The woman, Lavica Nizak, struggled through the plains. If one were to see her, it would become quite clear that she wasn’t raised in this wandering lifestyle. The noble, or ex-noble as it was, tripped and stumbled in her long green dress as it snagged on sticks in the ground. Many times the blonde fell to her knees, deep emerald spots that were darker than the rest of her silken gown and brown smudges of dirt stained the expensive dress. Yellow blades of grass were tangled in her hair from her short travels to the ground and scratches from twigs adorned her cheek. Frustration was mounting and mounting; every time her dress stretched behind her, she yanked hard with all her strength, uncaring if rips were found later. 

“Ugh!” She shouted to no one when her dress was caught again. Lavica’s anger caused her to take the small blade she kept on her for protective purposes and slashed through the material until her loose brown trousers were seen. The dress had now become a long shirt with jagged ends, Lavica pretended the ruined dress was in style so she wouldn’t fret too much over her appearance.

The Nizak woman attempted to maintain a straight face, but a triumph smirk rose to the surface as one mere thought uplifted her spirits: [I]if father could see me now[/I]. Lavica entertained the thought of what would happen if he were there. First and foremost, he would glower and magically produce an elegant blue dress a size too small that she was expected to shove herself in. Then the man would sit her down in his study; she would be expected to sit in the uncomfortable chair in front of his desk while he was seated in the comfortable, soft velvet red chair behind the impressive oak slab. His following speech would be heated, disappointed, and spectacular filled with emphasis on her gender. Her smirk transformed into a large grin, teeth reflecting sun beams that were sure to dazzle anyone if they were there. The blonde relished the idea that he couldn’t give her that speech anymore. She was [i]free[/I].

Lavica would have continued to gloat and smile if loud smacking sounds didn’t pull her from her daze. Her eyes refocused on her surroundings and before her was the growling, snarling form of a terrifying beast. She didn’t think it noticed her, she hoped it didn’t notice her, as it was awfully preoccupied with the goat it was feasting itself on. The beast wasn’t quite wolf and had a resemblance to man, but that fact was overlooked as she saw the glistening fangs easily stab clean through muscle, as she saw sharp claws gleaming with the sun, as she saw a monster. The dormant part of her yelled at her to run, but she was frozen in place. It was beautiful. It was horrifying. Gasps escaped her lips as her heart beat rapidly - could it hear her impending heart attack? Not knowing what to do, Lavica crouched low to the ground and hoped that the tall stalks would cover her from its sight. If she ran now, this moment when she could, it would hear her and it would all be over. Lavica swallowed her saliva in horror.

The beast stood on all fours and Lavica’s heart dropped - had it sensed her? But it made no move towards her and instead began to morph. Bones snapped whilst rearranging, the muzzle began to press in on itself until it was a face, ears shrunk and twisted until they resembled her own, its body became smaller, fur disappeared, and the wagging tail was gone. It was a man! How could a beast become a man or did the man become a beast? How was this possible? Then again, how was it possible for her to fry enemies and electrocute foes? It was possible with the help of her relic. It was clear to her now: he was an evoker, like her. 

The man started to move away from her, and, despite her instinct telling her to sprint away, she began to lightly creep after him. She had never met another evoker, meeting him could fill her with plenty of knowledge regarding her own relic. Deep inside, Lavica knew she would never muster up the guts to approach him even at the expense of knowledge; after seeing him in his beast form, the blonde probably would never be able to. Every crunch and crack underneath her feet caused the woman to flinch as she urged herself on. Lavica was all too conscious of the space between the two and there was no desire in her to diminish it.

Roan already knew the female had been there for a while since his change. A part of him, the one burdened and gifted with humanity had secretly hoped his shift back into his original form would’ve scared her off. It seemed he had no such luck. Farther ignoring her, he finished placing on his tunic, then his belt with his medicine and flint. Finally, his last piece of equipment was his dagger and quiver before he spoke. He inhaled, his head turned slightly to eye the noise figure from his vision’s edge. Mentally the man considered his options and settled on one. 

“I know you’re there. Heard you a while back and if you’re a bandit, it might be wise you keep on looking for another poor beggar to mess with.” 

Lavica startled and straightened to her full height instead of the crouch she had used to stalk him. She scowled, “I’m hardly that low. On the contrary, you happen to be in the presence of a noble from Kalnach.”

Roan’s eyebrow rose in question as his blue eyes narrowed on the wear worn woman. His body already twisted about to face her fully and his hands, one with spear in grip, crossed over his chest. He had sized her up for a moment, absorbing it, letting the silence settled for several more. “Very well. If that’s the cause, where’s your escort?” 

As he mentioned the missing piece most nobles kept around, his eyes looked past her into the grasses beyond, seeking any movement which would have his spear tasting combat or worse, blood. 

At the sight of his spear, the blonde allowed sparks to flicker between her fingertips cautiously and she hoped he didn’t see it, whoever he was. It wouldn’t do well to expose herself before she received all the information she could. 

Lavica was stumped. Was there anything to tell but the truth? Crossing her arms and lifting her chin defiantly, she answered proudly, “I don’t need an escort anymore.”

“Oh really?” Roan’s tone wasn’t mocking or sarcastic as it was curious. “Few people tread off the roads since traveling in groups tend to be the safest way. Mainly because of bandits, but even without guards, you would still need supplies and a means to carry it. I don’t see a bundle or such means on you.” 

It became apparent to Lavica then that she was ill prepared and knew nothing of surviving by herself. She had grown up sheltered and, naively, had believed that she would be able to go off by herself without the help of anyone. So far she had only survived because of the jewels and coins in her pocket which she used to buy dinner and a room to sleep in when she stopped at villages, but what happened when there was no village to stop at? What if she starved? It was because of pride that Lavica didn’t allow this man to know how stupid she had been and so a change of subject was to be made.

“I’m Lavica Nizak. What is your name?” She muttered, letting her arms fall limply to her sides to appear more genial.

Roan wasn’t sure what to think if he was honest with himself. This woman, in a small way, had stirred that same protective nature the brat Alessia had when he was younger which didn’t sit very well with him. It was plain she had went off on her own, at least he assumed, without any notion for prepare for the future. Namely to keep herself from starving. He sighed, the Empress help him with her divinity, while the tension faded from his stance. 

“I don’t have wolf hearing anymore so you’ll have to be louder. My name is Roan…” he paused, his mind stalled a bit to seek out another name, about in natural habit to give his own. “Gallus. Roan Gallus.” 

The way he said it, it seemed he was trying to concrete the very name himself into his head. “So…what now? I have a feeling it would be unwise to leave you out here alone, wouldn’t it?” 

While Lavica had made a mistake, which was a rare sight for her, she was not stupid. However, she decided not to press on the matter of his name at the moment and addressed the last part of his statement that sent jolts of anger down her spine. “I don’t need protection, if that is what you are getting at. I can defend myself on my own from bandits and what-not.”

The blonde messed with the torn edges of her dress before sticking her nose in the air and turning slightly away from him haughtily. “But I wouldn’t mind some company on my way to Amaryth, as long as you can keep up.”

Roan stood, unflinching at her pride seeping through in her anger. However his upper lip twitched, his tooth tried to snarl like a defensive wolf before he shut it down. He was a man, not some animal he reminded himself for what felt like the hundredth time that day. He kept his calm and stated in a gentle tone while others would’ve likely just left the woman behind. “Assumptions are the best way to get you left behind. Bandits, even for one with weapon’s experience, like myself, aren’t nothing to think lightly of. I much rather not face them alone myself and I doubt you would like to either. Either way, I’m not much of a fighter when it comes arguments, Nizak,” He said, politely using her last name instead of her first. They were only strangers after all and not friends, or acquaintances on familiar ground.”Now, if you would be so kind to lead the way?” 

He gestured for her to move ahead of him while his arm reached down and moved his bow over his shoulder. His spear, on the other hand, remained firmly in his grip. 

“Hmph.” Lavica snorted, moving in front of him with a swish of her curly blonde hair. The city awaited her after all and she could hardly wait to enjoy the festival. It would be an excellent opportunity to round up followers for her cause. However, she couldn’t help the little inkling of fear that travelling with a virtual beast often brought.