Cloak and Scalpel

THE CADIA ARC: Noblesse Oblige

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Two Weeks Ago...

The Moniyan Empire, the Port of House Alvin

The Night of the Mask Festival

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"Diana!"

Aamon swore loudly as Diana's fingers slipped from his grasp. The bodies pressing around them seemed to form a barricade around her, keeping her from his reach. Her hazel eyes were wide as she stared back at him.

Over the din of the crowd, over the screams of people in panic, he couldn't make out her words, but he was quite certain her lips had said "Donna's!" before vanishing into the throng.

He began cutting a path parallel to the crowd, hoping to free himself from the mass of bodies. He had half a mind to blast everyone back with his magic, but he stayed himself. Aamon was not desperate enough to hurt innocents.

Yet.

Before he could free himself from the mass of people, a loud boom! resounded far ahead.

Chaos erupted.

A mass of orcs was spilling into the town streets, each dressed in armor and wielding deadly weapons. Some snorted flames, other sported sharp, bloodstained tusks. They seemed to have no mind of their own-upon catching sight of the frightened crowd, they charged.

People screamed

Mothers shrieked.

Children cried.

The orcs began hacking away at civilians, dealing deadly blows. Blood sprayed, coloring the flagstones on the road a deep, dark red. Power rippled as Aamon activated his camouflage. Unseen, he pulled himself from the screaming crowd and into a nearby alley, ignoring the cries of the people that followed him.

Soldiers charged from other streets, steel and armor flashing, as they ran to engage the hoard of orcs. Perhaps, Aamon mused, watching the chaos and blood shed unfold, he ought to lend a helping hand, as the tenets of noblesse oblige were wont to dictate.

Perhaps.

Turning away from the bedlam, he darted into the darkened alley, concealed and hidden. For now, his main priority was finding Diana, and finding her quickly. If Dyrroth and Balmond found her first...

Who could have informed them?

His steps quickened as he turned into an empty alleyway. As he emerged on the other side, he spied the lights from the doorway of Donna's tavern. The door was open, hanging precariously on its hinges.

Mana shards flared around him as Aamon stalked towards the door.

Donna's tavern was empty.

There was no sign of the barkeep, not a single soul seeking refuge from the screams and massacre outside.

No Diana.

Gritting his teeth, he stalked outside the tavern. People were fleeing in any direction they could, hoping to get away from the battle raging in the town square. Focusing his senses, he tried to feel for Diana, tried to trace the links his magic had left on the Heart of Anima beating inside her...

No such luck.

He was correct in his former assumption-Diana was unknowingly blocking the magical links he had tethered to the Heart of Anima. During any other situation, he would have praised her for it.

Aamon turned back towards the alley, mind racing. Where could she be? She had clearly said "Donna's" before being swept away by the crowd...

"Aamon!"