It doesn't shock Zarius that Gerhart knows of the Witch of Moonglade, or at least met her previously without realizing just who he was talking to. Kamille could sometimes catch people off guard with how she acts. "She is quite skilled when it comes to social gatherings," he pauses and recalls the whole fiasco at the Marrovine's ball. "Well, somewhat skilled."

"Cyran? Really?" After their last adventure in the White Sand Sea involving tombs and old forgotten temples, he would have guessed that the elven man had his fill of such places. It was good to hear that they were able to support one another through that endeavor though. From what has been mentioned about it and the fact that Cyran had apparently lost an eye during the venture, they all were lucky to have gotten out alive.

Gerhart's hesitation does draw the tiefling's attention. Cirice? The young moon elf from the Crescent Isles whom he had first found sleeping in an alleyway like a homeless lost child? She was another optimistic soul with quite a lot of friendly energy. Makes sense that Gerhart would get along with her. Though perhaps there was something more to it. "Oh? Miss Cirice? She has proven to be quite capable from what I have heard. It is good to hear that you are making many useful connections yourself."

“Certainly better than I am, but that doesn’t count for much. Thankfully I didn’t have to do much speaking, that would’ve been awful.” It would’ve been a true train wreck that much is certain. He was good at standing around with a dumb smile though.

”Yeah, it seemed the three of us were hired kind of randomly. Just happened to be chance we worked together it seems. Cyran and I pulled that researched from Mount Drakolt before, but I don’t think either of us expected to see the other.”

He gives a long stretch, kicking a Little Rock as they walked along just idly meandering through the forest. “Oh y-yeah Cirice is great. I would’ve been snake food without her help.” Let’s just not mention the fact that both times it was because he rushed in thinking more about protecting someone else and not what the right tactical move would be. “Yeah, yeah sh-she’s a good connection to have for sure. Her and Cyran both. Learned a lot about my shortcomings down there but thankfully they were there to make up the difference. Swords only get you so far, I was limiting myself without even knowing it.”

Zarius' smile widens as Gerhart stutters and stumbles over his words while speaking of Cirice. It was pretty obvious that the young man had a crush. It was liking watching his younger brother whenever his fiancé is brought up in conversation. Both Gerhart and Karize had gentle souls and shared that naïve happy-go-lucky attitude. He always assumed Karize had less self confidence than Gerhart, but seeing the young man trying to save face while talking about someone he clearly has feelings for made him second guess that. 

"Cirice is also from Moonglade, more specifically the Crescent Isles." The tiefling muses, attempting to casually lead the conversation in a specific direction. "It is quite a beautiful region with a very unique culture."

He shoots the young man a sly look. "Have you been there? I am sure if you asked she would be happy to show you around her homeland."

The tiefling keeps walking, his eyes dart to the side just as there's a rustle in the boughs of one of the pines. "Well, there is some wildlife for you." He points out the little emberlike birds that flit in between the branches of the tree. Their blackened feathers conceal them from sight until they fly, revealing the bright orange and yellow plumage on the underside of their wings. 

"I have, but it was a while ago. I think it was my first real adventure after meeting you, went around after some thing called the Sol Stone with Kvasir and some pale guy...Caedes I think is name was."

Gerhart smiles towards the birds, whistling out a little bird call. The chirps seemingly pulling one bird over, perching on his gauntleted finger. He gives a little laugh, free hand reaching into a side pouch to grab a few seeds. With happy trills the bird hops in his hand to feed and snack.

"I don't think I could bring myself to ask something like that. I imagine a woman like that's gotta have actual options, ya know?" Once more the man wearing armor made of dragon scales and wielding two magical swords seems to think he's just a normal guy.

"What about you huh? I never seem to hear about you getting involved with anyone. I can't imagine a guy with your connections has nothing in the works." Gerhart gave a smirk trying to turn the attention back on Zarius and put him in the hot seat. Flustered or not, he could at least also learn a bit more about his friend. In their line of business, there often wasn't time to just be people and talk.

"Seems like everyone is after that thing. I am starting to think it is all just some big hoax meant to distract adventurers from other things." Even he had been pulled into the hunt, and more than that, he had sent others on wild goose chases in an attempt to keep them from actually finding the thing if it was real. Though he'd never tell Astrid that. 

Hearing that Gerhart had searched for the fabled Sol Stone with Kvasir the herbalist was a bit surprising, though what really catches him off guard is hearing that Caedes was involved too. The Sol Stone hardly seemed like something that the assassin would be interested in given what the tiefling knows of the man's personal goals. 

Zarius watches Gerhart charm the local wildlife like he was some sort of fairytale princess. Gerhart might have more in common with Cirice than he thinks. "Is there any reason you could not be an 'actual option'? I do not think there is any harm in asking. Worst she can say is that she does not think of you that way, right?"

The tiefling chuckles as Gerhart uno reverses the conversation onto him. He thinks for a moment but then shakes his head. "No. My line of work is not conducive to those kinds of personal relationships. It would not be fair to anyone with how busy I am. Not to mention how much danger they would be in from associating with me in that way. Too many enemies all keeping a keen eye out for any leverage they can use against me. That said, I am content if through my work I can make it so my family and friends can pursue their own dreams, whatever those dreams are."

"You'd think that huh? To be honest, I don't really get why it's so special and sought after, then again it's only recently I learned I actually can do magic, so I'm probably just behind the curve." He had picked up a few of the tricks on how to combat and disrupt magic from Zarius, but actually summoning it and using it himself was something different entirely. He'd never match Kamille, but it was fun having some tricks up his sleeves.



"Ah, she's like a proper lady, right? Nice, sweet, follows Mother Moon pretty fervently. You don't often see someone like that going for the grubby hunter in the woods." It's clear from the way he shifts his weight or lets his lips curl in a boyish smile, he's certainly put thought to it, but nerves have gotten the better of him so far. Charging a towering bone snake? Easy. Telling a girl she's pretty and you like her? Impossible.



He returns the chuckle as Zarius affirms there is nothing going on for him currently, though Gerhart is hesitant to believe that. "And people tell me I spend too much time worrying about others~ I can't imagine there are too many people out there brazen enough to try and take ya out. Besides, I can only imagine the hells someone would pay if they did kidnap your partner. Be like one of those murder mysteries where they find pieces of the person all scattered about and no one knows how it got there." Well no one ever said Gerhart's imagination wasn't colorful sometimes.

Zarius stifles a laugh. "Proper lady? Uh, well, I cannot say. I first met Miss Circe when she was sleeping in an alley in Starlight City. She seemed pretty confused and lost." He looks at Gerhart. "She was pretty grubby then too, but you know people can change a lot in a short amount of time. You hardly look like the same brat who picked a fight with me back in Sol City." 

The tiefling pauses and clasps a hand on the young fighter's shoulder. "You have come a long way. Never undersell yourself or your accomplishments. Not everyone can do what you have done." He drops his hand and keeps walking ahead. "If it means anything, you have my respect." 

"Well, I hope you are right and people think twice about trying to off me. I would like to at least live to see retirement." He laughs. 

After a few more hours of patrolling, they start making their way back to civilization. As the light in the sky starts to dwindle, the last rays of sunlight catch the underside of the plumes of ash hanging in the sky, making the sky look like it is on fire. The Ash Lands were both awe inspiring and terrifying.

"Good work today. I am sorry it was not more eventful. You are welcome to join me back at the Rookery if you would like."

There is an unhidden look of surprise when Zarius describes how he first met Cirice, quickly trying to poorly hide it as he responds to the second half. "I don't know if I would call it picking a fight, just acting as a concerned citizen."

He laughs gently as Zarius clasps his shoulder. That was unexpectedly sincere and heartwarming. Maybe the tiefling did have feelings and just the tiniest bit of goodness in his heart. Or maybe Gerhart had actually annoyed Zarius so hard he was starting to rub off on him a bit through the power of himbo energy.

The long patrol may have been uneventful from a battling standpoint, but it's hard to say spending an afternoon catching up with a friend is a bad way to spend it. He had been hoping to show the tiefling a few of the new things he had learned, but they could save that for another day. It probably would not be appreciated if Gerhart went to stir up trouble just cause he was bored.

"I'd say I'd buy the first round, but sort of a moot point when you own the place huh?" Gerhart beams with one last laugh as they start to head back in.