Singh gestured to the woman. "Talk to her!"
Avrey froze. "I… What?? I-I-I can't just waltz up and go, hey, m-my dead friend thinks you touched him"
The Doctor chuckled. "Well… no. But you could lead up to that."
Avrey sighed, then yelped once the ghost started pushing him toward the strange customer. There was no going back now.
"E-everything tasting okay?"
Myth glanced up at the youth, watching him a moment before turning back to her mocha. Though, after a moment, she sensed him getting closer and looked up. She put on a sweet smile, one she had used many times to hide her true emotions.
“Indeed. I thank you for this lovely mocha,”she said.
Once again, that spirit presence was nearby, though she couldn’t quite gauge where at the moment. Possibly behind this youth, or nearby. She wasn’t sure.
Dr Singh nudged Avrey, glaring a bit
Avrey managed to stay steady, plastering on a smile. "Good! Good… Uh, S-so what brings you here? D-do you live around here?"
Myth chuckled a bit at the youth’s timid reply.
“I am not from around here. I recently moved to this country to… I don’t know, explore, see something new. I bought an apartment… somewhere near here. I’m still getting used to this place,”she answered.
Out of curiosity, Myth flared her aura again. She didn’t reach out to anything, just made it pulse, wondering how the youth would react.
Avrey stumbled back a bit, his blue eye glowing slightly as he sensed the aura. He simply stared in curiosity, tilting his head as he donned another nervous smile, grabbing Singh's arm
"S-s-so I see you've meet my friend, then." He said quietly, trying not to draw too much attention. He strengthened his own aura, amazed that he had found someone who had similar abilities, and wasn't dead..
Myth watched him with intrigue at the sight of his glowing eye. At his smile, she softened her own, and this time it was a genuine expression.
“Is that what I am sensing? Your ally?”she asked quietly, respecting his need for secrecy.
Myth was mostly unaware of his aura, as her senses were distracted by the presence of Dr. Singh.
Avrey glanced at Singh, who gave him a cheesy thumbs up.
"Yeah… I guess you could say that." He said as he leaned a bit closer. "H-how do you know he's there? C-c-can you see him?"
He felt a mix of emotions: fear, excitement, nausea, all washing over him as he finally realized he wasn't alone.
Myth chuckled a bit at his comment, then shook her head.
“Where I am from, ‘ally’ also means ‘friend’. Yet, beyond that, I cannot see him, yet I feel him,”she answered, flaring her aura to clarify what she meant.
“‘Tis vague, yet I know he is there,”she added.
Avrey nodded, taking a seat across from her. This might be a while.
“So… so you can’t see him, but y-you know he’s there?” Avrey asked with curiosity.
He pushed Singh away and flared his aura, reaching out as far as he could.
“What about that?”
Myth watched him, smiling a bit at his actions.
“Yes. Though, as I said, it is a vague sensation,”she replied.
She then watched him again, and sensed a pulse of energy similar to the spirit. It was strange. She had never felt something like it.
“What was that? Your ally?”she asked.
Avrey shook his head, blue eye lighting up again slightly.
"No. It was me."
Then even quieter as he leaned forward slightly.
"What… are you?"
“That was you? I can barely tell. ‘Tis a strange sensation honestly,”Myth replied.
She then hesitated at his question and looked down at her mocha. A flash of fear crossed her eyes.
“I… You do not even know mine name,”she said, barely audible.
Avrey looked down, blushing with embarrassment.
“I-I-I’m sorry. I’m kind of intruding. I’m just… I-I can…” he started to stand up, a protesting Dr Singh trying to sit him back down
Myth watched him, realizing that she had spooked him. She reached a hand out to reassure him.
“Sit. Please. I… do not get that much company. I am Melissa. You are?”she asked gently.
Avrey nodded, tentatively taking a seat and crossing his arms.
"I'm… I'm Avrey." He said softly, smiling a bit.
Dr Singh gave him a thumbs up again as Avrey chuckled. "And my friend over here is Madhav Singh. But he likes going by Doctor SIngh."
Singh nodded and flared his aura slightly
Myth nodded at Avrey, then chuckled at the introduction of Dr. Singh.
“It is nice to meet you both,”she said, flaring her aura back in greeting.
Someone walked by the shop and Myth glanced over, her eyes widening slightly. She had seen the man before, and now he was subtly following her.
Avrey followed her gaze, then watched the man. He had a strange… glow about him.
"Wh-who is that?" Avrey whispered, periodically checking to see if he had customers to attend to.
Dr Singh wafted through the cafe doors and into the street, inspecting the stranger with caution and curiosity
“I am uncertain, yet I suspect he is no ally of mine,”she answered quietly.
The man continued past the shop, unaware of Dr. Singh. He had a similar aura to Myth, though his seemed more earthy than hers.
Myth watched him, taking slow, deep breaths to keep herself calm. She had a feeling that the man would continue to follow her.
Avrey watched intently as the man slowly receded into the crowd, and was lost from his sight. Singh also came back, shrugging with a bewildered expression.
"He feels like… her." He mumbled, pointing at Mythrius. "But… but a bit more from this realm? If that does make sense to you."
Avrey nodded slowly, relaying what the scientists said to his new friend. "Is he f-following you?" the boy inquired.
Myth’s eyes widened a bit at the information. Either the individual was a half-breed or the individual was of the earth elemental magicians of the race.
“It is possible. I have… enemies,”she said cautiously.
Myth glanced out the door again, but nothing of significance to her was there. The man had truly disappeared.
Avrey tilted his head, first at the direction the man had so suddenly gone off into, then to Myth worried gaze. He turned to Singh, clearing his throat slightly to invoke some feeling of authority. "Doctor, why dont y-you get a group together t-to follow that guy." Avrey whispered to the ghost.
Dr Singh nodded, giving a halfhearted salute and then disappearing into the air.
Avrey looked back to the woman, now more utterly confused than before. What was she? And why was that guy after her?
"Wh-why would you have… um… en-enemies?" He stuttered, trying not to sound rude
“You’re having him followed?”Myth squeaked.
If she could sense Singh, there was a chance, however small, that this other would sense him. He would then come on the hunt, and she would undoubtedly be the prey. And what did that mean for the others in the shop?
“I… ‘Tis… I met some folks I should not have. Things got out of hand, and they misunderstood,”she said quickly and quietly.
It likely sounded like an excuse, but it was the best half-lie Myth could come up with at the moment.
Avrey nodded slightly, scooting over on the bench to make room for Dr Singh. Not that it really mattered.
"Y-yeah. But don't worry, the guys watching him are-are the best. They're not a-as easily caught as… m-my friend over here." He said, glancing at the now glaring doctor. "…hopefully."
He tapped his fingers on the table as he listened, face contorting with confusion.
"Okay…" Avrey acknowledged half-heartedly. She didn't want to expose the truth, which was highly understandable. After all, they had just met.
Myth nodded at his reply, though she was still skeptical. Drāckonians were natural predators, even while in human form. No drāckonian appreciated being followed.
“Hopefully,”she said quietly.
She quickly noticed his expression and sighed, looking down at her nearly finished mocha. He had undoubtedly seen that her words were false, but what else could she say?
“I… I do not know how to properly explain everything. To put it simply, and honestly, I… angered a group that I had considered allies, and now I realize that they were much worse than I initially thought. And, I know not how to get away from them,”she explained timidly.
Myth abruptly realized how shy she’s been acting around Avrey and questioned it. Why was she so bashful now? Where had her typical bold nature gone? Or was she more afraid and alone than she had initially thought?
Avrey nodded along, resting his head in his hands as he listened.
"I kn-know the feeling…" He mumbled, rubbing the collar of his jacket. He had noticed Myth's nervousness, a bit confused at the sudden change in demeanor.. Perhaps it was the reality of the dangers setting in…
Then, at the most unfortunate moment, Avrey's manager came out of the back room.
"KINGSFORD!" He roared, stomping up and dragging Avrey behind the counter. "You useless slut! What the hell are you doing??"
Avrey's face turned red as he stared to tear up a bit, praying to all things good and holy that he wouldn't start crying.
Myth was grateful that Avrey seemed to understand, and that she wouldn’t have to go into greater detail. The thought of being hunted was unnerving as it was. Including Avrey, an innocent and delightfully unusual man, in the hunt would be torture.
When the manager came out, she watched him closely. Her eyes narrowed at the way he treated Avrey. She stifled a growl, then turned to her mocha and finished it.
Afterward, she stood and headed over to the counter. Her bold demeanor had returned, a hint of something dark beneath.
“Pardon me, but would you kindly refrain from such harsh actions? Avrey here was keeping me company while I was having a rough moment. And, he made me an excellent mocha. Speaking of, could I have a refill, Avrey? Just let me know if I must pay for it,”Myth said, her deep blue eyes boring into the manager with a dangerous gleam. Though, her gaze softened at Avrey and she gave the youth a sweet smile.
(Hello?)
(Bumping just in case)
(Oh sorry I completely forgot to respond)
(You’re good. I was just checking)
Avrey smiled softy, mouthng a thank you as the manager pressed her lips together.
"Don't let it happen again, Kingsford." He growled before stomping off to the back room. Avrey sighed in relief and took Myth's cup.
"Th-th-thank you." He mumbled, still a bit red. "I-I-I'll give you the refill for free."
He turned back to the strange woman once he had finished, tilting his head. "I-Is that why you're here? Are y-you running from.. them?" He whispered softly, eyes glancing to where the other mysterious man had disappeared.