[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/saJefsm.png[/img]
[h2][color=ab0000]C[/color]armillia [color=ab0000]C[/color]arbonneau[/h2]
[i]Takes place in the late hours of Ipte, before both Leon and Jomurr awoke.[/i][/center]

Life as a street urchin meant Carmillia had acquired the skill of being a light sleeper. It had been a necessity in order to avoid being robbed or taking advantage of while she slept. Despite this, she appeared fast asleep when Flavius Cuellar snuck into her room during the late hours of Ipte. 

The creaking of the window as he unlatched it. The knocking of his footsteps. Even the faint rattle of his belt buckle—all sound was rendered mute by his magic. Flavius casually waltzed over to the bed Carmillia lay in. The young man stood ominously over Carmillia’s sleeping body, his eyes twinkling with desire.

[color=ab0000]“Flavius,”[/color] said Carmillia, her eyes still closed. [color=ab0000]“There’s no point in silencing your movement if you don’t conceal your presence. You’re brimming with lust.”[/color]

“I was merely testing if you’ve gone soft,” he responded. It was the truth, Carmillia would not have been able to detect him if he truly wished to remain hidden. “Things have been [i]quiet[/I] as of late. It wouldn’t do if our dear rose has lost her thorns.”

Things had indeed been quiet, business was smooth if not slow and it had been awhile since she’d used the services of The Crimson Hand. Ignoring his wordplay, Carmillia gracefully arose to face the young man in red. For a supposedly stealthy scout, Flavius dressed flamboyantly. It was intentional on his part, a subtle brag that he need not dress inconspicuously in order to remain hidden. 

[color=ab0000]“Pray tell, please enlighten me as to why you’re bothering me at such an hour?”[/color] she asked, crossing her legs as she sat in bed. She had already liaised with Bernhard the night before—she had updated him about the day’s events and he had given her more in-depth profiles of her fellow apprentices.

“Ol’ Berny sent me. He felt like this couldn’t wait.”

Carmillia raised an eyebrow at that.

Flavius then proceeded to update her on the events that occurred. Flavius had been on watch duty, keeping an eye over the townhome while Carmillia slept. He noticed Illanaq Sigmundottir sneaking out during the night. She had been behaving oddly hence his decision to follow her—it was most definitely not because watch duty was boring and he wanted to stretch his legs. He followed her up to the docks where he had been forced to keep a distance when she headed towards cliffs facing the Ensollian Sea. Even for him, there was a possibility of being detected if he was following her out in the open. Flavius, stealthy as he may be, was no illusionist. Illanaq who had entered the mists never reappeared. Flavius had then taken a risk went after her but she was nowhere to be found. After updating Bernhard, he was then told to notify Carmillia immediately.

“Honestly, I don’t know what’s the rush for,” he said. “Berny could’ve told you himself tomorrow.”

[color=ab0000]“Bernhard wouldn’t have made you notify me if it wasn’t important,”[/color] she responded. [color=ab0000]“You say she simply vanished?”[/color]

“She did. Gone without a trace,” he said. “It might have something to do with those other folks sneaking around.”

[color=ab0000]“Excuse me?”[/color]

Flavius explained that he had not been the only one sneaking around in the city. He was unsure of the exact number, but there had been several others moving about. Mages adept at stealth. “They were skilled,” he said. 

Carmillia tossed her bed lamp at him in annoyance. [color=ab0000]“Open up with that next time, would you?”[/color]

Flavius caught it with ease and shrugged nonchalantly. “I wasn’t sure if it was of relevance,” he responded.

Carmillia digested the information. For an arrogant man like Flavius to acknowledge them, it meant that they were professionals. [color=ab0000][i]Why did Bernhard want me to know immediately?[/i][/color] she pondered as she tried to connect the dots.

Illanaq was the least significant member among the apprentices under Fades-in-Moonlight. Unlike the others, there was nothing of note about her. She was from a lowly merchant family and while she was adept at magic, it was nothing compared to others like Jomurr. Carmillia cared little for her and Bernhard was aware of this fact. There was more to this. [color=ab0000][i]Why was she targeted?[/i][/color] Illanaq was a nobody, her background made her an unlikely target for something political in nature. The only unique thing about her was that the growth of her RAS had been irregularly large for a redblood. [color=ab0000][i]Irregular growth…?[/i][/color]

Aberrations could be harnessed to amplify one’s magic potential. It was something that Carmillia had researched herself in the past but she lost interest in the matter after discovering the side effects. It was possible that Illanaq had been harnessing aberrations—it would explain her magical proficiency. 

Everything clicked. The mysterious events that conspired during the ceremony. An group of unknowns prowling about the city. Illanaq’s sudden disappearance. It was likely they were all related to the Traveller. Bernhard probably connected the dots and knew Carmillia would too.

“Miss Carbonneau?”

[color=ab0000]“That will be all, Flavius. You may go,”[/color] she said. [color=ab0000]“And put that back where you found it.”[/color]

Flavius grimaced as he placed back the dress he was holding. Carmillia had laid it out earlier, it was the outfit she had chosen for the next day's activities. Whatever Flavius had been intending to do with it, she had no intentions of finding out.

He gave her a small bow and with that, he was gone.

[hider=Bernhard Holler][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/hfhodIR.jpg[/img][/center]

Bernhard is one of the five members of The Crimson Hand that Carmillia chose to infiltrate Ersand’Enise. Despite being the only one among them who is unable to use The Gift, he’s the de facto leader of the quintet. He’s resourceful, level-headed and has unquestionable loyalty towards Carmillia. Bernhard has proven himself time and time again, showing that while The Gift is a significant boon, it isn’t necessary.
[/hider]
[hider=Flavius Cueller][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/gQKx67n.jpg[/img][/center]

Flavius is one of the five members of The Crimson Hand that Carmillia chose to infiltrate Ersand’Enise. He was originally a wagewand (magus equivalent of a sellsword) but was personally recruited into the gang of thieves by Carmillia after proving his worth. Though Flavius has no official training, he has a respectable RAS of 6.1 and years of experience in using kinetic magic. He specializes in reconnaissance, using his magic to move about quickly and stealthily. While Flavius is arrogant and flamboyant, he is charming in a cheeky sort of way.
[/hider]
[hider=Summary]Carmillia has obtained more specific information regarding her fellow apprentices. Flavius is introduced as the second member of The Crimson Hand she's brought over. She finds out ahead of the rest that Illanaq has gone missing and believes it's connected to the Traveller.[/hider]