Completed Trial by Fire (Crypt)

[Sybel]

Crypt seemed reluctant to let her down, but shook his head nonetheless. “I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I can't. I am not experienced enough in any aspect of Magic to teach anyone magic. I'm afraid that you'll have to look elsewhere for a teacher. The University of Zeltiva, my uncle used to say, have a few of the best teachers for magic, though they tend to concentrate more on the theory, rather than practical uses.” She’d heard that too. “I’ve been to Zeltiva for a couple of seasons. I spent a lot of time loitering in the Library but never had to money to actually enroll.” She looked slightly crestfallen. “Alas, money is what drives us all. One day, I will go back and try again. I wrung a lot of useful information out of that place though.” Zeltiva had been an experience she’d never forget. It really defined who she’d chosen to be. Time passed so quickly, she lamented in silence. ”Well, never let it be said that we Drykas men are meek and quiet. Quite a few of us take more than one wife, the Ankals more often than not.” At that she grinned with mirth. “No kidding. That’s was part of the problem. I’m no lover, but I’m also no fool.” ”If you had stayed in Endrykas long enough, you would have found out that we migrate around the entire region of Cyphrus. We are on the move more often that you'd expect.” She nodded along. “Oh I stayed with your people for a few years before moving on, honestly. The lack of permanence was honestly part of the allure. I am a nomad, after all.” “Anyway, my cousin Kyarni has some of that fiery blood in her veins. Unlike traditional, stiff-necked Konti, she travels quite a distance from Mura on a horse, she doesn't want to just stay in Mura. You'll find that though she's quite silent at times, she will surprise you.” “I’d be honored to meet her then. After all, I’m very unlike traditional, stiff-necked Benshira. We’d get along well from the sound of it.” “Would you take more than one wife, Crypt?” She teased. “Or is one enough?”

[Crypt]

“Quite so. But that becomes quickly predictable, and so becomes rather boring.” Crypt moved his long hair (long for a male, that is) away from his eyes, apparently quite irritated how they keep blocking his vision when was doing certain actions. He raised an eyebrow as Sybel teased him. “I've never really thought about that before, so I'll have to think of it. Hmmm... There was that stay in Avanthal where I was kindly hosted by a newly-wedded couple for the full duration of my stay. It was... interesting to see them interacting with each other, especially since they adopted a child, who would be about 6 or 7 years of age now. I would take two wives, but only if I can handle them and they co-operate fully with each other. From what I experienced, even one wife can be quite troublesome to handle, especially if she was someone like you.” Crypt spoke, neatly turning the tables on her and teasing her in return.

[Sybel]

“Quite so. But that becomes quickly predictable, and so becomes rather boring.” Sybel nodded alongside. “I absolutely agree. That was real motivator for my leaving. In the end, you stagnate. I couldn’t be pinned down too long, even in a city that wanders. I had to keep in motion.” The reasoning behind her inability to keep still was two-fold. One was a fundamental part of her personality, and the other was a carefully constructed mechanism to keep her past truly behind her. It dogged her steps, hid in her shadow and refused to die. No matter how far she’d run it would be right there with her. Of course, Sybel was wise enough to understand how foolhardy it was to even try. All she could say was that it had worked for long enough to be considered effective. “I've never really thought about that before, so I'll have to think of it. Hmmm... There was that stay in Avanthal where I was kindly hosted by a newly-wedded couple for the full duration of my stay. It was... interesting to see them interacting with each other, especially since they adopted a child, who would be about 6 or 7 years of age now.” She grinned wickedly. “Sounds like a wild time.” Drykas knew how to throw parties, and newly weds loved to party. The only other species that could compete were the Svefra. Sybel had a multitude of experience with both. “Unless they were endeavoring to be responsible. That too would make sense.” “I would take two wives, but only if I can handle them and they co-operate fully with each other. From what I experienced, even one wife can be quite troublesome to handle, especially if she was someone like you.” So he was feeling clever, eh? Sybel laughed. “I’ve been called troublesome before, you know. It’s a point of pride.” Being difficult to manage was dominating feature of a good woman. After all, anything worth having would not be easy to obtain. “So no lucky lady pining after you, desperate for you return?” Her smile altered, became more kindly. “I wouldn't be surprised. But wanderers like us have difficulty keeping interest, I suppose. I know I feel that way.”

[Crypt]

There appeared to be something else to her reason for not being able to stay in Endrykas, judging from the pause she gave after commenting on his answer. Of course, she could have been waiting for his next answer, but Crypt felt that it was more likely than not. Crypt chuckled as he listened to Sybel speak on the topic of marriage. True, true... “Quite so. You may not believe it, but I've met and bedded quite a few women in my time. I've had no shortage of women attracted to me in every city I visit - one of the many reasons I wear this mask until I am reasonably certain that I will attract less attention. But yes, our kind is like that. A lonely existence, it would seen, interspersed with bursts of colour, companions we meet and accompany us on our journey awhile.” Crypt leant against a tree trunk, drawing his thick cloak around and closed his eyes. “I'm going to sleep now. It's been a long day and I want to be fresh tomorrow.”

[Sybel]

He scrutinized her, seemingly to analyze her. She didn’t think too much on it – after all, they’d been sizing one another up the entire time. It had been tense at first, but not settled into something slightly easier. The conversation ebbed and flowed more naturally. “Quite so. You may not believe it, but I've met and bedded quite a few women in my time.” Her eyebrows raised. Let it never be said that this man wanted for confidence. ”I've had no shortage of women attracted to me in every city I visit - one of the many reasons I wear this mask until I am reasonably certain that I will attract less attention.” Quite so indeed, she internalized. He was a real piece of work, but she’d asked – what answer did she honestly expect? It was just amusing to hear someone talk themselves up so blatantly, with no agenda behind it. Just pure self-assurance. "But yes, our kind is like that. A lonely existence, it would seen, interspersed with bursts of color, companions we meet and accompany us on our journey awhile.” That was the way of life. After all, each person had their separate path. Even when two journeys would intersect, they would inevitably part again. For even beyond dedication there was death, the ultimate parting. Her thoughts became morbid in her drowsy state. “I'm going to sleep now. It's been a long day and I want to be fresh tomorrow.” It seemed abrupt. He was going to sleep outside, with no tent? It was safer sure, but certainly not natural. Her suspicion came racing back. “I see.” She responded quietly. “Well goodnight.” Softly she rose from the seated position and unpacked her bedroll and blanket. If he had anything planned, she’d have room to retreat that way. She placed it next a few feet from the fire and laid down, her eyes fixed on the eaves above, swaying gently in the wind. It was going to be a cold night, but she’d had plenty of cold nights. After a little while, Sybel slipped into a mild doze.

[Crypt]

20th of Fall, 512 AV (Morning, the 8th Bell) Crypt blinked his eyes rapidly, trying to clear his blurry vision. Finally, he was able to focus on his surrounding properly, and stood up, stretching his arms wide. Ahh... That was a good sleep. Haven't had one since... Well, I don't know when. My wound's hurting less now - that's a good sign. The aches in my muscles are almost gone, so good riddance. Damn, I'm thirsty. Crypt dug into his backpack and pulled out his waterskin, taking a long swig of the water inside, then moistened his face with the icy-cold water, allowing him to return to full alertness. Wiping off the last of the water, he capped his waterskin and returned it to his bag. He nudged Maras, who was still dreaming of a wonderful female horse, and rudely awakened him from his blissful state of mind. Giving a snort, Maras lifted himself up and went for a short gallop around the small forest clearing. Crypt chewed slowly on the last piece of bread left, watching his Strider exercise to shake off the lethargy from sleeping.

[Sybel]

When first light hit the sky, just a gentle smattering through the eaves of the overhanging trees, her eyes fluttered open. It had been a relatively sleepless night, filled with treacherous thoughts. Sometimes she would be overtaken by her subconscious. It would prod at her and remind her that she was still human. Still avoiding hard truths. She rubbed wearily at her face, stretched and deftly packed away her things. Plus, the ground had been cold and that cold ebbed through the thin layer of protection and went to her very bones. She felt brittle and completely without power. So it would have been fine in the end, had she chosen to sleep in her tent rather than the merciless ground. Still, she wasn’t about to flog herself for it. There was nothing wrong with being cautious, even if you suffered for it in the end. The point was if something had happened, she would’ve been prepared. It was going to be a long journey. Her friend still slept, completely placid. ‘Men’, she thought with some amusement. They could sleep just about anywhere. It was a useful quality to have in the wilderness, if you anticipated getting any rest. But Sybel would spend most of this trip half-exhausted, wild and somewhat irritable. The next roadside inn she found, she was stopping for it and not even for a bed. But something to drink would be nice, especially given her recent thoughts. It didn’t take too long for him to wake up. She’d stirred the fire once again, sitting cross-legged and adjacent to it. Vigorously she raked a bristle brush through her hair, working at a rat’s nest that clung to the base of her skull. It was such an annoyance, the long tresses. Still, they were necessary for her job. “Good morning,” she said, greeting her temporary companion. The time it took to grab a long drink and rouse his steed, Sybel had finished her tedious work and swept her troublesome locks to one side, tying them off with a leather thong. That would have to do for then, though the back of her neck was sure to be cold. Pulling her cloak back on, she huddled into it for warmth. “Shall we have a bit of breakfast, or are in you a hurry?” She inquired politely, warming her hands above the dancing flames.

[Crypt]

“Good morning.” Crypt replied as he finished his bread. Taking another sip from his waterskin, he leant closer to the fire and started to warm his hands. “I'm in no particular hurry, Syliras is about a day or two away anyway. Have some breakfast, I'll be back shortly. Need to check on my snare.” Crypt got up and stretched again. Turning around the forest clearing, he noted several marks he had committed so memory, and set off towards the rabbit run he had discovered the day before. Arriving there, he moved over to the location of his rudimentary snare and was pleased to find a rabbit that was still alive, kicking and struggling to free itself. Crypt placed his left hand on the rabbit's neck and gave a twist, breaking the neck and silencing the animal almost instantly. Good. At least a predator hasn't taken this one. As always, having to kill something for food is deplorable... But that's the way things go. We Drykas know that everything has a place, especially in the Sea of Grass, but it applies here too. Crypt set off on a brisk walk towards the forest clearing.

[Sybel]

“Good morning.” Crypt had responded, finishing up his own meal. “I'm in no particular hurry, Syliras is about a day or two away anyway. Have some breakfast, I'll be back shortly. Need to check on my snare.” She nodded, and dug through her supplies, unearthing a loaf of bread and slice of cheese. Sybel loved cheese inexplicably well, and so the first bite was practically nirvana. She broke her fast slowly, so as to avoid appearing ravenous. Truth be told, she was rather hungry, but it would be unseemly to appear so. Not that anyone was watching. Sybel glanced up to see the two horses interacting, Eplah tentatively approaching Maras, Crypt’s mount. They hadn’t done much the night before, but Eplah looked as if noticing the other steed for the first time. She sniffed at the other animal, reaching her snout out to touch their noses. Sybel rolled her eyes to the heavens. Horses could be just as clueless as humans it seemed. She decided to wait for Crypt’s return, having nothing better to do. Once she was finished eating, she brushed the crumbs for her cloak at poked at the kindling with a stick, encouraging it to smolder on.

[Crypt]

Looks like they're quite interested in each other. Good thing Maras isn't the kind that humps every female within sight; that would end rather badly. Crypt walked back to the clearing, holding the dead rabbit in his left hand. Crouching, he used a short length of rope to secure it firmly to the exterior of his backpack, then he picked up his backpack. “I suppose I'll be going now.”