D- rank mission (Soul/Reze)

[mcstorm]

Name: A River Runs Through It
Rank: D
Objective: Ride the river from Clover to Magnolia to deal with the bandits that have been using the river to transport their stolen goods.
Reward: 100 Jewels

Soul was waiting by the boat. This was his first mission in a while, and he was getting antsy. There was another person that was supposed to show up. It's very possible that Soul was early, but he would need a watch to know that. It bored the young man to wait so he began to look around. It really was a pleasant scene the day was beautiful. The sun was shining, and the river was flowing quite nicely. It was a really bright blue color. It shimmered in the sunlight with a very lovely manner.


The boy sat down on the grass. "God I'm bored" he uttered in a voice to match the mood. Soul picked up some rocks and began to skip them across the river. Given the boy's strength it was easier than expected, but he still needed to use quite a bit of his strength to do it. On the third rock, he imbued a tiny bit of magic to it, before throwing it. As it began to skid across the water, it caused a massive wave. This wave back lashed and headed straight for him. "Ah crap." He said right before he was soaked from the wave. Soul could have easily avoided it using a spell. However, he figured it wasn't worth the mana. He had no idea the level of the bandits or if any of them were Mages. It was a D rank mission, but you cannot be too careful. Soul stood up, and began trying to dry himself off. After all, it was only a matter of time before the other applicant showed up...

[Reze]

It was a lovely day for a mission, but nice weather did not affect Reze’s mood. He was too convinced about this mission being a lead to him finding his brother to pay mind to the good things around him. His obsession blinding him also from the bad, for he dreaded rivers and yet decided to take on a mission revolving around one.

He made his way towards the meeting point, where a small boat lay afloat aside the river, tied to a tree. The river was surrounded by grass and forest. Such a scene would make anyone feel like they were far from society, even though it was pretty nearby. When he arrived he saw a young man, soaked from river-water, attempting to dry himself. “You must be here for the mission”

It was hard for him to keep his attention on the stranger instead of the river, his gaze shifting back and forth as he approached as professional as he could. When he reached him he held out his hand, offering the other a friendly handshake, his voice serious and calm “My name is Reze, I’m a detective, here to help track down those bandits”

He tried to resist looking at the lake, almost breaking a sweat over it. The urge was too great though, the liquid was calling to him, pleading him to have a taste. “I’m sorry, just a moment..”

That said he rushed over to the lake, got down on his knees and cupped some of the river’s water in his hands. He was quick to gulp it down, the liquid tasteless, but definitely not as good of flavor as mineral water. He got up again and made his way back to Soul to casually continue their conversation as if nothing had happened. “You’re a wizard. I didn’t see it happen, but the grass beneath our feet is wet, indicating that the water somehow splashed from the river onto the grass. With the speed and direction the current is moving at, there had to be an external influence.”

From his expression it was hard to tell whether he was glad or upset about it, but in truth he didn’t share the hateful attitude most have against mages.

[mcstorm]

As Soul was patting himself dry , another man approached. He had a very serious demeanor, almost as if his mind was else where.When asked if he himself was there for the mission Soul replied with a simple "Aye". Before he knew it he was shaking hands with this stranger. Then what seemed like immediately after the man went to get a drink of water. The young man barely had time to register that Reze had said his name and profession. "My name is Soul. Nice to meet you man." Soul said casually. As soon as that was Said the Man was back to Soul. This was by far the weirdest minute of Souls life. Soul put On a face of some surprise as the man was able to accurately predict what happened.As soon as Reze was finished he replied with "Or I could of gone for a swim?" Soul laughed off with a soft chuckle.

Making his way to the boat the boy said "I hope it isn't a problem. Even if it is I'm still going to continue this mission." Soul got onto the boat, it shifted a little in the water though The boy kept his balance. Luckily due to the stream they would not need to paddle the boat. The boy lied down against the back of the boat. He figured it wouldn't be a problem since there was more then enough room for Reze to sit down comfortably. The boy opted for this position, because due to the nature of his magic he might accidentally shatter the boat otherwise.

[Reze]

Carelessness was one of the traits Soul and Reed might share, he seemed to be very flexible as a person so far. Reze untied the rope that anchored the boat and joined Soul on it, taking a seat across from him. “It’s not a problem, I’m actually kind of glad. If you’re a strong mage I’m sure we can bring those bandits to justice”

He was content, a pleased look on his face, but it didn’t really qualify as a smile. He looked around him, the coast clear, nothing but tranquil forest surrounding the part of the stream they currently sailed. Not that he expected to come across the bandits immediately after setting sail, but he was a cautious person so he had to check and make sure. Now he could converse with the other at ease. “I’m actually looking for a mage. My twin brother Reed. Have you met him by any chance?”

After all these years of searching asking about his brother had become a routine question, something he asked every person he spoke with. He knew not to get his hopes up, but he was confident that one day a person would respond with a yes. That’s all he needed, one confirmation that would prove he was still alive. Until that time he would cling to hope and stick to his plan of approach.

[mcstorm]

Well it was good to know that he didn't have to deal with filthy looks the whole time. This man truly seemed Genuine that's a rarity it seemed.Soul felt the boat as it began to sail down stream. This was going to be an adventure for sure. After a bit Soul heard Reze use the word strength. A concept both close and foreseeing to him. It took a few seconds for Soul to register the full question. After he realized what was being asked he raised his arm up, and spread his fingers. "i'm strong... Dangerous even, but not enough. The very nature of my magic is volatile, and as such it takes an immense amount of training and focus to keep under control."


Soul moved his hand , from his view it looked like he was holding the Sun. That's when he was asked another question. Or rather was told everything he needed to figure Reze out. A detective looking for his brother. Reed was most likely in the camps for a long time. Soul wondered if that's what made Reze become a detective. "Sorry, I never heard of him." Soul responded somewhat somber that he could not help. Soul then put his hands behind his head. "I'm looking for a mage as well. Though I don't even know who it is." Soul said rather ambiguously. However it was the truth. The boy was on a mission to find someone that he doesn't even know exist. perhaps him ,and this man weren't so different.

[Reze]

The same answer he heard every day, it was to be expected. He didn’t seem phased by it anymore, too determined that he was going to succeed in finding Reed eventually. But it appeared Reze wasn’t the only one looking for a mage, Soul confessing to a somewhat similar goal. The vague description would bring forth curiosity in anyone, especially in a detective. Looking for a mage, but not knowing their name or appearance could mean a lot of things. The boy could be out for revenge on a mage that harmed something or someone he loved. Or be on the look out for a specialist that could help him control his magic. Or some sort of idol or celebrity the other worshipped and wanted to meet, but only knew from tales and myths. Or many of the other possibilities.

Reze tangled his fingers together, his elbows resting on his upper legs. “Maybe I can help. I haven’t been able to find my brother yet, but I solved many other tracking cases. Of course it’s going to be hard without a lead. Can you tell me a bit more about the mage you’re trying to find? What they look like, or what type of magic they used? Your motive would also be helpful”

[mcstorm]

At being told the possibility of help Soul sat up. He was across from Reze looking him right in the eye's. "Thanks I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm afraid it's impossible for you to help me." Soul let out a sigh , and looked to the left. Watching the plains go by as they drifted further down the river. He turned his head Back to Reze. "It's impossible because I'm not sure they exist. I'm looking for a mage of good nature who can completely outclass me." Soul took on a serious demeanor. He had been searching for months now, and could not find anyone of his level let alone stronger.

"Any mage I have seen thus far on my journey I've been able to defeat, any mage that tried to come toe to toe with me."The young man had seen many a battle, and all this time he hasn't lost. Soul clings to the belief that it's just been luck. He feels that their are stronger people then himself out there. There has to be. "I'm going to make a safe haven for mages. A place Where mages can go , and be free of ridicule of the common-folk. "Though I'm not much of a leader, so I would need someone more powerful then myself to run it." There was another reason, but Soul would not disclose that to a stranger.The wind began to blow ruffling the boys hair a bit. His mind drifted after that. "I wonder if we will find the bandits soon."

[Reze]

It was true that Reze couldn’t provide him with a suitable opponent, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t help track one down. Reze had always looked up to his brother as the strongest of them both, so it was only natural he imagined him to be a very capable wizard. If Reed was indeed powerful enough to defeat Soul, then they were both looking for the same person.

Reze was impressed that Soul remained undefeated so far, a smile finally forming on his serious face. His eyebrows raised when the other spoke of creating a safe haven for mages. “That’s an admirable goal you have, I hope you succeed. Of course, it would be better if regular humans didn’t treat mages so badly.”

His smile disappeared at the bitter truth, the cruel world that subjected mages to ridicule and abuse, the world that tore his family from him. When the subject changed back to their job Reze looked at the lands surrounding the river. A normal person would just see grass and trees, but for him it was different. He saw the marks on the bark of a tree as a sign of life, not unlike scars on a human body. The same went for the grass and the dirt on the ground, though to detect a track from that he would have to be in closer range, unless a trail was clearly trampled for even the untrained eye to see. He frowned a little, something he did as he focussed. “The bandits transport their goods over the river, but the odds of us sailing the river at the same time as they do their dirty work is small. There are simply too many hours in the day. We’d have more luck with a stakeout, sailing the river is pretty useless unless we get lucky or manage to find out where they board.”

[mcstorm]

"Stakeout huh?" That could work , but it could take days. The boy wondered if their was an easier solution. "If we had a birds eye view it would help out tremendously. However you aren't a mage and I cannot fly." Soul brought his fingers to his right temple and rested his elbow on his knee. There had to be a Solution he was missing it.His magic dealt with breaking things , breaking thins through sheer force. Force goes both ways "I GOT IT!" soul exclaimed. He had figured out a solution to their dilemma.

"Though if I execute it here Ill break the boat. Any idea on how to stop this thing?" It never occurred to Soul that he had no clue how to stop the craft. Sometimes his straight forward personality got him into situations like these. Soul looked around for any bandits. If he spotted some then he wouldn't even need to execute his plan. however he had no such luck. Reze was right they really could do it at any hour in the day. Well Reze was a smart man Soul was sure he would know of someway to stop the boat. In the meantime Soul wondered how strong the bandits would be. If they were too strong Reze might get in the way. or Rather Soul would have to hold back at risk of hurting the man.

[Reze]

If the boat was anything like a fleet then stopping it would be easy. The boy’s excitement amused Reze, it was as if he was conversing with his long lost brother. Then again, he was so obsessed that he saw his brother in a lot of people, like a ghost that was following him. “Simple, we just steer towards the land and wait for the boat to strand. Then it’s just a matter of getting off and dragging the boat on land or tie it to a tree”

Reze grabbed onto a paddle that lay in the boat and pushed it into the water, causing the boat to steer towards the south side of the river. “See? Though we-“

From the corner of his eye he saw a peculiar looking collection of shrubs on the north side of the river. “Hang on.”

In a forceful move he switched the paddle to the other side, causing the boat to seesaw as he was steering the boat to the north side now. He managed to keep his balance during the switch, the boat nearing the shrubs at a steady pace. Nevertheless the boat collided with the land with a harsh bump, one that would cause anyone who didn’t hold on to move out of their seat. “I’m sorry about that. I’m usually not so reckless, but I saw something extraordinary”

Once they got out of the boat Reze started to drag it out of the water and tied it to a nearby log, then returned to the shrubs. He picked one up. “I knew it, these are no longer rooted”

The boat that the bandits used to transport goods was right before their eyes, under a pile of shrubs. He placed the shrub he was holding on the ground and moved another shrub out of the way, a part of the boat now revealing itself. “Looks like we’ve found our first clue.”

He looked at Soul with determination. A glimmer of hope could be seen in his eyes. Every time he found a trail he knew he would get to the bottom of it, it increased his faith that he would one day find his brother.

He walked around the shrub covered boat to find any track prints in the grass, mostly observing for flattened or broken strands and prints in the dirt beneath the grass. He bent down to feel the grass with his hands, noticing definite traces of human foot prints. He got up with a pleased look on his face “I can track them, and it’s very likely that this trail will lead us right to their hide-out. They should have weapons at their disposal so we need to tread carefully, keep the element of surprise.”

[mcstorm]

Soul was relieved that Reze in fact knew how to stop the vessel. He might of ended up breaking the boat otherwise.Soul's interest spiked when Reze had found something. Given that he's a detective it probably led to a lead on the bandits. Soul got out of the boat once it reached land , and Helped Reze pull it up.At the exclamation that the shrubs were no longer rooted Soul knew exactly what that meant. As he saw the boat Soul walked up to it , and kicked it. He had used a tiny bit of magic on his leg to give it crash properties.This would then shatter the boat ,and send the pieces flying in the opposite direction of the men.

Immediately after doing that Soul had heard the man say to keep the element of surprise. Soul started to rub the back of his head, and then let out a chuckle."Well now they cant transfer stolen goods anymore." Soul said with a bit of embarrassment. He saw the boat and first though was to break it so that it couldn't be used again. He didn't think to wait till later. Sure he was going to be fine , but what about Reze? Soul was mad that he endangered his ally's life. "Hey Reze I want you to know if shit hit's the fan, you should run. You still need to find your brother ,and I don't want you dying before you can. "

[Reze]

Reze wanted to facepalm at the sight of the destroyed boat, but instead went along with Soul’s chuckle. This was exactly the type of wild behavior that his twin would do. The other tried to explain himself, but Reze knew it was just impulsive behavior. “They can’t indeed, but arresting them will do the same”

The concern for his own well-being was something he usually didn’t have in common with anyone. It was almost endearing that Soul would offer himself up for a stranger, but Reze knew the bandits were not likely to be mages. And even so, he had many reasons to believe they would not be a match for his current companion. “That is very thoughtful, but I’m sure we can take on a few bandits. This isn’t your first rodeo, and from the size of their… boat, well, what’s left of it anyway.. They are a small company.”

He took off his purple cloak and left it behind in their own boat. The shape of his body better revealing itself, though his muscles were mostly hidden underneath the somewhat loose fitting fabric. He was still a tall and broad man, so he wouldn’t be tackled that easily. “And I can hold my own against another man”

He proceeded to track down the bandits. “This way”

He gestured for Soul to follow after him as he heedfully walked through the forest, bending through his knees from time to time to track the right direction.