i must fulfill my duty

"Tell me, Leila ... This is what you'd want, right? You wouldn't want me to give up." 💔 { closed TOA RP blog } Unaffiliated faculty w Knights of Seiros

[ostianshadow]

ethereal ball 2k26

Another year, another ball, but my! They've really spared no expense, have they? If they can afford all of this glitz and glam, surely they can afford to pay their couriers a little better......

Leila would have looked stunning tonight, Matthew thinks. But then, in his eyes, she always did, even without trying.

For once, he's dressed up a little for the night (albeit in borrowed garb), and he isn't sure how he entirely feels about it but...A change of pace now and again can't be all bad, right?

Clutching his newly acquired bouquet of red hyacinths, he steps into the ballroom. So many people, so little time... so, it's high time he got to work.

[[No context asks are 100% fine, I plan to at least Try the first bit of the ball non-italicized... but ngl it also sounds daunting as heck so 1-2 lines are appreciated/probably what I'll be sending out in turn 🙏 0 pressure tho prommy, I'll make it work either way ✌️]]

He's wearing something similar to this (feh resplendent) ✨️

Bloom tracker:

Roses- eliwood, wolf, Orchids- zephia, serra, Lilies- lachesis, Hyacinths- nino, Tulips- sephiran, legault,

[ostianshadow]

two's a crowd

mission board: infamous | matthew & leo | +gauntlets word count challenge!

[tomatotactician]

        The library at Garreg Mach holds many wonders, it seems. After wending his way into the heart of the shelves, sampling book after book, Leo finds himself in a narrow, musty passage leading to an altogether new section of the library. Here, there are rare books the likes of which he never dreamed of seeing in Nohr. Best of all, it's quiet: nary a soul stirs down here, leaving the blonde prince in a bookish reverie as his fingers brush the spine of his first selection.

        The library's deep silence is suddenly broken by a voice directly over his shoulder, so close it nearly startles Leo out of his wits. He flails, then fumbles, catching the book that practically leapt out of his hands— Crunch.         He freezes. There's some kind of... delicate mechanism he's just smashed in. A glass orb for perceiving (broken), a small magic stone for power (dangling by a thread), what looks like an inscription for scrying... but the Church was surveying forbidden areas, like the Goddess Tower, was it not? No, more than that…

        Leo takes a deep breath and slowly turns around. "...Who are you, and what do you want?"

[ostianshadow]

Ah, whoops.

It hadn't been Matthew's intent to break one of the church's toys so early into the foray. He plucks at the mechanism, cautiously bringing it up before his face (what if it could still work, even when shattered so?) … huh. Welp. It sure does seem busted pretty good. Regardless, it's magical engineering far beyond his ken.

But... maybe not beyond blondie here's knowledge. He looks the knowledgeable sort. Maybe if Matthew plays his cards right...

"Kinda prickly aren't you? For a comrade-in-arms equally not where he's supposed to be right now."

At the least, that’s the assumption. This guy doesn't look like one of the librarians Matthew's scouted, but he does kind of look like he could be at home here among all the books.

"Name's Matthew, and I wanted to explore a bit, I suppose." A pause, in which he grins at Leo. "Okay, now: your turn."

[ostianshadow]

[ COFFEE ] "One of the servers here told me that these are good for keeping yourself awake."

Kurt offers the man a mug and with it, a rose from his bouquet. As it grows further into the night, weariness begins to show on people's faces as the adrenaline of dancing and socializing wears off and their bodies remember just how late it is. With the lights dimmed low, it's hard to tell just how late it has gotten, but the yawn that keeps threatening to free itself from his throat should tell him well enough.

"Ever since we've gotten back from Jugdral, any time I spar with someone wielding a sword, I can't help but remember those men with those swords that would make you fall asleep. When I think about that, I can't help but find myself more awake than before."

It's been long enough now that he can joke about it, but there's the pain behind his eyes of someone that had fallen asleep on the battlefield far too many times for one battle. The ideal number of times to fall asleep mid-battle is zero, and yet...

"I have it on good authority that they are correct about this," Matthew answers with a chuckle, easily exchanging flowers and gratefully taking warm mug in hand. It’s not something he has access to all the time (kind of expensive for his purse still, at this juncture), but… this particular night owl would be lying if he said he didn't keep any of the stuff on emergency standby.

For a night like tonight though, and where the rivers of coffee flow freely…? Don't mind if I do…!

He pauses mid-sip, like the bitter taste is suddenly more than he's bargained for. But no - the drink itself is fine. It's the memory that plays with his appetite for one long, pensive moment.

"Yeah, that's…"

Honestly?

Kind of a nifty weapon to have at hand, if you ask him - based strictly on what he'd heard about it, not having witnessed it in action for himself. But the thought of succumbing to it… "That'd be harrowing, for sure, ha ha. But it's Fenrir's bite that better keeps me up at night, personally."

He grimaces.

What a formidable spell that had been. . .

[ostianshadow]

[ SNEAK ] - The Goddess Tower was a no-go before, but with flashy distractions at a high and visibility at a low, now is a better opportunity than you will get the rest of the night. The monastery staff have promised a very unforgiving punishment for those caught in forbidden grounds, but that only goes for those caught, right?

The sparkle and glitter of the ballroom, even when died down to the subdued glow of the pathways to the viewing rooms, were an experience to be remembered, with certainty - its glamour vibrant and alive, thrills and delight to be shared across all acquaintances, and new bonds to form.

But not every moment needed be so vivid with color and light, and not every memory. It was not that there was a point she found that she could not take it, per se, but when Lachesis excused herself to slip into the silence of the Goddess Tower, it was with the deliberate movement of someone with purpose, who would not be deterred.

What she had not expected, though, was that there would be another - or at least, one at the same time.

"Ah! Pardon me, I...suppose I expected that the guard would have been sufficient deterrent for wandering souls." She laughed lightly, ruefully, as she stepped farther within anyway, a hand trailing along the sills of the windows. Lachesis thought, faintly, that the young man was passing familiar, but not enough to comment on it.

"Don't allow me to deprive you of your time, or your privacy, I simply...thought I would take a moment. The legend of this place is a beautiful one, isn't it? Not, of course, that I am implying anything - " Another laugh, pressing fingertips to her lips and eyes creasing with warmth; "But it lends to its mystique, doesn't it? It makes the reminiscence of love all the stronger within its walls..."

Or perhaps that was only her, who had lost so much and regained only some, enough that she still felt the ache of phantom love in her chest that throbbed when left unattended for too long.

Softly, she sighed, and shook her head. "My apologies, you surely did not come here to hear my nonsense. A lily, for your time. Excuse me."

The shadows have ever called to his ilk,

And Matthew has never been one to deny them.

… this has never meant that he has been alone in welcoming their respite, their embrace. What comes as a surprise is not the fact that he's suddenly got company, but rather…

"… heh, you think the guard here could stop me?"

Oh. That had escaped unbidden. Matthew plays it off with a chuckle and a smile, relaxed posture boasting nothing to write home about concerning his supposed feat.

She looks familiar.

And when she crosses a moonbeam, he remembers from where in a flash - and half wishes he hadn't, to be honest. (That poor clown…)

He leans against the wall, tucked just so against the railing. It really is a nice night.

"… I don't know that the tower's legends are for a guy like me." Matthew hums in thought. "Maybe in an alternate reality…" A one he's imagined many times over. With all of Fodlan's eccentricities… well. More the fool is he who hopes, right. He pushes lightly from the wall, falling into a light bow.

"Please. The tower is plenty big enough for two wandering souls. In fact, I'd expect many have already climbed it prior to the both of us." It's an easy smile he wears - as always. "For a lily, you've bought my time - and the space." And a tulip, as a free bonus plucked forth with just a smidge of ceremony. "It's all yours, 'kay? I should be getting back, anyhow."

… not without a mental note to find out her name later, though.

[ostianshadow]

"Weeeeell, Matthew!" What might she want, one may be asking? Oh, it's nothing big. Just the usual stuff. "You look very nice! I don't even see dirt on your cheek for once!" Is... that how she normally sees him?? "... Okay. Now it's your turn. Say, 'Serra, you're beyond compare!' Or... 'Serra, Erk sure is lucky!' Or... I don't know! Those are some good examples. In case you can't think up anything yourself. But you're quick on your feet, aren't you?" She's beaming broadly, black lace gloves folded over a bouquet of orchids. In fact, she's wearing all black. She even has on black make-up... "You better think up something nice! If you do, we can trade flowers!" Her smile, though, is bright and sunny as ever.

"For... once?" What. Just what does she mean by that?

You know what.

Nevermind.

"Woah. Serra. You look..."

Easier just to play along. Except that when Matthew goes to appraise Serra, that he might come up with a suitable compliment, he finds himself stunned into a brief disconnect with reality. Is this really Serra??

"... Different."

Okay. Uh. Not his brightest. To his credit, since he doesn't want her to start beating him up with that bouquet of hers, he's quick to course-correct:

"That is to say: absolutely gorgeous." He beams, cheeky, and dares to offer forth a hyacinth and a wink. "How's that?"

[ostianshadow]

[ MORFISIAN ] - A sophisticated dance that celebrates the wondrous beauty of fire magic. In lieu of the Elementals gifting you the ability to perform this dance as intended, the club BOOMS has stepped in offering to help out. Fire magic dances upon your fingers and gives your face an ethereal glow.

“AAAAAHHH! HOT! HOT!!!”

she hadn't meant to take part in any dance. whatever parlor trick or enchantment they'd done to make fire follow her fingertips for some number of minutes went just about as well as anyone could have expected from varley's worst (no preparation, no warning, no heed for potential destruction of public property), and she's bolting ahead without even looking, arm flailing violently like the entire limb's a goner.

Alarm pricks the hairs at the nape of his neck. Where there's smoke there's fire, so they say, and Bernadetta's call of distress is easily the equivalent to any real signal or warning Matthew's ever witnessed. He ducks out of the way --

but she is unpredictable, and it turns out he ducks into her way instead, and now he's caught fire too and oh dear heavens it's contagious and "Ahhhhh!!"

... Wait a second.

It doesn't burn.

He blinks, eyeing the faerie fire at his sleeve with a dubious glare, before settling concerned brows in Bernadetta's direction and carefully but firmly grabbing hold of flailing limb.

"Stop, stop-- it's okay- see?"

No burning. Well. Not on his end, anyway. If the miss is actually on fire, then he'll have to pivot strategies, one supposes.

"I think someone was playing a prank on you..."

Poor thing.

[ostianshadow]

[ FLOWER ARRANGEMENT ] - No matter how many flowers you gather, your bouquet won’t look its best unless you have the skill to make it so. A couple of students have taken upon itself to imbue their peers with the knowledge of flower language and the art of flower arrangement, and as a result the garden has become something of a workshop.

The class—if it can even be called that—is an impromptu little thing, expanded from a girl trying to teach her friend how to arrange her bouquet, to a boy overhearing and failing to apply the same knowledge, to a girl trying to do the same... and so on and so forth. In the end, what had started as a group of completely separate attendees had become a fluid group of struggling students and well-meaning teachers, with very few of them producing decent results.

"Just exchange a few with the person next to you!" their 'teacher' says, sounding almost exasperated. "The more variety you have, the better!"

Zephia considers it. Orchids, in her opinion, are naturally ugly things—and so she has no problem offering one to the man next to her, pleasant smile and all. "Shall we trade? For variety's sake, that is."

The more variety you have, the better!

Matthew isn't sure if he buys that. Some of the bouquets he's seen tonight, particularly those belonging to the more social of butterflies present, seem to him a lost cause. Or the bouquets of those making a game of collecting them all - a real nightmare to maneuver, he expects. The more colour they have to deal with, the higher odds of clashing by default, and, well,

There's a reason he never became a florist, one supposes. Maybe it's just his own tastes that are lacking, for all he knows.

"Oh. Sure. For variety's sake, that is."

He makes to pluck a red hyacinth from his own selection to hand her. Somehow, he thinks, it kind of suits her. Head tilts to the side.

"So... do you think a ball like this anymore worthwhile a pursuit for a military academy?"

Especially given she is, once again, in attendance and all...

[ostianshadow]

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

"Matthew!" Nino waves emphatically at her old friend (old coworker?) from across the dance floor, her steps loudly clicking as she approaches. "It's been a long time! I hope you've been well!"

Nino digs around in the pockets(!) of her dress, hoping to find a suitable gift for her old acquaintance. All she procures is a foil-wrapped mint. "Uh, I grabbed this from the entrance table, would you like it? I'm not saying you smell bad or anything! I just like to give people stuff."

It occurs to Nino mid-sentence that perhaps one of her flowers would've made for a better presentation, but hopefully Matthew forgives her clumsiness.

And speaking of disarming...

"Hi, Nino." He smiles in turn, her cheery energy infectious. "It's good to see you."

Matthew watches as she rummages, looking for... something. When she comes up with a mint, he can't help an amused grin. He takes the candy, relegating it to one of his own suit's pockets.

"Thanks. I'm glad you clarified." He clears his throat lightly, a mite sheepish despite himself. "...Your dress has pockets? That's impressive. I'm sure many a lady here tonight are gonna be jealous, even if they won't say so."

It sounds practical, after all. But if it's function at the cost of form... unfortunately, Matthew doubts if it's a trend the elite will latch onto anytime soon.

"Oh! Right! One good deed deserves another, so they say..." He plucks up a tulip, offering it to her with a flourish. "I hope you've been well also. You're attending as a student, I take it?"

[ostianshadow]

[ OSTIA ] - An Ostian court dance where the leading partner wields a ceremonial sword as a part of the routine. This dance, meant to resemble a knight with his lady, is getting some attention from the students of Fódlan. - "One of your tunes, isn't it? Mind teaching an ignorant Bernese mountain dweller some of the steps?" A tulip is held out—a 'lady's' offering to a 'knight'—with a small smile. "I can follow your lead, if you like."

"It is..."

No matter how clear Matthew makes his distaste, his fellow thief finds a way to steal his time and to actually be... well, everything he's not supposed to be. It's unfair that an ex-Fang is actually personable and disarming. It's annoying to reconcile, time and again, with the fact that the organization who took away what Matthew cherished most in life are not, were not comprised uniquely of monsters and nothing but.

(Only a select few manage such... honours, even.)

Lips thin in consideration.

A tulip for a tulip, because it's only right to reward generosity in kind. And then there's a twinkle in Matthew's eye, a sliver of mirth which has fought hard to surface.

"You just don't give up, do you?"

Oh, all right.

"I'll teach you - but you'll have to show me later how Bernese mountain dwellers go about it. Nothing for free in life, you know."

Yeah. He can dress this up as a business transaction and maybe it will help him feel less guilty that he's warming to the man - sure, why not. (It's a losing battle and he knows it.)

[ostianshadow]

One of Wolf's brows -- just the one, his expression (mostly) tempered for the occasion -- notches slightly as he takes in Matthew's garb. It's... brighter than he'd expected the man's wardrobe to be, albeit less of a surprise if he thinks back on that lime green shirt from before. If anything, the snowflake-shaped edges of his cloak are what he finds stranger.

"...I guess winter's a big deal in Ostia," he mumbles, mostly to himself.

"What makes you say that?"

Sharp ears can never help but overhear - it's deciding whether to act on what he's heard that's the fun part, usually. Most of the time, he files whispers away for future reference, on an 'as-needed' basis.

Might be it's a rhetorical question though, as Matthew hums and, upon taking in Wolf's own garb for himself, he forges ahead, curiosity his better:

"Hmmm, they've got you working tonight, do they? That's no fun." Suppose it makes sense. Many of the faculty from the monastery proper have taken leave of their duties for the night, that they might enjoy the festivities. As for Matthew, well, he's mostly just a courier, and there's nothing so pressing to deliver that can't wait until the morning on such a magical eve as this, so…

So, he can make the most of the free food and plentiful people-watching both. Don't mind him while he does just that!

But, first things first, he has a no-fun-allowed face to bother just a little more:

"Oh! But they've still given you a bouquet, I see," he peeks, glancing behind Wolf to see it sat on the table. Not quite discarded, but suitably out of the way - practical, if one were being generous. Matthew grins, and proffers a red hyacinth with a flourish.

"Trade me?~"

He probably won't take no for an answer, mister Wolf. Better to just get the game over with.

[ostianshadow]

[ GODDESS TOWER ] - No effort has been spared in surveillance or suspicion this year, and you know as much now that you find yourself alongside another answering to an ornery guard the moment you entered its vicinity. (it do be two thieves ending up exactly where they're not supposed to be huh)

Ever since the library escapade, Matthew's been wanting to break into the goddess tower even more than before. Not because he fancies there's actually anything in there he really wants, but, well...

... just for the fun of it, you know?

There's an element of danger to the idea of being captured on those strange surveillance devices of the church's, but they're new, and they've got him curious, and he's got many an excuse or alibi in hand if he needs must, and, it's been awhile since he's had any proper challenge, ...you know?

Anyway,

it was easier than expected to slip past the guards. Almost disappointingly, in fact. He'd found a few of the image-recording baubles but... lucky him, they seem to have been disarmed, already.

(Wait, actually, that's suspicious as hell. It'd behoove him to keep an eye out probably, right?)

From where he leans in the shadows on the balcony, just out of sight from below, he glances first down, and then up,

at. at the. stars. Or so he'd thought.

Instead, it's a person.

He blinks.

"... How'd you get there...?"

[ostianshadow]

CORN / estel can’t help but flinch the first time the corn pops, torn between torn between amazement and startle. by the next several dozen or so, however, she’s settled into a quiet awe, lingering by the table just to watch. “...i wonder if it still tastes like corn?” she murmurs to herself as she finally lifts her head to— “oh! sorry, have i been standing in your way?”

She isn't wrong that it's a sight most captivating. Pop, pop, pop...! First they're just little kernels, tiny seed-looking-things that seem like they'd not amount to much of a meal at all even if you ate a couple handfuls of 'em, and then, pop, pop...! They've literally exploded in size, shedding their yellows, oranges, and brows for a striking white--

There's something about the transformation that takes awhile to get old.

And yet, for as much as the 'making of' proves spectacle enough on its own... It's always people Matthew's preferred to look on. It doesn't take him long to find another face or two enraptured by the process, and he smiles. There's just something about the wonder in humans - or rabbit girls, as it were - that's worthy of study all on its own.

Ah. But.

The number one rule Matthew's always known: he shouldn't let folks catch him staring.

So when she does at last notice him, he's long since schooled his attention elsewhere. He's never far removed from his immediate surrounds, mind.

"No, no, you're quite fine, I assure you. That said, I couldn't help but overhear." He steps just slightly past, taking hold of one shaker and a bowl, shake, shake, shake...! before turning around to face her, and holding out a prize: that which she had been eyeing.

"I hear the jury's out depending on what you flavour it with, but you're welcome to try it out for yourself and come to a decision, yes? ... This bowl's seasoned with dill." Or: a second bowl. "And this one's plain, eheh."

[ostianshadow]

[ CHOCOLATE ] "Knowing Hector is here, it's not a surprise to find you as well." Eliwood smiles and offers him one of the chocolates from his small assortment. "A chocolate for your thoughts?"

"How about a chocolate for a hyacinth instead?"

A wink. He's just kidding - though he does offer a flower in exchange all the same. As a dear friend of his employer's, Lord Eliwood may call on Matthew's thoughts for a nominal fee - a token, really, and that is to say: a chocolate will do. Especially... especially since he's already taste tested one from this event prior and they sure do pass muster.

"Hmmm...~"

He pops it into his mouth. Chews thoughtfully. Then, finally:

"I think... that if the church is so insistent on providing this caliber of treats at its events... A guy might be in danger of developing a sweet tooth, one of these days." Unlikely, really, but y'never know.

Eyes crinkle. Oh. Is that not what mister Eliwood was curious to know?

"... I am... glad to see milord is here in good company, truly. It almost feels like everyone's here, s'far as home is concerned. Wouldn't be half surprised if even Oswin showed his mug sooner rather than later. Now, as for you: you got here fairly recently, yes?"

Maybe Matthew's files weren't as up to date as he'd thought...

[ostianshadow]

[ FLOWER ARRANGEMENT ]

Hector has been leaving a trail of rose petals in his. Not in an elegant way and not on purpose, but because the dang flowers refuse to sit still in their bouquet, their wrapping loosening over the hours.

Head in one hand, he looks down at his unraveled bouquet, snapped stems tangled in ribbon. Beside him, a student flutters over him, desperate to help but afraid to get too close.

Seeing Matthew, she meets his gaze, a silent plea for help in her eyes.

There never is a dull moment when it comes to spending time with his Lord Hector, is there? Hands clasped behind his back, bouquet of hyacinths swaying delicately with the to and fro, he watches,

And wonders if maybe he should step in.

It is, after all, kind of depressing to watch.

When gaze flicks up, Matthew meets the eyes of another trained on him. A-ha.

Step in, he does, stooping to stand over Hector's shoulder, one hand conspiratorially cupped to his mouth to shield Ostia’s shame in a careful whisper:

"Milord... you know that part of learning to be a good ruler means not shouldering everything yourself, right?"

He nods up emphatically, in direction of the student close at hand.

Use the resources at your disposal, milord...

[ostianshadow]

[ CHOCOLATE ] - Stefanelli's has partnered with the monastery to make the most of the supplies left in excess of their workshops earlier in the year by offering packages of sweet chocolates for attendees. The offerings appear generous... that is, until you open your box to find it only half full.

"Even half empty, this is still too much for one person…" Holding the box out, an offering- with a smile of someone who has forgiven, though not forgotten, their first encounter. "Care to take some?"

"Oh! Don't mind if I do."

He may not have much of a sweet tooth, but what Matthew does have is a spoonful of sugary tact. He plucks up a chocolate, pops it into his mouth, and finds himself pleasantly surprised - it's more rich than mere confection, delicately layered and, well, actually kinda tasty! Props to their hosts at the monastery and to Stefanelli's are in order.

But they can wait.

He hopes he's reading Sephiran's expression right - hopes that perhaps bygones may be bygones at long last.

(Certainly, theirs was a first meeting Matthew has never forgotten, himself. It's still embarrassing to think about. And would he do it again, put in the same boat? Probably, yeah!)

"Here." Red hyacinth proffered between thumb and index finger, he means to sweeten the deal. "My thanks for sharing! May you enjoy a wonderful evening."

A peace offering for a peace offering.

[ostianshadow]

you wanna take a swing oar what?

[anniversary mission board | lance+ ]

[wolfhednn]

HUMAN PERCEPTION IS AN ODD THING.⠀🗲⠀at first he thinks he must have fallen in, or is about to, the sharp cry and splash making him flinch as flecks of water wet his face. but his two feet are still on the ground, the slender branch still in his grasp. and the oar: struck loose from his hand and gliding on the water's dark surface, drifting, little more than a silhouetted shape a meter away.

the underside of the boat bobs up to the surface just past it, a rounded dome, an instant before there's another, larger splash off to its side, big enough for him to see where the water sprays as if it's been struck by something under.

that gets him to move, alarm rising. "hey!" lurching toward the water, then recoiling when he sees something flip up right in front of him from beneath the surface and slap the top before disappearing back under, stout and living——a fish? no, it'd looked like the end of a tail.

like——

some meters out next to the capsized boat, a head breaks the surface ; he hopes it's whoever'd been in it and not the other end of whatever he'd just seen. "something's in the water!" he barks, gesturing urgently for them to swim to shore as he stoops down to try and grab the end of the oar again to help. "get over here!"

[ostianshadow]

This hasn't exactly gone according to plan,

but Matthew doesn't really have the time to think about that right this second, given he's found his ("his") boat capsized and himself bodily removed from it.

He gasps upon surfacing, his immediate priority to gather his bearings even as he blinks blearily past water in his lashes. Something bumps into him and he slaps at it in a panic. The oar…! Instinct and reflexes see it within his grasp, fingers closing tight around it. He kicks toward the shore, wastes little time in clambering up.

"What do you mean," cough, sputter, ew pond water, "somethin' in the water??"

Still catching his breath, Matthew casts a look at the water in question, and he notes how very quickly it has stilled. Eyes narrow.

"You sure…?"

So it wasn't just a big, dumb rock to blame…?

(No, the logic doesn't quite flow proper, but give him a minute, a'ight?)

[ostianshadow]

chasin' rainbows

mission: infamous | wolf & matthew |

[ostianshadow]

There’s been tale of a wandering street performer with a gift so powerful with music and song that they’re able to bridge the gap between the living and the dead; communing with spirits long gone and those still yet to appear through the sheer reverence of their performances. People who have been lucky enough to experience one of their impromptu shows say that it’s a life-changing event, like they feel closer to their home and people, even those that hail from soils far away from where they tread now. Surely, it’s a great gift that can bring healing to all those that hear it - but where there is something rare and wonderful to be had, there will always be those that desire such gifts for themselves. Do you seek them out to be moved by their healing music, or do you crave whatever power they seem to be able to channel for yourself?

It had proven an uneventful job.

'Deliver this parcel to that town over yonder. It's time-sensitive and here, we're sending a guard to protect you because it's precious cargo, y'hear?'

Aye aye, captain. Courrier Matthew is On The Job. This noble daughter's mail will make it safe and sound, in mint condition, even! and in record time, at that. Well. Maybe. Given they've been sent on foot and all.

…

Matthew casts a glance in the direction of his purported guard - a one Mister Wolf of Aurelis. He's been about as jovial over their travels as he had been during their first meeting - which was to say, not at all. Matthew could have brought up the birds. Could have, and really, really wanted to, in truth. 'Hey, Nameless is doing pretty well. Thought you'd want to know, heh. I think he misses you.'

… But the last thing Matthew wants is to make a long trip even longer, so, you know. He kept his mouth shut about it.

He'd talked about this and that at first, reminiscing over winters in Ostia and laughing at how the Battle of the Eagle and Lion had gone again, and oh, the school was always lively this time of year, wasn't it? In preparation for the upcoming ball and all…

A tough nut to crack, you are, Mister Wolf.

Matthew gives up on chatter partway into their travels. He's not even sure if Wolf's been listening, anyway. No point in wasting his breath.

So, yeah.

It had proven an uneventful job. Borderline dull, or dreary, even.

The silver lining is that they're just about done here, making their way back into town after a successful delivery all wrapped up. He'll be glad to wash up and sleep in his own bed tonight. Maaaybe he even missed the dining hall fare just a smidge, but shhh.

... There's a crowd up ahead, and music, too. Matthew shudders, shivers despite himself. Brows furrow, and he finds himself following the sound without realizing it, diverging from the original intended path back to the monastery.

To one, the notes may sound reminiscent of the winds blowing on the plains, or of oaths upheld, or anything in between.

To Matthew,

it sounds like the wind whistling through the gnarled trees on the Isle of Valor.

Eyes narrow. Heart hammers in his chest, in his ears.

What... what is this...?

He takes a step back, almost trips over someone.

He can't decide if he wants to run away, or run closer, so for now... For now, he stays put.

@aurelianwolf