[color=C6DEFF][center][h1]Bast Ragoczy[/h1][/center][/color]

[color=C6DEFF]"Well... That didn't go as expected."[/color] Bast said with a chuckle as the heat finally went down after a good deal of time hiding. It was unfortunate that he wouldn't be able to see how things would end but it was not like it was the first time Bast's plans had... well... taken an 'unexpected turn'.

[color=C6DEFF]"Please, don't blame yourself, my dear. Not everything goes exactly according to the plan."[/color] Bast said, smiling to Eilidh.

[color=C6DEFF]"After all, if everything always went according to the plan, things wouldn't be so interesting now, would them?"[/color] He asked, with a mischievous smirk to Eilidh.

But before Bast could say anything more or before they could go back to the guild, Eilidh seemed that she had something important to tell him.  With gentle, golden glow of the sunset light bathing her, Eilidh turned to Bast, saying that she wouldn't be able to go back to the guild. Despite his surprise, Bast understood her words. She was a free spirit, being in one place for too long wasn't exactly her style. Coincidentally, Bast himself was somewhat similar. But the biggest surprise was yet to come. Hesitating for a bit, Eilidh finally said, with her eyes fixed on his, that she wanted him to go with her. Bast could see that saying all that so suddenly was being hard for Eilidh, especially when she said that she would understand if he rejected her offer, as she herself couldn't offer them everything that Bartholomew was offering them.

Much to Eilidh's surprise though, after a brief moment, Bast let out a heartily laughter, before he gently took Eilidh's hands on his, looking to her with a warm and kind smile.

[color=C6DEFF]"My dear Eilidh, how can you expect me to reject you when you look at me like that?"[/color] he said, laughing.

[color=C6DEFF]"I understand you. I am as much of a free spirit as you are, my dear. But if you really want me by your side, I do think you need to know a few things about myself first."[/color] Bast said, looking at Eilidh with a serious expression.

[color=C6DEFF]"Marquis de Montferrat, Comte Bellamarre, Chevalier Schoening, Count Weldon, Comte Soltikoff, Graf Tzarogy... Those were only a few of the names I've had through my life. I've been many different people. From counts, marquis and other noble positions to strategists and sometimes... just a regular adventurer..."[/color] he said, winking to her with a mischievous smirk.

[color=C6DEFF]"I've travelled many places in search not only of knowledge, both regarding magic, the unknown, the 'taboo' and the occult, but science, art and literature as well. I've been with kings, scholars, sages and adventurers... Yet, I still feel like a small child seeing how many things I still have to experience and know. About the world itself, about the magic behind it and even about the different races and the people that live on it."[/color] he said, looking to Eilidh.

[color=C6DEFF]"I've did many things through my long life, Eilidh. Not all of them were pretty. I am a powerful mage. I've studied things that are considered forbidden and even 'taboo'. I saw things that should completely stripped me of my sanity and destroyed my mind. Even today, I still don't know how I've managed to keep my sanity. The key point is: Not everyone saw this warm and kind smile I always show to you. After one has seen and experienced so many things as I did, we start... changing. What we see as 'right' and 'wrong' and even our morals."[/color] He continued, his expression becoming a tad bit darker as he said such things. It was clear was Bast was trying to say. His hands were more stained with blood than Eilidh imagined and his code of morals wasn't exactly... normal.

[color=C6DEFF]"For a long time, I've lived as a ghost. Nobody knew as much about me as you do, Eilidh... And there is still so many other things you should know about me..."[/color] he continued, looking to Eilidh's eyes with a kind expression.

[color=C6DEFF]"But for you, my dear, I would gladly show you everything. All my secrets, all my 'lives', everything I am and ever was. You need but to ask."[/color] Bast said, gently caressing Eilidh's hair as he said those words.

Giving a step back, he pulled a strange tarot card from inside of his coat, showing it to Eilidh. That card, even to the untrained eye of those who weren't familiar with magic had a strong magic power. On said card, Eilidh could read the words: 'The Magician' written underneath a stylized drawing of a mage.

As Bast let go of the card, it started to float in front of them. From the card, powerful waves of magic started to emanate, creating a wave effect on the air around it, almost as if it's magic was creating ripples on the reality itself. After a few seconds, a portal, dark as the night sky sprinkled with bright stars appeared in front of the two.

[color=C6DEFF]"Regarding you being worried about not being able to offer me what Bartholomew does..."[/color] Bast said, as he extended the tip of his cane, touching the black portal in front of them, making the image of a small castle appear in the other end. 

[color=C6DEFF]"I didn't join for the money..."[/color] he said, laughing.

[color=C6DEFF]"Oh, please don't mind the mess... I don't exactly 'live' there. It's more of a... warehouse for my stuff and a place for me to hide from time to time."[/color] he said, with an awkward smile. Just as he said though, looking a bit better at it, the castle was in the middle of nowhere. There was no city, road or anything at all nearby that castle. It was just a solitary small castle on top of a hill.

[color=C6DEFF]"Come with me, Eilidh."[/color] he said, extending his hand to her.

[color=C6DEFF]"If after knowing me, seeing everything I really am, you still want me by your side, I can promise I'll never abandon you."[/color] he finished, with a serious expression to Eilidh.

[color=C6DEFF]"It doesn't matter how many names I used, how many different people I was and how many lives I lived. For you, I will always be [I]your[/I] Bast, Eilidh."[/color] He said, his serious expression turning into a really kind and warm smile.

It was indeed too much to take in and process in such a short time and it probably was quite a shocking surprise for Eilidh to know that she knew almost nothing regarding Bast. But despite the shocking news and any doubts she might have regarding who Bast truly was, Eilidh would certainly know if she looked on his eyes that, despite all that Bast said, the things that he shown her, the smile he always gave her and his feelings for her were definitely real.

[@PaulHaynek]
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[color=8dc73f][center][h1]Freyr[/h1][/center][/color]

With Talia and Haley going to cook the dinner as the others rested after a long day, everything was going fine, until Bartholomew showed up that is. Freyr couldn't say he knew Bartholomew that well, but he wasn't prepared for Bartholomew's words. Freyr would never had expected he would react like he was about to. Instead of a welcome and being worried by them taking a dangerous quest in order to get more money for the guild, Bartholomew's voice was full of venom when he showed himself, asking if they really undertook a Varjan quest.

Bartholomew's screams echoed through the guild hall, the venom on his voice was apparent as he shouted not only to Neil, but to the others as well. Before that day, Freyr always thought that Bartholomew was different from the other humans he met, but what he was hearing on Bartholomew's voice was something very familiar to him... Something he had seen before... Arrogance, rage and a destructive behavior... Despite his attempts to hide it, he was exactly like the other humans were. 

As the shouting continued, Freyr's expression went from surprised to serious and disappointed, ending with a heavy sigh when he finally said that he was the master and who didn't liked it could as well go away. All the hate in his voice was directed not only to Neil, but to all the others, going as far as to insult Haley in particular when she tried to calm him down. As the hostility between Bartholomew and the others kept rising as they rushed to defend Haley and each other, Freyr only grew even more disappointed.

At that moment, he couldn't help but to think that the other Viera were indeed correct regarding everything they said about the others who lived outside the big Vieran Woods. He never should have left it...

As the other members of the guild continued to argue, some saying that they did indeed break a rule that Bartholomew had said and others saying that they put themselves in danger for the good of the guild, while others shouted even louder, letting their own rage overflow, Freyr simply kept quiet.

Amongst the chaos, with most of the guild members distracted by what was happening, Freyr simply turned his back and headed towards the exit with silent steps and with a disappointed, almost sad expression on his face. With all that chaos, it was very unlikely that anyone would notice Freyr, especially given how silent and quiet he always was. Those who did though, would certainly know that he wasn't going outside to simply take a breather. If nobody tried to hold him back, it was certain that they would never see him again given the expression he had on his face.

[@PaulHaynek] [@Restalaan] [@AzureKnight] [@Lmpkio]