Smiling as she zips right down to the ground, Maradi stops in the sky. Getting a good look a the place as she slowly descends into the ice cold water waiting on the ground. Dipping her feet in before she goes all the way down to the bottom of the lake. Pressing her hands against the rocks that fell from that day.
It's good to be back home again, since then we've come a long way right Xander?
Sighing as she takes a moment of silence looking up to the sky. Admiring the glimmering gems scattered across the roots and rocks, shining bright like the night sky. She stretches out her hand studying the layer that forms around.
I know your still out there watching over me, far from this wicked place. I know you did it all for us so no more days would go by with another body rotting in the ground. But you didn't even ask for help you took this all on your own. Even that scummy old man, if he knew what you were planning, wouldn't of sent you to die alone.
Right when she's deep in though a band on her wrist begins to shine.
Great and now they on my back I told them what to do when I left and where I'd be, what more do these people want from me?
Hearing it whine as the flare grows brighter Maradi lets out a deep exaggerated sigh.
If your gonna do all that you might as well come find me. Ugh such a needy guy. He won't even give a me moment alone. I'm going to finish visiting then I'll come back to work. My PRIORITIES are here not on the other end of this line.
Stretching her hand out as she swipes the band in the shape of an ex with left hand, Maradi swims up to the surface of the lake and make her way to it's edge. Staring into the massive settlement twice the size of Centria sitting deep underground hidden with ever changing tunnels leading to deep divots underground and twisting through the rough mountain side.
A hidden place for the lowest of the low to gather as safe as it gets below the settlement — The Broken Town. A forgotten history of Centria, buried deep underground. A place so old only the ancient ones would know why it's around. An even then only few know the true story of this place. But as of now it is a fallen settlement keeping the survivors rejected from the surface alive. A last refuge for the unfortunate to survive.
But for Maradi it was more than any of that and less at the same time. It is her home and she is happy to return to this place. Joyfully running into the settlement with a big smile on her face. She greets the people around excited to see her return.
"Maradi, your back! Let's go and play!" clinging to her leg a little girl in worn out clothing looked to her with hope in her eyes.
"Of course sweetheart! We'll play anything you like!" Picking her up and holding her gently in her arms she gives her a kiss on the forehead an hold her to her side. The other come gathering around, begging to play with her too.
"I wanna play Maradi!"
"Me too!"
"let's play the falling star!"
"Yeah we can all play together!"
"Pretty please can we?"
All making big teary eyes as they begged her made her heart weak, leaving her no choice but to give in. An begin to summon clusters of light all over the place.
"I can't say no to you all it would break my heart. Butttt you all know the rule if you want to play."
Answering her in unison the children shout their answer from their heart.
"We need to work together and leave nobody behind!"
"Andddd?"
"An make sure we're in groups so we're easier to find."
Patting their heads and lightly touching their noses she marked each child with light. Temporarily granting them all the power of flight.
"There we go that's everybody, now off you go into the night!"
Walking past the crowd an old man in smooth black robes, embroidered with a blue and red flame swirling right at his center, firmly over his chest. He took a step forward towards her and began shaking his head.
"Your spoiling them rotten! Now I'll have to work twice as hard to get them in shape before I'm dead."
Turning around with a smile and a hint of annoyance in her eyes, Maradi hugs the old man who turns his head away.
"You didn't think to cover up some before you came to visit? Their are still kids around even if you send them flying away."
He talking like this but he still is hugging her back by the way.
Cutting in from behind a voice cuts through the crowd as a smaller woman rushes to her side.Yanking the old man off of her as she lunges forward into her beast, shaking her head around like a dog in a cloud. Squeezing on them as she yelling at the old man who disappointingly stares from the crowd with judgement written all over his face.
"Oh lighten up old man! She looks good don't try to bring the girl down!"
Wrapping her hands around her back she begins sniffing Maradi's chest.
"UHAHH! She's in the prime of her life!"
Sniffing her more as she tries to push her away, the woman grabs onto her waist and tries to hold on tightly dragging herself on the ground.
"With a body like this she's bound to be an icon to those boys above ground. Our treasure Maradi is the heart of this place."
Throwing herself to the ground with her right hand over her head she takes a pose like a statue and pretends to be dead.
"Without you Maradi how could the show go onnnnn?!"
Picking her up as she giggles and hugs her tight, Maradi burst into laughter as she holds her friend.
"Glad you came to see me Cammy and not just the old man."
Rolling her eyes, Cammy side eyes the old man and sticks out her hand.
"Eh?! Absolutely not! I see him too much already!"
You only visit every now and then so when I got your message you know I had to get ready!"
Letting her go and seeing the children flying high all across the buildings and into the sky, Cammy drag Maradi by the arm further into the town. Entering a building that appears small but expands inside, they walk pass the doors smelling the delectable aroma in the air. Waving to the man waiting for them with a smile inside.
"Welcome back Maradi! I'm guessing it'll be the regular for you today?"
"You know it Gram! I could never go wrong with your Cursed Cral Hands!"
Returning to the counter in his black coat spinning his golden knife between his hands, Gram slammed it on the counter and began preparing his famous dish. While they go to the top left corner, sitting on a cloud seat while they decide what else they'd like today.
"Let's enjoy the free time while we can before the kids come back down. Tell me everything! Did you have any luck finding that man in the town?"
Locked onto the food Gram was making Maradi didn't hear a thing over her stomach cries. Annoying Cammy but she ignores it and come closer to her with a little slide.
You know this isn't only your favorite it's usually a meal for two. Where's Saranai? Why didn't you bring her this time?"
Smiling as thinks of her food her eyes begin to faintly shine.
"She'll come visit soon it's only a matter of time. Once she finishes handing a few things for me up there she'll be down her next."
"Poor girl, sounds like she won't get to have any fun while she's on your business trip."
"It won't be that bad but I doubt they'll stay long, he has too many plans."
Covering her mouth with her hand she look around and then she does it twice. Grabbing the side of her head she froze like a stone.
"WHATTTTT! YOU LEFT HER WITH A BOY ALL ALONE?"
Cammy crossed her arms and curled her lip in judgment, slowly pointing shaking her head as she squints her eyes.
"Tell me everything. I don't wanna hear not one lie."
She says that but the truth is as vague as the sky. You never know which part to address even though all parts are true. An no matter how far the story goes, you need every part to paint a picture of the sky. Until that moment everything is just a favorable lie.