|
Post by Valcrist on Apr 28, 2010 20:58:16 GMT -6
"Even if that's true..." He laughed to his self, shaking his head slightly as he looked at the ground. "It feels kinda pathetic to be told that by a girl I just met not too long ago." Lifting his he looked at her, then at her bow, then back to her. "I'm seventeen, and you don't look much older then me. Still, despite being alive about the same amount of time, I can't help but feel like you've been living longer then me." He didn't know if that was a compliment or not, but it was how he felt.
He fiddled with his sword, swirling the palm of his hand on the pommel of his blade. "Hrm..." He thought for a moment to his self. His mind raced as he considered possibility after possibility before finally deciding. He nodded like someone just asked him something, eyes closed and a peaceful face. "Thank you Chelsea. You're the first friend I've ever really had that wasn't forced to be my friend." Forced as in a relative. His cousin, his uncle, his aunt, his grandfather, and his mother. They were his only friends, and that's kinda pathetic. But when your family makes up about half of your hometown, there's not much you can do about it. "I'll make it up to you someday."
|
|
|
Post by Chelsea Dagger on Apr 29, 2010 10:01:57 GMT -6
Chelsea listened as Val spoke again. "You're not pathetic, Val. I've had to 'living longer' because of what's happened to my family and I. Honestly, I would rather be in your position. It hasn't always been easy, trust me..." Her voice trailed off as he started to speak again. She smiled, though, she he thanked her for being his friend. "You don't need to thank me, Val. Part of being friends is never having to say thanks."
|
|
|
Post by Valcrist on Apr 29, 2010 12:25:03 GMT -6
He laughed. "Heh. I know that, I just wanted to tell you anyway." Looking forward at the road ahead of him, he wondered just how close he they were to Ostia. He never did find out what happened to it actually, but that's ok... something tells him he's going to find out sooner rather then later, whether he wants to or not. In which case, it's a good thing to have a friend out there on the battlefield.
He reached into his bag and pulled out a book, it was one he nabbed in Laus before they ended up leaving. Hopefully it would have some tips to help him do what he's wanting to do. He glanced down at the cover and took a long, careful stare at it... He looked back up to Chelsea and smirked, hiding the book from her view. "Well, I should leave you to your boyfriend. Tell Kelvin hi for me, he doesn't seem to talk to anyone but you these days." He joked, poking at a scabbed wound over his heart. "I need to go see someone about... erm... something?" He lied, quite badly actually, but dismissed his self anyways.
|
|
|
Post by Valcrist on May 2, 2010 17:18:21 GMT -6
Just as he was about to walk away, he suddenly remembered about something he had wanted to do. He walked back up to Chelsea, a bit weird feeling because of how he just dismissed his self, and looked at her as she rode her horse. He stuck a hand out and felt the horse's mane, ruffling it a bit in his hand with a small smile. Spirit knew him well enough that it wouldn't turn away like a normal stranger, he's rode atop the horse quite a few times with Chelsea. Never really a animal person, it took him a while to warm up to her, but his time on the ranch told him a bit about these animals. She was a good horse, and he could tell. Not only in temperament, but a good runner, and very determined. He couldn't help but smile as he saw the horse turn and look at him, so he patted her on the nose before she continued looking straight ahead.
He stuck his hand into his deep into his bag and dug around for a moment, a looking out of the corner of his eyes up and biting his lip slightly, as if he was trying to remember something. After finally finding it, he returned with two nice, big carrots in his hand. He held them up to Chelsea, for her to take. "Here," He told her with a smile, "I got these back in Laus at that one restaurant we all went to. There's one here for spirit and Kashmir." He didn't know if they particularly liked carrots, but the horses back at the ranch all seemed to. It wasn't fare they all went out to eat, and the horses got nothing, so he went back and bought a treat for them before leaving for the encampment. "Um... Spirit likes carrots, right?" He laughed innocently.
|
|
|
Post by Chelsea Dagger on May 2, 2010 19:26:34 GMT -6
Chelsea laughed as she accepted the gift from Val. "They're not her favorite, but she likes them just fine." She gave Spirit a few nice, long pets on her neck. "Hey Spirit, look what you buddy Val brought you." As she held out the carrot, Spirit turned around and started to sniff it. After a few seconds, the horse took a big bite of it as Chelsea smiled. She then proceeded to finish it off and gave a neigh. Spirit leaned over and gave Val a little nudge in thanks, causing Chelsea to smile again. "I think she liked the treat. It was really sweet of you, Val."
|
|
|
Post by Valcrist on May 3, 2010 13:36:13 GMT -6
"Ah, what is her favorite then? I'll make sure to grab that next time then." It felt like that little awkward tension between the two was melting away, at least in Val's mind. Whether or not Chelsea felt it in the first place is a question he used to think about, but now he felt comfortable again. "You're welcome Spirit. Thank you for lugging me around with Chelsea." He told the horse as it came around to nudge him.
He looked around for a moment, at everyone who came with them. Kelvin seemed off to his self, and everyone else was too busy in their own little worlds to want to talk. He haven't heard from anyone in the longest time, and the group was only a fraction of it's size that it used to be. It was kinda sad really, not that the silence that accompanied them wasn't pleasant, but he missed the bustle of the small army. He even got to know some of the soldiers, and was sad to see them all leave like that... I wonder how close we are... The silence grew louder and louder, even the birds seemed to have stopped chirping... it felt eerie. What... what happened to Ostia? He felt like... like they were getting closer. It wasn't anything he could see, it was just a feeling in the pit of his stomach, one that almost made him feel sick. "Chelsea... I think we might be running into something soon."
|
|
|
Post by Chelsea Dagger on May 3, 2010 14:01:38 GMT -6
"Her favorite? Well, her favorite it Sacaen grass, but since we don't come across that too often... apples will do fine." She gave Val a smile. He really was sweet, worrying about what Spirit likes and everything. Spirit gave another happy neigh and kept walking.
Chelsea looked over towards Kelvin and gave him a little smile as they rode. She was happy he had decided to come with them, even if he'd been quiet so far. It was enough to know he was there. That's when Val's voice snapped her back into the real world. "Hm? Why, did you hear something?"
|
|
|
Post by Valcrist on May 3, 2010 14:28:54 GMT -6
"No. And that's what's bothering. It's... unnaturally quiet. No birds or animals, and no people. We've met... nothing." His eyes, or in this case ears, for detail were really starting to kick in right now. I would like to ask if you can hear it... but that's just kinda stupid. He looked around to see if his eyes could pick up anything, they didn't. Not a thing, only their group walking along the road to Ostia... His hand instinctively gripped the sword strapped to his waste. Hopefully, if they did get into a fight, his training with Yaen would pay off...
"I don't know if we will or we won't... But we should be ready, just in case..." Call him paranoid, but he didn't like this feeling in his gut.
|
|
|
Post by Gabriel on May 3, 2010 17:33:26 GMT -6
Gabriel led the group. Some apparently had decided to go on foot, which meant that they were moving at a somewhat slow pace. It didn't bother him, though. There was no hurry. If Ostia was down, then there was nothing they could do about it. If not, then there'd be nothing for them to do either.
A few hours passed. Idle conversation was brought about quite a few times, along with Gabriel attempting to keep himself and the group entertained with some juggling and small fireworks. It wasn't that long, before a distinct smell came their way. Wood. Burnt wood.
Gabriel patted Starlight on her head, and had her gallop up a nearby hill. The green lands stopped there. In the distance, a small fort-like structure stood, in the middle of what seemed to be old ruins. Ashes was all that was left where the mighty Ostia once stood.
"An...Etrurian flag?" he said to himself as he watched in horror. It is similar, but...there was no yellow in our flag...
|
|
|
Post by Valcrist on May 4, 2010 21:05:15 GMT -6
He was nervous the entire time. Filled to the brim with tense energy, he couldn't help but see spectres in every shadow... it was the oddest feeling, and he couldn't help it. Other talked idly, tense and mostly uninteresting conversations. He walked with everyone else, his eyes looking around at all times, taking in all the details he could. Nothing was happening, he was paranoid. He knew that... but he just couldn't help it. Yaen looked as relaxed as ever, and Chelsea seemed to not feel a thing. Even Sir Waltz seemed to be fine, juggling fireworks quite absentmindedly.
He tried to take out a book and read, but couldn't focus. Instead he just thought to his self, over thinking in the way Valcrist always did. Eventually everyone started to grow tense when they smelled something... something he, as a blacksmith, noticed right away. Sir Waltz bolted ahead upon his steed, while Valcrist was left with just leisurely walking.
It was... a building. "What is it?" He couldn't tell, there was little anywhere to see. Nothing but ashes, remains of what should be a giant metropolis. A flag danced in the distance... and he couldn't place it. He's seen many flags in his story books... but this one looked like none of them. "This.... is Ostia?"
|
|
|
Post by Gabriel on May 5, 2010 19:31:41 GMT -6
Most of the group got to where Gabriel was not long after he had climbed off Starlight.
"I...am not sure" he said, stopping to think for a second. "That...that flag. Where have I seen that symbol before?" Gabriel sure had seen it. Maybe not in the form of a flag, though. Ever since Kraft took control of Etruiria, the uniform of the soldiers there changed slightly. The basic design was kept, but the colors went from red, blue and yellow to a simple black with golden linings, and a yellow symbol on their chest. That very symbol imprinted on the flag that moved furiously with the wind.
"What should we do? Should we get closer to take a better look, or would it be better to send someone to see what information we can get from those there?"
"Both options are risky, but we can't leave just like that. Any ideas?"
|
|
|
Post by Chelsea Dagger on May 5, 2010 21:56:13 GMT -6
Chelsea looked on as Gabriel and Val talked. It seemed unreal. Wasn't this supposed to be a great city? She felt a sadness overcome her that she didn't really understand. She watched the flag move in the wind as she drifted into her thoughts, only to be ripped out by Gabriel's question. She gave a little nod and slid off Spirit. "I'll go." It made sense to her. Not sure why, but it did.
|
|
|
Post by Valcrist on May 5, 2010 22:16:43 GMT -6
Destroyed absolutely annihilated... It was disheartening to say the least. He didn't recognize it at all, it felt familiar but not close enough to really pin it down. Every preconception he had of the giant city was simultaneously shattered violently, with no remorse for all the lives destroyed in the process. It was a disturbing feeling... not exactly sadness, but something else welling up in him... something he couldn't quite describe, but it made him sick. The more he stared at the landscape, the more vile it grew. "Why..." Was all he could say, silently sputtered out of a disbelieving mouth. He's spent his whole life looking out into the lifeless abyss created by nature... but never has he saw one created by man.
Gabriel spoke, and it brought him back, somewhat atleast. He listened, but wasn't really focusing, his mind far too preoccupied. "I don't know..." He would like to say to just avoid it, pretend it never happened... "There's not much we can do, is there?"
"Not alone you won't." He felt his self blab before he could even think. Chelsea spoke after him, but he cut in before Gabe could open his mouth. "If you go, I'm going too." Without even thinking he signed his self up for a very dangerous mission. "I can make a sketch of the area if I get closer, though it would be no map it might help."
|
|
Yaen
Swordmaster
Prince of Blades Mad Swordsman
Now let's play the Song of Swords.
Posts: 305
Sacae Fame: 2
Bern Fame: 3
Lycia Fame: 1
Profession: Vagabond
Affinity: Thunder
|
Post by Yaen on May 6, 2010 11:59:28 GMT -6
"I would not recommend this course of action." Yaen stated as he moved to sit down against a tree, as was his habit. "This flag, it is the flag of the Prophets army." he stated. "His men are religious fanatics. For a 'pagan', as we Sacaen are viewed, to walk into their camp, it would be madness. Besides, I think we all know what happened here, and we should not try to hide it with false hope..." He said, his voice grim. "Ostia was burned to the ground, and its people are either killed or enslaved. There is nothing we can to for them either, not with such few numbers. What you should do is return to Laus. Tell the Marquess of Ostia's position. Perhaps then Lycia can mount a force. Then, at least they can hold them off...for a while...."
|
|
|
Post by Valcrist on May 10, 2010 12:56:09 GMT -6
"B... but... Someone..." He sputtered. Yaen was probably right, and that fact sidelined him hard. He didn't want it to be that way, there had to be a survivor somewhere or something right? Or.... or... No... That's just too horrible... "We can't just leave like this." He said whispered, more to his self then to anyone else. He stared straight down as the earth beneath him, his fist clenched tightly and shaking slightly from the force. Why would anyone ever do this? Anything like this! What was wrong with these people!? What could so much death hope to accomplish!?
"Dammit..." A curse slipped from his lips, as quiet as he had been before. He felt powerless, once again he was absolutely powerless. Maybe if he was Rayl, or Alan, or Kenshin he could do something! But he wasn't, he was Valcrist, the boy from the sand. Did we come all this way for nothing?
|
|