A Magician Needs His Equipment

When they stopped at the destination, Mirai didn't wait for Rayden to help her up. She instead got out and looked around.

"Cars speeding down the streets at constant rates," Mirai began to say. "People bustling up and down the streets. Stores and stalls and stands tending to customers that come and go...tall buildings, lights that rarely go off...yep there's definitely something about it."

She turned towards Caster and smiled.

"For me, it's the energy," Mirai said. "It's full of it. No still moments. No tumbleweeds rolling by as you leisurely sit in an area. You can blink and already ten things have happened at the same time. That kind of energy's admirable. It's an energy people live of off. Especially those who are yearning for something to spark their lives. Don't you think?"

Unlike the other two, Rayden was not a fan of the city. Too much going on, too many variables, defending in such an environment becomes extremely hard. After growing up in a small village Rayden still had not gotten accustomed to life in the city and he felt uneasy being around so many people. Rayden adjusted his helm making sure it was properly secured should something occur and his eyes drifted to Mirai. I must make sure to keep milady safe.

Caster grinned widely, pointing at Mirai with a snap and letting sparks flash from his fingers. "Exactly, the energy! The kinetic force keeping everyone moving! The people, the cars, the lights, all of it!"

Caster jumped on one of the tables, electricity now arching between his fingers as he spun on a heel and grinned widely. "It reminds me of home, Mirai!" he laughed, smiling at her and stopping the electricity, throwing up two burst of fire high into the hair and then shooting them with electricity, the fire exploding into firework-like sparks.

Leaning to a table next to him, he took a napkin and bowed slightly, starting to fold it into the shake of the bird. "There is so much life, unlike being cooped up in that school." The bird began to flap it's wings and move it's head, making Caster grin.

Some of the people watching had stopped what they were doing as they saw Caster go around with his lights and the fire. Mirai had been watching too, her eyes wide with curiosity, not having really being a dust magic user it fascinated her and she did admire the bright lights. Lights that reminded her of the ones that were outside the window of her old dark room.

When Caster did his tricks, the people "ooh"ed and "aah"ed until they finally applauded when he was finished. Mirai had turned to Rider and Rayden, her face lit up like a child as she pointed to Caster.

"Rider! Rayden! Did you see that?" she said. "Weren't those lights pretty?"

Hoping down, Caster made a small bow to Mirai and handed her the moving piece of cloth. Moments after it left Caster's hands the movement ceased, leaving it nothing more than a folded piece of cloth. "I do enjoy entertaining you, Mirai." he laughed softly with a gentle smile, standing straight and fixing his jacket.

Pulling up a sleeve, Caster frowned at his nearly empty dust containers, pulling the sleeve down and smiling at them on. "Now, shall we go?"

Mirai smiled smugly and nodded, letting her arm link once again with her escort for the day.

"And you seem to be doing a fine job at entertaining, that's good," Mirai said, pleased. "Yes, do lead the way. Where to first? Dust, breakfast? Clothes?"

After witnessing Caster's light show Rayden found that their time in the city had suddenly become enjoyable. Rayden began to clap lightly behind Mirai and Caster. "That was quite entertaining Mr. Grate and milady seemed to greatly enjoy it as well." Rayden followed closely behind the two a bit more relaxed but still had a feeling of paranoia and unease being in the city with so many unknown people. "Mr. Grate might I suggest we procure the dust first? It seems each of your spectacles drains your reserves considerably." Along with his security watch Rayden began to look for stores where the companion could purchase dust for Caster.

"Breakfast first." he smiled, leading her into the café and looking back at Rider and Rayden. "Come along, you two." he teased, holding the door for Mirai as they walked in.

"Thank you for your concern, Rayden, but it's fine." Caster smiled genuinely at him. "I usually carry a lot of dust with me, however I only came to Beacon with what I had in my gloves, so I am running pretty low. But I'll live."

"Well, why not we head to that cafe I suggeste?" Mirai said. "I'm famished and I could do for a few danishes."

She pointed up ahead to a small dainty cafe with a violet awning and pink walls, wedged in the corner of two stone brick streets.

"Are you all for it, my dear escort?" she asked Caster.

"Good idea Mr. Caster, I shall move ahead and secure sufficient seating for us. Please keep milady company in the meantime, she seems to enjoy thy presence." Rayden turns toward the cafe and moves toward it at a brisk pace.  Once he enters he is quickly able to find a table with enough seating for them and Rider's chair. Before Rayden goes to sit down a thought comes to mind and he moves toward the counter. "Excuse me sir, but would thy establishment happen to sell raspberry macaroons?" The cashier is an elderly man who great Rayden with a warm smile. "Of course young man, you can have a order of macaroons and they come with tea." With the options presented to him Rayden smiles knowing Mirai and the others would love this. "I shall take three orders, if you would kind sir."

Caster smiled with a small not, starting to lead Mirai in that direction. "Well of course, milady. Whatever it is that you wish." he teased, attempting to replicate Rayden's speech patters.

As they walked into the café he saw Rayden ordering and noticed the nearby seat with three chairs and an empty space, walking them over there and pulling out Mirai's chair.

Rayden soon came back with the macaroons and Mirai nibbled them thoughtfully as she looked at Caster.

"Your trick earlier was spectacular," she said. "So, have you been performing long?"

Rayden took a seat along with Mirai and Rider, but removed his helm before speaking finding it rude. "I have to agree with milady Mr. Grate. I've never seen such a spectacle in my village. It is quite intriguing." Rayden looked down at his cup of tea and began to take a sip. Normally he would have just finished the whole thing in one gulp but feared being reprimanded by Mirai once more after the last time he did it.

Running a hand along the back of his neck, Caster laughed softly with a slight blush. "Oh, please, you both flatter me. But yes, I have been performing for a few years now." he answered as he took a seat between Mirai and Rayden.

"Being part of a circus family, I was always surrounded by so many fantastic things, and I wanted to be a part of it. Well, we hadn't had a magician for awhile so I decided to take up the trade." Caster lifted his left hand and turned it back and forth for them to view his glove. "These are meant for performing, but as time went on and I became more and more interested in dust I altered them to be viable for combat. It then became a personal struggle, however."

His hand folding as he sat up, Caster sighed. "It was eventually became a choice of coming to Beacon and pursuing a life my parents had abandoned, or stay doing what I loved and keep performing. I just felt like I should do more, but I still love making people smile."

Pausing for a second, Caster laughed softly with a deeper blush. "I'm sorry, you asked how long I have been performing, not my life story. Six years, starting when I was twelve."

"Mr. Grate its fine. We are a team its only natural we should get to know each other better." Though Rayden said that he closed his mouth soon after. All the talking was beginning to take its toll on him and he needed something to alleviate it. He picked up his cup and took a larger sip of tea while giving Mirai a look asking her to continue the conversation.

"No need to apologize," Mirai said as she nibbled on a macaroon. "That's actually an interesting story. Not everyone has such ambitions and desires."

Mirai's eyes narrowed on the last part as she recalled her own intentions in Beacon, but she merely sighed and nommed another macaroon.

"Either way, you have a talent and I'm sure you're also adept with dust on the field."

Rayden finished drinking his tea and his eyes suddenly widened as he remembered something from his childhood. "Mr. Grate I have a request for thee. When I was a young lad my master showed me a bit of his own magic. He took a pencil and seemed to give it elastic properties, he swore to never reveal the secret of this power but I have been interested in using this for a weapon. Are you familiar with this magic?" Rayden looked at Caster with anticipation as if true magic would be revealed to him in moments.

Blinking at Rayden, Caster smiled widely at the childlike wonder that the knight showed towards such a simple trick. "Ah! Yes, and ancient dark art kept between only the most skilled of magic users."

His hands fished around his pockets until he pulled out a pencil with an "Ahah!", moving the end between his fingertips and looking at Rayden with a grave, serious look.

"If performed incorrectly I could turn all of out bones to elastic, but fear not! I am a professional." Slowly wiggling his hand, the pencil began to, or appeared to, move as if made of rubber.

"Wallah!" Caster grinned, holding one hand under the amazing pencil. "One of the most dangerous arts known to man since the creation of dust."

Rayden eyes widened as he saw Caster's amazing display of ability and couldn't help but clap. "Mr. Grate the was simply amazing." Rayden's head began to race as he thought of ways to incorporate the technique into his arsenal and smiled at how much potential it had. Rayden pushed his chair back and stood up looking down at Caster with serious look before dropping down to one knee as he often did. "Mr. Grate though I cannot give thee the title of master I wouldst still be forever in thy debt if thou couldst teach me such a technique to add to my arsenal in battle." Rayden kept his head looking down await for a decision.

Caster's face flushed slightly as he became flustered, unsure of how to respond to Rayder's request. He stopped the motion of his hand and flipped the pencil into the air before catching it and putting the utensil back into his pocket.

"I'm flattered, Rayder. I really am. However..." A sudden pause interrupted Caster as he thought over how to explain why such a simple trick could not be used in combat. "I could not dishonor your master's wishes! Yes, such a technique can not be so easily entrusted for use in battle. History has proven this so, but that is a story for another time."

Resting a hand on Rayder's shoulder, Caster stood and gave a slight bow. "Now, I've seen your use of dust in your weaponry. Perhaps in turn I could teach you new ways to use such a weapon more effectively?"