Phoenix

Gluttony

"Can you blame me?" Emi countered before she walked out.

Kira and Ursa started, "Hey! Where are you--"

Emi had closed the guildhall doors and started to walk through the empty streets of Crocus. Emi liked the city at night, as there were no crowds that forced her to try to squirm between people. She made her way to the roof that gave her a great view of the royal gardens and sat down. She sighed as she sat holding her knees to her chest.

"I just wish that I--"

"Didn't have to go overboard?"

Emi jumped at the sudden voice and turned to see Sting speaking from the ground.

"How did you--"

Sting simply tapped his nose before he asked if he could join her. Emi shrugged before turning back to the gardens.

"It's not your fault that you have the instinct to protect yourself."

"I don't want to protect myself. I want to protect others. I don't care if I die in the process."

Sting quietly sat next to her, close so that they were almost touching. His hand hovered over hers for a second before retreating back to his side, remembering that he shouldn't do that in public. Emi quickly grabbed his hand back and held it tightly. He could feel her start to shake.

"Emi--"

"Sh."

Sting looked at her confused before she suddenly stood up and turned to the direction of the edge of town. She pulled her hood off and scanned the area.

"Uh, Emi? Don't you need your hood--"

Emi held out a hand to silence him once more. She had a very serious look on her face, eyes narrowed and jaw clenched.

"I need to leave town," Emi stated bluntly.

"Are you oka--"

"I'll take a job in a nearby village."

"Wait!" Sting yelled as he grabbed her wrist gently to stop her from jumping off the roof. "Let me come with you."

"No."

"I promised you I would protect you and I'm not going back on my word," Sting argued.

Emi stayed silent for a moment before nodding.

"Great. Let's go pick one out. We leave as soon as we pick one."

----------------------------------------------

"Where are you guys going so late? Can't it wait until morning to leave?"

"We have an urgent request we need to complete."

Emi handed Mich the request before dragging Sting out the door.

"Hey Ursa, look after Lector for me, would ya?" Sting screamed from the street.

Master Rue took one look at the request and slipped to the edge of town to meet the two wizards.

"Children?"

Sting and Emi jumped at the sudden presence of their master. They faced him as he started to question them.

"This is a D-class request. Why are you so hurried to leave?"

"Master, we have to--"

"For the safety of the town and our guild, I must leave urgently."

"Sting?"