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Post by Lady Kamille Verlithax on Aug 29, 2022 17:23:03 GMT -5
After a few days of abashed silence and sideways glances full of hidden meaning, Kamille finally approached Ulrich on her own accord, alone, at the balcony outside her house. As always, even as the chilly mists above the river tried as they might, the witch's presence always left the place comfortably warm.
"I hope you didn't take my silence as me being mad at you," she started, as she approached. "Or afraid."
It was mostly embarrassement, if she could pinpoint something specific that made her withdraw for the last few days. And now that she reached back again, it felt as if she didn't.
"I was trying to think of a way to make it up to you. I stole a secret from you - unintentionally, of course, but still. I handle secrets as a type of currency around here. I exchange secrets for potions and spells, so that's how it feels to me: that I robbed you. And I'm sorry."
She usually wouldn't be so bashful about it, but unless it was about a malicious kind of secret, she would often respect people's times at revealing what they wanted to reveal.
She never stole secrets.
"So... Simply put, I owe you a secret. Whenever you want a secret, I'll try and get it to you. From anyone you wish - I can't guarantee you, but I'll do my best. And while you think on that, I noticed you'll about to need this," as she said it, she pulled out what appeared to be a small book, not much different from his own journal. It was, in fact, exactly like his old journal, with the only difference that it was new. She smiled at him with that warmth he already knew well by then, and when he extended his hand to take it, she took a step ahead, only so she could plant a soft kiss on his cheek. She whispered.
"Tell me when you're ready for your secret."
Memory pulled a strange prank on their brains sometimes, blurring the limits of wake hours and dreams. The only proof of the promise she made him that night was the journal by his side the next day, but nothing more...
This was a night much similar to that, in the way that the cold tried to reach her without success. And when she looked up, a blanket of stars filled her eyes with shinning speckles. A cloudless, cold night - as cold as the day was hot.
Kamille liked the desert. The high temperatures and scorching sun didn't seem to bother her, despite her all-black attire that would certainly have cooked someone who wasn't blessed by Ginma. Earth and fire met and danced at the desert, but without water it was only a wasteland. Therefore, she searched for the oasis, where she knew from her previous incursions there to grow a very peculiar type of cacti that she wanted.
On her way to the heart of the desert, she managed to get a beautiful, decorated veil from a merchant to protect her nose and mouth from the whiplashing sand.
With a sigh of relieve - her feet hurt from the walking! - she approached a small, retorted tree near the oasis, sitting down under it to go through something in her purse. She was so caught up in her own shenanegans she didn't even realise she was being followed...
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on Aug 30, 2022 5:26:03 GMT -5
A day full of traveling through the sands of the Zeinav Desert had proved quite tiresome. Not to mention the blazing heat coming from the sun.
Ulrich managed to push through and finally find himself at The Oasis as night fell upon the desert. He'd noticed that someone else was making their way towards it as well. Slowly making his way closer and closer to his destination, he removed his hood. It had covered his head all day from the sun— which had now disappeared below the horizon— he wouldn't need it anymore.
The familiar Oasis. It drew memories from the back of his mind. He shared a campfire here with two other travelers— now friends— not too long ago.
He looked to see another person had also come to rest here for the night. A woman, as a matter of fact. He figured that keeping his distance from them would be the proper thing to do. People are wary of each other out in the desert.
He pulled out his journal— except it wasn't the journal he'd traveled with for so long— this was the journal given to him by Kamille. Tonight it seemed to weigh heavy in his hand. Was it his imagination? Then a gentle breeze blew through the Oasis as if it were a familiar friend greeting him— or was it greeting the both of them?
He glanced towards the woman. There was something oddly familiar about her. He pondered, and then noticed that the air around the Oasis was warmer than the cold air of the desert night.
No, it can't be...
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Post by Lady Kamille Verlithax on Aug 30, 2022 7:24:08 GMT -5
And to finish the picture, as expected, a caw could be heard overhead. Mischief usually got quite absent during her walks through the desert, since he got out to look for shinnies - and the desert demanded longer flights of him. Somehow, the raven always found its way back to Kamille.
He dove softly, perching up the woman’s shoulder, which caused her to raise her eyes to what the bird was offering her. Mischief found - with some troubling ease - coins and jewels in the sands. Today he brought a copper bracelet to Kamille, old and worn, but definitely worth something if appraised by someone with the knowledge.
While Kamille was caught in the moment, turning the bracelet in her hand, Mischief started to look around. It was well known that even a regular raven could recognize faces and remember people, but Mischief seemed above average on that regard. He flew over to Ulrich, perching up his shoulder as if he was already his friend.
"Craw! Hellooooo!"
That finally seemed to grab Kamille's attention out of her own mind, as Mischief's greetings often turned into trouble. But then, an expression of complete shock took her features when she recognized who Mischief was greeting.
"....Ulrich?"
She stood up, her shock quickly changing into a bright smile. Maybe he couldn’t see it properly because of the dark, fancy veil she wore over her mouth and nose, but her eyes were surely smiling those warm and sincere smiles she was known for.
Whatever it was that his intentions were, she quickly closed in the distance between them both, throwing her arms around his neck for a warm hug.
"I can’t believe it! What is it that you're doing here! Ginma is certainly trying to win my favor again!"
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on Aug 30, 2022 13:48:10 GMT -5
He noticed a familiar raven perch upon one of the woman's shoulders. The raven had returned to her with things it had picked up in the desert. Ulrich realized then that Fate had decided to have him run into a friend again.
He closed his eyes, shaking his head with a chuckle. He then felt a weight upon his shoulder, and the caw of familiarity jolted his eyes open. He quickly looked up to see Mischief, and he reached his hand up to pet him.
"Hello Mischief! It's been some time hasn't it?" The raven nodded in agreement with a soft craw as Ulrich gently ran his hand across his back.
And then he heard her voice call his name. His gaze traveled to her as she stood in sudden realization to Mischief's greeting.
"Kamille?"
He couldn't see it, but her eyes lit up brightly, warmly. He gave her a warm smile in return, she was now quickly closing the distance between the two of them. Before he could utter out a greeting to her, she'd wrapped her arms around his neck. Her warmth made his breath catch in his throat.
He'd been surprised by her sudden embrace, and as she held it, he hesitated. His hands hanging there a bit awkwardly, but then the tenseness faded away. He returned her warm embrace, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"It's good to see you again, Kamille." He said to her softly. "It would seem as though Fate decided for us to meet unexpectedly yet again."
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Post by Lady Kamille Verlithax on Aug 30, 2022 15:38:33 GMT -5
She gave it an extra squeeze to the hug when he embraced her back, soon pulling back enough to look him in the eyes. The desert was rough for most - but it suited her. The only indication she didn’t belong there was the fair skin, but her attire was totally compatible - from the misterious and dramatic feathery cloak to the black, translucent veil.
"Yes, Fate is known for its pranks... Although, so far, I'm not complaining...."
She quickly started to straighten up the front of his vest, unfolding unwanted creases and lining up the buttons, as Ulrich already knew to be a small habit of hers. Kamille seemed to realise something mid-act and stopped, taking a step back.
"I will not bother you, though. It's always good to find a friend in the world... I came here for a plant, but it requires the sunlight to bloom, so I’ll have to be here by tomorrow morning."
She glanced around for a moment, sighing deeply.
"Looks like a good enough place for a small campfire and rest."
In the desert, the choices were limited, but she sounded satisfied.
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on Aug 31, 2022 4:24:05 GMT -5
As much as he was taught to keep his distance when it comes to people, it was indeed always nice to run into a friend on your travels.
At her mention of making a campfire here— his mind flashed back again to the time he found himself here with two other travelers— he gave a smiling nod. He looked around at their surroundings. It was the same as when he'd left it the time before, as expected.
"I can attest that it will do well enough for rest by a campfire. I've been here before on my travels."
He began to look around for any materials to build a fire— picking things here and there.
"So you're here for a plant that has yet to bloom? Interesting, what plant might that be?" He reached for his journal instinctively. It seemed he was ready to take note of any detail, and when the day came. He'd probably add a sketch of it in the journal.
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Post by Lady Kamille Verlithax on Sept 1, 2022 6:42:30 GMT -5
"Would you mind if I keep you company for a while?"
It was going to be a lonely night if she hadn’t come across Ulrich. As he started to search for things to make a campfire, she did the same. She knelt down and prepared a small, shallow pit for the fire, gesturing above the ground as the earth moved out of its way, at her will. With sticks arranged inside the shallow pit, a snap of the fingers later and there was a small campfire soaring in front of them.
"You've been here before? Doing what, if I may ask? These sands must have witnessed so many interesting stories... Yet, at a first glance, it feels empty and barren..."
She sat back, for a moment taking of the bracelet that Mischief had brought her. The raven quickly flew back to her side, his eyes locked on the bracelet as he, too, inspected it.
"It's a kind of cactus. The flower and the juice inside has some interesting toxic properties... But anyway."
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on Sept 3, 2022 1:51:02 GMT -5
"I wouldn't mind it at all."
She had the campfire going in no time. He gave a small laugh— that's a mage who studies the Earth Domain for you. He took a seat, a bit of distance between the two of them as he stared into the fire.
She asked what he had been doing the last time he found himself here. The question gave him flashbacks to the time he'd found himself here sharing stories with two travelers who were now friends of his. He laughed and gave her a smile.
"My travels had brought me here. I'd met two fine gentlemen; a Minotaur and a Tiefling. It seems the three of us had one thing in common. We had stories to share of a beast that prowls the forests of my home region. Needless to say, those two are friends of mine now."
He brought his hand to his chin as he pondered about the plant. A cactus with toxic properties, eh? Definitely something he may need to take note of in the future.
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Post by Lady Kamille Verlithax on Sept 4, 2022 12:30:50 GMT -5
"A minotaur? I never met one before.... What was he like? There are so many stories about them, it is hard to believe which one is true..."
She sat down by the campfire for a moment to relax, taking off the veil that protected her face. In an unusual moment of indulging, Mischief flew over to her lap, accepting some cuddles. She smiled to the raven, and then turned to look at Ulrich.
"I did meet a tiefling once... A red, very handsome one... He said he played the violin, but I didn’t ask him to play it for me, sounded too common. Instead, I had him crash a tea party with me. There was ale involved too."
Of course there was ale involved.
"But that was a long time ago.... Hope he's doing well. So... That sounds like a good way to make friends... what was these stories of this beast all about?"
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on Sept 4, 2022 23:46:44 GMT -5
"Despite his appearance, this Minotaur was quite the gentleman. Quite a story teller as well."
He smiled, observing the tender moment between Mischief and Kamille.
Ulrich gave a laugh as she finished. "Ah, of course ale was involved. Tea parties are always a bit more fun with ale," he said with am ironic laugh. He couldn't shake this feeling though. She mentioned that the Tiefling she'd met played the violin.
A bard, perhaps? No, it couldn't be...
His eyes drifted off into the distance as he remembered the night he met the two travelers. His gaze traveled back to the fire in front of them, staring into it.
"It seems we all had a run in with one of the legendary beasts of my home region. We all shared that in common."
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Post by Lady Kamille Verlithax on Sept 5, 2022 16:24:45 GMT -5
"Really? That is really interesting, nothing like the stories we hear... You'd by chance have a drawing of this minotaur? And of this beast you people have faced? If you didn't draw them, I believe you're wasting a fairly good oportunity to tell such an interesting tale with the pictures attached!"
She stretched back for a while, reaching for a watersking among her purses and taking a sip. Then, she offered it to Ulrich - it was hard to tell exactly what it was, but it certainly was alcoholic.
"Like you said it yourself, tea parties are always a bit more fun with ale... Now, you're gonna have to tell me more about this frightening beast these brave men from the plains have faced..."
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on Sept 5, 2022 19:02:33 GMT -5
Ulrich chuckled as he pulled from his satchel; the older, more worn journal filled with sketches and notes.
"It just so happens that I did, in fact, sketch the Minotaur that night as he told his story to us."
He turned to the page which contained the sketch of Shaa, handing it over to Kamille so she would be could see if for herself. He accepted her offer of the waterskin, detecting a faint trace of alcohol coming from it. A sly smile forming on his face as he stared at it.
Holding the waterskin in his hand, he continued, "The sketch of the beast in question is more towards the front of the journal. In the Valley, we have a name for it..." His gaze drifted again as the memories flooded back to him. "The Hydra Goose. A creature of horror... It has prowled the forests the Valley for centuries."
He looked to her and gave a wink at her remark, "Indeed, I cannot deny that." He then brought the waterskin to his lips and took a sip.
"As I said before, I've had my own encounter with it when I was a boy, but the older men in the Valley have stories... Horror stories of their own about the dreaded beast."
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Post by Lady Kamille Verlithax on Sept 8, 2022 20:07:09 GMT -5
Kamille received the journal expectantly, and stared curiously at the drawing for a moment. She never met a minotaur up close, so she didn't know what to expect. She flipped the page to find said beast. An eyebrow was raised.
"The.... Hydra Goose?"
She didn't expect it at all, but a chill ran down her spine. Certainly it was just her imagination - after all, it was a cold night...
...despite her not feeling cold anymore.
"And... You think all the stories relate to this same creature? What do the elders say about it?"
She extended a hand to ask for the waterskin back, taking a sip of the ale herself before offering it again to Ulrich. She lowered her eyes to the drawing before her.
" Certainly....... the tales must be a bit exagerated, right?"
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on Sept 11, 2022 2:28:00 GMT -5
Ulrich took the waterskin from her, and his eyes narrowed slightly at her question.
"One would certainly think so, but I have seen it's carnage firsthand. The path it carves is a bloodbath."
His voice shook a slightly as those words left his lips. He brought the waterskin up to take another sip.
"And as I said before, all three of us had an encounter with the beast at some point in time. The beast is not to be taken lightly. My people may be superstitious to an extreme, but even I admit, it is like a monster from the bedtime stories parents tell their children."
His jaw clenched visibly as he stared through the fire.
"It still haunts my dreams... Every now and then." He gave a small nervous chuckle as he offered the waterskin back to Kamille.
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Post by Lady Kamille Verlithax on Sept 13, 2022 17:14:13 GMT -5
Kamille stared for a moment at the drawing before her. Certainly, every bit of terror that nightmare of a beast have brought him was in every stroke of the pencil.
"I.... I think I heard people saying there was a beast like this fighting at the tournament... Can't remember what happened to it though...."
She accepted the waterskin back, taking another gulp without much thought, as she took a look at other drawings in Ulrich's old sketchbook. She returned the waterskin to Ulrich.
"What was it like? I mean... When you came across it... What happened?"
As she turned a page she fell silent and a puzzled look spread across her face. Then, the brightest of smiles suddenly lifted her lips, as she turned the sketchbook for him to see.
"Don't tell me.... This is Cantio?! Do you know him? How is he doing?!"
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