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Faisal lounged about in the open market. The weather was nice and it brought out a crowd of earthlings who roamed about the open stalls. Unlike many who had something on their mind, Faisal wasn't really in need of much. The hybrid was simply passing time on his day off from sword training. He had heard rumors of a new land and the market seemed to be the best place to gather gossip. One of the traders was even swearing up and down that he had news of the underwater races and that some of the delicate shells lining his cart were from their ocean.

Really? Faisal quirked a brow in interest as he propped a leg and leaned against the corner of a building that stood outside of an alleyway. If anything at least it was entertaining to listen to the outrageous stories that the merchant was telling the group of Oban women who found themselves entranced by tales of the new world, "I would say that I'm pretty certain that I've picked up some similar shells while visiting Matori." He mused quietly with a small chuckle. Still who was he to ruin the merchant's sells? The women, much like Faisal, had silks on and it was obvious from their accessories that they were fairly well off. A few coins spent on some pretty shells surely wouldn't harm them....right?

But it didn't stop him from pushing away from the wall to casually walk past the merchant's stall, "Ah, I would love to see one of these." He reached past one of the ladies to hold up a delicate shell with a pearly sheen, "Ah, it looks just like the ones I've gathered from Matori before. I've heard that the new land has shells that almost glow with their vibrant colors. I guess I'll keep looking until I find something similar." The young man placed the shell back down before strolling away, leaving behind a disgruntled merchant and a now very wary group of women. Maybe if he went further into the markets he could hear more gossip? Hopefully something actually true this time. Faisal really did want to hear more about these underwater dwellers and what their existence would mean for the rest of the world.

Another story spinner. Faisal found himself stopping on the edge of a gathering crowd so that he too could listen to the speaker. This earthling, however, seemed a bit more experienced with travel and the hybrid could almost find his words convincing, "So they're like that, eh?" He mused out loud as the Sautian spoke about how the new race were almost more like fish than people. They had fins on their arms and could stay underwater for as long as they liked! The Matori had their strange ears but these new races actually behaved like underwater creatures! Apparently they were only on land rarely and much preferred to live underwater. That was why the jewelry he had on display sported many things only found in the deep seas.

Faisal chuckled quietly before something caught his attention. He had thought it strange, but it felt as if there were a shadow moving after him. His grandmother hadn't sent someone to keep an eye on him, had she? No, surely not. Faisal frowned slightly before deciding to take a lap around the crowd before returning to the same spot. Was someone following him and why? Surely not the merchant who he had irritated, the man had his hands full of women with too many questions to chase after Faisal. Curious and not completely worried because he was in a crowd, Faisal simply propped himself up against a wall again to guard his back. At least I can listen to the man's stories from here. Perhaps it wasn't the best view considering the gathering crowd but it would do.

After several minutes Faisal found himself shifting forward way from the wall, the hybrid looking for a better seat as the storyteller really got into their descriptions of the new land. Of course whatever actual truths lay in the elaborate story of the journey across the seas and of the giant creatures they had encountered on their way to the new islands. Faisal let out a soft chuckle as he listened, "So they think that a giant creature with several arms could simply come out of the ocean and not destroy the ship completely?" He quipped while shaking his head.

"I guess we'll really not know what is truth or fiction until either more of us go over there or some of them finally arrive in Tendaji." But could any of them come across to Tendaji easily? How well did they swim? Obviously they swam well enough to live underwater but how much of a journey was it to get from the new lands to here? Still, he couldn't help shaking his head and asking out loud for anyone listening nearby, "Does anyone really believe that this is real?"

Alright so the stories were getting a bit too exaggerated for Faisal's tastes. When he had been younger he would have absorbed the stories with great interest but now that he had matured the swordsman found himself in disbelief. How could such things exist? Or at least in the fashion that the merchant was speaking of them since surely he wouldn't have survived such an encounter. So much for learning actual facts about the new underwater races. All he knew that when he questioned the storyteller that several in the crowd had turned to him to hush his commentary.

Shrugging his shoulders, Faisal quickly and suddenly turned to walk away from the crowds. He moved without looking first and in his haste found himself face to face with someone who was rather close. His gaze widening, Faisal froze for a second with his face hovering a few inches away from the stranger, "Sorry! Were you trying to listen to the stories?" He managed before finally moving away to give her some space.

Umm...Faisal wasn't exactly certain what the other hybrid was thinking when he caught her looking him over. However, any teasing flirt was quickly dashed aside when she lifted his coin purse and ran. What? A light flush decorated Faisal's cheeks before he started to chase after her. It wasn't fair to just fluster a guy and then bolt like that! Especially with his coin!

A few twists and turns later Faisal still had her in his sights. Thankfully the lithe swordsman had spent a good portion of his younger years darting through similar streets in Oba. Not particularly out of necessity but more so while sneaking away from home for some fun. In fact despite being a bit peeved at having lost his coin the swordsman was somewhat having fun racing down the alleys. It was nostalgic almost and made him miss all the times he had spent doing similar things with his twin while they grew up. It seemed like forever ago now almost.

But at this rate he worried if he would actually catch up with her before she slipped away. So Faisal did the first thing that he thought of and yelled loudly, "Oh my gods! Is that a Kahi right over there?! His voice echoed through the alleyway as he gestured towards a street on the left.

Hah! Faisal couldn't help the victorious grin that spread across his features as the girl stumbled and looked for the Kahi. A successful distraction! By the time she had realized his trick the hybrid was already reaching out to latch a hand around her arm. His gaze followed where she had hidden his coin purse, a faint flush decorating his cheeks at the realization. Out of all things...

"Pretty funny for a thief to call me a liar." Replied Faisal with a chuckle when he let go of her arm. At least now he knew that he had her. If she tried to run again he was prepared to catch her now that they were close again, "I think we've both had our fun. Why not return what doesn't belong to you so we can go along our merry ways? I'm sure the merchant down the street will love to tell you more stories about the new race and their underwater homes."

"I mean I'm sure the embroidery on the bag may say otherwise." Replied Faisal with a soft chuckle, "I would love to see what the guards would say though about Saraf and Arima's son being a thief." Faisal took a step forward after her, "As amusing as it would be I would rather save you the trouble. Trust me."

Faisal sighed lightly as she commented on his family, "I suppose you're not wrong but what if that coin was what I earned with my own sweat and tears?" A light flush decorated the back of his neck. It wasn't entirely untrue since Faisal had been helping with running the household and earning coin from their merchant deals through his grandmother's connections. He had spent a lot of long nights studying and pouring over notes for inheriting the family name. The perks of being the firstborn. Perhaps I should just sneak away and go visit Kahikana just for a break first. He found himself thinking before shaking his head, "But you're right. I suppose if you really needed the help then I wouldn't miss the coin. Still, shouldn't you just try and ask for help first? Stealing is dangerous and could get you in serious trouble, you know."

Faisal quirked a curious brow, "Yeees? He honestly hadn't expected any reaction to him mentioning his parents and the reaction of the girl surprised him. Was it because of the guards not believing her? It was all so strange but at the same time if she was so willing to return his coin then he wouldn't argue. It looked like she was treating this more as a game than anything...especially when she offered to return his coin.

"Trust me I have no one to tell." Why would he? A light flush decorated his cheeks when he considered where the coin was resting at the moment as well, "If you really don't need the coin then I'll gladly take it back and head home. They should be expecting me soon so I can't really waste much more time." That much was true. He had afternoon lessons that his grandmother would chastise him for missing. The thought made the young swordsman sigh quietly, "So please if you are going to return the coin I promise not to mention this incident to anyone else."