I Refuse To Sink II [Aerion]

by **Septimus** on July 8th, 2014, 1:20 am

Summer 35th, 514AV
Continued from here

Agreeing upon the time and place, Septimus had decided to meet the strange traveler within the marketplace. It had been a while and she needed to wind down and take a break. Her body was sore and tired and she smelled awfully. Of course, when you're baking in the summer sun all day while on patrol, it kind of did that to you.

Just a few minutes prior, the Squires had been relieved from their duties for the day. The sun was already beginning to set below the horizon, turning the blue skies into an orangish hue. Making her way through the castle, the Squire went into her quarters and removed her armor. She undressed with no modesty and dressed with a new, light set of clothing.

Grabbing the belt which held her broadsword, she buckled it to her side and slung her shield over her back. Septimus removed the tie that held her hair back and ran her hand through it. She brushed her blonde, golden locks with a brush and sat it down, proceeding to throw on her boots and make her way out of the Squire quarters and down into the castle where the marketplace would be located.

Her sapphire eyes scanned for the stranger, her large stature easily standing above the majority of most. When she spotted him, she briskly walked to him, tapping him upon the shoulder. "Perhaps we should get going then?"

by **Aerion** on July 8th, 2014, 1:45 am

Aerion turned around as he felt a tap on his shoulder and a familiar voice. "Of course, ready when you are, to wherever we are going. I do not believe I have visited the part of the castle you mentioned to me." He said as he turned around.

He had plenty of chance to examine her as she faced him, he noted she was quite beautiful, especially for a Knight in training, and she seemed much more relaxed than she did when he first met her. Then again, when they had first met, he was just a possible troublemaker edging around the treeline being confronted by a suspicious Squire. He smiled inwardly at that.

Aerion himself had on his pure white clothing, indicating his clan, his white hood from his cloak on his shoulders. He smiled as she agreed to lead the way, with Teren pulling up the rear.

They traveled in silence some way away from the market, when he suddenly said, "You never did answer my question earlier, now did you?" She didn't answer, so he figured they were to talk more when they got to their destination. Slightly annoyed, he accepted the fact and followed along, prodding Teren for the info he had been keeping secret.

They finally reached their destination, which seemed to be a small bar, they walked in and sat at a table, Teren being a horse, he had to wait outside, feeling a little indignant toward the young woman. Aerion was confused as to why, but saved the question for when she finally started talking.

She did not seem to talk right away, so Aerion decided to speak first again, "My name is Aerion by the way, we never did really exchange our names when you stopped me and threatened me with your large sword." He smirked a bit at her across the table, hoping it would prompt her into talking, one way or another.

by **Septimus** on July 8th, 2014, 2:30 am

Walking within silence, the equine Kelvic smiled. Silence was a language within itself. Speaking in basic Tukant, she grinned "When we get there," knowing few except the Akalak knew just precisely what she was saying. Pressing on within silence Septimus made her way towards the Rearing Stallion. Many times she had came here for a drink or even a meal.

Picking a table, she sat down and looked at the man as he spoke. She smiled, her sapphire eyes looking at him as she removed her belt which held her sword and sat it against her chair along with the shield. She carried them both everywhere with her. It never failed. She took her finger and began to trace the outline of the table before she finally spoke with a sigh.

"I never threatened you. I call it motivation." A small chuckle escaped her lips before she flashed a bright smile again and finally said "Anyways, I suppose I'm in debt some information." She dipped her head before scrunching her lips "I'm Septimus."

Thinking of how to approach the topic as to which he was inquiring, she sighed and began "I'll answer your question. But, let me ask you this, what do you think I am? Obviously I'm a female... obviously I'm a Squire but really what do you think I am?"

The waitress approached the two and Septimus smiled "I'll take a mug of Ale, please." The waitress looked at Aerion and smiled "What would you like?"

by **Aerion** on July 8th, 2014, 3:05 am

Sitting across from her, Aerion could tell she seemed a bit lighter in heart after his small joke. He responded, "Some motivation, someone who looks like a Syliran Knight approaching you, telling you to halt, then their hand moving to their sword suddenly. That would send many sane people running."

He raised his eyebrow as she responded with her name and her inquiry into what he thought she was. Once again he turned to Teren for the information he had been hiding, the horse pretended to ignore his requests. Feeling slightly frustrated, he responded to her, "Definitely not just human by the way Teren is acting. If you were human, he would not feel the need to keep something from me.."

He got interrupted by the waitress, who smiled at him. Aerion sent a smile back, and said, "Nothing, thank you." He turned back toward Septimus, as it finally clicked. The way her eyes lit up when she saw Teren, the secrecy that Teren is providing for her, and the graceful way she walked. Teren finally submitted his own information as he felt his friend find the answer without him.

As the waitress walked away, Aerion lowered his voice to a whisper with a light in his eyes, "A Kelvic? Specifically with a horse form, that is the only reason Teren would keep something from me, for one of his kind. I have had the misfortune to have never met one of your kind so far in my life. I have long been hoping to meet one of those who can switch between the animal world and the human world at will.." Aerion's eyes shone with the deepest respect as he continued, "Part of my personal code is to not brutally harm sentient creatures, and to not harm them unless given a reason, and I find the Kelvic to be some of the highest form of sentience, due to their ability to change forms, you have my respect young one." Though he knew little about them, Aerion knew that Kelvic were actually much younger than they looked.

by **Septimus** on July 8th, 2014, 4:10 am

"Only guilty people run, dear Aerion." She cocked and eyebrow and looked up at him as the waitress came back and sat the mug of ale beside her before she scrambled off again to cater to other guests. Septimus swallowed and grabbed the mug, looking down into the glass before sighing and taking a large swig. The alcohol burned her throat going down. It had been so long.

Taking another drink from the bitter liquid, her eyes widened as he guessed it on spot. Swallowing the liquid quickly she looked at him, attempting to follow his reasoning behind why he had guessed it... upon the first try. Of course, his mouth proceeded to rumble on and Septimus shook her head, waiting for him to finish. "Listen, I'm just a horse that can switch skins. A regular horse working for the Knights. But truly, I appreciate your respect."

Taking another drink of the bile liquid, she continued "So what is it exactly you want to know about me? You know, you're a bit vague still, Drykas."

by **Aerion** on July 8th, 2014, 4:44 am

Aerion smiled at Septimus' response, liking the response, "True enough, so you see that I did not run."

As she tried to push away the majesty of the reality of what she was, he continued, "You are not just a regular horse working for the Knights, you are a being that can transform between Human and Animal. It is something that people have only ever dreamed of. In your animal form, you are one with the animal that is one with you. The horse is a symbol of freedom, of life living onward and pushing forward among my people, I wish I could make you understand.." He trailed off, then suddenly the words came to him, "Your horse side is your outlet, the way you can relieve yourself of your cares, just running and running. You are free to run and to roam across the land, running as fast as you could wish. There have been times I have wished such a thing.." Aerion's eyes glossed over.

Her next response came after once again drinking from her mug, he shook himself back to the present, and responded by saying, "You interest me, as I have listened to you talk, I have heard how you feel about your ability to change forms, and it seems to me that you feel your duty to the Knights, but in that same function, you seem to want to cut off the other half of you, seemingly dispossessing it as if it were tainted. You did not seem to want me to know, hence Teren denying me the information at first." He trailed off as he stared her in the eyes, his face growing deadly serious and sad.

There was silence for a few minutes until he finally looked down at the table, hoping that in fact his observations were true, and he had not just insulted the young woman. He whispered in a voice that was barely audible, "You are not the only one who has been hated for what they are..."

by **Archailist** on August 14th, 2014, 6:17 pm

Aerion :

Notes :

Was I a little too nuts in my grading?
If you've got concerns, just call me.