[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/5r7OTIh.png[/img]
[b][color=Aquamarine]wordcount:[/color][/b] 3102 +5
[b][color=Aquamarine]Midna: level 5[/color][/b] EXP: [color=Aquamarine]////////////////////////[/color]/////////////////////////// (24/50) 
[b][color=Aquamarine]Location:[/color][/b] Sandswept Sky -  Al Mamoon
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After a minute or two Midna pushed herself off the back of the bathtub. She tried to dust herself off, failed, remembered she still had a rag on her face, removed it, tried to use that to wipe herself down, failed, went and found the rest of the bedroll and finally became slightly presentable.

[color=Aquamarine]”Blech. I swear fighting was never this bad before. So gross.“[/color] She complained as she ditched the rags before floating her way back through the halls, finding her entry window and then dropping down out of it, to find that the sound of combat hadn’t gone entirely unnoticed. 

[color=Aquamarine]”Just dealing with some vermin, nothing to worry about”[/color] she told a group of people who approached her, nonchilantly brushing a bit of ash she’d missed off of her shoulder, which didn't do much to improve the fact that she still looked rather worn and grubby [color=Aquamarine]”Don’t suppose you know where I can hand in requests?”[/color]

Turned out they did and so, after a few more insistations that everything was fine the princess found a shadow and quickly skipped through them till she reached the commission's office.

She found the facility along the Al Mamoon’s thoroughfare, just shy of the palace itself. Compared to the vast court of officiation housed within, this client-facing facility was no larger than a tollbooth. On the other side of its window sat the lone attendant in the middle of several tireless fans, continuously keeping her cool and comfortable as she worked away at what appeared to be a thankless task. The attendant appeared to be a [url=https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_medium/1/10354/2234324-ingrid.jpg]ordinary-looking woman[/url] with glasses in dark professional dress, and the glow of several electronic screens around her cast her face in different lights. Midna arrived to find a small line in place, and one by one each person went up to present an inquiry or request. With incredible dexterity the woman behind the counter tapped on a plastic device before her covered in letters, apparently logging every detail into unseen forms for categorization and addressment.

Once her turn came the battle worn princess drifted up in front of the woman and, after taking a very brief moment to inspect the interesting machines she was using/surrounded, said to her [color=Aquamarine]”Hi. This is the place that handles the quest board requests, right? I’m here about the one about noises in the abandoned temple,”[/color]

“Just a moment, ma’am,” the attendant replied, making a conscious effort not to sound bored. She performed some indeterminate action using the devices from beyond Midna’s ken, and in the space of just a few moments turned up just the commission in question, something that could have easily taken minutes of sorting through the document-stacked shelves behind her swiveling chair. “Ah, yes. Mr. Meitenkun’s commission. I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear that he can continued to sleep undisturbed. I have the deposit he left here, provided you can offer some sort of proof as a guarantor that the problem is solved.”

[color=Aquamarine]”Here”[/color] the princess, who had waited patiently enough for her to finish, said as she lightly tapped the little bit of a shelf of the booth between them with a finger, forming a tiny portal that apperified the four demon spirits she’d collected but not used up for exactly this reason before the woman [color=Aquamarine]”There were three large and frankly disgusting monsters performing some kind of ear grating ritual within. I’m amazed Mr. Meitenkun could get any sleep at all after hearing the sounds they were making. Anyway, they locked me inside the building with them using some kind of magic seal as soon as I entered, so I fought them”[/color] she explained, before answering the implicit question as to where the extra one had come from by explaining [color=Aquamarine]''There's four spirits because while fighting them one of them used a dance based ritual to summon yet another of their kind from a portal”[/color] before pausing for a moment to see what the woman’s take on her evidence was.

“Mr. Meitenkun is a very heavy sleeper. I had wondered what exactly might be potent enough to keep him up.” The lady quickly registered the new information as Midna delivered it. “Monsters, you say?” She pulled on a thin black glove and took hold of one Nobody spirit with care, holding it close to examine it. “Well. These certainly look dangerous. Rather like some bioweapons I’ve seen. Hands, ribs, giant eyes, the works. And possessing magical abilities too.” Though the attendant gave off the impression of someone very even-keeled, she did not water down the impressed look she wore. It cast the dingy princess in a whole new light. “I suppose the city owes you its thanks for services rendered. If only I could speak for the city. Here is the listed reward.” She unlocked a chest by her feet and counted out fifty gold pieces that she gave to Midna in a small pouch. 

Things had sounded promising in terms of getting more out of this than the listed price and then they had fallen rather flat. The slight proud smile she’d had while the sharp eyed woman dissected the threat she’d faced dropped, and she let out the slightest of sighs upon receiving the 50 gold. Then the princess shook her head a fraction to reset her mood. It wouldn't do to direct her disappointment in the merger payment she was getting for risking her life at the working woman herself, it wasn't her, or the original commissioner’s for that matter, fault the reward was so small. So rather than get angry she said [color=Aquamarine]''Thank you, miss..?”[/color] and then tapped the desk again to portal the spirits and her cash back to the realm of twilight.

[color=Aquamarine]''I don't suppose there is some general bounty for monsters out?”[/color] she tried, not expecting much, before adding [color=Aquamarine]''or that you could put a word in with the Vizzar about this? Me and mine are in the midst of negotiating with the man for ownership of a heavily armed train, so anything official on our end of the scales would be helpful”[/color] again not expecting much seeing as she suspected Fox was in the midst of planning going under the man’s nose in some way or another.

“You mean the Viz[i]ier[/i]?” the woman corrected her pronunciation. “Well, I’m not really in a position to talk about negotiations, or how trying to curry favor might go.” She adjusted, then removed her glasses to clean them. “But right now Validar [i]is[/i] rewarding people for doing the ‘right thing’. So he might authorize some extra money for your efforts. I can call my boss Eva to tell her you’re looking for extra compensation, if you like?” In a semi-tactful way the secretary let Midna know that she would be acting as a pure middleman in this regard, and not vouching for her.

[color=Aquamarine]'Vizier”[/color] Minda corrects herself at the woman’s prompting before glancing back to gauge the delay in the queue she was causing and then nodding and asking the woman, who’s name she’d failed to get, to follow up on her suggestion, [color=Aquamarine]If it wouldn't be too much trouble?”[/color] The princess getting her hopes up just a little but not putting said hopes on the secretary herself. 

With just a nod in reply, the attendant reached for yet another device unknown to Midna, a curved piece of metal with a circular attachment on either end, and removed it from its stand. After another couple presses on the stand’s pad she held the thing up to her head, tossing her hair to expose her ear. A buzzing sound began, and while it was in progress she asked, “Name?”

[color=Aquamarine]”Minda”[/color] she replied, not bothering with the princess honorific.

Another moment more and the buzzing stopped, with the familiar voice of the moody palace skeleton on the line. “Yea? Whatcha want, Ingrid?”

“Hello, Eva. I have someone here named Midna who completed a commission to investigate a disturbance in the old church,” Ingrid told her. “In doing so she fought and killed a few large monsters with magical powers. She wants to request additional compensation for the unforeseen danger and effort.”

“Oh, she does, does she?” Eva yammered, sounding less than surprised. She did not, however, sound upset. “Well, it ain’t my money, and this sounds like just the sahta thing Vali wants people doin’ out theh. What wah they, big?”

Ingrid blinked, coolly recollecting what she’d seen and estimating its scale based off the demon’s biology. “Yes, five hundred pounds at the bare minimum, longer than horses.”

“Scary?”

“They appeared to be grotesque flesh monsters, with exposed bones and bulging eyeballs.”

“Good enough fah me,” Eva decided. “Two hunnad oughta do it. Send ‘em by my office.”

Ingrid Hunnigan replaced the receiver that apparently enabled long-distance communication back on its stand. “You’re authorized to receive two hundred additional gold. I only have deposits here, so you’ll have to go to the palace to be granted the sum from the treasury. Take care now.” She waved at the next person in line.

Now that was more like it, Midna thought. More traipsing around town yes, and it was technically only 50 gold per “head”, but getting some more personal funds was definitely a plus

[color=Aquamarine]”You too,”[/color] she said to the secretary, before adding [color=Aquamarine]”and thanks for your help”[/color] and then swiftly moving out of the way of the others in line and heading for the treasury. She knew where the palace was, and so a few quick shadow skips got her there, then all she needed was to get some directions to the treasury and she’d go get her real pay.

[hr]

The sack hit the desk with a [i]clonk[/i] that truly signified its weight, following by the sound of metal sliding against metal within. “Two hunnad gold, all theh,” Eva told Midna. “Nice job, thanks fah doin’ the city a good tahn, yada, yada, yada.” She pushed the reward closer, indicating that the Twilight Princess ought not stick around in the palace’s official court.  “Buh bye.”

With this Midna had little issue. 

She tapped the bag with a finger and sent it to the twilight ream, gave a rapid fire reply of [color=Aquamarine]”Thank you, your welcome and goodbye”[/color] and then she left the palace and hovered up to a a nice secluded rooftop nearby. Taking out her shadow hand to use as a sunshade and using her tail as a little fan while she worked, the princess got to the business of dealing with the spirits of the demons in a place where the seeker’s knowledge couldn't be completed by suspicious Viziers. 

The demon's spirits were brought out and crushed, and then the results, along with the sword and trinket, were laid out and examined with a critical, magical, eye to see what, if any, unseen properties they might have.

[hider=For Midna]You have Acquired:
[b][url=https://www.gamespew.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/borderlands-3-cover-art-secrets-1167243-1280x0-696x391.jpg]Psycho Mask[/url][/b] - [i]a wearable statement of freedom--freedom from society, morality, and sanity, all in one. It has no actual effect on the wearer but features a built-in filter which can purify incoming air, and two ports that gas canisters can be plugged into[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/sfP7EXZ.png]Death Scissor Mask[/url][/b] - [i]an eerie mask, white as bone. It’s extremely durable and can be used as either armor or a shield, but while equipped it causes a red weakspot to appear on the wearer right before an attack, which will deal critical damage if struck[/i]
[b][url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/killerinstinct/images/1/18/OMEN.png]Omen Mask[/url][/b] - [i]the face of a demon that heralds the end. When worn, all projectiles fired by the wearer are tripled but have totally random flight patterns[/i]
[b][url=https://geekvibesnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/704700_1304202102486_full.jpg]Daredevil Mask[/url][/b] - [i]a vicious mask with metal spikes and blades. Its sealed respirator can allow breathing in environments without oxygen so long as an air supply is connected. Its headbutts can do some real damage[/i]
[b][url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/dishonoredvideogame/images/7/7e/Corrupted_Charm.png]Biteturn Charm[/url][/b] - [i]a charm of human bone with a touch of the Stranger’s power. Whenever a bladed weapon strikes the holder it will take massive durability damage, enough to shatter conventional weapons. When this happens, however, one of the wearer’s teeth will turn black and fall out. The tooth cannot be regrown via healing.[/i]
[b][url=https://assets.gamepur.com/images/dead_cells/thumb/Cursed_Sword.png]Cursed Sword[/url][/b] - [i]a strange blade imbued with fell sorcery. It deals extreme damage when used as a weapon but is difficult to grasp and use effectively. While equipped, any damage taken by the user will result in an instant kill[/i][/hider]

Though Midna intended to examine each interesting new item in detail, one stood out among all the rest: the cursed sword. In the heat of the battle she hadn’t paid it proper attention, assuming that the disquieting evil aura that just about choked her magic sense a product of the reprehensible Nobodies, but far removed from their presence this sword reeked of dark magic just as bad, if not worse. A part of her recoiled violently from its very touch, as if she’d somehow evaded doom before but grasping it now would surely invite it.

Compared to that, everything else was small hat. Two of the masks gave off a magical aura, but neither anywhere near as dire, and the others seemed purely technological. She picked up a nebulous ominous feeling from the charm along with its low, subtly off-putting song, but what that meant she couldn’t discern.

[color=Aquamarine]”Well. You can live in the twilight realm forever”[/color] she told the sword, loathing the brief moment she touched it to send it away. She’d thought she could handle dark magics, but that... thing was too much even for her. What madness or arrogance spurred someone to make such a blade she could only shudder to think about. 

Really, while the blade was by far the most egregious of the bunch, the rest of the magic items ran a similar thread. The ominousness of the charm was quite as bad, but it was still very suspicious and didn't seem to do anything immediately. Maybe she should keep it on and find out what it did? 

[color=Aquamarine]”no. No no no no. No. Goddesses I was really stupid to think the horror would be over after I dealt with those things huh”[/color] She muttered, and then dismissed the charm as well. All this foul sorcery really was a grim contrast to the sunshine and lively town bustling around below, but also a reminder of the darkness lurking below the surface. There was evil here. She’d been downplaying it in her mind in the name of pragmatism but these things, they were a reminder. 

The masks were all creepy as whatever hell the spirits of the creatures had swapped them had come from, but somehow they managed to be not as horrific as the items she’d found around the demons. The blank white mask was only mildly disturbing in principle, but in practice it was somehow the worst. It was also hard as nails and could maybe be used as a shield as a result, but did she really want to try and shield herself with something the size of a face, she thought to herself, unaware that bucklers were, technically, the pinnacle of shield technology. She certainly didn't want to wear it. As the Vizier aptly demonstrated, aesthetics were important.

Worse than the aesthetics, during a touch of mock fighting she did to test the shield idea she found out that that attacking while having it strapped to her arm caused a red flash to light up on her chest that made the bare skin beneath it crawl with an increased sense of vulnerability. Jabbing the spot when it appeared with a finger hurt a lot, and caused a bruise, confirming the sensation. Strapping it to her chest both looked real bad and caused the light to appear on the mask itself which was only something of an improvement. Using the mask as a shield again would let her guard the weak spot, but it would be awkward to do while also striking, especially because she didn't have training in that kind of thing. She also felt like one of those big boss monsters Link would stab in the eye or wherever while doing it, which was not good for her morale.

Also, even if she did trust herself to avoid being stabbed in the chest, she’d still prefer something bigger. A full kite shield like the one she’d had an eye on was a lot easier to use than this little thing, no matter how tough it might be. Then again, it being light was an advantage in and of itself. Of all the items, this one was the one she’d have to think about the most. Rather than keep endlessly mulling it over she decided to check out the other masks.

She wasn't sure how useful the devil mask would be. An intuition told her it would work on ranged spells, but try as she might she couldn't remember the specifics of any she used to know. Testing of that would have to wait till she jogged her memory. Or she could get one of the more traditional mages to test it for her.

As for the final two, she wasn't entirely sure how the technological masks worked, but they seemed like they could be a fancy way to keep you safe from sand inhalation. Much better than the rag she’d used that was for sure. This turned out to be half true. The white one seemed to filter the air, a little toss of sand proved this nicely (and maybe it would even work against finer things?) while the spiky one had two states, one which did nothing helpful while the other made it impossible to breath. She didn't get it, but there were ports on both of them that lead into the mouth and nose section, so maybe there were parts missing? That was unhelpful. Either way, white was better than blades, unless you wanted to headbutt someone.

[color=Aquamarine]”Maybe Tora will know how to use them. And be able to make them look less… evil.”[/color] she said to herself while looking them over. Cut off parts of the white one, give it a new paint-job, and then slot it into the missing part of the front of the fused shadow? Certainly an option.

An interesting haul from an detached standpoint, a rather skin crawling one from where she was actually standing. There was some dark humor in the fact that technically she now had a free sword and shield that she did not want to use.

[color=Aquamarine]”Goddesses,”[/color] Minda said, after storing everything for later/forever and standing up to take a look around town to think about what she’d do next, [color=Aquamarine]”I hope everyone else’s jobs weren’t as nightmarish as mine.”[/color]