Samples here, Samples There (Open)

...

t was quite a rare site to be able to catch the stars light up in the night, but it had been even more rare to be able to see stars literally falling from the sky. Back at the kingdom of Louthia, the conversation of the Stardust Lake was always one of the more silently discussed ones. Ones that only true alchemist with a grasp in alchemy had been able to gain information on. To Masahiro, it sounded like a decent spot to collect a bit of reagents from if the tales were true about the lake.

As he wandered through the southern lands, it was best to keep a subtle profile. The best way he did this was with wearing a conical straw hat that did good in shadowing down to his eyes. However, as the sun began to set, the hat would only get in the way of his line of sight. Removing the hat, Masahiro took a gaze to the sky as the night came in. In the distance, he saw the rays of light coming from the stars above as they made their way down to an unknown source.

He followed suit, making his way towards the area before noticing a cloaked figure kneeling and interacting with the water. It was hard to make-out, but during this day and age, it was best to remain cautious. The thought of the figure being a Cestian wasn’t too much of a far-off thought, but it was best to assume the worst. Masahiro made his way quietly around the nearby shrubs and flora that were large enough to hide a man. He crouched down, observing the figure for a while with a light grasp keeping at the hilt of his sheathed blade.

After a few minutes of allowing the figure to continue their work, Masahiro yawned lightly to himself, covering his mouth from emitting any noise. That was until the idea of messing with them had come into his mind. Setting his hands to the sides of his mouth, Masahiro began emitting a slightly grim voice from his mouth, speaking towards the figure and doing his best to remain hidden.

“How dare you…. How dare you take my light away… I will curse you with a darkness unlike you have ever seen…” He then added a bit of effect to the voice, something any normal person could call out as a fake howl. “OoooOoOOOoOOooo…”

...

t wasn’t every day that you met your fellow stranger out in a cloak by a lake with falling stars. However, that would never be the case for Masahiro. Although he wasn’t quite sure on the threat level this person could’ve been on, after all, people in cloaks tend to hide something underneath that could be greater than what they might appear as. It was only meant as a joke to see if the figure would respond or run away. Luckily, they had responded and the voice that emitted from the figure sounded quite feminine.

Now the only question that had been resting in Masahiro’s mind was: Was she an alchemist such as himself or something more? He listened to her responses, only to emit a light chuckle from her sarcasm. Though the detail of research and aiding suffering people was pretty noble. However, any threat would do their best to escape from a situation such as this. The extra comment on his howling and wolves had been a striking one. Masahiro winced slightly, only to furrow his eyebrows and have a look at the figure once more behind the shrub.

He watched as her black hair flowed. It was similar to his own, but of course, women would usually have long flowing hair. Men? Not as much. “You’re either an alchemist or healer, but which is it?” He kept himself prepared for the moment, only to emit a light exhale of breath. Hopefully, she was of a neutral party if she had been helping others, but Masahiro refused to take any chances.

...

itch. She was a witch. If she had been a threat, this would have taken much to far for a quick getaway. And if she was, then she might just be even more clever than he. Either way, she exchanged her profession and hobby, it would only be fair to exchange his, would it not? He stood from his position, brushing away any foliage that got caught up inside his hair. He then make his way slowly to the figure, keeping his palm just resting in a relaxed position on the hilt of his sheathed blade.

“Me? I'm just a simple vagabond that goes by the name of Shiro. Pleased to meet your acquaintance... Ms. Witch.” He gave off a hint of a smirk from his features before stopping a good distance from her. His dark hair kept from blocking his vision and his clothing could be seen quite clearly under the faint light of the moon. Seeing as he didn’t truly know the woman, he kept his position distant just as a precaution.

“And if what you say is true, why have you chosen to come to such a remote place? Surely, you have others that you could’ve brought along? Companions to watch over you?” His expression was set to that of a curious one as he questioned her. It was already strange to find someone lurking out at night, but it was even more strange to come alone. Had she been meaning to do so or did she not think it over?

...

is cerulean eyes kept fixated on her gaze, blinking as she inspected him and listening as she spoke. Any careful eye could suspect that he’d be much more than a simple vagabond, but it seems to have worked for the witch. The ‘spying’ comment did catch Masahiro off guard however, allowing him to give off a light chuckle with a nervous tension growing in his tone. As he rubbed the back of his neck, he emitted a light sigh.

“Sorry about that, but I can’t just go around where I hardly know much about the area. Along with any suspicious individuals.”

His palm then fled to stay just at the side of himself while the other had been set at his waist. Even a rebel as he wasn’t much of a person for spying, but in this case, he was caught. Seeing no way out of it, it’d be smarter just to give it to her upfront. “I suppose you can say I’ve heard quite a bit of this place from passing around. And I’d have to say this is quite a decent find.”

He then allowed his gaze to move upwards, looking to the remaining stars in the sky, along with the moon. It seems that the rumors were true about the lake. And of course, it was quite the sight. Setting a palm just under his chin, he watched as the dust lingered just along the surface of the lake. His interest was peaked before he made his way over to have a closer inspection at the lake. He muttered a few words as he crouched, audible enough for the witch to listen in on if she wished.

“Dust that trickles down… shiny, quite bright. Perhaps a decent reagent, but it’s uses haven’t been recorded.” He then moved a palm into his satchel, revealing a small portable journal filled with bookmarks but in an organized manner. He flipped through a couple of pages before standing upright once more, scribing into the book and clicking his eyes from the lake, into his journal from time to time.