Tales of Berseria - In Calamity's Wake

Chapter 3 - A Lively Town

Entering past the front gates of this fortified town was done without any trouble in the slightest, Marcellus being known to the guards at the gate as the local drunkard, and Tavern keeper was enough to earn him through, lying about how he was just leading a fellow lost traveler to civilization, that being Velvet.

She would have been rolling her eyes at the claim if it hadn't worked, getting her through the iron-barred gate, as it dropped back down over the entrance with a thud behind them. And no Dove act was needed, thankfully.

Now they were fully in Karaez, Velvet was surprised to find it so calm and quiet, people were just beginning to wake up and go about their everyday lives, ready to face the new day despite the dying world outside. The two stepped onto the main district, walking down a street lined with market stalls, traders, and stores, people started filling the road, and the noise of chattering townsfolk, sailors, and merchants selling their wares filled the air, along with the scent of the salty sea wafting in from the port. Looming overhead near the left of Karaez, the clocktower sounded three slow solemn chimes through the grayed sky, the sun shunned away by storm clouds rolling in from the blue horizon.

"The people here don't seem to care that Daemons are roaming outside their walls" she commented, eyes roving over a scattering of townsfolk wandering through the crowding district. A sort of heaviness hung in the air, she could tell that well within the tired, sullen faces of most of the individuals walking past.

Marcellus shrugged "I'm pretty sure everyone's just given up at this point. They're just tryna live the rest of what they got till this world caves in. Can't blame em really, it's looking like a real shit show nowadays" he explained, taking a left off the main street into a narrow road that curved in between buildings, archways, and clotheslines hung above them as they took the path down into the backstreets "It all started three years ago, when everyone suddenly took notice of these scary ass monsters walking about, and yet the day prior, no one saw a damn thing"

"The Opening....and the Advent..." Velvet muttered, holding her chin as her mind wandered, being faced with this worrying information.

"The what?...." Marcellus looked back.

"Nothing!..." She snapped, returning to her thoughts. Two souls who carry strong resonance to the supernatural were all that was needed to awaken Innominat, who in turn granted resonance to everyone across the land, allowing them to become aware of Daemons and Malakhim of the like. So someone or something must have been able to breach the seal, somehow, and freed Innominat that way.

"Yo boss man!" Called a young man's voice from behind. Velvet and Marcellus turned to see a young man with scraggly hazel hair stumble up to them, hastily trying to button up a waiter's uniform.

"Hey Darius, you're up early" Marcellus greeted, waving to the approaching man, who huffed in return.

"Only cuz Natalie kicked me awake"

"Damn right," a feminine voice piped up behind Darius, belonging to a similarly young woman wearing the same outfit as him, her ombre green hair tied back into a wavy ponytail "As if I'm letting you slack off again for another day. You're paying the rent too, y'know"

Velvet scanned the two over, figuring them to be Marcellus's Employees and nothing more. Can't always be too comfortable with new faces.

"Oh and who's this chick?" Darius asked, eyes going to Ravenette beside the masked man, and he gave a small mischievous smirk "She your girlfriend?."

Velvet frowned, glare intensifying she turned to Marcellus who was thinking for a moment, seeming to nod in favor at the idea, that was until he looked Velvet's way and saw her slowly raise her fist, eyes hidden behind hair ominously, her frown turning into a grimace.