Crim landed Lucy in the forest of giant, towering trees, swishing and dancing with the calm winds. He took a step out of the ship, turning back to face it. Light noise of whistling and smoke slowly trailed from under the hood. It was definitely something from the engine. Crim scoffed, "are you fucking serious right now?" He cursed, punching his hands in his pockets.
"Those damn bandits made you overheat, huh Lucy?" Crim asked aloud, as if Lucy wasn't some inanimate object used for traveling. Crim sat his hand on the side, rubbing the ship, "no worries, get'cha all fixed up soon enough." Crim took out his pocket dimension vestige and pressed it. Lucy slowly got sucked inside like some blackhole.
Crim turned around, studying the humungous forest of towering trees, at least two-hundred feet high. The short, yellow-green grass, leaves of the same color drifting to the floor. A few small wisps of pure light, levitating from the ground. It was a beautiful, peaceful area to digest and relax. But Crim had bigger things to worry about now.
"Alright…" Crim shoved the vestige back into his pocket, "time to find this guild." He said, walking to where the city was located, "hopefully Sin's not dead."
Crim advanced through the woods, footsteps fast, his grey eyes inspecting every little thing they could. Even though Skysin took out the bandits from before, that didn't mean more weren't on the prowl. Albeit wouldn't be much of a problem now since Crim put Lucy somewhere safe. Still, better safe than sorry.
"Cmon little lady, what'cha doin' out here all alone?" A man's voice crept out.
"Yeah," another laughed, "pretty dangerous for a…what're you, a fellen?"
"Holy shit! She is!! In the Vinteel Galaxy?? She's a foreign lady, boys. My cup of tea."
Crim raised a brow, quickly shifting behind a tree. 'More bandits?' He thought, slowly moving his head out, eyeing what was going on.
Three men, all wearing light armor and holsters stood before a singular young lady.
Only her hourglass back was visible, calmly standing, tapping her small foot on the ground, "sorry, but you guys are kinda getting in my way. Mind moving?" She kindly asked, her tone soft, yet sarcastic. Almost like a girl version of Skysin in a way.
Wearing a navy blue one-piece with flared sleeves, hugging her slender arms and draped past her wide hips. Her pants the same, complementing her toned, shapely thighs, falling over her small white slippers. Cream colored hair, wavy, sweeping just under her neck. A pair of white pads on her shoulders and waistline.
Crim squinted his eyes, thinking to himself, 'should I help her out… Well, it would be the chivalrous thing to do at least.'
One of the men, the guy standing directly in front of her laughed, "oh relax, would ya?" He raised his hand, about to set it right on the lady's shoulder.
The girl kicked her leg up, fast, imperceptible to the three men's eyes. She punted the absolute day-lights out of the man's chin, sending him straight into the air, colliding with thick branches of the trees above.
Crim's face turned into shock.
Before the two men could fully register what happened, the girl sent a punch on another's nose. The mans body flipped backwards into the trunk of a tree.
The girl flicked her fingers forward; a translucent essence of chaos covered the last one's body. Sent spiraling like a football, crashing into a boulder.
They were gone.
Just like that.
'Never mind,' Crim's lips folded inwards, smiling anxiously, fully hiding behind the tree again.
There was a pause, the wind blew for just a few seconds. The girl turned around, facing exactly where Crim hid, "I suggest you come out, yeah?"
"Friendly!" Crim quickly moved out to the open, arms raised.
Crim's eyes widened slightly, staring at the lady. And hot damn was he baffled!
A round, yet structured pretty face. Her long bangs set to cover the right eye, falling over her chin. The other side tucked behind her pointed ear, like an elf, but round like a yuman. A ruby stud sat pleasantly in it. Her thin eyebrows furrowed, and that big, dazzling hazel eye glaring at Crim. Long lashes fluttered once as she blinked. Those full, pink lips made a single line. She obviously wasn't in the mood to be trifled with. As to what she just performed.
Crim looked as if he got hit by a lucanaship, and choked on his own words, "beautif—I MEAN! Uh—Nice moves… I'm Crim, Crim Magmastiem." He chuckled, sweating.
The girl leaned her head slightly back, making a face filled with suspicion, "so…you wanna tell me why you were hiding behind that tree like a weirdo stalking a group of women?"
"Didn't exactly know what was going on at first. Not a threat to you at all. I mean, if I was with those guys, I would've jumped at you when I had the chance."
"I already knew you were behind," the girl said matter-of-fact. Sitting a hand on her hip, sloughing slightly, "but judging by how nervous you are, and when you got into my detection, its unlikely." The girl relaxed, "I'm Ai Mei."
Crim lowered his arms, "glad we got that figured out. You took those dudes out pretty fast. What type of technique is that?"
"Only the best martial art in the entire Omiverse! Shang Fu! Those idiots wouldn't have stood a chance either way," Ai Mei scoffed, flicking her hair back.
Crim tilted his head, "sorry… Shang wha'?"
Ai Mei squinted her eyes, jawed slightly lowered, "are you serious?? You never heard of Shang Fu??"
"Uhh…Nope, can't say that I have at all. You learn it at some kind'a sect or something?" Crim asked, approaching.
Ai Mei crossed her arms, scoffing, "unbelievable, is the martial art that washed out?? Well, no one really trains that anymore…" Ai Mei sighed, then shook her head, giving out her hand, "any who, nice to meet you Crim. What're you doing in the forest anyways?"
Crim shook her small, soft hand, "my ship is kinda in bad shape after bandits attacked. Needed some parts and I was recommended to find a guild called Vale."
Ai Mei made a smile, "well you came to the right place! I'm actually one of the owners of Vale."
"Really?"
"Yep! We got what'cha need too! I was heading there myself. I went out for a bit," Ai Mei turned around, pulling Crim with. She was strong despite her size, "c'mon! I'll take ya there now!"
"Oh—Okay!"
***
Crim and Ai Mei walked through Tayon City, which is where the guild Vale is located. It spreads outward in wide rings, rather than upward like needles. Open-mid rise architecture, where buildings climb only as high as needed.
Stone, pale metal, and glass weave together in clean, perfect lines. Soft curves creating a city that feels homely, not crowded.
Broad streets layered with stone pathways. Merchant lanes where vendors sat, calling to the people, elevated walkways that glide between structures and quiet bridges. The suns' rays flow freely through the city, reflecting smooth surfaces and water channels that creep beside the roads like veins.
Crim eyes the entire place, it was nice, serene, peaceful. Much different from his own home but didn't mind at all. It was lively yet calm, fast-paced but not too quick.
Ai Mei looked to Crim, "you came here by yourself?"
"Nah, a friend of mine took out the bandits while we were getting attacked," Crim thought back to Skysin hopping out of Lucy. He was worried about his pal, but he knew Skysin would pull through. From what they already faced against and dealt with, Skysin was a hard guy to kill.
"Oh man…" Ai Mei covered her mouth, "I hope he's okay! Does he know where you're at right now??"
"Meh, he'll be fine. He already exploded once and lived." Crim have a sharp laugh, "but yeah. Sure he'll come around in no time."
Ai Mei raised a brow, 'exploded?' Ai Mei asked herself. She sat a finger on her lip, "I would ask how exactly he 'exploded…' But if you're that relaxed, he must be a tank."
"More like a dumbass," Crim scoffed.
"You sure sound like you care about him," Ai Mei laughed.
"Call it brotherly love."
Ai Mei chuckled again, pointing forward, "almost there now."
The streets of Tayon felt alive despite the difference in population compared to a larger city. Floating signage of multiple languages. Fabric banners bearing guild sigils. Trade stalls built into the walls of structures. Wind chimes and chaos crystals humming softly in the air.
At the center of Tayon, stands the Vale guild.
It rises above the rest of the city, in layered terraces rather than sharp height, wide, massive, grounded. Pale stone fused with dark metal. Colonnaded entrances. Open air interior courtyards. Elevated balconies. Glass and chaos crystal domes. More channels of water flowing through its foundation.
"Damn," Crim said in surprise, "now this is a guild if I imagined one."
Ai Mei sat her arms behind her small back, walking ahead, leaning over to Crim, grinning, "my dad and mom made this place before me and my sister were born. They poured everything they had into this."
The two entered the large building. The grand threshold is a vast, circular chamber. A sunken central floor of polished stone. Rings of ascending platforms surround it. Tall columns fused with vines of chaos-powered lights.
The air smells of metal, spices, clean stone. Voices of people around blend into a multilingual hum.
Crim was quite impressed. He's been to other guilds back on his home planet. But the sheer amount of detail, care put into this place was evident. Ai Mei's parents poured their very souls to make this place the thing it is today.
"The hell do you mean??!" A man yelling in the background slapped Crim back into reality.
Crim looked to his right, where the yelling was coming from.
Two men, much older, maybe around their thirties. One had his arms crossed, leg budging back and forth slightly, obviously pissed. "Isn't this place supposed to be the best guild on Planet Vallorey??" The man scoffed.
"And now you're saying that you don't have the product. What type of shit is that?" The other pushed on.
The girl taking the fire, pink lips curved into a meek smile, "well, the product itself is pretty high in demand…I'm sorry about that…"
A pretty, young lady, at least the same age as Crim and Ai Mei. Bangs set to the left, covering her eye. The opposite big, innocent, a light brown tinged with citrine. Long wheat-toned hair swept just below her back, with a small bun sitting pleasantly right at the behind her head.
Her build like Ai Mei's, toned, yet slender shapely. Dressed in simple attire. A white, slightly unbuttoned collared shirt, edges coated in the same shade as the sky. Short skirt hung a few inches from above her knees, brown tights worn as extra undergarment. A black, lopsided satchel-like belt rested on her wide hips.
It was pretty obvious that the girl is Ai Mei's sister. Essentially twins, pretty much. Except Ai Mei's sibling had a yuman ear, not pointed.
Ai Mei's sister pulled a tablet with paper tucked in between the belt of her satchel from behind, "if you'd like, you guys can write your names here. We'll keep the product for you next time we receive a shipment."
The man sharply exhaled, slapping the tablet from her hands, "I don't give a flying crap about a future 'product'. I need it now."
Customers eyed what was going on, some confused, scared, aggravated. Who the hell did this guy think he was? Trampling over a poor girl like that? Shameful.
A guard standing by in light silver armor, holding a spear walked over, "you need to leave. Your behavior is unacceptable and not welcomed. Get out."
The other laughed, "and what're you gonna do about it?"
Ai Mei didn't waste a second, walking to the men in the blink of an eye. Customers took notice of that.
"Oh! It's Mei Mei!"
"They're gonna get their asses handed to 'em now…"
"Hey," Ai Mei called out, ever so calmly, approaching the two.
Just as the men turned around, Ai Mei's fists went soaring in an instant. One down taking a fist to the gut. The second slumped from a chin strike.
The same translucent aura covered their bodies, slowly sending them straight out of the entrance. Customers ducked and moved out of the way, snickering as the two were sent out.
Safe to say that Crim was impressed, Ai Mei can handle herself well. 'Man, she's so pretty…' Crim made stupid smile to himself.
The girl practically crashed into Ai Mei, hugging her tight, "MEI MEI!! I was soo scared…! Did you see how mean those two were?!"
Ai Mei sighed, prodding her sister's forehead, "dad literally taught us how to fight, Elaine… you could've done the exact same thing."
'Yeah…" Elaine choked up a response as Ai Mei squished her cheeks together, "but I'm not as good as you…"—Elaine grew flustered, moving Mei's hands from her face— "stop you jerk!"
Ai Mei merely laughed, keeping a teasing smile on her face.
"Ai Mei, Elaine!!" The front desk receptionist had busted from the back, kicking the doors open, "all of the products are gone!!"
"WHAT??!" The sisters yelled at once.
Crim closed his eyes with a heavy sigh, leaning his head back to face the ceiling, "…oh goddammit…"
Of course it happens. Why wouldn't it?
Elaine slapped her own cheeks, squishing her face together, "you can't be serious…? All of the stuff together is worth over five-hundred million ruphes!"
Ai Mei flicked Elaine's forehead.
"Ow!" Elaine squeaked.
"Relax dummy, remember we put trackers on all the bulk. We can figure out where they went 'Laine."
"Oh! Yeah!" Elaine clapped her hands, "lets head upstairs to the office!"
Crim pinched the bridge of his nose, 'I need those parts…Lucy's not gonna survive if I don't fix her soon.' Crim sighed, 'Lucy, you better fly faster than Sin can yap after I fix you…'
Crim stepped forward, "can I come with, Ai Mei? I need those parts."
Elaine and Ai Mei faced Crim. Elaine raised a brow, scrutinizing him closely, and lifted her hand, whispering to Ai Mei's ear, "hey…is he your boyfriend or has a crush on you…?"
"Seriously 'Laine?" Ai Mei pressed her hand on Elaine's face, pushing her back.
"Uwgh…!"
Ai Mei smiled, "I don't see why not. If you're up for it. What about your friend?"
Crim shrugged, "he's an idiot but he's not a complete dumbass. He'll catch up, knowing him."
Ai Mei grinned, "alrighty! Let's go!"