[CLOSED] Breaking the Ice (Jade/Aaron)

[Jade Priyellis]

OoC: This conversation happens between Jade and Aaron on the first night that they shared a room in Rayl's estate. Also, it happens between Jade and Aaron (should be obvious).

BiC:

As Jade sat down on his bed he looked around the room again, noting the small details, such as the colour of the paint on the walls, as well as the shape and design of the room. After an awkward five minutes of silence between him and the green-haired mage, Jade decided to start a bit of conversation between them, seeing as they were going to share the same room together.

"Umm... Well... You've heard my name right..? But I haven't heard yours... What's your... Name..?" Jade asked hesitantly, hoping that the mage was not upset about his earlier outburst.

[Aaron Winsett]

Aaron was across the room, setting up his elfire tome, hanging up his cloak, and setting his bag near the foot of one of the beds. On hearing his roomate for the evening speakup, Aaron put aside his studious organizing, and sat down on the side of the bed.

"Aaron. Aaron Winsett. I thought I'd introduced myself as well, but no matter." The green-haired mage studied Jade for a few moments. "I'm a traveling... I'm not sure what I am anymore. I used to be a scholar. Haha. Now I'm just following Gabriel around because his goals seem to fit with mine. And he seems a good traveling companion."

"How about you? Have you been on the road long?"

[Jade Priyellis]

At Aaron's question, Jade looked up. Then, he rummaged within his bag for the picture of him and his parents. Pointing to it, he said "This is me, and my parents... Well, we were going to escape together... But... You know... We got separated... I'm just trying to find them again... I..."

Jade stopped abruptly as tears began to roll down his cheeks again at the memory of the incident several months back.

"No! Why? Why am I so weak? I swore... I swore I would be strong... And not cry... I have to stay strong... At least... Until..." Jade began, as more tears rolled down his cheeks.

[Aaron Winsett]

Aaron caught a glimpse of a regal looking man with white hair, and a beautiful blond-haired woman standing with Jade, on the picture. As he heard the story, he understood the situation better.

As the boy broke down, Aaron moved over and put his hands on the lads shoulders, until their eyes met. "Jade. You're anything but weak. Forget the tears, and look at what you've done. You've come from Etruria, and journeyed all the way to the farthest corner of the Lycian League, looking for your parents. Alone. And you've not given up yet. Have you?"

"I've think I've heard a bit of your father. And if what I've heard is true, he's out there. Nothing can stop a talented mage. We're too clever."

Aaron waited a moment more, and then released his grip. "You've been searching for your parents. I'd guess there's more to it than just wandering around the nations, right?"

[Jade Priyellis]

"No, I've not..." responded Jade, as he wiped away the tears that had rolled down his cheek.

Thinking about what Aaron had said, Jade thought back to the journey that he had taken to reach here. He would never have been able to attempt such a journey without his parents before. Maybe he really had grown stronger. Or... Was it just out of desperation that all this was possible? Nonetheless, Jade made it his point not to show his weakness to Aaron anymore and he looked up.

"Well... I was thinking to head to Bern and look for Aunt Hellene of Bern... But... I am not really sure where she had gone after Ilia's attack on Bern... She's... the... umm... Queen of Bern... and a relative of my mom's... I was just passing by Pherae to stock up a little on supplies first..." Jade explained, hesitating a little on Queen Hellene's identity, fearing that it would spark off a reaction from Aaron.

[Aaron Winsett]

Ehh... nobles. I should have known. All the big mages in Etruria are nobles.... It wasn't that Aaron had any particular trouble, or dislike for the noble class, but typically they were thought of as selfish, and arrogant. Of course, most of the nobles that the mage had met had not been that sort, but neither had those nobles been living in fancy castles and such.

"The Queen? I'm not really up on the situation in the Kingdom of Bern, but if she's your next link in finding your parents, then you ought to come along with us when we leave. I'm not sure how far we're actually going to heading that way, but it'll help."

Thinking that he'd already been through this with Gabriel, Aaron went ahead and asked the question. "So, if you're related to Royalty in Bern, that likely means your parents had a position as well. Should I be calling you by any specific title, or name?"

[Jade Priyellis]

"Well... Not really... My father was... Well... Count Reglay... He used to be the Mage General as well... But, now he's not... I guess... My mom though... She's just related to Queen Hellene... So... We don't really have that much of a title in Bern... But my mom was quite close to Queen Hellene... So I was hoping maybe they went to seek her out..." Jade answered, pausing before revealing each bit of personal detail, as if by speaking it he was doing his parents a disservice.

[Aaron Winsett]

Aaron sat back down on the bed across the room. "I think I understand your situation somewhat now, Jade. It's a sound place to start your seach. Just remember, we've got t take care in Bern. There's that rebellion going on there."

Aaron rubbed his chin softly, gazing out the room's window now. "This group seems intent on shifting control of the country back to Bern. Officially, they've only received orders to watch, and lend aid to the people of Bern, but I've seen their personal feelings on the matter. I just wonder what the best option truly is."

"With the Prophet on the take, Lycia needs a stable ally at it's back. I don't think that's possible with the rebellion going, even if Sir Rayl manages to rally the majority of the nation behind someone, I doubt Bern will be steady enough to be much help."

Aaron's eyes turned hollow as he thought, seeing the shades of Ostia's ruin again. "Adventures, and quests... Not what it's made out to be in the stories...."

[Jade Priyellis]

"Definitely not... All those days locked up in the library reading books sure didn't prepare me for the true nature and aggressiveness of the world outside. Anything... Anything would be possible with just a book in front of you. You could be flying over a desert somewhere or even participate in a war as one of the front-liners..." Jade answered, as his eyes began drifting off to all the worlds within the books that he'd read. He had imagined himself being in all the books that he had read, and now, in these dark time, he wished for one also, if so just to avoid all the conflicts as well as the reality of the real world.

"How... I wish I had a book now... Then I can forget the realities of the real world for just a few minutes..." Jade said dreamily, half of his mind already wandering in worlds that will never be.

[Aaron Winsett]

The dark memories haunting Aaron's vision passed as he heard Jade begin to speak, and though he never looked directly towards the other, his attention was directed that way. The young man was speaking on experiences which Aaron had often shared. While Aaron himself had spent a good deal of time working outside, he'd had plenty of book learning over the years as well. History, maths, and most recently, spell books. Having enjoyed mythology, and tales of the ancient heros, he'd picked up an enjoyment for some of the more contemporary authors.

Someday, I may even write down some stories of my own. He thought to himself, wistfully.

Taken by a brief bit of inspiration, and a matching desire to lose himself in a story, he started up a tale of his own, rubbing his chin introspectively.

"You know, I heard a tale once. It was about a young man, somewhere around my age. His name was Selk Mar, and I can't quite remember where he was from.... Somewhere in Lycia, I'm pretty sure. He was young, and ready to make his mark on the world..."

Aaron smiled as he took a moment before continuing, aware that he sounded like a rambling old man, and completely unconcerned. "That man was dead set on becoming a knight, though I never heard if he had any official training."

"He'd not been on the road long, when he crossed into Laus. At the time, there had been trouble with a certain bandit clan getting bolder, and they'd made a strike on a town. Despite being untrained, and despite the fact that it was not his people in danger, when the Marquess of Laus prepared a force to render aid, he was there, volunteering. I think he always attributed his willingness to help to the Knight's Code, but it says alot about his character that he was there for them."

The Green-haired mage moved about, setting things into their positions for the night, before finishing his preparations, and easing back onto the bed. By the weakened light of the lantern, he looked ready to go on with his story, if it was worth listening to.

[Jade Priyellis]

"Can you tell me more about him?" asked Jade inquisitively, deciding almost immediately that he wanted to hear the story about this Selk guy. It could probably help him to put down his current worries and allow him to feel the adventures from the stories again, where reality was almost non-existant and things most always went in the favour of the heroes.

Jade slid the picture of his parents under his pillow as he got himself ready to hear the story.

[Aaron Winsett]

"Well, he wore heavy armor, which made it difficult to move for a long time. It took a long time for him to build up his strength. He had shaggy, yet straight reddish-brown hair, cut off above the neck..., and he was tried to stay smooth shaven." Aaron rubbed his chin a bit more, absentmindedly expecting to have to shave himself in the next day or two.

"His eyes, whether calm, angry, or tired always seemed to be filled with a unique brightness." Enough description Aaron. You'll bore yourself to death.

"So it was, that Selk Mar, a knight of Laus, and several other travelers-turned-heroes rushed from the castle, to the village, where the several townsfolk were being held. Well, those brigands didn't last long. Soon, the troupe had been pointed in the direction of the bandit's mountain camp, and they were on their way up to smash the place. Those bandit's though had gotten tricky. They waited until the heroes reached a narrow passage up the hill, with a cliff face on one side, and a steep drop on the other. Then they charged from both sides trying to wipe them out in one sweep. Most of the heroes quickly pressed forward, and halted, even drove back the assault from the forward path, but only Selk was left to guard from the rear. It was there that he determined that he would hold that position for his friends, even if it cost him his life. Arrows flew thick, and blood was drawn on both sides. Self Mar was faced with overwhelming odds. As luck would have it, other people, who had no love for bandit's showed up at that time, and let this brave, inexperienced knight hopeful, escape death. With their cowardly attack to the rear thwarted, the last hope for the bandit's victory faded. They couldn't stand before these heroes, and were utterly destroyed."

Aaron paused, smiling again. "Paths crossed, and the stage was set for the amazing travels which would follow." To Jade, it was likely just another story, but Aaron could remember. He wondered where his spearman friend was right then.

"Terrible way to end a story, right? Haha...."

[Jade Priyellis]

Noticing Aaron's reactions and emotions, Jade deduced that perhaps this Selk Mar guy was perhaps a friend of Aaron's. You could see Aaron smiling at himself as he recalled the story. And the ending. The ending told it all. Aaron had inadvertently revealed that Selk Mar was someone he had known.

Paths crossed, and the stage was set for the amazing travels which would follow. This definitely means that the two of them had travelled together.

Looking at Aaron, Jade answered in a consoling tone, "Well, I think that you'll meet him again. You knew Selk Mar right?"

[Aaron Winsett]

Aaron didn't bother acting surprised, or reacting much at all when Jade figured out there was more to the story than a simple tale.

"Yeah, I knew him. We were both travelers hoping to see more of the world. I was revisiting a camping ground where I'd spent a bit of time as a child. The bandits knew they had the advantage attacking from behind. Especially with surprise on their side. They weren't expecting to be struck in the back themselves. Least of all by a mage...." Aaron casually shot a pinhead sized spark up toward the ceiling twirling it in erratic spirals until finally making it burst, and harmlessly dissipate in the air. At the time, such a small and controlled display of magic had been far beyond the mage's skill level. It had taken a long time to develop the near absolute control he had now over fire of large, or minuscule amounts. And now, he'd recognized that in another month or two, the control he had now would yet again be surpassed.

"I'm still not sure how we made it out of that one. Things weren't quite as easy as it sounded in the tale. Quite a bit more difficult actually, though I don't recall being particularly injured myself.... I hope he's alright still. He always was made of stern stuff."

[Jade Priyellis]

"I think he would... As you've said, he was strong... So... I should grow strong too... I have to... To find my parents. I cannot be like the boy I was when I was still in the Reglay Manor." Jade replied, a determination to be strong creeping into his voice.

I have to... I cannot only try my best anymore... Trying my best is not enough... The only thing that will be enough... Is to be strong...

Jade stood up a while, then went back to sit on the bed again, as he asked, as his face turned slowly red, "Hey, Aaron... Can you help me a little with my magic? I've read a lot of books on it... But my magic energy is still low... And I need to be as strong... As you..."