Ruza met with the mayor in the market square.
Life continued as usual around them. People bustled around the plaza, kicking up storms of dust as they went from vendor to vendor. Ruza’s eyes scanned some of the nearby wares: ornate pottery, dyed fabrics, and, of course, fruits — a town staple. However, these particular ones seemed lackluster, with such a reputation. Duller. Smaller. Drier. The drought must have gotten to them more than she had originally thought.
"Ah, mayor, a pleasant morning to you." She shook his hand, beaming. "You'll be pleased to hear I've already figured out what's causing all this dryness."
"Already? How can that be? Everyone else I hired said they had no idea what could’ve caused this; it all happened too soon to be natural.”
"Yes, well, I have plenty of experience in the matter." She laughed to herself. "Although, I'm surprised no one else you hired could sense this. It's everywhere." She gestured with her hand to the sky. "You have a spirit problem."
A weary smile passed over his previously worried expression. "Now, that can't be right."
"Oh, I assure you it is. But don't worry, I can handle it for you."
She drew her staff from its spot across her back. Blue streaks ran through the dark wood like running water, and a small seam encircled its tip. She took a deep breath, flicking her ponytail over her shoulder. “Nothing left to do but start the process. I recommend you stand back."
Once he was far enough away, she dipped her hand into a flask hanging from her bag. A layer of crystal clear water clung to her fingers, and she used it to draw a circle in front of her. After pouring the rest of the water into the staff, she loosely screwed on the top of the flask and started to chant. She spoke in an old language, one the mayor wouldn't understand. The words didn't have to be perfect. He wouldn't know the difference, anyway.
A few passersby gathered around to investigate. After all, it wasn't every day you saw the mayor with a stranger chanting in an ancient tongue. A flicker of light in front of Ruza erupted into a burst of fire, swirling around a humanoid figure. A few onlookers screamed.
"State your purpose here, spirit," she said, her hand wrapped tightly around her staff. The mayor had taken a step back, eyes wide.
"What is the meaning of this?" growled the spirit, attempting to push past Ruza. It didn’t seem to be able to make it past the circle she had drawn in the ground.
"You must leave here at once. Go willingly, or you will be removed with force."
"No, I don't think I will. This town has been a lovely haunt."
Ruza sighed, twirling her staff in her hand. "Then you leave me no choice."
The spirit fought back as Ruza swung her staff, her movements carefully practiced, each step another part of the performance. She dodged a bolt of fire. Then another. She waited for the right opportunity before slicing her staff through the air.
The staff's tip flew off with a sharp pop. A torrent of water sprayed out, with seemingly much more water in the staff than she had put into it. The water doused the spirit's flames, slowing them down considerably. The spirit stumbled backward, apparently dazed by the water. The spirit’s appearance flickered, before disappearing entirely. It was gone.
Ruza screwed the tip of her staff back on. "Quickest one yet. I’ll perform a rain ritual later, now that that spirit’s been dealt with. Should be simple enough.” She offered the mayor a smile.
It stormed the next day.
Rain mixed with dust, fixing cracks in the road with mud. Ruza savored the scent of rain in her nose, and the joy of rain after a dry period. It was made even better after a day of festivities and the added sound of coins jingling in her pocket.
It was time to leave again. She set off along the muddy road, rain clouds trailing behind her. She smiled as she spotted a bright figure tucked among the shadows ahead.
"Great showing today. Good target, too. They're quite the generous people. Even gave me a free meal afterward."
The figure approached her, the faint light solidifying into a swirl of flames.
"All I got was soaked," he bantered.
Ruza laughed, taking the bag of coins out of her pocket. "Relax, you get your payment as well."
The fires died down as she split the money in half. He took the coins eagerly, turning them over in his palm. "Huh. They certainly are generous."
"See? I wouldn't lie —"
"Yes, you would."
"— to you."
"That’s a lie right there."
Ruza tucked her half of the payment back into her pocket. “Sure is.”
He grinned. "I've had my eyes on a town not far from here. I’m heading over there soon. Dry up the environment a bit, you know the drill."
Ruza watched a spark dance between her fingertips. "Great, great. I've got to get going; that storm took a lot out of me. Same time next month?"
"Looking forward to it."
She raised a hand as he vanished in a fiery blaze. "Cheers."
A storm cloud appeared, taking Ruza away along with it. Soon the lingering scents of bonfires and rain were the only signs they were ever there in the first place.
Life continued as usual around them. People bustled around the plaza, kicking up storms of dust as they went from vendor to vendor. Ruza’s eyes scanned some of the nearby wares: ornate pottery, dyed fabrics, and, of course, fruits — a town staple. However, these particular ones seemed lackluster, with such a reputation. Duller. Smaller. Drier. The drought must have gotten to them more than she had originally thought.
"Ah, mayor, a pleasant morning to you." She shook his hand, beaming. "You'll be pleased to hear I've already figured out what's causing all this dryness."
"Already? How can that be? Everyone else I hired said they had no idea what could’ve caused this; it all happened too soon to be natural.”
"Yes, well, I have plenty of experience in the matter." She laughed to herself. "Although, I'm surprised no one else you hired could sense this. It's everywhere." She gestured with her hand to the sky. "You have a spirit problem."
A weary smile passed over his previously worried expression. "Now, that can't be right."
"Oh, I assure you it is. But don't worry, I can handle it for you."
She drew her staff from its spot across her back. Blue streaks ran through the dark wood like running water, and a small seam encircled its tip. She took a deep breath, flicking her ponytail over her shoulder. “Nothing left to do but start the process. I recommend you stand back."
Once he was far enough away, she dipped her hand into a flask hanging from her bag. A layer of crystal clear water clung to her fingers, and she used it to draw a circle in front of her. After pouring the rest of the water into the staff, she loosely screwed on the top of the flask and started to chant. She spoke in an old language, one the mayor wouldn't understand. The words didn't have to be perfect. He wouldn't know the difference, anyway.
A few passersby gathered around to investigate. After all, it wasn't every day you saw the mayor with a stranger chanting in an ancient tongue. A flicker of light in front of Ruza erupted into a burst of fire, swirling around a humanoid figure. A few onlookers screamed.
"State your purpose here, spirit," she said, her hand wrapped tightly around her staff. The mayor had taken a step back, eyes wide.
"What is the meaning of this?" growled the spirit, attempting to push past Ruza. It didn’t seem to be able to make it past the circle she had drawn in the ground.
"You must leave here at once. Go willingly, or you will be removed with force."
"No, I don't think I will. This town has been a lovely haunt."
Ruza sighed, twirling her staff in her hand. "Then you leave me no choice."
The spirit fought back as Ruza swung her staff, her movements carefully practiced, each step another part of the performance. She dodged a bolt of fire. Then another. She waited for the right opportunity before slicing her staff through the air.
The staff's tip flew off with a sharp pop. A torrent of water sprayed out, with seemingly much more water in the staff than she had put into it. The water doused the spirit's flames, slowing them down considerably. The spirit stumbled backward, apparently dazed by the water. The spirit’s appearance flickered, before disappearing entirely. It was gone.
Ruza screwed the tip of her staff back on. "Quickest one yet. I’ll perform a rain ritual later, now that that spirit’s been dealt with. Should be simple enough.” She offered the mayor a smile.
It stormed the next day.
Rain mixed with dust, fixing cracks in the road with mud. Ruza savored the scent of rain in her nose, and the joy of rain after a dry period. It was made even better after a day of festivities and the added sound of coins jingling in her pocket.
It was time to leave again. She set off along the muddy road, rain clouds trailing behind her. She smiled as she spotted a bright figure tucked among the shadows ahead.
"Great showing today. Good target, too. They're quite the generous people. Even gave me a free meal afterward."
The figure approached her, the faint light solidifying into a swirl of flames.
"All I got was soaked," he bantered.
Ruza laughed, taking the bag of coins out of her pocket. "Relax, you get your payment as well."
The fires died down as she split the money in half. He took the coins eagerly, turning them over in his palm. "Huh. They certainly are generous."
"See? I wouldn't lie —"
"Yes, you would."
"— to you."
"That’s a lie right there."
Ruza tucked her half of the payment back into her pocket. “Sure is.”
He grinned. "I've had my eyes on a town not far from here. I’m heading over there soon. Dry up the environment a bit, you know the drill."
Ruza watched a spark dance between her fingertips. "Great, great. I've got to get going; that storm took a lot out of me. Same time next month?"
"Looking forward to it."
She raised a hand as he vanished in a fiery blaze. "Cheers."
A storm cloud appeared, taking Ruza away along with it. Soon the lingering scents of bonfires and rain were the only signs they were ever there in the first place.