Prologue: Just another day

10:21 AM, 26th of March 422
Highwind, Free Feathers

"What do you think our last mission is going to be?" Breeze asks.

The fairy is standing on the window's stool, just a few feet away from her friends, and has stuck her face against the glass. It's almost stopped raining outside; there are only a few drops of rain left, all lazily falling down in the street. Breeze turns around to face the rest of the party.

"I'm betting on an escort mission!" she declares.

"Isn't that like the main type of work mercenaries are hired for?" Fedler retorts as she shifts her position in her chair. "That's what we did all winter."

"Makes me even more right!"

Moneypenny is, as usual, the perfect embodiment of professionalism. Sitting behind her desk, she's currently languishing over which ribbon she should put in her hair; the red or the green one?

Mihai leans against the wall. Waterglass rests in it's scabbard, tip on the ground beside him. Even at an angle, the hilt reaches up in height to his chest, making for a decent arm rest.

Unusually melancholic, he can't help but stare pensively at the weapon.

As usual Steve is passing the time writing a love poem for Zelk, but on this occasion he's making a serious one in honor of the Adjunct's last mission. As he is putting the finishing touches on said poem he says, "Pick the green one, Eve. Both ribbons will look lovely in your hair but the green one will match that green skirt you were fretting over last time."

"Personally, I favor red. Green is too calm. With permission, I'd weave your outfit to match. That is, if we have time." Konrad stretches and flexes his fingers together, wearing his signature smirk as he does so. In past conversations about his newfound skill, he has likened weaving to being the inkpen to the canvas of the world, Although one has to work their way in practice from the fine details to the bigger, broader subjects to make happy little trees.

The secretary smiles when Steve suggests the green one, as she seems to agree with this choice. That is until Konrad makes his own suggestion. She's now back at fretting over which color to choose.

"Hmm. Mr. Dermold should be ready to receive you soon," she replies to the red mage, her eyes still fixed on her ribbons. "You can weave clothes then. I'll remember that."

Just as she says that, Sonlake Dermold opens the door to his office and approaches Eve's desk. Judging by the expression on his face, he seems annoyed by his secretary's behavior; she doesn't even look up to him.

"Eve, I need that-"

"Here you go," she immediately replies while handing him a folder.

"Oh. Is this the..." Sonlake opens it to look inside. "...Yes it is. What about the-"

"Here." She hands him an official looking piece of paper, still focused on her ribbons.

"...Thank you."

"If you can sign it and give it back to me by the end of the day, I can bring it to the city hall before they close."

"I'll... make sure I do."

A little embarrassed, Sonlake gestures to the party to follow him inside his office. Moneypenny sighs, finding no solution to her dilemma.

Mihai pulls out a copper and sets it on the table in front of her and suggests - "Just flip it."

Then proceeds to follow the Director.

The black mage carefully rolls up the poem and places it inside the scroll case at his waist. As he is walking by he says to Eve, "Heads is green, tails is red. Good luck!"

Permission to weave her clothes, granted! And while they're on, too! still got it. "If we don't have to leave immediately, sure."

Konrad moves as far as Evie's desk and waits for Sonlake to enter his office, then murmurs, "Just choose whichever you like, gorgeous." Then, he follows suit.

Eve stares at the copper, as if she was determining whether it could be trusted or not. Everyone knows how flippant they can be. She smiles to Konrad and says, "Try not to get yourself killed then."

Once the party is in the office, Breeze flies up to Fedler's shoulder and lands on it. Sonlake walks behind his desk, puts the documents on it and then sits down in his chair.

"Good morning everyone," he says. "As you probably have guessed, this will be your last mission. Unless you all wish to renew your contract with us?"

He looks at the party members with curiosity.

"No complaints about the management, Director, but i think this is where we get off."

"Sorry, sir, no. It's been fun working with you though." Steve smiles at Sonlake.

Konrad waits for the other two to make their plans known. "I will be, assuming I live through the day."

Once Mihai gives his answer, Fedler adds, "Like he said."

Breeze isn't so sure however, and she needs a moment to think about it (which she hasn't done at all until now).

"Can you give me some time to think about it?" she asks.

"Of course," Sonlake replies. "You can give me an answer once you're back from your mission."

"And what will our mission consist of exactly?" Fedler inquires.

"Oh right. This is a simple one actually." Sonlake opens a folder to remind himself of the details of the mission. "At eight o'clock tomorrow morning, you will board the Barracuda and head for Narrowfist. You will be guarding one of our shipments and make sure that no one takes a look at it. And I mean no one. Not even the crew. Once you're there and the cargo has been unloaded, you will bring it to warehouse #7. One of our people will be waiting for you and once they confirm that everything is there, they will pay you. After which you will be free to go."

"So it's an escort mission!" Breeze exclaims.

"...Sort of?"

"Back to the enclave, then. Pretty mild note to be ending it on, not that i'm complaining."

His hand gripping the belt holding Waterglass, slung across his shoulder, twitches a little, before slightly tightening it's grip.

"Um, we don't have to worry about the cargo getting up and walking away on its own, right?"

"It's nothing like that. It's quite mundane actually. We just don't want anybody to start asking questions, that's all."

Fedler raises an eyebrow but says nothing. Breeze simply looks pleased to be proven right.

"So it's embarrassing then? I got you." Steve taps the side of his nose.

Sonlake smiles.

"Maybe," he says before getting up and approaching the party members to shake their hand. "Thank you all for your hard work. I do hope to see you again."

Mihai shakes his hand - "It's about a week's round trip. We should be back soon."

"Ah man, don't jinx it. That's almost as bad as saying 'I'll be right back.'"

"How about just I'll be back?"

"That's even worse!"

Mihai turns to Sonlake again - "I'll be back."