The day started like the rest had for the last week, waking up in a cold sweat feeling his hand bang like a cannon was being fired besides it, Aeron, as he went by now, walked to the sink splashing the semi cold water onto his face before glancing at himself in the broken mirror of the Inn, the Lord had called home for the last year, today he had managed to gather enough money to hire a cart and a few guards to transport goods that would further his point in this life but first he had to track down a retired merc he heard of.

The small village that was on the edge of the rainforest contained a small skewed Pub that smelt of wetness and old wood, Aeron walked in quickly ordering a Ale of ingredients unknown the bitter taste of the hops present in most of the drinks in this place that wasn't a spirit, the food tough and easily tasted over cooked. over the years of traversing the desert and sea, Aeron had to become tamed to the ideals of lower men, including to what they ate. as his trained of thought finished he saw his target walk in, standing downing the last dreads of his pint he walked over smiling coyly and sitting down in front of the Merc he wanted to allow a long period of time to past so she could acknowledge his prescene, "Greetings, I'm looking for a guard for the cart of goods I have. I heard you're a woman of many talents" he questioned never losing the smile he had on his face.

If it was one thing Mirannda currently loathed with a deep passion, it was her slow recovery. How long must she wait before she was at peak strength again? She had accepted that it would take longer still to relearn her magics. Yet, she could not travel as far as she was accustomed between resting points. For this reason alone, Mirannda had chosen to stay at this little village.

The people weren't all that happy to have her around, but she paid them good coin to put up with her presence. Their food was not the best in the world, making her miss the food of Mooncrest all the more. Due to her frustrations, Mirannda had developed a routine. She would wake at the crack of dawn, eat an overcooked yet healthy-ish breakfast, then train. Miles were ran, sword techniques practiced, and attempted to cast simple spells. Frustration with failure would cause her to run an additional mile out, and back to the town.

After cleaning up, Mirannda came to the pub to eat, and replenish. Upon entering, she did her customary look over everyone, noting the new face in the increasingly familiar crowd. Ignoring the fact that the stranger's eyes practically lit up when they landed upon her, Mirannda took her seat in her customary place: a dark corner facing the door. Inwardly, she groaned as the stranger stood, still watching her.

The bar wench came and placed a glass of warm, spiced wine, something Mirannda had supplied to the pub for herself. Without her own magical prowess, she could not heat the wine to her preference any longer. No one seemed to get it hot enough. "The usual?" Mirannda nodded, eyes on the stranger. Who was he? What did he want? Not too bad in the way of looks, but no one stalked her like he was without wanting to make demands of her.

He sat, a coy smile spread across his lips. The phoenix nodded once to his first word, her silent greeting. Once upon a time, she did the approaching. Now, the tables were reversed. A single brow rose with inquiry to his request, and a chuckle to the rumor. How in heaven's name did her reputation came here? Had she slip and let someone know of her past as a Mercenary? Or did the inhabitants of these lands know of the works of the Honest Mercenary? Nonetheless, he was a client, and she needed coin and reestablish her name.

"Many talents? At one point in time, I could claim such. Tell me, what whisper did you hear to lead you here? And what incentive do I have to be a simple guard?" Her voice was smooth as silk, confident and sure. She wanted to give him the impression that she was playing with him, as her eyes danced with amusement. Anyone wanting to buy her sword better know that Mirannda was not one to take just any job offered to her. Even to this day, she was still very picky about who she worked for… Even if the Honest Mercenary was dead…

He simply smiled "A business woman, see I like you, people, you know how the world works" he spoke voice smooth like velvet "of course I wasn't told of your grab to fame as the Merc who did whatever she liked for no reason and you will be paid accordingly" he looked down at her spiced wine before smirking and without moving his lips spoke quickly into her head, "Is that wine a tad cold for your liking?" Aeron wrapped his hand round the glass as the liquid inside started to steam, he spoke normally again "Spiced wine was a common drink where I come from, drunk a lot at parties.

The posh man rose his hand to the bar maid as she brought over another Ale for the man, as he thanked her he took a mouth full of the bitter drink still trying to get used to the unique taste this village had to its food and beverages before looking back at the Merc, "Names Aeron, I'll be going through the rainforest with a shipment of items that are secret until you've accepted the contract for security reasons" he spoke fluently understanding each part of the laws and benefits of shipping items through the dangerous rainforest, "It would also basically be paying you to get out of this shit hole" his crude language caused a few of the loyal patrons to give him a disgusted look before going back to their drink that they had been hugging for the last hour due to poor wages at the farms and mines around the village, Aeron coughed "Of course you could always say here and live out your life without money or magic?" letting himself smile he went to stand up using negotiation tactics fully knowing she would never turn down such a great offer.

Mirannda frowned slightly as she pondered on his words. He had not heard about her mercenary days? Then again, he was talking about a time after the Honest Mercenary was "dead", the time she had spent in DaeLuin without a care. Of this, she was sure no one knew about yet… How did he? The stranger's voice slithered into her mind.

He was taunting her, showing his abilities as a telepath. Has he been listening to her thoughts this entire time? The idea that he had was sickening. Did he have no boundaries of privacy? Then again… She probably would have been eavesdropping on everything as well. Of course fear had flashed across her face for a fleeting moment until she could tether her emotions behind a calm mask once more. Mirannda lifted the glass, and took an appreciative inhalation of the scented steam, allowing the heated spices fill her with peace. She took a sip, savoring each drop.

"I felt like I was the only one who drank it back home. Thank you, for heating it up." It was still too cold, but she didn't know if she could withstand it any hotter, afraid that she was not as impervious to it as she was previously. With his introduction came a vague description of what he needed. Yet she still didn't know why she was sought out for this mission.

She rose an eyebrow again at his colorful way of trying to get her out of this place. As he stood, Mirannda burst into laughter, deep and hearty. The phoenix knew the tactic well, but loathed the implication of her being magicless without his help. "You think I'm stuck here? The people here want nothing more than to be rid of me. I would be more than happy to oblige, if I didn't want the peace and privacy I thought I had here."

Still, his words did come out as a threat. Did he intend on keeping her jobless if she refused him? Keeping her next words light, she continued. "I'm Mirannda, and I'll take the job on a condition or two. First off, as I do not require details on what you transport, know that I do not deal in slavery, or children. Second…" Once upon a time, she'd insert something about not attacking the innocent, bullying the weak, preying on the poor. Instead, the phoenix dropped a few coins on the table, without her ordered food and went to walk out the door. However, she stopped right next to him, closed the gap so she was within inches of his face, her expression serious and menacing, voice low and just as dangerous. "If I ever catch you in my mind again, or threaten me in any way, I'll post your smaller head on a pike for all to see while you hide away in shame and want."

It was a promise, and she meant it as she turned and walked out of the bar, barely waiting for him to catch up right outside. He was, after all, her current employer.

Finishing his drink he looked at her, "The people here wish nothing but to gain profits from us, is why they don't react with violence we act poorly they survive off the simple travellers coming through her like parasites" he threw his coins down onto the table before standing and sliding his coat back on preparing to head outside to his business, hearing her orders and her threat he locked eyes with her his steel eyes glaring at her putting a strange sense of pressure in her mind, "I would suggest you don't make threats when you have yet to see one's power, now come along Ill show you the 'Cargo' ".

The cart was tall and covered with a tattered cloth its only protection from the rain that had picked up letting the chill of the wind flow through his bones another sickly reminder he was still alive in this world and had to rely on people like the merc to protect his cargo, he pulled the cloth of showing Rosenite's chained to the bars blinking at the bright light and water lashing their skin. "Prisoners who were caught doing unspeakable crimes, they are going to be delivered to a prison deep in the rainforest" he threw the cloth back on quickly, "When the cloth is off don't look at them for more than a few minutes, it seems some of them have the ability to tempt guards to open their cages, Poor Jenkins was stabbed to death with his own dagger" he walked back up patting the horse and the driver showing them to start moving. "Hopefully this won't be much of a hassle for your morals?" he spoke quickly in her head with his steeled look in his eyes again.

Mirannda had to stifle a laugh as pressure was pushed against her mind. This was the best he could do to counter her threat? Had he no idea how much his attempts pale in comparison to him? She couldn't hide the smug smirk while he marched proudly to his cart. If that was truly his best, she could imagine what she would do. Once she had her magic back, Mirannda wanted to look him up and have some… fun…

The smirk fell as she eyed the prisoners, ignoring the drenching rain that dug its frigid fingers to her core. They looked miserable, and from her experience, most of them  did not seem to look like any who would commit such awful actions. Aeron threw the covering back on, hiding the prisoners from view once more. Mirannda was staring at Aeron's face, trying to gauge his words, actions, and her own vision for the truth of everything. "Jenkins was weak, if he allowed novices to control his mind."

Still, his voice snaked its way into her mind once more, Mirannda giving him a harsh glare at him for it, meeting his steely gaze with one of angry stubbornness. Aeron was asking for a future with Mirannda, in a very dangerous way. She had nothing but his word about who they were, no proof that they weren't slaves or something much worse. At least they were being transported, he could very well have murdered them on the spot. "Stay out of my mind, and I'll follow." she growled.

Her clothing shifted to her armor. It was a new set, just finally broken in like a fresh set of boots. Even the smell of it was gone. Strapped to her waist was her sword, a dagger hidden in her boot. Mirannda had hoped that this would be an easy job, and she prayed that her suspicions were wrong.

Without even looking at her a pressure wrapped around her neck tightening almost like two strong hands was slowly choking her, Aeron turned his steely look changed to a heated glare staring daggers at the woman, "Jenkins was a good man, much better than you or even I" he spoke allowing the anger to appear in his words like poison as he continued "It would be best if you remembered you still don't have magic" his voice barely reaching above a whisper but still being easily heard through the rain and the rattling of chains as he dropped the armoured woman from the invisible grasp.

Clambering onto the cart he looked down at her offering her the seat before his spoke his voice now calm almost like his fit of anger never truly happened "I know you must have your suspicions on the cargo but they all have done something to break the law, even here the punishment for petty theft is quite bad" he waved his hand in a lazy fashion "And no I wasn't reading your mind, one's face can be easily read if they cant control their thoughts" he paused rubbing his chin looking out into the rain as he told the horse to move as it slowly took off towards the jungle. "I have to ask, how did you lose your magic? I only saw brief flashes while I was in there" putting a finger to his own temple to symbolise her mind maybe helping her recover a fraction of her power would settle a payment yet again she'll probably just become bitchy.

It was a strange sensation to feel him try to choke her. While she knew Sin would not have done that, she felt she must thank him, for it seemed that his end of the bargain had been upheld to some extent. He had given her strength, and it felt good that this man, this Aeron, while not as strong as Sin, could not affect her like he wanted to. Mirannda thought she could fake the reaction, but decided against it, instead allowing her smug expression smile up at him. "Better you say? Still weak if he allowed someone to kill him with his own hand. The chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and all that." Aeron was trying to goad her with her current situation, which only made her outwardly appear more confident.

'I may be without my magic, Aeron, but you don't scare me. Nothing here does.' she thought to herself, quite defiant. Yet, he was right about her not hiding her true emotions as she usually does. Usually she is so careful as to her outward appearance and emotions. His inquiry about her magic only proved his statement as true when she felt even her shoulders slump. "I'm not quite sure…" Mirannda thought back on how she depressed she had been. She didn't even feel the effects she was going through until she passed out.

Elata and Xyaban had been her life savers. "All I remember is I got seriously ill, and nearly perished." However, she was getting stronger every day. Mirannda had already regained a couple of spells and abilities. She had confidence that all of her magical prowess would come back to full strength, if not expand in knowledge. "Since then, my connection to the.. magic… hasn't been the same?"

He pushed the reins forwards allowing the cart to pick up speed before talking, "Nothing here does but what happens if something from your old land comes?" he asks revealing he had heard her thought without even attempting, he glanced at her allowing his head to tilt down, "Will you be able to protect yourself from the things you lost against or worse your own family" Aeron seemed to speak of experience before his head turned back to the road not even wiping away the water on his face.

Listening to her story and stroking his stubble and put up a finger, "Perhaps you're just doing the wrong kind of magic? some mages just lose touch with their powers, for example, I knew a necromancer who just gave up and couldn't use dark magic anymore" he chuckled "Poor guy became a healer and got eaten by a zombie he created years ago". Allowing himself to glance back at the covered cage he allowed himself into her head "Confidence may also lead to downfall, I mean look at those Roseinites they think I haven't noticed them trying to break my Telepath block?" his voice in her head was soft almost like static to show a small amount of interference was in place as Aeron turned back giving orders to the guards walking beside them about camping and toilet breaks.

His first question sent a shiver of fear running through her heart. If Sin came, and he found her, she would be back to square one. He would use her as his spy, she would endure more self inflicted torture to hurdle through his lessons of strength. Yet the fears of running into Sin quickly melted as he mentioned protecting herself against her family. Mirannda barked out laughter.

"That would mean I had family! No parents, no siblings, no offspring." And Sandra couldn't hurt a fly if she wanted to. The only family she had was Elata Etney, and who knew where her cousin was. Elata wouldn't hurt her though. The blasted avian was more preoccupied with protecting her in times of great need.

Fortunately, the topic reverted back to magic, a far safer subject. "I don't know if it's the kind of magic, persay. It feels more like magic works differently here than it did in my land. Like instead of just taking a boat trip, I was plucked off of one planet and dropped on another. What I want to do is clear as day, but how to get it to work is as clear as mud." As his voice snaked its way into her mind once more, Mirannda looked at the covered wagon, feeling pity for them. Surely with the reception she was getting from him, they were not as guilty as he claims?

The phoenix scanned the surroundings, actually trying to do her job. She noticed several birds off to the side on a branch. Nothing about it stood out, except the way all the crows staring at her. Mirannda frowned, watching the birds as her pace slowed to a stop. First one cawed, the another gave an answer, each never taking their beady eyes off the caravan and all who accompanied. It was enough to make her shudder and force herself to look forward as they continued marching on, trying her best to ignore the beasts.