Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
?
Renown
Female
a pixie
124 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Miosh on Nov 13, 2022 1:30:44 GMT -5
Back to Sol City. *Rhythmical music is playing*. It is seen from above in all its splendor. Wide streets and tall buildings unveil themselves to an onlooker. They are carefully crafted to become both architectural masterpieces and manifestation of power. Green parks and ornate ponds, waters are glistening in the setting sun. Some parts aren't so pretty. Their alleys and squares bear the mark of time. There are fewer passersby and less careless laughter. Here and there you can notice scholars hurrying somewhere on business. Zoom in. A little bit closer. Closer. Yes, here. You can see a miniature hooded figure, no taller than 2 feet and a half. They are entering an old unremarkable bookstore in the alley. You notice the air seems to faintly shimmer around them, but you convince yourself it's just a trick of your imagination.
Not without an effort, Cheche opens the door. Little bells, hung above it, notify the owner about the arrival of the customer. An owner is an old man, bent by age and knowledge. Visually as unremarkable as his store, he is just as surprising. His big glasses in gilded frame hide serious and attentive eyes, once bright blue, now faded to grey. His white bushy beard conceals his frequent smiles and crumbs of cookies he is secretly addicted to. He looks up from a big weighty book he's been reading and squints his eyes trying to see the visitor. He lets his eyes adjust to the shade of the entrance and notices Cheche. His eyes light with a smile and he stands up to greet her.
-Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho, what a guest! Cheche, the pumpkin thief! Oh, Lord! It's been so long! Come, come! Are you hungry, child? - he adds, habitually disregarding the fact that Cheche is technically much older than him. Forget the age, though, he still would count as her kind grandpa, his wisdom and experience far beyond those of a little pixie, still young for a fay folk.
- Samwell! - Cheche chants - How nice to see you again! Please, stop mentioning that pumpkin! Who knew that garden was actually yours! And I tended to it for a while as a thank you. Not to mention, I left my best acorns, enough for you to plant a forest!
The two chuckle, happy to see each other again. Cheche gratefully takes the smallest cup the owner could find. It takes her two hands to hold it. The tea in it looks just like amber, captivating. Her hands get warm, and that warmth passes onto her face, flushing the cheeks, and into her heart. Pure happiness.
- Do you have any business for me, Samwell? - she asks after a while. It was their usual routine. Samwell The Scholar was well-acquainted with all circles of the local society, but his closest connections were with the Guild of Mages. Cheche didn't know much about the sort of relationship he had with the guild: was he a mage himself? She remembered asking him before, but he laughed it off, saying that books take all his time. The bookstore, he added back then, was his jealous wife. He'd love to have an ability to conjure himself some easy breakfast or free help around the store, he complained with a pretend scowl. And that was it. He treasured knowledge and paid a shiny coin for any rare book she could find for him. Cheche liked books as well. Especially, the ones about myths and legends. She liked to imagine herself swaying the sword or waving a wound herself. If only she could join the guild and become an apprentice!
- My my, as eager as ever, aren't we? - he chuckled as if reading her thoughts. - I do have a little task for you this time, though. - His facial expression quickly became enigmatic, eyes almost invisible behind the shiny glasses. - There's something I'd like you to look into, my child.....
... He lowered his voice and told Cheche about the forsaken mansion on the outskirts of the N city. The mansion seemed to belong to some sort of nobility but was burnt down by fire many decades ago. There were some malicious rumors connected with the place, so most of the locals simply steered clear. However, for those who knew, the place presented a certain interest. Tales were spun about the rich library the mansion once had. Rumors had it, not all was lost. The legendary Book of the Mystical Archive might still be hidden there, somewhere far from a curious eye, and Samwell would tell Cheche how to find it.....
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
Renown
Half Elf
146 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Iryla on Nov 14, 2022 21:17:41 GMT -5
Sol City was dazzling, practically dizzying in comparison to the ashen streets of Darkveil. To see so many splendid buildings, so many green lined paths and well dressed people going about their ordinary daily lives seemed more fitting in the pages of a storybook than reality.
But it was real, and Iryla was witnessing it all.
She had never traveled quite so far from home before. Nor had she seen a city quite like this one. But cities were cities, no matter how tall or how glimmering. And all of them were rife with information to be found. Surely, there would be something interesting for Iryla to uncover somewhere hidden among the streets of Sol.
It would likely help, however, if she were not standing in a bookstore, completely unable to read.
Pulling her hood a bit higher over her head, Iryla attempts to hide her faint embarrassed blush. In her defense, it wasn't like she knew what the sign above the door said before she entered. Though perhaps the view through the window should have been enough of a warning. She was simply curious. Shops tucked away in alleys and darkened corners tended to be more interesting than the ones on brightly lit main ways. But now here she was, standing among the stacks of tomes with a book upside down in her hands simply because she. Could. Not. Read. It.
How humiliating.
Biting her lip, she is about to put this book away and slink out, hopefully unseen, when the sound of faint bells catches her ears. Tucking herself more into the shadows, she listens in silence as the kindly bookstore owner speaks to what sounds to be an old friend of his.
An abandoned mansion? Malicious rumors? A book of a mystical archive?
Iryla had no idea what that was but from the sounds of it, it must be something important. She hides her smile behind the book in her hands. She was right, after all. Shops tucked away in corners and alleys always did have the best things. She hoped this, who was it, Cheche the pumpkin thief? She hoped this Cheche wouldn't mind a hidden tag-a-long trailing behind her on this little adventure.
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
?
Renown
Female
a pixie
124 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Miosh on Nov 16, 2022 22:40:04 GMT -5
She stepped out of the door and was instantly shocked by the contrast between the soothing warmth of the bookstore and the brisk cold air of the November night. It somehow grew darker. Her conversation with Samwell lasted longer than she'd thought. Cheche wrapped a cloak tighter, her little fingers busy with the clips. She hated letting even a little bit of warmth escape her. So she buried her nose in the folds of her scarf and swiftly headed down the alley, without looking back. Immersed in the visions of the mansion she was yet to see, she hadn't noticed a ting-a-ling of the bells, that for some reason chimed twice. And even if she had done so, it could well be a wind, which grew stronger with every minute.
Instead of setting out straight away, she headed to her hideout, her home-away-from-home, her hidden treasure. Magical or not, she needed rest just like others, and she lacked a shiny coin to rent a room in a tavern. Actually, that place was Samwell's, to begin with. But the old man had conflicting feelings about it. After all, it was the very garden his late wife adored and tended to, the house he had no heart to live in nor to sell. It would just rust and turn into a wild forest if not for Cheche's intrusion a couple of years ago. In the end, Samwell let Cheche stay there whenever she wished to, and Cheche paid him back by taking care of the land the best she could. She secretly addressed it as her "home", even though "home" to someone like her was a luxury she couldn't afford.
It wasn't long till she reached the destination. An old apple tree threw its branches in a welcoming embrace. "Hello to you too, old friend" - she whispered and climbed it. Even though she had wings, she still enjoyed the feel of the rough bark under her hand. It was a little adventure in itself. Cheche jumped down at the other side of the wrought iron fence, standing tall and sturdy, and landed at the flowerbed below. Silly as it might be, she greeted every plant and flower in the garden and only then headed to a rickety shed at the back. It was almost empty if not for some crates and rags in the corner. Cheche made a small light on the tip of her finger and spotted a familiar bar under the ceiling. Now, there was something that only a few people knew: pixies had very peculiar sleeping habits. They slept in a bat-like manner, wrapping their iridescent wings around them in a sort of cocoon. That was partially due to the fact that pixies were creatures of nature, very close to butterflies in a certain sense. Partially, because of their natural self-protection mechanism: not every predator would spot someone as tiny as a sleeping pixie. Not to mention their ability to make themselves invisible at will.
Minutes later Cheche was sleeping deep and sound like a child, snoring a cute little tune. She didn't expect any guests, so she didn't bother to hide out of sight. And if anyone would peek at her, they would notice something round and shimmering up above. Like a little lantern, god knows why left in that shabby place by a negligent owner, shining with gold and lilac, green and blue.
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
Renown
Half Elf
146 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Iryla on Nov 19, 2022 0:32:54 GMT -5
Iryla felt relatively assured that her unwitting companion was just that, completely unwitting. She was able to follow at a distance, her footsteps as quiet as a mouse. She wasn’t exactly expecting this small girl to go off on her search for the ‘Legendary Book’ right away, but she was expecting her to go to some kind of house or inn nearby at the very least, some place it would be easy for Iryla to slip in and watch her until morning.
That was… not what happened.
Instead she is led to a quiet garden over an iron fence, past an apple tree warped with age, to a shed. For a moment, Iryla feels a tug of… something in her chest. Sleeping in a shed was something quite familiar to her, after all. Though ever since being picked up by Cyran, strange man that he was, she’d grown more accustomed to the luxury of sleeping in proper buildings with beds.
Shoving those thoughts aside for the moment, Iryla creeps around to the back of the shed, carefully out of sight. There she settles down with her cloak pulled tightly around her. She could wait and listen for the girl to wake up from here, and then follow her in the morning to try and find out more about this book and mansion. Perhaps she’d gain more information, or even be led right there. This one seemed like a valuable lead. Perhaps if it turned fruitful, perhaps…
Maybe Iryla could… Do something… So this girl wouldn’t need to sleep in a shed again, if all went well. Just as payment for Iryla snooping and stealing her lead, that was all.
It is with those thoughts that Iryla waits until morning, not quite realizing it when she is lulled to sleep by gentle colors floating outside from the shed. It isn’t until the morning sun hits her eyes that she comes to with a jolt and a soft but audible groan.
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
?
Renown
Female
a pixie
124 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Miosh on Nov 21, 2022 21:16:11 GMT -5
"Rise and Shine!" - She proclaims to the Sun, invisible from the shed, but sneakily sending its rays through the loose planks of the roof. "Rise and shine!" - to the birds that are still lazing about instead of chirping and singing as they used to in summer. And "Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle!" - this time to herself. She once heard that positive affirmations really help to make the most of the day. And boy, she has to do so many things! She has to find a carriage station and get a ride to N city. It would also be quite handy to find someone who is familiar with the place. Some fellow travelers or best a gossiping auntie - a great, although not all that reliable source of information. But gossips, local legends, and old wives' tales are indispensable for the pixie since the nature of her business is just as murky. Cheche stretched her wings, yawned, and jumped down to the creaky wooden floor with a loud "thump". Being tiny she is surprisingly quite heavy. She heads out of the shed, spring in her step, and is just about to wash her face in the nearby barrel with the rainwater when.... She suddenly hears a faint, yet distinct groan from somewhere behind her. Uuff, that startled her, her just now was in her mouth wasn't it... She quickly turns around and whispers:
- Ph phho ish dat? - oh, her hair got caught in her mouth. Wait, she is a mighty pixie! She fought bandits aтв cultists before! She shouldn't be scared! She attempts to mimic a fighting pose she once saw Edward making. He looked fierce, so that should work. Cheche stands like this for a minute or two in a dither, desperately thinking of what should she do next. She's not much of a warrior after all. Then a realization comes: what was she terrified for? She doesn't have much to steal from. Isn't she just jumping to conclusions? Oh, that's no good. Maybe, it's just a stray cat. A little fluffy kitty cat. A catso ! A friend! If that's the case, then the more - the merrier. And if that's what is gently stirring in there, she would be a-okay. Cheche forgets about the necessity to look fierce and all the precautions, and instead bravely steps into the tall grass.
-Hello, hun! Are you hungry? Cause I have....- she never finishes. There's no cat sitting there but a human young, with white hair slightly ruffled from sleep, extremely skinny. She looks taller than Cheche but it's quite hard to tell: the kid is still curled up in a sort of ball, much like the cat Cheche expected to see. There's something else about her, something that tugs on Cheche's senses, there's something about that kid..... Shoo everything, she's obviously cold! Did she spend the whole night here in the open?
-Ugh...you must be cold! Here! Take this - she rummages in her sack and takes out a shabby-looking quilt. - It's warm and...I'm Cheche - she adds with a friendly smile, knowing what she looks like to others and trying not to freak the kid out.
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
Renown
Half Elf
146 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Iryla on Nov 23, 2022 20:11:24 GMT -5
Iryla jolts when she hears a sweet voice speaking to her, causing her to become tangled in the cloak she had wrapped around herself. She nearly falls over in the dirt in her struggles and only barely manages to catch herself on her hands before she looks up at the voice speaking to her, offering her a blanket.
Ah.
Oh no.
This was an embarrassing way to be caught tailing someone, to be sure.
“E-Er..” Iryla’s voice is rough with sleep as she tries to speak, and her face is flushed with shame. “I-... I’m... okay…” She pushes herself up into a sitting position and carefully untangled herself from her cloak, trying to stave off any further embarrassment in this already awkward situation.
Great. Now how exactly was she supposed to salvage this situation? If she simply left now, chances are this strange girl would be more on guard when going to the mansion, and if Iryla made any more mistakes like this one while trying to tail her, she’d be easily caught again. She could also just cut her losses here and simply return to the city proper to try and find something else to do with her time, but Iryla’s pride would hardly let her do that.
Leaving one last option. She could… perhaps be honest, and ask to join on her journey.
Perhaps this option was the most humiliating of all.
“Um…”
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
?
Renown
Female
a pixie
124 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Miosh on Nov 24, 2022 20:36:27 GMT -5
Cheche is fussing around the kid in dismay, how can she help? Since the kid was spending the night in a place like this, she must have nowhere to go. That tugged on Cheche's heartstrings: she knew only too well what it feels like to have no home to return to. The girl looks a bit uneasy, so Cheche adds:
-Hey, how about some tea? Since we have met like this, why don't we get acquainted properly? And there's nothing better than a good cuppa tea early in the morning!
Cheche quickly goes back to the shed, heads straight to one of the corners, and takes some firewood from a stash. She stopped worrying about Samwell's opinion on that matter long ago. There's a little ritual between them where Cheche humbly asks to add it to her list (as if they ever had one), and Samwell simply waves her off with chuckles.
The best place for a little campfire is surely under the plum tree. The pieces of wood are put into a little pile. They smell like pine and oak. The smell is truly enticing. Cheche closes her eyes and inhales it deeply. It takes her back to her life in a forest, making her feel nostalgic. Then Cheche opens her eyes and makes a spark. It takes only seconds until a merry little fire starts licking the wood and dancing on the top. Next, come the copper cattle and two little bowls. It's hard to tell what their original purpose was, but the two travelers have to make do with these. Suddenly, an idea comes to Cheche: the girl might be a native here. She probably knows more about the city and nearby settlements, why doesn't she try asking her?
-Oh, by the way, friend, have you ever heard of N city? I have a little...ehm...business to do there. But I'm a stranger in these places, you see, so I'm currently looking for someone who can be my guide. - Cheche rummages in her little sack and finds some tea leaves which she throws into the kettle. Shortly after, she looks at the girl once again, "hope" is written all over her little face.
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
Renown
Half Elf
146 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Iryla on Nov 26, 2022 1:31:29 GMT -5
This girl found a random stranger sleeping outside of her hut, and her first instinct is to offer her something warm and… a cup of tea?
Huh?
Without realizing what she’s doing at first, Iryla nods to the offer. Though when her mind catches up with her body, she can’t deny that hot tea would be amazing. Her cloak offered some warmth through the night, but there was still a chill in her extremities that would be hard to shake off after a night outside. It was certainly cooler in this region of the world than it was at the base of Mount Drakolt.
The smell of wood smoke draws Iryla closer. That was a another scent more pleasing than the ash of her home. Earthy in a way that was comforting even if it still stung at her lungs. Somewhat like a cautious deer she approaches the camp fire and eventually sits beside it, crossing her legs over each other as she does. Her eyes flicker like the flames between the kettle on the campfire and the other girl’s face, when she begins to speak again.
“A guide..?” She murmured back. “Ah… No, I’ve never been.” Iryla starts before she then tacks on. “But I was.. Also looking to travel in that direction, if you’re looking for some company.”
“I may not be familiar with the area, but I’m quick on my feet, and I’m good at navigating. As long as I have a general idea of where we’re going, we won’t get lost. And I’m pretty good at dealing with… unexpected encounters.” Be they friendly or not, Iryla could hold her own. Maybe this was the perfect opportunity for Iryla to tag along on this little adventure. She wouldn’t need to figure out a way to sneak her way in, she could simply make herself a valuable addition. “I’ve been.. Looking for something to do with my time. I’d be willing to tag along on your business, if you need the help.”
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
?
Renown
Female
a pixie
124 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Miosh on Nov 29, 2022 20:45:04 GMT -5
Cheche's caught in a vicious habit of doing two, three, no, four things at a time. She's pouring tea with one hand, poking the burning wood with her other hand, listening to the girl, and thinking of their mysterious destination simultaneously. Just like the fire they are staring at, she can't wait, she can't stop, and she absolutely cannot concentrate on just doing one thing.
- A swift-footed companion good at navigating is much welcome! - she says with a little bow. - I'm very lucky to meet you! But I should warn you, kind friend, there might indeed be some unexpected encounters. - for a second her face assumes a very uncommon, pondering expression.
- Since we are companions of sorts, I must tell you at least this bit. I was asked to find something precious that belonged to a friend: an old book of rarity and value. And, as often happens to a heritage of this kind, it is connected with some risks and a possible conflict of interest. Not to mention, the place we are searching for is most probably a burnt-down wreckage. - Cheche sighs. It's true, that a companion is much needed, however, does she have the right to drag such a young girl into a possibly dangerous situation? Yet, Samwell didn't mention any serious threat, did he. And Cheche does have some means to protect both of them in case of sudden trouble. Also, come to think of it, her new friend seems to be someone who has many stories to tell! And Cheche cannot resist the temptation to learn something new! Then something else downs on her, she opens her eyes wide and looks at the girl in disbelief.
-Oh... dust in my eyes, I've never asked your name! Please do forgive me! What can I call you?
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
Renown
Half Elf
146 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Iryla on Nov 30, 2022 18:37:50 GMT -5
Iryla brightens without meaning too when the girl says that she is welcome to tag along. Yes! This is exactly what she wanted, and it was far easier than Iryla imagined it might have been. Maybe this was a lesson she could take, that sometimes the easiest route to getting where she wanted to be was, in fact, the most obvious one.
“I don’t mind if it’s dangerous!” She replied quickly to the other girl’s concerns. “Really, I don’t. I’ve been traveling by myself for a little while now, and I know how to handle tricky situations. I can defend myself.” Her honesty about the situation they were getting themselves into does tug at Iryla’s conscious. “...To tell you the truth, I’ve been traveling trying to find unique information. I could learn a lot on a trip like this.”
When the other girl asks who she is, Iryla gives a little pause. Right, she was going to try and be fair and honest, in return for the other’s easy acceptance of her presence, wasn’t she?
Right, well…
“...I’m Iryla. It’s nice to meet you, kind stranger.” Her face is a bit flushed, and she has to avoid eye contact, but she manages to get through the introduction without stumbling over her words. She even manages to sound somewhat polite! “...What can I call you…?”
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
?
Renown
Female
a pixie
124 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Miosh on Dec 4, 2022 3:15:53 GMT -5
Cheche studied Iryla's face for a brief moment. The girl probably had some elvish blood in her, the snow-white hair peeking from underneath her cape, delicate features, and bright blue eyes gave her away. Seeing the last shades of worry disappearing from Iryla's face the pixie sighed with relief. Only Solaria knew how this beautiful child ended up on the streets. No matter how long their adventure would take, Cheche should see to it the girl stays safe. But what a brave heart she must be! And how kind - to help an absolute stranger like her! She grinned and made a little curtsey:
- Cheche Siofra at you service! Glad to find a companion in you! Well, Iryla, the Sun is rising, let's find ourselves something to eat and embark on our journey, shall we?
Getting ready wasn't too much of a deal. There weren't too many things with her, to begin with, half of them were kept in her satchel, half in a bundle on her back. She carefully wrapped the bowls and the tiny teapot, since she had a soft place for things that could create a fleeting feeling of home. A feeling she cherished dearly, and hence were all the peculiar little spoons and bowls among her stuff. She liked to think of herself as a collector and a connoisseur of Goodness. Goodness knows, what she meant, but it added a good ounce to the weight of her tiny baggage. Soon they were on their way to the nearest carriage station. They would attempt to find a ride to the N city or fail to do so... and walk all the way on their own twos...Cheche shuddered and quickly erased the thought from her mind.
The carriage station turned out to be a steamy, crowded place. Carriages came and went on their way. The air was filled with neighing horses, grumpy shouts of the wagoners, laughter and angry brawl. One could see hired porters elbowing their way through the gawking and yawning travelers-to-be. Various bags and bundles piled up in dangerous heaps. Clouds of breath in the fresh morning air lit with the morning sun looked enthralling. Cheche stood motionless for some time observing the crowd. She enjoyed the liveliness of it. Shortly after, they would join the crowd. They were to master these waves, not to be carried with a tide. The first step of their journey would be to find the right carriage. There were several ways to do it: asking around and following the right people. Which one to choose? She looked at Iryla in hesitation. And then, her attention was drawn to two middle-aged ladies with a certain presence. They looked bored, out of place, overly dressed and quite wealthy. There was a little hoard of attendants waiting on their every word. They stood at some distance from Cheche and Iryla. One of them opened her thin lips and half-said half-spitted something to one of the attendants. Cheche could bet she'd heard the name the N city slipping out of her mouth.
-Hmmm...-uttered Cheche, touching her ear while pondering. Then she raised her eyes at Iryla with an unspoken question written all over her face.
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
Renown
Half Elf
146 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Iryla on Dec 6, 2022 23:25:16 GMT -5
Cheche Siofra, so that was the name of this kind stranger turned companion. Iryla smiled faintly to herself. This wasn’t how she was used to getting things done, and while there was a part of her mind that whispered to her being so direct and honest could be a huge mistake, Iryla found herself unable to regret the turn this adventure had taken.
Cheche was… Nice. She was simply nice. And Iryla was slowly but surely learning through her journeys to trust that people could, in fact, simply be nice. People like Cyran, or even Cirice had taught her as much.
Even if half the time Cirice also scared her a bit.
She did her best to help Cheche pack what she felt necessary, and was exceedingly cautious with anything that seemed valuable or fragile. Though she could not quite place why a tea pot might be necessary on a journey like this, it was the least that Iryla could do.
The young Half-Elf sticks a bit closer to Cheche when they arrive at the carriage station, though it is not due to nerves. Rather, Iryla was quite used to places like this, ones that were loud and just on the brink of chaos. It all reminded her of home, really. But she knew it would be easy to get lost in such a crowd, even easier for someone of Chehce’s stature.
Her eyes are sharp as she looks around, trying to guage the best course of action. Of course, they could simply ask around and hope they find someone going in the same direction as themselves, but there was no guarantee that would work, and they ran the risk of someone in such a crowd overhearing their plight and trying to take advantage of them.
Though… Perhaps that last thought was more Iryla’s paranoia, this city was not Darkveil, after all.
She feels eyes on her, and looks over to her companion. But before she can ask what is wrong, Cheche’s attention is drawn elsewhere, to two out of place women, and Iryla notices them as well.
Ah, could they really be so lucky?
From the contemplative noise Cheche makes, Iryla guesses their lines of thought are likely on the same track. It would be easy to get to N City, if they could just figure out a way to get in with those two women and their attendants over there.
On any other day, Iryla might have suggested simply finding out which carriage was theirs and trying to stow aboard somehow. But so far, being a little more direct with her intentions had served her well on this trip. So, with a small smile to Cheche before her face is overtaken by a look of determination, Iryla walks right up to the two women, passing through their sea of attendants.
“Excuse me, Madam, did I hear that you are traveling to N City..?”
The women look at her much like one might look at an unappealing bug.
“And why might that be of interest to a girl like… you?” One of the women sniffs, clearly unimpressed with Iryla. Though that does not discourage the half-elf.
“My companion and I are seeking passage to N City, if you’re willing to take us with you, perhaps we could offer some protection for you on your journey.” She counters confidently, though her reply only draws and amused snort from the pair.
“You? Protect us? What kind of protection could we hope to gain from a child?”
The child comment stings a bit, but Iryla keeps herself from wincing visibly. She should have figured this would be the response. But it was too late now to turn back. “I may be young, but I know my way around a blade. Not only that, I... I happen to know a bit of magic. And my friend is quite competent as well. You don’t find escorts with magic every day, do you?”
The woman pauses, clearly taking in those words with a shrewd gaze.
A bit desperate, Iryla glances over at Cheche, looking for help convincing them.
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
?
Renown
Female
a pixie
124 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Miosh on Dec 9, 2022 20:37:36 GMT -5
Cheche felt more and more glad fate had connected her with Iryla. She definitely seemed to know what to do, whenever Cheche felt unsure. And just like that, Iryla understood pixie's thoughts as if they were laid bare on the palm of her hand. She nodded with a little smile, which drastically changed her expression making her look a bit cheeky and extremely cute. She had a plan, didn't she? The next moment, she was already moving through the crowd of permanently tired people, half drowsy from the never-ending caravan of days, one much like another. Cheche followed her as fast as she could, urging her short little legs to do a good job.
Even though initially she had planned on making this trip alone, now she felt extremely unwilling to get parted from her companion. It felt so good to have someone by her side, so reassuring! Iryla approached the little snotty group they'd spotted earlier. Somehow, Cheche felt shy under the icy appraising glances of these people. It never bothered her much when people looked down on her, rather, it was difficult not to. She remained chill whenever people pointed at her as some kind of amusing oddity - she was different after all. Yet, it was still very unsettling to feel that someone had a hard time registering her very existence. One of the ladies looked at her through her lorgnette, frowning. The corners of her mouth went down in a poorly hidden disgust. Oof. Cheche blushed and quickly made herself hidden behind her companion's back. It would be best if Iryla did the talk.
She watched the girl dodging all the contemptuous remarks with a growing sense of admiration. How smooth! The little pixie couldn't believe her luck: alone she'd definitely be awkward and lost for words. She got a little bit carried away listening to the sound of her voice. And as usual, it came as a surprise when she noticed Iryla had stopped talking and instead was looking at Cheche. In order to grasp the situation better, Cheche's gaze shifted to the women in front of them. They too looked as if they were waiting for something, quickly getting bored and irritated. Probably, they needed some confirmation. Something to prove that the two girls could be of use. But what could she come up with, right there and then? Summoning a golem would be spectacular, but doing it amidst the crowd didn't seem right. Magic fire would definitely scare everyone around, and probably get them into trouble. Hence, Cheche decided to play it safe. She would use something that naturally came to her. Whenever she was excited, scared, happy, or concentrated on some tricky spell she started glowing. All colors of the rainbow would mingle together and join in elaborate patterns. As if not a pixie, but a little rainbow had lost its way and suddenly appeared amidst the crowd on a sunny day. This trick used to work with children she had met in the little villages she passed through. But children are quite easy to please and entertain, would it work on the two world-weary ladies?
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
Renown
Half Elf
146 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Iryla on Dec 13, 2022 23:39:10 GMT -5
Cheche’s display draws more than a little bit of attention from the crowd around them, but to Iryla, it is absolutely perfect and utterly delightful. Magic had been a weird subject for Iryla, ever since she had discovered her own abilities she hardly understood. But there was something about seeing other people use it that always left her feeling a bit awed.
The two noble women that she had been trying to convince seem equally impressed.
“My my, what do you think of that, Selma? Two escorts, with magic no less!” The woman who had only a moment ago been so haughty and dismissive of Iryla now leans towards her companion with a keen smile on her face. If anything, the two girls could provide some entertainment on their little journey, and saying that they had been able to hire mages to escort them would be a bit of a bragging point in and of itself.
Iryla has to restrain herself from grinning when the other woman agrees. They did it! They had a ride to N City secured.
Now it was just a matter of making the journey there safely. But with Cheche by her side, Iryla was feeling unusually confident.
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
?
Renown
Female
a pixie
124 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Miosh on Dec 27, 2022 23:32:21 GMT -5
Once the decisions had been made, they started getting ready to leave. An unending procession of bags and cases, trunks and clobbers were making its way through the ready hands of the servants and onto the little wooden platform in the back of the carriage. Cheche was helping to organize them all into some sort of order. The carriage was a beauty: it was sturdy and well-balanced. It had a compartment for 2-4 travelers, a shielded platform in the back - for an escort or baggage- and a little place for a coachman in the front. The wooden parts were made of oak and charmed into being more resilient. The covers, whose duty was to protect the baggage from getting soaked, were made of waxen canvas. And the coating seemed to be thick enough not to let even a drop of water through. Cheche absolutely loved things that were well done! They soothed her and made her cozy and happy. So she couldn't help but run her fingers along the rough edges of the material.
Finally, the last bundle had occupied its designated place. Cheche had found herself standing on the top of that pile looking about much like some sort of lord, inspecting his domain. Cheche sighed and wiped the tiny beads of sweat from her little forehead. It had been quite a long time since she last saw Iryla. Where was she? The pixie slid down, jumped off the platform, and looked around. But when she was about to call out to her friend, she suddenly heard voices from the compartment. The two ladies surrounded by the silky cushions felt that the first excitement had already passed. They started getting bored, wondering about the departure, fresh buns, and a cup of tea. Cheche didn't want to be caught in that sort of situation just yet, so she decided to play a little game she loved.
She had to pass under the window of the carriage as sneakily as she could. If they were to notice her - she'd lose, she'd have to pinch herself 100 times and wear her clothes inside out. If they were not - she'd win. Also, this way she'd find Iryla soon. She tip-toed closer, then rolled over, and rolled over again. The maneuver got her covered in dust and dry grass. A couple of puzzled glances from the ladies' escort followed the pixie all the way under the carriage. There she carefully dragged her little body between the huge wheels, spokes, and springs, trying hard not to touch any metal parts in sight. At last, she emerged from the other side, completely dirty and giggling into her fist. She liked having fun whenever the chance would appear. aaand...she actually won! Definitely, she was in luck: the person she was looking for was actually a step away. Apparently, Iryla was checking the security of the carriage, she looked busy. Cheche gasped and felt how her cheeks started burning up with embarrassment: oh what would she think seeing her like that? Playing some silly baby games.
|
|