LUMINOUS RIDER

Altena, unaffiliated mercenary with TOA

[diadic]

@luminousrider sent: "Hey uh, did Finn give you mints too?" She still doesn't know what the knight had been getting at with the minty offering. Did her breath stink? Was he expecting her to kiss someone? She can't decide which option is worse. ( ethereal ball. )

    “He did,” Leif answers simply at first, seeing no reason to hide it. “He said he took them because there were a lot, so it's his way of helping us since he assumes that's what they're there for.

“...but if you're asking me, that answer isn't what you're asking for, is it?” the prince wagers a guess. She must not think it innocuous... or something happened. After all, it's not like this is her first year at the Ethereal Ball either, and thus with it, it's not the first year she's encountered those very same candies in this hall.

And although Leif and Altena are hardly the same person, there's a part of Leif that can't imagine Finn as being very flexible in his approach. He could make a follow-up guess, but when it comes to Altena, if she's already this troubled, Leif hesitates to take big risks. So instead, what he asks next is, “Did he seem suspicious to you afterwards, Altena??”

[luminousrider]

"Suspicious? I don't think...well, he does always seem rather oddly stiff, doesn't he?"

She pauses for a moment to consider it. It also seems odd that Leif would ask this. What would Finn need to be suspicious about? But it dawns on her and her eyes widen.

"Wait, you don't think..." Altena leans a little closer so she can keep her voice hushed. "You don't really think he was trying to prank me do you?"

She'll be the first to admit that she doesn't really know Finn all that well outside of being an extension of Quan. Leif would know far better than she ever would if the knight was even capable of something fun like this. It's pretty hard to believe but she supposes it's possible.

"I guess that would explain why no one wanted them when I offered..."

[luminousrider]

[ GOSSIP ]

Arms crossed, Hector leans against the wall. As he watches pairs of dancers twirl and step in tightly prescribed patterns, he wonders what on earth the appeal is. Turning to see if the woman beside him is on the same page, or waiting her turn, he realizes she's—

"Altena." He nods, first in greeting, then at her shimmering dress. "That fits you way better than my clothes."

Then, turning back to the dance floor, he asks "Does this number look as ridiculous to you as it does to me?"

He looks different when his clothes fit. It's easier to figure out where to put her eyes at least.

"You look...covered." Who even talks like that? "Not that you looked bad." That's worse. Altena is ready to kick herself for sounding so dumb. She's grateful for the change of subject and looks out at the couples dancing together.

"I grew up making fun of the type of people who enjoyed this sort of thing. I wonder what my brother would think if he saw me here dressed like this." She folds her arms across her chest and huffs. "I'd rather find a partner to spar."

[of-ostia]

Hector barks a laugh. She's not wrong. Now that the embarrassing laundry mix-up is well behind them, he can laugh about it. The drink in his hand helps, too.

Brothers. What would Uther think of his showing here so far? A poor representative, Lachesis had called him. But he hadn't blown off the event entirely, and he hadn't been thrown out yet, which had to count for something. Right?

"I'm with you there. I wish they'd included the training grounds in the festivities." He drains his glass, then asks, "Older or younger brother?"

[luminousrider]

"Both, actually. Though it's my older brother that I mentioned. It's been years since I've last seen him. I hope he doesn't think I've become a snob." There is a hint of a smile as she thinks about him and she really does wonder what he might say.

"My little brother is here somewhere, I'm sure. He's a student in the Golden Deer house."

She looks up at Hector rather curiously. Something about the way he thought to ask if her brother was older or younger and how he also would prefer to escape to the training grounds. She knows she has to be right.

"You have one too, don't you?"

[reddragonprincess]

when the flowers met, so does the heart | Minerva+Altena

continuing from here

[reddragonprincess]

@luminousrider

“Me neither” she simply replied, the smirk on her face slowly grew wider, into a genuine smile, a somewhat allusive expression, but she just picked her hands and placed them on her shoulders, then she gradually let her hands slide along Altena's bare arms, brushing the petals of the tulips, which were placed together with the hyacinths between their bodies, wisely put as if they couldn’t fully became that close to each other. Then, Minerva’s hands lastly landed on her hips, slightly above them, she didn't want to appear too intrusive in front of her.

She accepted the compliment with a glance, her response was not long in coming, “You shine like a diamond in the night sky, Altena” she actually admired her dress a lot, her boldness in choosing that was somewhat attractive to the Macedon princess, who considered it a trait of beauty and strength.

Then, she began to walk, slowly, guiding the bodies along the ballroom, hands gently tightening the grip, but always with a delicate touch. “I hope our bouquet do not squeeze to much between our bodies” she made a small laughter, implicating that the vicinity of their figures might get a little… dangerous.  

[luminousrider]

Altena wonders if wearing gold this year might make the flush that surely spreads across her cheeks less obvious than if she wore red again. Minerva is going to think she's so lame for this. Everyone is. She really really hopes no one who might turn this into a thing happens to notice.

She's not entirely sure what she should do with her own hands but, thankfully, there are enough other couples dancing that she's able to look around and figure it out from their example. Shoulders then. That's doable. Her hands hover awkwardly a moment over Minerva's before she commits to it.

And she's not entirely sure where she should look either. When she looks around to see what others are doing for that, the inspiration is less helpful. That person has their head leaning against their partner's shoulder. And over there is someone looking deep into the other's eyes. Both options feel way too bold. Awkwardly over the shoulder it is then.

She still needs to figure out what to talk about. Is she supposed to talk? Minerva is. It feels too intimate with nothing between them but the music. "The weather is nice." Idiot. No it isn't. It's been dreary and cold and miserable. "I mean, if you like weather like this maybe it would be. I don't."

[luminousrider]

[ MINT CANDY ] + [ GOSSIP ] and now I make my strike

His eyes sparkled with mischief as he approached, but the approach itself was casual - hands behind his back, steps unhurried, smile guileless.

"You look lovely," Sigurd said, dipping into a little bow. "It seems I am not the only one to have noticed, although that cannot be helped I suppose. You...have your mother's fire."

Cocking his head, he sidled to her side, leaned in just a bit. "Do you know, I believe she likes you. I've fought alongside her, I could put in a good word. Here - "

Without waiting for acceptance, Sigurd slipped the mint into her hand and nudged her gently with his elbow, winking.

"Give me just a moment, I shall work some magic."

It's rare that she hears herself compared to her mother. It's the similarities to her father, to Quan, that are immediately noticeable. The moments she has heard herself compared to Ethlyn have never been in such a positive light, either. As much as her mother's brother drives her mad, it is actually kind of nice to hear.

And then he keeps going. Prods and pokes and snakes himself into a part of her life that he has no business intruding in on. Her cheeks burn red and her hands ball into tight fists but not before another fucking mint is slipped into one.

She could throw it at him. She could just punch him.

She remains frozen in place, feet unwilling to take any steps. Eyes blink, mouth opens and closes stupidly. It sure would be great if the ground would open up and swallow her right about now.

She will have to be more careful about who she spends her time with now.

[luminousrider]

[ MINT CANDY ] - For when your breath isn’t as fresh as newly-fallen snow.

"That's it!" Altena throws her hands in the air in her absolute frustration. Clearly, clearly, there is some sort of something going on. She barely even pays attention to Mitama before storming off toward a different familiar pink haired woman.

"Mother? Mother! Your dormitory is closer than my apartment. Can I use your toothbrush?"

She'll have to find Mitama again later after the guilt for just completely ignoring her begins to settle in.

[luminousrider]

[ MINT CANDY ] - For when your breath isn’t as fresh as newly-fallen snow.

snowwhitecellar.gif

This is a joke. Some sort of cruel joke. It has to be. Something out there in the universe decided that she needed to be plagued with mints.

Altena looks down at the candy Raven holds out in his hand.

"Find someone else. Maybe they'll appreciate it before you lie to me about helping them."

[luminousrider]

"Excuse me."

To say it was a greeting was not entirely accurate. The pitch of her voice lowered, and she held herself rigid and stern in the path of the young woman who moved about the crowd - no longer in quite so much desperation, Lachesis noted.

"We were not properly introduced. You are Altena, daughter of Ethlyn and Quan." It was not a question. "I am Lachesis, of Nordion. Mother of Diarmuid and Nanna.

"I have heard that your continued struggles with finding a place to put your mints - absurd and baffling though it may be, for they are merely candy, and it is polite to just eat the things when offered - made its way back to your mother, who has accused Finn of something rather grievous."

Lachesis took a step forward. She didn't care that this was a fully grown woman of Major Holy Blood, nor a warrior in her own right; she did not care that, prior to this, they had been strangers at a Ball; she did not even care that this was the daughter of a dear friend.

Because right at this moment, she was a child in need of a spanking.

"Not only have you wasted these little things, in such a field of excess, but now you have wasted the time of everyone whom you pled with - and you have caused insult to someone who could only have wished to see you smile. I might have thought better from a daughter of Ethlyn and Quan, but this must be the brutish side of you that developed elsewhere."

Lachesis' jaw set, and she lifted her gaze, ablaze. "If you are to integrate into a society with others who care for you, you will need to learn that your behaviors have consequences. Do not cause such harm to Finn again. He has been through enough."

So this is Nanna's mother. Getting a better look at her now, Altena feels rather foolish for not noticing the similarities earlier. The physical similarities, at least.

Her temperament is hardly similar to Nanna's though. Nanna is stubborn, of course, but Nanna is also graceful. She inspires those around her to get her way. This woman, this Lachesis is awfully rude. Altena is a grown woman. She tried to be discreet in getting rid of her mints. She could have refused to even take them! Is it such a crime to not really care for mints!?

It's something Altena could have potentially written off as just an unfortunate personality trait but Lachesis keeps going. Brutish. Elsewhere. Brown eyes narrow and Altena's scowl deepens.

"Have you finished? Or would you like the chance to call me a hyena or a barbarian, too?"

As fiery as Lachesis's eyes burn, Altena's do not turn away.

[luminousrider]

[ FAERGHUS ] - A slow-paced partner dance that allows both dancers to pull in close, practically embracing each other as they sway to the music. Popular amongst couples.

The music slowly flooded inside the ballroom and inside Minerva’s head, putting her in a strange mood, somewhat romantic, somewhat nostalgic, somewhat ethereal; with uncertain pace, the Macedon princess dodged in between couples that already dance to the song, slow movements that pulled them together, a very intimate dance that certainly put the couples in a proximity that hardly felt anything but seductive and appeasing. Definitely something that would put Minerva in a state of embarrassment, but with the right partner, who knows what she might feel?

And that was when she met her gaze, the fleeting glance that was somewhat inviting, somewhat alluring, somewhat secretive; she felt the urge to push forward and in less than a minute she was there, standing in front of her, in front of a dazzling dress adorned with a bouquet of tulips. A goddess among mortals.

“Would you give me the honour?” and she offered her hand, slowly, hesitant, but the pleased smile on her lips never left her expression.

"Me?" Altena asks stupidly. As if there was anyone else around her that Minerva might be talking to. As if the two of them haven't been doing this sort of back and forth forever now. It still manages to surprise her whenever Minerva happens to take an interest.

Altena hesitates for a moment and looks around making sure no one like her mother or Finn might be watching. When she's satisfied, she accepts the offered hand. "I don't know the steps."

She really hopes that won't matter. Even if dancing like that seems awfully foolish, she's glad Minerva considered her as an option for a partner.

"You look..." Do not say covered this time, idiot. "Nice. Really nice."

[luminousrider]

[ CHOCOLATE ] - “Do you think any of this is from the seminar we went to?” Maria picks one of the chocolates from her box and holds it up, narrowing her eyes in exaggerated scrutiny before breaking into a laugh. “Hee hee… at least we know it’s pretty good!”

At that, she moves to hand over not just a sweet treat, but one of her own flowers as well.

“Hey, Altena, what do you think about rose flavored chocolates? I think it could be really yummy!”

"They must have made so many chocolates to have enough for everyone here to get some." It's remarkable, really, and just shows how extravagant an event like this is. She frowns slightly at the thought. Isn't there enough without this?

Altena accepts the chocolate and the flower from Maria though. The joy that radiates from Maria's expression and tone is enough to soften Altena's own features into something less hardened. She offers one of her tulips to the young girl.

"What about tulip flavored? Is that anything? Sorry. I don't know much about flowers...

[landsbluod]

[ MINT CANDY ] - For when your breath isn’t as fresh as newly-fallen snow.

"Someone gave me this but I don't have anywhere to put it. Do you want it?"

Lachesis turned at the voice, clearly addressing her and one that she did not recognize innately, cocking a brow - more things simply to be handed out? It made sense momentarily, when she thought of how they had all been presented with entire bouquets to start, and how one was supposed to comport themselves about a ball of this size with their hands full was equally a mystery to her.

But when she turned and saw the outstretched hand, and the little mint candies sitting there, her expression scrunched in confusion and indignance, before she composed herself with a glance over the young lady.

"My dear, I'm fairly certain the place they are meant to go is in your mouth. They are edible. I believe whoever gave them to you wanted you to eat them."

[luminousrider]

"What?" Altena's scowl deepens. Of course she knows they're meant to be eaten. Even if little treats and sweets like this are a rarity where she is from, she's not an idiot. "I just don't want them and I hate wasting food. Take them or don't. I'll find someone else."

What a weird woman.

With a flip of her hair and a sharp turn away from Lachesis, Altena leaves to find someone else who might appreciate the mints Finn tried to give to her, exposing the brand between her shoulder blades in the process.

[luminousrider]

[ GOSSIP ]

Arms crossed, Hector leans against the wall. As he watches pairs of dancers twirl and step in tightly prescribed patterns, he wonders what on earth the appeal is. Turning to see if the woman beside him is on the same page, or waiting her turn, he realizes she's—

"Altena." He nods, first in greeting, then at her shimmering dress. "That fits you way better than my clothes."

Then, turning back to the dance floor, he asks "Does this number look as ridiculous to you as it does to me?"

He looks different when his clothes fit. It's easier to figure out where to put her eyes at least.

"You look...covered." Who even talks like that? "Not that you looked bad." That's worse. Altena is ready to kick herself for sounding so dumb. She's grateful for the change of subject and looks out at the couples dancing together.

"I grew up making fun of the type of people who enjoyed this sort of thing. I wonder what my brother would think if he saw me here dressed like this." She folds her arms across her chest and huffs. "I'd rather find a partner to spar."

[luminousrider]

[ MINT CANDY ] - For when your breath isn’t as fresh as newly-fallen snow.

Altena's frown deepens when Finn approaches her. Of course he's here. Leif is here. Leif always comes.

"I didn't realize we could just wear regular clothes here." She tugs awkwardly at the hem of her dress. Had it been this short when she bought it? Surely not. She can't imagine having chosen it if it was.

Then she remembers how under dressed she felt at the art exhibit in Leonster. Maybe this was the right call.

Finn hands her something and when she realizes what it is, an eyebrow raises. "Are you trying to imply something?"

[luminousrider]

Altena has tulips!

Tracker:

Rose: Maria

Lily: Mitama

Hyacinth: Ronan

Orchid: Mr Mints

Tulip:

Thanks to tches for finding the dress!

[luminousrider]

The Wyverns and the Bees. Is this anything?

(it's not it's nothing)

[luminousrider]

"No," Altena agrees, "it isn't. I grew up around mercenaries. Even my father, the king, wasn't above selling his lance to bring gold into our country. It just...feels right." She likes the freedom it brings, too, rather than being tethered to assignments given to her by the monastery. It's nice to choose her own contracts and do what means something to her.

"You could try it with me sometime, you know. I'm helping you teach, you could help me with a contract." It might just be an excuse to spend more time with Minerva. It might be easier to ask her to help with work than to simply hang out the way friends might. She knows she enjoys the other woman's company but it's not that easy to imagine someone else actually wanting to spend time with herself.

"We could focus on the importance of exercise, maybe offer some training ideas? Isn't this stuff they should already know, though? Most of these students are grown adults. It seems silly and almost offensive that the school would make them sit through this. We should try and keep it short and sweet so we don't waste their time." She knows she would be annoyed if she was still a student. This is basic knowledge that should be known before enrolling in a war school.

[reddragonprincess]

Altena was absolutely right and despite the life that the Macedon princess has chosen now, Minerva always looked at mercenaries like some sort of heroes, individuals that made their own future and choices possible through their actions and decisions –they were extraordinary and powerful, like she always wanted to be and Altena was perfectly achieving that goal and that was why she admired her so much.

“I’m always free when it comes to help you out with whatever task you have to accomplish” Minerva simply stated, nodding as if, what Altena had just proposed to her, was the most natural thing in the world –and in her opinion, it actually was: she would do anything in order to be more time with her, be it inside the monastery walls or outside, on an adventure. “But first, we need to take care of this” she returned her gaze on the papers, though quietly listening to Altena’s suggestion, “Training ideas, huh?” her right hand reached her chin with a pensive expression, shifting back her glance on the brunette: it actually was a pretty good idea and focusing the attention on physical exercise was of course a perfect example of a healthy lifestyle.

“I really like your idea, you won me over, Altena” she cast a knowing look, tossing aside all the papers and the books –they wouldn’t really need them, since all they should do now, was planning the workouts. “Why don’t we try them together first, before actually teaching and showing them to the students?” she questioned, actually genuinely interested in learning a correct way to offer their lecture with some exercise that could both help students being aware of their health and of their physical status. “Only if you trust me, of course” she heartily laughed, walking in front of Altena to explain her first idea of exercise.

“Perhaps we should start teaching them the importance of balance: throughout life and war, balance is a dominant factor, since it teaches us to develop our inner strength and to trust the others” she glanced at the brunette, offering a hand, “Would you like to try and stand on one leg? This could be the very first exercise of balance” she explained eager to start them off, but of course respecting the will of Altena first.

“I’ll be here, by your side and you can use me as a stabilizer” she offered herself wholly, ready to show her how much she felt at ease in her presence, with her touch. “You can trust me”

[luminousrider]

You can trust me.

It's a simple phrase to say and yet it gives Altena pause. This isn't a life and death situation. Whether or not a pair of colleagues working on a lesson plan together fully trust each other shouldn't need to be the most important thing. But this is Minerva. This is someone who continues to become more and more important to Altena.

"I can trust you," Altena repeats and hopes that it's true not just in this situation but in any. She values trust and she values the truth.

Altena takes the hand Minerva offers. Had it been anyone else, she might have argued she can balance just fine on her own. But, with Minerva, there is an eagerness to not only please her but to hold her hand as well.

"I'll be furious if you let me fall." It's a joke even if the serious expression on Altena's face barely changes to show that. She follows Minerva's lead and lifts a foot.

[of-ostia]

youre going in the warsh and whatever happens in there is in gods hands

non-mission board: infamous | w/altena

[of-ostia]

Laundry at Garreg Mach is normally an ordinary affair, but — surely this is not the laundry that you had set out to dry this morning? Stuck with a stranger’s wardrobe and no other clothes to wear, it’s up to you to find who has mistakenly swapped clothes with you and right this embarrassing wrong before anyone sees!

Hector thought last month had been the worst one since coming to the monastery.

Barred from joining everyone at Gronder Field, stuck on desk duty, and for what? Because he left one class unattended? They had their assigned reading on infantry tactics and their paper to write. What good was it for Hector to hover over them? Surely everyone was better off if he went to sharpen his axes while they worked.

Surely things couldn't get worse than missing the biggest battle of the year. Right?

That was before he slips in the blasted mud and makes a mess of his last good outfit. All he wanted was a nice bath and a fresh change of his familiar, comfortable shirt and slacks. Was that so much to ask?

As Hector stands at his clothing line, holding the only set of clothing left, clothing that definitely isn't his, his mood sinks from bad to worse

He holds up the sleeveless turtleneck in the sunlight, as if that will make the shirt grow a few sizes larger, or sprout some sleeves. Somehow, he's going to need to squeeze into these, then make the rounds to find out just where his clothes have gotten off to.

But first, that bath. He drops his arms with a heavy, defeated sigh.

- - -

If he just keeps moving, it'll be fine. If he walks really fast then that means he'll find his clothes that much faster, and fewer people will see that this...shirt, if there's enough fabric to call it that, doesn't fully cover his midriff. He's never felt this exposed.

Fists clenched, marching through Garreg Mach like he's on a life-or-death mission, inwardly cursing the flush creeping up his neck, Hector realizes it can get worse.

@luminousrider

[luminousrider]

It really would have been easier if she had just left the monastery in her wet clothes and dried them herself once she arrived at her apartment in town. It might have been a little uncomfortable for a bit but it would have been better than the situation she's now found herself stuck in.

But no. Her mother had insisted that her clothes would dry in the sun and Altena could borrow a bathrobe and sit in her dormitory while they did. She'd always been told how stubborn her mother was and, well, that might be the only truth of her early life shared with her. Her mother is stubborn as anything and, sometimes, Altena had come to find it simpler to just indulge her.

The Thracian sighs as she holds up the enormous shirt her mother has retrieved from the clothes line. This and the equally large pair of slacks had apparently been found blown off the line but nearby. Altena's own clothes nowhere to be found. While he mother had offered one of her own outfits to borrow, unfortunately the too large option seemed a better choice than a too tight and too short dress.

Altena feels like a child playing dress up as she makes her way through the monastery. She's given up at this point in finding her actual clothes and intends to just return to her living situation until she sees a rather large man rushing in the opposite direction. The poor guy seems to be in a similar but opposite situation to her own and the far too small clothes on him look far too familiar.

"Hey! You!" Altena raises a hand to point at him but the long sleeve falls over her entire hand. "Wait up!"

Her eyes widen as they get closer to each other and she gets a full glimpse of the entire effect of what is definitely her shirt on him. There is a heat that forms in her cheeks and she has to force her eyes upwards to his face.

"Your...that's...I didn't think that shirt could stretch so much."

[gungniheir]

Sometimes You Get a New Cat and Sometimes That Cat Is the Size of a Small Building || Arion & Altena

And also sometimes you almost die (again) but that's beside the point || @luminousrider || Mission Season: Epidemic

[luminousrider]

"I was hoping I might run into you here. You weren't in the training hall when I passed through." Altena returns his smile and wave, taking larger strides to meet his side sooner.

She missed him during the expedition to Jugdral. She knows she had been the main reason he joined in the first place having encouraged him to see the land they both called him again. Even if it was only for a little while. It had been disappointing ending up in a different group than him, especially so soon after finally reuniting but she's eager now to hear about his adventures.

"You, too, of course, Aphelion." Altena reaches out a hand for her brother's wyvern to sniff before giving him a pat. "I bet you're happy now that we're all back, hm? Peaches missed you t--" with a pause, she realizes there is another wyvern in front of her. Well, there are plenty of other wyverns. These are the wyvern stables, after all. But this one is clearly different.

"Who is this? He's so handsome! And clearly Thracian, isn't he?"

[gungniheir]

At the mention of the training hall, Arion chuckles sheepishly. "Yes, well, I took a bit of a… fall during the missions in Jugdral. I got shot down during our last week there," he admits. As much as his instincts tug at him to try and soften the blow of the news on him, a single thought silences them on the spot - you promised to stop hiding things from her - and so, he merely admits the truth as it is. "I'm coming back to more or less regular activity, but the doctors said I have to be very careful reintroducing training to my schedule." He pauses here, almost stumbling as Remus pokes at him, demanding attention after he'd stopped petting him.

"He is beautiful, isn't he?" Arion comments, his voice softening as he motions for Altena to come closer. "This is Remus. I loaned him in Jugdral to more around more freely, and suffice to say, we bonded quite well. When I had that fall, he saved me." He chuckles as he scratches the snout, while the wyvern coos softly and stretches his neck to ensure the prince's hand hits all the right spots. "He's very used to different people, so he's a lot friendlier than most wyverns I've met, even though I'm almost sure he's purebreed Thracian, and those guys usually bond with one specific master. Guess there's an exception to every rule," he comments with an amused huff.

[luminousrider]

"I was shot too," Altena grumbles and grinds the toe of her boot into the ground below her. A snipe and a mage. She had been so careless letting her guard down like that just because she was inside of a forge. "I fell before I was able to do anything and it was right in front of Father of all people. I swore to him I'd show him how much stronger I've gotten and I got my ass completely beat. I'm still so embarrassed..."

While she does worry about Arion's own injuries, especially if he's admitting he's supposed to be taking things easy, she knows he'll be fine. He's here, after all. Standing here and talking with her. She's always known his strength and she's always believed in him.

She sighs. That battle in Friege wasn't the only time she'd been defeated. "We were attacked by a bunch of dracoknights when we went home, too. I had to retreat from the fight. Father must think I'm a naive fool. I should probably take it easy as well but how can I knowing how easily I was overwhelmed?"

She tries to turn her attention to the wyvern who truly is beautiful. And quite friendly. She lets him sniff her hand and pets him as much as he desires. It's important to her that both of her brother's mounts get to know her. They're family just as much as Arion is.

"He'll love Peaches then, don't you think? She's always trying to meet new people and wyverns. Even when I'd rather she doesn't." There is an eye roll as Altena thinks about how much her wyvern enjoys Raven. Once, it hadn't been a problem. But now she'd rather stay as far away as she can from him. "I'm glad you brought him home. It's nice to see another Thracian wyvern around."

[luminousrider]

"I enjoyed our fight," she says as she approaches Altena. "You told me you'd display the prowess of a Thracian Dracoknight. I wasn't disappointed." She speaks the truth. Edelgard holds respect for those who fight with all that they have, withstanding any situation. Her knowledge on Thracia may be minimal, but their might certainly speaks volumes for that land.

The teamwork between her and her brother on Gronder Field was undeniable. Bringing a hand to rest on her hips, the question comes as readily as her introduction: "We should spar again. You and I. What do you say?"

"As did I."

Altena's eyes do widen just a little bit at Edelgard's approach. That the house leader has already been eliminated from the battle is a shock. She'd witnessed Edelgard's prowess first hand and she knows quite well that it must have taken someone exceptional to force her retreat.

And her face lights up at the offer of a rematch. A chance to truly prove her worth. "I would love to spar with you again. I've only just begun using a shield myself. I'd be foolish to turn down the chance to study the technique of someone like yourself who has clearly mastered it."

She offers a hand to shake, to seal their deal and serve as an offer to get to know one another better. "And I'd like to show you my full potential and bring my wyvern. I've never felt quite as comfortable fighting with both feet on the ground."