Fiery Red and Raven Black

The sandstorms of Sevier tore apart the cloak of a lone wanderer. The wanderer headed determinatedly towards the white walls of Sairin, for there lives the most qualified engineers in all Stafford. As the wanderer reached Sairin, he noticed all of the doors and windows had been sealed. Not that he could blame them, the sandstorm was relatively strong. Except for the sandstorm, the only objects showing any movement were the goblin guards patrolling among the streets. The wanderer seemed to pick one of the long, white houses and ran towards it as the storm raged. He hesitated for a second as he reached the door but then held out his hand and knocked the door furiously. He was almost blown away by the wind when he realized to grab onto one of the windowsills. Now his only prayer was that someone would open up. Just as he almost gave up hope, the door was pulled open and a goblin shouted
"Get in here, you idiot! The sands will tear the flesh from your bones!"

Once the brave wanderer had gotten himself to safety, he pulled off a metallic cane from his belt.
"Is this the headquarter of Tinkerers' union? I need to get one highly complicated piece of weaponry fixed."
The goblin looked up to him with a grin on his face.
"Hey, if we can't fix it, it ain't broken."
"I hope you won't let me down on that"
the wanderer smiled and took off his cloak revealing he wasn't really a he.
"Hey, lass, don't you dare to sprinkle all that sand on my floors!"
A female goblin shouted from a door that apparently led to the kitchen.
"I won't, I promise"
the wanderer smiled, as she hung her cloak on the cloak rack. She noticed that many of the doors leading to the hallway were opened, and that there was at least a dozen pairs of eyes staring at her.
"What? Haven't you ever seen one of the Velocy Moon before?"
She grinned and wrote her name down to a journal.
"So, miss Hmm.. Atrac Myooji, you're having problems with what, now?"
The goblin asked while checking her autograph.
"A plasmawhip."
"With a what??" The goblin looked kinda puzzled.
"A plasmawhip" Myooji repeated.
"It has been acting up for a while, and I'd like it very much to be fixed."
She looked around while talking, just to notice that she was stared at no more.
"Fine then, miss" the goblin mumbled
"I will see to it. If you need a place to stay while we fix this little one, there is a cosy inn just few houses away. The owner is my brother, and he has very low prices" The goblin added proudly.
"Thanks for telling me, I think I'll keep that in mind"
Myooji said, without any intention of leaving the whip behind. After a long, uncomfortable silence the goblin started to look rather pissed.
"Well, are you going to go or not?"
"No, not really" She smiled.
The goblin's face was worth of seeing.
"I'd rather stay here. That whip means a lot to me."
"Pfft, fine. I'll check if there is any room for you here"
The goblin said, obviously frustrated, and vanished into the kitchen.

As Myooji had nothing better to do, she started looking around. Most of the doors were either locked or just tightly shut, and in many cases she was told to get lost. But then she found a door which was open, and the room was quiet. She peeked in and saw a huge pile of pillows and blankets in the far most corner. It wouldn't otherwise have caught her attention, but she saw someone's hand sticking out of it. As a curious person, she reached out to touch the hand. It was warm, so it couldn't belong to a dead person. Just as she was going to pull her hand away, the owner of the other hand grabbed hers. She gave out a faint gasp from surprise but got hang of the situation relatively soon and pulled hard. The owner of the hand was pulled out of the pile of pillows and blankets with a growl and stumbled to the floor. It appeared the person was a he. Rather amused, Myooji helped the guy get on his feet.
"Heey... You okay?" She inquired the man.
He looked up to her and noticed she was quite pretty. Not stunning or dead gorgeous but pretty. Raven black hair barely reached her shoulders, and her bangs came to her eyes that glowed coral green underneath it. She had a lithe, yet not starved structure and rather interesting ears, like ones of an animal. Her lips were carved into a faint smile while her eyes explored him, still their hands connected. She could feel how hard the skin was in certain spots. Hands of a worker. Ones of an engineer. The boy grinned, looking rather nervous.
"I thought someone was going to call me down for dinner" He smiled and looked down.
"Well, I'm afraid there is no dinner ready, at least not now" Myooji stated.
"And... Could you let go of my hand now?"
The boy hadn�t realized the two of them were still holding hands, and he quickly pulled his hand away and tucked them into his pockets. He seemed to be hiding behind his thick, fiery red hair. So red it was almost unnatural. His deep brown eyes were riveted to the floor, and he refused to look Myooji in the eyes.
"Anyway.." he sighed
"It was just good that you woke me up. I've got tons of work to do.."
Myooji watched as the boy dragged himself over to the only table in his room and sighed again.
"Aww, why are you sighing so deeply? Is something wrong?"
Myooji inquired with concern and peeked over his shoulder. He looked at the woman with curious expression on his face.
"What do you care? I mean... not to be rude-I mean-I..."
Moment's surprise and slap-back slid off her face and she gave him one of her wider smiles as she noticed his shy confusion.
"Do I need a reason?"
The guy blinked.
"Yes-I mean no-well... Usually people don't care after ones they do not know, and I mean, you and I just met, didn't we?"
He cast his eyes back to the floor. Myooji laughed.
"You are right. Speaking of which, what is your name? You are an engineer aren't you?"
"Aye�And... You can call me Iisai."
The boy grinned shyly. Myooji offered her hand.
"I'm Atrac Myooji, pleased to meet you."
After a moment of hesitation, Iisai took her hand and shook it gently.
"The pleasure is all mine" he smiled with a wink in his eye.
With that same second someone kicked the room's door open. Myooji was surprised that a goblin could even kick so hard.
"Iisai, drag you butt outside! We have an acting up chicken here!"
As the loud-mouthed goblin and Iisai vanished through the door, Myooji was left behind, wondering how much damage could acting up chicken do.

After a few hours, Iisai got back inside. His hair was full of sand, and he seemed rather frustrated.
"So, is the chicken still behaving badly?" Myooji laughed.
She didn't get any other answer than Iisai's grumpy snort. The same goblin that had called for Iisai was just as frustrated.
"Why can't they make those chicken sand-proved! This is getting reeeeally bad."
"Hey, they're gnomes, they can't do anything right"
Iisai stated before locking himself into his room.
The whole hall full of goblins bursted out laughing, but as far as Myooji was concerned, there was nothing funny in it.
"Hey, guys, calm down!" Shouted a female goblin.
She had obviously had enough of gnome jokes. At that instant, everyone fell silent.
"Thank you. Now you, lass, could you help me out here in the kitchen?"
"Sure" Myooji said as she had nothing better to do.
The kitchen was full of everything. All of the walls were filled with shelves that were extremely full of cans and cups and kettles of every size and colour. The goblin climbed on a tall chair that was pulled next to a huge cauldron.
"Can you hand me that pink jar?" she asked, pointing at the farmost self.
"Sure.. Just a sec.."
Myooji mumbled, looking for the jar with her eyes.
"Umm... which one?"
"The biggest, the one that says 'basilisk scales'."
Myooji grabbed the jar she thought was the right one, and handed it over to the goblin.
"I appreciate that"
The goblin smiled and poured the contents into the cauldron.
"So, you're just Myooji? Or shall I call you Atrac?"
"Myooji's just fine" She smiled faintly. This woman obviously knew what she was.
"What should I call you, then?" She asked looking at the goblin sprinkling some spices into the cauldron.
"Guys around here call me Nomi" she replied, looking over her shoulder.
"So you can call me that, too."
"Mm-m, if the guys here call you Nomi.. What does everyone else call you? If there are anyone else."
"Well, there is Iisai" Nomi said with an amused sound in her words.
"He sometimes calls me mum."
Myooji blinked at this information.
"Wow. I just met him. That's cute. And so was he. All shy and cautious. Not yours, I'd say, but judging by his previous behaviour I doubt he'd call just someone mum. Is there a fancy story behind this?"
Nomi let the spoon be, and turned around to face Myooji.
"Well, I can't say that I'd know much about his past, but I do know that his parents were not very fond of him. Or, at least I suppose so."
Myooji was getting curious.
"How come?"
"Well, the first time I saw him.."
There was a silence.
"..He was about five years old. He was standing on my doorway, digging his nose. He said his parents would pick him up soon and take him home. As you can guess, that never happened."
After a long silence, Myooji opened her mouth.
"Did you ever meet his parents?"
Nomi shook her head.
"Never. They haven't even written to Iisai, never came to see him, I don't think they even know if he's still alive."
She sighed.
"I can't understand them, I really can't."

After a few minutes, Nomi hit a huge kong and everyone left their work and lined up to get their meal. One after another they got a plate and moved over to a long table. Nomi and Myooji were handing out the food to the hungry workers, and when Iisai's turn came, Myooji gave him a smile with amusement. Still, hidden underneath the smile there was a trace of sorrow that she thought she had hidden well enough. Thought Iisai saw it, he had no time to wonder since a group of angry goblins was pushing him forward. Finally, everyone had gotten their dinner to their hands and the noise in the hall was reeling.
"Now that they are satisfied, I'll show you the corner where you can sleep"
Nomi said and gestured the raven-haired woman to follow. She led her to a small room, the only one after Iisai's room. There were six places for beds, or more like mattresses you could spread to the floor for night.
"This is the women's bedroom, as well as quest room for women, but since there is usually only me here, it should do. Or what say you?"
Nomi glanced at Myooji while she was making the beds.
"Oh, there's more than plenty of room. Thank you, by the way, for having me"
She casted her eyes to the wall.
"I simply cannot depart from my whip. It would... be very troublesome. I believe it is the easiest arrangement if I simply stay here till you will have time to fix it."
"Don't worry, lass, it's fun to have a female to talk to every once in a while."
With that said, she turned off the lights and wished her sweet dreams. Myooji crawled to her mattress and curled inside her blanket, quickly drifting to sleep.

As the sun cast its first rays through the room's window, Myooji opened her eyes with great trouble. She would have wanted to stay in bed, but as soon as she noticed someone standing at the door, she bounced up and almost fell over because of the blanket. She rubbed her eyes and took another look at the stranger. Not that anyone could have confused that red head for anyone else.
"Good morning, Iisai" Myooji yawned.
"Um.. Morning.." Iisai said with a faint smile on his face.
"Breakfast is ready, if you're hungry."
"Alright then, I'll be right there"
Myooji put a sweet grin on her face while stroking her hair. Iisai examined her through his bangs and took a quick escape to the safety of the kitchen. Myooji yawned again, combed her hair and followed the scent of toasts and marmalade. There was not so many goblins up yet, and the few who were waiting for their breakfast seemed rather or very sleepy. She was just about to join the queue when Nomi's head appeared to the kitchen's door and gestured her to come over. Still a bit sleepy, she went to the kitchen and saw Iisai sitting at the small table and eating toast with honey. He glanced at her but immediately returned his attention to the breakfast. Nomi led her to the table.
"Good morning, how do you want your toast? With honey or marmalade?"
Myooji pondered, not able to think about such mundane things and noticing soon enough that she was given a toast with marmalade. Apple marmalade.
"Thwank huu" She said, holding the whole toast in her mouth corner.
"Today we should see who is specialized in your weapon. What was it again?"
"A plasmawhip"
Myooji hurried to say and swallowed a piece of toast. The word seemed to catch Iisai's attention.
"A plasmawhip? What kind of?" There was a curious glow in his eyes.
"You mind if I take a look at it?"
"Of course not" Myooji said hastily.
"I'd be more than happy if you could fix it."
Iisai closed his eyes, munching his toast.
"I think I'll be able to get it done. Just give me some time, and I'll see to it." Myooji hesitated for a short moment.
"Look, if you'll get it done by the end of this week, I'll double the reward for you."
For a second Myooji thought Iisai was going to choke on his toast.
"Double it? Before the end of the week?"
He repeated, looking confused and excited at the same time.
"Yes, you heard me" The girl said with an ironic smile.
"Where is it, then? Gimme!"
Iisai's reaction was everything but the one Myooji had expected.
"Um.. Here.."
She pulled the whip from her belt and handed it to Iisai. That was the last time she saw him that day.

The next morning when Myooji went to kitchen she almost bumped to Iisai as he was running out of there. All she could register was that he had a look of petrified excitement on his face and a toast hanging from his mouth. The day after she didn't see even that. On the third day she finally caught him from the lunch table. He looked rather tired, with black rings around his eyes but still unable to stay still. All he seemed to want was to get back to work.
"Hi. How's it going?" She sat next to him.
He seemed to take it as she was asking about the whip and replied hastily,
"What did you do to it!? The insidings are all in ashes"
"Oh... I had a little accident, an airship crash... Can you still make it?"
Iisai drank up his juice.
"Of course! There�s no doubt on that one. Got to go"
With that he left Myooji and raced to his room. She just looked after him, doubting she would ever understand how someone could be that excited from getting to fix something. Or maybe it was the reward that was pushing him so hard. Yeah, that had to be it. Myooji got up and went to the kitchen where she had been helping Nomi these passed days when she had just waited. And waited. And the waiting would just go on for the next couple of more days. She was highly bored and a bit worried but something told her that her whip would be in good hands as long as they were Iisai's. And Of course Nomi was a lot of help since she was keeping her busy.

At the same time that Myooji was running around in the kitchen, Iisai had locked himself to his room. Only people he allowed disturbing him were Nomi who brought him some snacks every once in a while and his friend Drake, an airship engineer from the other side of the house. Myooji attempted to avoid any sort of encountering with Drake, as there was a little something she did not quite like in him. One time Myooji tried to persuade Iisai to open the door for her, but the only answer she had was either a long yawn and a no, or a snort to stay away. She was getting a little frustrated, when Iisai finally opened the door and looked at her with rather hazy eyes.
"Huh, something wrong?" Myooji asked with a concerned sound.
"Nah... not really.." Iisai yawned and scratched his head.
"I just need a smaller screwdriver.."
He dragged his feet and looked like he could collapse on any second.
"Hey... You just sit down, and I'll get you that screwdriver"
She grabbed Iisai by the sleeve. She had never seen anyone looking so tired, and that was a lot.
"But.. You�d pick the wrong one, or.. Or something.."
Iisai obviously had no trust in Myooji's intelligence, and that if something pissed her off.
"What? You think I couldn't even get some freaking wrench?! How do you dare to!"
If Iisai wouldn't have been so tired, he would probably have ran off. Now he just looked at Myooji with confused, scared and regretting look.
"I didn't... I mean..."
Iisai's eyes got wet and he bit his lip.
"I'm sorry.."
"Now, don't start crying or anything.." Myooji said hastily.
"It's not that bad, hey.."
Iisai looked away and folded his arms. Myooji patted his shoulder.
"There there, it's ok. No harm done, no need to look that way."
"So, you're not mad or anything..."
Iisai asked with the most innocent look.
"Heh, no I'm not" Myooji smiled.
She had had no idea a man could get so sensitive. Iisai just walked away, and was soon accompanied by Drake Lizmaer, who seemed to be full of strange questions. As much as Myooji heard, they were about her. That Velocy Sun's representative was not for her to approach in any manner, and if he was wise he would not approach her either. There were certain borders that should not be breached.

As the fourth day went on, Myooji grew more and more anxious because of the whip she always carried with her, and Iisai grew more and more exhausted tho satisfied and content with the pace the whip was coming along. At the evening when he was still working in his room and Nomi had shoved Myooji out of the kitchen to rest, it happened. She had gone to the Tinkers' Union's small library. Just as she was trying to put one book back into it's place, someone bent over her and helped her push it in. Surprised, she turned and was set face to face with the Velocy Sunner. Her eyes narrowed with the realization. His spiky hair was dark brown and eyes forest green. While his skin was nicely tanned, he also had the widest smile Myooji had ever seen.
"Back off!"
She felt herself slightly captured between the shelf and the tall man.
"Move, or I'll make you move!" She hissed.
"My, my. What temper. Don't you think you are behaving a bit rude, now? I even helped you with the book..."
His smile widened, if possible. Myooji could tell he was screwing with her.
"I did not ask for your help! Are you a fool!? How dare you come at me! Don't you have any pride!?"
Drake's smile slid off his face.
"Pride? Is pride to you hatred towards a stranger? Hatred because of her race, because of her beliefs?"
He stepped aside to give her some room.
"It is common sense that we do not encounter. Or are you so ignorant that you have forgotten our ancestors? Our unspoken borders?" Myooji glared at him.
"You just said it. Ancestors."
Drake repeated and slightly circled her with explorative gaze on her body. She felt his gaze as well as a growing urge to punch him. Then, he lifted her chin, bent downwards and stared at her in the eyes.
"Ancestors. Does anyone remember, why our clans separated? Does anyone remember the reason? Do they!?"
Normally, he would have never gotten close enough to touch her, but the dim light in the library and his deep eyes that told tales from the other side of the world, just where she came from, did their tricks. She felt her herself weak. She didn't fight back, the moment felt so unreal. Not one Velocy Sunner had ever given her a look without despise. Not one look had been returned without despise. This one's eyes were searching for her acceptance that no one had ever asked from her.
"N-No... But the tales-"
"-The tales! The tales tell nothing more than the history after the Great Separation. After!"
He let her go.
"Just imagine. What if, all this hatred that is exchanged, is because some broke someone's vase or something, and that someone didn't forgive but decided to leave and gain revenge? What if all this blood that has been spilled across these centuries has been just because someone played a prank on someone?"
A drop of sweat rolled down Myooji�s neck.
"Surely that would not be the case! Don't be a fool. There must be a proper reason"
"Maybe, maybe no. But, no one remembers. Tell me, what is the point?"
She opened her mouth to respond, but found herself unable. She looked back into his eyes, and found no meaning.

Later on, she thought that moment as one of the most important happenings in her life. It wasn't easy to let go of the hatred to which it was so easy to lean on. As she laid on her mattress, she could hear unclear voices from Iisai's room. Drake was probably there with him, telling him how he had tamed the raven-haired one's hatred and taken her to see around the nightfallen city. He had told her a bit of himself, not really gaining much back from her. He, just like anyone else could go around calling her Myooji, or like those who did not know better, Atrac. And there were many, many who didn't know better. She couldn't sleep. Myooji got up and sneaked into kitchen where still shone dim light.
"Nomi.."
The woman turned around to face her, with a smile on her face.
"I thought you might show up. Here, drink this"
She handed her a cup of lemon tea.
"How did you-?"
"I heard you met Drake."
Her smile seemed to know everything new that had invaded her head and heart this evening.
"Oh.."
"I knew you would figure it out.. There has been few other Atrac's here. They did not understand. One of them even beat him up while he was unarmed"
"How shameful for an Atrac to do something like that" Myooji shivered at the reputation of her first name she had announced.
"By the way, isn't tomorrow the day you will get your whip back?"
She had forgotten about it totally. How could she have? Her whip was the number one right now. Or was it?
"...Yes."
"Do you have a client waiting?"
"Wha-? No. No no. I'm free for gigs."
"Did you know, tomorrow is Iisai's 19th birthday?"
"Really?" Myooji slightly coughed at her tea.
"...Now I feel kinda bad for making him work so hard just before his birthday.. "
She looked slightly concerned.
"Don't. You doubled his reward. That's more than enough." Nomi chuckled.
Myooji was lost in her thoughts for a second.
"Oh, I think I'll be off to bed now. I suppose I'll be taking my leave tomorrow. Or today, rather. It's way passed midnight."
With that she left. In the hallway, she noticed Iisai's room's door was slightly open. A narrow path of light was casted to the floor from inside. She stopped. It was all silent.

Chapter 2