The Town of Siracusa

Everything is almost complete thought Auyu, as she did everything to eliminate the bandits, kiting them to the deep part of the forest, letting the bearclaws be the protagonists of killing off the bandit goons. And finally, controlling the battle to let the bandit leader assumed her hands, and eliminate him with magic when he least expect it. All in one go, and nature will clean up the mess for her. A perfect plan, she arrogantly complimented herself.

However, there is one final hurdle now.

She looked at the wounded and 'fainted' Whiny man. Using her own tactic huh? Well, it won't work against the person who just used it.

"Hey, if you don't wake up now. I will make you into a crisp. Just like that dickbutt tattoo bandit over there." Auyu pointed at the bandit leader as he already has parted from Manicheism, as she doesn't know much about the afterlife, she couldn't comment much about it.

"O-okay, i'm so sorry. Miss!" weeped the Whiny man as he kneel to the ground, as he was stranger to death. Someone who doesn't want to meet his end just yet.

"Why are you kneeling? I didn't say i would kill you after you woke up...?" bewildered as Auyu wasn't used to this kind of situation, after all. She takes things at face value. Meaning if a rock can be a creature, she will just assume so.

"Well...i thought you would kill me to keep your magic as a secret that i have to take it to the grave?" scratches Whiny man his head as he explained his thought process, because he was used to the things of the world. Most people that tend to hide things will be ruthless about it. He knew it well.

"...Sigh, just tell me your name. Consider it your debt payed." averted Auyu the topic since she doesn't want all of sudden get into sensitive topic that going to be tedious for no reason.

"I-I'm. I mean- My name is Houdini Vondur...but miss can call me Houdi, since yo-you saved my life!" nervously uttered Houdi as if he is giving introduction in front of his class for the first time.

"Houdi, huh? Well, i'll remember that. Also, don't call me miss, haven't we been through together enough that we should be 'friends' by now?" remarked Auyu while being oblivious of how much she exaggerating the situation. But Houdi doesn't care, because it's true that they have been in a life-or death situation together, and it felt warm to him a little that she said so.

"Uhm...what should i call you then, yo-your name i mean, i'm sorry if i offended you" stuttered Houdi as he continued to be anxious cause why wouldn't someone be, if they saw an imaginable scene where a girl that saved him happened to be able to cast magic that could fry a human being to death in one spell? No one in the town would believe him! Unless he showed concrete evidence, which he wouldn't even think about doing.

"Hm, you can call me Yui. I'm just traveling outside of my home and well...i got lost, hehe." giggled Auyu as she have been traveling for a couple days, she empathized on the lost part, since it would give Houdi an idea that she doesn't have any backing, thus making him feel comfortable with her. Also she wouldn't give him her real name, since she couldn't fully trusted this man just yet.

"Miss Yui...may i ask something really specific?" asked Houdi while gazing on Auyu with curious cat-like eyes. It has been on his mind the entire time as soon he saw her captivating magical capabilities.

"Sure, as long it doesn't involve my height. I can answer anything you want, Houdi." expressed Yui as her crescent-pupils seems to wander with no concentration and gaping mouth that seems lazily howl from an outside perspective. She ignored the fact that he kept formally addressing her, as it was too tedious to correct it, the second time.

"A-are you one of those magical girls?" spoke Houdi with a dramatic emphasized on his words. Auyu can faintly see a glimmering soul behind those eyes of his. With those look, Auyu smiled internally. As she begun to scheme another plan.

"Yes, nice to meet you. Houdi, I am a Mune from a faraway land. The magical girl of goth, Yui!" Auyu attempted to mimic the initiation in mannerism that those Munes are famous for, with a peace sign that covered one of her eye and with her short stature tried to pose cutesy. Of course, she wouldn't do this normally, as she dislike one-liner posers in general. But it's for convincing the poor fella. Definitely not because she enjoyed it, definitely...

***

With all the danger taken care by Auyu, Houdini could finally go back to his carriage and drive it back to the town, with Auyu being his personal invited guest. With the wheel rolling, the horses that dragging, Houdi acting as coachman. Auyu can finally get to the town that she have been looking for. All this time.

While on the road, Auyu exchange some questions with Houdi which he happily complies with.

Long story short, he was the son of a wealthy merchant family, and his task was to ride the carriage with all the supplies to the nearby secret route. And he was alone because they trusted him and to lay low-profile when there are high risk of bandits robbing them. Usually they wouldn't go for a low carriage with no one protecting it, as it will expose them for some minor benefits.

However, Houdi didn't expected for the bandit to be lying in wait and ambush him. And knowing about his family's plan. And he couldn't get anything out of the bandit raid, because Auyu had casually crushed them.

But he will still grateful to his savior, as he told Auyu that he revere Munes and their feats. They usually won't appear in a secluded town like his, because it's a waste of their talents. But he understood as Auyu told him she was living in secret. And that she prefer not to expose herself too much, as it can attract danger to the townsfolk. Whom he respect her ideal greatly.

Of course, to Auyu. It was just a lie that make it convinent for her to integrated into society if they were to ask Houdi on who she is.

"Miss Yui, we're about to arrive to the town. I welcome you, to the city of beginners. Siracusa!" spoke Houdi as he watches in breathtaking manner of the scenery he saw when approaching the city, a huge wall that is taller than houses, the magical scene of people riding beasts over the skies that lands on one of the station for aerial travel place and the fountain tower in the center that dwarfs everything else beneath it, the 30k square meters with buildings salem-styled that are close to each other.

Auyu, the outsider. Was amazed at the scene, as if she saw a new world unraveled up to her. Little did she know, it will be a place where one of her memory would opened up...