Eating The City

As screams could be heard echoing throughout the night, a black flame could be seen spreading in the town. Coming down from the north, a small black figure could be seen running through the streets with the black flames growing and following them from behind as they held an unknown ball-like item in each hand.

<You said we were escaping, why wouldn't we just do this secretly instead?>

'Well for starters I'm a show-off!'

As the figure saw a group of battle ready orc-elves approaching from in front of her, she quickly jetted down the slim alleyway-like crack between buildings, jumping out onto the parallel street with an explosion of flames following close behind her.

<Yes yes, I'm aware of that... But wouldn't it be easier to just leave quietly? You would save resources that way too>

'That'd be boring for the readers of course!'

Seeing another group in front of her, she paused for a second before planting her foot in the ground and turning her body slightly.

'When you're ending off an arc, you gotta get a homerun pitch-'

Taking the form of a baseball pitcher, she winds up her right arm before throwing it at the approaching group with all her strength.

'And crack it outta the park!'

As the ball left her fingertips a string could be seen connecting it to the palm of her newly made beak-glove. Suddenly, the string caught fire, igniting the ball in a flurry of flames as it launched towards the now worried group of people making them jump out of the way, making a path of the black figure to jet through.

<So you're doing all of this just to make a big bang for an arc? What's that?>

'Don't worry about it, I'm mostly doing this to see how much I'm worth to them.'

As she continued to run through the city, she had noticed that the people trying to stop her were mostly wearing this village's 'casual' clothes, while some were wearing things similar to what those men from her house were wearing.

'The guys in the uniforms are definitely more ready, I've had to use mothballs every time against them. But I feel like the average citizens are trying harder... They probably want revenge for Zeph?'

As she turned a corner, Camellia was met with a group of people in uniforms.

'Damn, no alley-ways either. I'll have to back track a bit, I can't afford running into this many of them. I've already had to dial down on the flames, not sure how much time I have left...'

Looking behind her however, she was met with another group of people, this time wearing more 'casual' clothes.

"Damn"

***Keep in mind this village's 'casual' is basically battle ready attire!

Her plan was good and pretty well thought out! She would use smoke bombs and mothballs to escape her home while burning down the evidence, then light the town on fire with her 'Illusion-Flames' and use mothballs to break through the people who tried to stop her. And if she was pincered by enemies on every side...

'Mona, gimme 2 please!'

<MISS!*Sigh~* Coming right up!>

As flames ignited from the small figure, both sides halted their advance from the excruciating heat radiating from the petite girl that was now almost completely hidden.

Suddenly, two balls covered in flames came shooting out towards both groups!

"It's a fire ball they burn out quick but're still hot, careful y'all!"

As a woman from the group of more casually dressed people yelled this out, both sides prepared to defend themselves when suddenly... The balls seemed to jump back as they were pulled by a string!

"Wha-?"

*BOOF BOOF*

As the two balls exploded into clouds of smoke, both groups were taken aback as they coughed and covered their stinging eyes. Before they could properly recover, the uniformed side was quickly met with an ignited mothball flying directly towards them!

"Watch out!"

*Fsss*

Before it could reach him it had completely burnt up!

"Eh? Wait, where is she?!"

'Damn, must not have had enough wood in that one... though that would probably work pretty well as a firework or something. MM! my genius is frightening!'

Camellia had praised herself as she had completely disappeared from both groups' sight, now scaling the rooftops without any flames as to not attract attention to herself.

<Oh so now you're being quiet~?>

'Oh course I am! Did you not see how I have faulty equipment?! Who knows how important the next mothball I throw out is, only to see it burn up like paper in my hands! Besides, there's a concerning amount of people here now, Zeph must be mobilizing more of those uniformed guys here.'

***Keep in mind she is not aware who sent them!

Jumping off the roof into an alleyway, she inches closer and closer to the gate. She can hear the villagers and uniformed men yelling and running about searching for the girl who disappeared in the smoke.

'Damn, they don't let up! I would just set a place further away from her on fire to distract them but I can't afford to do that anymore.'

<You say that but I'm not so sure you could use your Illusion-Flame at that far a distance anyways no?>

'Sh- shut it... I totally could! Ah, finally!'

As she looked up, she could finally see the giant wall in front of her. With the gate leading to freedom just to the left being full of guards, she couldn't help but hesitate for a second to think.

'Hm, not good... I think I only have a few options here...{

1. I could set the gate itself on fire with Illusion-Flame, then use every smoke bomb and mothball I have left to break through.

-I would use up all of my resources

-It's risky to run all the way there, even through the smoke

-I'm not sure how much time it would take for me to carve through the gate

2. Put on a performance as if you have escaped but stay inside the walls.

-It would be exhausting

-I would still be inside this hell hole

-It would probably take up most resources as well

+They might give up on searching for me

Neither of those are good...'

As she thought alone in the alleyway, she crouched down and clasped her chin while looking around curiously at her surroundings.

'Nothing but these stupid tough walls huh... hm... Hehe'

<Camellia dear, you're doing that creepy laugh again...>

Suddenly kicking up dirt around her, she started carving triangles out of the walls! She carved and carved, making a few stacks of dense wooden triangles that she had been reinforced slightly using her Weaving-Techniques(Brought to you by Libbo inc.)

<Hmm~ I wonder what all these are for?

...

You're making a bit much don't you think?

...

OI! YOU'RE FILLING UP MY TABLE STOP!>

'Done!'

Standing back up with a proud stance, she tilted her mask up slightly to wipe the sweat off her forehead.

'Right, listen up then Mona here's the plan.'

As she crudely sat down with her legs open, she took one of the few remaining pieces of fruit and took a big bite.

<For the last time, add honorifics!>

'Right right, anywhays. *Gulp* here's how this is gonna work.'

....

..

"Sir! We've blocked off the adjacent streets and have tripled the guards posted on the gates!"

A younger looking orc-elf soldier yelled as he ran towards a buff looking older man who seemed to be deep in thought. He didn't even look back at the soldier as he answered in his familiar raspy voice

"Good."

"Sir Zeph, it is her flame right? It has to be!"

As another familiar voice rang out, she ran up to Zeph's side and started to inspect the small burning black flame that sat on the ground where a previous mothball had landed.

"Mm."

Simply nodding his head while grunting, the small girl's face immediately became sunken and dark as she looked at him with eyes burning with determination.

"You'll catch her right Sir Zeph?"

Slightly pausing at her words, he straightened his back and took a deep breath before silently patting her on the head.

"Jj is in bed?"

He started to slightly stretch out his arms and legs as he asked the green haired girl another question.

"Right, I put her to bed a while ago Sir Zeph!"

"Good."

...

"Stop calling me Sir"

"Right, sorry Si- Mr Zeph."

*sigh*

Suddenly the old man started to build up speed as he ran in the direction of the wall...

***It's not that he was running or anything... he had just picked up speed. Like going from walking to speed walking!

[Maybe a little bit slower?]

{Slow}