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Post by Remus on Jan 23, 2015 11:29:47 GMT -6
The sound of the horses hoofs as they pulled the carriage had become a constant rhythm. Though the ride was a bit shaky, Remus knew it was far easier than had they chosen to walk. The blue haired young priest sat upon the wooden bench, with his staff leaning upon his shoulder and his hands lightly idling upon the center of the wooden shaft. The white and blue clad priest gazed outwards towards the back, seeing the path they had just traveled and noticed the signs of snow. From the traces of frost upon the ground to the slowly more consistent apparition of his breath. Drawing thought to it alone sent a slight shiver along his nape which caused him to tuck the blue scarf further around himself. As his thoughts dawned unto the growing cold, he slowly shifted and reached over to grab one of the heavy brown cloaks they had been gifted with before they had departed Etruria and tucked it around the two small sleeping bodies next to him. A small girl, with raven black hair was leaning on his right side fast asleep. Next to her, his head half on her shoulder slept a sandy blonde haired boy of the same age. Remus bound the large cloak meant for himself around them to keep them warm before slowly shifting the cushion on the opposing side of him to his right to buffer the young girl. Amelia and Owain. His two little sheep some of the other members of the Church had started calling them.
Standing up, though having to crouch a bit in the carriage he moved to the side with the open window facing the driver. A somewhat heavy set mustachioed brown balding man with bushy brown eyebrows. He had kindly offered to take them into Ilia for free, once he had overheard Remus attempting to buy for a cart to take them into the frozen territory from the outskirts of Etruria. Between the journey along the side of the Sacaen plains and the actual journey into the hazardous place most wouldn't do it save for an astronomical sum. He had some coin saved, but not enough. Poking his head through, and resting a hand on the bottom sill of the window he spoke in a curious tone. "Sir. I just want to thank you, and reaffirm that there isn't anything I can do or offer as payment? Your generosity is admirable but I would feel beyond humbled to know there is nothing I personally can do to assist, even if it is but the smallest of tasks."
The man simply laughed and shook his head a bit. He didn't avert his gaze from the path ahead, though Remus knew he couldn't with the road becoming less and less hospitable. Ilia's frozen terrain was not the most hospitable. Now he was noticing their breath as a constant. After a paused silence, Remus was about to tuck his head inwards when the man spoke; quickly drawing the priests attention once more. "I've spent most my life working with Etrurian priests and clerics, monks and even the occasional high priest or bishop. Transporting goods to churches or towns, and ferryin' people. Travelin' that much lets ya' see thinks most a man wouldn't think ter' see. Once, my horse hurt his leg. Frettin' as I was as to how I'd have to end it's misery, this priest pulls out his staff and heals it up right as rain. First time I'd seen such a thing. Most anywhere else they'd have charged me the price of a horse for patchin' him up. Fella' said it was just part of his job. Saved my reputation as a transporter, and kept me from fallin' to hard times. If I can repay him by helpin' his brothers an sisters, that's what I'll do."
Remus had listened with a somewhat overly expressive smile. As if he was listening in wonder to some grand tale. Such deeds were the very thing he aspired to one day be remembered for. His fingers clutched his staff a bit more as he smiled to the man before nodding. He could understand, and realized imposing any further would be an offense unto the mans generosity as he felt he himself was repaying the faith. Withdrawing his head, he slowly made his way back into the carriage. Adjusting the pillow and carefully inserting himself next to the slumbering girl once again, he leaned his own head back after lifting his scarf to cover part of his chin and eased his eyes shut. Sleep came quickly.
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"We- re!!"
Hmm? Slowly he stirred. The blue haired priest was always a bit of a heavy sleeper, for he did not sleep often so when he did his body attempted to capitalize on it. Distant noises started coming together to form actual words.
"We're here!!"
He understood it that time, but he was still a tad groggy and slow to open his eyes. That was, until a sudden impact shook him and almost knocked him onto his side. A rather hearty swing with the large square cushion that had been sitting idle in the seat across from them quickly brought the priest into reality. His staff fumbled in his grip before he jolted upwards very quickly, a slightly disheveled blue haired male rising quickly as he recovered from his sleeping. The black haired Amelia stood atop the bench with her hands on her hips and a single cheek puffed in exasperation; holding the culprit pillow in her hands that had been responsible for awakening him. Owain was eagerly looking out of the back of the wagon towards the town they had arrived in. As he came to fully, Remus began to pick up on surrounding sounds. It certainly sounded like a place mercenaries would live...Already he could hear the loud laughter and what sounded like clanking and slamming of mugs. The tavern must have been a close by building. Or very large..or both.
Remus stepped out of the wagon slowly, after dawning the large brown cloak that went over top his white and blue priest robes. His scarf he kept over top of it though; despite it standing out to an almost ridiculous looking level. The scarf was a bit of a memento to him. He turned to make sure both Amelia and Owain had been fully dressed in their coats, scarves and the travels cloaks that were designed to ward off the cold before helping them out of the carriage. Gripping his staff in both hands for a moment he propped it on the ground and leaned around the side to notice the Carriage Driver leaning back and looking at them. Smiling, he waved in farewell; having seen to them being safely off before he clicked his tongue and signaled his horses to start moving once more. As the carriage departed he turned to look at the building infront of them. Indeed. A tavern. Having never actually entered one save once in the Etrurian town his orphanage trips would make ventures to he was unsure of what to expect.
It dawned on him, his entire life was shaped within the churches of Etruria or helping his parents on the orphanage. Beyond that he had spent the last two years helping with his orphanage before it was destroyed. Exhaling a bit, he looked to the children and knelt down smiling softly with one hand clasping on either's shoulders as the staff leaned against his shoulder. "Were going to have to stick together here. Never leave my side unless I tell you to stay put somewhere..okay? We'll see about finding a place to stay for the night yeah? Then we can see if anyone here will help us."
Though they both nodded, he noticed Owain's eyes drift to something behind him. Standing up slowly and clutching his staff with one hand again he turned to see two heavily armored females walking for the Tavern that had made their way past them. Just their expressions looked like they could cut steel in half. This frozen land of Ilia..it was certainly different from home..
As he moved to what he assumed was an Inn by the hanging sign atop the second floor of wooden balcony's a voice called out. It's sudden nature made the children jump, both clutching to one of his sleeves. Remus turned to notice Two rather imposing men. One was thin, yet looked like he had spent most of his time doing unsavory deeds. The other had biceps that were easily the size of Remus's arms combined and then some.
"Oi' what's this? Lost little souls is it?"
Remus smiled to the two approaching gentlemen, chuckling slightly as he extended an open palm to the side in a welcoming way.
"Elimine's blessings to you gentlemen. You are partially right. I am but a priest of Etruria, with these two children as my charge. I'm here to find mercenaries for hire. Would you be able to help?
The moment he mentioned the word hire, both men seemed to eye him over with greater interest. To Remus, this meant perhaps they were interested in work? In reality, if he had money to try and hire mercenaries, he had enough money worth stealing. The thinner of the two men slowly approached Remus, hands behind his back as he slipped his fingers around the sheath of a knife hidden into his belt. The larger man also approached but was far less subtle. Cracking his colossal shoulders by simply rolling them, he raised a meaty hand suddenly grabbing at Remus's chest. His fingers dug into the cloak, his scarf and priest robes all at once granting a solid grip as he hoisted the priest into the air.
Both children screamed loudly as the priest yelped in surprise. Hands holding onto his staff now in complete shock he flailed a bit as he fumbled for words. The heavy-set man spoke loudly over him.
"Suppose you don't feel like bein' priestly and givin' us that money eh? Heard the church likes doin' that. Given and all that generous soddin' stuff."
"Ahh!..I-I assure you we do! I..I confess however I need this money to help a child! Err..please..please put me down."
Not even ten steps into his efforts in Ilia, and already the young priest was scrambling to get out of a bad situation. A horrible start for Remus, to be sure.
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Jan 23, 2015 15:35:45 GMT -6
Nayru slipped through the crowd quietly, wending her ways through the market and city streets with speed, but not purpose - she didn't really have anywhere to be or anything to do, exactly, and so she was simply enjoying her new - old? - body while people-watching. After her little impromptu training session in the shrine with Veigue's "friends," and then the actually scheduled training slash experimentation session in the plains trying to master her newfound powers, she was actually starting to get pretty comfortable in this form again. It was like riding a unicorn - you never forgot.
Okay, granted, she had never actually ridden a unicorn, and this body had been pretty ravaged, and it wasn't that she FORGOT per se so much as that she had to get the circuits working right and figure out how to use powers she hadn't known she'd had. But the simile still... sorta... worked, if you turned your head sideways... or stood on it... okay yeah maybe that hadn't been her best journey into the realm of the metaphorical. She realized she was in an unusually good mood. Or maybe this was normal. For what she had been, anyways. It was so long since she hadn't really had anything to worry about that the whole thing was a bit new and confusing, but frankly, the whole 'turn into a murder dragon and try to kill your only two friends in the world' thing had worked out so much better than planned she wasn't really equipped to handle it.
Nayru had made a pretty good mental map of the town by the time she completed a loop back through the last bits that she really cared to understand - the purely residential areas weren't likely to be of much use to her for either work or escape routes - ending up in the vicinity of the tavern she'd started that path from. Trying to make sense of her thoughts, she might well have simply walked past the scene with Remus entirely if it weren't for what sounded suspiciously like children screaming, which, alongside people screaming DRAGON and the smell of bacon, was one of the... three-ish things likely to get her attention when lost in thought.
She didn't really know what was going on, having missed the opening acts of the macabre play, but it didn't take a genius to realize that two ruffian-looking types accosting a priest and his children(?), one of the two actually holding the remarkably not-jolly looking aloft, was probably foul play. The thought that it might be the kind of foul play she shouldn't get involved in did occur in some part of the small-and-shrinking-daily part of her brain that comprised her better judgement, but it eventually agreed to compromise so long as she didn't make a dynamic entry via dropkick, which actually limited her options to a fair degree, but the ever-resourceful dragon made do by casually making her way over, then closing the last bit of distance in a burst of easy speed that left her with one arm seemingly carelessly placed on the shoulder of the bulkier of the two men, her other hand at her hip, palm resting on the pommel of one of her kama and a bright smile pasted on her face.
It occurred to her right about then that she actually had no idea what to say, but even if the priest was some Elimine-following idiot, he prrrrobably didn't deserve to be mugged and murdered by a couple of Ilian thugs. "Seriously though, what is it with this country and you types? Shouldn't you be off farming or something?" Her words were light and airy, belying their meaning - whatever the listener chose to take from it. Her grip was firm, nothing too far outside of the usual, but there was a decidedly inhuman degree of strength waiting to be unleashed if her appearance sparked any sort of violence.
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Post by Remus on Jan 23, 2015 17:17:25 GMT -6
Amelia was a bit more composed than Owain was. Though virtually unnoticed because they were just that, children; she was attempting to clasp to the dangling priests sleeve. Owain was standing behind Remus, while a flurry of "Let him go!" and "Don't Hurt him!"'s The Blue haired man was attempting to smile despite his struggling. He was worried the two children who were insistent in staying at his side would get hit with his staff as he struggled about. However he couldn't simply drop it either in-case it became of need. The heavy-set man sneered and leerily lifted the priest a bit higher. That was when the female suddenly showed up.
Remus had some trouble falling her quick burst of movement. It wasn't exactly easy to follow at-least; especially with how unexpectedly she had arrived. For her to work her arm around the thug, which caused him to slightly lower the priest in shock. His brown boots now scraped along the ground slightly, able to catch tufts of frozen brown soil which helped create a bit of a resistance to the muscled man's arm. However the added strain seemed to merely warrant another surge of strength as he made his arm more tense and held the thin man in place further. Remus smiled a bit sheepishly at the newly approached woman; as if the situation was briefly forgotten. He could not fully lift his hands, what with his left hand gripping the man's wrist and his right one clutching his staff tightly. Instead he raised the hand holding the staff a bit and unfolded three fingers partially waving in greeting. He was able to get out a shakily worded greeting before the large man cut him off."Err..Hello there Miss!
However the large man growled, somewhat literally in a snarling way at the priest while briefly turning his gaze from the woman as if ignoring her to silence him. The surprise from it more than anything did just that. As he looked back to the woman that had arrived he spoke in a gravely tone that practically gave away his lack of intellect. "Whats this now? Some songbird come to drape o'er me shoulder? Fly away birdy, we's busy here with our priest friend." His thin companion unsheathing the previously hidden blade and twirling it before pointing it towards the woman threateningly even while she held her arm over his compatriots shoulder. His own voice was a bit wiry, not as gravely as the dull-witted man even if it held some edge. His knife though somewhat short had a finite edge to it and looked very well tended. "Best scurry lass, for we have to carve you up like we was about to be doin to our friend here if he wouldn't give us the coin. Now go on, scram pretty thing."
Remus wasn't one to condone violence, so the notion that someone else would risk themselves for him was absolutely unthinkable. He shook his head a bit, messy blue locks of hair tossing about as he lifted his staff hand a bit again to try to motion for her to move away. "It's okay miss. I don't want to see you hurt on my behalf. I will figure something out surely." In reality this meant merely handing over his gold and having to find another means to earn it. However if thats what it would take to get the men to no longer threaten the woman he would abide by it. Little did he, and the poorly thought out thieves know she was easily the greatest threat among the four.
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Jan 23, 2015 17:55:23 GMT -6
Nayru's smile grew saccharine sweet as the two men gave her all the information she needed without any further prompting. If she'd actually planned this out, it would have been immensely satisfying and made her feel like some sort of tactical genius... but since her two new friends had been dumb enough to volunteer the information themselves, at least it meant she didn't have to feel bad for them. In retrospect though she did kinda wish she had thought of it herself.
Then again, she had sorta known how this would turn out since the start, which was why she was in the position she was, with both men easily able to reach her.
Her hand trailed gently off the man's shoulder, pleasant acquiescence to the slender man's demands to stabilize the situation - and then exploded into a fury of motion, her previously-falling hand lashing up under the man's outstretched arm with an explosion of monstrous strength that shattered his humerus with a sickening crack and lifted Remus up a bit in the process, though the rapidly-loosening grip on his throat wouldn't do much to hold him from there.
That whole reach thing worked both ways, after all, and she was an unarmed specialist. Nayru might not have had much combat experience before meeting Elly and Veigue, but she had centuries of experience with the martial arts forms she had trained in. The next movement was every bit as fluid as the first, a practiced step forward with her right foot and a quick sweep from the left to remove his footing, and her upwards strike swerved horizontally to push his upper body along the rotational axis the trip had begun.
"IM'MA PLANT ME A DUMBASS TREE!"
With her chosen battlecry echoing in her ears, Nayru drowned her magic circuits with power, accelerating his descent with a growing downwards strike that, in retrospect, might have been a bit much in the heat of the moment - she felt something snap in his chest - probably a rib or two - as the body hit the ground with a resounding crash, imprinting his body slightly in the ground in the center of a succession of spider web cracks. Not exactly the human sapling she had momentarily envisioned, but thaaaaaaat was probably for the best because punching someone through six feet of dirt and murdering them would, in retrospect, probably not be a good thing to do in the middle of town.
Now where was the tweedledee to tweedledumb here?
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Post by Remus on Jan 23, 2015 18:54:21 GMT -6
Things transpired so quickly. When she lashed out at the man, no one had any form of time to react. At all. The two thugs gazing at her hadn't even the smallest of moments to react before his body registered the pain that flashed through his body as his upper arm was broken. Remus felt a slight increase in pressure before the man all but instantly released him. Quickly adjusting his staff as if it were a walking stick he felt himself drop the half foot he had been dangling and his feet touch the ground. Luckily he had stepped back with his hands instinctively shielding the two children behind him. Owain was already partially hiding so it was little change for him, but Amelia leaned to her side to glance at what exactly was going on even while the man howled in pain.
He barely had time to shout further before she landed a remarkably strong blow that lifted him; though as she flipped him his companion shouted out in nothing short of terror. "Bloody hells I'm out of here! Your a monster!" His dagger clattered to the hardened frigid dirt with a metallic ring as he turned on his heels and sprinted. Though his brown cloak trailed slightly behind him he had actually managed to retreat into the alley and around a corner before the impact of his meat-head comrade splintered the dirt like glass. Even Remus took a few more steps backwards when it happened. The man coughed blood up with a sputter as he convulsed twice. Lifting his hands, and clutching his staff with both; his initial concern was the state of the man's life. Even though moments ago the man had attempted to rob him, Remus had no capacity to wish ill upon others. He had grown up in an admittedly sheltered life and didn't really know how to harbor ill feelings towards another human being. Even a rude or foul one. So when the man began to lie still he had almost stepped forward to tend his wounds.
Almost.
That was when he realized however that the man would simply try to rob him again. Elimine forgive him, for his desire to help his stray child superseded his desires to help a wounded man. However the only words he seemed to be able to mutter were in response to the womans physical display. "Oh-Oh my.." Where as Amelia burst out loudly moments later with her long messy black hair covering one of her eyes. "Wow! That was amazing! I've never even seen a man that strong!" Then there was timid Owain, who had missed the entire thing by hiding behind Remus's coat. Remus honestly couldn't determine how to react, even as he clutched his staff slightly and pressed it to the ground to shift his weight; still slightly shaken up from having been accosted. His gaze shifted however as he noticed Amelia swiftly run out from his side and start attempting with her small figure to kick at the man's motionless body. Though her tiny legs made no impact it was obvious to see much contempt within it as Amelia scolded the man. "Dumb man! You leave Remus alone!" A guiding hand extended as Remus tugged at her brown travelers cloak to pull her back as he spoke with a smile on his face; almost eerie given the ordeal he had just been through. He crouched slightly to lower himself to be eye level with her."Now now, Amelia. We do not hurt others, especially if they are already hurt. Worry not little one, I am unharmed. We have this nice lady to thank for that." Though Amelia did not respond, the dagger filled gaze of hers that shot back to the man showed her lack of forgiveness. Children would be children.
Remus however shifted his gaze as he stood back up looking to the woman that had just shouted loudly. He smiled while shifting his hands closer to the top of his staff and clasped it with both. The smile still upon his face showing genuine kindness where most may have expected a false reaction akin to a mask. Even while he spoke to her though both children had started whispering quietly to one another things inaudible to most."Thank you miss, for helping me. Might I know your name so I could thank you properly however?"
A sudden tug at his robe got his attention. When he turned to look down he found Owain and Amelia standing side by side and looking up at him curiously. Each had one arm extended with a hand clasping his sleeve still. Amelia spoke rather quickly after obtaining his attention. "Brother Remus..um..what's a Dumbass tree? Did we have those at home? Why would you use people for a tree..are we seeds?" Remus's smile broke at the girl asking such questions as he sheepishly attempted to quiet the girls questions by waving his hands. He furrowed his brow and slowly tried to ponder a way to explain the question while also telling her that it was merely a rude expression. Something a seven year old and eight year old were not going to get surely. He soon smiled again however sheepishly smiling as he rubbed the back of his neck with his left hand and kept his staff gripped with the right. "How about..I answer those questions later. Yeah? I don't think you'll understand right now." Though the girl puffed her cheeks in frustration, Owain seemed to accept the answer and simply look to the woman that had knocked the bandit into another state of existence. Remus looked back to the woman with his sheepish smile and an almost apologetic expression mixed into it. Though he had seemingly endless energy to tend to the two children, he worried they would dissuade others from hearing out their case or even considering to help.
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Jan 24, 2015 3:48:16 GMT -6
Nayru pulled herself upright, staring thoughtfully at her outstretched hand, palm up, while flexing her hand experimentally. She hadn't really thought all that much about what she was doing - mostly instinctual threat assessment and management - and quite frankly hadn't planned on using that much strength... using natural magic circuits, even as rusty as she was, was still so much improved from her makeshift form of yesteryear that it was a learning experience. The phrase she didn't know her own strength came to mind, albeit more literal than most. People might not know exactly what they were capable of, but for the most part they had a reasonable idea of their body's capabilities. She was having to re-learn that from scratch.
...Still, there were worse fates. All things considered, just having to figure out what all she was capable of wasn't really all that terrible in the grand scheme of things.
Her momentary doubts assuaged, Nayru looked back up to Remus with a half-smile at the kid's antics - she hadn't been paying attention to their every motion, but was generally aware of her environment. "Good to see you aren't hurt. I swear, I can't visit Ilia without something like this happening. Are the thugs here actually dumber than the average or just more aggressive?" A disapproving shake of the head and a quiet, amused giggle escaped her at the thought. She really did feel on top of the world now without having her usual problems to deal with... Nayru knew better than to actually believe herself invincible, but the feeling was infectious, and she was far from perfect.
She dropped the right hand to her hip while raising the left to the same place on the opposite side; it didn't look like tall, dark, and stupid here was going anywhere fast. At least he had done some groaning so she was pretty sure he wasn't actually dead. This Remus guy - she assumed that was the name, anyways, the kids kept calling him that - didn't seem like a total twat. A little soft around the edges, but then again she wasn't really in much position to judge based on that, was she now?
"Name's Nayru. Just a wandering tree farmer looking for new species to add to my orchard. Seems my efforts are bearing... fruit." Oh MAN she was awesome. Nayru's smile grew a little wider and a little less mature as she reveled in her own humor in a decidedly shameless manner, remnants of a child who had never had the chance to grow up. "You're pretty far from Etruria... Remus, right? How'd you get acquainted with these nice fellows?"
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Post by Remus on Jan 24, 2015 9:07:18 GMT -6
He felt a bit of ease enter his mind once more when the woman returned a small partial smile to him. He was dreadfully unfond of the notion that violence might have ensued, and though just that had happened it seemed the man atleast was going to live. The slight grunts from Amelia's kicks to his side told Remus that much. As he stood there with the two children he couldn't help but smile sheepishly while his female savior joked to herself about her profession. He could hardly believe she was a traveling farmer; though her joke was not lost unto Remus. Chuckling a bit as the two children giggled quite madly, having found the joke far funnier than their priest watcher. However a wind sweeping along suddenly silenced their giggles as Remus noticed the two children shiver even through their brown cloaks. He realized that they, were merely wearing long sleeves beneath theirs as opposed to he with his priests robes and gown. Waiting a moment to answer the womans comments, this Nayru; he slowly took his brown heavy protective cloak off as he crouched down. He guided the children together for a moment and smiled to them as he wrapped it around them with one shoulder over Amelia's left and the other over Owain's right. He used the buttons and knobs to keep it bound around them so even though they would look a bit odd; like a two headed person even it would keep them far warmer.
The two looked up at him as he did such, for a moment Amelia protested. "Brother Remus, were not that cold. We don't want you getting cold too!" However with a shake of his head, the priest stood up slowly. His light blue and white robes were not ideal for trapping heat but they would certainly fare better than the children would have. He smiled adjusting his scarf a bit as the priest looked to the two clasping his staff with a kind gaze as he stood a step back to make sure they were tended after. "I think not Amelia. You two will be far less likely to catch a cold out here with this to help you. Do not worry about me child, Elimine shall look out for me. " Speaking of female saviors..
He turned to Nayru, tipping his head once in a bow as he leaned on his staff like a walking stick of sorts. He spoke in the same kind tone she would soon learn was normal for the young priest. "And thank you Miss Nayru, for protecting me. These men would have prevented us from finding our lost child. Ah..I suppose I should explain..yes?" Remus took a moment, going further out of his way to help the children as he stood slightly to their right now effectively blocking the majority of the wind that would have blown unto them. Though a slight shiver traversed his figure once, he seemed to place the cold out of his mind as he spoke to her. "You are right in that we are from Etruria. I helped run an Orphange near the Etrurian border close to Sacae. I would take the children on field trips to the local village you see. A younger boy..Thomas, had expressed interest in the workings of the smith every time we visited. Often he would ask if he could be one, and things as such. However one day he noticed the smith packing a large number of weapons, arms, and armor into a caravan. As we all gathered to leave the village, evidently he snuck from our group back to the smiths to hide in the caravan. I later found out...the smith was headed for Laus to donate his arms to a reclamation effort. I had gone back to find the boy..and these two snuck out from the orphanage to help me it would seem..alas...bandits struck the orphanage while I had left..we are..all that is left. So now I look after these two, and seek to find little Thomas in Laus. However I've not the means to do such on my own, so we came to Ilia hoping I could manage to hire some mercenaries to protect us for the trip there and back to Etruria. Sadly..when I pleaded my case to the Etruria bishops..they would hear none of it. I confess I found myself flabbergasted. They said a single orphan was not worth risking the lives of their soldiers..but yes. So that is what brings us, so far from home as you might put it. " Their tale was one he had told a few times.
As he told it however, the small children seemed to huddle to the priest slightly. They were still children after all, and they still had trouble accepting that their only home and most of their "family" was gone. Remus looked down softly to them extending one arm to wrap around both as if to shield them from the cold place entirely. He looked back up to her smiling a bit with a tilt of his head. "If I could ask, Miss Nayru. What brings you to Ilia?"
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Jan 24, 2015 11:11:44 GMT -6
Huh, the two kids seemed pretty animate. She hadn't been much good with them in a long time, but she'd always had a special soft spot for their kind. Something about the naive innocence they exuded, and the cruelty they could display without understanding it, was fascinating. The best and the worst of humanity in one, not yet corrupted or hardened by the world... maybe she saw a bit of herself in them, or at least what she sometimes wished she could return to. Being aware of just how dark the world could be was not a discovery she particularly treasured. ...All of which was probably a bit heavy to be discussing with any of her three-person audience, so Nayru shelved that line of thought for another time and focused on the topic at hand after listening to Remus's little speech.
"Well, they seem like good kids." The dragon looked between each youngster, momentarily appraising. The girl's name was Amelia, right? Assuming they weren't using codenames, Remus had called her Amelia... twice now, so that seemed a reasonable assumption. The boy... he hadn't really said much, or acted nearly as animated as the girl, and Remus hadn't addressed him by name that she could remember. Nayru crossed her arms under her breasts, leaning back a bit if only to jolt a bit of a new perspective. "Nice to meet you, Amelia. You remind me of a friend of mine. She's about as spirited as you. A lot pinker, though. You'd probably hit it off." She turned her head a bit to focus on the boy. "Don't think I caught your name, young man, but it's nice to meet you too."
Remus's story was all too familiar, one whose variants she had heard countless times over the past centuries and even more common of late in the wake of the monster plague. Families losing loved ones, not sure if they were alive or dead, forced to assume - to hope - that they were unscathed... the circumstances varied, but the sense of loss was entirely too similar between each case for her tastes. And it wasn't like being a dragon gave her some magical immunity to that; from Erim to Elly, the baker family she had spent the better part of a decade with around two centuries ago or the farming family that had saved her life and she had repaid them by butchering the lot of them when bandits attacked and she lost control... she tried not to think about it much, but ignoring the truth did not change its reality.
"...I'm sorry to hear that," Nayru returned in a somewhat more sombre tone, trying to show at least a little respect. She didn't know this Thomas kid from Roland, but wouldn't it be the same in return if Elly was the subject? "Your exact circumstances may be unique, but it's a tale I've heard all too commonly over the years. So many things to go wrong in the world, whether mere accidents or the acts of bandits... and now the tide of shadow engulfing Lycia. I was there not long ago, and even in the further reaches of the League, things are dire. Baels stalk the forests of Tuscana unopposed as the walking dead consume Laus body and soul."
She stared Remus straight in the eyes. "It takes courage for those without power to risk their lives for the sake of others. I did not have the chance to learn that lesson for a long time. Power can be as much a curse as a blessing when it comes to perspective."
Nayru wasn't exactly... ignoring... his last question, but trying to figure out how to answer it was a bit of a trial, so she was giving herself a moment to consider it. Answering with the naked truth - she was a dragon, she'd nearly killed her only two friends in the world, and she was now wandering around trying to learn the extents of her curious mix of newfound abilities and altered former abilities - wasn't likely to end well... though if she said it straight-faced enough they'd likely just assume she was joking. Funny how sometimes truth really was stranger than fiction.
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Post by Remus on Jan 24, 2015 12:01:29 GMT -6
Though it wasn't in actuality a gift, it was as if Remus had built a resistance to the cold. The Priest was so prone to focusing upon assisting others, or merely his concerns being so focused on other things that he could ignore entirely his own discomforts. Able to find the best in the worst, a true blessing he considered upon himself to have such a mindset. As she shifted her poise and addressed the children the priest smiled warmly. It was good for them to meet kind people in the world. It would show them that outside of Etruria, and most anywhere there could be good to find. As she addressed Amelia by name, the raven haired girl smiled up brightly and lifted a single hand through the now slightly too long sleeve of the extra coat upon her and waved with perhaps a bit too much enthusiasm. Amelia and Owain were absolute opposites however, as Owain shifted a bit and attempted to hide behind Remus'es robe white and blue robe sleeve with only a single eye peeing at her. He mumbled in a hushed voice as he spoke. The blonde haired lad clearly easily intimated. "I..I'm Owain. Nice..to meet you too." Amelia turned to him with a bit of a frown and waved her free hand, the other tucked under the large coat binding the two as she booped the boy lightly and scolded him. "Stop being so scaredy cat! She just helped us!" The boy flailed a bit in frustration from the light wrap on his head, however before the two could continue to argue Remus brushed his hand atop both their heads and smiled down at them. Though his words were simple, the gesture seemed to quiet them as they looked back up at him and the other woman both. "Now now..."
Remus gazed to Nayru with a curious look for a moment as she spoke further about the state of the world. When she spoke of the growing shadows, and their ravaging of Laus, Remus looked down a bit in thought. He moved his palm to rest upon the side of Owain's head with his fingers lightly extending to brush Amelia's hair as she stood by the boy still under the joint large brown cloak. He did so to prevent them from worrying. They had been close to Thomas growing up. So much so they had warranted the nickname of the terribly terrific three by everyone back at the orphanage. The biggest trouble makers when they wanted to be. The biggest helpers too though. Remus wasn't surprised when they confessed they had known he was planning to sneak away. They however knew they would miss him too much, which had prompted them to sneak away so they could tell Remus of their friend's decision. Remus was ever grateful they had however, or else they would have also perished in the ransacking that took the orphanage. The priest looked back upwards, as his peacock shaded hair was splayed a bit by a second gust of wind; though this one he seemed not to notice from his mental distractions. "I fear that is all the more reason for us to be here. We need to get safely to Laus, and find a way to get to the village. Luckily it's close to the northern border but I fear that doesn't belittle it's danger. Do you think any of the mercenaries here will accept coin for such a job? I've..never actually dealt with them before I confess. "
However as she gazed squarely to his emerald hued eyes he felt a bit taken aback. He did not show it though, simply smiling as he always did but it seemed to certainly obtain his focus as he gazed back to meet her own while she spoke. It was only after she finished that he took a moment to look up to the sphere like gem installed within the top of his staff. He smiled once more after a sheepish gaze while speaking. "It is all I know though, I admit. I joined the faith of Elimine as a child wanting to help however I could..no matter how small a task. Once I learned I could heal others? My determination soared to do just that. If I know another has need of me, facing dangers is put a poultry sum. I confess I find my frustrations however upon learning of the Churches decision not to assist Lycia with it's crisis in Ostia and Laus. I find it hard to believe that is truly the will of Saint Elimine...when she spent her entire life helping others... " Shifting his words away from his faith however he matched her gaze once again with his smile expressive as always. "Though with individuals like you, who have helped me to continue on such a path of doing my best to assist others..I merely feel fueled to continue. It is as if a great cycle. Receiving help fuels dispensing it."
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Jan 24, 2015 22:18:53 GMT -6
Nayru, for her part, was happily wearing what could charitably be referred to as lacking clothing, an outfit much more at home in the sands of Nabata than the wintry wonderland of Ilia, and was blissfully unaware of how cold it might actually be. THE REAL DRAGON SUPERPOWER.
The kids seemed pretty precious. Precocious, in Amelia's case. Nayru had a feeling that if she described Elly to this guy, he'd just nod and smile having gone through it all with Amelia. It was a weird thing to bond over, maybe, but she felt like she could empathize with him just a little bit more now. Or maybe she just pitied him. Fifty-fifty... maybe forty -sixty. Amelia didn't have a lance and a warhorse to crash into people, but then again, Elly hadn't needed either to launch a goddamn wagon into an innocent woman...
Humans were actually pretty damn scary sometimes.
The dragon shrugged at Remus's first question. "Most mercs will do anything for a price. It's just a question of whether you have the right currency." A simple concept - currency - but not as literal as it might sound. Mercenaries were a wild and varied bunch, and what was needed to buy their loyalty varied just as much. Some fought for honor, others for coin, some simply to sate their bloodlust in a relatively legal manner... she had mostly avoided them in her past travels, not carrying much money on her, but live long enough and you have a few run-ins with every type.
That whole Etruria thing was a bit of a sore spot for Nayru - as much because Etruria had turned into an armed camp of fanatics as because of its founder, the lady who spent most of her life helping people KILL DRAGONS and all that. So it was fair to say that the female dragon might not have a great deal of fondness for the woman, to put it lightly, though she hadn't been alive to see the horrors of the Scouring herself, so her hatred was far less deeply ingrained than Aerious's or many of the other dragons who had lived through that holocaust. But neither was she stupid enough to badmouth the so-called Saint, especially to Etrurians - people tended to get pretty miffed about their idol being insulted. Especially religious types.
So she went for the diplomatic approach. Her maturity might have... waned somewhat in the past days, but Nayru hadn't quite descended to Elly's level... yet. "The Church is not the sole purveyor of faith, nor its members anything more than humans, as vulnerable to the weaknesses of men as any other. To preach a set of beliefs is not the same as to practice them." Nayru gestured vaguely, a touch impatiently; she felt strongly on the matter, and distilling her ire with lukewarm locution was difficult no matter how much practice she might have. Being able to feel emotions without turning into a giant murder dragon was nice and all, but actually dealing with them was a lot harder than she remembered.
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Post by Remus on Jan 24, 2015 23:20:40 GMT -6
Her views on currency were accurate. Though currencies and their values was not a matter Remus had actually ever worried about before he was very aware that not all lands held the same standing in value. Time also became a factor in such considerations. Remus shifted his weight to his opposing leg as he looked at the woman with a slight nod, fingers clasping the staff while he pondered quietly for a moment. A slight stir of delight seemed to wreathe within him when she explained her views on the theological standing of men. Remus held an opinion formed of his own strengthened beliefs that had over time become obvious to him in it's difference. Most Etrurians believed singularly in the powers of Elimine, or they followed service by lip. However Remus commented with a response that set himself apart as a small minority among Etruria to be sure. His smile, once again working it's way into his expression radiated almost enthusiasm as much as it did actual happiness. "Your absolutely correct!" Even the children gazed up at him for a moment. They had been present to many of the lectures taken place between he and Father Roderick. The scoldings he had received by the elder man for his "childish" optimistic views. Remus shifted his stance once again before he looked upwards for a moment before resuming his thought.
"Many would believe faith only to Saint Elimine is of value in my home. I do not believe that is where our faith should solely lie. We must also have faith in our fellows. " His hand gestured to the children for a moment, as if to emphasize. "They must have faith in me, that I shall see them safely through our travels. That I tend to their daily needs as any caretaker would. There are many times, even daily..when we have to have faith in our fellow men and women. For when we arrive to those weaknesses..it is those who have faith in us that help lift us back up. Faith in ourselves, or of ourselves is nice..but few can travel any path alone. I confess, I also believe you are right in your closing regard. If we can not practice that which we preach, our words carry not the weight to inspire others. You can not expect of others, what you yourself would not first do."
He smiled down to the children with a bit of a chuckle reverberating beneath his gaze as he ruffled their hair briefly. Owain seemed to nod but simply close his eyes and lean against Remus's leg. He was often one to take naps through out the day; though the others would call him lazy Remus knew he had troubles finding sleep for extended periods of time. Naps were a means to replace such. Amelia however smiled up with a beaming gaze before she nodded and then waved her hand excitedly again as if to interject. Again, she was overly energetic but Remus's questioning gaze was incentive enough for her to answer. "I had faith we would kick that guy's butt! We did! Well..You did, but I got to kick him too so it's okay!!" Remus laughed before folding his arms over his chest, staff tucked under his armpit as he spoke with mock scrutiny."Now Amelia..if I remember you kicked him in the side, not his rear end. " As she looked to him huffing, she burst forth from the large brown cloak for a moment and moved to the heavy unconcious man kicking him once on the left buttock. Though his body rippled slightly and moved with a soft fleshy thud the girl had not managed to impressively launch him like her imagined plots may have incited. Nodding none the less however she walked back over to the large cloak that had been warming both her and Owain before nestling back into it and nodding with a glint of acomplishment in her eye. "See? Right in the butt, like I said!" Remus laughed in full this time before looking to Nayru with a brief shrug. "Children..what can you do, eh?"
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Jan 25, 2015 14:17:21 GMT -6
Haha... she was starting to see how Remus could be a much more impressive holy man than she had pegged him for at first. Especially after all that had happened in the past week, her unexpected learning of the power of trust and indeed finally managing to place it in one or two others after centuries of shying away from that task, his words rang true and struck deep. She had spent so long terrified of opening up to others, consumed by the weakness in her own heart... and in just a few short months, had been dragged screaming into the future by Elly, by Veigue, by Hayle, and indeed even by Aerious, whether or not she wanted to admit it.
"Faith in our fellows..." Her voice was quiet, subdued, thoughtful; a ghostly smile tugged at her lips for a moment. It was a nice thought. It would also be a long time before dragons and humans could share a bond like that as races, but... there was still hope. Lynessa had found happiness among humans, even married one. Aerious, for all his bitterness and hatred, was in part only so because his own love of a human had been destroyed by others of their race. And now she had someone she could care about... even if her bonds with Veigue and Hayle and Elly were much different than romantic love, all represented the possibility of eventually healing the scars of the Scouring.
As for whether any human alive today would live to see it... the transience of mortal lives was never a pleasant subject to consider, but even if they did not, she would live to see it in their name. "...I hope the day does come that... all peoples... can come to have faith in their fellows." Her expression was pensive, but a bit sad, too, much like her tone. She wanted to believe, and there was a seed of hope, but it would take so unbelievably much to see that vision come true that Nayru could hardly see it happening in HER lifetime.
It was kind of nice to have the kids ruin the solemn moment, honestly, and Nayru silently thanked them for it. She had a bad tendency to get too far into it and ruin her own mood in the process whenever she actually thought about these sorts of things. She was... sort of... just a kid herself anyways, right?
Nayru shook her head. She was supposed to act positive. "Seriously though, are we leaving this guy here for dead or what? 'Cuz we should probably get while the getting is good if we're just gonna murder the sod in broad daylight." Her tone had recovered a certain level of playful mirth, but there was more than a little truth to her question. Even if it had been self defense, and even if there weren't many - or maybe even any, she hadn't seen them if there were - people in the vicinity, sticking around a cooling corpse just made for run-ins with the law. "Maybe we should heal him and scram. ...And by we, I mean you, I have no idea how to use those fancy healing sticks."
As if to ruin the moment, she turned to Amelia, her voice immediately assuming a singsong but solemn tone. "Remember kids, don't leave witnesses."
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Post by Remus on Jan 25, 2015 15:22:32 GMT -6
Remus gazed skywards once more for a moment. A smile etched on his face as she silently speculated. The priest thought for a moment to himself. This is what Elimine most have seen in the world. The ability to meet like minded people, even in such a diverse climate under the worst of circumstances. The potential for great good, to stem from ill situations. If that was what she had dedicated her life to? How could he not naturally wish to do the same? Remus would have stopped to quietly fall into prayer then and there had it not been for the woman speaking quietly once again. As she hinted to her hope, that one day all people could have faith he himself nodded with a smile. It was after all, his own desire to see such things come to light. He spoke with an enthusiastic tone as she commented on it. "I wish for it as well, and I would aspire to devoting my life towards such a goal would it be that I could progress such by even the smallest of margins. Even if I do not see the results in my life time, to imagine them? Ahh..that is something indeed I could do." Look at him, speaking with such philosophies as if he was some experienced man of the faith. Yet even while he turned to look towards the man she diverted attention to once more; it served simply a bitter reminder that he was not. He was a twenty year old priest who was just now seeing the world on his own.
A slight jump pepped into him as Remus had a new thought dawn on him. Were he to heal the mans wounds only, and not his entire body he would remain unconscious; though in no risk of dying to the doubtless internal bleeding he would have suffered from the blow thrust upon him in the final moments of his downwards descent. Remus looked to the woman with a slight nod and smile; though he heard her final statement he could not really comment on it at that time for he was already gathering his focus to heal the man. The children giggling at her words, and Amelia to alter the situation to a hilariously negative tone mimicked the way Nayru had crossed her arms before nodding with a puffed cheek in acknowledgment as if trying to pose an intimidating stance. The sudden glow that started to release from the priest quieted the children however and drew their attention. They had never seen him heal before.
His eyes eased closed once again, looking only briefly to examine the man before Remus quieted his mind. He focused on the desire to heal, and internally prayed that Elimine's hand would guide his as he wove the arcane energy both of his body and that infused within the staff. A light blue illumination radiated from him before he lifted his staff into the air. A small upwards draft of wind like arcane energy caused his robes to billow before the light formed a blue aura around him that shrank to a small sphere around his own upper body. It blinked and flickered, then transferred to the thug upon the ground. His body bathed in the blue light, bones mending themselves by quietly snapping into place as organs were repaired by the damage of both the punch and hard impact into the ground. Though the man did not stir, Remus could detect the health restoring to him as the healing magic ensured his lively hood. A tuft of wispy breath exhaled in relief as the priest leaned on his staff for a moment. It hadn't taken too much out of him to heal but Remus had done it so seldom he wasn't prepared for the sensation entirely yet.
He chuckled looking to miss Nayru with a smile. "He'll live. However he won't any moment soon. By the time he does we'll be gone and he'll have thought himself merely walloped into slumber. We were about to obtain a room at the inn over here. If you would like to join us your welcome to Miss Nayru." Amelia instantly nodded, having taken a fondness to the woman as she waved both hands excitedly Owain sleepily leaned against the priests side, the poor boy having already started to succumb to the random slumbers that would have taken him had he been sitting."You should!!! Brother Remus! Is she staying with us at the inn? She should stay at the inn!!" Remus laughed sheepishly before he lifted his hand to quiet the excitedly rambling girl. "Amelia! You can not ask that of a stranger, even if she is remarkably nice like Miss Nayru, we must have manners. Besides, I would imagine she already has a place to stay. Come, let us secure a room yes?" Owain was clearly about to sleep standing, so Remus slowly lowered himself to lift the child up with his left arm. Holding Owain the boy slumped against his shoulder a bit and fell into sleep quite easily, Amelia content to move around and stretch her arms around Remus's right hand even though it held the staff. Remus however showed no indication of bother by it and chuckled, moving slightly to the Inn while Amelia looked up to him questioning him suddenly. "Brother Remus..what's a witness?" Remus couldn't help but laugh heartily at the question, before tilting his head and looking to Miss Nayru. "I believe she is better acclimated to answering that question little one, why not ask her?" His jovial tone seemed almost out of place considering the situation he had been in not moments ago. Amelia however, merely looked to her side at Nayru with a questioning gaze; yet eager one.
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Jan 25, 2015 16:32:00 GMT -6
While the long-lived dragon was many things, a master of the healing arts was not one of them. Oh, she knew more about first aid than many mortals, not that THAT really said much given how little most knew, but her understanding of healing magic was somewhere between "it heals people, right?" and "sparkly healy bubbles." To put it simply, she had absolutely no idea what in the hells Remus was talking about with the "not any time soon" thing. Was it some kind of sleeping magic? Could staves even do that? But he had healed the guy... she would have asked, but frankly she was already feeling like enough of an idiot not understanding what had just happened, and she had the sinking feeling Remus would happily explain and she'd feel like a child hearing a sermon all over again, and her fragile ego just couldn't take that.
Her confusion was maybe a bit evident in how she looked down at the unconscious and/or dead(?) guy, but he... seemed to be breathing. As far as she could tell, anyways. She didn't much care personally, as far as Nayru was concerned every bandit on Elibe could be tortured to death in front of her and she wouldn't feel a thing - it was the least that most of them deserved. Centuries of seeing their horrific deprivations had hardened her on the subject to a dull hatred that might have been more at home in Aerious than the otherwise mostly mild-mannered Nayru.
Still. Murdering people in the middle of town, even would-be thieves and cutthroats, tended to cause problems, and the priest's impressive display of magic seemed to have fixed that. Just in time to confront her with a new situation! She supposed that, in retrospect, it kinda sorta made sense that the people standing in front of an inn might want to actually go in the inn, but she hadn't really expected to be dragged into it herself. "I don't-"
The no-longer-silver-haired dragon hesitated, recoiling from the responsibility as well as her own reflexive reaction. It wasn't like she had anywhere to be, nor was sticking with them a few minutes longer going to hurt anything. She continued, twisting the original sentence to support her start in an attempt to deflect suspicion of her original intent... which was not exactly her specialty, and it showed, if Remus had been paying the least bit of attention. "-Have anything else I really need to be doing, I guess. Was just scoping this town out when I ran into you two."
It was the truth. Not the entirety of it - she hadn't seen the need to entirely explain the whole situation with Veigue and Hayle - but it wasn't like you gave your whole life story to every random stranger you met on the street, right? They seemed like nice people regardless, very unique. Especially Amelia, but honestly, after Hurricane Elly, Nayru was no longer really phased by that behavior. Something about becoming accustomed to madness and the abyss...
"Well, Amelia," she helpfully provided as they got moving, looking at the girl with the soulful seriousness and furtive demeanor of someone imparting a great secret upon the world, "witnesses are the people who get you in trouble if you do something bad. So if no one knows you did something bad, it's like you never actually did it, right?"
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Post by Remus on Jan 25, 2015 17:07:58 GMT -6
All eyes were on her for a moment. Well, sort of. Remus with his smiling gaze examined her as she hesitantly answered. Amelia with her bright one, that seemed to exude gratuitous amounts of energetic optimistic happiness at the prospect of Nayru joining them. Owain..was asleep and merely a paperweight in the priests grip. Crediting Remus, for his thin build it would have surprised some that he held the boy with the ease that he did. Luckily Owain did not weigh much so he was able to easily transport him, at-least for the moment. Though Remus had observed the pause for it's most likely more accurate means, he was sure Amelia had probably dismissed it for her simply thinking of something to say. While they walked, Remus'es left hand upon Owain's back could feel the slight tremors as the boy shook in his sleep. Probed with nightmares once more no doubt. Remus pressed his fingers lightly to the child's back to assist if possible in soothing his fears even while he remained stolen away unto the realm of dreams and terrors. Much to the Priests relief, the boy stopped his quaking. He heard Nayru's ..er..explanation of a witness, mentally noting to correct the explanation after they had departed or had a moment of privacy between just he and Amelia. Though he turned back to observe as she spoke to Amelia, briefly liberating his arm from Amelia's to open the door. However the girl did something that partially surprised even Remus. As Remus moved his hand, and thus had it leave her grip Amelia seemed content instead to for the time reach up and grasp at Nayru's hand instead with her own small hands. However still covered by the long sleeves of the brown travelers coat to keep her warm the fabric separated their hands directly.
Like the other children in the Orphanage, until the incident with the thugs Amelia had never seen ill in people. She naturally simply assumed the best and was used to holding the hands of someone when she walked through a town. If it wasn't Remus, it had normally been Sister Ceila or Brother Lucien typically. Now that he thought about it... Remus did realize that to Amelia at-least, there was likely a resemblance to Ceila between her and Nayru. However after he opened the door to the inn, Remus lowered his hand and Amelia seemed content to shift her hands back to around his arm. However Amelia's true motive for this was revealed as the girl's body language indicated her abundant energy still. She clasped tightly around the priests arm with both hands and pulled herself up as best she could, hanging and dangling somewhat for a few moments before tiny fingers grew tired and she had to walk again. As she dangled she started talking, while looking up at Nayru though resumed this thought while she walked. "Buuuuuttt..what you did was good! He was a bad man, and you beat him up! That's not a bad thing miss Nayru. So..does that still mean he's a witness?" Like most children, her innocence made such concepts a bit hard for her to grasp. Especially the abstract morality in the justice system.
Remus took a moment to look around, before noticing the Innkeep standing behind the desk to their left as they entered. Remus slowly walked over to the man, tilting his head and examining the sign indicating a flat rate per night as opposed to per person. Remus lifted his hand and slipped it into his pockets within his robe before extracting a small handful of coins and passing them to the man that spoke with a bit of a disinterested tone while sliding a silver key to the priest."Second room on your left past the stairs up, those stairs." Remus turned to gaze at the stairs before looking to Amelia and Nayru with a bit of a smile. "Well, shall we?"
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