บท 48: Airshow

*Mochi, Mochi, Mochi*

Michael slowly chews on a juicy chicken skewer as walks towards a crowd that'd suddenly formed near the market beside the docks. He wasn't sure why they were gathered, but they were all watching the horizon with rapt attention... As if waiting for fireworks to be launched.

*Mochi, Mochi, Mochi*

"Mmm, this is good... I'll have to buy more on my way back." he mutters to himself as looks around for a place to sit. Unfortunately, most available spots had already been taken leaving him to awkwardly stand.

Eventually, the crowd started to make a commotion, some of the people pointing at a dark shadow appearing at the ocean's horizon.

"Hey, do you know what's happening?" Michael finally asks a nearby woman, not able to resist his curiosity any longer.

She tears her eyes away from the shadow and quickly nods, "It's the airship from Albion! This is the first one bringing refugee's and Tristain citizens here. With the civil war getting worse, everyone is doing their best to escape as soon as possible." she explains.

Michael nods, "Ah, is that so?... Who're you waiting for then?"

"My son, he was a soldier under King James, but I managed to persuade him to leave after the man was assassinated... Thing's weren't as bad then, but he's struggled to return ever since." she mutters with glimmering eyes, "I'm so relieved to finally see him again."

Michael smiles, "A son should always listen to his mother... They have a weird power to tell if their children are in danger. Well, most of the time." he says, keeping his expression light despite thoughts of his own mother.

With that, he leaves the woman to her own company and steps through the crowd to get a better view of the airship. By now it was already casting a massive shadow onto the ocean below it, Michael was somewhat put off by the shape of it... An airship shouldn't look like a sea-born vessel, it resembled a medieval ship that pirates would use, Michael wasn't even sure how those sails functioned midair. Wouldn't the ship just flip upside down or something?

The ship slowly approached the city, flying over the port and circling around to land on a large raised platform that seemed to be designed for landing airships.

The platform itself was a reverse cone-shaped stone building, that had its roof flaring out wider than the base originally was. While it did have a couple struts and pillars helping it hold its weight, without magic it'd most likely instantly fall apart, its own structure making it incredibly unstable.

It was probably required to be designed like that however, as there wasn't enough space in the area it was built to be so wide at its base. Most likely, the platform was created after the city was built.

He wondered what it would be like if Louise cast 'Dispel' on it, and then wondered why all his recent thoughts were so violent...

Once the airship lands, it takes around twenty minutes for refugee's and other civilians to come streaming out of the platform it'd landed on. Many people in the crowd rushed over to meet their loved ones, but a large portion looked downtrodden at the fact that the person they were looking for was missing.

Michael shakes his head and leaves, deciding that gawking at such a scene would ruin his mood... Unfortunately, his mood was destined to be ruined today. His feet halted as he noticed a man sticking up posters onto a nearby wall. "Really..." he mutters as he walks over, glaring at the portrait of... Himself?

"WANTED

DEAD OR ALIVE

MICHAEL THE FALSE FAMILIAR

50,000 GOLD REWARD"

In the middle of the paper was a hand-drawn portrait of himself... Though, Michael wasn't sure if he should feel relieved or offended by how badly they'd drawn him.

His portrait had sharp eyes with dark circles beneath them, with short spiky hair that'd belong on your typical thug. His nose was pointed in a similar manner to The Penguin from Batman, and his teeth were misaligned and blackened... His cheeks were also chiselled and almost sharp-looking, with thin lips and a large protruding chin.

"Did they mistake me for someone else?" he mentally retorts as he beholds his image. What part of this was even supposed to resemble him!? Did they not want to catch him? Did they have no competent artist? Or did the nobles have such skewed memories of him that this is what they came up with!?

Michael shakes his head and looks to the man who'd stuck up this bounty, he puffs his cheeks out slightly to soften his face to guarantee he wouldn't be noticed. "Er, sir? Is there any information on this man? I might try my hand at it... Fifty thousand isn't anything to sniff at."

The man nods, "News on it has been slow, but this criminal supposedly killed Guiche de Gramont after ambushing him. Used some kind of 'Elf magic' to do it. Hah, must be one of those disgusting half-elf abominations. Just look at him, parents must've thrown him in a ditch when he was born!" the man exclaims. "Or maybe it was one of those sicko's that'd stick their peter into an Elf..." he grimaces, "Can you even imagine?"

Michael's thoughts trail off as he thinks about certain risqué pictures of Night Elves, Dark Elves, and any other big booby elf you can think of. "Er, yeah... Imagine doing an Elf..." he manages to get out as the man continues to list off reasons he hates Elves.

"Why's this guy called the 'False Familiar' anyway?" Michael asks, wanting to know if they'd publically linked Louise to him.

The man shrugs, "No idea, must be one of those weird titles mages sometimes take up... Like 'Firebreath', or 'Turbulant'... Hey, ever heard of that noble who called herself 'Heavy Wind'? Heh! I'd hate to be stuck in a room with her, hahahaha!"

...

Michael continues to pursue the man about his bounty's information, but apparently, the only thing they really knew was that he possessed 'Elf Magic', he was deceitful and was dishonourable enough to cut your throat while you slept... Which wasn't really wrong per se. Especially considering his recent efforts.