[img]https://i.imgur.com/k1aTeQ9.png[/img]
[center][color=6ecff6][u][b]The Mysterious Stranger[/b][/u][/color][/center]
[right]Near the Edge of Town**[@Stormborn][@Seirei No Hai][@ERode][@Love Detective][/right]

It seemed the chase had begun. The stranger's cloak trailed behind him, whipping about in the air as he darted from the group. Gawain's following soon after seemed to do little to close the gap between them. Instead, as he slipped behind a corner, there was the tell-tale white of his cape, so that Rider may follow. But as soon as Gawain turned, he had already gotten further ahead, leaving Gawain with only another wisp of white and gold trim to chase. Perhaps the man was a Rider on his own steed? Or perhaps he was just naturally quick. Whatever the case, the streets continued. And continued.  

For a moment longer, Gawain would see the man's back, and then he'd sharply turn a corner. Rider might indeed be so caught up in the race that the buildings might be easily ignored. But...

Perhaps it was how close together the buildings had gotten. No longer spaced out, but rather side by side. With the odd crack between homes seeming more intentional than a simple perk of trying to give people room. The road, still pristine, had cracks. All roads had cracks, but for this the cracks seemed to... Repeat. A squiggle that ends in a forked branch, appearing again and again along the road. The cars, parked had become repetitious. Blue. Green. Red. Blue. Green. Red. Blue-Green-Red. As if the whole city was on [b]repeat[/b]!

The warning came from behind. A crack of stone, as suddenly the stranger was behind Gawain. In the maze of buildings, he had managed to somehow sneak around, coming out of one of the side paths that Gawain had been running by in his race. The stranger carried only one sword, a golden blade that swiped through the air. The ground cracking as he leapt, easily clearing the Rider's mount and swinging that beautiful blade towards Gawain's head. The leap... Wasn't natural, as if charged by mana. 

[color=6ecff6]"I apologize. But I cannot allow you or your allies to disrupt the Leyline. If Caster falls, the world falls with it."[/color]