Brothers and sisters in the east. I'm sending you this message to notify you that my two months in Vale were not in vain. There is Templar activity here in the kingdom of Vale. Their roots in the kingdom have dug in further than I anticipated, slithering into Vale's government. My recent findings have revealed that they are in workings with the White Fang. I will continue my investigation but warn our spies to keep watch of Sienna Khan and Ghira Belladonna. Although Belladonna's attention is more on his people and home, that doesn't mean his old roots have been completely severed.
-Azure

Reading back on the letter he wrote last night before calling it in. Azure rolls it up and puts it into a small cylinder capsule then tucks the capsule into his pocket. He then puts on some casual clothes which includes a black hoodie with blue jeans and black sneakers. He also wore a white sling backpack which he puts a cut up loaf of bread into with some butter and butter knives. He walks to the window and opens it slightly but stops upon hearing his door knock. He steps off the window frame and walks to the door, turning on the lights before opening the door to see a woman about his age standing at the door. She wore an opened black coat and had tied her white hair in a messy ponytail with her white cat ears sticking out. Azure Stone recognizes her as his landlady's daughter.

Jacinta.

Jacinta looks up at Azure, her eyes widening slightly. "Good morning, Azure. My mother sent me to check on you. She hasn't heard from you in a few days and was worried." She says, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

Azure smiles slightly and reaches into his right pocket pulling out a notepad and writing on it. He then shows it to her

Sorry, I like to keep to myself.

Upon reading it, Jacinta's smile grows bigger "That's good to know, I'll let her know." She says. Azure gives her a nod and goes to close the door but finds it restricted, he looks to see Jacinta holding the door open with her hand on the door frame and her foot acting as a door stopper. "Umm...Azure. I get off work t-today at four. D-do you think we could do something after?" She asks.

Azure looks at her face to take in her details carefully. She gave him an expecting look and the corner of her lower lip was sucked into her mouth, a small glimpse of her teeth biting down on it in anxiety. He stands there for a few seconds before writing in his notepad again. Her foot taps as she hears the audible scribbling against the small paper page. He finally shows her and her anxiety melts away.

Something's come up that requires my attention.
Mainly work to afford the rent after the deposit is up.
I'll let you know in the afternoon.

Jacinta stops herself from almost squeeling and manages to keep herself composed "That's cool. I have my break at two. So, if you could message me between two and two-thirty that would be awesome." She says before walking away, not caring that he looks down the hallway to see her do a victory jump. Azure shook his head and places the notepad back in his pocket and closes the door. He returns to the window and opens it and steps up onto the window ledge. He looks to his top right to see a rope that runs along from his window to the roof across from him. Azure pulls out his white gloves and grabs onto the rope.

He begins to drag himself along the rope as the sound of the wheels grinding on the gravel of the road from cars below can be heard. The wind blows against his face, causing his hair to whip around. As he reaches the end of the rope, he jumps down onto the roof, landing lightly on his feet. He then pulls out a grappling hook from his backpack and fires it towards the other building, attaching it to the edge.

After mantling over the edge of the other roof, starts to sprint and jump across to another roof top, then another until arriving at a grocery store. He enters and fast walks to the meat section. He finds two packets of meat. One ham and the other chicken. He then returns to the self-service check-out and purchases them before leaving the store. As he turns to his left from put of the store he accidentally bumps into someone who came around the corner sharply. "Sorry." The voice of a young man about his age calls out before moving around Azure. Azure ignores him and moves on but silently notes the small girl with similar faunas traits holding his right hand while a woman clung to his left arm.

'Jeez people, at least wait till your past twenty-' Azure's train of thought is caught short as he quickly notices four more people in front of him and maneauvers around them. They were armed and young, Most likely Huntsmen. At least that's what Azure pinned them as but they aren't what's important at the moment.

Traversing the bustling streets and blending in the crowd. Most of his brothers and sisters would usually do this tactic with their hoods up. It's a good tactic especially when confronting the enemy. If the enemy catches a glimpse of our faces, it falls under compromising the brotherhood. However, given that Templar activity has been low especially in Vale. There's no need for Azure to comply to this rule just yet. For all he knows, Finley was the only one in charge. A scout, nothing more.

As Azure moves through the bustling crowds, his senses heightened, he spots an alleyway up ahead that looks slightly narrower than the others. He picks up his pace, weaving in and out of people as he makes his way towards the alleyway. He sees a wired fence with a blue tarp in front of it. Azure slows down his pace as he approaches the fence, glancing around carefully. He steps closer and reaches out to push the tarp away, revealing the entrance to the alleyway. He ducks through the hole in the fence and looks around. He sees three tents set up and a small fire in the middle. He takes a seat at the fire and pulls his bag around to his front. He pulls the loaf of bread out and puts it to the side. Azure slows down his pace as he approaches the fence, glancing around carefully. He steps closer and reaches out to push the tarp away, revealing the entrance to the alleyway. He ducks through the hole in the fence and looks around. He sees three tents set up and a small fire in the middle. He takes a seat at the fire and pulls his bag around to his front. He pulls the loaf of bread out and puts it to the side.

He hears the tent to his left open, he sees a middle aged man wearing a dirty old trench coat and long red pants with rips in the knees section. He looks at Azure with his bright orange eyes "Azure!" He calls out.

Azure gives him a small wave. Upon hearing his name, the other tents open. The one to his right opened revealing a young blonde woman in a sports bra with a blue jacket covering most of her upper body while she wore green long pants with the right leg missing half of the leg of the pants. Behind her was a small boy who also had blonde hair wore a red and black striped scarf. He also wore a blue cap backwards and a red shirt and black shorts. The middle tent that blocked the end of the alleyway opened revealing an elderly couple. The woman had white hair and wore a fluffy white top and blue tracksuit pants while the man who had green hair with white highlights with green cat ears wore a multicoloured checkered shirt over his white shirt and also wore tracksuit pants but were black. Azure looks around at the people who greeted him. He smiles and waves back at them. He then begins pulling out the loaf of bread and offering it to them.

The man with the orange eyes chuckles and shakes his head as he sits at the fire. The rest follow suite as bread , butter knives and butter is handed around. Azure then pulls out two packets, one, the packet of thin cut ham and then the other full of thin cut chicken. Azure looks around at the people who greeted him. He passes them around too.

"So, Azure. What brings you here today? We weren't expecting you till a little later in the week." The man with orange eyes says as he butters his bread. Azure pulls out his notepad and starts writing. He clicks the end of his pen and then shows the paper to the man.

Need Mary to deliver a message.
Mistral.
If you would, Hale.

The man now identified as Hale reads the note and whistles and puts the butter knife down before running his hand through his hair.

"Well, that's quite the request," Hale says, looking thoughtful. "Mary is capable of the distance, but she's been struggling lately. Think the messenger version three point zero is starting to get outdated now." He explains.

Azure raises a brow in surprise and with a click of his pen, starts writing on his notepad before showing Hale.

Uhh...duh.
It's at version 7.0 now.
They announced no further support for versions under 4.0.

Hale groans and reaches into his jacket. He pulls out a mechanical pigeon that had a small silver coloured top hat on its head. It's right with was pained gold while its left was painted blue. "I thought the charging stations looked different when so took her today." He sighs and places her between himself and Azure "Not like I can pull the cash out of my a-" He realises a child is present and looks across from the fire to see a woman staring daggers at him. "-Butt. Sorry Luca." Hale apologises to the woman with the child now identified as Luca.

As he was talking, Azure had already written on his notebook once again before showing it to Hale.

So you just need the update?

Hale nods but shrugs "Which would be simple if the new charging station I took her to would work." He explains.

Azure looks at Mary. He wonders why the charging stations would need new ones. Updates just tweak the software, it shouldn't effect anything outside of that. Especially since these mechanical birds don't connect with a cable at the charging stations, they're put on a platform and charge overtime. Azure writes on the notebook and shows Hale.

Did you get your money back when they told you they couldn't charge it?

Hale reads it as he finishes crafting his sandwich and takes a bite. He motions his head in a 'no' response making Azure narrow his eyes.

'That money wasn't just to help with Mary's charging expenses so I could stay in touch with the creed. It was also to help these people.' Azure thinks to himself.

Hale takes another bite and talks with his mouthful "There's always a scroll, Azure." He says.

'Yes but I like my privacy. Especially when the information in my message is related to the recent murder of an ex-councilman.' Azure thinks to himself again as he stands and picks up Mary.

Hale hums at this and swalllows "Where are you going?" He asks. Azure writes in his notepad and toss the paper to Hale after ripping it out. Hale grabs it and reads it.

Going to the charging station.
Finding answers.
Come by my place, 2/178 yellow brick road later today. We'll send the note later together.

Hale goes wide eyed and stands up "Just be careful with Mary! She's a delicate flower!" He calls out. Azure just waves signalling for him not to worry too much.

For now, he needs to find out why there's a sudden problem with charging the mechanical pigeons.
______________________________

Until next time :)