Ah, the blue sky! The ever more familiar star constellations! The warmer climate! How she missed all that, during her long five years of adventuring in the North. Of course, it isn't her homeland yet-the ever present mountains all around, the still cold nights and, no doubt, snowy winters(Guardian, she hoped she won't have to stay here until winter!) were all marks of yet-temperate, northern climate. But, should one travel further south, the mountains would soon give way to hills, the fields would give way to savannas and deserts and the foreign cities, wooden houses, wide, dirt roads and triangular rooftops would give way to familiar, southern architecture. The pale, tall, often multi-racial people of these land would be replaced by tanned, raven haired humans of the South…and her status as warrior of Guardian Rose would be recognized and honored.  

However, before that time comes, there was a one final quest she decided to undertake. Helsset..she heard some contradictory, disturbing "rumors" about this place, it's people and it's king, and she was actually considering visiting anyway, to check things out and investigate. By a lucky coincidence, however, she was officially invited by King Gonagas himself, to join Royal Guard nonetheless! However, how much of it was luck, and how much was someone's [i]intention[/i], remains to be seen....as a warrior of her order, she is obliged to fight evil whenever encountered…and this situation was no exception from this rule, no matter how homesick she felt, no matter how much to report she already had. To think that some of their sisters would actually sell their skills like that...

Such thoughts plagued Elisha throughout most of the journey with her current group. Usually she wasn't very social anyway-never bonding with potential comrades(or enemies!) more then it's necessary. People die all the time, and some might even have to die by her own sword...therefore, bonding is pointless. Still, most of the time she tried, at very least, to be civil-greeting people, offering help with mundane problems, or at least inquiring about their basic interests and occupations just to avoid being perceived as rude or cold-hearted-was her usual routine. This time, however, she didn't do even that-walking on the side, lost in her memories and suspicions.

[color=lavender]I need to be more social[/color] she decided, almost voicing her thought out loud. Her current group counted six people-all of whom received same message from the King, all on the same quest-therefore, her future comrades in arms. It would be wrong to make a wrong impression any further. 
That being said, they hardly looked like mercenaries she was used to. There was a young man who seemed to carry heavy arms-but could someone his age really be an experienced fighter? Yet, appearances deceive, and she was no older than him when she started her journey-she shouldn't underestimate him, and, at very least, he seemed to be an honest lad. She valued people who do not go out of their way to hide their hearts and thoughts, although, unfortunately, she didn't count among them. 

Which can't be said about other companions. The Albmot doesn't seem to be heavy armed-possibly, he's some sort of magician. Unlike some of her fellow cultists, Elisha didn't hold much prejudice against those who wield magic-understanding that only certain kinds are evil-but experience thought her to be wary against anyone who dabbled in arcane arts anyway. Of course, it's also possible that he's some sort of assassin, or martial artist, or perhaps his equipment awaits him at their destination, and thus her suspicions are baseless. Honestly, she silently wished it so. 

Then there was Lyra, the mountain elf. Her people are known to be skilled at arcane-and indeed, with her gentle beauty there is no way she doesn't either. Does she dabble in alchemy? Is she a summoner? Or perhaps it's...something else? Elisha wanted to ask, but then, perhaps that would be too intrusive. She'll learn in time....
In fact, the mixed-breed(Abel, was that his name?) and the elf seem to have both picked interest with some young man on the edge of the road…perhaps it was a good opportunity to get to know them a little bit. Elisha limped behind them, keeping enough distance to overhear the conversation without actually joining it.