[quote=@Darkmoon Angel] [@Thinslayer] A ruse? So she faked her death... But why? There were so many questions Ivan wanted to ask but he still didn't have a clue if this was really Erudessa. But it seemed that she was willing to show her face, at the sound of the release, Ivan watched as she removed the metal mask, his eyes widened. It was her... Besides the black scar on her left eye, it was her, it was Erudessa. He recognized the face, the expression, even tough this was the second or third time he's seen her, this was the real Erudessa. "It's an honor to finally meet you, Stormwall!" Ivan could only look in awe, it wasn't an illusion or anything, it was really her. After a moment of silence, Ivan finally spoke up. [color=ed1c24]"Why... Why with this secrecy? Why did you fake your death I don't understand... Out of everyone else... Why do you show yourself to me?"[/color] [/quote] Erudessa bounced on her heels as she considered her answer. "Well...I came to you because you were here, obviously. And...because you're nice. Could we swap stories on the way back to camp?" She asked as she looped her arm around his. "U-uh... Sure..." Ivan couldn't tell if there was more to that answer than she let on, but he simply let that thought hang in the back of his mind for a bit. Besides, he had another question he needed answered. "What was that... Thing... That attacked us earlier? I could just feel the malice coming from it and it was like it enjoyed the pain we dealt to it..." Erudessa nodded. "That thing was the Warlock, the current Despot of Fellmore. His true name is Druth Vanarys. He was the first wizard to discover magic as we know it, and he remains the most powerful in the world. Once, he even defeated a Guardian. How on earth did you survive him?" "I'm not quite sure how we survived... It was partly due to the rings that you gifted to all of use... You gave us the strength we needed to continue on... Though, the Warlock was obviously toying with us... He vanished shortly after we got our second wind..." Ivan tried to explain the encounter as best he could, though it was hard to explain much of what happened. "It was dark for most of the fight... I felt as if my magic was getting sucked right out of me. Everyone else felt the effect too, except for Zenovia oddly enough... I guess those spirits of hers are good for other things... I honestly think we wouldn't be alive right now without your aid... Though it pains me to know that we lost someone in the midst of everything..." Erudessa let out a small gasp. "Oh no. That's awful! You must have felt so scared, being drained against such a powerful a foe. Who did you lose? Don't tell me it was Diana. I haven't heard from her in a long time." "Yes... Unfortunately... We must've lost her before we ever made it into this forest... How the Warlock grabbed her without us noticing is beyond me... But I won't let that happen to anyone else here!" Losing Diana was hard, but they had to press on, the longer that Warlock was out there, the more innocents that would die by his hand. Ivan had to stay strong, no matter what. At Ivan's words Erudessa pumped her fist. "Right! We will not allow anyone else to suffer the same fate. Diana was a brave elf, and we can honor her memory by staying strong. More importantly, we should stay vigilant and well-rested. I can keep watch every night if it'll help. Honestly, you look like you haven't slept in days, or washed, for that matter. Tell you what, when we get back, I'll make us supper and prepare some leaf beds. How does that sound?" Ivan couldn't help but chuckle. "Heh... That's really kind of you... Its true what people say about you... You're kind, charismatic... Everyone's best interests at heart... I'm sure many people were heartbroken to hear of your death..." Erudessa was thankful it was dark, because her face flushed at the compliment. "That's kind of you to say…” she mumbled. Walking along, Ivan remembered the note that was attached to the arrow Erudessa shot near him. "So... About that dance..." The corners of her mouth turned up into a smirk. "Our brief game of cat and mouse was the dance. It's an old elvish habit that I haven't broken yet. Were you expecting something more...traditional?" She pressed her lips to hold back a chuckle. "Maybe if we had more light and space. I don't want to step on your toes." "Oh... I see." Ivan couldn't help but chuckle. That was a dance? "Let's get back to the camp, I'm sure the others will be surprised to see you." They arrived at camp to find Vert, the Storyteller, and Laina holding down the fort, with everyone else gone or missing. When she spotted Edward, she yanked Ivan with her behind a tree to hide. “Not good, not good! We have to get him out of here. I have an idea. How do I look?” Erudessa undid her hair to let it hang free and combed it out with her fingers. “Time to turn up the charm. Watch my back.” With that, she marched into the clearing and put on her brightest smile. “Edward!” she exclaimed. “Welcome to our humble camp! What brings you all the way out here? Let us make you dinner. Quick, Laina, could you get some salt? I’ll chop up the deer.” She picked up the deer carcass and sat next to Edward. Erudessa sidled up close to him and put a conspiratorial tone in her voice. “So. How’s the old man in the tower?” she cooed as she cut out a prime piece of venison. “Is he still up to his old tricks? Reviving the dead, maybe?” Silently, she issued a telepathic message through the rings to Laina and the Storyteller. [i]Don’t worry, it’s only me, Eru. Stay calm and act normal while I try to get him out of here.[/i] _________ [quote=@ineffable] [@Thinslayer] Laina rises from her position on Gorman and sighs. [color=powderblue]"I'm...I'm sorry. That was completely unexpected...I'll - I'll go get this cleaned for you."[/color] She gives an uneasy smile, rising up so that she crouches on the grass. Her hands fumble to the dirty rag that she's forgotten to clean. She swings it back and forth before giving a shy nod to Gorman and disappearing into the green foliage of the forest. She walks for a bit, following the sounds of a gushing stream before she comes across the river. Laina takes off her shoes and sits down on the bank, careful to mind some of the slippery rocks under her bare feet. She leans over slightly and starts rubbing at the rag. She watches as the muck washes away downstream and gives a tiny sigh. What she did back there...it was totally uncalled for. She had missed so much warmth in the years ever since her sister had gone that she was resorting to a minute old crush? She squeezed the water out of the rag and got up, slipping on her shoes and walking back to camp. [color=powderblue]"I really should've gotten dinner ready."[/color] She shakes her head at herself as she mutters. She reaches the place where she has left Gorman and quickly drops the clean rag into his hands. [color=powderblue]"Here. I've washed it in the nearby stream..."[/color] Laina trails off when she spots Vert, clearly in agony. [i]Why didn't she feel the waves of hurt radiating off of Vert sooner? She was usually used to feeling all sorts of tingles through her body at someone else's pain and yet...pain this bad should've struck her hard. What was up with this place?[/i] She gives a quick smile to Gorman, gesturing over to Vert before crossing the expanse of grass between them. [@Cuccoruler] [color=powderblue]"Hey are you alright?"[/color] Laina eyes Vert slowly, the glowing power already warming up her hands. Even now, being so close to Vert she couldn't feel anything at all. [/quote] Gorman felt a little bit colder when her head left his lap. "N-no! It's okay! Unexpected is- is fine! Expect the unexpected, you know? Wh-where are you going?" Laina simply gave Gorman a shy nod and disappeared into the forest. Alone again, he brushed back his hair and thought about what just happened. [i]Dang, she is cute. Don't tell me you've fallen for her, Gorman. You have to marry a nice orc girl and have little orc babies. You can't be messing around with elves. But...she's so small and weak that she's going to need someone to protect her. I can do that at least, right? You know, make sure nobody hurts her while she's off washing the rag. Yeah, go with her.[/i] He'd almost made up his mind to follow her when he realized that the Transcendant was still here. [i]Dammit! Speaking of protection, I gotta get rid of this joker. Axe won't do much good. He could annihilate me in a blink. Where's the Captain when you need her?[/i] Almost as if he'd summoned her, she appeared from the forest's edge, mask off for the first time in years, and her heavenly silver hair set loose and free. He could still remember how soft those tresses felt in his fingers as he held her... Gorman blinked. [i]Wait. SHE'S HERE!?[/i] He shot up and gripped his axe, ready to defend her at a moment's notice. Erudessa glanced at him. Though she could not yet afford to properly greet him, she shot him a knowing wink as if to say, [i]I know I can count on you.[/i] Gorman forgot all about Laina as thoughts of his Captain filled his mind once more.