[center][h1][color=ec008c]Alisea[/color][/h1][/center]
‘Exhaustion’ could only scratch the surface of the feeling in Alisea’s body.  Midnight had come and was quickly going; and after the journey of the past two days, she needed to be in bed three hours ago.

Dubstepp was the first to stand and leave, saying neither ‘yea’ nor ‘nay’ to the proposal to begin a guild.  Alisea hadn’t expected his support; he was probably gone for good, off to join a new party with a clean slate instead of dealing with the aftermath in this one.  [color=ec338c][i]’A spoiled child clear through, then.  One unable to accept responsibility.  Although,’[/i][/color] the girl thought with a silent chuckle, [color=ec338c][i]’if I would choose not to go home, am I all that different?  I am shirking my responsibilities, as well.’[/i][/color]

Alisea glanced around the table once more.  The food was gone and the meeting seemed over for the time being.  Alisea was certainly done with discussion for the night; she rose to return to her room.  As she turned, her eyes slid to Aster.  At that moment the woman's image struck the magess profoundly--because of the late hour, or for some other reason, she could not know.  Seeing the fair-skinned swordswoman standing there--her quiet, dark-haired friend who had screamed battlecries at wolves and bravely stood at the head of a group to give a speech--seeing that young woman standing here gave Alisea pause.  [color=ec338c][i]’Maybe… Maybe I have a responsibility here, as well.’[/i][/color]

Or maybe she was making excuses.  Turning on her heel, Alisea left that room and climbed the stairs to her own.  The lock opened with a firm click, and the door swung open quietly on well-oiled hinges.

And there, at the center of the wall, stood a great and spacious bed.  A bed.  Singular.  One.  Alisea stood in the doorway and stared in confusion until Aster came up behind her.

[color=ec008c]"Um,"[/color] the magess explained in a word.  [color=ec008c]"I apologize, but I have no energy to try to remedy this.  If you raise no objection, neither do I.  Not until morning, at the least."[/color]  The bed was large enough to give each girl a side--not very different from staying in a hotel on a club trip.  Above all, Alisea wanted to simply go to bed without any more interruptions.  Opening her menu, Alisea unequipped her armor, cloak, and sandals; then she slid into the covers and let sleep take her away.