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Post by Kelvin H. Calderon on Jan 17, 2011 21:04:19 GMT -6
Kelvin awoke to the strangest awakening that he had ever experienced. Rayl, softly and tenderly awakening him, and then proceeded to call him Karina. Kelvin half expected him to finish it with a kiss, but he apparently (and fortunately) was awake enough to realize his mistake. He stumbled out and headed towards the water, soon to be followed by Karina, who seemed rather startled. After allowing the shock to leave him, Kelvin stumbled out of his tent, shirtless, to see Rayl shove Karina into the water. Kelvin angrily stomped out of his tent, and marched over to Rayl and shouted, "What the hell was that all about?" He delivered a swift kick to Rayl's back, sending him flailing into the water.
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Post by Rayl Torien on Jan 17, 2011 21:24:03 GMT -6
The kick was wholesomely unexpected, and after emerging from the water a second time, Rayl just stared at his cousin, and said nothing for a moment, though he was grinning to himself as he took his drying undershirt, then slung it over his shoulder," Oh, nothing, just getting to know my soldiers better." and with this he followed after Karina...well, not AFTER her, but in the same direction, passing by her on the way to his tent, his eyes wandered JUST a bit before his conscious caught hold of him:
And just WHAT do you think you are doing?!
a disembodied voice asked, as he stepped inside his tent and changed out into dry clothes.
You are in a relationship with a woman who cares for you, and you to her!
He slowly began pulling on his armor, that smirk on his face no longer there, instead a stern frown, held steadfast by his continued thoughts:
You've come a long way these past five years. You've made a name for yourself! You've sobered up! People respect you for the things you do, not that you've done! Are you about to throw all of that away?! and for What?
He stepped out of his tent, adorned in his armor, oddly enough not it's usual shimmering self...it also felt heavier, though this was probably due to his tiredness and his busy thoughts. a quick romance?! Senseless flirtation and passion? he moved to Elibe and began preparing the horse for travel, putting on it's armor and saddle, eyes wandering back to Karina's tent as the camp was disassembled,...do you really love Guinevere?
"Of course I do, I-"
Did you really love Persephone? When you were apart from here, did you not flirt with Sireace? What about Rayne?
"Yes, but that was some time ago! I've changed since then!"
This was odd, that he was having an argument, half in his head, and half muttered under his breath, that is: until his conscious said one more thing before falling silent: Have you really?
Now he was also quiet, as he finished adjusting the straps on Elibe's Saddle, the great horse looking back over it's shoulder at it's quiet rider stood there silently, his mind was playing tricks with him, as he found himself thinking back...maybe this was his one last problem he had yet to confront...nor had he ever really dared to since he received the news of Persephone's passing...
He...had a problem with women.
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Ralph Meglane
Rogue
The Sightless Wanderer
Dishing out his own brand of justice.
Posts: 276
Etruria Fame: 1
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Sarria
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Post by Ralph Meglane on Jan 17, 2011 21:30:49 GMT -6
Ralph could hear Rayl talking to himself, he seemed to also be troubled, so Ralph approached him.
"Sir Rayl, are you also having nightmares? I've been experiencing an odd dream, every since we've been approaching Bern. I didn't remember before, but, I'm scared of returning to Bern. I thought I had abandoned it when they abandoned me, but now I'm not so sure. These dreams make me think that I am at fault. Please offer me some kind words, Sir Rayl. You are a noble knight, are you not?"
Ralph really was hurting inside, he needed someone to talk to.
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Karina
The "Before" years
[M:1000]
Submit to the short skirt!!!
Posts: 132
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Post by Karina on Jan 17, 2011 21:32:01 GMT -6
Karina was breaking down her tent, her armor, which she had wiped dry with a rag, was back in its place. The cloak, however, she had packed away... It was still soaking wet. true to her word, she now wore a white tunic under her armor, though she did not expect to get in a water fight again any time soon.
She waved at Rayl when he walked by, but he did not wave back. He seemed in deep thought... or perhaps half-asleep again. Disheartened, she went back to her work, though a bit slower. As soon as she had finished packing, she went to see Sascha. After nuzzling her pegasus for a bit, she noticed that Alwin and his wyvern, Karen were nearby. Karina walked over to hem, Sascha in tow. "So, you must love flying as much as I do," she said with a smile. "What is riding a wyvern like? I image that it is rather different from riding a pegasus."
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Post by Rayl Torien on Jan 17, 2011 21:40:18 GMT -6
Then suddenly: Ralph.
If Rayl didn't know any better, he'd say Ralph was a former assassin, with his stealth,"...sorry Sir Meglane, I'm not sure what words I have to give. I...I too fear returning to Bern, though not of the same reasons. I'd rather not say my own, but all I can say: how could it be your fault? I do not know all the details of your past, but look at what you've done with your life and where you've gone, who you have met and what you are doing now. From the looks of the soldiers back at the fort, you are well loved by the Guardsman of the area, and if you have done something wrong in the past, well...all I can say is: you are here now, and you can make amends."
Rayl, as he spoke these words, was mentally taking a note of how they just came from his heart, mind, and soul...perhaps he should take his own advice," So tell me more if it will help you Ralph, and perhaps I can tell you more with what I will then know."
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Ralph Meglane
Rogue
The Sightless Wanderer
Dishing out his own brand of justice.
Posts: 276
Etruria Fame: 1
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Sarria
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Post by Ralph Meglane on Jan 17, 2011 22:01:30 GMT -6
Rayl's words lifted Ralph's spirit somewhat. He listened intently to each of the paladin's thoughts.
What he'd done, where he'd gone. That was a simple one, Ralph thought, Ralph was once a thief, stealing just enough food to live, that's why he left Bern. But, even then, as soon as he had left, his stealing habit hadn't left him. The very first person he met in Ostia, Mr. Karavalenge, Ralph had tried to pick his pocket. After the battle there, he was sent to Arcadia by Athos, but Ralph didn't understand what was going on. He thought back to that point. That, that point in my life. I could've done something to genuinely help people, but I ignored it... After that, was a trip back to Sacae through the desert, but Ralph fell into a deep sleep, and didn't wake up for three more years. Then he met Mr. Bill, and helped at his bakery.
Who he'd met, and what is he doing now? These questions were tougher. He could claim to have met those heroes, Matis, Mr. Karavalenge, Matthias, Alan, Mr. Karavalenge's brother. Some others he might've forgotten, but what did it matter. He knew in his heart he never once stopped to think about who they really were. What they were doing. What am I doing? Is this a second chance to make a difference?
Rayl's last words, "You are here now, and you can make amends."
"I-I see now. I have been blind for years, but it was my heart that was blind all along. From the very beginning. I had a chance to help save the world, during the Bandit Wars. I blamed my childishness for not knowing what was going on around me, but I know it was my greed. I didn't want to help save the world."
His tears rolled down his cheeks, they were stained red by the cloth around his head, giving the appearance of blood. "Yes Sir Rayl, looking at my past, I know that I must make up for my mistakes now, but, my past has nothing to do with my dreams."
"In my dreams, my father attacks me as I try to see my mother. Then he accuses me of abandoning him and Bern, but it was him and Bern who abandoned me! Then my dream ends right before he strikes me down... And what's more, these are the only dreams where I can see. All of my other dreams depict the darkness. I... I hate the darkness, I hate my blindness. But I hate my father more than those, so I hate these dreams!" He yelled the last sentence at the top of his lungs. The others of the group might've heard him, but he didn't care.
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Post by Rayl Torien on Jan 17, 2011 22:17:34 GMT -6
Rayl remained silent as Ralph spoke, and said nothing as he shouted the last part of his speech. Instead he was thinking about all the amendments he'd made in the past five years. Though finally the paladin opened his mouth to speak,"...as for your dreams, I'm not sure what to make of them, though with all the war, greed, and degradation that is man's nature: you are not missing much in terms of sight....all I can say about the dream about your father is to disregard the dream, it may mean something later, but if anything, you left Bern to find something in life: maybe you have found it, maybe you have not, I do not know this, only you can...so tell me Ralph, I assume you'll be riding with Karina today? You seemed to enjoy the flight from what I heard."
And just like that Rayl once again turned a conversation from a darker note to a normal talk...just another thing he picked up in the last five years.
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Alwin
The "Before" years
[M:0]
Bern will win back its independance.
Posts: 27
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Post by Alwin on Jan 17, 2011 22:23:16 GMT -6
Alwin was rather taken by surprise when Karina approached him. "Oh.. Uhm, Hi... Karina, right?" It felt rather awkward to be spoken to by the Pegasus Knight in such a friendly manner, especially after what had happened the other day. "Uhm, well... yeah. I do love flying... we both do." He replied, after regaining his composure. Karen looked over in Karina and Sascha's direction, and blinked, aknowleding their presence, although none could really know what she was thinking, except perhaps Alwin.
"I've never ridden on a.... Pegasus, for more than one obvious reason.... so, I can't really compare the two, but..... I guess if I had to explain it.....hmmm." Alwin closed his eyes, thoughts of flight flooding into his head. "Well, the wind blowing in my face, and in my hair, and the powerful sound of flapping wings comes to mind at first.... looking below at the scenery from a birds eye view.... its beautiful."
Alwin was strangely calm. After feeling so awkward around Karina all this time, when he lost himself in his daydream, the nervousness went away. "The cool, refreshing air hitting my lungs as I breathe in, and, well... the ability to go anywhere... the freedom it grants is so invigorating. I am grateful to have a friend like Karen." And with that, Alwin opened his eyes again, looking at Karina.
"Im not sure if that really helped you visualize the differences between Pegasus and Wyvern, but that is what I feel when I am flying with Karen." With a deep sigh, Alwin turned his head towards Sascha, and awkwardness began to flood back in. Pegasi were a symbol of Illia. Alwin had so much hatred inside him for Illia, and looking at Sascha made him feel annoyed. Not at Karina or Sascha themselves, but at the nation they came from.
"So.... you are.... Illian, huh?" Alwin looked a bit depressed, but he didnt realize it himself. He looked down towards the ground, not sure if he should look her in the eyes after asking such a question. "What is it like......? Illia, I mean..."
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Ralph Meglane
Rogue
The Sightless Wanderer
Dishing out his own brand of justice.
Posts: 276
Etruria Fame: 1
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Sarria
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Post by Ralph Meglane on Jan 17, 2011 22:31:14 GMT -6
Ralph immediately knew that Rayl was just trying to change the topic. Yelling would do nothing to close the situation, so he went along with it.
"Yeah, flying's great..." The joy he felt the previous day had vanished. It didn't help that Rayl was trying to cheer him up, Ralph was entirely disheartened.
"Maybe I just need a better friend than a hawk. Caecus is a great friend, but he can't speak. I can only feel what he's thinking. Do you know someone, Sir Rayl? Someone who could take my mind off of the past?"
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Karina
The "Before" years
[M:1000]
Submit to the short skirt!!!
Posts: 132
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Post by Karina on Jan 18, 2011 19:36:55 GMT -6
Karina smiled was Alwin talked. She realised that though they were very different, wyverns and pegasi were both wonderful creatures. They let humans ride them out of the kindness of their hearts, sharing with the earthbound race the amazement of flight. She supposed that, even though wyvern's looked more muscular, they have about the same flying style as a pegasus.
When Alwin asked Karina about Ilia, her mind filled with answers. The blizzard that ruined her young life, and how often storms happened... The snowy ground, the mercantile government... It would take too long to tell her story, but she supposed she should let him know about her life in urban Ilia.
"Ilia... It is a wondrous place. It is a harsh but beautiful land, inhabited by a hardy, kind people. I know you must not thing they are so kind, being from Bern and all, but... though I lived a rather sheltered life, most people in Ilia have no love for war. We fight as mercenaries because without the money from such jobs, we would not be able to live in our country." She held back her emotions, her mind picturing her exit from the icy tundra.
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Alwin
The "Before" years
[M:0]
Bern will win back its independance.
Posts: 27
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Post by Alwin on Jan 18, 2011 20:28:10 GMT -6
Alwin listened silently as Karina told him of Illia. She was right though; Alwin couldn't see Illians as kind. Except perhaps Karina herself though. There were always exceptions to everything. One could tell by the look on his face that he didn't really believe it, even though he didn't mean to make it obvious.
Illia being a harsh place to live was new to him, having never been there. Still, was it really that bad? They had to take over another country just to survive? Why did anyone even think to settle there in the first place if it was so horrid? Alwin ended with more questions than he started with.
Still, even if that was the case, Alwin still couldn't forgive them. Bern needed to take back what was rightfully theirs. Illia would need to find a new way to survive. One that didn't include Bern. He knew that no matter who won this power struggle, one side was going to suffer, and nothing could change that.
He stood there silent, not sure what to say. He probably needed to choose his words carefully if he wanted to prod further, but he was just a simple boy from Bern. A silver tongue probably wasnt one of his attributes. "Well... even so, that still gives them no right...." The words just sort of slipped out of his mouth. In hindsight, that probably wasn't the best thing to say.
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Karina
The "Before" years
[M:1000]
Submit to the short skirt!!!
Posts: 132
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Post by Karina on Jan 18, 2011 21:09:41 GMT -6
If Alwin thought Karina would be offended, he was wrong. Yes, she was a bit hurt, but not so much to make her angry. "It's no simple thing to see it in black and white... Even before Ilia took of Bern, its people fought as mercenaries. I suppose it is in our nature to fight. It is still not a way of getting out of the responsibilities of what they've committed in Bern, but... I can understand your frustration." she said, looking down.
Karina longed to change the subject. She let an awkward silence prevail over the next few seconds as she stroked Sascha's mane. "Anyway, enough about me and my country. What is life in Bern like? What lead you to becoming a wyvern knight?
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Alwin
The "Before" years
[M:0]
Bern will win back its independance.
Posts: 27
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Post by Alwin on Jan 18, 2011 21:32:49 GMT -6
The sudden change in topic was welcome. He was curious about Illia, sure, but he did not feel like talking about it at length. It probably would have just increased the tension. "Life in Bern.... It was great, when I was younger. My pop was a Wyvern Knight. He used to tell me all kinds of stories."
His father was a great man in Alwin's mind, although most sons think that about their parents. "He was someone I looked up to. He was the reason I wanted to become a Wyvern Rider... yknow?" He looked towards Karen, and began to slowly stroke the back of her neck. "He introduced me to Karen..."
Alwin left out a few details he didn't feel comfortable sharing. His father's disappearance being the main one. He was surprised he was even opening his heart this much, to an Illian of all people."....But, ever since, well, Illia moved on in.... It's not been the same. I left Bern because of Illia. I suppose I was just a no good coward back then.... but... now I feel that I can make a difference."
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Karina
The "Before" years
[M:1000]
Submit to the short skirt!!!
Posts: 132
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Post by Karina on Jan 18, 2011 21:42:55 GMT -6
Karina looked down again. She knew that she was off with the golden lance, but she felt responsible for what Ilia did to Bern just for being Ilian. When Alwin was done, she flashed him one of her half-smiles. "It is always nice to someone to look up to. Speaking of which, I think we are about to leave. We should talk again sometime," she said, picking up her things.
She mulled over their conversation and what she had learned. It seems that most Bernese people do not see Ilia in a good light. But... Who can blame them? It is so difficult, seeing my country from another's pint of view. Thinking about her homeland brought her mind back to her dream. Rand... Who are you? Curse my black luck, not being able to remember what happened. Maybe, if I think about you often, I'll dream more. or perhaps I will remember who you are. Rand... That name is familiar...
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Post by Rayl Torien on Jan 20, 2011 20:46:54 GMT -6
"No."
Rayl's answer was quick and grave as he saddled up onto his great horse, who moved away from Ralph a few steps (horse steps that is) before stopping as the paladin turned about in his saddle," No one can take away your past because it makes you who you are, no matter how painful it may be for you. You must go forward into your own destiny, that's all there is to it. Now come then, we must press on." With this, and the camp dismantled, Rayl rode up to the front of the group, flag bearer at his side, Quartermaster and his supply wagon at the rear," Alright then everyone! We ride for Castle Bern! We should make it there by mid afternoon if we keep a good pace. They should be expecting us."
With this the Paladin moved on ahead of the group. He didn't actually look back to face them as he usually would. As of this moment he just wanted to ride and keep riding: a good ride always got his mind together. The scenery as they passed through the mountains was enjoyable and the trip was uneventful as the commander rode silently, looking off into the distant fields, faint cities, and the towering mountains throughout.
Bern: only few good things came from Bern, as he patted his trusted horse on the side. Elibe was one of those, of course.
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