In no time at all Ikanbi had found herself well adjusted to the life above Myras. When she wasn't in her study within the guild hall, she took the odd jobs here and there and socialized with the aristocats. Her status as a desiertian merchant bought her in, and she certainly was able to dress as the noblemen did, a trait which allowed her to blend in quite nicely as it was. Still, Ikanbi did miss home. Things just weren't the same now that she had set out on her journey. She had split apart from her sisters, and she missed them as her own. Her parents too, so far away, and Khalfani had become so distant even when they were together. Perhaps a new life with The Collective was for the better. She could find purpose in that. She was a prim and proper toxicologist after all, and with the guild hall at her disposal her experiments and studies could soar to new heights. That was the goal anyway, that was the plan. She paced around her quarters and examined several different outfits. She had met pace with this particular job before, it was nothing new. As a Royal Guard she had had her fair share of escorting fruity aristocats to and froe, though the harsh difference in culture between the noblemen and the lessers was much more estranged here in Myras.

She would never have had such issues going out shopping with Khalfani. There wasn't a soul in Desierto that would dare threaten him out in the open the way the slums of Myras would. The thought bewildered her the first time she witnessed it. Sure, scuffles happened in Desierto between the classes, but not so frequently, brazenly, and openly as they occurred here. "Humans are so foolish." Sia had written to her via letter, complaining about the antics of the Fairy Tail guild and how she did so much miss her and Kuva's company. Her voice resonated within her head and she smiled silently as she finally decided upon an outfit. A nice, wonderful, lovely purple donned her chest today in the form of a vest, flattering her black shirt and pants. She wore gold with it, and the opulent purple stones were magnificent in their settings. She tucked her hair aside and laced her attire with knives, then grabbed her grey coat and her bags. Ikanbi was a busy woman today with no time for games, but she would put on a friendly face anyway. Sunglasses across her face, she carefully waltzed the corridors of the guild hall until she found her exit and rappelled down carefully. She reached into her bag and pulled out her hook gun and fired it up towards the rope ladder, synching it off from its post and causing it to fall to the ground next to her. She rolled it up and stuffed it into her bag, then carefully reeled in her hook and situated the device in its holster at her hip. She checked the harpoon gun at her back and made sure it was good for travel, cursing under her breath that she hadn't checked it before she descended from the floating structure above.

The toxicologist set out, finding her way through the streets of Myras in no time at all. She knew the area quite well by now, for she had spent a fair amount of time here very intentionally studying the architecture, the people, the artisanry, everything. She had found rare plants and cultivated them, cloned them, appropriated them against the better judgement of others, and moved them into the guild hall. It had been a tedious, horribly, strenuous task. Getting things into the guild hall was not easy for Ikanbi, even though she had worked out a pulley system. Still, she was alone in her endeavors for now, as the others had their own tasks, goals, and objectives to work on. She had rigged the platform up herself and worked on it tediously for many, many nights. It had been her passion for a good time now, developing a mechanical, magic-independent system for bringing large items into and out of the flying structure. In time, she intended to improve it of course, but it was functional for now. Still, he mind always raced with ideas of how she could improve her little projects. This one in particular was her number one priority these days.

Finally, after letting her mind wonder freely about as she wandered the streets, Ikanbi met up with the aristocrat of the day. A posh fellow, well spoken, well mannered, but quite goofy none the less. Ikanbi offered her hand and he kissed it, then the two of them set out towards the artisanal district. They chatted about nonsense for a while, both of them smiling and enjoying the pleasant, leisurely conversation. He had taken a liking to Ikanbi's antics, her particular brand of insanity suited him quite well, he offered her a rather hefty paying job as a personal guard more full time. Ikanbi had to decline however. "Sorry, I'm far too busy to do more than mingle about. I have my own business to run in addition to my studies with The Collective, as you know, but I appreciate the offer...I may have a recommendation though, if my sisters are ever in town I guarantee Kuva is good for the work, and far better suited for it."

No sooner had the words left her mouth than a scruffy looking man confronted them. They had just left a shop with a rather cute looking round of purchases. Both the Artistocat and Ikanbi had shopped today, and the man had been following them for some time, Ikanbi had already noticed. "He's been tailing us since before we even went into the shop." Ikanbi whispered into the Nobleman's ear. "Don't worry I can take him." Ikanbi began to motion, bringing both of her hands together and causing a glyph of arcane magic to appear in front of her, but it immediately disappeared and causing absolutely no magical effects to happen. "Back
off or your life is forfeit." The thug lunged forward, "What's a woman like you going to do?" Ikanbi sidestepped, and plunged a knife into his neck with her off hand and kicked in his knee almost immediately afterwards, causing the knife to slash violently through the side. She grabbed the body by the scruff of its clothing and heaved it into the alleyway.

1082/1000 C-Rank