It wasn’t like Daeton to be out this late at night. He had many things to do, and often times he tried to do them only while the sun was still up. It wasn’t a fear of the dark that kept the man inside after dark, but rather a deep need for copious amounts of sleep. He was wearing thin tonight, walking back from his friends bookshop after having done some late night research on some blood magic he needed for a new spell he had in mind. Armed with thoughts fresh of research and new ideas flowing at the tips of his fingers, it was only when his friend had told him he was going to bed that Daeton realized it was 2 in the morning. 

It’s this which brings him across the short cut to get home after kindly being kicked out of his friend’s place. Daeton knew NYC more than most. He’s lived on these streets since 1825. The streets were younger than he was, and he made a point to know when things moved or changed in this city. This alley way was not often well populated, and would spit him out a block closer to his home than taking the long way around would. 

The sound of people’s voices didn’t alarm him as he carried on, hood up, eyes tired, hands in the pouch pocket of his hoodie, protected unnecessarily from the budding cold that autumn was bringing upon them. It’s only when he grows closer that the nature of the sounds become more apparent. 

His eyes focus ahead at the cluster of people. One person was on the ground. Mugged or beaten, it was unclear. He wastes as much time as he can getting there. His feet do not quicken as he carries his path towards the group of assailants surrounding the one body at his regular stroll. It does, however, take him by surprise to see a flash of fire launched at the people in a last-ditched attempt at self defence. It’s this which moves the needle for him a little more. He raises an eyebrow, his nose scrunching lightly in disgust absentmindedly as he stalks a bit closer. 

He hears one person say something aloud when their head turns towards Daeton’s approaching form. Something to the effect of ‘hey, fuck off man’ or ‘get lost’. Daeton didn’t know for sure, wasn’t paying attention. It’s only as he draws closer that Daeton’s stride changes. What appears to be a skip in his step is really a building of power. He swings his foot backwards and then kicks it forward, appearing as though he was doing nothing more that kicking a pebble. Instead, a rolling of earth buds up in spectacular form and moves with the momentum of Daeton’s kick.. Black stones from deep within the earth below shoot up and rail against the assailants in question, pinning them in a cage made of stone against one of the alleyway walls. 

It happens quickly. In the span of 3 seconds, everyone except the beaten person on the ground is trapped behind stone spikes and pillars. One man attempts to say something to Daeton –– calling him some insult that he doesn’t bother paying attention to. He only replies with a roll of his head –– like he’s cracking his neck –– and a piece of rock butts out from the stone pillars and knocks the guy’s face to shut him up. It works, his insults turn to moaning complaints about a broken nose.