Something was off. At first, she couldn't quite put her finger on it, but the more she walked around, the more she realized that what was causing her to feel like something wasn't right was the scent in the air. It wasn't a foul odor but it wasn't an overly pleasant one either. It just smelled... familiar. A strange familiarity. Sometimes it was weird being a Dragon Slayer. For all she knew, her senses could just be messing with her, but her curiosity begged of her to find out what it was. Giving in, she started to follow the scent. Unfortunately, she couldn't pinpoint it.

It was annoying. She had no idea how long it took her, but Assama was pretty sure that whoever she smelled was that blue haired girl not too far from her. The smell became strongest whenever she was close to her, but for all Assama knew it could have been someone else. That girl just stood out from her blue hair. Perhaps she was someone she had met but had forgotten. Nevertheless, she still decided to tap on her shoulder and ask, "Excuse me, have we met before?" Though she was almost certain the answer was "no," she could have just been momentarily blanking out on someone she met when she was younger. Maybe this girl would remember. If not, oh well.

Selena was walking around Crocus. She could see why it was called the holy capital because holy he'll the place was busy. No matter where she went the streets were crowded. Luckily she had decided to wear her top showing off her guild tattoo. She loved her tattoo at times, and today it was more than useful. For one random stall merchants wouldn't just run up to her and ask her to buy some stuff and secondly from her mere presence any shady looking person stupid enough to look at her would be sent flying. Sadly however none had decided to make eye contact so Selena was kind of bored. Yes she was happy that no one was idiotic enough to steal something while a Rune Knight was on "Patrol" but also annoyed because she was itching for a good tussle. One thing however also pestered Selena and got on her nerves, but it wasn't the lack of entertainment. No it was this persistent smell that kept coming to her.

Selena figured she was smelling herself sort of. It smelt familiar but not quite right. It was as if she had smelled this fragrance before but for some reason she just could not connect it to anything in her mind. All she knew was it was sort of giving her a head ache. Stopping to rub her head to try and remove any trace of the incoming headache, Selena felt a talon her shoulder. More than lily a trouble civilian Selena put on her "On duty" face. Despite the fact she was on vacation she would still be more than happy to help anyone in need. Selena was however met with a girl, slightly smaller than herself with long pink hair. The girl asked if they had met before somewhere. Very confused about the question, and also about the smell, Selena looked at the girl for a moment. "I can't say that I have..." Selena said, her nostrils flaring slightly. Slightly annoyed by this smell she decided to ask this girl. "I'm sorry but do you get this weird smell? I dunno how to describe it but it kinda smells like me, but not me." She said turning her head up, furrow in her brow as if to concentrate. Realising the stupidity of her question she looked back at the girl with a silly smile. "Sorry that made no sense." Selena said fixing her hair. "My name is Selena Maelstrom by the way, Rune Knight. Was there anything else you wanted to ask?" She then added braising her mark for confirmation.

Assama gave a slight frown when the blue haired girl said that she didn't know her. Great, now she just felt stupid. She knew it was just her senses acting up. Fall allergies were probably just messing with her. Assama was about to apologize and walk away when the girl asked Assama if she was getting a weird smell. What was more surprising was that she described the same scent Assama was smelling. She then gave an unnecessary apology, saying that it probably made no sense. But it made perfect sense, at least to Assama. The girl then proceeded to introduce herself as Selena, a Rune Knight. Another Rune Knight in Crocus? She assumed that this was just purely coincidental. Surely there were plenty more Rune Knights stationed in Era right now.

"I'm Assama, a member of Lamia Scale, but anyway, I actually completely understand the whole familiar smell thing you're talking about. I was thinking that it was odd too and... wait. Are you saying that you can smell people?" Could it be that Selena had the same enhanced sense of smell that Assama had? It would be strange if she did, because Assama had never met or heard of anyone in her life who had the same abilities as herself.

"Nice to meet you Assama." Selena replied, her "On Duty" face falling to a simple small smile. Assama said she was in Lamia scale. Well at least Selena didn't have to worry about her trying to steal anything from the stalls since she was in a light guild and all. But even so Selena's initial reaction towards her was that she was a concerned citizen not some low level thief. What surprised Selena more was that Assama said she actually got what Selena was talking about. Selena Cobalt eyes brightened at first but then we're clouded by confusion. Assama seemed confused too as she trailed off wondrous if Selena could smell Humans too. "Well not just Humans, everything really in greater detail. But if you can too does that mean..?" Selena too trailed off before coming to a quick realisation. "So Assama about we go get something to eat and talk more.. privately." Selena shot a few looks around to see if anyone was watching them, but aside from the odd glances there was nothing out of the ordinary. "There is a quaint little restaurant not too far from here. I've heard great things about it." Selena then looked Assama in the eye, as if trying to communicate with her without moving her lips. Selena had a fair idea she knew what she was. Something similar to herself no doubt. And if that were the case she did not want to openly talk about it in a place crowded with pedestrians. Selena stood there giving the same odd look to Assama as she waited a response.

Selena seemed glad at first that Assama understood what she meant, but soon became just as confused as Assama was. When Assama questioned Selena being able to smell humans, she replied saying that it was't just humans. She could smell just about anything in great detail. She seemed to connect the dots and drew the conclusion that both of them had the same ability. Selena then seemed that it was a good idea for them to go and talk somewhere privately. Assama couldn't have agreed more.

Selena mentioned a restaurant not too far from where they were. "Sounds great," was all Assama said, still trying to wrap her head around the whole situation. Surely she couldn't be a Dragon Slayer. Assama hasn't even heard of one other than herself. But for now, she would let Selena lead her to the restaurant and then they would talk.

"Great let's get going then." Selena then said guiding Assama beside her with her hand, looking over her shoulder just to make sure no one was watching. The two were barely walking a minute as the restaurant was literally around the corner from their current location. Selena was usually quite a literal person but this even took her by surprise. "Well here we are, told ya it was just around the corner." Selena said with a faint smile.

Taking a second to see how full the restaurant was from the outside, Selena could see that the place was kinda quiet for the size of it. The restaurant was quite big and rather popular but considering the time of day Selena wasn't overly surprised about it's lack of people. Getting closer Selena could see the sign on just to the right of the entrance written in chalk.

Brunch Special!

The message was quite vague and caused Selena ask ask herself out loud "Wonder what makes it special?" Half disregarding it for the time being she would lead Assama in. AS soon as they passed the threshold the two mages were greeted by a man with an almost comical looking mustache. "Seat for two please." Selena spoke softly and clearly, yet despite this the mustached man still did not hear. He help up his hand to his ear wanting Selena to repeat herself. "I said TABLE FOR TWO!" She said her tone quite a bit louder than what she had said before. The mustached man looked as though he was struck with an enormous amount of magic and was about to die, yet he still brought Selena and Assama to two free seats, the best looking in the place too! When the mustached man was about to leave Selena simply said "Menus?" The mustached man looked back and gave them their menus along with a nervous smile before fleeing from them both. "He was weird. Anyway, now that we aren't going to be over heard yet in a public place, why don't we talk about our magic, and let's be straight no point in pretending." Selena said her voice more serious now. They both knew what kind of magic they both have and what one could do with such a magic, but neither of them knew what the other was going to do. It was crucial to find out what the other was doing. The power to slay Dragons is great so great some who poses it only want to cause harm with it. So Selena needed to make sure that this girl wasn't one of those.

When Selena said that the restaurant was right around the corner, she didn't think that she meant right around the corner. Typically, Assama took that phrase for being a little further than right around the corner, but it seemed that Selena was being very literal. The restaurant looked nice though and it wasn't too crowded, which meant that there wouldn't be a lot of noise, unless Assama and Selena happened to be unfortunate enough to sit behind a family with a loud or restless child.

Selena and Assama walked into the restaurant and Selena asked for a table for two. When the man with the mustache didn't reply, Selena said it much... louder, causing Assama to wince at the sudden rise in volume. The man too, was taken back by Selena's loudness, but nonetheless escorted the two of them to a table. He must either have been new or just wasn't a good waiter in general because he almost forgot their menus. Luckily Selena reminded him. He rushed off and swiftly returned with their two menus. Selena commented that he was weird. Assama nodded in agreement and Selena continued on with her sentence, picking right back up from where the left. Selena cut straight to the chase and said for them to start talking about their magic and that there was no point in pretending anymore. "Yeah... you're right." Assama quickly scanned her surroundings to see if anyone was near, and when she saw that nobody was within earshot, she started talking to Selena again. "I'm the Sky Dragon Slayer, and you?"

A small smile appeared on Selena''s face. Good she was direct and too the point, no need for any unnecessary information. Staring into Assama''s green eye's with her own Cobalt ones, she could see that she was serious too. Assama then said she was the Sky Dragon Slayer. Selena''s eyes glint ed at the sound. Sky huh? A rather rare for of magic. Wind magic was far more common while sky, depending on the caster could have far more versatility with spells and types of spells than most. Despite her having a fairly well know magic, Selena was not sure exactly who Assama was with her magic, after all the magic of a mage often determined their personality. Selena was a perfect example. Water could be harsh and violent, but also soft and soothing. Assama also asked what element did Selena specialise in. "Water~" Selena said with a trace of her smile still on her face. Selena then looked a little more seriously as she thought of her next question. "So.." half choking on her question, Selena coughed to remove the catch. She realised that Assama could have possibly had the same experience as her as to how she awakened to her powers. "How did you become a dragon slayer?" Selena finally managed to say. Although she found it hard to say her face would stay rather serious and still looking into Assamas eyes. Selena wondered what her answer would be.

It turned out that Selena was actually the water dragon slayer. "That's very suiting, considering all the blue," Assama said, gesturing mostly to her hair, but also to her cobalt eyes. Selena seemed a little apprehensive to ask Assama a question, but ended up asking her how she became a Dragon Slayer. "Oh, I just got a lacrima put inside of me. You see, I come from a long line of mages but by some kind of fluke, I was born with an extremely low aptitude for most magics. My parents would do anything to get me magic and that included getting me a lacrima. How did you get yours?"

"Hmm?" Selena looked to her outfit. It was fairly blue all right, but it as a good color hat barely clashed with any thing! She then looked to her hair, also blue, and in the election of the glass table she caught a glimpse of her cobalt eyes shining back. "Never thought about that, but I guess you're right. Heh" Selena said with the small chuckle. She hadn't really been amused by the comment such 's that for the while. It was omething about his girl that made her easy to talk to. WAS it the fact that he was a slayer too? NO it was more emotional. SHE seemed more down to earth and not afraid to express herself, a little like Selena. "To be honest you could be any slayer you anted to with such lovely oink hair, but I guess your greenish eyes kinda say nature? Either way my first guess wouldn't have been Sky" Selena said placing a stray grand of hair behind her ear.

Assama then went on o explain how she got her dragon slaying powers. The way she got her magic was far more tame then the torture Selena had to endure. IN fact, Selena wasn't overly sure about Assama's answer. Maybe she was lying? A possibility, but an unlikely one. "Oh yeah, mine as imilar too." Selena said looking away, half dodging the question. SHE wasn't lying, but there was far more to her obtaining her powers than just wanting them.

"So peasantries aside... Selena began , bringing her hand together. .. Do you know of the Dragon emperor?" Direct question. SELENA did not want to mess round any longer.

Assama seemed to know of the dragon emperor, but was not sure in it's existence. OK a good sign, somewhat. I'm in the same boat as you Assama. All I know is that those who wish to become emperor need to defeat all other slayers." Selena said looking back at Assama very serious. Now I need to know. Do you wish to become the emperor? If you do I will not condemned you for it. Just one thing." Taking a large inhale she spoke again almost in a sigh. "Please, please do not seek destruction. I know it sounds odd to say the least, but just promise me." Selena said once again remembering why she wasaid given her magic in the first place. Trying to oush those Melrose to the back of her mind, Selena desperately wanted to listen to Assama''s reply.

A relieved smile crossed Selena's face at Assama''s reply. Selena wasn't overly surprised since Assama was from a legal guild and all, but one could never be too careful. Especially with dark guilds on the rise too. Still, bow Selena knew a large weight had been lifted from her shoulders, no more need to worry about this one cornering her and beating her half to death to become emperor! Assama then wanted to know what Selena was going to do if she got the power. Well, I don't really know. Quite frankly I've never really thought about what I'd do with it." Selena admitted. Giving it some thought her mind once again wandered to her troubled past. They wanted her to become emperor so they could have power and Selena could see that. BUT power for the sake of power is wrong. Looking rather sure in herself Selena answered. If I were to try and become Emperor, it would only be to make sure no one else would for fear of the worst. And although it might sound cheesy, i would kinda ant it to protect people, I mean I am in he Rune Knights in all. KINDA in he job description. Selena said with a faint chuckle. "Now, glad all that's said and done." said selena clapping her hands together. Looking down at her menu scanning the various dishes her stomach began to growl. Lord am I famished, where's that waiter? Selena asked to herself more than to Assama

"They taste how tbey sound. Mushrooms, deep fried in batter. They taste pretty good and the portion could be considered a little bigger than a starter. Have a taste anhway and of you dont like it, screw it." Selena said. " So yeah get us those please, post haste." Selena said the the waiter handing him her menu. Selena's eyes widened at what Assama asked. So she noticed too. "Well some here are chasing leads in a case, others just are stationed here, but most like me are off on vacation for a bit. Its all kinda been tense since the incident with the cannon, you know." Selena answered as she waited for her food.

"Well as hushed as it can be. I mean one of the main defences of the country is destroyed. Only so much you can do and i know there are light guilds and
Eople like you who help against all that, but still..." Selena said with a cloudy experssion on her face. I mean civilian knowledge is rather limoted, but I wouldn't be surprised if the whole continent found out by the end of the month." Selena then said, shifting her eyes to the cormer of the table. Twiddling her thumbs as she talked she realised she was becoming a little more uncomfortable and was starting to show it. Selena opened her mouth to speak but was knterupted by the clattering of plates. LOoking over the man was bringing over their food. "Oh good." Selena said with relief. THe waiter pladed all the food on the table before bowing and leaving. PUtting her hands together for a quick moment before grabbing herknife and fork "Lets dig in!" Selena then said stabbing her steak with her cutlery and tsking a piece off to eat.

Assama said the deep fried mushroom balls were to her liking. "Good. NOw we don't have to waste any food." Selena said with a slight smile. SHe hated wasting food and if Assama didn't eat any of the mushroom balls Selena was sure she wouldn't be able to finish it. AS Selena was stuffing her face with steak and mushrooms, Assama asked was she going to get anything else done before her vacation was up. No clue. To be honest I was forced to take time off, so really I've just been winging it." Selena said taking a large gulp. I read, I metup with other Rune knights and I went to the Flower gardens." Selema said listing off all she did in her time off. Oh yeah if you plan on going to the gardens make sure not to use your nosentoo much. I learned my lesson the hard way." Selena then said raising a hand to her nose as if to comfort it. Oh yeah i never asked. Why are you here. In Crocus I mean." Selena then asked Assama.