[M] Anima Mundi IC (Namingtoohard and Headwrapper)

[Headwrapper]

The wooden frame of the cot beneath Mec creaked as he adjusted to a new position. The sound echoed off the walls in the dark basement in which his cell resided. Through a narrow window barred with steel rods he could see that the stars above him, meaning he had nearly endured a full day of imprisonment. As the young man lay the painful memory of the events of that morning replayed in his mind, and an overwhelming weight began to crush at his heart.

The day started like most of them do. Mec arrived at the family store at the crack of dawn to prepare for the day. The shop was inspected for any trespasses, the windows were cleaned, and the inventories were recounted. The shelves were neatly organized with various household goods: kitchen tools, bags of spices and sweets from distant lands, dried herbs from local farms, as well as scented soaps and candles. Trapdoors that lined the back walls covered shallow cellars that stored an assortment of ales, liquors, and wines to keep them cold. When his morning duties were completed, the youth sat in his usual spot behind the counter, resting his head on his hands as he watched the morning pass.

The time passed quickly as Mec's mind was occupied by the thoughts of the dreams he had had most nights recently, and the events that would accompany those dreams. The setting of his dreams were always different, but there was always a constant: the calm voice of a man who identified himself simply as G. Every time Mec dreamed, G urged him to look deep in himself, to find some connection with the world around him. The young man never understood what G truly meant by this command, and it was unnerving that his dreams consistently were haunted by these visits. What was more disturbing was what he would find when he awoke. He would find flowers that have somehow grown through the floorboards, balls of flame that would roll off his bed and dissipate into smoke when he awoke, and most recently, sculptures of small animals made of ice that would move like their living counterparts. Every morning when Mec discovered these oddities he would destroy them in fear that his parents would return from their travels and see them.

The young man's thoughts were occasionally interrupted as customers would visit the shop, some regular customers and some that he didn't see often or couldn't even recall meeting. Most of the time he remained on his seat at his stool behind the counter, but he would occasionally jump over the counter to help customers find or reach particular items, and then jump back over the counter to accept their payment and continue his daydreams.

In the early afternoon, the store had a decent number of patrons wandering the shelves. The store was small enough that Mec was able to monitor the large amount of customers, but it took diligence. Although it was common to see youngsters at the store to buy sweets during their midday break from school, Mec was usually wary of them as they were prone to stealing. Usually the losses were petty, but he felt a sense of obligation to teach children the error of stealing. Most of the time he would scold them and let them have a piece of candy anyway, unless it was a repeat offender. He couldn't help but sigh as he watched a little boy hide a treat, neatly wrapped in paper, in the pocket of his pants. When the boy tried to walk out the door, Mec called to him, and immediately the boy ran for the door.

"Hey! Stop!" Mec shouted, reaching his hand forward. His response was a creak beneath the floor boards, and suddenly large branches burst through the wooden floor, knocking over shelves and sending dust scattering throughout the shop. When the dust had settled, Mec couldn't help himself but gasp at what lay before him. A tree had suddenly grown in the middle of the shop, and the boy was trapped in it's branches, which had intertwined with his clothing as if to hold him there.

When more of the shop's patrons have begun to comprehend the site before them, Mec began to feel his body temperature rise, as if the stares of the small crowd before him were roasting him alive. Some stared in horror, others just shock, and a few of contempt. "You!" barked a man about Mec's father's age. "I saw it! You used magic to make that tree grow! You're a sorcerer! This shop is run by a family of sorcerers!"

Mec's mind and body betrayed him, unable to find the words or the actions to respond. The man's outburst confirmed what he had quietly denied for weeks: Mec was a mage. The young man remained silent and surrendered until he was taken away by the town's guards. The journey to the prison and into his basement cell was only a blur in his memory. All he recalled was that the authority that had arrested him said they would warn the public of the danger of his presence, and that he would be imprisoned underneath the jail until soldiers could arrive to properly execute him. The young man was placed in the cell, chains on his wrists and ankles that were long enough to allow him to walk a few paces on either side of the cot in the center of the cell, but not to either end of the cell. Alone in the darkness of the basement, Mec had fallen asleep.

[Namingtoohard]

True to their word, the guards of the city had indeed spread the news. All across the city, criers announced that another magician had been caught in their midst, and that the town guard had safely apprehended the criminal responsible. Posters with details concerning the date and location of his pending execution hung on every noticeboard, and on the outer walls of every second building. More than anything, though, the story spread by word of mouth, running through the city like wildfire. Many such stories were greatly exaggerated, telling of how the dangerous mage had attacked a young boy with vines and tendrils that ensnared him and all those present, threatening to choke the life out of him, and only how the quick action of those nearby had saved him. All seemed to agree on one thing, though - the name of the criminal, and the location of the offence.

Such as it was that the news had come to reach the ears of Shallan. On the day in question, she had been spending the evening at home, sewing with her mother. With her father long since gone, her mother had taken up work as a seamstress when she had moved to the city, and the two of them often worked together. It was necessary to make a living, but Shallan did not mind. It was a pleasant enough way to pass the time, chatting with her family and creating garb that her mother would later resell for a profit. Her mother had told her of the occurrence with an oddly casual air, as if simply gossiping, but the news had struck Shallan like a bolt of lightning.

Mec, her estranged childhood friend, a powerful and deadly mage? No, she wouldn't believe it - couldn't believe it. What fond memories she had of her old companion suggested that he would never be capable of such a thing. Even should he have such powers, he would not have lashed out at someone in the way such rumours described. There had to be a mistake, and now his life was forfeit because of it. At the time, she had acted as if nothing was wrong, refusing to let any of her inner thoughts show. Her mind had continued to dwell on the subject over the next few days, though, and before long, she had a plan.

A stupid plan. A foolish, childish, flawed, unviable, dreamer's plan. But it was a plan nonetheless, and she was determined to try. For some irrational reason, one that she could not describe even to herself, Shallan could not simply wait and let Mec die when there was a chance she could do something to help. So, in secret, she had begun to work. Then, finally, she had been ready.

With no reason to delay any longer, she had decided to act that night. As the sun set, and the vast majority of the city's guards had either left to start their night patrol or to go home for the evening, Shallan approached the guardhouse, a moderate-sized pack slung over one shoulder. Slipping inside, she found herself face to face with the night warden, who was seated in the antechamber. Doing her best to not let her nerves show, she approached the man slowly, head tilted downwards. When he questioned her as to why she was here, Shallan responded with the one thing she knew better than any other - an act.

A short, emotion-filled tirade about how she wished to see her old friend, to know the truth of the stories. A performance that would have done her mother proud. That was what resulted. After several minutes of heated pleading and arguing, the warden seemed to believe her. He consented to escorting her downstairs for a brief visit, before bringing her back again. He would stay with her the whole time, though, and she would have no more than a few moments. It was not ideal, but it was as close as Shallan was going to get, it seemed. Even as he retrieved the keys to the basement and led her to the door, she could feel her heart rising in her throat.

Easy part over. Now the real test began.

During the short walk down into the great mysterious dark below the ground, Shallan reminded herself several times that it was not too late. She could act like this was a normal visit, leave without putting her plan into motion, and just act like nothing had ever happened. As the guard lit a torch and led her through the rows of cells, though, her resolve strengthened. Seeing the disgusting living conditions...there really was no other choice.

"Wakes wakey, little mage. You've got yourself a visitor" the young guard would call as they walked, though he undoubtedly roused any other prisoners currently being held in the process. As they arrived outside Mec's cell, the guard stepped up to the bars, peering through them. Shallan's focus flickered back no forth briefly, between the cell's occupant and the guard's back, and for several moments, she stood there in silence, as if frozen. Perhaps the guard thought it was just nerves, stopping her from stepping forward to greet her old friend. In a sense, he was right.

With her heart pounding loud in her ears, and a mouth so dry it felt like it had been stuffed with cotton, she slowly slipped her pack off her arm. The guard being with her now was a complication Shallan had not prepared for, and now, she had only one chance to deal with it. With all the strength she could muster, she swung her pack at the guard's head, just as the man grew impatient and turned to check up on her. The blow sent him reeling, but had not knocked him unconscious as she had wished. Her attack had been clumsy, and the pack ill-suited to the attempt. A cry rose in the man's throat - for help or for her to stop? She could not tell. It seemed like all other senses had left her.

There was no hesitating now, though - she was thoroughly committed to the attempt. With the same sort of clumsy force, she threw her body at his stumbling form, knocking the man back into the bars of the cell, before they both crumpled to the ground together. A brief scuffle ensued as he tried to grab hold of her, but Shallan raged against his attempts. Fully aware that she would be overpowered quickly if he recovered from his shock and started using his strength against her, Shallan continued to flail, until she finally got her chance. She smacked his head against the bars of the cell twice in quick succession, until the man's body went limp and strength left his limbs. Slowly, she sat back, chest heaving as she tried to recover both her breath and from the shock of what she had just done.

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry. I didn't plan for this to happen. I didn't want anyone to get hurt" she whispered softly to the unconscious guard, tears welling up in her eyes, despite the knowledge that he would be unable to hear her. Shallan's wrists ached where he had tried to forcibly restrain her, and she had several other throbbing bruises from their scuffle, but she paid no mind to them. It took her several moments to regain her composure, at which point she quickly reached for the guard's waist, scrambling for the keys that lay hanging there. What a sight she must've seemed, all disheveled as she was.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she vaguely registered the fact that the man was still breathing - a relief, that. She also knew that he had seen her face now, and knew her to be guilty. When he eventually woke, she would be just as wanted as Mec. Indeed, there really was no going back now. Speaking of Mec, she had not acknowledged him directly just yet. The woman seemed too focused on searching the guard to pay him any real mind just yet, shocked though he may be. When she finally had the keys, she quickly tossed them through the cell bars towards him. She was vaguely aware that both of her hands were shaking, and did not trust herself to attempt it.

"Get out of there, quickly. We have to go before someone else....before they find out I..." she stuttered a little. The need for haste was overpowering her shock and guilt, it seemed. For the time being, at least.

[Headwrapper]

Mec's chains rattled in response to the guards call as he sat up in his bed, solemnly staring through the bars. It had been days since he had even been fed, let alone spoken to. Even G stopped visiting him in his dreams. His parents must have returned from their trip and heard the news. His mother would be distressed beyond reason, struggling to have him released despite her lack of power in the matter. Mec wasn't sure how his father would react though. Would he too wish to seek a way to save his son, or would he revoke his paternal relationship, furious of what has happened to his shop and what has become of his family name? What of his father's shop? It must have been looted and burned down by now, after what has happened in that place.

Mec could feel the pressure in his chest build up as his mind feverishly explored other possibilities. What if his visitor was his executioner? Would he not see his family and apologize for what his fate will put them through before he left this world? This thought sent his body into shivers, a fit he had developed as a result of hours of self-pity and self hatred, as well as the realization of his ultimate punishment.

The young man's eyes squinted as the guard's torch, placed on the sconce just outside of the gate, illuminated his cell. As his eyes adjusted he could start to make out the figure of the person behind the guard, a girl about his own age. His shivers intensified when he recognized Shallan, illuminated in the orange glow of the torch. "Sh-... Shal?"

The physical altercation between Shallan and the guard erupted before Mec's shock could subside. His body jolted off the bed reactively when the two plummeted to the ground before his cell, but his chains halted his advancement. He struggled against the chains vainly, the links unyielding to their captive's efforts. A sigh of disbelief and respite escaped his lips when Shallan had risen victorious in the scuffle.

The keys hit the floor of the cell and slid across the cement towards Mec. He stopped the sliding keys with the ball of his bare foot. Did he dare take them? His gaze slowly rose from the keys to the girl who had come to save him, his old friend Shal. It wasn't until he could truly look at her, the orange flames of the torch dancing across her face, that he realized his shivers had ceased. This revelation was enough for him to make his decision.

Unable to reach the floor normally due to his confinements, Mec used his toes to grab the keys and raise them to his hands. He quickly unbound his wrists, and then his ankles, and quickly made his way to the cell door. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to keep his hands steady while unbolting the lock. The first key did not seem to work, nor the second. His heart pounded faster. The third. The fourth. He could hear his breath tremble with a mixture of frustration and despair as he continued to fail to unlock the cell. When he inserted the last key into the lock, G's familiar voice resounded in his mind.

Forge a new world for your kind, like we have forged this world for ourselves.

The key began to glow within the lock. As the light began to fill the room, Mec could feel the courage to finally turn the key. His ears were greeted with the beautiful sound of the lock unbolting, and the glow instantly vanished. The iron yielded a soft screech as he slide the cell door open.

The young man was finally face to face with his savior. "Why?" He shook his head. "Never mind, just, lead the way."

[Namingtoohard]

Even as Mec worked at freeing himself from the chains that bound him, his moment of indecision past, Shallan set about righting herself after her little scuffle with the guard. Ignoring the whining protests of her body from the sudden and unexpected violence, she would sit back for a moment, trying to compose herself and catch what she could of her breath. Raising her left hand, she would run it through her messy and disheveled hair for a moment, pushing it al back into place as best she could. It was a vain attempt, but there was some visible improvement by the time she was done. Afterwards, she would straighten up a little, before quickly regathering her pack and reaching for the torch that the guard had set aside just moments ago. They would need its light to lead their escape, after all.

Such were her thoughts as Mec finished freeing himself from the manacles that bound hand and foot, before setting to work on the door of the cell itself. Shallan showed no sign that she had heard the strange and mysterious voice as it echoed throughout the dungeon, but the blazing light that accompanied it was something that even she could not ignore. Wincing slightly, she would raise her free hand to shield her eyes for a moment, turning her head away from the radiance of that supernatural, sourceless illumination. Only once the light had faded so that the torch's light was all that remained would she lower her arm again, mouth agape.

"...so the rumours...they're true. You are a Mage" she muttered softly, voice barely audible even down here, where most sound seemed to carry or echo. There was no hint of accusation in her tone though, nor any sort of question. It was a simple statement, and one that brooked no argument and needed no reply. There was no other way to explain what she had just seen, after all. Still, she tilted her head a little as he questioned why she had done this. She opened her mouth to answer, before pausing as he decided that now was not the time. On that point she wholeheartedly agreed. They had a lot to do, and explanations could always wait until later. If they were caught now, they wouldn't so much as get the chance.

"Put these on first. I'll wait out here" she responded simply, taking her pack and holding it out across the small distance between them, offering it to him. Should he look, Mec would find the pack filled with a pair of old and used boots, along with a travelling cloak and some other basic clothes. They were nothing special, really. Old hand-me-down clothes that her mother still had sitting around, or mediocre pieces that Shallan had sewed herself when she was still learning. She had needed to guess at his sizes, so there was a chance some articles might not fit properly, either. They were intended not so much as permanent clothing, but just a quick change to get him out of the ragged prisoner's clothes he was wearing, and make him less recognisable to any guards that they were unfortunate enough to pass. She had made sure the cloak had a hood too, for that exact reason.

She lingered outside the door of the cell, back turned, as if keeping a lookout with torch in hand. The first and most obvious reason was modesty, but beyond that, more time to calm herself and think was greatly welcomed. Still, Shallan kept her gaze turned away from the fallen guard where he lay, as if physically unable to stand the sight of his form. Bile rose in her throat at the mere thought.

Once Mec was ready and had joined her, she would start retracing her steps back towards the dungeon entrance. When they reached the door, she would pass the torch back to him, gesturing for him to wait. Slowly, she would force the door open and peer outside, checking to make sure that it was all clear. As soon as she was content that it was safe - well, as safe as they could get in this situation - she beckoned for him to follow her out into the main section of the guard's post. After that, it was straight to the front door, where she immediately planned to repeat the process. They wouldn't need the torch from here on out, either. For the next step, the dark would be their ally, not enemy.

"We need to get you out of the city. With enough food and water to make it to the next town over at the very least, preferably" she would add simply. That was about the extent of her plan, really. She had honestly never expected to make it this far, but there was no stopping now, as she had already told herself multiple times already. "I packed you a few basics, but they're back at home, so we'll have to go and grab those before we head too far. Is there anything at your place that you need to get?" The question came simply, with a questioning glance. Owning a store, she had figured that there was some chance that he or his family had some sort of stockpile that could be of use to them.

[Headwrapper]

The brisk night air flowed underneaths Mec's hood as they finally exited the prison. He took a brief moment to recall if it would be worth visiting his home or the shop before making the escape from town. "My travel pack is in the back of the store. It has some toll and tavern receipts that I might be able to make use of. I also want to see what is left of the store during my absence."

With this he would lead the way back to the store, using the darkness of the night and the alleyways of the town as a veil. Mec remained silent as they traversed their course. His thoughts the questioned the reality of the events that led up to his arrest just days before. The recollection of what had happened seemed so hazy in his mind, as if from a distant past. Regardless, he would allow what he saw at the shop be the enough evidence to confirm his memories.

Eventually his path lead them to the rear of the store building. The young man silently made his way to the front of the store, wary of the possibility of being watched. There, he found the evidence he required to prove his memories true. A large tree, much larger than what it had been a few days prior, had taken root at the front of the store. A large portion of the front wall had given away to the thick branches and trunk of the tree which had tried to grow out the front door and windows to reach for sunlight. Mec silently tiptoed his way through the entrance the damage had created, careful not to step on any broken glass or splintered wood.

Inside the store, it was clear many of the goods that had sat on the shelves previously had gone missing, but the missing items were much fewer than Mec had anticipated. Wooden shelves that were near where the tree had taken root had fallen over, leaving their inventories scattered across the floor. The smell of dried herbs and spices seemed to have taken a grip of the cool air inside of the store, an odd mixture of sweets and spices and sours and bitters that assaulted then nostrils. Mec moved quickly behind the counter, as if to ignore the tree and the damage that came along with it, as well as avoid acknowledging any judgement his companion may have had of him after seeing his legacy firsthand. After moving away some particular floorboards he revealed a trap door, which he opened, and descended down to the basement of the shop. Moments later he resurfaced with a small leather pack, decorated with a few water skins. He was able to acquire some dried jerky that was stored in the cellar, but avoided packing much else in terms of nourishment as there were no perishable food items and the jars containing pickled items would be too heavy to travel with. He knew his water skins were empty, but filling them from a well would be too noisy an endeavor in the dead of night.

It was then that he returned to his companion. "Let's go."

[Namingtoohard]

"Lead the way, then" the reply came simply, accompanied by a simple hand gesture for him to do just that. Shallan would wait for her new companion to take the lead, before immediately setting off after him, heading towards what remained of Mec's family store, and the supposed scene of his original condemning act.

Part of her was worried abut what exactly they would find there, given the greatly exaggerated rumours of how exactly he had revealed himself, attacking a youngster in the process. Indeed, as they neared the store, Shallan slowed to a stop, eyes going wide as she looked up at the huge tree that had sprouted and grown practically overnight, taking a significant portion of the building with it. Eyes going wide, she suppressed a small gasp, moving towards the unnatural growth slowly and carefully. As Mec busied himself slipping inside and retrieving the things he needed, she advanced on the tree, reaching out with one hand as if to touch it, before thinking better of it and withdrawing.

She had already seen evidence of Mec's sorcery with her own eyes, but this was on an entirely different level. It was a mystifying thing, filled with its own strange sort of beauty...and somewhat terrifying, in its own regard. Did this mean that the rest of the story was true, too? Was she mistaken in rescuing her old friend? Such thoughts crowded her mind as she waited for Mec to return, before she would push down such qualms and concerns as best she could. There was no time, and simply thinking ver the same concerns repeatedly would yield no more in the way of answers regardless.

From there, it was on to her home - a small residence located more towards the outer fringes of the city. A small wooden building with only a single story, modest and otherwise unimpressive. It would have almost appeared derelict, but clearly somebody had made attempts to fix it up recently. This time, Shallan headed not towards the front entrance, but around the side of the building, towards a window with the shutters thrown back. She paused briefly outside, one hand resting on the windowsill, to glance back at her companion.

"Just give me one second" she whispered softly, voice quiet. Naturally, she was afraid of accidentally alerting her mother to what's going on, who would be in the very next room over. As gracefully as she could manage, Shallan would clamber up and over the windowsill, dropping into her room beyond.

Inside, she quickly retrieved her own bag, which was already packed with several necessities - a few changes of clothes, what little food she had been able to get a hold of, her merger savings, and so on. She hesitated briefly when it came time to leave, briefly considering going to say goodbye to her mother. Squashing down the sensation, she settled for leaving out a pre-written note that she had prepared earlier, just in case the worst had come to pass. So that her mother would know she cares, that she did not leave by choice, and so on.

After that, she scrambled back out to join Mec once more, shouldering her pack and hoping that her conflicting emotions would be hidden by the night as well as it had hidden them from unwelcome eyes thus far.

"Now we just need to put as much distance between you and this city before they realise what has happened. If we're lucky, we should have until daybreak. If not...well, let's just get moving"

[Headwrapper]

Mec quietly followed his companion to her residence, consciously slowing his breath to make as little noise as possible as they crept through the town. He crouched against the wall of of the house, keeping watch as Shallan collected her items. His eyes flickered back and forth as he looked out into the night, moving his head slightly each time to compensate for the vision that was obstructed by his hood.

After only a brief time of being alone with his own thoughts, Mec began to resent his moments of solitude. All that remained in his mind were confusing thoughts about his self perception, his past and current actions, and his fate. As his mind began to grow overwhelmed with these thoughts, his position against the wall began to devolve. His arms wrapped tightly around his knees while his face remained shrouded beneath his hood.

When Shallan reemerged from the window, Mec quickly stood and dusted himself off with his hands. Had his friend's face revealed any signs of doubt, Mec, too preoccupied with his own struggle, failed to recognize the clues. The time to leave the town behind had come, and the sooner they could pick a direction to flee the further they could get from his captors. "Did you plan on where we were going to go after you freed me?" He began to rub his bruised wrists while thinking about the routes he's traveled when it was his turn to gather goods for the shop. "If not, I think we should head towards Avoorka, to the northwest. It's an easy walk and it would be easy to traverse through the woods rather than the main trail. The route is not very far from here either."

The young man's gaze quickly flicked back towards the direction of the main area of the town. From a distance, he could see the orange glow of torches gathering. The dance of the flames grew wilder and wilder as more torches were lit, guided by the beat of the march of those carrying them. "It doesn't look like we can go back into the town anyway. I can take us to the wooded path."

He turned his back to the golden glow of the town behind him took a few paces in the direction he knew the woods would be. After a pause, he turned his head, his brown eyes flickering between Shallan and the window she had climbed through earlier. "Would it not be best if you just went to bed and I left alone? I don't think anyone would believe a young girl single-handedly broke me out of prison... The guard would probably be too ashamed to admit it anyway. They'll chalk it up to a magician's trickery, and I'm sure your mother would vouch that you've been asleep all night. Worst case you can claim that I used magic to possess you for my own gain." His expression tightened, as if discussing his thoughts out loud reassured him he was correct. "You have done too much for me... And I don't know if I can ever repay this debt... but if you were to be found missing the same night of my escape you would be forfeiting your life."

[Namingtoohard]

A quick glance around was more than enough for Shallan to spot where her companion had slumped down against the wall, presumably just to wait for her while she grabbed her bag and tied up the one loose end that she had needed to sort out before they would be able to leave. After a few moments spent adjusting her bag, she glanced back across at him as he made ready to leave, before shaking her head in the way of a response to his question - partially because the less vocal they were the better, and partially because she didn't trust herself to speak just yet. After a few seconds though, as he outlined his own idea, she finally seemed to find her voice once more.

"Frankly, I didn't expect us to get this far to begin with. Avoorka sounds like a good starting point, though it's probably best we avoid the path as much as possible. If we think it's a good choice, then they'll likely come to the same conclusion, and there's no way we can outrun them if they send any men on horseback" she responded simply, shuffling nervously on the spot as the two of them spoke. She glanced around quickly between sentences, too, as if she was brimming with energy - or, more accurately, the tension and mounting risk of being caught were starting to take their toll. Shallan could practically feel her adrenaline levels building again, and every moment that they stood there doing nothing only seemed to make it worse. Still, it seemed that her partner wasn't done just yet.

Irritation flickered across her face at the extra delay, but only briefly, as he quickly suggested that she stay behind. Shallan winced slightly at the mere suggestion, as if physically wounded by it. Indeed, she wanted nothing more than to climb back through her window and under the covers of her bed. To run inside and seek comfort with the only family she knew, to rip up the letter of apology she had written and scatter its pieces to the winds. The woman had long since given up on the prospect of going back to her old life, though. It might have only been that evening she had come to such a decision, but it already felt like a very long time ago now, and she had spent every moment since preparing for this one inevitable junction.

"What good would it do now? You've seen how paranoid people are about magic here...nay, you've experienced the depths of that paranoia. I doubt mere shame would save me from the guard, who knows both my face and name now. Besides, if I were so weak-willed that you could seize control of me at will, why would they just let me be? Why leave a potential threat, or a potential spy - whether I knew it or not - in their midst? No. Better to eliminate the risk entirely" she muttered softly, turning her face downwards. After a few moments, though, the woman straightened up again, turning and taking a few steps towards the city outskirts, before glancing back again.

"In any case, if you must argue, can we at least do it as we walk? We have a long way to go" she answered simply, before starting off without so much as waiting for a response, in the rough direction she knew Avoorka to be. Still, as they moved, she found her gaze steadily drifting upwards, to glance at the night sky. It was a dark evening, by all accounts, with only dim moonlight and a few scattered stars visible to the naked eye. Perhaps for the first time, a small smile flickered across her features, seemingly genuine and filled with its own strange sort of joy, it's own excitement.

"Mm...it's an interesting sky tonight. One that allows you just a glimpse of its beauty, without revealing the full depth of its mystery. Or is it showing me just enough of home to be familiar, while still shunning me enough to push me away? It's hard to tell, sometimes. Either way, tis' a fitting sky for a goodbye like this" she muttered softly to herself. She had always loved the stars, been entranced by them, and right now she spoke not for the sake of discussion. Rather, it was an idle observation - one made without any real expectation of a reply. One could say that she had just been thinking out loud, more than anything.

[Headwrapper]

Mec allowed a long sigh to escape his lips as his companion began her march. At first, he followed a few paces behind the woman, silently mulling over his thoughts. Deep down he knew that his plan to leave her behind was flawed, merely loosely constructed excuses to justify leaving her behind. After a few solemn minutes of thought, Mec realized he had not wished to salvage the woman's future, but rather unburden himself of the consequence that her fate was compromised in order to redeem his own.

The young man's fists clenched with anger as he walked. Since when was he so selfish? Has he always been selfish in this way, deep in his subconscious? He didn't allow himself to answer that question, and chose to dispel these thoughts for the time being. His mind free from the distractions he allowed to consume before, Mec sped his pace to walk alongside his old friend.

His hands gripped the straps that secured his pack to his shoulders as the two walked silently through the starry night. Rather than choosing to look at the sky, his gaze simply traced the path in front of him, watching the green, dark grass roll beneath his feet as he continued his march. When Shallan spoke, his hooded head tilted slightly so that he could hear better. His eyes rose to observe the sky with which his companion had seen so much beauty and mystery in. To him it was the same old sky, and so he chose not to comment.

Not long after the two had traveled outside of the town they arrived to the edge of a wood. Mec pointed towards a horse-trodden path barely visible in the moonlight, that was not much further than a stadion away. "That is where the main path lies. We should be able to follow its route from this distance, concealed by the foliage of the forest." With this he began to carefully step through the long brushes and into the ocean of trees and leaves.

Once the two had truly entered the heart of the woods it had become clear that the moon and stars, blocked from view from the thick foliage above, would not be able to sufficiently guide the way. Mec would let out a frustrated hiss each time a hidden branch or brush nicked at his face or arms. All the while he made sure that he didn't lose view of the main path, occasionally catching subtle glimpses of it glowing in the moonlight through the thick trunks that surrounded them. Regularly the young man would turn his hooded head to make sure his companion was not lost to the darkness of the night.

After hours of this blind march the forest around the two had begun to transform. The number of trees lessened and their numbers replaced by stumps, evidence of the work that had been done by lumberjacks in years past. The moon and starlight returned to them, just in time to share their last goodbyes before surrendering to the first signs of dawn. The wood had ended at the top of a hill from which Avoorka could be spotted, nearly half a league away.

"The sun's rising soon," Mec observed. "Should we wait until the the city is flooded by the daily traffic before entering? We can scout what is known of my crimes in the city, veiled by the crowds. If we find that news has not traveled this far we may be able to charter some sort of transport."

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan continued to march in silence from that point onwards, her temporary bout of stargazing broken by Mec pointing out the path that they were supposed to take. She felt no real need to attempt any further conversation at that exact moment in time, content to trek onwards and simply dwell on her own thoughts for the time being. The girl followed with what was almost complete obedience, marching through the forest after her companion, doing her best to keep a cheery outlook. To begin with, he was the one who best knew this area, so she stuck close behind for most of the journey, content to let him lead the way through the forest, be it by tracking the path and walking parallel to it, or by memory.

Shallan even went so far as to begin humming at one point, trying to keep a cheery outlook. Her melody was improvised, not originating from any actual song she had learned, chosen for a specific purpose or to tell a specific story. As their march through the forest continued, she almost started to feel as if it were the same as any nighttime hike. Here one could almost forget that they were both wanted people now, lost in the peaceful tranquility of their surroundings. Even the constant chittering of insects seemed to have no bearing on her mood...well, not at first.

As the journey dragged on, and grew more difficult, the humming eventually stopped. Fatigue started to drag at Shallan's limbs - her earlier adrenaline rush having long since faded. Her breathing started to become a little more laboured, seemingly growing heavier with both the passage of time and the extensive distance they covered. Her smile faded, and her legs and chest both began to burn in protest of the forced march. She briefly wondered how Mec was coping so well, but perhaps he was just more physically robust than her. That, or there was another explanation. Perhaps his magic was aiding in a way she did not know, or it resulted from the one simple fact that he had possibly managed to get some sleep before the night's events began, unlike her.

A soft sigh of relief escaped her when the forest finally began to thin, as the trees started to part and the sky once again became visible. Even as the first rays of sunlight began to creep up over the horizon, a small hint of a smile flickered across her features. They had survived their first night, and the city they had decided to aim for was no more than a stone's throw away. The suggestion to stop for a bit was welcome, and she nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

"As much as I hate the idea of giving them a chance to catch up to us, two visitors arriving before sunrise would be sure to arouse some sort of suspicion. Besides, I could use a bite to eat, and some water" Shallan conceded finally. Slowly, she would head back to the treeline, picking out a spot that seemed clear enough to make for a comfortable seat, while still keeping them decently hidden from the city. Slowly, she would lower herself down to the ground, letting out a soft groan of relief as she was finally able to sit. There might have been more comfortable places than the hard ground with the trunk of a tree as a backrest, but for now it was enough.

Slowly, Shallan began rummaging around in her pack for something to eat or drink. She withdrew a water skin of her own first, though she set it aside without taking a swig just yet. A few moments of rough scrounging and shuffling later, and she withdrew the object of her search - a ripe apple, which she had procured when planning her bust. It was a little known fact that Shallan had a weakness for apples, finding their unique texture, flavour and sweetness irresistible.

"I could go for a nap too, but I don't think that anything short of the world ending would be able to wake me in time for us to slip in with the traders and travellers" she added, a wry grin flickering across her lips, before the girl would bite into her prize. A hearty crunch could be heard, alongside a soft groan of enjoyment as she savoured the simple yet addicting taste. She would help herself to several more, in quick succession, before growing a tad somber. Her enthusiasm fading, she would cast her eyes down a little, only throwing a very quick and sly glance in Mec's direction. She didn't offer to share, mostly because she assumed he had packed something of his own, and they could always try and procure something. more once they reached the town.

"So..." she wild finally speak up agin, tone soft and quiet, eyes still averted, once she was several bites into her meal. "I hate to ask, but...I feel like I have to know. Is it true, everything they were saying about you? I've already seen enough evidence that you're a mage, but...did you really attack that boy?" The question came. Finally, as she uttered those last few words, she mustered the courage to look up. With her head tilted slightly, she waited in silence for his response, eyes full of something akin to hope or longing. Longing to hear that she hadnt jumped to conclusions, and that he really was innocent in all this. Innocent of what the rumours said about his actions. While she could believe he was a mage, she also needed to believe that she had done the right thing in freeing him, too.

[Headwrapper]

When the two decided to take up camp Mec chose to rest in a similar spot as his companion, resting his back against the tree just adjacent to hers. After finally lowering his hood to expose his face to the morning air, he procured a few strips of the dried beef that he had packed when they visited the store prior to their departure. The meat was tough, but the spices and salts used to season it gave it a a bearable taste. The practice of cooking meat over a fire for an extended period of time, long enough to remove most of the moisture that would cause the meat to rot, was a trick his father had learned from natives of distant lands during his travels, long before Mec was born. The resulting product came to be useful in long journeys, allowing a traveler to carry plenty of edible food on his person.

Mec would continue tearing at the strips with his teeth until his jaw ached from battling the resistance of the tough meat. When he was done he would wrap the meat in the paper he originally stored it in and placed it back in his pack. He would then sit with his legs crossed, watching as the sun's rays begin to emerge from behind the forest and begin to illuminate the city below. He grinned half-heartedly at the thought of Shallan being slow to awaken should she fall asleep. "If we can get a ride to a different town you might get the chance to sleep during the trip."

The time finally came when Shallan asked him about the events that had led to his persecution. Secretly he had been waiting for this moment to at last discuss the experiences of the last few weeks with someone, but nonetheless he shuffled nervously in his spot beneath his tree. His eyes laid low as he tried to carefully word his answer. "I don't know what was being said about me," he replied gently. "It's best that I explain everything from the beginning. It's only fair, right?"

Mec would go on to describe the dreams he had experienced since his parents last departed and left him with the shop alone. He would then recall the nearly meaningless words of G, the reoccurring character in all of his ethereal adventures, and the strange occurrences he would awaken to after having his dreams. His narrative concluded with an account of what led to his discovery: the entanglement of the young thief in the branches of the summoned tree.

As he approached the conclusion of his monologue, Mec's face had begun to grow pale and his voice had begun to fail him. An uncontrollable energy swelled within him as a panic started to take over his instincts, and he shifted from his crosslegged position to standing on one knee, placing his arm against his tree for support. His words grew shaky and he trembled as he took each breath, drawing each faster than the one previous. "I-I d-didn't even m-mean to d-do it. I just... I... I..." His eyes widened as he felt his panic take over, leaving him paralyzed. The confidence he had gained when he accepted the keys offered to him back in his cell had long faded, flushed away with the color of his face.

[Namingtoohard]

"Well, I sure as hell know what I'm voting we do next then...assuming that finding some sort of inn with a nice fluffy bed is out of the question" Shallan grumbled softly to herself, a small pout flickering across her features briefly as she contemplated the prospect of a night back in bed. Some adventurer she was turning out to be, craving the comforts of home after no more than a few hours marching and the prospect of having to go without sleep for a few hours longer than she was accustomed too. Then again, none of the plays or stories she knew seemed to involve all the gritty little details, like sleeping conditions, the lack of a chance to bathe, and potentially having to wear the same clothes over and over for multiple days at a time.

"Go on. We've got a few hours to kill before we can get a move on anyways" she prodded gently, looking on with curiosity as Mec announced that he had better explain everything from the beginning. As polite and accomodating as always, she was happy to listen to his story as it had played out thus far. Getting to know the full extent of what she had gotten herself into by freeing him was more than enough motivation, and if it helped pass the time and relieve some of the stress he was under, then all the better. A win-win situation, as it were. Shallan had no doubt that her mother would tell her that 'a problem shared is a problem halved' or something of the likes if she knew what her daughter was doing.

An excellent listener, she would fall into silence after that, content to relax and listen to the story as it was told from Mec's point of view. She continued to munch on the solitary apple that she had withdrawn earlier throughout the process, pausing only briefly to wipe away some stray juice with the back of a hand at one point when it started to run down her chin. Once she had finished the apple, the girl would lean back against the trunk and direct her gaze upwards once more, staring up at the sky as it gradually grew lighter. Despite the fact that she was finished with it, she kept the core of the apple in her hand, twisting it over and passing it from one to the other repeatedly. Having something to do with her hands helped, even if it was a pointless task.

She seemed to snap out of her trance a little when Mec started to stutter, throwing another glance back across at her old friend and new travelling companion. Her nose wrinkled and she frowned briefly for a few seconds as she tried to come up with a quick and easy way to comfort him, even in the most basic of ways. Given his state, though, she had a feeling that she couldn't notice. After a few seconds of silent contemplation, she gave a bit of a casual shrug, as if deciding that simply giving him the honest truth and her real opinion on the matter was the best course of action after all.

"Well, that's a relief" she muttered simply, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible as she finally addressed the matter at hand. As if to maintain that same casual air with which she spoke, she would take a break there, pausing for a few moments to help herself to a swig from the waterskin she had removed from her pack earlier. "I was half worried that you had been playing me for a fool this entire time, or that you really were influencing me when I decided to help you. That I had thrown everything away and attacked that guard and said goodbye to my mother for nothing. I found it hard to believe that you would harm a child by accident, even a shoplifter, but I couldn't dismiss the possibility entirely" she conceded simply. Just saying the words felt like a weight off, somehow, and as she kept speaking her tongue seemed to find its own way.

"Now I know for sure, though. I won't pretend to know what it feels like, what you're going through, discovering all these powers and hearing strange voices and being arrested for simply being who you are. What I do know is that you're still the same as I remember you from back then, when we were both little kids. That I don't need to worry about such a silly thing anymore." she finished simply, hoping that those words would offer some sort of mediocre comfort or distraction, even if they were a tad roundabout. They were just as much a declaration of hope and faith as an attempt at comfort, but of course, what effect they would have on Mec remained to be seen.

Even as she spoke, the woman plucked the apple seeds off of the core she held in her hand one by one, before discarding it carelessly. The whole time she spoke, she didn't glance up at Mec once, instead busying herself digging a small hole. With surprising tenderness, she dropped the apple's seeds into it, before covering the hotel with dirt. Going one step further, she would even trickle a small amount of water from her water skin onto the spot - her intentions clear. The fact that it was a poor spot to grow a tree didn't seem to bother Shallan, who continued about her work. When she was done - both with the planting and her response - she would finally glance up again, meeting his eyes with a calm and serene smile on her face. An act, or a genuine show of her relief? This time, even she herself wasn't totally sure.

[Headwrapper]

Seeing Shallan react so nonchalantly to his story seemed to set Mec aback for a moment. His sporadic breathing slowed to a regular interval, and the ferality that had possessed him began to subside from his face. His widened eyes returned to their regular solemnity and some color had begun to return to his face. He remained quiet as his friend spoke, feeling ashamed to have let such a panic get the best of him.

At first, the boy watched quizzically as he watched his companion work. A smile crept across his face, growing wider with each passing moment. It had been a long time since he felt a real smile wrinkled his cheeks, a genuine display of joy that wasn't forced or accompanied by half-heartedness. When his friend's eyes finally returned to greet his, his visage was already reformed, dominated by a wide grin that was out of his control. "I was going to argue that we're both a lot different than we were in the past, but I suppose you haven't changed."

Content with the outcome of this exchange, Mec sat back at his spot against the tree, resting his arm on one knee. His gaze turned to the city below, watching for any signs of activity below. The sun was finally truly rising, but it would still be another hour or two before they would see the early bunch of traders and travelers arrive at the city. "Shal..." The young man's brown eyes widened questioningly, a soft expression of gratitude, but his gaze remained transfixed to the buildings below. "How did you... No, why did you come rescue me? I know we were friends as kids, but it had been so long since we've so much as spoke to each other. At most my mother, unsolicited, would mention you visited the store as a patron, but that's about all of I've heard of you for years now."

He finally turned his soft gaze over to his companion, observing her reaction briefly before continuing. His voice grew soft, fearing that he would sound ungrateful or that his words might belittle the woman's sacrifice. "What you've done, well, what you are doing for me, is too great of a favor for me to ever properly thank you for. Quite honestly, it saddens me to imagine what future hardships you'll have to endure due to what has had happened."

After a brief pause to move his brown locks from his eyes with the back of his hand, Mec continued. "And despite what you said, I am different than how you think I was when we were kids. My life has become simple, and I have very little skills outside of traveling to the same towns. My days were going to be spent in that store, deeply rooted into the floors like the tree I had summoned. And I know you don't want to hear this, and you'll probably ignore it, but in the grand scheme of our world my execution would not have amounted to much."

The young man's almond eyes lowered shyly, resting solemnly at the spot that Shallan had planted her seeds. "I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm trying to make you seem foolish for the decision you've made." After another pause he let out a heavy sigh. "I missed you Shal."

When their conversation would end the two would be able to spot the horde of caravans and wagons begin to aggregate at the entrances of the city. The way the city was designed, travelers could enter from the roads on the south side and the west side of the city, and exit on the opposite ends of each. As the sounds of the wildlife in the forest behind them orchestrated a melody of cheeping birds and scuffling rodents, the sounds of the bustling city below would rebuttal with its own counter melody of neighing horses, shouts of men and women and children, and the creaks of wagons as they slowly crawled through the city.

As the two began their walk to join the crowds at the entrance nearest to them Mec would take the time to explain some of the provisions he had brought. He raised his hood back over his head before speaking. "In my pack I have a handful of receipts that should make our travels easier. Unfortunately the bill is attached to my family's business, so I'd like to make use of them soon as possible before inns and toll keeps are made aware of my flight from custody. If you want, we can use one so that you can get a proper rest at an inn while I scout how much is known about my actions and find some form of transport, possibly a caravan or a merchant returning home with space in his wagon who would accept coin."

[Namingtoohard]

Unable to help herself, Shallan hummed thoughtfully for a brief moment as her companion announced that the same went both ways, in his own terms of course. She herself felt irreversibly different to when they had been friends together as little kids, but perhaps that was just from her perspective. He likely felt the same way, and was equally as mystified for her statement. Still, she wasn't going to object - not here and now, at the very least. His thoughts and beliefs were his own, and she felt no reason to debate him when she herself was so uncertain.

The words that followed were a little more of a puzzle. She tore her eyes away from the sky once more as the words slipped past his lips, gazing down briefly as she contemplated his question. Why exactly had she endeavoured to free him, even when there was so much uncertainty, at the cost of her previous life? Previous life. Even just thinking those words made her feel sick. Still, Mec had asked her an honest question, and he deserved an honest answer.

"My mother had a saying. Well, she had a lot of sayings, but there's one in particular...'It is when good men look away that evil prevails'. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing while my old friend was punished for something I couldn't believe him doing. Even if it has been years since we'd so much as have a proper conversation" she muttered softly. Her voice was gentle and calm, but not without a hint of conviction. The same sort she had needed to display when undertaking such a risky and uncertain plan to begin with. As she continued, though, a soft chuckle escaped her, as if she found something about her own words amusing.

"It seems a stupid decision, but two lives of hardship are better than one easy life at the expense of another. Besides, you sell yourself short, I think" she answered, a playful grin teasing at the corners of her mouth. "It's not what you used to do that matters. If you had died, the world would have been deprived of any good that you do in the future. So...make it worthwhile, okay?" she questioned simply, content to leave her explanation at that. Hopefully that would suffice, at least until she herself better understood.

Still, a warm smile would flicker across her face at that one last amendment, the simple aconfession that he had missed her. She didn't echo his sentiments verbally, nor thank him for the kind comment. Her emotion was written all over her face, as plain as day. The happiness of belonging, of acceptance for oneself.

Her muscles had groaned and complained in protest when it came time for them to go, but there was no delaying the inevitable, lest they miss their chance. As the two slipped into the river of people steadily moving towards the city, she let herself flip her own hood back, content to enjoy what she could of the morning light as it creeped over the horizon. It's warmth was kind and wholesome, seeming to restore some small measure of her waning strength. Rest would prove a necessity eventually, but she could keep it up for a bit longer, Shallan thought.

"Mm. Tis' a kind sky this morning. Gentle and friendly, ushering in a new day and welcoming all that flourish under its thrall" she mused simply, some element of cheeriness restored as they advanced on the town. Luckily it was another small one, with no towering stone walls or security checks required to gain access. Guards stood at intervals around the main roads, but so long as word had not reached them, or they kept their heads down and continued to blend in. Out of the corner of her eye, though, she thought she caught a glimpse of a face she recognised - one of the local guards from back home, speaking with one of the men in uniform here. It was hard to tell for sure, from this distance.

"Mec. Mec!" She whispered softly, a hint of urgency creeping into her voice. Thankfully a whisper was sufficient, standing together as they were. Once she had gotten his attention, she would gesture towards the pair of chatting guards with a subtle flick of her head. "Please tell me I'm being paranoid and that you don't recognise him from back home. The one on the left" she muttered softly. Indeed, it would good to know in advance if they needed to keep themselves disguised as much as possible while in town, but the looming threat of discovery felt much more present now than it had during their forest march earlier. Still, if they were spotted, the man did not call out, and the two passed into the town without any real event.

[Headwrapper]

Mec chuckled lightly as the two pressed on into the town. "You sure do have a queer fascination with the sky," he teased, still laughing quietly. "You have seen it before, haven't you? Most days you can see it if you do a little bit of searching." He tightened his hood a they joined the crowd, a grin still visible across his lips underneath.

He tilted his head to a slight angle in order to get a better view of the guard through the corner of his hood. It wasn't a face he recognized, the guard's uniform definitely matched what he would have expected to see in their hometown. Mec remained silent as they entered the town, and only once they had taken a few paces into the city did he mutter silently to his companion, his eyes low to the ground in front of him "I don't recognize him by face, but he's definitely one of ours."

The two would follow the crowd for a while, allowing the current of people to carry them. It did not take long for them to reach the central junction of the city. Rather than the roads that dissected the town into quadrants converging to form a cross, they wrapped around the square in the center of the town. It was here that the largest concentration of travelers and city-goers had congregated for purposes of trade and for the exchange of services. Stalls carrying a variety of different goods lined the streets in all directions, their vendors roaring to announce their competitive prices and quality of their product.

The senses of those traveling through Avoorka were always well stimulated by the diversity of the people who came to the markets and the goods they brought with them. Their noses would be delighted by oils scented with flowers, spices from distant lands, and the aroma of meats and breads prepared by the town's cooks and bakers, only to then be insulted by stalls carrying fish and bitter herbs. Simultaneously, the ears were assaulted by the clangs of hammer against hot iron as blacksmiths worked to repair various implements for their patrons, and for those more skillful in their craft, forge swords for those who could offer the payment.

The buildings of the town itself were not too impressive. The stone used to construct the city blended together to create an ocean of grey. This was concealed by the activities of the day, as stalls were erected in front of the grey walls and the swarm of people marching through the streets concealed the grey brick beneath their feet, and so the dullness of the town's architecture would only be noticed in the evenings when activities began to cease.

Mec gave his companion's arm a tap with his finger to get her attention as they approached the loud crowd. "We should probably search the town square for any postings of fugitives that could be in the area. If word has been sent here, they surely would have my portrait displayed here by now."

The plodding parade of carts, drawn by horses or in the case of some smaller wagons by men, traveled slow enough through the roads that surround the square that one could cross safely, although they may have to squeeze themselves between cart and horse to do so. After squeezing his way across the traffic, Mec made sure to tighten the straps of his pack, remembering what he was taught about visiting such crowded places. His ears opened in hopes to identify the yell of a town crier while his eyes busily scanned the area for some sort of noticeboard. After finally locating such a construction, a large wooden frame that stood a few heads taller than Mec himself and nearly as wide, the young man ground his teeth together in frustration. Only a few feet away from the board stood two guards casually chatting. One was similarly dressed to the guard that stood near the entrance of the cit. The iron of his half-helm reflected sunlight obnoxiously as his head bobbed back and forth as he spoke to the other guard, equipped in armor of slightly higher quality.

[Namingtoohard]

A small frown plastered itself across Shallan's face as Mec confirmed her fears - that the guard she had spotted was one back from their home town, and had most likely been sent to warn the neighbouring cities of a rouge and potentially dangerous mage who had been discovered, escaped from his confinement, and was now on the run. There was no doubt now that the local authorities had been alerted to their actions the previous night, and would all be on high alert. Worse still, there was a chance that any visiting merchant they had spoken with would have heard the news, and would notify the city guard should they be given any reason to suspect Mec and Shallan. Such were her thoughts as the two of them were swept closer and closer to the city centre, carried along by the vast majority of the crowd.

Still, Shallan did her best to maintain a thoroughly positive outlook as they moved along. Worrying now would accomplish naught but to stress them out needlessly, and heighten the chances that they would make a mistake when it proved most critical. Instead, the woman tried to focus on the multitude of sights and smells and sounds that surrounded her. Much more lively than their home town, she could almost feel the vibrant thrum of life that rushed through the town square. Had she not been so tired, Shallan likely would've taken off, trying to taste and see as much as she could manage during the time that they had.

She was only snapped out of her trance by a gentle poke to the arm, and the simple suggestion that they search for some sort of noticeboard to find out if their faces were known, along with just their recent actions and likely their names. She replied with a simple nod, content to keep following after him for the time being. The woman didn't want to risk splitting up, purely because finding each other again in a place like this could prove to be a real struggle, and neither of them would have any idea as to what had happened to the other should the worst come to pass.

She was forced to wait slightly as Mec slipped between two carts to flit across the makeshift road, caught in the traffic that followed, which delayed her progress slightly. When Shallan did manage to catch u pa few moments later, she frowned as the full vista of what she was looking at slowly sunk in. Not wanting to linger for any longer than proved absolutely necessary, lest the guards pick them out of he crowd, she immediately stepped up before Mec. Gently as she could manage, Shallan would reach out with both of her arms, wrapping them around the upper part of one of his. She would tug on it a few times gently, as if to try and snap him out of his stupor, while leaning in close to whisper another statement in a measured tone.

"It's not worth the risk. Let's try elsewhere. We can check back here again later if we have time, and hope that they have moved on" the suggestion came, hopefully enough to cause him to relent. The last thing they needed right now was another spectacle, or a fresh trail by which they could be tracked. As soon as he relented, she would release her grip, starting on a broad loop of the town square in search of any more information, or anything else that could be of use. Unfortunately, they found it not that much further down, in he form of a town crier or herald or whatever other term one wished to use. The same sort that Mec had been keeping an eye out for just moments earlier, during his quest for the noticeboard.

The person in question was a portly man, who had positioned himself on a set of steps bordering one of the neighbouring buildings, much to the owners' annoyance. His voice was as heavy-set as the man himself, and managed to cut through the din of the markets, eclipsing the shouting of the traders peddling their wares and the haggling of customers trying to get the best price possible further into the square. In one hand he held a large bell, for attracting attention, and in the other a large sheet of parchment - presumably of what was to be announced. Shallan's attention quickly focused on him as the two of them drew near, but after just mere moments and a small fragment of his announcements, she almost wished that hey had.

"...report that a mage by the name of Mec Fiska escaped custody last night. He is considered highly dangerous, and is currently believed to be travelling with a female companion somewhere in the northern area of the Illinski region. Should anybody come into contact with him, they are encouraged to report the sighting to he nearest member of the town guard immediately. Members of the public are strongly discouraged from approaching him directly, and instead..."

The man's cry faded from Shallan's ears as she did her best to zone him out. Several other whispers from members of the audience or other people merely passing by caught her attention - mostly people expressing their hopes that he would be caught and executed soon, or worried mutters that he was somewhere close. Still, she couldn't help but feel some concern for what exactly her mother was feeling, hearing al this news. Speaking of close companions, she would glance across at Mec briefly, hoping to gain stem glimpse of how well (or how poorly) he was responding to the man's cries.

"...perhaps we should come up with fake names, at least until we get out of the city. Maybe find some way to alter our appearances too, if we can, just in case" she muttered softly. The most obvious would be a change of clothes and a haircut each, though several other options sprung to mind, mostly stemming from her mother's lessons on acting. She figured that the same steps of dressing up for a performance could be useful here.

[Headwrapper]

Mec's almond eyes narrowed as he processed the announcements of the crier seated a few paces away from him. His chest began to swell with adrenaline, but strangely without the feral feelings of panic that he had experienced before. Instead his rush was accompanied by a strange sense of excitement, anticipation for a thrill. Had he not been thinking clearly about the situation before? Running with his back to his problems had shifted them out of perspective. Invisible, the threat was mysterious and frightening. Only now, as he stood in the middle of this crowded town where his and his partner's fates could be decided at any moment, could he see his problem in a clearer view. "Mec Fiska..." he muttered softly, wishing to hear his name spoken aloud once more. A grin crept across the man's hooded face as he thought about the notion.

He shifted his glance to return Shallan's, unable to suppress his grin as small excerpts of the conversations around him echoed in his ears. "Yes, I suppose you're right. How would we go about d-..." He stopped his sentence, not wishing to speak too much about the idea of disguises out loud. "How would we do that though?"

As the question hung in the air, Mec could feel a slight pull behind him. Aware of what was happening, he lashed his arm behind him before spinning around, squeezing at the thieving fingers that had tried to reach into his pack, too tightly secured to be simply pickpocketed. As he expected from the feel of tiny fingers crushed in his own fist, the culprit was a young lad, not unlike the boy who had tried steel sweets from his shop just days before. "Do you not have a better use of your time, kid?"

The child silently struggled to free himself from Mec's grip. The dirt on his dark skin and the rags he wore suggested a life of poverty. Unable to free himself, the boy leaned his head back and spit at Mec's face. The wet projectile soared and reached Mec's neck, who reeled back in disgust to wipe the vile fluid off of his skin, releasing the boy. The child immediately ran, his tiny body darting through the crowd and eventually dissolving into the masses.

After ensuring his neck was dry by giving it a few passes of his cloak, Mec looked around nervously, worried that the seen would have brought him unwanted attention. The busy walkers continued about their day and the guards, even if they had noticed the conflict, stood idly, the scenario common in a busy trading town such as this. When he was sure that no one had taken a keen interest in him, Mec laughed, shaking his head. He wished to joke about how the Terrible Mage Mec Fiska was bested by a street urchin, but of course could not make such jests out loud. "Should my luck with children provide a glimpse to the future, I hope I am never born a son," he huffed. "Anyway, let's keep moving. I will not give you the time to make jests of me." A grin accompanied this last statement as he gently nudged his companion towards the direction he chose to walk.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan's reaction was more or less the opposite of Mec's own - she pursued her lips in something akin to worry, concerned both about the prospect of being caught, and what seemed to be his attitude towards their current position. She had thought that the crier's announcements and the whispers that accompanied them would elicit the same response as being forced off by the guards before, if not one more severe. This, though...this was worrying in its own way. Thankfully she didn't have too much time to dwell on it, as talk turned to her suggestion of changing their names and taking disguises. She quickly caught hint of his attempts to conceal their exact intentions, and decided to follow suit.

"New clothes and haircuts would be the simplest way, though..." she started, trailing off a little. In the silence that followed, she would gently reach out and take a strange of her long black hair, shifting a little so that it hung over the front of her shoulder. She ran her fingers through it gently a few times, repeating the motion as it brought some sort of comfort. "...I would be loathe to get rid of mine" she conceded, frowning a little. After a few seconds, though, she would muster up the courage to continue. "My mum used to tell me about special poultices and mixes that could change your hair colour for a few days, if you washed it with them. Those are hard to find, though...and expensive besides. Probably moreso than we could afford ri-"

Her attempts at explaining were cut off mid-sentence as Mec suddenly lashed out, grabbing hold of a seemingly innocent and poor kid, taking him by the hand. While he seemed innocent, though, such was clearly not the case. The simple accusation that followed took a few moments to register, but as soon as the words registered in Shallan's mind a look of dissatisfaction flickered across her face. She hesitated briefly as she watched the resulting struggle, including the spit and Mec's instinctive release, letting the kid scurry off. His attempts to brush the entire occasion off seemed a bit forced to her, given that they hadn't garnered more than a handful of glances from people passing by, but in the end there was no harm done.

When Mec started nudging her along again, though, Shallan paused. The same dissatisfied frown sat in place across her features, and she glanced from Mec back in the direction that the child had run. Since her companion had stopped him so soon, it didn't seem that he had successfully managed to get anything from their bag, so there was no real reason for them to pursue the matter any further. And yet...

At might have seemed an act of impulse, she finally began to walk, but not in the direction Mec had specified - rather, she picked out what was roughly the same direction that the urchin had charged off in when he had fled. Already he had disappeared into the depths of he crowd, but she walked on regardless, taking the lead for once. She weaved and bobbed between other members of the crowd as they scurried back and forth, hindering her progress. Slowly but surely, though, she made her way through the crowd, which slowly began to thin as they reached the far side of the town square. If prompted or questioned by her travelling companion as to where she was going, and what exactly she was planning on doing, Shallan's reply would be simple - "I have an idea. Just trust me"

For several moments she searched fruitlessly, before she thought that she caught a glimpse of the would-be thief as he ducked out of the main part of the town, before slipping into a small and cramped alleyway further down. Finally, she would pause, glancing back across at Mec briefly. For several seconds, she debated internally what it was that they should do, before finally deciding to share her plan with her travelling companion...albeit in a slightly roundabout manner. Coming to a sudden and unexpected halt outside the alleyway, where they would be out of view of the boy if he suddenly decided to look back.

"...after what the crier said, it's pretty obvious that both of us are known to the public now, right? If we tried to find a merchant willing to give us a ride and bumped into the wrong person, they could easily report us. So why don't we offer someone who knows the area and it's people a small sum to act as a liaison?" She offered simply. Just like that, her intentions became clear - she was planning on giving the boy a small amount of the money they carried, in exchange for him safely and covertly finding a merchant willing to take them on at a reasonable price. First, of course, they had to finish tracking him down as he scurried back off to wherever it was that he returned after an attempt at theft. Should he agree, then the next step was simple - head down the alley and resume their search for the young boy.

[Headwrapper]

Mec hesitated, realizing his friend had ignored his attempt to lead her away from the square. Without a word, his companion bolted in what was almost the opposite direction. "Shal?" He quickly followed behind her, scared to lose her in the sea of bodies. At first he had difficulty keeping up, his slightly larger frame requiring more effort to force through the waves of the crowd at times that Shallan could simply glide passed. As they began to leave the square he finally was able to close the distance, unbarred by the large crowd. When he was close enough he reached out and grabbed his friend by the hand, briefly delaying her mission. "What are you doing?"

The woman, determined to see her plan realized, gave him a brief answer before pulling away and continuing her trek. Unsure of what Shallan had planned, Mec was left with little choice but to follow her. As they searched he would follow his companion's gaze, hoping to find some clue of what it was they were so hastily hunting for. Eventually their pursuance would come to a momentary halt outside of an alleyway.

Mec's eyes narrowed as he listened to the plan of using the boy as an envoy to search for transport. It could work if they could earn the boys trust, even if at least temporarily. "I suppose it's the best chance we have of getting out of this town, away from these suspicious crowds." He raised his head to get a clear view of the alleyway before them. "If I get spit on again I won't forgive you," he sighed half-heartedly, almost genuine about the notion.

Taking back the lead, Mec noiselessly crept his way down the narrow alleyway. He found that he needed to shift his shoulders ever so slightly in order to make it through without rubbing against the walls of the buildings on either side of him. He would eventually lead them behind the buildings, revealing a junction of other passages between the grey developments. Holding his breath, he raised a finger to signal to his companion to be quiet, tilting his head as he listened for a sound.

To your left. The familiar voice of G, returning to haunt him.

Mec quickly turned to the passageway to his left, frightened of what sort of magic he would cast in its direction. After a few seconds of calm, he decided that he did not need to worry about such an event, and sighed in relief. A nod towards the passageway indicated which way he would go before he silently tread onward.

Just a brief moment after stepping foot into the passageway Mec suddenly spun around, lowering his head as a small rock flew above it. He whirled back to his original direction. Further down the passage he could make out the outline of the boy they were searching for, armed with another rock. It was quite strange that the boy would suddenly become bold now. Mec assumed it would be possible the boy was cornered and thought he would be forced to fight, or he was defending something.

Mec raised his arms, signalling a mock surrender. "Wait wait wait, I just wanted to give you something." He removed the bag from his back and began loosening some of the leather straps, occasionally raising his head to make sure he wouldn't have to dodge another projectile. Finally, he was able procure a single gold coin, and flung it down the alleyway. The coin landed at the boy's feet, ringing against the grey stone. Mec would grin when the boy slowly reached down to pick up the gold, never leaving his eyes off of Mec and his bag.

"I'll give you another one if you put down the rock," Mec implored, procuring another golden coin. He observed the boy's longing for the gold, well aware of the amount of bread, or whatever else a street urchin could wish to buy, it symbolized. Eventually this desire grew stronger than the boy's fear, and he dropped his makeshift weapon. Mec would then toss the second coin, which the boy promptly snatched from the air with his hands.

Mec and the boy locked eyes for a few long moments. It definitely became apparent that the boy would not leave his spot as long as there were intruders in this alley, a sign that he was defending a hiding spot for something of significance to him. With a long sigh, Mec reached for three more gold coins from his bag. "Alright kid, this is the last bit of gold I'm willing to relinquish. But I need you to do me a favor if you want them."

Mec would hold out the coins, the small amount of sunlight that crept over the stone walls shimmering along their surfaces. When it became apparent that the boy would not budge, Mec turned and placed the coins in Shallan's hands. "You try," he would say softly, stepping aside to allow her to come into view of the boy.

[Namingtoohard]

"Then that's a risk I'll have to take" the answer came, not long in waiting, accompanied by a soft and clearly amused chuckle. Indeed, if Mec getting spit on again and holding it against her was the worst thing that happened to them today, then having to shoulder the blame seemed like a truly acceptable price. Just like that, they had agreed in their course of action and were off again, continuing their pursuit of the dirt-covered urchin that had tried to rob them just mere moments ago. Not for the first time, she found herself wondering how exactly her life had changed so dramatically in such a short time, and musing over what a strange direction it had veered off in. The threads of fate were tangled and messy, it seemed, and well beyond her simple comprehension.

Content to let her companion take the lead once more, especially given the risk of another spit attack, Shallan would wait until Mec had gotten a few steps ahead of her before falling into step a few metres behind. Her movements were graceful and composed, matching his silence with ease, if not without any effort at all. She had another advantage here, too. Thanks to her smaller frame, Shallan did not need to worry about twisting and turning to fit down the length of the alleyway, even at its most narrow points. She could simply follow along as she had all morning, slowing her pace minutely whenever Mec needed to adjust.

The crossroads posed a new problem all their own, but this time it was not hers to solve. Unaware of G's intervention, she simply assumed that her companion had caught some glimpse of their quarry, and followed his decision without question. Naturally, she had just assumed that he had picked this path for some mundane reason, such as having caught another glimpse of him just as they reached it. For a second she briefly wondered whether or not the boy had even realised he was being followed, before that question was quickly answered by a rock that seemingly came soaring out of nowhere. Shallan flinched at the sudden motion, but thankfully she wasn't close enough to be at risk, and her composure returned quickly.

Beyond that, she waited rather patiently as Mec tried to speak o the child, before giving up and insisting that she had an attempt. Pursing her lips briefly, Shallan would step up aside her companion, holding out a hand to receive the coins he had passed to her. As soon as they had dropped into her hand, she would brush past him, advancing on the child slowly. When she drew too close, he raised the rock again defensively, as if poised to throw. Taking that as a sign she could not draw any closer without upsetting him, she picked that spot to lower herself to his level, settling down on one knee in a low crouch. Just as he had before her, she made sure the coins were visible the whole time - an unspoken promise existing there.

"Instead of favours, let's talk business. My friend here and I have need of a wagon out of the city, but we don't know our way around. We have no idea where to begin looking, or who to ask for the best deal. You, on the other hand...you've lived here all your life, right?" She questioned simply. A gentle nod was all she got in the way of a reply, but it was enough for her to continue. "We're willing to spend all we have here on finding one, but we'd rather give it to someone who needs it over an established trader. The better deal you find us, the more you get to keep. Sound good?" She questioned simply. This time the boy hesitated, before finally, he would speak.

"...where to?" The question came, so soft it was barely audible. A smile flickered across her lips at that, as Shallan found that simple question to be as good as an agreement. "Tauntea" she responded simply, just picking another nearby town at random. She had no real reason to choose it over any of the others, but it was the first name that sprung to mind. With that, the boy would take a few steps forward, as if preparing to set off, before pausing briefly. The boy moved as if to glance back over his shoulder, but stopped before completing the gesture. Still, it was enough to give him away, and Shallan thought that she could make out some small form of movement in the shadows behind him. "We'll even wait around the corner, if you like" she added earnestly, tilting her head a little.

With that, their deal was struck. The boy brushed past them briefly, moving back the way they had come, before stopping to glance back at them. After a second, she realised that he was waiting to make sure they honoured her promise to wait at a distance. After exchanging a quick glance with Mec, she followed him around the corner, until the boy was satisfied.

"Wait here. I'll be back soon. If you move, I won't know where to find you" he said, a little more forcefully this time. The threat in his words was clear enough. Then, he was off, heading back out into the Main Street from whence they had came, and immediately turning towards the town square at the end of it. After that, he was out of sight, and Shallan quickly let out a relieved sigh. "Thank god. I had no idea what I would do if he had demanded payment upfront" she muttered softly, voice barely more than a whisper.

[Headwrapper]

Mec watched with careful eyes as the the boy scurried out of the maze of buildings. His gaze stayed transfixed down the passageway that lead into the street. "I can't imagine living such a life at that boy's age," he mused aloud. "In a large city such as this one, where the people hardly acknowledge each other and are suspicious of each other's natures. At least at home an orphaned or homeless child could seek some sort of refuge, whether that be in an orphanage, or church, or some other place run by benevolent hearts."

As they waited at the junction of passages, Mec began to pace. Surrounded by tall, grey walls, he and his companion were left alone together with not much more than the creeping sunlight from above to accompany them. "It's amazing that a silent and dull place like this exists in such a city, after being stuck in that sea of sweat and horse dung all morning." More random outbursts of thoughts such as these would emanate from Mec's mouth as he paced. The small amount of stimulation the grey stone surrounding them provided left his mind craving to venture to places he did not wish to return to. After a while, Mec would stop in front of the passage he had located the street urchin in earlier. His head would poke innocently into the alley, and then he would turn to look back at the passage in which the boy had exited and over to Shallan.

With a slight shrug, he began to inch his way down the dark tunnel, regardless of whether or not his companion protested or not. Should she choose to stay where they agreed to meet again with the urchin or follow him did not matter to Mec, as he did not plan on exploring for too long. As he slowly made progress down the passage he saw the it would meet with a wall and turn to the right behind the building. The young man would slowly peer around the corner. There, he could see that the passage widened slightly before coming to a dead end as one building ended and the wall wrapped around to enclose what would be an exit.

At the center of this small clearing he could see a pile of brown rags, haphazardly shielded from the sunlight with a makeshift tent made of random parts that could have fell from wagons or were procured from broken furniture, blanketed with a dirty cloth. It was evident that there was a person beneath the rags from the regular rise and fall of breathing. Mec took care to approach the wobbly structure silently, only crouching to observe what was beneath the tent when he was merely a pace away.

What he discovered was the visage of a woman, her hair lightly wrapped with a dark-colored scarf. The woman was unconscious, unaware of her visitor. He face dripped with sweat, and her breathing, while regular, was heavy and labored. Mec presumed the woman was the street urchin's mother, which would explain his defensive behavior before.

The young mage would down the path he came from to ensure that he had not been followed by the boy before letting himself drop down to his knees and rummage through his bag. As noisy as he might have been, he did not seem to disturb the slumber of the woman in front of him. His hands would eventually reemerge from the bag with a stack of notes, wrapped in a leather binding. Mec recall when his father had instructed him to diligently copy the pages of the travelers guide that was used during his journeys. The book contained many common know-hows that aided travel, and there was a section that described various illnesses and ways to cure them or alleviate their symptoms. Mec's fingers scrambled across the pages, seeking this particular section of his notes.

After locating the desired passage, Mec would begin to compare symptoms of various illnesses to what he saw in the woman. The flesh was cold, and so he dismissed all illnesses that listed warm skin as a symptom. Labored breathing, fluttering heartbeat, sweat in spite of the skin being chill to the touch - these symptoms would appear in multiple illnesses, and unless the woman was conscious Mec would not be able to differentiate between them through other symptoms. The young man grew increasingly frustrated as he flipped through the pages roughly, hoping to find some solution to the problem before him. A particular symptom would catch his eye, unique to only one illness, listed as Bloodclaw Disease. As the name implied, bruising or bleeding beneath the nails of hands and feet suggested the illness. Beneath the list of symptoms the man, in his youth, had scratched the letters "N-O-L," None or Lost. This was the symbol that implied that there was either no cure for the illness or the cure was lost with time either due to war or the loss of methods or extinction of resources required, such as magic or creatures that weren't believed to exist.

Mec noted that the disease was listed as fatal, but there had been no detail on the life expectancy of a sufferer of the illness. He took a deep breath, hoping that the symptom he was looking for wasn't present in the woman he assumed in his care. After carefully placing his notes on the floor, open to the page he was analyzing before, he would carefully raise the rags, just enough to see the woman's hand laying by her side. "No..." His eyes widened at the presence of bloodstained rags wrapped around the delicate fingers of the woman. "No no no." The man would quickly shuffle to where the woman's feet were to discover they were wrapped similarly. Defeated, Mec would sit back against the stone wall behind him, his hands gripping at his own brown locks angrily.

"Worthless," he would growl as he stuffed his notes back into his pack forcefully. After securing the bag to his back once more, the frustrated man would punch the stone wall angrily with the bottom of his fist before storming back in the direction he had come from. His mind preoccupied with his tantrum, he had not thought any better of the lack of pain in his hand and hadn't noticed the crack he had left in the grey stone. Should Shallan had followed him earlier he would brush passed her, determined to return to junction they agreed to wait in. He prayed that the boy had not yet returned, that Mec could claim ignorance of the fate what may be the boy's last family member. The story would only be shared with Shallan, and her alone, whether that be by mouth or by her witnessing the events herself.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would pass the vacant time that followed largely in silence. Unlike Mec's constant pacing, she herself settled for leaning against a vacant section of wall, letting it support the majority of her weight for the time being. Her fatigue was making itself known again, and she felt that this was the closest that she was going to get to a proper rest until they had procured travel for the next stage of their journey. Just like that morning, though, she didn't trust herself to sit or lay down, lest she refuse to get up again. She endured most of her companion's outbursts in relative silence, not of a mind to refute them. After all, she couldn't really disagree, even if she was thankful for this chance at respite, brief though it may be.

Still, she would watch curiously as he edged around the corner that led back to the same place, though a disapproving frown flickered across her features briefly as he ducked into it. She was hesitant to go prod and investigate despite her curiosity, given that they had all but promised the boy that they would stay away. She would wait patiently for a few moments, before straightening up with an irritated sigh, heading towards the alley with the intention of going after Mec, and trying to drag him away from probing if it proved necessary. Unfortunately, things never got that far. The woman was stopped dead in her tracks as she rounded the second corner, and was confronted with the sight of Mec withdrawing, revealing the visage of an unknown woman laying within the hastily constructed shelter.

One of Shallan's hands immediately went to her mouth, covering it completely as she tried not to call out or otherwise panic. Her eyes wide, she had the look of a startled animal, frightened and uncertain when confronted with a dangerous situation that could very well mean its end. She would stay there in stunned silence right up until Mec moved to withdraw, brushing past her in the process. She practically ignored him, sight fixed on the unfortunate lady. Not having any notes or prior knowledge to draw on, she lacked any understanding of the lady's affliction, but such did not seem to bother her.

"...is there nothing we can do?" She questioned simply, voice quiet and crippled, as if she were defeated by the very prospect. After a f seconds, though, her expression changed. Her mouth set itself into a hard line, and the sadness and worry in her eyes was replaced with something more akin to determination. "...even so, I'm going to do what I can" the words followed, slipping out of her mouth before she even knew what she was saying. For Shallan, one simple fact stood out - even if all she managed was to ease the woman's suffering just a fraction, it would be worthwhile.

With no fear for what was afflicting the woman, Shallan approached, her stride full of purpose. Removing her pack as she walked, the woman quickly dumped it on the ground beside the unconscious lady, before crouching down next to her. A brief glance was enough to determine what she had to do, and she quickly settled down into a more comfortable sitting position before reaching for her bag. Within moments, Shallan had withdrawn something rather unexpected - a sundress that she had packed along to act as a change of clothes during the trip. The next part took her several attempts to accomplish, but there, in that secluded and quiet corner of the alley, she tore a long strip of fabric from her dress. It was hard, given their sturdy make and Shallan's lack of physical strength, but slowly and surely, she reduced it to tatters.

Her plan was clear enough, now. She would begin the process of carefully removing the bandages covering the woman's hands and feet, though the first time she could not help but wince at the unwelcoming and discouraging sight that awaited her beneath them. Ever the altruist, Shallan paid absolutely no mind to the fact that she was potentially risking an infection herself, working with singleminded determination. Slowly, she would dab away at what blood she could with the soiled and used bandages, before beginning to work at rebinding the unknown lady's damaged limbs, now using the rags of her once beautiful dress as makeshift rags. They might not have been much better, but they were clean, and that was bound to help...or so she thought.

At some point, she became vaguely aware of footsteps approaching rapidly. Her mind briefly registered the arrival of a third presence within the cramped and narrow alleyway, but before she comprehended what it was, two hands closed around her upper left arm. "Leave her alone! Get away!" It called, shrill and high-pitched. The voice of a child in distress. She had not finished her work yet, with one more limb left to redress, but the sudden shock made her glance up briefly, and the child fuog und struggled with all his might to drag her away from his enfeebled mother. Reluctant but somewhat content, Shallan would cease to resist, allowing herself to be half-dragged, half-shuffled backwards, and allowing the boy space to get between her and his mother.

His breathing heavy and fast, the boy looked back over his shoulder as he settled, shouting again. "Leave off! Get out of here!" He added, voice on the verge of cracking. After a few seconds though, as he tried to ensure his mother was unharmed, his eyes and mind began to register had taken place there. They drifted over the ruined dress and fresh bandages in turn, along with the clean state of the one limb that remained. Slowly, he glanced at her one more time, eyes wide. "You...you did this?" The question came. It was one with an obvious answer, but no matter. The child was young, after all. "We couldn't just leave her be as she was" she muttered softly, voice quiet.

Shallan had completely forgotten all sense of their agreement during the event, letting the boy begin tying up his mother's last exposed foot without interruption. She simply stared on in silence, lip quivering briefly. As soon as Mec made his presence known again, be it to help her up or for any other reason, she would whisper a few soft words, so quietly that the distracted child did not seem to hear...or if he heard, he showed no signs of it. Her voice was downtrodden, unbelievably so, and her eyes glittered with tears of her own, on the verge of winning their way free.

"...it's not going to be enough, is it? Even with the money, it's not going to be enough"

[Headwrapper]

Mec would make his way back to center of the complex of buildings, where he and Shallan were to wait for the boy's return. He placed both of his palms on the smooth stone wall nearest to him, bowing his head as he tried to recall anything he might have not taken the time to write all those years ago when he copied the traveling notes. Of course it was futile, as he knew the notes were diligently copied and any information from the original writings would have been in his own version. His notes said nothing about how quickly the disease would take the lives of its victims, but the woman's condition did not seem to suggest she had much life left. After standing in this way for some long minutes he decided to accept the reality of the woman's demise. No apothecary or doctor would truthfully tell him anything other than what he already knew from his own resource, no matter how much he longed for it to not be so.

All things exist within the Anima Mundi... Mec flinched at the sound of the voice interrupting his thoughts. He would turn and shout at the buildings before him, and would appear a mad man had he not been alone. "Now isn't the time, damn it!"

All things, G would repeat. To lose faith now would mean to lose faith in the Anima, to lose faith in me. Do not give up hope... Do not give up hope... Do not give up hope... The words would seem to echo in Mec's mind, but he wasn't sure if it was his imagination or if this voice was truly reiterating the statement over and over. After a few seconds the man would be reduced to placing his hands on his ears, trying to stop the sound from penetrating his mind, but to no avail. His eyes squeezed shut, he wouldn't notice when the boy had returned.

"Where did she go!?"

Mec was abruptly broken out of his trance. His confused expression was returned only by the boy's glare, adamant for an answer. "You said you would both stay here!" Before Mec could respond, the boy had already begun his sprint towards his mother. The mage would sigh heavily as he stood to follow. He had made a mistake in allowing Shallan to stay behind, as now he would not be able to plea ignorance of the situation and quietly accept the unfortunate circumstances.

He would let his hand slide against the smooth stone of the walls as he slowly strolled down the passage. He was not terribly excited for the events to come, and was reluctant to even continue going. Aware of his duty to return to Shallan, especially in her unrested state, his legs would continue to trudge him forward until he returned to the ramshackle encampment. As he approached Shallan he would assess the situation, noticing the bright strips of cloth that were used to bandage the woman's phalanges. He knelt next to his friend, offering his body to lean against should she need the support.

Solemn after considering his friend's question, he would lean towards her in order to shield his answer from the others present, careful not to match gazes with her in order to not lose the courage to answer. "The bleeding nails are a symptom of an incurable illness..." He would hesitate a moment before annexing another word to his statement. "Fatal." After completing his answer Mec's expression was overcome with one of pain, but no tears betrayed him. He would take a shaky breath before finally turning his head to match gazes with his friend.

Witnessing the tears forming in his companion's eyes summoned a strange heat in the young man's chest. The cold layer he tried to shield his heart with had begun melting away, it seemed, and it became difficult to resist the grief. It was unfair. Unfair that this young one would lose what might be his only family, unfair that after diligently preparing for this kind of situation Mec wouldn't be able to aid the ailing woman, and unfair that the only correct course of action was to sit back and accept it all.

Do not give up hope...

This final outburst invading Mec's thoughts was enough to tip the scales that were his emotions. Where one side was grief, the other was anger, and the gravity of the situation pulled on the latter. The mage's humanity would temporarily leave him as his grief-stricken expression transformed to one of anger. He bore his teeth like a wolf attacking confronting prey, and his almond eyes flared wildly. Only a few seconds later, unbeknownst to him, the deep browns of his eyes would be gradually replaced with a rosey gold."I. said. Stop!"

Angrily, he would wheel around to strike the wall behind him, not far from where he left evidence of his anger the first time. His hand would rest within the small, shallow dome he had imprinted on the wall for a few seconds as he breathed heavily, regaining control of his temper. The strange color that had gathered in his eyes vanished and the tension that had taken control of his body loosened. The boy peered around guiltily, realizing his foolishness. He made a hasty retreat through the passage that served as the only exit, oblivious to the reactions of those around him. He would retreat the junction that served as their meeting place and mumble angrily aloud while pacing back and forth, questioning why his personal demon was no longer speaking.

A few moments after the mage retreated, a soft glow, a color not unlike what had recolored Mec's eyes before, began to emanate from the narrows cracks that traced the imprint in the otherwise dull stone. The glow was faint and would retreat back into the stone briefly after its birth, and would only be noticed by anyone already observing that particular spot. Small pebbles of the grey stone would then yield to a small forest of bright green sprouts that came forth from the cracks. With seconds, the sprouts would grow to blossom into a bloom of flowers, the stems arching so that the bright pinks and whites of the petals could catch the small amount of sunlight that entered the area.

[Namingtoohard]

The gentle crunch of footsteps on stone was more than enough to announce Mec's return, much in the same way it had announced the boy's arrival just moments ago, when he had rushed forward to stop Shallan from implementing what he thought to be malicious intentions. She would glance up at him briefly as he crouched down alongside her, offering his support. She would have made do for an extended hand, but this method was just as welcome, and she quickly moved to accept his offer. Reaching out with one hand, she would grab on to him gently, before rising to her feet with a soft and unsuppressed groan. Her fatigue was not so deep-set that she would have likely remained there if left to her own devices, assistance was greatly appreciated nonetheless.

His words were less welcome than his actions, though, as he confirmed what Shallan had begun to both suspect and fear. That the condition afflicting the boy's unconscious mother was not only incurable, but fatal, given time to run its natural course. She had known it deep down the entire time, on some instinctual level, but hearing the words said aloud confirmed her fears in a way - made them less of a theoretical consequence and more of a reality. The lady was dying in front of them both, perhaps slowly, perhaps quickly, but dying nonetheless. Shallan exhaled sharply as she digested this information, closing her eyes slowly in a vain attempt to both come to terms with that simple act, and hide the tears threatening to spill over.

After a few seconds she would straighten up again, taking a few moments to try and steady her breathing, before she would open her eyes again. She was just in time to witness Mec's temper flare, his expression and body language transforming in an instant. Slightly worried, she would take a small step back, a strange mix of confusion and worry plastered across her features. His striking the wall was met with silence, and Shallan made no attempt to stop or otherwise comfort him as he once again beat a retreat back the way they had come. Instead, she lingered a few months longer, mournful gaze settled on mother and child, before drifting across to the stone wall that had borne her friend's rage...until a strange golden glow forced its way into the edges of her vision.

It was a soft light - one that did not cause her to flinch or look away, like one was prone to doing when catching a direct glimpse of the sun. Still, it's light was warm, filled with something she couldn't quite describe, in a way that didn't quite make sense to her, it faded as quickly as it had come, through, and the woman continued to stare silently for a few moments. She spent a few moments wondering whether it had even been real at all, or just a product of her tired mind. That was, until the miniature forest made itself bloom. The way it forced itself out of cracks in stone and mortar was mesmerising, if not outright hypnotic. Slowly, she reached towards the flowers, movements slow and gentle - as if she was afraid that the slightest touch would cause the illusion to shatter and the plants to disappear. A trick of the light, surely...but then again, she had already witnessed an entire tree where it had burst out of the ground in an instant.

Her fingertips brushed against the petals of one of the flowers briefly, and she marvelled at the simple touch. Slowly, and only after a brief hesitation, she would pluck the two largest flowers from their stems with a soft tearing e rest she left to their new home - not wanting to kill any more of the beautiful new blooms than was necessary. After all, she had never seen any flowers that looked quite like these before. Turning on her heel, she would advance on the boy where he crouched over his mother, though his face was turned upwards, watching her. Had he seen the flowers bloom too? Shallan didn't know for sure, but if he had, the boy showed no more surprise than she. Crouching down, she would reach out to lay one of the flowers on his mother's heaving chest, before retrieving her dropped pack. A brief exchange followed, and gold changed hands, before she would retrieve her pack from where she had dropped it later. The remnants of her dress she left behind, so that he boy could use it as she had, should his mother require another change before she...passed.

Slinging her pack back over her shoulder, she would cup the remaining flower in both hands, glancing down at it in silent appreciation, and awe. With her head turned slightly downwards, and eyes fixed on the small sprout, she would head back out to join her companion.

Approaching wordlessly, she would step towards Mec slowly, coming to a halt only when within arm's reach. Slowly, she would glance up at him, eyes peeking out from beneath a few stray hairs of her fringe that had come loose during the morning's events. Slowly, she would hold her cupped hands out, both revealing the strange flower to him, and offering it. She was unsure if he had created them intentionally or not - and she was sure it had been his doing, as there was no other explanation but magic - but Shallan had a feeling that he would want to examine it regardless. Only when he had satisfied himself, either by waving it off or plucking the strange flower from her outstretched hands, would she speak again.

"...The boy said that the trader he found would wait for us on the western side of town, by an inn called 'the crooked stool'. We're to meet him there at noon, but we can't be late. The man didn't entirely believe the kid's story, so if we aren't there on time, he'll assume it was al slime sort of prank or trick and leave without us" she offered simply. Naturally, this was what she had asked the boy when retrieving her pack, and had given him the agreed-upon amount of gold, totally to whatever leftovers would not be required to pay the trader for their passage. "Food and drink are our own responsibility, but we'll be welcome to ride up front with him or in the wagon as we wish, and sleep in the back so long as we don't touch his wares"

With that, she would turn and head back out of the alley, and into the Main Street. As soon as they were free of the tight space and close-pressing walls, she would turn her eyes skywards. This time, though, it wasn't so much for her own personal enjoyment. Rather, she was searching out the sun, to see if she could get a rough idea of the time from its position. They would likely need to head to the inn straight away, or back through the marketplace, but it would be nice to have some understanding of just how much they needed to rush.

[Headwrapper]

Mec reached out and accepted the flower, wincing slightly as his bruised fingers wrapped around the stem. He inspected the specimen silently as the plan was shared with him, rotating it and carefully probing the petals with his fingers. The flower looked much like the others he had unintentionally spawned in his sleep; the bit of stem that was left was smooth and practically flawless, and the petals curled slightly at the edges. When their conversation ended, he would allow the flower to fall to the floor before gathering his pack from where he dragged it during his earlier retreat.

He silently followed his companion out of the maze, slowly raising his hood as they approached the Main Street. He too gazed at the sky, but with the intention of finding out which direction they would need to go to find where the trader had taken refuge. "Let's not delay. The less we inconvenience this merchant the less likely he'll be suspicious of us. It doesn't appear we were left with much time anyway." With this he would begin walking westward. Fortunately there was no need to venture through the circus that was the town square, making the pair's journey a simple one. At one point in their walk Mec would draw a sharp breath, remembering something. "Have you decided on a name for yourself? We won't have time to do all that we talked about yet, but at least that part could be easily done." He of course was talking about the notion of false aliases and disguises, deliberately vague in the small chance his voice might be carried to suspicious ears.

As they ventured closer to their destination, the dull stone buildings were replaced with more colorful, albeit less sturdy, wooden ones. Taverns, inns, and guild halls could all be easily differentiated by their colored banners and carved wooden signs. After a long search Mec would reach out to his partner and point to a small wooden sign, hanging over a door with some bronze wire. The words 'The Crooked Stool' were carved into the wood, and the scrawling of what was presumably a stool, slightly angled to one side, sat next to the letters. Compared to the words expertly carved into the sign, the depiction of the tool was humorously ill-crafted, as if it was annexed to the wood hurriedly by an amateur.

When they approached the inn Mec would glance around, hoping to find some sign of who they were looking for. He had expected a cart or a wagon would help them identify who they were searching for, but none were parked nearby. He began to wonder if they had taken too long to meet their appointment and were left behind. He also weighed the possibility that there was no merchant and they had been played for fools, but it didn't seem likely. "Could this not be the correct place?"

The question hung in the air for a few seconds before being split open by the sharp edge of loud whistle. Mec would turn to find a man, about his father's age and a bit on the portly side, standing behind them, hands on his wide hips. The man would lean forward to inspect the two travelers, as if trying to peer over his large pink nose. "I bets it's yous. Are you twos the ones wantings to go to Taunteas?"

Mec observed the man for a brief moment before formulating an answer. The man's ham-shaped body almost matched Mec's height. The large side of the talking ham was clothed with a white shirt and a simple black vest, narrowing down to a pair of green pantaloons. The man's nose was comically large, almost hanging over his thick pink lips, and his shiny black hair resembled a bowl that sat upside down on his head. Mec would introduce himself to the man as Jay Foxtrot, and his companion with the name she may have shared with him earlier or another he fabricated in the moment. The youth's introduction ended awkwardly, as he had not prepared a story for why they wished to travel to Tauntea, and he had hoped names were sufficient.

The merchant would continue to consider them with his misshapen black eyes while his thin legs supported his cone of a body. A man of business, he did not waste time with introducing himself. "You gotses the coins? I tolds the kid I only taking yas if you gotses the coins." The man would then accept the brown pouch Mec offered to him, peering inside and weighing it with his hands. "Okays, I take yas. But only to the gate of Taunteas." The man would then turn to wander away, presumably towards his wagon, briefly weighing the pouch of money once more before concealing it in his vest.

[Namingtoohard]

A thoughtful him escaped Shallan's lips as Mec announced that they should not delay, followed by a simple nod. Her quick glance upwards told much the same story; that noon was already fast approaching, and less than an hour away. With little their option, she fell into step with Mec, once again following his lead as he led them in what was roughly the right direction. She remained silent, with eyes slightly downcast for the larger part of their journey; the fate of mother and child both lingering in her thoughts.

She would finally break her silence when Amex questioned her on the nature of her alias. Indeed, there was little time to go about formulating a proper disguise, so fake names would have to do. Indeed, she had one in mind, that she had intended to use from the beginning. Voice soft, she let it slip past her lips.

"Natasha. Natasha Daviar" she announced simply. While the name Daviar meant little to her, Natasha was her mother's first name, though whether Mec remembered as much she did not know.

As they arrived at the inn, she joined her companion, glancing around in earnest. It seemed that the man found them before they spotted him, though. There was little room for Shallan to interject during their initial exchange, but as money changed hands and the man turned away, she pursed her lips briefly. She disliked something about the man inherently, but Shallan could not tell what it was for the life of her. She had no idea if such worry had a basis, was just woman's intuition, or was her projecting her downtrodden mood onto her surroundings, judging him harshly and unfairly for no reason.

"Mm..." She hummed thoughtfully to herself for a moment, as if about to speak, before she would let out a soft sigh, shaking her head. "Never mind" she added simply after a moment, just in case Mec had taken notice of her temporary pause. "Let us just be thankful that he hasn't immediately tried to turn us in" the words came; a hint of her suspicions, or merely a display of her nerves? Either way, she would hurry after the man regardless, following him to where his cart was presumably stashed. As she fell in with him, the man began to speak again.

"I musts admit, I hadn't expected yas to show. Mighty strange way of trying to arrange a ride" he observed simply. Shallan frowned briefly at the comment, though her body reacted faster than her mind, and she quickly spouted the first answer that came to mind. "What's the cost of a single coin if it saves us scurrying back and forth all morning to find one ourselves? Better to take it slow and enjoy the markets while we have the chance, I would think" the answer came, hopefully casual and plausible enough to avoid arousing any extra suspicion.

As they rounded he corner around the side of the inn, the man's cart came into view. It was of rather traditional make, all things considered, if not a little on the large side. In that respect, it seemed to be quite fitting of its owner. Two horses were strapped to the front of the cart, instead of the traditional one. Behind them sat a large raised beach, where the driver would normally sit. A bench too large for one, but fitting three would be a squeeze. The back of the wagon was open, but right now it was covered by a large tarp, presumably to discourage any questionable locals from trying to slip something from the wagon when its owner was not looking.

Perhaps more alarming was the two guards standing nearby. Shallan tensed up for a moment as she spotted them, before relaxing a little as she saw that they bore to emblems or town markings, only armaments. Hired mercenaries, charged with protecting the owner and his wares on their travels. Indeed, to both feel so at risk of loss and to have such wealth, their merchant friend must've been carrying an expensive load indeed. The nature of such was revealed moments later, when the man stripped the wagon's tarp back a fraction to reveal it was loaded with animal pelts. Not the smaller wolf pelts, but rather, the much larger and more expensive fur of bears.

Wordlessly, the merchant climbed onto the driver's bench, signalling the guards with a wave of his hand. For a second she thought they had walked into a trap, but the guards complied with no urgency, pulling back the tarp and climbing up into various parts of he wagon themselves. Whether they would ride the whole way too or their master would get them to hop out and walk later, Shallan did not know. Instead of alighting straight away, she lingered briefly, hesitating for a moment so that she could draw close to Mec. She almost slipped and used his real name by accident, but caught herself just in time.

"Once we make it out of the town, I'll probably take that chance to rest. Could you please wake me in a few hours, so that I don't have trouble sleeping tonight? Or earlier, if anything...interesting happens" she asked in earnest. A simple enough request, though hopefully he would grasp at her hidden meaning as they locked eyes. After that she would promptly climb into the back of the cart, clearing a space for herself as best she could, so that she could lay down and use her pack as a makeshift pillow, and her cloak as a thin blanket.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would observe the cart carefully as they approached, silently considering its features. It was a bit larger than the one his father normally used for travel, but all the rest seemed familiar. Like his companion, he would also find himself wary of the guards' presence. He would come to realize they were merely the merchant's men, but he decided that that was little reason not to keep up his guard. His eyebrows raised in amazement as the nature of the cart's contents were revealed, admiring the thick dark furs.

A small nod would signal that he understood Shallan's request. "Of course. You more than deserve to finally get some rest." He would connect glances with his companion before she climbed into the cart to claim her spot. Just as Mec placed his hands on the wooden frame to pull himself in, he was interrupted by a holler from his unknowing accomplice that sat at the front.

"How about yas joins me up fronts?" the portly merchant would call. "The road is so boring afters crossing it so many times."

Mec would shift nervously, hesitant to separate from his companion. Before the boy could formulate a proper rebuttal, the merchant would whistle and smack his palm in the small amount of space left on the bench. Considering it would be best to be on the merchant's good side, Mec would find himself stepping away from the back of the cart, exchanging one final glance with Shallan as if to express the matter couldn't be helped.

Despite his original unwillingness to join the plump man at the front of the cart, Mec couldn't help but feel a small bit of enjoyment out of sitting at the front of the cart, elevated above the his surroundings. It brought memories of the first time he traveled with his father as a young boy. He would sit at the helm of the vessel, side by side with his idol on a quest to acquire wares for their noble shop. Although not quite the same now, on the run from authorities and soliciting the assistance of a strange misshapen man, but some thrill remained all the same.

With a flick of the reins the cart would begin moving towards the northern exit of the city. They would eventually merge with the slow moving traffic of the main roads, slowing their advance to the exit. Mec would frequently take a moment to peer back towards the cart in hopes to catch a glimpse of Shallan and verify her welfare. When the cart was nearly at a complete stop in the thick uncoordinated traffic, the man sharing the bench with Mec would shift his body, letting out a loud exhale. "So what takes yas to Taunteas?" He would inquire.

Mec turned himself slightly to face the man. "Natasha and I share a common relative who resides there. We have only recently learned that they have come down with a grave illness, and made haste to gather some necessities to deliver ourselves to their aid. We simply could not waste any time arranging for transport, and so we employed some street boys to find us a vessel." His eyes would scan the other man's face, watching as his fabrication sunk in. Somewhat surprisingly, the merchant accepted the story as true, or at the very least true enough, and nodded his head vigorously.

The man would, in his own obscure way, share his condolences and wished Mec and his relatives the best. He would then proceed to bring up talk of his own family. As their conversation continued, so would their progress to the exit of the city, the streets beginning to clear out and allowing them to trek at a suitable pace. By the time they reached wide gates, Mec had learned that his companion was named Earnest, he had three wives who he was very fond of and they reciprocated this love due to his conviction and not his wealth, and each bore him two to three children who he enjoyed the company of on occasion. Unable to find opportunities to speak, Mec would decide it was better that he would not have to fabricate any more lies and frequently take time to peer back towards the cart, nervous of the prospect that Shallan would be alone with the mercenaries.

To Mec's surprise, the security at the exits of the city was nearly non-existent. Very few guards stood post in the area. They seemed more preoccupied with ensuring that traffic was moving in the proper direction than anything else, barking orders to keep clear of the carts' paths and to hurry up when crossing. The freedom from the city walls was exemplified by the increased pace of the carriage as it bounced down the road towards their destination. After they put some distance between themselves and the city, the merchant would explain that they would arrive at the gates of Tauntea by mid-evening. He would drop off his guests and exchange his horses, then take advantage of the last few hours of the day to return to his guild another town over.

The bumpiness of the trail would force Mec to grip the bench tightly with one hand when he practiced his routine of checking on Shallan. He would observe her for a long moment, regardless of whether or not she was aware. He wondered if it was possible that their crimes would be forgotten after they traveled far enough, buried by more newer so-called atrocities and the sands of time.

[Namingtoohard]

Inwardly thankful that he had immediately understood her request, Shallan began the climb up into the back of the cart without delay, greatly motivated by the thought that a chance to rest and forget was mere moments away. She paused briefly as the merchant they had booked a ride with called out to Mec, inviting him to come and join them up on the bench from which he drove the carriage. Fully aware that they had little choice in the matter, she would flick her head in that direction, portraying yet another silent message - "I'll be fine. Go"

At this point she was more concerned about the presence of the guards than anything else. Sleeping in their presence was not a comforting idea, but there was little she could do about it. The woman simply had to trust in Mec, that he would keep an eye out and alert her if anything went wrong. Without hesitation, she lay her pack down to use as a pillow, lowering herself down to rest her head on it. Her cloak made for a makeshift blanket of sorts, too. Closing her eyes, Shallan did her best to fall asleep. It felt like a war between her fatigue and body clock, debating whether to let her rest or not. After several moments spent lying motionless with her eyes forced shut, though, the girl drifted off into sleep's embrace.

Shallan's fatigue made for a dreamless sleep, despite the fact that her nights were usually quite vivid. Sprawled out in the back of the wagon, hair splayed around her and hands gripping at imaginary blankets and pillows, she almost looked peaceful. Her face was completely relaxed and free of worry, perhaps for the first time in their entire journey.

As their journey continued on, she slept away, motionless except for the gentle rise and fall of her chest, and the occasional lurching of the cart no which they rode. She remained completely ignorant of Mec's attention whenever he glanced back at her, practically dead to the world. She tossed and turned on occasion, but hardly so much that one could call her sleep fitful or restless. She would wake a few hours later, with her return to consciousness signalled by nothing more than a soft groan. Slowly, she would push her upper body up off of the wagon's tray with her arms. Her hair fell around her face in long strings, practically obscuring it from view, and she blinked groggily a few times as her mind tried to reacquaint itself with her surroundings. Waking up on her own terms, instead of because the conditions for Mec to wake her had been met, well that was a surprise in and of itself.

Her muscles were still sore, not so much from fatigue, but rather sleeping on such a hard surface. Her grogginess came not from fatigue, but rather from the disorientation of waking up somewhere new for the first time, with no immediate recollection of where she was or how she had gotten there. After a few seconds, though, recollection flooded back. Slowly and deliberately, she brought a hand up and ran it through her hair, pushing it all back as effectively as she could. Her attempt was only moderately successful, leaving several strands disheveled and out of place. "Ah..." a soft sound of recognition escaped her throat as everything clicked back into place. Squinting for several moments as her eyes adjusted to the harsh sunlight, she finally pushed herself up into a sitting position, before taking a brief moment to stretch out her arms.

Staying silent as she tried to finish the slow process of waking up, she glanced around for her pack briefly, before recalling where she had left it. Grabbing her makeshift pillow, she pulled her pack open, immediately extracting her waterskin. After taking a lengthy drink from it, she would clumsily clamber towards the front of the wagon, climbing over pelts and her own belongings alike as she manoeuvred into a position where she was situated directly behind the driver's bench. With the skin in hand, she would reach over it, offering the skin to those seated upfront, while bracing herself for whatever jokes they decided to make at her expense. Once they had accepted or rejected her simple offer, she would settle back onto her knees, resting both of her forearms on the wooden plank that separated the bench from the rest of the cart.

"Mornin" she mumbled softly, her words slightly slurred as her tongue slipped over the words, working about as efficiently as her mind, which was still in the process of waking up. Slumping over briefly, she would spare a few moments to glance around, before finally speaking up again. "How...how long have we been on the road? Did I miss anything interesting?" She asked, firing off both questions in rapid succession without pause. She glanced around briefly as she waited for a reply, searching for the two guards from earlier, while taking in the scenery as best she could. The view might have seemed rather plain, like any other open stretch of country land, but it possessed a subtle, innate beauty all its own

[Headwrapper]

Both Mec and Earnest would glance behind them as the space they shared was invaded by the third passenger's arm, offering a waterskin. Mec, suddenly extremely aware of how little he had drank over the past day, would accept the tan pouch graciously. As he did so, the man who shared a seat with him would bid their fellow traveler good morning, jesting that he hoped the princess had a good rest. His jests would be accompanied by nasally chortle, all in good fun. Mec would also allow himself to chuckle, admiring some odd charm that came with his friend's disheveled appearance.

Mec would take a few long drinks from the pouch, only leaving enough for one more good swallow before the skin would be emptied. He would offer the skin to the older man, who would refuse it with a wave of his hand. Deciding it would give his hands something to occupy themselves with, Mec would keep the water skin in his possession, idly sliding his fingers against the dried pouch.

Over the course of their last few hours of travel, Mec began to grow fond of their driver, who also seemed to be in high spirits. Perhaps the merchant found it refreshing to have a fellow traveler with him as he journeyed across a flat an uneventful landscape. As a merchant he would have little opportunity to speak to people at an individual level, and so it must have done him good to share his thoughts with a companion. Over the hours of travel the merchant grew more and more talkative, laughing loudly as he made jests and glowing with pride when he would speak of his many children. Despite his wealth, the man at his core was truly simple, and enjoyed small interactions with others as much as he did his grandeur possessions. Realizing this, Mec found his own mood to be uplifted, genuinely enjoying the conversations he would have with man. This joy would be counterbalanced, however, with the realization that the fugitive's only contributions to their conversations consisted mostly of lies and vague generalizations. The possibility of Mec and Shallan being recognized also loomed in the back of his mind, well aware of the risk that this all could all be some intricate rouse or in some way end poorly.

Mec would scratch the waterskin with his thumb before turning his head to face Shallan. "We should be a little over halfway to our destination, should we arrive mid-evening, which we think is possible." He would accompany his next statement with a slight shake of his head. "Nothing interesting yet."

"We wills haves to stop soon for the horses to rest," Earnest would chime in. "Just brieflies so they can drinks and fill their bellies. They good horses, the stable owner is a friend of mines, so me returns them in good condition." The man would subtly shift the reigns, guiding the cart towards a brook he had knowledge of. Upon being asked about the guards who had sat in the rear of the cart, the guard would shift himself slightly in his seat, briefly delaying his response. "Ah, theys just kiddos with some armor. They needs the coin, and I needs the help, so I brings them."

Mec, content with the answer, would respond with a small shrug. He would continue passing his hands over the water skin in his possession, watching the hills roll beneath him as they approached the location in which they would pause their journey.

[Namingtoohard]

Any and all jokes about her current state and physical appearance were taken in stride by Shallan, who bore them with good humour. After all, she had been prepared for just that sort of thing from the beginning, having more or less expected it. Still, the nap had been more than worth the brief ridicule, and the way it positively influenced the atmosphere of the small group made for a nice added bonus. One of two retorts came to mind, but she bit them back, much more interested in any word of how long she had been out, and what had transpired in her temporary absence. The news of their impending arrival, combined with the knowledge that nothing of note had happened in their absence, was more than enough to satisfy her. As her mother would have said, no news is good news.

For the section of the journey that followed, Shallan would remain in the back of the cart. Going through the effort of climbing up over the divider and onto the bench didn't appeal to her, and it would've been somewhat squishy even if she had managed it, with all three of them jammed into that single space. Instead she remained near the back of the esat, though she did so much more restlessly than she had slept. The woman would go from sitting behind the to people upfront to keep them company, to watching out over the side at the scenery, to leaning right over one of the outer edges to get a look at the road beneath the cart as they trundled along. With nothing better to do, she spent most of the time trying to occupy herself with trivial activities such as these, up until the moment when a halt was announced.

Knowing virtually nothing of horse care or maintenance, the girl endured the notion in silence, simply accepting the knowledge as a fact. The news that the guards were less hardened mercenaries and more young and inexperienced aspirants was a relief, and seemed to soothe her nerves somewhat, not that it showed outwardly all that much. She suddenly felt that either of them were much less likely to suddenly plunge a knife into her back as soon as they got the chance, if they knew of the news spreading about Mec by some chance.

As they approached the brook, Shallan would take the chance to shuffle towards the back of the cart, ready to dismount as in as things came to a halt. In the last few moments of their approach, she took the chance to remove both of her shoes, opting to leave them in the wagon bed where both her pack and cloak were still laying, from her earlier nap. The guards both took note of the action, as they were seated nearby, but neither of them saw fit to comment on it. Indeed, it seemed that she already had her mind set on what exactly she wanted to do when they finally ground to a halt. As soon as the merchant called a stop, steering the horses a short distance off the road before bringing them to a standstill, she quickly dismounted.

Relieved for the chance to get up again and walk about good and proper for a bit, she took a few moments to stretch out her legs, feeling the tension build for several moments, before letting out a soft groan as they relaxed in a manner that felt almost euphoric. She would step off the beaten path and into the grass that surrounded he brook almost immediately, a small smile flickering across her face as she enjoyed the sensation of the grass between her toes. She cut a seemingly random path around the wagon, zig-zagging back and forth in a manner that would've almost made her appear drunk, if not for her perfect balance, before circling around to watch as the horses were removed from their harnesses, before being led down towards the water to drink. She wandered a few steps closer, speaking up once she neared the merchant they now knew to be named Earnest.

"Is the anything I can to do help?" She questioned simply, but the man quickly waved her off with a dismissive wave of his free hand, while the other held the animal's bridle. "Nay, princess. Yous just go and relaxes. I'll take care of this lot" he remarked idly. She rather fancied the idea of getting to pet or feed one of the horses, but alas, it seemed that would have to wait for now. After a moment she brushed the thought aside as inconsequential, resolving that there would be plenty of other opportunities to do so in the future. For now, she would go back to her original plan, but only after seeking out Mec quickly to see what he had planned to do with this quick break.

"I think I'm going to go down and paddle in the water" she would inform him simply, before heading off to do just that. Wandering down towards the edge of the small stream, she would poke a toe into the shallows briefly, before shivering a little at the cold. Steeling her resolve, she would step into the shallows, walking out a small distance. Not so far that the water threatened her clothing, of course, as much as she wished for a chance to wash off the exertions of the last day and a half There was some small discomfort as a few small pebbles and rocks dug into her unprotected feet, but overall, the river's gentle caress was more than enough to make up for it. Once her feet had adjusted a little, she began to wander a little, stumbling about amongst the shallows with eyes cast downwards, marvelling at the clarity of the water, and the brilliant way the sun reflected off its surface. Combined with the gentle current, it almost made it seem like the brook was sparkling. A common enough sight around running water, but she found it wondrous all the same.

"It's so pretty" the idle remark came, though she didn't bother to specify exactly what she was referring to. After a few more moments she would pause again as another thought struck her, before quickly turning her eyes outwards. A quick survey of their surroundings would cause her expression to fade a little, and the look in her eyes became a tad distant. "Actually, I think...this is the furthest I've ever been from civilisation before" she mused simply. Indeed, with no clear sign of a town within sight, a strange feeling of isolation suddenly settled over her, despite the knowledge that their little travelling band was rig there, just a short distance back the way she had come. It was kind of liberating, in a way, and also exciting, but not without its own strange hint of wildness...even if there was nothing particularly wild within the immediate vicinity. A strange thought and a strange sensation indeed.

[Headwrapper]

When the band reached their temporary refuge, Mec slowly lowered himself from the cart, cautious of moving too quickly. The feeling of solid ground beneath his feet was a welcomed feeling. The boy would stretch his arms above his head for a few moments before dropping them and sliding his hands along the backs of his legs. The wooden bench had not been kind to the rears of those that sat upon it, as it was merely a bare plank without any cloth or cushions to make the ride more comfortable.

Mec would observe the area around them while he stretched, shifting his legs slightly every few seconds as his eyes scanned the scenery. The long grass of the plains would yield to the soft breeze, each individual green blade dancing in unison as the wind ebbed them back and forth. Eventually Mec would raise his hands behind his head, his face gleaming with joy. Despite the fact that he and his accomplice had not gotten very far in their journey yet, he couldn't help but feel some sense of accomplishment as he gazed upon the vast stretch of land they had left behind them. It was a rough start, but he knew that he would overcome the challenge he had accepted when witnessing the town crier's announcement in Avoorka.

The young man would absentmindedly watch the guards and the merchant tend to the horses. It had seemed they were set in a certain routine when it came to the task so it was decided it would be best to allow them to go about their work without any unnecessary hands. He would start walking a short ways upstream, deciding it would be a good time to fill his waterskins as well as Shallan's, which was still in his possession. He would halt is dutiful march when his companion approached him, announcing her intentions. Mec would chuckle to himself quietly as his companion made way towards the water. "Please, do enjoy yourself, Princess Natasha."

He would proceed to continue his short trek upstream. Once he felt sufficiently remote from the rest of the group, he would kneel down to untie the waterskins from his pack. The skins in hand, Mec would inch himself as far into the riverbank as he could without damaging his shoes. With as long of a reach as he could muster, he would scoop water into the skins one by one, tying them shut and gently rolling them back towards his pack. Mec would think about how his father would have scolded him for being sloth and not rolling up his pant legs and collecting the water at the center of the river, which was supposedly cleaner. The lesson must not have been well accepted, as the majority of the time the skins would be emptied of their river sourced water to be replaced with well water from the next town over. When the young man's work was completed he would kneel next to he bag to secure the skins in their spot, and make his way back towards the cart.

Finding that the guards were busy walking the horses and the merchant inspecting his cargo, Mec would place his bag where he had sat while they traveled and procured a few strips of dried beef. He tore away at the flesh with his teeth, enjoying the taste of the pungent spices used to season the simple delicacy. He would watch the horses grazing as he enjoyed his own meal, occasionally shifting his gaze to observe the guards, who had stripped their armor down to the leathers that was usually worn underneath. Each carried his sword at his hip, and it was apparent that they may have been relatives now that their faces were not concealed by their helms. They both had the same dark complexion with even darker freckles peppering their face from cheek to cheek. One kept his hair cropped tightly, denying himself more than a simple layer of hair on his head, while the other wore his in a dark brown ponytail. On more than one occasion, Mec would quickly shift his gaze towards the brook to avoid making eye contact with the short-haired guard. The guard would either notice Mec's gaze or had some other reason to peer over, and after a the third instance of this Mec would wander to the back of the cart to accompany his merchant friend.

"What's ya got theres?" Earnest would ask. He would return a large stack of furs back to their position, cover the bulk of the inventory with the tarp, and dust his hands off with his pants. He would eye the meat suspiciously when it was offered to him, before finally accepting it and taking a bite. His eyes would water slightly as he stifled a cough. "A tad spicy, 'in it?"

Mec would shrug in response. "Dried meat doesn't taste good unless you make it taste good." The pair would return to the front of the cart as the guards would return with the horses. As the merchant and the longer haired guard began tying the horses, the short-haired guard would approach Mec.

The guard's dark eyes would stare right through Mec's, his gaze so intense Mec could feel his cloak wishing to flee his shoulders. "If you do not mind, sir, I would like to sit with the master for a time. I wish to speak with him about a certain matter." Mec would have little reason to refuse the man's request, and would remove his things from where he had left them. He wished he would be able to spend the time with Shallan planning their next course of action, but it might not be possible with the company of the other guard with them in the cart.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan was filled with quiet reverence at first as the truth of her realisation pressed down on her, still glancing about her surroundings with a strange sort of awe. Despite the logical knowledge that nothing had changed, it filled her with a strange kind of fear...and yet, it was accompanied with a strange sense of liberation, too. She would linger on the fringes of the river for several moments as everyone else continued about their own activities, feeling strangely content, despite how rapidly and drastically everything had changed over the last two days. She suppressed the few worries that she did possess, and just tried to focus on enjoying the moment.

After a few moments, the girl decided that was enough was enough, snapping out of her wistful little reverie. The chill of the river's cold water was starting to seep into her feet, anyway, so it was probably best to avoid lingering for too long anyway. Picking a tune at random, she started humming merrily to herself, while slowly moving to return to the bank of the stream at a casual pace. Folding both of her hands behind her back, she was practically skipping as she returned to where everyone else was currently gathering together. Even as she watched, the horses were being led back towards the front of the cart, hinting that it would soon be time for the group to depart.

Even as she approached, it seemed that she wasn't far behind her own companion, who she spotted just finishing up some sort of conversation with one of the guards. Even as she watched, steadily drawing closer, the two separated and the guard slowly made his way towards the front of the carriage, to join the merchant. A puzzling glance settled across her features, and her eyes flickered back and forth between the retreating back of the armed man and her friend. After a few seconds though, she would give a bit of a dismissive shrug, before gracefully leaping up into the tray of he wagon once more. Exchanging glances with the other guard that was already seated and waiting, she shot him a calm and friendly smile as she settled into the bed of the wagon, leaning back against the outer edge so that she could use it as a backrest.

"It's so peaceful out here. Almost a shame that we need to leave, hm?" She questioned simply, still smiling as she glanced across at the guard. He didn't offer her a verbal reply, but ever-so-briefly, he met her eyes and returned her smile with one of his own. Contenting herself with that, she would shift her position a little, bringing her feet in close to her body. She quickly set about the simple task of brushing off her heels, removing any grass or small stones that had stuck to them during the trip back. During the process she would glance up only briefly as Earnest called out to check that everybody was ready, before jolting slightly as he shook the reigns and the cart once again resumed its journey - only, of course, once Mec had joined them in the back.

"So, what's your name? I don't think any of us were properly introduced before" she would add once she had finished her self-appointed task, glancing up from her work. The girl made no move to replace her shoes, having decided that there was little point for the time being. She likely wouldn't need to do so again until they reached their destination, at which point she would have plenty of notice. Why not try and enjoy the freedom while she could? There was no harm in it, she thought...well, unless she happened to get a splinter.

"...it's Bailey" the man finally responded, after a brief hesitation - as if debating whether or not getting to know their very temporary passengers was worthwhile. Shallan's eyes seemed to light up at his response; the girl had taken his answer as a very positive sign. "A pleasure to meet you then, Bailey" she responded simply, dipping her head in a polite nod. "I'm Natasha, and this is Jay" she would respond, gesturing at Mec wherever he had seated himself with a casual wave of a hand as she gave his false name. The man responded with a similar polite nod towards them both, one after the other. Content that it was a start, she would glance across at her companion. Many questions lingered on her tongue, held back by their company...of course, that didn't mean they needed to restrain themselves entirely. Or at all, if they were clever about it.

"Where do you want to start when we get there? Shopping? Or should we get our lodgings sorted first, and save that for tomorrow?" She questioned simply. She kept her terms vague, not knowing how much he had revealed to their travelling party while she had been asleep, or any of the details he had given. She tried to keep her tone casual, though, tilting her head very briefly in a gesture that almost seemed curious. She had by no means relaxed her guard around these people completely, even if Mec had given her cause to be a little less wary around the armed escort.

[Headwrapper]

As Mec approached the back of the cart he would turn to take another hard look at the guard who had spoken to him. It was not often one would see man in this manner of work outside of his armor, and Mec saw an opportunity to study one who would closely resemble the type of man who could be his potential opponent in the game he and his friend had played with the kingdom's laws. The guard's stride as he made his final rounds before departure suggested purpose, and his brawny frame would suggest that he was well-accustomed to some form of regular labor. If the guards of the cities and towns across the kingdom were as physically capable and as active as this man there would be a great amount of difficulty in the case of a direct confrontation. Mec already knew this of course, but it was easy to be complacent about this kind of knowledge. After he finished analyzing the guard he would climb into the cart. He had decided it would be best if he and Shallan found time to discuss the possibilities of confrontation and what their actions would be for different possible scenarios. This would have to be done, of course, after they've had a chance to properly rest and replenish themselves so that they may plan with refreshed minds. To win would mean to survive, and winning as Mec understood it only came with clever planning and unyielding determination.

Once on the cart, Mec would find himself a seat as moderate of a distance as he could get away from the other guard and Shallan. Too modest to to risk damaging the the furs loaded onto the cart, he would gently push a few stacks of the pelts closer together in order to give him a fair amount of space to sit without risking soiling them with his dirty shoes and clothing. A few moments after he had claimed his space and the amateur caravan would resume its journey to Tauntea.

Mec's head would yield to the irregular bounces of the cart as he viewed the scenery behind them. At first he was oblivious to the conversation that started in front of him, only turning his head once he overheard the exchanging of names. He would reciprocate the nod that served as an acknowledgement of their acquaintance with the guard who identified himself as Bailey.

Mec would listen to Shallan's questions carefully while he busied himself with untying her waterskin from his own bag, and then procuring the paper that wrapped his last piece of dried beef. He would realize that he erred by not describing the nature of the lies he had already fabricated during his conversations with Earnest. It was unclear that whether the guards had overheard any parts of the conversation or not, and so Mec decided it would be best to remain consistent with the original web that he wove, speaking carefully as to not destroy the asylum of the spider that would be the well-being of him and his companion. "I suppose it would be best if we visited a butcher before visiting our friend Ashton. He is quite fond of beef, and with his wife confined to her bed from her illness I'm sure he hasn't had a proper meal in a while." He would hold his jerky with his front teeth as he neatly folded the wrapping paper and returned it to his bag. He would continue his response in between bites of his snack. "I don't think his place has much in regards to hospitable space for visitors, so it would also probably be best for us to find some form of lodging as to not burden our friend."

After chasing the last piece of meat with a swig of a water skin, Mec would take a moment to unfold one of his legs, allowing it to lay ahead of him while keeping the other one crossed. "As much as I would like to stay with our friend during his time of need, I believe you would agree that we wouldn't be able to stay in town for too long. I am nervous to leave my family alone in troubling times like these. You feel the same don't you? It seems the city suffers more and more crime each day." His eyes, fixated a loosened strand on his pant leg, would remain still as he added this last comment. He had hoped to identify any knowledge the guard may have had of Mec Fiska and his female accomplice, but did not wish to pursue the search too aggressively in order to avoid any suspicion. It was probably an unnecessary maneuver, as had the rest of the party been well-educated about his crimes Mec would have been identified immediately. Even so, Mec was still compelled to try to find out how far his story had traveled and how much it evolved in a short amount of time. It was well understood that word of mouth had a way of inaccurately portraying certain elements of a story, and it wouldn't be impossible for his description to become misrepresented in even such a short amount of time.

Mec would direct his gaze towards the guard and offer him a halfhearted grin. "I bet in this last visit to Avoorka you heard a lot of the frequent crimes of the area, huh? Hopefully it's not like that where you come from." He tried his best to pose his questions in a way of conversing with the guard, but Mec knew he was no great composer of words. Still, he was determined to practice the art of manipulation in some form, in hopes that the skill would lead him to victory over his almost imaginary opponents.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would wait in relative silence for Mec's reply, head tilted ever-so-slightly as she fixed him with a gaze filled with genuine curiosity. Of course, there was always the possibility that he wouldn't pick up on her little hint, but somehow she doubted that was likely. They had only been on the run for a day and a half, but he hadn't disappointed her yet, and somehow she thought it would take more than this to slip past him. She had no reason to mistrust him, after all - he had revealed everything to her in full as soon as they had the chance to sit down and talk together, and his wit and situational awareness had proved adequate back in town. No, she would sit in silence and wait, though she had made sure to pick a question that seemed innocent enough, and a natural line of conversation, for those listening. Namely, their unexpected third member, and possibly even the two sitting up the front of the carriage.

A flicker of uncertainty crossed her visage as he began speaking of their supposedly mutual friend, someone by the name of Ashton, who she was relatively sure that she had never met in her life. After a brief moment, though, a hint of realisation crept into it as everything clicked into place. This was supposed to be their cover, and this was the first time she was hearing it since they hadn't had the chance to discuss it in advance. Her expression quickly settled back into the same casual guise as before, face becoming a stoic mask that would not show anything she did not wish it to. Her entire lapse had only lasted a split second, but she found herself wondering if their of the others had noticed it. Now her gaze was calm and controlled, intentionally manipulated in much the same manner an actor would use on stage. Shallan had never performed in front of a proper audience, but here it seemed that her acting lessons were paying off in a rather unexpected way. Her mother had learned early that she was a spectacularly good liar, when not caught off-guard, and such practice was proving itself worthwhile now.

"Mm, a gift would be a good idea. I hadn't considered getting them anything, merely trying to arrive as fast as possible" she mused simply, bringing a hand p to scratch at her jawline idly as she glanced off to the side, apparently mulling over this suggestion, if her visage was to be believed. It wasn't, of course, but appearances mattered. After a fe seconds she was supposedly finished with her thoughts, glancing back across again. "We had best find some place cheap and out of the way, then. We still have a long way to go, and money could become an issue if we are not so frugal" she would finally answer, before giving a bit of a dismissive shrug. While the savings she had managed to bring were hardly extravagant, they should be able to manage their stay in Taunteas effectively, or so she liked to think. No need to let the possibilities of tomorrow spoil the good mood of today. Was that more irresponsible, or wise? Even she herself wasn't quite sure.

She fell silent for a few moments as Mec steered the discussion towards talk of local crime, and she immediately found a hint of worry to seep into her chest. Was this pushing things a tad too far? One misstep here could spark some sort of recognition in their friend, and bring everything crashing down around them. Her face remained a calm and impassive mask, though. It was too late for her to interfere directly, lest she give away even more than they were already risking with this line of conversation. Fortunate, the guard gave no immediate sign that he suspected anything was wrong.

"Market towns like that are always riddled with crime. There's pickpockets everywhere, stall owners try and rip you off in plain daylight, and there's always a new story about some rouge magician or a handful of thieves or bandits attacking traders' wagons or caravans. Was nothing like that back in Endiness" he mused simply, snorting softly in something that appeared to be contempt. "Thankfully not much seems to bother us. The mere sight of armed guards is usually more than enough to discourage any sort of petty crime, before we've done so much as draw our weapons" he mused simply, a wry smile flickering across his features at the thought. Clearly he was younger and less experienced than the other guard, who currently sat up front with their master.

"Endiness? That's a port town out east, isn't it?" Shallan questioned simply, tilting her head a little as she surveyed their mutual acquaintance. He nodded simply in reply, clearly not interested in making any attempt at elaboration. The silence stretched on for several moments, before the woman gave a bit of a casual shrug, twisting her upper body a little so that she could rest one arm on the cart's outer edge and look out at the scenery over her shoulder as they passed. It was beautiful, certainly, but after so many hours it could seem a tad monotone, she imagined. She would wait a few moments to see if Mec had any more avenues he wished to pursue, but if the lack of conversation continued, she would speak up again herself. "So...anyone know any good stories? Or how to carry a tune? Heck, I'll settle for a game at this point. Anything to help pass the time"

[Headwrapper]

Mec would regard the guard's response with with a simple nod. It was good news that his specific infraction was merely one drop in an ocean of supposed maliciousness, only to someday be washed away with the tides. With his curiosity put to rest, the boy would lean his elbows on the edge of the cart behind him and return to watching the hills roll away behind them.

Well accustomed to long hours alone behind a store counter, Mec found himself quite comfortable in the silence that followed. His ability to entertain Earnest before was largely due to their complimentary personalities, it would seem. Once at ease, the merchant could speak about himself and his stories for a long stretch of time, only occasionally expecting a response from the other member of the conversation. This made things easy for Mec, who simply had to listen and be entertained by the tales of the older man, sometimes adding a fact or answering a question directed towards him. The back of the cart seemed to lack the gift of endless rambling that Earnest possessed, and with the guard having little to say the wagon fell into silence.

True to his habits, Mec would find himself becoming lost in his own thoughts as the journey grew still. First he would revisit questions that had yet to be answered to him in a vain hope that he could formulate an answer. What was the source of his magic powers? Who was G, the voice that haunted him in his dreams and now in his waking moments as well? Were all mages haunted by this intrusion of their minds, ultimately leading them to be driven mad and being capable of the vile crimes that were associated with them? Could it be that all mages were like him, unaware of the nature of their powers, and executed to soon or too preoccupied with survival to find out more? The questions continued to pile with no answers to counteract them, and eventually Mec would dismiss these thoughts completely to focus on the present and future.

He pulled his bag closer to himself as he sat up, crossing his legs as he did before. He would place the bag on his lap as the observed the contents. On top were the items he most recently made use of before stuffing them back into the bag: the white paper used to wrap his beef strips, his traveler's notes, and a small sack that held the two money pouches he had brought. The sack, which had bulged before when it held two coin pouches, now sagged depressingly with half of its contents removed. Mec would begin reorganizing the contents of his bag, taking note of the rest of his items: a fire steel, a leather wallet that contained the traveling receipts he had gathered the night of his escape, a knife with a dark wooden handle, and a carved wooden box that would contain the salts, spices, and powdered herbs he was taught were important for travel. The salts and spices were mainly used for treatment of dried meat, but the herbs had more clerical purposes. They were said to ward away the illnesses associated with interacting with peoples from distant lands before they could plague the traveler's body. Mec personally had never made use of them, but his father swore by them, claiming they were the key to the family's success in procuring distant goods for generations.

The rigor of his prodding fingers as he arranged his items would begin to fade as Mec thought about his family. There were already a few instances since his escape where he had recalled memories of his parents, but he hadn't thought much of their future since he fled with Shallan. Even then, he had thought more about what they would say to him, after he had destroyed their store and potentially their reputations. Whether or not they hated him when they returned home, what challenges would they be forced to endure as they carried on their lives without him? His mother, who had always secretly wished to see as far across the realm as she could, even as a woman, would have to return to her prison behind the counter. His father would have to return to traveling alone, and it would only be a few short years before he would grow too old for this practice. And even with all of this effort, would it yield any fortune for them? Would their patrons wish to return to a store run by a family that bore a mage? Even worse, would they believe the whole family to be mages, relieving the parents of their challenges through means of a swift execution?

Mec would quickly turn his head when Shallan asked about a means of entertainment, eager to escape what plagued his mind. One side of his lips would contort as he tried to think of a response. Unable to come up with something, he would look to the guard who sat a few feet away from him in hopes that he had a response, only to find that the guard seemed to be hoping for the same from him. After few more moments of silence Mec would finally let out a long sigh. "I guess I can share one of my dad's stories..."

Mec would set his bag next to him, allowing it to lay against his leg. He would begin to recite a tale his father had told him countless times, one of the many anecdotes from his travels. Mec couldn't hope to match the conviction of his father when it came to telling these tales, but the more he let the words flow the more comfortable he became with accompanying his descriptions with grand waves of his arms, quick shakes of his head, and various movements of his hands. When his story was interrupted or he required a moment to pause, he would slide locks of hair away from his eyes, only to feel them slide back down after a few more lines.

The story he chose to tell was of the time his father supposedly defeated a beast that had terrorized a tribe from the Khantanzi Jungle to the south. These lands could only be reached by ship, and not many dared to sail that far from civilization. To this end, the adventurer would build his own vessel that he could steer as a lone crewman, and row his way to the lands to the south in search of rare and exotic goods. Upon his arrival he would find the jungles to be unwelcoming. It was a habitat to beasts that no one has dared describe in texts (but of course the adventurer would have done so had he the means at the time). Small dogs with wings instead of front legs would creep between the trees and occasionally swoop down to attack any unsuspecting prey, while large snakes with teeth longer than a man's forearm would burrow beneath the ground and explode from the earth like a volcano as they went for the kill.

After a night of exploring, besting any demons he had discovered along the way, the adventurer would come across a small village. The tribe's people were unlike any he had seen, men and women alike standing a full head taller than any man he has witnessed. They decorated their bright orange skin with various items: bright purple and green feathers, diamonds and rubies that hung from their necks on golden strings, and cloaks that seemed to have been sewn from threads made of silver. The adventurer would stay with this tribe for months, learning of their ways and customs, and eventually their language. One practice that he had never witnessed until he was well-versed in their ways was a sudden pilgrimage. As the people gathered their items and tore down the animal skins and wooden poles they used for their homes, the adventurer would approach the elders and ask about the nature of the pilgrimage. He would learn that every few years the tribe was forced to relocate in fear that the lion spirit Rashanan would destroy their homes, slaughtering as many unfortunate victims as it could.

Unable to accept this atrocious treatment of his friends, the adventurer would arm himself with a simple spear and a wooden shield before standing guard at what would be the village entrance before the tents were dismantled. Despite the urgent calls of the men, women, and children of the tribe he would continue to stand guard, waiting for his would-be opponent.

At this point in the story Mec would pause to draw a few long breaths. He wasn't used to storytelling and wasn't even sure his lungs were capable sustaining him after speaking for what seemed, to him, like ages. "So as the night fell, Rashanan would finally appear from the darkness of the jungle. The lion was large enough to gobble up a man in one bite, each one of its teeth as long as me." He would spread his arms to their full span before continuing. "Its red eyes would lock onto my father. Recognizing the challenge, the spirit would let out a loud roar that shook the entire jungle before bringing its giant paw down at where my father stood. My father would jump, using every last ounce of muscle he had, avoiding the strike. Calling upon the power of the full moon above him, as the tribe elders had taught him, he would plunge his spear directly into Rashanan's head." Mec would poke at his own forehead roughly. "The spirit defeated, it would disappear, returning to the realm from which it came. The people of the Khantanzi Jungle cheered in celebration, free from there plight. They wished for my father to become the chief of the tribe, but he refused, wishing to return home. He would accept a large bonnet made from the green and purple feathers they wore as a gift before departing to continue his adventures."

When his bout was completed, Mec would gaze around to observe the reactions of his audience. His feeble recitation of the tale would never do his father's account justice, he knew, but the ridiculousness of the story itself might be entertaining enough. It was only now that he grew somewhat self-conscious, figuring he probably looked silly. He sunk back to his spot against the edge of the cart with his bag on his lap. "He still has the feathered bonnet at home," he would finally add shyly, repeatedly touching the tips of his index fingers.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would glance back and forth between her companions in silence as she posed her question to them, the same curious glint in her eyes as she glanced back and forth between her companion and the guard. She could see them exchanging glances, clearly both waiting for the other to answer her request, make some sort of move. For a second she couldn't help but wonder if her attempt had been slightly misguided, and that putting them both on the spot like this might have been a bit of a mistake. A strange mix of disappointment and and worry flickered across her face, and she opened her mouth to reassure the two that neither of them had to do anything if they didn't want, and she could settle for singing a song herself, before Mec finally spoke up.

Relief was the next emotion to show its face, and the girl visibly relaxed, slumping a little as someone finally answered her request. She encounraged Mec immediately, giving a small nod, before taking a second to readjust, getting a little more comfortable. She would go from glancing back over the outer edge of the cart to sitting cross-legged, hands folded in her lap, with both eyes fixed on her companion. She appeared alert and attentive, both eager and ready to listen. Someone who knew the world of storytelling as well as she did knew the difference that a good and eager listener could make, and how even simple good curtesy could make a world of difference to the storyteller. She herself hated it when others did not listen properly to her, and so she refused to do the same to others.

The topic of the story wasn't quite what she had expected. The girl had thought that it would be something epic and world-reaching. A famous story or tale, be it a well-known one or otherwise. Still, if it was a story about his father, then it was likely one that Shallan had not heard before, and she was all the more interested because of it. At first she didn't expect it to be quite as fantastical as any of the more standard stories she knew, but then she realised how stupid and narrow-minded such a view was. They had a magician sitting with them in the cart at that very moment, after all.

"Please do" the encouragement came, soft and gentle in tone, but pure, and filled with honest encouragement. As he began the story, she would settle back and try to relax, knotting her hands together in her lap. Her imagination as vivid as ever, she would do her best to imagine the world, constructing it in her mind as Mec spoke. His nerves showed through a little, but she was more than willing to contribute that to a lack of experience more than anything else. Some ways into the story, she would even close her eyes, so as to pay less attention to their surroundings and more to the building image in her mind.

She opened them as the story neared its end, eyes going wide at the talk of a giant lion spirit that threatened this villiage of strange people. They widened a little beyond the norm, showing her amazement in some small regard. Once the story reached its thrilling conclusion, she glanced down a little, picking a section of the cart's wooden tray bed to stare at as she mulled things over to herself.

"...so, if he has the bonnet, do you think its true?" the question came, spoken in a low tone, almost in reverence. After a few moments moments, she would speak up again, glancing up this time once more. "I kind of hope it is. I'd love to see those little winged dog things, maybe even take one as a pet...though I doubt they would take kindly to it. Especially living in such a harsh place" she muttered softly. Clearly, she had elected to just outright assume that such a place was real, just for the sake of inflating her own sense of wonder. "It sounds dangerous, but I'd like to see it for myself one day, nonetheless. It'd probably make a pretty good play, too" she mused simply, trying to start up some element of conversation. The other guard appeared to have enjoyed the story well enough, but he snorted simply at her musings, clearly not buying into them as Shallan did.

"There shes is, fellas. Taunteas, in all her glorys"

The call came from the front seat, prompting Shallan to look up. Indeed, in the distance, a handful of imposing stone walls could be seen rising over the next ridge. The place still appeared small from so far off, but those alone was more than enough to impart the knowledge that the town was much larger than anything they had visited thus far. A proper city, and probably one of the largest within this region at that. It would mean guards at the gates, along with proper checkpoints and inspections for merchants coming to do trade in the city and the likes. Hopefully they would once again be able to slip in with the crowd after they were dropped off by Earnest and went their separate ways, though.

"We should be there within the hour, if our luck holds. Might be a bit of traffics once we get closer that delays us, though" Earnest added, glancing back over his shoulder at their companions, but only for a moment, so as to not take his eyes off the road ahead of them.

[Headwrapper]

A soft smile set on Mec's face as he listened to Shallan's musings in regards to his story. "I think he might have stretched the truth a little bit, but I'm sure that in essence the true story is about the same." He would tilt his head thoughtfully, trying to picture the bonnet sitting on its pedestal at home, feathers flowing wildly from its center. "I've never seen a bird with those kinds of feathers. Judging by how extravagant the bonnet is they were probably pretty big birds. I guess I would like to see them someday too."

Mec would shift his eyes towards the front of the cart when the announcement of their impending arrival came. His body would seem to momentarily freeze as he tried to think of any preparations he may need to get out of the way. After a brief moment his eyes would flick from the front of the cart to his companion, as if her presence would somehow give him some revelation, and then finally he would turn his entire attention towards his bag. With a bit of scavenging he would procure the neatly folded leather wallet that contained his travel papers.

Now that they were far from where their journey had started, the travel receipts may be able to provide some use to the runaways. Mec would remove one of the slips of paper from his wallet, careful to hold it low as to keep the nature of its contents hidden. It would only take a moment for him to scan the receipt to see if it would be suitable for his uses.

Let it be known that this Bill has been certified to the owner of the Fiskantanoble General Goods shoppe located in the Market District of Ozette in the Kingdom of Tobthalin. The possessor of this Bill will be granted access to all cities in the King's domain between the Gulf of Eden to the Mountains of Grandar for the purposes of trade and commerce. This Bill remains valid from the First Day of Harvest Month of the year 1207 until the First Day of the Harvest Month of the Year 1208...

Mec would ignore the rest of the contents of the paper, as they mainly contained formalities. It was unfortunate that the name of his family's business contained Fiskantanoble, the original name of his lineage, but the resemblance to his current name might not be easily recognized. Even without the small resemblance, it would probably be for the best that Mec abstained from using this right of passage unless it seemed absolutely necessary for passing the gates of the cities they visited. After all, he and his companion lacked a wagon of their own, and it would take some creativity to justify the claim they were traveling for the sake of trade without any goods.

The descending afternoon Sun was becoming a reason for some concern. It would be reasonable to assume that the density of people within the city walls would be lower around this time of day, removing some of the potential cover that could be taken advantage of. The travelers would also only have a few hours to find lodgings before the night would catch up with them, and it wouldn't do them well to spend the dark hours roaming the streets of such a large city. In the pitch black of night, anyone who dared venture within the city walls would probably be considered a criminal by any guards that stood post.

As was predicted by Earnest, the travelers would reach their destination within the hour. True to his word, the merchant had delivered them to the outer gates of the city and would not waste more of his horses' energy to move any further. "This is where we parts ways, methinks."

When the wagon had stopped, Mec would gather his items and hop out of the back. He would then offer a hand to Shallan to descend if she needed it before making his way to the front of the wagon. He would realize that Earnest had passed the reigns over to the guard sitting next to him. "Thank you, Earnest. I wish you a safe journey home."

Earnest would accept any thanks offered to him with a small nod. "Best of luck to you twos. I hope your relative pulls through her illness."

Mec would find himself locking eyes with the brawn that had sat next to the merchant. His stare would be returned with the same look the guard had offered him before, and Mec could almost feel the gravity around him intensifying under the glare. What could this man be looking for? Did his face always default to that look of disapproval? Mec hoped this wasn't the case for Bailey's sake. When the last goodbyes have been said, Mec would watched as the guard guided the carriage away. Only after cart began to shrink from view did he feel relieved of the weight of the heavy stare of the guard.

After taking a long moment to stretch, Mec would glance around and observe the activities around the city gates. The guards seemed to be more diligent than they were in Avoorka, questioning travelers and occasionally searching wagons. It also seemed that traffic was much more organized in the large city. The width of the gate allowed for carts and wagons to travel through the middle, with room for foot traffic on either side. Guards would stand between each of these avenues to carry out their duties. "Well... Left or right?" Mec would ask, pointing to either one of the avenues dedicated to foot traffic.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would spend the few moments that followed the announcement glancing around the rest of the wagon's tray rapidly, searching for something known only to herself. After a moment, she would find it, quickly scrambling a few metres towards the rear of the wagon to where she had left her shoes moments earlier. Plucking them off the wooden floor promptly, she would then scramble back across to where she had been seated a few moments earlier, retaking her seat. It was hardly the most dignified she had ever looked, and perhaps returning to the same place over was a tad pointless, but that didn't seem to bother the young woman who continued about her task. Within moments she would have them both back on, and then repeat the process as she scrambled for her own pack.

With nothing else to occupy her for the remainder of the journey, the girl would wait patiently as their cart slowly trundled closer, glancing up at the city as it grew ever larger. As they approached, the walls almost seemed to loom over them, casting the cart and all of its contents in a deep and imposing shadow. They stood larger than most of the buildings back where they had lived before...or at least that's how it seemed, from this distance. The sensation only grew as they got closer to the city, too. Perhaps more worrying than the mere size of the walls were the checkpoints that acted as the only entrances in and out of the otherwise fortified city. All manned by guards who stopped carts as they entered to both inspect them and tax them for foreign goods, who also kept an eye on the steady influx of travellers. Surely one of their duties were to try and spot any suspicious or wanted individuals who wished to come into the city, which no doubt included wanted mages...assuming that they had already received news of Mec and his escape.

Hopping down from the back of the wagon when the time came, Shallan would spin around to face their travelling companions as Earnest bid them farewell. Content with Mec's goodbye, and of the belief that there wasn't much more she could honestly say that would have any extra meaning, she settled for a friendly and perhaps overenthusiastic wave with her free hand, a grin spreading across her features. She would watch as they joined the queue of people heading through the central part of the gates, before turning away as they were lost in the crowd, swallowed whole by the string of other merchants all moving with the same purpose. As they disappeared, she let out a soft sigh, before shrugging and shouldering her pack, before turning to face Mec as he spoke. Her eyes flickered back and forth between the two options, though she couldn't see any real difference, so she decided to just pick one at random.

"Left, I think" she would announce suddenly, turning and heading off in that direction almost immediately. She had the self-control to keep it at a casual pace, thankfully, though it wasn't to last. As soon as they joined the group of people heading through the left walkway her mood would dampen a little, and she would tilt her head downwards, as if ashamed or suddenly upset. The cause was standing no more than a few metres nearby - a group of guards, seemingly plucking people out of the stream at random to interview. For a few moments they continued on unnoticed, though, and progressed through the huge carved stone archway that served as the entrance to the city. Just as they seemed they might make it through unharried, though, a gruff voice reached Shallan's ears.

"Hold on for one second, little missy" came the call, followed a few seconds by the feeling of a calloused hand on her shoulder. She would throw Mec a sly glance, as if urging him onwards, to wait for her through the gate and to get away while he could, if she was the only one the guard wanted to question. Better for only one of them to get caught up in all this, if possible. She couldn't say it out loud with it seeming suspicious, but hopefully he would get the message as she turned to confront the man properly. Their voices didn't reach very far given the din all around them, but the conversation seemed calm and friendly enough, if one was to watch the two from a distance. Indeed, he stood there and questioned her rather passively, though she gestured with her hands occasionally as the two of them spoke.

"What brings ye to Taunteas, missy? Its a tad dangerous for a woman like yourself to be travelling alone, isn't it?" the question came, as to which she responded with a simple shrug. "I'm safe enough, good sir" she started. He seemed to like that - being called Sir - so hopefully if she used it repeatedly then he would be more inclined to look upon her with favour. "I have my travelling companion, and we've been chartering passage with merchants where possible" she added, hoping that would be enough convincing.

"Still, I would know your purpose, if its all the same to you. What sort of trip could necessitate such urgency? Walking may be slower, but it would save you a small fortune in gold" he questioned simply. All in all, Shallan found his tone pleasant enough though, and this line of questioning was enough for her to relax just a tad. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears, but her visage remained calm and composed nonetheless, as did her voice...hopefully. "We're here to visit a sick relative, my good sir. Came down with some illness, and they fear he doesn't have long to live" she answered simply. From the look of the man's facial expression, the answer was satisfactory enough.

"What about your friend, then?" he finally asked, flicking his head in Mec's general direction, wherever he had chosen to wait for her, be it past the wall or alongside her or anywhere in between. "He's my half-brother, good sir, though...we prefer not to talk about it. Its a matter of some shame on my mother's part" she announced simply, just spouting the first piece of knowledge that came to mind. Thankfully the embarrassing aspect seemed to do the trick, as the guard's eyes widened for an instant, before he waved her on with a casual and dismissive flick of his free hand. "Well, I'll not take up any more of your time, then. Best wishes to your sick relative, and if you ever need anything, come find me" he answered, with a smile that seemed a filled with a little more than good will. It almost made Shallan shiver, though thankfully she suppressed it.

Bidding him a cheery farewell, she turned and strode past the checkpoint without glancing back. Once they were clear of the larger part of the crowd, she let out a heavy sigh; one hand coming up to clasp against her chest briefly, as if to ease her nerves, or still the pounding of her heart. "That...was quite possibly the most terrifying thing I've ever done" she whispered softly, hands shaking almost imperceptibly

[Headwrapper]

Mec would follow close behind his companion once she had decided to take the left path. As they approached he would conceal his features beneath the hood of his cloak. He kept his eyes fixed straight ahead as they made their way through the traffic, only briefly gazing towards the guards taking their pickings out of the crowd. It would do good for them to listen in on what nature of the guards' questions as it might provide a good read on whether or not news of the rogue mage Mec Fiska had reached the city all the way from the small town of Ozette. Despite is best attempts to focus on the guards, Mec found it was futile to try to eavesdrop on their interrogations over the sound of shuffling feet and the chatter of the crowd around him.

His stride would stagger for a brief moment as his friend was pulled aside by one of the guards. His expression would turn to stone as his eyes locked with Shallan's for a brief moment. It did not take him much thought to understand what her expression was trying to tell him, but he refused to stray too far from his companion. After taking a few paces forward he would stand off to the side of the walking as to not stand in the way of the other travelers marching into the city. He would watch from his spot, barely within earshot, with solemn interest as his friend spoke to the guard.

As he watched the conversation from beneath his hood, Mec couldn't help but feel defensive of his partner. Be it a sense of duty towards one who saved his life or some primal extinct to defend a companion, any notion of acting on it would be suppressed. He reminded himself that had the guard suspected them of their true crimes they both would have been questioned, and he should simply stand watch and wait for them to be permitted passage. Once it was clear the the conversation was going well, his tense stare would loosen up, replaced with a relieved countenance. At one point it seemed that the guard had questioned his identity, and Mec would only offer a slight not when any attention was directed towards him.

Once his friend was released from the guards pestering, Mec would bid him farewell with a single wave of his hand before turning and walking with his companion. His lips would tilt into a sly grin as they walked further into the city as he acknowledged another small victory in their quest. He wondered if they were lucky or had a knack for this game they played against the world, or even if somehow his magic had somehow been helping them this whole time. The last thought would be dismissed with some loathing, an unwillingness to entertain the notion that magic had brought him and his friend anything but tremendous loss.

His grin would evolve into a full-hearted smile in response to his friend's confession. "You did well Sh-... Natasha." He would lower his head slightly to conceal the delighted look on his face below his hood. "For the record, I think its only fair that you be the illegitimate offspring, since it was your story after all. Besides, you look younger."

The environment of Taunteas greatly contrasted with that of Avoorka. Mec welcomed the freedom of being able to walk with his full stride as they traveled through the wide roads. Whether the cause of this openness in the roads was a result of the later time of day or the superior organization of the city was unclear, but it mattered little. The buildings stood somewhat taller than those in the other city as well, and were built of stone blocks with differing colors: reds, tans, and whites. Permanent businesses had ingrained themselves to these buildings, clearly indicated by their expertly crafted signs that sat above their doors. The streets were also secured, monitored by pacing guards. These guards that defended the inner part of the city were much more crudely armed than those that defended the gates, clothed in leathers as opposed to metals and armed with clubs rather than spears or swords.

"Would it make sense to try and determine if the news has spread this far?" Mec would ask his friend quietly. "Maybe our time might be better suited towards finding some form of lodging first. It won't be long before nightfall, and we don't want to be scrambling to find an inn with open rooms. I don't want to be stuck in the streets in the dark should the city have some sort of curfew." As he shared his thoughts with his companion, Mec's attention would constantly shift between the different signs of businesses and any posts on the walls in hopes to gather as much information about the city as he could. Mainly his search was for any inns or for postings of wanted criminals, but in their current location his scouring would be fruitless. "We'll also need some time to do some planning in privacy," he would add offhandedly after some pause.

[Namingtoohard]

In the next few moments, Shallan would focus on breathing deeply, able to feel her sense of calm slowly returning. A small and almost shy smile flickered across her features at the reserved words of praise that Mec greeted her with, but it was one that hinted at something greater. She couldn't really explain it, but the simple deception had given her a real thrill. A sort of adrenaline rush, from pretending and lying straight to the face of one who had authority over her, and coming out of it ahead. Despite her nerves, she had found herself enjoying it, even with the risk such a simple confrontation presented. She half-imagined that it felt somewhat similar to performing in front of a crowd, albeit with a slightly more personal touch. Indeed, the idea of doing such for a living possessed its own sort of appeal, as her mother had before her. After a few moments, tough, Shallan dismissed the thought out of hand. Their goal was to avoid drawing attention to themselves wherever possible, after all.

A playful pout flickered across her face at his response, though it was as fake as the story she had just told; a playful show, executed for the sake of it, and to emphasise the words that would follow. He certainly had a point on the matter of their respective ages, she had to concede, but simply admitting defeat here would be boring and trivial. "Come now. You wouldn't make a cutie like me go around admitting to people that she's a bastard, would you?" She questioned simply, raising one of her eyebrows in a puzzled expression. Her eyes seemed to glint in the evening light, though, filled with an air of playful mischievousness. "If you want to do the talking next time and confront the guards yourself, then you're more than welcome to try, and tell them any story you please" she would finish simply, straightening up a little now that the danger was passed.

Turning her attention back to her surroundings, Shallan would raise her head slightly, glancing aruond quckly as she tried to take in what she could of this new city. Things felt much more spacious here despite the fact that the town was much more crowded than the previous one, though perhaps that was only because the city itself was much larger to begin with, and there were probably a handful of people who were either still working or had already made it home for the evening. Of course, perhaps they were just in the wrong part of the city for such things too, but no matter. Regardless, it still felt much more lively and energetic and even perhaps a little more fun than the market town they had just left. Be it the atmosphere or the people or the fact they had avoided detection thus far, she was much more at ease here than she had been for the past few days...or was she just looking forward to the prospect of a proper bed and meal that evening?

"Mm. Knowing how careful we needs be will always prove helpful, methinks. So long as we can find out subtly, with no real..." she started, before trailing off a little as a pair of the inner city's guards sauntered past, chatting idly amongst themselves, but well within earshot should they be paying any form of conscious attention to their surroundings. Once they had well and truly passed, she would throw a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure, before continuing with her little speech. "With no real threat as to being discovered in the process" she would finish simply, before pursuing her lips a little as he suggested that they both find an inn, and take some time to plan to themselves before they progressed much further.

"You mean you don't want to visit a butcher's shop and find a gift for our poor sick relative Ashton?" She questioned simply, giggling softly to herself at her own little joke, before calming herself and growing serious once more. "Finding an inn would be a good step, though we'll need to be cautious. If any of the other travellers staying at said inn have heard of us, they could very well have gossiped to the other patrons, or even the proprietor. Hopefully we'll find one that is unassuming and secure enough for us to speak freely and do said planning, without risk of being overheard...and one cheap enough for us to afford, too" she answered simply, finally turning her own attention to her surroundings in a more serious nature.

Like Mec, the woman wouldn't find anything within their immediate vicinity that suited their needs, even as they continued to progress further and further into the city. She would glance around somewhat idly, before chuckling softly to herself, seemingly out of nowhere. It seemed an innocent enough thing at first, even if the cause was a tad mysterious, though before her laughter had subsided completely she would glance across at Mec, a toothy grin on her face.

"Mayhaps we should find one of the local guards and ask them for directions" she teased simply, before settling once more with a soft sigh. Quite content, she would stroll along idly for several moments, focused almost entirely on their surroundings for the time being. After a handful of turns down streets seemingly picked at random, they entered an area that almost felt residential. The place looked as if it was filled more with homes than shops, apart from the occasional bakery or general store. One more turn and a hanging sign suspended out the front of a large two-story building caught Shallan's eye. 'The sleeping giant Inn', it proclaimed. At about the same time, the unmistakable sound of merrymaking reached her ears, though it was slightly muffled by the walls. Clearly, at least a handful of patrons or just visitors had started their drinking early that evening.

"Shall we have a look-see?" She questioned simply, glancing across at Mec casually, with a tilt of her head. Striding towards the door, she pushed it open and slipped inside. The atmosphere inside the inn-made-pub was hot and stuffy, but almost electric. Indeed, the place was not incredibly crowded, given that the sun was only just beginning to set, but a handful of people were already seated, enjoying a drink and an animated discussion with some long-time friends. The stench in the air was not and heavy, but it was enticing in its own right - to Shallan, at least - and the place was heated to a pleasant warmth. She glanced around briefly, taking in her surroundings, before giving a bit of a casual shrug. "Shall we try and find an owner, or is it too busy? We can always check elsewhere" the question followed. Clearly, she was somewhat hesitant as the place was only likely to get busier as the hour got later, until the darkest hours of the night where any temporary patrons would end up stumbling home.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would raise an amused eyebrow towards friend when she tried to weasel her way out of playing the bastard child in the fiction they had created together. "I suppose that would be unbecoming. I suppose I'll let you off the hook. The surname Foxtrot seems to suit the bastard title a little better, no?"

As they continued to tour the city, Mec's eyes would continue to scan the surroundings, only turning his head briefly to respond to Shallan's comments. He would quietly chuckle when his friend brought up visiting the butcher's shop for the sake of Ashton, not being able to help succumbing to Shallan's contagious giggle. "In all seriousness, it would do us good to visit a butcher if we have the funds," he would say. "If we can find a suitable place to make a fire, I can dry some of the beef and treat it with salts so that it will last us much longer than the feeble amount I was able to bring with me to begin with."

After some more walking and jesting, the two would eventually come across The Sleeping Giant. Mec would follow his companion inside the heat of the alehouse, crinkling his nose at the smells that accompanied the stuffy air. Mec had little experience in these types of settings, only recalling being dragged into the lone pub in Ozette once when he became of age and quickly deciding that it was not his idea of a good time. The loudness and arrogance of men as they lost their minds to the drink, the smells of sweaty patrons and hosts, the occasional violence - he could not imagine finding entertainment or merriment with the dealings in pubs. Maybe it didn't suit his normally quiet personality, or maybe there was some mystery to enjoying getting drunk that he just never caught on to. From what he understood about traveling, however, lodgings in these types of taverns came at a much lower cost than a good and proper inn. There would be little place for a merchant with wares, horses, and wagons to store his possessions, but the accommodations would be more than sufficient for travelers with only a few bags on their backs.

After taking a moment to grow accustomed to the sounds and smells of the inn, Mec would turn his head to respond to his friend. "Let's see if we can speak to the innkeep. A tavern would only be as full as this if it offered cheap drink, and it would be logical to think that a place that offers cheap drink would also offer cheap lodgings." He would glance around the tavern to take in the sights. At some tables he could see the quick shuffling of cards and the rolling of dice, while other tables only held mugs of ales that would be downed by their patrons between roars of laughter and bites of food.

Unable to find anyone else who seemed to be working in the inn, Mec would approach an empty space in front of the bar to address the barkeep. The barkeep's back was turned to the empty space as he chatted idly to one of his customers while drying glasses, his bald head shiny with sweat. After a minute the customer would point towards Mec's direction, prompting the barkeep to turn around and acknowledge the hooded figure behind him. "Can I help you stranger?" he would say through missing teeth.

Mec would lean his arms against the polished wooden counter of the bar, crossing his fingers as he spoke. "My companion and I are searching for a place to rest for the evening. We would be willing to offer good coin for a good meal and a bed for each of us." The boy's almond eyes would scan the barkeep's face for an answer, careful to avoid staring at the mess that was the man's dental situation for too long.

The barkeep would nod his head in response, a small frown setting on his face as he set down the glass he was polishing. "Aye, I believe we may have a room. Can't promise nothin' about its furnishings though. Me big brother Giacomo is the only one allowed to take reservations, and he be busy right now. Maybe if ya come back later h-..." The response would be interrupted by the loud crash of breaking glass, causing Mec to flinch and spin around quickly. The barkeep would smile, exposing his gums as he chuckled. "Actually, here he comes."

One of the serving girls who worked at the tavern sat on her knees in the middle of the stuffy hall, struggling to hold back tears as she carefully began picking up pieces of broken glass and placing them on a silver serving tray. Behind her, a table of brutish men, probably a few years younger than Mec's father, laughed loudly as they made crude jokes directed towards the woman. At first, Mec would only notice the beautiful golden curls that were the girl's hair as her head was slumped over her work, but once he noticed the redness of her face and pained expression he would return to reality, wincing in disgust of the laughing men and in apathy for the girl. At that moment he wished he could comfort the her somehow with a gentlemanly gesture, but a fugitive was in no position to make a show of himself for the sake of valiance, as enamored as he may have been. Another loud noise would once again cause Mec to jolt, this time caused by a door slamming open from the back of the pub.

A large figure stood in the doorway, barely able to march through without ducking his head. Mec could immediately see the resemblance between this man and the barkeep, the main differences being a full set of teeth. What this man lacked in hair on his head he would more than make up for with his thick burgundy beard. Dutifully, the man would approach the girl and kneel next to her. He would take her hand with a surprising tenderness for such a large man, listening to her nearly inaudible mumbling patiently as she explained what had caused her to drop her tray of ales. The man's eyes would widen, and his ferocious visage would rival that of the most fearsome of dragons told in legends. He would leave the girl to attending to the mess, straightening himself as he approached the table of brutes behind her. Without a word, he would slam his fist against the table, rattling the empty mugs and pitchers.

The men would look up from their drunken laughter, almost immediately sobering up to the presence before them. One of them would muster the courage to pipe up. "G-Giacomo, c'mon, we were only having a good time is all. The girl is a clumsy one she, we didn-..."

The tall man would reach over and grab the man by the throat, nearly lifting him over the table. "The sun hasn't even set and you bastards are already hammered to the point of perversion!?" He seemed to shake his prey as he roared. The victim's two companions would stand up quickly, begging for some form of forgiveness or mercy. Their pursuer would offer little of this, however, grabbing both of their collars with one giant hand. "You don't touch one of my girls ye dumb bastards. I will have you turned into eunuchs if I see yer filthy faces again." As the giant grumbled his threats he would drag his three victims out of the front door of the tavern, throwing them onto the street as one would toss a bale of hay onto a pile. Content with his work, the giant man would step back into the inn, ducking his head so that he could walk through the doorway. With a kindliness uncharacteristic to a man of his size, the giant would kneel on one knee to help pick up shards of broken mugs from the floor. Once the glass was picked up, he would pick up the serving tray that held the broken glass and make his way back towards the rear of the building, leaving the serving girl to finish with the rest of the mess.

Mec would stand still, an expression of awe across his face. Whether he feared the man known as Giacomo or was envious of his raw power he couldn't tell, but he certainly was blown away by the display. He didn't dare turn his head as the giant disappeared from the window of view his hood had allowed him. He would be snapped out of his daze when he felt the hand of the barkeep behind him grip his shoulder. "Aye brother, once ye get a moment this lad and his friend would like to book a room for the evenin'." Mec could make out a rough grunt behind him before the sound of a door opening and closing. The hand on his shoulder would give a firm squeeze before letting go. "He'll come back in a moment to speak with ya and yer friend, lad."

[Namingtoohard]

Even as the question of searching for a bartender or innkeeper slipped from her lips, Shallan found herself glancing around the rest of the room somewhat idly. Part of her was searching for someone who looked like they worked here with any sort of authority - moreso than the scarce waitresses or servers who seemed to float from one table to the next, answering any call for another round or the likes. Another, though, was simply taking in her surroundings with a mild interest. Here mother had always kept an open mind, telling her daughter that she could try drinking if she so wished once she had come of age, and the daughter had on rare occasions, but more often than not she refrained - in no small part due to their lack of disposable income to put towards such activities. She had never really overindulged to the point of intoxication either, both out of common sense and for the same money-related reasons, but she had a handful of experiences dealing with other drunken people on the rare occasions when she had stumbled across them.

She had heard many stories about bar encounters that resulted in people singing along together, either spontaneously or with a little encouragement and liquid courage, but somehow Shallan had trouble imagining this lot doing anything of the sort. Indeed, she didn't much feel like trying anything of the sort, given the current jaunty atmosphere. After a quick once-over of the furnishings and a glance at the loudest group of patrons in the bar, she turned and followed Mec as he sought out the bartender and inquired after a room for the both of them. She would listen to the conversation that followed with polite interest, before turning with everyone else at the sound of breaking glass. It cut through the general murmur of conversation like a hot knife through butter, and Shallan pursed her lips a little as she spotted the cause.

Unlike her companion, she wasn't exactly distracted by the waitress' curls at first. Indeed, the reality of the situation impressed itself upon her rather quickly. Given her small frame and total lack of physical prowess or experience in any sort of direct confrontation, she had not the courage to try and deter the men directly, as much as she wished that she could. Shallan was half afraid that if she tried they would just laugh her attempts off, before turning their attention her way. Still, the least she could do was try and help the woman up, offer her some sort of presence to cling on to for support, be it physical or emotional. Before she could move, though...well, Giacomo made his arrival, stopping her dead in her tracks.

Hands clasped together, she would watch in hopeful silence as the giant made his move, approaching the girl with surprising tenderness. While her previous experiences with violence often seemed to explode into motion all at once, this felt quite the opposite. The large man's movements seemed slow and deliberate, at least to begin with, and everyone else seemed frozen in their respective positions as he both spoke with the young girl, before finally turning his attention to those buffoons that had caused this disturbance in the first place. The simple sound of his fist banging on the table was enough to make the woman flinch, even from the opposite side of the hall.

What follow drew her eye, as much as she wished she could look away. Despite the violence that followed, though, the girl was glad that those idiots had gotten what they deserved...well, in her mind, at the very least. As things came to a conclusion, she would snap out of her reverie, blinking a few times, before whispering in a soft tone.

"I suppose we've just met the sleeping giant himself" she muttered softly, voice so low that she wasn't even sure that Mec would hear. Even if he had, she didn't expect much in the way of a reply. Any conversation beyond that died in her throat, with her mood for idle and polite chatter lost in the ruckus. Over the next few moments the same casual air as before returned as general conversation started up again, albeit much more quietly than before, with three of the major offenders removed from the premises. At that point, it seemed that there was little to do but wait until the giant returned. His approach alone was intimidating, but offered a strange sense of security...provided one was standing on the right side of him when push came to shove. Indeed, she felt tiny just standing alongside him.

"So, youse two were after a room, was it?" The question came. His voice had much of the same gentle tone he had used when dealing with the woman earlier, but it wasn't quite the same. As if his tone was tinged with the anger of their earlier confrontation, suppressed without complete success. As soon as either of the pair answered in the affirmative, he would turn, baiting them in with a quick and simple statement - "come with me".

Shallan would follow slowly as the man headed for the stairs leading up towards the second floor. Wooden steps would groan under the weight of the giant as he led them upstairs, but made little to no noise as the woman passed over them. During the short trip, he would glance back over his shoulder at them, though only briefly. "How many days will you be staying with us?" The question came simply. As it did, Shallan would exchange a quick glance with Mec, not totally certain on what the answer should be. Finally she decided to settle on a safe and honest one. "At least a day, but it could stretch for longer, depending on how things go" she responded. It was hard to judge for sure until she and Mec got the chance to discuss future plans. The answer seemed satisfactory, as the giant grunted simply in response.

"Here ya are" he announced simply, leading them to a door down the far end of the hallway, on the left hand side of the building. He would push it open, before standing aside so that the two of them could inspect the room. Shallan would step inside gingerly, glancing around at the sparse furnishings. Two single beds sat opposite each other, both attended by a small bedside dresser, some wooden chairs and a table, all made from the same dull hardwood. Still, the mattresses and sheets seemed about as clean as one could expect from a place like this. She nodded in satisfaction to herself for a moment, before only glancing back at the man as he spoke up again.

"So, will ye be staying with us?" He questioned simply. After another glance towards her companion, she would give a simple nod. "We'll take it" she confirmed verbally after a moment. "Just head downstairs and see my brother when y'all get hungry. He'll set you both up with a meal good and proper" he announced simply. Unless Mec said anything else to object, the man would take his leave then, pulling the door closed behind him. The sound of his footsteps would echo throughout the hall, audible even within their confined little room, but Shallan paid them no mind as she headed over to one of the beds and pulled off her pack, setting it down unceremoniously. After a moment of silence, Shallan would speak up again, tone soft.

"...somehow I don't think they have to worry about people skipping out on their bills often"

[Headwrapper]

As the conversations and games of the inn began to pick back up, Mec too would also regain his bearings. Somehow, the atmosphere in the room felt less overpowering to him now, as if a small factor in what he disliked about pubs had vanished. After a few seconds he would allow himself some distraction from the noise, losing himself in the golden curls of the waitress once again. The brightness of the girl's locks he would swear had something different to it than other blonde's, something that let it cut through the musty dark air of the inn. He would catch glimpses of her face, still red but no longer holding an agonized expression like before, and determined she must have been about the same age as himself or Shallan. Although her skin still burned red with embarrassment, she still had some cute charm left with the way her small nose and dimples were arranged in the tiny frame of her face. Mec would quickly avert his attention, turning back towards where Giacomo would be returning from, when the girl finished wiping up the spill and began towards the back of the inn. He would glance one more time at her bright locks as she walked by. If only she had not kept her eyes so low in humiliation he would have been able to see what color they were.

Mec would immediately dismiss his infatuation with the girl once Giacomo returned. Mec would respond to the giant's initial question with a nod, and follow obligingly as he and his companion were led to their room. Mec would watch with some awe as the giant ducked his bald head below the entrances of the hallways he walked them through. This man who seemed to match the namesake of the inn must have been the brains and the brawn operation, considering he acted as an innkeeper and a bouncer all at the same time. The young man would wonder if it was normal to be so impressed with the people of the city. Was it possible the further they got from Ozette the more and more of these impressive people he would run into? Guards whose stares could freeze you in your tracks, pretty girls who left you smitten with just a glance of their golden hair, and giants who could drag grown men around like they were just sacks of potatoes? It was entertaining to think that a mage would be so awed by the feats of regular people.

Mec would remain silent as they were shown the room. It would be good enough for a night's rest. If he and his companion were quiet, they would be able to discuss their future plans at the table. He would nod in agreement as Shallan accepted the room and watch solemnly as the door closed behind Giacomo. The man would remain silent as he set his bag down next to the other bed, only perking up when Shallan made her last comment. "I thought it strange that there was no guard at the door," he would say after a small chuckle. "I guess they don't need one." After a brief inspection of the sheets Mec would finally decide to sit on the bed, the frame giving a quiet creak as he did.

After a few seconds he would decide to untie the cloak from around his neck and letting it drop onto the mattress behind him. He would rub the back of his neck with one hand as he took a moment to glance around the room from his new spot. The wood all had the same dull color and seemed to blend together, much like the stone that was used to build Avoorka. After deciding there wasn't much more to see, he would kick off his shoes and toss his legs up onto the bed so as lay on his stomach, facing Shallan. He would rest his head on one hand before probing her with a question. "You didn't happen to catch the color of that serving girl's eyes did you?" The question came with an overly casual tone as if he was trying to mask his interest.

As Shallan responded, in whatever form that may be, the young man would turn himself onto his back and stare blankly at the ceiling. "No leaks or mold up there, I think." He would let his arms hang off the sides of the mattress as he rested. After a time a sense of seriousness would return to him and he would finally pose a productive question. "Shall we go ask for our meals and bring them back up here? I don't do so well in crowds like those. And even if I did... Well, y'know."

[Namingtoohard]

Humming thoughtfully to herself for a moment, Shallan would place both of her hands on her hips for a moment as she took another glance around at their surroundings, now that she was free to do so without being placed under the withering gaze of the giant who ran the place. After a few seconds she would take a few cautious steps towards the closed shutters of the window, even as Mec dropped himself down into the bed. Leaning over, she could cast them open quickly, letting the a breath of fresh air sweep the room.

Seemingly unbothered by the rapidly fading light, she would place her hands on the empty windowsill, glancing out over the street idly. The view was unremarkable enough, all in all, offering little more than a vantage point over the narrow street and a new and strange angle to view the buildings on the other side of the road. There was a decent view of the sky as the last remnants of the day's light faded, and the woman theorised that it might have served as a decent place for people watching when the streets were busier.

She would glance across at Mec as he questioned her on the colour of the serving girl's eyes, raising one of her eyebrows in a puzzled expression. Despite all attempts at nonchalance, it seemed a strange question to ask out of nowhere, regardless of tone or intent.

"No, I'm afraid I didn't" she answered plainly, voice flat and neutral as she eyed him with something akin to suspicion for a few moments. She relaxed a little as discussion turned to the singular topic of food, though, which was one she had a much more powerful opinion on. In an instant she has turned away from the window, and was nodding enthusiastically. "Ah, please. I'd give anything for a warm, home-cooked meal right about now" she responded, leaving her pack behind and once again making for the door.

The journey back downstairs was a quick and uneventful one, though the main hall that took up most of the ground floor was slightly more crowded than their first visit. The party had definitely begun now, even if it was still building. Shallan paid no mind to most of it, though, quickly cutting a beeline towards the brother Mec had spoken with before - the bartender with the startling lack of teeth. He spotted the two new travellers coming this time, removing the necessity of getting his attention.

"Well, ye two are back awful quickly. Ye'll be wanting food and drink, then?" the question came, to which Shallan quickly responded with an enthusiastic nod. "We have some lovely beef stew that's been sitting over the fire most evenin'. If that doesn't suit your tastes, though, I'm sure we can whip something else up for ya" he explained simply. Shallan quickly consented, saying that a slow-cooked stew sounded just about perfect, though she left it open for Mec to put in his own request for whatever he pleased.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would let out a small groan as he rolled himself back onto his feet. "I really shouldn't have lain down," he grunted as he leaned on the bed to put his shoes back on. He would follow his friend out the door and make sure it shut behind them before following her lead back to the main part of the tavern. As they walked his expression grew unenthusiastic, as if withdrawing himself from his surroundings, worn-out from the long day of travel and meeting new people. The events were exhausting, to the say the least, on a mental level nearly as much as they were a physical one. Mec was accustomed to interacting with the same ring of people- patrons of the family business, and it probably had been years since he had even met someone new. Today every person he interacted with, not including Shallan, had been unfamiliar. Fresh faces, grunts, laughs - a shopkeeper from a small town couldn't help but feel worn out taking in all the new sights and sounds.

The young man would seem to come back to life as he and his companion reached the tavern. His eyes would flick around the room as he entered before he followed his friend to where the barkeep stood. He would second Shallan's response to the offered stew with a nod, smiling in appreciation. As the barkeep stepped away to fetch a couple bowls, Mec would lean against the counter with one hand, turning himself to view the display of merriment and cheer that surrounded him. His opposite hand would pull his lengthy brown locks away from his face, exposing his almond eyes and lightly wrinkled forehead as he continued to watch the crowd.

Mec would grin admiringly when he spotted Giacomo, the sleeping giant himself, serving a table a pitcher of ale. The long, dark beard on the giant's face would bounce as he laughed heartily, jesting with one of his patrons. A man who stuck by his business and ensured its success with his own hands, this was a man not unlike Mec's father. Mec's expression would quickly change to one of surprise, the almonds of his eyes briefly turning into walnuts, when the serving girl from earlier suddenly appeared from behind the giant, darting dutifully between the tables of customers. Now unburdened by the humiliation of the earlier events, the girls skin was no longer a bright red, but a soft pink. Her bright white smile, accompanied flawlessly with the rosiness of her cheeks, was small and held a sort of shy charm as she directed it to her patrons.

Mec's face would only convey his surprise for a brief second before he straightened his expression, forcing his eyes to gaze in other directions. Still, he would find himself cheating quick glances in the girl's direction, unable to resist searching for some secret hidden in that small face or those golden locks which might release him from this smitten state. It was so foolish to feel so enamored by a complete stranger in this way, Mec knew, but he supposed there was no harm in admiring from afar. Soon, he would be leaving this inn to continue his forced pilgrimage, leaving behind any beautiful women or noble men he might meet, so what would be so wrong about appreciating their presence now? These thoughts lingered on his mind as he watched the server's her delicate fingers serving the last of her load of drinks. She would turn and briskly walk towards the back of the pub to restock her serving tray.

When the girl turned, even though it was only barely towards his direction, Mec would quickly spin himself back around to face the bar and lean his arms against it to watch the barkeep as he filled the two bowls with the promised stew. Mec would accept one of the bowls and offer his thanks before making a hasty turn back towards the stairs, keeping himself purposely ahead of Shallan if she had followed suit to mask any secrets his face might betray, only relinquishing the lead to hold the door open should they return without hindrance.

[Namingtoohard]

Quite the contrast to her shy and almost reclusive companion, Shallan herself seemed right at home amongst the heated atmosphere and bustling chaos that made up the bar's mess hall. It almost seemed a microcosm for human interaction and society as a whole, in a strange way...or was she simply overthinking things? Regardless, she was enjoying herself there, just sitting back and taking in the sights and sounds as everyone else went about their own merrymaking. Like her comrade, she took note of the same waitress they had witnessed as a part of events before, and the sleeping giant himself. Unlike him, though, she allowed her gaze to slip over and past them without any particular focus while the two of them patiently waited for their chosen stew.

Her gaze lingered on a few of the mugs of ale as they passed, and for the briefest of moments, the girl hesitated. Assuming her admittedly limited experience was still valid here, she didn't mind the stuff, finding it somewhat enjoyable on the few rare occasions when she had been allowed to try it. The idea of ordering just one for herself lingered briefly, before she dismissed the idea almost as quickly as it had come. Their funds were just as limited as her own had been back home, after all, and if she allowed the drink to dull her senses then she might accidentally let slip something she shouldn't. Better to avoid the risk entirely. It seemed she didn't have long to dwell on the thought, though, as her attention was quickly distracted by Mec's hasty turn away from their surroundings and back towards the bar. It seemed curious enough, but perhaps he had just heard the stew being served and she had missed it.

Turning around in a much more slow and reserved manner, her eyes would light up as she caught sight of the two steaming bowls that were waiting for the two of them. Clasping her hands together, she eyed it greedily for a moment, a grin plastered across her face. "Ah, it smells so good" she chimed idly after a moment, before reaching out to take the bowl, pausing briefly to give the bartender her thanks. As she straightened up to go, though, the girl paused briefly again. "...actually, do you have any leftover bread?" She questioned simply, tilting her head a little. Just a few moments later, two perfectly good ends from a loaf sat on the edges of her bowl, just barely dipping into the stew. Mood lifted by the simple gesture, she thanked the man again, before turning and following Mec back towards their rooms.

Slipping into their shared room ahead of Mec as he politely held the door open for her, Shallan would head towards the desk beneath the open window, setting her bowl down almost immediately. She had some inkling that something was off with her companion, given his most recent actions combined with his strange question before, yet she didn't feel it was enough for her to question him outright. So, for now, she would simply drag one of the chairs across to her side of the desk and help herself to a seat, electing to eat first and save any conversation - whether it be questioning or their necessary planning session - for afterwards.

Mouth practically watering, Shallan dig into her meal eagerly. As soon as she took that first bite, the woman closed her eyes, focusing almost entirely on the taste. The meat and spices both were distinct, yet blended relatively well; their flavour rolling over her. The smell was almost as delectable, though it could have just been Shallan's standing hunger enhancing the taste of the stew beyond its actual properties. She hadn't really stopped to eat since well before her nap, after all, and her last meal had hardly been a proper one. A gran that sounded particularly unladylike escaped her, but she didn't seem to care. At some point throughout the feeding frenzy, she would hold out one of the bread crust to Mec - offering it to him so that he would have his own to mop up what was left of the stew when he was done. If he should refuse, though...well, she was more than happy to make use of it herself.

"Ah..if all their food is this good, I would honestly consider staying a few days extra just so I can try it all" she answered simply, unable to help but let out a soft sigh of contentedness as she sat back in her chair. A few seconds of silence would follow, and she would be sure to wait until Mec was done with his own meal before she pursued any more serious avenues of conversation. Following that train of thought, she would take a moment to get up out of her chair, moving to close the shutters she had reopened before, just to make sure their voices didn't carry too far.

"Well...hopefully the party downstairs has picked up enough for us to talk without being overheard" she remarked simply, pausing briefly for a moment to listen. After another quick trip to the door, she would open it just enough to glance out into the hallway beyond, making sure that it was deserted. The faint clamour from downstairs was somewhat audible even up here, and as soon as she had satisfied her curiosity, she would withdraw back into the room. Closing the door behind her, she would make for her bed this time, flopping down onto it unceremoniously.

"There's no putting it off any longer, I suppose" she remarked simply, pursing her lips a little. She was, of course, referring to the more serious conversation they needed to have. "Two days' travel isn't really enough for us to...disappear, so I doubt we should linger here for long. I think it's time to start looking a bit further ahead, instead of just running from one town to the next aimlessly" she opened, taking a moment to adjust her position on her bed briefly as she spoke, before finally settling down again. Staring up at the ceiling, she pondered her own question briefly. "Of course, we'll need to stock up if we intend to travel anywhere more than a day away, and there's not always going to be a cart we can hitch a ride on"

[Headwrapper]

Mec would take take his seat on the opposite of the desk. He enjoyed his meal which much less vigor than his companion, bringing slow spoonfuls up to his mouth every few seconds as he took in the view outside the window. The food was very agreeable and he may have been much more excited about it had he not snacked during the journey in the merchant's cart. As the motion of eating started to become autonomous, Mec would allow himself to push all thoughts to the edges of his mind, his face resuming the withdrawn expression it did before. This time of silence within his own head would serve as a break from the activities of the day. His own blank space, away from any thoughts or recollections of his experiences so far.

Occasionally he would take a few seconds to swirl the remaining stew in his bowl around with his spoon, eyeing the tender meat curiously before continuing his steady feast. His actions grew redundant as this went on, repeating the same routine of swirling the stew idly, taking a bite, and looking out the window over and over until his bowl was just about empty. It would be about this time that he would tear off a piece of bread from the piece offered to him and return the remainder to his companion. The boy would then sit up straighter in his chair to scoop out the last of his bowl's contents with his piece of bread, then stand up as he tossed the moistened crust in his mouth.

Mec's thoughts would return to him as companion spoke, and he would mostly nod idly in response to her comments until after she had closed the window and checked the hallway. The images of their travels so far seemed to come back in quick succession as they repopulated his mind, and Mec would return to reality. He would kick off his shoes and push them towards his bag with his foot before taking some time to light the sparse candles that were placed around the room to combat the impending dark of the night.

His feet would tread carefully across the floor as they carried him from the last candle back over to his bag. He would take his money pouch and place it on the table as Shallan spoke, before taking his place at the edge of his bed. The idea of having to leave soon didn't settle well with him, but these thoughts would remain hidden as he was conscious this feeling was caused by the strange obsession he felt towards the girl downstairs. "We need to determine how capable we are of getting doing anything in this city first. It doesn't seem like news has traveled this far. It's possible it never will either, considering how inapt the authority has been so far... But either way we probably need to scout a little before doing anything else in this city like stocking up on supplies."

He would point to the sack of coins he had placed on the table. "That's all I have left in terms of money. I'm not sure what you have, but I assume it's not going to be much more. And we still have to deduct whatever payment we'll owe this inn of course." A hand would raise to his forehead, pushing against the creases that formed as he thought aloud. "We probably need to be traveling on foot from here on out, but that will mean we require more in terms of provisions... And we will have to be able to set up camp on cold nights. We have a fire steel so as long as we travel along places with firewood I suppose we'll do fine in that regard."

With a soft sigh he would stand and make his way over to the desk to acquire the parchment, quill, and ink bottle that rest on the corner. The quill was quite underwhelming, the dark feather excessively plucked to expose the white shaft below. After removing the glass stopper from the bottle, he would dip the quill into the black liquid and begin to write a list of possible items they might require so that they might prioritize them later. He would stop writing after a few words, speaking as he inspected the notched end of the quill. "To make things easier, I suppose we would need to have a final destination in mind... Unless we just decide to become forest people or something. I'm assuming you don't have any place in mind do you?"

[Namingtoohard]

Quite content in her current position atop her bed, where she had so gracelessly flopped down just a few moments earlier, Shallan would continue to stare at the roof rather idly as he moved about, lighting the various candles scattered around. She would have jumped up and offered to help, but now that she was finally off her feet the woman almost couldn't stand the thought of having to get up again so soon. Her nap earlier had been sufficient for getting her through the rest of the day, but she was really looking forward to a proper night of rest, and in an actual bed.

At his words, she would frown briefly, as if pondering such thoughts idly for a moment. His optimistic view was ideal, but she felt that it was a tad too early to count out the local authorities just yet, for a handful of reasons. She sincerely hoped that he was right, however strongly she might have objected to the notion.

"I think it's too soon to say. Our exposure here has been limited, and news made it to the last city before we had. They could full well be looking for us and we just haven't seen proof of it yet" she pointed out simply, before frowning a little as talk turned to money. Rolling towards the edge of her bed, she would stretch and strain to grab her own pack from where she had dumped it without getting up. Pulling it close, she would rummage around for a moment, before withdrawing her own little money pouch and tossing it towards the desk. At a glance, it seemed a little under half full; not a stunning amount, by any means.

"Mm...perhaps we could head even further west, towards the mountains? Or towards the coast. Loose ourselves in one of the fishing villiages, or charter a boat" she mused idly over their final destination, before giving a bit of a casual shrug.

"Whatever we do, money is going to become an issue eventually. We're going to need to find some way to stretch it, or work out some sort of alternative" she mused simply, settling back into position on her bed. "If we bought the supplies, I could try sewing some clothes or something, but there's no promise they would sell" she mumbled softly, almost to herself, trailing off a little as she mulled over their options. There was one idea that lingered in her mind, but she worried that Mec would be opposed to it strongly, or they wouldn't be able to manage it despite their best efforts.

"Do you think...do you think that you could grow food if necessary, the same way you grew that tree, or those flowers?" She finally risked, glancing across at him hesitantly. She tried to avoid being specific, just in case they were being overheard or eavesdropped on after all. "If you managed to grow an entire tree without realising it, then making one bear fruit shouldn't be too hard...right?"

[Headwrapper]

Mec pull the table closer to his bed so that he may continue writing their thoughts on the parchment while sitting on the edge of his bed. "You would be surprised how often criminals get off cleanly just by traveling a few cities away," he would say with a shrug. "Avoorka sees travelers from Ozette regularly, but it's not often that I heard of people from Ozette traveling this far for merriment. Besides, other than the ones defending the gates, most of the guards seem to be equipped with their own weapons. Probably because the government can't afford to properly arm enough men to cover such a large city. You can tell because they're carrying cheap clubs instead of sharp steel... I don't think they'll be much more persistent than the well-armed guards we've seen at the gates or in Avoorka."

After they had discussed possibilities for their final destinations, he would reach into his bag and procure his travel receipts and his leather-bound notes. He would open the book to the page that contained a map of the kingdom. The next few pages would contain other maps of the world, but there was no guarantee on their accuracy. "If we get far enough away, we can use some of these travel receipts to pass through toll roads to increase our distance from Ozette even faster. We could always determine our route based on which ones I happened to grab when we left."

Shallan would eventually suggest the use of his magic to try to help spawn food. At first he would stare blankly at his parchment, tapping the end of the quill against the top corner. After a few moments of silence he would let out a long sigh, and raise his gaze from the table to his friend. "Did you forget that that's what got us into this mess in the first place?" he would ask with a small frown. "Have you not seen the nature of what..." He would pause, careful not to speak explicitly in case they would be overheard. "In what I created? Malice grew those plants and malice is all that they bore. The tree was a result of theft. The flowers, a result of me temporarily losing my sanity to some voice inside of my mind." He would raise his hand to display the purple bruise that had manifested along the side of his small finger down to his forearm. "A bad tree cannot bear good fruit. It's that simple."

After his short outburst, the young man would pull himself higher onto the bed, so as to sit with his legs crossed. Frustratingly enough, he knew what Shallan had suggested was logical and it would help them tremendously during their travels. It did not eliminate the points he had mentioned, though. So far, his magic was mostly involuntary or a result of an emotional outburst. Even if he had some control over his powers, from their experiences so far it would bring malevolence to them. Mec would rest his head on one fist, his elbow supported by his knee. "It's... It's not like I can just get angry and punch the ground and make an apple tree you know..."

He would let the comment hang in the air for a moment, before adding something to the list he had on the table and looking back up to Shallan. "I suppose if it comes down to it though, I won't just let us starve. But it'll be a last resort."

With this, Mec would uncross his legs and fall back onto his bed. He would stay like this for a while, watching as the orange glow of the candles flickered across the ceiling. He could feel the clutches of sleep begin to take him away from reality, and if it wasn't for the importance of their discussion he probably would have just succumbed to slumber. "I don't know about you, but I'm too tried to think properly. We might have to continue our talk later, yeah?"

[Namingtoohard]

At his words, Shallan would give a bit of a dismissive shrug...on the topic of the local guards, at the very least, indeed, it seemed that she held a rather different opinion to him, at least in regard to how careful they needed to be. At the end of the day, she felt that anyone armed who could potentially be on the lookout for them was worth taking note of. Whether the attacker was swinging a proper forged steel sword or a wooden club, the result would be pretty much the same if they were struck. Whether it be by slicing or brute force, both were still perfectly capable of bringing death to either of the two should they get careless and end up cornered or taken captive. Besides, equipment aside, some people might seek to bring them ill will for reasons other than just their employment.

"Fear can be a powerful motivator" she mumbled softly, almost to herself, not wanting to directly breach the topic that people were more likely than not deathly afraid of Mec and what it was that he could do...or what they believed he could do, at the very least. She didn't want to push the issue too strongly right now, so instead she was content to move on as they turned to the prospect of using the toll roads. Unfortunately it was a short-lived one, as talk quickly turned back to his magic and the idea of using it to aid her survival. Just as she had feared, he was strongly opposed to the idea, to say the very least. Pursing her lips, she would twist just enough to watch him with a frown for several moments, eyes thoughtful as she tried to come up with some way to accurately articulate or otherwise explain her thoughts on the matter.

"They hold only what you see in them. You yourself told me that you never intended to harm that child back home, and you didn't. The flowers you grew could easily be interpreted to be an emotion-filled wish for the child's sick mother to heal. It's all a matter of perspective" she mused, voice equally quiet and reserved, before she would give a bit of a casual shrug as he announced that he wouldn't let them starve if at all possible. It was not what she had hoped for, what she had wanted this thread of conversation to achieve, but it was a start. Moreso than she had honestly expected to get out of him tonight, on the first time they had discussed such a thing. Even as he asked about leaving this conversation for another time, she stayed silent for a few moments, looking off into the distance sightlessly. Staring off into space, so to speak.

"...yeah" the answer finally came, about as plain and simple as one could expect, and equally reserved. With nothing more to say o none matter, Shallan leaned across and blew out the candle closest to her, though she paid no mind to those further away. With that, the discussion would be replaced by the sound of rustling and sliding fabric briefly, as she finally made the effort to climb under the blankets and into the bed good and proper. Normally a rather restless sleeper, Shallan's mind briefly registered that she likely wouldn't have any problems tonight. Fatigue rushed over her like a wave as soon as she lay her head down on the pillow, dragging her eyelids closed almost against her will. With one final soft yawn to punctuate her descent, the girl would embrace the urges to rest wholeheartedly, quickly slipping out of consciousness and into the world of dreams almost straight away.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would muster up the energy to roll himself off of his bed to blow out the last few candles. Now in complete darkness, he would tread back to the bed and carefully slide himself beneath the fabric of the sheets to lay on his back. He would lay with his hands behind his head to stare blankly into the darkness above him, clearing his mind of the thoughts that had piled over the course of the day. Occasionally a thought would resurface, some memory or some coincidence he never questioned that day, but he would only allow it to linger for a second before letting it go to fade into the darkness around him. The silent grip of sleep would begin to tighten itself around his consciousness, and after only briefly closing his eyes the boy would succumb to the clutches of what awaited him outside of reality.

"You must teach all to partake in the Anima."

Mec would find himself standing in the darkness, alone. "Who's there?" He would strain his eyes to try to see in the darkness that surrounded him, but only in vain. Almost instinctively, he would hold out his hand and summon a small ball of flame. The flame seemed to fuel itself as it floated in a neatly defined orb a few inches above his extended palm, lighting up the room in its orange haze. To his surprise, he had been standing in the middle of the room he and Shallan had rented for the night. In the glow of the fire, he could see that the room had been completely emptied of all furniture. The deafening sound of the floorboards creaking beneath Mec's feet echoed in the barren chamber as he approached the door.

The mage would open the door and begin to step out into the hallway, only to take a step back into the the room. He could hear the voice of G once again, "Go on little one. There's is no reason to fear the world soul. Has it not provided you with what you asked time and time again?"

Mec would shake his head at the question. "What do you mean? All you've done is make a a villain of me... And of Shal..." Only silence would follow. Mec would close the door and return to where his bed should have been within the chamber. His arm would raise to lift the ball of fire higher and better illuminate the dark room in its orange glow. "I wonder what happened to all the furniture... Oh, and where's Shal? I don't remember us talking about splitting up..." The boy would repeatedly turn around to search the room, a confused expression on his face. A feeling of panic would begin to clutch at his chest and his breathing would become more rapid as he circled the room over and over again.

In the back of the boy's mind he knew that there was no reason for panic, but for some reason this logical thought would be pushed aside as his feral panic took over. "I really don't remember. Where did she say she was going? I don't know. Did I lose her? Was she taken by a guard?" These thoughts would endlessly stream from the boy's mouth as he continued his feverish pacing around the room. He would suddenly stop next to the door of the room. "I guess I have to go this way... Where else would she be?" After a brief hesitation, Mec would open the door and step out into what he thought was the hallway, only to realize that there had been no floor beneath him as he tumbled into the darkness below.

Mec's could feel his body jerk upwards as he gasped himself awake. As he gained consciousness, the orb of flame that rested in his hand would roll to the ground and flash brightly before dissipating into smoke. The bright light was accompanied by small roar from the flame, the sound similar to that of a waving torch. Mec would wince at the sound and bright light before wrinkling his nose at the scorched wood where the fire had landed.

After a few seconds, the somnolent youth would finally get his bearings and understand what had happened. A small feeling of shame would set in as he processed what had occurred. The boy must have summoned an actual ball of flame while dreaming he had done the same, and lost control of it when his dream had concluded.

After letting out a loud sigh, he would allow himself to fall back onto the bed. As he lay there, he could hear the chirping of the early morning birds just outside. He could only hope that the noise or the light did not alarm anyone outside or within the inn, masked by the sounds and lights of the cool morning. "Oh..." The boy would recall the uncharacteristic panic he had felt during his strange dream, and sit up to see if Shallan was back in her bed, either still asleep or awakened.

[Namingtoohard]

Rather predictably, Shallan's exhaustion made her sleep restful and dreamless, for once. Normally the young girl had nightmares of her mother during a few of the times they were worse-off, or some other negative encounter she had once experienced. They were all relived and amplified, both by the faults of memory, the phantasmagorical nature of dreams themselves, and the fact that there was virtually no way to escape them besides being disturbed by an outside agent. Even on the best of nights, she tended to toss and turn rather erratically, and would occasionally mumble to herself as she slept, though the words were often inaudible. Not this time, though. For once everything seemed to be going relatively well, partially because of her fatigue making it easy to drift off, and because even the small bed of the inn felt like a royal suite compared to the back of the cart where she had napped earlier.

When consciousness finally did return, it came rather slowly at first, and then all at once. The bright flash and sudden outburst of noise caused by Mec's unintentional fireball mishap was unusual enough to rouse Shallan from her sleep. Eyes flickering open, she would groan softly to herself, before reaching up with a hand to rub at both of her eyes lazily, one after the other. Once she had cleared them of any lingering sleep, the girl would finally push her upper body up off the mattress with her arms, blinking rapidly as she glanced around and tried to get her bearings. It took her a few seconds to realise that she wasn't at home, and was instead somewhere foreign, that she had never visited before. After that, the exact circumstances returned in full force, sinking in with all of their terribleness. Like always, though, Shallan shrugged off any looming despair in favour of her normal, chipper attitude.

Of course, her slow awakening was quickly sped up by the sudden realisation of what exactly was happening in their room. With a soft yelp, she would throw the covers back and spring to her feet, as if getting ready to run should there prove to be any real danger. Eyes wide, she glanced around quickly, as if trying to assess the situation. The shock of the moment had immediately sobered her, banishing any sleepiness that she would have felt otherwise as her adrenaline kicked in. Initial impressions were that something much more mundane had caused the fire, but that was something that would change soon enough.

"Mec! What happened? Did one of the candles..." she started, before trailing off a little. Her initial impression had been just that - thinking one of the candles had tipped over during the night and set something larger alight. A few moments after, her eyes flickered about the room, from one candle to the next. She eyed all of them in rapid succession, only to find that they were all still standing where they had last been seen...and that none of them had burned down to the wick during the night. This, of course, triggered the memory of Mec getting up to extinguish them all - nothing more than the sound of his padded footsteps in her mind, as her eyes had been closed at the time, but it was enough. Finally, her gaze would settle on him again, a little more weary and withdrawn than before.

"Mec...did...what exactly happened?" the words came, her eyes meeting his for a brief moment, before slipping towards the scorched wood on the ground. Slowly, she would take a few careful steps towards it, before crouching down low near where the burns had occurred. With the same caution, she would reach out towards the burn marks, gently pressing her fingertips to them. Once she had established that they weren't still hot enough to burn, she ran her hand over them briefly, admiring the strange pattern and the contained way they had spread, only affecting a very specific area. When she was done she would glance up at him from her new position again, clearly expecting some sort of explanation at this point.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would tilt his head quizzically as he watched his friend admiring the damage to the wood. It seemed that most of the black that was visible was powdery black soot, leaving only small tracing made of burnt matter in the actual wood. Mec could feel his eyes begin to water as a he picked up on the burning smell in the room, so he would take a moment to open the window just a small amount. The cool air of the morning came rushing in, sweeping away any smell of burning wood that may have lingered.

He wondered what had cause this particular instance of his accidental magic to be so violent. Usually any fires that were conjured during Mec's visions were small harmless puffs of flame, immediately dispersing once they touched anything without leaving any evidence of their existence but wisps of smoke. He could recall that in his dream he had summoned the fire willfully, almost as if it was a habitual action. Could this confidence he portrayed in using his magic in his dream have caused the size and power of this particular fireball?

The damage he had caused with the most recent fire was hardly serious, but it was still concerning that he could burn anything at all while he was unconscious. A more serious fire could have meant the capture of himself and Shallan, if they weren't killed by it. The fire could have caused innocents to lose their lives as well, and Giacomo his business. These thoughts visibly brought uneasiness to the young mage as he went back to sit on his bed.

Mec would tap the tips of his index fingers together as he turned his gaze away from Shallan's. "Well... I supposed I dreamt..." He would then squeeze his eyes shut, seemingly ashamed of what had happened. It was foolish of him to forget what had occurred sometimes in his sleep, and even more foolish to put his friend at risk of danger from such events.

Mec's fingers would continue tapping as his eyes continued to avoid the presence of his companion. After a few moments he would finally stop tapping his fingers and hook them together. "I-I'm sorry... They've never been that dangerous before. I didn't... If I knew that I could get so close to putting us in danger I would have refused to stay in an inn."

From beneath the floorboards Mec could hear some activity taking place within the tavern. He was unable to to imagine what could have been happening down below just from the muffled sounds, but no one seemed to be in a panic or a rush. He hoped this was a sign no one in the inn had heard or seen anything suspicious, but it still concerned him that there was a chance someone from outside might have seen something unusual. "What could they be doing so early in the morning?" he murmured silently.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would purse her lips briefly as she listened to Mec's apology, quickly glancing down at the scorch marks again. Slowly, she would withdraw her hand, before bringing it up to her face. She would examine the blackening soot that had stuck to her fingers for a moment, just as she had the scorch marks, rolling it between her thumb and forefinger for a second. As soon as she was done, the girl would straighten up again, brushing her hands off quickly in an attempt to rid them of the vast majority of the soot and ash that had stuck to them.

Finally, she would give a bit of a dismissive shrug, almost as if she was brushing the entire occurrence off as inconsequential. Like always, Mec's nerves were proving to be extremely obvious, and while unknowing creating fire could be a risk, she didn't necessarily think the power to create flame was a bad thing. Especially considering the knowledge that their plans could involve staying out in the wilderness some nights.

"Well, I wouldn't go that far. There's no real harm done from the looks of things, and it's good to know that we won't freeze to death any time soon, even if we can't find some firesteel" she remarked, trying to sound as casual as possible, despite the controversial topic. Perhaps if she maintained her air of nonchalance, he would open up to the topic more. After all, she still couldn't believe that Mec was evil in any small part, and if he did use magic it would end up reflecting that one notion.

Her casual attitude lingered for the next few moments, even as Mec muttered to himself about what was happening downstairs - a statement she didn't catch in full. Still, she wasn't to be dissuaded. "I hope they've got breakfast on down there already" she mused simply, before her gaze drifted back across to the small coin bags they had left sitting out on the table the night before. "...or should we see if we can find a cheaper alternative?" The question came, perhaps a little more reserved and hesitant, before she would give a bit of a casual shrug.

"I assume most of today will be sussing out the rest of the city and trying to stock up on those supplies we planned on, right?" The question came, along with another casual glance, thrown in his direction. "That and more brainstorming" she would add, pulling a bit of a goofy face - one that almost made it look like she had taken a bite of something incredibly sour. Another one of her attempts to try and help lighten the mood a little, really. On a journey like theirs, with such a shadow hanging over them, Shallan thought it would be important to try and keep morale as high as possible.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would rest his elbows against his thighs and clasp his hands together as he continued to stare at the burned markings at his feet. The boy found Shallan's casual attitude about everything that had happened so far somewhat odd considering the risks they were taking. If they wanted to come out ahead in this game they played against the world they would have very little room for errors. Still, between saving him from imprisonment, his outbursts in Avoorka, and now this, Mec couldn't help but feel a bit relieved that Shallan seemed not to hold anything against him. At the very least, none of it upset her enough to trigger a response.

He would release his fingers and allow himself to rest his chin on the knuckles of one hand as he looked up at his companion. At this point he decided if she was willing to overlook this event, at least for now, then he would too. For now they could take it as a learning experience and better prepare accordingly. Mec would feel his resolve returning as he continued to ponder these more productive thoughts. He would rub his eyes with his free hand once Shallan had asked about breakfast. "Well, I suppose we can try visiting the markets to find food for less. I would imagine a handful of fruit or some loaves of bread would be much cheaper than anything that's prepared by the cook."

As he began to formulate a response to Shallan's question about their plans for the day, Mec would raise an eyebrow at the strange face she made at him. After a brief moment of contemplation, he would return the face with one as equally goofy. He would stick out his tongue at his companion while squeezing his eyes shut for a couple seconds, still leaning his head against one hand. Once he was done exchanging silly glances, his face would relax into a pleased expression, the edges of his lips curled into a small grin. His eyes would beam in much the same way as he spoke. "Yeah. We can take the list I wrote with us and try to obtain as many items from it as we can. From there we would have to decide if it would be worth it to stay in an inn another night or to move on."

He would stand up, and with a few long strides would make his way to the table in the center of the room. After collecting his money pouch and the list from the table he would store the items in his bag. "Well, let's plan on meeting in the tavern within the hour. Gives us some time to wash up for the day." With a shrug, he would take his bag and his cloak and exit the room.

Once Mec had completed any morning rituals, he would sit and wait for Shallan at one of the smaller tables in the main part of the tavern. He had dismissed any offers for service from any employees with a wave of his hand. Finding the pub-water slightly on the dirty side, he opted to sip from one of his waterskins as he waited for his companion, the hood of his cloak concealing his face as an extra measure. The pub was mostly empty, populated by only a handful of people seated to enjoy a morning meal. Mec's expression would perk up each time a newcomer would enter the hall, one part of him hoping Shallan had arrived and another part of him hoping to be graced by the beauty he had seen in the waitress from the night before.

[Namingtoohard]

A bit of a grin flickered across Shallan's face as she saw that Mec had chosen to respond to her rather unusual little ploy, inwardly assuming that her intention of lightening the mood had gone over well. As things moved on, she would give a small nod, mimicking his actions of retrieving her own little bag of coins from where she had left them on the table the previous night.

Once she had done that, she would turn to face him again as he suggested they both take a few moments to themselves to clean up. At least, thats what his words translated to into her mind, and she was more than thankful for the opportunity. Since he quickly vacated the room, she decided that she might as well make use of it for her own purposes. She wouldn't find much more privacy anywhere else, and as much as she would have loved a chance to wash, the girl knew that this was likely the best she was going to get for the time being.

She would emerge several moments later with her bag slung over one shoulder, dressed in a fresh change of clothes. Her hair was still somewhat messy, but she had used her hands to remove as many knots as she possibly could. She wore it freely, draped over both shoulders, with the exception of one small braid on her left side. Feeling much better about herself than she had just a few moments before, she quickly shut the door behind her, before heading down towards the hall to where she and Mec were supposed to meet.

After a few seconds of scanning the room, she was pleased to find that he was already sitting there and waiting. She would quickly cut a beeline towards her friend where he was seated, giving a casual wave to the brother working to serve the customers eating breakfast as she passed. Content as they returned it, she would stroll over to Mec casually, not bothering to take a seat. Instead she simply placed an open-palmed hand on the table's surface, leaning against it somewhat casually as she greeted him. There was no point in delaying things or getting comfortable when they would just be leaving in a few moments regardless. After all, they had places to see, things to do, and stuff to buy.

"Ah...one second" she started simply, almost as soon as she had arrived, as if remembering something she had forgotten. Turning on her heel, she would trot over towards the brother she had just waved to. After a quick exchange of words and another wave, she would return, smiling as if triumphant. "So, shall we go?" she resolved quickly, gesturing towards the door this time. Once Mec had joined her, she would step over towards the entrance, pulling it open and stepping out into the street beyond. In just a few moments, the point of her brief detour would become clear.

"Now, our friend at the bar said that the market district is on the northern side of the city. So we're supposed to go left here and follow the street until we hit a main road. After that its a right and just follow it along" she started simply, heading off in just that direction, as if to emphasise her point. Their footsteps echoed on the cobblestones of the street as they moved, and a glance around revealed a handful of people about. It was to be expected - it was about that time of day where people would be heading out to work, after all. Ever cheerful, Shallan had resumed the simple act of humming while she walked, a little skip in her step as she moved along, before she would hesitate a little. "I mean...maybe we should stay off the main roads, but if you're so confident the guards here are incompetent then it shouldn't matter too much, right?"

[Headwrapper]

Mec would greet his friend with a small smile as she approached the table. There was not much time for any other exchanges before she turned and made her way towards the brother working in the inn. Mec would watch with a curious interest as the conversation between his companion and the barkeep took place. He would give Shallan another curious glance when she returned before shrugging, agreeing that it was about time they left to accomplish what they aimed to do that day.

The morning was still fresh, but the air felt much less brisk than it had when Mec had opened the window in their room earlier. Although still cool, it still felt more refreshing than frigid, warmed up by the morning sun and the movement of the people through the city. With a nod, Mec would follow Shallan, widening his pace to keep up with her cheerful skips down the cobblestones. The boy would stop once he saw Shallan's hesitation. At first he wondered if she was being smug, rubbing his so-called confidence in his face to try to prove some foolishness she believed his notions conveyed, or if she was genuinely curious. He would shrug off his musings before giving Shallan a nod. "Skulking around the back roads isn't going to be any less suspicious than taking the main road," he would respond quietly. "I think the ways we act are more important than the paths we take."

His dark almond eyes would observe Shallan's response while Mec allowed the words to sink into his own head. Hearing them aloud seemed to reassure him of their correctness, and with another nod he would continue towards the main road, leading Shallan with a gentle hand on her back for the first few steps. Once they were fully back in motion the boy would move his hand to grip the strap of his own bag tightly while observing the city around them. "This really is a lot less depressing than our last stop," he would say offhandedly. "Even in normal circumstances, being so closely mashed with so many people like we were stresses me out." His eyes would scan the height of a particularly tall building, allowing some of the morning sun to shine on his face without as much interference from his hood. "I don't mind people in the sense of having them as company I guess. But crowded strangers on a narrow street are hardly people in the sense that you can connect with them, right? Just masses combining to create a loud silence."

The density of people would gradually increase as they approached the main road. Still, just like the late afternoon when the two had initially arrived in Taunteas, there was still ample room for one to walk comfortably. It was only morning, so it was possible that any traveling merchants have only just begun to arrive in the city if they had done so at all. Mec would take a moment to retrieve their rough shopping list from his bag. "I guess we haven't really taken the time to prioritize our items, in case we run short on coin and have to remove some things from our list."

He would hold out the list in front of them, his eyes switching between the parchment and the street in front of them as they walked closer to the main road. Occasionally his mouth would open, as if to say something, only to withdraw the thoughts and return to silence. Finally he would have a topic he felt worth discussing. "I have a firesteel and a knife in my bag, so if we begin traveling on foot we should be able to build crude fires to stay warm during the night as long as we stick to wooded areas. I guess it would be nice to have a pitchable tent for windy nights though, so long as it's easy to carry." After a while his arm would grow tired of holding the list out in front of him and his companion, so he would offer the piece of parchment to Shallan if she wished to hold it. He would listen quietly if she had any additional thoughts about their list of items.

Mec would then stop near the corner of a building once they finally reached the road and take a moment to analyze their environment. The boy's lips would wrinkle into a scowl when he took note of the guards patrolling the edges of the road. It seemed there was one every few buildings or so. As he noted the other day, they were crudely armed. Most of them only held a club and wore no real armor, or at best, a smooth leather tunic to cover their torso. Mec would let out a small huff once completing his observation. He didn't think very highly of these kinds of volunteer guards, believing that they lacked any skills to be productive or wished to avoid menial work and so volunteered to patrol the streets with their clubs. As if by some divine decree they would see themselves as heroes, defending the common folk of criminals, even though most of the time they were lazy and didn't do much at all unless they felt like it. At least that was what he was led to believe growing up when he would occasionally join his father on trips to these types of cities. Fictional stories aside, his father's wisdom usually held true in these kinds of topics, and so Mec took a lot of it to heart.

The boy would finally turn to his companion. "You said right at the main road, correct?"

[Namingtoohard]

The girl would pause briefly as she pondered over her companion's words, before deciding that he was indeed correct. The act of trying to avoid the main roads would only complicate their journey needlessly, now that he mentioned it. Taking backstreets would lower their likelihood of running into a guard patrol, but if they did encounter one on the off chance, they would stand out all the more for it - hence easing the chances that they would be stopped or otherwise recognised. No, better to stick with the crowd and blend in as much as possible.

"You're right" she conceded quite simply, voice plain and calm. At his urging, she would start to move once more, much less concerned at the prospect now that she had thought about it properly. With a casual shrug she would brush the matter aside, her cheery demeanour returning as she settled back into the same gait as before. She would settle a little at the words that followed, pursing her lips for a moment as she considered his thoughts. This time she couldn't say she felt the same...or not entirely at least.

"Mm...perhaps. It does seem that way at times, doesn't it? Maybe you just need ton try a different way of connecting, though, or find the right person" she answered simply, pondering the matter in silence for a second. After all, she had heard plenty about cities where people would perform in the streets - drawing crowds, changing moods, and altering the entire atmosphere of the district with their performances. It was an intoxicating thought for a young aspiring actor, so much so that she simply answered Mec's question about their destination with a nod, instead of any sort of verbal response.

Still, her body turned at the appropriate time, and she merged into the waves of human traffic on the Main Street without an issue. Naturally, it was much wider here, though the number of people had increased to compensate. Still, with the buildings not pressing quite as close, it meant more light shone down onto the streets of the city. Much better than the smaller side streets overall, at least in her mind.

"Maybe we'll find some street performers" she muttered softly, almost to herself, before blinking a few times as she realised that she had voiced her longing out loud. Slightly embarrassed, for reasons likely comprehensible only to the girl herself, she quickly tried to snap out of it, speaking up again in a hurry. "I-if we have the time, of course" she added, though perhaps a little too hastily to really allow her to feign any sort of nonchalance. As good as the woman was at suppressing her emotions, she was hardly a master actor just yet, able to suppress every little aspect and nuance perfectly. In a quick scramble to push things on, she changed the topic.

"Anyway, even if we can't manage a proper tent, perhaps a good bedroll each will do the trick. It won't keep the rain off our heads, but it'll be just as warm, and probably cheaper" she resolved simply, trying to forcibly drag her attention into reality and onto more pressing matters.

Still, as they walked, their surroundings begun to change. The road opened out into a proper clearing - the sort one would normally associate with a town square. Several stands were scattered about, but they seemed more sturdy and permanent than the ones they had visited yesterday. Several f the buildings backing out onto the square had open storefronts, and a large sundial sat in the middle of the square itself. Sitting on a slightly raised dias, it forced people to take a more scenic route around the place instead of cutting straight across, while simultaneously providing its own service to both visitor and local alike.

Shallan would spend a moment glancing about, trying to take in as much as she could, before slowly turning her gaze back across to Mec. "How did you want to do this? Should we split up and try to cover half the list each, or stick together and take our time?" She questioned simply, meeting his eyes. Sticking together would take longer, of course, but she liked to think that they were hardly in a rush. Better to make sure, though. Being presumptuous in their unique situation certainly didn't seem to be the smartest idea.

[Headwrapper]

Mec's eyes would scan the central area of the city, trying to identify what types of goods each storefront or stall seemed to carry. More importantly, though, he wished to find another source that provided news to the locals and passersby. It would be good to find out if his name or even portrait had traveled this far before going from shop to shop. He would respond to Shallan's question with a shrug. "It would probably be best if we stayed together for now. We might have to share funds if we get a good amount of shopping done. Plus we wouldn't know what happened to the other should one of us not return." His voice grew solemn as he made his final point. "We should try our best not to appear too attached to each other, even if we are shopping together. It would give the other more of a chance to slip away should something happen."

Mec would take a long, quiet breathe after he sharing his somber thoughts. His eyes would once again scan the area before he gave a quick nod. "Maybe I shouldn't be so morbid about this, huh? Really, I don't think there's much to worry about as long as we avoid drawing attention. Anyway let's get down to business. The sooner we start the sooner we might find a fruit stall or a bakery and we can grab ourselves a cheap meal. Or we might run into those street performers." He would accompany his final comment with a grin as he began making his way towards the closest storefront.

The first few stalls and storefronts that the two visited did not seem to carry anything that would be of use for travel. Mec would however stop for a while at a weapon stall, admiring the craftsmanship of the blades mounted on the wall behind the storekeeper. He wondered if it would be safer for himself and his companion if they furnished themselves with weaponry for the off-chance that they were attacked by bandits when traveling on foot, but quickly decided that in an event like that they wouldn't really stand much of a chance should they have weapons or not.

As they continued to circle around the sun dial in the middle of the square, traveling from shop to shop, the sound of a harp accompanied by a female voice would grow louder and louder. Only once Shallan and Mec reached the northernmost area of the square would the performers become visible to them. The harpist was an older gentleman, thin of stature. His white beard was patchy and thin and surrounded a wide toothy smile. His face beamed towards his partner, a woman whose age senior of Mec and Shallan could be counted on two hands. She had a simple yet elegant face, carefully forged with delicate features on her fair skin. Her dark brown eyes would carefully consider the crowd around her as she sang with the tune of the harp, peering out from behind long black hair that was all brushed to one side. Unlike most traveling musician's Mec had ever heard, the two put some effort into finding some harmony between the voice and the harp, as opposed to performing the same pitches to the same tunes.

Should Shallan try to shroud her interest in watching the performers like she did earlier, Mec would insist that they take a few moments to join the crowd surrounding them and see what entertainment they could get out of watching. On the other hand, if Shallan expressed a wish to watch the performance, he would comply dutifully. He would stand with his arms crossed, observing the two performers while nodding with the rhythm of the music. His eyes would notice some posters adhered to the wall of a building a ways behind them. The boy would tilt his head to his companion. "I'll be right back," he said softly. "Wanted postings." With this he would step into the crowd and make his way to the posters.

After finally navigating his way through the crowd, Mec would scan the postings with a feverish interest. A finger would slide down each listing as he scanned through the news, quickly throwing out anything that didn't interest him. Any criminal portraits that were put on display were accompanied by the names of others. The final portrait he observed did seem to be attached to rogue mage, but Mec did not have much time to consider it before noticing the list of wanted mages just to the right of the portrait. About five names were written on the list which was signed with instructions to notify any guards should a civilian come across any of the mages. The air within Mec's lungs grew more and more dense as his finger ran down the list, finally stopping on his own name.

With a long breath Mec would alleviate the pressure in his lungs. It was important that he shared this newfound information with Shallan and emphasize the need to be cautious. There were no details associated with his escape or even his original crime, so it did not seem Shallan would be in any danger on her own. Maybe he would have to delegate the duty of shopping to her while he remained hidden. Then again, with no portrait, there was little chance he would be recognized anyway. These thoughts all seemed to shatter at once when Mec heard a questioning voice behind him.

"Excuse me, would you have a moment?"

Mec's gaze would be met with the adamant eyes of the guard behind him, peering from beneath a steel helm. His spear stood vertically in one hand, just a bit longer than the the men's' heights. The guard was armed much more in the likeness of those that were posted at the entrances of the city rather than the crude garb of the street guards. "Yes sir?"

"Just making sure there's nothing suspicious going on around here. You from around these parts are ya?"

Mec's almond eyes would remain steady as he responded to the guard. "No sir. From Avoorka sir."

"Aye, I see. Rather curious about the happenings of the city are ya?" The guard would angle his spear towards the postings behind Mec.

"Just wanting to read something sir."

The guard's body would shift slightly, constricted by his armor. "Not very many people just stop and admire headshots of criminals." His eyes would shift between the portraits and Mec's face. "Rather warm for a hood, ain't it?"

Mec's eyebrows would furrow, unable to quickly come up with a response. "I suppose it is," he would mumble quickly, trying to keep up with the pace of the conversation. At first he would leave his answer there, but after a few moments of silence he would realize what the guard was suggesting. Slowly, the mage would raise his hands and grip the edges of his hood. With his heart pounding in his chest, Mec would lower his hood. He did his best to keep his facade steady, even after noticing the guards increased excitement once the hood was lowered.

The guards eyes would dart across Mec's face for a few seconds before he took a step back and raised his spear. "Th-the tipoff was right! You're Mec Fiska, aren't you?" The guards voice, originally conversational, became a loud raspy bark. "Guards!" At once the surrounding club-wielding guards would begin rushing over to respond to the call. "Clear the civilians! This is a potential mage sighting! We will subdue the mage and call for Gaxeel the mage slayer to make an example of him!" Once the guard was done barking orders he would advance towards Mec, forcing the mage against the wall by pointing the sharp end of his spear to the boy's neck.

Mec could feel a sense of dread take over him in the same way that it did when he was tackled and pinned by the customers of his store the first time he was captured. The dark feeling started from his chest and slowly made its way to his arms and legs, crippling him and leaving him unable to move. His body seemed frozen to the wall, and his only movement was that of his eyes as they darted between the spear-tip and the guard's eyes. The guard, once his dominance was established, would lean closer to Mec. "He said you had a girl with you. Where is she?"

For a brief moment, Mec could feel his senses return to him. He already had decided that if he couldn't salvage Shallan's life before that he would not allow it to become worse. A mere man, even with a weapon, would not be allowed to strip him of this last meager promise he made himself. As this thought burned in Mec's mind, his eyes would take on the rosy-gold color that they did when he summoned the flowers in Avoorka. Before the guard could react to this strange event, roots would erupt from the cobblestones beneath his feet, wrapping themselves around his weapon and his arms in such a way that he could not move either of them at all. Upon realizing the guard's disabled state, Mec would slide himself away from the spear, but before he could so much as choose a direction to run he would be tackled to the ground by another guard and quickly be overwhelmed by the numbers of additional guards that came to lend their aid. He would eventually yield to the blows of the clubs before being bound and dragged away. His captors would return with his body, battered and bruised, near nightfall. The so-called mage slayer, Gaxeel, would await them in the town square, armed with his aptly named sword: Magebane.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan responded with a simple nod of acknowledgement as Mec announced that they should stick together this one time, for the purpose of allowing them to combine funds if necessary as they moved further and further down the list of things they needed to buy today. Indeed, it seemed a logical enough conclusion, and they had plenty of time to get through everything regardless. With the entire market day ahead of them, more or less, there was no real rush to get everything. They would be able to take their time, take care and avoid any unnecessary risk of getting caught, and see the sights as a whole, all comfortably within their established time limit. Indeed, for once it was shaping up to be a rather leisurely and enjoyable day. A rarity given their current situation.

She grinned at the friendly reminder that they had to find breakfast, before pausing briefly as he mentioned her want of finding any sort of street performers to watch. The look that flickered across her face was somewhat shy, but she smiled nonetheless, inwardly glad that he was amiable to the idea. Quite content with that, she would clasp both of her hands behind her back, immediately setting off with her companion at a somewhat leisurely pace. Her gaze would wander across the local displays with mild interest, though she was certain to keep an eye out for anything that seemed even remotely edible. Only two cities over from home, food wasn't likely to be that exotic, but you never knew.

Indeed, she picked up on the sound of music rather early, eyes going wide as she started glancing around briefly, trying to find the source of the noise, though with limited success. Clearly, her interest had been peeked by the whole ordeal, and she saw no reason to try and hide her attention and want to join in this time. Moving towards the group at a leisurely pace, she would join the throng of people who were crowded around the harpist and singer working in tandem. Indeed, the harp was not an instrument that she had much experience with, and its design almost seemed as alluring as the music. With eyes glued to the small area she could see through the gathering crowd, Shallan would give a bit of a small nod, content to relax and listen as Mec went off to investigate.

For several moments she continued to listen, unaware that anything was amiss as Mec conversed with the suspicious guard, beyond the edges do her comprehension. She thought she was beginning to pick up on a few things in the music, such as the underlying rhythm it seemed to be following, keeping pace with the singer's soprano, rather than the other way around. Indeed, she seemed to calm and composed u others, outright beautiful - totally within her own element and in control of the crowd. Manipulating everything from attention to emotions. Shallan allowed it to sweep her up and carry her away, right up until the moment a shout for guards was heard, cutting over the regular din of the market.

The reaction wasn't quite immediate. People turned their heads as they tried to find the source of the call, and the confrontation that was likely going to result. As several of the aforementioned guards rushed towards the call's origins, the crowd's curiosity would increase. Soon enough, even the musicians stopped, when they realised that nobody was listening, and joined the group trying to find out what exactly was going on. Be it a drunk getting arrested, a fight between two civilians or just about anything else, word would likely spread very quickly, and everyone wanted to be able to brag that they had watched first hand...that was, up until the use of magic became so evident. Even with the call of a mage beforehand, seeing proof of it was another thing entirely.

Several screams could be heard from various places in the market - mostly from women, who immediately tried to grab their children and flee. The vast majority of the crowd followed suit, struggling and rushing to clear the square of their own accord. Those foolish or brave enough to remain we're quickly pushed back by the local guards, who shouted about how everyone needed to get clear for their own safety. Fear rose in Shallan's throat, threatening to choke her, but she was amongst those who remained regardless - trying to catch any glimpse of Mec, who was undoubtedly at the source of all this. She couldn't see clearly with so many people pressing in on every side, though, and was eventually pushed back with the rest of them. She couldn't confront armed guards directly, as much as she desperately wished to help him.

With the square no longer an option, Shallan immediately headed back to the inn where they had just stayed, intending to take some time to try and recompile her thoughts and plan for what was to happen next. As she drew closer, though, it seemed like a bad idea. With the market closed early for the day, a good number of people could no longer work this evening, and instead were pursuing other means of entertainment - gossiping amongst them. Already word was spreading, even through the backstreets. As Shallan reached the sleeping giant, she paused. Surely the bartending brothers had heard by now, and would notice her lack of a companion. Assuming that knowledge the guards were looking for a woman associated with the mage was just as widespread, they would surely take notice if she returned alone, and put two and two together.

Dry swallowing to try and suppress her nerves, the girl turned and headed off in another direction regardless. She spent the following part of her day looking over her shoulder wearily, trying to find other places she would lay low for a while, and get something to eat. The entire time she contemplated another attempt at rescue, but without all the prior knowledge of the local area and its people she had possessed back home, it would prove a much more dangerous and costly task. Indeed, she didn't even know where he would end up being held in the meantime, or have any prior knowledge of how the execution would likely take place, so that she could try and plan some sort of escape attempt. All seemed hopeless, given that she still had no concrete information to act on...until the moment word about the execution location began to spread.

With all of the other curious and frightened people, she headed to the square where it was supposed to be held, as the hour of truth approached. She wanted to be close, just in case an opportunity presented itself, or Mec worked some sort of magic to win his freedom. Failing that...well, it seemed only right that she bear witness to his last moments, even though the thought sickened her.

[Headwrapper]

Finding himself barely able to move after his beating in the town square, Mec would find himself dragged a ways away from civilians before being bound by hand and foot with thick rope and tossed onto a small cart of sorts. Only after the cart began to move beneath him did he muster the strength to look around and realize that the cart was equipped with tall steel rods in the likeness of a cage. He would find the most comfortable position possible to be on his side, his knees bent in order to fit within the small space given to him, with his arms behind him due to the nature of their bondage. Buildings and onlookers alike seemed to zoom passed as his new carriage rolled by.

His lungs wheezed as he struggled to breath in his battered state, but as time progressed his breaths grew more elongated and the wheezing would cease. The pain in his arms, legs, and chest still ached, a cruel reminder of the events that just took place. With a loud grunt, the boy would force himself onto his knees to get a better look of the view around him, but did not find the energy to keep his head up for long and would soon let his chin hang down towards his chest. It was in this image that onlookers would see him: a defeated and captured criminal with his head hanging low.

The wagon would finally roll to a stop. Mec seemed to pay no mind to this, nor the orders of the guards behind him as the door of the cage swung upon with a shrill creak. A pair of guards would drag him out of the cart by his arms and carry him towards the door closest to wear the wagon was stopped. After a few steps one would grunt, annoyed, and give a sharp smack to Mec's thigh with his club. Noticing the boy didn't respond, he would repeat this action twice more until the captive lifted his legs so that he would be more easily carried into the prison.

Mec did not give much notice to his surroundings until he was deposited in a cell- not much unlike the one he was imprisoned in a few days before. To his displeasure, the bounds on his wrists and ankles would not be undone. In fact, the guards went as far as to attach the ropes that bound his wrists to a long chain that hung from the ceiling in such a way that Mec would have his arms lifted at a slight angle behind his back, and he would not be able to sit with pulling his shoulders out of their joints. Their response to Mec's protest to this was to force a thick rope between his teeth and fastening it tightly behind his head.

Mec would be forced to stand like this for hours, occasionally visited by a guard to give him a sharp blow to the abdomen. Each time felt more painful than the last. The burning in Mec's torso would emanate from the bottom of his gut all the way to his nostrils as he struggled to recover the air that was forced out of him. This was also accompanied with the pain in his legs as he struggled to stand after hours without being able to lean or sit or the burning in his arms should his legs falter after he suffered a blow. During moments of silence he would overhear that this treatment was a necessary tactic in keeping mages confined, weakening them by forcing them to struggle for breath and therefore unable to call upon their powers. Whether this was effective or not he wasn't sure. Although he tried to call forth his powers it did not seem to work, but it was not clear whether this was due to the guards' techniques or his own inexperience with using magic.

The guard would finally enter. His boots echoed loudly as he marched towards the captive. "Stupid mage. Did you really think your little trick was going to stop us from capturing you?" His eyes seemed to beam beneath the visor of his helm as he watched Mec's tremble. "It must burn, don't it? But it's not any worse than where we'll be sending ya."

Mec's eyes would flicker when he identified the guard as the one who identified him earlier. No energy was left for him to take any other action, other than brace himself for another blow to his abdomen from the butt of the guard's spear. A stifled groan would force itself through his nostrils, unable to escape the rope used to gag him. The boy would fall to the ground once the links attached the bindings on his arms were released, only to be immediately picked up by the guards. His consciousness seemed to be waning as they carried him back to a horse-drawn cart not much unlike the one he was brought to the prison in that morning.

The gloom of nightfall weighed down on the cart as it dragged along through the streets, back towards the square. Between his lapses of consciousness Mec would catch a glimpse of the guards walking along the cart. The reason for this slow pace was made clear when the boy could hear an insulting yell in his direction, but he was unable to comprehend the actual words. Occasionally his eyes would flicker to one side of the cage or the other to observe the faces of those witnessing him. Most seemed to be afraid, as if at any moment he could release himself from the cage and seek revenge on them, but others seemed more brave and would shout mockingly but incomprehensibly like the first yell he heard.

The caged wagon would finally reach the town square. Mec's consciousness seemed to be steady once more, even if he lacked much energy or will to move. The pain in his entire body burned. The burn felt it came from the outside, from all directions, and not within- a fire completely out of his control. The cage door would yield to the armored arms of the guards, which would grab the captive and toss him onto a platform that was erected just a few feet before the sun dial in the center of the square.

After being forced onto his knees, Mec would weakly turn his head to observe what else joined him on the wooden platform. A large fire pit sat on once corner, its flames burning brightly in the darkening sky. Just in front of it stood some sort of announced who declared the details of the condemn's crimes in addition to an explanation as to why mages are executed at nightfall. On the other side of the flames Mec could make out the image of a knight, fully equipped with white armor that shown like a full moon in the flames. His helm was unlike one Mec had ever seen before. It was embroidered with odd features, sharp edges that were reminiscent of swords that stuck up vertically on the helm. There were three of these peculiar edges that were equally spaced around all sides of the helmet. Although peculiar, the helm did convey an intimidating likeness. Next to the knight stood another, a man concealed in a dark hood, standing with his fingers crossed at the waist.

As if suddenly realizing where exactly he was, Mec's head would snap forward to look out into the crowd in front of him, eyes scanning for Shallan. He had almost forgotten about her completely during the entire ordeal. He wondered if she was captured, and if she was, what sort of punishment would one receive for conspiring with a mage. This increase in activity prompted the knight to brush his hand against the announcer's shoulder as if to urge him to wrap up with his speech. As the announcer began concluding his address, the hooded figure would move to stand behind Mec while the knight plunged his arm into the fire pit.

Quickly, the knight would draw his arm back from the flames, revealing a broad, white sword, glowing from the heat of the flames. The light reflecting off the heated, white metal of the weapon split the air as the knight rotated the hilt in his hand. As Mec's eyes weakly watched the sight before them, he would feel the rope around his head be unfastened and promptly allow it to drop to the floor. Even as the knight approached him with the weapon, Mec could not muster up the energy to feel or convey any fear. All of his emotions seemed to have abandoned him- too destroyed to do more than to simply witness.

The hushed voice of the man behind him would speak once the knight had reached them. "Gaxeel, they told me this one did not speak very much. Since we already know with certainty that he's a sorcerer, why not, you know, help him find his voice before he departs this world?"

The white-armored knight would stomp one of his boots against the the floor beneath him before responding with a deep, growling voice. "We will not have this argument now, Wycan. Your executions are... excessive. I am simply to perform my duty." With this he would pull Mec's head upward by the scruff of his hair. "Mage, you have been condemned for the crimes of soiling the Lands of Tobthalin with acts of magic, avoiding deliverance under direct orders of the laws of the Kingdom of Tobthalin, and inciting a public panic. These charges are irrefutable and you have been sentenced to death on this Fourth Night of the Midsummer Month." The knight would then hold his sword to his side at a slight angle away from his leg. The blade's white glow cut through the darkness of the evening as he did so. Even from this distance the heat could be felt against Mec's face. "Does the condemned have any final words?"

[Namingtoohard]

In an attempt to make good on the one minor promise she had been able to make herself, Shallan arrived at the town square well ahead of Mec himself, surrounded by a throng of other civilians who wished to do the same. Brave and scared alike, they had all come to witness the execution and death of the dangerous mage caught in the town square, though Shallan was separated from the vast majority by one simple fact. While they had all come to witness the death of a dangerous criminal and public enemy, to see a threat removed from their lives, she was there to witness the final moments of her old friend, and cling to that last desperate hope that he might somehow survive. A stupid false belief, the logica, part of her brain knew, but it was one that she clung to nonetheless.

As the sky grew ever-darker, the crowd seemed to grow more and more agitated, shuffling about and muttering to each other restlessly. Shallan could practically feel the tension rising around her, almost like a riot was about to break out. Naturally, she felt her own sort of nervousness, but it was a far cry from the eagerness that seemed to have infected the rest of the crowd. Then, finally, a shout went out - the carriage had been sighted. The one containing the main spectacle, the attraction they were all here to see. The woman didn't bother joining in the mass of people crying out, whether it be to get through to Mec or simply let him know that she was here. Her voice would only be drowned out by the larger part of the crowds, she knew, and she couldn't even get a clear look from back where she was.

When he was moved up onto the platform had been erected, Shallan could finally see her old friend for the first time. Her expression was hard-set and her eyes were filled by something akin to despair as she witnessed what she expected to be her friend's final moments. Indeed, she knew that the chances of him seeing her, of recognising her presence, were extremely small. From such a distance she was just another face in the crowd, and if by some statistical improbability he did manage to single her out, there would be no way for any sort of acknowledgement to pass between them, not without it tipping off those around. With a soft sigh, she would avert her eyes, letting them drift upwards - though only briefly.

"Mm...tis' a pitiful sky today. Full of sorrow" she muttered softly, speaking only to herself. If any of the other civilians standing by had heard, they showed no immediate signs of it. Finally, she allowed her gaze to return, not wanting to miss the big moment, as much as it was like to sicken her. Indeed, she winced as the executioner drew his glowing hot sword from the flames, signalling that the moment was almost upon them. Crossing her arms across her chest, Shallan gripped her own biceps tightly, nails digging into them through the cloth of her garb as she watched and waited with bated breath.

"Do not despair, child. Today is not the day your friend meets his end"

Suddenly, an unknown voice, from over her shoulder. Shallan quickly glanced back, eyes wide, rapidly searching for the person who had spoken. Yet, she saw...nobody. The voice had belonged to a woman, and yet, all those standing directly behind her seemed to be male...and all were focused on the impending execution. A strange shiver ran down her sign, and she turned her eyes forward as Mec was asked for his final words. The voice of the announces barely reached where she stood, but she listened regardless, thinking that it was just one more thing she could do for her lost companion.

Whether Mec chose to speak any final words or not, of course, depended on him. When the answer became clear, though, was when things would begin to move. Whenever the executioner stepped forward to raise his blade, the mysterious words Shallan had heard earlier seemed to make good on their promise. A large spotted owl swooped out of the darkness, seemingly coming out of nowhere. It approached over the crowd, diving at speed, right towards the face of the executioner. With a screech it would rear back suddenly, claws and beak lashing out at the helmed man's eyes. The damage it inflicted was minimal the man was dressed in armour and would certainly raise an arm to defend himself, but with that the owl had served its purpose. Before anyone composed themselves enough to truly retaliate against it, the owl began its ascent again.

With most eyes on the bird, it would rise to the towering stone peak of the sundial, where it landed...on the outstretched arm of a disguised individual. It was very much a mystery how none had noticed the figure before, striking as it was. Balanced on the highest point of the great stone carving, the unknown individual was dressed in a flowing gown of emerald green silk, covered in marvellous golden embroidery. It was a flowing gown that covered the unknown being's arms and legs in their entirety, letting no skin show aside from a small part of its arm - the one that had been raised to make a perch for the owl. Even more strangely was the mask that this unknown wore. Perfectly white and completely unblemished, it was an oval shape that perfectly covered their face. While it possessed a clear cut opening for the unknown's mouth, that was all. There were no holes for a nose or eyes, and no visible straps or clips holding it in place.

Wanting to avoid lingering for too long, the crowd and officials would only have a few moments to admire the unknown's impressive appearance. With a flick of her wrist, she would launch the owl again, which once again dived towards those below. This time, though, it was not so simple as that. In an act that could only be described as magic, the owl split and divided as it fell through the sky. Where once there had been a large lone owl, a handful of crows descended instead, dive-bombing any armed guards they could spot, including the officials holding the procession. Chaos erupted as people started screaming, trying to flee the onslaught of savage birds, which clawed and pecked at anyone who got in their way. It was, in a word, pandemonium.

Then, just as startlingly, the figure was there, amongst it all. With no flicker of movement or sound to indicate motion, the silk doll appeared on the raised platform where the execution was being held. There was no flash, no grandeur - it was simply there, when just moments ago, it had not been. The gown would part and a hand would appear from within, holding a jagged knife inscribed with all sorts of strange symbols. One slice and the bindings holding Mec in place came free, falling to the ground. The ends of the rope, if one cared to look amongst all the chaos, were slightly singed by the simple action. Naturally, the lack of vision slits did not seem to bother the doll, who executed the action cleanly and without flaw. Then, the voice came again. The same strange, wispy tone that had surprised Shallan earlier.

"Can you stand? The birds will not hold any of the more hardened or experienced guards for long. We must be gone before they recover their composure. I will carry you if I must" the words came. They were plain, lacking any sort of emotion...or the rasp of exertion. They flowed out completely smooth, despite what was going on all around. The larger parts of the crowd had scattered now, and even as the unknown spoke, the armoured executioner threatened to win free of the several winged saviours that had beset him. The birds had begun to retreat, their numbers lessened. Those that fell seemed to simply melt away, their forms holding shape for only a few seconds, before melting into shadows and sinking into the ground.

"I would prefer to avoid engaging them directly if at all possible. You must get away from here, disappear into the night. I will linger close behind, and turn away any who try and follow" the voice added; these words sounding more like an order than anything else. Seconds after she had finished, one of the nearby guards ho had managed to free themselves dashed up onto the platform, swinging their wooden club at the unknown. Supposedly unsurprised by this flank attack, the silk doll would twist and duck beneath the clumsy swing easily, moving with lithe grace and speed that seemed almost inhumane in its execution. It was almost as if her form simply blurred and shifted around the club, which hit naught but empty air.

Then, the doll would step forward, reaching out and clasping an open hand over the man's unprotected face. A golden flash would emanate out from under her palm; a sort similar to the type that occurred when Mec used magic, if not identical. The man screamed and dropped his weapon, before the doll would rip her hand away. There was no visible damage to the man or his features, but a wisp of golden energy trailed between his face and the unknown's hand as she pulled it away, before vanishing into the darkness so quickly that one almost had to wonder if it had ever truly existed in the first place. He fell to the ground with a heavy thump and lay still.

Several other guards quickly rallied to the cause of the knight, who had also won himself free. The remaining crows had given up the fight, withdrawing and rising back into the air, where they had once again reformed into the same large, spotted owl seen earlier. The doll spun to face the knight and his companion, moving without any slight hint of excess or otherwise unnecessary motion; enchanted dagger raised as if to ward off an incoming blow. True to her earlier statement, it made no move to attack outright - just as she had said to Mec moments ago. Indeed, everything now would depend on him recovering and starting to run, so that the doll could fall back into a favourable situation for confronting multiple armed attackers and continue with its original plan.

[Headwrapper]

"...No."

The word came and hung in the air, frozen in the darkness, as the executioner maintained his grip on Mec's head. The knight gave a nod. "Very well. Then you will meet Magebane." With this, Gaxeel would raise the sword above his head. The condemn's eyes would widen- a common enough sight from one about to be executed. There was something off this time though. The mage's eyes were not beholding the sword or the knight that is about to deliver him judgement. Their gaze was directed towards something above them.

Quickly, the knight was look up just in time to witness the large owl diving towards him, and quickly turning to parry the attack with his sword and his armored shoulder. The altercation forced him to drop the condemned from his grasp. Gaxeel would watch with an enraged interest as the owl begun to ascend to the top of the sun dial. The impressive display was surely a precursor to a more impressive attack. "Wycan," he would begin, turning his head to his hooded partner. "We must..." The knight's words would be then interrupted by the bombardment of winged demons from above him. Gaxeel would shout orders to the guards as he swung his sword at the horde around him but it would be of little use until the guards regained their wits themselves.

Mec would inch himself away from the knight as best as he could to avoid being harmed by the birds. He had barely made much progress when the figure appeared next to him, blade in hand. The boy winced as the blade came down. Upon realizing his arms and legs had been freed, Mec would stand, glancing at his hands as if in disbelief. Although his legs burned from the torture he was subjected to, the adrenaline swelling in his veins would coerce him into standing. He could feel the primal instinct to escape begin to take over, which he welcomed more than the complete lack of emotion he had before. Indeed, he felt much more alive as a fleeing animal than he did as the emotionless husk he had temporarily become just moments before.

Mec would consider the figure before him who was dressed in green and gold with an odd, perfectly white oval of a mask. The only human aspect of the person before him was her mouth just barely visible below the mask. Between heavy breathes the boy would finally respond to the doll. "I can stand." The idea of escaping seemed to set Mec aback for a moment. Surely the entirety of the guards' forces would arrive to witness the chaos that had ensued here, and it would be no easy task to make it passed them. Then again, the mysterious figure before him was offering her aid, and once he did make it passed the guards escape from the city was nearly certain.

His thoughts were soon interrupted when the guard had leaped forward to swing at his now second savior. The boy would quickly take a step back, if only because his legs couldn't manage a jump, when he witnessed the speed with which the guard was countered and incapacitated. "Did you... Never mind." It mattered little at this point if the guard was truly killed or merely temporarily disabled. It was about time he listened to what the dangerous doll in front of him had suggested and made his way out, trusting that she would ward off any guards and that he might find Shallan once he had escaped. With this mentality he would turn and leap off of the platform in the opposite direction of the knight and his Magebane.

His legs could not carry him as quickly as his adrenaline had urged them to, but Mec was able to make his way out of the square nonetheless. Unsure of the layout of the city he choose to select on direction to flee and stick with it until he could reach the wall and find an exit. After traveling a few blocks the boy would hide in the darkness of an alley to lean against a wall and catch his breath while resting his aching body. "Damn it. I have a lot less left in me than I thought," he would gasp between deep breaths.

From the corner of his eye he could see a figure stop in front of the entrance to the alley. The figure would turn his head to peer down the alley and would pause, as if trying to make out what it saw in the darkness. Mec would let out a heavy exhale when he recognized the figure. The man stood tall, his muscles sharply defined, and his face well chiseled in the same way. The most recognizable feature was the man's eyes, staring boldly down the alley and piercing right through anything that stood in their gaze. It was none other than the older of the two guards that worked with the Earnest the merchant. The guard would step into the entrance of the alleyway, appearing to not be aware of any presence other than Mec. "I was right about you after all," the guard would say as he positioned himself to withdraw a sword from his side. "When I talked to the old man he didn't want to believe it. Or maybe he was too scared to. But I knew it was my duty to bring a criminal, a mage, to justice. I didn't think I would have to do it myself." With this last statement the man would finally withdraw his sword.

Mec would turn to face the man as he gave his monologue, leaning with one arm against the wall. Even if he could escape down the other end of the alley he knew he was too weakened and tired to outrun someone with such a close start. "Listen," the mage would say slowly. The boy felt some fear that came with the sword's edge before him, but he also feared what the alternative would be should the doll reappear to intervene. "You don't... You don't want to get closer. I won't hold it against you if you feel like I lied to you or put you or Bailey in danger, but I can't guarantee you'll come out of this alive if you swing that thing at me. Please, just go find a city guard the direction I'm headed and have them deal with it."

The eyes of the confronting party would remain sharp and steady, only blinking when recognizing the name of his brother. The man would shake his head. "Empty threats." With this he would begin to advance towards Mec. His determination to do so seemed to suggest some other motive than simply to detain a criminal, but there were no hints in the conversation that would lead Mec to any conclusion on what that could possibly be. Besides, he didn't have much time to think about the matter as he was forced to stumble backwards deeper into the alley to avoid the threat of the blade in front of him.

[Namingtoohard]

The unknown wild card would virtually ignore Mec's brief concerns over whether it had killed the attacking guard or no, keeping her focus on the knight and his companion as the other guards rallied to their side. Indeed, it almost seemed as if she was staying on the defensive here for her own safety - as if this knight turned executioner posed some sort of tangible threat. By all logic, a mage should be able to summon forces that would sweep aside ordinary humans like leaves before an autumn storm, and yet the faceless doll regarded this man with the same sort of respect that was demanded of an opponent on the battlefield. Mere caution, or a hint of something more? Regardless, she seemed to stick to her original statement of wanting to avoid direct confrontation if possible.

She did not turn to check if Mec had fled, content in the knowledge that he had proved able to run, judging from sound of his hurried footsteps as he retreated. Instead, she began to formulate her own escape plan - once again drawing on the magic of the Anima. The doll had experience slipping away from pursuers, and was fresh and well rested. Better that they content themselves with attacking her so that she could ditch them later, instead of letting them pursue the tired and injured Mec, who was likely still recovering somewhat from the multitude of beatings he had endured throughout the day. In the last few moments before he disappeared down the street he had chosen, though, the silk doll would send her owl after the fleeing mage - an order it would faithfully obey.

Circling high above the city streets, the bird would track his movements with its excellent night vision, adjusting its course as necessary to keep track of Mec as he retreated. Should he end up glancing skywards at any point of his journey it would prove to just be visible against the darkened sky of night, gliding overhead at a safe distance, and high enough to spot danger lurking with a fair amount of warning - both for Mec and its mistress. Indeed, the bird's presence was more important than anyone could guess at the time. It served to do more than just help its owner escape, and would help with more than just helping her to track down Mec when time for their reunion came.

In the meantime, the doll would set about her own escape - one she managed by leading her new pursuers on a chase through a few backstreets of her own, before confounding them with magic that manipulated sounds and shadows and brought an unnatural mist rolling in. Such would take some time, though. Enough for the inexperienced mage to be caught out by the same mercenary who had apparently tipped the guards off in the first place, before she had quite managed to catch up. Still, with her bird to guide her in the right direction, navigating the mess of city streets proved almost easy, and before long the doll had come across the site of their confrontation. As he barked about empty threats, the doll would finally arrive, turning the corner and entering the street behind the guard...and while Mec might have hesitated to cast magic that would take the man's life, she would not.

Even if the doll had wished for a chance to intimidate the man into fleeing, she could not hesitate. Not with him threatening Mec so openly. Any of the standard golden flash that seemed to foretell the use of magic was eclipsed by a razor sharp blue as she whipped up her free hand, sending what almost seemed to be a bolt of lightning from her hand and into the man's back. There was a deafening crack, much like the sound of thunder, that seemed to blot out all other sound. There was no time for screaming or pain or any other sort of final actions or emotions. Just like that, the man fell, corpse smouldering. Another life snuffed out in an instant, as inconsequentially as one might swat a fly. With any immediate threat taken care of, the doll began to advance on Mec, stepping over the charred corpse without so much as flinching.

"Are you hurt?" The question came simply, though even if Mec was injured, the doll didn't possess any sort of healing magic to attend to his wounds. It spoke in the same calm and composed voice it had used back in the town square, seemingly unbothered by the death it had just caused, and the corpse that lay within immediate sight. "We mages that live in hiding here have created a handful of hidden safe houses for just such an emergency. After tonight's events they will be the safest places in the city. We must reach one, so that we can rest and recover while the excitement dies down...and have a very serious discussion" it remonstrated simply. During this short and abrupt conversation, the woman's owl returned - slowly drifting lower before landing gently on the edge of a nearby roof.

Of course, there was one other figure that couldn't be forgotten in all the chaos that had erupted during Mec's assisted escape. Shallan had been watching with the rest of the crowd when the masked figure appeared, and was equally as shocked as everyone else, though it had been a more positive occurrence in her perspective. She had stubbornly refused to flee with the rest of the crowd when the murder of crows had attacked, and had paid the price for it. Several minor cuts and scrapes covered her body, along with a cut above her left eye that was bleeding profusely. Despite appearances, though, it was not a serious injury. Head wounds always bled to excess, and this one posed no real threat to the health of its bearer. Indeed, having to constantly wipe blood out of her eye had proved somewhat irritating, nut that was as far as things had gone.

She had borne witness to Mec's retreat despite everything. Rather predictably, this had led her to run off after him, in hopes of reuniting with her friend and travelling companion now that he was once again free. She ran hard throughout the city streets, breathing heavily as she tried to keep up. Still, Mec had gotten a significant lead on her given that she had needed to cross the square to begin with, and before long Shallan felt lost - she had lost all traces of Mec, or just about anyone else, for that matter. The bright flash that accompanied the magical lightning surge set her on the right path again, though, directing her back towards Mec and the doll...albeit at a more reserved and cautious pace. Fear of what she might find rose within her, but she pushed on nevertheless.

Things came to a head in a single shocking instant as she peered around that one last corner, catching sight of what lay beyond. A loud gasp escaped her as she beheld the charred remains of the guard, who still lay where he had fallen. The owl was just a split second behind, hooting loudly and spreading its wings menacingly to warn its mistress of another witness. In an instant the doll spun away from Mec and darted towards Shallan, moving with all the speed and grace she had displayed before. One of her hands closed around the younger girl's throat with an iron grip, cutting off her air supply in an instant. Within moments Shallan was gasping and flailing, struggling to free herself, but to no avail. The silk doll's other hand would raise, glowing with the same golden power as before. Clearly, it intended to do to Shallan whatever it had done to the guard back on the podium. Upon seeing her, though, the doll hesitated for the first time that night.

"...I bear you no ill will, child, but you have seen and heard too much. I am sorry" she finally announced simply. Indeed, it appeared that she had come to the judgement that they could not afford another witness, even if she loathed to take the life of one practically a child. Knowledge of their plan moving forward was much too precious to let slip so easily. At this point it would be up to Mec to recognise Shallan and stop the doll, before she did something drastic that would silence her for good.

[Headwrapper]

Mec's eyes did not leave the guard's blade as he slowly retreated deeper into the alley. As he did so he pictured the moment he had summoned the roots to disable the guard with the spear earlier that day in hopes that he could recall how he had done so and what part of his mind he awakened to manipulate the growth in such a way. If he could disable this man in the same manner he might be able to make his retreat before the doll arrived and dealt with the man using own method.

As the boy tried to buy time for himself his backwards steps would begin to change into heavy, sluggish shuffling. His body was beginning to betray his instructions as it succumbed to the fatigue set on by his beatings and the heavy exertion nearly immediately afterwards. As the activity from his limbs began to slow the boy's eyes would compensate, darting around as if hoping to find an out that ended with both the guard and himself surviving. Eventually both Mec's legs and his eyes would stop, his gaze fixed on the vague outline of the owl soaring in the sky behind his attacker.

Not even a second later, the man before Mec seemed to suddenly burst with a bright flash of lightning, forcing the boy to lift up his arms in order to protect himself as well as shield his eyes from the light. From behind his arms he would witness the charred husk that was left of the man in front of him, lagging in its stance for a moment before falling forward with a loud thud and the clang of his sword against the stone. As the corpse fell from his line of sight Mec would see the masked doll standing near the entrance of the street.

The boy grit his teeth as she approached him. He would find himself trembling as his mind seemed to whirl in his head, a hurricane of terror, confusion, anger, contradicted with an eye of gratitude towards the woman before him for coming to his aid. Had the events of the night played out according to the laws of the land one man would have been executed. As it stood so far, two had died and countless innocents were injured in order to save that one man. Mec's scowl would tighten as he considered these facts. Did they not point towards the conclusion that magic bore only malice?

His glare would fixate on the mage once she had finally stood before him. Proof that one who accepted magic and mastered it the way that she had would become a maleficent destroyer of life, unfazed by the destruction it wrought. His grimaced teeth would relax when the doll asked him about his condition, but his eyes would remain sharp, bronze daggers directed towards the presence before him. "I'm... not hurt," he would growl after a long, shaky breath.

Mec's grimace would be replaced with wide-eyed awe when the mage explained there were others hiding within the city, even going so far as creating sanctuaries in various locations within its walls. He had little longing for meeting with these mages, picturing them to all be as murderous as the one before him and possessing little regard to the lives of others, but he knew that he was in no position to oppose the suggestions of the doll. The best case might be that she might force his hand into doing what she felt was best, and the worst case meant his immediate death, another notch on her ethereal bow.

"So there's more of you," he would sigh softly. His eyes would shift to one side as he considered his next statement. "Lead the way then. But listen, if there's another confrontation, just leave me. I'm not sure what you have to gain for saving me, and I'm grateful for it, but there's no reason so many need to die to save one simple man." This last statement would hang in the air for a moment before he shook his head. "Wait, I need to find..." Before he could finish his thought the boy was interrupted by the hooting of the owl above him and his pseudo-ally. The doll would almost seem to vanish from sight before clasping her hand around her next victim. "Wait," Mec would plea weakly. He would pick up the sword from the ground in front of him, the hilt still warm from the lightning blast from before, and slowly stagger towards the confrontation.

The gold glow of the doll's hand would illuminate her victims face and the pale hand that gripped her throat tightly. When Mec finally captured a glance at the girl's face he would immediately recognize his companion, despite the cuts and the red stain that was left on one side of her visage where she had wiped away the blood that had impeded her vision. All else seemed to fade as Mec's vision narrowed to only his friend and the pale hand that was clasped around her neck.

Mec's search for the final piece of the puzzle he tried to solve to save himself and the guard just moments before came to a conclusion as his perspective tunneled on his friend. For a brief moment he found clarity in the darkness as he came to realize what parts of his mind and body had harbored his control over the essence of what was called magic. This was the Anima, so he was told in his dreams, that so greatly wished to be borne to this world.

There would be no time for doubts about the use of magic or his worthiness to live now. His burning legs and broken ribs had no meaning during this moment; the physical body was nothing but a shell for the ethereal matter within it. Mec's senses would burst as he began to see and feel and hear the ethereal segments of the Anima around him: brightly colored cobwebs that anchored his limbs to the surrounding walls, the deep roar of the world soul calling out from the depths below, and sharp daggers of lighting zooming passed him in all directions. This ethereal presence was only detectable for Mec, and although the moment seemed to last a few minutes to him, it would only last a second. When his mind was returned to the physical world around him the boy did not hesitate, possessed with the drive to save his companion. With a snap of his fingers on one hand he would summon roots from beneath the doll and Shallan. Like serpents, the roots would quickly lunge at the pale arms of the woman, quickly wrapping themselves around her limbs with an unyielding grip.

As Mec urged his heavy legs to move him towards the seen that he had created, he willed the roots to tighten around the doll's arms by squeezing his free fist. "Drop her, that's my friend," he would call out as he approached. "She saved me the first time I was captured." As the boy approached the entanglement the glow that stemmed from the doll's hand seemed to flicker away as the emerald robed woman's body seemed to go limp or at the very least convey some momentary weakness that suggested she had stopped using magic. At the same moment, the roots that had captured her seemed to turn gray and hollow, the likeness of actual dead roots. With this, the hand that was tightened around Shallan's throat would surely loosen and the girl would be freed. Mec hurriedly stagger closer to his companion, ignoring what had become of the doll for now. "Shal? Are you hurt?" he asked, ignoring the vague similarity of when the doll had asked him the same question earlier.

[Namingtoohard]

The doll would have gladly refuted Mec's attempts at explaining his life was not worth those of so many others, it unfortunately it was not to be as it was quickly forced to challenge the intruder. Naturally, while the unknown being had taken notice of Mec's capture and execution, which had caused a huge uproar, Shallan had well and truly flown under the radar by comparison. Her own luck in avoiding capture had meant she had more or less had gone unnoticed up until this point, and the doll had not been tracking their journey long enough to know of her significance. Of course, even if the doll had known, she likely would not have cared. To one that had been using and abusing magic for so long, even at the expense of ordinary humans, she was like to see such a companion as more or a burden than a help.

Still, there was no argument to be had with the methods that Mec employed. The groan and whine of splitting stone as the cobbles underneath gave way to yet more vines was distinctive, and within an instant the doll was bound - before she could apply the strange variant of magic she was using to Shallan, as she had done with the guard back in the square. Despite their apparent tightness, though, the doll gave no signs of discomfort. There was no screaming or crying out or complaining, despite he fierce grip that the unnaturally grown plants seemed to have gained. At first, with the remaining amount of movement that it was allowed, the doll turned its masked face in Mec's direction...or as close as it could manage in this situation. Had it the features to display emotions, it would have no doubt fixed him with a puzzled look. Of course, how one could remain so stalwart when suddenly restrained by magic was another question.

Still, the doll would release its grip on Shallan's throat in the moments that followed. Was it because of the sudden lack of strength that seemed to assail it, or had it consented to the action? Either way, it opened its slender fingers just enough to allow the girl to crumple to the ground. Shallan's perspective quickly changed as she fell back, slipping out of the doll's reach. She immediately brought a hand up to her throat, fingertips gently brushing the bruises that were quickly beginning to form around her windpipe, coughing and spluttering all the while. Even as Mec came rushing over, it took her several moments of wheezing to catch what she could of her breath, and come to terms with what had just happened. Indeed, the girl had almost expected to die in that instant, and even a glimpse of death could prove haunting to the unprepared.

"...I...I'll survive. I think" the words finally came, slipping out between hacks as she tried to calm herself. The girl would force a bit of a smile as she finished, as if to try and reassure her friend, though even that appeared somewhat weak and forced. Finally, she would turn her eyes back to the doll, who was frozen in place by the roots with its arms held out, despite the fact that her quarry had now escaped. Even as she watched, the quickly dying roots seemed to distort slightly as the doll struggled against them, but without true success. The simple action made the girl flinch, before she finally tried to clambor to her feet. She would stumble a little during the attempt, before reaching out for the side of the building nearby to steady herself while she regained her footing.

"I could ask you the same thing. You look a right mess. Did you know that this...person was coming to free you?" The question came simply. Even as she spoke, Shallan spent a moment to wipe away a little blood that threatened to obscure her vision, though it seemed she was trying her hardest to avoid glancing back at the doll. Speaking of the doll, it's manner had changed completely now. It struggled against the dead roots, which provided much less active resistance than they had posed while fed by magic. Still, regardless of that fact, it seemed unable to break free. The lots bent and flexed under the weight of the doll's movement, but such were executed with none of its former grace, speed or strength. Perhaps just as strange was the fact that the doll simply didn't free herself with magic, despite the circumstances.

"You. What did you do to me, boy?" the simple question came. This time the doll didn't even bother turning to glance at Mec directly as it spoke. Once again, a hint of emotion had crept into its voice. Far from being angry or disgruntled or anything else of the sort, the doll sounded more...curious. As if observing some strange new phenomenon it had on understanding of, could not quantify. Had Mec shouted for a halt it would have likely stopped long enough to hear his complaints, if not released Shallan immediately, but this strange new situation almost seemed worth the immediate and otherwise unnecessary struggle. "How have you cut me off like this? I've not heard nor seen a mage with this sort of ability before" it quickly added. Had anyone taken notice of it, the owl seemed oddly distant and uninterested at this point, despite the current situation of its mistress.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would bite his bottom lip as he continued to look at his friend with worried eyes, unconvinced by her attempt to put on a cheery visage. "But you're bleeding so much," he would sigh almost inaudibly. His round eyes would consider his friend's apparent injuries- the bleeding above her eye, the fresh bruises around her neck, and her sharp breaths after what must have been an exhausting run followed by the assault from the mage.

The boy himself was no spectacle of wellness either. He grew resistant to the rush that had allowed him to bear most of the pain in his abdomen and legs. The pain would start to get the best of him, apparent but his awkward posture that kept his back strangely erect even while standing on wobbling legs. He kept his breaths shallow, inhaling and immediately exhaling once he felt the pressure against his ribs. His fatigued legs slowed down his movement considerably, which was what had led him into stopping in the alley in the first place. Although he blamed himself for his and his companion's tattered states he knew there would be no appreciation for sharing such thoughts and opted to remain silent about the matter.

The boy's head would tilt slightly when Shallan redirected the questions towards him "It was pretty rough... But no, I didn't know anyone would intervene. I was pretty convinced it was all over." He would hold the sword he collected from the dead mercenary horizontally at waste level and observe it with a small frown. "I messed up... The... Someone had known we fled to this city and the guards were actively looking for us." Already it would be decided he would not share all of what was sacrificed to get to this point. Shallan may have seen what had happened to the guard back in the square, but it would be best not to identify and humanize the corpse that had lay just down the street. Assuming she did not observe it and recognize the husk on her own, anyway. "I think in the big scheme of things... Never mind, actually."

His glance would shift towards the doll as she struggled against the graying roots that bound her arms. He would consider the doll's struggle for a few moments before she asked about what he had done to her. "I told you, this is my friend. I already owe her for saving me when I was discovered as a cursed magic user the first time. Naturally I had to stop you, and with the speed at which you slaughter those around you I had no choice but to use my own magic." He almost spat as he made his final point. If there was anything that he was sure of, it was his argument that magic and evil were intertwined, like he had said to Shallan back at the inn. "Normally I can't just will these dark powers to do what I please. But so far a threat towards my friend seems to be a good motivator." His eyes would blink towards the doll as if to determine if the answer was acceptable. He had hoped if the mage had proven to not hold ill will he would be able to ask her about the strange revelation he had just had. Had he experienced the nature of the so-called Anima that he was preached about in his dreams?

Mec would more carefully consider the doll's statements upon realizing he had not truly answered her question. "Wait, you said cut off? Cut off from what? The thing he calls the Anima?"

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would blink in surprise a little at Mec's objections concerning the state of her health, caught slightly off guard by his exact choice of words. Indeed, while the effects of the doll's vice-like grip on her throat was serious and potentially dangerous, and could have even proved life-threatening had it not been stopped, the blood that seemed to coat her was nearly inconsequential by comparison. Most of the scratches and cuts caused by the crows had only been in passing when she had refused to flee, and not direct extended assaults that most of the guards had endured. It was a strange mix of emotions, coursing through her then. She was annoyed at herself for causing such needless worry, but at the same time she was somewhat touched by Mec's concern for her wellbeing.

"The blood is nothing, really. Head wounds always bleed a lot, even the most insignificant ones. Give it half a day and all of these will scan over and practically be forgotten" she answered simply, trying to brush away the excess of attention, regarding it as needless. They had bigger things to worry about than a few minor scratches and cuts, and she wasn't going to let her own physical condition get in the way of the big picture. The scrapes would be nothing compared to what the two of them would receive, after all...and at this point, sneaking out the city was going to prove extremely difficult, if not impossible. All the gates would likely be heavily guarded and monitored, if not closed outright, while the city was scoured for not one but two escaped mages.

"They knew?" The words followed, accompanied by a look of surprise that flickered across Shallan's face. After all, they had been practically unnoticed up until this point, aside from that one close call earlier. She had wished to believe that Mec was right, and that by now the guards would have been lax enough for them to manage. Recent events had proved that the opposite was likely true, though. Her mind quickly scanned over their actions, searching for what the tip off might have been, and what they could do better from now on. "We...we'll have to do better then. Be better. If we keep falling into this situation, sooner or later, there'll be one we can't walk away from. Best to eliminate that possibility altogether" she mumbled. Thankfully, she didn't get a good look at the smouldering corpse, and seemed too distracted to pay it any mind.

The doll, on the other hand, was a little more direct in her mannerisms, and with her choice of words. It Norte in something akin to contempt at his mention of how danger was a good motivator, but didn't deign to respond. It considered the attempt on Shallan's life inconsequential now, as it had ended with no drastic outcome. Secretly the mage wished that it had killed her, as her presence was likely to be more of a hindrance to Mec on his journey in its opinion. Now it knew of their bond, through, killing her would prove too demoralising. In any case, they had more important matters to discuss. With what limited range of motion was available to her, the doll would shake her head in an almost human gesture.

"My my...the darkest of days have come if the public has been so thoroughly brainwashed as to believe the most wonderful of blessings is a dark curse. In the golden days your magic would have been celebrated as a gift, child, to you and the entire world. It is only as good or evil as the one who wields it" she answered simply, ceasing her pointless struggling against the vines for the moment. Still, the second question was a much more important one.

"Yes. You have restricted the flow of energy to me that allows the use of magic to nothing more than a trickle. Even moving is a struggle in this condition" she informed him plainly, voice once again flat and emotionless, as it had started off. "Most mages are born with their own unique talents or specialities, but I have never seen anything like this before. It is truly something else...and your words imply it was entirely unintentional" she pointed out. It wasn't a question, but more a simple statement, as if cleanly rephrasing an obvious and indisputable fact.

"Still, we cannot linger. The search for us continues even now. Release me, and restore my power, if you will. Without it I cannot see the way, or fight if we are confronted. Both will be required for you and your companion to reach the safehouse, and now that I know of your bond to her, you need not worry for the safety of the girl any longer" she remarked idly. Genuine advice, or was the silken doll merely trying to bluff her way out of a dangerous and unforeseen situation? Shallan didn't seem entirely convinced, taking a small and cautious step back on reflex, just in cars something did happen that prompted any more danger.

[Headwrapper]

Mec's lips would curl into a scowl at the mage's claims of the public being incorrect about the dark nature of magic. Was this truly what all mages were like? Almost inhuman and mechanical, not able to tell the difference between good and evil? Taking the lives of others as easily as they would an ant beneath their boots? If magic was as good or evil as the ones that wielded it then surely all mages were full of malice and ill-intent. Even Mec himself, one who lived simply and spent most of his hours within the walls of a shop in a small town, had begun identifying cruel flaws within his own psyche that could point towards an inherent darkness. He wondered if his theory about the voice of G was true, possibly driving those that had to bare the constant intrusion of their mind mad. Of course he'd have to find out for sure if other mages heard this voice, but there would be no time to inquire about that in the situation he was in.

He would listen with a solemn interest as the doll explained the details of what she claimed he had done to her. The idea of cutting of someone's magic confused him. The way it sounded, magic was meant to be drawn as one would draw water from a well. As far as the young mage knew, however, magic simply flowed forth as it pleased. Then again, it was possible it didn't flow at all. During his brief vision just moments before he had thought he saw what was the essence of magic all around him in different forms. The boy would press one finger to the side of his head as he tried to make some tangible sense of these constructed concepts. "I'm not truly aware of how this flow of energy works," he said finally.

His hand would move down to his chin as he considered the prospect of being able to disable one's magic. "I'm not even sure how to actually use magic on my own, to be honest. I've only used it willingly a few times, merely mimicking what I had done while accidentally using it before. Frankly, I don't know how to return your magic to you." His almond eyes, at first glancing to one side as he thought, would suddenly turn back towards the trapped doll. "Surely you would have used magic to free yourself if you were lying though... You wouldn't need to lure me into releasing you so you could harm my friend if you still aimed to do so."

Mec's gaze would move upwards, fixating on the owl perched above the group. "Why isn't it helping you?" he would ask, pointing towards the large bird with the mercenary's sword. "I thought it would attack me when I stopped you. But it doesn't seem to be doing much of anything." Before waiting for the doll to answer Mec would take a defensive step between her and Shallan. He intended to release the doll. After all, just like Shallan, the masked mage had saved Mec's life. That alone should earn some respect in her word that she posed no harm to Shallan any more. Would her efforts not be wasted if she killed Shallan? She surely wouldn't be naive enough to think Mec would continue his escape should his friend meet such a fate. Standing between the violent mage and his friend seemed like a justifiable precaution, however. "I'll release you, at least." He ignored the prospect of trying to find out how to return the ability to use magic to the doll for now. One challenge needed to be tackled at a time.

The boy would take a deep breath before focusing on trying to regain control of his powers. He would hold up his free hand towards the gray serpentine roots, feeling this would be then natural position to assume. Eyelids squeezing tightly, he would then try to picture the nature of the Anima that would be best suited to willing the plants to move. It would take nearly a whole minute before the boy's hand would begin to glow with the now familiar pinkish gold that foreshadowed the use of magic. Small particles of this same light seemed to float off of the roots as the mage held this position until he finally waved his hand to one side. The gray, rough roots would be replaced by the golden specks of light, arranged in the same shape as the roots, which would then fade into the darkness of the night.

[Namingtoohard]

"I do suggest you figure it out quickly, or both of you will perish here tonight. I could not teach you control for a power I do not possess myself" the doll answered simply, though her voice was as calm and neutral as ever despite the apparent danger of their situation. Of course, it was worth noticing how she specified that it would just be the two of them that suffered such a fate. Was it an outright threat made by the silken doll? Hardly, given the lack of her own powers at the moment, resulting in an ability to act - a point she had already made before. Just a simple statement of fact, based on what she believed to be an accurate approximation of their circumstances.

The question about the owl would be met with some hesitation, but after a few moments the doll would relent. They would find out the truth about its nature soon enough. "The owl is largely a magical construct of my own creation. While technically alive, it struggles to act without my bond to guide it. One I cannot make use of without my magic" she responded simply. Of course, it was a mutually beneficial relationship. while she had used the owl for combat before, it's original purpose was much more...basic than that, as hinted by the lack of eyes in the doll's mask. It saw through the owl's eyes, and was blinded without its support.

After it had been freed, the doll would relax a little, it's body drooping as it was once again subject to its own weight. Slowly and methodically, it would begin running its hands down the length of its arms, searching for any significant damage caused by the entrapment. None made itself known immediately, aside from some superficial wear around the wrists where it had been caught. Easily fixed, though, and hardly bad enough to be worthy of note.

"Thank you" the answer finally came as the doll straightened up a little. True to its word, it made no move to attack again, though perhaps that was simply because it's magic had not yet returned in full. Still, Shallan seemed to relax a little, if not let down her guard entirely. She took a small step to the side, enough to peer out from behind her companion, before finally speaking up.

"So...what now?" she asked, posing the question she could only imagine everyone was thinking. Without so much as hesitating, the doll would speak up in the way of a reply. "We much head towards the eastern side of the city. There's a small park there, recognisable by an abandoned house that borders it. There is where we shall find sanctuary" she replied, almost mechanically. "I cannot guide you properly until my magic is returned to me, though, and we shall not be able to enter the safehouse without it" she added, almost as an afterthought.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would observe the doll as she seemed to assess herself for any injuries upon being freed. His eyes would shift between the masked woman and the bird above them. It was not unreasonable to think a mage with as much expertise as herself would be able to create essentially a new life. Mec would recall the strange creatures made of ice he had found upon awakening one time, back in Ozette. Of course he had destroyed them in order to keep their existence a secret. This was done by crushing them with an ax in the rear of his family's property and letting the lifeless ice melt back into the ground. Could they have proven useful to him had he taken the time to learn to control them?

It had seemed that there would be little reason to fear for Shallan's protection after the doll had not made any moves to strike for a while after being released. Mec still could not be sure if this was driven by a lack of motive or a lack of magic, but the brief security was acceptable all the same. He would listen quietly as the mage described the location of the hideout they should be seeking, only speaking when the masked woman mentioned that they would not be able to enter the safehouse without her control over magic. "Are you sure I'm the one that took away your magic? I don't really feel like I did anything... Even now that you're freed you still can't use it?"

The group would not have much time to consider the possibilities before the thundering of footsteps and the clapping of horseshoes against stone could be heard. The increasing volume of this rolling storm suggested it was ahead somewhere in their general direction- possibly even right towards them. Mec would let out a grunt, half in annoyance and half in pain from turning to react to the grumbling approaching them. "We're just going to have to figure it out when we get there. We've stood still for too long."

The young mage would slowly peer his head around the corner of the nearby building in the direction of the commotion. It did not seem there was any immediate threat just yet, but he could see the orange glow of torches creeping around the buildings a ways down the road. The guards and knights present at the execution surely have gathered their wits and have proceeded to scour the entire city, confident that the mages could not have escaped through the city walls. They may have been searching for the large owl that had assisted in the escape as well; large birds of its kind were not exactly a common sight.

After concealing himself behind the walls of the alley once more Mec's eyes would widen briefly, as if remembering something. As quickly as his sore body would let him, he staggered back over to the darkened body that they had left behind deeper down the narrow path. Trying not to spend too much time lingering over its existence, Mec would slowly kneel next to the burnt husk and remove its sheath from what was its waist. The tanned leather of the sheath and the strap used to carry it were slightly blackened but still had their functional integrity. Mec would lean his shoulder against the nearest wall as he sheathed the sword he had carried and secured it to his waist.

Once he rejoined the group he would direct his attention to the masked mage. "Even without your magic, you can still lead us to the safehouse, correct? We should probably get going. Maybe your magic will return to you on the way there."

[Namingtoohard]

The doll's passivity seemed to extend to more than just its physical movements and ability to cast magic. It just waited and contemplated their options rather patiently as Mec moved to survey their surroundings briefly, and made a move to retrieve the scabbard of the blade he had pinched from the fallen guard earlier that day. The owl had begun to move again, but only in the most minute of ways and actions, turning its head and occasionally blinking. It didn't move to take flight again, but was that because of the lack of magic, or simply because it had no need to do so at the moment? A bit of both, perhaps. Still, the boy was right about one thing. They needed to get moving. If they wanted in one place for too long, they were bound to be discovered sooner or later...and even if they did avoid immediate detection, they needed to be at the safe house before the sun rose once more.

"Certain? Of course I am certain. You remain unaffected. If our hunters had discovered some method of doing so, it would have taken your magic as well...and the disappearance coincides with your restraining me. It is known that some mages have their own unique talents and skills. What other explanation could there be?" It questioned simply. At his question of whether or not it would be able to lead them all regardless, though, the doll gave something that almost appeared to be a bit of a dismissive shrug - the most casual and humanlike action that it had undertaken all evening. While every other one seemed so precise and perfectly executed as to be inhuman, this one was practically drilling with needless meaning.

"Had my magic been cut off entirely, you would both be doomed. I shall make do with what little seeps through the cracks, though" it answered simply. Indeed, the possibility did exist that her magic would return over time...perhaps with distance, or even as Mec relaxed and started to trust her more. Curious indeed. Still, there was no putting things off any longer. The doll began to move without another word, heading towards the far end of the street in the direction she had specified. Whenever they reached a corner, the doll would pause, calling on the owl to scout ahead and check that the coast was clear as inconspicuously as possible. Only upon making sure that the chances of conflict were minimum would she proceed.

Shallan was rather hesitant, but would follow nonetheless,given how little choice they seemed to have. She was sure to maintain a relatively healthy distance from the doll at all times, lingering a few steps behind at the very least. Her heart was pounding in her throat as they turned down a handful of other streets, having thankfully moved away from the smouldering corpse she had not managed to identify. Just thinking about it made bile rise in her throat, but she forced it down best she could. The woman almost felt paranoid, glancing over her shoulder every few seconds to make sure that there was nothing following them that they had not yet picked up on.

"I mislike this" she mumbled softly at one point, almost unable to bear the sounds of silence for any longer - save for her own breathing and their footsteps, of course. She was shushed by the doll almost immediately, who had paused on the spot. After several seconds of silence, it would turn back the way they had come, heading for a side road that they had passed just several metres before. They had passed it originally because it would have taken them away from their goal, but apparently the doll had decided the detour was necessary. No doubt that the reason for such was that they would have run into a search party if they had continued on their current path and heading. Several more minutes of wandering and skulking followed, until they reached a junction from where the park she had mentioned was visible. With a quick point, the doll would gesture towards the far side.

"The abandoned house there. You see it, yes? The one with the boarded up door, next to the bakery. That is our goal. We must slip inside undetected, and then find our way into the basement" she announced simply". Presumably, the safehouse lay within, and she would be able to grant them sanctuary as soon as they arrived at it. Of course, the park itself would be a problem - a large space of flat open ground, with minimal cover to hide from sight, apart as the occasional tree. Of course, should they manage this last little part of their journey, they would be rewarded with relative safety...for a time, at least.

[Headwrapper]

Mec remained silent as he followed the doll towards the sanctuary she had described. His quietness would only be broken by an occasional grunt if he had taken too long of a stride or turned too abruptly for what his body could tolerate in its current state. He consciously made an effort to keep his breathing as quiet as possible as they traveled through the night. At certain times the orange flames of torches would seem to advance towards their direction, but other times they waned as the distance between the party and the guards grew larger.

When the party finally halted the doll would proceed to identify the safehouse. The sanctuary sat on the other side of a long park. Although some trees stood, the cover they provided was minuscule compared to what was provided from the nooks and alleyways of the city. Mec's eyes scanned the area as he listened to the doll's explanation. Once silence fell upon them once more he would finally speak. "As dark as this night is, it might not fare well for us if we cut through this park. We'll have to find a way around that allows us to remain hidden in the shadows of the buildings." His gaze would shift towards the sky. The moon was hidden behind the clouds, causing them to glow with a dull grayness.

Mec would shrug before adding on to his statement. "That or we need some sort of distraction that will keep attention away from this part of the city." He would turn to face the masked mage. "That bird of yours. Earlier it split into a bunch of crows... It makes me wonder what else it could do. Would it be able to vanish and return to you without giving away your position somehow? It surely would be recognized by the guards, and if it flew high enough they would all see it. I'd imagine most of them would follow it whichever direction it went."

The boy would cease his aloud thinking, an expression of recollection across his face. "Do you feel any of your magic returning? I don't feel like I've done anything to give it back, but then again I didn't feel like I did anything when you lost it either."

[Namingtoohard]

"Taking the scenic route through the streets shouldn't be that much of a problem in theory, but...well, the chance that we would run into more guards still exists" Shallan muttered simply, finally breaking her silence to put forward her own little input on their current situation, and possible actions they could take. She pursed her lips as she pondered the problem - both options seemed to have their own benefits and downsides, really. It seemed one of those dilemmas where there was no clear choice, and only time and the outcome of whatever actions they did choose to take would reveal whether they had made the correct decision or not. Unfortunately, there was little else she could add as the discussion once again turned to magic.

"I could send the owl, but the bird and I cannot venture too far from one another...and if making it vanish and reappear was so simple, we wouldn't have this problem in the first place" the doll resolved simply, tilting its head a little as it considered their options. It even went so far as to bring a hand up to tap against its chin, or where it's chin would have been if not covered by the mask it wore. It seemed that it felt there was some merit to his statement, though. "Perhaps a distraction is not such a bad idea. I would go and draw them off myself, but magic is necessary to open the safe house. We did not want anyone stumbling on it by accident, so unless you do so yourself, I will need to open it for you"

The doll paused briefly, then, pricking up briefly as if suddenly going on alert. It seemed that she - or rather, the owl - had spotted a potential threat. After a few seconds it seemed to pass, though, and she would return her thoughts to the task at hand. Presumably the group that had almost stumbled upon them had chosen to take a different path, by chance or by fate. "Still, perhaps the idea of a distraction is valid. Mayhaps I could enlist the help of one of my comrades. Have them light a fire on the other side of the city. We could make the trip while our hunters rush towards the source, presuming that it is an emergency, and even that we ourselves may have been there to cause it directly"

Unfortunately, Shallan wasn't quite content with this plan, abhorring violence as she so did. She quickly stammered an objection of her own, putting on a braves face to voice her thoughts despite he residual fear and weariness brought on by the doll's attention. "F-fire? Someone could get seriously hurt or die if we set something alight, though! It could spread and destroy half the city for all we know. Even if they did survive, what would become of those who lost their homes?" The question came. This time the doll turned to face the girl properly, causing her to step back hesitantly. "What are the lives of those unknowns compared to ours? Even setting the value of mages aside, self-preservation is human nature. It takes precedent above all else" she answered curtly, abstaining from a more extended argument, out of concern for their current situation. They had already lingered overlong.

[Headwrapper]

Mec's eyes would remain fixed on the building that was to be their destination as the group discussed the methods they would need to employ to reach it safely. The entrance was a large set of double doors made of a dark wood, boarded up by four or five planks of a much lighter color. The windows on either side of the entrance way seemed to be covered from the inside. It was difficult to discern the color of the house in the darkness of the night, but the siding glowed a similar pale gray as the clouds above.

The boy's head would finally turn to observe the doll and Shallan when the idea of using a fire as a distraction was introduced. It seemed, at least so far, that the other mages seemed to value themselves over others. At the very least it may have been the ideology shared within the guild that ran the safehouses in this city. This surely would not be a group Mec and Shallan would want to stay with for too long, but they had no other choice. "There's no reason to go as far as to hurt others for such a simple task as reaching that building," he would finally say. "Even if fire was the answer, I know for a fact it's possible to use magic to create flames that do not burn. Why not use a similar method as a distraction?" He would remember the first time he had dreams that caused him to summon fire in his sleep. The flames did not have the bite of regular fire, rather, they were wispy orange orbs that had lay across his bed. When he moved they simply rolled to the floor and dispersed into puffs of smoke.

His gaze would shift between his two companions before returning to the building across the park. "How do we get in?" he asked bluntly. "I'm starting to think that if we can't make it without putting innocents in danger then we aren't meant to make it at all. I say we just take the quickest route we know of." He hoped that for any guards' sakes that the group wouldn't be detected on their way towards the building. He doubly hoped that for their sake that the doll's magic had yet to return completely, allowing Mec to disable them using less deadly methods. Although his body ached he proved to have been able to use his magic earlier- one or two more uses should not be outside the realm of possibility.

[Namingtoohard]

The doll would hum thoughtfully to itself for a moment as it pondered the boy's words, mulling them over. Indeed, he was right of course - it was indeed possible to make flames that gave off real heat and light without actively burning or consuming anything that they touched. Of course, such flames were harder to maintain as the magician had to actively supply them with energy to keep them alive, as they could not just eat away at a more traditional fuel source. It seemed paradoxical in a way, that something almost akin to an illusion was more taxing to maintain than the genuine article. Still, it seemed that such discussion was for naught.

"The boy is right. We have already spent too long lingering here and debating the issue. Let us just be done with it. If any guards find us, we shall deal with that problem as it arises" the doll announced simply, rising to its full height as if in preparation to move. Naturally, it did not agree with Mec's assessment, but kept such concerns to itself for the time being. After all, when faced with extinction, any alternative was preferable. Such was a fundamental part of being human...or so it believed.

She waited just a few moments for the owl to check that everything was clear, before stepping out and striding towards the park with purpose and grace, setting her pace at a fast walk. The bird quickly moved to join her, taking to the air again so that it could circle overhead lazily and keep an eye out. She didn't even bother to glance back and check that the two children were following, simply trusting them to do so as she practically flitted from one shadow to the next, stepping out into the open only when absolutely necessary. At least, until the owl hooted a warning - they had company.

"Make haste. Don't even acknowledge their presence unless they call out to us. We don't want to give them any ideas about where we have gone to ground" she stated, half-turning back towards the two kids; mouth pulled into something akin to a scowl, and her voice at a half whisper. Raising a hand, she would gesture for them to keep moving, as if trying to hurry them onwards like an impatient parent. "I shall stay behind to deal with them if I must. If that happens, find any way to slip inside once you are out of their line of sight and make your way down to the basement. The entrance lies within"

[Headwrapper]

With his white armor glowing beneath the silver sky above, Gaxeel urged his horse to move faster through the roads of the city as he pursued his prey. In one arm he held his bone-white sword. The weapon glowed faintly, but it was not quite the same white-hot glow that it had when it had emerged from the flames in the square earlier that night. Contrasting against the ivory color of the blade, a dark red collection of burnt blood polluted a small section of its edge. This was where his sword had just barely touched the mage's neck earlier that night before the execution was interrupted.

The Magebane was an artifact said to have been given to humanity by angels to help rid them of the scorn of magic and the chaos it brought with it. Like the knight's armor, it was unusually light for the strength the metal provided. The sword had another unique property. Teased with the blood of a mage, it would glow brighter and brighter as its wielder neared the location of source of blood in hopes to be sated of its need to finish what it had started. This effect would only last for a few hours at best with the small amount of blood that was made to contact with the blade's edge. As Gaxeel weaved between the streets of the city, a small party of guards struggling to keep up with him, he would keep an eye on the glow of the blade. When it intensified, he continued in the same direction, but when it seemed to wane, he would steer his horse in a circle until it seemed to grow brighter once more.

After a while of riding the glow of the sword began to wane faster and faster with no regard to the distance Gaxeel traveled. The effect must have been wearing off quickly, or his prey had suddenly began moving away from him at a faster pace. He slowed his horse as he focused on the Magebane, straining his eyes in hopes to see the glow intensify. As his horse slowly approached a park the glow seemed to return, but it was still duller than before. "Giving up on the hunt already?" he sighed before tapping the blade with one hand. "Once the world is rid of mages I hope they destroy these blasted artifacts too." Between the slow, steady sounds of his horse's hooves against the stone below he heard a faint hoot.

"The damned bird is still here." The guards, who had struggled to convince their horses to keep up with the knights, would finally keep up with Gaxeel. They did not seem to have heard the soft hoo that the knight noticed. There would be little time to find the mage before the Magebane would no longer be useful, and the pursuit would be tenfold more difficult when that happens. Ignoring the protests the body language of his men suggested, the knight would urge his horse onward in the direction he thought he had heard the owl. "Just like hunting any other animal," he mused.

Mec could hear the loud thunder of horses approaching the park only a few moments after the owl communicated its warning to his group. His eyebrows furrowed as he contemplated what might happen in the next few moments. He still felt the same as he did earlier: if he was meant to escape he would ultimately escape. If things did turn for the worst, however, he knew he would have to find a way to protect Shallan. Not just from the guards, but from the masked mage that had lead them this far as well. Although it was not clear if the doll would sacrifice Mec in order to preserve herself, it was obvious she would have little regret if something were to happen to the non-magical member of the small band.

The situation would improve greatly if he could learn how to return the doll's magic back to her, assuming she does not threaten Shallan afterwards. The boy wondered if the vision he had when he used his magic before held some sort of clue. He still had not had a chance to question the mage of such visions were normal. The wisps of light that surrounded them, did they actually exist? Was that the Anima that he had heard so much about, and was identifying its existence around him provide the knowledge he needed to control it more confidently? As these thoughts pressed in the boy's mind the beating of hooves grew louder and louder, and eventually he would see Gaxeel riding along the edge of the park. The knight's white armor shown beneath the silver glow of the moon that had crept through the clouds above, contrasting against the black horse beneath his saddle.

When the boy had identified the knight a loud ringing seemed to overwhelm his sense of hearing. He would let out a heavy grunt as he stopped behind a tree. His eyes seemed to flicker around wildly in confusion before he starting rubbing his hands against his ears. The ringing would continue for a few more seconds before suddenly stopping. Just when Mec started to think he might have just gone deaf, he would hear the voice of G.

My child, beware. That is the blade of Mage's Bane. That is no weapon a mortal should possess.
You must find a way to destroy it, or at least hide it so that it shall not harm my children again.

The boy's eyes would widen as he listened to what the ethereal voice told him. Was now really the time to ask for this type of favor? Mec began to wonder if G was daft or just ignorant. "So that sword really is specifically meant for mages," he mumbled.

[Namingtoohard]

The sound of footsteps on approach was enough to tip off the entire group to the approach of the knight and his friends, even independently from the owl's hooted warning. Naturally, his presence was terrible news for the lot of them, given his own skills and the company that he was undoubtedly bringing with him. They had failed to account for his ability - or rather, the ability of his blade - to track their party's core by nothing more than proximity, and right now it was looking as if that shortcoming might just be their downfall. Had they any information about this skill, then they could have planned around it, most likely by using the owl to keep track of the man's position inst and trying for a safe-room as far from that location as possible. Even the doll didn't have this information, though, so now they would just have to make do.

Naturally, the rest of the group remained blissfully unaware of the Anima's contact with Mec, and the completely new information that it had just provided him with. Shallan was more or less cowed by their current situation, considering that she was arguably the most helpless of their entire party. It felt as if there was little she could do but stay close to her companion and try to stay alive, without doing anything that would put the rest of them in any extra danger. Naturally, she was aware that the doll would leave her if necessary to keep the rest of the group alive. It was unsurprising, though naturally, she wished to avoid such a thing if at all possible. For now there was little else she could do besides stay quiet and try to remain hidden, despite the panic rising in her chest.

The doll, on the other hand, would let out a rather reluctant sigh. Clearly, they were running out of options - like rats trapped in a cage where the walls were very steadily closing in around them. Still, she had one more option that they could make use of. It was once that she had severe personal repercussions, and thus she had wished to avoid it if at all possible, but right now it seemed that they had little other choice. If it was to ensure Mec survived, then she would bear the cost, grave and risky as it may be. Scowling with what little facial expression she was capable of, the doll would turn to the two children, stepping towards them slowly despite the fact it meant breaking cover.

"We have little choice now. I will go confront him directly while the both of you flee together, and then meet you where we agreed. Just..do not head there directly. Take a more roundabout route. Make sure that they will not find out where you have disappeared to" she announced simply, before directing her gaze across at Mec specifically. "There is little choice now - you will have to open the saferoom on your own. When you find the door, charge some magic into it. It will ask you a question. Answer as such - est potentia ex notitia - and it shall open. Repeat the words, please, so that I know you will not forget" she finished simply. Throughout the entire process, the doll seemed as calm as ever, despite the fact it was talking about walking out to greet what was almost certain death...to those who didn't know the truth of the doll, at the very least. When he had done as she asked, the doll would not in simple appreciation, before turning its back to them both.

"Now, off with you both. We shall speak more when this night has come to an end" she concluded simply, finally striding away from the two at a calm and leisurely pace. Of course, her plan was simple - the doll was praying that the man would value the wanted and established mage who had attacked him more than an untrained and uninitiated beginner, and would devote everything to attacking her instead. Then, she just had to stall long enough for the two to get away and hide. Hopefully the lack of knowledge on their part of her restricted magic would make them cautious enough for just that, and prevent him from sending part of his companions after Mec on their own. Afterwards...well, the details would become clear soon enough. If the children got there fast enough, or she survived for longer than expected, they would witness the repercussions for themselves.

With that, she would stride directly towards the cavalry, moving on a vector to intercept them as quickly as possible. Given that she was now out in the moonlight, she didn't expect it would take them long to notice her. Just to make sure, when she was within a reasonable distance, she would let out a high-pitched whistle. As if on queue, the owl would take that as a sign, diving down out of the sky to land on one of her shoulders. Of course, it hadn't needed the whistle to know it was to come, but such served a dual purpose, as everything seemed to do with this person.

"My my. Is that my lovely knight, come to free me from this government's horrendous oppression? I was expecting a warm reception, but this is really something else. Come then, friends - let me reward your hospitality in kind" she announced simply, withdrawing that same curved dagger as before from within the folds of her dress. Her words, naturally, were designed to goad more than anything. Beyond that, there was little she could do but wait to see how they responded. The worst case scenario would be that the mounted warrior sent some of his men after MEc, but hopefully the boy would be able to draw on his magic enough to disable them, if not kill them outright.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would listen as the doll explained her plan. He was unsure if the doll really stood a chance considering how terrifying the Magebane sword supposedly was. The boy wasn't experienced in these types of matters though, so who was he to question? The experienced mage was probably correct in that there were very few options available to the party, and it would be a waste of time to oppose this one.

"Est potentia ex notitia," the boy would repeat when asked. He would give the doll a firm nod before she turned away. "G says that sword if known as the Mage's Bane. It seems to trouble him." Mec chose to leave out any more details that wouldn't be necessary in these next few moments. As soon as the doll began her march towards the knight Mec would turn in the opposite direction. With the direction of the safe house fresh in his mind, the boy should be able to weave his way through the nearby town and gradually make his way towards the refuge.

The prospect of having to use magic to open the door did not seem to bother him. The idea of controlling his powers, once a thought he purposefully distanced himself from, began to feel more comfortable as it rolled around in his mind. Before he took his first step towards the buildings outside the edge of the park the boy would give his companion a hard look. Shallan, who normally had a knack for concealing her true feelings, had indicated her fear in some subtle and some unsubtle ways since the pair had regrouped. Of course it was understandable, it would be inhuman to be as calm as the doll had been up until this point.

"Shal," Mec sighed gently. "I'm not going to let anything hurt you. I'll use all the magic in this world if I have to if that's what it takes for us to get out of this together." For the first time since his recent capture Mec seemed to stand at his full height, despite the pain in his ribs and legs. "Let's go." Mec would start his walk towards the city to the closest buildings he could see. His physical state limited the speed of his escape, but the two had a long enough head start to be able to reach the shadows before anyone would catch up to them, even on horseback.

Gaxeel's cold stare fixated on the mage and her bird as they approached him and his men. At this point the glow of his sword had completely diminished. This was no reason to give up his pursuit of the mage that should have been slain already that night. As much as he wanted to hunt down the boy himself, the knight knew that his men would be no match for the masked mage before him. Unlike the boy, she had trained her craft and had already proved capable of using her tricks to elude authority before. Gaxeel would have to handle her himself. There were plenty of men to spare in search of the novice mage, and he would deliver justice to him when the time comes.

The knight gestured in the direction the doll and her owl had came from. "You, continue your search for Mec Fiska." After noticing a brief hesitation from the men the knight would roar. "Now!" The knight on his horse appeared to almost chase of the guards, but truly he wished to keep himself between them and the mage in case she had meant to halt them. When the horses of the squadron were at full gallop the knight would finally dismount from his own steed. He was left with about seven men on foot and himself to deal with the mage. To him, it made little difference if the men were present. They would more than likely prove to be useless in subduing the masked menace before them.

"Out of all of your faults, this might be your biggest one yet." The knight began his march towards the doll. With a wave of his hand he would command his remaining men to stand off to the side, where they would not intervene unless the knight had been incapacitated. "You wished to help Mec Fiska avoid the kingdom's justice, but his execution is inevitable. As is yours. You've merely shortened the time you have left to poison this earth, sorceress!"

With little hesitation the knight would lunge himself towards the doll. A strike with his sword would guide his movement, while his opposite hand freed a second, regular, sword from his waist to follow with a second strike. The white metals of his armor contorted with the motions of his body. Unlike normal armors, the knight's gear did not seem to compromise his mobility. In fact, he seemed to move much more quickly than a typical warrior. He knew that even in short proximity the white metals would defend him against magic that would directly harm him. Mages, in his experience, usually adapted quickly when they realized this capability. They normally resorted to using magics to manipulate other objects or people to fight back. Fully experienced in the art of combat with mages, Gaxeel was well-prepared for such circumstances.

[Namingtoohard]

Had she possessed a proper face, the doll would have been scowling when the mage hunter that stood before her decided to send the larger part for his contingent after Mec and his little companion. She had truly been hoping that the man would feel it best to devote everything to saving her. Still, his words and actions quickly portrayed the confidence with which he held and conducted himself. The man honestly believed that he alone would be enough to take her down, it seemed. Had she more time, the doll would have loved to continue his attempts at goading him - asking if he honestly thought she was so stupid to confront them directly without a plan of her own, or if he really thought she would be so stupid to do so without her own brand of confidence that she could strike them all down herself. Unfortunately he did not give her the chance, immediately leaping onto the offensive.

As the man charged forward and slashed, the doll tried to respond with the exact opposite; doing her best to dance away nimbly, with the hope that she would be able to find an opening to exploit with some sort of counterattack. Unfortunately for her, the man moved faster than she had anticipated, given his heavily armoured state. His unforeseen second blade went unnoticed at first, too, and scored a glancing blow on the outer part of the doll's right forearm as she tried to twist out of the way. Perhaps most curious was the lack of blood, both where she had been wounded and on the sword that had cut her. As she twirled, the mage would let loose with another burst of lightning mid-retreat, very similar to the one she had used against the mercenary earlier. Of course, such an attack would quickly be nullified by the man's special armour, much to her dismay.

He's fast...faster than he has any right to be...and he nullified my lightning without so much as batting an eye? No matter - I can adjust to compensate. Let us see how much he values the lives of his men.

In the brief lull she had between his first attack and whatever would undoubtedly follow, the owl would launch itself from the woman's shoulder. Spreading its wings, several feathers would launch themselves from its plumage - each empowered, stiffened, and propelled by a small amount of magic. Like enchanted daggers, they would shoot towards each of his men at speed, aiming for various pieces of exposed flesh - eyes and necks, mostly. She could hardly tell how each of them would respond - every guardsman was sure to react in their own way. Would the knight try and defend them, though, or simply focus on pressing his advantage? Only one way to find out.

Content to follow the doll's plan if it meant getting away from the knight and their pursuers as quickly and cleanly as possible, Shallan would quickly set off as soon as the doll turned to go confront their adversaries, heading towards the nearest street she could see that would get them hot of the open. Of course, she simply thought they could take the nearest road out of the park and then loop around the block to reach the back of the abandoned house that was their goal. Still, when Mec began to speak, she paused for a moment; puzzled at first, and then somewhat flattered; a warm smile flickering across her features.

"That's awfully sweet of you, but hopefully it won't come to that...though I can't exactly say I trust our new friend" she added, smile fading just a little as she reflexively brought a hand up to the bruises around her throat. "I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to avoid staying in her company for any longer than is necessary" she added, wincing a little at the thought. Still, their group was making good progress, and she quickly steered them off a branching path that logically seemed that it would steer them in a right direction.

"Hopefully she can sneak us out of the city, and then we never have to see her again. The way she so casually kills, and talks about destroying other people's lives...I get the feeling that she'd gladly sacrifice hundreds of humans to save just two or three mages" she answered simply, pursing her lips a little as the edge of the ruined building came into view. At about the same time, the sound of hooves on the flagstones made itself known, causing her to pause and glance back over her shoulder briefly. Still, it was somewhat distant, and much too hard to tell if they were getting closer or not. "...let's hurry. Look for a window that isn't boarded up properly, or a door that was left unlocked - anything that will get us inside"

[Headwrapper]

Gaxeel's body maintained its offensive stance when struck by the burst of lightning. As the magic dissipated from his armor he prepared himself for his next strike. The knight's legs bent slightly while his torso pointed towards his opponent. The arm that held the Magebane pointed behind him while he held his regular sword horizontally in front of his face, the only defensive component to his hyperoffensive stance. The horns of his helm almost seemed to point directly towards the mage before him as he considered her through the helmet's visor. No visible blood from the blow he had landed. Had she healed herself that quickly? All the more reason to aim to kill as quickly as possible.

As a youth Gaxeel would have already devolved into a primal form of himself, eyes wild as he swung his blades at his opponent until victory was his. But, Gaxeel was no foolish youth that would underestimate his opponent. Although his fighting style was extremely offensive, he executed with the assurance of his armor's protection and with the control of a master. Every mistake the knight would make had the potential cost of a human life. Whether that be himself, his men, an innocent civilian, a nobleman or noblewoman. His wife, Ingrid, or his daughter, Illya, would always be at potential risk in a world that inhabited mages. This burden was what kept the purpose in every action the knight would make.

Gaxeel's ideology was quickly put to the test when the owl began striking at the guards around him. Unable to protect themselves from the magical projectiles, some had retreated behind sturdy structures as others were struck down, injured or dead. In response to the attack, Gaxeel would charge forward towards the mage. It was too late for the knight to defend the men himself. It would have to be on them to take the owl down themselves, and it would be his own duty to strike down the mage and potentially force the owl to end it's onslaught.

As the knight swung his blades at the mage he could hear the twang of a bowstring being released. The one archer among the squad that had remained with the knight had the courage to try to eliminate the owl himself, it seemed. Still, Gaxeel knew, it would probably be a futile attempt. The only control he had over the situation was how quickly he eliminated his target. The initial slice of his blades was followed by a flurry of additional swipes, whether the doll had managed to evade the attacks or not. The knights intention was to allow little time for recovery between attacks and keep the distance between him and the mage as small as possible in order to pressure the mage into making a fatal mistake.

Mec sighed when Shallan expressed her distaste for their questionable ally. "I suspect she has some ulterior motive for coming to my rescue. I'm curious to find out what that is, although I'm sure I can't entertain it." The boy responded similarly to his companion at the sound clattering hooves. After a quick glance over his shoulder he would give Shallan a nod. "Right."

As the two hastened to find a means to enter the building the thunder of their pursuers grew louder. Each moment of scrambling seemed to double the volume of the pounding hooves. Mec's hands quickly pulled against each plank he came across in hopes to find one that was loosely nailed or simply set in place between other boards. He eventually found what he was looking for, standing on his toes to push against a plank that covered a window in the rear part of the building. Two boards fell, bouncing off the boys head and arms as they came down. Much like he had suspected, the boards were simply stacked on top of another that was truly fastened to the window, with metal nails superficially pounded into them to give the appearance of a fully sealed window.

"Shal," the boy whispered. "Hurry. I'll help you up and toss the wood up to you. Then you can pull me up and we can replace the boards." He quickly placed one hand on top of the other, palm facing upwards, and knelt low enough that Shallan could use his hands as a step so he could push her to the window. As he waited for her to attempt the climb he could see the planks at his feet trembling as the pounding of hooves drew closer.

[Namingtoohard]

Her attack was met with mixed success, but the mage had no time to dwell upon it as the knight continued to rush her. Once again, she found herself cursing the restrictions that had been placed upon her. She would gladly have abused the full extent of her powers and rent the entire park in two if she had thought it would help her secure victory, and remove one of the most long-lasting and tenacious thorns in the side of her and all other mages she was associated with that were trying to hide out in this city. Of course, even then it still wasn't a sure thing that she would still be able to best him, which was the main reason she had never just confronted him before, but as needs must. Now there was no other choice, but at least she still had one big advantage.

Unfortunately, the attack made against her pet owl was of much more serious consequence. While she didn't seem to mind the physical blows she had sustained in the slightest, the beast was much less expendable, and could not be sacrificed as willingly as her body. Of course, this left her with a choice. She could make certain that the owl survived, but doing so would leave her less time and resources to deal with the knight currently charging her down. Still, in the end, it was a simple enough decision. She could not lose the owl no matter the personal consequences, even if it meant that she didn't get to stall the knight out for nearly as long. She had risked much to defend Mec thus far, but if leaving him meant her own personal salvation, she would eventually make that decision, too. She wouldn't be able to help other mages and accomplish her long-term goals if she died here, after all.

Throwing an arm out towards the owl, she would devote part of her attention to deflecting the arrow that was sent towards the owl. Of course, it dipped and swerved on reflex anyway, but best to make sure. In the lull that followed as the man tried to ready another arrow, the bird would zip up into the air, gaining as much height as it could in the time it had. It would play no further part in this fight, aside from circling overhead to observe. It would find its way back to the rest of the group soon enough, once matters had been resolved. In the moments that followed she turned her attention back to the knight, quickly raising her dagger. She would have loved to rip up the earth and try to ensnare and crush him directly, but she had not the strength left. Instead she allowed the man to score a savage backhanded cut across where her stomach should have been. Once again, there would be no blood, and while the doll both gasped and recoiled slightly, it didn't prevent her from executing her plans.

With her dress torn, it could finally be seen that it wasn't flesh that lurked beneath the silk folds of the doll's dress. True to her moniker, it was something that almost looked like a very pale kind of wood, sanded and then polished to a perfect finish. It was splintered and torn now, and the doll could hardly hold itself up straight. There was no doubting that another blow like that would cause even its magically-imbued structure to crumble, but it had a few more moments. Self-preservation was not an issue anymore, so she could get a little more...reckless and creative. The doll would just have to hope she had hindered him for long enough, and could be a little more reckless in these final moments. With its good hand, it would swipe low with its enchanted dagger, searching for any sort of connection with the knight's legs. At the same time, another burst of magic would do something most unexpected - the doll would set itself aflame. Not magic fire - just a magically induced spark, that would set itself alight with blue flames. They quickly roared into life, spreading rapidly. Even if her swipe at his leg didn't see any result, if the knight stayed close for even a fraction too long, he risked burns of his own...well, provided it surpassed the protection of his armour, of course.

Shallan, having split off to check down the sides of the building for an opening, quickly came trotting back when Mec called out that he had found something. Quick to catch on to his idea, she stepped into his hand and quickly hoisted herself up and through the window, pulling herself up and through with a little difficulty. Afterwards she would quickly catch the boards as they were tossed up to her, barring one instance in which her hand slipped and she dropped one of them. When they were all stacked neatly inside, she would lean down over the windowsill and offer Mec her hand, quickly pulling him in after her after a few moments of exertion. Following that, she would move to try and fix the boards back in place. Only once she was satisfied would the girl brush herself off and turn her attention back to their surroundings.

The room in which they had entered was certainly derelict, if nothing else. Darkness permeated, and cobwebs hung from most of the furniture, which was rotten. The damp smell of mould lingered, and she couldn't help but wrinkle her nose at it. After a moment to allow her eyes to adjust to the darker gloom, she would glance back across at Mec.

"She said the entrance was in the basement, right? Lets look for a way down" she announced simply, quickly picking a direction seemingly at random, before trotting off. Presumably if the house was abandoned, and they had managed to get away, then were was nothing to be afraid of inside...right? After all, they would hear the hooves of the soldiers approaching on horseback soon enough, and this space was supposed to be abandoned. After a few minutes of fruitless searching, the woman would call out to Mec, just as he had to her a few moments earlier. Kicking back the edge of an old carpet well past its prime, she had revealed the edge of a wooden trapdoor, which presumably led down to the lowest level of the house.

[Headwrapper]

As Gaxeel continued his onslaught of strikes of his sword, the doll seemed to move uncharacteristically to defend the owl. The bird must have been too important to risk allowing it to be harmed, and the knight made sure the doll would pay the cost for protecting it. After his final strike slashed through the mage's abdomen the knight would hold his stance to inspect the damage.

Expecting the mage to crumble to the ground, the knight's eyes squinted quizzically beneath the helm of his visor as the torn remains of the mage's body stumbled backward and remained standing. His attention final focused on what should have been the wound itself. Where he expected to see spilling entrails and blood there was only splintered wood. Taken aback by the realization of the trick he had fallen for, the knight did little to react to the slice to his legs. The dagger itself managed to pierce through the white metal of the armor protecting his leg. The armor took the brunt of the damage, but blood would still out of the newly made opening, dripping down the edges of the dagger and staining the white metal.

Gaxeel hardly managed a sharp inhale in reaction to the blow before the wooden figure before him burst into flames. With loud roar the knight would push the source of the blue flames away from him as he staggered and fell backwards. His body thrashed as he tore his helm off, tossing it to the side. "Water!" the man roared to no particular person. "Put out those flames! Don't give them a chance to spread!" The knight continued barking his orders even as two other men helped him stand. Gaxeel knew he had suffered some sort of burn across his face, but it was difficult to tell just how bad the damage was. The only major effects his injuries seemed to have was the difficulty he had moving his leg, but he would have to see a medic before making a judgement on how bad the wound truly was.

As men rushed to put out the flames, the two guards that held up Gaxeel would try to guide him towards a medic. "No. Bring the medic here. I am staying here. To collect the remains of that.. thing." The knight's demands were met with silence from the guards. "Go get the damned medic, man!" The knight would aggressively push the men away from him. As they left to bring a medic the knight would sit on the ground, watching the blue flames slowly diminish with each bucket or barrel of water that was brought to them.

When Mec had climbed through the window, he was immediately greeted with the dankness of the abandoned building. Everything about the environment was wet. The air was heavy in the boy's lungs, and everything he touched had a grimy feel to it. The boy would only nod in agreeance when Shallan suggested they find a way to the lower floor, but not long after she hurried off he would kneel down on one knee.

In this position Mec would breath heavily, focused on the darkness straight ahead of him. Even as the roaring thunder of hooves passed by his breaths would remain steady as he rested. It would only be a few more moments before he and Shallan would be able to enter the sanctuary and hopefully be able to truly rest their battered bodies.

Deciding that he had taken enough of a breather, the boy would slowly stand back up, using a nearby table to steady himself. It would only be a second later that Shallan would call out to him. Once Mec had made his way through the darkness to join his friend he would see the trapdoor, barely illuminated by the moonlight through the barred windows. "This must be it then," the boy would say softly. He would try to lift the trapdoor up himself, only to grunt at the sharp pain that split his sides. After taking a sharp breath Mec would manage to open the trapdoor, accepting any help from Shallan if she offered it.

The darkness of the basement below was truly pitch black. There were no barred windows to allow slivers of moonlight through. After observing the seemingly black square in the floor, Mec would nod, as if acknowledging something that needed to be done. Just like he had done in the dream he had in the inn, the boy would wave one arm to his side to summon a small ball of flame. The orb of flame remained steady, hovering only a few inches above his palm as it illuminated the air around it.

After holding the flame over the entrance to the basement and inspecting the area below, Mec would lower himself down a wooden ladder into the cellar below. He did his best to lower himself as quickly as possible, despite being limited to one hand and the occasional spikes of pain. Once the two were in the basement, Mec pulled on a rope that would close the trapdoor above them.

The air in the basement was even more damp than the air in the house above. The orange light of Mec's flame reflected of the slick surfaces of the stone walls and floor. The space itself, other than the ladder in the center, was empty. On one wall the stone morphed and twisted in a large, circular pattern. The diameter of the circular carving was easily equivalent to Mec's height, maybe longer.

"This must be the door?" Mec would ask, holding up his orange flame to the suspected entrance. The carvings around the dial could have been some sort of symbols, but it would be hard to tell without prior knowledge. With little reason to hesitate, Mec would place his free hand on the carved stone. To his surprise, the stone was warm. As Mec's palm and fingers absorbed the heat of the stone, he closed his eyes, focusing on trying to inject the stone with some of his magic. He would stand silently for two or three minutes before shaking his head. "It's too hard this time... I'm... too tired? I think?"

His hand would tremble as he slide it across the dips and curves of the carved stone. It reminded him of the gray stone in Avoorka. How easily he was able to tear that stone apart, when he had understood even less about magic than he did now. What was different about that time than now? He felt he had a bit more familiarity with controlling magic after the recent events, but he couldn't even summon a small amount for a seemingly trivial task.

"I got it." After a brief moment, Mec would raise his open hand and hold it next to his head before smacking his palm against the stone. That time, he felt it. An odd sensation that made his arm tingle, buzzing out of his palm as it made contact with the stone. The symbols on the stone wall began to glow with a pale blue light. Just in front of the glowing wall, symbols made of the same light formed and hung in the air. This must have been the question Mec was required to answer. "Est potentia ex notitia."

A moment after Mec spoke, the pale blue lights vanished, leaving only the orange glow of Mec's flame. The circular pattern of the stone wall split open as the wall swung inwards, revealing a long and dark hallway. This, presumably, would be the path to the sanctuary.

[Namingtoohard]

Despite the fact that her destruction was imminent, even if the guardsmen did manage to stop the fires from spreading any further, didn't seem to bother the doll in the slightest. With her owl safe and her body physically incapable of much more, she had done all she could to stall the knight as much as she possibly could. Heck, her knife and flames had already inflicted much more damage upon the armoured knight than she ever could have hoped, so the doll was content to consider her mission a success...or at least as much as it could be, given the destruction of her vessel. As needs must, though. Hopefully it would prove an adequate trade in the time to come, if the boy proved his usefulness.

Even as the knight called for help, shouting for water and the medic to be brought to him, the doll didn't bother lashing out. As the flames consumed its body, slowly turned its wooden frame to ash, all the thing did was...laugh. A deep, guttural laugh that seemed to shake the very air. It was hardly a smooth sound, like the rest of its speech up until that point. A guffaw that barely seemed human, largely due to the fact that the doll was practically falling apart throughout the process. It only petered out as the doll finally fell to pieces; its body finally reduced to the point where it was no longer controllable, even by the magic that had bound it and allowed the owner to manipulate it from a distance thus far. Of course, the flames would continue to eat at the surface of its skin, until all remnants of the doll had been reduced to ash...unless the guards managed to put it out in that small window, of course.

Regardless of what happened with the next few moments, the owl would continue on its own path without interruption. It would continue to circle for a few moments, climbing higher and higher as it observed what happened over the course of the next few moments. Once everything had been set into motion, it would zip away again, looping out over the city walls before coming back around to approach the abandoned house from the far side of the city, once it was relatively sure that it could do so rather unnoticed. It would rejoin the rest of the group shortly, once it had the chance to do so in safety.

Naturally, Shallan would offer what small help she could when it came to prying the trap door open, which did so with a whine. It seemed to suggest that the saferoom had not been used in quite a while, given how much the hinges on the door resisted. Given that he was the only one capable of generating the light they needed to see, the girl was content to follow behind him, allowing him to make his way downstairs first. She would follow shortly after, dropping into the damp pit that seemingly served as an antechamber of sorts. In the dull glow of the flame Mec had conjured, she would glance around in quiet reverence, simply trying to take in their surroundings without disturbing what felt like a strangely fragile atmosphere.

"Just...take your time. I think we're just as hidden here was we would be inside the actual safehouse. I just imagine that its rather more comfortable in there" she muttered softly, before falling into silence as Mec began the process of trying to open the door that would permit them access to the sanctuary inside. She would stay silent for the larger part of the process, not wanting to disturb her companion as he tried to call on the magic intentionally for what felt like the first time. She would clasp her hands together in front of the chest, looking on with a pensive expression as he tried to open the door for the first time, without success.

"We can always just wait for the mage if we must. There's no need to rush" she offered simply, trying to make him feel better in some small capacity, before he finally succeeded at opening the door on the spot. Letting out something akin to a relived sigh, she stepped towards the doorway. Just a little further and we can finally rest she told herself simply, shakily putting one leg in front of the other as they finally advanced on the sanctuary.

The stone passage beyond the door seemed to be of similar make to the sanctuary itself, and the original door quickly closed behind them as the two of them advanced down the hallway. Beyond, the hallway widened out into another proper room, and here it was perhaps a little more cosy. While the walls were still largely carved out of stone, there was some modicum of practicality. A handful of furniture and a carpet did what they could to alleviate the gloom, and while the place wasn't exactly homely, it was still some improvement. Several small rooms branched off in different directions, though they did so without doors. Through one doorway Shallan could see a stack of boxes that supposedly held the supplies that would sustain them throughout their stay, and a basic single bed through another. The whole place was lit by a handful of candles scattered about - a few of which were running low, but they helped.

"...Mec, look. Someone's been here recently" she muttered, pointing out to one of the nearest ones as proof of concept. The candles wouldn't have lasted if lit too long ago, so clearly somebody was expecting them. It could be that their mysterious rescuer had set them before coming back, or that there was somebody here waiting for them. She didn't feel all that nervous - there likely wasn't thatbig of a threat. Still, it would pay to make sure.

Unbeknownst to them both, there was another in the safehouse. An older lady was reclining in one of the back rooms, tucked away in a comfy padded armchair that appeared to be the most luxurious piece of furniture in the house. She was dressed in a blue silk robe not entirely unlike that of the doll, and sported blonde hair cut short at the neck. She was clearly older than both of the children, given that wrinkles were starting to form at the corners of her face, but they weren't yet prominent enough to obscure her firm features. Most curious was the presence of a blindfold, which took the form of a simple bandanna tied around the back of her head to create a strip that obscured both of her eyes. Of course, should one check it would appear that the woman was comatose; she didn't openly react to any sort of sound or touch, and both her breathing and heart rate were totally minimal, if one cared to check.

[Headwrapper]

By the time the medics had finished attending to Gaxeel's injuries, the flames set ablaze at the conclusion of his fight with the doll were reduced to nothing but charred ashes. As Gaxeel approached the remains of his previous foe he made out a white sliver beneath some of the blackened ash. Carefully, he knelt down to claim his trophy, or rather, a sigil that would fuel his motivation to hunt in the future.

The knight's callused fingers swam noiselessly through the warm ashed as they retrieved the dolls mask.The bottom half was mostly burned away, but after some hasty dusting it was evident the top half was still mostly intact. The knight frowned as he stared where the eyes would be if the mask had them. If the night yielded no trace of the young mage and his savior he would be forced to end the search and report to his superiors. They would have questions, and he would have little answers. It was clear that the boy had not been allied with the mage's order prior to the night's events, but it would seem that they managed to scurry away with a new recruit.

Mec allowed himself to walk at a slower and more comfortable pace as he and Shallan walked through the passage. By pressing his free hand against the cold stone walls, he was able to shuffle relatively painlessly towards their destination. Once they reached what appeared to be the central room of the sanctuary the boy stood still, leaning against the wall, as he allowed his eyes to observe their surroundings.

He did not see much more than what Shallan had. The room was simply furnished and dimly lit. The air lacked the dampness the previous room carried, and the faint sound of the candles flickering filled what would have been a soundless void. Mec's small orb of flame began to flicker, sputtering as the flames seemed to fight their way outside of their spherical prison. As the boy closed his fist, the flame vanished with a puff of white smoke.

"You're right." With a small grunt the boy would stagger his way towards a chair in the center of the room and press his hands against the wooden back. From here he would continue to scan the doorways he could while considering what should be done next. It might have been best for his own and Shallan's safety if they took time to scope out the other rooms so that they couldn't be caught off guard by any potential threats. In the same regard, poking around do them more harm than good. If what the doll was able to follow up on her promises, she would be arriving in due time.

"I'm... tired," Mec would finally say. After being able to stand still in relative quiet, the boy's adrenaline began to work its way out of his veins, and the reality of his injuries began to truly return to him. His ribs throbbed with such vigor that he would have sworn they were all broken and the weakness in his legs quickly returned, leaving them quivering as he stood. All at once the color in the boy's face vanished as the heat of adrenaline was replaced with the cold grips of pain. With shallow breaths he would slowly inch his way to the front of the chair and lower himself onto it, hissing when he turned too much one way or another.

[Namingtoohard]

Still caught up contemplating what exactly they should do next, Shallan would glance around briefly, contemplating heading through one of the nearby doorways to begin the process of exploring. Like her companion, she was feeling somewhat fatigued, but her pains and aches were hardly a comparison. The cuts on her had long since scabbed over, and while her bruised throat was a hassle, it hardly compared to the injuries Mec had sustained. After all, she had been free and relatively unharmed throughout the majority of the day, unlike her companion. She could hardly object in favor of her own plans as he started lowering himself into one of the nearby chairs. The worry in her eyes was unmistakable, but seating himself would certainly be better in the long run.

"Just...take it easy, okay? Don't stop yourself if you think you need to sleep. I'll dig around a bit and see if I can find any bandages or medicine or food in the meantime" she announced simply, not quite able to hide the tone of concern that had managed to creep into her voice. "I'll stay within earshot just in case you need anything, too" she added after a brief pause, turning and taking a few cautious steps towards the nearest of the doorways. She poked her head around the corner first, only to find it filled with a table and several shelves stacked with boxes. Satisfied that there was no immediate danger, the girl would slip into the room, intent on her original goal. Of course, if she could find some beds, well...all the better for them.

The older lady that lay resting in one of the other rooms would not stay comatose for long, unfortunately. Not long after the two of them had split up, she would awaken, if one could call it that. Jerking upright, she would start coughing and spluttering loudly for a moment; hands gripping the armrests of her chair so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The coughing fit would last for several moments, and end with her leaning forward, half-bowed over herself as she gasped for air and tried to regain what she could of her composure. Once she had, the woman would slowly rise to her feet, reaching out for the nearest wall. Letting her fingers find the stone, she would use it as a guide, tracing her way around the edge of the room until she reached the nearest doorway.

Without any of the hesitation that Shallan had shown earlier, the woman would step out into the open room, calling out gently. "Hello? Mec, have you and your little friend arrived yet?" she questioned simply, despite the fact that Mec himself was seated in the same room she had just entered. Of course, she couldn't tell that for herself, given the bandanna tied around her eyes. The woman was, as was quickly becoming even more apparent than before, completely blind. Naturally, this was the same mage who had been controlling the sightless doll that had rescued the captured little mage from his appointment with the executioner, though whether Mec and Shallan made that connection immediately remained to be seen. All would doubtlessly become clear soon enough.

Shallan, of course, quickly returned from her exploring when she heard this unfamiliar voice ring out. She dashed back towards the main room of the sanctuary, before pausing in the doorway as she spotted the unfamiliar woman. The sound of her speedy footsteps were enough to garner some of the woman's notice, who oriented her face in the direction that she had heard the sound coming from, based on the lack of any other input. "Ah, so someone has made it here, at the very least" she observed idly, more or less just stating the obvious at this point. Her voice was bland and flat, as if to emphasize this aspect. It was no question, or even an accusation - more a simple statement, of what she knew to be fact. The lack of eyesight did not mean she was incapable, after all; an assumption that many had regretted in the past.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would offer Shallan a silent nod in response to her statements, careful not to meet her gaze. He watched as his companion began her expedition around the safehouse, first peeking behind a corner before disappearing from view. Once she was gone Mec would lean himself against the back of his chair, allowing his head to lay against the top rail of the chair's long back. In this position he found he could take slightly longer breaths before any pains forced him to exhale.

A few minutes of silence and breathing helped revitalize Mec's mind and spirit somewhat, and the color that flushed from his skin began to return. He grinned as he stared at the dark ceiling above him. I got lucky, again... After a some time he would turn his head, observing the room around him a second time. Soon that woman will make her way here and I'll have to try to find out what her motives are...And if she might be able to get me out of the city even in this condition.

Mec's thoughts were interrupted by soft foot steps as a robed woman entered the room. The boy immediately recognized the similarity of the new arrival's robes to the doll's. Whereas the doll had a mask that covered her eyes, this woman had a cloth tied around her head that achieved the same effect. Before the boy could muster up the courage to respond to the woman's call, Shallan had returned and attracted the robed lady's attention.

It was apparent to Mec that the new arrival was blind due to the way she walked and addressed those around her. He assumed that she may have been one of the peer's the doll had mentioned earlier. "We've both arrived," he would finally say tiredly. The boy's eyes narrowed as he considered the woman's arrival. She did not seem to wonder about the welfare of the woman had accompanied Mec and Shallan for the longer half of the night. Could this have been the same woman, minus the mask? "I believe we have a mutual friend to thank for that." The boy took a moment to readjust his position in the chair. "As grateful as I am, I'm nervous to find out the motivation for my rescue though. It doesn't seem that public displays of magic brings good tidings."

[Namingtoohard]

The smallest hint of a smile flickered across the woman's features as Mec revealed himself, and both Shallan and the unknown woman turned their heads to face him as he finally spoke up. Out of habit more than anything, the blindfolded mage had a habit of keeping her head oriented towards those she was speaking with, despite the lack of need for eye contact - a measure she had adapted some time ago just to avoid unnerving those she conversed with. She kept her outreached hand resting on the door frame, but otherwise remained impassive for the time being.

Still, she listened to his words in relative silence, while Shallan waited on the fringes of the room tentatively. She fidgeted somewhat nervously as she listened in on this conversation. She felt strangely at odds with the current situation, given that everything that had happened here was about Mec and his powers, rescue included...and, well, she had already been made to feel as an unnecessary extra once by the actions of their saviours. Namely when the doll had tried to crush her throat and kill her. Had Mec not been there to stop her, the girl had no doubts she would not be standing there right now. Interrupting seemed like a foolish idea at best.

"You understand that this was not merely an act of charity. Good. This will make things easier" the woman responded simply, still as calm and composed as ever. She didn't bother pointing out the fact that she and the doll were one and the same just yet, feeling the matter somewhat inconsequential compared to the things it seemed that he currently wished to discuss. "I shall keep this short, as I am sure that you are both in need of rest. I represent a cabal of sorcerers who wish to end the current oppression of magic that has lingered since the end of the last age" she opened simply, pausing just briefly to allow them enough time to digest this information.

"I am not so foolish as to claim that magic has never been used for evil, but having innocent children smothered in their cribs for being born with something outside their control is hardly a reasonable solution. I seek to return some semblance of balance to the world" she added after a moment's pause. Of course, the implications of this seemed clear enough. At least, in regards to her motivation for saving a fellow mage, and what she would expect of him then. A new ally, and another set of hands to make use of in some form or another. A chance to grow the strength of her lodge by adding a new member, helping her move one step closer to her goal.

"There is no need to rush into this discussion, though. I am sure you have many questions, but we will have plenty of time for talking tomorrow when you have rested up and are fresh of both body and mind. It'll be a while before the search for us dies down again regardless" she added, turning her back on the group and moving towards the same doorway through which she had just come once more. "There was beds in the room on your right, and food in the storeroom opposite. We can talk things over properly once we have all tended to our various ailments"

[Headwrapper]

Mec scowled as he listened to the robed woman's words. Oppression. He supposed that word was not inaccurate when describing the way society treated mages. But so what? If the tables were turned, those without magic would be much worse off. Just hours before he watched a man be instantly obliterated, leaving nothing but a burnt husk behind. How could that be some sort of proof that mages could be trusted, reasoned with even?

The boy could hardly argue that he wholeheartedly believed that the treatment of mages was justifiable. If he did, he would not have pushed himself to travel to this safehouse. Even more so he would never have taken the keys to freedom Shallan had offered him nights before. Someone that truly believed that mages needed to be removed from society, put in Mec's position, would have readily offered their lives to better the world for their loved ones.

Mec pondered this concept. Why is he defying the laws of the land? Truly, he never cared much about the presence of mages. Their executions were simply news that never affected him until he himself developed his powers. Maybe he was just selfish, too afraid to accept his rightful death. He certainly did not feel compelled to suddenly fight for some sort of sense of justice for himself, or other mages for that matter.

The expression on the youth's face would tighten even more as the robed woman continued, and he would fixate on yet another word. Balance. Could there truly be a balance? Give a mage a mouse hair's worth of freedom and he would probably set the world ablaze. Well, maybe not? Combating hardwired prejudices was hardly easy, and the boy hardly had the energy to continue making sense of his situation.

The boy remained silent until the mage had finished speaking. He would offer Shallan a glance before turning his gaze towards the room that was said to have beds. "Yes, I'm afraid I lack the energy to discuss much of anything right now," he croaked. Even after agreeing it would be time to rest, Mec did not move from his chair. There was little to worry about in terms of safety. So much effort was put into getting him this far, he would hardly expect that harm would be brought to him now. And yet... "I need a promise that my friend will not be harmed by you or your little club again."

Mec rolled his head tiredly in order to face the blind mage once again. The way she worded her statements prior reaffirmed his suspicions that she was in fact the doll, in some form. "Your attitude towards non-mages was made quite clear. Understand that without Shallan we would never have had the opportunity to meet." The boy stopped to catch his breath, painfully swallowing saliva that built up while he drew his short breaths. "A promise."

[Namingtoohard]

Naturally, the woman would nod in simple acceptance as the boy confirmed her assumption that there was little point in having this discussion tonight. Of course, she expected some level of resistance to her 'radical' ideals, but she was confident that her arguments would win out in the long run, so she was content to let all parties involved rest for now. She had convinced several other mages to join her in this manner before, after all...and besides, even if Mec did not agree with her dream for a changed world, that would not necessarily make him useless to her. She could always offer to have her cabal hide him in exchange for simply passing on information - a deal that would allow him to live out his life in peace, provided he could maintain its secrecy, while still offering her something in return. Many of the lodge's followers did not share her extreme ambition, but continued to prove useful in such a way.

"Until tomorrow, then. Sleep well" she concluded simply, turning away from the two and moving to step back through the doorway from which she had come. Of course, she paused briefly as Mec called out again, turning her head just a fraction this time - as if glancing back over her shoulder at him. At his words, a soft chuckle escaped the lady, who shook her head a little as if in disbelief. Shallan, on the other hand, seemed a little taken aback by this statement. She had considered herself practically forgotten in this discussion of 'greater entities', so to speak, and was more or less surprised that she had warranted such a thought to begin with. Of course, it was hardly a bad thing; this was the second time tonight her companion had revealed such touching concern for her welfare.

"Mec..." she muttered softly, almost in a whisper, even as the woman let his display of amusement run its course. Any further answer was lost as the robed lady gave her response to such a thought, though. "Neither of you must worry in that regard. I grabbed the girl earlier, yes, but I did so in ignorance of who she was, and her relation to you. Why would I seek to harm one of the few regular humans who seems willing to associate with mages despite our reputation, and our differences? Doing so would be directly counterintuitive to my cause" the woman answered simply. Her bemused smile remained, and the lack of eye contact caused by her blindfold made it difficult to read her true emotions. Would they be willing to take her at her word for a lack of any better information, or would it simply make her seem all the less trustworthy? It would be interesting to find out.

"In case that is not enough, though, then you have my promise. Under the old traditions of home and hospitality, neither of you shall incur any harm while you remain my guests...well, none by my hand, at least. I can't promise that our little girl won't trip over or something" she answered. Believing that to have settled the matter, she would once again step into the room that had clearly been marked as her own. With that, their meeting seemed concluded, and Shallan let out a heavy breath that she hadn't even realised she was holding.

"...and to think she hasn't even told us her name" Shallan finally offered, breaking the silence that followed her departure in a meek attempt to lift the atmosphere of the room somewhat. She flashed Mec a forced smile of her own, before finally stepping out of the doorway and drawing a bit closer. "I don't know about you, but bed sounds perfect right about now. I feel so nervous I don't think I could eat anyway" she admitted somewhat sheepishly, despite her own suggestion earlier. Of course, if he was hungry or felt that he had an injury that needed tending, she would have no problems moving to find and prepare the necessary supplies. They had been up all night, so sleep could wait a fraction longer if necessary.

[Headwrapper]

Mec's scowl persevered even as the mage chuckled. She had done plenty to earn some level of trust and respect from youth, but she had earned plenty of doubt as well. The boy remained silent as he watched the mage leave the chamber, and hardly moved for the immediate moments after the woman's departure.

The boy's silence continued even after Shallan spoke. His scowl would remain plastered to his face, at no particular object or person, as if to be pondering something. After a long pause he would finally speak and the tension in his facial features would relax. "I'm not eating. It's probably best for me to sleep as much as I can." With this, the boy would take as long of a breath as he could before painfully forcing himself to his feet. He would let out a sigh as he placed his hands on the back of the chair to support himself. "They really did a number on me. I hate to say it but our stay here might be a rather lengthy one."

With little left to discuss, the boy would silently stagger towards the room the mage had pointed out earlier. Once he made his way through the doorway, he would slowly lower himself to the nearest bed. If Shallan had offered any help in this endeavor he would accept it silently. Once he had reached the bed, the boy would carefully shift himself onto his back without bothering to cover himself with any bedding.

Slow, careful breaths were the only sounds Mec would make from this position until he finally drifted into sleep. Occasionally he might awaken due to pains related to his injuries, but he would remain in bed until he was back asleep unless there were any disturbances in the night. It wouldn't be until later in the morning until he decided to try to leave the bed.

[Namingtoohard]

"Mm. Well, better to take our time and make sure all is well. If that means we're stuck here for a tad longer, so be it" the girl answered, trying to waylay her companion's concerns as best she could. Better to take their time and rest up before they set out again, lest they find themselves caught in a situation where their injuries could become a real liability. One that could even prove fatal should worse come to worse. No, better to avoid that risk altogether. The consequences were much too dear to even consider.

She would watch in relative silence as he struggled to rise to his feet again, but made no direct offer of help as he struggled towards the room that supposedly made up their sleeping quarters. Still, her face was pulled into a disapproving or even worried frown as she watched him go, before reluctantly following. Despite the lack of privacy, she quickly crawled into one of the other vacant beds towards the far end of the room, where she tossed and turned until she drifted off to sleep.

Like the past few nights, it did not prove to be an especially restful one, though Shallan did wake feeling somewhat refreshed. Her body was sore, but it was more an ache of fatigue from all the physical exertion from the night before than any real injury or pain. The obvious exception was her throat, of course, but the fact she could still breathe more or less without aid was enough to waylay any major concerns, despite some minor blood spittle.

Grumbling to herself about how it was impossible to tell the time while underground, she would head out into the main part of the sanctuary, only to find that their host was also yet to emerge from her own quarters. With nothing better to do, and an empty feeling in her stomach, she decided to make use of this time by rummaging through the stores they had been told about the previous night. She tried to keep the noise down, but without complete success, and was disappointed to find that most of the supplies consisted of salted meat, pickled fruits and the likes; the sort of food that could be prepared in advance and stored for somewhat lengthy periods of time without spoiling.

[Headwrapper]

Mec lay with his eyes closed as Shallan left the room. Although his rest was frequently broken throughout the night, he still felt much better than he did before turning in to rest. Originally he intended to try to fall back asleep one last time, but seeing his companion rise had changed those plans. Still, the boy would lay on the bed for a few more moments before slowly sitting up.

The pain in his abdomen had reduced itself to be on only one side, rather than completely overwhelming the entire area. Carefully, Mec would slide his fingers along his ribs beneath his shirt, with extra tenderness where he found what must have been an actual break. From what he could tell, one or two ribs were broken on the right side. Various other bruises painted proof of the previous evening's engagement in yellows, blues, and blacks. The aches seemed to dull as he sat still, only to reawaken when he moved. Movement was still manageable- better than anything Mec could have asked for. Content with his self-inspection, the youth would finally stand to make his way to the doorway, peeking through to observe the main chamber of the hideout.

After not being able to immediately locate his companion, Mec decided to make his way towards the chair he had sit in the night before. With his legs now rested, he was able to walk straight towards the seat without needed to support himself with the walls or other pieces of furniture. As he slowly lowered himself onto the seat he heard some sounds from the store room across the way, which he assumed was Shallan searching through the items. The boy still had not found his appetite yet, and so had little interest in having a look for himself.

Could that woman still be resting, I wonder? Even for mages I'd imagine she exerted her energy quite a bit. Not to mention what she had done when we separated. Speaking of, how did she manage to return before us? Mec rubbed his chin as he pondered his thoughts. His fingers were met with scratchiness of his stubble. It had been a few days since he had taken time to shave, but maybe he shouldn't bother. Maybe growing a beard would be a suitable disguise.

The boy's morning pondering would be interrupted by the sound of the stone doors blocking the sanctuary opening, and then abruptly shutting a moment later. Faint foot steps could be heard from down the hallway, growing louder and louder as a short, hooded figure approached. The oversized cloak covered any features that would characterize the new arrival, and even the hood covered most of their face.

After setting down the large back that the figure had carried, it would turn its body to one side and then the other, as if inspecting the room. "Boy, what a mess," it would say, its voice soft and boyish. "You travel for a few years only to return to a dump. Geesh." The boy would snap his fingers, instantly relighting all of the candles in the room that were put out the night before. After lowering his hood revealed the boy's long golden hair, a pair of dark blue eyes and large, perfectly white grin. The boy was much younger than Mec and Shallan. He was at least a full head shorter than Mec, without a single hair on his bright face.

An expression of awe fell across the boy's face when he saw Mec, sitting in the chair in the center of the room. His jaw dropped, and his eyes lit up as if he had found a long lost treasure. "It was you!" he would laugh. "You're the one everyone in town has been so nutty about!" The boy would continue to laugh loudly, unable to control himself. Once he no longer had the breath to continue, he would wipe away a tear. "Well you and that little toy. Oh boy oh boy I can't wait to hear more about this." With this the boy would pick up his bag and rush towards the storeroom, trailed by Mec's puzzled gaze.

[Namingtoohard]

Busy with the prospects of arranging a meal for the two of them, Shallan did not hear the arrival of their newest guest at first. She was in the process of picking out what seemed like an ample meal for the both of them, and had even found a tray to lay everything out on for ease of transport. She paused only briefly when something that sounded like an unfamiliar voice reached her ears, tilting her head for a moment as she listened to try and discern the source. Was there someone else here that they had not already met? It certainly seemed that such was the case. Deciding to leave the tray of food she had gathered, the girl rose and turned to head towards the doorway. She didn't get very far, as the unknown person stepped into the doorway just as she moved to leave, making her start.

"Ah, my apologies. I didn't know there was anyone else here" she offered hurriedly, retreating a small step so that the two of them were no longer standing uncomfortably close. A sheepish smile plastered her features as she tucked her hands away behind her, and she tried to forget the embarrassing little squeal that she had accidentally let slip when he had startled her. Her recovery was somewhat quick, though, and her attitude friendly. This was a hidden safehouse for mages, after all. The only people likely to know about it were friends of the mage that had rescued them, and while Shallan did not trust the woman, her words the previous night had seemed sincere. Or was she just being too optimistic for her own good?

"Ah...we were just looking into some breakfast. Nothing extravagant, I'm afraid, but you are more than welcome to join us if you wish, friend" she offered simply. Even as she spoke, she would turn and gesture towards the tray she had been filling just moments before, as if to emphasize her point. Of course, what followed after that would depend almost solely on the actions of the young boy who stood before her. He had to possess some sort of knowledge if he was here, despite his young age, which Shallan had no reason to doubt thus far. No reason to suspect that he was anything more than he appeared to be.

Of course, the arrival of this newcomer had not gone unnoticed by the other resident current staying within the sanctuary. As he moved off to explore the storeroom where Shallan was currently waiting, noises of movement started up from within the study the other mage had picked out for herself. After several moments of what sounded like shuffling around, she would appear in the doorway, once gain resting a hand on the doorframe. Tilting her head slightly, she listened in silence for a moment, before tentatively calling out.

"Just who is that?" the question came, followed by silence as she waited for some sort of reply. Of course, the blind mage could not appraise who was currently in the room for herself, if indeed there was anyone else about, without some sort of reference point. Until she could place a voice, or was directly informed on who was present, she would have to rely on much more mundane means. For all her power, without the owl nearby to act as her eyes, there were still some realities that could not be totally circumnavigated. Such a reliance on outside sources of information was one of them. Maybe she would be able to make a trip to the surface and let the owl in one of the windows a bit later today, as useful as it was having a scout outside the building...

[Headwrapper]

Mec hesitated, his face still displaying an amused yet puzzled expression. "A young boy, but I didn't catch his name. He let himself in." He kept the doorway to the storeroom in his sights, slightly taken aback by the lad's behavior. "He seemed rather excited about last night's events."

The boy, gleaming as bright as the Sun, was barely able to stop himself from running into Shallan as he entered the crowded store room. "Oh? Hello." Without giving much more than an ear to Shallan as he spoke, the boy knelt and began digging through his bag. "Breakfast huh? Well today is our lucky day princess!" After a few more seconds of rummaging the boy would reveal a small tin container. His slender white fingers would release the clasp to reveal the contents: an assortment of cakes, each individually wrapped with paper.

Gently, the boy placed three pieces of the cakes on the tray Shallan had prepared, all the while displaying his large white smile. "They're so good! I couldn't believe that Eve's bakery is still open after all this time." The boy would grab one more piece for himself before closing his tin and returning it to his pack. He would spend the next few moments retrieving various items from his bag and place them in the appropriate locations. He would add some cured meats and and bags of almonds to their stores, and placed a pile of brand new clothing in one corner.

His smile never left his face as he performed his chore. Once finished, he would let out a soft sigh, admiring his work. It was only then that he would truly observe the other party he shared the room with. "From the looks of things you must have been wrapped up with what happened last night?" For the first time since entering the boy's smile would leave his face. "Never mind, Olenna will let me know the details I'm sure."

The boy's gleaming smile would return as quickly as it had left. "Anyway enjoy your breakfast! I'm Cho by the way. I summon things! I'm staying in town for a few days, so if you're nice to me I might share more cake with you." With this, the boy would pick up his bag, now much lighter than it was before, and return to the main chamber.

Cho tossed his bag on one end of the only couch before laying down, using the bag as a pillow. Only then would he notice the older mage's presence. "Oh, so you are here. I brought some supplies. The usual stuff. Oh and cake! The kind with fruit!" Immediately he unwrapped the cake he had saved for himself and took a large bite. "Oh and before you say anything, I'm only staying for a couple days. Maybe three at most. So, no time for games, just business. And cake." The lad let loose a small chuckle before finishing of the rest of his piece of cake in one bite.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan, of course, would be just as taken aback by the unknown boy's quick announcement about how today was their lucky day, and the digging that followed. His eyes widened a little in surprise as he extracted a small tin, and revealed the small cakes that lay inside. His offer was most generous, but given the paltry meal that awaited them otherwise, she was hardly going to refuse. Besides, the boy almost looked as if he would take offence to a refusal.

"Oh, thank you so much! That's most kind of you" she announced simply; a wide grin plastered across her features. As soon as he had stepped clear, and finished his task, the boy would lean down to scoop up the tray good and proper. With a hand at each end, she would carefully follow him as he moved back to the main chamber. As conversation erupted, she would simply make her way back to the main room. As the two established mages began to chat, she would simply place the tray down on the table nearest to Mec before helping herself to one of the adjacent seats.

"I take it you've met our new friend" she offered simply, claiming some of the salted beef for herself quickly. The cake was calling her name, but she knew that if she started with it the rest of her meal would seem even more drab by comparison. "He gave me these little cakes to go with the food. Can't wait to try them" she announced cheerily, before growing a little more somber as she moved onto a more serious topic. "So...he are you feeling? Any better after a good night's rest?"

The blindfolded mage, on the other hand, would purse her lips briefly as she digested Mec's words. A young boy? He must be a Mage himself, to let himself into the sanctuary. Yet, all the members of her cabal in this city were more than 20 years old, at the very least...unless, of course...

Her suspicions were confirmed moments later when Cho made his reappearance. His voice was more than enough to tip her off, an an uncharacteristic smile immediately graced her features. Once again using her sense of touch to guide her, she would immediately move towards the nearest vacant chair.

"Cho, my dear. Your timing is impeccable as ever. I take it you had no trouble getting here, even with the events of yesterday?" She questioned politely as she lowered herself down into the chair she had picked out, before gesturing for him to join her, if he so wished...and hadn't done so already. "Skipping the games? Tsk tsk. And here I was so looking forward to them. If you insist, though" she answered simply, knitting her fingers together.

"We have an untrained Mage and his companion that need to learn how to handle themselves, shake everyone's favourite hedge knight off their trail, and escape the city. We must also make sure that none of our other allies have been exposed now that the city has gone into high alert after last night's demonstration. Then, of course, there is still all our usual maintenance to consider. Where would you like to begin?" She offered simply. Not a snide comment, just an honest and open way of outlining the mammoth task that lay before them. Of course, that was hardly going to stop the mage - Olenna had run this operation many times in the past, after all.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would take a moment to observe the spoils of Shallan's plunder. As his morning drowsiness wore off he found his appetite return to him. He scooped up a handful of nuts and seeds from the tray, then brought the handful closer to his lap before raising one piece to his mouth at a time. He offered Shallan little response other than the crunching of almonds until she posed her direct question. "I feel better," he would say gruffly before clearing his throat. "It only hurts on one side now."

As he spoke, Mec felt the hairs on his arms stand on end. The chilling memory of the previous day's events was disturbing enough to set the novice mage on edge. Mec trembled briefly. It was just a half-second shiver, but it was enough to spoil his mood. Not wanting to worry his friend, the boy would lean back as casually as his body allowed him to and continued his breakfast. "What about you?"



Cho shrugged at Olenna's initial inquiry. "Children have little troubles, I dare say. You've caused quite the stir it seems. What I would do to be a fly on the wall when Ser Gaxeel reports to his superiors. Maybe they'll do us a favor and strip him of that sword of his."

The child would consider Olenna's gesture for a moment before springing forward from his spot on the couch. On his way towards a seat closer to his friend he would gently pick up one of the cakes and unwrap it from one end. Before sitting down, he would gingerly take one of Olenna's hands and place the cake on her palm. A grin was plastered across his face all the while, and as he allowed himself to drop onto the vacant seat closest to Olenna he would beam with the same sense of accomplishment that he did in the storeroom earlier.

The youngling pulled at the strings of his cloak as the blinded mage reported the list of issues that needed addressed. After a while he would put one of the strings in his mouth, chewing it as he pondered over what he had been told. "Ah, so she is the one who helped him escape," he muttered. "I read about it. They made an amusing story." His eyes seemed to glaze over as stared at the two newbies. "I envy them," he sighed. His voice hung low and solemn, and was only audible to Olenna if she listened carefully enough. "My path has been a lonely one."

After a moment of pause, the boy's eyes would light back up with the brilliance of the Sun, warming the room around him. "How soon are they to leave this city? I can make sure not to stray too far and return to help them make their escape. As for our other friends, I can go for a stroll and ensure our hiding places are still properly protected. If anyone's been compromised there will surely be at least one scaredy cat in hiding that can fill me in."

The boy would stop to stretch his arms over his head. "Anyway, I heard some rumors that might be of interest to you. I don't know if you keep up with the concerns of the lesser kingdoms, but there has been talk of a growing resistance movement in Acaydia. There hasn't been any violence yet, but the talk is they're preparing their own small army to face their own imperial forces. They also say that they've recruited the help of a friendly mage." After a shrug, Cho would continue. "Maybe it's a false accusation used to scare the commonfolk away from the resistance movement or even to slander them, but it could also be that they're just that desperate to eliminate their own king. Anyway, it's something to pay attention to."

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would nod in simple acceptance as Mec acknowledged the full extent of his injuries, given no other choice than to take his word for the larger extent of them. She was hardly a doctor, after all, and was hardly going to give hm a proper once-over herself. Instead she would fill the pause with another bite, having taken it as an opportunity to continue her meal. She would try and eavesdrop on the other two present in relative silence, though such was hardly difficult when they were discussing things in the open, directly in front of the two fugitives. Shallan wanted to make sure that if there was any talk of what the future potentially held for them both, they were both privy to that information. Of course, she would glance up briefly as Mec returned the question.

"Hm? Oh, I'm fine. A little fatigued, but nothing a lazy day and some cake won't fix" she answered; a small grin flashing across her features as she glanced back across at him quickly. She would hesitate briefly to make sure that the two mages talking hadn't moved on to any more noteworthy topics, but it seemed that the conversation was still rather plain. Satisfied, she would give a bit of a casual shrug, before finishing with her salted beef and immediately reaching for one of the little cakes that Cho had so generously supplied her with. Of course, Cho's inherent knowledge of them seemed a little worrying, as did talk of rebellion elsewhere. Apparently their story was more far-travelled than either of them had thought.

"Something tells me that we might have a bit more travelling to do before we're free of all this. More sights to see and more people to meet, I suppose" she resolved simply, still trying to maintain her positive outlook as she helped herself to a bite of said cake, purring softly to herself at the first taste of sugar she had been allowed in days.

After a brief pause taken to figure out just what it was that had been dropped into her hand, a small smile flickered across Olenna's lips, despite the seriousness of their conversation. To appease him, and show that such an effort had not been a waste, she would help herself to a quick bite, before finally getting ready to continue, Still, talk of his path was not totally surprising, given the boy's rather unique circumstances, and the way he wandered from place to place. He had probably seen and down more than every other person in the room combined, after all, and Olenna was hardly a spring chicken herself.

"Well, finding someone in your age range might be a bit difficult. Even more so someone who sees in your scope" she answered simply, frowning a little. She had pondered this concept before - even if he did manage to find someone, how could any normal person understand the full scope of what he was, all he had experienced? She herself was only barely able to comprehend it. Barely able to imagine just the basic aspects of such a life. She had offered him the chance to join them before, of course, but the service he provided while roaming from place to place were just as invaluable as his wisdom and experience. It was as if he was stuck between a rock and a hard place, so to speak.

"They'll be leaving as soon as we can make the necessary arrangements. I was thinking either that clever little wagon with the false floor, or the fish barrels. In any case, the boy is yet to choose his path. He will needs make a decision on the matter soon, once we have had a chance to talk it over properly" she proposed simply. Both were tried and true tactics she had used to smuggle mages out of the city before - one that involved hiding them in a cramped compartment beneath the floor of a merchant's wagon, which would then leave the city. The other was a similar concept, but involved hiding the two in barrels of exported fish. Each technique, of course, relied on the guards at the walls overlooking very crucial details. Still, as her words faded, she would lean in a little closer, as if to whisper, before speaking in a very hushed tone. "Besides, if last night is anything to tell by, it would seem that he has a very unique speciality"

She would straighten up again, only to pause at this talk of rebellion beyond the country's borders. Of course, the woman immediately raised an eyebrow in a puzzled expression - as much emotion as she was like to show in any situation. This was interesting news indeed. "We need eyes on this immediately. I didn't think anyone ready for such open defiance yet, but if we can get somebody on the inside, it should be easy enough to make good use. I would even go myself, but..." she trailed off. Naturally, her primary concern was still the other mages of the city, as well as all those she had hidden in other towns. It would be hard trusting either job to somebody else.

"In any case, if you could please check in with our mutual friends whenever you get the chance, I would appreciate it...oh, and if you could let my owl back inside, too, that would be most kind" she added. As useful as he was outside, not being able to tell what was happening directly around her was inconvenient, to put it mildly.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would eat one of the olives placed on the tray, stripping the bitter flesh away from the pit with his teeth. He did the same with a second, letting the small morsel roll in his mouth for a brief moment as he considered Shallan's statement. She was right, if this traveling boy knew so much about them and the happenings in other kingdoms, who knows how many others have heard the story of the criminals from Ozette. "Yeah."

Was it possible that this young one had traveled so far alone? Even if he was a mage, such a feat should prove difficult. A child would surely be the target of bandits on roads between cities and towns, and he would have had to fabricate many tales as to why he was alone. An inn would not likely be as accepting to take a child guest as someone Mec and Shallan's ages, at least not without supervision. Mec continued to ponder as he studied the boy, the elder's almond eyes searching for answers inside the deep blue sapphires of the younger's. The amateur mage could not find the assertion he needed to ask any questions unless he was offered the opportunity directly.

Cho chose to remain silent when Olenna suggested the difficulty finding him a companion who would be able to see eye to eye with him. Although he didn't show it, the notion pained him more than she would know. The truth was there was a partner for him, of the same age, and he knew exactly where she was. His sweet Jazelle. His love awaited him, entombed in a prison of enchanted ice to preserve her youth.

Of course, the details of this story were much more complicated than this. They remained a secret of Cho's for nearly two centuries, even from his favorite mortals such as Olenna. If there was anyone he would consider confessing his story to it would probably be her, but for reasons other than his trust in the blinded mage. She had more magical allies than most, and these connections could serve helpful in finding the magic needed to reunite Cho with his love. Despite having the privilege of an extended stay on this earth, Cho had never discovered the means to free his sweet Jazelle from his glacial prison. Even if he could, would it not be in vain unless he could give her the life she wished to share with him? His body had never reached an age that would allow him to father a child, and the girl had nearly become a woman before she had froze herself in time.

Although he more than likely understood the limitations of magic more than anyone else, having extra eyes may hasten the search for the answers Cho sought. He questioned if anyone would even be willing to invest the effort to help him with his search, however. Others would more than likely perceive the effort as futile, and surely even mages would have difficulty accepting other details of his story. No, for the time being this mission would remain a solitary endeavor like all others have been.

Cho would pinch the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger as Olenna described her plans for trafficking the fugitives out of the city. Those poor things, he thought as he rubbed his nose. To place yourself in places so off-putting that a guard wouldn't even consider subjecting himself to search through it. The boy would bring his hand down at the notion of Mec's ability. He would have to press the issue further another time to determine if the young man could somehow prove useful to him.

The boy would stand at the conclusion of his conversation with the blind mage. "I can't promise I'll visit Acaydia any time soon, but if I hear more I will relay the information back to you. Anyway, I'll return at nightfall once I've checked on the other spots in this city. If you don't mind, I intend to take a few nights to rest from my travels once I've completed my obligations." As the boy began to head towards the exit, he would take the final piece of cake that sat on the tray and placed it in Mec's hands. "Trust me, it's good," he would chuckle before taking a step back to address both the young man and his companion. He spoke in a gentle tone one would use when soothing a sick child. "I'd like to hear more about the two of you and your journey so far when I return. For now, make sure you rest up. You've both been through a lot from what I can see. And please, listen to what my friend tells you carefully. No one else on this planet cares more about your well-being than her."

After offering the two a small nod, Cho would quickly rush over to his bag and place it on his back. No point in delaying. "I'll return at nightfall," he repeated once more. Unless interjected by another party, the boy would leave the sanctuary. True to his word, he would allow the owl to enter through the window and lead it through the magic door before pulling up his cloak to tour the city and the other sanctuaries.

[Namingtoohard]

The blindfolded mage remained largely impassive as her older companion mused to himself for a moment, quickly using the opportunity to finish off what was left of her cake. As soon as she was done, the lady would wipe at her mouth briefly, before folding both of her hands in her lap and settling back to wait with her head tilted ever-so-slightly. Naturally, she was unaware of the smaller nuances of their exchange - like Cho pausing briefly to pinch the bridge of his nose - but her patience was almost admirable. After all, this was a lady who had spent literal years sowing the seeds of her new family all across the country. Letting them grow into their own, twisting into the foundation of the government she so wholeheartedly wished to destroy. They had not quite reached maturity yet, but one day.

With a flick of a wrist, she would tear it all down. Until then, though, Olenna would continue to wait.

When Cho finally did speak up again, she would begin with a simple nod - one of acceptance, or one of thanks? Either way, Olenna was more than willing to cooperate with the boy. He had done more to assist her than some other mages managed in their entire lives, and continued to be a valuable asset, if not enjoyable company. "Of course, Cho. You are always welcome in any of our refuges. Take all the time you need" she responded, moving to rise as soon as the creaking of his chair notified her that he had decided that it was time to go. She would simply wait and listen as he bid his farewells to the two children, whose presence she had almost forgotten in the depths of their conversation.

"Ah...thank you kindly. Hopefully we'll get the chance to regale you soon enough. Good luck, and I hope that all of your friends are alright" Shallan answered, smiling again as Cho said his farewells, while returning it in her typical good-natured way. Honestly, she had only met him in a social setting, but the boy seemed more likeable so far than their rescuer. His advocation of Olenna's supposedly good intentions did much to embellish her opinion of the blindfolded mage, even if such an opinion hadn't quite pushed all hype way to favouritism. Maybe she trusted Olenna a little more now, though that didn't stop her from disagreeing with the women's choice of methods, if not her ideals.

Her next attempt at propagating conversation was cut short by the return of the owl, which flew in through the open doorway in a flurry of wings and movement. Shallan recoiled slightly at the sudden burst of activity from the open doorway, but quickly regained her composure. Olenna, on the other hand, simply greeted the owl with an outstretched arm - where it landed daintily, before twisting its neck around almost completely to glance back at Mec and Shallan from its new perch. The mage, of course, paid this matter no mind.

"Ah, much better" she cooed softly to herself, content with being able to see her immediate surroundings again through their magical bond. With that, she would transfer the bird across, onto the back of the armchair she had picked out, before retaking her seat. With that, her attention was once again focused on the two runaways that were currently taking shelter in her lair. "Now that is over, do either of you have an aversion to fish, or cramped spaces?" She questioned simply. Naturally, she was trying to discern which of her two planned evacuation methods would prove more agreeable to the both of them. Shallan, having retreated back into silence, shook her head as a way of reply.

"We'll need to start making preparations if we are to move you as soon as you are both rested...and it seems that you both have a decision to make. Is there any city or town in particular you wish to be visit?" She questioned simply, content to leave it at that. Of course, she longed to hear for certain if Mec wished to join her or not, but to push the matter now would be folly. He would need to understand what exactly he was getting himself into, and that would require more explanation than they had time for, and the willingness to learn about and control his magic. A complicated web of interconnected issues, and one that they didn't have the time to unravel in full right now.

[Headwrapper]

Mec's eyes would widen as his hands were taken by the youngling, only to narrow once again when the cake was thrust into his palm. He lowered his hands to his lap, inspecting the cake briefly before his gaze returned to Cho to acknowledge his farewells. The amateur mage would respond to the blond boy's nod with one of his own, remaining silent as the Cho left the sanctuary.

One hand gripped the arm of Mec's chair as he watched the owl return to its mistress. His interest in the owl's actions was reflected on his face as he watched it take its place to serve as the blind mage's pair of eyes. After watching the owl complete its preparations, Mec would glance back to the cake he held in his hand and reflect upon Cho's endorsement for the mage. Was the boy too young to understand the actions the mage was willing to perform in order to accomplish her goals? Or was there something else Mec was blinded to, with no winged partner to help him see?

He couldn't help but feel slightly more enthusiastic after taking a bite of the cake. Having a treat after being able to rest from the previous day's events did much to improve his mood, allowing him to push aside the confusion the clouded his thoughts and focus on moving forward. In order to survive, and to avoid replaying the events of the night before and even the ones just a few nights before that, he would have to leave his doubts about himself and his powers behind.

The boy would quickly finish the rest of the cake, allowing Shallan's head shake to serve as a proper response to the questions his new accomplice posed. The next question was not so simple. Mec bit his lip as he tried to recollect any cities he had visited or his father may have spoken to him about, hoping that one characteristic he remembered would direct him to a proper decision. Ozette, he and Shallan's hometown, was the word that burned into his mind. Not because he cared so much for the town, but because he wondered what had become of his family after all this time. They still may not have returned to town, but it was quite possible they have heard the news.

Eventually, the intensity of the boy's scowl would be reduced to a neutral expression. "What about Convittas?" he would ask, shifting his gaze between the owl and the mage herself, before finally settling on just looking towards the mage he spoke to. "Is that not the town where the lawless freely roam the streets? I guess that could be just a rumor, but I've always heard it's a town with very little trade and so traffic, as well as suspicious eyes, are sparse."

Not forgetting the brief conversation from the night before, the amateur mage was sure to pursue what sort of barter his savior had hoped for. "So, this cabal of yours...."

[Namingtoohard]

Despite the fact that she could now more or less see what was going on around her, Olenna remained largely impassive as she waited to see what Mec's answer would be. His expression had no bearing on her; she knew such matters were his own to deal with, and that prying would likely be unwelcome. While she had plenty of ideas of her own, she was content to wait and see what sort of conclusion that he drew on his own. Perhaps, if she was lucky, it would give her some insight into what he intended next. Shallan, of course, waited on the sideline with a worried expression upon her face as she watched her friend. Unlike the stony-faced mage that sat before them, she couldn't squash the sense of worry that his expression seemed to invoke in her.

When he did answer, it was...unexpected, but logical. Convittas was a fitting choice, for much the same reasons he had outlined. The only problem that it was much too close for them all to disappear completely, but in the short term there would be plenty of places for them to hide. Tensing her fingers together, Olenna would ponder it for a few moments, before giving a terse nod.

"Very well. I have a friend there that the two of you would do very well to meet. He can help teach you both how to blend in while we set up something a bit more long-term for the both of you. Secure a home for you both in some other city where the chances of being discovered are much lower, and you'll be able to help in a much less...public fashion. Provided that is your wish, of course" she answered simply. Shallan hummed thoughtfully to herself as she pondered this statement for a moment. Mec's description of the place didn't make it sound particularly appealing to her, and yet, it sounded exactly like the sort of locale where the two of them belonged now.

"This cabal of mine are currently the only people interested in keeping the both of you alive" the woman finished, quite content to finish Mec's sentence for her. "If you don't wish to join us, or continue honing your gift, we'll set you up with a home and a new identity in some far-off city, and only ask for any interesting information that passes your way. If you choose that you do wish to fight alongside us...well, then there'll be a little more to it" she finished, honestly believing it to be as simple as that. "If you need time to ruminate, then that is fine too. Of course, my preference should be clear, but the decision is yours to make. Until then, I have a message to send" she announced simply, rising to her feet, and pausing only briefly to let the owl climb back up onto her shoulder.

"Discuss it as much as you like. When you make a decision, you know where to find me" she answered simply, quickly moving to leave the room. Just like Cho, she would disappear unless someone took the initiative and stopped her. Shallan was silent, but would turn to Mec after the two of them were left alone together.

"I...I don't know if we can trust her, but that little boy seemed convinced that she held our best interests at heart. Beyond that, its not my decision to make, really. I'll just play along with whatever you decide" she answered simply. After all, he was the centrepiece of all this, and she was more or less just playing tagalong, as much as she hated to admit it. She almost felt jealous, in a strange sort of way. Being surrounded by so many powerful people, with unique skills and influence she could not even fathom. It was more or less like being a leaf swept along by a river, with no choice but to go wherever the rapids led it. So long as they stayed together, though, and stayed alive, she could bear with it.

[Headwrapper]

Mec sat in silence as he watched the robed mage exit the room. It still was not completely clear what he was expected to do should he join her ranks. Joining would mean accepting the sentiment that a mage's life was somehow worth more than a non-mage's. Would he be expected to kill just as easily as the masked doll had the night before? Would that be all she would know how to teach him to use magic for?

Despite the violent examples of the use of magic the group's leader had displayed the night before, she did seem to suggest knowledge of more benevolent uses of magic. The younger boy, Cho, also didn't seem to suggest very much ill-intent. He didn't even seem to care all that much that Shallan wasn't a mage. The boy may have been naive, being so young, but at the same time he seemed to carry a lot of knowledge in such a small head. Adopting the extreme notions of the blinded mage did not appear to be a prerequisite of being a part of the group.

The boy would take a deep breath before sharing his thoughts aloud with his partner. "Well... If we're both going to be burdened by my abilities, it only makes sense that I learn to control them and use them to our benefit, right?" The boy sat up back in his chair, readjusting to alleviate some of his soreness. "These mages aren't quite as terrifying than those out to get us either... Well, not to us anyway. And they seem to know how to properly live in secrecy, something we already proved we can't do alone."

His gaze, which originally had wandered to the distance as he thought, would turn to his companion. "I don't want you to think... well..." He wished to tell his friend that she did need not only follow his lead, that she was just as empowered in their decisions moving forward as he was, but it was not until that moment that he had thought of her situation. Even though Shallan was not the one with magic, she had more enemies than Mec did. Regular society would no longer accept her for her crimes, and the mages, at least the leader of the group they would potentially join, were only interested in keeping her as a favor to Mec. She truly had little choice but to follow his lead. She had already made that clear to him the night she forfeit her old life to salvage his own.

"I don't want to make any decisions you're not happy with. We're in this together, right?" He would finally say, permitting his lips to curl into a small smile. "I think that for the sake of survival we should join this group. I don't think it's an exaggeration that they're the only ones looking to keep us alive. And with what they teach me, maybe I can learn how to use magic in ways to make our new lives worthwhile, just like you said."

[Namingtoohard]

Unable to he herself, Shallan pursed her lips slightly as Mec voiced his opinions on their current situation and what it necessitated. She still didn't totally agree with his referring to magic as a burden, since she still believed that it held the capacity to do just as much good as evil, depending on the user. Of course, this was hardly the perfect time for such a discussion. They had bigger issues to address, so the girl simply decided to leave it be for now, and move on to the much larger issue of what path he would choose to take from here. His attempts at making her feel included were kind, but unfortunately she still considered them largely needless.

"I appreciate the thought, Mec, but my opinion is hardly the one that matters here. If they're willing to take such good care of those that don't join them, then I suspect that everyone who does will at least receive equal treatment...and at the end of the day, it'll be you who has to train for this. Who has to act on it. That doesn't mean I won't help if at all possible, but it'll be your cross to bear all the same" she responded pointedly. His consideration for her feelings was somewhat encouraging, even touching, but this was something that would influence him infinitely more than her. She had already prepared herself for life on the run when she made the decision to free him, and would not go back now.

Still, a cheery smile would grace her features as he admitted that he thought joining them in full was a good idea, largely because of his reason for doing so. It seemed that her trust was not misplaced, and he had taken at least some small part of what she had said about doing good for others to heart. With that, it seemed that their decision was made.

"Well, I suppose that's that" she chimed, almost sounding cheerful in the wake of this revelation. "I'm sure they aren't going to outright force you into too much, after all, given her apparent understanding in letting us make this decision ourselves. I'm sure they have need of healers and protectors and any number of other things just as much as fighters" she added after a brief thought. Their rescuer might have caused significant pain during their escape, but that didn't necessarily mean the two of them would be pigeonholed into the same role. For all they knew, the two might end up healing the sick and injured, or hiding other runaways in much the same way that Olenna was hiding them right now. There was potential to do good for others here, even as wanted criminals. For Shallan, that hope was enough to keep her satisfied for now.

"In any case, I'm not sure what else there is for us to do here. It's not like we could go out into town and find something to pass the time, even if our physical states allowed it. We might as well pass the message on as soon as Olenna is finished with...well, whatever it is she is doing in there" Shallan concluded, gesturing towards the open doorway with a small flourish. The blind mage was otherwise preoccupied at the moment, of course - she was sending the word out to those who would be necessary as part of their escape. To get the needed goods and supplies and wagons ready, for the date that was yet to be confirmed. While she was at it, the mage would cast a net out for any more information abuts this rebellion, and see if they could secure any new property in far-off towns where the two could be put up when they proved ready.

[Headwrapper]

Mec hummed as he imagined what sort of roles he would be able to carry as a mage that did not include fighting or killing. So far all he had really been able to do willfully was create flames or summon plants. The plants did make for a good way of dispelling violence, at least temporarily. Maybe he could even learn to summon specific types of plants that could be used to make cures.

The boy let out an audible sigh. "I lost all of my stuff when I was captured. All of the travelling notes I had copied are gone. Even my fathers stories." After a few seconds he would let out a small chuckle, gently holding his side as if in pain. "I should just be grateful to have my head on my shoulders huh? Rather than worrying on some notes."

The boy's attention would return to the doorway of the room Olenna was in. "Well, I guess she did say to go find her once we were done discussing things," he would finally say. Using much care as to not cause himself any pain, Mec would stand up before taking a long breath and walking over to the blind mage's study. Just as he reached the door way he felt overwhelmingly lightheaded. It would only take a brief moment of leaning against the door frame before the sensation passed. The moment was so brief Mec wasn't even sure if anyone would have noticed. Odd, it was almost like G was speaking to me. But I didn't hear anything.

He knocked the door gently as he cleared his throat. "Olenna? We... I... decided to join you. I want to learn to use my powers as a source of good."

Do you mean it boy? Will you learn to spread my gift among humanity? the voice of G echoed in Mec's mind, causing him to flinch. The boy let out a barely audible whisper. "G..."

[Namingtoohard]

Quite content given their apparent agreement, Shallan would lean back into her chair with a content sigh, glad that they had managed to put the issue to rest so quickly and effortlessly. Recovering here would be much more restful without an unmade decision like that looming over the both of them. Still, the topic of his missing goods made her wince slightly. She had not considered the fact, but the loss of all that knowledge, and the link it gave Mec to his family, was truly something to be mourned. Given it's supposed whereabouts now, too, retrieving it didn't seem like a valid option either.

"Mm. Being alive is all well and good, but that doesn't make such a loss any less tragic. All that information, gone..." she mused. She wished to comfort him somehow, but any words she could come up with felt like they would prove wholly inadequate. So, she once again settled on silence as he got up and moved to go greet Olenna, and inform her of their...well, his decision. Either way, she was just playing tag along from this point onwards, but she was more or less prepared for that. A little restriction was still better than having let her old friend die back in their hometown, after all. It was a small enough price to pay.

Seemingly unaware of the disturbance that Mec had felt, Olenna's owl would immediately turn its head to fa him as he stepped into her own personal study. She herself was seated at a simple wooden desk, where she sat with paper and ink quill laid out before her. They might have seemed like a strange choice for a blind person, but with the owl to act as her eyes, it was no different than writing for any other person. Still, a delighted smile spread across her features as he listened to her objection, and she quickly rose, before turning to face him good and proper.

"Ah, most excellent. I'm so glad that you've decided to ally yourself with us. Rest assured, though - doing so isn't like pledging your allegiance to a lord or any other sort of higher power. We are all equals here, with a policy of mutual support. If we do require your assistance, you will be compensated fairly, and the steps you take to complete any of them are usually all up to you" she rattled on for a moment, before catching herself a little; a small frown plastering her features.

"But I'm getting ahead of myself. Such talk is for when you are a fully-fledged member. Gaining at least some level of control over your gift is first priority. Training you on the road will be less than ideal, but we shall manage somehow. Even if it means you must study on your own, or learn from different masters during the trip" she added simply. Perhaps she would need to make another doll, when she had the spare time and resources, so that it could act as a medium to keep them in touch.

"In any case, lessons about the fundamentals shall give us an excellent way to pass the time between now and the day of your departure. Give me just a moment to finish writing out my these messages and we can begin" she would conclude, briefly returning to her seat, before calling the owl back to attention. It wold take but a moment, and she would go deliver them later, once Cho had returned.

[Headwrapper]

Mec nodded in understanding as Olenna described the nature of the alliance. His expression relaxed as he absorbed the blind mage's words. The prospect of being compensated was all well and good, but it was more reassuring that the methods for completing tasks were nearly entirely up to him. Not only did he feel relieved that he was not as likely to be expected to kill anyone, but empowered as well. For the time-being, it seemed his decision would turn out being the right one.

His eyes widened as his expression displayed interest in the upcoming training. What would these so-called masters be like? How does one teach magic? Any questions or doubts would be addressed in upcoming days ahead of him, he was sure, so there was no point in asking about them at that moment.

The boy would finally return the owl's gaze with a grin. "That sounds good to me. I'll leave you to it then." He offered another nod before exiting the study and returning to Shallan. "Well, that's that then. She seems to be preparing for our escape from this city. Between now and then I will be learning the basics of controlling magic."

After taking a seat, the amateur mage scratch his chin in thought. "I wonder if they have any extra clothes down here. I wouldn't mind ditching my smelly rags if there's no way to wash them." He would take a quick look-around before standing back up and making his way towards the store room. After a few minutes of of searching he would find a straw basket containing various garments for both men and women.

"Hey Shal, take a look at these," he called out as he carried the basket over to Shallan. "I'm assuming we're allowed to borrow something from here. Anything suit your liking?"

[Namingtoohard]

Olenna would nod in simple satisfaction as the boy accepted her somewhat muddled explanation, before withdrawing from the room. Honestly, she hadn't expected him to answer as such, given the views on mages that he had expressed during their flight through the town. A small smile curled at the edges of her lips as she turned her full attention back to her work, moving to pick up her quill once more. After a moment of lingering thought, she would do her best to push the thought from her mind for the time being, once again setting pen to paper so that she could finish her notes. First things first, after all. They could worry about lessons and such later. Better to sort out the task at hand first.

When her companion returned, Shallan nodded in simple understanding first, still quite glad that the issue had been resolved for the time being. Of course, as discussion turned to that of clothes, she pursed her lips for a brief moment.

"Oh, tell me about it. Somehow I think fresh water is hard to come by down here" she huffed simply, before her eyes widened a little as she caught sight of the clothes basket Mec had discovered. Quickly climbing to her feet, the girl would step closer, before reaching out for the fabric contained within. She appeared a little hesitant at first, but any sign of such disappeared almost immediately as she began rummaging. Soon, she lost herself in the task, which was punctuated with only the occasional coo or exclamation, punctuating by a click of her tongue every now and then.

"Ah, there are some lovely pieces here, but most of them don't look to be my size" she mumbled softly. Throughout the course of her search, she would pluck out a few of the simpler items from the pile, setting them aside one by one. A blouse here, a skirt there - nothing special, but items that would serve as replacements for her current dress, even if they weren't all that fashionable. On a single instance she even plucked out a darker shirt, before tossing it across at Mec in a heartbeat. "This would probably suit you" was all she would give in the way of an explanation.

The only pause came when she slowly drew out the upper half of a dress, in a slowly fading black. The lower parts of its design were obscured by the rest of the pile. This time, Shallan hesitated a little, looking it over briefly. Her eyes traced the hem, and she ran a few fingers over the material slowly, marvelling at its texture. "Ah, so beautiful...how did something like this end up here? I'd love to wear something like this one day, perhaps to a ball or a festival. It's hardly suited for daily wear, though..." she trailed off, eyes looking over the dress wistfully, full of something akin to longing or desire.

[Headwrapper]

Mec watched in amusement as the girl dug through the basket of clothing. He was sure to be on the lookout for anything he might want to wear himself, but nothing immediately caught his attention. Eventually his interest was directed at the clothes he was already wearing. His white shirt had become an odd beige after he had sweat in it and had been tossed around cages and dungeons, and his brown pants had become ragged and torn at the bottom. The getup was hardly flattering, but it suit a man on the run he supposed.

"That's a shame," he would remarked when Shallan mentioned that some of the articles she liked did not match her size. With this the boy's attention returned to watching the clothes as his companion sifted through them in hopes of finding something that interested him. He did not even notice the dark shirt until Shallan has tossed it over to him.

After catching the shirt, Mec held it by the shoulders and lifted it in front of him. The fabric was a dark blue color, almost black, and it was delicate enough that it would be comfortable to wear even in the warmer months. The ends of the sleeves had a slight bell shape to them, allowing them to be looser around the forearms while still holding true around the upper arms. The collar seemed like it would be a bit wide around the neck, and the chest was held together by three fasteners made of a dark brown wood. With a shrug, the boy accepted Shallan's judgement and decided to hold onto the shirt.

His lips curled into a small smile when he watched Shallan pause to admire a black dress she had uncovered. It was a pretty dress, to be sure, but the boy had little fascination in those types of things. Still, he could find enjoyment in seeing his friend appreciate something with such longing. As he listened to his companion's words, Mec's gentle smile quickly shifted to slight frown. Not a frown that suggested any ill emotion or disappointment, but the kind one bore when scheming.

The boy would peek towards Olenna's study as mischievously as a raccoon. For the moment it seemed she was still preoccupied in her work. Quickly, he would turn back to Shallan. "Well it might be a while before we get to go to a party right? Why not try it on now?" he suggested. "It would... you would..." The boy let out a sigh, dismissing the thought. "The way it sounds, if we take that dress with us it might end up smelling like fish, so the best time to try it on would be now right? You deserve at least a little fun after the past few days!"

[Namingtoohard]

Pursing her lips in concentration for a moment, Shallan allowed her gaze to slide away from the upper part of the dress in her hands and across to her companion. She had been hoping for such an opportunity, yes. Having it actually presented to her was a little bit unnerving, though. The girl would feel somewhat silly getting dressed up for no reason, especially as the only one doing so, but she longed to give in and lose herself in the moment all the same. Had she been a more reserved or thoughtful person, she would likely have declined. Even in her current mindset, she almost did. After a few seconds, though, a small and sheepish smile curved at the edges of her lips. Want had trumped over reasoning.

"...okay, I'll give it a shot. Be right back" she finally concluded. A feeling of giddy excitement blossomed in her chest as she committed herself to the action, and she quickly yanked the rest of the dress out of the pile of clothes. A small flash of white fabric was enough to catch the eye, but the girl quickly bundled it up into a single lump, before disappearing into the adjacent room.

Tucked away in privacy, the girl threw only a single hesitant look towards the doorway, before quickly shrugging off her garb. Resolving to herself that there was nothing to be concerned about, she shrugged off the dirty and worn clothes that she had been wearing since the morning before Mec's abduction. Shallan hesitated briefly out of concern for the dress itself - she felt bad putting it on when she herself wasn't exactly clean - but decided that there was no time like the present. Given how long it had been sitting here, it likely needed a wash anyway. If she did decide to bring it along, as impractical as that might be, it definitely would after their escape.

She was pleasantly surprised to find the fabric lighter than she expected. Unlike some gowns, which had multiple layers sewn into each other to ensure the dress retained its shape, this one was just a single piece, expertly stitched. She slipped it on as best she could, though the girl had some trouble lacing up the back on her own. No matter. This was hardly a proper formal occasion, and she could always get Mec to lend her a hand, if worse came to worse. Pleased that she was as presentable as she was going to manage, the girl would slowly step back into the light, suddenly feeling much more self-conscious.

The dress itself was of the sleeveless variety, held up only by two straps that ran over both shoulders, leaving a fair part of the upper torso exposed, and perhaps a little more cleavage than Shallan was used to. It was the same for the back - a large open V shape dominated the upper half, and was criss-crossed by a handful of laces that could be pulled to tighten the entire ensemble in the same manner as a corset. As had already been established, the upper half of the dress was a deep black. The lower hem, though, was quite the opposite. A pure snow-white, surprisingly unmarked despite their surroundings. The two opposites ran and bled into each other, almost like a colour gradient, making it hard to tell where exactly the pivotal moment of change took place and the dress went from dark to light. Unfortunately, though, it seemed the entire thing was slightly too large - the lower hem obscured her feet entirely, and as had already been established, it was a tad loose.

Hesitating in the doorway, Shallan stood there in awkward silence for a moment; standing with her eyes downcast, and both hands clasped in front of her. After a few silent moments, she mustered the courage to lift her gaze just a fraction.

"So...how do I look?" She questioned simply, giving off a bit of a sheepish smile to try and hide her nerves. As soon as the words slipped from her lips, though, she regretted them. Hurriedly, she continued to jabber for a moment to try and cover it up. "I know it's a little big, and i don't think it quite suits my skin tone, but I haven't had the chance to style my hair properly or...yeah"

[Headwrapper]

Mec boasted a triumphant grin as we watched Shallan disappear into the other room. It was not often that he could muster up the energy or wit to try to lighten the mood, even in normal circumstances, but his simple idea was a step in the right direction. He thought so anyway.

The boy continued the search through the basket of clothes in hopes to find a pair of pants to replace his battered ones. He eventually settled with a pair of mud-colored slacks. For a moment he considered changing into the new outfit he had assembled right then and there, but he decided to not leave things up to chance and retreated to the storage room to quickly change.

Once done with his task he would return to main room with his dirty clothes in hand. The boy let out a heavy exhale as he lowered himself onto a seat. The act of removing his shirt had reignited some of the pain in his side. Once fully seated, he would place the ball of smelly clothes next to him before leaning back in the chair to wait for Shallan to return.

For a moment he thought about what he should say once Shallan made her reveal. His intent was to help lift her spirits like she had always tried to do for him, after all, but he knew he was no good at feigning any type of reaction. Eventually he would drop the notion of preparing any sort of response. Besides, his input was hardly needed anyway. Women always felt beautiful when they dressed well, and they oftentimes had a way of flattering themselves.

In the corner of his eye, Mec noticed a brief flash of white as Shallan returned into view like the moon escaping the cover of the clouds. It was fortunate for him that girl did not immediately look up to observe his reaction when he turned his head. The heat in his cheeks rose and his throat turned dry, the stone ceiling above him replaced with the desert sun.

The boy rubbed his neck with one hand, thanking the gods his new shirt had such a wide collar. After swallowing to relieve his throat, he gave out a light, bashful chuckle. Hearing Shallan's voice, even if it spoke of little nonsense things that only girls cared about, brought him back to reality. Back in the sanctuary, their temporary oasis in the desert.

"Beautiful," he would finally squeak. "I mean you... and the dress..." He paused to take a deep breath and let out another shy laugh. "Shal, it looks great. I hope we do get a chance to go to a proper event, in a dress that's your size and whatever else you think could somehow make you look any more perfect."

[Namingtoohard]

As fumbled and stuttered as Mec's compliments might have been, Shallan visibly relaxed as they reached her ears. Any nerves or uncertainty that had sprouted in her chest vanished in the face of his approval, given that he was the only other person around whose opinion mattered to her. She exhaled loudly for a moment, releasing a breath that she hadn't realised she had been holding, and both of her shoulders dropped slightly as the tension drained out of them. Overall it led to a much more casual look...or as casual as she could manage in such attire, at the very least. The simple elegance that the dress exuded was more than enough to make such a thing truly impossible.

An undeniably cheerful smile graced her features as she stepped closer to where Mec was seated, and a blush not entirely like his own crept into her cheeks. In a strange way, his nervous bumbling was so endearing that it almost seemed a better compliment than any spoken praise. Had he been standing, and had they been in any sort of close proximity, she likely would have leaned across and kissed his cheek for the effort - in part as a way of expressing her gratitude, and in part because she was curious to see just how much more flustered that sort of action would make him.

Given the lack of opportunity, she would settle for simply drawing a few steps closer, towards her own seat. Shallan would quickly lower herself down, bending at the knees instead of just flopping back, so that she could perch right on the edge of the seat. She was certain to keep her legs tucked to one side together, too, in proper form. Such a dress more or less necessitated such an adaptation, but Shallan executed it so smoothly that it was clear she had practiced it at least once or twice before.

"Thank you, Mec" she answered simply, still unable to wipe the smile from her face. Her tone was quiet, and perhaps a tad reserved, but undoubtedly sincere. She quickly folded both of her hands down, too, placing them on her knees. "It would be a shame to have to buy an entirely new dress just because this one is a little large. Finding somebody to take up the hem shouldn't be too much trouble...or am I just looking for excuses to try and keep it now?" She questioned simply, unable to help but let out a soft giggle at her own little admission. It seemed foolish, even to her, but such was how she felt regardless.

"To do up my hair, makeup...go out and dance, meet other people, enjoy the music and atmosphere...I would love the chance, as unlikely as it seems" she added, sounding almost wistful now, even as a small hint of sadness crept into her expression. As quickly as it appeared, though, she banished it away again. Not removed entirely, just...hidden. Pushed to the back of her mind for now. "You never know, though. Perhaps one day. For now, just pretending will have to do. Even if only for a little while"

Having expressed such a sentiment, she once again turned her attention to Mec, glancing back across at him with a different glint in her eye. This one was more critical, and more...mischievous. She even went so far as to hum thoughtfully to herself, just for a moment, as she pondered another aspect that it seemed they had both failed to consider.

"You know, on the off chance that it does happen, I won't be the only one that ends up in fancy dress" she pointed out. Her smile had evolved into more of a grin or smirk now, as her line of thought quickly became clear. At this point, it wasn't hard to judge exactly where she was going with this. She even brought a hand up, resting her thumb on her lower lip teasingly as she eyed him. "We would need to find you a suit to match, of course. Something fitted, I think. To show off your..." she started, trailing off again. She let the thought hang there, partially because she had realised she was babbling again, and partially because letting his mind wander over the topic seemed like it would be much more fun.

[Headwrapper]

At first, Shallan's sudden shift in composure worried Mec. Worrying he might have misspoke, he replayed the words that left his lips over in his head. Even though he had been candid in his reaction, maybe the things he said were unwanted. Perhaps he conveyed his thoughts in a way that made them seem carnal, suggesting a lustful advance. Maybe he just sounded dumb and disappointed his friend.

That moment, as brief as it was, hung in the boy's mind for what felt like an eternity. Time would finally race back into motion when Shallan began moving towards him. The cheer in her steps and her charming smile- she was clearly content with his reaction. Mec felt a chill run down his neck, a sharp contrast to the heat that had overwhelmed him earlier, before he exhaled a cool whisper of a laugh.

The charm he saw in Shallan had doubled with the poised way she had seated herself, and the closer look he had of her smile only helped to further capture his interest. He sat up to lean against the arm of his chair, but with little more to say he would only listen patiently while Shallan spoke. His mood sobered up some when his companion mentioned the unlikelihood of a chance for formal merriment. There would be a day for it, he was sure of it. It might take years, but it would happen. Wishes like this one will fuel their drive to continue onward and persevere.

The thought passed as quickly as it came, as the moment of sobriety was cut short with Shallan's suspicious smirk. Mec raised an eyebrow quizzically as he waited for an explanation. When it came, his expression widened in surprise. There were no grounds to object, of course, because if he had accompanied Shallan to such an event he would be obligated to be dressed suitably.

Mec stirred in his seat Shallan's musings suddenly halted. His current frame of mind had made him more excitable than usual, and she had clearly plucked a fragile string. "My what?" He would ask briskly. It was clear his friend had intended to toy with him, at least for the moment, so he would play his own game. "I think I understand. Even after I complimented you, you have no kind words to say about me." He rested his cheek on one hand before releasing an exaggerated sigh, an expression of mock disappointment across his face. "Even with magic, I am not lucky enough to be one of the beautiful people. Such a cruel world."

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan's smile widened a little as she observed her companion's initial reaction, quite content that everything was going well. There were several things that she could have easily supplied to finish her sentence, but the girl wished to observe what direction his mind decided to take things in. Such was her initial impression, at the very least. A wrench was quickly thrown into the works of her scheme as soon as Mec decided to play a little game of his own, and Shallan quickly found herself questioning whether or not she had the heart to continue with it.

As forced as that sigh was, it left her questioning whether she could really commit if he was going to act so downtrodden, act or no - especially when the initial plan this foolish little endeavour had been to lift the spirits of the group, not disappoint and lower them. Lowering her hand, she quickly relented, letting out a sigh of her own. Of course, this one was less exaggerated than that of her companion, and more defeated. The thought of having to dispute his words was embarrassing enough in and of itself to make her cheeks start burning again, but the girl had little choice. She had dug this hole for herself, and now she would lie in it.

"Oh come on, you know that's not what I meant" she started simply, huffing a little. Such a gesture seemed more childish than regal, but after taking a brief pause to breathe deeply and steady herself, the girl recovered a little of her composure. Still, despite her good intentions, she found her gaze shifting away. Not downwards, though, as to suggest nerves or disappointment or lingering sadness. Rather, she diverted her eyes off to the side - a gesture more indicative of embarrassment than anything else. Especially when coupled with her blush.

"To show off your torso. You know, something form-hugging. That would nicely compliment your shoulders and chest" she finally added, though the words ended up a tad more muttered than she would have liked. As if to emphasise her point, she made a few gestures with her hands, waving them down through the air in a rough approximation of the shape she was talking about. After a second she realised what she was doing, though, and quickly stopped herself. Doing so had only proved to worsen the sensation. She quickly stilled them, first flicking back a stray lock of hair over her shoulder, before forcibly folding them in her lap again.

[Headwrapper]

Even though he kept his head perched on top of his hand, Mec grinned when he saw his plan was working. He was now winning their little game; all he had to do was change the rules a little. Seeing his friend's embarrassment glowing in her cheeks and the way she shifted her gaze away from him was an added bonus. It was only fitting that she would get a turn at being flustered and red after all.

Still, as empowering as the moment might have seemed, Mec did not realize he was not prepared for the words he was coaxing out of Shallan. Although his smile grew wider, the heat that had dwelled beneath his skin returned. "You're... Now you're just being foolish," he laughed softly. He shifted in his seat again, glancing briefly towards Shallan before quickly averting his eyes, feeling like if they made eye contact he would burst with... he did not know Joy? Pride? It was a silly feeling, whatever it was, but he could not rid himself of it.

"When the time comes, I will dress to your liking," he said lightheartedly. His fingers ran along his jaw line, the stubble that had grown over the past few days scratching back at them. "Of course I would need a shave, no? Or maybe I should let the hairs on my face grow, and have it styled like the lords or their sons have it. I had thought about letting it grow for the sake of disguise anyway." As he spoke, the boy's mood had mellowed down to a level closer to normal. This allowed him to finally look directly towards Shallan without being forced to fight back the strange, uncontrollable excitement he had earlier.

Even though the static that built up within him had been grounded, he felt just as charmed with Shallan as he did moments before. She had always been pretty, with or without a fancy dress, but there was just more to it all than that. Something that jumbled his thoughts and prompted genuine excitement, and seeing the girl's joy in being able to render him to a bumbling idiot only bolstered that strange excitement. He even wanted to try complimenting her again, now that he could probably do so using real sentences and not just foolish stuttering, but... he had to let the moment pass. They had their fun, and there would surely be opportunity for more, but they were not in a position to let themselves become slaves to it.

The boy's smile faltered a little, transforming into the kind of sorrow that hid a bitter truth behind it. It was the same kind of sorrow that Shallan had pushed away moments before, but the mage was not as talented an actor. His eyes glanced towards the study. "I wonder if Olenna is almost done. Surely she'll let you keep the dress once she and her owl see you in it. I wonder why they have such attire down here anyways."

[Namingtoohard]

Talk of facial hair was easier to stomach and avoid embarrassing oneself with than exchanging compliments. At least, that was what Shallan tried to convince herself of as the discussion moved on and she finally turned her attention back to him good and proper. Her eyes narrowed as she focused on his face, lips pursed as she tried to make up her mind on the topic. Truth be told, her personal preference was for clean-shaven men, or maybe those with just a tiny bit of stubble. She had never been thoroughly taken by beards, but...well, her personal opinion was hardly the thing that mattered most here, really. They had bigger worries, and Mec likely wasn't particularly worried about her personal tastes.

"Mm...definitely a shave when the time eventually does come. In the meantime, though, a beard might not be a bad idea. IT certainly might help to prevent incidents like this one" she announced simply, though she couldn't help but frown a little in distaste as the words slipped from her lips. They seemed to leave a bad taste on her tongue, as totally irrational as that might have seemed.

Still, as Mec mentioned their house guest again, she couldn't help but glance back over at the doorway through which she had vanished earlier. He made a good point, honestly. For the two of them to be left alone like this for so long was...surprising. Not in a bad way, of course, but she had expected them to all be rubbing up against each other. Rather than complaining, though, Shallan was glad that they had been able to make the most of the time. Even in such an odd and unexpected way. Pausing for a brief moment to straighten out one of the straps that hung over her shoulders, while simultaneously, she tilted her head slightly as she pondered the fact.

"The most obvious answer would be that it was something she or another of the mages used to wear. That, or just something they stockpiled to keep down here for situations just such as ours. Or maybe it was even a possession of another refugee, the last residents before we were dragged along to this place" she mused simply, tapping her fingers idly as she puzzled the thought.

Speaking of Olenna, the mage was just finishing up with her notes as the two of them conversed. Putting away her writing materials, she would take a moment to allow them to dry, before folding up the letter. She would be rejoining the two in just a moment now, so that she could both dispatch the message itself and check in with her two new little charges.

[Headwrapper]

Mec crossed his arm as he leaned back in his chair, considering the explanations Shallan had offered. "Perhaps. I guess there's no dress code for being dragged down here." Another quiet moment passed as they waited for Olenna to make her appearance. Truthfully, there was no reason to rush, but there was also very little to do down in this cellar. Hearing the details of what was expected within the near future would act as the next round of entertainment.

The boy finally unfolded his arms and allowed them to rest on the arms of his chair. "I wonder what learning to control magic is like," he would suddenly say. The boy's dark eyes seemed to gaze through the walls in front of them as he pondered. "Surely it must be harder than say, learning to read, or learning to wield a sword, or learning to ride a horse. I mean, I know that in our most recent, uh, event, I was able to control magic a little. But any idiot could wave a dirk around. It doesn't make him a swordsman."

The young mage also had another topic he wished to address. "I also need to ask Olenna if she knows anything about G. He's usually quiet, but I've been hearing him more when I'm awake than when I'm asleep recently... Honestly I can't get used to hearing someone else's voice out of the blue like that. For a while I suspected mages must grow mad from being subject to the sensation and that was what made them evil. But what if it's only me? What would that mean?"

Meanwhile, above ground, Cho had proceeded to make his rounds. Although many shops were open for the day, there was far fewer people in the streets than what he thought there would be. Much of the small-talk he heard while eavesdropping had to do with the previous night's events. Many had begun to doubt the ability of the authority to properly handle mages, and they had begun to fear that the return of the dark times had begun. At least for the time being, it was insisted that women and children were not to leave the home unless absolutely necessary. It only makes sense, after all. They're now aware of at least two mages that would openly defy judgement, even against evidence of their crimes.

He pulled down the hood of his cloak as he suddenly turned a corner, his boots barely making a sound against the cobblestone. His golden air almost illuminated the alleyway as he approached a dead end, holding out his hand so his palm faced the ground before him. "Ipsum toro vilara." In response to his words a trapdoor would suddenly appear on the ground before him. To a lay person it would have appeared that the trapdoor had not existed, only to suddenly have been made real. Once Cho descended and the door had shut behind him, it would once again vanish, as if it was never there at all.

When he reached the bottom of the ladder, Cho would be in a room not unlike the one Mec and Shallan had been resting in. Due to the nature of the ladder there was little need for a door with a riddle, and so a passage directly to this safehouse was appropriate. With a snap of the blond mage's fingers, any candles or torches in the room would instantly ignite themselves. "Hello?"

The room was rather dark, even with the light sources that were present. That, combined with the silence, was almost unnerving. Cho couldn't help that but think there was another within the sanctuary, despite their being absolutely no sounds other than his own breathing and the flickering of the candles. He should be happy to find the room was empty- it meant the others had no reason to go into hiding and could go about their days as normal. But still...

He snapped his fingers once again, summoning a bright blue orb of flame just a few inches above his palm. As he lowered it to the ground, the flames began to grow and take on the shape of a quadruped. When his short ritual was complete and the flames no longer followed the guidance of his hand, they had transformed into the likeness of a large dire wolf. The flames would disappear, replaced with pale blue glow of the dire wolf's fur. Its eyes were completely white, and fur of a slightly darker blue ran from its snout, down its back, to the tip of its tail. There was no reason for Cho to give it a command, it already knew its purpose. It, like the other wolves that Cho would soon summon in other locations, would stand watch and alert its master of any comings or goings. With the amount of experience that he had, the mage would be able to leave his watchdogs at most of the sanctuaries he would visit until later that night, when he would have to stop and rest to recover his energy.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would wait and listen in relative silence as Mec moved on, instead turning his thoughts to what exactly trying to learn magic would be like. Leaning forward slightly, the girl would purse her lips as she pondered the concept herself. There was logic in his words, but trying to imagine exactly what sort of gap they were talking about would be a struggle. She had worked to train in a handful of areas under her mother's tutelage, but this was a different sort of thing entirely. It was a difficult concept to even grasp, given that she was even more detached from the topic than Mec himself, who was still a novice by all means. Given what such a thing meant though, and his apparent dedication, it was only right that she at least try and show an interest, try and understand.

"I...I don't know" she would mutter softly, voice barely more than a whisper as his direct question demanded that she respond. "I would like to think that you would get used to it. Or that G's opinion proves some sort of benefit. Like as a guiding hand, or a source of information. Of the people in this building, though, I'm definitely not the person to ask" she resolved simply, shuffling a little in her seat as a look of unease flickered across her features. Without any personal experience to draw on, she could hardly empathise with anything he was feeling. Only try and provide what little comfort she could from an outside view.

"Hopefully Olenna will be able to provide some sort of concrete answers. In any case, it'll be nice to have some sort of assistance for once. To feel like there's some rhyme or reason to what we do, instead of just bumbling around in the dark and hoping for the best" she added after a brief pause, once again trying to look for the silver lining. Her earlier smile returned now, though it wasn't quite as strong as before. She had been enjoying their idle banter, as embarrassing as it was. "In any case, it's reassuring to know that we aren't totally alone and have some sort of support is a major relief in and of itself"

It was at about that moment that Olenna made her reemergence. The mage stepped back into view, moving through the doorway without any hesitation or ceremony. Her owl sat perched on her shoulder, as seemed typical. If one cared to focus a little more, though, they would notice a rolled-up message had been tied to one of its feet with great care and a little twine. Of course, she paused briefly upon catching sight of the two. The owl's gaze lingered on Shallan for a moment, and a smile curled the edge of her lips. She refrained from anything further, though.

"Give me but a moment. Then we can begin your first lesson whenever you would like" she announced simply, before striding towards the door that would lead back to the main part of the abandoned house. She slipped down the corridor and out of view, before the soft grinding of stone could be heard as she opened the hidden doorway. A brief pause followed, before Olenna would turn and make the trip back. When she stepped back in to sight, the owl was gone. She was once again relying on her sense of touch for guidance, as evidenced by an outstretched hand that rested on the nearest wall.

"I am ready whenever you are, boy. Just say the word" she amended, slowly guiding herself over to the large armchair that had unofficially been reserved as hers the night before.

[Headwrapper]

Mec sat quietly as who would become his new teacher left to release her owl on its journey. It was clear what the owl's next mission was: to deliver word to whatever party was going to help in the upcoming escape effort. During the brief moment between when the blind mage left with her bird and returned alone Mec would try to list the primary questions he wished to have answered in his mind. The top of his priorities was to ask about the nature of G in hopes that other mages knew of his existence. Then he would follow whatever steps the blind mage found necessary for him to learn to control his powers like a proper mage.

The time came when Olenna had returned and found her way to her seat. In response to her invitation, Mec took a deep breath before addressing his primary question. "I wanted to ask about something first. Or someone, I think. He only identified himself to me as G, but I don't think that's his proper name. Sometimes, in my wake or in my sleep, I can hear his voice as if he's inside my mind. Most of the things he says I don't understand... but he seems to desire something from me. Something about what he calls the Anima Mundi, but I don't even know what that is." The boy sat up somewhat taller in his chair, as if some sort of pressure was relieved from his shoulders. He had been rambling, but he couldn't help it. Confiding in Shallan about the matter had helped him find some sort of relief initially, and now he had the chance to speak more about the subject to someone new who might even have answers. "I was wondering if you know who he is? Do other mages hear his voice too?"

At this point the boy had approached the edge of his chair. Honestly, he was a little nervous about what Olenna's answer would be. Her face did not often convey any hints of what she thought or felt, so naturally it was difficult for him to predict what she would say. His fear would be that she had no idea who G was. If that was the case, then that would increase the likelihood that 'G' was just part of the boy's imagination, an initial symptom of some sort of insanity. It would definitely mean that the boy would be stuck having to find out the answer about himself and G on his own, with little clue as to where to start his search.

-

Cho's next stop would be at a familiar inn, The Sleeping Giant. He would only be able to speak to the giant himself, however. Anyone else would find it rather suspicious that a child would enter such a place alone. After rounding the back corner, he raised his small fist towards the window of what should be the giant's office. Three slow taps on the glass, followed by two quick ones. That was what it took to wake the giant from its slumber. The rear door of the building opened and a large hand beckoned Cho to enter, quickly.

"I didn't expect it to be you, after all of this time," the large man boomed. His dark red beard would have nearly covered his entire chest if it wasn't tied neatly with a brown chord at the bottom. "But I shouldn't be surprised after last night. The boy had spent a night in one of the rooms, you know. He was with a girl about his own age."

Cho's brows furrowed at this final statement. "Wait, really? That is strange... And you knew? You didn't hide him or tell... anyone?"

Giacomo shook his large head. "I didn't know until I saw what he did to my floorboards, damn lad scorched 'em. Besides, they came at night. My brother was here, and my girls, and guests. And I would 'ave taken the kids' money anyway. Just count yourself lucky that my brother don't 'ave enough wit to 'member the lad's face." The man's large fingers were lost in a sea of red as he stroked his chin. "Anyways, what do you want? A beer? Surely no other pub is willing to give that to ya."

Cho smiled, considering the offer for a moment. "I better not. Not until after I've completed my task. Has anyone come seeking sanctuary since last night's events? Ol-... She's concerned that the increased alert might have caught some of our friends off guard."

The giant answered with another shake of his head. "I've heard nothin'. And I made it quite clear that I would be a last place to come lookin' for help."

"Ah. I suppose no news is good news," Cho sighed. A pale blue spider appeared in the palm of his hand, featuring much of the same colors and patterns on its back as the wolf he had summoned before. "I'll be watching then." The hooded mage would drop the spider to the floor, which would quickly disappear between the floorboards as it made its way to the cellar below. He stifled a chuckle when he saw the disapproval on the large man's face, skin boiling to nearly match the color of his beard. "Don't worry, it will leave after tonight. Here... Have a cake." The boy would procure one of his wrapped cakes from beneath his cloak, already prepared in anticipation of his ally's anger. "Bye bye," he giggled as he stepped backwards. The door opened itself as he stepped out the back exit of the tavern and briskly strode onward to his next stop.

[Namingtoohard]

Undoubtedly curious, the mage would gently lower herself into her chosen seat as Mec begun his exposition. The boy had already surprised her once with the rather unique nature of his abilities, so she was curious to see what other sort of surprises he might be concealing. His words were...well, strange. Some of what he said was familiar, and others not. There were topics she were intimately familiar with, and others that she could only guess at. Trying to address and explain it in full would be a little complicated. That said, there was at least one point that coincided with what exactly she was going to start their opening lesson with.

"Hm. Curiouser and curiouser" she would mumble simply, almost to herself, before straightening up a little in her seat as she decided on how to proceed. "I believe I can offer some insight, but explaining it shall be easier once you have some basic understanding on the first topic I wished to cover. If you will allow me to begin, I shall give you a proper answer shortly" she offered by the way of compromise. Once he had indicated that such was an acceptable accord, she would open with yet another question.

"What do you suppose the difference is between the likes of us, and the likes of them?" She would ask simply, gesturing first to the both of them, and then in the approximate direction of where she had seen Shallan sitting beforehand. Whether Mec wished to guess, or simply waited for her to continue, she would quickly supply the answer herself. "The answer is not what we have that they do not, but rather, what they lack. All humans, at all ages, are physically capable of what we have come to know as magic. A term I have always hated, but the most commonly accepted one nonetheless" she huffed. Shallan, of course, watched on with pursed lips. She didn't mind being used as an example, and would do her best to understand, even if she suspected that much of what they would discuss her was beyond her. Even if practical application was impossible for her.

"The difference is in our power source. To perform magic, we connect ourselves with an outside source of energy and redirect it. Channel and manipulate it to accomplish our goals. Humans like your companion are unable to establish this basic connection, though the reason why is currently unknown, despite extensive research. We call this power source the 'world soul'...or, in the old language, 'Anima Mundi'. Now you begin to see the connection" she announced simply. It was less of a question, and more a direct statement.

"The Anima Mundi is the collective source of all mages' power. It flows through all life, connecting all of us with each other. Every living being, every animal, every plant you see. All joined by this singular source. Beyond that, it's true nature is a little harder to explain in words. It appears differently to everyone, so I cannot rightfully tell you much more. In a moment, I shall have you look upon it for yourself, with a little demonstration, so that you might better understand" she concluded. Such was the speech she had originally intended to give Mec as his initial lesson.

"I assume the Anima Mundi your...voice...speak of is the very same. I can only guess at what the true nature of this voice might be, though. Other mages do not usually hear it, at least not in my experience. There are historical records of mages with the ability to speak with the dead, with animals, even communicate telepathically with others, though rare. Perhaps you simply take after those. I cannot say for certain, though. You shall need to determine its trustworthiness and intentions for yourself, though if you ever wish to pass on its messages so that I might offer my own interpretation, you need only ask"

[Headwrapper]

Mec released a heavy sigh in response to Olenna's initial rebuttal. As impatient as he was for an answer, it was only reasonable he allowed her to educate him in her own way. "Sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude. Please, go ahead." He exchanged a quick glance with Shallan before leaning forward, resting one arm on his leg to hold up his head as he listened intently.

When first asked about the difference between mages and regular humans, Mec had no answer. He looked over to Shallan, as if he could find the answer where she sat. There was not much time to consider the possibilities, however, before Olenna promptly continued to her explanation. "The world soul," he repeated softly, wanting to feel how the words passed his lips. If the Anima Mundi really did pass through every living thing, then that reaffirmed G's statement that it was meant to be a gift to the life of the world. More importantly, he emphasized that it was his gift to the world. Did that mean G had created this magic source? What sort of creature would be capable of such a feat?

The boy recalled the strange vision he had when he used his power to stop the doll from killing Shallan. The time when he saw the bright reds and golds that seemed to anchor him and everything around him to each other, the volatile darts that threatened to pierce through him but never seemed to quite make contact with anything, and lastly the rolling rumble beneath his feet that threatened to swallow the ground beneath him. "I think I might have seen it, once," he said. "Last night. I saw the world covered with... it was like spiders weaved a giant web around me, but the web was made of strands of gold. It even seemed to roar... like a storm threatening to engulf the world..." He scratched his chin as he tried to remember more about the incident, uncover a new fact that he had missed before, but it was for naught. "What form does it take for you, Olenna?"

The boy stirred when the topic returned to G. It was hard to imagine what kind of being that strange voice came from. It never did much to aid him, but urged him to use magic in times of need or tricking him into using his powers in his sleep... Or make him angry. How frustrating it was to have another's voice cut off your own inside your own thoughts. G even potentially knew what Mec was thinking, he certainly seemed to know what was directly happening around him. "He's... said a lot of things..." the boy mumbled quietly. "And he sees what's around me. Not through my eyes, he just seems to know... Like when he warned about the mage killing sword that knight had."

His legs began to feel tired, as if dystrophy was beginning to set in. The boy would stand and walk behind his chair to lean against its back. "He introduced himself to me months ago with the name G. He refers to the Anima as his gift to the world's living things, and mages as his children. And what he says he wants from me is to deliver this gift back to the world." The boy let loose another sigh, clearly not enjoying the words as he shared them. There was a lot that he had left out and much of what he said must not have made sense, but it just felt good to discuss this sort of matter aloud, without having to hush his voice.

[Namingtoohard]

As calm and composed as ever, the mage would nod in simple agreement as Mec described what he thought might be his first glimpse of the Anima. His description undoubtedly sounded like it, as far as she could tell, which was good news for him in regards to his training. Being able to experience the Anima, to know what that connection felt like and how to draw upon it, was the first step to learning control. To being able to call on and direct one's magic at will, in any mindset, instead of having to rely on sporadic and unpredictable emotional swings to call it forth. The simple knowledge that he had already accomplished such a thing would make the earlier stages of his training somewhat easier.

"Yes, I would say that was it. This is excellent news. To learn proper magic, the safe and controlled way to use it, one must first have glimpsed the Anima as such. Learning to call upon this network at will, without the impediment of raw emotion, is the first step in this process" she explained simply. Still, when Mec asked what form the Anima took for her, she tilted her head a little in something akin to curiosity. How long had it been since someone had asked her that? Despite her intentions, a small smile curled at the edges of her mouth.

"I had originally intended to induce in you a vision of my Anima, so that you would understand some small part of what I was saying. Knowing that you've seen it for yourself means such a thing is hardly necessary now, though" she opened simply, turning her head a little. She pondered the thought in silence for a moment, before giving a bit of a halfhearted shrug. There might not be any need for a fully immersive example this time, but a simple explanation could not hurt. "For me, the Anima appears as a giant and infinitely complex river. An endless string of flowing silver marks, so plentiful and mobile that they seem like water, spreading down an uncountable number of branches. Every existence boasts its own little section. They are all intertwined with each other, linked with the lives of those closest to the owner, and yet somehow remain seperate"

With her explanation finished, the mage drifted into silence for a moment, reflecting inwardly on her own interpretation. It was a thing that all mages had in common, yet she still found herself entranced by it at times. Still, she stirred briefly as the boy continued to describe his invisible companion, shuffling in her chair just a fraction. Lending any sort of credence to something that claimed to have created the Anima was hard to put any sort of stock into, but would be a truly ground-shaking thing if it were. She would need to approach the subject carefully. Very much so.

"This voice of yours claims to be directly connected to the Anima? That's...a very bold statement. If true, then..." she trailed off then, drifting into silence as she tried to compile her thoughts. Perhaps for the first time since they had met, Olenna felt as if something had managed to catch her off-guard, throw her off balance. "A direct link to the Anima would be a very powerful thing indeed, worthy of a great deal of reverence and faith. All the more reason why it is not a theory I would commit to lightly. I shall have to meditate on the matter. Make contact with my allies, and see if any of them have some sort of knowledge or information that would help us glean the truth of what this G claims" she concluded, voice soft, as if she had been somewhat shaken by the news. The women would bring a hand up to stroke at her chin Getty, but otherwise remained passive for the moment.

Shallan, of course, had continued to listen to this entire conversation in silence, only shuffling in her seat uncomfortably every now and again. There was little she could input to a conversation of magic, especially one of this magnitude, and so she remained quiet. Of course, that was not to say she was idle. She continued to turn over these simple pieces of information in her mind, trying to piece together what little she could manage of her companion's circumstances. Unfortunately most of this seemed to go way over her head, and she hummed in quiet frustration at her own lack of being.

[Headwrapper]

Mec stood quietly as he mulled over Olenna's words. He had never imagined her being hesitant about anything, but she seemed less than confident when she delivered her response. The inexperienced mage began to wonder if it was unwise to share so much information, that somehow it was better suited to be a secret until he learned more on his own. It was evident that one of the main aspects of his struggles so far was uncommon, if not unique. This prospect worried him. It was difficult enough to have his magehood revealed and becoming isolated from society, and almost equally as hard to embrace the circumstance and make the decision to hone his gift, but now he was faced with the prospect of still being an oddity, even in the world of mages. You're overthinking things, don't focus on what makes you different, he told himself.

Something else about Olenna's hesitation troubled him, and created even further reason to dismiss the topic of G. If the voice had a motive, it was surely above them all and paled any of the dreams they dared to dream. Involving themselves with the game this being played would inherently put them at a risk of danger, would it not? That danger could stem from beings greater than themselves or even other mages who might have been more involved in such a thing. How would he protect himself if he somehow became a target? How would he protect Shallan?

"How much can I trust your allies?" he would ask. "This might sound unjustified, but if G's existence has the potential to be as earth shattering as it sounds, it might attract the worst in some people. And even if your friends are my friends, who's to say their friends are our friends? The more investigating you do the more rumors might spread. I guess what I'm saying is, let me learn more about how to wield my powers before risking making me, and Shal, and maybe even you, potential targets." The boy shifted his legs as he stood, unusually casual.

With little more to add to the matter, Mec would finally sit back down. Forgetting about his injuries, the boy dropped himself a bit too quickly for comfort and would a stifled yelp would escape his lips. Once he caught his bearings he grinned a half-grin, squeezing one eye shut and shaking his head to dismiss the sound he made. The day had stretched on, it seemed, and the work the previous night's rest did to refresh his body was slowly coming undone. It surely had not been that long since he awoke, had it? "Anyways. What's my next step?"

[Namingtoohard]

Able to retain some of her composure now that they were discussing a topic that was less of a revelation, the mage tilted her head slightly, humming softly in thought as she pondered the boy's words. As manipulative as she could be at times, the woman had been a leader long enough to know when listening and cooperation were the better option. Sometimes a different viewpoint was all that was needed, and surprising amounts of insight could come from unexpected places. Besides, the way that Mec confided in her suggested some level of trust, even if it was borne of nothing more than a lack of other options - something she could make use of should it be allowed to develop. She would hardly turn him away now, especially when he spoke such sense.

"Mm...very well, then. You certainly have a point. I shall keep any research on the matter restrained to a personal level, and keep any information pertaining to this voice between the two of us. I shall even refrain from mentioning it to any other mages you might train under, if it please you" she answered simply, straightening in her chair just a fraction. "Even I won't pretend that every one of my cabal possesses good intentions. Most of them are trustworthy enough, but like all groups, we have several bad eggs. Those I only keep so as to better watch them, or who have a proclivity for acting on their own impulses. Until you inform me that you are ready, this shall stay our little secret"

Of course, Mec's little gasp as he lowered himself into his seat would not go unnoticed. Olenna herself remained somewhat calm and composed, though she boasted a small frown. Shallan, on the other hand, would glance across at him openly. Her expression was a strange mix, with a scowl on her lips and a worried glint in her eyes. Unfortunately, her knowledge of such matters was limited, and her only ideas for easing such discomfort would likely have proved extremely impractical in their current accomodations.

"You're really going to push yourself even further today?" She questioned simply, tone hard but voice soft. Olenna refrained from commenting, other than to let out a soft sigh and shake her head in something akin to annoyance. She was of the mind that Mec's physical state was of zero consequence, and the faster he learned such things the better. That sad, learning them quickly and rushing them were two different matters. Regardless, she continued.

"There is much more that I could lecture you on, but first you must gain the ability to draw upon he Anima of your own will. Until you can do that, any further teachings are worthless" she supplied simply, leaning back into her own armchair, and sinking gently into the cushions. "Its a skill that some apprentices take days to learn in full, so don't get too frustrated if it takes some time. If necessary, you can practice it on the road to your next destination. Like the Anima itself, different things work for different people, so I can't give you exact instructions on how to proceed, either. Only a few tips and suggestions, should you need them" she finished.

In the moments that followed, Shallan would quickly rise to her feet, glancing at the older mage as she did so, though the gesture was only one-way. Muttering softly that she would be back in just a moment, the girl slipped out of the room, choosing to veer off into the storeroom for a few seconds. She had no specific reason for doing so - just a simple want of a break, and perhaps to find something to distract and occupy herself with while the other two spoke on. Without the opportunity to go for a walk outside and look at the sky, she felt this the next best thing.

[Headwrapper]

Mec was relieved that Olenna agreed to keep G's presence a secret. Unfortunately, he had no way of knowing if she would keep her promise, but there was little he could do but trust her for now. After all, he had already decided that his alliance with her was crucial to his present well-being. These types of secrets were just as good in her hands as they were in his own, and she would have a better understanding of what could come of them than he did.

His brow furrowed when Shallan's question came, almost appearing like he had been offended. The way he saw it, his options were either to preoccupy himself with learning and working towards his new goal, or remaining passive and be left with only his injuries to distract him. If he was careful like he had been until just a moment before, his injuries would only serve as minor discomforts, and the subtle aches that came with them could easily be ignored as long as his mind was obliged to other things. Like Olenna, he remained silent about the matter, only offering a nod to assure Olenna he would be listening to what she had to say next.

What came next was not so surprising. If he wished to learn more about magic he needed to prove his capability of wielding it to begin with. Of course, there was no specific way of practicing these sorts of things, but he was confident he was capable of managing this task more quickly than Olenna might have thought. Even if until this point he had not entertained the idea of wielding magic on his own accord, he had carried out the motions in his dreams. He had even mimicked some of the actions, such as creating an orb of flame to light the way as he and Shallan entered the sanctuary.

"I needed to draw power from the Anima to enter this place to begin with, didn't I?" he asked. It was an honest question- he wondered how much more difficult of a task Olenna was prescribing was compared to the feats he already seemed to have done without being driven by emotion. He chose to leave out the small tidbit about him basically hitting the magic door to get it to open. "I used magic to open the door... And I even did this to help light the way..."

The boy paused, observing his palm for a moment before committing to his next action. He drew a long breath, remembering the areas of his mind that seemed to burst when he needed to draw power from the Anima to protect Shallan. That experience felt like the easiest one to reflect back on; the moment was so recent and so powerful. With one deliberate motion he swung his arm down to his side, summoning a small ball of flame. Just like the one previous, it hovered a few inches above his palm as he raised his hand in front of him to give himself a better view of the orange globe. "It's a ball of flames," he told his blind tutor. "I... learned this trick in a dream... Is that normal?"

[Namingtoohard]

Unable to help herself, the more experienced mage would let out a soft chuckle as Mec immediately did as she had requested, producing an example of magic almost instantaneously. Clearly, she had underestimated him, though exactly which part of his being remained somewhat unclear. It was a mistake she would have to be careful not to make in the future. The boy boasted extreme talents, even aside from the link to his mysterious friend, if he was able to do as she asked almost instantly like that. Perhaps he even had the innate talent of a master, and would be able to stand equal with her should he put in the time to train and hone his gift properly. In a stroke of vanity, her mind refused to consider the possibility that he might even one day put her to shame.

"The door is not a suitable test. For all I know, you could've brought the magic forth with raw frustration at having your way blocked, or some other emotion. The fireball is more than enough to confirm your proficiency, though" she remarked, gesturing at his outstretched hand politely with one of hers. "You need not explain every move you make to me during our training, Mec. If a mage keeps their connection to the Anima open, they can feel when those nearby draw upon it. If I were to cast a spell now, while you focused..." she trailed off for a second there, trying to discern what exactly was the best way to describe it based on his original description of the Anima. "...well, it would be like if I suddenly started pulling on a strand of your spider's web. Being able to predict what other mages are about to do is a fundamental skill for magic duels, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Allow me to demonstrate"

At that, the mage would raise one of her hands. Slowly and deliberately, she would turn it so that her palm was facing upwards, similar to Mec's own. What better way to demonstrate than with a spell he was clearly already very familiar with? Detecting it would be much easier that way, as well as give her a good basis from which to continue the next part of his lesson.

"Focus on the Anima. Feel the web, how it stretches out around you, and stay alert for any sudden changes. Now, here we go " she answered simply. With deliberate slowness, the mage would open her link to the world soul. She would draw upon a fraction of its strength - to her, it was as if she was draining water from her river and letting it flow into her body. As with most of what else they had discussed this far, though, it outs be very different for him. Then, with the same sort of pace, she would redirect the magic to her hand, before releasing it with her intent to create a simple fireball. For all her dragging things out, the entire process only took a few seconds, and then she had a fireball of her own. It was almost identical to Mec's own, hovering above her hand idly. Perhaps the only variance was that the light it was putting off seemed a bit softer. After she felt that was enough, she would extinguish it by closing her hand.

"Did you feel it, or must I demonstrate again?" the statement came, quite calmly and simply. There was no sort of chastising tone - it was normal for mages to take a few tries to get a feel for such a thing. Of course, given what he had displayed thus far, it wouldn't have surprised her this time if he managed it on the first try. When he was satisfied, she would speak again. "So, what did I do? Or rather, what were the basic steps I used to accomplish the casting?" She asked. Clearly, she was not a teacher to spoon-feed answers to her apprentices when it came time for practical lessons. She would much rather give them the pieces, and watch as they slotted all the information together themselves. Built their own understanding, so to speak. Her lessons became more ingrained that way, if past experience was anything to judge by.

[Headwrapper]

The boy lowered his head, somewhat embarrassed for needlessly describing his actions. Still, he was intrigued by his teacher's explanation how one might detect others' uses of magic. Like pulling one of the golden strands that anchored him to the world. He tried to recall if he had noticed that feeling when he first saw the Anima, once again returning to that monumental moment. He remembered the doll's arm, glowing with a golden light as she raised it threateningly. Were strands of the golden web connected to that arm? The part of his memory was unclear. It seemed that for this trial he would not be as prepared as he was to create the fireball that rested in his hand.

He kept his eyes closed as he took long, steady breaths, focusing for the next trial. The luxury of seeing the magic being cast would only hinder his ability to practice the skill Olenna had described. A few moments would pass before he thought he sensed something and he opened his eyes to confirm his suspicion. He had only then barely caught glimpse of Olenna's hand closing, extinguishing the flame.

He sighed when Olenna asked if he had felt her use of magic. "I only was able to sense it just when you were about to put it out," he explained. "But now I know which part of me I need to focus on, so let me try again." The next time Olenna summoned her flame, Mec's eyes opened just when the orb was about to form. "Got it." He took a moment to compare the two fireballs before Olenna extinguished hers, and he did the same with his. "It feels like the webs are always there, now that I've used them that way. I would imagine it's what discovering you possess a third arm would feel like."

His dark lips pressed together as he regarded Olenna's question. It made the most sense to try to answer the question by thinking about what he himself had to do to cast his spell. With his deliberate casting, he would first locate and focus on the part of his mind that seemed to have access to the Anima. Then, well, he knew the answer was that he drew some of the Anima's power, but how was it done? The next step he thought was to manipulate the power into the form that was desired, but he still could not think to describe the how.

After licking his lips, he would finally attempt an answer. "First you found where you and the Anima are connected, and then drew on its power, allowing it to flow across your body and towards your hand, where you concentrated that energy." He paused, once again trying to find a fitting way to convey the rest of his answer. "From there... Well, I know you concentrated the power you received from the Anima, but I'm not exactly sure how you willed it to become fire... I guess for me, when I try to create fire, the power is concentrated and it feels like something above my palm snaps and the fire ignites itself. I don't know how that's different than anything else..."

His eyes lit up, as if suddenly remembering something. "When I summon the plants, it's different. It feels more like I'm pulling something out of the ground, using the Anima's power as a tether. Using your will you can form power you borrow from the Anima to become a suitable catalyst for whatever it is you wish to accomplish. And from there you continue to slowly drain more power in order to continue the action, such as fueling a ball of fire or keeping the plants alive."

Once Olenna had critiqued Mec's answer, the sound of the enchanted doors opening echoed down the hallway. Light footsteps tread towards them until Cho had returned to view. "Smells like a magic lesson," he jested, setting his bag down in a corner. Not wishing to interrupt the lessons should the other mages choose to continue, he gave himself a spot on the floor to lay on, using his balled up cloak as a pillow. Clearly, he was exhausted from the day's prowling and his extensive use of his summoning magic.

[Namingtoohard]

Olenna would repeat the process of casting her fireball as soon as Mec requested it, nonplussed by the repetition. Again, she was used to demonstrating this sort of thing over and over for new students, and a spell as simple as this was hardly a strain. Besides, if their first experience was any sort of judge, this wouldn't take nearly as long as she would have expected normally. Perhaps the boy did have some sort of tangible link to the Anima, as this voice seemed to suggest. It would certainly explain his natural affinity for this sort of work. Of course, she kept such thoughts to herself for the time being.

"Indeed. The web is a part of you. It always has been. You've just been ignorant of that fact up until now" she answered simply, maintaining her casual tone. "The real challenge comes from trying to maintain it in the most stressful of circumstances. Many of our kin have been slain in combat by the most trivial of opponents, just because the stress or shock of open confrontation was enough to distract them. They would loose their connection to the Anima in a moment of distraction, and not regain enough composure to reestablish it before getting cut down. I would recommend that, as you journey, you try and keep track of it while doing other tasks. See if you can maintain your awareness as you're conversing, running, playing card games...anything that might otherwise demand your attention. The better you learn to hold it, the safer you will be"

After a brief pause, the mage would open her mouth to continue, before pausing briefly as she was distracted by the return of Cho. Glancing up that the sound of his approach, suddenly distracted by it, she would chuckle softly at his idle comment. She would also have offered him the opportunity to use one of the beds scattered about the safehouse, but without her owl to act as her eyes, she had no clue what sort of state he was in, or any way to tell what exactly he was doing.

"I would certainly hope it sounds like one, too. I'm rather impressed, actually. He managed to bond with the Anima on the first try" she answered simply, a smile curling at the edges of her lips. As a mage himself, Cho would understand just how impressive such a feat was, she thought. Still, she designed against pressing him for information regarding his wandering immediately. Her old friend would doubtless let her know if there was any important news, and otherwise catch her up when they were both ready. He probably had his reasons, even if they proved to be whimsical ones. Instead, she turned her attention back or Mec himself.

"In any case, there's good reason for such. Like everything else, several humans have insisted on trying to categorise all the different types of magic. The fireball and the roots you are so fond of possess a multitude of differences, though it seems that you've already picked up on them for the most part. I can explain them in greater detail if you like, but...later. I don't wish to overload you with information, and for now, understanding that different sorts and styles exist is enough"

[Headwrapper]

Cho stirred, turning his thin body so that he was facing his fellow mages while he lay on his side. "Hmm, that is impressive. I suppose his master's example served him well." The youngling stretched his legs as he spoke, caring little about the fact that his shirt lifted as he did so to expose his belly. Seeing Olenna take on another student always reminded him of his own original teacher when he had begun to control his powers. In many ways, his old mistress was not unlike Olenna. While not as flashy and exuberant as Olenna's rescue of Mec, Cho's mistress had come to save him from the dooms of a society that feared mages. She taught him in much the same way Olenna had taught her pupils, patient and careful not to cradle the student like a babe.

Cho envied that talent, to pass on knowledge of a complex topic such as magic to another who had such little understanding. In all of his years he had never taken on an apprentice. At this point it would be too difficult to even try, he thought. How could he break down such simple tasks such as simply drawing power from the Anima? To him, the action was akin to breathing- he constantly performed the action nearly his entire life, even in his sleep. How would one even begin to teach another person how to breath?

Mec considered Cho's small form as the youngling twisted and stretched on the floor. The boy was young, but from the way he spoke and the way Olenna addressed him he seemed to already carry a lot of knowledge about the magic and the Anima. He must have been but a small child when he was first presented the lessons that Mec himself only just began to learn. He envied that a little, feeling as though he was at a disadvantage for now being basically a man grown before learning to control his powers. The feeling was tossed aside quickly when he pictured what sacrifices would have been made to be a fully fledged mage at such a young age. It would have involved so much secrecy for a child, left wondering why others were fearful of what he was.

His focus would return to Olenna when she spoke. "But..." he would begin to protest, feeling there was no reason Olenna could not elaborate further at that moment. After a pause, he would retract the motion. "Alright then." Before he could continue, Mec's glance would return to where Cho was lying. He had not noticed it when the blond boy had first entered, but Mec detected an enormous amount of the Anima's power being drawn towards his small body. The heavy sensation was so overbearing it almost made him wince in much the same way one would when preparing for a loud crash when dropping an object. "I didn't notice this right away, but it's almost like Cho is creating hundreds of fireballs."

The youngling laughed at the last statement. It was... cute, to say the least. He sat up, crossing his legs as he peered upwards at Mec and Olenna with a large grin. He could muster up one more summoning for the sake of example, especially if he did not need to sustain it for long. He placed his hands over his lap and held them there while a blue orb formed. It grew to about the size of a small hen before taking on the form of a hare. Its fur was a snowy white, with a deep blue stripe that ran from its small wiggling nose to its white puffy tail. Its eyes were dark blue marbles that twitched nervously as Cho released the small creature. It would quickly dart around the room, only to quickly disappear into the store room where Shallan had retreated to. "We call that summoning," he giggled. "Not many can draw the necessary power to perform it. But I think anyone can learn it, with enough practice!"

[Namingtoohard]

Listening on in relative silence, Olenna would break it as discussion turned to the considerable amount of power that Cho was currently drawing on. A soft chuckle would pass her lips as she considered his observation. It was somewhat adorable, when out forth that way, if not entirely accurate. As a more experienced mage, she could glean some sort of insight into how he was using such power if she wished. The two of them had known each other for long enough that such a measure felt rather unnecessary, though. She had a fair approximation of what he was capable of, and the sort of magic he favoured.

She would straighten a little as he announced a demonstration, surprised by his choice, but...pleasantly so. Summoning was not something that she had any particular affinity for, as much as she wished that wasn't the case sometimes. With nothing else to observe with, she would turn her focus to the Anima good and proper, choosing to take notice and watch using that particular method, for lack of any others. She could feel it, that little tug, as Cho diverted more and more of the river's current, rerouting it through his body and out to all his different apparitions. She watched as a new branch was formed before her, even if it was only a temporary one.

"If summing is something you wish to try, then you'll have to defer to Cho's expertise, I'm afraid...though it does make another good point about the nature of magic" she remarked idly, turning her head back across in Mec's vague direction now. "There are three main factors in determining how powerful a mage is. The first is their capacity for drawing on the the Anima, as you've just observed in Cho. The other two are speed and precision, in relation to the process we discussed earlier" she announced. Mulling over the thought brought a strange smile to her lips. Cho's demonstration of how much power he could draw on at once was impressive, even by her standards, but many years ago she had been heralded as a real fast hand. Her spellcasting had involved so much grace, she had heard, that some couldn't decide whether to call her an artist or a monster..

At this point, her line of thought - and indeed, their entire discussion - was interrupted by a squeal from the far room. Olenna had trouble telling if it was one of fear or delight, though. Scraping and banging could be heard briefly as the room's sole occupant scrambled about. After a brief pause, though, she would reappear. Placing a hand on the doorframe, she would poke her dishevelled head out into the main room again; hair falling about her face messily. Far from worry, though, the look on her face was almost joyful.

"What the hell is that thing? It's so adorable!" She clamoured, before once again vanishing back into the storeroom. The girl was doubtless scrambling after the nervous and twitchy bunny, trying to grab it so that she could pick it up and love it, with no real thought for what terror she might be causing the poor animal - if it had the ability to feel as such, at least. Truth be told, she didn't even know if the thing was solid enough to touch, or what might happen when she did. She just wanted to try, for the love of it.

[Headwrapper]

Mec mulled over Olenna's thoughts about the traits of powerful mages. It made sense, after all, that someone who could wield their powers quickly and accurately would make formidable opponents. In his future trials he would have to keep these factors in mind, and push himself to form his fireballs or will his plants or whatever else he might try to do faster.

Both Mec and Cho's heads turned towards the room that Shallan's squeal had rang from. Their expressions were vastly different; Cho held a large grin that stretched across his face while Mec's brown irises became walnuts. The blond youngling held back a laugh when Shallan made her appearance, pleased with the reaction towards his temporary pet. The boy would hold up his hands in front of him, as if anticipating to catch something, and promptly the rabbit made a beeline from its hiding spot in the store room into Cho's hands. Although the tiny creature wiggled and looked about nervously, it no longer fled, responding to Cho's will. Should Shallan have chosen to follow the hare back into the main room of the sanctuary, Cho would have held up the rabbit to her as an offering. At the expense of more of the Anima's power, he could will the tiny creature into ignoring its instinct to flee and it would simply rest in the hands that held it, albeit nervously.

Mec would watch the exchange quietly, amazed by the entire ordeal. The rise in the amount of power Cho had been pulled from the golden web was small compared to the amount he had already been drawing. He wondered what other creatures Cho must have summoned, and how many. Was this power what enabled the boy to travel safely on his own, and even wander the city so quickly in order to check on the other sanctuaries that lie within its walls?

The amateur mage took a sharp breath, remembering something. "When I first developed my powers, there were many times I would cast magic in my sleep. I've summoned balls of fire and willed plants to grow, and I've learned how to do that on my own accord now... But there was another thing. Once I awoke to a small sculpture of a dragon, but it was moving like any other living being. It melted like any other ice would though. Is that like summoning?"

Cho's attention diverted from the hare while Mec spoke, whether it was in Shallan's hands or his own. The boy seemed to sit up straighter while he listened, his blue eyes wide with interest. His blond hair fell around his face in light wisps, narrowly avoiding falling in his line of sight. "It's very different," he would reply. "Summoning is hard. And people give up on learning it because there are alternatives like manipulating ice, or plants, or even the dead if the mage is heartless enough to bear it." His eyes would return to the small furball and his lips curled into a smile. "True summons are said to be composed of the purest form of the Anima's power that can exist in a physical form."

[Namingtoohard]

After she retreated back into the storeroom, several more sounds vaguely identifiable as her moving about could be heard, before ceasing as the rabbit bolted back out of the open doorway and made a beeline towards Cho. Shallan would linger for a few moments longer, presumably to clean up the mess she had made, before she would make her reappearance good and proper.

Rather predictably, the girl was still wearing the dress she had found earlier, and held in one hand what appeared to be a crumpled piece of parchment. As soon as she spotted where exactly the little ball of fluff had run off too, she quickly moved towards it, kneeling down in front of Cho as if to get a closer look. She would hesitate for a moment, wanting to reach out and pet it, but it seemed that the boy had read her intentions clearly, as he quickly beat her to the punch. Taking a brief moment to stuff the wadded up ball of paper into the folds of her dress, she would reach out to take it.

Somewhat gingerly, she would accept the rabbit as it was offered to her, cradling it somewhat gently despite its clear unease. She would look down at the thing in silence for a moment, before finally raising her head to speak.

"It feels...strange. Soft, like a rabbit should, but almost insubstantial. Like I could put my hand through it if I so wished, despite the fact that it's solid enough for me to be touching right now" she would mutter, tone soft as she looked down at the thing. "This is what you meant when you said that you summoned things. When we first met" she would add, glancing back up at Cho. "What other things can you make? Like could you do a bear or a mountain lion if you needed to defend yourself?" She questioned. Apparently she was thinking along similar lines to Mec.

Olenna was apparently nonplussed by this talk of summoning, deciding to remain silent and let the expert on the matter answer. She would only slip in a remark of her own at the brief mention of magic use while asleep.

"Such a thing is not unheard of. Sometimes the emotions brought on by dreams can be powerful enough to cause small spurts of magic. It should become less frequent as your control develops"

[Headwrapper]

Cho's smile, as bright and white as the summoned pet's fur, nearly illuminated the entire room with its presence while he watched Shallan handle the rabbit. He placed his hands on either knee while his legs remained crossed. "I can summon a lot of things," he said cheerfully. "My favorites are rabbits and wolves, but there are a lot of other things too. Spiders and mice help with looking through small spaces, and falcons make for good hunters. In addition to our little friend here, I currently have summoned nearly enough wolves to make a small pack. Oh, and a spider. They're standing watch at each of the other sanctuaries within this city."

He found an opportunity to address what he presumed Olenna would be most concerned about. After shuffling to better face his friend he would describe the day's findings. "It does not seem that there has been any harm done to those of us hiding in this city, Olenna. Every mage I've spoken to in the sanctuaries did not hear any news of another being found or killed. I've posted summons in as many locations as I could, and should someone enter one of these sanctuaries they can send me news through them. At least until the summons are dispelled, anyway."

Rocking back and forth, the youngling would continue. "That isn't to say that last night did not leave quite the impression on the people here. Most of the commonfolk are in a collective state of panic, refusing to allow their children to leave their homes, even in the middle of the day. The stories they tell are so exaggerated that the city risks losing much of its trade as the people scare away the merchants. There is great mistrust in the knights of the city, now that they've proven they could not properly execute or at least incarcerate a mage. Or, for one poor sap, protect his brother's life." As he spoke, his face grew more somber, his pearly white smile vanishing behind a small scowl. "It would be best if you make sure your cabal continues to stay quiet for the time beng, I think. Let the dust settle and let the people move on with their lives. It worries me to see them like this."

Once done with his report, the boy promptly jumped to his feet. Now he stood nearly eye-to-eye with Shallan. "I almost forgot to compliment you on your dress! It looks wonderful on you, princess." The boy would have even went as far as taking the girl's hand and planting a gentle kiss on the back of it, had she not been preoccupied with holding the rabbit. As quickly as he had stood, the boy would make his way over to one of the seats and sit back down. Once acquainted with his new spot, the boy would look back and forth between the two newbies, and even glance towards Olenna once. "Before the day closes I would love to hear a story," he said casually. "In particular, how our two young friends made their way from Ozette all the way to..." he paused to stifle a laugh, "all the way to the Sleeping Giant, and finally to Olenna's little hiding spot." He leaned back in his chair, his head continuing to swivel as he glanced around at the other parties. These types of stories were interesting to him, and he loved to get into the finer details if he had the opportunity, especially from primary sources.

Mec had grown quiet when Cho described the situation in the city above them. Like Cho, he did not enjoy hearing about news about a panic among regular people. He felt a little guilty, knowing that his survival was what caused such a disturbance. But it could not be helped at this point. His choice to continue living would bring more benefit than it did malice, it had to. He raised an eyebrow when Cho had brought up his request to hear more about his and Shallan's journey so far. What was especially curious was how he knew about the Sleeping Giant. Was it possible that the news would travel so quickly? Surely the brothers that ran the place would not want to spread that sort of news.

[Namingtoohard]

The mood of the sanctuary as a whole seemed to darken as conversation turned to news from the city above, and Cho was finally able to give his full report to Olenna. Shallan was of a similar mind to Mec once again, and her excitement over the little bunny that she had been temporarily gifted was quick to fade away. The knowledge that they had caused so much distress to the townspeople was troubling he utmost, and the talk of the death their journey had wrought was even more so. After all, this was the same girl who had gotten emotional after merely hurting a guard during their initial flee from Ozette. Her petting of the animal ceased, and she bowed her head slightly, almost as if she was ashamed.

Olenna, of course, had an entirely different reaction. She was far from concerned about the citizens of the town, though perhaps this was unsurprising, considering that she was the one responsible for any deaths that may have occurred. Directly responsible. Rather, she let out a soft sigh of something akin to relief. All of her local companions were capable enough at hiding and defending themselves, but hearing that none of them had been harmed due to her actions was extremely encouraging.

"Thank god" she mumbled softly to herself, under her breath. Her relief seemed palpable, despite the more negative aspects of his news. "Please, let me know if anything changes" she would add, in a slightly louder tone. If anyone seemed offput by her reaction to his news, the mage seemed largely ignorant of it. That, or she simply didn't mind. After all, she was the type who would gladly sacrifice hundreds of humans to protect just a handful of her own. Only a few deaths compared to the freedom of such a promising young mage? Such almost seemed a bargain.

A small smile would flicker across Shallan's face as Cho decided to go out of his way to compliment her n the new dress she was wearing, if new was in fact the right word. She would give him a thankful nod, though she still didn't wish to relinquish her grip on the rabbit. It served to bring her some small amount of comfort, in the fact of the news they had just received...and she remained largely ignorant of the sort of burden that it's continued existence placed on the small boy.

As he requested a story, the girl would exchange a brief glance with Mec, as if looking to him for guidance. Should he not outright volunteer to tell the story himself, she would take the duty upon herself. Rising to her feet, she would take a brief moment to relocate, moving back across to the nearest chair before perching on it in the same manner as before. Then, she would begin to speak. Shallan would retell as much of their story as she could remember, with all the detail she could manage. Of course, it wasn't a perfect retelling, but such was to be expected, more or less. When she was finished, the girl would fall into silence, taking a moment to catch her breath.

[Headwrapper]

The youngling listened patiently as Shallan retold her and Mec's story, his eyes widening in much the same way they did when he listened to Mec's questions about magic moments before. On occasion, Cho would gently interrupt the story to pursue clarity on minor details, but most of the time he sat silently, his eyes two large sapphires as he gave his full attention to Shallan. Although he was quiet, he almost appeared to be on some sort of alert, sitting up straight on the edge of his seat. His erect position was reminiscent of a deer listening for predators.

When the story was completed, Cho's muscles would relax and he would ease back into his seat. He slid downwards so part of his back was touching the cushion meant to be sat on and his shoulders were just high enough to be propped up by the back of the chair. "Hmm, I've met a lot of people and have heard a lot of stories, but I think yours might end up being one of my favorites by the time it's done," he would finally say. There was a small hint of melancholy in the way he spoke, reflecting his acceptance that he would probably live long enough to see their story come to a conclusion and then some in his lifetime. "It was very admirable what you did for Mec, princess. And I can tell he's very grateful for it."

The boy's head turned to look at Olenna from his slouched position. "Oh, and you too, Olenna," he said with a chuckle. Finally, one more turn of his head and he would be looking towards Mec. His eyes scanned the young man from head to toe before his mouth moved to speak. "I think you deserved the help you received from your two friends here," he said. "What I mean is, I feel like you will make them both proud of the choices they made to keep you alive. I hope I'm right, I've been wrong before." With this, the youngling would fall into silence, remaining in his slouched position.

It seemed the time had came for him to dispel his white and fluffy rabbit. He sighed as he watched the creature's fur faded, becoming small wisps of light that simply vanished to the air until there was no trace of the creature left. "Sorry princess," he would tell Shallan, "I need to conserve the energy I have left."

Like Cho, Mec also sat quietly while Shallan told their story. He had little to add, so he chose to simply listen. When the youthful mage addressed him, he still had no real words. He returned a small nod to the boy. Cho's comments seemed uncharacteristic of someone so young, Mec thought. This combined with the amount of power he drew from the Anima, although Mec had no true sense of what was typical for such a thing, made him a little suspicious. "Cho, this might sound odd, but how old are you?" Mec would finally ask.

Cho's eyes quickly darted from Mec to Olenna, who might not have even noticed the feeling of his eyes scanning her face. He sat up in his chair, allowing his back to rest properly against it. "I'm quite a bit older than I appear," he said carefully. He had no problem being truthful of his real age, but from his experience the longer he waited before being explicit about it, the more likely other parties were at accepting it. It was always difficult explaining such things, and even more difficult when others sought eternal youth as if it was a gift he could bestow to them. No, it was usually better to cloak his situation in ambiguity unless the topic was pursued harder by the others.

[Namingtoohard]

The boy proved to be a surprisingly good listener, much to Shallan's benefit. His attentiveness and active listening made the experience of trying to retell their story much less awkward and embarrassing for the young girl, and she answered his questions with enthusiasm. His musings about how their story would end brought a small smile to her lips, if not a wry one, and she couldn't help but wonder at just how things would end up now that he had broached the topic. Naturally, Shallan desired some sort of happy end - such was to be expected when she herself was involved in the story, after all. The real question was what form it would take, and what she would pick if given the choice.

"I appreciate the thought, but it certainly doesn't feel that way. Especially not after what you've told us" the girl answered simply. Her tone was perhaps a touch somber, but her smile seemed to linger. Hopefully the decision that she had made would be validated at some point, though, and it seemed that was a hope the little boy shared. The girl would cease patting the bunny for a moment, bringing a hand up to toy with a stray lock of hair absentmindedly as she pondered the thought.

Olenna, rather predictably, disagreed. Her interests in rescuing the boy had been quite selfish, after all. She may have saved his life, but in the end, she had gained herself a new ally for herself. Garnered another ally that would be able to help her achieve her long-term goal. Of course, she kept such complaints to herself. Cho was likely more or aware of this fact, too. Rather than a verbal complaint, though, she settled for a questioning tip of the head and a cheeky grin.

The girl would withdraw her hands ever-so-slightly as the rabbit suddenly vanished from her lap, but she didnt complain. After a brief moment taken to process that it was gone, she would settle for simply folding both of her hands in her lap once more. When he apologised, she dismissed his concerns with a casual shrug of her shoulders.

"It's quite alright. I can hardly complain about losing a comfort that I never expected to have in the first place, right?" She responded simply. Despite having her new furry little pet taken away from her, though, the girl sounded a tad more cheerful now. Perhaps her train of thought had led her to a more favourable place, and a more favourable mindset. She enjoyed the nickname, too. The way he constantly referred to her as princess. It made it difficult to be upset, especially when she almost felt like one on account of her current attire. Still, she would throw a brief glance in Mec's direction, before letting her eyes slide back across to Cho. Her companion brought up an interesting point, after all.

Her eyes narrowed briefly at his response, as if in suspicion, before the girl would brush it aside. He had done nothing to earn suspicion from their of them, after all, and someone whose age seemed slightly off would hardly be the strangest thing she had heard of over the past few days. If the boy wished to maintain his secrets, then she was not going to be the one to pry. Instead, she would wait to see if Mec pressed onwards with this line of questioning, before using a break in the conversation to pose a question of her own.

"Cho, you've just come from outside not that long ago. What time is it?" She questioned simply, genuinely curious. "Being stuck down here with no natural light is playing havoc with my body clock. I almost feel tired enough for bed, but it's hard to tell if that is because it is late, or just residual fatigue. We've done almost nothing except sit around here and chat all day, after all" she quickly added, holing to lend herself some sort of credence.

[Headwrapper]

Cho allowed his earlier reply to hang in the air for a moment before cautiously matching gazes with Mec. From the small frown on the amateur's face, it was evident the answer he was given was not satisfactory. At first, Cho thought to wait and see if Mec would question him any further, before deciding he would cut the interrogation short on his own. "For now, all you need to know that I've seen many things. I've lived long enough to make many friends, including you two, and some enemies as well." He pulled his collar towards his mouth and began chewing the fabric. "You should know better than to dwell on something like age, by the way. As you meet other mages, you should learn about their experiences, and not worry about trivial things like their age or their appearances."

Mec's frown still plighted his visage after listening to Cho's short lecture. It was for certain that this kid that sat before him was much older than what he appeared, but by how much? Even if the boy was Mec's age, the lack of growth or other signs of aging was astounding. Was it possible to use the Anima's power to defy time's effect on one's body? If that was the case though, why would Cho choose to stay so young? Surely he'd prefer to be at least an adult so that he might be stronger, or at least taller.

Slumping his shoulders, Mec would give the boy a nod. "Yeah yeah. I was just curious." He supposed that it was only natural a mage would have secrets they did not wish to share. Mec himself was new the the world of magic and he himself already held one in the form of G.

Just when silence threatened to fall upon the group again, Shallan would ask about the time. "It is late after noon, princess," Cho replied gently. "It is approaching the time for an evening meal. Speaking of which, I say we have more cake for dinner." A small grin full of mischief crept across his face as he added his last statement. He pulled his legs towards him, hugging them so that he sat in a ball on his chair.

While the boy sat in this new position, his eyes seemed scan Shallan where she sat. He took a liking to her, it seemed. He saw a lot of himself in her. She reflected positive energy, but she was not devoid of feeling negative emotion. She found enjoyment in simple things like pretty dresses or small rabbits, and probably even cake. He wondered if she would have made the same sacrifice she made for Mec for someone else. For Cho, he knew that many of the sacrifices he had made in his long life were only for the sake of a particular person, and he might not have made the same decisions if it was for the sake of anyone else. "Have you two decided where you're heading next?"

[Namingtoohard]

The more that the boy spoke, the more that Shallan seemed to realise just how correct Mec was. She hadn't even stopped to consider the possibility that there was so much more to him, having just taken him for a pleasant and cheerful person upon their first meeting. Irregardless of the fact he had already admitted as such, her reflection on the matter started to make her think that it should've been obvious. His current spiel about experiences mattering more than physical age was a perfect case in point, really - nobody who was the age that Cho appeared to be would ever think on such matters, especially with such complexity. She decided to try and avoid letting it bother her, though. He was still technically the same person, after all.

"Mm. So not too much longer until it'll be socially acceptable to go and sleep for another twelve hours or so, then. Most excellent" she appeared, grinning a little at her own little quip, as cheesy as it might have seemed. Of course, her attitude quickly changed at the mention of more cake. With her wicked sweet tooth the mere mention was enough to whet her appetite, and the girl's eyes widened a little as his words sunk in. She tried to hide it, but her eagerness could not be denied - especially as she involuntarily licked her lips as she recalled the piece that had been shared with her before Cho had originally departed.

"In the meantime cake sounds absolutely wonderful. We should probably have something with a little more substance to go with it, though. I'm sure we can come up with something resembling a decent meal with have in hand" she resolved simply. As quickly as she had arrived before, the girl would rise, quickly heading back that way. Any other person might have felt like a maid, doing so many menial tasks in this restrained space, while the others lounged about. Shallan did not mind, though. Work like this helped pass the time, and that seemed to be the one thing that their little troupe had in abundance. It gave her something else to busy herself with while Mec and Olenna we're engaged in their lessons.

When the girl eventually returned, she brought a generous serving of each staple the storehouse had in offer. She hoped that it would prove enough to serve all four of them, but it wouldn't be a problem either way. There was plenty more where it had come from, and only just around the corner.

"Unfortunately there isn't much of a selection in there, presumably because everything needs to be able to keep for an extended period of time. I tried to get as much variety as I could, though" she girl explained casually as she set the thing down, before hesitating briefly. A glance down at her own bodice would reveal just what she was thinking. "...actually, I might go get changed quickly. Wouldn't want to ruin a dress this pretty by slipping up during a meal. Feel free to start without me!" She chimed, quickly flitting off into the bedroom. The girl neglected to mention that the thing constantly felt like it was about to slip down, given the size problem, and the fact she hadn't been able to lace it up.

She would return several moments later in a mismatched blouse and skirt, both of which had originated from the same pile of clothing earlier. It was hardly the most elegant look, but the clothes were clean, and nobody here was going to worry about fashion. That was her logic, at the very least. The dress itself had been left draped over the bed that she had claimed as hers on the prior evenings. With a slight spring in her step, the girl would bounce back over to her chair, flopping down in a much more casual manner this time.

[Headwrapper]

While Shallan had left to gather what would be the group's next meal, Mec answered Cho's earlier question. "We The plan is to head to Convittas," he said. "I'm not sure what day we are planning our attempt to escape though." He looked towards Olenna, as if she might be able to better explain.

Cho rubbed his chin in thought, trying to recall where Convittas would be. "Ah, I remember where that is. It isn't my favorite place, but it has some charm, I suppose." The boy's eyes lit up and he gave Shallan a smile when she returned. "Thank you princess," he said. When the girl had left again, he would reach forward to take a few morsels for himself.

After a few bites, he began walked over to his bag and dragged it back over to his seat. Within a few moments be brought back out the tin that contained the cakes, removing the lid to reveal them neatly stacked and wrapped in parchment paper. He placed it on the table next to the rest of the food, letting the sound of the tin against the wood serve as an invite for the others to help themselves.

"When will their freedom-bound vessel be ready, Olenna?" Cho asked curiously. "I can offer some help in whatever manner I can, should you need it." He finished eating the piece of meat he had in his hands before reaching forward and grabbing one of the pieces of cake and leaning back into his seat.

[Namingtoohard]

A brief smile would flicker across Shallan's features as Cho addressed her, once again using that nickname that had really started to grow on her. She decided to forgo a verbal reply, though, nodding in simple acknowledgement of his thanks. Instead, she would quickly reach for her own share of the dried meat, having decided to start with that. It seemed that hunger had briefly overthrown conversation as the group's first priority, and she quickly joined the rest of them in munching away, choosing to opt out of any polite discussion for just a moment. Of course, when the cakes were set out with everything else, she found herself eyeing them and grinning in clear anticipation.

Of course, the other woman in the room was a stark contrast. Olenna hadn't done much in the ways of serving herself, having chosen only to nibble. She maintained her silence at first, too, and remained as calm and impassive as ever while the cakes were revealed. Her composure held, but the silence was quickly broken as Cho spoke up, inquiring about the group's ride out of the city. Seeing on point in withholding such information, she quickly spoke up.

"It depends on how fast Hjarl manages to get everything ready. Knowing him, though, I wouldn't expect it to be more than a day or two. He's always been a fast worker, and very good at what he does" she started, propping one of her elbows up on the chair's armrest, before resting her cheek against it idly. "I wouldn't be surprised if we get a note back tomorrow asking us to get them ready for the morning after. Conditions are less than ideal, with the city still on such a high alert, but waiting for things to die down would take much too long. I doubt any of us would want to be stuck in this space for weeks" she remarked.

Shallan didn't know about anyone else, but she quickly saw the truth in her words. It had barely been a day and she already missed the breeze, the open sky, and the relative freedom that came with both. She hardly approved of Olenna's methods, but in this case it seemed the lesser of two evils...or at least a risk she was willing to take. Of course, the girl wouldn't dare mention any sort of distaste while directly in the older mage's company, so she kept such thoughts to herself for the time being.

"The security this place offers is nice, but I wouldn't want to be stuck here much longer. What's the point of such safety if taking advantage of it means forfeiting your freedom?" She posed. The girl wasn't really expecting much in the way of an answer, thinking the question more of a rhetorical one. Besides, the last thing she wanted right now was a debate on such values. What she did want was a piece of cake, and as soon as she had finished downing what she deemed to be a fair amount of their supplies, she quickly reached for those that Cho had set out, quickly claiming one for herself.

[Headwrapper]

"Hmm." Cho stared at nothing in particular for a moment, lost in thought, before taking a bite of his cake. "I don't think I remember Hjarl," he would admit. "I may have not met him. I'm sure he will do a great job though."

Like the others, Mec had taken the opportunity to help himself to the food Shallan had brought them from the store room. Reflecting his morning meal, he found himself mostly eating nuts. After a few handfuls, he grabbed a few pieces of the meat and a small wedge of cheese, thinking it would be best to try varying what he ate.

When the topic had came to the upcoming escape, the boy's eating slowed as he pictured the scenario. There would be more stealth required from him and Shallan than when they hitched a ride with the merchant and his guards, though, with the way things went there they probably required more stealth back then as well. His face being fresh on the minds of the locals increased the risk as well. There would be no room for error, as being discovered meant being instantly recognized.

While the sanctuary was cramped, lacked clean water and sunlight, and the food selection was sparse, Mec would not have minded spending more time learning more about his powers from Olenna. Once he had started applying his talents, he found a bit of fun in trying to improve his control over his powers. As the mystery around his powers began to disperse, so did his animosity towards them. It also helped that he was apparently naturally gifted with them, and the success he had so far only drove him to seek more successes.

Being holed up for longer than he had to was less than ideal though, he knew. There would be others who could help teach him in much more comfortable environments once he and Shallan had escaped the city walls. Speaking of which... "Olenna, you haven't told us much about your friend in Convittas. Would he be able to teach me more about magic while we're there?"

[Namingtoohard]

Rather predictably, Shallan was quite content now that she had a cake her her hand. She quickly and eagerly took her first bite, allowing the delicious flavours to fill her mouth. She let out an involuntary moan of satisfaction in the process, and seemed much too preoccupied to care. She continued to eat in silence for a few moments, trying to take it slow and thus draw out the act. She only seemed to return to the present when talk turned to that of their next host. Just like Mec, she was curious to hear which sort of person they would be. After all, their lives were in the hands of these strangers.

"Midir? He's an...interesting sort. An unusual sort, but likeable enough, once you get used to his quirks. He's not the most powerful mage one stands to meet, and his talents are just as strange as he is, but he is competent enough to manage the next few steps in your training" she remarked simply, voice as flat and neutral as ever. She even accentuated her comments with a simple flick of the hand, as if trying to dismiss any concerns that the two might have.

"His unusual talents also make one of the more qualities people to help you on the next leg of your journey. He will help the two of you blend in as best he can while it is decided where your journey shall take you next" she would add after a brief pause. It had been a long time since she and Midir had met in person, but somehow she doubted that he had changed much. They would likely need to guard themselves, but not for reasons that included threats of violence or any other type of mortal danger. The young girl especially.

Shallan hastily swallowed the piece of cake she was currently in the middle of wolfing down, hesitating for a brief moment to wipe off her mouth with the back of a hand. Only afterwards would she speak up. "Blend in? So we'll actually be able to go out in public under his care, instead of just being locked away again?" She questioned simply, to which Olenna would respond with a curt nod.

[Headwrapper]

Mec hummed thoughtfully to the last thought Olenna had clarified. He wondered to what extent this Midir fellow would use magic to reach the goal of helping him and Shallan blend in. Was it possible to use magic in a way to change one's outward appearance? It would be interesting to learn how such a feat was possible.

"I suppose if you choose to permanently stay in Convittas it's expected of you to be a little strange," he said. "But as long as I can learn more about controlling the Anima from him, then that's all that matters right to me right now. Second to survival, of course." After scratching his chin for a moment, Mec would finally give in to his desire for a piece of cake and reach into the tin.

Cho's eyes lit up as a smile curled across his face each time someone had reached for his tin of cakes. Maybe he would have to pay another visit to Eve's bakery and get his new pair of friends their own tin to enjoy during their upcoming journey. The woman, as simple as she was, would love to know that his acquaintances took such a liking towards her work.

The youngling turned in his seat, letting his legs fall over one side while he laid across the chair. "I'm bored," he announced bluntly. "But if I expend too much energy I might loose my summons sooner than I would like to."

"Does straining your powers like that make you tired?" Mec asked curiously. "Do you feel like you've exerted yourself physically when you reach your limit? I don't think I have felt any different after using my powers, but I haven't had to extend my usage of them for as long as you have."

Cho lightly kicked his feet as they dangled over the edge of his seat. "Hmm, well... a little bit. What you perceive as your source of the Anima's energy begins to fade as you approach the limits of what your body can handle running through it. For me, the Anima is a second sun above me. As I grow tired of absorbing its rays, it too starts to grow tired, and begins to set. It's a little different if you're actually physically tired though. Many of us can still draw on the Anima's power, even when we're fatigued from physical labor, but only to a certain point. If your body is struggling just to survive, it won't be able to manage drawing power from the Anima. That second sun still floats high above you, but you can't focus on its rays." The youngling sat quietly for a moment as he reviewed his own words in his head. With little experience passing on knowledge to others, he was unsure of whether or not his explanation would be helpful. It seemed Mec had accept the explanation though, choosing not to challenge anything or ask for any clarification.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would let out a soft chuckle at Mec's words, unable to help herself. Still, despite her amusement, the girl was extremely curious...and perhaps even a little bit excited. She had some general knowledge of what Convittas was supposed to be like, but seeing it for herself would be another matter entirely. All the more so if some of the things she had heard about it proved to be true. Of course, perhaps that was just her desire to escape from this underground prison and move on with their journey talking. It was hard to tell, really. Regardless, she would be glad when they were finally able to move on.

She stayed silent as the discussion once again turned to magic, instead opting to sit back in her chair and relax for the moment. She understood the importance behind the subject, and Mec learning as much about it as was possible, but it was hard to remain focused sometimes when it held no sort of personal connection with the topic. She did manage to refrain from reaching for yet another piece of cake, though. As strong as her desire for more was, she thought it best to limit herself to just a single piece. For a multitude of reasons.

"Speaking of tiredness, I might retire early for tonight. The more we can rest up while we are here, the better - especially if we do end up leaving as soon as Olenna seems to think" the girl finally added in, slowly climbing to her feet. Feeling like she needed to stretch for a moment, the girl would raise both of her arms above her head, letting out an involuntary groan as her muscles tensed, before finally turning her attention back to the rest of the group when she was done.

"Thank you again for the cake, cho, and I'll see you all tomorrow I guess" she finished simply. Olenna wouldn't so much as deign to say goodnight as the girl excused herself, and just like that, Shallan would once again disappear into the adjacent bedroom. She wouldn't put herself to bed straight away, though. Momentarily safe from prying eyes, she would withdraw the crumpled piece of parchment she had stashed away earlier, hastily looking over the what was essentially a scribbled note to her mother. The girl would then set it alight using one of the candles scattered about the sanctuary, holding the page for as long as she could, before setting it down when the flames drew too close and risked burning her. When the job was done, she felt lighter, somehow. As if destroying it had taken an invisible weight off her shoulders somehow.

Hoping that nobody would take notice, by one means or another, the girl would sweep away the ashes casually. Content, she would finally retire, heading towards the same bed she had claimed the night before, and quickly moving to climb beneath the covers.

[Headwrapper]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The dawn was just beginning to shine through the boarded up windows of the house that sat above the sanctuary. A cool dampness hung in the morning air, the grass was still wet from the previous night's rain, and the grey clouds teased shower the city below once more. Below the the surface the refugees may have chosen to sleep through these early hours or have been stirring. In Mec's case, he had been sat in the main chamber, alone, for much of the dark hours now.

The sword he had acquired after narrowly avoiding execution just two nights before lay at his feet, glowing a soft orange as it reflected the dim light from the lone candle that had been lit in the room. Occasionally, the boy would flick his wrist and open up his hand to summon one of his fireballs, before quickly dispelling the magical flames. Unable to return sleep in anticipation of what this day brought, he had chosen to spend the time practicing his magic as quietly as he could as to not wake the others. To this end, he would keep his castings infrequent, reviewing his technique after each cast before repeating the action. His training had limited him to the basic forms of magic he had already managed to conjure before, but his focus was towards improving the speed in which summoned his power. His teacher was insistent that he would not be able to master any more complicated forms of magic without this type of practice, much to the boy's distaste.

With the next flick of his wrist, the mage would allow his palm and fingers to face upwards on the downswing of his hand, and a gentle twinkling sound whispered as ice formed above the outstretched hand. The figure grew quickly, and within a matter of seconds crystalline feathers had sat atop his palm, standing upright as if held up by an invisible thread. After a moment, the feathers would fall onto his palm, cool to the touch and already dripping as they began to melt. It's getting there, he thought, as the crystals broke apart and vanished into a vapor.

With the help of Olenna, Mec had been able to begin using his powers to summon ice, but he was still unable to form it into a shape that could be manipulated to become a living creature like he had done on accident so long ago. He was also able to greatly improve his ability to summon fireballs, manipulating their size and intensity with ease and creating them with very little concentration. Even his understanding of his plant magic had greatly improved, and he was easily able to control the size, shape, and colors of the foliage that he had been able to summon. The practice for this particular type of magic was greatly limited during his stay in this dungeon, as it threatened to damage the walls and floors of the sanctuary, evidenced by the handful of cracks that lined them.

After drawing a long breath, he would hold out both hands in an attempt create ice once more. This time, it grew in a long, uniform, sheet. He held the finished product in his hand. The crystalline board was dense and smooth so that it would be reflective enough that the boy could see his face staring back at him. In the soft orange flow provided by the candle, he could see the wrinkles that had formed across his brow, only lightly curtained by his brown hair. The dark stubble across his cheeks and neck had begun to grow into an itchy nuisance that was just dense enough to blanket his jaw, and dark circles had formed below his almond eyes. The boy did not feel miserable, in fact he was excited for the day ahead and the freedom and it would bring, but he sure did not look delighted.

The boy dispelled his crystalline sheet before standing up slowly. After picking up his sword and wrapping it in a dark cloth he had borrowed, he quietly made his way back towards the room he and Shallan had slept in and carefully peeked around the corner see if he had awaken her. Unable to tell if his companion was awake or not, the boy would make his way towards the bed that had been his for the last few nights and lay upon it, resting his head on his chilled hands. Growing bored of the main chamber, he figured it would be best to wait for another one of his acquaintances to awaken and reveal themselves before leaving the comfort of his mattress. After all, there were few other options. This was the day that he and Shallan would make their escape from the city, but it will not happen without the guidance of Olenna and the cooperation of his allies.

[Namingtoohard]

The next person to wake would not be Shallan, who remained undisturbed by Mec's actions throughout the larger part of the night, and continued to sleep soundly even after he had crawled back to bed. Rather, it would be Olenna, who had taken the precaution of making sure she had woken up early for the day to come. The mage's plans for their escape hinged largely on the group being up and ready before dawn itself, so that their wagon would be able to slip through the gates with the rest of the travelling merchants, who would be seeking to leave as soon as possible. Never one to trust her successes on something as erratic as the body's sleeping patterns, she had prepared to wake all of the sanctuary's other occupants when the time came.

As it was, she would bustle in to the sleeping quarters, already dressed. For today, she woman had adopted much more simple clothing than her usual silks. A plain set of roughly-hewn garb that would be much less noticeable now that they would have to walk around town, albeit before first light. She would pause in the doorway of their room, before raising a hand. With a simple flick of her wrist, she would send out several wisps, which would quickly seek out the candles scattered about the room, setting the rest of the unused ones alight. Once the room had been filled with a steady orange glow, she would call out to the two sleeping figures.

"Up now, both of you. We need to be packed and ready to go within the hour" she announced simply. The woman would not even so much as wait to see if either of them would drag themselves out of bed in response, simply trusting that they would do as such. After all, it was their survival that was at risk here, so she expected some level of cooperation. With that sorted, she would immediately turn and move away, heading in the other direction to seek out Cho wherever he had decided to sleep on that particular evening. She would more or less repeat the process wherever she had found him...on the assumption that he had once again chosen to stay the night, of course. Had he taken his leave, there would be no need, and she would simply content herself to wait for the others.

Shallan seemed as messy and disoriented as ever when she awoke, but for once the girl pushed aside her displeasure on he subject and quickly tossed back the covers. She would draw herself up, before pausing briefly to let out a loud yawn. After, she would grumble in annoyance to herself, speaking under her breath, but set about doing as Olenna had requested. The girl had taken the foresight to procure them some extra supplies from the storeroom, and had started packing the previous night, so merely getting ready was a simple enough task for her. Still, she took her time with the process, seeing as any delay would give her a better chance to wake up and reacquaint herself with the idea of conscious thought.

When she was ready, the girl would content herself to wait for Mec, returning to sit on the edge of her bed for the time being. As soon as he showed some sign that he was awake, she would quickly speak up, though her voice was as dreary as one might expect given the hour.

"Sleep well?"

[Headwrapper]

At the sound of Olenna's voice, Mec would open one eyelid to peek around the room, just in time to see her turn and leave. He knew that Shallan would need a moment to fully compose herself, so he took advantage of this and remained in his spot with his eyes closed. After a few minutes, content with the idea that it was time to mobilize, he would finally turn to sit on the edge of his bed much like Shallan had done. "No," he replied with a shrug, his voice slightly hoarse. "Did you?"

The boy placed his sword on his lap, gently petting the soft fabric that encased it. Eventually he would need to find a better way to carry the item, if he chose to keep it. For now, this would be his only real luggage other than whatever Shallan might have prepared for the both of them. When he finally stood, he picked up a cloak that was draped over one corner of his bed and wrapped it around his neck. He had managed to find it in the storeroom a few nights before, and figured it would be helpful considering he had lost the one Shallan had brought to him originally. "Need me to carry anything?," he asked after clearing his throat. With little reason to delay, he would carry anything Shallan may have delegated to him along with his sword into the main chamber.

"I'll wake up whenever I want to," Cho grumbled to silently as Olenna left the room he had claimed for himself. They youngling had slept on his stomach with his blanket loosely tangled around his legs and across one arm. With a small groan, he slid off the bed and onto the floor, like a snake descending a rocky embankment. He slid with his back against the mattress, so that when his shoulders had touched down to the floor his legs still lay upon the small cot. In this position he would stare at the upside down room around him as he blinked away the blur of sleep.

Suddenly a surge of energy seemed to pass through the youngling. With a newfound haste, he turned himself to wriggle away from the bed, and jumped to his feet. He tapped his bare feet against the stone floor of the sanctuary as he made his way over to his bag in the corner of the room, humming to himself. Once he had procured what he sought from the bag, his cake tin, he dropped back to the floor and crossed his legs. "Hmm." He had begun searching through the small tin, which now contained a different variety of cakes than what he had a few days prior, and as he did so to orbs of light began to form above him. They would eventually take the form of small doves, white as snow, with a familiar blue streak down their backs. As Cho took small bites of his different treats, the doves went to work, flying in unison to carry his cloak and drop it around his shoulders. With perfect synergy, the birds would stand on his shoulders while passing the strings of his cloak back and forth to tie them around his neck. They would then preen his hair, eventually straightening it into the perfect little wisps that had fell around his face, and then they would finally carry his shoes and place them next to his feet.

The birds vanished into the air, hardly noticed by Cho. Once he had his fill of cakes, he stood up and returned his tin to his bag, and then dipped his feet into the shoes that had been next to him. With his bag sitting upon his back, he would skip into the main chamber of the sanctuary, a smile wide across his features. "Mec, I almost forgot, I found you something the other day." The boy reached his arms behind his back, blindly searching through his bag, before revealing a darkened brown scabbard. "For that sword!"

Mec would take the sheath from Cho hesitantly. It was of simple make, made of dark brown leather with a long strap and a bronze buckle. "Thank you," he said before removing his sword from underneath the blanket he had wrapped it in and sliding it into the scabbard. It fit perfectly. Surely it would not be difficult to bring the weapon with him now, as the driver of their getaway wagon could pretend it was his own weapon should any guards question him possessing the item. It would not be uncommon for travelers to want a fighting chance against bandits.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would give a bit of a wry smile at Mec's answer, unable to help herself, before shaking her head in the way of a reply. Beyond that, she didn't really feel the need to elaborate further. It was unsurprising, given the importance of the day ahead, and the way that it could easily be the end of them both if things didn't go according to plan. As soon as her companion gathered up his cloak, the girl would assume that they were both ready, quickly climbing to her feet. In one smooth motion, she wild grab the bag she had packed, quickly slinging it over her shoulders in one smooth motion. His question about their luggage was met with a quick refusal, and the two of them promptly moved on to the main area of the room, where Olenna was already waiting.

The older mage would greet their arrival with a simple nod, apparently pleased with their timeliness. The same could not be said, it seemed, for their other accomplice. She quickly started to get impatient, but before she reached the point of deciding to go and annoy him further, he arrived of his own volition. Beyond that, the mage would wait out the quick exchange between Cho and Mec that followed - not because she thought it polite, but rather, because she wanted to make sure that she had everybody's attention in full before they started. Only once Mec had accepted the sheathe he was presented with would she begin. As always, her approach to such matters was direct, with no real ceremony.

"Our accomplice is going to bring the carriage around the back of the house, where he will feign a brief stop. When the road is clear of unwelcome eyes, we'll transfer the two of you across to the wagon as quickly as possible. There's a false floor in the tray at he back, which is where the two of you will be hidden. It'll be cramped, but when the lid is shut and the wagon is stacked with goods, it should be inconspicuous enough for the guards to miss it during their inspection" her explanation started simply. Her face was directed towards Mec throughout, though she swept it across in Shallan's direction infrequently. "Hjarl will release you both when you're out of sight of the city, and there are no patrols nearby. Until then, I advise that you both stay silent and try to be patient"

"When you reach Convittas, ask around the city for Midir. He's known as 'the charmer' to some. The man owns a small store on the western side of the city, but rarely spends his nights there, so I'd not send you both there directly. He'll probably be at one tavern or another, generally making noise and trouble" she added. For a moment, it seemed that there was a tinge of contempt in her voice. Apparently Olenna did not approve of his antics, though this was unsurprising. "Beyond that, I'll contact you as soon as I have the means. Stay together, and remember to practice, Mec" she chided, apparently unaware that he had spent most of his morning doing just that.

"Now, if that's everything, we should be off" she announced simply, turning for the door. Unless she was stopped by someone else bringing up another topic for discussion, she would stretch out a hand to find the cold stone wall, before retracing her steps down the path that led to the sanctuary's magic-sealed door. It would swing open in anticipation of their approach, almost of its own accord. Rather predictably, Shallan would fall in to step behind the older mage, doing her best to remain optimistic as they began the short walk to the old abandoned house.

"Oh, how I can't wait to see the sky again...and taste fresh air. And be able to walk about properly" she muttered, chuckling softly at her own foolish little amendments. Still, as they slipped out into the antechamber, the ladder and trap door that led up to the main house was next. Beyond that, they would lol be shepherded towards the rear side of the house. Olenna would request that they pull a few boards from the windows in preparation, to make a hole just big enough for them to alight from speedily. Outside, the sun was yet to rise. If one listened carefully, though, they would be able to hear the trundling of wooden wheels. Their salvation approached.

[Headwrapper]

Mec listened patiently as Olenna described the plan. She had briefly described the general concept before, but it was important that the details stayed fresh in his mind for the event itself. "The charmer," he repeated when their future accomplice became the focus of the briefing. Olenna's tone suggested some disapproval of Midir's tendency to be making trouble or rabble rouse. Mec had a feeling he would sympathize with this contempt, but it would not be until he actually arrived at Convittas and met Midir that he would know for sure.

With no reason to object, Mec simply followed as Olenna lead the way out of the sanctuary. For a moment he would glance over to Cho, who only returned his gaze with a large grin. Over the past few days Mec began to wonder if Cho really was any older than he appeared. Most of the time he seemed to just wade through the days, ignorant to the plights of others and impulsively eating cake, only to suddenly turn around and offer sagely advice and cast impressive magics.

The air grew icy in Mec's lungs as the group made their way to the rear of the abandoned house. Goosebumps crawled across his arms as the anticipation for the next part of the journey approached. Being cramped underneath a cart was going to be a challenge in itself, and that compounded with the nervousness that came with the risk of facing death once again cultivated to a difficult concept to absorb. While the party stood at the rear of the house, peering out at the dark morning, Mec would draw a long breath and steady himself.

The low creaking and rumbling of the approaching wagon, accompanied by the soft clacking of a couple horses, slowly approached. The hooves beat a gentle rhythm that steadily grew louder as salvation drew nearer. Between the sounds of the wagon and his pulsing heart, Mec could just barely make out a deep melody that promised freedom from the danger that surrounded him within the city's walls. It all suddenly came to an abrupt stop when the wagon stopped where Olenna had promised it would, just behind the empty house.

Cho inched closer to the window that had been mostly cleared of boards in anticipation of the wagon's arrival. Through the dark morning air he could barely make out the man, who must have been Hjarl, dismounting from his seat on the wagon. He pulled a lever that must have been to brake the front wheels before rounding out to the back and kneeling down to toy with the rear wheels. Cho wondered if Olenna's owl was above them, scouting for any witnesses that may notice them leaving the building.

After some silence, Cho cleared his throat and took a breath as if to say something, only to remain silent. He had decided he wanted to leave the city with the two criminals aboard the wagon. He would make his intentions known only after they had been situated beneath the floor of the wagon as to not distract them in the following crucial moments. There was no particular reason he wished to leave, he just knew he had no reason to stay. There was a good chance he would vanish before they reached Convittas, but he might decide to complete the journey with them before moving onward. His main search, his mission, had come to a disappointing lull. All he knew was that the answers he sought were not here, and so he would wander until he found a lead that might help him reach his goal.

Cho's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden outburst from Mec himself. The youngling smiled when he saw the determination in the new mage's eyes that smothered the nervousness and uncertainty he had shown just moments before. "Do you see anyone watching, Olenna?"

[Namingtoohard]

Olenna waited with patient calm as the unmistakeable sound of the wagon's approach rang out, cutting through the early morning silence. Of course, she had not felt any sort of worry over the fact, largely due to her own unique abilities. Just as Mec seemed to suspect, she already had her owl out and about. The beast was already circling overhead, with its attention focused on the streets down below. Even as her physical body had been waking her companions and leading them out of the sanctuary, she had been able to track and monitor the wagon's process as it trundled about the city, slowly making its way towards them. Now, as Mec questioned her, she had the thing drift slightly lower, and turn its attention to the streets immediately adjacent.

"Hold for a moment. There's a few drunkards towards the end of the lane, stumbling home. Just give them a moment to turn the corner" she answered simply, gesturing with an open palm for them to wait. She counted down silently in her mind, watching each bumbling pace they took towards their window of opportunity. It would not be long - just a few seconds longer. As soon as they had vanished, she would quickly sweep the rest of the street once more, just to check that nobody else had arrived unexpectedly. Of course, her vision was not infallible, and she was not omniscient. There was always the possibility that someone would glance out of a window at a poor moment, but she didn't mention this. No point in foisting extra worries onto them both when they could not be helped.

"...it's time. Go now" she finally conceded, waving them on in an unusually hurried gesture. With that, it would be time for the two of them to vault out of the window they had opened, and into the street. She would linger behind for the time being - the woman had no reason to risk exposing herself here and now. She would slip from the building later, and keep track of the cart as it approached the guardhouse, but his was as far as her direct contact with the group would go...for the time being, at the very least. After she had returned home, she would need to look in to constructing another doll...

Startled a little by the suddenness with which they had to go, Shallan hesitated for a brief moment, before finally throwing herself out the window they had opened. She would close the distance between the house and the back of the wagon quickly, moving to intercept the man who was supposedly the owner. She rounded the corner, only to have him glance straight at her. The man did not hesitate, giving her a hasty nod, before moving to work. As she watched, he pulled up a section of the floorboards, revealing a dark and narrow crawl space below. It needed to be small, to avoid suspicion, but from a glance it was clear that larger people would barely fit lying down. There was plenty of horizontal space, as it spread throughout the entire wagon, but the floor would press close. It seemed the very definition of claustrophobia.

She hesitated for a few brief moments, a grimace on her face as she looked down at that teensy little space. The man watched on, impatient, and broke his silence after a few seconds. "Hurry it up, lassie" he hissed. While he understood the concerns one might have, the man also fully understood the need for speed and discretion. Shallan wouldn't so much as glance at him, but ours do her best to muster up the courage to move. Throat dry, she finally climbed into the back of the wagon. Slipping her feet down the hole, she would slide herself in to the crawlspace, shuffling over just enough to clear the way for Mec to join her.

Only when they were both inside would the floorboards be replaced, sealing them in total darkness. It would abate somewhat as the sun rose, and began to leak in through a few cracks, but proved absolute for the time being. Several heavy thumps would follow as the goods in the wagon were rearranged to sit over the removable panel, disguising it as best as could be managed. Shallan found herself breathing heavily throughout the ordeal, and even let out a soft yelp at the first bang, before stifling any further sounds. Still, her heart seemed that it was beating out of her chest as they languished, down there in the dark. Then, after what felt like an eternity, the wagon would jolt, before finally starting to move.

[Headwrapper]

When Olenna's command came, Mec allowed Shallan to exit the window first before following suit. "Thank you, Olenna," he managed to say as he pulled himself out of the exit. The abruptness at which the moment had came made for a disappointing goodbye, but the boy knew the frankness was more suited to his teacher's tastes anyway. Besides, he had confidence that he and Olenna would be able to communicate again soon, even if that opportunity would only come should Olenna require it.

His trail closely followed Shallan's, even down to the slight hesitation before sliding as quickly as he could below the floor of the wagon. The boy's sense took in what they could as he lay within the darkness of the wagon's hidden compartment. Shallan's breathing bellowed back and forth between the loud shuffling of the items against the wood above, the air in his nose grew warmer and warmer as he drew his own breaths, and the rigid wood beneath his back pressed hard against his bones. For the moment, he could not see a thing. This lead him to the conclusion that it would be more comfortable to keep his eyes closed and try to forget that only a few inches separated him from the floorboards above him.

The shockwave from the wagon's sudden burst of movement pulsed through Mec's entire body, rising from the hard surface beneath him. Similar but smaller pulses did the same as the wagon passed over rocks and any holes, making the cramped ride even more uncomfortable. It almost felt as though they were sailing through a storm, a storm of rocks and stones using a coffin as vessel. Constantly being tossed back and forth as the wheels of the wagon turned made it hard to discern if the shakiness of his breath and the trembling of his hands was coming from his nerves or simply the mechanical action.

Once a few minutes have passed, the boy would finally squeeze out a shaky, pained whisper. "Shal." He pushed his arm against her until his hand met hers, and gently squeezed her fingers. The battering they would take as the wagon made its way through the city was only their first test, he knew. The most crucial moment would come when the wagon would reached the guardhouse. And the outcome of that moment, as long as Mec and Shallan stayed quiet, would all come down to luck and how the stranger above them handled it.

When the fugitives rushed out of the empty and boarded house, Cho would quickly close the window, but kept his hands placed firmly on the wooden frame. "Well Olenna, this was a nice visit, but my calling is not to be found here. Frankly, I almost gave up on my search, frustrated that I am nearing the bicentennial of its beginning, but I knew seeing your conviction for your own goals would return my motivation. I hope to see you meet those goals. Farewell."

The youngling threw the window back open and chased behind Mec and Shallan. As he did so, the window would seem to close itself, and the boards would hover back into place. Cho would reach the wagon just when Hjarl bid the horses into motion. With his running start, the boy managed to leap onto the front of the wagon and take a seat next to the man. "Don't mind me. If and when they ask, I'm your help. Your sister's boy, or something. Tell them my father is dead and I'm in need of guidance or some other horse crap like that."

Cho turned his body to get a better view of the wagon behind him before tossing his bag onto it. It landed with a padded thud among the other goods. Once fully situated, he turned back forward to face the road, chewing on the strings of his cloak like he often did. While the decision to leave was spontaneous, his actions as he continued his travels would need to be carefully planned in order to effectively make progress in his search for the magic that did not seem to exist, the magic to return what had belonged to him. Scheming and chewing on his cloakstrings would preoccupy him until the wagon approached the exit of the city, undisturbed by the small amount of foot traffic there was so early in the morning.

[Namingtoohard]

Olenna would focus on keeping watch throughout the entire course of events, staying silent and urging her owl to remain alert so that she might maintain her vigil. Throughout the entire process she focused on checking to make sure that no other civilians or guards made their way into the street, to catch a glimpse of the two before they were securely tucked away. Much to her relief, nobody came, and the two were concealed without further complication. Breathing a sigh of relief, the mage would allow herself to relax a little, before finally turning her attention across to Cho as the boy spoke up. This time, the smile that flickered across her features was much more genuine, and she regarded him with a softness that she seldom relaxed enough to show.

"I know, my friend. It is a shame you must leave so soon, but I understand that it is necessary. I can only hope that you find what you are seeking soon. May the Anima guide you" she answered simply, dipping her head in a sign of respect. Following this, she would watch in relative silence as the boy hopped on to the wagon, and all three of them went trundling off together. With her owl circling overhead, she would watch until they had cleared the end of the street, before finally making her own move. With nothing left to keep her there, and no need to stay, she was free to do as she wished.

When the coast was clear, the woman would slip out of the abandoned building herself. She was able to watch herself and the track the wagon's progress at once, but she made sure to restrain herself regardless. The woman set a leisurely pace, and made certain to hug the walls as an actual blind person would. That, combined with the ragged garb she had chosen, was enough for the girl to move inconspicuously, appearing as a crippled beggar to anyone who did not know better. With some careful planning, she would be able to cut across the middle of the city and make it to the gates in time to watch their departure, and make sure everything went according to plan.

The simple jolt of the carriage rolling into motion gave Shallan a fright in and of itself. The tension was almost palpable, and only served to compound her rapidly-developing fear of enclosed spaces. She could feel the panic rising in her chest, and it was taking all of her self control to avoid hyperventilating or just losing control. It seemed that Mec was just as susceptible to it as herself, too, and they were both feeding off each other's worry. Just like him, she continued to glance back and forth rapidly for a moment, searching for any sort of visual indicator, before deciding that it was better to just jam her eyes shut for the time being.

She twisted her head in his direction slightly as his voice rang out, shaky and soft, but refrained from saying anything herself. The girl didn't trust herself to speak, afraid that her voice would crack, and afraid that somebody would hear them. The touch of his hand was a welcome comfort, though, and the girl took it willingly. She intertwined her fingers with his, using that confirmation of his physical presence as an anchor to help her resist the press of the darkness that surrounded them. It helped, even if only a little, and she was infinitely grateful for the simple gesture, though she didn't voice her appreciation out loud at that exact moment.

The unease of knowing that their fate was entirely out of their own hands didn't help, either, and her fear seemed to reach its peak when the wagon came to a stop once more. Her heavy breathing had become audible, and she started to squeeze her companion's hand tightly; probably more so than was comfortable. This would be the defining moment, it seemed.

Up above, the wagon had reached the city gate, and the driver was currently conversing with the guards. His answers were as gruff, short, and simple - just as his earlier comments had been. He informed the guards of his destination, and that he wanted to get out of that damned city as fast as possible, where mages ran amok. He also informed the men that he would pay the tax in a share of his goods, which they confiscated from the back of his wagon. After that came the inspection, where he did not object, offering them free range of the caravan as casually as he could manage. The guards didn't even bother checking beneath the goods he carried, and the trap door went completely unnoticed. Unfortunately the two would have to languish for a bit longer - just until they were out of sight of the city. Only when he was sure they were clear would the man clear a halt and move back to open the trap door.

[Headwrapper]

Mec relaxed the muscles of his back and shoulders once the wagon slowed to a stop. With no room to stretch or so much as bend his knees there was little he could do to help relieve the soreness the trip so far had left behind. The boy kept his eyes closed and did his best to slow his breathing. The air had grown warm and suffocating and he could feel beads of sweat beginning to form on his face. He began considering using some sort of magic to help lighten the conditions beneath the wagon, but ultimately decided it would be a poor decision. Even if he did want to, the only thing within his capabilities that might help would be forming some ice to help them cool down, but it would have been difficult without being able to move anyways.

The floor above them creaked slightly as certain items were removed from the wagon. Mec found himself returning the strength with which Shallan had squeezed his hand, partially to help calm himself and partially as to not let his hand be crushed. He wondered if all the movement above might lead to their discovery. It was only then that he opened his eyes, scanning the floorboards above him in a vain attempt to find clues of the situation above them.

After an exchange of indistinguishable grunts outside, the wagon would begin to roll back into motion. The boy took the opportunity to let out a heavy sigh as the creaking and bouncing of the cart helped conceal the expression of relief. Knowing that it was more than likely their mission was going to be a success made the cramped and warm conditions below the wagon more bearable. In a short while they would be able to once again enjoy the outside. The fresh air, the rising sun, the green of the fields and wood, it all waited for them. The boy was never a woodsman, but the tight quarters he and his companion had been subjected to for the past few days had created the desire to be reunited with it all.

Cho stayed quiet during most of the interaction with the guards. Had any question arisen about his presence, he had not shown any signs of being aware of it. Rather, he continued to chew on the strings of his cloak, grinding the worn leather between his teeth. It seemed all had went over well, as Hjarl returned to the driver's seat and bid the horses forward without as much as a word.

Once the cart was well enough away from the walls of the city behind them, Cho would finally speak. "Fantastic work. How soon before we can let them out?" The boy's skin grew hot thinking about what the two below the wagon had to tolerate at that moment. He had been in uncomfortable situations in the past, but the two were still green as can be when it came to such things. He couldn't help but feel apathy for them. At least it was so early in the morning, a matured summer's day would have made such a journey deadly.

"Soon," the gruff man replied. His eyes remained fixed on the road ahead of them, never betraying their target even to speak to the boy next to him. This manner of exchange continued for a while, until the city was consumed by the hill behind them. Hjarl would guide the wagon towards the nearest shade and halt the horses before quickly marching to the rear of the cart. Mostly concealed by the nearby trees, it would appear to anyone who may have happened to appear from the other side of the hill that he was simply searching through the back of the wagon for supplies or some other necessity. In truth, he was rearranging the items to reveal the trapdoor. Cho had rounded the corner just as the man was done with this task, and together they would lift open the floor to free the criminals that hid within.

"Hurry," the man grunted, first offering his hand to the woman, feeling that she'd be more delicate and was more important to free from the confines of the wagon first. He let her support her weight on his arm as she lifted herself out before guiding her towards Cho's outstretched hand and returning to help lift Mec out of the compartment. Once the two had stepped out of the wagon, Hjarl quickly closed the trapdoor and rearranged the items as they were before. "Back in the wagon," he said before returning back to the driver's seat.

[Namingtoohard]

The brief pause that resulted as they reached the gatehouse was nauseating, and the simple knowledge that the moment of truth was upon them was enough to make Shallan feel sick. Those few moments of tension seemed to last an eternity, and the girl was half-expecting the floorboards to be wrenched open above them at any moment. To be caught lying there, stuck and defenceless, with nothing to do but await the inevitable end. For all her worrying though, it never happened. After what was actually no more than a few minutes, the wagon began to move again, and the girl let out a shaky breath in something akin to relief.

The knowledge that they had passed through the city walls undetected helped to make the journey a little more bearable, even if only just. Shallan pointed out to herself that the worst was over now, and that it was only a matter of time before they would be free again. Free to move about, at least, if not free from pursuit and risk. She repeated that simple comforting thought over in her head, almost like a mantra, to try and calm herself. It helped, even if only a little, and a panic attack seemed slightly less imminent. Still, the sooner they could escape this hellish excuse for a hiding place, the better.

When the boards were finally removed, Shallan couldn't help but flinch a little at the early morning sunlight, which seemed infinitely bright after the darkness of the wagon's interior. She brought up a hand to shield her eyes on reflex, turning her head away slightly, before waiting a second for them to adjust. Finally, the girl would reach out and take the man's hand as if was offered to her, leaning the vast majority of her weight on him as she hauled herself out of the hole in the wagon. She didn't even hesitate to consider letting Mec go first, as eager to be free of that place as she was.

A dizzy spell seemed to strike the girl as she straightened up, and she realised that she was shaking, even if it was only a minute amount. She would willingly allow herself to be handed off to Cho, accepting his assistance just long enough to find a free space in the back of the wagon. As long as she had, the girl would quickly seat herself, before hugging both of her knees to her chest. Head bowed, she would take a few moments to try and compose herself, forcibly taking a few deep breaths. It wouldn't be until several moments after Mec had joined her and the wagon set off once more that she finally started to cm, and at least trusted herself enough to speak.

"...If I never have to do that again it'll be too soon" the girl finally muttered simply, a weak smile flashing across her features as she finally lifted her eyes a fraction. Quickly turning her gaze out over the side of the wagon, she would stare out over the landscape for a few seconds, truly appreciating he fact that she was outside once more, after days of being cooped up in small spaces. Then, finally, she would allow her gaze to drift back across to the boy who had hitched a ride on their escape vehicle. She hoped that some light conversation might help bring back some semblance of normality, and allow them to relax. A casual air would be a welcome change from the claustrophobia they had just experienced.

"...I didn't know you were coming along with us, Cho. I had thought we were all going our seperate ways this morning. Not that I'm complaining" she finally said, though the last few words were added in relative haste. She didn't want to accidentally imply that his presence was unwelcome, after all. She might have been a little jealous he had enjoyed such an easy escape, but the logical part of her brain reminded her that Cho wasn't being hunted as she and Mec were, and such was hardly his fault.

[Headwrapper]

Mec drew a long breath as the floor above him suddenly vanished to give way to the bright light of the morning sun and the fresh cool air cooled his skin. He squeezed his eyes shut against the sudden brightness while he waited for his turn to be pulled out of the wagon. When he was finally freed, he stood next to the wagon, leaning against the frame while he drew long, slow breaths. "Thanks Hjarl," he would croak, but the man did not seem to pay any notice, preoccupied with rearranging the various containers in the wagon.

Only once the command was given to return to the cart did Mec notice Cho's presence. He wondered if the boy had mentioned he would be leaving with them, and it was such a brief exchange that it was forgotten. It was not an unwelcome surprise, and perhaps it would create an opportunity to learn more about magic while on the road. There was even a chance that Mec could recreate those living ice sculptures he had struggled with so much. Surely Cho would be able to teach him, what with him being so gifted at summoning.

The youngling watched Shallan as she took her place within the wagon before turning his head to Mec. "Oi!" he cheered, his signature toothy grin plastered on his face. "The worst is over now. I bet it feels good!" The boy let out a soft chuckle as he urged Mec ahead of him into the cart before following suit. The youngling went straight towards his own bag and propped it against the side of the cart before using it as a backrest, while Mec found a spot closer to Shallan. Fortunately for him, a few of the boxes nearby sat at a comfortable height that allowed him to rest his arms upon them and lay back comfortably, with his legs sprawled out in front of him.

Mec turned his head to face Shallan when she finally spoke. His eyes seemed to dart back and forth as he tried to identify any ailments his companion might have that would require immediate attention. Unable to find anything that drew too much concern, he would finally shrug. "Yeah. Never again."

Cho had already taken to biting on the strings of his cloak by the time attention was returned to him. With a questioning hum, he raised his eyebrows as he lifted his head towards Shallan. The youngling slowly blinked as the girl spoke, as if taking a moment to absorb what she was saying. After a moment he would let the strings fall from his mouth. "Well princess, I had meant to give the two of you something. I couldn't let you both leave without it." The boy spoke in a slow, gentle voice made of honey. His hands moved into his bag with the same careful slowness, and within a few moments he would procure a small tin. Unlike the one he usually produced when offering his companions sweets, this one was perfectly round and painted a dark blue. A golden ribbon was tied around the metal box in a neat, perfect bow, the loops of which seemed to spring upwards like a rabbit's ears.

The boy pushed the metal box as far as he could towards the pair that sat across from him, and Mec would curl his fingers around the edges and pull it the rest of the way. Cho merely waved his hand at the tin, gesturing either one of the two to open it. He had grown uncharacteristically quiet, but whether this was due to the contents of the tin or something else that preoccupied his mind was unclear.

At first, Mec would offer the container to Shallan to open it. He would open it himself is she had not shown any interest in doing so. Regardless of who eventually opened the tin, Mec would not be able to help but let out a chuckle, stifled by the back of his hand, upon seeing the contents within the tin. "I don't know what I expected," he sighed, admiring the cakes that neatly lay within the box, neatly wrapped in white parchment paper as they usually were.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan nodded once in silent acknowledgement as Mec echoed her sentiments, quite content in her misery. It was comforting to know that he had shared in the experience, as morbid as that might seem, and that they had both managed to come out the other side together. For all her woes, and how rough around the edges that she seemed to feel, the girl was confident that they would recover. Besides, she was back out under the open sky again now, and that was something she had sorely missed during their time in captivity. Its presence was a comfort, and one that helped ease the panic that ailed her.

Still, the girl watched on curiously as Cho answered her question by announcing he had a gift for the both of them. She raised one of her eyebrows in a puzzled expression, but otherwise remained quiet as he slowly and methodically set about the task of retrieving this supposed present. Naturally, the girl was not so naive as to think that such was the sole reason for his accompanying them. Clearly, he had some sort of ulterior motive, as he could have just as easily given them the tin before they had all left the sanctuary. The girl didn't pry, though, for much the same reasons she had avoided delving too heavily into his business during their previous conversations.

She would take it upon herself to open the tin when the chance was offered to her, before a wry smile flickered across her features as she beheld what was inside. Really, Shallan should have expected as much, and mentally chided herself for not thinking of it sooner. She refrained from helping herself to a piece, though, and replaced the lid once she was certain that it had been long enough. The girl would retire the bow, too, but not in a manner anywhere near as fancy as it had originally come.

"You'll have to keep this under close watch, Mec. I'm likely to empty it on a daily basis if I have my way" he answered, eyes flicking across in his direction briefly. "Under the assumption that we can keep refilling it, of course" After that, she would quickly slip off her pack, setting it down on the ground before her. The girl would slip the tin away immediately, stashing it away inside, while suppressing her desire to take a piece straight away. Better to enjoy something like that in moderation, after all, and she had already enjoyed way too much cake already at Cho's hands. When it was sealed away safely, though, she opted to leave her pack off for the time being.

"Anyway, thank you, Cho. I don't know what either of us have done to deserve such kindness" she answered simply, turning her gaze back across at the boy. Her smile seemed a fraction more genuine this time, and the lines of worry etched into her face seemed to have eased, just a little. She would lean back at that, resting her back against the wooden skirting behind her, and turning her eyes skywards. The sun was peeking out over the horizon now, and despite the early hour, she didn't feel quite as tired as expected.

"Mm...tis' a warm welcome back, I think" she muttered softly, almost to herself, as she marvelled at the beautiful array of colours that those first fingers of light seemed to bring to the sky

[Headwrapper]

Cho responded to the thanks he received with a simple nod of his head. "It was no trouble at all, princess." He too would turn his gaze towards the sky above. Like Shallan, he too had a fondness for the blue canvas above. Whether it be be clear of all other colors or painted in puffs of white or gray, it was one of the few things in this world that were like him- unaging. Even its dynamics remained constant, the sun always rising in the east and always setting in the west. "You know, they say the sun has its own Anima," Cho would say, mostly directing the notion towards the only other mage present. "Some think that the Sun worshippers of the ancient times had been able to draw on its power."

The youngling took a long breath, taking in the smells of the fresh morning air. The coolness of the morning was refreshing, and accompanied with the the relative silence it made for a relaxing ride. The creaking of the wheels and the soft trotting of the horses were the only accompaniment to the party's conversation. "It will be a couple days of travel before you reach Convittas you know. I'm sure Hjarl here will want to take a break from driving. Have either of you coached a wagon before?"

Mec kept his gaze level with the ground, unlike his skybound companions. He was more interested in watching their trail roll behind them as they went, the mounds of hills behind them serving as proof of their progress so far. As young as his and Shallan's journey was, their last stop had been the most terrifying and enlightening experiences he had ever had. While staring into the eyes of death, he had been granted a second, no, a third, chance at life. Once he had recovered from the events he had found the strength to embrace what he was and work towards a brighter future. When he thought about the motivation he had inherited it made him restless. He felt restless in the sanctuary beneath the city and entertained himself with training, but now that he had moved on he already began to feel restless just sitting in the wagon.

It's a good feeling, wanting something, he thought to himself. What a contrast it was being a mage seeking redemption against being a shopkeepers son. He had been content spending his days watching a store, watching the people of a small town go about their days, while his youth went to waste. Now it felt like every moment he was at rest was a wasted one.

When Cho mentioned the potential existence of a Sun Anima, Mec took predictable interest. It was written on his features, his eyes widening as he sat up straighter to listen. There was not much he could say in reply however, so he simply let Cho's thought hang still. How different would a Sun Anima be if it was possible to manipulate such a thing?

When the topic moved towards driving the wagon, Mec would once again take interest. "I can drive if it comes down to it. Truly I'm not fond of it, but it would only be fair."

[Namingtoohard]

The girl would drift off slightly as talk turned once again to the great unknown that was the Anima, though she glanced upwards briefly again at the mention of the sun. A frown flickered across his features as she pondered the boy's thoughts, before quickly dismissing such things as beyond her. As Olenna had been so fond of pointing out, such things were beyond the insight of ordinary humans like herself, and her early attempts at trying to understand had proved largely fruitless. She would rather push aside such troubling thoughts and focus on the positive, and the things that she could comprehend, control, and do to help. When talk turned to that of taking turns driving the wagon, she was presented with just such an opportunity.

"I've never so much as ridden on the front seat of a wagon before, but I'm willing to try and learn, if somebody has the patience to teach. Though I'm not so sure it would be worth the time in such a short journey, I suppose it could possibly make things easier in some future trip" she offered simply, a wan smile flickering across her features. She wasn't particularly good with horses, never having done more than seen one before, and possessed no particular affinity or talent for such things. Shallan was always open to the idea of learning new skills, though, just in case they ever proved necessary.

"I mean, it would give Mec a chance to sit back and practice, if there's really nothing else to do..." she added after another brief pause, before once again falling in to silence. She would allow her gaze to drift for a moment as she descended into thought, having felt that she was babbling just a tad too much, and that the others had gotten her point by now. Of course, now that they had brushed upon the topic, she started to wish that she had something to occupy her time with. A hobby she could practice on the move, or a book to read, or anything else of the story. While she gazed out over the grassy plains, she would bring a hand up to toy with a strand of her dark hair absentmindedly, twisting it around her finger several times as she mused silently to herself.

"Perhaps I shouldn't be complaining. Peace seems like something that is in short supply around our little party, after all. A chance to relax and not have to worry should seem like a welcome thing indeed" she mumbled softly, almost to herself, with her eyes still turned out over the edge of the wagon. She would shuffle over towards the edge briefly, resting her arms on the low wooden wall that served as the outer edge of the base. "Just trying to enjoy the tranquility while it lasts doesn't seem like too bad of an idea..."

[Headwrapper]

"Maybe if Hjarl asks Mec to drive you can join him up front," Cho suggested. "It isn't hard, and I'm sure he would do a fine job teaching you." The youngling grinned and gave Mec a nod to accompany his compliment. After a few moments the group had fell into relative silence. During this time Cho had returned to his habitual string biting as he contemplated his options for his future travels. There were few places within the kingdom he had not visited, and each location he scoured and prodded as much as he reasonably could to find what he sought. Yet, there was one place he had not visited in a long time...

The boy drew in more of the leather strings into his mouth and bit down on the bundling leather twine as hard as he could. It's been much too long since I've seen her face. But her present state brings me so much hurt. Do I dare return? The boy let the wet strings fall from his mouth and hang in front of his chest, displaying the outcome of his gross habit. He paid no mind to the moistened strands however, as he was too preoccupied weighing up the thought he had in his mind. Eventually he let out a small sigh. He already knew what his decision was, and he only wished to distract himself from it.

With a small wave of his hand a blue orb would materialize before him. In a manner identical to the last time he had summoned the rabbit, he would mold the floating, visible, energy into the shape of the familiar animal. With soft thump, the animal would land onto the floorboards, with its ears perked nearly perpendicular to the floor. With a gentle prod, Cho convinced the animal to timidly trudge towards Shallan. "Your old friend wished to see you, princess," Cho said, his usual excited tone dialed down to a more mellow and tired manner.

Mec had given a shrug when Shallan suggested that her driving would give him an opportunity to practice his magic. "Something tells me I shouldn't be practicing until we're behind closed walls once again. Plus I wouldn't want to risk accidentally damaging the wagon while we're riding in it." He nodded in agreement to Cho's suggestion. "That would work. He's right, it isn't that hard once you learn. Especially if the horses are well-mannered."

When the environment grew still, Mec sat up and pulled his crossed legs closer to him. While he was hunched forward, he found himself drawing different shapes on the dusty floor in front of him. First it was simple circles and squares, and then he began drawing stars, and finally he would mask all of his work with scribbles and zig zags. He looked up to listen to Shallan's mumblings, but barely hearing what she said he chose not to comment.

Cho performing his summoning would once draw Mec's attention, as usual. The blond boy made the practice seem so easy, but Mec still had yet to understand how such a thing was even possible. The bridge between the power he learned to draw from the Anima and the effect of forming such creatures seemed like an impossible one to cross. No matter what Cho had tried to teach him about the practice, it was made clear to Mec that such magic was outside of the realm of his possibilities until he learned to better control his powers. As far as he knew, even Olenna was not able to summon creatures in the same way Cho had. Although, she did have a special bond with that owl of hers, and it may have been infinitely more useful than the youngling's phantoms.

Cho had continued to try to amuse himself and the others as much as he could while the wagon-made-caravan continued down its path to Convittas. When midday approached, Hjarl elected to park the wagon in the shade of the outskirts of a nearby forest to allow himself and the horses to cool off.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan remained somewhat ignorant of her fellow traveller's own musings, too focused on her own thoughts for once to pay them any mind. She continued to dwell on her thoughts for several moments, turning over the few prominent ideas in her mind like pieces of a puzzle, even after her voice had tapered out. For a little while the girl even considered starting to sing or hum a tune, just because she thought it would serve as an agreeable distraction, and help pass the time. Before long she dismissed the idea, though, deciding that she wasn't quite in the mood for any sort of performances. Besides, it had been a long time since she had performed in front of a group. Even one as small as this.

Her attention only snapped back to the present when the soft thump of the bunny appearing rang out, and even then, it took a moment for the girl to tear her glance away and back over towards the rest of the group. Her eyes seemed to light up somewhat as she caught sight of the bunny, though, and as Cho prodded it towards her. Her smile returned, and as the other two discussed magic, she quickly scooped up the rabbit once it had dared to set foot within her reach. Taking a moment to cross her legs, Shallan would set the bunny down in her lap, doing her best to make the thing comfortable before starting to pet it as she had their first meeting. It seemed a simple enough gesture, but the girl found comfort in familiarity.

"Whenever the time comes, then. I'm more than happy to sit up front. It'll probably be safer that way, after all. You know, having someone else around to grab the reigns in case I run us off the road or something" she answered simply, letting out a dry chuckle at her own poor attempt at humour. It would be best to avoid such an eventuality at all, of course, but such an occurrence would definitely prove to be a learning experience if it did come to pass. She had to start somewhere, and was content to try and see the bright side in what might otherwise be a disastrous situation. So long as they were able to walk away from it, they would doubtless all be laughing later.

When it finally arrived, the chance to stop and rest was a welcome one. Shallan valued it as a chance to break up the monotony of their trip thus far, and to get up and move around properly for what felt like the first time in an age. Picking up the bunny, she would quickly set it aside, more than happy to let it run free for the time being - or even for Cho to dismiss it, if he so wished. With her spirits feeling much higher than they had that morning, the girl would quickly hop over the side of the wagon, dropping to the ground with all the grace she could manage instead of moving to the rear to dismount properly. She would wander off a few steps, before pirouetting back around to face the wagon once more.

"I'm just going to wander for a bit. Stretch my legs, explore, all that" she chimed, grinning a little as she clasped both of her hands behind her back. She wasn't bothered about waiting until the others dismounted, and she doubted that they would need her help for much around the wagon itself. "If any of you want to tag along, feel free. Otherwise, just give me a yell when it's time to go. I promise I won't stray too far" she announced. Then, just like that, the girl was off. Spinning around once more with more energy than her earlier moodiness had suggested she possessed, Shallan would skip off to do just as she had stated.

She would weave her way in through the trees with somewhat reckless abandon, only faltering once when a looped foot caused her to stumble. Thankfully, though, the girl regained her before she fell, and continued on without pausing. She would only come to a halt once she was out of immediate view of the road, and could immerse herself in her surroundings more readily. Picking out a tree at random, Shallan would reach out and lay a hand against its gnarled trunk, paying attention to the coarse feeling of he bark beneath her hand.

"I wonder if there are any animals around. Like deer or stags" she thought out loud, speaking to herself good and proper this time. She doubted it was likely, though, this close to the edges of the forest. The distinct possibility of more dangerous animals existed too, of course - things like wolves or bears - but she didn't think she had strayed far enough from the road for those to be a concern.

[Headwrapper]

With his usual briskness, Hjarl would take to tending to the horses nearly as soon as he had parked the wagon. The dark hairs of the pair were well lathered by sweat from the journey, and they seemed eager to be released by their harnesses as their driver walked to them. He would release them from their harnesses, one at a time, and lead them to a nearby tree to tie them to while they grazed on the grass at their feet. It was possible that there might have been water nearby, but he would need someone else to find it if he was to give the horses a chance to drink. For now, that comfort of the shaded trees would have to do. When the sun had begun its descent from its high noon throne it would be safer to remount the horses and continue the journey without fatiguing them.

Finding an opportunity to be useful, Mec would join Hjarl in tending to the horses. As the large man walked away with the first horse, the younger man would take it upon himself to unharness the other mare and lead it towards another nearby tree. The horse was typical of the ones people used for travel, sporting a rich black mane and tail along with a dark brown coat. Once Mec tied its harness around a thick branch, he would take a moment to pet the horses head and run his fingers through its mane.

Hjarl approached the boy and the horse and tugged on the harness to ensure Mec had secured it properly. He exchanged the glance with the young mage he was helping to smuggle to Convittas before giving him a silent nod of appreciation. Without as much as a word he would wander away to search through the back of his wagon for some dried hay for the horses as well as food and drink for himself.

After watching Hjarl return to the wagon, Mec would continue petting the horse. His hand ran down its mane and back one last time before he wandered to the other horse, and petted it as well. When he finally pulled his hand away he would wipe away the foamy sweat that collected from the horses coats on the legs of his pants. Poor things must be thirsty, he thought as he looked back to the horses. That was when he had an idea.

At first the boy would glance around as if to check if anyone was watching. With Shallan gone and Hjarl searching through the wagon, the only person who possibly would notice his actions would be Cho, who seemed preoccupied searching through a container of sweets anyway. Slowly, he would kneel down between the two horses and hold his hands in front of him the same way one would when trying to warm their extremities over a fire. A soft white glow began to form inches away from the tips of his fingers. The air in front of him quickly lowered to a frigid temperature, and as the cold grew so did the brightness of the glow. Crystals of ice began to grow from center of the white light, frigid tendrils growing and twisting around each other to create a network not unlike that of the roots of a tree. Once the sculpture of ice grew to a sufficient size, Mec would lower his hands and stop.

After breaking off a piece of the ice, Mec would offer it to one of the horses. It would timidly sniff at the frozen offering before beginning to lick the ice. Mec would eventually drop the piece to the ground and return to the large piece it had originated from. After breaking the twisted ice sculpture into roughly two equal halves, he would place them in front of each horse so that they could continue licking away and cool off.

Now satisfied with his contribution to maintaining the horses, Mec would walk between the trees at the edge of the forest to further amuse himself. He would stand on his toes and look around, wondering where Shallan might have went. For some reason he felt somewhat uneasy that she was alone, but he resolved that there was little risk of any danger or else Cho or Hjarl might have stopped her from leaving. The thought of searching for her crossed his mind, but he would once again decide that there was little reason to do so. Besides, she might have wanted to be alone for a few moments after being stuck with others in tight quarters for so long.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would continue her wanderings with seemingly reckless abandon. For all her idle musings, though, the girl had not forgotten herself entirely. With every twist and turn she made sure to remind herself of which direction she had originally come from, keeping track of her path mentally. With any luck, she would be able to find her way back to the road in a much more timely manner than the outward leg of her current expedition, and rather quickly should the need arise. Of course, such a system was hardly infallible, but the risk seemed minimal enough. With little else to distract or worry her, losing her bearings seemed to be somewhat unlikely.

Her skipping about would slow again somewhat as it dawned on the girl that she had little idea of just what she was doing, or what she was expecting to find out here. A small frown flickered across her features as she considered this point, and now the larger part of her expedition seemed moot. It was a strange conflict, really - the concept of just enjoying oneself in the moment against the necessity of a larger goal. She had always tended to prefer the former, but perhaps neglecting one entirely for the other wasn't such a good idea. Despite this knowledge, though, Shallan never seemed to find a balance.

"Some things never change, huh?" The girl muttered softly to herself. Worrying calls to consider where this expedition as a whole was going plagued her - what she and Mec would try and achieve in the long run, even if they did manage to travel so far as to acquire genuine anonymity and relative safety. She quickly smothered them, preferring the same tranquil peace she had just been considering over such potentially worrying thoughts. A storm for another day.

Still, with her journey practically over, the girl decided that it was time to return. Besides, she didn't want to worry them if she ended up being away overlong, and judging time could be a difficult thing beneath the tree's canopy. Turning back in the way she believed she had come from, the girl would set off at a leisurely pace, trying in earnest to return to the calm state of mind that had settled over her before. Before long, it looked like the trees were beginning to thin once more, and she could see glimpses of the wagon and the road beyond. A few brief flickers of movement were enough to give away the presence of her companions, though it seemed they all had their own tasks to attend to.

As she moved to emerge from the trees, the girl would stop only once, to pluck a single wildflower she caught sight of, growing right on the outskirts of the forest canopy. After a moment taken to admire the vibrant orange flower, the girl would tuck it behind one ear idly, before making her casual reappearance from amongst the trees. Her arrival was slow and otherwise without ceremony, and unless one was watching they likely wouldn't have noticed her arrival at all. She would divide her attention between what had changed in her absence, glancing back and forth between the other members, and the horse's new locale. Finally, she would meander over to wherever it was Mec had settled by that point.

"I'm going to assume that nobody found those lumps of ice nearby" she announced simply, though if the girl disapproved of such an action, she didn't show it. Rather, working to use magic to the aid of those around was exactly what she had hoped for - even if it turned out to be helpful to animals. "It occurs to me that we didn't bring any camping gear, though it doesn't seem like Olenna to forget. I can't help but wonder if we really will make it tonight, after a leisurely stop like this, or our host has other plans" she pointed out simply. After that, her gaze drifted back across to the road. "Also...what are the chances we'll run into another wagon or a guard patrol that will recognise us on the road?" She added, sounding perhaps a tad more serious this time.

[Headwrapper]

Mec had eventually situated himself against a tree not far from the horses, watching them idly as their long tongues licked away at the ice he had gifted them. He found the animals rather fascinating, as tired and hot as they were from their hard work they continued to obey without question. What would it take for such a creature to want to seek its own freedom? Was that even a thought that could cross such a beasts mind?

When Shallan had eventually come to join him, Mec would take a step away from the tree he had leaned against and brush at his back and shoulders with his hands. He then placed his hands on the back of his hips and stretched his torso, wincing he felt his bones moving back into place and the soreness where his back was against the tree was slowly pulled away.

"No one has said anything yet," he would say in reply. "Besides, it's not exactly a mystery where they came from is it?" He glanced at the gnarled tendrils of ice as the horses continued to enjoy them. They had already begun dripping between the day's heat and the warmth of the horses' tongues. He pondered the potential of the band reaching their destination within the day. "I suppose it's possible we'll reach Convittas tonight. Unless there is gear in the wagon we didn't see or we're meant to stay at an inn. I'm sure there's some plan, since it's impossible to travel in the night. I suppose we should ask."

He frowned at Shallan's last point. "The best we can do is lay our heads low and hope for the best, truly. My last showing was not exactly a private spectacle, so it's best to assume anyone coming or returning from the same town would recognize me. And there's always a small chance you might be recognized by someone from Ozette as well."

It would not be long before Hjarl would return to the horses and guide them back to the wagon. He would glance at the small amount of ice that was left and shoot Mec a short glance, only to silently return to work. His hoarse shout to return to the wagon would come only moments after any additional tasks or conversations were completed by the rest of the party.

[Namingtoohard]

"No, I suppose not" the girl would answer simply, a small smile flickering across her features as she threw another glance back across at the two horses where they were waiting. Already, this boded well for her hopes that one day Mec would be able to he's his powers to help people. Such brought up some interesting questions about their host, though, who was clearly used to the sight of magic. Was he one of them? The man was helping Olenna achieve her ends, after all. Of case, there was only one way to find out, and that was to ask. A situation would surely present itself once their journey resumed, and help to pass the time.

Before she could voice any thoughts on the topic of where they would stay tonight, though, Mec pointed out the possibility they would be recognised by someone directly from Ozette. Shallan visibly winced at that, as if she had been slapped. The two of them were outlaws now, but she didn't like to credit the idea that their bonds with their neighbours had been so fragile that they would be turned on in such a way. Of course, said people had already imprisoned Mec once, so there was plenty to suggest that they couldn't expect kindness from an old friend should they chance upon each other.

"I guess...that we shouldn't be in a hurry to reunite with any familiar faces, then" she responded, though the response felt incredibly lacklustre even to her. Thoughts of her mother immediately surfaced, but those were shoved aside, as was any potential response, when the call to return to the wagon went out. Throwing a glance back across at Hjarl, the girl would linger for a moment longer, before turning her gaze back across to Mec. "We never even considered the possibility, but perhaps Olenna has some friends in Ozette, too" she pointed out simply, before moving to alight, at their escort's request.

When all of them had mounted up, and the horses had been harnessed and reattached to the wagon, the group would finally move on again. Shallan, who had resumed her usual seat near the front, had resumed the taxing job of watching the landscape as it rolled by. After a brief pause, she would turn to glance over the tray towards the front of the wagon, where Hjarl was seated. Now seemed as good a time as any to question him, provided that he seemed agreeable. Half-expecting another short and gruff answer, or a total rebuttal, Shallan spoke up to question him on whether or not he was one of the group. With a total lack of knowledge on the topic concerning proper courtesies, she decided to go for the most direct approach.

"So, Hjarl, how did you come to throw in with Olenna and her lot? Are you one of them too?" She questioned simply, trying to sound little more than politely interested. The man wouldn't so much as glance over his shoulder at the question, and was silent for a moment; so much so that Shallan almost thought she was being ignored. After a brief pause, though, the man would finally find his voice and speak up.

"A mage, you mean? Gods no" the answer came simply, as short and to the point as she had come to expect from the man. When he didn't volunteer any more information, the girl decided to press a little bit harder. "So what are you doing helping out the likes of us, then?" she asked, leaning forward across the wedge of the tray. That did earn her a brief glare from the man, but he didn't rebuke the question outright, and quickly had to turn to face forward again so as to keep his eye on the road.

"Same reason you've thrown your lot in with the rest of them, girl. They saved someone close to me, and now I have a debt that I can never repay" he started simply. Again, Shallan expected him to leave it at that. Contrary to her beliefs, though, the man would speak up again this time, seemingly of his own accord. "I almost lost both my wife and daughter during her labour. I ran around from doctor to doctor, begged every herbalist and healer in town, but none of them could do anything. Word must have reached the right ears, because Olenna sent help. She offered me a way to save them both, but warned me that the methods would be...untraditional. Like any distraught father, I agreed" the man answered, voice cracking slightly, before he recovered his composure. The girl didn't press any further after that, simply slumping back into her seat. She cold imagine well enough what had happened after that.

"Did...did it work, then? They both survived?" she finally managed to add. Hjarl's composure had returned by that point, and he continued to face forward, but when he responded, Shallan could've sworn she could tell he was smiling. "Aye, girl. They did"

[Headwrapper]

Mec fell silent when Shallan brought up the possibility that Olenna may have had allies back in Ozette. Was it possible, he wondered, that mages had been so close to him in his own hometown and they went undetected? He always assumed that because the town was so small that everyone knew everything about everybody. In hindsight, this was definitely not the case. Had he not fell out of touch completely with Shallan after years of not seeing her? How many children wandered through his shop that he did not even care to learn whose families they were from? It was indeed possible that there had been at least one mage in the town who could keep such a thing a secret from the rest.

The boy remained silent and cooperative as the group returned to the wagon and continued their journey. He took his spot once again near Shallan, sitting with his legs crossed as he looked outward, letting himself be distracted by the sights around them. The path towards Convittas wove its way around the hills of the highlands. Each hill rolled beneath them, large green waves of grass that gently lifted them skyward before lowering them back down between the grassy hills. It made for a more amusing trip than simply trudging through the flat plains. With each rise Mec could feel his heart lift up in his chest, only to be sunk back down as they descended.

Eventually the wagon would find a level plain at the top of one of the larger hills to cruise on. This was about the time Shallan chose to question the man who had aided them with their escape. Mec would care to keep his gaze away from the two as they conversed, but he took care to listen to the exchange. It did not take long for the man's motive for helping who many would see as enemies of the kingdom to surface. How touching, Mec thought. It's curious how easily Olenna can find those who need help, and how easily she can gain allegiance from them. He began to doubt his own motivation for aligning himself with Olenna. There was no telling whether her motives were selfless or selfish, but there was no doubt she was manipulative. Although it was clear she had hoped for Mec to join her ranks, she ultimately left the decision up to him, and he still made the decision that she clearly favored. Was it for himself, or did the circumstances Olenna took advantage of push him into making the decision?

The boy would turn his glance towards Cho. Olenna seemed rather fond of him. Her demeanor seemed warmer when she addressed him as opposed to when she addressed Mec or Shallan, or even when she referred to others of her cabal like the man they are meant to meet in Convittas. Yet, the relationship between them was never made fully clear during the time that was spent under Olenna's care in the sanctuary. Maybe it was best to just ask. It proved successful for Shallan, as she was able to get quite an amusing story out of an otherwise concise man.

"Cho," Mec began carefully. "What made you decide to join Olenna's cabal?" Initially, the only response he received from the youngling was silence, and a careful stare that slowly panned across his features.

Cho would lean against the side of the wagon, letting his arms stretch out to either side and lay across the wooden barrier. "Oh, I wouldn't consider myself a true member of her little club," he said. The boy failed to match glances with anyone as he let the words hang in the air for a moment. Finally, he would offer a small shrug before adding more to his statement. "What she wants aligns with my best interests, but that is not the reason I am fond of her. I only help her so much because I respect her and what she is able to do. But I have my own goal, and it comes first."

The boy stared down at the hare that lay on his lap. He had been idly petting the tiny creature since their last stop. Its ears had lay flat against its head, and its tiny body pulsed quickly as it drew short, hurried breaths. "Truth be told, I envy her in some ways. She's not afraid of what it is she wants. She wears it at her breast for all to see. I find that I hold my convictions much more privately." With that, he would gently place the hare on the wooden floor in front of him, allowing it to cautiously wander about the wagon and sniff the various crates and boxes.

[Namingtoohard]

After Hjarl had finished his answer, Shallan would settle back down into her original spot. Having gotten the basic information she had wanted, she had no desire to pry any further into what seemed to be a sensitive subject. She was greatly relieved by the knowledge that both his wife and child had survived the ordeal, and the task of escorting some refugees on a short trip every now and then seemed a more than agreeable trade for two lives. Had she been placed in any similar sort of situation, the girl was confident that she would have made the same choice. There was no reason, it seemed, to doubt Hjarl's motives. Hopefully there wouldn't be any incidents like last time, where a mercenary they had travelled with had tipped off the guards.

She would snap back to attention when Mec took advantage of the opportunity to question Cho on his own motives, and this time Shallan glanced across with him. Her curiosity was palpable, and even though she had avoided prying earlier, she still wished to know the truth of why he had come with them. It seemed that the answer was not so straightforward as it was with their friendly neighbourhood puppetmaster, and the boy still avoided giving any sort of real information away. Such was understandable, given how recently they had met, but that didn't help Shallan's desire to know abate in the slightest.

"It's alright if you don't feel comfortable sharing. If it turns out that there is anything either of us can do to help, though, don't hesitate to ask. I mean, I doubt there's much we can handle that you wouldn't be capable of yourself, but you never know" she answered simply. Perhaps it was a bit presumptuous of her to speak for Mec on the matter, but the girl didn't seem to notice. Her eyes also tracked the small hare that was exploring the wagon, but she made no lunge for it this time. She had spent plenty of time bothering Cho's little animals recently, and had something else to occupy her now. Even if only for the moment.

"Still...I can't help but wonder what will happen to the rest of us. You know, if Olenna gets her way" she would finally add, almost mumbling now. The question was one she had been pondering for a few days now, and just how would the mage act if she managed to restore freedom to the rest of her kind? Would it be a return of the old days, where mages ruled over the working class? Would she seek to position herself at the top of the new hierarchy, above all others? She hated being so suspicious, but something about the mage was extremely difficult for her to stomach, and the ease with which she had killed and attacked on that night was only the start of it.

"It seems to incredibly hard to judge her honestly. She seems to twist you around yourself. She makes you want what she offers, but in such a subtle way I can scarcely tell if it's because I genuinely want it, or because she's tricked me into believing so" she continued for a moment, staring down at the floorboards in front of her. Absentmindedly, the girl would reach up to pluck the flower from behind her ear. Holding it out in front of her, she would roll its stem between her fingers idly - an idle gesture, to help her think, or distract her from the more troubling possibilities. "Will she disregard all regular human lives as she did on the night of Mec's escape, or is that simply an undesirable means to an end?"

After a moment, though, the girl seemed to catch herself. Attention snapping back across to Cho, she would give him s bit of a pained smile as she realised what she had just been doing. "Ah, my apologies. It speaks ill of me to talk about her as such behind her back, and in front of one of her friends, no less"

[Headwrapper]

Mec frowned as he listened to Cho's response. Unlike Shallan, he was not satisfied with the vague answers he always received from Cho. Everything about the youngling was so alien. The way he carried himself, the way he spoke, even the power he wielded just seemed too bizarre. Yet, Mec knew he was in no position to pry for more. As was made clear in conversations with Olenna in the past, it was not necessarily true that other members of the cabal would be true friends to their allies, thus meaning there was no obligation for Cho to trust anyone, let alone Mec and Shallan who he had only recently met.

There was more too his dislike for Cho's answers than their vagueness, however. So far the only mages Mec had the opportunity to meet and converse with were Cho and Olenna. He had already seen firsthand what Olenna was willing to do to achieve her desires. Of course, her methods would have to be extreme in order to match the goal she worked for. But what lengths could Cho go to reach a goal he might have? He clearly intended to do something, or seek something, but whatever that something was he had not wanted to discuss it. Keeping the details so hidden was suspicious of itself, and if the only example Mec had seen of a mage fighting for something was any indicator, Cho would go to great lengths to keep his desires a secret as well as obtain them.

Reluctantly, Mec would allow the conversation to wander away from Cho and back to Olenna. "I was wondering the same things," he said when Shallan expressed her concerns. Unlike her, he did not feel the need to respect some boundary Cho might have in regards to Olenna. Still, he found it wise not to be too apprehensive in case Cho decided to bring up the conversation with Olenna later. "She might claim that her actions are for some sort of greater good, but even if she were to achieve her goal of freeing mages from oppression I feel she would begin to desire more. No one with true ambition can sit back once they've done something. They will always want more. What more means, well, it could mean anything. More could be revenge, more could be power, or more could mean something good. Maybe progression, maybe unification between mages and regular humans. But still, whatever she might decide to pursue if her current struggles yield success, she will pursue it with the same rigor that she follows her dream now. She'll do all the same things she has been doing."

Mec would turn back towards Cho to further question him. "As young as you look, I bet you've killed plenty of people yourself, right?" Almost immediately Mec knew he was crossing some sort of line as the youngling tensed his muscles and stared back at him. Blue marbles scanned Mec's face as they tried to understand the reasoning for his incessant questioning. "I bet using magic makes it easier. You don't even feel what it is you're doing to the other person. And that is precisely what makes us dangerous, isn't it?"

Cho let out a long sigh. He sat quietly as he scanned Mec's face, occasionally letting his eyes flicker towards Shallan and back again, and after a long moment he would finally speak. "Do you really think that using magic as a barrier gives a person the confidence to murder? Let me tell you that I know for a fact it doesn't. Powers or not, killing is killing, and killers are killers. But reasons to kill are never the same. Some kill in hatred, anger, envy. Some kill because the convictions of others are in conflict with their own. And some even kill just because they've had too much to drink. Mages or regular human beings, they all are the same in this respect."

The boy's blue eyes would turn away from the pair and stare passed the hills that rolled by. "The differences between those with magic and those without it pale in comparison to what is the same about them. When you have had the time to observe mankind in the way I have, you will begin to understand this. I do fear what you suspect of Olenna could be correct, that her regards for lowly humans without access to the Anima are limited. For her it might be easier to eradicate anyone who sees mages as something beneath them, rather than try to change their minds. But if that's truly the way she thinks, then she is foolish." Finally, he would give a shrug and turn his attention away from the highlands around them. "But who am I to say? I hope that someday mages and ordinary people can learn to live together, but I am not prepared to dedicate myself to working towards that reality. Not until..." The boy bit his bottom lip. Why did he let this conversation get the best of him? His earlier musings about Jazelle had effected him too much, so it seemed. He let out another soft sigh. "To answer your question Mec. Yes."

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan's gaze flickered across the cart to settle on Mec as he spoke up, and found herself taking solace in the fact that he had a similar impression of the woman. Some small part of her had feared that she was the only one to see the cabal's leader as such, or that perhaps she was simply overreacting and viewing the lady with more paranoia than was truly necessary. If her companion shared such opinions, though, then Shallan could have confidence that she wasn't simply giving the woman more credit then she was due. Of course, there was no joy in such confirmation, as it meant any fears about what Olenna might one day do were perfectly valid in their own right. After all, if she did manage to dismantle the current system, another would inevitably have to take its place...

"Mec!" The girl exclaimed, voice almost a squeak as her partner suddenly called out their seemingly younger accomplice on whatever horrible things he had been forced to do in the past. It hardly seemed fair to throw a question like that at somebody out of nowhere, especially when they had been so kind and friendly thus far. Such a thing was likely to drag up memories that one might otherwise prefer to leave buried, though it seemed there was no point in intervening. As Cho began to rely, the girl bit her tongue. The damage had been done, and no attempt at distracting them would change that.

Some part of her couldn't stifle her curiosity, though. The possibility had scarcely crossed her mind up to this point, but now she was forced to confront it. She had seen Olenna send a flock of birds to attack a whole gathering of people, and kill at least one guard who had tried to intervene. Shallan herself had almost ended up as another tally on the puppetmaster's body count. Up until this point, though, Shallan had thought she and Cho were entirely different sorts. Had she perhaps been mistaken? It was an unpleasant thought, to suddenly think the one person they had met she genuinely felt warmly towards was no different. She turned her eyes across to the young boy as he spoke, torn between worry and denial.

"Is...is there really a difference between types of killing, though?" The girl finally piped up, though her voice felt soft and insubstantial compared to the weight that those around her seemed to carry. It was a philosophical point she had pondered before, and yet never come up with a definite answer to. "You can say that one person might be more justifiable than another. That a man defending himself from a bandit is more excusable than a murderer who kills for sadistic pleasure. Is that really the case, though, or merely something that the guilty tell themselves because it makes it easier to sleep at night?"

Even as the words slipped out, she lifted her eyes to meet those of Cho. What filled them was not accusation or judgement, though. More a worried sort of questioning. The look of someone who wished to avoid believing the worst, and was looking for some sort of hope or light to cling to. She wrung her hands for a moment as she spoke, before forcing herself to lay them both down in her lap, holding them still through force of will, as if trying to suppress the nerves that they betrayed.

"Either way, it ends up with the loss of a life. A woman left wondering why her husband has not come home, or a child who does not understand they shall never see their father again. Another set of hopes and dreams extinguished, and a life full of vibrancy and potential reduced to just a pile of twisted meat and rotting flesh" she muttered. This time, she felt the need to turn away again, able to feel bile rising in her throat. The girl suppressed it, though, before continuing. "Can the weight of someone's sins ever be enough to justify such a loss?"

She would trail off, voice fading into silence for several moments. With her head bowed, the girl would close her eyes, taking a moment to recover her composure. Just moments ago she had been cheerful at the prospect of magic helping people - how had she managed to swing from one extreme to the other so easily? Not for the first time, the girl cursed her moody nature, and just how easily she was able to twist and swing from one extreme to the other through such a quick and simple shift as the direction of a conversation. "Perhaps it is clearer for those with experience in the act itself, but I can't begin to make sense of it. Not that I would ever wish to know, should taking another life be required to understand" she finally finished, inwardly scolding herself for carrying on like this, and not pulling herself up sooner.

[Headwrapper]

Cho sat silently as he let the pair process his answer. It seemed that Mec was not too surprised in the slightest, but the youngling could already see the questions forming in the other lad's mind. The silence carried forward as Shallan began to speak. She had not said anything untruthful or incorrect, so it seemed, and so Cho had no issue with sitting silently and listening to her point of view. As he did so, his eyes seemed to wander, searching for something long lost in the distance, only to occasionally stare back at Shallan to let her know he was still listening.

"Life and death are not about making excuses. Anyone who thinks there's an excuse for murder is just a coward living in fear of himself," he would say solemnly. "That being said, I don't regret my actions." The boy let out a long sigh as his gaze returned to the horizon. "Have either of you spoken to many soldiers in your lives? Some of them seem to think there can be great honor in death. They would rather die than betray the expectations of their countrymen. Some would even go as far as to say they rather be dead than crippled, that a life they could not train and fight alongside their brothers isn't a life worth living at all."

The boy let his legs stretch out in front of him as best as he could given the current travel arrangement. "I would have to agree that killing is ugly, but we do not live in a world that is free of terrible things. Things far worse than the death of a loved one." He paused for a moment and blinked slowly a few times before continuing. "Life is short, and it is an atrocity to end another's life before the gods take them, but I have seen enough to know that a man can sometimes offer a more beautiful death than the one the gods dealt them."

Mec watched Cho as he spoke, his eyes narrow as he focused to on trying to decipher Cho's words. The youngling was much like the voice that plagued his mind. His words seldom seemed to have any one straightforward meaning, or lacked enough support to have much of a meaning at all. "What do you mean a man can offer a better death than the gods?"

Cho clicked his tongue as he pondered his acquaintance's question. "What do you suppose happens if you are fortunate enough to grow old and gray?" he asked. "Some of our elders are lucky enough to live in respectable houses, where they are treated with respect by their children and grandchildren and are given poppy milk to pass the time until they die. What happens then, when you have no one to wade on you? What happens when your former greatness, your youth, your power, withers away and you are nothing but a wheezing carcass without even enough strength to find a place to shit or piss? You would be lucky if another man could bear to look at you, let alone redden his steel with your blood." A loud exhale came out of Cho's nose. "You know what you do then, Mec? You wait and pray that the gods finish toying with you, so that your soul can finally escape the stinking carcass you have become." The youngling grabbed for the leather pouch he used as a waterskin and took a long drink before wiping his brow.

The boy let out a long sigh when he was done with his short break. "My apologies. I seemed to have gotten a bit carried away there. It's unlike me to be so... passionate." The boy looked towards the sky, his gaze hovering just beneath the sun. There would be many long hours before nightfall, though at the pace the band was moving it was likely they would need to stop to rest the horses again. It might be possible they would pass through a town so that they may exchange for new horses, but only Hjarl would know of such plans.

[Namingtoohard]

The girl would hum thoughtfully to herself as she turned over Cho's words in her mind, or the opening part of his statement at the very least. Initial impressions would have one think that she had found his answer lacklustre, or otherwise unsatisfying, given the pained frown that seemed to linger on her features. Such dissatisfaction came not from his statement's content, though, but rather the answer with which she had been provided. To know that he didn't believe there was any excuse for taking life aligned with Shallan's own views, or at least the ones she had held as ideal. Yet combined with the lack of regret, it implied a sort of acceptance almost seemed monstrous to someone unblooded and altruistic as she.

"No, I can't say I have. I've met and chatted with plenty of town guards, but many were just conscripts, or simply those who saw it as a means to make a living. I doubt any of them had fantasies of such companionship or grandeur...though I could be wrong" she girl answered simply, giving a bit of a casual shrug as she admitted her own ignorance. "Still, offering up one's own life freely and taking that of another seem two different things, even if one must be prepared to kill if they are willing to walk into battle as such" she would finish. Beyond that, she would bow out of the conversation as their discussion turned to the killing of innocents as part of something that could be akin to showing mercy, or provide relief.

She averted her eyes this time, silently wishing she had the ability to shut her ears to the discussion currently taking place. Shallan couldn't help but note Cho spoke as if he had personal experience with the matter, though, despite his young age. Was there some sort of hint towards a more sinister meaning there, or was she simply overthinking things? Regardless, the girl desperately wished for a change of topic, as important as it might otherwise be to set themselves straight on the matter.

"I'm not sure if I should envy those with the strength to do that sort of thing, or pity them for the burden they must bear. Perhaps a little bit of both would be the most appropriate" she would finally mutter, though her voice was softer than before, as if all the will to fight or argue on the topic had flowed out of her when things had taken a turn for the worse. "It feels so hypocritical, sitting here and thinking about how terrible such a fate could be, while...while still thinking I would prefer to have it done for me, if push came to shove" the girl finally finished. This time she would twist to rest an elbow on the outer lip of the wagon, resting her head on her hand so that she could stare out over the scenery, without having to look at either of them. She had said the words, but some small part of her wished that neither of them had heard, as silly as that sounded. Perhaps they had not, if she was lucky.

"I suppose that even the mages, for all their knowledge and study, still haven't figured out what happens to the souls of the slain. If you knew for sure, then I suppose it would be an easy question to answer. Whether you are doing someone a kindness or not. There would be no need to feel guilty" she finally mustered up the courage to say, and louder this time. The slight variance would hopefully lead the conversation down a less aggressive path, even if it was only a touch less morbid.

[Headwrapper]

Mec considered Cho's words with a small frown creasing his face. He almost felt a bit ashamed after hearing the other mage's reactions to his questions. Maybe he shouldn't have probed so much, but he was curious to see how accepted the act of killing was to mages other than Olenna. For some reason he thought it would be fundamentally more acceptable, but the morality of it seemed just as complicated among the mages as it was anyone else. Shallan also brought up a good point. It seemed that even mages did not know what happened after death. "You mentioned once that there are mages that can reanimate the dead to do their bidding."

Cho's sapphire eyes would flicker towards Mec. "Ah yes. They call it necromancy. Simply speaking, they are merely manipulating the movements of dead bodies. No different than what you wish to do with your ice, animating lifeless objects. It's just much more... grotesque." The youngling shook his head. It had been a long while since he's seen necromancy being used firsthand, but picturing the practice always bothered him. Rotted corpses suddenly charged with some purpose, hardly able to support their crumbling bodies if it were not for the power of their masters, who were usually unpleasant individuals to begin with.

Mec responded with a nod. "Yeah. That type of magic does not sound pleasant. So it isn't really the same as bringing someone back to life, just using a body of another person as a tool... I can't imagine doing such a thing. It seems absolutely horrible."

Cho beckoned his rabbit, which had found a safe nest between some boxes, over to him. When it approached, he picked it up and set it on his lap where he had originally held the small white creature. "You are correct. The body being manipulated by the necromancer has nothing to do with the original person that controlled it. It might as well be a pile of rocks. The living person is long gone. But still, you might understand how dishonorable it is to use another man's body in such a way. Not to mention the smell... Blegh, I'm quite content with summoning my own creatures to carry out my will." His small white fingers scratched either side of the rabbits face the same way one would scratch a cat.

Mec watched as Cho continued to play with his familiar. He thought maybe those that Cho called necromancers would more than likely be who would understand death the best. From the way it sounded though, they did not seem to have much connection with death at all. It simply served as a source for more bodies for them to use their magic, so what came after may not have been relevant to them. This was speculation, he knew, and he would not be able to confirm it unless he someday met a necromancer. He wondered if there were any in Olenna's cabal. As long as they would help her reach her ambitions, there surely would not be any reason for her to turn them away. The only reason Mec could think that she might turn away such mages would be if this dark form of magic was so sinister that even Olenna would not approve of its use.

Hjarl, who seemed to be mostly unaware of or at least unresponsive to the conversation behind him would let out a small grunt when he noticed the view before him. Behind the large green lumps that made up the hills of the highlands, he was able to spot large gray clouds hanging in the sky above. The storm was still more than a few leagues away, but it very well might have hung over Convittas and the surrounding areas. This would make the last leg of the journey more difficult, but as long as the cargo did not mind getting a bit wet then the feat of reaching their destination would not be insurmountable.

[Namingtoohard]

The change in direction that followed almost felt like the exact opposite of what she had intended, much to Shallan's disappointment. While another argument or debate seemed unlikely at this point, the topic was equally disturbing. Thoughts of the risen dead sent shivers down her spine, and the girl could feel goosebumps all over her body at the mere thought. The idea of half-rotted bodies wandering around and doing their master's bidding, with no conscious will to object or question their decisions, seemed just as terrifying and disgusting as the concept of ending another person's life oneself.

It seemed like a violation of even the most basic human rights, and disrespectful in the extreme to those who had passed away. On top of that, she couldn't fathom why one would actively choose to manipulate the fetid remnants of another person when they had magic? Surely there were other means that a trained mage could use to accomplish the same end, regardless of how simple it may be. Perhaps there was simply some aspect she was overlooking that would explain it. Part of her wished to simply force down her disgust and push away the thought, simply let the vile discussion die out, but some other part of her demanded to know the truth of such matter. Against her better judgement, the girl would speak up again

"Why...why would one ever use their power to do something so horrific when they could accomplish the same goal by other methods? If you wanted something brought over to you, then it would be easier to manipulate a smaller object than an entire human corpse, right? Even...." she would trail off for a moment. After a few seconds spent dry-swallowing, desperately trying to get her voice to work again, the girl would continue. "...even if they wished to use them for evil ends, like killing, wouldn't it be simpler to channel some other destructive element and do the task yourself?" the words finally came. Shallan regretted having to ask, but it would be better to know, just in case they ever had the misfortune to meet one themselves. Or maybe Cho would be unable to answer, and it varied from person to person.

Beyond that, Shallan proved content to fall back into silence, mulling over their rather dark choices of topic for the new few moments of their journey. She had briefly contemplated the idea of asking if anyone knew any good shanties or travelling songs, to help pass the time, but had quickly dismissed such an idea as stupid. As much as she would have enjoyed the task normally, the girl was hardly in the mood. Instead she continued to think in silence. She only shifted from her new position once, to grab some cured meat from the supplies she had packed, so she had something to gnaw on while they continued forward. She barely even tasted it, looking more for something to do than anything else.

The clouds that Hjarl had spotted earlier started to loom. The light of day steadily began to fade, too, bathing their travels in a dull grey that seemed to fit Shallan's mood. Such darkness had nothing to do with the time, naturally, instead resulting from the way the clouds managed to blot out the vast majority of light. The girl would glance up at them occasionally, and couldn't help but frown to herself at the thought. Travelling like this hadn't proved to be any great experience thus far, and it would hardly be improved by a steady downpour.

"...what are we planning on doing if the weather breaks? Do we have any cloaks to ward off the rain or anything? Or is there any sort of place we can hunker down if necessary?" The girl asked, glancing back over her shoulder at Hjarl. The man didn't so much as glance back at her, though he would tilt his head back just a fraction - enough to suggest that he had glanced up at the sky himself. "What sort of traveller would ever leave home without some sort of defence against the elements? We should be able to endure the worst of it with the supplies we have on hand. That said, the plan had been to camp out tonight and reach the city tomorrow, which might prove a tad uncomfortable regardless of our efforts, should the rain start"

His answer wasn't exactly encouraging to the young girl, who frowned slightly and glanced upwards again at the thought. Maybe their luck would hold out, but somehow she doubted it. Perhaps they would least manage to find a dry enough place to sleep, or could even use magic to such an end, if absolutely necessary...if such an obvious abuse of power didn't put them at any immediate risk.

"Is there any sort of magic that could help keep us dry?" She asked half-heartedly, turning her head back to the two mages. "Like, to delay the rain, or stop it hitting us directly, or create shelter, or...something" she offered after a brief pause, though the girl didn't hold out any great hope. Best to prepare herself mentally for the worst, just in case.

[Headwrapper]

Cho raised an eyebrow has he listened to Shallan's question. She had a fair point, to be sure, especially considering she had little knowledge of mages, their alignments, or how they use their power. A good answer would take much too long to explain, especially with her, and Mec's, limited understanding of magic. "To put it simply, magic that involves controlling another being requires that the caster is more powerful than that being they control. That includes ethereal summons like my own, stone gargoyles, the little ice sculptures Mec has been trying to produce, as well as corpses. Not many of us who are fortunate enough to live are exactly weaker than some rotting carcasses, right?"

The youngling bit on one of the strings of his cloak, grinding it between his teeth as he considered another point. "Controlling something so frail isn't exactly taxing on the mage's strength either. So if there are enough carcasses lying around... Well, a necromancer who had the ambition to could probably summon his own army. Strengthening such an army's numbers would be a more efficient use of such a mage's power than simply trying to win battles himself." He turned and spit over the side of the wagon, disgusted with the very thought. He remembered the stories he had heard of such an event happening. It had happened much before even his time, much before even the great war that had lead mage's into hiding. Cities were engulfed by endless hordes of the dead, unfaltering during the battles of attrition. With no resources other than the magic of their master, they would endlessly climb and tear at city walls while the trapped people within starved. "The stench would be enough to conquer kingdoms alone," he would finally say with a chuckle.

Mec nodded as he listened to Cho's brief explanation. It was yet another lesson that would further him to his goal. As usual, his mind was quick to find some sort of question to follow the lesson, like a good student would. Even if Cho was not his assigned teacher, he was still a valuable resource. "So... anything you're stronger than anything that you summon huh?" Mec thought about this notion. So far, he had only seen Cho summon small creatures like the hare that rode in the wagon with them. That was not very impressive in itself, but Cho had mentioned before that he was able to summon larger creatures could fight or hunt for him. "What's the strongest summon you have, Cho?"

The youngling shook his blond head with a grin. "You will have to see it for yourself another day my friend." A flash of flight, coming from the clouds up ahead, caught his attention. He waited for a short while, but heard no thunder. With little reason to interject Hjarl and Shallan's conversation, he simply sat and listened, his trademark grin plastered to his boyish features. "Oh, surely you do not dislike the rain that much princess," he would finally say with a laugh. "I suppose if I really wanted to, I could move the storm somewhere else. But such a thing would be unfair, wouldn't it? To dump our plight onto others? Besides, I would be defying the gods by doing such a thing. If it is meant to rain here, who am I to say it isn't so?" The mage added a sarcastic emphasis to his words when referring to potential deities. No god had stopped him from doing anything before, he was certain of it.

His small body turned to get a better view of the darkened clouds ahead of them. He really did enjoy being in the rain. At it's mildest, the soft gentle pearls of a spring rain showered the skin and cleaned away the dirt collected from during a long journey, while at its most intense loud steel balls stormed all around, creating a loud drumming armies could march to. The air would feel wholesome and clean, cleansed by the gift of the clouds above. It was even said that healing magic was amplified in the rain. It had been decades since Cho had even seen a healing mage though, and he had never been able to see this effect firsthand.

"If we aren't able to find some shelter, what if I conjure a large tree?" Mec would finally offer. "As long as there isn't anyone around to see me using my powers to do it, there isn't much risk is there? It would be perfectly reasonable for a tree to grow in these grassy highlands."

[Namingtoohard]

Any further discussion concerning necromancy didn't bear thinking about, and Shallan was glad to move on from the topic. The idea of an army made up of nothing but the corpses of those long since dead was, rather predictably, even more terrifying than the concept itself. An individual with the power to raise and command an entire army, and one that required no supplies, felt no fatigue, and could not be bribed, routed, or otherwise convinced to waver in their assigned duty...that seemed way too much power for one person. There were likely restrictions similar to those placed on other mages, though, and that was enough to provide her with some small level of comfort.

The girl would glance back across at Cho as the boy spoke up again, seemingly unconcerned about the prospect of a downpour, despite them all currently being stuck out in the open. She pursed her lips as she watched him, digesting his words in poor grace. It seemed that he certainly had the ability to do as she had asked if he so desired, judging by the way he spoke, but refused to do so. In her current mood, such an admission was unlikely to win him any favour with her.

"Being able to enjoy a brief shower when you have a place to dry off and fresh clothes to change into is one thing. Being caught in a downpour overnight with no real chance of respite is another entirely" she answered simply, doing her best to keep her voice neutral. She wasn't totally successful, but at least the girl managed to stay polite. Some part of her wanted to kick up a fuss, but to do so would go against her nature, and she doubted any sort of attempt at convincing Cho otherwise would be enough to change his mind. There was no need to let her foul mood influence her actions as well as her thoughts, and causes her to hastily say something she would later regret.

"Even a tree would be a nice break, but there's no point in doing so until we stop. As for any risk...well, I suppose that depends. Some frequent travellers might notice if an entire tree grew overnight, but they wouldn't have any proof its source was unnatural. Besides, most people seem to see only that they wish to see, or understand what they wish to understand. They'd likely just convince themselves it had always been there" the girl would finally add, though she believed there was more to security in such matters than that.

It was about then that the first few drops of rain would begin to fall. Shallan would jump as she felt something brush against an unprotected arm, but a quick glance revealed that nothing had struck her. Another would follow, and another, and another. Before long, the skies opened up, and the rain began to fall good and proper. It was gentle at first, but would settle in quickly enough, blanketing the landscape thoroughly. The gentle roar of rain filled the air, muffling all sound, and quickly soaking through anything unlucky enough to be caught out in the open. The cold was yet to set in, and Shallan's clothes provided some sort of protection, but she shivered regardless.

"Speaking of rain..." she mumbled, softly at first, before glancing back across at Cho. She had one other question that she wanted answered, before they even considered the prospect of using magic to make a shelter. "Is there any way for other people to detect magic? I mean, either another mage, or a human with experience or some sort of special artefact. I can't help but wonder if there's any chance someone will discover any sort of shelter we make, and it would point them after us" she probed simply. The girl didn't say it, but she was concerned about the possibility that Gaxeel or any of his lot would have a way to hunt them down that involved such means. It seemed a slim chance, that they would discover one strange tree out of any and all that could be growing on the plains, but she couldn't help but consider the possibility.

[Headwrapper]

Cho held out an arm in front of him as he felt the first few drops of rain graze pass. He watched as the small beads of water landed on his outstretched limb, first forming a small party of small droplets before their numbers made counting them impossible. Before the rain poured too violently he waved his arm towards the direction of the summoned rabbit's hiding place, and with a small shimmer of light it vanished. Through the roar of the rain around him he could hear whinnies of rebellion coming from the horses pulling the wagon, unappreciative of the sudden change in climate. Regardless, they should be able to continue through the highlands, as long as the rain did not cause the roads to get too muddy.

His blue eyes peered through the golden mop his hair had become. "There are ways," he replied to Shallan. "But only someone with a special gift should be able to pinpoint the use of magic from a long distance." He frowned as he thought for a while. "The special knights that are known as mage slayers do have certain ways of tracking down mages, I fear. But the tools they use are ancient and have lost most of their power over the centuries. You would almost need to be in the same room of a mage to detect anything with those old things."

"Like the magebane sword?" Mec would chime in. His hair had parted on either side of his head, weighed down by the heavy sheet of rain. "That was what the sword the knight who was meant to execute me was called. It was made of a white metal." Without realizing it, he had put his hand against the base of his neck, gently rubbing the small crescent shaped scar the burning hot blade left on him the night of his near-execution.

Cho nodded. "Yeah, that's one of them. If that sword was still as pristine as it was during the age it was forged, it would probably still be urging its master towards the source of mageblood that it got a taste of. But now that it's old and rusty, it probably already lost scent of your blood." He pointed to the scar Mec had been toying with. "There are others like it. And more than just swords. There are armors that protect against magic but feel as light as silk to the wearer, arrows that pierce through spells, even a dusty white powder that once it contaminates the air, the use of our powers is restricted. The people have different names for them, but most of them refer to them as gifts from the angels. If it in fact was angels' work that brought these weapons to the world, they have a funny sense of humor, I'd say. Giving non-mages magical weapons to rid the world of magic. It's quite comical, don't you think?"

The boy shook his head rigorously, spraying water all around him as his long blond hair swayed back and forth. Not that it made much of a difference, considering the current weather. In the distance he noticed a herd of deer darting across the hillsides, seeking shelter somewhere at its outskirts. It might be best if they did the same soon, before the highlands became a muddy disaster. But maybe just this once he should move the storm using the methods he alluded to earlier. It would save the party a lot of time and hassle, at the expense of whatever poor souls might be underneath the newly moved storm.

Mec frowned at the thought that angels themselves had promised to rid the world of mages. He had heard such a tale before, but he always considered it a fairy tale. Cho seemed to speak of the tale as though it might be a reality, however. He wondered if other mages thought the same way. He would have to ask more about it later, he supposed, but for now he would have to try to think of a way to help alleviate the heavy rain that had begun to descend on them.

Was it possible to channel his powers in a way that it would deflect water away from them as it fell, creating a localized area of dryness? Mec could not even imagine how to focus his powers in such a way. Experimenting would probably be risky as well, as a severe enough mistake could hurt someone or damage their vessel. He began to wonder how one would go about moving the storm, like Cho mentioned he could do earlier. Such a feat was even more outside of what he thought was in the realm of possibility. "Cho, are you sure you can't just move this storm? Just this once? I... want to learn how such a thing could be possible." The youngling flashed him a glance, as if he had already been considering the possibility. It seemed the idea of being helpful in Mec's learning appealed to him a little bit too. He always seemed excited when Mec asked for advice, even if his explanations came out brief and rushed.

[Namingtoohard]

Given that the fate of their evening hung on the specifics of his answer, Shallan did her best to remain attentive as Cho began to explain the methods that could be used for detecting the work of other mages. The boy sounded very certain about the capabilities of those who were hunting them, but the girl took some small comfort from his response. If what he said was true, then the chances of them catching on to a magically created tree sounded very slim indeed. Enough so that the girl was almost willing to risk it outright. Of course, it was not solely her decision, and she could hardly demand Mec do as she pleased. That discussion would have to come later, though, as they moved on to the topic of magical artefacts and their origins.

"It certainly does seem ironic" the girl mumbled to herself as she considered the thought. It reminded her of some old adage, about how one could often be required to become what they hate in order to achieve their goal. It didn't seem a perfect fit for the situation, but the similarities were there. All in all, though, the girl had no idea what to make of the larger parts of heir conversation. She had no idea if any of the stories about angels were real, but she had always imagined they were just that - stories. Shallan herself had never understood the dedication that many exhibited to their religion, but perhaps that was simply because of her upbringing.

Talk quickly turned to the storm that raged above again, and the girl glanced up briefly, gazing into the infinite greyness. The view was somewhat pretty, she supposed - a hall of constantly shifting droplets, streaming past on their side. Her attempt at finding the positive side of their little situation, the silver lining to the storm clouds that menaced them from overhead. She was forced to look away after just a few moments, though, as raindrops splashed against her face.

"Moving the storm would save us a lot of trouble, though I guess it has its own problems. I imagine such a spell would take a lot of power to cast, right? Compared to things like the little bunnies you keep bringing forth" she asked rhetorically. It only seemed logical, with her limited knowledge and experience. Still, the girl would quickly draw her legs close, hugging her knees to her chest gently in an attempt to try and stay warm as she spoke. It might not make much a difference, since the cold was bound to get to them all if they stayed out in the rain like this, but something was better than nothing.

The girl was distracted briefly as the cart jolted once, reaching out to grip the side of the wagon reflexively. Hjarl swore under his breath, before it lurched forward and continued again. The ride felt slightly more uncomfortable now - as if the horses' tempers made it harder for them to maintain a steady gait, or the ground underfoot had taken a turn for the worse due to the weather. Once she had regained her balance, and felt semi-confident that another disturbance was not looming, the girl relaxed a fraction.

"Besides, I dare say that moving an entire storm is more noticeable than a tree springing up along the roadside. If anyone else has been caught in this downpour, they're bound to notice if the whole thing suddenly vanishes. Heck, it could stretch all the way back to Convittas, for all we know" she pointed out, twisting in her seat to meet Cho's eyes once more. "Unless you can manage it in a way that is subtle enough to avoid attention, of course" she hastily added. It was a tad too presumptuous of her to assume she knew exactly what the boy was capable of

[Headwrapper]

Mec supported himself against the crates on either side of him as the wagon lurched and rocked, his eyes looking towards the horses to try to determine if they had been injured. Once they were back in motion it seemed that they were none different than they were a few moments before, other than their constant whinnying. "I guess doing something like that would be rather obvious, wouldn't it?" he asked. He agreed that moving the storm would likely raise suspicion, even if he wanted to see how Cho would do it.

"I suppose so," Cho would say mildly. "Storms tend to follow the winds, so we can manage to move the clouds in the direction of of the storms natural movement it won't be as obvious. But the speed would still be rather peculiar to anyone who may be beneath these clouds." The youngling curled his fingers, cracking his knuckles, the rain masking the gentle popping that came from them. "No, I suppose it would be too much hassle. It would probably be best just to stop and create some shelter, I suppose. Whenever Hjarl decides to give those poor mares a break that is." His blue eyes turned towards the large driver's back, but his words seemed to deflect off the man's deafened ears.

The landscape around the group grew darker and darker as they continued forward through the descending torrents. A few time the horses would struggle to climb up the muddy hillsides, but Hjarl insisted to continue onward despite their or anyone else's protest. Only after a third or fourth slip would he give in and agree to set up camp. "Fine. We can stop once we reach the top of this hill. If we find some shelter that is. And only until the rain stops."

"Don't worry about finding shelter," Mec would say. "Just get us up there, and I'll take care of keeping us dry." The boy did his best to ignore a sour look from Hjarl. Even if he was helping them, the man did not seem to enjoy the prospect of magic being used around him. Maybe he thought of it only as an acceptable practice in times of necessity, but he would not be able to protest if the rest of the group was on board with the idea.

After a final struggle up a muddy slope, the wagon would finally reach the higher side of a long plateau. Although there were no more hills to deal with for a few leagues, the horses were battered, muddy, and exhausted. Hjarl would continue driving the wagon for a short while so that they were a decent distance away from any cliffs before halting. "Get on with it then," he would call back to Mec. When the boy jumped out of the wagon, the man turned his body away from them, crossing his arms.

Once they had reached what would be their campsite, Mec would take a few long strides away from the wagon, with little announcement other than when Hjarl barked at him. He would need to create a tree, or maybe a few, in order to provide plenty of space for all of the people and cargo to dry off. It was only then that he realized what a monumental task this would be for a mage of his level. The trees would have to be relatively large with thick foliage, close enough so that the branches would intermingle and create a sturdy shelter, but far enough away so that the horses and wagon could easily enter and exit the encampment.

The steady rain helped to tune out the boy's surroundings as he held the image of a small grove of three trees in his mind. The image of the large trunks bursting from the ground and the branches reaching towards each other before growing their thick leaves repeated in his mind as he tried to find the power he would need to channel for the task. When he thought he was ready, the boy would hold out his hands in front of him, placing one palm against the back of the other hand. At this moment was when he hesitated.

"Well?" Cho would call out from behind him.

"Are we sure there's no one who might see us?"

"It's fine. Trust me. You don't need to be as secretive as you think."

Mec would let out a long sigh before taking a deep breath, the humid air moistening his throat. Here goes nothing then... A golden light would begin to glow around the mage's hands, engulfing his fingers in its brilliance. As he continued to focus his powers to carry out his will, his almond irises would gradually take on a more golden color. He would stand in this fashion for nearly a minute before it finally happened. Simultaneously, three thick tree trunks burst from the wet ground, spraying mud in all directions. They would grow skyward, and once they were nearly double Mec's height branches would shoot out from the sides, winding and twisting towards each other as the trees embraced one another. At the same time, small shoots would grow from the branches, and wide, dark, green leaves would fill out the gaps between the branches. All of this would happen in less than a minute, and when Mec was done with the task he would wipe off a line of mud from his face with one hand, smiling at what he had accomplished.

[Namingtoohard]

The answer she received was more or less what Shallan had expected, so she found no real disappointment in Cho's admittance that moving the storm would probably be too obvious. Still, it seemed that the idea of using trees for shelter was alive and well, given that neither Hjarl or Cho objected. Shallan had no wishes to try and dissuade him, now that they were caught in the thick of it, and the prospect of shelter gave the girl something to look forward to. She would shiver along in silence, trying her best to endure the rain by fixing the prospect of eventual relief in her mind.

She would glance back over her shoulder, watching out the front of the cart as the hilltop approached. Just the knowledge that this place would become their sanctuary, and the knowledge that their journey would be at an end shortly was enough to provide some sort of brief encouragement, if not shift her mood entirely. The girl remained huddled beneath her cloak, but the eagerness in her eyes was enough to betray her enthusiasm at the thought of shelter. Travelling in the wagon troubled her not, but being cold and wet was another story. Perhaps, if they were lucky, they would be able to take advantage of their shelter in more ways than one.

When the group finally arrived, Shallan was quick to dismount, though she remained close to the wagon's outskirts this time. The girl would watch Mec and Cho tentatively as they stepped away to accomplish their goal, speaking openly of what they planned to do. After a second, though, she was snapped out of her reprieve as Hjarl growled at her to get a move on.

"Stop gawking and give me a hand unloading our perishables. Having an audience won't help those two in any way, so you might as well make yourself useful and help set up camp" he grumbled, sounding as testy as ever. The girl pouted briefly, and considered retorting, but quickly decided against it. The wagon driver was the one who had smuggled them out of the city, after all, and the rest of the group were still somewhat dependant on him. With a sigh, she quicker turned to clamber back into the wagon as the man tended to the horses. Most of his goods would survive the weather, and there would possibly be room to shelter it, depending on the amount that the two mages created, so she settled for gathering up their travelling gear.

It was at about that time that the trees erupted from the ground, causing Shallan to jump. She glanced up in surprise, but was quickly overwhelmed with relief when she took note of the cause. Without any further delay, the girl quickly trotted across to the ground beneath the trees, brushing straight past both of the mages as she did so. As soon as she had ducked beneath the foliage, the girl would let out a sigh of relief, tilting her head back to glance up at the leaves, while turning on the spot in a short circle. Afterwards, she would turn back to the two mages, giving them both a tied smile.

"Thank the ancestors for magic, hm? How many people do you hear say that nowadays?" She asked rhetorically. Hjarl, who was working on getting the horses detached from the wagon nearby, snorted. Shallan paid him no mind, though, instead busying herself setting down all their supplies by the tree trunks. It seemed that the cover was far from perfect - every now and then, one drop or another managed to sneak its way through the foliage's imperfect seal, or roll off leaves until it reached them below. It was still considerably better than nothing, though.

"Perhaps we can find a low-hanging branch suitable for drying our things on...and if we're lucky, perhaps we can even light a fire. Provided that our caretaker has something to help out with that. Or one of you two can conjure up a flame" she would add, bringing a hand up to scratch at her cheek gently. After that, she would glance around quickly, presumably speaking for one of the things of which she spoke. "...that said, I doubt there's any dry wood around here that will burn. So we'd have to get some from the trees themselves, I suppose, which might prove more troublesome. Ah well"

[Headwrapper]

"I can handle the fire, too," Mec said, a small hint of pride in his voice. "Once we make sure all of our cargo can fit beneath the shelter I will build one for us."

While Hjarl was busy releasing the horses from the wagon and finding a place to secure them beneath the canopy, Cho and Mec would work together to move the wagon, minus whatever items Shallan managed to remove from the wagon, to one corner inside of their newly made encampment. Any blankets or cloths that were used to cover the cargo were then shaken off and hung over the side of the wagon so they would face the center of the camp, were the fire would presumably be built. "So, what do you think?" Mec would ask Cho while shaking off one of the blankets. "I think I did a pretty good job considering my level of practice."

Cho gave a small shrug, turning towards the wagon to hang up a damp cloth. "I agree, pretty impressive." As far as magic goes, there are not many alive that had seen and experienced what Cho had. Despite this, he was glad to toss the mage-in-training a bone. Encouraging him in his training would surely be beneficial in the long run, especially if the boy held a special ability like Olenna had mentioned before.

When all of the items, people, and horses were finally beneath the canopy, Mec would rush towards the center to work on starting a fire. He had been formulating a strategy to do so while he and Cho were moving items, eager to put his magic to use again. "If Cho or I simply created a fire it would be rather annoying to pay attention to it and keep it alive," he would say to Shallan. "But we can still use magic to build one." First he waved one hand in front of him, palm facing upward, before gently curling his fingers towards him. This beckoned a small tree to come forth in the very center of the encampment, standing at the same height as the mage who created it and not much thicker than the circumference of his neck; the tree was but a sapling. When the mage rolled his fingers into a fist, the color of the tree had immediately drained as the sapling died, any life, magical or otherwise, taken away from it. "That should be enough dry wood to build a fire, once we chop it up. Do we have an axe to chop it with?" The boy turned towards Hjarl.

Cho raised a small hand to interject before the man could answer. "No need to blister our hands for something so trivial. If we're using magic anyways, might as well do the whole thing with magic, right?" He grinned, aware that Mec lacked any ability to actually build a fire without using his own two hands. His knowledge of magic limited him to only creating a source for wood, and a source for a flame. He could conjure his own flame, but like he mentioned, it would be a slight, but annoying, burden to keep it alive using magic alone. "You can relax, you've done enough for now," he said as he stepped passed Mec's confused expression.

As the youngling stepped forward, two white creatures began to materialize on either side of the dead sapling. The first to take form was a small beaver, and the second a large dog, although much smaller than the wolves that the youngling had summoned before. Both bore the trademark white and blue of Cho's summoned creatures. "Fire please," he the youngling would exclaim, pointing towards the sapling. Almost immediately the two animals began working towards the task that was given to them. The dog began gently digging at the ground to create a perfectly circular patch of dirt, while the beaver began gnawing away the the sapling, felling it in a matter of seconds before splitting it into multiple logs. The dog would grab small pieces of twigs or branches in its mouth and place them in the center of the dirt pit, before gently rolling the larger logs around the pile of kindling.

The speed and coordination of the two animals was outside the realm of what an actual beaver and dog could do, even if they had somehow been trained for the task. The beaver's teeth sliced through the wood like a butcher's cleaver through meat, and the zeal with which it worked would put even the busiest dam-builders to shame. "Don't worry," Cho said, turning to the others. "They're experts at this." With a flick of his fingers a small spark would ignite the kindling that was prepared in the center of the dirt circle, and the youngling would turn to find a spot near the soon-to-be campfire to sit and rest in, allowing his two summoned creatures to continue building the fire alone.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan couldn't help but feel relieved as the two quickly conferred and announced that starting a fire was indeed possible, even if they couldn't just create and keep the flame alive solely by using magic. Frankly, she did not care what methods they used at this point, so long as it resulted in their group having a place to cook, dry off, and stay warm while they rested and slept. She would watch on curiously for a moment as Mec took it upon himself to grow another tree, much smaller and much better suited to the task of being firewood. Again, Shallan found herself marvelling at the convenience that magical abilities seemed to provide, and how much easier they made life for the small party.

With little to contribute personally, the girl would continue to watch on in silence for a moment, before her eyes widened a little as Cho once again summoned forth some animals to aid them. Having seen it multiple times now, it wasn't the act itself that surprised her, or the magical dog. Rather, her attention was focused on the beaver - an animal that she personally had never seen before. Taking a tentative step closer, the girl would crouch down, trying to get a better view of the thing without scaring it off or otherwise interrupting its work.

"What a strange animal...I've never seen anything like it before. A furry little rodent with a big tail, that eats trees? Who would have guessed" she chimed softly, a hint of a smile flickering across her features. The girl knew she was ignorant of the larger world, even just the world of regular humans, so this felt like a strange glimpse of some far off place she did not yet know. There was more variety out there than she had ever dreamed of, if Shallan was going to judge by things like this. What's more, Cho had presumably seen these things for himself before, if he had the ability to conjure them up like this. Another curiosity to shroud the not-so-young child, and further prove the vastness of his experience compared to she and Mec.

After a moment, the young girl would stop staring, her curiosity satisfied for the moment. Instead she would peel off her damp traveller's cloak, quickly glancing around for a branch that suited her purposes. After she spotted one, the girl would stroll over casually, before balancing on her tip-toes as she tried to throw it over one of the lower-hanging branches. After a few seconds of shuffling, she had the thing arranged to her satisfaction, and quickly let off. With any luck, having it hang up to dry, as well as the heat from the fire, would leave her cloak dry and ready for use again tonight. Just in case she needed an extra layer for warmth.

With that done, the girl would return to the fire pit that was quickly beginning to take form. Lowering herself down, Shallan would plop herself down cross-legged, sitting at what she thought would be an acceptable distance once the flames took. Settling down to wait, she would tip her head to the side quickly, sweeping her hair out from around her neck so that it hung down freely. Paying no mind to those around her, the girl would start running her hands through it, trying to wring out any water she could from her dark locks. At one instance, she would wince slightly as her fingers caught in a knot, but with some insistence the girl would straighten it out.

"I don't suppose we have a brush tucked away in the wagon anywhere, right?" She questioned dryly. It let like an age since she had gotten the chance to look after her hair properly, and the girl doubted that would change here, out in the wilderness, given that she herself didn't have the foresight to pack one. No matter - she could manage without, if necessary. Though it would prove to be a more lengthy process, and most likely a more painful one, it seemed best to straighten things out now while they had the chance, and no other tasks that needed attending. Especially since Hjarl seemed to have finished tying up the horses to one of the trees, and now moved to join the rest of he group. He made sure to stay well and truly clear of the animals Cho had summoned, though, Shallan noticed.

[Headwrapper]

Like his female companion, Mec was intrigued by the large toothed creature Cho had summoned. Whatever the thing was, it was surely not native to these lands. It looked like something that would have came out of one of his father's tales, like the winged foxes. "What is that?" He asked Cho, pointing at towards the creature. "Did you imagine this sort of creature specifically for preparing logs?"

Cho remained silent as Mec spoke, only choosing to answer once he was nice and comfortable in his spot on the ground. The grass beneath him was still dampened by the rain, but he paid no mind. "Hmm? Oh, they call it a beaver. They're quite common actually, in places outside of this kingdom." The youngling added a small shrug to his statement, having little else to offer in retort. He crossed his legs as he patiently watched his two familiars continue to build a fire for the group in the heart of the encampment.

Mec stood silently for a moment, a small scowl resting on his facade as he considered Cho's words. "Outside of this kingdom," he repeated quietly. He took a moment to glance around the tiny grove he had created, relishing its simple beauty and functionality. All around he could see the rain pouring heavily around them, but beneath the green canopy above the group remained virtually dry. From nothing, he had created a shelter for himself and his companions. I did this. No normal man could have done as much if you had given an entire day. They must envy us. Hjarl's reluctance to even gaze upon Cho's familiars did not go unnoticed by the amateur mage. Did the man fear what he did not understand? Or did he simply envy the ease that mages manipulated the fabric of the world around them?

His brown leather shoes squeaked lightly as he walked across the wet grass towards where Shallan had hung up her cloak, and he would promptly drape his over the same branch in a similar fashion. He chose to wear the same shirt Shallan had picked out for him a few days earlier, wanting to keep it as a reminder of the moment of respite they shared that day. The cool air rushed passed his exposed collar, as if trying to inflict as much discomfort as possible before the warmth of the growing fire expelled any hints of cold, sending a shiver down the boy's spine. He would take a spot next to Shallan, sitting with his legs crossed in the same fashion as her and Cho.

The three males exchanged quick glances, waiting for one of the others to pipe up if they happened to pack a hair brush. Hjarl would simply shrug and scratch his chin, while rolled backwards and lay on his back. "Seems you wouldn't be so lucky," Mec would finally say when the answer had become clear. "You should have said something back in Taunteas. I would have had Olenna teach me how to create hair brushes. Or maybe Cho knows of an animal that can brush hair?" He chuckled at the very thought.

Cho, who had been laying with his eyes closed, would open one of his eyelids to reveal a curious blue sapphire, intrigued when he heard his name. "Doves. Though they might struggle with how long the princess's hair is." From where the youngling lay, he could feel the warmth of the fire begin to fill the camp. With their task complete, the two creatures would vanish, but only after the dog had approached its master to receive a gentle head rub.

[Namingtoohard]

The girl would give a simple nod of acceptance as the group silently agreed that they had nothing of the sort, content to relax and do the task by hand now that she had totally eliminated that possibility. She would rake her fingers through the knotted, twisted and slightly damp mass of her hair repeatedly, intent on making at least some small improvement. It was hardly a comfortable task, even discounting the way she had to sit, and initial impressions were that her hair was in a sorry state. Whenever she found a knot, the girl had to go over the area several times to try and disentangle it, and with limited success. The uncomfortable tugging was enough to make her wince, but she persevered nonetheless.

"Doves taking it upon themselves to comb somebody's hair...it almost sounds like something out of a fairy tail, doesn't it? Such ministrations would be enough to make any girl feel like an actual princess" she answered simply, a smile playing at her lips as she enjoyed the thought. Still, after a few more moments of continued toil, she was more or less satisfied with the state of her hair. The girl would straighten up a little, bringing both hands up to brush it back into a more natural position, before folding them in her lap somewhat casually. It was hardly the best job she had ever done, or the most thorough, but it would suffice until they reached town tomorrow.

"I wonder if it's just doves. What quality do they have over other birds that make them more suited to the task? I can't help but wonder" the girl added, before giving a bit of a casual shrug as she dismissed the entire matter as inconsequential. Giving in to her desire to get warm, the girl would take a moment to shuffle a fraction closer to the growing flames, intent on making the most of the heat, and as quickly as she could manage. The girl wanted to dry off as much as possible before it eventually came time for them to rest, or otherwise continue their journey. It was starting to thaw her out, dragging the cold from the very depths of her body, and the relief that followed was more than welcome. The gentle crackling of the flames devouring the wood filled the air, and provided a peaceful atmosphere, combined with the ambiance of the rain.

"Mm. All we need at this point is a nice thick broth or stew and a story or two, and you could almost mistake this for any old camping trip" she would finally say, breaking the silence herself, though her gaze was directed away from their little group and out into the rain. Her voice was soft and gentle, but that didn't stop it from being audible, given that it really only had the rain to compete with. How long had it been since she had stayed the night outside of a proper town? "At a time like this, it's almost easy to forget the realities of our situation, and focus on the little things. The simply joys of an evening spent with friends" she would add after a brief pause, before drawing her gaze inwards once more.

"In any case, I don't know about the rest of you, but I could use a bite to eat. Even if we don't have the means for a stew" she answered simply. The girl would rise from the patch of dirt she had only just claimed, quickly moving across to her bag. Instead of rummaging around inside, she would simply bring it along, plopping it down on the ground next to where she had just placed herself, before resuming her seat. "I suppose we don't have to worry about running out of supplies in such a short journey...and I can only imagine it would be possible to make trees like these bear fruit, if it proved totally necessary on a longer trip" she would add, glancing up at the leaves above briefly. She nod Mec had discussed a similar in earlier on, before they had even met Olenna, if she recalled directly.

[Headwrapper]

Cho closed his eyes once more as he lay in his spot, enjoying the warmth of the nearby fire as it warmed his body and dried off his clothes. "I don't know, they just like to do it I guess. They're good at helping you dress in the morning too." The youngling let out a loud yawn, finally feeling the effects of being awoken early in the morning. "It's quite helpful when an evil sorceress decides to rudely awaken you so you can watch some delinquents flee the law."

Mec pulled his legs closer to himself and crossed his arms as he listened to Cho and Shallan's exchange. It came as a slight surprise that Cho even used his summoned creatures to help with simple tasks like getting dressed. Mec wondered if such frequent use of magic was normal for such a powerful mage, or if the boy had just grown reliant to the practice and could not bother with the effort to do simple tasks himself. Maybe using magic frequently for these types of tasks was good practice, and doing so was what it took to command powers as strong as the blond youngling's.

A soft smile traveled across his lips as he listened to Shallan's words about the serenity of their time in the encampment. Although the risk of capture still loomed upon them, its weight was rather light since they were so far from civilization. Unlike the sanctuary under the ground, the outdoors provided them with fresh air, a dynamic scenery, and much more space to share with companions. Even though Hjarl was a complete stranger, and Cho still shrouded himself with quirky mystery, they were part of the few in the world that stood behind the criminals in their time of need.

"I'm not very hungry, but I am pretty thirst. Might as well drink up while there's plenty of water to restock with." The boy's eyes turned to look outside of the magical canopy to view the storm that surrounded them. After uncrossing his legs and rubbing the blood through his veins, he glanced around as if to look for something, before realizing he had not really packed much in the way of supplies. He remembered that he did not bother to bring anything other than his sword, since Shallan had seemed to have gathered enough supplies for them both for such a small trip. "Oh yeah, I don't have a pack anymore. Anyone have an extra waterskin?"

Hjarl, who had remained silent since taking a seat on top of a box he placed closer to the fire once Cho's creatures had vanished, would hold up a small metal flask. "Tastes a bit better than water," he would say, awkwardly. Although he was being light-hearted, the uncharacteristic humor almost came unnaturally. His near-neutral expression would give way to a small frown when Mec raised a hand to object, then to a face of shock when the smallest of the group had suddenly snatched the flask from the man's outstretched hands.

"Don't mind if I do," Cho would giggle before taking a sip. He wrinkled his nose at the burning sensation in his mouth and throat, smacking his lips loudly. "This tastes gross!"

The large man's knees cracked as he stood to swipe the booze away from Cho. "Whatter you doing you little demon?" He'd grumble before sitting back onto his crate. He took another drink from the flask before looking over to Mec. "So you haven't taken a liking to a man's drink yet, have you? Nothing wrong with that I guess, when there's clean water around. But a hard drink every once and a while can do a man some good. You'll learn that soon enough." A bright flash shown all around the camp, quickly followed by a booming thunderclap. The older man let out a long, low sigh. "It looks like we'll be cooped up for a while. Luckily for us, no one will be travelling and looking for you in this storm. We can afford waiting until the rain lightens up some. The moment it does, we're leaving."

[Namingtoohard]

At Mec's words, Shallan would reach for her pack once more, quite content to share her supplies with him if the situation demanded it. Knowing that her companion had lost most of his things when captured, the girl had done her best to pack a little bit extra, just in case the situation demanded it. Managing to fit everything in one bag had been a bit of a struggle, but the girl did not mind - she had known in advance that this leg of their journey would be a short one, and as such, had contented herself with leaving a few things behind. Things that they could always replace in Convittas, provided their stocks of coin held out.

After a few seconds of rummaging, she was able to withdraw the one she had packed and hand it over - even as she watched the exchange over the alcohol that Hjarl had brought. Shallan briefly contemplated trying whatever was contained in that flask herself, but swiftly decided against it. Her eyes lingered on the flask for a moment, but she quickly turned them away, focusing her intentions on Cho instead. Alcohol brought up another interesting point about his physiology, and just how his body reacted so such substances. His initial reaction wasn't enough to judge by, either, since that could simply be a matter of taste.

"I suppose a shot of liquor can help stave off the cold in situations like these, if one is so inclined" she observed simply. The girl would think for herself for a moment longer, before giving a bit of a casual shrug. "I'd preach moderation, given what awaits us tomorrow, but somehow I don't think you're so much of a lightweight as to be done in by a single flask. No matter what sort of brew you have tucked away there" she would finish, eyes directed across at Hjarl while he spoke.

With the fire growing, and the warmth it was giving off increasing to match, Shallan found that she was finally able to relax a little. With only the breeze to compete with, its heat was more than enough to help infuse her relatively small frame. The lightning and thunder that followed made her jump a little, letting out a soft yelp as their suddenness caught her off guard. Once the initial shock of the moment had receded, though, the girl would settle once more. Her gaze lingered on the treetops above for a few moments longer, though.

"I know the chances of getting struck are a million to one, but it's certainly much unsettling when you're caught out here. Much more beautiful, though" the girl would remark idly. After a brief pause, she would recall her original task, and withdraw a few of the dried nuts she had stashed away. Munching on those idly, she would sit in silence with her eyes upturned, as if trying to catch another glimpse of the sky's wrath.

"In any case, perhaps a story would be a good way to pass the time, or some sort of travelling song...assuming that none of you are tired quite yet. Any suggestions?" She would question simply, turning her eyes away from the sky and back to her companions. The girl would sweep her gaze across all three of them, her face illuminated gently by the firelight. Between the storm above, which was now in full swing, and the day slowly drawing to a close, it was easily the most prominent sort of light now. "What about you, Cho? I'm sure you've heard plenty of tales and songs we haven't even dreamed of in your travels. Ones just as foreign to us as your little woodeater animal" she would finally goad, before waiting patiently to see if either of them had anything to put forth. The girl could always share some of her own, of course, but she saw no reason not to open things up to begin with.

[Headwrapper]

Mec took a long drink of the warm water stored in the leather pouch Shallan had handed him, only stopping when he had realized how much lighter the pouch was when he first started. He placed the cap back on and kept the pouch in hand in case his thirst returned. He mulled over the idea of Cho potentially being a regular drinker, if he indeed was older than how he appeared. Surely acquiring luxuries that are reserved for adults would be difficult given mage's boyish appearance. No law-following business would serve it to him, unless others wereround to vouch for his age.

Memories of denying such services crossed Mec's mind from the days he spent watching over the family shop. Boys eager to prove themselves men and drunks who were put on probation from drink after inciting the law in a drunken stupor both tried to find clever and not-so clever ways to purchase or otherwise acquire a stiff drink for themselves. Despite their efforts, though, service was always denied to them. His father always expressed how important it was to follow the laws of the lands you were in, and that was the policy that was held in the shop. He had very little tolerance for patrons that tried to persuade him otherwise. Mec wondered if a particular instance when he was young, when he watched his father shout away a homeless alcoholic who was fixing for a free drink, was what really pushed him away from the act of drinking.

Oh how things have changed, father, the boy thought. Was there any reason to fool himself into thinking that following the laws of the land would somehow make him a better person? His very existence had made doing so impossible. Was there a reason to even draw a line any more? Where would it move to? He would never harm an innocent person, but there were laws other than those meant to protect people. But things like curfews and trespassing, even serving as a middleman for those prohibited from things like alcohol, why would those types of acts be beneath him now?

The boy stirred slightly as the dark around them gave way to the flash of light, only to return with the thunderous crackle. The sound reminded him of the night he had escaped the gallows with Olenna's aid, when female mage's doll struck down the man who had outed him and Shallan. He imagined what had happened to the man was not much different than what would happen if he were struck by natural lightning. Mec's picked up the sword he had taken, concealed in the sheath Cho had gifted him, and placed it on his lap. He had kept it as a sort of memento from that morbid affair, but he wondered if it would be better to try to sell it when they arrived at Convittas. It would give him and Shallan a few pieces of gold to help fill their pouches. Pouch rather, as Mec had lost his half of the money when he was captured.

Mec glanced over to Cho as the youngling lay back down after shaking off the burning drink he had snatched. Laying back did not seem like a bad idea, considering how little Mec had slept the night before. It seemed that they would not be leaving too soon anyway, so he could potentially catch a good nap or even a night's rest in the hours to come. The boy let out a soft groan as he lay back, against the softened ground beneath him, placing his hands behind his back. He even went as far as to kick his shoes off, letting the fire dry his feet as he lay.

"I'm not much of a singer, but I guess I do have many stories," Cho would say from his spot. He stared at the dark leaves above him. The way the orange glow of the fire made the shadows dance across the leafy roof reminded him of autumn, when the leaves browned to a similar color and began to fall from the trees. For a few seconds he fixated on a specific spot where he noticed a steady drip sneak past. If he listened hard enough he could hear the water droplets touchdown with the grass. "Any of you ever seen the ocean? Or have ridden a boat in it? More than likely not, this kingdom is not exactly known for seafaring... But those people in the east, they can build a vessel large and sturdy enough to send almost a whole town's worth of people across the seas. Or, straight to die, if what some sailors say about what lies deep below the seas is true."

[Namingtoohard]

Unable to help herself, Shallan would squirm uncomfortably in her chosen seat for a moment as she watched Mec. While the girl was totally unbothered by his decision to hang on to the water flask for the time being, given their current situation, it was his actions afterwards that caused her discomfort. Just the sight of him picking up the sword he had recovered and laying it across his lap filled her with unease, for reasons that she couldn't quite put in to words properly. Even when she had watched as her companion was presented with a sheathe, she had disliked the thing immensely. After all, such a weapon was made for the sole purpose of taking life. Self-defence had to be considered, but with magic to serve that purpose, Shallan disliked such a decision, and everything that it implied.

For all her discomfort, the girl said nothing on the matter, though. Instead, she simply chose to allow herself to be distracted, flicking her attention back across to their young companion as he answered her earlier query. The ocean was an interesting topic of choice, all things considered. Naturally, Shallan had at least heard of the thing before - stories about a gigantic body of water that stretched further than the eye could see, and was so deep that it was impossible for someone to swim down and reach the bottom without running out of breath first. Many of the stories she knew involved mentions of such, and occasionally a song, too. As Cho quickly surmised, though, the girl had never seen it for herself, which she quickly displayed with a simple shake of her head.

"An entire town? Across such a large body of water?" The girl pondered this to herself for a moment, before shivering a little as he mentioned the prospect of such a boat sinking, and dragging an entire town full of people to their doom in the process. A shiver that had nothing to do with the wind, the rain, or the cold of their not so immediate surroundings. Being stuck in the claustrophobic interior of such a boat, surrounded by water in such a way as to be inevitably trapped and drowned were things to go wrong...that seemed one of the worst ways that one could possibly go. To her mind, at the very least. The next question to ask, though, seemed rather obvious.

"W-what lies below? What exactly do the sailors say, then?" The girl would ask, watching the young boy intently as she spoke, with just a tinge of nervousness showing through in her voice. This entire discussion seemed to disincline her towards the prospect of ever making such a journey herself one day, but despite that, some small part of her being couldn't help but want to know. To understand what it was that supposedly lurked within those unplumbed depths, that humans had never reached. Of course, she was not totally ignorant on such matters, for similar reasons as before, but the truth of any stories she had heard was hard to judge. They seemed an unreliable source at best, and she knew how easy it was for such tales to be exaggerated.

"I mean, I've heard of the Kr-krayen before" she would finally add, tongue stumbling over the unfamiliar and foreign word. She would turn her gaze away here, directing her eyes down towards the fire that burned at the centre of their little party. She stared into the heart of it, those dancing reds and yellows, even as she continued to talk. "Monsters with more tentacles than one can count, each large enough to snatch up a horse with ease, or pluck a man from the deck of a galley. A squirming mass designed to pull entire boats down towards its maw, so that it might feed on anything or anyone foolish enough to cross its path" the girl would explain simply. She knew little more of such beasts than that, but it seemed a start. Hopefully Cho would be able to provide further insight, the girl thought, even as she gripped her own thighs hard enough to turn her knuckles white. "I don't know if such creatures really exist, but...there couldn't be much worse than those out there, right?"

[Headwrapper]

"Hmm." Cho scratched the side of his blond head as he considered what he knew about the seas, and more importantly how to describe them while keeping the group's attention. Already he noticed that Shallan in particular had already quite curious about what he would have to say. "Well, I suppose I have not seen them myself. But a trustworthy seafaring friend of mine has. They're not much different than large squids, I believe, if you have ever seen one of those before. Quite a common delicacy in the east... They only have ten arms total, but they are quite massive. They will drag entire ships to the bottom of the ocean if they can get a proper hold."

The boy sat back up to better project his voice. As he spoke, the dancing colors of the fire reflected off of his small white face, turning his blond hair into a dark orange in the relative darkness. "But the krakens are just beasts. As horrifying and powerful their raw size is, they're still just as dumb as any other animal. If a crew can keep their wit's about them, it's actually not as futile as one might think to try to escape one. There are more mysterious things out on the seas, things that we might never understand."

"There's a classic tale about a lost kingdom that had sunk to the bottom of the ocean... You probably have heard some variation of it before. Some say all the inhabitants drowned with the city, leaving some sort of treasure behind far beneath the surface... Others say the inhabitants still live on, acquiring the ability to somehow breathe underwater or turn into mermaids, half humans and half fish. I've never seen any real evidence that this city exists, but... I am quite certain of the existence of a different sort of lost land. The Vanishing Isles is what the sailors called them. Many sailors claimed to have seen them, but most of the time they're simply being fooled by a mirage."

"It's not known what causes the Isles to appear, but it's said anyone who sets foot on the island will be granted a the power to convert anything into gold. The problem is, when the Isles vanish once again, anyone on the Isles disappear as well, never to return. There are different theories, about why this is, but like I said, it's all a mystery."

Cho let out a long sigh, resting his head on one hand. "There are a lot of mysteries about the seas. Even I don't know if any of them are true. The only reason I trust the story about the Vanishing Isles is because I've met a man who had survived a journey to them... His name was Barnes. Barnes Eikenroy."

Mec rubbed his lips together when he heard the name. It sounded quite familiar, but he could not think of why. The surname was what rung a bell the loudest, but there was no one the boy could remember that he knew personally that claimed a matching name. The thought would tear away at him until he could recall where he had heard the name before, and he continued working his brain while listening to Cho's ramblings.

The youngling let out a small laugh. "You know, traveling by sea is not exactly simple. I'm sure most of the stories stem from hallucinations poor sailors had while their minds and bodies were being fried by the hot sun, surrounded by water that's undrinkable, with no fresh food available. If they survive such a trip and return ashore they are not left with much in terms of common sense. Not to say that you shouldn't go on a trip across the seas if you have the opportunity... Just don't make it a habit. It's fun and exciting the first time but it becomes a chore really fast."

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would tilt her head to the side a little as she pondered Cho's words, uncertain as to whether she should be more worried or comforted by them. Knowledge that kraken were real animals seemed terrifying in and of itself, but from the way the boy made things sound, they were not quite as dangerous and impossible to flee as her mind had made them out to be. Squid were not something she was familiar with, and the girl allowed the strange and foreign word to roll over her without so much as an objection, more or less able to infer the truth from the way Cho used the word. She decided to let the topic drop, though, in favour of listening to Cho's story about the disappearing islands.

"Just like that?" The girl couldn't help but utter softly, as the boy described the supposedly miraculous effects of visiting the island. The gift that it bestowed upon visitors who were lucky enough to find them, before deciding if they would ever be allowed to leave or not. The power seemed a wonderful thing, but she couldn't help but imagine any who possessed such a power would likely be persecuted in the way of all other mages, regardless of the true source of their abilities. A sour thought, and one that helped distil the excitement brought on by the possibility of such...well, magic.

"So, if you met somebody who survived a trip to the islands, then does that mean you actually got to see him do it? Turn another object in to gold, without any sort of alchemical tricks involved?" Shallan would question, eyes fixed on the young boy as she waited eagerly to hear his answer. Naturally, she remained ignorant of the hesitation that the man's name caused her companion, with no direct link to it herself.

"In any case, almost all the talk I've heard of seafaring travel thus far seems to speak against ever trying it myself. Boats that serve as death traps for entire towns, trapping people within as they sink to the depths? Giant monsters capable of dragging boats down themselves, and other unknowns besides? Not to mention this talk about a shortage of supplies" the girl would respond, frowning to herself a little . Indeed, painted in such a light, a journey of that sort seemed more risk than it was worth. Still, it was better than being crammed back into the bed of the wagon, she supposed. The logical part of her brain knew that such cases were likely rare, and just being used as notable examples, but still.

"When out that way, one trip by boat definitely sounds like plenty. Enough to experience it for oneself, and then never have to worry about it again. I'm sure there are some beautiful sights, some wonders, that can't be seen or experienced in any other way. Especially if all this talk is true" the girl would finish simply, contending herself with that. She would shuffle about in her seat for a moment in the silence that followed, before stashing away what little remained of her makeshift meal, tucking it back in to her pack and fastening the thing closed once more.

[Headwrapper]

Cho placed his hands behind him so that he could lean back where he sat while he watched his feet as he lazily waved them left in right. "If I had not seen him use that power then I wouldn't have a reason to believe those islands exist," he pouted. As he spoke his head hung low, rolling over towards one shoulder, but his eyes remained focused towards his feet and the flames flickering behind them. "The man was smart with the power as well. He made sure to sell his gold to the right people, and he did not let himself get carried away and make a seen with his abilities. He carefully used the gold to build up an estate and then married a beautiful girl from a wealthy family, and so solidified the status of nobility his family name carries to this day."

Mec took a sharp breath when he had suddenly realized where he had recognized the name from. The Eikenroy family were the lords that controlled the lands to the southeast, the kingdom's only route to the sea according to the maps. "Wait. No, there's... no, that can't be true," he stammered. The boy almost began to look panicked as the pace of his breath picked up, his eyes furrowing in confusion. "Are you saying that a man was able to learn some magic and was able to become a lord?" His fists clenched the thought escaped his mouth. "That's not fair. How could he have not been exposed as a mage and executed on the spot? He used his magic to cheat his way into power and... and, the rest of us mages have to just hide our powers, even when we have good intentions?"

Cho bowed his head as he listened to Mec's questions, his blond locks covering his white face as he silently considered a response. "Well... Technically it might not be power from the Anima..."

"Who cares? Do you think that the people could differentiate such a power from our magic? To them it's all the same! How could he get away with such a thing while we're forced to struggle?"

A soft sigh escaped the younglings lips before he shook his head. "Do you think that Barnes Eikenroy was the first to do such a thing? Plenty of mages have been able to take advantage of their powers to grant themselves wealth or power or some other gift for their families while remaining undetected. Some powers are more subtle than others, or they can be concealed with proper care. They might not all be lords or noblemen, but they find ways to take advantage of their abilities all the same. Farmers whose crops always grow, even in drought, fishermen who are able to reel in fish larger than anyone else's, heck, even thieves who just never get caught. Some people are just not afraid of doing what they can to get ahead."

Mec huffed loudly. His body wished to roar some rebuttal, but he had no words. Instead he would breath loudly, glancing around the encampment as if looking for something. "But... that's not fair..."

"You're sitting here, in the middle of a storm, almost completely dry, Mec. With a fire to boot. I don't see much of a difference between that and using some magic tricks to make some extra money. Besides, there's no point in being upset about the Eikenroy family now... Barnes has long since died since then, and his descendants are none the wiser about his gifts, as far as I know." The final part of the youngling's statement came slowly and carefully, as if he realized he had made some sort of error halfway through it. He wondered if either the distraught mage in training, the smuggler, or the young girl would realize that he had witnessed Barnes Eikenroy pass from old age long ago, before maybe any of them were born.

[Namingtoohard]

Finally satisfied with the response that was given, Shallan would nod in simple acceptance of Cho's words. She had more or less expected that he had seen such a talent at work, given his apparent belief in the stories. A demonstration certainly seemed the most effective way to prove such a tall tale to be true, and somebody with such a flashy and unique ability would likely be prone to showing off...within the right circles, at least, where such displays were held in secrecy instead of being greeted with death. The talk that followed seemed slightly less tasteful, but for once, the girl found herself rather strongly opinionated on the matter at hand.

"I wouldn't quite call them the same thing. Quite the opposite, really. Especially if he really went so far as to buy his way into the highest social circles and secure such lasting prominence for future generations of his family" the girl would pipe up herself, unable to help but frown at the thought. She would bring a hand up to scratch at her cheek idly as she continued to ponder, though her gaze remained independent. Rather than staring at the two she found herself conversing with, the girl was simply staring into the flames, supposedly lost in thought as she pondered this question. It was hard to judge, not knowing the full story, but the girl found her opinion sided with Mec in this particular instance...mostly.

"I can understand wanting to use every advantage that one has to the fullest. Wanting to make the most of one's gift, or station of birth, or whatever other gifts are foisted upon them. There is certainly a line to be drawn between trying to ensure one's survival and outright abusing such powers" she would finally decide, unable to help herself. "Making gold to ensure you have a house is one thing. But when you already have all that is necessary to live in comfort and happiness, why push yourself, and take the extra risk? Transitioning from being homeless to a nice townhouse is survival. Upgrading from a townhouse to a mansion, and buying your way into the highest circles of influence, is totally unnecessary by comparison. Without purpose, at least"

"Using magic to grow crops could help feed the hungry, too, while securing one's own financial situation. Can the same be said of gold?" She would add. At this point, the girl would pause in her statement to readjust her position a little. Grabbing her pack, the girl would set it down behind her, before leaning against the stuffed bag. This way, she could use it as a makeshift backrest. It was certainly a nicer alternative than sitting upright all night, or laying back in the grass and the dirt. Still, once she had settled, the smile that flickered across her face was rather pointed and ironic. "I suppose that it all comes down to power at the end of the day, hm? The strong and capable feed at the expense of the weak, regardless of what means they use. If that is what it means to be a part of society, then I'm happy to be an outcast" the girl finished simply, contending herself with that.

For a few moments, the girl would continue to brood, sitting in silence as she mulled over such thoughts. After several seconds, though, she would give a bit of a casual shrug. She had reconciled herself with this life, or so she liked to think. Besides, there was another little point that needed addressing. Hjarl seemed equally disgusted by such talk, grunting in something akin to contempt, before turning his head to the side to spit, away from he rest of them. His prejudice remained clear.

"In any case, I suppose that's yet more proof Cho has lived beyond what appearances would have one believe" she would finally add, tilting her head back to glance at the leaves above once more. She didn't infer his full meaning, but the girl had come somewhat close, it seemed.

"You can bicker over it all you wish. At the end of the day, arguments and wishes aren't going to change a damn thing. Mages will continue to do as mages have done, as will nobles, as will soldiers, and just about anyone else you can think of. That's the world we live in, so you might as well just accept it" Hjarl would interject. Shallan remained silent at that, opting to continue staring up at the canopy above, without deigning to reply. She had already weighed in as much as she wished to do on the matter.

[Headwrapper]

Mec continued to glance around actively, like a trapped animal, continuing his search for some sort of escape from what he perceived to be an injustice. Even after hearing Hjarl's words, the boy still appeared disgruntled by what had been discussed. "You're right that it's the world we live in, and we probably can't do anything about it, but I don't have to accept it," he announced defiantly.

With a quiet huff, the boy would stand up in order to stretch his legs as well as help alleviate his energized frustration. There was some hope that if Olenna ever had her way, the playing field in which mages could gain social status or earn livelihoods would be leveled out, but it would be at the expense of the position of non-mages. His eyebrows furrowed as he considered this though. It would be best to ignore it for now, as well as forgetting about anything this Barnes Eikenroy had ever done. Besides, as Cho mentioned, that man was long gone.

Mec considered Shallan's earlier words about Cho's apparent age. If the boy had witnessed the Eikenroy family form its legacy, he would have had to have been alive since before the time the current lord of the southeastern lands would have even been born, at the very least. Although he was educated enough to know how to read and write, he had very little memory of any history lessons involving the current noble families and their ancestors. The Eikenroy's nobility may have been relatively new, but as far as Mec knew the family might have ruled their lands for many generations. "Shal has a good point, Cho. It must have been a very long time since this Barnes Eikenroy built his legacy. I thought I understood what you meant before about you being older than you look, but I did not think you meant that much older..."

The boy turned as he addressed the blond youngling, who had chosen to lay back onto the moistened grass with his eyes closed, almost feigning sleep. "You know what, I think it's only fair you let us in on your secret," Mec would continue after a few quiet seconds. "We've been trusting enough to let you join us on this journey, even if it's only a short one. There's not much we can do to threaten you, either, so I don't see why you can't just come clean to us about your real age. Are you masking your true appearance using some kind of magic?"

At first, the youngling did very little to respond. For a few seconds he just continued to lay with his eyes closed, his face neutral, almost truly appearing like he had fallen asleep. Before anyone could question if this was the case, though, he would let both arms fall outspread on either side and he would look up at the leaves above. "I don't think I gave you much of a choice with respect to my travelling with you, but I think I see your point," he would sigh. "I'm surprised you believe my story about the man who can turn anything into gold enough to suspect that I truly witnessed the rise of the Eikenroy family." The boy let out a loud laugh. "Do you really think that could even be possible?"

The blond boy sat up as he directed the question to Mec and the others. Like he had decided before, he had no real reason to conceal his age from Mec and Shallan, but it would be much easier to avoid revealing the nature of his life unless the details were explicitly asked from him. If they pursued the topic further, he supposed the delay in their travels would provide a suitable opportunity to explain his situation, at least to the degree he had revealed to Olenna already.

[Namingtoohard]

Unable to he herself, Shallan would throw a sideways glance at Mec as he once agin pressed their companion for information regarding his age. The girl would have been lying had she tried to deny any curiosity on her own part, but the intensity with which he pursued this current topic continued to strike her as odd. Why was Mec so insistent on making the young boy reveal his secrets? These people were currently in the process of helping them escape alive, so Mec had Shallan were hardly in any sort of position to demand more from these people. They were likely much safer travelling with Cho, even if his presence brought added risk, given the boy's competence and ability to act as a teacher.

Another thought struck her then. Was her companion eager to find out because he thought that the cause could be some type of magic that could be taught, or otherwise shared? The idea made her shudder. Immortality, or even a long life, seemed a mixed blessing at best. Still, despite their childhood friendship, it seemed that there was still plenty that she did not know or understand about her companion. Was he afraid of dying after recent events, or did he have some other sort of motivation? She pondered this in silence for a moment, before snapping back to attention as Cho finally spoke up.

"I think it's entirely possible" the girl would start simply, though she would allow her eyes to drift back to the trees above, lest Mec glance back across and catch her staring. Best to avoid any such questions or confrontations until she had more information, and had thought the topic over a good deal more. "Since leaving home, I have seen a childhood friend display magical abilities for the first time. I've seen entire trees grown in mere moments. I've seen flowers bloom from nothing but raw stone. An unnatural bird with the ability to shapeshift. A blind lady with the ability to see. A boy who claims to be older than any of us would believe, and the ability to summon glowing animals out of thin air" she would rattle off simply, one after another. A lengthy example, but of course, there was a point to be found here.

"I have seen a great deal of things that I would have once thought impossible, and our journey has only just begun - especially compared to the lengths of time you seem to deal in. If all those sorts of things are true, who are we to dispute anything you say, in all our inexperience?" She would answer. The girl would sit upright now, once again directing her attention back to the young boy. Her smile was gone now, mouth hardened into a line as she fixed her gaze upon him. "In fact, you openly told us that you had witnessed him use this magic yourself, and then try and deny the reality of the story mere moments later when it throws up questions about your age? Something there doesn't add up"

The more she mulled over the issue, the more she was starting to think that Mec was right to be suspicious. She was more or less thinking out loud as she spoke, trying to connect the threads, but the girl didn't seem to like where they were taking her - especially given how bad her mood had been to begin with.

"Regardless, this all seems a perfect way for you to try and distract us from the question at hand. Or are you trying to make a point of saying that we shouldn't trust what you say to begin with?" She would ask, pausing only briefly to flick back a stray lock of hair that hung down over her face, having some loose while she was laying down. "If you don't wish to share the truth of the matter with us, you could at least be truthful about why you are so reluctant. Who knows? If you had a plausible reason for concealing such information, perhaps it would seem s tad less antagonising"

[Headwrapper]

"Shallan's right," Mec said. "We have already experienced so many things in the past few days that were outside of what we considered possible. Even with the understanding of magic I have now, I have a feeling I'm not even aware of a fraction of what it's possible to do with it. The more our friends can help us prepare for what we might witness in the future, the better."

The boy reclaimed his seat on the soft ground. He frowned as he considered Shallan's next point. He agreed that Cho's unwillingness to explain his situation only made things more frustrating. Even if he had his reasons to not describe the details, what excuse could he have to not offer a reason why he could not? Although, if the boy offered more details about how he had lived for so long, Mec would not mind hearing them. He wondered if it was possible that the boy aged just like everyone else, but had used magic to mask it. What reason would he choose to appear as a child instead of a youthful adult? Considering that point made it seem more likely that Cho was stuck in the body of a child. Was it perhaps possible that he really aged slowly enough that he could witness historical events and still only appear as a young boy in the present time? How would one even use magic to make that possible?

Of course, for a brief moment Mec would consider if he would choose to use magic to preserve his youth if he found out it was possible. He reflected on what his life was like before this journey he and Shallan left Ozette. For the most part, he was simply waiting and watching time pass, tending to the family shop. He never had the passion for travel that his father had. No, he was content with the fact that he would one day watch his parents pass, and hopefully he would bear children of his own to take care of him when he grew old as well. Of course he had acquaintances from the town, but he had never grown very close to any of them. He was content with the simple, private pleasures. Those times, reflecting on them now, seemed like he had experienced them in a distant and foggy dream.

Now that he had begun this journey, Mec felt like he was truly awake. He now felt ambition. He now felt a reason to seek more from his life and from other people. His world, which was small and cramped within the walls of a small town, had expanded far beyond its original borders. As long as he had a purpose, he could see no reason to preserve his youth. If such a thing was reversible, he would relinquish his youth if he no longer had purpose.

Cho had continued to stare at the leaves above, even as his two young companions spoke. His blue eyes could barely make out a small droplet of water between the the dark green foliage slowly begin to wriggle itself free. When it began its descent, he would watch as it felt towards him, only losing sight of it just before it dripped on his small, pale nose. For a few seconds he sat with a mystified expression on his face, as if shocked by the drop of water, before sitting up and turning himself towards his companions.

"I guess I am trying to make a point," he said. His entire face pulled back into a smile, his eyes matching his wide grin. "You are both naive of the world around you, especially when it comes to magic. You will have to be careful not to believe everything someone tells you, even if they might know more than you do." The boys shoulders slumped down as he relaxed his excited facade, but he could not help but keep smiling. "When I was very, very young, I had made that mistake. I was offered exactly what I was searching for... what I am still searching for until this day, in exchange for completing a simple... well, life-threatening, task." His eyes widened to express a bit of sadness as he recalled the memory, but his small smile remained. "When it was done I was told that what I sought would never exist. I was given a well-bodied horse for my troubles and was told to flee as far as the horse could carry me or else I would be turned in to the local knights for being a mage."

The youngling let out a long sigh, regaining his composure. "That being said, I have very little reason to lie to you. You must understand that I have lived a very long life, and although I have made many friends, and they all have a special place in my heart, everything I have gone through up until now has been a solitary affair. That's why I tend to avoid having to explain this, since it's a rather tiring conversation to have. My two hundred first name day was last winter, if you can believe that one."

[Namingtoohard]

With her expression set into a rather hard look, the girl would watch on simply as she waited for Cho's answer. Was she supposed to it there and take it with good graces when one of the few people she felt they could trust proved otherwise of himself, just for the sake of making a point? For all the charm he had showed off so far, the girl didn't think that she could take such a revelation in good humours. Perhaps it was simply her foul mood talking, making her think and speak and act more harshly than she would otherwise consider, but Shallan did not enjoy the concept in the slightest. Besides, the two of them hardly had the same time the boy seemed to possess, so where else were they to learn these things?

Still, her voice would catch in her throat slightly as the boy revealed the truth of the matter...or the supposed truth, if she was to take his most recent lesson to heart. The number itself was not all that shocking, but trying to associate it with a human life seemed...inconceivable. Such an age was staggering in its implications, and if Cho's young appearance was anything to judge by, he would still live for many years more. The boy would barely be out of his prepubescent age by the time that Mec and Shallan had been lost to time, their bodies turned to dust and their names wiped from history's memory. Alas, his new lesson hung over the two like a cloud...or so she thought, at least.

"Two-hundred and one years..." she started simply, almost sounding breathless as she turned the thought over in her head, before frowning a little as his earlier words came rushing back. "Though, if your earlier lesson is true, then how are we to be sure you are telling us the truth? You could have just picked a random number, and we would have no choice but to trust your word. You could quite easily be lying to us right now, to conceal the truth of the matter. It wouldn't be surprising, given how heavily you have guarded it thus far" the girl answered simply, before pausing for just a brief moment to roll her neck. She let out a soft groan as the stiff muscles there twisted, tensed and finally relaxed. After that, she would set her sights on the young boy once more.

"If we aren't to trust anyone just because they know more than us, how are we supposed to acquire such knowledge? We don't have the luxury of your supposed years, the ability to travel and see it all for ourselves, while time leaves us both unaffected. Shall we just wallow in ignorance and remain suspicious of everyone we meet, or risk getting burned by some lie or another? Not attractive options, by any means"

Of course, the girl was exaggerating slightly here. The logical part of her mind knew that there was nothing to be so annoyed about, and that it was likely better for the two of them to learn the lesson here, over a story, as opposed to some genuinely crucial bit of information. Had she been her usual cheery self, the girl would have likely taken such a lesson with a grain of salt, and just continued to judge people on her own merits and intuition, as everybody did. In her current state of mind, though, she was not in the mood for any of these types of games.

"Perhaps you're right. Perhaps Olenna isn't the only mage we've met that we need to guard ourselves around" she would finish simply, muttering the words under her breath - loud enough to still be audible, but much less direct than those that had preceded it, and much less forceful. At that, the girl was struck with the sudden desire to get away, even if just for a few moments. To be done with all this business. Without further explanation, she would rise to her feet, turning and striding away from the fire. With little to do in the contained space of their grove, Shallan would settle for strolling over to where she had until up her cloak earlier, occupying herself with the task of checking how much they had dried. A chance to distract herself before she said anything else that she might later regret, while still serving some other use.

[Headwrapper]

When the blond mage's confession game, Mec remained silent, wishing to give himself time to find the proper words to speak should the need arise. It was difficult to even imagine what living for over two centuries would be like. Two hundred years ago sounded like such a long time ago, a time where the whole world would have been different from the one he and Shallan had been born in. Cho was suggesting that he had witnessed such a world, and many more after that, before reaching the present time.

Having such a lengthy stay in this world would certainly allow someone to be as knowledgeable as Cho seemed to be. He even had the ability to cast powerful magic that even Olenna did not seem to possess. Even still, two whole centuries would surely be much more time than what was necessary to achieve these characteristics. Shallan did have a good point, that Cho could easily be lying about his true age, but why would he? It seemed pretty clear that he was much older than he seemed, and whether he was twenty years or two hundred years old, the concept was still awesome. Maybe even to the point of being terrible.

Cho remained quiet, allowing Shallan to vent the worries these recent conversations had burdened her with. He watched warily as the girl stood to distance herself from the group, the pale blues of his eyes just barely gazing passed his golden hair. His mouth grew dry when he considered her parting statement, but his lips still curled into a melancholy smile all the same. She did not have to believe his words, but if the skepticism he hoped to instill in the pair of green travelers rescues them from danger at least once in their journey, then the exchange was worth it. "So, what do you think, Mec?"

The novice mage turned quickly turned his head when he was addressed. "I... Well, I'm just wondering how it is possible to live for so long, let alone to appear as young as you do... Is it through magic? Can the Anima somehow preserve youth? Regardless of whether you are truly two hundred one or not, it's pretty obvious that you are much older than the kid you appear to be, but I don't understand how."

Cho responded with a small shrug. "Unfortunately, I have yet to understand the mechanics of my situation..." He glanced towards the beginner. "I can already tell you suspect I'm trying to keep it a secret from you, but it's true. Remember the search I mentioned earlier? Being able to control this... immortality, if you will, is part of what I'm searching for."

The youngling peered outside of the encampment at the dark landscape around them. It seemed that the rain had slowed, but the dark clouds and the distant thunder suggested that it could easily pick back up to the roaring pace it had reached earlier. From what he knew about body language, the other three who had taken refuge in the grove had grown to find him repulsive, at least to some level. Shallan had promptly distanced herself, Mec had squirmed and stared when he thought Cho was not looking, and Hjarl had taken to grumbling into his flask. Anger, fear, and disdain... The youngling let out an audible sigh when he considered the environment within the encampment. The subtle rejection was very reminiscent of a different occasion that he could just barely recall, a chapter well hidden in the book of time. Has nothing really changed in almost two hundred years?

The boy's eyes actively flickered between Mec and Shallan. Had he made a mistake by not having enough trust in Olenna to confide his goals to her? If his two hundred year-long solitary mission had not yielded any change, maybe it was time he tried to recruit some help. Or, maybe, it was all a futile effort. Maybe it was an impossible mission to begin with, and every person he would drag into it would simply fade away, wasting the precious little time they have chasing the impossible. A lump began to form in his throat as the all-too familiar demon he called doubt began to infect his mind. Each passing year, decade, century, only increased that flaming devil's power. With the same promptness that Shallan had shown earlier, the youngling would stand up. "Excuse me," he gasped before turning away from the group and exiting the grove. As he marched out towards the rain, two small doves would appear and lift his cloak back onto his shoulders and raise his hood over his head in a few coordinated swoops. The rain served as the perfect disguise for the tears that began to roll down the boys pale cheeks.

[Namingtoohard]

Rather predictably for somebody with her temperament, Shallan strongly disliked the way things had turned out. She busied herself physically with the job of checking on everybody's cloaks, stepping up to the makeshift rack almost immediately. For several moments, she kept her focus entirely on the job at hand, using it as a convenient distraction. Her findings were rather plain and predictable - that most of them had more or less dried off completely, between the way they were hung up and the heat radiating off the fire nearby. Still, she made sure to be thorough, going over each one individually and with considerable attention to detail. She wanted to linger for just a few moments longer, before turning to face the rest of the group again.

The girl's thoughts on the matter were somewhat conflicted. She stood by the larger part of what she had said - that, in short, she did not enjoy being toyed with as such. Cho had proven to be the one positive relationship she had managed to start building from scratch since running away from home, and the last thing she had wanted was for it to go sour. He had been the one to lift her spirits, and provided some level of companionship while Mec had been busy studying. Why had he felt the need to try and take that away from her in such a manipulative and roundabout way? It was hardly fair to any of them. Based on earlier encounters, she would have expected more understanding and compassion from Cho, but perhaps she had been mistaken.

For all her distaste, though, some part of Shallan regretted those final few words that she had let slip. In the heat of the moment, she had wanted to lash out at the young blonde. To say something that would really hurt him, as revenge for the doubt and concerns that his speech had forcibly dragged out of her. She had spoken the first thing that came to mind that she believed could serve such a purpose, and a simple glance back towards the fire would reveal some measure of success on that front. The fact that Cho had stepped out into the rain could have meant any number of different things, but to Shallan it seemed that there was only one possibility. Success was far from satisfying, though. She had wished she could take those words back almost immediately, but the damage was done.

Her mouth tasted like ash as she threw a sly glance towards his receding figure. Like a child, the girl did not know how to fix what she had knowingly broken. Hoping that nobody had noticed her attentiveness, she would turn to face the cloaks agin, hot tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. The knowledge that she had done something to hurt another human being was bad enough in and of itself, before she even considered the other factors. She would blink rapidly for several moments, trying to hold back the tears, as she buried her face in the strips of cloth hanging before her. A few shuddered breaths later and the girl seemed to regain some small facet of her composure, but that was hardly enough.

In a vain attempt at trying to return some sort of normality to the situation, she would reach up on her tip-toes, before pulling her own cloak down from where she had left it hanging earlier. A few small patches of the material remained damp, but not enough to cause her concern. Rather than put it on, Shallan would settle for draping the thing over both of her shoulder, almost like a cape. Holding it around her neck by hand, she would return to the fire, plopping herself down in her seat once more, without another word. Her thoughts continued to churn, and the girl simply stared into the flickering heat of their campfire, hoping that neither of the others would notice her puffy eyes and otherwise downcast visage if she did not look at either of them directly. She would linger for several minutes longer, before deciding that such an attempt had been futile from the start.

"I...I think I'm just going to go to bed. Try and get some sleep before the rain lightens up and we have to set out again" she would finally offer meekly. The words were spoken to nobody in particular, and hung in the empty air for a moment. This time, she would take both pack and cloak along when she rose, retreating to the outer edges of their grove. The distance she had chosen was far enough back to be outside the immediate warmth of the fire, but Shallan felt that was suitable, somehow. With her pack to act as a pillow, and her cloak as a blanket, the girl would bed down for the night. After a brief period spent trying to make herself comfortable on the ground with what little she had on hand, the girl wrapped herself up in her cloak as if it was a bedroll, laying with her back to the fire as she tried to get some rest.

[Headwrapper]

Mec watched begrudgingly as the youngling fled the encampment into the outside rain. There was more Mec wanted to know about the apparent immortality that the boy possessed, but clearly there would not be any more discussion about it, at least for the present moment. He let out a long sigh before shrugging and laying back against the grass.

Cho had given the group a lot to think about, Mec thought. He revealed ways that magic had been used in a discreet enough fashion that it did not attract suspicion but had plenty of impact on history and people's livelihoods. He made them aware that there would always be reason for suspicion when speaking to other mages in the future. Lastly, he revealed the possibility that he might live on forever. As insightful as these lessons may have been, they left behind many questions. "Well, I guess I'm just going to try to sleep too," he sighed as Shallan retreated to the edge of the encampment. Already feeling tired from the day's travel and the poor sleep he had the night before, Mec felt more than happy to stay in his spot near the fire. His legs warm from their proximity to the fire, and the the gentle glow of the flames did not bother him much. He placed one hand behind his head while his other arm lay across his abdomen, and he fell asleep rather quickly.

The boy awoke to a rather aggressive shake of one of his shoulders. "Up, boy," Hjarl growled from above him. "Go wake up your friend. It's about time we depart." Mec blinked while his eyes adjusted to the morning light, watching the large man march away towards the horses. He let out a long, windy groan as he sat up. The arm that lay behind his head was sore after being positioned the way it was for hours, and some of the pain from his broken ribs had been bolstered by laying on the solid earth. Maybe next time he would conjure something he could sleep on more comfortably.

When he gained his bearings, he glanced towards where he thought he remembered Shallan chose as her sleeping spot. After slowly rising to his feet and brushing himself off, he would wander over to wake her if she had still been sleeping, or otherwise alert her if Hjarl's intentions for the group to leave. As he walked he realized he had not seen Cho anywhere nearby, and wondered if he had chose to somehow leave on his own earlier that morning, when they were all asleep. Given the boy's powers, it would be easy to imagine that he could create some mode of transport for himself.

While Mec awoke Shallan or greeted her good morning if she had already been awake, Hjarl would untie the horses one-by-one from their posts, harness them up, and mount the wagon. His hands moved expertly, as always, only faltering when he heard the soft padding of unfamiliar hooves approaching. Cho returned from his ride atop of his own summoned horse, covered in pure white fur with a blue mane and tail. The horse wore no saddle, and Cho had gripped the mane to steer and steady himself on the steed. The horse slowed as it reached the grove, vanishing beneath Cho's legs before he landed on his feet. "See? I told you I would be back in time," he told the bearded man, offering him a cheeky grin.

[Namingtoohard]

Despite the fact that she had retired suspiciously early the night before, Shallan was still out like a light when Mec was dispatched with the job of waking her. Like always, the girl would grumble and groan in something akin to protest, but once roused the girl would reluctantly concede that it was time to move. As much as she wished to just lay about until her body woke up naturally, the chances of getting back to sleep now were slim to none, and they had other things that needed doing. Inwardly cursing the lack of opportunity to wash or change, she would take a few moments to stretch, before moving to join the others as they made ready to get underway.

Shallan would claim the same spot in the back of the wagon as the previous day, just behind the driver's bench, so that she could use it as a makeshift backrest. Beyond that, the girl would settle for propping her head up with her hand; arm resting casually on the upraised side of the wagon's tray. Her eyes she kept turned out over the scenery, and her expression remained generally neutral. Her bad mood had abated slightly, receding with last night's storm, but she made no open attempt to breach the silence between them. Did she simply not know where to begin bridging the gap that seemed to have formed last night, or was she merely disinclined to try?

The hours seemed to bleed into one another, mind-numbing boredom seemingly the order of the day. The girl entertained herself by trying to see what she could remember from of her mother's plays, of by watching the clouds, or even humming softly to herself on occasion. None of these avenues felt totally satisfying, but it was better than nothing. Slowly but surely, though, the group was drawing closer to their destination. After the sun had reached its peak, and had slowly began the closing leg of its daily trip across the sky, it happened.

"There she is. Convittas" Hjarl would offer gruffly from his position atop the driving tray, not so much as bothering to glance back at his passengers while speaking. Welcoming the respite, Shallan was quick to react, turning about and rising up onto her knees so that she could glance out over their guide's shoulder. The sight that greeted her was unorganised, disorderly. The supposed town had no real walls to speak of, and travellers came and went as freely as they pleased. The buildings seemed to spread out in all directions, sprawling over the landscape without any rhyme or reason. Making out the individual houses was impossible at first, but when they grew closer, Shallan noticed that there was a total lack of rhyme or reason. Multi-story buildings stood next to hovels, and shops shared walls with residential structures. It was, quite frankly, a giant, disorganised mess.

As they finally rolled into town, slipping between the fringe buildings until they reached a street, things undoubtedly became more lively. A far cry from the other cities they had visited thus far, Convittas seemed to thrum with life. Every street corner had several open stands, manned by salesmen who were crying out, preaching to the quality and low cost of their wares to the masses. Woven between them, performers of different types seemed determined to make themselves heard - their music and singing and speeches mingling with those of the people trying to business. As soon as you passed one group, their merrymaking would quickly be eclipsed by that of the next group; all the different sounds and sights and smells bleeding into one another in a huge, disjointed mess.

Shallan, of course, was enthralled by the strange mix. Her moodiness forgotten, she glanced out over the side of the wagon with new interest, eyes sparkling as she tried to take in everything. A wide grin had broken out across her features, and on a few occasions she would even wave out at some random member of the public who had decided to show them some good cheer. It felt like the entire city was moving to some deep-set rhythm, a song that only its inhabitants knew, and she was caught in the centre of it. She could see that several owners were closing up shop for the day, and the crowd was thinning out considerably, and the girl invariably found herself wondering what such a place must be like at festival time.

"Alright, this is as far as we go together" the man up front would finally interject, hauling the wagon to a stop at a seemingly random intersection. "I need to head off and sell my goods before the last of the guilds close up for the night, and you lot have your own matters to attend to, I'm sure. No point in you lot tagging along, so this'll be our farewell" he stated, gruff and unagreeable as ever. Shallan, of course, didn't seem dissuaded. She would simply nod in acceptance and gather up her things, content with the prospect of seeing what little more they could of the city before dark fell in its entirety. With a few plain words of thanks to the wagon-driver, who only grunted in acknowledgement, she would drop to the ground.

"So, what's first? Shall we start searching for Olenna's buddy immediately, of take care of lodgings and supplies first, and start looking tomorrow? She didn't exactly give us a lot of information to work with, but she seemed confident that it would suffice" She questioned simply, turning to face Mec in a rather cheery manner. She shouldered her pack in a rather carefree manner, taking it upon herself to glance about as she waited for an answer. Of course, Hjarl would spare no time in urging his horses back into motion, and the carriage would trundle off, parting ways with the rest of the group at last.

[Headwrapper]

Mec was satisfied with retreating to his own thoughts as the group rode on to Convittas. Like the rest of the group, he remained mostly silent, only occasionally speaking to ask Cho a question about magic. For most of the trip he had entertained himself with thoughts about what he could and should learn how to do with his powers, as well as what he and Shallan needed to do in the future. He did not want to simply wait for Olenna's help in finding a permanent residence to hide out in. Not having to do so required that he and Shallan be able to sustain themselves in someway, howerver, and the means to do so were not clear.

Mec's interest peaked as the party approached the unorganized and lively town. It was still much more active than Ozette, but it lacked the structure and uptight atmosphere the larger cities had, especially at the entrances. The party's wagon seemed to pass through the nearly nonexistent borders of the town without instance, and it was not long before Mec had found that the group had parted ways with their escort somewhere in the middle of town.

When he was finally back on his feet, he took a moment to slowly spin around, taking in the atmosphere of the town. The atmosphere seemed a lot friendlier than he would have expected from a town rumored to harbor so many criminals. He assumed that because of the laid back attitudes of the town dwellers such criminals were able to find refuge. His eyes would stop to stare at a small girl who was entertaining a sparse crowd at a street corner. She sat on a short stool, and one knee sat a doll. She seemed to be speaking to the puppet, who in turn seemed to answer back. The display was rather convincing, with the only hint suggesting the doll's inanimate state being the girl's arm tucked behind its back.

Mec's eyes would only turn back to Shallan once she spoke. "We should try to find this Midir, the charmer. If we're successful he might be able to help us find a place to stay for the night. Maybe if we're lucky he would be kind enough to give us a place to stay without charge, at least for a short while." He scratched at the hairs on his chin as he thought about where to go from there. "I guess all that we can do is ask around. Maybe in a place where people tend to congregate, like a pub." After taking a few quick glances down the different avenues that intersected where they stood, he would shrug. "I guess we would have to ask which way to the nearest pub then. Otherwise I'm lost."

After lowering himself from Hjarl's wagon, Cho had merely stood in silence, finishing a small lemon tart that he held between his fingers. While he set to finish this task, he paid very little attention to anything that was happening around him. Once the sugar coated pastry had been completely devoured, he would finally look around with his mouth hanging open, inattentive to Mec and Shallan's conversation. When he was done observing his surroundings his blue eyes would set upon the two travelers. "I think I have to go now," he would say softly, interjecting whatever talk they might have been having.

Mec raised his eyebrows, his expression suggesting some surprise. Admittedly, he had nearly forgotten Cho was still with them. He found the blond's announcement quite odd, especially with the way he had stated it. He had never heard the boy's voice match his apparent age so well. Even when Cho was not acting maturely, his tone of voice always came with some sort of confidence, as if he knew something no one else did. Was his young body tired from the journey? Mec was under the impression that the boy traveled much more than anyone else he had ever met, so how would that be the case?

"That's a pity. I'm sure we'll cross paths again. Good luck in your endeavors, friend," Mec would finally say. He thought against inviting the youngling to stay, well aware that not only did he have his own agendas to tend to but also that the previous night's conflict would create an unsettling environment within the group. The amateur mage seemed to have given up on finding out more about Cho's apparent gift, deciding that it would be something to study more when he had a better understanding of magic as a whole. Still, he wondered if Shallan would feel compelled to resolve whatever frustration she might have still felt towards their acquaintance. She seemed less bothered than she did the night before, happier even. The night of rest, even if an uncomfortable one, might have done wonders for her spirits.

"Yeah," Cho would squeak back in response. "I think I have to go..." The boy paused for a moment, his entire stature freezing as his eyes rolled to one side in thought. "This way." His skinny body would make a sudden half turn down one of the roads. His eyes raised towards the setting sun, marking his destination in the far off distance. After giving his blond head a few quick scratches he would give the two a small shrug before starting his walk in his selected direction.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would pause for a few brief moments as she pondered Mec's response, tilting her head a little as she thought about their options. Being able to save as much of their quickly-dwindling gold supply certainly seemed like a good idea, all things considered. The list of stuff they would need was already likely much longer than they could afford, so the two couldn't really afford to be frivolous. Even something as simple as the fare for a single night in a motel room was best avoided, if at all possible. Such spending would drain them very rapidly of the little money that they did have. Once she had come to a decision, the girl would turn back to her companion.

Before she could speak, though, Shallan paused as Cho announced it was finally time that he left their little troupe and carried on alone. That caught her slightly off-guard, and doubt quickly began to claw at her insides. Had her outburst the previous night led to his sudden decision, and made the youngster think that he was no longer welcome as a travelling companion? That said, Cho had frequently pointed out that he had his own path to walk, and that he had his own goals to pursue seperate from their own trials. Such thoughts were about all that held the girl back as he picked a direction seemingly at random. She opened her mouth to stop him, but any words of apology promptly died in her throat. After several seconds of what felt like standing around pointlessly, she would try for something more simple.

"...until next time, then" Shallan finally added half-heartedly, before opting to give the boy a casual wave as he finally set off in the direction that he had chosen. The way he had picked seemed almost random, but it hardly seemed the place of a regular human and inexperienced traveller to question the decision of such an established mage. Beyond that, the girl would simply watch in silence as he headed off, staying put until his visage had vanished into what little remains of the crowd, slipping out of sight. Even then, she would linger for a few moments longer, before turning back to Mec, her enthusiasm curbed somewhat.

"Well, we might as well get on with it, then. If there's any place in the world where one of your kind can accrue some sort of infamy and survive, I suppose it would be here" the girl would admit simply, though her statement was based off what she had heard others say of this place. After that, she would turn about on the spot once more, paying more attention to the buildings that lined the street than anything else this time. She couldn't see anything that resembled a pub immediately from the outside, but asking in this sort of place felt like it would only brand them as outsiders. Still, there was nothing for it. In the back of her mind, through, Shallan reminded herself that they ought to stick together - she didn't want a repeat of last time. Somehow, the girl doubted another mage would swoop in to save them here if cornered.

Trying to build up some sort of enthusiasm within herself, the girl would set off. The crowd seemed noticeably thinner here than when they had arrived, and only seemed to get thinner as they strolled about - though whether that was because the hour was growing late or because they were simply moving into a less busy portion of town, the girl did not know. Eventually, she singled out one the the buildings that still seemed to be full of light and noise despite the hour, from a few such cases. With a flick of her head and a jab of her thumb, she silently suggested that they give it a shot, before making for the door.

The interior proved to be that strange mix of aged furniture, and patrons who were too busy to care. Inside, several voices could be heard speaking in excessively loud voices. It almost seemed that some customers were arguing or greeting others from halfway across the room. The interior felt almost as crowded as the streets had seemed when they had just rolled into town, where it was almost impossible to go more than a few steps without bumping someone. Most people seemed to be in excessively good cheer, and more than a few because they were already deep into their cups. Everywhere you looked, you could make out some sort of unruliness of debauchery. Women were sitting in the laps of strangers, drunken quartets seemed to be everywhere, and there was no small amount of scuffling. Determined as ever, though, Shallan would squeeze her way through to the bar.

Getting the bartender's attention proved more difficult than she would have liked. Shallan had to call out more than once over the racket, and the first time she almost got his attention, the sound of a shattering mug and a few squealing and groaning customers drew the gazes of a handful. When Shallan was finally able to wave down the short and stocky barkeep, he waddled over, eyeing the two suspiciously.

"What'll it be?" The question came at first, but Shallan pressed on without missing a beat.

"Were looking for someone called Midir. Heard of them?" She questioned simply, earning a withering glare from the man. Either he didn't know, or didn't look agreeably on those who wished to waste his time. The girl was nonplussed. "Midir. The charmer" she repeated a second time, perhaps a bit more forcibly. The man seemed to start at that, before his expression darkened into a bit of a scowl. He leaned over the bartop slightly, staring down the two newcomers, but none of the other patrons nearby seemed to notice.

"That ass is still banned from this place after the incident with the pig. If you two are friends of his, y'all can both get lost right now" he growled simply. Apparently their supposed contact had quite a reputation, though Shallan supposed that this meant finding someone who had heard of him would prove easier than expected. Beyond that, the man didn't seem inclined to say much more on the matter. Not outright, at the very least.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would only watch Cho venture away from the group for a few seconds before circling his head and observing the unfamiliar town again. The crowd was already starting to thin as the sun crept behind the horizon. When Cho's figure had vanished from view Mec could tell that there was little sunlight left for the day.

"I think you're right," he would say when Shallan mentioned the increased chance of surviving any ill-earned reputation in this town. Content with their decision to look for Midir, the boy had no problems simply following his companion as they set out to find a pub or some other place they might inquire about his whereabouts. There prospects seemed to grow more obvious as the sunlight began to fade, its glow replaced by the heat of lamps glowing faintly through various windows. It would only be a few minutes of searching before the two would step into a nearby building, thumping with merriment.

Mec crinkled his nose at the odd combination of the musty smells of the furnishings of the pub and the sweat of its patrons. Loud, he thought to himself, put off by the excessive shouting and cheering of the patrons. He wondered if he would ever get used to these types of places. It would only seem natural, given the circumstances. They would surely visit many more places like this one just in this town alone, not to mention whenever they seek information in new towns in the future.

Despite knowing he might develop at least some level of fondness, or at least a tolerance, to these places, Mec was more than happy to let Shallan do the talking as they approached the bar. As they slid passed the patrons of the pub the boy's eyes would meet the dark gaze of a woman seated a few tables away. She sat with her head resting against one hand, idly nodding as the man in front of her ranted away about something. She would glance over the man's shoulder to match Mec's stare, giving him a wink before returning to her chore of entertaining the man seated next to her. Mec would only offer a small nod in response, furrowing his eyebrows as he returned his focus to the task at hand.

The boy watched and listened intently as the exchange between Shallan and the bartender took place. His eyebrows would raise when it seemed that they had crossed a tender subject for the man. "Wait, is he an ass or a pig? Or did he have a pig with him?" The outburst did not seem to amuse the barkeep in the slightest, and his face contorted as if he had bit into something sour.

"I see, y'all are clowns too," he growled. "Out. The both of ya, or I'll throw ya our myself."

Mec took a half step backward as he looked to exchange a glance with his companion. He did not intend to come off as rude, but it seemed the bartender was much more sensitive about the issue than he thought. Deciding that pushing for information regardless of the threats to have them thrown out would risk drawing too much attention, the boy would shrug. "Let's just go," he said flatly, hoping that his thoughts were conveyed to his partner as he did. As he walked to the exit he glanced towards the table where the woman he had seen earlier sat, just in time to witness the head of the man she had been entertaining moments before bob up and down as he struggled to keep consciousness.

Once outside, the boy would turn to his companion if she had chosen to follow. "Um... That was my bad," he sighed, unable to keep himself from smiling while doing so. "There are other places we can ask anyways I guess, and I'll try to keep my mouth shut."

When he was just about finished discussing with Shallan, the door to the tavern would once again open. A lean figure of a woman emerged from the hall, and once she had fully stepped out into the evening air Mec would recognize her as the woman from before. The scenario seemed almost too coincidental, but he had no grounds to be suspicious of it now. The woman stood slightly taller than Mec did, and her hair fell in dark curls around her shoulders. Her eyes were a deep brown, and her skin was tanner than any Mec had ever seen before. Dark freckles spotter her face and her narrow nose, which sat above thin and darkened lips. "You looking for the charmer?" the woman would ask with a thick foreign accent.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan's eyes widened a little as the bartender mentioned some sort of incident with a pig, and her mind quickly started to consider the possibilities. Just what the hell had he done that was so bad to warrant an outright refusal of service in a town where this level of rowdiness seemed to be the norm? A few ideas sprung to mind. The girl didn't have enough information to really make a guess at what had happened, but the few possibilities she considered were highly amusing. Amusing enough to extract a giggle from the girl, who had suddenly decided that she would need to ask the charmer himself for the details when they eventually found each other.

Unfortunately, her giggle escalated into an open laugh as Mec chimed in with a smartass remark of his own. That didn't seem to help their chances, and the bartender made an open point of shooting her another withering glare before ordering them to leave. Deciding that it was best to avoid any sort of open confrontation, Shallan silenced herself, before nodding in simple agreement as her companion more or less announced that they would go without a fuss. After that, it was a simple matter of elbowing and squeezing their way back through the crowd, so that they could make it out the front door again.

It was only once they had emerged into the street again that Shallan realised just how hot and stuffy it had been in the crowded pub, and she was suddenly glad to be free of that press, lest they find themselves caught up in it. Still, far from being annoyed with Mec for their sudden eviction, the girl still found the entire situation entertaining. As she glanced back across at her companion, listening to his apology, her eyes sparkled with something akin to amusement. It seemed a good change in atmosphere than the dreary wagon trip they had endured so recently.

"Oh, don't worry about it. I doubt he would have had any useful information for us anyway, if he was so opposed to the mere prospect of the charmer visiting again...though I can't help but wonder just what he did to warrant such a thing" the girl answered simply, before trailing off a little as she noticed the arrival of a third party. Suddenly a little more alert, she glanced over the stranger briefly, body tensing as if she was preparing to run. Had this lady recognised them or something? Thankfully, such fears were allayed as soon as the woman spoke. Shallan hadn't noticed her personally, but she had presumably overheard their conversation inside. She briefly entertained the notion that this could be the charmer, but quickly dismissed it - the bartender had been explicitly clear that Midir wouldn't have been allowed inside.

"...We are" Shallan offered simply, after exchanging a quick glance with Mec. If they had been overheard, she saw no point in trying to avoid or deny such a question. For all they knew, this woman had information to offer, and had chased them out here for that exact purpose. Cho's warning rang fresh in her ears, but how else could they find what they sought besides asking? She pressed on. "Do you know them?" The question followed, seemingly innocent, but rather clear in its intentions.

"I suppose you could say that" the stranger answered simply, without so much as missing a beat. "Though you'd be hard-pressed to find someone here who hasn't heard of them. They've made quite a reputation for themselves over the years with their antics, it seems" she would add briefly, discussing the topic with surprising nonchalance, while revealing a grand total of absolutely no useful information whatsoever. Shallan pouted a little, unable to help herself, but the stranger greeted her reaction with little more than a wry grin. After a brief pause, she would continue.

"I know that they run a shop out of their home, further towards the centre of the city. I doubt you'll find them there now, though. At this time, they're likely gallivanting about and making mischief somewhere. Beyond that, I can only guess" she finished simply, giving a bit of a casual shrug. Of course, whether such a guess remained an educated one or a true shot in the dark still remained to be seen

[Headwrapper]

Mec's eyes narrowed, observing the newcomer as she spoke. From her appearance and her accent it was clear that she was foreign, but where she originated from was anyone's guess. Like Shallan, he too recalled Cho's warning from the previous night. There would be no reason to be suspicious unless the woman had somehow expressed that she desired something from him or his companion.

The boy would nod as Shallan answered the stranger's question, before listening intently to the woman's reply. She did pinpoint exactly where they should look for Midir, but she did provide them with a good place to look if they were unsuccessful in their search that night. Ideally they would be able to locate him soon, before they were deep into the night hours. From the way things seemed to be run in this town, a curfew would not be an issue, but Mec had a feeling that the later the night got the less likely their presumed friend would be willing to help them. "Do you know where they might spend most of their nights making trouble then? Everyone has a favorite place to spend their time."

The woman's thin lips would curl into a smile. "The charmer does not play favorites," he cooed. "I told you all that I could, I'm afraid. Anyways, I must return to my... obligation, inside." With that the woman would turn back to the tavern, signaling a quick wave behind her head as she stepped back inside.

As the door closed behind the woman, Mec would look to Shallan. "Well, I guess we'll keep looking then. Maybe we should ask about the where exactly Midir's shop is, in case our search comes up fruitless. Then at least we will know where to look in the day time." He hooked his thumbs to his waistband as he circled his head to look around, the same way as he did before. "I kind of wish Olenna at least gave us a description. At least then we can try to find him while we ask around."

Once the two continued their walk through the town they would pass another building, lit up from the inside. Loud, heavy drumbeats boomed from within, and an occasional flash would would shine through the windows. A loud chant could be heard echoing from inside. Dragonfire! Dragonfire! Dragonfire! Mec could not help but be curious about what was taking place inside. Deciding it would be as good of a place as any, he gave Shallan a shrug before leading the way inside.

Much like the tavern, the inside was packed full of bodies and patrons waiting to be served. The furnishings were more neatly organized and spread out. The bar, stretched along one of the long walls, was tended by not one, but three men. At one end of the room sat a stage, where Mec discovered the source of the flashes of light. Two jugglers tossed lit torches back and forth to each other, as a third would occasionally light and throw more into the mix. Behind them sat a drummer with two large drums, both tuned to a different pitch, beating away a demonic rhythm to accompany the performance.

Considering the display was all inside, Mec found it horrifying. It was one thing to summon a tiny ball of flame, it's embers easily extinguished by a few rough pats, but this was on a different level. He was even more terrified when the third juggler, who had been tossing more and more torches to his partners, took a step away to please the crowd with what they wanted: dragonfire. His body gleamed with sweat as he removed a cap in the shape of a dragon's head from a bottle, took a swig of the contents, before spewing it all through a torch. The flames of the torch caught the droplets, igniting them with a burst of orange and yellow flame and threatening to scorch the crowd just in front of the stage, only to die out when the firebreather's cheeks were emptied of fuel.

[Namingtoohard]

Just like her companion, Shallan's attention was grabbed by the unmissable roar that seemed to emanate from one of the buildings they passed on their stroll. She exchanged a brief look with the man, before giving a simple nod of acceptance as he suggested they have a look-see with a simple gesture. With so little direction in terms of where to go and what to look for, they might as well indulge their curiosity and look inside as they searched, or so she thought. The chanting suggested some sort of stage show, and the girl couldn't help but wonder just what sort of performance awaited them inside. Such was her mindset as she followed Mec inside.

The mixture of sounds inside the building grew a tad more distinguishable as they stepped inside, and the sound rolled over Shallan in waves. Almost as soon as they had stepped in the door, she found her eyes drawn to the flashy show taking place at the far end of the building. A look of astonishment flickered across her face - these people, risking life and limb to entertain the crowd, drawing everybody in with the strange yet expertly crafted mix of elements that made up their show. To her, they clearly seemed to be riding a wave of euphoria as they drew in and manipulated the attention of the crowd. It was noticeably hotter inside the bar, given both the press of bodies and the heat given off by the fire they used, but as the fire-breather took centre stage, the girl felt a shiver run up her spine nonetheless.

In that moment, Shallan almost seemed caught up in the wave of excitement that washed over the crowd. Far from horrified, she was enthralled, spellbound. Such a performance seemed shocking, dangerous, daring, and all in a way that gave enflamed the senses. The drums only added to the effect, seeming to shake the very walls of the building, and shake her very bones. It humbled her own dreams of performing - acting or singing, and everything she knew about entertaining, seemed to pale in comparison to this sort of showmanship. She resisted flinging herself into the crowd, to join them in their rapt attentiveness, though. They had their own goals to accomplish, and there were better ways to spend their time standing around gawking.

"Dragonfire indeed" Shallan would mutter softly, almost just to herself. As the fire-breather finished his little display, she would finally find the willpower to turn away, now that things had started dying down a little. Still, the girl couldn't help but throw the occasional glance back over towards the stage as she made a move towards the bar. Stepping up to one of the tenders, able to grab his attention freely this time, the girl opened her mouth to speak. She even decided to try a little more tact this time around, just in case Midir wasn't welcome here, either.

"Quite a show you guys are putting on" she offered simply. The bartender she had distracted - a tall, well-toned man a good head and shoulders taller than Shallan herself - chuckled and nodded.

"Aye. The imps know their work well. Always draw a mighty fine crowd, those three. It's always a good night for us when they're centre stage" the man answered, a calm smile flickering across his features as he crossed both of his arms and leaned down on the bar counter. He appraised Shallan quickly, and seemed quite content to chat idly, even if for just a moment. "Everyone builds up a mighty fine thirst, stays longer, and it stops them from squabbling with one another to boot. In any case, what brings a cute little lass like you to a place like this?" He answered, giving the girl a toothy smile. Caught slightly off-guard by the sudden compliment, Shallan could feel her cheeks beginning to heat a little...or was that merely the fire?

"We're new in town. One of our friends told us to come and visit. Said that we should come and meet the charmer, but didn't tell us where to look" she offered simply, trying to slide that information in as casually as she could manage. The barkeep nodded at that, seemingly unaware.

"Ah, haven't seen old Midir around here in an age. Between you and me, I think he hates it when our performers steal attention away from him" he would start, before turning down the bar towards one of the other servers. "Oi, Naha, you seen the charmer around lately?" He called out. At that, one of the other barkeepers glanced up, before promptly shouting back.

"Heard rumours he was planning on crashing the party at Ammy's place, just 'round the block. Could be another one of his faux passes, though" the other barkeeper offered. The first would grunt at that, turning his attention back to Shallan. "Sometimes he likes to let people know where he'll be, but others, he spreads a few lies about. Something about keeping the element of surprise. Might be worth a shot, though, just in case" he offered, giving a bit of a casual shrug. "In any case, you and your friend feel like a drink? First one is on the house. The night's still young, after all" he added.

Shallan opened her mouth to reply, but was quickly distracted by a shout from the crowd behind her. The girl turned, half-hoping and half-expecting to see some new facet to this fiery performance. She was greeted by the sight of two of the brothers hefting about some special staffs, with either end set on fire. They would begin what almost looked like some strange sort of dance, twisting and turning as they spun the flaming sticks about; flames tracing their paths through the air in a dazzling display.

[Headwrapper]

Mec instinctively turned to the stage when he heard the crowd's shouting. The long, flaming batons created fiery snakes that swirled around the the firebreathers as their dance grew more animated and their bodies rocking to the tempo set by the drums beating behind them. Before long, they began to aim their sticks towards each other, as if to portray a mock battle between them. In a few instances Mec could have sworn that one grazed the other's skin with the flames on his staff, but would not seem to be the case after some inspection.

As he watched the fiery serpents soar around the performers, Mec wondered if it was possible the dancers might have been mages. Their talents surpassed what he could ever imagine from an ordinary person. Whenever he conjured a flame, he usually could not feel its heat, even as it sat just inches away from his hand. If that was the case with these fellows, that would explain how such close brushes with the fire did not seem to phase them. Besides, they would be doing exactly said to expect: using their gift for some sort of profit.

Deciding that it was just as, if not more, likely that the performers were just talented and dedicated to their craft, Mec would disregard any thoughts about their possible magehood. Besides, there was a task at hand that required his attention. "We won't take up any more of your time. Thank-..." As the boy turned to face the gentlemen who had served them, he would see that the one who had offered them a drink had already poured the ales, setting them down on the bar with a loud clink.

The boy's eyes shuffled between the pair of glasses and his companion, before flickering back to the bartender. "Remember, on the house," the man told them with a grin, before darting away in response to another patron waving him down. Mec eyed the ales, almost suspiciously, before reaching out for them both and handing one to Shallan, not bothering to ask if she even wanted it. "Might as well enjoy the show while we're here," he said, choosing to leave it at that.

He took a small sip of the ale, following it with a larger gulp. One eye twitched as the unfamiliar taste invaded his tongue and cheeks, before forcing himself to swallow the ale down. To him, it tasted like liquid bread, mixed with what one would taste when licking a wooden spoon. When the boy pulled his glass away from his face, he couldn't help but make a frown as he combated the assault on his taste buds.

The performers would continue their mock fire battle, before moving on to other impressive displays that utilized their flames. With the use of different fluids to fuel their flames, they were able to manipulate the colors of the infernos as they danced and juggled. Blues, greens and yellows flashed about the stage as the performers continued their work. All of their efforts would eventually lead to a grand finale, an encore of their dragonfire trick, but with the men bellowing a rainbow in the flames and illuminating the room with multicolored light.

The crowd cheered and clapped, and Mec would set his half-drunk glass on the bar to join in the applause. As the trio on the stage began gathering their items, another man stood on the stage, thanking them with a loud voice and assuring the audience that there were more performances to come from other entertainers. From what Mec could hear, the man alluded that the next show would be performed by certain bard, and when the man's name was mentioned the crowd roared with approval. The announcer also promised a special treat for the end of the night, and a group of men roared, seeming to already understand what was in store.

"Too loud," Mec would sigh quietly. He would step closer to Shallan so she could better hear him over the bustling crowd. "Do you think we should find this other place? Apparently it's on the same block right?" He would glance over his companion's shoulder towards the door, almost longing for the cool, fresh air outside.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would watch the newest display in awe for a moment, their current conversation almost completely forgotten as she was drawn in to what appeared to be an entirely new stage in their performance. Just watching them was enough to amaze the young girl, who could scarcely comprehend how they had managed to step things up another notch. She would have thought that there were only so many different ways that one could use fire for such a purpose, but their creativity seemed to be matched only by their showmanship. Just how long and hard had they practised together to reach this point of cooperation and trust? Just how many burns had they endured before they were able to handle their tools with such skill? It seemed mind-boggling, especially since their unique case would mean any failure was likely met with pain.

Of course, she snapped back to attention at the sound of something clinking against the bar's counter, and turned to find that the two of them had been served the proffered drinks without so much as giving the man a reply. She glanced across at Mec for a moment, a wry smile curving the edges of her lips, before shrugging and accepting the mug that she had offered him. It seemed that he wasn't all that opposed to the idea of staying to watch, despite initial impressions, and the roaring of the flames drew her attention. Just like that, Shallan was sucked back in, and promptly agreed. She would spend the next few moments sipping politely from her tankard, rather on the fence about the taste. It wasn't quite enjoyable, but Shallan thought she might be able to get used to it, given the opportunity.

She cheered along with the rest of the crowd when the show finally reached its conclusion, thoroughly taken in by the performance. When it finally came to an end, she clapped and cheered along, before settling back into her seat with mirth in her eyes and a smile curling the edges of her lips. It was only after that she would turn her attention back to her companion; mug of ale forgotten for the time being.

"Ah...we might as well, I suppose. No point in hanging around here doing nothing when we're still stuck until we find him" the girl answered simply, setting her mug down. At that, she would follow him somewhat eagerly, quite content to be on their way for now. She would throw a wave back towards the bartender who had served them as she retreated, but otherwise the two would escape back to the outside street without any sort of further incident. Once they were outside, the girl would breathe deeply for a moment, glad to be out of the smoke if absolutely nothing else.

"Now that was quite the show. All those different colours and lights, the way the flames twisted and leapt at their command...it almost makes singing feel paltry by comparison" she offered simply, frowning a little, before giving a bit of a dismissive shrug. No place for jealousy here - she could admire the work of others without being directly envious, or so she liked to think. After a moment she would take the time to refocus, though, once again turning her attention to the task at hand.

"So, what did the barkeeper say that the place was called? Ammy's place or something? That seems more like the name of the owner than the name of a club or bar or anything. Maybe this place should be called the city of vague names" the girl mumbled softly, almost to herself, before giving a bit of a dismissive shrug. "Ah well, we'll manage. If its on this block, then we just have to follow the road and we'll find it eventually. Even if we need to check every single one that we pass, the two of us are bound to come across it eventually"

[Headwrapper]

When the two had made it outside, Mec would take a long breath of the cool night air, chilling his lungs and clearing them of smoke and heat. After a short pause he would nod in agreement with Shallan's approval of the performance they just witnessed. "It was impressive. I would never be able to learn to do anything like that, and those three complimented each other so well without even an exchange of words as they performed." In the back of his mind, he wondered if Olenna was ever humbled by what non-mages were capable of. Although, she might not give much value in the ability to entertain and draw a large crowd.

"Yeah, Ammy's place was all he said," Mec sighed. "At least we know to stay on this block for now. If the night grows too late, then we can just stop once we find a place that can provide lodgings and search for the charmer's shop tomorrow." His eyes trailed a couple passersby, a drunk man stumbling along with a woman dressed in a simple, short, pink gown, that had no back. He would consider the pair for a moment, before turning back to his companion. With little more to discuss, he would offer Shallan a nod towards the direction they should go and they continued their search.

The two would stop at the next building they came across that was lit from the inside. It seemed to be a place for gambling, as all the tables were preoccupied with patrons with cards or dice and one hands a drink in the other. There was a small bar that sat at one end of the building, but it was mostly empty, the patrons happier to have their drinks brought to them by servers while they gambled. Mec enjoyed this atmosphere a bit more than the other taverns. Aside from the occasional cheer of victory, accompanied by groans from the losers, or maybe an enraged shout, the place was nearly silent in comparison to the other hosts.

Mec approached the bar. As he walked, the woman standing behind the counter looked up from the glass she was carefully drying, and followed each steps with careful eyes. She peered behind plump pink cheeks and brown curls that were tied into a loose ponytail behind her head. "What can I do for you, young'un?" she said when Mec reached the counter.

The woman did not seem like she would be quick to anger, not at first glance. "We've never been to this town before. We were looking for Ammy's place, told a certain acquaintance of ours might be there."

The woman set down the glass, and placed her hands on her wide hips. "And who might this friend of yours be?" she would ask. "It wouldn't be that ol' charmer would it? I heard rumors he was meant to come here. He hardly does, anyway. Not much of a gambler, and I don't know anyone in their right mind who would gamble with someone with such a reputation anyway."

Mec scratched his chin, a barely audible scrape echoing in his head as his nails scraped passed the small hairs on his face. "We were looking for Midir, actually," he said. "But if you don't think he would come here, I suppose we better be on our way then." Before the man could turn away, the woman quickly procured two tall glasses.

"Won't you have a drink before leaving? Or play a quick round?" As the woman asked her questions, she had already began filling the glasses. When she turned back to place them on the counter, Mec would let out a small sigh.

"I don't gamble. I wouldn't know how to play, anyway."

The woman smiled. "I will teach you. This is a quick, easy game for beginners. You know your numbers, correct?" The woman pushed the glasses of ale closer to the young pair on the other side of the counter, before reaching down for a small wooden box and a pair of wooden dice hardly the width of the nail on her small finger. Wooden tiles numbered one through nine with black paint were propped on one end of the box so that they faced Mec and Shallan. "First you place your wager in the box, but since we are just practicing, let's just say I am wagering those drinks and you are each wagering a copper for them. Then all you do is roll the dice." When the woman was greeted with a puzzled look from Mec, she would go on to explain that after rolling the dice, the player would remove numbered tiles that summed to the equivalent of the dice roll. The player would do this until they rolled a number that did not match the available tiles, and the sum of the leftover tiles would be their score. The next player would do the same, and so on, and the player with the lowest score was the winner.

The server placed the pair of dice in a short, wooden cup before handing it to Mec. "You first," she chuckled. The boy took the cup reluctantly, before taking a seat on one of the bar stools to be closer to the box that served as their game board. He took a small sip of the ale that was offered to him, a much sweeter drink than the last one, before flipping the cup over and letting the dice roll into the box. Between each roll, the boy would give his chin a quick scratch before flipping over his decided on tiles. His turn ended with only the number four tile still left facing upward. "Not bad for a beginner," the woman behind the counter laughed, before collecting the dice and handing them to Shallan. She would even return the tiles back to their original position, before motioning for the girl to play her turn.

[Namingtoohard]

With their course of action set, Shallan would follow her companion along for the next few moments. Her eyes were also drawn to the drunken man and his company as the two groups passed each other, and she was inwardly glad hen the intoxicated adult turned away again. Beyond that, it was a simple matter of following Mec along, and keeping an eye out for he next building on the street that looked as if it actively entertained any sort of night-life. This time the stroll from one place to the next was short enough, and the girl nodded simply as her partner gestured towards the building, promptly moving to follow him inside.

Initial impressions were rather...different, this time around. The girl wasn't sure what to make of it, all these people playing games to entertain themselves, pass the time, or otherwise solely to win and lose their join. The more peaceful atmosphere had its charms, but truth be told, she would have preferred another live show over any sort of game. Shallan didn't much like the idea of risking whatever small amounts of coin that the two of them had left. Of course, just because they were here, that didn't mean they were required to actively participate, right? Trying to keep that in mind, she tagged along as her companion headed to the bar.

When it came time to try a round, she frowned briefly, inwardly cursing their luck. This was the second time in two visits that they had been suckered in to staying for a while by the host, who had made a point of pouring them drinks straight away so that it would immediately prove rude to try and refuse. With the terms set, she would reach for her own glass and take an idle sip as she settled down to watch Mec try his hand. To her pleasure, the drink seemed much more readily enjoyable than the ale they had served last time - the sweetness of it definitely appealed to her taste, and the girl found herself sipping somewhat enthusiastically as she watched the numbered tiles fall one by one.

The girl started slightly as a chance to play was suddenly offered to her, and she mulled over the thought for several seconds, before reluctantly setting her drink back down on the counter gently and reaching for the dice.

"...alright, just this once. Here goes" she muttered softly. She dared to think that, after watching Mec and seeing how it was done, she would have a better chance for her first time. Unfortunately for the woman, it seemed that luck was not on her side that night. Two poorly made decisions about which tiles to knock over, followed by an exceptionally low roll, both conspired to knock the girl out of the game almost immediately. After no more than three quick rolls, Shallan was left with a standing score of no less than fourteen. A full ten points behind her companion, and a poor score by any measure. She stood there in silence, blinking a few times as she did the math quickly, before quickly pouting as she realised what had just occurred. She would snatch up her drink rather hastily then, taking another quick sip to try and conceal his displeasure.

"Tis' a stupid game anyway" she finally offered meekly, eliciting a sultry grin and a matching chuckle from their hostess. Shallan would quickly reach for her pack then, intent on squaring up their debt with the lady right away, just in case. If they were playing for drinks, after all, then she had definitely not earned hers. It was only after that the girl would be distracted by a roar from across the street, partially discernible as multiple voices calling out at once. Curiosity getting the better of her, she would quickly turn and step away from the bar briefly, eager to get a peek at just what was going on. If she was lucky, maybe it would be another show!

Moving just enough to direct her gaze out the nearest window, she was startled to find that several occupants had spilled out of a tavern just a few places down the street, on the opposite side of the road. Two of them quickly tumbled off the balcony, falling into a tangled heap at the foot of the stairs. It was hard to see clearly from this distance, but it seemed that the two were fighting - struggling to earn some breathing room while throwing little jabs and chips at the other. The other patrons just watched on with glee, some laughing and cheering and calling out encouragement as the two fighters rolled back and forth. Shallan frowned briefly as she caught sight of it, but before she could speak, another patron who had stepped across to investigate called out.

"Bah, nothing to worry about, Ammy. Just another brawl at Stone's place across the street. It's a wonder those idiots haven't torn the place down yet" he called out, before spitting and turning away, trotting off to resume whatever game he had been playing beforehand. Clearly, the stranger was a regular, and well-known to the barkeep.

[Headwrapper]

Mec raised an eyebrow, his interest peaked by the sudden commotion outside. Like Shallan, he could only squint and strain to see what was happening down the street. The update provided by one of the patrons with a better view helped reveal what exactly was taking place. The mage let out a quiet sigh, recalling part of why he did not enjoy places that encouraged drink and other merriment. Most people already lacked sound judgement to begin with, why drink to the point of being dumber?

The boy would take a look at the glass of ale the woman behind the bar, who was revealed to be indeed be Ammy herself, had given him. He had taken somewhat of a liking to this particular drink, thanks to its sweetness. It did not seem like a hard drink, but maybe that was the danger of it. It would be easy to get carried away and drink too much. He took one final sip from his glass before placing it back on the counter, still a quarter full, and standing from his seat.

"Where do you think you're going boy-o? I still have to finish my turn," Ammy would chuckle with a smirk. She gave the wooden cup a small shake before rolling the dice onto the board. When all was said and done, she would finish with a score of six, just barely losing to Mec. The woman would let out another chuckle. "Well would you look at that, even a beginner can win a game of chance."

"I wouldn't call it winning," Mec said dryly, his eyes flickering to the small copper coin Shallan had already prepared to pay for her loss. He would not admit it, but he did feel a small satisfaction in winning the game. Maybe someday if he had extra money he would consider learning more games of chance and trying his luck. There would be none of that while he and Shallan were still in their current situation, though. After giving Ammy a final nod he would lead the way back out of the tavern, stepping back out into the cool evening air.

The fighting had stopped in front of Stone's tavern. It seemed that once everyone had had their fill of the fighting, someone had finally broken up the scuffle that had taken place. A few stragglers, slow to leave, had continued to stand outside the entrance of the tavern, laughing loudly while playing out the scenes of the earlier event. "He's tolds him to hell wit' yer honor, I found me more honor under a whore's sheets than you ever had in yer life!" One of the men roared before emulating an exaggerated expression of shock, presumably acting as one of the fighters when the conflict began.

"Might as well check that place out," Mec sighed. Deep down, he wished to avoid what seemed to be like a tavern prone to drunken fights, but they had to continue their search for the charmer. At this rate, the early morning hours would come and the pair would not have found him or a place to rest after their journey. With little more to say, he would lead the way to the tavern.

One of the men who had been standing outside of the entrance turned his head with sudden interest. "Woah woah woah, that sword looks a bit hefty for a small fry like you," he said, directing his statement towards Mec. Mec glanced down at his waist for a moment, placing his hand on the hilt of the weapon before glancing back up to the man. It seemed that he had forgotten he even had the blade sheathed to his hip the entire time he and Shallan were exploring. "Whatcha need it for?" the man continued on. A smirk curled on his lips as he looked over to Shallan, then back to the armed youth in front of him. "I get it, you need it to try to protect that girl of yours."

The man let out a loud laugh, the scenario that he fabricated amusing him. He leaned forward to place his face closer to Mec's. "What would a small fry like you do if I decided I wanted to take her from you, huh?" he grumbled, his voice low as if to keep the threat personal. He let out another low chuckle. "She be a bit younger than me, but when has that stopped anyone?"

At first, Mec was caught off guard by the sudden confrontation. Without any prior interaction, the man had no reason to be so aggressive. The stink of beer on the man's breath when he spoke made it quite clear that his motives were hardly backed by some sort of logic. The meat-brained chuckling of his friends only served to further stir his insensibility.

The boy's face grew stern when the man's jargon was directed towards his companion. The boy felt a sudden wave of heat rise from his chest to his face, a sudden urge to shut the man up, and even worse yet, a sudden urge to use his powers to do so. The feeling was not so unfamiliar, it was reminiscent of the last time he had used his powers publicly in response to the guard mentioning he had been searching for Shallan. The boy's knuckles turned white as he tightened his fist around his weapon, taking a long breath to calm his sudden fervor and resist his urges. "Let's leave," he told Shallan before spinning on his heels and walking a different direction, any direction. It was a mistake to go straight towards where there was fighting, where everyone's blood was still stirred and heated by the action. He prayed that the man would just let them leave silently, fearing what might happen if he did not.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would frown a little as her partner suggested that they go and investigate the place where the fight had taken place. She didn't exactly relish the idea, given how she normally abhorred any sort of violence or confrontation. Still, they had no other leads to follow, and such a chaotic and unpredictable environment likely made for the sort of place that the charmer preferred...if everything they had heard about the man thus far proved to be true, at the very least. With their supposed course of action set, Shallan would step away from the window briefly, not interested in watching as the fight was broken up by a few of the more sensible onlookers.

Given that their departure seemed imminent, Shallan would take one last sip from her drink, before stepping back over towards the counter. She would place the near-empty glass atop it gently and give one last nod to the barkeeper, before turning to follow Mec once more. She would trot over to the door casually, before slipping outside after him, feeling little to no regret that they were finally able to leave the gambling hall. The drinks had been nice, but Shallan didn't think she would care to visit such a place again.

Shallan would follow her companion at a leisurely pace, somewhat apprehensive about their next destination. She swallowed her nerves and tagged on regardless, though, determined to avoid splitting up again. The girl had no wish for a repeat of last time, even if it meant getting caught along with Mec, should worse come to worse. Still, she shied away a fraction as the random stranger waiting outside spoke up, drawing attention both to Shallan herself and the sword Mec currently wore at his waist. Her eyes widened at some of the things he implied, and she quickly turned her gaze away, filled with a strange mixture of embarrassment and repulsion. Naturally, she wanted nothing to do with this disgusting stranger, but trying to point that out would only likely result in him becoming more aggressive.

"...sounds good to me" she would mutter softly, voice almost inaudible over the ruckus inside as Mec suggested that the two of them leave. She would turn to do just that, eager to get away from that reprehensible man as fast as possible. As she turned to move away, the stranger scowled, taking a menacing step forward. Regardless of his intentions, whether he just wanted to tease the two more or had something extra nefarious on his mind, it seemed that the stranger didn't particularly like the idea of being shrugged off - especially with so many of his acquaintances about. He moved to close the distance between the two, before the whole ensemble was interrupted by a loud bang, and the sound of the front door flying open.

A rather haughty man appeared, overweight and somewhat menacing. In his hands, he gripped the clothes of another patron, who currently struggled to free himself from the larger man's grip. The portly gentleman was having none of it, and promptly tossed his captive out onto the porch, in a rather impressive display of strength. The other man was sent sprawling, but quickly recovered, jumping to his feet with all the skill and grace of a practiced acrobat. He quickly spun back around to face the man again, clearly intent on arguing his case.

As he righted himself, Shallan noticed that the man's attire was somewhat...unusual. He wore no shirt, instead opting for a sleeveless vest that left both his shoulders and a good portion of his midriff exposed. His body was toned, and easily toed the line towards muscular; the open garb revealed a set of abs to the world almost shamelessly. His pants were rather baggy, but not excessively so, still allowing him free range of motion. Even as Shallan watched, he ran a hand through his messy golden hair, which was trimmed short, slicking it back with practiced ease. His facial features were firm, and his emerald green eyes twinkled with the allure of mischief and danger. Whoever this stranger was, he would easily pass for a heartthrob in the small town where Shallan and Mec had grown up.

"Oh come on, that was hardly my fault! Mitch bet me that I couldn't get the two of them started on each other, so clearly I had to step up to the challenge" he pointed out, taking a few fleet-footed steps towards the open doorway. The man who had just tossed him out was having none of it, though. "I don't give two shits! I'm sick of your rabble-rousing. We get enough of that crap around here without assholes like you causing more problems" the portly man spat back, pointing an accusing finger at the man. He stepped back before the lean man could say anything further, slamming the door shut with force equal to his rage. The golden-haired beauty would hesitate then, as if debating whether or not he should push the issue any further, before exhaling sharply as he decided against it.

The stranger would turn to walk away, before quickly pausing; only now was he realising that there were still others about. That his forced exit had accrued quite an audience. He lingered for a moment, sizing up the situation, before a devilish smirk flickered across his features. Holding his arms out wide, he would take a few casual steps towards the drunkards.

"Well well, this is an interesting sight. Marco, you aren't causing any trouble, are you? That's supposed to be my job, after all" he offered, sounding oddly cheery despite his forced eviction just moments before. Apparently the man was unbothered by all the fuss. The drunk who had just started on Mec and Shallan looked at him with barely-concealed disgust, taking the time to spit at his feet casually. "Fuck off, Midir. Don't think for one second that I've forgotten what you did to my sister" he grumbled, having supposedly forgotten Mec and Shallan for the time being

[Headwrapper]

Upon hearing the loud crash of the doors flinging open, the amateur mage would quickly spin around, inching himself between Shallan and what might have been a threat. He was already put on edge by the glimpse of trouble they had just faced, and the sudden noise only served to further elevate his nerves. His body relaxed when he realized the sound was just a patron being thrown out of the tavern, a common enough sight. With all eyes on the display, there was little worry about the potential of an altercation between himself and the drunken fools standing around him.

What a fool, he thought as he listened to the man who had just been, quite literally, thrown out of the tavern plead his case. The man was clearly one to look for trouble. With his rather peculiar and unreasonably exuberant dress and defiant voice, he invited conflict, and probably basked in the attention it brought. Mec winced as the door to the tavern slammed shut, a loud bang echoing through the town's streets.

As the man turned, Mec caught that mischievous glimmer in his eye, before he decided to approach them and the drunken fools around them. Of course the man sought more attention, and who easier to garner it from than these simpletons? Mec was surprised to that the man knew the drunkard who had tried flex his muscles earlier by name, and what was more amusing was that they already had some bad blood between them. His eyes widened when the man, supposedly named Marco, had identified Midir by his name. Mec exchanged glances with Shallan, wondering if she had heard it to, before stepping closer towards Midir and Marco.

"No worries, I don't expect you'll ever forget. I hope that sweet sister of yours won't either." Midir let out a loud laugh, snapping his fingers and pointing them at Marco before trying to step passed him. The other man would not be so easily mocked, however, roaring as he grabbed Midir by the vest. His strength was nothing like the large man who had assaulted Midir earlier, yet his grip was still fueled with rage. "You little cunt!"

Mec's eyes narrowed as the drunkard placed his hands on the man he and Shallan had toiled the entire night to finally track down and locate. What was more curious was the strange look of satisfaction on Midir's face as the man grabbed at him, yelling and spewing spit all over his face as he did so. "There's no time left for this," the boy sighed before taking a large step forward towards the two men. Losing his patience now that his target was in sight, the boy decided it was time for another gamble that night.

"Hey, what makes you think you can just forget about me after trying to run my friend's honor through the mud?" he said slowly, as if trying to think through his statement, before grabbing Marco by the collar. He heard the faint sound of tearing cloth as he pulled the man away from Midir. He was surprisingly light, and let go of Midir's vest with little hesitation. The man must have had plenty to drink, so bloated with liquid courage that he could barely keep his balance once he was shoved a bit.

The man let out a frustrated yell as he raised his fist, swinging it towards Mec as if swinging a flail, his fist serving as the ball at the end of the chain. His sluggishness caused him to miss, much to his friends' amusement. He would go for another swing, before staggering to his knees and throwing up his night's drinks all over the boards of the porch. "Fucking cunts," he gasped, before retching a second time.

Mec let out a loud exhale from his nostrils as pain pulsed from his sides in response to a slap to the back. "Hey, thanks stranger," Midir chuckled. "Let's get out of here before old Stone sees the mess we made, huh? Come, you and your friend have a drink on me." The charmer turned to lead the way, though Mec did not know to where. For now though, it seemed the boy's gamble had paid off, or at least to hastened his and Shallan's acquaintanceship with this Midir fellow.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan's eyes widened slightly as the stranger's name was mentioned for the first time, and she subsequently threw a quick glance in Mec's direction. Their current peril at the hands of the drunken man and his friends was almost forgotten in the heat of the moment. Had they really managed to find the one man in the entire city that they actively sought after, just like that? It seemed a wonderful stroke of luck if this man was rule truly the same Midir otherwise known as the Charmer, the one who Olenna had sent them out to find. Shallan herself thought it was likely - his mannerisms seemed to suggest he was the same sort of troublemaker that all the other residents seemed to think him. Beyond that, well...his looks and charisma certainly seemed overpowering enough to be fitting of the title.

The girl would mutter Mec's name softly as he stepped forward, insisting on pressing the matter. She had no desire to witness another fight, especially one involving her companion. The matter of her honour mattered little enough to the girl - while she hardly liked what the drunken man had said, it was hardly worth contesting with violence. It seemed that her call went unheard, though, or was simply ignored. She gasped as punches were thrown, and was subsequently relieved as nothing came of them. When Midir turned away, she was more than eager to get away.

"S-sure...let's get away from here before any of them recover their wits" Shallan answered simply, still feeling slightly rattled by the whole endeavour. The charmer would grin at that, supposedly pleased by her answer. He would clasp both of his hands together in front of his chest, taking a few nonchalant steps towards the rest of their little party with that same cocksure grin plastered across his features. It seemed as if there was no end to his confidence.

"Wonderful, wonderful. I know a delightful little tavern, not far from here. It's much more peaceful than this place, and they serve dinner too, if that strikes your fancy" he would offer, tone as smooth and composed as when he had been confronting his drunken attacker just a few moments before. Shallan was extremely surprised when Midir offered her his arm, and blinked in surprise for a few moments before cautiously accepting. The smile he gave her seemed more heartwarming then, and he quickly led started leading them off, supposedly towards the place he had just mentioned.

Shallan's mind felt somewhat fuzzy as they headed off, almost to the point where she was feeling light-headed. Not knowing any better, the girl attributed this to the alcohol she had consumed earlier in the evening. Sadly, this was not the case. Unbeknownst to the rest of the party, Midir was truly the one responsible. For as long as he had lived here, the man had used his own magic to surround himself with a suggestive glamour. One designed to make strangers more agreeable to his suggestions, and more likely to look upon the charmer favourably. It was only a weak charm, but subtle, and just enough to aid his mischief-making goals. This was the true cause of his nickname. Of course, other mages were less susceptible than ordinary humans, and could even recognise the fact he was using such a charm in the first place, should they examine him and his existing connection to the Anima closely.

"So, what brings the two of you here, to my domain? Forgive the assumption, but neither of you really seem like the partying type. Or am I mistaken?" He would question simply as their party moved, glancing back across at Mec calmly. Some polite conversation, to fill in the time it would take them to walk to his next choice of entertainment - a small bar and restaurant combination, built underground. They would come across a set of steps leading down from the street towards an inconspicuous door, given away only by the sign that waited out the front. The place was generally a bit quiet for Midir's tastes, but the food was good, the drink was strong, and most importantly, it was a place that he was yet to be banned from.

[Headwrapper]

Mec watched cautiously as Shallan took the man's arm before following the lead to what would be the fifth establishment he would visit that night if one counted the previous encounter a visit. He hardly noticed any visual change Shallan might have conveyed as Midir's charm began influencing her, not yet noticing any effects from that power himself. "I'm glad you asked," he responded. His eyes shifted to either side before quietly continuing. A word caught in his throat before he swallowed it, deciding to quit gambling while he was ahead and play it safe for the time being. "I'm Jay Foxtrot, and this is Natasha Daviar. Society hasn't been kind to us, and what better place to start over than Convittas?" The boy paused, eyeing the grin plastered across Midir's face. "Our friend Olenna suggested we speak to a certain Midir, who owns a shop on the west side of the town. Would you be the same Midir?"

The man's handsome smile faltered for a moment as a familiar name crossed his ears, only to spring back to life as he turned to consider the man speaking to him. "I might be. But how do I know that my friend Olenna is also your friend Olenna? It doesn't hurt to be careful in times like these you know."

Mec frowned as he considered this rebuttal. The response had basically sealed the fact that this was in fact who he was searching for all night, but, it wasn't like the cabal had some sort of sigil that he knew of that proved alliance. Even if the man was just trying to be a bit difficult for entertainment, he would have a valid point in not trusting them completely. He was not even given their real names, to be fair. Just as the party had approached the bar Midir was leading them to he had chosen a response."Est potentia ex notitia"

Midir gave a small nod before letting out a loud laugh in response to Mec's words. "I never thought I would hear that uttered all the way out here," he chuckled as he lead them down the steps to the front door of the restaurant. Despite being underground, the tavern was well-lit and relatively warm for it being so late in the night. Relative to most of the other places Mec and Shallan had visited that night, there were very few patrons that inhabited the seats of the rather small tavern. The ones that were there seemed to keep entirely to themselves and whoever they were with, not even glancing as the doors to the tavern opened.

Midir would lead Mec and Shallan to a vacant table, and expressively point to a seat for Mec before politely pulling out a chair for Shallan to sit in. The man would then take his own seat next to the girl before continuing the conversation. "So how is our mutual friend? She was not very happy with me last time I spoke with her." The man let out yet another chuckle before spotting a server and waving her down. "A flagon of your strongest and a bowl of whatever the chef is serving for each of us please," he told her with a quick slap to her rear. Mec raised an eyebrow as the woman continued on hurriedly without so much as reacting to the unnecessary gesture.

Midir took notice to Mec's expression. He clasped his hands together, leaning forward to share his wisdom with the green boy. "If you really want to make it in Convittas, you can't be afraid to do whatever it is you want. Never miss an opportunity." He unraveled his fingers and ran them through his hair as he leaned back against his seat, giving the quiet bar a quick look-around before matching eyes with Shallan, then Mec, then back and forth. "So you're both... you know..." He tapped a knuckle on the wooden table before waving his fingers. Was this his way of asking if they were mages?

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan couldn't help but throw a sly glance towards her companion as he and Midir conversed slightly, caught off-guard by his sudden and seemingly random decision to use false names. A brief moment of consideration was enough for her to judge that such a thing was a good precaution for the two of them to have in place, but it's sudden implementation was a potential worry. Without the chance to pick out her own name, and adjust to hearing it, Shallan was afraid that she would likely not react to her own persona when called upon. Hopefully she could remain alert enough to avoid any obvious discrepancies, and would get used to it before too long.

As their little group was shepherded into the restaurant, she would release Midir's arm, before quickly moving to claim one of the vacant seats for herself. She would recline in silence then, trying to relax a little now that they had both managed to find their contact and found a place relatively quiet and peaceful to converse. Her expression at the man's actions in slapping the woman's behind were abhorrent, and she winced slightly as she witnessed them, only to be surprised by the realisation that the lady didn't seem to care. It seemed that Mec's reaction mirrored her own, though, and Midir was quick to explain his thought process.

She decided to let the topic slide for now, in favour of what followed. As Midir asked the prize question, she would prop one elbow up on the table, resting her hand against her cheek idly, before turning her gaze out towards the rest of the bar. She tried to sound nonchalant, but the admission that followed embarrassed her more than she cared to admit, for reasons she didn't totally understand.

"...No. Not the both of us" the words finally came. They were accompanied by a frown, but it was relatively well concealed between her hand and sitting position. Would the charmer loose any sort of interest in her part of this little ballet now that he knew the truth, as Olenna had? It wouldn't have surprised her, honestly, all things considered...especially considering the stories she had heard about mages in the past. Even if she still believed magic could be used for the benefit of all.

"I suppose that name is forbidden even here, huh?" the girl would finally add, swinging her gaze back across to Midir, who dismissed her question with a bit of a dismissive shrug, and the casual flick of a wrist. He seemed almost disinterested in the topic, which seemed a strange contrast to the spirited and outgoing mannerisms he had displayed before.

"Convittas might not have a formal garrison, but most everyone who lives here is perfectly capable of fighting. Most everyone has been in enough bar fights to know how to handle themselves...and nothing brings people together like fear or panic" Midir answered simply, crossing both of his arms atop the counter and leaning over them somewhat casually. His tone was soft and gentle, as if even he was afraid of being overheard, but his body language remained undoubtedly nonchalant. "Better to keep them confused and off-guard, and you might as well have a bit of fun in the process. After all, who would expect one of those lot to intentionally try and keep centre stage?" He offered, that same coy smile making a reappearance.

His words faded on his lips just in time for their waitress to return, skilfully carrying three bowls at once, along with the flagon that had been requested. She would set the flagon down first, before setting their servings out one by one. It seemed that the chef today had settled on salted mutton, which was being served in large chunks that sat submerged in the thin sauce the meat had been cooked in. The smell itself was extremely appetising, and it made Shallan recall just how hungry she had become. Given that Midir had asked for their strongest type of alcohol, though, she was content to refrain from any more drink. Especially after what she had ingested already, and the strange sensation she was currently feeling.

[Headwrapper]

Midir gave the waitress a nod of approval as she served the table, and his hands quickly moved for the drink she had left behind once she had hurried off to address other patrons. He flipped over one of the cups that was already placed on the table and filled one to the brim for himself, before reaching over to fill the others. The man frowned when Mec placed a hand over the cup that would have been his. "You don't partake? Believe me, the stiffer drink is much cleaner than the water around here."

Mec shrugged. "I have had too much already," he said. The other mage responded with a shrug of his own before setting down the flagon and taking a long drink from his cup. While the man drank, Mec stared down at the browned chunks of meat that sat before him, intrigued by the fragrance that rose to his nostrils. He picked up a morsel with the very tips of his fingers and gave it a quick swirl in the dark sauce before taking a quick bite. The meat had a heavy flavor, exemplified by the sauce browned with crushed herbs and dices of onions.

"Was Olenna able to notify you of our intention to meet with you?" Mec asked, wiping off his moistened fingers on the sides of his pants. "She seemed to have written a lot of letters when we decided on traveling this way, I guess I assumed one of them would have been for you."

The man gave a small shrug. "She might have, though I probably misplaced the note. I am very important to the people around here you know. Always busy." An amber glow from the lamplight reflected off of his golden hair as he turned his head to glance around the room once again, leaning back against his chair to further exemplify his exposed torso.

Mec glanced down to his bowl of food once again. His body was starting to ache for a proper rest. He wondered just how late the night had gotten. Was it possible that when they climbed back up to the surface the sun would already be beginning its ascent? His fingers quickly went for more of the mutton, aiming to quickly down the meal as if to get it over with. Between bites, he would continue carefully prodding his new acquaintance, only occasionally make points or asking questions as if trying to avoid being overbearing or sounding helpless. "The reason I ask is because we have not yet arranged for proper lodgings for the night. We had to travel for a couple days to get here, caught up in a storm and all."

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan hummed thoughtfully to herself as talk once again turned to their mutual friend, though she deigned to avoid answering directly. This wasn't so much due to a lack of interest in the subject, but rather, she was instead preoccupied with the food that had just been laid out before her. She reached to sample the dish after no more than a few tentative moments, before moaning softly as the wholesome flavors filled her mouth. She had never been the biggest foodie, but even she could appreciate a good meal, especially after the sparse pickings they had made do with the last few days.

Of course, as she ate, the girl turned her attention to the topic at hand. Given the messages that Olenna had sent out, Shallan would have certainly expected at least one of them to inform Midir of their pending arrival. The charmer would need to have agreed to assist them, right? It seemed highly unlikely that the cabal's leader would just have dumped the two of them upon him without any prior warning, given her level of organisation...unless she merely expected such obedience? In any case, had Midir received a letter, the man should have at least known their real names. Regardless, it was of little consequence now.

"Lodgings, you say? Don't tell me the two of you were planning on heading to bed already" Midir jibed playfully, that same coy smile returning to flicker across his features once more. "This is Convittas, the city that never sleeps. By sunrise you'll find half the population passed out in their chairs or the streets, if past experience is anything to judge by" he answered, unable to help but chuckle softly at the thought. The man would pause here to lift his flagon to his lips, taking a few hearty gulps, before placing it back down on the table with a clunk. He would take a moment to wipe his lips on the back of his arm, before settling down a fraction, opting for a little bit more serious answer.

"Look, I have a shop on the far side of town. The two of you are welcome to stay there if you need a roof over your heads, but I'm afraid that's about all it has to offer. There's only the one bed there, and I doubt either of you are inclined to sharing with me...not yet, at the very least" he answered simply, settling back into his chair once more. The man would sweep his gaze about the room then, before returning it to his two little charges once more. "I can show you the way, though I wouldn't normally be heading back there for a few hours yet. Still, the offer stands. Its probably safer than wandering about yourselves trying to find an inn, or even staying in one for that matter" he would add, giving a bit of a dismissive shrug. Shallan's thoughts would wander to their waning coin supply then, from which point the matter seemed simple.

"We'd hate to impose, but that would be...very welcome. It certainly seems a better option than trying to find a place ourselves, when we're both so unfamiliar with our surroundings. I'd very much prefer to avoid another confrontation like the last" she offered, cheeks flushing slightly in embarrassment as she recalled the things that the drunken man had said about her, and the way that the confrontation had resolved itself. Midir nodded in response, surprisingly understanding. "Alright, no worries. We can go as soon as everyone is done with their food and drink" he offered simply, gesturing to the dishes laid out before them once more.

[Headwrapper]

In the moments that followed, Mec managed to quickly scarf down his meal. Pressure weighed down on his shoulders as he grew more tired, his eyelids occasionally drifting shut when he did not make the conscious effort to keep them open. He announced the completion of his meal with a loud yawn, straightening himself up in his seat while waiting for the others to finish eating their own bowls. It was during this time that he decided to disclose his and Shallan's actual names to their new friend. There did not seem to be any more need for precautions at this point.

When the group had their fill of food any drink they cared to partake in, Midir would finally stand, his arms outstretched on either side. "Well, if you're ready, we can go." His foxish eyes regarded Mec's almond ones as the boy responded with a tired nod. With little need for announcement, the man would turn and lead them out of the tavern and back out into the sleepless night of Convittas.

The man would lead the group back towards his shop. Unlike most places they have been, the roads were rather well lit from the lamp lights that emanated from the buildings that lined them. It made for an easy and uneventful walk. The man would unlock the backdoor, which lead to the part of the building that served as lodgings. "It might not be much to some, but it's mine," Midir said softly as he lead the others inside. He reached for a lantern that sat near the door, illuminating the room with a soft orange light.

When Mec had finally stepped foot into the building that would provide a roof over him for that night, he could immediately feel the weight of oncoming sleep weighing down on him. It was as if his body had recognized the place as its resting spot and began to shut down for the night. "It's great," he mumbled as he stumbled to one corner of the room.

His consciousness quickly slipping, the boy would lower himself onto the floor, utilizing his cloak as a makeshift sheet. He would have little recollection of the next few moments, and only muster up a grunt as a response if he was addressed before fully drifting off to sleep. His final resting position ended up being on his back, with one arm slung over his face to cover his eyes. His mouth hung open, each breath quietly scraping against the roof of his mouth- not quite a snore, but not completely silent either.

[Namingtoohard]

With little more to be said and done, Shallan continued to mop up the vast majority of her own meal in silence. It seemed that their course was set for the moment, and while she didn't wish to keep the rest of the group waiting, the girl didn't wish to give up her chance to eat such a meal either. When Mec had finished his dish, and promptly announced that it was time they were getting on, she had consumed enough as to feel the stop had been worthwhile, and quickly consented to moving on. With the rest, she would rise from her chair, leaving the bowls and drinks behind without so much as a second glance as she headed for the door.

She would tag along with the rest of the group, meandering along peacefully as they headed for the supposed location of Midir's dwelling. The charmer didn't go out of his way to offer her his arm again, and Shallan made no move of her own on that regard, content to tag along. Had she been well-rested, the girl would have likely wished to stay out later. To see what other sorts of shows and wonders this city's night life held, after it had so thoroughly smashed her expectations to pieces already. This time, though, she decided that rest sounded like a wonderful idea. After all, there would be plenty of opportunity to experience everything Convittas had to offer in the nights to come.

When they arrived, Shallan wouldn't take to immediately trying to rest, as her companion seemed inclined. Midir quickly explained that the night was still young, and he had more merrymaking to do. A brief farewell followed, before he disappeared back out into the night - supposedly unbothered by the concept of leaving the two youngsters alone in his home for the evening. After that, Shallan would take a few moments to wander throughout the rooms immediately adjacent, trying to get a feel for her surroundings, and to find a chair or something of the sorts that would be more comfortable than sleeping on the floor.

When she returned, it seemed that Mec was already fast asleep, and she frowned briefly. Worry blossomed in her chest, and a concerned frown flickered across her features. Had he really been so exhausted, pushed himself so much, and she had merely failed to notice? Such wasn't an appealing thought. Still, with nothing else to do, she would promptly settle down for the night herself.

The girl was jolted back into consciousness the next morning by the return of Midir himself, who stumbled in through the door during the early hours of the morning. Her eyes felt heavy, but Shallan forced them open, and was greeted with the sight of a fairly disheveled charmer. He would freeze as he caught sight of the two visitors, supposedly having forgotten that the two of them were present. Years of practice meant that the man was quick to recover his wits, though.

"Oh, damn" he muttered softly to himself, bringing a hand up to run through his hair briefly. "Ah, sorry if I woke you. I was just heading to bed myself, truth be told" he offered sheepishly, taking a few casual steps towards the girl, who was still covered by her cloak. She rose just a fraction, allowing the cloth to peel back slightly. "You've been out all night?" she mumbled, still half-asleep. Midir grinned sheepishly at that, but didn't deign to respond directly.

"Once your friend wakes, feel free to go out and get some breakfast or something. I'll probably be back up around midday, maybe a little later. We can get down to business then" he offered simply, before disappearing into one of the adjacent rooms that she had established yesterday night was his bedroom. With that, Shallan settled down once more, content to try and relax a little more while she had the chance. From there, she would simply bide her time until Mec awoke, not wanting to disturb him given his apparent tiredness. After several moments, the soft sound of snoring would permeate the air, coming from the next room into which Midir had disappeared, but the girl paid it no mind.

[Headwrapper]

Mec managed to sleep through Midir's sudden and poorly coordinated appearance. The man had appeared and went without so much as a stir from Mec's part. It would be another hour or so before the youth began to stir in his sleep, and eventually wake up to the late morning sun slipping through the blinds of the nearby windows.

He let out a soft groan as he rose off of his shoulder, which had been left tender and sore from being laid on through the night. Once sitting upright, he slowly rolled the same shoulder while holding it with his opposite hand, deliberately working out the stiffness of his muscles. Although he did feel some pain in his ribs that morning, it was much less than it had been, evidence of the progress his body had made in healing its injuries.

When he finally stood, the boy would take a few moments to gather his surroundings before wandering over to the adjacent rooms. He ignored the closed doors, unsure of which ones would lead to Midir's bedroom, but he would find his way to the main shop area. The entrance put him right behind the counter, and he made his way over to a stool that stood behind it and had a seat. He leaned against the counter and rested his head on one hand.

"Seems familiar," he sighed to himself. Even so far away from home, even after so much has changed, he still managed to find himself behind a counter, his knuckles digging into his cheek. He paid little attention to the wares of the shop as he mused about the familiarity the counter brought. How simple it was to just watch the days pass while manning the till, with very few consequences to face. The idle chitchat with patrons had little meaning and no risk of being recognized as some sort of threat, and the weather outside meant little except an occasional leak in the roof or the need for a coat.

When he had felt a bit more awake and was ready to set aside these distracting thoughts, Mec would go to where Shallan was, whether she had chosen to follow him to the shop or had remained in the back of the building. Once she was done with whatever she had preoccupied herself with, whether that be catching more sleep, fixing her hair, or whatever else, Mec would greet her. "You sleep okay?"

[Namingtoohard]

At first, Shallan had decided to spend the free time with which she had found herself looking around. Somewhat curious about whether Midir was identifiable as a mage in any regard beyond the obvious, she had begun by browsing the open parts of his home, idly searching for anything that might be a giveaway. In all honesty, the girl itself had no idea what she was searching for, but with plenty of time to spend and nothing better to do it seemed a decent choice for passing the time. In the end though, she found no hidden workshop, no secret lair, no books that might have any sort of magical implications.

With little else to do whilst waiting for Mec to awaken, the girl decided to go for a brief stroll in the end. She slipped out the back door, the same way that they had come in, quite sure that it would be safe enough. The girl assumed that the larger part of the town would still be asleep, recovering from their big night, as Midir was. Even so, repulsive acts like those she had almost been subjected to last night seemed like they would be much rarer in daylight. She was correct only in part, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the streets were as lively as they had been yesterday morning.

Her venture was only a short one. She made sure to stay on the same street as Midir's dwelling, and roamed with a purpose. Feeling somewhat hungry, she decided to buy both she and Mec a meat pastry for breakfast. It was frustrating to use some of the little money they had left over on such a thing, but Shallan's stomach was growling, and she had no idea what other plans they might have for breakfast, especially with Midir asleep. She returned promptly after buying them, and was pleasantly surprised to find Mec was awake when she returned.

"Better than last night" she remarked, a hint of sourness creeping into her tone. Just like that, though, the girl squashed it. She didn't want to so much as think about the discussion that had taken place between she and Cho, for obvious reasons. "Here. I brought you breakfast. I figured you must be hungry" she offered simply, reaching out to offer one of the two meat pies she had brought to her companion. After that, the girl retired to one of the nearby chairs, quite content to relax. She helped herself to a bite, savouring her meal for a moment, before finally breaking the silence once more.

"In any case, Midir only came home this morning, and said he wouldn't be up until midday. It seems that we're to have most of the morning to ourselves, to do as we please" Shallan offered simply, though she was sure to punctuate her statements with the occasional bite of her pie. "Is there anything in particular you wanted to do or see? I'd suggest we get some shopping out of the way, after everything we lost before, but even buying these hurt more than I would care to admit" she offered simply, gesturing to the half-eaten pie with her free hand briefly.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would accept the meat-pie Shallan offered him with both hands. "Thanks," he said meekly before taking a bite. The crust was was nicely toasted and the meat inside was nice and tender, but not overly juicy as to moisten the crust. The boy gave a nod as Shallan explained that Midir would most likely be asleep until the morning was over. With how active the residents of the town were the night before, he would not have been surprised if the rest of the town was not hidden away and tucked in their beds.

"Yeah. We're going to need to be smart with our coin. But there are a few things that we simply need to have." The boy walked over to where he left his sword, picking it up by the sheath. "I suppose we could find a shop that would buy this... I... It does not suit me, I'm afraid." He gave the weapon a long hard look, unsure of whether or not he truly wished to rid himself of it. He had no training with using such a weapon, but maybe he could learn, the same way that he was learning magic. For some reason he also felt that the blade symbolized some sort of responsibility, a need to honor the life of the previous owner, which was lost partly because of Mec's own will to stay alive. The scabbard was also a gift, from Cho, and it would be rude to just sell it off, even if the boy never found out about it.

Mec took the last bite of his breakfast before picking up the weapon and securing it around his waist. He had grown accustomed to the weight of the metal against his leg, lightly tugging pressing against his hip. "There's not much to do here, I guess. Let's go look at the shops for a little while, and decide if we need to buy anything.

When they left the store, Mec was surprised that the amount of people that were traveling up and down the streets of Convittas. "These people just don't stop to rest," he sighed. Just a few blocks away, among the stout buildings, he could make out performers already preparing their stages for their day's productions. Bards plucked at their strings, warming them up for the day, and singers hummed to do much the same for their voices. Others, where space allowed, prepared mobile stages, cleverly designed to allow them to be collapsible when it was time to leave. It was like the town had evolved to a massive circus during the day, and transformed back into an entirely different place at night.

Mec took a step backwards as a small group of children ran passed, chasing a leather ball that bounced along the dirt roads. He gave Shallan a quick nod. "You already went for a short walk this morning, did you not? Do you know which way we should go first?"

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would continue to much away on her meat pastry in silence for several moments, enjoying its rich taste the whole time. Of course, she continued to listen to Mec throughout the entire process, nodding in silent agreement where her full mouth wouild not allow her to speak. When she was finished, the girl would sigh softly with something akin to contentment, before glancing back across at her companion as she continued the final parts of his speech. A calm smile would flicker across her features as she beheld him, and her eyes were filled with gentle warmth; a look of simple affection. Clearly, she held some level of approval for his decision, and she held his gaze for a few moments before finally responding.

"Mm, I agree. Wearing it could just antagonise other trouble-makers, like it did last night. I admit, having some means of defence is nice, but...well, with enough training, your magic should prove enough. Besides, with any luck we won't need any sort of defence at all" she offered simply. Clearly, the pacifist within Shallan greatly approved of his decision, even if it wasn't the most logical one. All this talk of coin brought up a few other thoughts, but Shallan wouldn't voice them immediately. She simply nodded in agreement with Mec's assessment of the situation, quickly following him outside. The sounds of merriment hit her in the face as they stepped out the door, and the girl embraced it gladly.

"I don't know. I didn't leave the street. We can always try asking someone if there's something like a marketplace around, though" she girl suggested briefly. She would glance about as they trotted along briefly, before selecting a random lady out from the crowd - one of those setting up one of the collapsible stands that lined the street. Approaching with a merry smile and a skip in her step, she greeted the woman heartily. Their exchange was rather swift, and punctuated only by a soft laugh from the stranger, who had promptly guessed that they were new to town. Within a few moments, Shallan had returned, waving her off cheerily before heading back over towards Mec.

"There's one further towards the centre of town. Not exactly just around the corner, but we should be able to find it without too much trouble" she offered simply, gesturing freely in the direction they needed to go. As they started their stroll, though, the girl finally brought up one of the topics that had come to mind during their earlier discussion.

"...is it worth asking Midir whether or not he can spare the money for our journey? If our guild is rich enough to be searching for a home somewhere for the two of us, surely they can spare some coin to help us survive...though I dislike the idea of putting ourselves any further into their debt" she would say quite simply, a small frown flickering across her features - not one of disapproval, but rather, contemplation. As they continued to walk, and as she waited for Mec's answer, the girl would eye a few of the buskers that they passed during their journey. Like last time, she had the desire to stay and watch those that seemed interesting, but the last thing that Shallan wanted was to get separated from her companion again. God forbid they incur a repeat of last time.

"I wish that we had the coin to spare them something. As thanks, or motivation" she would say softly, more or less muttering under her breath as they strolled along, half-speaking to herself.

[Headwrapper]

Mec stood idly as Shallan conversed with the woman nearby, only offering a small nod when the woman diverted her attention towards him for a brief moment. After Shallan returned he would continue walking with her towards where the marketplace would be, not too far from Midir's own shop, but still a few streets away.

Mec cleared his throat as he pondered Shallan's question. "I dont think it would hurt to ask. Maybe it would be best to ask once we are due to leave, though. If we stay on his good side until then, well, we might have better odds of benefiting from his generosity." He gave a small shrug. "It's possible he might have work that needs done around his shop. We might be able to earn a bit of money from him if he needs a reason to share."

Like his companion, he would also pay a certain amount of attention to the street performers as they finished preparations and began displaying their talents. They were amusing, and would definitely be entertaining if the boy had nothing else to preoccupy his mind, but any special displays of dedication to the craft or passion for the art was lost to him. None of it seemed overly impressive to him, unless they could match the dragonfire displays from the night before.

After some walking, they would finally arrive at the small center of the town. One particular building sat at the very center of four roads that formed a square, and small canopied stands stuck out from wherever they could be crammed in that square, like barnacles infesting an ill-kept ship. Even here, certain performers found room to make their displays, competing for the attention of passersby.

A ways behind the building, just another street over, Mec would see a much larger stage. This one seemed to be permanently set up. It may have been an amphitheater of sorts, a place where scheduled and well rehearsed plays and concerts were held. Who would one have to pay to have one of the seats in front of the stage for the day, he wondered. His attention would return to the shops and stalls before him. "Let's find what we need. There doesn't seem to be any smiths around here, so surely one of these merchants will want to buy a sword as well."

[Namingtoohard]

As they continued heir stroll towards the marketplace, Shallan fully expected their destination to be a true reflection of the rest of the town. A large and open space, packed so full of stands and performers and other customers as to make one feel very small indeed. Her suspicions proved more or less correct as the two chanced upon the open crossroads that had been chosen as the venue, and initial impressions showed a total lack of order to the placement of everything. Finding one's way through that mess seemed like it would either be a total nightmare or an exhilarating adventure, depending on one's mindset.

As they pressed deeper into the maze of sellers, Shallan would glance around briefly, eager to try and get her bearings. Once she had spotted it, the girl's eyes would linger on the amphitheater for several moments, longing written all over her face. Part of her wished for nothing more than to sit back and enjoy the various shows all day, while another wished to be up there on the stage herself. Such a thought, as fleeting as it was, started the girl wondering if she couldn't make money in the same way as all the other street performers. She didn't think she had the skill to warrant her own show, though, and the idea of having to compete with everybody else for attention was a daunting one. What would it take for a simple singer to stand out in such a crowd, and would she really be capable of it?

"Ah...right" she would answer softly as her companion suggested they press onwards, her train of thought interrupted by the sudden reminder of their purpose here today. She would shake her head for a moment, trying to straighten out her thoughts, before turning her attention back to the matter at hand. Had Mec noticed her momentary lapse? She didn't know, but tried to refocus on the matter at hand regardless. Picking a direction at random, they would set off at a leisurely pace, and she actively glanced about at all the stalls that surrounded the two of them, pressing close on either side. After several moments, it occurred to her that the girl didn't even know what she was looking for. Not truly.

"So if there are no smiths around, what exactly do we look for? Some sort of arms specialist who would be a better judge of quality, or just a stall that seems to deal in everything, so there won't be much competition?" She would question simply. Out of the two of them, Mec was the only one with any sort of experience in economics, so she felt it better to defer to his judgement on the matter. She balked at the feeling of helplessness, but submitted to it nonetheless.

"I'd best leave the haggling to you too, I suppose. Curse my lack of experience! My mother taught me to hit the high notes, keep a beat, cry on command and memorise entire passages, but couldn't show me how to do anything that might help us earn a living" she would add, a wry smile flickering across her features as she glanced across at Mec briefly. "I mean, I'm not blaming her, of course. She did her best, and that was all she knew. I can't help but feel a workable craft might be much more useful right about now, though" she would add hastily. Even as they moved, the girl would take a moment to sweep her hair back behind her shoulders, before promptly turning her gaze back to their surroundings once more.

[Headwrapper]

"With no smiths in town, weapons should be hard to come by around here," Mec responded coolly. His eyes skipped from stall to stall as they passed them, searching for a suitable merchant to approach. He was mainly searching for anyone that carried particular items in their inventory that were similar in nature to what he had to sell. A dagger, arrow shafts or heads, even a pair of gloves that could be passed for sword-handling gloves. Approaching a merchant who already carried such items would be easier and more profitable for him than to speak to someone just looking to make some quick cash by buying items cheaply and passing them off elsewhere.

"There are plenty of people here plucking strings and blowing air through horns to make money. If it wasn't profitable they probably wouldn't do it," the boy said idly in response to Shallan's concerns. He let out a quick chuckle, before adding another hushed comment. "Besides, you're good enough at breaking people out of jails. I find that craft to be quite useful." A glint shown in his eye as his attention suddenly fixed on a stall a few strides away. There, a merchant stood behind a simple stall that carried not much more than some fabrics and clothes. The man wore a ravish set of clothes, fabrics of purples and blues. A green sash was tightly wrapped around his waist, and the small hilt of a dagger peeked out from behind the fabric. Behind him, different expertly crafted jackets and shirts hung, and in a bottom corner, almost out of sight, was a leather buff jerkin that was exactly the kind a soldier might wear.

As Mec approached the stall, the merchant was quick to react. "Ah, a young man and woman approach!" He inspected their clothing, a small scowl across his face. "Such simple clothes, of course a man and a woman come to find more exciting garments to express themselves. Perhaps for the woman, this red gown from Ashai. Should the woman find she wishes to conceal herself, a red veil to match. And for the man, a dark pair of trousers and the jacket to match. The woman and the man would find my prices for such clothes to be extremely agreeable, even for small wallets." As the man spoke, he would pluck the articles he mentioned from their positions and place them on the stall before his potential patrons.

Mec's eyes barely glanced over the clothes the man presented before nodding towards the wall behind him. "Do you carry anything else like that?" He pointed towards the leather jerkin. "Hard to find armor and weapons in a place like this." The boy's eyes hardly moved in reaction to the merchant's sudden frown."

"A man wishes to buy armor? A seller fears he carries not much more than this. Only special circumstances for the seller to find such treasures. Does the man wish to try on the leather?" The merchant took a step back towards his display, his eyes wide in anticipation for Mec's reply. The boy would simply shake his head.

"I'm afraid I've given up on my dream of fighting for my King. I get the tremors when I see another's weapon, the craven I am. Which is why I wish to part with this." He placed his sheathed weapon on top of the clothes that were strewn before him. "I am hoping to raise enough coin to afford a trip back to Endiness and tend to ships like I was meant to do."

"Ah, a man comes from the Eastern ports. A man has a long way to travel." The merchant scratched his chin in thought. His hands slowly slid across the leather sheath with a vivid interest, before he gently pulled the sword partly out of the scabbard. He eyed the steel carefully before returning it within the leather. Mec would continue to feed the merchant with more white lies in hopes to convince him to make a deal, and eventually the two would reach an agreement. In exchange for the weapon and the scabbard, Mec was given a small pouch of coins that was nearly the same value of the pouch he brought at the start of the journey, as well as some samples of fabrics the merchant had to offer and some sewing tools. Mec had even convinced the man to throw in one of the Ashaiian veils, a delicate one that matched the color of the sea.

Once Mec and Shallan had continued their stroll and were well-distanced from the merchant, Mec would hold out the items he had procured. "You can sew, right? I don't know if this is really enough to make much, but maybe you could find something to do with it." He glanced down at the items in his outstretched arms, before sheepishly turning his head. "Oh, and the veil is yours... If you wanted it. It might be a bit too exotic, so you probably won't ever wear it..." The boy kept his head turned, eyeing the ground as he waited for Shallan to take the items from him.

[Namingtoohard]

Unable to help herself, Shallan grimaced at the mention of her skill breaking people out of jail. The logical part of her mind knew that her companion was kidding, and technically her one effort at doing so had been met with resounding success. Her discomfort came with the knowledge that she had needed to attack and knock out a guard who had been an old friend in the process. Even now, she didn't know if he was suffering any ill repercussions from the way she had needed to bang his head against the bars of the cell during the attempt. Thankfully she didn't end up dwelling on the thought for long, especially as one of the sellers that lined the street called out to the pair. Jolted out of her little reverie, she followed after Mec towards the man.

As the two conversed, the girl swept her gaze out across the selection of wares that the seller had laid out, eyeing the multicolored fabrics with idle interest. She would reach out and take one of the pieces between two fingers, rubbing them together gently in an attempt to get a feel for its texture. She would only glance up when the man suggested the foreign piece for her, frowning in concentration as she looked it over briefly. When their business was concluded, she would withdraw, before turning her attention to Mec as he offered her their purchases. She would reach out and take them tentatively, eyeing the pieces critically for a moment.

"Mm...technically I can, but I'm hardly what you would call a great talent. I don't think I've ever finished an entire piece myself; usually my mother and I worked on them together. No reason I can't give it a shot, though" she offered, giving a bit of a casual shrug. "At the very least, I should be able to mend our current clothes if anything happens to them, so that's a small plus" she offered simply. The girl would drape the rest of the goods over her arm then, arranging them neatly where they wouldn't bother her, before hesitating slightly as she came to the strange veil that the seller had thrown in.

"I can't really say its my style, but perhaps it'll come in handy one day. You never know when we might end up needing to hide our faces" she offered, before hesitating briefly. A bit of a cheeky grin flickered across her features, and she glanced across at her companion briefly. Her eyes would flicker from the material to his face, before she would speak up again.

"Maybe you should try it on, then! Nobody would recognize you that way, and I'm sure you would make an extremely pretty Ashai woman" she teased idly. Even as she spoke, the girl would hold the garment up between them, so she could catch some small glimpse of what the man might look like wearing it. A soft giggle escaped her as she beheld the strange sight, before she would lower the thing again with a small flourish. Her fun over, the girl would lower the thing again, tucking it over her arm with the rest of the things they had bought. She would turn her eyes to the sky then, a small smile flickering over her face.

"It seems that we still have some time before Midir awakens. Shall we look around a bit more?" she offered simply, a small smile flickering across her features. She would turn her gaze around the rest of the street then, attention split between the stalls and the buskers that littered the streets. She wasn't sure what she would have preferred - going to watch some of the performers, or looking around at the variety of goods on sale. After a moment, she just picked a direction at random, wandering off towards a few of the stalls.

"Ooh, have a look at those!" she exclaimed simply after a few moments, breaking out into a jog towards one of the other stalls scattered about nearby. She would trot over, quickly leaning down over a row of what appeared to be glass animal statues. Some of them had segments made of stained glass, adding a touch of color and expression to an art form that was usually lacking. After a brief gesture to the owner, she picked up one shaped like a crouched leopard, prepared to pounce. The girl would examine it for a few moments, before her eyes went wide as she spotted another luxury - a small comb that appeared to be made of animal bone, or some sort of white tree wood. She would set the glass animal down, reaching to brush her fingers across its surface idly.

"How much?" she asked the woman behind the counter almost absentmindedly, before frowning and withdrawing her hand. Their money was already limited, so she could hardly justify spending some on such an needless expense. "I'd love to buy it, but...I really shouldn't. Not when our income is so limited, and we've already splurged a fraction" she offered simply, a wry smile touching her lips as she glanced back across at her companion. "Let's keep going. Maybe we can catch a show or something before we need to get back"

[Headwrapper]

Mec furrowed his eyebrows slightly as his companion giggled, holding the veil in front of him so that she could picture what he would look like wearing it. He let out a small chuckle and shook his head once the girl had her fun. "I've never been to Ashai, but something tells me that even if I dressed the part I would not pass as a woman from there." His fingers peeled at the pouch full of coins he just received, and then small clinks could be heard as he passed his fingers between the metals, counting them a second time. He even took a moment to hold one of the coins between two fingers and flick it with the opposite hand, listening for the familiar ting that served as proof of the coin's authenticity.

When they began moving again, Mec would store the pouch in one of his pockets. The weight it placed on his leg served as a delightful reminder of the small fortune he was able to acquire for himself and his companion. It was no wonder that looting was a popular practice in times of conflict. Some pieces of armor or a sword could easily feed a family for nearly a week if they went heavy on the bread to curve their appetites. It might be more fair to offer those meals to the family the looted corpse left behind, but no commoner was qualified to judge the practice.

His line of thoughts were suddenly interrupted when his companion seemed to leap over to one of the nearby stalls. Mec hurried to close the distance between them, taking long strides until he approached Shallan's side. "Ah, these are very well made," he would say, inspecting the glass figures. The glass contorted in such a way that allowed light through, but an attempt to make out any figure behind the figure was futile. As well-crafted as the figures were, Mec quickly grew bored of observing them and took a step backwards to wait for Shallan to finish her inspection as well. He raised an eyebrow when the girls hand moved over to the comb, watching as he fingers moved against each polished tooth.

Before he could realize it, a soft sigh escaped Mec's lips when Shallan inquired about the comb. His companion's struggle to maintain the cleanliness and presentableness of her hair throughout their travels did not go unnoticed. The weight of his pocket seemed to burn against his thigh as he considered the cost a simple pleasure would have for them in the long run. I will have to come back and bargain for a better price later, he thought. And if I can't... Well, Shal doesn't know how much money we've gotten for the sword, anyway. While he formulated these plans in his mind, the boy's stare towards the stall lingered as he took a mental image of where the stall was located in hopes of being able to find it easier if he tried to visit later. With a few quick blinks, he would break out of his trance, and his attention would turn to his companion.

"Yes, let's." Mec took a quick look around the area, before nodding towards the direction of the large stage that they noticed earlier. People had begun to propagate around the structure, and some of them were even taking their seats in the chairs that were lain before it. There were two announcers that stood on either side of the seating arrangement, shouting and making the oncoming start of the show known. Each stood with a horn in one hand a bucket in the other. "Wouldn't hurt us any to see what is about to take place at that stage, would it?" Mec asked. Clearly, he meant it as a rhetorical question, as his legs had already begun carrying him straight towards one of the announcers.

As he approached, Mec could better make out the words the men were shouting through their horns: "Come one, come all! Bear witness, as an unlikely hero emerges from a simple farm town to face the greatest threat Tobthalin has ever known— The Seven Deadly Wizards! Four silvers for a seat, a gold for the front row! You won't hear a thing from back here folks, four silvers!" Once the message had become clear, Mec instantly stopped in his tracks. The story, although it was flavored differently depending whom you heard it from, was familiar. It was always said that in the dark days, when magic and fear oppressed the people of the world, that there seven leaders that used their powers to spread the darkness and keep the people from seeing the light. Of course, no one truly knew what really happened that ended the dark days, as the time since it passed was almost unmeasurable.

Of course, Mec had not forgotten of this story when his magehood had become known. Even still, he could not compel his legs to move him closer to the theater. Being near a play that involved magic was not going to increase his risk of being exposed, and it would even be beneficial to better understand the people's impression of mages, but something inside of him would not let him continue onward. "Erm, four silvers is kind of a lot... We should probably find something else to watch. We wouldn't be able to hear anything and would grow tired of standing from back here."

[Namingtoohard]

Rather agreeable to the idea that Mec had put forth. Shallan would smile and nod enthusiastically as her companion suggested that they check out the stage. She followed just half a step behind him, weaving her way through the crowd towards where the chairs had been set up and the rest of the audience was gathering. Her mind wandered idly as they stepped towards the gathering - just how long had it been since she had sat down and watched a proper show? She vividly remembered her mother always taking her to see any roaming performers that would take the time to stop at their home town, but such occurrences had become rather rare in the years leading up to their escape. Still, she knew most of the common stories rather well, and couldn't help but wonder which one they would be treated to this time.

She stumbled to a halt as Mec paused, almost running into the back of him as the name of the show was announced. Regaining her balance, the girl would purse her lips, glancing across at her companion. A hint of worry shone through in her eyes, and she watched his face rather closely as he announced that the price was a bit steep for the two of them o really get any benefit out of the performance. After a brief hesitation, she nodded.

"Yeah, let's get out of here. The nerve of them, charging so much when the streets are lined with talented performers...quite literally" she offered simply. Reaching out with her free hand, the girl would grab his wrist rather pointedly, turning bad leading him away in a direction that she had chosen at random. She was happy to hide the action behind the false pretence of not wanting to get separated, but in reality she simply wished to draw her partner away from the stage as quickly as possible. She had become quick to recognise the way Mec reacted at any negative mention of magic; the way his body stiffened, and how it seemed to affect his mood. Now, Shallan almost felt it a duty to try and protect his morale from any further blows where necessary. A kindness that her one remaining friend deserved, at the very least.

She would slow only once they were free of the deepest press of people, finally releasing Mec's hand now that they were clear. Still, another distraction would be welcome at such a point, and she turned her gaze to the stalls that surrounded them once more. Several greeters called out to all manner of people as they passed, trying to attract potential buyers or viewers, and Shallan spared them a sliver of her attention.

"Step up now, everyone! Come and feast your eyes on one of the most exotic animals you will ever see, carted all the way across the ocean just for your viewing pleasure!"

"This way, my lady. Would you care for a good luck charm? An idol to aid in fertility and safe childbirth? Or perhaps you would prefer a telling, to glimpse what it is your future holds?"

A caphony of sounds and voices all pressed together, but Shallan would settle her gaze back on her companion as the two of them moved. She did her best to disguise her concern - somehow, the girl didn't think Mec would take well to being worried over. That wouldn't stop her from trying regardless, of course.

"It seems like a totally different city during the day. I can't help but wonder which of the two is more authentic - the real Convittas, as it were. I can't believe I'm saying it, but I think I can understand Midir's desire to live here permanently" she would stated simply. For a moment, a middle-aged lady playing an instrument Shallan had never seen before caught her eye - a strange type of board with several strings tied across the top of it, that were being plucked and stilled repeatedly by fingers covered by metal thimbles. Just as quickly as she had appeared, though, the woman disappeared back into the crowd - obscured by the constantly shifting waves of people. At last, she would turn her gaze back to Mec once more, a question perched on her lips.

"Anything catch your eye?" She asked idly, though the girl kept an eye out for anything that piqued her own fancy. She doubted the authenticity of a few of the things supposedly being offered, but perhaps the experience could prove fun enough in and of itself.

[Headwrapper]

With little reason for protest, Mec followed Shallan's gentle tug as she took his wrist and lead him away from the theater. Initially, he thought she might have seen something in particular she meant to lead him to, but he soon realized that she more than likely just chose a direction to get them away from the outdoor hall. The sounds of the greeters and the oo's and aa's of the passing audiences blended to become a messy, incomprehensible noise as he passed. For him, it took a bit of extra effort to focus in on any one particular shout within the sea of noise.

In regards to which Convittas might have been the truer form, Mec could not say. On the one hand, the night time town harbored foolish ruffians that saw themselves as great. He could not help but recall Midir's advice: if you want something, you just take it, or at least make your desire known. In daylight, the town was noisy and crowded. It was evident that many of those running the stalls were simply crooks or con artists, hidden among those trying to conduct honest business. In both versions of the town, there was readily available entertainment that was mostly free if you could do without certain perks. "Well, there is potential here, that's for sure," he would finally say.

As they passed by more stalls and displays, Mec could not help but be reminded of the weight in his pocket. It reminded him of a story his father had told him many times: how the man learned to become a successful merchant. In essence, the tale could be boiled down to his father pinching coppers as a young lad, making deliveries and other trivial jobs. When he became a man grown, the money he had kept hidden from his family was put towards renting a reliable horse so that he might run errands for ever more distant clients. In his short pilgrimages, he would collect items from whichever towns he stayed it so that he might sell them for a profit at other locations. The memory made Mec think that it might be possible for him to find a way to multiply the coin that he had available to him.

He snapped out of his thoughts when Shallan had asked if any of the sights captured his interest. "Hmm, no, not really," he said. "But I was just thinking... Well, never mind actually, we can talk about it later." He suppressed an idea he had, birthed by the musing he had earlier in regards to earning more money. Something made him think that Shallan would not approve of the concept, so it would be best to keep it private, at least for a while. As they continued onward, the foot traffic parted on either side of the road to make way for a cart, pulled by a single donkey.

"Make way peasants! Your lady Clair hath arrived! Bend the knee for the beauty of Tobthalin itself!" In the back of the wagon sat a motley crew, surrounded by various totes carrying what seemed to be stage props. A couple fellows walked alongside the wagon as it slowly made its way down the street, but the rest managed to cram themselves atop their items. One of the crew was a woman maybe a few years older than Mec and Shallan, standing tall on the cart as her loose blond curls fell behind her. Supposedly, she was the lady Clair.

"Something tells me she isn't really nobility," Mec said as the wagon passed by. "And that poor ass, pulling around so much cargo. They seem to be going towards that theater... Are there any stories that have a Lady Clair in them?"

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would take her companion's lack of a definitive answer in good humours at first, quite content to wander about and explore more in the small amount of free time that they had. Of course, her attention lingered for a moment as he started to speak once more, before deciding to drop the topic. The girl would contemplate pressing him for more information, the question visible all over her face as she pursed her lips together. After a few seconds, though, Shallan decided against it. She naturally assumed that he had a rational explanation for the delay - most likely that the matter was related to magic, and that they had best not discuss it in public. Still, she mad a mental note to bring it up later, once they were back at Midir's store.

Of course, distraction would come soon enough, with the arrival of the cart loaded with props and the crier atop it. Shallan would watch as they passed, taking in the rather odd sight in its entirety. The man's shouts and the rather large cart combined proved rather effective at cutting through the crowd, both by warning people of their approach and the threat of being knocked down if they did not step aside in time. Her gaze lingered on the face of the sole woman amongst the crew for a few moments until the distance between them widened, before she would turn her attention back to Mec as he spoke up. It seemed that they had similar assumptions about the girl's lineage.

"Mm...I can't recall a Lady Clair specifically, but I've heard similar names before. A noble house Clayr, for example. Perhaps it's simply a different dialect or some other sort of variance" Shallan would offer simply, before giving a bit of a casual shrug. "Or maybe not. I'm hardly the authority on every play ever written" she would add quite simply. She had to recognise the possibility that her knowledge was where the fault lay.

"Do you think that such a grand arrival might be a part of the play itself, complete with a herald announcing her coming? Seems like an effective way to make an entrance, or to garner publicity if they're planning a show later today" she would offer simply, throwing another glance back in the direction that the cart had gone. "Or perhaps she's some famous actor in these parts, and the crew is simply looking to make use of her reputation to bring in the crowds. Clair could simply be her actual name" Shallan would add, musing over the possibilities. She was thinking out loud more than addressing Mec directly, but any input would be more than welcome.

"I suppose we could always follow them and see, if you're interested. Or would you rather just head back to Midir's place and see if he's awake yet? I'll admit to being somewhat curious, but we might not have time to stay, depending on what they're planning" she offered quite simply. A small part of her wondered whether it would really even matter if they were a tad late heading back to meet with their contact, but it was probably best if they didn't risk annoying their contact and the person harbouring them in this particular town.

[Headwrapper]

Mec turned to watch as the wagon continued its path down the road behind them, essentially heading back towards where they had just came from. The group did manage to attract some followers with their calls, and some were even calling out to the woman standing at the back of the cart, but many people chose to ignore the wagon and simply dodge its path. "I would have expected much more grandeur if their entrance was planned. Their wagon, their donkey, it all seemed so crude. I almost feel like they were just having fun, acting on impulse."

He gave his companion a shrug. "Well... I guess we could follow them. At least we will find out if they actually have a following in this town or were just being loud for their own amusement." He took a step back towards the direction the wagon was headed before continuing on. "If we start to spend too much time we can always leave whatever is distracting us and head back towards Midir's." With that, he would lead the way in the direction of the wagon.

By the time Mec and Shallan had caught back up to the wagon, it had been parked along the side of the road, far enough to be out of earshot of the outdoor theater but close enough that it was easily visible. The crew had been in the process of lowering themselves from the wagon. A couple of them, two of the younger members, had already hopped down and raced away to a different part of town. The others, especially the girl who was supposedly Clair, were left to answer to a small crowd that had formed around them that sought their attention or offer them simple praises.

"Huh, it seems that they do have some sort of following around here," Mec commented. He wondered just who these people were that they were able to garner so much attention from a particular folks. If they in fact were entertainers, they must have been very able in their craft. He had never heard of performers that could draw a crowd without doing much more than announce their presence. Unsurprisingly, he would find himself observing the woman of the group, the one who might have been named Clair, the most. She was certainly beautiful in her own right, what with those loose blonde loops that fell from her head, her pointed chin and her small nose. Yet another blonde this trip, he thought, briefly reminded of the serving girl he was smitten about at the Sleeping Giant.

Judging by the banners, costumes, and other handcrafted stage props that loaded the cart, the group must have intended to perform on the large outdoor stage. It was not immediately clear what the nature of their performance would be though, but Mec did not have much interest in finding out the specifics. They did come all this way just to find out what the excitement was about though, so he could at least try to find out. Casually, he approached a fellow who was standing at the backside of the huddle that formed around Clair. "Excuse me, would you be able to tell me who these people are? I see this crowd around them but they haven't done much but roll into town."

The man Mec approached quickly turned to face him. "You must not have been here for very long, have you? They're called Clair's Misfits. Clair's the leader. They are the one of the finest and most organized groups of entertainers in all of the kingdoms! Even the highest lords have requested to see their shows."

Mec frowned slightly, clearly not trusting in the man's story. They were more than likely just exaggerations, or maybe he was fed false information. "Well I've never heard of them. What makes you so sure they're so well known?"

"Trust me, once you see one of their performances, you will believe it. They find ways to encapsulate the audience in ways no one else ever has. They almost have you believe that the scenes they play out are truly taking place. From what I heard, Clair herself is the mastermind behind it all, her beauty only matched by her genius! I truly can't describe their talent with simple words, so you will have to see for yourself, they are due to perform once the Seven Deadly Wizards is over."

Mec gave a nod. "I will take your word for it then. Thank you." He returned to where he had left Shallan, or simply lead her a few steps away with a gentle nudge of his hand if she had chosen to follow him when he approached the man. "It sounds like they must be some very creative performers. That man said that they are known all over the kingdom, but something tells me that's an exaggeration. Still, in a place like this, being able to have such renown is impressive." He glanced over to the thinning crowd, gradually being urged away by the members of the group. It seemed that it was nearing the time for them to prepare for their own performance. "We might not have time to stick around and see for ourselves. If we wanted to meet with Midir today, we probably need to head back."

[Namingtoohard]

Quite content with her companion's logic, Shallan would trail along idly behind Mec as he headed off after the wagon. Their passage turned out to be quite a bit slower, given how they had to weave their way through the rest of the crowd, but at least there was very little chance of them losing their quarry. The wagon stood out quite clearly amongst the rest of the city's regulars, and the cries of the man announcing their arrival were audible even over the din of others shouting and bartering around them. It wasn't long before the actors found themselves a place to stop, and the two newcomers caught up with them.

Shallan lingered on the fringes of the group that had gathered around the performers. She remained within earshot of Mec as he stuck up a conversation with one of the other bystanders, listening in on their exchange, but kept the bulk of her attention focused on the group themselves. These people were supposed to be famous actors, renowned throughout the rest of the city? Shallan was unsure what to make of this news, or if she could even believe it. They certainly seemed to have confidence in their abilities, to be announcing their arrival as they had, but it would be impossible to judge for sure unless she managed to see one of their shows for herself. Such was her line of thought as the group began shooting away the spectators, and Mec moved to rejoin her.

"Best get movingly, then. If they decide to put on a second show later tonight, we might be able to come back and see them for ourselves. It could give us something to do whilst Midir is out partying again" she would offer simply, before giving a bit of a casual shrug. With their course set, the girl would allow herself to be turned away by the rest of the crew, heading back the way they had come. Still, as the pair retraced their steps back towards Midir's store, she fell quiet. The thought of the lady Clair and her troupe brought some strange emotion bubbling up inside her chest - one that Shallan couldn't quite identify. Not quite jealousy or envy, but something similar.

She maintained her silence throughout the larger part of the journey, trying to focus on the other performers scattered about to distract herself. Still, as soon as they arrived back at Midir's places, it became evident that their contact was up and about. The store's front entrance was open and inviting, with the shutters thrown wide to let in the midday light. Still, it seemed to attract few enough customers as the two approached; it didn't appear that there was anyone else inside. Seeing little enough reason to circle around to the front door, Shallan would simply make for the storefront entrance. The store itself seemed empty at a glance, but once they had stepped inside, Midir made a quick appearance; entering from a door against the far wall that supposedly led to he living quarters.

"Ah, my two little visitors are finally back. You both found a way to occupy yourselves, clearly" he offered simply, giving them both that cocky, surefire smile that seemed to be his trademark. Shallan would nod in response, quickly moving over towards the counter so that she could set down the various bits and pieces she had been carrying - all the cloth and the likes that Mec had purchased for the both of themselves.

"Well, if everyone is ready, I suppose we should move on to business. Shall we?" he offered. The man would gesture towards the same door through which he had just come, throwing a suggestive glance at the open shutters. Shallan quickly took his meaning - the man's was supposedly more worried about being overheard by someone walking in at the wrong moment than he was by the idea of somebody stealing from his unattended shop. Urged on by the magical compulsion that the charmer constantly surrounded himself with, Shallan's was quick to follow. Only once they were all tucked away safely, out of reach of unwelcome ears, would Midir turn his attention to the task at hand.

"So, did our puppet master explain why exactly she was sending the two of you to me, or where you would go from here? Forgive me, but I'm still a tad fuzzy on some of the details"

For all his charm, Midir was clearly much less practical and organised than Olenna had been.

[Headwrapper]

As the two walked back towards Midir's store, Mec would glance at the performers they passed with casual interest. It was starting to get a bit boring to him, though. The songs that were sang seemed to run together and the same little tricks seemed to take place over and over again. However, he was drawn towards any of the caged exotic animals that they passed. Sometimes he found himself trying to identify if the animals matched something his father had described in one of his stories.

When they reached their destination, they were quickly greeted by a different sort of exotic creature: Midir the charmer. When the man suggested that they step to the back of the building to have their discussion, Mec would also throw a quick glance at the windows and door behind him, before following suit. Tired from the morning's walk, he would sit in the first seat available to him.

The boy would ponder Midir's question for a brief moment before replying. "Well, Olenna said you would be able to teach us how to stay hidden. Blend in without arousing suspicion, at least until we can be comfortable there is no trail that will lead any pursuers to us. She also said that while we're staying here, you might help me with my training. Magic is still rather new to me... Well, purposely controlling it is, anyway."

Midir would give his chin a quick rub before leaning forward. "Right right, I remember now. But still, what did you intend to do next? I don't imagine you just decided you would be staying in Convittas for the rest of your life, right?"

Mec offered a small nod. "Well, depending on what we choose to do, the cabal might help us find more permanent living arrangements. I don't really know what that means or where it could be, truthfully. Really, I'm mainly focused on my training. And survival, of course."

[Namingtoohard]

Midir would sigh softly then, bringing a hand up to scratch at his cheek for a moment as he pondered the words of his new charge. Clearly, there plans were going to be a total pain in the ass for him. Like all of Olenna's plans, though, her decision to send them to him had merit, as much as he hated to admit it. Given the diversity, if you could fit in with any given community in Convittas, you could pull it off pretty much anywhere...and while Midir usually used his talents to try and stand out, they could be used for the reverse as well.

"I suppose its better me than the weaver" Midir would announce simply. He would glance across at his two guests briefly, before a grimace would flicker across his features. No, that was a member of Olenna's cabal that they were better off avoiding if at all possible. Shallan would purse her lips briefly as she watched the man's expression, and couldn't stop the question slipping from her lips.

"The weaver?" she questioned. Presumably the name was a moniker, like how Midir was known as the charmer. Midir would eye her for a second then, as if debating whether or not he would say anything, before letting out a soft sigh.

"One of our mutual acquaintances has the ability to reshape flesh in its entirety. Not simple illusion spells, designed to make you look like somebody else. Magic that reshapes bone, flesh, and muscle on the most fundamental and basic of levels. She could make the both of you look like entirely different people, but...well, the process is extremely painful, and a lot of people start to disassociate when suddenly given an entirely new face" he offered simply, moving to take a seat in one of the chairs scattered about.

"If you're lucky, neither of you will ever have to meet her. What I can teach you isn't quite such a reliable change, but its certainly less dangerous" he would resolve simply. Still, he didn't wish to discuss the matter any further, and quickly sought to change the topic to something much less questionable; namely, the lessons that he was now supposed to be giving the two of them together.

"I think we might as well start with the magic part, since its the middle of the day. We can practice the blending in part at night, when the two of you can come out with me and put everything I say straight to use" he offered, that cocky smile returning as he pondered the possibility.

[Headwrapper]

Mec's eyes widened as Midir explained the so-called weaver's power. The idea to use magic to change one's appearance did not seem any more surprising than anything else he had learned it could be used for, but being told how painful it would be and the potential mental effects created a sense of horror around the practice. Still, Mec would not forget the recent lesson that magic was not always malicious and dark. "So, this weaving magic... Could it be used to heal? I'm sure many would choose some painful treatment over dying to a fatal wound."

The boy's voice grew soft as he considered the possibilities. Although broken ribs were not a fatal injury, his days would have been made much simpler if he was not forced to patiently wait for them to heal. His range of motion would have been normal, and he would not awaken each morning with so much pain because his body was turned to a disagreeable angle. The number of worried glances Shallan sent his way would even have been reduced. As he mentioned before, taking on a bit more pain up front would have been a nice option to have.

Mec even considered the possibility that the Weaver's sort of magic could be manipulated to rival Cho's allegedly long life span, but that would be a question he would have to save for either the Weaver or Cho. The conversation continued on as Midir shared a little bit of what his plan would be to meet his obligations to them and Olenna. Unable to help himself, Mec would return Midir's smile with a grin of his own. He had a feeling that whatever Midir would teach him and his companion would be useful for his plans to make money during their stay in Convittas. Unfortunately, those plans might be slightly delayed while Midir is keeping a closer eye on them during the night.

"Well, let's get to it then," he said as he sat up in his chair. "Olenna says I'm a quick a learner, at least when it comes to magic. As it stands, I can't really do much more than summon fire, plants, and ice. I have been improving my speed in casting such magics, but I think it's about time I learned to do something new altogether." The boy would inch ever closer to the edge of his seat, clearly eager to draw out any lesson he could from the other mage seated before him.

Midir's signature smile widened before he let out a loud laugh. "An ambitious one are you? Well, your prowess so far is impressive considering the moon hasn't complete its cycle since you've began training, but there is still something lacking in your training. With these elemental powers of yours, have you ever needed to actually target someone, or something, with them? There are abilities that simply can not be used without a target, but if you can not learn to anticipate their movements, their thoughts, their defenses, you'll never be able to learn them. Even the weaver's magic is useless if her target tries to resist it."

The charmer would raise his eyebrows and turn his head towards the storefront, apparently hearing someone enter. He would excuse himself before hurriedly rushing to the shop to apparently tend to a patron. Mec frowned as he considered the mage's words. There was some merit to it. If he intended to find a way to help people with magic, he would have to practice actually using the magic on something or someone eventually. Not many would find much use in icicles and flower petals.

"Hmm, I wonder why he is called the charmer," the boy would wonder aloud.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan would settle down somewhat as the two mages discussed their craft together, silently resigning herself to the idea that she would be stuck sitting and relaxing here for a while yet. The girl knew and understood the importance that her friend received this information, this support. The knowledge and resulting increase in his abilities would be invaluable, especially as their trip went on, but that didn't stop the tedium of listening in from chaffing on her. Still, news of the weaver piqued her interest somewhat. Would Shallan be able to use her abilities to her own advantage? It was a tantalising prospect, though the issue was brushed aside quickly enough.

A part of her wondered if she wouldn't be better off doing something else in the meantime, like practising her own skills, or exploring the town beyond Midir's shop. Such was little more than a selfish wish to go and watch more of the street performances, but the girl dismissed the idea almost as soon as it sprung to mind. It was at about that time that Midir made his disappearance, and she glanced across at her companion.

"Does it necessarily have something to do with his magic, or could it just be a nickname?" she said, tilting her head a fraction as pondered the thought. She had originally assumed all their names were related to their various talents, but did they really know enough about the way the cabal worked one way or the other? "It just...oozes from him so effortlessly. I don't even really know how to describe it. It feels thick, like a tangible force, urging me to..." Shallan started, before finally cutting herself off. It seemed that she had said too much. The girl could feel her cheeks burning, and she lowered her gaze slightly, lingering like that for a few moments. Did Mec feel the same sort of pull, even if it was slightly more objective for him, or was it just her?

"R-regardless, it'll be good to start progressing again. If he can teach you to do something totally new, then its only going to benefit us in the long run. The more options the better...though maybe we should start to think about where we intend to head once we are done here" she would offer. After that, it was a simple matter of waiting for their mentor to return. When Midir finally made his reappearance, the girl was thankful for the distraction, settling back as she waited for him to resume their lesson.

"Sorry about that. So, what shall we start with? Influencing the emotions of other people, perhaps?" he offered mischievously, a small grin flickering across his features. Had he overheard them, or was the man simply trying to garner some sort of a reaction from them? Or...was his offer actually genuine?

[Headwrapper]

A small frown grew on Mec's lips as Shallan described the strange force that beckoned to her, with Midir being the source. Truthfully, he had not noticed such a power in any of his interactions with the man. He was a charming fellow in his own right, friendly and clever. It did not seem he needed to use powers to help with that, but it was definitely possible that in combination with these traits such an ability could prove as powerful as any. The amateur mage wondered if he really had overlooked such a force emanating from the other mage. He would have to observe more closely with his ethereal senses to know for sure.

The use of such an accomplice in Olenna's cabal was obvious. Mec wondered how important Midir might have been in Olenna's effort to build the group and gather influence. On one hand, the use of the charmer's alleged powers would have made garnering influence quick work. On the other hand, Olenna may with for genuine, untainted loyalty, and the charmer's abilities could not guarantee such a thing. It was also possible that Olenna may have had some proficiency in using such abilities as well, although it might take her more effort than the charmer needed. He wondered if it was possible that she had used such influence on him during his stay in the hideout.

"You're right," he would finally say to Shallan. "It will be good to keep learning. I only just started in this training, but I know we can't afford to have me slow down." The boy would glance towards the doorway that lead to the storefront. If the charmer indeed earn his name through his powers, would he be able to pass that talent down to him? Mec did not see himself having the same cleverness or the looks that Midir possessed, but maybe simple friendliness and some manners would do just as well in combination with some magical charm. Such a prospect was interesting, to say the least, as it would prove useful in his plan to earn more gold later.

When the mage returned and made his mischievous offer, Mec would remain quiet for a moment, merely turning his head slightly. "Is such a thing possible?" he would finally ask. It was not clear just by observing him, but the boy was focusing on detecting the Anima as it passed through Midir. It did not take long for him to sense such a phenomenon. Once sensible, it was almost astonishing how he would miss such a thing. Webs of Anima reached out, hooking onto any foreign strands it could to pull them closer to their source. Mec could not feel any tug on his Anima strings himself, but his own flow of Anima seemed to be deflecting what radiated from Midir.

"Ah, you've only just sensed it, have you?" Midir would say. At some point Mec must have unintentionally hinted his thoughts. "For most mages it would be quite the burden to use such magic indefinitely. I, however, am not most people." His smile somehow grew larger as he added his final statement, tilting his head impishly. The man started to return to his original seat before suddenly halting. "Hmm?"

Mec's eyes widened, also sensing what Midir must have just felt. The tendrils that had reached out from the charmer had all suddenly vanished. The man radiated no more power from the Anima than Shallan did. It's happening again, Mec thought, remembering when Olenna's doll had lost its power before. Back then, he was not able to sense the change, but this time he could almost see it, like night and day. If Olenna had been true to her word, Midir would not know that somehow Mec caused the interruption of his flow of Anima. He hoped that the man would not feel threatened, but if he did Mec would be forced to reveal the truth to him.

[Namingtoohard]

Hardly subtle, a look of surprise flickered across Shallan's face as Midir made his grand offer. She was quick to regain control of her facial expression, though, masking her shock with an expression of casual indifference. Had he overheard them, or was he actually making a genuine offer to teach her companion such a thing? Such magic seemed rather scary in its implications, given the idea of what it could allow one to accomplish. If such was the case, how could one ever really tell if any given thought was their own? Would Mec be able to convince 'normal' people like herself to do whatever they wished, including allowing them to pass freely? It would be a useful skill to have, but Shallan feared if such control was too much for any one person.

A sneaking suspicion began to grow within Shallan's chest as their host spoke, and a small frown creased her lips. Her worries only grew as he continued, before the girl practically jumped out of her chair as she realised that things had changed. Of course, she had no ability to sense the Anima's sudden absence. What she could sense was the sudden disappearance of the...whatever it was that Midir had been doing to her up until now.

"Its...its gone" she stuttered at first, amazement written all over her gaze. She seemed puzzled by the sudden change. It was as if a veil had been lifted from her eyes, and she was no longer seeing everything in a strange tint. The exact nature of what she had lost was an unknown, though, leaving her feeling rather strange. She was missing something now, but had no clue what exactly had vanished. Her earlier comments about his charisma seemed totally unfounded now, and she could only assume it was his magic that had been influencing her.

"Have you...have you been doing that to me this whole time?" she questioned, gaze hardening a fraction as she turned her attention to the man. Of course, he had his own things to worry about. The man completely ignored her, more or less staring down at himself in something akin to worry.

"Hey, my power is...what the hell is happening? Boy, can you sense the Anima at all?" he questioned hurriedly, totally ignoring Shallan and directing his attentions across to Mec too. He didn't so much assume that the boy was the cause of the disturbance, but rather, thought that since they were both mages, Mec would be able to tell him if this strangeness was affecting them both, and subsequently mages in general, or just Midir himself.

[Headwrapper]

Mec's eyes dashed between his companion and their host, suddenly aware of both of their immediate changes. The answer to whether or not Olenna made true on her promise not to share his ability was made clear with Midir's apparent confusion. The amateur mage's eyes widened as he peered back at his more experienced partner. "Well, I... Um." The older man grabbed him by the shoulders and bid an answer from him with a small shake. "Yes, yes I can still sense it! But not from anyone or anything other than myself. It seems that it is still flowing through me right now."

Midir's hands lingered on Mec's shoulders for a long moment, taking a long hard look at the boy's face. When he finally pulled his hands away, the man would turn and pace the room. "What is happening?" he wondered aloud. The man's trademark smile was substituted from a small scowl, and he briskly made his way back and forth. Certainly, such an event would have been unprecedented. If what the boy was saying was true, that he could only sense the Anima emerging from himself, then he must be connected to this phenomenon somehow.

When he was released, the tension in Mec's body eased substantially. For the time being, it seemed that Midir was taking the loss of his powers rather calmly, or at the very least nonviolently. As far as Mec knew, it was possible that one of the artifacts Cho mentioned that mage hunters used could disable one's powers and instigate some sort of alarm. It would be dangerous for himself and Shallan if a more hotblooded mage had suddenly lost their powers and fought their vulnerability with violence.

Once sure that he would not be met with such outburst from Midir, Mec would finally stand. "Do you feel okay? Without being able to feel Anima anymore? It... It might be temporary. Maybe you strained your powers too far." His words were quickly met with a quick snap.

"I feel fine. And there is no way this is simply me being worn out. I would know." The man continued his pacing, eventually stopping to give Mec one more glance over. Surely it was no coincidence that such a phenomenon would happen the same time Olenna had sent this boy to him. "Well, we better hope this is temporary. Unfortunately, until this passes, I'm afraid I can not offer you much in regards to training."

Mec felt a heaviness in his lungs as he refrained from letting loose a loud sigh. If things were the same as the last time, Midir's power should return within the hour. Still, it was becoming an inconvenience to handicap his own allies unintentionally. Maybe he could find an opportunity to try and control this ability, but, where would he start? Where did he direct his focus to control such an art? Who could even teach him?

The boy hummed softly when the answer came to him. That voice that had not visited him in so long, G. It seemed that he had grown extremely quiet since Mec embraced his magehood. Surely he could serve as some sort of guide, or had he grown bored of a mage who did not deny what he was? With some time, the boy might be able to capture his attention again. He softly tread over to Shallan, grabbing her arm gently. "That power of his, I somehow took it away," he whispered softly. "It's the same as when I stopped Olenna from... you know." His eyes unwillingly glanced at Shallan's neck, reminding him of the bruises that were there from Olenna's attack. "I think if I can have some time alone I can figure out how to control it."

[Namingtoohard]

After being ignored so pointedly, Shallan had settled for watching the two mages in silence as the events following Midir's discovery took place. The girl had little to contribute herself, more or less ignorant of the sensations that their host would be undergoing. He seemed to be taking it rather poorly, at least compared to Olenna, and Shallan promptly began to wonder just how dependant he was on that magic of his. A man like him couldn't be so wholeheartedly dependant on a spell that encouraged others to get along with him, right? Or was he merely despairing at the sudden feeling of powerlessness, and eager to recover his abilities as soon as possible.

She was snapped out of her reverie when Mec grabbed her arm, and Shallan quickly gave him a sidelong glance. At the mention of the time he had done this to Olenna, she brought her free hand up, reaching for her neck briefly, as if to feel out the bruises that no longer existed. She stopped herself midway, though, forcing her hand back down again by sheer force of will. Her eyes narrowed as he pondered her companion's statement, before she would nod in simple acknowledgement as he quietly informed her that some time alone might be enough for him to learn how to use this power.

"Alright, best do it now then. I'll keep him distracted for as long as I can" she said, muttering back in the same soft tone. A bit of a cheeky grin flickered across her features, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared, before she would brush off Mec's arm and take a step towards their distraught host. She had an idea as to how she might distract the man for the time being, but shevwould have to be careful. Push too hard, and she risked alienating herself and offending the man who was supposed to teach them both so much. Push too little, though, and he would likely brush her off as inconsequential again.

"Midir" she would start simply, calling the man's name. When he ignored her, she repeated it again, louder this time.

"What do you want? This had better be important. I need to figure out how I'm going to get it back" he started, before falling silent as he glanced across at Shallan to see the girl standing there with both arms folded across her chest, and a rather disgusted scowl plastered across her face.

"You didn't answer my question before. Have you been using magic on me this whole time?" she asked, raising one of her eyebrows as she waited impatiently for his answer. He snorted at that, before waving his hand at her dismissively.

"Yes, yes. Do we really need to discuss it this very instant?" he answered. At his word, Shallan's eyes widened, as if she was offended by his statement.

"So when I took your arm last night, that was all your doing? So when that lady was fine with letting you touch her, that was magical interference too?" she answered, a hint of anger creeping into her tone now. That made the charmer pause. It seemed that he had finally realised where this was going, and Shallan was quick to take advantage of his hesitation.

"What the hell gives you the right to go around manipulating others against their will like that?" She would answer, slightly louder, before visibly taking a moment to compose herself. The girl would stride across the room then, seizing Midir by his arm, much like Mec had just done to her, but with much more force. She would turn to her companion then, though she was sure to maintain a tight grip on the charmer so that he wouldn't be able to wriggle his way out of this one.

"Mec, could you excuse us for a moment? It seems that Midir and I have a few things to discuss about taking advantage of women" she offered simply, the rage in her voice thinly-veiled at best. It was then that Shallan chose to reveal her hand, though. With her head turned away from Midir as it was, she gave Mec a subtle wink. Far from angry, the girl was finally putting her acting skills to some sort of use, feigning annoyance in order to occupy the charmer. Hopefully Mec would get the message, and the time alone that he needed to boot.

[Headwrapper]

Mec would only watch as his companion approached Midir, forcibly grabbing him and asserting herself. Truthfully, it was a relief to see her be able to do such a thing with so much confidence. There had not been many times when the girl needed to flex her muscles, save for maybe when Cho had angered her.

When it was asked of him to excuse the pair, Mec offered a quick nod in understanding of Shallan's plan. "Of course. I'll just go somewhere else." Doing his best to avoid any unnecessary eye contact, the amateur mage hurried his way out of the shop's rear exit. Once outside, he began walking towards the edges of the town. It did not seem possible to find a quiet place to hide in a place where everyone sought to entertain you, so finding a soft patch of grass somewhere else would be the best bet.

With not real walls bordering the town, it was difficult to determine when one had escaped the town limits. A more appropriate measure than a formal border was whether or not one was outside of earshot of the people. Mec took care to glance over his shoulder every few seconds as he walked, making sure that he was not being followed or otherwise observed. When he finally made his way out of the bustle and the noise, he lowered himself to the ground.

It was only then that Mec realized he was not sure how to communicate with G. "Um, hello?" he would finally mumble. Of course, there was no response. It almost made him wonder if he had imagined G this whole time. "I really could use some help right now... With magic things."

What can I do for you, child? The question finally came, echoing in Mec's mind. Even still, the boy had never gotten used to hearing another's voice in his own mind. It sounded loud, and strangely clear. Mec crossed his legs before continuing the conversation.

"This ability to take away magic from other mages... I can't control it. I don't even know if I am actually the cause of it, but it seems like I am. Can you teach me how to control it?"

After a long moment of silence, G's voice finally responded. It is called the Equinox. Very few hold its power. It is one of the most powerful of the ancient artes.

"So before I can control it I need to have better control of magic in general."

As inexperienced as you are in partaking from the Anima's blessing, you are plenty capable of controlling the Equinox. Such an ability is already a part of you. You do not need to deliberately blink or breath, but you can if it brings you comfort. The voice would halt for a long moment, only continuing when no reply came from Mec. Close your eyes, and I shall bestow to you my knowledge of the Equinox.

Mec was quick to comply. The moment his eyelids closed, a heaviness pressed down on his body. The experience was much like his previous experience with one of these visions. All around him he could see the Anima, clinging to him and the trees and the distant buildings like cobwebs, only to suddenly vanish, and once again regrow. This sensation repeated itself four or five times before Mec could detect that strange part of himself that changed each time the action was repeated. When he opened his eyes, he felt like he understood how to control the so-called Equinox. "How did you do that?"

There was no answer.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan's impromptu argument with Midir didn't seem to last very long, all things considered. The charmer had seemed somewhat worried at first, but the girl quickly came to realise that it wasn't solely because of her wrath. The man was clearly distracted, so preoccupied by the loss of his magic that he paid little mind to Shallan herself, and only put up with her ramblings out of some twisted type of respect or consideration. She gave up on the endeavour before long - Mec had already managed to escape, so her goal had been accomplished regardless. With a huff and a few angry words, uttered solely to keep up appearances, she had fled the building, content to leave Midir to his musings for the time being.

Shallan slipped out into the street then. The girl had nowhere in particular to go, especially given that Mec had needed time alone, and she had no idea where he had gone. Regardless, she had no intentions of sitting around and doing nothig while Midir paced back and forth, trying to puzzle out whatever unknown force or effect had stripped him of his magic. Still, with an evening to spend as she liked, Shallan would doubtless find a way to entertain herself. She would need to be careful, going out on her own as she was, but the girl could finally explore and watch any of the street performers she wished, without having to worry about any other tasks or finding one that also appealed to her companion.

Quite content to wander about and enjoy the evening sun, Shallan set off in a direction picked at random, moving towards the far end of the street. There, a circle of people packed closely together managed to catch her eye. She drew closer, only to pick out the sound of music over the cheering of people and the hollering of the crowd. Curiosity sparked, she slipped into the throng of pedestrians that had gathered.

Shuffling her way towards the front of the group, Shallan found herself confronted with some sort of dance. Not the works of a troupe, and definitely not the slow and elegant music and steps associated with ballrooms and nobles. Instead, what she discovered was a rag-tag group of locals, spinning and dancing about to an upbeat tune being played by a few musicians with unfamiliar string instruments. Almost involuntarily, the girl found herself tapping along to the beat, which proved rather infectious.

The girl briefly wondered how such a circle had formed, especially on the corner of a busy street. The answer became extremely apparent just a few moments later, as Shallan caught the eye of one of the locals. A redhead with her hair pulled back into two pigtails quickly reached out and grabbed Shallan's hand, pulling her into the mix. Caught almost entirely off guard, Shallan squealed a little at first, looking a little lost and off-balance as the others moved about her.

The stranger who had plucked her from the crowd didn't seem all bothered by Shallan's nervousness. She said something, but Shallan could barely make out the words over the sounds of the music and the crowds. With a few simple gestures, the stranger got Shallan's attention, before showing her a few simple steps, quickly and skilfully easing her into the rhythm of the dance. Rather straightforward, the steps proved easy enough to learn and remember on the fly, and with plenty of room to add some personal flair. Despite her nerves, Shallan found the experience oddly enjoyable, and was quick to react and join in.

"Here comes the switch! Get ready!" The local-turned-teacher shouted out over the din. The caphony of sounds quickly began to build towards an audible and predictable crescendo. Before Shallan knew what was happening, the crowd clapped once in time, producing a single loud boom. At the same time, Shallan's partner turned and flung her towards a few of the other dancers. Everyone seemed to split up and come back together smoothly, everyone finding new partners in that instant. Shallan herself was swept up by an older man, who gave her a playful wink before settling back into the pattern as the rhythm began to build again.

Unable to help herself, Shallan let out a soft laugh; a smile blossoming across her features. The girl's steps might have been clumsy and unfamiliar, but nobody seemed to mind. Everyone was simply enjoying themselves, making the most of the impromptu dance party. In that instant, Shallan was extremely glad that she had been pulled into the circle, and gave herself over to the activity wholeheartedly.

She had nothing else to do with her time. Why not enjoy herself while she waited for Mec to return, and enjoy a little local revelry in the process?

[Headwrapper]

Upon realizing that for whatever reason he could not commune with G, Mec let out a long sigh before turning back towards the town. It seemed that these visions might have served as powerful way of establishing the foundations for using magical abilities. All the mage could do was theorize, until the next time communication was made between him and the spirit. At the very least, he had accomplished what he set out to do.

The trip back into town was uneventful. The boy's legs initially began carrying him back towards Midir's shop, before he hesitation and turned abruptly. Before long he found himself back in the shopping district he and Shallan had toured earlier that morning. Like a phantom, he glided towards a familiar stall. "How much?" he asked, his fingers brushing against the ivory comb. The woman running the stall offered him a wrinkled smile as she gave him a price, claiming it to be a bargain. Mec wrinkled his nose, turning his head towards her other wares. "What about this?" he asked, picking up a rusted cowbell.

"Oh that? It is just junk. The clapper had fallen out of it ages ago. I can toss it in with the price of the comb, if you want?" Mec would nod in agreement, offering the woman the money in exchange for the bell and the comb. As he walked away, he shook the large rusty bell in his hand, as if to prove to himself that it indeed did not make a sound. "I can work with this," he chuckled to himself, his scheme of earning his money back with the use of the junk item already beginning to take form in his mind.

Mec walked towards Mec's shop at an accelerated pace, realizing that it would be evening before long. Who knows how panicked Midir would be if his powers had not returned to him? Unfortunately, being in such a rush reduced his attentiveness for what was around him, and as he rounded a corner he had collided with another walker. The bell fell with a loud thunk, but Mec managed to hold on to his other items. Once he regained his bearings, his eyes widened and he knelt down to help the other person he had accidentally knocked onto their rear in his haste.

"My apologies ma'am, I should have been watching where I was going." The boy paused when the woman looked up, peering back at him from behind golden curls. "Oh, you're that Lady Claire, is that right? My sincerest apologies my lady. Please, I will help you up."

The woman peered at Mec's outstretched hand before letting out a loud, high pitched laugh. "Well thank you, milord." She took his hand and stood up. Her fingers were slim, soft and supple to the touch. A cheeky grin stretched across her face as she considered Mec's own facade. "I am not a true highborn, if that is what you thought," she finally said with another chuckle. "But it pleases me to be recognized, in any respect. A fan of the troupe, I take it?"

"Um, well, I, uh, no I'm pretty new to town. I've never sat through an entire show before, I'm afraid." Mec stammered his answer, struggling to maintain eye contact as he felt his skin grow hot.

The woman's smile remained, an unconditional display of her personality. "Well, then I am even more humbled that you recognized me. You must have been in a hurry, so you best be off then. Oh, and don't forget this." She quickly knelt down to pick up the cowbell and handed it to Mec. After offering him a small curtsy and another laugh, she continued on her path in the opposite direction.

Mec took a deep breath before continuing back to Midir's shop. The sun was looming just over the horizon when he finally made his way through the doors. Immediately after taking a step inside he could detect the Anima. It seemed that Midir's powers had returned to him while Mec was away. He wondered if the distance between himself and Midir has caused the effect to subside. "Midir? Shal?" he called as he stepped farther into the building, finding a place to set down his items.

[Namingtoohard]

When Mec returned to the small building that served as both Midir's shopfront and dwelling, the magician was still enthralled by the puzzle that was his current affliction. Having retired to the half of the building reserved for his own personal lodgings, the man was pacing back and forth as the young boy made his reappearance. He was muttering something under his breath as he walked the length of the room over and over, punctuated by the occasional silence as he stopped to ponder some point or another. Preoccupied as he was, the man didn't take notice of Mec calling out at first, glancing up only when the aspiring magician entered the room good and proper.

"Oh, you're finally back. Good, good. I wasn't sure where you had run off too, after your little friend decided to lecture me. As if we don't have more important things to worry about right now" he said, breaking out of his little routine to take a few short steps towards Mec. The man was clearly somewhat dishevelled, having been put off by the sudden disappearance of the magic that had been his constant companion for years now. Without its presence, he felt naked - exposed. Was that merely because Midir was so dependant on magic, or would all mages be similarly affected when stripped of what some claimed to be a vital part of their being?

"I don't know what caused this little hiccup - I've never experienced anything quite like it before. It's clearly not a problem with the Anima. We ruled out that possibility when you said that you could still feel it before" he added, giving Mec a bit of a pointed look. Midir's tone and body language seemed rather jittery and nervous; he spoke rapidly, and constantly glanced about, as if afraid of suddenly being attacked. "Worst case scenario is that one of the hunters has tracked me down, and has some sort of artefact capable of stripping me of my power like this. If that's the case, we need to move, and soon" he would add hastily. Had the man always been so insecure? Perhaps it explained his need to surround himself with such a charming aura so constantly.

Rather ignorant of what was happening back at Midir's shop, Shallan continued to dance along with the rest of the crowd. She continued to sway and turn with the rhythm of the music, moving with a smile on her face and a laugh perched on her lips. As time passed, the crowd began to thin slowly; people started bowing out of the dance, excusing themselves to attend other appointments or simply catch their breath. Shallan refused to concede the point at first, stubbornly continuing on out of the selfish wish that such a joyous moment wouldn't come to an end. Like all things, though, it wasn't to last. As the hour grew late, even the musicians themselves started to acknowledge that the time had come to bring things to a close.

As the circle thinned, the players finally let their song die out; the music gradually fading away into nothing. The dancers slowly glided to a stop, huffing and puffing down to a man. Shallan herself was no exception - the girl was practically drenched with sweat, and her breath came in short, raspy gasps. She breathed heavily for a few moments, before forcing herself to stop and inhale deeply in an attempt to slow her heartbeat. Despite her dishevelled appearance and the burning in her legs, though, she continued to grin cheerily. Reluctantly deciding that it was about time she headed back, Shallan said a quick goodbye to the lady who had pulled her in to the dance to begin with, before skipping back off towards Midir's shop.

When she arrived, Shallan didn't bother heading around back, towards the building's area. She simply pushed her way in through the shop's front door, calling out ahead of her to let the others know she had returned.

"I'm baaaaack~" she called out cheerily. Her enthusiasm seemed a clear contrast to the fake anger on which she had left, but the girl didn't feel the need to keep up her act any more. She would immediately head off through the building in search of the others, eager to see if Mec had returned yet. She was expecting Midir to be around, at the very least, but couldn't say the same for her travelling companion. Of course, what she found would be determined largely by how Mec's exchange with Midir had ended.

[Headwrapper]

Mec had stayed mostly silent as Midir thought aloud, making his insecurities clear. It almost made Mec feel guilty, seeing him this way. This panic was all brought by something that seemed so simple to him now. Although he had not yet taken control of the power after G had enlightened him about it, the boy already felt confident in his ability to control it. Much like the previous tricks and charms he had learned, the ability seemed so difficult to control until it had suddenly clicked in his mind, and now it seemed like a natural motion, as simple as moving a limb.

G had told him the Equinox was a rare power. It certainly seemed powerful. It's uses were quite obvious. In a world where magic was more prevalent it would have given Mec nearly ultimate control. In the world he lived in now, it would be equivalent to being able to break a soldier's sword, unstring an archer's bow, dry up a well, and burn a nation's crops in the blink of an eye. Even so, when it came to traditional casting, Mec was nowhere near the level of the other mages he had encountered. He wouldn't dare assume that because he was lucky enough to have control over a rare ability that he had somehow become more powerful than the likes of Olenna or Cho. Hell, even a foot soldier or, gods forbid, the mageslayer were stronger than he was in a fight.

"I think it might go away soon," Mec suggested. "I can sense some of the Anima starting to flow from you again. A very small amount, almost nothing, but it's more than nothing." A small white lie to help ease the man's nerves. He intended to allow a reasonable amount of time to pass before lifting the seal on Midir's power. The idea of coming clean with the truth about the ability crossed his mind, but he feared that such knowledge would poison the image of his naivety when it came to magic, and reduce the depth of training Midir would provide him.

After allowing some time to go by, filling the moments with more fibs about the Anima's power returning misleading Midir to believe he might not have been able to detect from how limited his powers had been, Mec would finally release what had been suppressing the mage's power. As suddenly as before, the man's face would reflect his joy as he felt his powers returning. "Yes yes yes! There's no mistaking it now! I'm back!"

The man could hardly keep himself from running from one end of the building to the other, zipping between furniture and nearly colliding with the walls. "I don't know what that was, but I'm so happy it's over. I am a little worried that it might happen again, but it's not like we'll be able to find out what that was until then, right?"

Mec feigned a laugh. "Well that's good. You must be tired after all of that."

Midir shook his head. "Actually, I feel so much... Lighter. Like a weight has been lifted off of me. I did not realize how bleak and heavy the world was when the Anima wasn't a part of you. No wonder your friend snapped at me, poor thing, all that stress of being... powerless."

Not wanting to refute that Mec had never felt different after displaying his own powers, the boy would only shrug his shoulders in feigned agreement. "So does that mean you could teach me about influencing the emotions of others? Or were you just joking about that?"

"Hmm? Well of course I could. Depends on how quickly you can learn. You don't seem like you're normally a very emotional person, but I can tell you've had your moments before. You probably understand enough about the Anima and enough about emotion to combine the two together..." The more experienced mage would take a seat, crossing one leg over the other as he scratched his chin. His signature smile was replaced with a blank expression as he mulled over a thought. "It would take years, maybe even decades, to ever develop an aura such as mine, but most people don't have a use for such a thing anyway. It's enough to learn how to focus the effort to just one individual, to start. With enough practice you can learn to influence multiple people at once, maybe even large groups, depending on how much control of your powers you have."

After a bit more lecturing, Midir would finally stand in front of Mec. "You won't understand until someone uses the power on you. If you let your guard down I can show you what it feels like to be influenced. Then you can try." Reluctantly, Mec would step forward so he was a few feet in front of Midir. He drew a long breath, as if to slow his heartbeat, but he was merely retracting the wisps of Anima that had been deflecting Midir's aura all of this time. Anyone else might have feared being exposed to such an influence, but Mec was eager to understand it. Soon, he could feel the slight tug of Midir's influence.

A smirk grew across Midir's face when he felt the pull, like a tug at the end of a fishing line. His hook was sunk in, but he knew it was not permanent. In an extreme situation a mage should have enough control to expel his influence, especially when they understood enough about his power. Still, he could get his point across. "So, tell me about your friend. I know that she saved you, but why? What's the relation?"

"We were friends as kids... I was too shy, and she was too nice. So I guess we balanced each other out. Eventually we grew apart, but even still she came to help me when I needed it."

"And now you're closer than ever. So close in fact, that I bet you think of her as more than just a childhood friend made rescuer. Tell me... Even in the desperate situation you're both in, I bet some part of you is happy that she's now pretty much stuck traveling with you. Is that true?"

Mec's eyes widened. An answer, a truthful one, almost escaped his lips before he sealed them shut. Immediately, he freed himself from Midir's influence. "How... No, I wouldn't think that..."

Midir sighed, placing one hand on the boy's shoulder. "Anyone would think it, kid. It doesn't make you any worse than anyone else. No one would ever admit it, though. Even you almost did, that's how powerful this kind of magic can be." The charmer glanced upward at the sudden sound of Shallan entering. "Go, go greet your friend. We can talk more later."

[Namingtoohard]

Still somewhat out of breath from her experience outside, the girl was rather reserved as she moved throughout the building. She moved from room to room at a truly casual pace, content in the knowledge that her job was done. She hummed quietly to herself as she peeked into one room after the other, seeking both her friend and their host out without any real sense of urgency. Truthfully, she had no clue if her friend was even home at first, but she was eager to find out - eager to find if the time she had managed to buy him had any real worth. When she drew close, Shallan knew immediately that he had returned. The mutterings of their conversation became audible as she neared them, even if she couldn't make out the specifics of what they were saying.

She grinned widely as the two of them ran into each other, cheerfulness written all over her face. The girl made for something of an interesting sight - she was still sweaty and short of breath, with her hair falling behind her in a tangled and unkempt mess. Despite her dishevelled appearance, though, there was an air of mirth about the girl. The time to herself to relax and do as she wished had put her in truly good spirits, along with the lingering memory of how easily she had manipulated the charmer with what were little more than simple acting skills, taught to her by her mother. It seemed that the girl had found a use for her talents outside the theatre.

"Ah, there you are! Long time no see" she joked, eyes sparkling as she regarded her friend. She even went so far as to give him an enthusiastic hug, wrapping his arms about him briefly. After a short embrace, she would take a small step back, placing both of her hands on her hips as she glanced up at her travelling partner.

"Ah, you should have been there, Mec. I found some musicians playing for some sort of dancing circle. This one girl grabbed me and pulled me in and - ah, it was so amazing! I wish I could have stayed longer, but they all started to break up and go their separate ways. I could have used a partner" she answered, chuckling softly to herself. After a few moments, though, she calmed herself, turning her attention to more serious matters.

"So...how did things go? Any progress?" she questioned, meeting Mec's gaze. It seemed an innocent enough thing to ask, but of course, she was referring to more than just the 'problem' that Midir seemed to be having. It was worded innocently enough, but the girl was more interested in whether his quest to understand and learn to control his own power more than anything concerning the charmer and the abilities that he seemed so intent on misusing.

[Headwrapper]

Almost reluctantly, Mec would turn to find Shallan somewhere within the building. It did not take them long to cross each other's paths. His head tilted slightly as he observed the girl, who must have been exerting herself during the time they were apart. His expression did not convey as much worry as it did curiousness, since the girl's smile clearly suggested all was well. Any other doubt that things were well vanished when she had stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Mec, sharing the warmth of her day's adventure for a brief moment.

After they had separated from their embrace, Mec smiled and listened as Shallan went on to describe the dancing circle she had been dragged into. It only made sense that Shallan would find so much enjoyment from that sort of thing, but Mec was rather grateful he had not been a part of it. Even though he promised to dance at a ball or formal event with his partner someday, the quickness and chaos of a unprompted dance circle in the street probably would have just made him feel silly. He chuckled as he went on to explain this. "I'm not sure I would have made a good partner in a dance circle like that."

"I'm glad you had fun, though," he added. Was he trying to counter the thought Midir had pointed out to him earlier, or was what he saying genuine? It was so easy to ignore such doubt until now, and he knew Shallan would have none of it if she even knew it existed, but just knowing someone else acknowledged it might drive Mec crazy. He almost wanted to hate Midir for it. Why did he have to use such a dark and wicked example to get his point across?

His voice lowered slightly as the discussion continued to more important topics. He glanced around to make sure Midir was not close by, but even still he inched forward so Shallan could hear his hushed voice. "I was able to talk to the voice again, and he taught me how to control it. I can explain what he told me about it later. What was strange was that once I had gained control the Equinox, that's what he called it, he just went away. I don't know if he's gone or just grew bored of me again."

Once again, he glanced at the doorway behind him. "Once Midir's powers came back to him he had enough time to introduce me to those charming abilities. It would take a long time to learn, but they would be helpful. Apparently a novice like me can still learn to charm one person at a time." After a brief pause, the boy's eyes widened, suddenly remembering he had not described his day's adventures. "I ran into that Lady Claire on my way back. Literally, we ran into each other turning a corner. She was pretty, nice, pretty nice I mean, and I found out she isn't a real lady after all. That's just what they call her around here I guess."

He hurried over to a table where he had left the hammerless bell and the comb he had acquired earlier. His fingers curled around the ivory, and he would return to present the gift to Shallan. "I know you did not want us to spend money on this, but you really should have it." He reached out his hand to present the comb to his friend, its weight pressing warmly against his palm.

[Namingtoohard]

Shallan nodded in simple acceptance as Mec announced that he had managed to speak with the mysterious voice again, seemingly content with the knowledge that he had managed to accomplish his overall goal. This step, while minor, seemed another signal to her. One that showed he was actively pursuing the knowledge and means to control his power, and to positive ends - just as he had vowed on that night, when Olenna had first appeared, and forestalled Mec's execution. In any case, while she might not have strictly believed manipulating others to be a good use of magic, even she couldn't deny the usefulness such a skill. Being able to turn away a suspicious guard was a big positive, given their previous encounters. She would just have to trust that he wouldn't turn his abilities against her, but the risk of that seemed minimal enough.

"Ah, really now?" she questioned simply, raising one eyebrow as her companion mentioned that he had run into the same performer they had witnessed passing through the town earlier that say. A small, almost mischecious smirk turned up the corners of her mouth as he stuttered in his retelling, but she refrained from commenting further, or otherwise calling him out on the little slip. Indeed, that cheeky little smile seemed to speak for itself, in a way. Or was she merely amused by the prospect of the to of them accidentally knocking each other off their feet?

"So her moniker really was just part of her position with the troupe after all, and not a declaration of status. I suppose that makes sense. I somehow doubt anyone in a town like this would recognise the authority of legitimate nobility, were they to come and visit" she finished idly, shrugging with casual acceptance. Still, she watched with avid curiosity as Mec hurried off suddenly, before her eyes widened as he returned, and she caught sight of the object he offered to her then. A soft gasp escaped her, and she clasped both hands in front of her chest. After a few seconds, she would reach for the comb, brushing her fingers against its surface with something akin to reverence.

"Oh, Mec...you shouldn't have" Shallan finally offered, voice quiet. Her reaction was a far cry from aggressive - she didn't yell or otherwise berate him for wasting their money. Why bother? It was already done, and the girl couldn't help but feel thankful for the gift, even if it did seem extravagant and unnecessary. "Thank you" she said softly, before throwing her arms about him in a second hug. It seemed a poor way of repaying him for such kindness, but it was all the girl could do for now. She would have to come up with ometing later. For now, all she could do was express her gratitude.

When she finally released him, the girl withdrew to find that Midir had come to join their little party. He stood in the doorway, leaning against the wooden frame, with both of his arms folded across his chest. He grinned at the two in his usual smug way, radiating mirth as he watched the two. Shallan met his gaze for a moment, before retreating to a nearby seat. She was quick to prop her feet up on one of the other nearby chairs, glad to take her weight off them after her impromptu dance session - even if only for a little bit. She set about putting her new gift to work, too, reaching up behind her head to begin running the ivory through her hair casually. Unperturbed by her retreat, Midir would finally step into the room good and proper.

"Welcome back, little miss. It's good to see you've found your way back to us" he offered, all former confidence seemingly having returned along with his powers. "I do hope I'm not interrupting anything" he Luke add hastily, glancing back across at Mec with a knowing smile

[Headwrapper]

A large smile grew across Mec's face as he witnessed Shallan's reaction to his gift. The decision to sell his sword for extra money seemed so trivial now, one that he would repeat a thousand times over. He glanced back towards where he retreated earlier to retrieve the comb, where the broken bell had sat. How much trickery would it take to barter the piece of junk for more gold? Rather, how long would he have to wait for an unsuspecting fool to get drunk enough to want to buy it? If possible, he would try to find out the answer tonight.

His musings melted away when Shallan finally spoke. "It was the least I could do," he replied tenderly, before Shallan embraced him once again. This time, Mec returned the hug with equal fervor, even brushing his cheek against Shallan's head. He drew a long breath before exhaling as the pair eventually pulled away from each other. Of course, Mec's mood sobered slightly when he was made aware of Midir's presence. He did not like that the man now served as reminder of doubts that Mec had all along, but had been doing his best to ignore since the beginning of the journey.

"No need to worry, we were just finishing our conversation," Mec said forthrightly. He glanced towards the charmer, then towards a nearby window to take a peak outside. The evening would set upon them soon. The daytime performers were surely securing the mediums they used to channel their arts, whether that be their strings, drums, horns, puppets, or canvases. The mobile stages would be folded back up and tossed back onto their wagons, clearing the streets for the evening party people. He wondered how many of the street performers actually partook in the nightly activities. Surely they would be exhausted after long days of performing.

Mec wondered what the large amphitheater in the center of town looked like in the night. He and Shallan had not passed it during their stroll their first night in town. Was it used for anything? Or did it lay dark and empty, waiting for the sun to rise again? He supposed there would be a chance to find out that night.

It seemed that Midir had also noted the night begin to approach. "Well, I will be heading out for the night not before long. Usually I would say young ones like yourself would be off putting for my style, but under the circumstances I could make an exception. I would be willing to bet you both will turn it for the night just as early as last night anyway." His grin stretched across his face as he pulled back his blond hair. "Or would you two prefer time alone tonight?"

[Namingtoohard]

Much like her attempts two nights before, Shallan winced and grumbled slightly as she began to run the comb through her tangled and knotted hair. Her previous efforts had made a significant difference, but she had only been able to do so much with her hands, and their touch could not compare with that of a quality comb. The ivory glided through her locks almost effortlessly by comparison, and she quickly set about working out most of the tangled and troublesome spots that had thwarted her efforts last time. The only thing that could have made the situation any better would have been the addition of a bath, but the girl was content as it was. She did, however, promise herself that she wouldn't let it get so bad again.

She would glare at Midir somewhat suspiciously as he encroached upon their reunion. Was it wariness born from the knowledge of what his magic entailed, or was she merely displeased by his decision to interrupt? In any case, she continued her work methodically as he prodded the two of them, not pausing even as he suggested that the two might wish to remain behind. She could feel her cheeks beginning to heat up at the suggestion, and turned her eyes downwards slightly. After a second taken to push such thoughts aside, she would finally speak up.

"Weren't you supposed to take us out onto the town tonight? Show us a thing or two about disguises?" she questioned rather simply, quite eager to change the topic to something much less outright embarrassing. Midir would glance across at her then, staring vacantly for a moment. Blinking a few times, things would seem to click for him after several moments, as he recalled their earlier discussion.

"Ah. Well, I daresay its a little too late to start messing about with costumes and makeup and the likes. If you insist, though, we can start with a little bit of a preliminary introduction" Midir offered, giving a bit of a casual shrug. He would step into the room good and proper then, moving a tad closer to the group. He would settle for perching on the edge of the table that sat not far from Shallan's seat, folding both of his arms across his chest. A quick glance around to make sure that both of them were listening followed, before he would finally begin.

"In the vast majority of cases, people will only see what they expect to see, or what they are told to see. A wanted criminal can walk down the busiest street in the city and not be noticed if he is able to convince those around him that his face isn't the one on the wanted posters splattered throughout the entire city" he offered simply, throwing a bit of a cheeky grin at Mec as he spoke. It seemed that the mage was making a point of the way Mec's continuing freedom was causing such a stir among the general public.

"Fancy clothes and makeup can help, but at the end of the day, they are little more than tools. The real power lies in being able to manipulate how other people perceive you. Body language and the way you speak often matter more than the words themselves. It doesn't matter if you're a farmer's bastard son - if you can act like a general, talk like a general, walk like a general, the vast majority of people aren't going to question your identity, no matter what you look like" he offered. Shallan had, in the meantime, stopped her combing to fall silent, a pensive look on her face.

"So...like method acting, then?" she asked. The girl spoke softly at first, then louder. "When you become your character in more than just physical appearances to try and convince your audience as thoroughly as possible" she offered, glancing up at the man, who was regarding her with amusement. It seemed a rather simplified explanation, but in this context, it was enough to get her message across.

"Precisely. If you can make people believe you are small and insignificant, they will treat you as small and insignificant. If you can make them believe you have authority over them, then they will respond as such. Power is an illusion, and one that you don't necessarily need magic to create"

With that, Midir would straighten up, supposedly done with his little impromptu lesson.

"You'll have plenty of opportunity to try and practice tonight...assuming you decide to come along at all, that is" he offered, grinning as he glanced back between his two charges.