[center] [img]https://image.ibb.co/dqueFJ/Theoderic_Border.png[/img] [h2][color=gold]Black Rider[/color][/h2] [h3]Outside the Einzbern Compound, Miyama, [i]During the Meeting Between Masters[/i][/h3] [hr] [@Crusader Lord][@Reflection][@Sageage][@Kyoka][@Seirei no Hai] [/center] Rider watched as the maimed Saber continued to strike at the trees and the rocks, silently allowing him to lament on his loss. He could tell that this Saber was once a proud hero, even if his parameters or current state of emotions don't quite display it. And even then, Rider understood just how he felt. Even Rider has experienced loss and regret, but it was not of his own life. Throughout his existence, Rider has seen all his friends die. The most painful feeling of all, as king, is to watch as your loyal subjects all fall, one by one, whether it be from accomplishing your own goals or for reasons as petty as treasure. In any case, Rider was no stranger to loss, and felt some sympathy with Saber's pleas. [color=gold]"Your future is only unclear if you let your regrets consume you like this..."[/color] Rider began, crossing his arms. [color=gold]"It is your duty to get back what you have lost and take vengeance to those who have wronged you."[/color] Drawing his sword, Rider began scrutinizing it, admiring its craftsmanship. He even swung it in the air a few times before he lowered it and continued to talk to the crestfallen Saber. [color=gold]"On my road to becoming a king, I've lost all of my closest friends. When I finally reached my rightful place on the throne, I had found that I was alone, that all my friends have died to see to it that my goals were accomplished. I had asked for their aide, and all of them have put their lives on the line to see my dreams, my goals, my destiny, come to reality. Had I not asked them to join my cause, they might have survived to see my dreams finally come to fruition... but instead, in my many years of ruling as king, I sat by myself on my lonesome throne, forever mourning for all their deaths."[/color] Rider wasn't good at this. Comforting others wasn't his strongest suite, but he still tried his best, regardless. Despite being a king loved by his people, he knew he had issues talking with others on a personal level... [color=gold]"... In the end, I didn't allow my regrets to overshadow my future. I had moved on because I know I'm able to succeed, despite my losses, if I just kept pushing forward. If not for myself, then for my friends. If you find yourself at your lowest, do not allow yourself to wallow in those cold, dark depths. Rise up, stand proud, and step forward like the hero, like the knight you are."[/color] After offering his words of advice, Rider turned away, but not before stabbing his sword into the ground. He glanced at Saber, briefly, before turning back and walking away, waving a hand at him. [color=gold]"If you lost your sword, then you can have mine. I'm a Rider, anyway, not a Saber. I have no use for such a thing."[/color] And indeed, Rider wasn't wrong. In truth, he still had that sword at his disposal. Rider knows that he will have to draw it soon, anyway... [center]Especially now, when he sought out to find those responsible for the fire. [color=gold][i]Falke, return to the compound and see to it that miss Sophia remains safe while I'm out to town. ...Falke? Falke, stop acting so weird.[/i][/color][/center] [hr] [center] [img]https://image.ibb.co/hSG5uT/Falke_Border.png[/img] [h1]&[/h1] [img]https://media.giphy.com/media/5xaOcLNEWKOyStBMNiM/giphy.gif[/img] [h2]Falke and Shinji (True)[/h2] [h3]Einzbern Forest Outskirts, Miyama[/h3] [hr] [@Red Alice] [/center] [center]Falke didn't know what it was doing here.[/center] It was tasked by its beloved prince to scout the perimeter of the forest, but yet, its keen senses had heard something that alluded even its own rider; a high-pitched, rather annoying sound. It wished to communicate to his prince of just what it had heard, but he had instead insisted on going out to finding the culprits. It could have just gone to the source of the sound by itself, but it knew that it was something only Rider himself could take care of. Falke had wished that it was able to better communicate with its Master aside from simple gestures, because it knew that this was an issue that would be to his interest. [center]Indeed, if he had recognized that same sound that it heard, he would spring to action at a moments notice...[/center] Falke had considered its next moves carefully as it trotted through the forest, but not for long, as its train of thought was rudely interrupted by another sound only its acute hearing could pick up. It was, again, a high-pitched and rather annoying sound, but it was [i]closer[/i] this time. Believing it to be the worst, Falke blitzed through the forest, charging to the source of the sound. Its speed was indeed comparable to the likes of the greatest of phantasmal beasts. One could easily say that Falke, itself, would indeed count as a member of such species even though it was a normal horse in its life, bathing in the blood of the countless beasts that itself and its treasured prince have put down. When Falke had finally caught sight of its destination, however, it moved into a screeching halt, comically so, its hooves skidding through the dirt until it was inches away from [i]that.[/i] Had it not stopped a second later, Falke was sure it would have run over [i]that[/i]. And whatever [i]that[/i] was, it was something that Falke wouldn't dare even try to strike down... [center][i]That thing[/i] in question happened to be a dirty beagle with seaweed on its head.[/center] The small dog, seeing that Falke was just a mere few inches away from it, sat down, tilting its head to the side as it looked upon the black horse. Falke in turn, scratched its a single hoof on the ground, neighing and bowing its head. The dog, in return, let out a single bark, scratching its ear with a rear foot. It seems like some sort of vocal exchange was to occur between the two beasts. At first, it was some sort of apology, and then, it lead to introductions. Soon, it erupted into a full-blown conversation, a cacophony of dog barks and horse whinnies filled that small portion of the forest they were in. Hours passed before Falke's master, its prince, had called him back to the compound. The dog, who had referred to itself as Shinji, whined softly, seeing it as a sort of goodbye to its new friend. The horse, however, had bent its legs down, nodding its head to Shinji and allowing its canine companion to climb on its back. As soon as Shinji was on its back, [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCsYYm3B6p4]Falke had began to set off back to the Einzbern compound, furry cargo in tow[/url]. Falke knew it had to bring Shinji home, and not just because it was a new friend... [center]Shinji also heard what had happened earlier this morning.[/center]