Argus Travels to Little Rock

[Argus]

Argus had entered an area in the part of Bern nearest to Lycia, he had heard there was a town nearby and so he went there. And there he was now. The town was without walls, something Argus thought strange for Bern but he was fine with this. So he stepped through the gate at the end of the town, really just an archway before calling out. "Hello? Anyone there?!... Anybody at all?" He looked around the town of Little Rock. Located between two tall mountains. Argus actually felt rather warm here. It was in a far more hospitable climate than Ilia after all. He was pretty happy to be here. He didn't really hate the Bernese for rebelling. He would've in their position so he didn't really blame them. So he wouldn't hold it against them. Besides, he wasn't here for anything like that. He was just here to look around. Probably look around, chill, maybe spend some time here. It seemed pretty nice after all. Maybe a bit too peaceful, but peaceful nonetheless. He liked that, it seemed a good change over his usual ilian pace. Perhaps he might meet some new friends here! He'd REALLY like that! Ohhh! He could make his new friends some stew! He would like to do that! People seemed to like his stew after all! Perhaps new friends for life could be made using such foods! Hmm... Maybe he'd meet someone cute! That'd be nice too! Perhaps said someone will need comfort and attention! He could always provide that too!

[Euphemious]

"It seems that things are alright here", spoke Euphemious as he stared at the western gate. If you can call it that. It was more like a giant arch way. There were no walls, which was why Euphemious was worried about the town. Little Rock had been a mark for the roaming bandits during the resource wars for Hargus. It had suffered a few losses thanks to the attack. However the Ilian army had marched in and saved them. Because of that Ilia had quite the reputation around this area. After Ilia was overgrown Euphemious wondered if the town would ever truly accept a Bern yoke. Strangely enough though the town did not seem to mind. The people of Little Rock were indifferent to politics it seemed. Though Euphemious could not help but notice a few more Ilian faces around.

"Ah Sir. Lowlander", spoke a voice as a maiden stepped outside of a domed house. Inside of her hands was a basket filled with medical herbs and flowers and across her chest was a necklaces with two skulls. Running down from her head were two long orange braids that extended to the center of her chest. Her hair in the back rand down straight all the way to her lower back. Her sky blue eyes shinned like the morning star and her smile warmed even the stone hard Euphemious heart.

"Ah miss Yashi", spoke the General as he gave the maiden his greeting. The maiden was making her rounds around town helping around the elderly. The village doctor use to make the rounds, but her age was catching up to her. yashi had stepped in to lessen the load but at this point she had completely taken over the job.

"What brings you back to the village Sir. Lowlander. I heard that you had left the army after the shift in power?"

"Indeed I have", spoke Euphemious. "I have decided to see the world. It was a hard decision. They had offered me a great position in the army, but I owed it to myself to see the world. I promised a few of my old war buddies I would see there home towns after all the fighting was done."

"And that brought you here again", spoke Yashi as she took a few steps away from the house. She began to walk into main street when she hears somebody yelling as if the place was a ghost town. Turning to face the gate yashi looked at the young knight. "Is he one of yours", spoke the maidne as she looked at Euphemious.

"Hey, remember i am not in the army anymore", spoke Euphemious as he followed and looked at the gate. He looked at the man and his armor and immediately he knew he was not form Bern. The gaps in the armor was far to big.

"Hello there", spoke Yashi as she waved at the knight. A few other people walked out into the street just to see what was going on. One person in particular was a young and boisterous blue hair lad. He stared at the man with a bit of disdain.

"Great another outsider", he spoke as he stepped back inside of a potion shop. "I need two more elixirs", he spoke.

[Argus]

Oh my! People! He smiled and waved back to the woman. She seemed nice, so he headed over to her first! There was a larger man near her, whom she seemed to be talking to. So he waved to him too before saying. "Hello! Do you live here? It seems nice! My name's Argus! Pleasure to meet you both! I came here to see the place, maybe chill a bit. Make some stew and friends. Though I won't be making any stew out of any friends!" He said before laughing at his own joke. He looked at the man. "Huh. Have I heard of you?" He asked before turning to the woman. "Oooh! What're you doing? You seem nice! And you're pretty cute! It's nice to meet you!" He said, positively GIDDY with excitement. Eeeee he wanted to hug everyone and feed them and make friends and talk about hsitory and AAHHHHH so many nice people! He then proceeded to start squeeing with excitement and happiness and joy and he felt that all was good in the world and it showed with the happiest face you have ever seen. He wanted hugs. The woman was pretty easy on the eyes too so that helped but eeeeeeeee! Hugs hugs hugs hugs hugs hugs hugs! I shall make them food and it will be delicious and they will like me and I will like them and we will be forever friends and THEN THEY WILL BOW BEFORE ME ON MY ASCENT TO ULTIMATE POWER OVER ELIBE and FRIENDSHIP ETERNAL!

[Euphemious]

As of right now Euphemious wanted nothing more than to punch this guy in the face. it was not that he offended the general or that Euphemious thought he was a threat, but rather the man was so bubbly. He went on and on and bounced around like a puppy. He was a knight for crying out loud he needed to act like it. Yashi on the other hand seemed to be taking a liking. She simply gave off a light chuckle. She looked at him almost as a oddity. He was something that she had never seen. It had been a long time since anyone had called her cute. Most of the guys in the village stayed away from her due to the reputation of her brother. It was well known that Butorega was dead, but the man had engraved fear into there hearts in the past. Nobody can date his sister and it stayed a iron law for quite a wile.

"No I don't think we have meet", spoke Euphemious. "I am sure I would have remembered somebody as ... unique as you. Well let me give you a proper introduction. My name is Euphemious. I am ... well I am formally a member of the Bern Army. Currently I have left the organization for personal leave."

"What Mr. Euphemious is saying is that he left the army to go sight seeing and hitting on cute girls", spoke Yashi as she stared up at the huge giant. Euphemious face twitched with embarrassment as the maiden tainted his purpose.

"Oh come on now Miss Yashi", spoke Euphemious as he rubbed the back of his head. "You make me sound like some womanizer and a pervert."

"Oh lighten up Euphy", spoke the orange hair maiden. A sigh of discomfort filled Euphemious face as the maiden spoke that dreaded nick name. "Anyway my name is Yashi", spoke the maiden as she stepped forward and shook the young mans hand. "I am the local healer and assistant to the town doctor. So if you get roughed up or need medical attention come talk to me immediately. as a side note I am also the vice chairman of the city council, thought that organization is much smaller than it sounds. Oh! I almost forgot. Your pretty cute yourself handsome", spoke the maiden as she gave him a slight wink. "I like the hair."

"I don't like the armor", spoke Euphemious throwing himself back into the conversation. Yashi had taken everything by the horns and was leading the conversation around like her pet dog. Things were getting way to happy go lucky for the General. Euphemious was a stoic, he never really liked to show emotions and when everyone was emoting around him it made him feel a bit out of place and bewildered. Naturally he turned the conversation toward something negative, just enough to lower the energy to normal levels.

"the joints are far to expose. Those holes in that kind of armor will get you killed on the battlefield. I suggest replacing it before you leave town. Always remember that a knight is always the shield for his brother. You can not protect your comrades if you are dead.

[Argus]

Argus smiled when he heard her chuckle. That was undoutably a good thing. Hmm... Unless that man was her husband. If that was the case he was dead... But it didn't seem that way at all... Thank goodness! He looked at the man first. "Eh. I've had some friends say I can be like that. And about the armor. 1. I can make sure they hit the covered bits. 2. No use being the shield of your allies if you can't get in place fast enough huh?" He then turned to the woman. "Huh. So you say. This seems like a nice enough place! Might spend a while around. It's warmer than back home that's for sure! Heard this place was nice and lo and behold it is! Not to mention nice people! The skull necklace is a bit clashing with the image and makes me think you might be a serial killer but hey! I'm not dead yet so... Woo! But seriously I am Argus. Nice to meet you both. And I am ESPECIALLY glad to meet you miss Yashi I believe?" He said, before nodding to both of them. "Now... Do either of you know if this Town has a place to stay or shall I camp for my time here?" He asked jokingly. The woman was cute. And nice. Argus liked that! The man was... Eh. Argus wasn't sure how to feel about him. He just hoped he wouldn't get killed by the man if he ever found out he was Ilian. That would suck. "Like your hair though!" He said to the woman to help brighten the mood.

[Euphemious]

Speed, thought Euphemious as the man began to talk about movement. So that was the reason his armor was designed that way, thought the knight. It was a poor trade off in Euphemious eyes, thought he understood the mans reasoning. Still the General had a urge to show the man the error of his ways. You can be fast and still hold the full protection of the armor. However that was a topic for another time. The man was a stranger, but he was clearly no threat. His boubly nature told the general that. Still he might need to keep a eye on him just in case. The people of Little Rock could take care of themselves, Euphemious preferred that civilians did not have to fight. It was in that moment that Euphemious realized the flaw in his statement. Right now, he himself was a civilian. He was not a soldier of the new Bern army and the Rebellion was over. Euphemious was simply just a man. A man who had a noble title that even now he still did not use.

"The necklace", spoke Yashi as she looked down at the two skulls. A sad expression dawned on her face as she thought back to her loss. "Well I don't wear this for style. Normally skulls and such are not in my wardrobe. However I made a exception for this little piece. You are not from around here so you don't really know, but both my brothers have died. Both of them have passed on to the other side. My twin brother Butorega", she spoke as she pointed toward the skull on the right. "And my older brother Burt", she spoke as she pointed to the skull on the left. "The skulls represent both of them. I carry the burden of there passing on my heart." The maiden stared at the necklace for a moment remembering her siblings for who they were.

Such a nice women, thought Euphemious to himself. Yashi was probably the kindest person he had ever meet. It was too bad that her brothers were dirt bags. Well at least one of them. Butorega had been a brigand. That was well known to the general. He ran with the Black Leather bandits till they broke up. After that his life had taken on a more neutral existence. He was not a good guy nor was he a outright villain. His cruelty however had given him a bloody grave in a city to the south. Her other brother Burt. He fought in the battle for the city of heroes. Unfortunately he became possessed with something. Eventually he was slain, but Euphemious had no idea who did it. He just brought the news back to the village once it reached his ears.

"Anyway Mr. Argus", spoke Yashi as she clapped her hands together and dispelled her sadness. "The town does have a nice inn you can stay in. Currently old Fred and Old Lady Stella run the establishment. I will take you there myself", spoke Yashi as she began to lead the way toward a large two story building with a bronze dome top. Euphemious always admired this about Little Rock. Every building here, even the crappy ones, were domed. The structures were all made of sturdy stone. It was almost like walking into another world. You would not find any other village inside of Bern like this. The arch ways, the domed structures, and the fine detail on the stone work. If he did not know any better he would swear that this village was made by the dwarves of legends.

"Hey Mr. Argus", spoke Euphemious before the man got out of ear shock. The general stared at him and Yashi for a moment to focus his natural energy. Suddenly the heavy general became a blur. With incredible speed he dashed right past the two individuals and stopped just in front of the inn. [Celerity] See, you don't have to compromise protection for speed", spoke the General as he began to walk toward the northern gate. "I got some business to take care of. Lady Yashi I will visit you later."

[Argus]

"Oh... I'm sorry for your loss madam." Argus looked at his feet solemnly... Before the heavily armored man apparently had a Warp staff used on him! At least... That's what it felt like! How could he move that fast?! Argus would need to learn how to do that... Argus, of course, waved goodbye to the man as he walked to the gate. Before looking back at Lady Yashi...

"So... You seem to be rather important around here huh?" He asked, looking at the town. "It's a lot warmer than my home here. That's for sure... Kinda nice." He said, looking at the architecture, the people, the sky, the way the warm sun felt on his face... Twas amazing... He closed his eyes and stood there for a moment, taking it all in. There was always a chance he might never be able to return, but... If he could, he would. That was assured. He opened his eyes and smiled at Lady Yashi. A warm, happy smile.


"So... Once again, I'm sorry for your loss but... The past is the past. Can't change it. You just have to take the hand your dealt and make the best of things eh?" He paused for a minute, before looking at the sky, and speaking once more. "Hopefully... Someday... Everyone will be able to forget the past... And just be happy eh?" Argus let out a soft laugh. "But that's probably not happening anytime soon. But still. One can dream..." He then turned back to Yashi, and just looked at her quietly.

[Euphemious]

"Show off", spoke Yashi as she watched Euphemious rush off. She understood the nature of skills and understood the futility of what the knight was saying. That speed could not be constant. She also understood why the general was so passionate about the subject. His armor was his life, his pride, his joy. There were very few people like him left. Not many people devoted themselves to mastering armor. It was a weird devotion, but no less than those who dedicate themselves to the blade. Both are not alive and both only aid you on the battlefield. Outside of battle they were useless.

The same could be said about my memories thought Yashi as she thought onto her dead brothers. The knights words had pressed her into some self reflection. Here she was thinking about her fallen brothers. They were gone that was not going to change. She had already grieved them it was time to let them go. It was time for her to move on. There was no point in her devoting her life to there memory. It was aiding no one.

"Your right Mr.Argus there is no point in living in the past. There is also no reason to stop yourself from being happy, but life is never easy. When you think you have forgotten you remember, and when you want to remember you forget. Happiness is fleeting, always. When you have it you don't realize it till its gone. It is just a fact of life."

As Yashi finished speaking a strong breeze blew in. The wind pushed her hair around a bit, but a stern hand got the orange locks under control. "Look at the time! I need to stop by the tavern and check on little Timmy."

[Argus]

"Ah... Very well. Mind if I walk with you?" He asked after she mentioned needing to go to the tavern. Of course, he was still stunned by the man's speed... But... He'd process that later. When he was alone... And preferably out of earshot of others. Yeah. That'd be for the best. At least that's how Argus felt about it. He looked at Yashi as he asked. Huh. He then proceeded to look around him again, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of Little Rock. Nice place indeed. He hoped nothing would ever happen to it. Though... It should probably put up AT LEAST a fence... Ya know... To keep animals out of gardens and whatnot... Of course he wasn't just gonna say that to her out of nowhere! But he'd keep the thought in his head. Perhaps he'd return someday. That'd be nice! She was nice, the other individual was... Nice? Yeah. Sure. Nice. We'll use that word. He certainly seemed concerned for Argus' safety, so he didn't THINK the man held any ill will towards him. At least none that the man would show... Back to Yashi! Perhaps small talk? Small talk. "So... Nice weather today huh?" Yep. Wonderful Argus. Wonderful. Truly, the gods smile upon you this day. You have been blessed with only the very very BEST of small talk abilities... Of course you are thinking this sarcastically... Though... You wouldn't put it past Gods to do something like that to you... Oh well. Just hope that small talk starter went well.