“Well, then, to a long and fruitful partnership.” It seemed appropriate to mark this new chapter with some sort of acknowledgement. A wholly unnecessary sentiment, truly, but there is no use pondering on wasted breath and wasted words. Even if this marks a change in the journey, the opening of yet another branch in time, silent exaltation of the glory ever out of reach, Beryl knows all too well the ending that awaits her. For her, the end can only come as a tragedy, regardless of her victory or the lack thereof.
The end is only the end, regardless of how that finality may come. Even so, even if foolish, the knight does find some solace in that she may not have to face such an end alone. Another unnecessary sentiment, but she has always been overflowing with sentimentality. She’d only become talented at hiding it, keeping the unseen and unseemly away from view.
Chaos and danger lie ahead, she knows, but she need not face this path alone. How glorious, how wondrous, how strange. It is the sort of thing worthy of revelry, rejoicing in the culmination of unlikely fate. Though Beryl has never been one for belief in the immutable nature of destiny, somehow that sense of inevitability falls perfectly into place. Perhaps, one day, in the waxing and winding future, when she is more certain of their newly forged companionship, she will find reason to celebrate such a rare realization of fate.
Trust and respect are given, with little expectation of receiving the same in turn. It is a gift, one without a great or grand price. Freely offered, as it always had been.
She supposes they ought to head to a city. It is not as if she is unable to utilize what is available to her, but a journey that is prepared for tends to progress more smoothly. And for once, she is at liberty to make such preparations, not made to relentlessly chase after the divine, the sword ever ready to banish the dangers that lie ahead. Beryl intends fully to go forth, showing her newfound companion the world. The vast breadth of the landscapes, both natural and forged by mortal hands. Indeed, the journey may be long, arduous, dangerous, fatal perhaps, but that makes such experiences all the greater. The cosmic scale of a battle waged against the gods yields sights and sounds previously unperceived. But for now, she can idly muse to herself a little, can’t she?
“Ah, have you ever been to a city before? They can be quite loud and hectic…”
