Setting Out [Jya/Isabel]

[Isabel]

Isabel walked a little removed from the rest of the group, flipping through the pages of her book. The blue-haired girl knew the book almost by heart at this point, but her funds had proven insignificant and had been unable to pick up a new one at Amarillo. So Isabel contented herself with the familiar tome and the calm, steady pace of her walk. Typically, she would be all bubbly and full of excitement for their coming adventure, but the priest's words earlier had sort of killed her enthusiasm. Still, she was excited about it... This would be her and Calvin's first true taste of adventure, and it was only through rereading her book that Isabel managed to remain quiet.

As she began to read over the same line over and over in boredom, Isabel reflected on what had occurred in that town. First there was meeting Jya, the green-garbed assassin, and then rescued Tara from the men who were hunting her with the help of the bartender Andersmith. And then as they were getting to know each other, Jya and Calvin ran off to do their separate little things, only for them to all meet up in a church along with these Rayl and Valorian guys. Blood had been spilled at the church, the group managed t evade the guard's suspicions, and, recently, the group had left Amarillo.

Today was shaping up to be interesting, despite the bloodshed that made Isabel more than a little sick whenever she thought about it. At least those mens' blood wasn't on her hands, despite her small contributions in the fights.

[Jya]

Jya had wandered off to do her own thing, mainly to gather some meat for food. She felt like treating herself and there were no complaints coming from her stomach today. If she caught something big, perhaps she could share with the others as well. It really depends on what was around the area.

Her steps soon took her to what appeared to quite an abundant field. She heard the shifting of an animal not too far away. With that, she fell silently into the bush, her weapon had already been drawn for the hunt. A small fawn appeared, all cute like and oblivious it seems to her presence. Something was wrong... It already appeared to be injured. She could see a small gash on its right foreleg. A sudden rush of sympathy rushed over her and she realized that perhaps meat wasn't all that important, besides the others probably had some. Her conscience took hold of her like this. With that thought, she burst out of her covers, catching the creature by surprise and snatching it up.

After the animal struggled for a few moments, it realized that it wasn't in that much danger seeing as it was alive. Jya cuddled the the cute little thing before bursting out to find Isabel. Now Isabel's contemplating face reminded her of the creature in her arms...

"You alright?" she asked with a face of concern while petting the creature's head.

[Isabel]

Isabel looked up from her book, seeing Jya but not yet registering what she was holding in her arms. "Yeah... I'm oka--- Are you holding a fawn?" Isabel asked in surprise. "Okay, yeah. Rhetorical question, since you're obviously holding a fawn. And... I guess I'm not completely all right." she admitted. For some reason, Isabel felt like dropping her usual act of amazingness. It might be nice to talk to someone about her current issue. Not that Isabel was just going to bring it up, oh no; Jya would have to pry to get that information. Sure, the prodigy felt like opening up a little bit, but not in such a way that she seemed like a little child! And dear god, why was Jya carrying a fawn?!

[Jya]

Jya was stroking a fawn, before taking a side next to Isabel. The fawn leaned over to the pupil and began to try to lick at her hands. Of course the adorableness would make any normal girl squeal. Jya simply, took out a piece of cloth, ripping it enough with her teeth to wrap around the wounded leg.

"I was out hunting, it was hurt..." she said before petting the cute little creature again on the head.

"There are other meat anyways..."

"So whats bothering you?"

[Isabel]

Isabel recoiled slightly as the fawn's tongue went over her hand, and she quickly wiped it off on her shirt. She... Just... Blech. Sure, the little animal was cute and hurt, but Isabel still didn't like it licking her. No, best to observe cute wildlife from a distance. Isabel watched Jya take care of the animal's hurt leg, waiting almost a minute before answering the question.

"Well... I realize it may seem childish to you, being an assassin and all, but... I can't get over the fact that I indirectly helped kill people. I've never done that before." Isabel said slowly, closing her book and putting it under her arm. "I also realize that, before long, I may have to kill someone directly."

[Jya]

Jya listened to Isabel's problem and she couldn't help but feel guilty to get her distracted but with a person of her caliber (still thinking she was an amazing mage) she expected killing to be something of an usual experience. When the fawn wasn't able to lick at Isabel, it turned its neck over to lick at Jya's face, trying to get up from its spot.

"...Killing never gets easy, I only became an assassin quite recently," she said, looking over at Isabel with a sort of a solemn face.

"We're about the same age...first time I had to kill another was a little over five or so years ago."

"I knew it was inevitable, adventuring always meant that something or someone would be out for you eventually."

"I can still remember the blade going through the man's a neck and that feeling of it sliding through," she continued, now looking down and gently stroking the fawn again.

"But one of the most important rules of being an adventurer gotta be stay alive right?!" she said with a much more happier tone than before.

[Isabel]

Isabel was more than a little surprised at this knowledge. If they were close in age... Jya had been 13 or 14 the first time she killed someone. To deal with death caused by your own hand... And at such a young age. Isabel could barely conceive committing such horrors... Not even now. Despite it making Isabel sick, the fact yay Jya had been going through this for five years certainly made Isabel respect the assassin a little more. Isabel then shrugged at Jya's last comment/question.

"That may be... I still don't feel comfortable taking away somebody else's life though. Although, if it's me or my opponent... I guess I'd rather make it my enemy." Isabel admitted, and then retuned her gaze to the fawn. "She likes you." She chuckled a little. "Well, you listened to me moan, so... You tell me something that's been on your mind."

[Jya]

"I think she'll make a better stew," Jya thought out loud. The little fawn continued to lick at her but she knew there was no way she'll take the thing with her. Her face became more lax after Isabel told her about her problems.

"I don't have much on my mind, just... I've been on edge a litt,e I really didn't expect to meet anyone I knew."

"Want to spar it out?" she asked, still holding onto the cute fawn. She should name it something... Bambi? That seems like a cute name.

[Isabel]

"I suppose that it would be nice to meet people you've met before." Isabel said, thinking about it. Why would that unsettle Jya? Had she not seen these people in a long time and had done something she didn't want to have to tell them about? And then Jya's offer to spar... And comment about turning the deer into stew. That would be sad, but if they were hungry, Isabel could live with that.

"Might I ask how a spar between you, with your knives, and me, with my magic, work? If we started close together, I wouldn't get a chance to use my magic. If we started further apart, I would hit you before you got a chance to retaliate." Isabel pointed out. "And I think we should conserve our energy for walking. And if we spared, the others might get too far ahead and then we'll be lost. Although, I promise you, Jya, we will spar for sure one day."

[Jya]

"Yeah, you're right but I still feel on edge," she said, continually petting the fawn. She was thinking of something that she could do to have a good conversation with the girl.

"Oh Isabel, what was your childhood like?" she asked in her happy questioning tone. She didn't know much about others now that she thought about it. She had no idea about anyone other's background... In ways it had always helped her not care but it always deprives her of any real connection with another.

[Isabel]

"My childhood?" Isabel asked in turn, a little bit surprised at the question. What would she tell Jya? There was her older brother, who learned anima magic, her younger sister, who became a cleric last she heard, her father, a sage, her mother, a mage knight, or perhaps of her mentor, Daryl, a powerful druid? What would she tell Jya of her horrible acting out for attention? Her lack of attention to her studies? Her parents' disappointment at learning their child was to learn Elder Magic?

"My childhood... Well, my mom and dad were mages. My older brother became a mage, and my younger sister became a cleric last I heard. I was the middle child... I never showed promise with anima or light magic like my parents hoped. They despised, and still despise, dark magic..." Isabel said with a sigh. "My mentor, the druid Daryl, was a nice guy. I actually haven't finished my studies with him, but I will be returning to him in a couple months. Now, tell me of your childhood, Jya."

[Jya]

Jya thought that having siblings would sure make life a bit more lively. Perhaps she might not even be here if she had a brother or sister looking out for her. Fate wasn't kind like this and she wouldn't change her past. Her experiences up to this point is apart of who she was now. Well she had nothing to hide from Isabel.

"I was born in this sickly body, everyday I would just sit around my bed or I would sneak over to the window and watch the other kids play." This was the most lonely part of her life, there was nothing for her and she would always stare out in envy.

"It wasn't until I was thirteen or so I met this man, she got me into traveling and taught me how to pick locks, steal, fight," she said trying to remember his face.

"From there on I met quite a bit of colorful people, like Alcibie, she was a cleric and one that I am very grateful for."

"I would climb over everything and I was small enough to be carried on Alcibie's back," she said, indicating to her old 4'8 size compared to her 5 foot 8 now. She swear she was still growing even now.

"I also met Rayl, he promised me food but still haven't given me any..."

"Only quite recently I met Val and we did went through quite a bit, especially with some walking dead bodies that is the gist of it." Now that she thought about it, her life has been hectic for awhile now.

[Isabel]

Isabel's expression quickly became a solemn one as she listened to Jya's life in summary. So she had always been sickly and lonely as a child? But it was nice to learn about Jya, especially since they were travelling together now. Isabel took a step closer to Jya, and put her arm around the assassin. "Hey, Jya... Maybe if you ever tell people about your life again, you can mention me as your friend?" Isabel asked softly, ignoring the fawn's licking of her hand. She smiled at Jya.

[Jya]

"That sounds great!" Jya replied, letting the fawn down on the ground. The creature limbered around, before hopping a bit and rushing away. She wanted to keep the animal as a pet but more than likely it would have ended up as stew.

"I hope you feel better..."

[Isabel]

Isabel shrugged. "Hey, I'll be fine! After all, I've got you and Calvin." Isabel gave Jya a gentle squeeze before removing her arm from the assassin's shoulder. "And I hope your sickness gets better soon. If you ever have need of my skills, whether as a magic user or as a friend... I'll be there for you! You have my word as Isabel LeFury, magical prodigy!" The blue-haired pupil grinned, and then took a step away from Jya, watching the fawn run off. She was almost sure there was some lesson to be learned here, but... Oh well. A friend gained was better than a lesson learned! Or something.