#|evasionfinalist01

[pledgedheart]

@evasion-finalist | First Contact, con.

If someone was always by another’s side it only made sense the reasoning behind that would be so that someone could protect the other, at least as far as Sirel was concerned. She was always following Ian around because Lords only knew what the impulsive archer would do otherwise.

(She still, fondly despite herself, remembered assisting Ian taking on four other knights who had implied she was lesser because of her sex. They had walked home together, bloodied and bruised, but victorious).

“Jude,” she repeated, nodding. “Alright. I will make sure to remember it.”

Sirel bit her lip, unsure of what else to say and moreover what Alisha expected from her. This Jude at least did not seem to be a malevolent force and as she spoke with him her guard relaxed ever so slightly.

Sirel was saved in finding any new words as she lost focus once the princess let out a long sigh and took in a gasp of air, laughing.

“I was trying to hold my breath like Shepherd Sorey had done but it seems like you two were able to talk just fine even when I let it out.”

Sirel chided her princess in time to Jude’s worried “Alisha-san” and for a moment she felt a sense of camaraderie . Alisha turned to regard a spot to her right and Sirel stepped back and regarded Alisha and her invisible companion converse for a moment. Judging by Alisha’s line of sight the seraph was only a head shorter than Sirel in height.

What an odd thought.

“I’m so glad you were able to meet,” Alisha beamed at that space and then turned the same magnificent smile on Sirel. The knight huffed, but there was litle force behind it.

“I still am unsure what to make of it all. But. if this Jude-”

"Seraph Jude," Alisha corrected with a stern frown.

Sirel nodded awkwardly if not unkindly to the spot she thought the seraph might be watching them from. "Yes...if he has helped you though this time in Merlind then I am truly grateful."

Alisha nodded enthusiastically.

She was truly grateful as well that this meeting could even happen. She could tell being in the middle that both Jude and Sirel weren't exactly sure of one another, but she also thought that seeing as what great people they both were she knew something would come from it.

“I would have been lost without him.” It was something Alisha could admit freely to one as trusted as Sirel but the openness seemed to surprise her friend.

”I'll,” Sirel cleared her throat. “I'll go check on Ian during my rounds if that's alright. Please rest more if you need to.”

”We are fine now.” Alisha assured her. “I'd like to check on Meryl myself so perhaps I'll see you there.”

Alisha knew it would be better to find her passionate friend first before she brought the town around them looking for her. Still, it would be nice to have the quiet company of Jude for a few hours to herself once more. When Sirel took her leave Alisha turned to her seraph friend of expectantly.

”Was that alright for you?”

[seaprayer]

@evasion-finalist | wood’s edge

Shirley had spent more time in her office in Werites Beacon than she had anticipated. There had just been so many letters and requests and while she might be able to work on those in the Ferines Village, she certainly couldn’t put off the actual visitations from foreign diplomats.

As it was, she had a lot to think about. Will had said she was pushing herself but Shirley knew she could not let the Ferines become complacent and comfortable in their hideaway. There were some that had come to town, but very few and while Shirley could not fault them for wanting security she also knew that their chance for reaching out was now.

Her thoughts had been swirling and in order to clear her head she had taken the long way to village. It gave her time to think of ways to explain in her own words why she thought they as a people needed these treaties and gestures of peace. 

She was beginning to feel much more like herself as she skirted the Forest of No Return’s boundary and mad her way down the hilly terrain. Although the barrier had been removed and travelers welcomed the Ferines still chose quite an out of the ways spot for their homes.

I really should put up a sign, Shirley thought and added that to her list of addenda she would go over tonight. There was a fence on the other side of the forest where the old hermitage had used to be but this terrain was still mostly uncharted - it made for a challenging but  sobering walk, yes, but it really would not do for visitors.

And as if in confirmation of that last thought, Shirley’s eyes picked up on movement at the edge of the forest. She summoned her teriques with a quick flick of her pen and it floated in front of her, illuminating a small area. If it were a monster like an eggbear cub the movement would be enough to scare or ward them off but if not...

“Excuse me,” Shirley called out to the now clearly human figure. “Are you alright over there? The Forest can become quite dangerous during the evening!”