For all the good that had done both of them. But hey, Sabi was good with his fists...and he had a gun, how hard could it be for young, strapping men to find work?
"...We're dead, aren't we?" Sabi replied, and eventually Ezen sighed.
"...Probably?"
Well, it wasn't as if their mood was anything new in Treno. Most people seemed a little down lately, aimless almost. Lots of idiots like them got down on their luck and hoped to make it big on some huge score.
Maybe luck was leaving Treno for brighter pastures, if there was even such a thing?<|im_end|>
There were not two others in all of Treno that looked as out of place as the pair standing in the courtyard beyond the main gates. One was tall and willowy, her long white ears and the stilettos common to her race only added to her height. Her crimson eyes could be quite unsettling to those who had yet to lay eyes on a Veira more so than her actual appearance at times. She was dressed in almost black leather armor sculpted to fit her lithe shape by the leather-working guild in Gridania, though the Veira were not known for their modesty due to a lack of male presence in their culture. Her outfit could be considered more revealing than those of the women selling their services throughout Treno. The large oak bow slung across her back did little to detract from her appearance. She seemed entirely oblivious to the stares she received as she scanned the dusty flagstone streets.
In comparison, her companion was the complete opposite. Almost two heads shorter than the willowy Veira, this young woman sported feline-like ears and a long swishing tail. Her hair was cropped to the shoulder and the same inky black as the fur on her tail and ears. She stared at everything around her with vibrant amethyst eyes, much like an excited child upon first discovering something new. The Moon Keeper Miqote was easily excited by new things, and her desire to learn led her to practice one of the most difficult magical arts in all the realms. No one would guess looking at the petite but curvy feline that she was in fact a Summoner from Gridania. Her robes were simple linen, dyed a shade of purple to match her eyes, and she carried what appeared to be a large tome on her hip. The only indication of her abilities was a symbol sewn onto the left sleeve of her robes.
Miah was practically bouncing on the spot, her tail flicking with excitement. Gywn, look at this place! She exclaimed, leaning over the stone banister that encased the upper courtyard of the city, giving a wonderful view of Treno. It's so different from home! The Miqote had a soft, subtle purr to her voice when she spoke.
Gywn, her Veira companion pulled her away from the banister with an admonishing look. We came here for a reason, did we not? Her voice was clear, with a musical sound to it. You have dragged me away from the forests chasing nightmares to this place. She gave a pair of ogling men a distasteful look.
Miah was already trotting off down the steps towards the main city with an idle flap of her hand. I just want to explore a little. She told her long-time friend. What's a gambling house? Her attention already diverted before they reached the first intersection. Before Gwyn could stop her, she pushed through the doors into a sprawling room filled with tables and men enjoying their games and their drinks. Gwyn took a firm hold of Miah’s collar. We are going now. She declared, turning to drag her friend away. She stopped when she felt Miah’s entire body tense up and a soft growl escape her lips. Immediately after, she felt something ripple through the city, it had a dark, putrid feel to it like stepping into a swamp of tainted water and muck.
"What was that?" She asked, nudging her tense friend when she didn't immediately get a response.
The look on Miah's face was a mix of pain, fear, and anger. The combination sent a shiver up Gywn's spine. "I think the nightmare has arrived." Miah practically hissed.<|im_end|>