[Center][color=ed1c24][h2]Fujiwara no Mokou[/h2] Level 6 52/60 EXP Location: Frozen Highlands - Krat Zoo Wordcount: 1523 (+3) [/color][/Center] Mokou floats over the battlefield of monkeys and balloons, watching with mild interest as the defenses tore about the aggressive balloons… And even more when the new TV man that had joined their ranks ran out to help defeat the balloons. If she had the urge, she might’ve joined in with the destruction… But in truth, she couldn’t be bothered. Destroying a bunch of balloons did not sound like a worthwhile time to Mokou. Instead, she simply continues forward, floating past the battle and towards the village, landing just in front of a guard who regarded her with a curious look under their helmet, “Huh, flying past the monkeys huh? I suppose that’s one way to do it” he comments, folding his arms, far more casual thanks to how infrequent danger came to this place, “I’m surprised to see a young face making their way to Gründachdorf. You’re not here to cause problems, are you?” Mokou simply shakes her head at the question, hands leaving her pockets so she could show that they were empty of anything threatening, [color=ed1c24]“Nonsense, just here to see the sights. And to find someone”[/color] Mokou walks up to the guard, placing her hands back into her pocket while looking up at them, her gaze somehow piercing their helmet to look them directly in the eyes, [color=ed1c24]“Looking for a man named Baldur. Apparently he’s in the area and has a history of fighting anyone he comes across-”[/color] Before she can get any further, the guard lets out a groan, “Ah, him. Didn’t know his name was Baldur, but yeah, we had someone like that pass through a while back. Went straight through those monkeys up there and then took out the entire militia. Demanded an audience with our commander and then beat him into the snow. Walked off towards the mountains without even a shirt” he explains, turning his body to gesture towards the village, “Position of Captain hasn’t been filled out ever since, and we lost a lot of good men to the balloons that came shortly afterwards.” [color=ed1c24]“... So those balloons are a threat. Interesting.”[/color] Mokou comments, letting out a sigh, [color=ed1c24]“Sounds like the guy I’m looking for. Thanks, I think I’ll take a look around this place before I head out to get him.”[/color] With that, Mokou walks around the guard, giving him a small wave as she passes, [color=ed1c24]“Take care. I’ll make sure he answers for the lives lost here.”[/color] Heading into the snowy village, Mokou simply takes in the sights for a bit. The village was a nice, quiet place. Were she a few hundred years younger, she could imagine living near this place. Or at least, for a bit, considering the murderous balloons that apparently infested the lands. That alone made her hesitant to mark this as a nice home. But, humanity was stubborn, so it was no surprise that they would settle in a place like this. As Mokou makes her way through the center of the villge, a small sound stops her in her tracks. Sitting on a bench near the village’s river was a bard with multicolored hair and a lyre, playing a soft song that flowed through the cold air. Their eyes were closed as they focused on their song, but as soon as Mokou began to approach, they opened to regard the approaching white haired girl with a cheerful warmth, “Hey there, haven’t seen you around. Take a seat, company’s better when both parties are resting!” he said with a tone that matched the cheer in their eyes, an offer that Mokou accepted, falling onto the bench and folding one leg over the other, [color=ed1c24]“No surprise you haven’t seen me, never been around this place before. Just arrived a few minutes ago, in fact.”[/color] “Ah, a traveler too, are you?” the bard asks with a grin, “Lots of folks coming through here these days. Did you come through the way with the monkeys?” a small nod from Mokou spurs the bard to continue, “They’re a fun sort. I’ve stuck around here for a few days and at one point went to watch them for a while, and they just go day in and day out fighting those balloons.” [color=ed1c24]“Hm, I had a distinct feeling they did that. I hardly encountered any sort of problem with them however: They didn’t seem to care about anything flying overhead”[/color] Mokou states, looping her arms around the back of her head and leaning further back into her seat on the bench. The statement caused the bard to blink, bringing their free hand to their chin in contemplation, “Flying right above their heads huh? I ended up walking the path and getting a bomb hurled at me” they ruminate, brows furrowing slightly as they remembered the dreadful memory, “Thankfully they seem to only register threats as anyone who walks on the path. They never attacked when I got launched off of it” The bard lets out a small laugh, brushing off the memory, “But, that’s in the past now. I’m simply spending a few nights here to rest before heading back out on the road again. [color=ed1c24]“Nothing too major. Just helping out another group of travelers hunt down someone who passed through here. They figure he’s on the path to what’s called ‘The Moon Mountain’.”[/color] “Ah, the crazy guy that went through the entire garrison. I wasn’t here when they came through, but apparently they’ve left a lasting impression” The bard laughs, not out of malice to the guards who fought as hard as they could, but to ease the mood now that a less pleasant subject had been brought up. [color=ed1c24]“Yeah, the guards here certainly seem a bit more on edge thanks to that”[/color] the phoenix states, frowning a bit as her voice falls to a whisper, [color=ed1c24]“Immortals like him give us a bad name, don’t they?” [/color] For a brief moment, the mirth in the bard’s laugh halted as they suddenly looked back at Mokou, their mouth slowly closing with a small, knowing nod, and much like Mokou his voice lowered to avoid being overheard, “I had a feeling you’d pick up on it. Took a look into your own eyes and knew you’d see a bit further. What exactly gave me away, if I may?” Mokou simply shrugs at that, [color=ed1c24]“Hard to say, it’s just a bit of your aura. A few hundred years of living alongside the divine lets you pick them up if you focus”[/color] she admits, [color=ed1c24]“Not planning on sharing your secret though. I know how important it can be to keep your true nature hidden. I don’t entirely care anymore, but I know some still do”[/color] with that, the phoenix sits up from her seat, dusting her pants off, [color=ed1c24]“Well, I should make sure that group got here safely in the first place and then prepare to head out”[/color] she states, already taking a few steps to leave, only to be stopped as Venti called out to her, placing his lyre onto the bench, “Hey, before you go, from one adventurer to another…” The bard states, closing their eyes for a moment, holding out their hand. A swirl of green wind flows through the air, coalescing into his open palm and quickly forming a Lyre, not quite the same as the one he held already, but certainly one of exquisite quality, “I have a few of these stored away, so consider this a gift. It isn’t much, but… Think of it as a good luck charm for taking down that guy. Can’t have him go around causing more trouble for towns, can we?” [Center][b]Mokou acquires: [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/gensin-impact/images/4/4a/Item_Windsong_Lyre.png/revision/latest/thumbnail/width/360/height/450?cb=20210320085947]Windsong Lyre![/url][/b] [i]An instrument of incredible workmanship, it will surely produce moving music when played by able hands.[/i][/Center] Mokou blinks in surprise at the offer… But reaches out to take it, holding it under her arm, [color=ed1c24]“Hm. Haven’t played music in a while, but… Thanks.”[/color] “Hey, we all need a hobby or two. Learn some songs and next time we see each other I might give you something else” Venti says with a smile, standing up from their seat as well, “Or just get some drinks at a tavern. A good wine always elevates the spirit, as I say. My name is Venti, by the way, for when we find each other again.” Throughout the conversation, Mokou had kept her face rather impassive… But with Venti’s words, the phoenix couldn’t help but smile a bit, [color=ed1c24]“Fujiwara no Mokou. But I just go by Mokou”[/color] she states, lifting one hand from her pockets to give the bard a small wave, “Suppose I’ll see you another time then, if our paths cross. I’ve gotta go deal with an old man who can’t catch up to the times.” And with that, Mokou turns and walks away, leaving the wandering bard to return to his music as she searched for the rest of the group, partially to rendezvous with them and partially to store her new gift away. She certainly hadn’t played in centuries, but it could be fun getting back into it.