[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/303645471333810177/321534524594847747/58a05e5162bfff3328cfcc7df52fcaca.png[/img][/center] [@PaulHaynek] FF5353 Magnus...didn't say anything. He couldn't say anything. Not because nothing came to mind, but rather that far too much was racing through his brain. Regrets, anxiety, sadness, millions of apologies and half as many excuses. There wasn't a single thing that he could say as he balled his fists tightly. Talia would leave, and the image of her saddened smile, that forced, apologetic smile, burned in his mind as he bit his lower lip in frustration. He sunk his head low, shoulders quivering as he actively pushed back tears as he ascended the stairs back up to his and Freyr's room, leaving his dinner half finished. As soon as he was inside, Magnus broke. Childishly, he buried his face against a pillow as he let his emotions flow out, silently weeping into his pillow. The entire thing would soon be soaked, wet with his sorrows before he would slowly rise up and roll over, eyes puffy and red. Looking up at the ceiling, Magnus held his hand up slowly, making out its outline in the darkness as he simply breathed in, then out. In, then out. Forcing himself to try and remain calm, Magnus just focused on that outline, that shape, the memories of a similar hand that had at one point in time held his and rolled onto his side. [color=FF5353][b]"...Father...what does it mean, to be strong? I-Is strength...never feeling sad like this?"[/b][/color] he asked to the lifeless room around him, his large frame curling up as he remembered all that training, all that physical work that despite his efforts, still left him cowardly and emotionally unstable. His physical power didn't mean anything...every fight he'd been in with something smarter than a wild animal had ended in his defeat, and now he wasn't even strong enough to handle how he FELT. Rising up to a sitting position, Magnus thought about his position, about the pitiful state he was in, and realized just how much he was dragging down anybody that would team up with him. His helmet, in the two halves that composed it, lied on the nightstand beside him, gleaming ever so softly in the light of the moon shining in the window. Taking it in his hands, Magnus resolved himself to something for the first time in a while. His hands clasped the two pieces of the helmet onto his head, and he would quickly head out without saying a word for anything. He needed to be alone right now...someplace less warm, less comforting. Right now he didn't need to cry softly into his pillow like a girl getting her heart broken. Right now he needed to temper himself; For his own benefit, and for others. At least, that's what he would tell himself as he left to camp out in the thick woods near the guild. [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/7EZFS7c.png[/img][/center] [@PaulHaynek],[@ShwiggityShwah],[@Lmpkio] (MOR), [@Enkryption] A9A9A9 Nephele was...really quite surprised by Morgan's answer, as well as Ozzy's abundant enthusiasm. It was then she realized that, as she suspected, normal people tended to steer clear of the guild. Her surprise was...well, very apparent given that she seemed to just stare at Morgan for a moment. [color=A9A9A9][b]"Oh, er...that is...quite a lot of time."[/b][/color] she said, completely convinced that she wasn't a mothman at all, at this point. Neil however made a comment about Talia leaving, which had her watch. Something had clearly happened, but...she knew so little about Talia, save for her profession and future goals. She wasn't a friend in a realistic sense, just a workplace acquaintance. As such, Talia would need a true friend by her side...but it seemed the only one she had stormed upstairs to his room. It was a tough situation to be sure, but...there wasn't anything Nephele could do but remain positive. Neil's jumbled questions and words forced a smile to Nephele's face as she gently tussled his hair, chuckling a bit. [color=A9A9A9][b]"Neil, there's no need to worry. You're as normal as anybody, and just as special. As for research, sadly I didn't have time to make any progress before dinner. But, going back into Mahigan to find more books for material would make sense. Ozzy seems incredibly resourceful for this type of work, so perhaps we should ask him."[/b][/color] she said, keeping the last part to a hushed whisper, not wanting to push Neil to explaining his entire life story to the owl harpy. Seeing a new member, Nephele resolved herself to making an impression, standing up after she'd hear Neil's thoughts on the matter. Nephele strode over to the towering figure, astonished by their height and weapon. She was wondering when she'd finally see someone bigger than Titania and Magnus, and well...guess that was now. Standing beside Bart, she gave a friendly wave to the armored visitor, a bit too close for comfort as she was literally an inch away from Annalise's elbow. [color=A9A9A9][b]"Hello there. If you'd like, I can give you a tour of our guild, Mister...?"[/b][/color] she offered, sniffing slightly. Strange...this visitor seemed to lack a scent, save for the fine, immaculate armor they wore. Annalise would see that Nephele was completely lacking in metal bits to eat, and as such likely wouldn't prove to be very tasty at all.