Iryla is slightly relieved when Ulrich- And, er, Alvis, both decline her offer to buy them supplies. She would have gotten what they asked for without complaint, but she was not precisely made of solars. If she could save a bit, then she certainly would prefer to do so.

She’s a little thrown off by Cirice asking to snuggle at night, but she probably should have seen this coming. Iryla would, more likely than not, not be participating in any aforementioned snuggling, but she didn’t need to say that right now to Cirice. If Cirice, Ulrich, and Alvis wanted to cuddle up at night, they were welcome to do so. Iryla, however, did not like being so vulnerable or so close to anyone. Except for… Well…

Maybe Cyran.

Cirice would not be happy to hear about Iryla’s life in Darkveil, either. No, any stories Iryla could tell would probably make her quite sad. Cirice seemed the type who just wanted the people around her to be just as happy as Cirice seemed to be, but happy stories weren't really the kind of stories that often came out of the Ash Lands. Iryla would... She'd just have to come up with excuses not to share a bed or any stories on their journey. It'd just be easier that way.

At least by this point, she was used to the little rabbit creature that Cirice summoned to get their things for them.

“We’ll all have to be on guard when we head out,” She warns, trying to bring a bit of seriousness back to the conversation. “Even if we don’t run into anyone strange, the desert will probably be dangerous enough on its own.” Though Iryla highly doubted they would not run into any cultists. Their time in the temple previously had been too noticeable for this place not to be guarded.

Oh well. There was no changing the past now, and at least Cirice and her had some extra help. They had a much better shot now with Ulrich than just the two of them.

"As soon as we're all ready to move, I guess we can get going."

Ur crashes down the stairs with all the girls’ stuff strapped to himself, his little wings struggling to hold him aloft enough as he bounces to keep their stuff from dragging on the dirty ground. Cirice bends down and lovingly untangles him, making sure everything is there and handing Iryla her things before scooping Ur into her arms and rubbing her cheek against his.


“Good boy, Ur.” She kisses his head and the little rabbit-like creature disappears as quick as he came. She looks to her friends, ready and raring to go. “I want to hear all of your stories. You’re all so wonderful and interesting. Tell me everything!”


Iryla warns them to be more careful and she sobers slightly. “I’ll be extra careful this time, I promise. If there are some creepy guys again I’ll make sure we’re safe. I can heal of course but I don’t want any of you to get hurt, okay? But have faith! Mother Moon will protect us."

She heads out of the tavern and lifts her hands in a praying motion, fingers steepled in front of her face. Violet light collects in the runes on her arms, traveling slowly up her ands until she opens her palms slowly, a small lavender moon forming out of the light and shooting up into the sky¹. “This will lead us north! Mother Moon will lead our way!”

---

1 North Star

Ulrich watched the rabbit-like Ur down into the main room dragging all of their belongings along with it. He smiles as Cirice thanks the creature and it disappears, having fulfilled it's request.

Both Ulrich and Alvis make a nodding gesture as it seems Cirice is ready to hit the road and find this Stone. Alvis floats back into the scabbard at Ulrich's hip while he stretches; getting ready for the journey ahead.

He follows her out of the tavern and witnesses her small prayer. The Violet collecting in the runes of her arms before traveling up to her hands. Then she suddenly has a small lavender moon in her palms which shoots up into the skies above. Ulrich follows it as it places itself in the sky like a small detail a painter had forgotten to add to the canvas.

It would seem that your new traveling companions have some very unique abilities, wouldn't you agree?

Right. I would definitely agree.

While Cirice here is a little more outspoken, Iryla seems a bit more guarded. Not unlike a certain traveler I know.

They've made it this far while searching for the Stone. I'm sure they can both handle themselves.

Yes, I quite agree. It will be interesting to see how we handle dangerous situations as a group.

Ulrich is snapped out of his silent conversation when Cirice exclaims that the moon formed in her hands will lead the way along with Mother Moon.

He nods to her with a smile, looking back towards the tavern to see Iryla standing there at the front door.

Magic sure seemed like a useful gift. Iryla couldn’t help but admire it and those able to use it the more she saw of the craft. She couldn’t help but wonder what it might be like to be able to summon a companion who could preform simple tasks for you, to travel with talking daggers, always be able to tell the way north, to be able to heal and protect yourself and those you cared about.

Magic really seemed like a gift, one she wasn’t given, but a gift nonetheless.

“You’ll be able to snuff out that spell when we get closer to our destination, right?” Iryla asks while joining Ulrich and Cirice outside. “If there’s anyone waiting for us, we don’t want to give them any advanced warning that we’re coming.” But it would be quite useful to have that little violet moon guiding them for the first part of their trek. Getting lost out here in the middle of nowhere was a real concern. Though survival was something Iryla was quite used to, she wasn’t sure how long they would last as a group if they were stuck wandering in a wasteland.

“I’d like to avoid a confrontation if possible.” Iryla speaks to both of her companions while they begin to leave the safety of town. “I’m not sure what will be waiting for us, but if we can get in and get out without being seen, that would be ideal…” The shadows and in hiding were where Iryla excelled. She may not have magic, nor may she be very large or strong, but she was quick and could be silent as the night when she needed to be.

She just.. Wasn’t sure how useful she’d really be to this group if a real fight broke out.

Shaking herself out of that last thought she looks to her companions. “When we get closer, I may be able to scout ahead. I can be pretty quiet when I need to be, and it may be smart to get a lay of the land before we find ourselves in a trap.”

“I can totally snuff it out at will.” Cirice responds with a smile. “I promise I won’t mess with your awesome sneakiness. Don’t let Iryla sell herself short, guys, she’s so cool and sneaky and quiet!” Cirice cannot let an opportunity to compliment her best friend pass her by. She twirls around and splays her arms towards Iryla like showing off a piece of artwork or a magnificent scene. “Iryla got us in and out of this creepy ruin without even getting caught! Well mostly not caught. We haven’t gotten into any real fights because Iryla is just so good at it.” She boasts, not realizing that her words might not seem like much of a good thing to her new friends.

“I like traveling with Iryla, she hasn’t covered me in gore or eaten a single person in front of me. I’d appreciate not getting covered in viscera again, but I understand it’s something that happens when you adventure and fight stuff. But Alvis seems much more elegant than a massive hammer and Ulrich you were really graceful back there when you fought that guy. I bet your fighting is like dancing. I look forward to seeing more! If we do get in a confrontation I know we’ll be fine, we’re a team after all!”

They start their trek out of town and into the edges of the unknown, Circe bouncing at the excitement of adventure with her comrades. 

Ulrich nods to the both of them as they start their trek out of town towards their destination.

As they traveled along, Alvis entertained them with stories of the old days of Charon when he was still a man and not a dagger. He spoke of his days hunting pirates, and his fateful meeting with The Violet Eyes Deviless. Someone he spoke very fondly of despite her being a pirate of the time.

Then he shifts their attentions to Ulrich, stating that he has interesting stories from his travels as well. Ulrich reluctantly tells the group about his many encounters with danger on the dirt paths of Charon. While living the life of an every day traveler has it's many dangers, it does have positives as well. He's met a lot of interesting people along the way— the two women he's currently traveling alongside with, for instance, are included.

"You can just tell when the people you meet on the road will have a lasting impact on your life."

"Yes, I do quite agree. Except, in my case, I would've said 'on the seas' as it were."

Ulrich shakes his head with a smile. Their conversation is interrupted by something coming into view in the distance. As they make their way closer, he can see that it is a structure he's never seen or heard about before.

"Iryla, I think this is where we call upon your area of expertise."