Open From Across the Pond

[H'veen]

Winter 15th, 512 AV Music: Little Fish, Big Pond (The Bovinian Derivative) The bells of the dock chimed in unison, their windy conductor orchestrating the brass band with sloppy form. Their sharp cries bounded across the sea and far into the fog like a mother calling into the forest for their son. The docked ships would creak in approval, an applause of grinding wood sounding across the audience. The gulls would rest upon the wooden planks and listen to the single-note tune before leaving for dinner, squawking in either approval or disgust. No one could be sure. But the bells continued either way. Their song reached deep into the port and to the ears of passing citizens. They paid it little attention, however, for the song had been played relentlessly for days. The recitals lasted from sunrise to sunset with no obvious improvement. In fact, some wished to silence the choir by means of removing its members. Of course they could not do such a thing for it was that very song that guided the seafaring ships home. Others found the sound to be soothing, the sound of home. Either way they endured, and expected to do so until a more efficient means was found. H'veen, on the other hand did not know what to make of the noise. The shrill cries somehow managed to overpower the shouts and hollers of the sea-drenched men around her. It sung like a siren, guiding the crew into the heavy fog. The steady chimes sent her into a strange trance that made the ship and its members so far away. It wasn't until an old, sea-pruned hand was placed on her shoulder that she managed to return. He shouted something about the sails, but with the shrieking bells, the howling wind, and the slowshing of the waters, all she could hear was a jumble of sounds. The rope in her hands lurched forwards. It took all her strength not to go with it. Several deckhands aided her as she dug her feet into the wooden planks and tried to keep from getting flung into the mast. They succeeded in securing it, but not before H'veen's hands were decorated with burn marks. Despite the flaming pain her fingers felt frozen and fragile, the winter air having chilled them to the bone. She wished she could wear her mittens, but the captain had warned her that the tasks she would be performing would more than likely destroy them. She took that moment to relax. Or try to at least. The sea constantly spat at her, the icy droplets slamming into her cheeks like pebbles against a window. The constant rocking made her head spin and her stomach lurch. It always threatened to empty itself. The wind blew fiercely across the bow slapping her across the face with an icy backhand. She felt it tug at her scarf, fluttering in the wind like an errant flag. In her mind she conjured the image of her mother dragging her by the scarf all the way back to Wind Reach. H’veen wondered if they had found the letter yet. They should have. It had been almost a week. She began worrying. What if her father had not found the note, and thought her to have been kidnapped? What if they had been searching for her all these days? Did they think she was dead? A pit opened in her stomach, and it felt like she was going to pass out. But she remained vigilant. It was too late to go back now. Not after getting this far. She shivered against the elements, shutting her eyes. When she opened them again, she had to close them once more to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. There it was. Like the last mark of punctuation in a book. A symbol so small, but filled to bursting with emotions. Accomplishment, sadness, hope, and above all: Completion. Before her stood the city of Avanthal. The City of Endless Winter. It was as if she had just finished a book and was now opening another. A new story began to unfold. Words could not alone describe the shimmering beauty ahead of her. The way the city for blights shone against the snowy backdrop. The way the shops were bundled together, as if they were huddling for warmth themselves. The way the snow hugged the geography like a tight blanket. And the main attraction itself: The Palace of Ice. H'veen stood, jaw agape and collecting snow, with eyes wide as saucers. Someone beside her muttered something (Probably along the lines of "tourists") but was outright ignored by the Inarta. Such beauty! Such elegance! It was like a painting frozen in time. Literally. So entranced by the view, the girl was almost knocked overboard as the boat ran against the dock. Her hands flew out and caught the railing, inches away from a cold, watery fate.It took several moments for her to regain her faculties. The chime of the bells and the shouts of the men then accompanied her as she helped dock. H'veen took one last look at the men. They looked back. She had spent only a short time with them, but she knew enough to know they were crude, vile, inappropriate, and utterly stupid. But she had loved watching them all the same. It was fascinating to watch their ways, their customs, their movements. She was sad to part with them. They would stay for a little while to trade, but she was in no way fit to keep traveling with them. She raised a hand and waved it, wishing them farewell, and they did the same. And with a heavy sigh, H'veen turned her back on them and faced the icy city. It was then that she realized the air was colder than her mothers heart (Which is to say, pretty frickin' cold). She felt a chill run up her spine that sent her teeth chattering. The mittens would finally see use. She donned them, along with a heavy woolen cap that concealed her hair so that only a few stray strand hung across her face. The wool jacket was pulled tight, making sure there were no entrances for the wind. She'd have to find a nice, warm, dry place to rest. And food. Yes. Food would be great. Something to warm her inside and out. She noted another on the dock opposite her, and she approached. With her signature smile and a spring by her step the distance between then closed very quickly. And with a voice not quite as high as a Wren's, but with all its chipper, she asked: "Excuse me, but are you from around here? I'm trying to find a place to stay. Hopefully that has food. And heat"

[Silarial]

It was late into the night, and the wind blowing through the city was very chilly despite being winter. Silarial would’ve mind if she was a lot younger and if she didn’t have a mark from Morwen. She didn’t mind now. She actually found the cold a bit comforting. Of course she’s not stupid enough to face the harsh elements unprotected. With a small smile, she wrapped her white fur cloak closer to her body, relishing in its soft feel. Silarial looked on at the sea from the docks, imagining the places just beyond the seemingly endless waters and the constant thick fog hovering above it. She yearned to go to all those places just waiting out there for her eyes to see. She traced a finger on her lips, her mind already exploring the lands she had only read from dusty history books. One day, she would finally be able to set on a journey around the world. She would see all those places, learn all about other peoples’ cultures, and maybe even meet a god or two! For now though, she would be patient. She’d work on her dancing, and then she would learn how to fend for herself. Leaving her beloved city is one thing, surviving for a safe return is another. The raucous shouts coming from a docking ship broke her train of thoughts. The crude sailors had hit land again. The persistent ringing of the dock bells did not bother the girl as much as the rowdy seamen. After all, the bells only does harm to her ears, these men constantly try to poke at her patience and dignity. Being a dancer doesn’t automatically make her a harlot, and she can’t fathom why these men keep associating one with the other. Somewhere inside though, she felt she knew the answer. It must’ve been because of her birth mother’s ‘profession’. She shook the ugly thoughts away and realized that she had been chewing at her lips in annoyance. She decided that avoiding interaction with such people is probably the best course of action. Heaving a disappointed sigh, she was preparing to leave when a chirpy voice caught her attention. Silarial turned around to see a girl who seemed to be the same age as her. The girl was covered from head to toe. Upon closer look, Silarial noticed that the girl’s teeth were slightly chattering, and her clothes were slightly damp. Seeing this, Silarial pieced together that this girl probably was a tourist who came from warmer lands to Avanthal by sea. Her assumptions were affirmed when she heard the girl’s inquiry for food and warm lodgings. Her mood instantly brightened and sour thoughts from earlier musings were soon forgotten. A tourist who just set foot, literally, in the city was a new thing for Silarial, and it is certainly most welcome, anticipated, even. Few people dared to visit the everwinter city of Avanthal, and even fewer decided to stay for more than a season. She wished that this visitor would stay long enough for her to ask the girl about the places she'd already seen. Her large silver eyes changed into a vivid crimson. With a bright smile, she replied cheerfully, “Are you a tourist? This is an unlikely hour to arrive at the city. Well... I would bring you to the Savintar Warrens right now for lodging, but I bet you’re really cold and hungry right now, aren’t you? Would you like to eat and warm yourself first?” Before completely forgetting herself, Silarial bit her lips and internally reprimanded her self for lack of manners. “Oh sorry! I kept talking and forgot to introduce myself. My name’s Silarial... And you?” OOCI read from your post somewhere that you will arrive in Avanthal late at night so I made it seem that way. If I was wrong, don't hesitate to tell me that I am. And I hope you don't mind threading with me!

[H'veen]

OOC : No worries I did say it was at night, so it's fine. Looking forward to our RP together It took every ounce of her being not to smile like an idiot as she watched the woman’s expression change at her approach. The odd way her teeth caught her lips made it clear something had unsettled her. But what? Hopefully not her. H’veen had always made sure to make a good first impression. Besides, the smile that the girl now wore seemed sincere and warm. Already the chill was beginning to retreat from the Inarta. She watched her talk, bundling her coat closer to hide from the wind. The air tried its best to whisk away the words, but she still managed to hear them after tuning her ears a bit. Tourist? Hm. Yeah, that sounded better than “Runaway”. In all actuality she WAS touring Avanthal. Not its sights, though. Rather its people. Once a hobby done in place of attending classes, her habit of people-watching blossomed into her love for Anthropology. Though her studies were once restricted to her own race and culture, she could now branch out. It was the change in the girl's eye color that tipped her to her race. "A Vantha!" She thought. She now shivered with both cold and excitement. She remembered reading them in Father's books. People of the snow, they were. Ate, drank, and breathed the ice and snow. How lucky she was to meet her. Only on very rare occasions had she ever met another race in her home town. Typically, they were travelers just passing through, or traders coming to look at the many crafts of her people. But here was a living, breathing Vantha, an actual citizen of the city, not yet weathered and worn by travel. An urge to touch her face was fought back. She wanted to make sure it was all real. That she wasn't back at home, dreaming if fantasies. To think... all the things she might know! All the stories! The history! What locked chest did she wield the keys for? "H'vuhnh..." She shivered, the words catching on her quivering lips. Frost was gnawing her cheeks raw, making any complex facial movements near impossible. She blew into her mittens and rubbed them up her face and tried again with more success. "H'veen." She said, smiling despite the chilling wind. She was about to extend her hand when the wind struck hard, pushing her several steps back. "Y-y-y-yeah. I w-w... Wish I h-had ch... Chosen a bet-t-ter time." It was a spur-of-the-moment choice, after all. She hadn't really planned this all out in advance. She just knew she didn't want to be in Wind Reach anymore. She noticed with intense curiosity that the cold had little effect on her conversational partner. Her voice began speaking in her mind "She must be used to this kind of weather... How incredible! To know the human body is capable of adapting to this kind of weather is just... Is just... Oh god it's cold." She shivered violently. The bells began to chime again, drawing her attention back to the boat, one of the men having knocked another unconscious with a barrel. They were laughing at the unmoving body, probably drunk with the air of the sea, driven mad by some degree. Her smile managed to gain strength, but another gust blew it away. It did nothing to their laughter, instead they started to toy with the body, placing him in awkward and... inappropriate poses. She turned back to the Vantha, blushing from both frost and embarrassment. ”Y-yes please. W... we can c-continue t-t-this somep-p-place warm... warmer.”

[Silarial]

Silarial feel for this person who traveled all the way to the North just to be greeted with the unforgiving cold. She watched sympathetically as the girl struggled to keep her sunny attitude despite the constant onslaught of glacial winds. Eyes slowly changing into a deep hue of blue, she strained her ears to understand what the girl was trying to say. What was it again? Oh, she was saying her name. So she’s called H’veen! The name sounded so new to Silarial’s ears. She wondered where this visitor came from. What had she seen on her way here? Maybe this girl could share to her all that she knows of the world beyond the sea and the endless snow. This place was everything Silarial knew, and the anticipation to hear the tales of someone coming from a completely different culture is making her giddy. But first things first, she had to keep her new friend warm. She already had the perfect place in mind. H’veen’s attention was caught by boisterous jeers and Silarial followed her gaze towards the men who were once again horsing around with one another. Those men! Couldn’t they do anything better in their free time than cause trouble for everybody? She blushed, feeling embarrassed by the vulgar display. She kept a mental note to remind her that she’ll have to teach them a lesson or two tomorrow. Upon seeing her companion’s discomfort, Silarial cleared her throat and smiled apologetically. She had forgotten that H’veen didn’t have an Ice reaving gnosis. Of course she would be very, very cold. Worse than cold. She would be freezing. Silarial listened to the girl stutter out her request. “Yes… I’m sorry you had to see something ugly during your first day here… let’s go to the Red Diamond. It’s a tavern and it's a ten chime’s walk from here.” She pulled the girl gently by the wrist and motioned her to follow. Snowfall was not too heavy that day, so the snow on the ground only reached a few inches above their ankles. A new path was not yet made around the city docks since the snow had just stopped falling half a bell earlier. Silarial sighed. She will have to melt the ice to make walking easier for the already freezing H’veen. She only needed to melt the path they’re going to walk through anyway so that’s simple enough. Breathing deeply, she imagined the snow in front of them turn into water. As soon as she visualized this, the snow melted and they could step onto the ground with ease now. Silarial grinned with satisfaction. Ice reaving was like second nature to Silarial, and manipulating water and ice is easy as long as it’s not in voluminous quantities. She continued to do this eastward for a few chimes until they reached the familiar cluster of buildings. Paths were already made in this part of the city so there was no more need for Silarial to melt more ice. A few people were walking here and there, but most were already holed up in their Arvintas. She was not surprised since this had been a very trying time for everyone, and the Holds currently find it hard to trust someone who was not part of their own. Tension was in the air, and Silarial could only hope that it will not make H’veen regret her decision of coming to the city. Silarial turned to H’veen, worried that she could not take the subzero temperature much longer. She pointed to the large building a few meters away from them. With renewed liveliness, she said, “And that, my friend, is the Red Diamond. I hope you can still manage to walk a few more steps H’veen.”

[H'veen]

H'veen shared the Vantha's disgusted look towards the men. The only thing that had kept them off her was the captain, the only man on board that seemed to have more sense then shredded lettuce. They were interesting to observe, but they were good for only that. The more she thought about it, the happier she was to be away from them. Actually, yes. Very much. The wind bit hard against her wrists as the girl led her closer to the city. The snow clutched at her ankles and tried to pull her down, but the Vantha ensured she would stay upright. Her eyes nearly burst from her head as the snow began to shrink and wash away, clearing a path to to the tavern. No wonder they could survive, they had been blessed to do so. The gnosis. That must be where the secret lies. Their mark! H'veen knew enough about the marks to know she wanted one herself. Yet she was not ready. Not yet. Perhaps soon. Maybe the same mark as the girl. The closer she drew to the Vatha, the warmer she felt. As if she was producing heat. Which was probably likely, given the aforementioned mark, and her disregard for the cold. Such an ability would be useful if she decided to stay for a long time here, or just to have in case the weather turned nasty during her travels. She wondered if she was even eligible for the mark to begin with, but perhaps it was wrong to crush her own dreams so early. She walked with Silarial towards a close jumble of buildings, the wind breaking on the houses. H'veen enjoyed not having her face constantly chewed on by the wind, and felt her lips slowing. The bells seemed to fade away behind her, the music from the tavern cheerful and uplifting. A new smile formed on her face, and she turned to her new friend. "You must let me buy you a drink. It's the least I can do for your help" As she said this she gripped the woman's hand in her own, staring up with child-like wonder and excitement. Her teeth caught the candlelight, the white rows sparkling in the fire-light. She could learn a thing or two from this woman. The Vantha culture. Their ways. Perhaps she could share a few tales of her own. Her body bounced with excitement.

[Silarial]

The tavern had a cheery air despite the considerable lack of patrons. Usually, men would gather together in front of the large fireplace at the end of the main room to share wonderful tales that had been reserved for such occasions. Tonight, no wild stories or hearty laughter could be heard. It was no surprise to Silarial since a bar fight broke out in this very place just a few days earlier. It had been a nightmare for Silarial since she was at the Diamond at that time. There were a couple of people huddled together here and there, and to an outsider, this might seem like an ordinary night at some tavern. The place had been cleaned up now though, and hopefully business would be back to normal soon. Silarial looked at H’veen through ivory white eyes. She found the girl’s expression very fascinating. Now that she can see H’veen’s face with better illumination, it seemed that the girl was just as excited as her. Silarial couldn’t help but grin with enthusiasm. So she was not the only one, wasn’t she? It seemed H’veen wanted to know all about her home, and her culture too. Silarial internally stuck her tongue out at herself. Well, of course. H’veen wouldn’t have crossed turbulent waters in winter if she didn’t want to learn about Avanthal. Perhaps she should humor her friend first. Telling stories is one of Silarial’s specialties anyway, and maybe her friend would share something as well later. H’veen held her hands and offered her a drink. But… didn’t she just come here from a long journey? What if she didn’t have enough money on her person and was just doing this out of consideration? Silarial wanted to say that she really didn’t have to give her anything. She enjoyed H’veen’s company and she didn’t need any payment or anything of the sort. However, won’t refusing her friend’s offer come off as being rude? Silarial chewed on her lower lip, unaware that her face was giving away her troubles. With a small sigh, she flushed and smile shyly. “You really don’t have to do anything because I wanted to help you. But if you insist… I’d have a glass of milk, thank you.” She scanned the tavern. There were vacant cushioned chairs in front of the large fireplace, and in the corner there were stairs leading to the second floor. The room upstairs will have less people and less noise, but the main room was warmer. “Do you want to sit by the fireplace?” She turned to H’veen, tilting her head a bit to the side.

[H'veen]

The warmth of the tavern enveloped her like a blanket. The outside world was more than happy to get rid of her as the wind thrust her inward. flakes of snow accompanied her inside, melting before they hit the ground or sticking to the clothes of nearby customers. It threatened to blow out the torches and plunge the tavern into darkness, but the flames stood vigilant against the wind, only growing in determination. H’veen let out a contempt sigh as she entered the warming embrace, her quivering lips and shivering body slowly unwinding. Her fingers were still frozen, and her face felt like loose rubber, but after some time indoors she was convinced her body would return to normal. Besides, if she could find a way to adapt to the weather in Avanthal, she might not have to worry about the cold again. But perhaps prolonged exposure to the cold would do more harm than good. So for now, she’d just focus on getting warm. Following her new friend’s request, she approached the counter, meeting the barkeeper with a cheerful smile. The man was taken aback by the sudden jubilance. From the expression on his face, the Inarta could tell he was discomforted, so she backed off. With a small apology, he forgave her. He asked how he could help, and H’veen responded. In a matter of seconds two glasses of milk were set on the bar (-6 cm), and carried back to the Vantha. One stayed in her hand, while the other went into her friend’s. “To Winter!” She clinked her glass against Sialrial’s, giggling. The cold liquid seem to only numb her hands, and when she titled the glass back to drink it nearly fell from her hand. A slight readjustment prevented the ess, but managed to spill a little of the milk up her nose. She pulled the glass away and snorted a cough, covering her face. Embarrassed, she quickly whiped the milk stain from her face and focused herself on Sialrial Her mention of the fire sparked her interest. Some heat via flame would be good for her. A bit of artificial sunlight. H’veen nodded her head and made her way to one of the cushioned seats. The warmth of the fire was pleasant, and she felt herself melt into relaxation. ”Whew... it’s good to be back indoors. Those days out at sea were just... ugh.” She started to feel a little homesick. She was so used to the weather and climate of Wind Reach. Out here was alien, strange. Such a drastic change in surroundings, and a completely different set of people. this wasn’t home, and she felt a little scared. Noone she knew. Nowhere she could navigate. It was all so... different. ”So... Sid.. sa... sur... Sialrial! Sorry, I’m bad with names. Anyways, why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself? Where are you from?”

[Silarial]

Silarial smiled when she saw her friend ease into the cushions. She knows firsthand how difficult it was to be in such a frigid place, and so was really grateful when she finally received her gnosis mark. She occupied the seat beside H’veen and stretched her legs closer to the inviting flames. With a contented sigh, she took a sip from her glass and leaned against the backrest. “I bet sea travel was very grueling. It’s good that you arrived all in one piece.” She briefly wondered what drove a girl to travel all alone to a foreign place. Does her friend want to travel the world too, just like her? Silarial smiled silently at the thought, a little bit envious of the courage her friend had to set out on her own. H’veen is now in Avanthal hanging out with a local. Silarial was still in Avanthal hanging out with a tourist. She could only dream of being in H’veen’s shoes at this moment… Well, except for the freezing up bit. Silarial giggled as H’veen struggled with her name. At her friend’s query, her eyes slowly changed from charcoal black to a bright crimson. For those who know the girl very well, it was a telltale sign that she was excited about something. That or she’s ready to cause mischief. She stared at H’veen with feigned seriousness. She whispered ominously. “I con ‘em tourists into following me to this lair here. After that… I rob ‘em of their pretty loot and put ‘em up on the market for gold. And just look what I got me self. A pretty lass, that’s what she is.” Silarial tried to keep herself from bursting out in laughter but failed within a matter of seconds. She held her sides as she willed herself to stop laughing. A few moments passed before she was able to quiet herself down. Her face was flushed from laughing. “Okay… I was never a good actress. That was a terrible impression.” Deep breathing. “And I’m sorry... That was rude. I’ll behave myself from now on.” Another deep breathing. “…Right. About myself... My name is Silarial, and I know you know that by now. I moved to Avanthal when I was just a wee child. Since then, I have always been a member of the Snowsong Hold.” Silarial’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she shared these simple things about herself. “You see, we Vanthas live in Holds, and each Hold have different things we do best. "We Snowsongs are the Masters of music. Without us, there will be no beautiful music in this city.” She took another sip of milk, licking the residue from her lips afterwards. “How about you my friend? Where did you come from and what brought you to the city of the Aurora?”

[H'veen]

oocSorry for the late post. I had finals yesterday, so most of my time was taken up with studying "It's the rocking. All that rocking." Her mind fell back into memories of sea-sickness. The hours spent hanging over the side of the boat, trying her best to keep her meals in. The nights spent testing and turning in the hammock in restlessness. The smells. Oh god the smells. Sweat, liquor, blood, sick. It was everywhere. She could feel something rosin in her throat as she thought about it. But she managed to keep it down, for her friend's sake H'veen felt poison terror rip through her veins as her friend revealed the dark secret. Her pupils shrank to tiny dots. Her breathing stopped caught in her throat. Her face contorted in fear and her lips began to quiver. The chill that had accompanied her outside in the snow had followed her in, and it ran across her spine like sticks across a xylophone. Was she joking? Please let her be joking. H'veen had read of the Vantha before, but she knew not of their conversational ways. For all she knew, this woman was telling the truth. Her eyes seemed not to lie, and whatever fault there was in her voice was ignored due to the young girl's terror. To think: So early in her adventures, only to come to a dreadful end. She felt like crying. But she fought the urge. When she fell, it would not be with tears. She was ready to defend herself. Fight tooth and nail to sa- Oh. The Inarta let out a exasperated sigh as her friend smiled, revealing the whole thing to be a ruse. Of course she wouldn't do such a thing. In a public place, where they were surround by much stronger individuals? Hardly. Unless they were in on it. What if they were are plotting with the woman, occupying the tavern with only themselves so that they would have no resistance. H'veen shook her head. No, she couldn't think of such a thing. She listened to the Vantha tell her tale, where she resided, and of her hold. "Music? Oh you must show me your skills one of these days! I hear Vanthan music is unlike any other! Oh, but as for me... Well, I come from Wind Reach. I was born into a wealthy family and was led by my mother to learn craft working, like all Inarta. But I don't like crafting. It's boring. I think people are much more interesting. I got really good at it, too! I can read people's faces like a book! Well... a book in another language. So I decided to leave. I'm heading towards Syliras where I can start anew. But I can't just head straight there. I want to hit all the cities I can on my way down. And this is my first stop."She smiled and took another drink of her milk.

[Silarial]

OOCDon't worry! Exams are really important and I would've felt bad if you replied instead of studying. I hope you did well for the tests! Silarial grinned lopsidedly. “I can sing and play for you, but I think you should rather watch me dance though. I’m not really a good musician. I’m more of a dancer. In fact, I dance here in the Red Diamond for a living.” She twisted around and pointed at the back wall opposite the bar. “There! I dance right over there. You should definitely visit me when I’m at work so I'll be able to treat you to good food.” The young Vantha listened eagerly as H’veen recounted her days before she set out on her travel. Silarial had read about a place called Wind Reach before, and its residents called the Inarta. So H’veen was an Inarta, right? Then is her hair a fiery red color? She eyed her friend’s bonnet intently and noticed for the first time a few strands of red escaping from the headgear’s cover. It really is red! The first red hair she had ever seen in her short life! Oh imagine what other wonders lie over the world, just waiting for her to see! The Inarta then told her about herself, and about how her made her learn craftworking. Silarial laughed because she’s not really good with making things with her hands. It’s not because it was boring per se; she just didn’t have enough motivation to work on such skills. Silarial’s face lit up when H’veen mentioned that she can read people’s faces like a book. “That sounds so amazing! I like watching people, but I’m not really good with reading what’s on their… err, faces. You must really like what you are doing! I’ve read about what that was called before.” She chewed on her lower lip as she racked her mind for the right word. “Uhh… Arthro… Antre… ology something.” So H’veen plans to go to Syliras! The melting pot of cultures! “To Syliras! H’veen, that is so wonderful! I want to go there someday too!” She looked pensively at the fire crackling in the hearth. “Actually, I’m going to become a traveling dancer. I want to see the world for what it is, dangerous or no. Just like craftworking for you, staying here had become boring… N-not that I don’t like Avanthal! I love it here and the people are nice and the place’s just breathtakingly beautiful! It’s just that… hanging around one place for much too long isn’t for me… at least not yet.” Silarial blushed a deep crimson and her eyes instantly turned midnight blue. “Oh I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to bore you...”