A gentle breeze brushed through the open market. A welcome gift, one that so often would be taken for granted under most circumstances, yet for those who paraded through the busy street, no more than a few inches separating one another, it was heavenly.

Especially true for those whom had yet to acclimate to the weather of Sin, the humidity being an unforgiving temptress that made it hard for one to get comfortable. She was far from any sort of exception; the approaching summer months of Fiore were hardly the most temperate either, yet there was at least a period of acclimation that came with it.

But not for her. No, Astrid did get the benefit of ‘getting used’ to the Sinese climate, nor did she honestly expect to become familiar with it by the time her inevitable return to Fiore. It was a reality that she somewhat lamented, knowing that her time here – although a welcome break from the tedium that came with her business in Fiore, notably Crocus and Oak Town – would soon enough come to an end.

Already, her time within this foreign land had already exceeded several days, with multiple days remaining fortunately. The difficulty came within the pace at which the days already passed by, from the point of her arrival to right now seeming to passed with the mere snap of her fingers.

It lent to the urgency of the matter, one of the key points to her unexpected arrival in Sin and the preference towards this outer part of the nation, far enough outside Tianjing and the overburdened streets too crowded to appreciate one’s presence. This little hovel, by first appearances seeming to be little more than a makeshift market set up to provide for the disenfranchised and unwanted of Sin, was in reality one of the most wealthy setups within the nation. One of several spots in which high value trading often occurred, though often in goods and services that were seldom welcome within Tianjing.

Nothing considered contraband, at least by Sinese standards, but certainly goods were in the public eye would be far from glamorizing, especially to the eyes of prospective traders, foreigners, dignitaries, and others who the image of the nation mattered so much. Thankfully, for those like Astrid who cared little about the pseudo-moral-politics and rather appreciated the free market, places like here were ideal.

It did help too that she was among welcome company.

“For you,” came the warm voice of Baron “Freddie” Khuschev, a close associate whom had been instrumental in Astrid’s successful coup; the overthrowing of her father, her own ascent to the King’s Court. And a cultured wine merchant. Dressed somewhat casually, elegant silks that were thin enough to allow for his body to sufficiently breath, unlike Astrid, he managed to properly acclimate himself to the environment of Sin, someone who could have easily been mistaken as a natural Sinese citizen by his mannerisms, betrayed only by his tanned skin doing still failing to sell him as a local, particularly by those who were. Within full hands there were two delights for Astrid, one an elegantly crafted pipe, the bowl of it packed sufficiently with no doubt among the highest quality tobacco that someone could have acquired. In the other, something Astrid was far more familiar with; top-shelf Fiorian brandy, no doubt from Khuschev’s own distillery.

Taking both with delight, it would have been wrong of her to deny her host the pleasure of providing such treats. Even if the tobacco were not something that she would normally partake in back in Fiore, she was after all on a vacation of sorts. It was only appropriate that she enjoy herself. At the worst, it would take away from the frustrating futility that her intended shopping spree had yielded.

“Anything to your liking yet?” Khuschev inquired, as much curious to what may have suited Astrid’s taste on the particular product as he were just curious to the general interest whatsoever. It was surprising to see Astrid after such an extended period, now having found herself interested in the same line of work that he had left Fiore in order to pursue. Especially too that she was so regarded within Fiore as a Senator, based on what he had heard from those who spread tales of the happenings of Fiore; it was simply hard to wrap his head around the idea that any of this would have interested Astrid Venier.

After all, very few who found themselves much intrigued with the prospect of Demi-Human slavery.

She breathed in deep, inhaling a heavy cloud of the flavored tobacco as it filled her mouth, traveled down her throat and settled upon within lungs for a moment, not before being exhaled out in a thick cloud whose aroma filled the already thick air, faintly obscuring the large cages before her. Multiple cages, all reinforced to house and securely contain a full-sized human. Not a single one of them empty, rather each of them housing a Demi-Human, an adult female with animalistic properties in some capacity. Some more apparent than the others.

Each of them sat there within their cage, effectively confined to little more than a being shown off as a toy. Sadly the callousness was the nature of the business. What a client wanted to do with these women was their own business, and even Astrid, of whom Khuschev had seen some of the worst behavior within, had her own reason to find a companion here. And their past association aside, in this moment she were a client, first and foremost. Thus, whatever inspection she hoped to gain through the thick cage, that was her prerogative, one that he certainly would not interrupt. Interference was the last thing anyone in his position would have done; this was a lucrative business, but also one that was very volatile. The sad reality was that for every one of these women who would be sold, the majority of them would likely find themselves dead or otherwise wishing for such a fate.

In a cruel way, someone like Astrid being here was a lifesaver, literally.

Kneeling down, she took another deep breath, inhaling and then shortly thereafter exhaling another cloud of smoke, this time directly in the direction of the young woman in the cage before her. She watched intently, seeing how the woman responded. Dejectedly, that was without question. But there was something that was missing in this woman, something that Astrid was intent on seeing.

Submissiveness and a will to survive.

The two elements together, it was exactly what she wanted to see, to be entertained by.

Yet these women lacked them, much like the others that Khuschev had presented to her in the previous days.

Standing up, she sighed with disappointment. “They’re better than the group you showed me the other day, but they’re still lacking.” She turned to the man, seated on a nearby chair, simply watching the exchange between the women. “You have more?”

There was a smile on the man’s face as he raised his glass and downed the remainder of the brandy in a single sip, little over a shot’s worth of brandy gone in a quick second. “Certainly. I did have hopes that this group would have shown some promise, but there are still a few whom I’m certain you can find something worth while.” Grabbing the bottle, he poured himself another glass, holding the bottle out to Astrid with the option of refilling her class, the brandy admittedly near empty in her own. With her nod of approval, he poured, watching as the liquid filled near the brim of her glass, sufficient enough to distract her, if only for a short while while he made the necessary arrangements. “If you’ll excuse me. Will see about arranging their arrival in the morning and then we can discuss dinner arrangements.”

With that, he departed, disappearing within the elaborate and crowded building that he operated out of, leaving Astrid alone with the women still in cages, weak cries of desperation echoing throughout, all of them hoping to garner Astrid’s favor, if only for just a moment.

Alas, that did not happen.

Ignoring them as well as she could, Astrid took a hearty sip of the brandy, exhaling for a moment as the rush took her by surprise. Not often that she smoked and drank together, the combination certainly being a bit foreign to her. After some moments though, the insistent cries became too much, the woman choosing to instead depart for the streets and appreciate the relative silence. Much of the crowd had dispersed at this point, actually providing a woman like Astrid an opportunity to think, perhaps even enjoy her smoke.

Either option was a better choice than listening to the cries of the women in there. “Four days now, and not a single one worth the time.” She shook her head, looking for a moment at the brandy, “Here’s hoping tomorrow works out better,” and as she said this, she downed the remainder of the drink in a single gesture. Empty glass in her hand, she held it for a moment before suddenly throwing it down the street, ignorant towards whom it may have struck, erupting into seemingly thousands of tiny glass fragments, ignorant to where they may have landed, none of that measuring to the level of her concern.

There were some things that were simply evident. Things that a person did not have to look too deeply towards, no hidden nature that had to be uncovered in order to understand, no deception that one had to associate their mind with to be aware towards. These things were simply known.

The dynamic too, between those of the described “elite” and those who made up the rest of a given society. It was not unique to any one region. Every nation, every city, every segmented little clan splintered apart from one another followed the same principle. She knew of it while in Fiore, whether growing up or in her current life, having always stood among the ones that were fortunate enough to look down upon the rest of the world.

Even in a nation like Sin, where the political stratosphere was as complicated as it was, to the point of even being needlessly so, the same principle that Astrid had known for so long held true too. One only had to look down the street to see enough of that picture being played out. Slavery, a practice that generally amongst humanity was considered despicable, trotted out like that of any common-day affair like purchasing a few pieces of fruit. What made it all the more eye-opening was how even in this, it still was viewed as something for the elite only.

The power to purchase another human, or Demi-Human as Khuschev tended to deal in, she were one of few people in this area that not only possessed that capability, but with such authority too that seldom would challenge it. That power carried weight, instilled fear, particularly among those of the lesser status. So much so that as the glass exploded only a short distance away from her, there were not a soul whom looked at her with scorn or contempt. Nobody trying to hold her accountable for her actions, no chiding her over the risk that the explosion of glass may have posed to others.

If anything, those who exchanged glances to her were those out of fear. Fear that she may have been upset, that they would be the next victims to whatever fury she may have wrought. Even two had gone to her and asked if there were anything she needed, hoping to appease her. She smirked, suppressing a chuckle that she were all too inclined to let out, “Bring me another drink. The man in that building there owns the liquor and glasses,” she nonchalantly pointed towards Khuschev’s compound, the caged Demi-Humans still on display, “The glass belonged to him. See that he’s compensated accordingly.”

The pair looked at one another, reservation apparent on their faces, before ultimately answering Astrid’s demands, venturing forth within as – like men possessed – they sought Khuschev. Once they were out of sight, Astrid sighed. It was easy. Almost too easy.

Her attention had been so focused upon the spectacle before her, that she hadn’t paid much heed towards the behemoth that had come into the picture. Viewing him out of the corner of her eyes, she looked with a fierce intensity, distinct pupils focused as the towering figure came more into focus, the obscuring shadow giving way as the figure moved closer, not close enough to be considered in “close contact”, but at least to where his words were clear.

What he asked was simple enough, but at the same time, his concern felt out of place. “But of course!” She said with a dose of exaggerated flair, frustration evident, the reason being everything about. Another day of what amounted to a fruitless shopping experience, the heat being something that she at this point was ready to be done with, and without a drink she was forced to hope that the locals could handle the simple task of getting her another. One that they appeared to be failing at. “Just another day wasted…”

Her frustration was evident, her tone a mixture of dejectedness and disappointment. The day had proven to be a long, and fruitless one, and the arrival of this figure was the last thing she was looking to entertain. She had no idea who he was, only that he seemed to tower over everyone in the area. Even from the distance between the two, she could clearly see that he held most likely a few feet above her.

An oddity. If nothing else.

But the figure’s size and stature, whatever menacing quality may have been embedded within his mysterious arrival and size were betrayed by the innocence of his question.  Betrayed, that was perhaps the most apparent thing that she could take away from this singular interaction. While the locals walked around her fearful of what was could have happened, this man walked with them. Not in the same derived fear, but rather in the innocence. She saw it plenty of times, both during her father’s time as a Senator and through her own too; fresh, eager assistants and junior Senators that hope to change the world, trying to be as “down to earth” as the ones who they represented. Some did it out of scoring points and securing favor, while there were those who believed in what they were doing.

Many grew wise to such thinkings. But still plenty of them did not. They still believed in what they were doing, that it would make things better.

That naivety, to see a figure that could have been thought of as imposing as the one before her moving gently through the streets; what some may have found to been endearing or otherwise commendable, even charming perhaps – Astrid could only silently judge the figure.

Still, that did not mean that there weren’t an opportunity to find some enjoyment perhaps. The day had been largely disappointing, and though she knew Khuschev was good for providing a worthwhile dinner – perhaps the best thing that could have been said about her time in Sin up tot his point – that did not mean that she not keep herself preoccupied.

Her focus remained on the towering figure as it moved closer, its stride somewhat measured, its steps softer than what she probably would have figured someone of its size. “Although,” she started, her tone calmer, more reserved. Certainly more than how she had first conducted herself, “Now that you mention it. There is something… I hate to even pose such a request to someone whom all we’ve had to exchange is but a passing remark, but I feel I have no other option.”

Her speech picked up, concern laced within her voice, “I’m not proud to admit it, but all that,” she extended a hand out towards the small group whom were picking up the numerous shards of glass spewed everywhere. “I had a, a moment, I suppose you could say. A woman thing, you get it? Not proud to admit it, nor would I normally, but you see… Some of the locals, they thought I threw the glass on purpose! They started yelling at me, and then they saw those women over there,” she pointed to the Demi-Humans locked within the cages, the same ones that she had rejected only moments beforehand.

“They started accusing me of things, that I was involved with that, and then they rushed inside the house! I don’t know why, but I’m worried for the person who lives there! I just… They way they looked at me, it seemed like they just wanted an excuse… To do something, and I... I think they think whoever lives there, well what's more likely to be cause problems? Attacking a woman in the street or someone who deals in a business like that? But please! Please you hae to help them. If you only saw their faces, please I fear whoever's there doesn't have much time...”

Brief somewhat, but to the point. The figure may not have been the creature that its size and figure deceptively painted it as, but there was something to be appreciated.

It wasn’t a simple brute that lacked the understanding of promptness.

On one hand, she almost thought that there were have to be greater effort on her part, her selling of a story being believable enough, the nature of being in a foreign land always something that lent well to one another’s sense of perception. When everything is confusing and uncertain, it makes it all the easier to believe what one wants to. And though she had long since seen the reality of the world, there were no shortage of fools who believed that the people were inherently good.

Between her and the thing that was consoling her, she could say with certainty that at least one of them were not the fool. The other? Believing the first woman who expressed any sort of concern in her voice seldom without a shred of doubt, seldom was the smartest course of action. But, who was she to avert the movement forward of things? After, she as much were the conductor to this performance now, and her star had only now taken the stage.

“Thank you,” she said, her words hoarse, a sense of fear still penetrating through the otherwise busy air. She took a step back, stopping only as her hand touched against the warmed stone that made up the weathered stone fence. It had seen better days, certainly, as had much of this area honestly. Sin was a lovely nation, both in its cities and its natural landscapes, but often times it was the places like here where that beauty was lost. In part due to the lack of wealth that flowed in, much of it being recycled again into the same illicit affairs that made them popular, and through purposeful action; the less traffic that a place saw outside of those who had reason to do business here, the better.

But even if it made sense to her why this place was run down and all in all miserable of a place, it did not make her any less thrilled about being it. It simply made the contrast between her situation here and her time in Crocus all the more apparent. Her office had been given all the luxuries that one could have asked for; massive space, imported art from all throughout Earthland, modern luxuries aplenty. To have gone from that though to end up here, even knowing the entire reason for her trip, was still striking. The futility would have made it all the worse, though this was if nothing else looking like maybe it had something more to offer.

The first act had been promising enough, but it was time to see how the remainder of the performance would go.

Astrid watched carefully and intently as the large figure moved closer and closer into the compound, to the point of a brief glance making it seem like they themselves were a customer, so deep within cages of its kind locked away. She continued to watch, her lips not once moving, but her voice was heard.

Not by the figure that was looking deeper, hoping to uncover the truth to the story that Astrid had spun. No. Instead it were by the two whom she had first led, the two that she guided inside the compound, the same two whom she had put the large figure on the trail for.

“Someone is coming for you…”

“You have no time to run. You must fight. It is that or you will die.”

“He is just beyond the door, there is no other choice.”

“Do not relent. Do not allow him a chance.”

“DO IT OR DIE.”

With each echoing of her false warning to those inside via the capabilities of her Eldritch Dragon Slayer Magic, she watched all the more intently and curious. She knew Khruschev would be fine; he had shown and proven himself to be far more resourceful than even she at times gave him credit for. As to the large figure whom was about to collide with the two whom likely had been whipped into a frenzy of their own, she didn’t know how it would end.

But she was excited to watch.