Train
Svala looked rather somber as Freana went on about her life as a street rat, followed by guilt at being told that she herself never had to suffer through all that, trying to avert herself gazing at Freana. If she had lips to bite, Svala very much looked like she would be chewing on them. When Verona and Sieglinde brought up the proposal of Freana instead going to stay in Svala's home province, it was as if a lightbulb went off in her head, raising one clawed finger to her cheek, imitating a more humanoid species custom.
"That is...certainly a possibility, as I'm likely to be matriarch by then. And I've always fought for Arctic Fenrir in other provinces to be treated better than some...outcasts. Well, the offer is always open. If you ever come by the Vandra province, you can always come and ask me about becoming part of the clan in Landeyjar. I'm sure the people wouldn't mind another godsent prophet with us." Svala put one paw on Freana's shoulder, giving a slight smile. "We'd be honoured to have someone so strong of spirit to survive through the struggles of being an Arctic Fenrir outcast, someone who can help fight for others like themselves, knowing what it's like."
As for Sieglinde, Svala looked rather taken aback, then outright bashful at having someone just start drawing her like that, sheepishly covering her face. "O-Oh, I'm always so nervous about people drawing me. I'm not that beautiful to deserve that kind of honour."
Spring
Zyan's plume of fiery breath evaporated several of the closest water jellies, disintegrating their cores outright, while those at the furthest reaches of the spray recoiled, quickly hightailing it away from the Dragonfolk and out into the surrounding woodlands. Lucius, meanwhile, was busy fending off more slimes from getting closer to them, holding the tide from reaching Shard. With a quick glance over his shoulder at the cowering Shard, the human guard gritted his teeth, letting out one last bolt of electric fury at an approaching wave of slimes before stomping over to Shard and hoisting him up by the collar, giving him a sharp slap across the cheek.
"COMPOSE YOURSELF GODS DAMN YOU! THIS ISN'T THE TIME TO LOSE YOUR HEAD! YOU WANT TO BE AN ADVENTURER OR A MONSTER HUNTER OR WHATEVER, THEN LEARN TO FOCUS ON THE DANGER AT HAND AND THEN FREAK OUT AFTERWARDS! ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, BUT YOU NEED TO TOUGHEN UP AND MOVE ON, OR ELSE YOU'LL JUST REPEAT HISTORY!" Lucius yelled into his face, eyes wild, his breathing heavy and heaving.
AKA Nixer
Sieglinde von Brandt
“Pfft! As if! You're really pretty, Miss...~!” Sieglinde cheerfully countered, winking at the others in silent encouragement for them to join in on the teasing. She regardless took out her journal again to start sketching the Fenrir once more, though. “I mean, I think I'm a pretty good judge~! I mean, you're not as pretty as–”
Ack! No! Bad Sigi! Bad!
“–n-nevermind!” (;^~^;)
She flushed visibly and ducked her head back into her drawings as she curled up on the train seat. Pointedly avoiding everyone's gaze, but especially refusing to even dare look at Verona.
bork
Deranged X-Mas Figure
Freana
...that was it? No 'maybes' or 'buts'? No pulling the rug out from under her or reality rearing its ugly head? She almost couldn't believe it. All these years scraping and struggling, and she finally had a shot at a better life. No more begging on the streets. No more taking what wasn't hers. This was more than a second chance. This was a chance to make amends. To do something that mattered. It was like a fairy tale. But perhaps, at long last, she had finally balanced the...
...noooo.
She flipped the back of her hand, making sure it wasn't doing any glowy crap. And... it wasn't. At least not now. Maybe it was doing something when she wasn't looking, but it was currently defunct. She leaned back, breathing a sigh of relief. If this was all some way of that demon trying to pay her back, then she could shove it.
But she'd take what she could get.
"Thanks. It means a lot. I've got some other stuff I gotta take care of first, but as soon as I get the chance, I'll come and visit! Can't be worse than Skollmark."
In the meantime, she should probably start studying up. Becoming a godsent prophet wasn't something that happened overnight. Maybe there was a big book on Vandra religion and customs back at the Academy? Wouldn't hurt to look.
But like she said, she had other stuff to deal with. Like her friends curling into balls and living in denial. She leaned towards Sigi, placing a paw next to her and whispering in her ear. "You okay?"
She knew she wasn't okay, and she knew why she wasn't okay. But this was something she'd have to come to terms with on her lonesome.
Edited by kkhohoho on Mar 31st 2021 at 11:01:23 AM
Doctor Who — Long Way Around: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13536044/1/Doctor-Who-Long-Way-Around
Verona Auer
Verona perked up as the group latched on to her joking suggestion with surprising enthusiasm. She looked rapidly between Freana and Svala, a radiant grin stretching across her face. This was amazing! Nobody ever liked her ideas like this!
For once completely tuned into the conversation, not wanting to miss a word of what was surely a once in a lifetime victory, Verona's gaze was locked on to Sigi as soon as she began to speak. She nodded enthusiastically, eager to agree with Sigi.
"Yeah, Svala, you're totally hot! Or, well, cold, I guess, considering.."
Verona trailed off awkwardly, gesturing in the general direction of the Fenrir. The Arctic Fenrir. But apparently Sigi wasn't done, and Verona's eyes widened, suddenly very curious about who lay at the end of her cut-off sentence. She even opened her mouth to ask, only for her smile to falter as Freana leaned in intimately to comfort Sigi.
Oh. She definitely meant Freana.
...Good for them.
Verona shored up her smile once again. Then, she cleared her throat uncomfortably and shrugged, returning to an earlier topic for lack of a better idea.
"Uh, my hometown's kinda boring. We might have to pass through it anyway, though, if we go to Vandia at all, since it's a pretty common border stop. My mother owns an inn, and everything, just for the traders that come through. Oh, but I could show you my secret cave!"
AKA Nixer
Sieglinde von Brandt
“I-I'm fine...!” Sieglinde all but squeaked at Freana's question, effectively shrinking away from her grasp as she sneakily glanced over at Verona again while she was busy talking. “Really... seriously fine–”
What did she say about showing her secret cave–
Sieglinde promptly covered her face with her journal, the outermost parts of her face visibly turning an even darker red than before.
WHY'D SHE HAVE TO WORD IT THAT WAY
Edited by Enirboreh on Mar 30th 2021 at 8:13:13 PM
bork
Up on Melancholy hill.
Zyan Zyat
Zyans throat was shredded. Like a sore throat mixed with swallowing broken glass. There was no way he was going to be able to do that again, lest he risk losing the ability to talk at all. At the moment he would be able to talk with a rasp on par with one who abused Tobacco like his father.
Heh, maybe Freana would like that.
So if he could cheese it with his breath, the second best thing would need to work. Unsheathing his claws, he rushed towards the approaching slimes, intending to give the others room and time to tend to Shard. At least he hoped that’s what they were doing.
He was still deaf after all.
“Just keep it up, don’t let them hurt your friends.” He mumbled to himself in a mantra. Aiming for the cores each time.
Is it selfish that I'm happy as we pass the setting sun?
Omega Overlord. Or superjwren329. Either or.
Elliot, Spring.
Dodge. Stab. Block. Whack.
And occasionally glance back his fellow students and dispatch any nearby slime. Probably picking a poor time to glancing back at Lucius and...couldn't help but wince. Was that really necessary?
...He'd have to think of something stern to say afterwards. Probably. There were more pressing concerns, like not getting hit by a jelly. The shouting definitely didn't help beyond adding to the ringing in his ears.
At least it was somewhat getting easier to figure out how hard he needed to stab to hit a jelly's core and swat others with the buckler. Still, for a first fight, it was hard not to hide looking fatigued.
Hope you weren't expecting anything witty here. Maybe some day.
The Light That Blinds
Shard
"A-AAAAH!"
If Lucius's yelling was supposed to motivate Shard...it didn't do that. Quite the opposite, actually. All it did was make him remember things he really didn't want to remember.
I KEEP YOU AROUND OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF MY HEART, AND THIS IS THE THANKS I GET?!
I-I didn't mean—!
YOU CANNOT ATTEMPT TO BLOW UP A LORD AND HIS TOWER AND EXPECT TO GET AWAY WITH IT!
N-no—!
GUARDS! SEIZE THIS IMPUDENT CHILD AT ONCE!
"I'M SORRY!" Shard wailed, tears now streaming down his face. "I'm so sorry I'll do anything please don't make me go back!"
"Kept me waiting, haven’t you? Tch. No matter. Dawdle all you’d like. In the end, your defeat remains inevitable."
Breath of the Sun
Pick
It appeared that everyone was calm (if a bit flustered), so Pick exhaled and stepped back, keeping an eye on the door that Svala had come from. It didn't appear anyone was following her, but one could never be too careful.
He listened silently to the conversation, before nodding his head at Verona. "I would be honored to see your secret cave, Verona." Pick said, sincerely; if he understood the potential innuendo in that phrasing, his voice didn't show it. "Even if you think your hometown is 'boring', I am happy so long as I am traveling with my friends."
Edited by kagescorpionakki on Apr 5th 2021 at 4:55:58 AM
What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?
Xera
Seeing how distressed Shard was, Xera went over and pat Shard gently on the back - after stabbing some more jellies, anyway.
"Please don't cry. I promise you, we're going to get through this."
Truthfully, she was a bit upset at how harsh Lucius was being to the boy, but their current situation afforded her little time to dwell on that.
Verona Auer
Verona bounced a little in her seat, a mildly impressive feat given her crossed legs. She turned a megawatt grin on Pick."You would? Really? I'm warning you, all my friends back home thought it was lame."
Don't say that, Verona! He might change his mind! Quick, think of something cool...
"Oh! But the joke's on them, actually, because one time a snake decided to use my secret cave as a nest, and I got to hang out with all her baby snakes. Snakelings? Whatever they're called. They were cute, and they mostly didn't even bite."
Sure, they'd technically been venomous, but she'd been pretty much fine, so she figured that was just a myth.
Edited by furnacedoor on Apr 8th 2021 at 2:41:00 AM
Train
The rest of the trip was mostly uneventful, barring a small incident when a man in uniform came to check everyone's tickets, leading to Svala having to pass off an already-seen ticket as her own. He didn't seem to be taking too close of a notice of one Arctic Fenrir from the other anyways. Soon, a loud roar of steam came from outside, the train letting loose steam once again. Farmlands and other buildings passed by the windows as the train began to slow down, a few of the other passengers wobbling as they came towards the doors, ready to make their exit. Svala turned to her traveling companions, giving them a nod.
"I suppose this is where we part ways. I should probably get back to my carriage, before the bodyguards worry too much. Good luck with wherever your adventures take you, friends!"
And with that, the Arctic Fenrir got up and left as she entered, quietly through the connecting doors of the carriage. Not long after, Alexander hobbled in to join them, stifling a yawn behind one hand as the train came to a stop, uniformed workers moving to open the doors to the station outside. It was nothing quite as fancy as back in Aegeum, with the Dubris station simply being a small building next to the platform the trains stopped at. Not very many people were getting on here, nor were many getting off.
"Well, that was a relaxing ride. Shall we be going then?"
Spring
The jellies, seeing their large group being beaten back by the combined efforts of the adventurers and Lucius, seemed to panic, retreating into the water or running into the woods. For now, the tide let up, but it was clear their job was still far from over. As Lucius dispatched one more of the gelatinous monsters, he collapsed to ground, sitting down and catching his breath.
"Magic...really can take the wind out your sails. I think a rest is in order."
Still, the air felt...off. It was abuzz with energy to those who could sense it, like it was ready to explode. But unlike back at the forest, it never did. Instead it just sort of...rippled, causing the small lake of water that was the spring to ripple as well, disconcertingly, but that's all that seemed to be happening for now.
"Just...catch our breath. Let whats-his-face calm down."
The Light That Blinds
Shard
For what felt like ages, Shard lied on his side, breathing shallow and eye red and puffy from crying. Get up, his rational mind snapped at him. Get over yourself. Unhelpful idiot.
Slowly, Shard pushed himself to his feet, swaying slightly. "S-sorry for...earlier. Th-the explosion..." He stared at his feet. "B-bad memories. Really bad memories. I-I'll try not to do it again..."
"Kept me waiting, haven’t you? Tch. No matter. Dawdle all you’d like. In the end, your defeat remains inevitable."
Deranged X-Mas Figure
Freana
Freana exited the train, stretching her big brawny arms and long fuzzy legs. She felt better after being given a new lease on life, but it was still a long train ride.
"Beats staying on the train another hour. It's pretty to look at, sure, but it's not my style. Too many rich snobs thinking they know better. Plus it's real stuffy." She took a deep breath of fresh country air. "Now this? This is more like it!"
Doctor Who — Long Way Around: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13536044/1/Doctor-Who-Long-Way-Around
AKA Nixer
Sieglinde von Brandt
“Ahhh... that's much nicer...” Sieglinde sighed contentedly as she stepped out of the train, stretching with a slight groan as she worked the stiffness out from her joints. She was adjusting quickly, for someone who'd never been on a train before. “Worried about that Svala lady though... heyyy, anyone else feel woozy...?”
On second thought, nevermind. She had apparently gotten travel-sick. She wondered if this counted as a rite of passage or just really typical luck.
“Awww, look at the cute little station...!” she suddenly cooed, gushing over the comparatively simpler-looking building and squeeing over it as one would a small animal. “I already love this place...~!” \(^-^)/
bork
Omega Overlord. Or superjwren329. Either or.
Elliot
With the jellies retreating and the fight as far as he could tell being over, Elliot remembered to actually try and breath properly. Relax. Yet he couldn't help but give a small chuckle. This had certainly been an adrenaline rush...!
"I'd say we did a fairly good job, everyone!" The young noble remarked with a smile, not able to sense the magic but glad things had somewhat calmed down for the time been...even if that smile didn't exactly last as he glanced at Lucius.
Hope you weren't expecting anything witty here. Maybe some day.
Verona Auer
Verona wasn't normally much for self-reflection, but talking about her hometown had put her in the mood to reminisce. The initial excitement about her classmates' interest in visiting her village had waned slightly, and she'd spent the rest of the ride staring out the window, wondering about how everyone back home was doing in between bits of conversation. She'd always considered her town so busy, so bursting with intrigue and adventure (even if she'd had to create much of it herself). She had trailed behind the young warriors of her village, desperate to be part of their mischief and drama, trying to get as close as possible to real adventure. It was strange, now, to realize that there was so much beyond Alkdam, more than she could have thought up in her wildest dreams. Riding a "train", chatting with fugitive princess (more or less), and meeting - and guilt-tripping - a goddess?
Your secret cave doesn't seem so cool now, does it, Verona?
Luckily, Verona was pretty good at bouncing back, and at attempting to put on an unbothered front in the face of judgement - even judgement that came from within. So she remained her enthusiastic self as she hopped down onto the train platform, jogging ahead and spinning in circles to take in the meager station.
Verona called out to the others, arms outstretched to indicate the mostly-empty building.
"You know, I've now officially been to more towns in the past week than in my whole life up to now!"
Xera
Xera sheathed her blade once the danger of the jellies had passed. Perhaps it wasn't exactly an intense battle, but she was grateful that they got through it safely all the same.
"Good work, everyone. And don't worry hard, what's more important right now is that you're alright."
Dubris to Etruria
There wasn't much to the small town of Dubris, though it was clearly gaining in size judging by the several buildings still under construction on their way to leave the village. As they made the long journey by foot towards Etruria, the sun's glare began to fade as banks of clouds steadily rolled in over the hours that passed. There were few travelers on this road, leaving the group with only the stillness of walking and talking among themselves, occasionally interspersed with the sound of wildlife far out of sight going about their business.
Most of the sunlight had faded by the time they came upon the ruined walls and gate of Etruria, hidden behind the thick clouds. The stone and marble of the walls stood crumbling and broken, worn down and covered in grime from years of disuse. Scorch marks still marked the sides of buildings as they stepped into the abandoned town. Grass grew here unhindered and untended, creeping through the shattered pavement. Birds and assorted small rodents scurried to and fro between the ruins, but there was an unnerving stillness otherwise. Tragedy and loss loomed over Etruria like a blanket, with a large villa overlooking the town proper from a hill in the distance. In its time, it would've been a glorious structure in comparison to the rough-hewn and erected houses of the town proper, but now it too was shabby and torn-down, picked apart and destroyed in places.
They were finally here at their destination, and their mark stood right before them, at the top of that hill. Alexander turned to his students, giving them a nod. "I believe this is where we part for the moment. I'll stay down here while you go fulfill the request."
The Alvar walked among the buildings, running his hand over the damaged walls, occasionally stopping to stare at a spot in somber remembrance, whispering quietly to himself.
"—Oh Etruria, if only the war never came here...where would things be now...?—"
Spring
Lucius picked himself up off the ground as his breathing steadied, no longer gasping for air. When Shard spoke, the other human glared at him.
"You know, that explosion reminded me of a bit of news I heard back in Saorant, when I still lived there. Some noble's son, whom gossip said was illegitimate, had set off a giant explosion in an attempted assassination of his father. And you have a very clear Saoranti accent, a missing eye, and an ability to create incredibly destructive explosions. That last one is making me think this is far more than coincidence, 'Shard'." His gaze was like a bore, drilling into Shard's very being.
For now, things seemed to remain quiet, though the wary eye might notice the soft rippling and energy filling the spring, the air feeling...uneasy in the aftermath of the magical explosion. The bits and pieces of shattered jelly cores slowly slid into the waters, subsumed in the steady ebb and flow.
AKA Nixer
Sieglinde von Brandt
“♪ Hmm hmm-hmm hmm hmm...~ ♪” Sigi sang as they walked along, looking every which way at the sights they passed while effectively skipping at some points. As they reached the ruins of Etruria, she realised the somber mood and let out a long breath—walking over to the demolished wall and running her fingers along its charred surface.
“...it's beautiful. In a sad way...” she decided, casting her gaze over towards the others with a strangely older-seeming look on her face. “I hope it stays like this a while, like a memorial... there should be signs put up here.”
With that thought out of her system, she cautiously readied her bow and clutched it in her hands; padding towards the hilltop whilst sharply looking around for any possible surprises.
“If it was safe here, I'd probably sleep in the ruins... what about you guys? Maybe it's weird 'cause it's kinda recent, but... it's like it— um, sorta like it's talking to me...? That sounds weird... and hermit-y. N-Nevermind...~!”
An awkward, nervous grin, and she then quickly set her gaze ahead with a light blush on her cheeks. It was embarrassing to speak her mind sometimes, especially when somewhere so morbid...
Edited by Enirboreh on Apr 25th 2021 at 6:18:45 PM
bork
Breath of the Sun
Pick
As they entered the scorched ruins of Etruria, Pick couldn't help but wonder why people so readily abandoned those things they'd built. Sure, it had been attacked, but it clearly wasn't under attack anymore. He wasn't an architect, but it seemed like it would be easier to rebuild a place like this than to build new homes from scratch.
He hoped one day he'd understand.
For now, he nodded farewell to the principal as they parted ways, leading the way towards the villa where their quarry awaited. He tilted his head at Sigi's words as they walked, considering them.
"It makes sense to me." Pick said. "You can understand what happened here based on the status of the ruins. Like a hunter following tracks. It's a useful skill, I would think."
What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?
Deranged X-Mas Figure
Freana
"Hey, fine by me! This town has 'tragedy' written all over it, but it's not like anyone's using it. Waste not, want not."
Even so, Freana couldn't help but have mixed feelings about this place. On the one hand, it was a travesty. A humble yet pristine little town, brought low by a war no sane person would want. She could feel the rubble under her feet, smell the lingering stench of the scorch marks with her nostrils. There was no reason it had to happen, but it did. One big shame.
On the other hand, there was a strange beauty to it all. When she wasn't feeling the rubble, she was feeling the grass. When she didn't smell the burns, it was the clean country air. And if she wasn't working to become a priest, there'd be plenty of booty to loot. But if she did become a priest, she supposed it'd be her job to put these poor souls to rest. Or at least give comfort to the living.
Shame she didn't have it in her just yet.
"But yeah. There should be something put up here, ya know? Something so people remember it. Maybe set up a tour?"
Edited by kkhohoho on Apr 26th 2021 at 10:32:04 AM
Doctor Who — Long Way Around: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13536044/1/Doctor-Who-Long-Way-Around
The Light That Blinds
Shard
...no.
Shard's face paled.
No no no.
His breathing grew shallow.
No no no no no no no
His whole body started shaking.
No no no no no no no—
Shard turned tail and ran.
He didn't look where he was going, he didn't say anything, he just ran, rushing into the forest with nothing in mind other than getting away. He had to get out. Lucius was going to report him and then he'd be dragged back to Saorant and he had to get out.
It was kinda sad. Shard had liked this place, and these people. And he'd barely gotten to stay for a day before he had to run.
Hopefully, they'd understand.
"Kept me waiting, haven’t you? Tch. No matter. Dawdle all you’d like. In the end, your defeat remains inevitable."
Omega Overlord. Or superjwren329. Either or.
Elliot.
Taking a deep breath, the ringing lessened and least Ellliot could somewhat hear again as the young noble got to his feet as he gave his fellow students a small smile.
"Eheh, the praise is welcome but I'll readily admit it was the rest of you doing most of the work." Elliot cheerfully replied to Xera.
And then Lucius had to speak up and ruin it with accusations. Not to mention the fact Shard ran off wasn't exactly helping his case, but...
"Shard, wait...!"
Even with the slight breather, Elliot stumbled slightly after trying to run after Shard and fell to his knees, looking...kind of irritated? It wasn't exactly like him to get annoyed but Lucius had been...out of line? Not acting like a proper noble?
Yet...he forced himself to hold his tongue for the moment.
"A noble isn't supposed to treat an ally like the dirt they walk on." was Elliot curt remark, doing his best to keep calm.
And while he couldn't sense the air or notice the ripples...the broken jelly cores moving on their own definitely wasn't a good sign as Elliot took a deep breath and stood back up. He wanted to go after Shard yet he couldn't help but feel he'd need to stay here.
Edited by TheRealWren on May 14th 2021 at 11:52:19 PM
Hope you weren't expecting anything witty here. Maybe some day.
Xera
Xera couldn't make out what Shard was saying, but it wasn't difficult to tell he was afraid. Noticing a jelly coming their way, she turned around and stabbed its core before it could reach them.
"Its going to be alright. Just - agh - stay with us."
She clutched her head, the pain in her eardrums still palpable.