-A couple hours later-
The night sky swept over the capital of the imperial empire and it's subjects but the party was only getting started. The entire city which had so painstakingly put together over the course of a week and a half of working days, along with the thanks to Lord Pembroke's payments and Meijin's traders whom had many of the things already needed in nearby cities due to his vast trading network. The city was lit up with torches and blastia alike, the latter of which heavily guarded by knights whom had the unfortunate part to have to watch the objects during a festival, as the revelers commenced their gallant dancing in the upper section and the more nocturnal of them went out to have a fun night with the lower quarter members of gather together for games with off duty imperial knights. The knight captains in charge of the guard shifts were Stanson and Garfield while the rest were let off and or were guarding the emperor and his council. In the lower quarter the parties were much louder and much more fierce than the parties up in the noble sectors as they drank heavily, sung loudly and drunkenly, and there were all sorts of manners of small games and prizes which was why Mutsu decided to spend his time down there. He walked down the row and row of stalls as the stall keeps shouted at him and others trying to get their attention for all sorts of things. As Mutsu walked along the heavily lit streets he couldn't help but feel the feelings of the people and their loud boisterous gesturing and noises over take him. In fact a couple of the off duty sell swords were off dueling in the street as the crowd watched along with a group of imperial knights to make sure no fatalities were occurring. "Man the knights are everywhere there should just be a day where they all get the day off!" Mutsu said to himself as one of his friends grabbed him from behind and grinned at him, "Come on Mutsu lighten up! Your old man would be scrappin' over there with those guys and here you are just walking about! I mean come on grab a girl or your sword and have some fun!" the man said as Mutsu blushed. There would be no girl interested in a plain guy like him! "Hey I've got a reputation to uphold I can't just go wenching back and forth acting like some slob like you!" Mutsu told the man who laughed heavily, "Oh man your so like your uncle it ain't funny! All well Cain is going to get off before the night's done so mayhap that I could find him somewhere! Whatever man let's just have a nice little fight Mutsu!" The man said shoving Mutsu forward as the boy stumbled to try and right himself. He was pushed into the circle more or less as the big burly man threw him a blunted sword and took one for himself. In the middle of the quarter Mutsu prepared himself as best he could. He was a shield and sword fighter and losing one made him feel awkward as heck. He clumsily blocked and slashed back at his opponent as the crowd cheered heavily.

Krile had fallen asleep eventually, but Krita was still rolling around in her bed trying to get to sleep. She grinded her teeth and angrily thought, What the hell is going on out there!? Are they trying to wake the dead!?

She gave up and got out of bed, grabbing her wooden staff and peering out the window with a bemused grin.

Maybe a few Stone Blasts should help thin the crowd a little...

Sighing as she wades her way through the people celebrating she cant help but be kind of angry at how much better the money could have been used but she pushed the thought out of her mind and focuses on making her way to the Royal Quarter package in hand, "Let's see I was told by a maid that she would be near the common area general store and she would be easily noticed..."

Raiga snorts and rolls her eyes, "I know when have I ever trusted someone in the Royal Quarter. Though I would have to sneak in if I can't find her here which would get me in tons more trouble..." She sighs, "Well I've made my choice so let's Hurry!"

As the party got louder and louder more people were clogging the streets and the various levels of the city in loud music and the knights were forced to go in and sort out the rabble while still trying to keep the party going. It was one thing keeping the party itself going with minimum violence, minus the melee that had broken out in the lower quarter by the sell swords down there and the local defenders which the knights had agreed to overlook, but it was another thing entirely to make sure people didn't get trampled to death in a massive rush to get to the nearest stand. A nearby rider told the knights that the group of honor was fast approaching and would be here very soon if nothing went horribly wrong. The crowds that were aware grew more rowdy if that was even possible. Mutsu on the other hand was too absorbed in bobbing and weaving like some sort of crazed mad man because he couldn't stay on the offensive against his opponents as it seemed multiple men had taken a interest in the boy. While he could hold his own in most fights he was SORELY unexperienced in actual combat only going out on a handful of his dad's and uncle's trips to fight monsters and only then he only observed. These men had more experienced in their pinky toe than he did in his whole body. But hey nothing ventured nothing gained! Mutsu activated his artes and full on punched someone in the face with it disorienting the man whom was going to fast to block the attack. Unfortunately Mutsu proceeded to get his legs kicked out for under him and he landed with a hard thud on the ground. He cringed but dodged the next blow and blocked the rest of the blows in a desperate attempt of a defensive stance. Mutsu however was forced to leave by a woman fighter who said the kid was getting picked on too much and she didn't want the upper snobs getting pissed that he was getting knocked up by some 'street thugs'. Mutsu growled but didn't complain after all what could he do besides get his butt kicked more and get yelled at. He probably earned a few new bruises as well. As Mutsu passed by a group of guys leaning in the front of the inn with some rather strange masks strapped to the back of their heads. Whatever the hell they want to do he guessed it was a party after all. Mutsu couldn't help but wonder what Cain was up to...

---

Cain was walking down the streets towards Meijin's blasted little party house which made him feel like puking. The place was sooooo boring it wasn't even funny. He enjoyed money making but the amount of money Meijin made was downright criminal in a legal way. Cain's red hair was covered in booze, sweat, and some other substance he had poured on him which made him smell rather foul. But that was a moot point he's learned to live with people pissing on his occupation and he was determined to become the emperor's right hand man some day. Once he got the right spot he'd clean up this city's etiquette assuming the Emperor would even notice a lowly stooge like him. Cain sighed and twirled a small chain of beads around his finger as he walked towards Meijin's place complacently.

Krita was about to cast a Stone Blast spell to try and shut the crowd up a bit, but that was when she looked down and found the men standing in front of the inn's doors. Were they partygoers who needed to get inside? The doors were locked to prevent any hooligans from disturbing the inn's patrons, yet she wasn't sure if they had been locked out. Krita opted to be a good Samaritan and head downstairs to let them in.

Upon opening the door though, one of the men widened his eyes with recognition. The others surrounded her, and one held a knife to her back.

"Found you. I promised that you would regret trying to stop me," he leered darkly.

"W-What? What's going on? Why are you-!?"

"You won't be so lucky this time. Stay quiet and we won't kill you."

"I... I don't understand..."

"Don't play dumb, woman. This is retribution for your interference this afternoon."

Krita had to pause for a moment. She didn't interfere with anyone today, did she? Not that she was aware of... That was when she remembered how Krile chased the blastia thief. If these guys were part of that thief's group, they were more sinister than she imagined, and they had also made a huge mistake - they thought the one they were looking for was Krita because she looked exactly like Krile, which meant they had no idea the sisters were twins. Even if Krita wanted to correct them, that would mean endangering Krile to save herself. She didn't want to put her sister in harm's way.

What was she supposed to do?

The man answered for her: "Shut up and come with us quietly."

"... Fine. But I want to know what you're going to do to me first."

"And if I don't tell you?"

"I just want to be sure you won't kill me."

"That shouldn't be your problem right now."

Damn, this guy was being stubborn. Krita scoffed and let the men guide her away from the inn, mingling with the crowd and heading into Zaphias' streets.

---

Unbeknownst to the small group of evil-looking thugs kidnapping Krita, Krile had woken up and discovered the window open. A lot of unpleasant noise and clamor reached her ears, and she wanted to shut it out immediately. She approached the window and was about to close it when she caught a glimpse of the scene and hid herself behind the curtain. She watched from above, horrified to discover that it was the same man from this afternoon. Even worse was that they held her at knife-point, hiding the weapon beneath some cloth and forcing Krita to walk with them. Thanks to the activity in the streets, no one paid much attention to what was going on.

This isn't good. If I don't chase them down, Krita might be killed because of what I did earlier. But judging from the thief's ability to escape, it might be too risky for me to challenge them alone...

Regardless, Krile had to go. She quickly threw off her nightgown and put on her regular travel clothes, equipping her sword and rushing downstairs to exit the inn and pursue the group from afar.