"Excuse me, but have you seen this girl?" I ask the nearest vendor as I show him my hand drawn picture.

"Sorry, young lady, I have not."

Disappointed with the answer, I leave him to his preparations and continue my search.

(Oh, where did she go? I won't hear the end of it from Hisao if I don't find her.)

"Pardon. Do you have a moment?" I ask one of the nearest animal tone locals.

"Why hello, young lady! What brings a flat-chested beauty like you to Terraz?"

(Flat...chested!?!? Is that supposed to be a compliment!?)

"I'm sorry..." I say, trying to smile and hold back my anger. "But have you seen this girl?"

"Let me see.... Nope, never seen a mujer like her around."

.".."

"Want to go on a date today, flats?"

"I'll pass, but thanks."

(Like Hell I'd date him!)

Man, this is getting nowhere! Why was I given a rookie for a partner for something this important to begin with? I took my eyes off her for one moment and...

"Allez!"

(Hm? First Age French?)

I turn towards an adjacent vendor and see a pale androgynous figure with short purple hair eyeing a fine locally crafted...what were those called in the First Age...ponchos? I think so. Whatever it is, the reaction of the man nearest to them suggests they're making a scene.

"We shouldn't buy this for any reason," the figure says a bit harshly.

"There's nothing wrong with souvenirs," the person adds. Somehow, both their tone and the voice seem a bit different now. Sweeter.

"We can't afford spending money recklessly!"

"We haven't bought anything for ourselves in some time."

"Focus!"

"Let me make the most of this!"

"So, what'll it be?" the vendor asks this individual.

The figure jumps back a bit, startled for reasons I don't know.

"I refuse!"

With this, they walk away but, after a few steps, turn around again, and bow.

"Je suis désolé! I'm sorry!" again in the sweeter tone.

I look back at the vendor and see the man blushing with embarrassment. He seems quite tall and muscular in his own right, but not to the degree of an animal tone. What sticks out most is his untamed short hair and grotesquely scarred face. Still, looking at his eyes, I can tell he is arguably the more gentle soul of the two.

"Lo siento. I would like to purchase what my partner was looking at, please."

"Eh? Oh, right! Thank you for your patronage!" the vendor says, bowing.

As I continue to stare in the vendor's direction and attempt to process what I have seen, I look down at my drawing and continue to wonder about my own partner. Not paying attention, I look up and see the androgynous person standing right next to me. They slowly lift up their left sleeve which hides a...

...! That mark! The snake encircling the moon!

I quickly remove my right gauntlet and show them the back of my hand, revealing my own mark.

"So you're who we were meant to meet," the person says. "I thought those in your division worked in pairs."

"There were...complications."

"This won't jeopardize your performance in the mission, will it?"

."..No. It won't."

"Then meet us outside the coliseum. We have much to discuss."

GONG!