[Color=gray][center][h1][Color=silver]M[/color][Color=lightblue]i[/color][Color=cornflowerblue]r[/color][color=green]i[/color][color=mediumpurple]s[/color][/h1]
[Img]https://i.imgur.com/qDMVZHa.png[/Img]
[H2][color=red]F L A S H B A C K[/color][/h2][/center]
[Color=darkturquoise]Race: [/color]Changeling
[Color=cornflowerblue]Location:[/color] Rekkenmark, Karrnath

[Color=white]“How much? How much? How much?”[/color] The young pale-skinned Changeling girl asked in desperation as she emptied a sack in a dark dank alleyway. The contents of the bag were random at best— anything she could get her hands on without being seen… anything that might fill the sack until she could no longer fill it or carry it without drawing suspicion.

It had been weeks since she tucked away something of value, and this hardship opened up her peculiar eyes to the difficulties of thievery. Sure, she had an edge in taking up the form of whomever she liked, but the problem lay in knowing what type of person was fitting in the setting she wished to take from. Then there was knowing what was deemed valuable. 

The fence of this city was a picky bastard in her eyes, but truly, the Half Elf simply had experience on his side that she did not. Still, she was young, and only viewed the sly man as another obstacle keeping her from making it big. That's all she wanted. That’s all that anyone wanted, right? Enough coin for a lifetime. Enough for one to forsake the Traveler’s blessing and still hold their head up high.

A sigh escaped her as her hands sorted through the items, which consisted of old, unused inkwells, brass candleholders, loose gold coins, kitchenware, a wax seal stamp, and pieces of items that weren't worth much without their other parts. 

[Color=white]“Ugh! Maybe I need a bigger sack.”[/color] She scowled at the thing as if it were the reason she was barely making it by. [Color=white][i]But it'll set me back… I'll do it next time. Next time I’ll buy a big ol’ sack or a bag.[/i][/color] The thought was hopeful, yet she grimaced as the reality of it weighed on her. If she gathered a bounty like this next time, she'd just give the same reasoning. She knew it in her heart but refused to let the thought surface.

[Color=white][i]I could have remained with my mother… I could have been a normal Karrnathi girl.[/i][/color]

Tears threatened to escape her, but she fought against them. Crying meant defeat… right? The tears that might have rolled down her cheeks would be the true sign of her inability. [Color=white][i]I won't lose. I can't. I chose and… I chose this[/i][/color]

As tiny and thin as Miris was, she held a will as thick as a stone wall. The same walls that surrounded this very city. To her, depending on fewer people meant you were stronger for it, so since she had no one, she felt she was the strongest person she'd known… at least, she felt she had to be.

She collected all her stolen goods, returning them to the sack from once they came before she focused on her ability to shift her appearance to that of a human girl. 

Long braided blonde hair, blue eyes, and rosy red cheeks. Features she stole from a young girl her age, she found pretty… a young girl her age, she found innocent. With a step to a walk to a skip, she traveled along merrily, thinking about how she could further fill her sack as she felt she could at least cram another item or two. She just needed the right mark. Someone who'd she had gained the trust of. Someone to betray.

One person came to mind, and he always did when Miris wanted to fill her sack a tad bit more. He was kinder than anyone she had met, so it always hurt to take from him. He always offered food and conversation free of charge, and he didn't mind her true form. Perhaps that's why it was painful to steal from him. Perhaps stealing from him is why she couldn't find it in her heart to consider him a friend. [Color=white][i]Friends shouldn't steal from friends… but I think he knows… I think he's worried about me, and so he lets me… No! No! He's just a foolish old man. An easy mark. A gullible foolish old man.[/i][/color]

Miris skipped through Rekkenmark, free as anyone with her appearance might be, up until she reached a quiet stoney workshop with twin iron doors that flaunted the craftsmanship of the one who forged them, engraved with a war between two armies either no one remembered or thought could exist. 

Using one of the looped handles she knocked on the door with her free hand while holding her sack over her opposite shoulder.

[Center]CLING! CLANG![/center]

The looped handles sounded before Miris waited patiently while looking at the engraving on the doors. Just looking and wondering if that war was true occupied her until she heard the sounds of metal sliding on the other side of the door. Taking a step back, Miris allowed the twin door to open unimpeded, and for the man behind it to greet her.

[Color=silver]“Oh, Miris. Wonderful to see you here this- hmm… Is it afternoon already?”[/color]

[Color=white]“Yes, Wendel. It's almost evening.”[/color] Miris chuckled while shyly covering her mouth. [Color=white]“Working hard today?”[/color] She asked while he stroked his beard with an inquisitive look upon his face.

[Color=silver]“No, I’d say I was hardly working. Took two naps so I'm still only halfway done with the training weapons for the academy.”[/color] Wendel admitted.

[Color=white]“Seems good to me. Two naps and halfway finished… I don't think I could do that.”[/color] Miris shook her head with a grin

[Color=silver]“Of course you can! I'm old and rusty and tired and… sometimes I would just rather have good company. And speaking of which, come in… and drop the disguise, Miris. You being a Changeling is always fine with me.”[/color] Wendel smiled like he always did, with generosity and without a hint of judgment. And though Miris smiled at his words, she still waited until the iron doors shut behind her before she reverted to her true self. She trusted Wendel more than anyone, but she was still cynical enough to know that many people despised the sight of Changelings.

The two walked forth, into the workshop. One entertaining company. The other exploiting the innocence of such.[/color]