Renitra snapped back to reality when she heard the pleas and protests coming from Violet. She peeked out of her hiding place to see her get pulled into the sack after he futile kicks and screams. “Savages…” she muttered. Renitra had a similar experience when she first arrived in Zephon. However in her case she was mistaken for an opera singer named Maria.

Enough was enough. She had to be rescue. Renitra followed discreetly as the bandits took Violet into a small tent and left her there to stew. Renitra watched and waited for the coast to clear. During this time she heard Violet protesting about her hair. Renitra eyerolled. She sounded like a child of an Ishgardian noble who didn't know the hells of combat. Then she said she was a reporter. “As if they'd understand that… but… she might be helpful…” Renitra thought that if violet had connections she might know of ways to leave Zephon. But that was neither here nor there. She cleared her mind, tensed herself, crouched down and focused her energy into her legs, pushing off the ground and into a majestic Dragoon style jump, arcing over the encampment and behind the tent Violet was in.

She slipped inside and found the sack. “Psst..” Renitra whispered to it. “reporter girl. Are you ok? Keep quiet. I'm going to get you out of there… don't scream. And don't panic if my pet meerkat peers inside.” She pulled out a dagger and slashed the top of the sack, opening a hole. She peered inside. “Your hair is the least of your worries by the way.” She said before instinctively putting a hand in, and covering Violets mouth, gagging her as well as warning herm Violet would have felt her hand as cold because she was wearing gauntlets after all. Renitra put a finger to her lips to warn her not to draw attention to themselves before carefully withdrawing her hand off Violet. “Did they hurt you?”

Sonora was still as bleak as ever. People didn’t seem to mind. Renitra did however. Was that because she was an outsider and wasn’t desensitised to cultures of Zephon’s cities? With a deep unconscious sigh, Renitra pushed her way into what the sign above the entrance called a ‘Game Center’. The dreary cityscape was replaced with neon lightning, excited chattering and a packed atmosphere. Now THIS reminded her of the Gold Saucer back home! She let off a small smile at the memory and thus went to look around. Apparently people wokld crowd around these strange boxes looking at screens to play ‘games’. There was an occasional one that wasn’t a box. They reminded her of two games back in her Gold Saucer. The Finer Miner, and Out On a Limb. She was very good at Out On a Limb.

She went up one floor and saw the floor had been set up as a “racing hall”. She recognised the vibe well because she used to frequent Chocobo Races herself. As a jockey. But there was no Chocobo here. Not real ones at any rate. Apparently there was a game here where people raised virtual Chocobo and put them in races. She felt put out by that. What was the point of it if it wasn’t a real Chocobo!? Although she might as well look around. There was nothing else to do. She had finished her tasks for the Sonora Adventurer’s Guild (if you could call it that…) and she was in no hurry to quiz random people for more work, she had acquired some GP for her efforts… and it seemed most people had ‘issues’ with people from other worlds in this city. She had to keep it very quiet that she was one of them lest she damage her business relationship with the people here. Not to mention she was a member of the Drabonblades. She couldn’t hurt their reputation here either. Not that she knew what their reputation was in Sonora to begin with.

She leaned against a wall and huffed softly trying to collect her thoughts and watch the races on the big screens at one end of the hall, trying to understand the appeal of digital Chocobo racing.

“So much has happened since I left Doma…” Renitra murmured in English/Eorzean as she sipped at a drink. She was slowly piecing together her thoughts on what Yugiri had told her. So in her future, if she ever got home she would fight Yotsuyu one final time.. forced into it by her brother or a cousin tricking her. How vile her family must have been. So much so that Yotsuyu’s heart became stoke and she saw all of her countrymen as wicked and corrupt.

Then Yugiri mentioned the failed assassination attempt. She paled again. She knew Yugiri wasn't malicious. “[No offence was taken, Yugiri-chan. I know how it went. Zenos drew a new katana that day, supposedly from the Kojin of the Red. The same one used by the Primal Kami, Susano, the Lord of the Revel.]” She said softly remembering that day.

“[So… you consider it a blessing that no one knows who I am? Or that I shouldn't proudly declare it… lately… I've been doubting if I really deserve the title at all. I lost the battle that mattered the most. Who knows what's happening back home… Krile… I hope she's alright. I couldn't manage returning home and seeing her in worse shape than when I last saw her…” She sniffled. She felt like she was about to cry. In an attempt to hide this face she quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve and pulled her hood slightly over her face. It wasn't to hide emotion from a shinobi. It was as to not come off as weak in a tavern like this. Some of the more rowdier patrons might get ideas with two drunk women and that have her an uneasy feeling.

“[Perhaps we should… uh… make our leave now, Yugiri-chan? Do you have somewhere to stay tonight? You can bunk with me if you have no where.]” Renitra offered. It was a genuine offer. She didn't want to see Yugiri get into trouble because she was drunk as one of Buscaron’s patron. There was another reason. A personal reason. Renitra didn't want to spend another night alone in this world. When she was alone with her thoughts, they went into the dark regions. The abyss of her traumas was a scary place for her mind to wander into, and if no one was there to make sure she wasn't falling in, she may never come out the same again…

Renitra was studying her lance and her Astrometer lost in thought and reflection. She knew both schools, one of war and the other of magic were practically completely incompatible with each other. Yet she had the silly idea of using both in her battle with Zenos yae Galvus weeks ago, only to get her rear end handed to her, and her becoming violently sick in response to her failure. She was 0-4 against the power drunk Crown Prince of Garelmald and she was looking to try and recover her pride as the Warrior of Light… if she could continue calling herself that. Her encounter with Alexander Sorel had caused her to doubt herself heavily



Renitra eventually opened her eyes. An idea came to her. The Red Mages of Gyr Abania used both White and Black magics, in tandem with a rapier. What if Renitra could fashion a style similar to it. Her lance, and Astral magics… yes she could envision it now. But she had no finer understanding of how Red Magic worked. No basis to use. If she knew someone who specializes in Red Magic, it would be a different story. She did become acquaintances with a Miqo'te from Gyr Abania who called himself a Crimson Duelist but she never fully finished her training as a Red Mage under him. But he wasn’t in Zephon.



Renitra did manage to find a clue a day later. There was a Miqo’te in Provo. Unfortunately, Renitra was very hasty in gathering her intel and had set off to find them. If she had waited for more intel, she thought they would be gone. If she did wait, she would have been very surprised at what she would have found out…



Renitra rounded the corner to the marketplace hoping to find the Miqo’te mage and ask for their help. Her eyes scanned the stalls trying to find something that resembled a Miqo’te. Coerul Ears, a tail, thin but tall pupils in the eyes. Anything. But there was a massive crowd. She was looking for a needle in a haystack