[center][u][h1]Vrondi Castle
[i]Courtyard[/i][/h1][/u][/center]
[hr]
Lucius walked with careful leisure steps. Not looking as if he had to but walking with firm grace. A trained skill, charming and noble. He felt Ami's weight shift on his arm as they walked down each marble white step. The courtyard was empty save for a few guards standing by the entrances to more private quarters and servants tending to the garden. Lucius dared to look Ami in the eyes. The fireworks coming into view as they strolled down the checkered path lined by three foot bushes with beautiful yellow flowers closing in for the night.  [color=#FFFF53]"How much do you know of what transpired outside our safe walls last night?"[/color]

Ami felt disturbed by Lucius's nearness it being  an alien in experince to her having never remained so close to a male. She could sense his heratbeat his every breath how much physical energy he used to walk down the stairs ; how much he held in reserve. Then he spoke helping her escape this new found insight into others.
[color=309B92]"I am told very little and my sources of information more towards scholarly pursuits"[/color] She says before turning to regard the flowers lining the path.

[color=#FFFF53]"Well I envy you."[/color] They came to a bench that was before the maze. He brought her to sit down, gesturing with his free hand for her to do so. After she sat down on the engraved seat which read. 'To the great mother. How we cherish thy memory.' Lucius turned to the fireworks for a moment before looking down. [color=#FFFF53]"Some knowledge can hurt. Like the sight of seeing women, children all forced to do unspeakable acts in the most vile of conditions both mentally and physically. It was a nightmare. I had seen it from the lower villages outside the walls..."[/color] He returned his gaze to her. This time eyes more tender from revisiting his memories.

Ami turns to Lucius unmasking her aura 
[color=309B92]"I am so tired of people believing I need protection from bad news and its associates. I am a Historian, if there is any pursuit greater in the study of events negative and positive I at a loss to name them.
I am fully grown and able to make my own decisions, if I lack talent there it is the fault of my teachers"[/color]

[color=#FFFF53]"If you're so willing to jump into the dark then you might be what we need."[/color] He took a seat next to her. Looking at the fireworks and the sunset over the horizon. Both right next to each other. Despite this he did not smile, but seemed to be a bit more lifted in spirits.[color=#FFFF53] "If I were able to convince the lords of your importance in regrowth then I may very well be able to get you your chance to come and go as you please."[/color]

Ami looked at Lucius and sighed. [color=309B92]"It  is my hope to help my people, to prove I am more than a bird in a cage. To do that I need to test myself and that is impossible in this place."[/color]
She said without going into details because she knew her exposure to things outside of of the palace were sorely lacking so kept her council.

[color=#FFFF53]"Perhaps an opportunity is right around the corner. There is an alliance forming to combat this new threat. A god of death, our foe claims to be. A hideous being."[/color] He sighed deeply. [color=#FFFF53]"There is a group who may be able to, under the right supervision, accompany you on your mission."[/color]

Something about the mention of the God of death makes Ami briefly excited as she remembers an old quote [color=309B92]“Life feeds Death, Death feeds Life”[/color] Connected as she is to the Life she has strangely never feared Death because they to her are night and day each having their place in the cycle of Gaia.
She smiles up at Lucius her eyes gently searching his and says [color=309B92]“I would like to think of myself as more than the Palace Healer”[/color]

Lucius chuckled. [color=#FFFF53]"We have servants perfectly capable of healing. You will be healing the world.."[/color] His ears picked up the sound of a royal screaming in the halls. He turned his head. It was a feint sound, only through the fireworks was he able to make it out. He supposed it was from the guest halls near the Tearian wing. He observed the path leading to that location and then turned to Ami. [color=#FFFF53]"I think I heard something over there.. Will you accompany me?"[/color]

Ami looked at where Lucius’s attention was suddenly focused and when he mentioned he’d heard something and asked her to attend she knew it must be serious. 
[color=309B92]“Of Course if you believe my services are needed”[/color]
[@RumikoOhara]