[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/DLGhcA0.png[/img] [sub]The Learner[/sub] & Hermes + Xiaoli [/center] [hr] [color=ivory]”Penelope… Come here… Girl.”[/color] Came Arya’s raw voice, the girl had wondered a ways from the clearing she had found herself in. She gripped her side, hand now coated in a mix of dry and wet blood as she used her other hand to lean up against a tree. One that wasn’t moving. It had came as a great surprise, seeing trees run, chased but what she could only describe as overgrown herbivores. She had to blink through the pain she felt, not even sure if the sight was real. It came as a relief when the tree’s she used for support didn’t move, Arya didn’t think she could handle that. Though she had no visible mouth, it felt so dry, and she was beyond parched. Something to drink would be good, very good. She mumbled something incoherently, before shuffling along at a snail's pace. She had pushed past two oddly moving mountains and into the forest they revealed. [color=ivory]”Split… Where are you?”[/color] she asked aloud, no longer really capable of yelling. She had seen no sign of either of her friends and this worried her far more than the shape she was in. If anything had happened to them… She didn’t know what she would do. It was really peaceful here, she thought, and smelled so sweet. Perhaps if she just rested for a bit she would feel better. Her heavy eyes shut slowly, almost as if they were fighting her. She began to call Penelope’s name again, but all at once she she felt something stop her, and she was falling. She landed face first on the forest floor, the pain rocketing her to conscious as she let out a coarse scream, which fell to ragged breaths. With her measly strength, she rolled over to look up at the canopy. [color=ivory]”Penelope… Split...”[/color] she cried, [color=ivory]”I need you. Please. I’m… I’m right here.”[/color] as her eyes began to shut again. [hr] A wet sensation suddenly covered where Arya’s nose might be and there was a light crackling. The girl gave a small chuckle, saying, [color=ivory]”Penelope… What did I say about kisses?”[/color] before she opened her eyes, coming face to face with a strange sight. A tiny cotton ball sized cloud rested on her face, little flickers of electricity sparking from it as it crackled. There was a sudden [i]’pop!’[/i] and it hovered over her face, crackling wildly. [color=ivory]”Oh… Hello, little one. Have you seen my bunny?”[/color] she asked, the question sounding odd, even to her. Perhaps she was dreaming, after all. A little cloud couldn’t possible be real. The cloudling swirled. [i]”Zzt!”[/i] “Poppler?” A voice called out in the distance. At the sound of the voice, Arya began to laugh again, [color=ivory]”Oh K’nell, I’d like to wake up now, please. I have to go find… Penelope and… Split.”[/color] A crow suddenly cawed and took off from the trees, previously unseen. A strange pull appeared in Arya’s mind and before she could think twice about it, she was gone. [hr] Arya awoke with a start, her eyes snapping open to view a… Ceiling? The last time she had seen such a view was aboard the Jiangzhou. She blinked as her hazy memories started to flood back to her. She had no idea where she was and Split and Penelope were still missing. She threw her covers off, noticing that her dress had been replaced with a large bandage covering her wounds. She began to sit up, the pain not as intense as it had been before and she began to wonder just how long she had been asleep. She placed her feet on the cold, wooden floor- the feeling electing a small smile in her eyes. Then she stood up and nearly fell over on uneasy legs, but she stopped herself from falling by floating. Now parallel to the ground, she let out a small sigh before orienting herself to be vertical with the rest of the room. She began to float towards the door, nervous and excited to find out what was in store. Perhaps her giant bunny and Split were waiting for her on the other side, perhaps not, there was only one way to find out. Suddenly, the slider door opened, but from the other side. There stood a short girl with black hair, pale, grainy skin and a round, soft face. She wore a beige shirt made of spun yarn and a skirt made of a similar material, except that it was coloured brown. She was holding a tray with a pot, a cup and a bowl of some delicious-smelling stew. Upon seeing Arya so much closer than anticipated, however, she nearly skipped into the air with a short ‘ah!’ Arya eyed the newcomer with intense curiosity as her eyes squinted. Arya then exclaimed, [color=ivory]”Hello!”[/color] to the woman, floating closer to inspect what she carried. “O-oh, hello,” the girl voiced with a sigh of relief. “Are you feeling better?” Arya floated around the girl, inspecting her with unwavering eyes. She had never seen someone like her before, well, she knew Kalmar and Arae had similar forms, but nothing like this. The girl seemed a little vexed at this, but let out a patient - if not a little frustrated - sigh. Arya floated back in front of her and said, [color=ivory]”I am! Thank you for your hospitality. I’ve never seen someone like you before,”[/color] she paused thoughtfully, [color=ivory]”Not that you’re ugly or anything, in fact, you look amazing.”[/color] she said as her eyes smiled widely, [color=ivory]”Oh but where are my manners? My name, is Arya. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”[/color] she said, bowing low in the manner that Shengshi taught her. The girl gave her a slight frown, which grew even more apparent as Arya bowed. However, not being one to forget her manners either, the girl bowed back. “A joy to meet you, lady Arya - I am Xiaoli. Pardon me for asking, but where did you learn those manners?” She raised an eyebrow. Arya’s eyes seemed to light up at the sound of Xiaoli’s name, and she said, [color=ivory]”Xiaoli! You’re Xiaoli! Oh this is wonderful!”[/color] she exclaimed happily, [color=ivory]”His Lordship taught this servant much while this servant stayed aboard the Jiangzhou. Oh, his Lordship missed you dearly, my lady.”[/color] she finished with softness in her voice. Xiaoli recoiled and blinked a little; then, after a moment, she leaned in with squinted eyes. “I’m sorry, but… Did His Lordship make you?” She put the tray aside and begun to pat and touch Arya all over her face, arms and torso, her brow furrowing more and more as she investigated. “You don’t look like a servant at all - are you an earlier iteration of sorts? One he made before he gave life to the Servant race?” Arya winced a little at Xiaoli’s touches before she visibly relaxed, letting the girl ask her questions and becoming perplexed by what she had to say as well. [color=ivory]”Um, no, his Lordship did not create me, how I came to him is a long… long story. I was born on the moon, actually. That’s… another long story actually. What do you mean when you say, servant race? The water globules?”[/color] she asked confused. “The water globules, yes. After someone blew a hole in His Lordship’s shipdeck and murdered many of them, He decided that they had served him well and faithfully and granted them true forms and souls.” She eyed her up and down. “On the moon, huh? Did you hit your head, by chance? Would you like some tea and stew?” Arya froze, going rigid. Her eyes went wide with horror as she realized what she had done. The vivid memory of the Lurker screaming jumped into her head and the girl began to take quick, shallow breaths. Xiaoli blinked and reached for her hands. “H-hey, are you alright?” she asked softly. When Xiaoli touched her, Arya jumped and screamed, [color=ivory]”No no no no no! Don’t touch me!”[/color] and she flew back against the wall, letting out a loud bang. [color=ivory]”I’ll hurt you! I’ll hurt you! I can’t hurt you too!”[/color] she whimpered, beginning to cry as the memory of the explosion on the ship came back. She had murdered those servants for no reason. As she began to hyperventilate, it dawned upon her, she was a monster. Arya wanted to shrink as she fell on the floor. The main door slid open and another woman darted in. Dried blood covered up to her wrists, and she held a flat stone knife in one hand. She wore a curious look on a alabaster face, a little blood on the tip of her nose and some splattered on her nigh sleeveless shirt, “Is everything okay in here?” “Hermes, thank the rivers, can you h--WHAT HAPPENED?! Did you fall and break your nose?!” Xiaoli demanded anxiously. Hermes’ eyes widened and she rubbed her nose with her bare arm, the blood smudging off, “Oh!” She chuckled, “No I was just-” She looked at Arya and then back at Xiaoli, “What’s going on?” Xiaoli gave the floored Arya an anxious stare. “I’m not sure, but if I was to put two and two together, I may have found His Lordship’s stray student.” She carefully shuffled over to Arya and knelt down a metre or so away from her. “Hey, Arya?” she asked softly. Arya flinched as Xiaoli spoke, she then said meekly, [color=ivory]”Hi.”[/color] “Arya?” Hermes smiled, “Arya!” Her voice wasn’t as soft and comforting as Xiaoli’s but tinged with a curious excitement. She bobbed into a squat and looked level at the girl, her bloody arms resting on her knees, “God told me about you.” At the sight of the stranger with bloody arms, Arya felt queasy, but she shoved it from her mind when the woman spoke. She sat up slowly, placing her arms around her legs in a tight embrace. [color=ivory]”Hermes?”[/color] she asked softly. The dreamer pointed to the swirl on her forehead and smiled wide, “The one and only.” She turned to look over her shoulder at Xiaoli, “Remember that dream I had a few days ago? This is [i]that[/i] Arya -- The dancer.” “O-oh, is that so?” Xiaoli said and gave Arya another lookover. She let out a pensive hum, but eventually cracked a smile. “Well, if anyone can dance so well as to warrant such a title from you, Hermes, then I would rather like to see.” She gave Arya a playful wink. Arya seemed to light up at this, feeling a mix of joy and regret. She had accidentally stumbled upon Hermes and Xiaoli, but there was a pit in her heart still. She began to relax again, her breathing becoming normal as she stood up and began to float again. She eyed the two with curiosity now, and said, [color=ivory]”Oh… I’m not very good…”[/color] she said shyly, [color=ivory]”I… I’m sorry about that, Lady Xiaoli. I’m the one who caused that hole… I didn’t mean…”[/color] she went silent as she choked on her words. Xiaoli nodded somberly. “Yes, I figured as much - His Lordship told me about a girl he had taken in some time ago. He grew quite attached to her, but grieved silently after she left - he knew he was the one who made her leave, after all.” She raised an eyebrow. “He named you differently, though - Anxin, if I recall correctly.” Hermes scratched dry flakes off her nose as she watched the two. Arya’s heart fluttered when Xiaoli spoke of Shengshi grieving for her, and her guilt worsened. She let out a soft sigh and said, [color=ivory]”Yes, Anxin, a name I still love.”[/color] she paused then said, [color=ivory]”It was my fault really, not his. I am… I was rash and angry and had no right to be upset with him. I am glad however, that you got to see him again. I always felt as if… something was missing.”[/color] she finished quietly, holding her upper arm. Hermes eyed Xiaoli in conspiracy and quickly swept up some of the loose flakes from the floor. Xiaoli gave her a sympathetic smile and reached out to squeeze her free hand. “He misses you, you know. You should visit him some time.” Arya gave a small squeeze back and said, [color=ivory]”I was planning too, before… Well, wherever I ended up. Hey, you haven’t seen Penelope have you? Or Split?”[/color] she said innocently. “You were alone when I found you -- well, mostly,” Hermes mused, “Poppler was there too.” [color=ivory]”Poppler? You mean that small cloud? Huh, I thought I was dreaming.”[/color] Arya said with a giggle. “Nope!” Hermes stood up and patted her knee length pants free of loose flakes, only to grimace after, “You were passed out on a bed of moss, cloudling on your face. I was arms full of dead quolls, buuut -- I figured you were more important.” She pointed at the bandages, “Feel any better?” [color=ivory]”Cloudling,”[/color] she mused, before saying, [color=ivory]”Yes, I feel much better. Thank you, the both of you. I’m not sure how much longer I would have lasted by myself.”[/color] she said looking both at Xiaoli and Hermes. “Well you don’t have to,” Hermes gave her a cheshire smile, “You have plenty of friends.” “Yeah,” Xiaoli echoed with a smile. Then she suddenly rocketed to her feet, her face pale as ice. “The tea! The stew!” She rushed out back into the hallway. Hermes flinched and then gave Arya a sideways glance. “Want to see the courtyard?” [color=ivory]”What’s that?”[/color] Arya asked. Hermes’ eyes seemed to sparkle, “Let me show you.” With little else she began to walk out of the room, looking back to make sure Arya was following her now and again. Arya floated after her, curious to what she wanted to show her. The two exited the hallway and entered the outside with a wash of fresh forest air. Before them was the meticulously placed tiles of the courtyard, an intricate map of the eastern hemisphere patterned across it. Tucked near the inner wall and the courtyard was a table covered in blood and entrails, hanging pelts stretched out near it, and a pile of meat in a woven basket. Hermes waved her hand across the courtyard as she walked over to the butchering station, “This is it!” As soon as they went outside, Arya felt as if she was in another world. She had never seen anything like it before, and with a childlike curiosity, she flew all over, touching the walls, eyeing the tiles, ogling the map and marveling at the style and beauty of it all. Most of all, the fresh air was a relief she never knew she needed and the sun’s rays felt heavenly upon her skin. The girl let out a peel of giggling that quickly became laughter as she flew around Hermes. [color=ivory]”Oh this is wonderful! Did you both build all this?”[/color] she asked. Hermes lifted the basket of meat, leaving the knife on the table. “Nope,” She she jutted her chin towards the northernmost building as if asking Arya to follow, “Xiaoli is the resident master carpenter. I do a little bit of everything else.” Hermes eyed the pile of meat and then smiled at Arya. Arya landed next to Hermes, and eyes all of the meat, saying [color=ivory]”Like hunting! Kalmar taught me how to hunt, though I don’t think I could ever do it again. He was… Kalmar.”[/color] she said softly. “Kalmar,” Hermes mused, “I didn’t spend a lot of time with him, but he seemed to have a way about him now that I think about it. I beat him in a foot-race you know, but he took it with grace and gave me a spear and some advice. Told me about some facts of life and whatnot.” She pushed the sliding door of the northern building open and stepped in. Arya followed after Hermes. With an excited voice she asked, [color=ivory]”You beat a god in a foot race? How?”[/color] her eyes were wide with joy, Hermes was shaping up to be everything she had thought she was, and now this! “With my sandals,” She kicked one foot forward as if to show Arya before walking down a hallway and through another slider door. Arya looked at Hermes sandals, confused as to how they would help her in a race, but before she could say anything else, they arrived. Inside Hermes placed the basket on a table, a hurried Xiaoli doting over a hearth full of stew. Xiaoli gave them both a wry smile. “The tea and stew had both gotten cold, so I decided to make some more! It’ll only be a few minutes more, rest assured.” She added some chopped cabbage to the brown, bubbly substance and sung faintly as she stirred. “Oh, please have a seat and help yourselves to some tea, by the way!” On the table in the centre of the room, there had already been placed a tea pot and some cups, all of it hidden behind the enormous basket of meats. “What did you do with the old stew?” Hermes furrowed her brow and lifted the basket, “Also where do you want this?” “Why, I added it to this stew! What else should I have done with it?” Xiaoli gave her a pensive look. “Put it here, if you’d please.” She gestured to the side of the oven. “Was just wondering,” Hermes gave her a teasing face and let the basket plop down next to the oven. Hermes snatched a cloth from a bucket near Xiaoli and started to wipe her hands, a steaming cloud dripping from the soaked towel. She looked over her shoulder at Arya and then glanced at the plush cushions around the low table, “Have a seat!” She smiled. Arya seated herself quite happily. The girl, much too wrapped up in all the sights and smells of the room, hardly noticed the conversation between the two women. Tentatively, she wrapped her fingers around the steaming cup of tea and brought it up to her face, where then her mouth split open and she tilted the cup back to feel a warm sensation trickle down into her body. It tasted great, so she finished it off in another gulp, before setting the cup back down on the table. She let out a satisfied sigh before saying, [color=ivory]”Oh how I’ve missed this.”[/color] Xiaoli giggled. “It’s Yong’ai tea - my personal favorite and creation. It has the ability to strengthen bonds between friends…” She winked playfully at Hermes. “... And between lovers. So it’s a wonderful tea if you ever find yourself someone you like, Anxi-- Oh, forgive me, do you prefer Arya or Anxin?” Xiaoli scooped some stew into two bowls and walked over to the table with them. [color=ivory]”It’s good tea, I like it a lot.”[/color] Arya said enthusiastically. She then looked to Xiaoli and said, [color=ivory]”Whatever your preference is, Lady Xiaoli. Kalmar named me Arya, his Lordship named me Anxin. I like both of them well enough.”[/color] she said, eyeing the stew with a hungry gleam in her eyes. Hermes gave Xiaoli a knowing look and copied her usual hum and scooped up a third bowl before sitting down by the table. She pushed the bowl in front of where Xiaoli was going to sit and took one of the bowls from Xiaoli, “Which one is your favorite?” The dreamer asked as she blew on the stew. Arya looked at the stew and muffled a soft thank you as Xiaoli handed the bowl to her. She was about to take a bite, but as Hermes asked her question, the girl sat up straighter and paused as if in thought. After a moment she began to speak, [color=ivory]”I… They were both kind to me and for that I will always be thankful but I don’t think I can pick either one. Each has their own way of doing things, and they are just so different. If anything, I think I prefer Arae more”[/color] she said with a laugh. Hermes swallowed a soupy bite of stew and shook her head, a kind smile on her face, “I mean which name is your favorite. I’d hate to call you anything less than what you like the most.” She paused and her smile widened, “But if it’s any consolation, I’m a fan of Arae, too.” Xiaoli nodded. “We owe Her Holiness Arae so much - I’m not really certain how we will repay her, actually. We could place some tributes by the shrine, I suppose.” She drummed casually on her chin. [color=ivory]”Oh,”[/color] Arya cheeks flushed a light pink before she said, [color=ivory]”Silly me. A favorite name? Well I prefer Arya, but I do Like Anxin all the same. I’ll answer to both.”[/color] the girl then twirled a spoon in her hand, before plunging it into the stew. She got a big mouthful and brought it up to her face quickly, before swallowing it. “Arya it is,” Hermes sipped at her tea, “How do you like the soup? That’s quoll and fresh cabbage, carrots, and--” She studied her spoonful of stew, “I think peas.” She took another bite, looked to Hermes, and then Xiaoli and said, [color=ivory]”It’s delicious, definitely beats just cooked meat over a fire!”[/color] she said warmly. “Mhm!” Hermes chimed, “We’ve started a garden and the forest is full of game. Tendlepog is a paradise, the perfect place to raise children.” She nodded enthusiastically, “Oh and the garden is just planted, but it’s already lovely. It has a great view of the sky; I’ve been trying to track the celestial bodies at night there.” [color=ivory]”Tendlepog? Oh my, that’s a ways from the Dragon’s Foot.”[/color] Arya muttered as her eyes took on a concerned look. She then looked at Hermes with a curious eye, and asked, [color=ivory]”Children? Like… Little people?”[/color] She had never heard of children before. Xiaoli raised a brow. “Haven’t you heard of children? Didn’t His Lordship teach you all about the five relationships and filial piety?” She put a spoonful of stew in her mouth and gave Arya a squinted look. Arya moved a hand up to her chin, squinting her eyes in thought. She tapped the table with her other free hand and said, [color=ivory]”Ah! How could I forget. Children are the procreations of two beings. Babies!”[/color] she looked at the two of them her eyes going wide, [color=ivory]”Are you going to have babies!”[/color] she said with glee, placing both her hands on her cheeks. “Yeah!” Hermes exclaimed, her spoon flying across the room, slipping from her grip as she clapped her hands once. The spoon bounced off the wall mural and she recoiled. Crawling to go get it she cleared her throat, “Yes, we are.” Xiaoli rolled her eyes jokingly. “Hermes, please don’t dirty my paintings with stew - the children will be doing that aplenty.” She gave Arya a grin and Hermes rolled her own eyes. “Yes, dear Hermes has started suffering the early effects of pregnancy, according to the book of Abanoc. We are anxiously awaiting the sound of little feet skipping across the floorboards.” [color=ivory]”Oh I’m so happy for the two of you! What a wonderfully joyous thing! To bring life into the world and care for it, and teach it, and… and love it.”[/color] she quieted down then with a smile she picked up her spoon and said, [color=ivory]”You’ll do great.”[/color] and she twirled the spoon in the stew, before taking a small bite. “I sure hope so,” Hermes was aglow, “I'm very excited. You'll have to meet them when they come.” [color=ivory]”I’d love too!”[/color] the girl said thoughtfully. Xiaoli sipped her teacup. “So, Arya, if I may ask - what brings you here to Tendlepog?” [color=ivory]”Funnily enough, that’s another long story.”[/color] Arya giggled, [color=ivory]”I was on a quest for Choppy. Had to go down to her Sphere, which is a super creepy place. Too many hands, too many whispers. Anyways, Split and I were riding on Penelope after we made the delivery, when we were attacked by a Lurker. Picture a horrible centipede that has too many legs, is giant sized and wants to eat you. It um… It hurt Penelope…”[/color] The memory flashed before her eyes again, and her grip on the wooden spoon tightened. She took a deep breath before continuing, [color=ivory]”We got separated after that and I woke up under a blue sky.”[/color] she finished dejectedly. “Hm,” Hermes finished the last of her stew, “Well that's just awful… Spheres are strange like that though, there is-” Hermes stopped put on a sympathetic smile, “What I mean to say, is that spheres are confusing, I know, but I'm sure they found their way back to Galbar, same as you.” [color=ivory]”I hope so.”[/color] Arya said sadly. Hermes looked at Xiaoli briefly and then back at Arya, “You're welcome to stay here for as long as you need.” Xiaoli nodded happily. “The guest rooms are newly mopped and the sheets are fresh. You can move in tonight if you wish.” Arya visibly brightened at their kindness. She set the spoon down on the table and looked at the both of them, tears welling up in her eyes, [color=ivory]”I… I would love too. Thank you. The both of you, again.”[/color] she said joyfully. Xiaoli waved her hands playfully. “Oh, no need to thank us, dear! It’s what the guest rooms are for! I’m afraid I have no wine to offer, though, as is customary in these situations.” She pouted a little. “But!” Hermes interjected, “We have a whole lot of sweetgrass juice.” [color=ivory]”Ah, that’s okay Lady Xiaoli. Wine is a but much for me. Juice however, sounds delicious.”[/color] Arya said. Xiaoli shrugged. “That may be for the best. Lady Hermes here is not allowed near ebriating substances after a -certain- other episode…” She gave Hermes a slightly sour stare. “It's not even worth mentioning,” Hermes returned the stare, before smiling at Arya, “Do you want to see my study?” [color=ivory]”A study? Okay.”[/color] Arya said, floating up. Xiaoli let out a content sigh. “Alright, leave the housewife with all the chores.” She gave them both a playful smile. “You two have fun now.” She stood up and began to stack bowls and cups onto a tray. Hermes flinched and looked at Arya, “I’ll show you after we take care of -- well this.” She stood, and walked over to a large stone basin, to which it was a wonder how it was even brought inside. Hermes took a cloth from a peg and dipped it in, wringing it with water. Heading back she made quick work of the table top. Xiaoli frowned a little. “Dear, it’s fine!” she said. “Go show her the studies - I’ll take care of the cleaning and such.” She took the tray over to the basin and put the bowls in the water. She washed them deftly with a cloth and stacked them next to each other on the side to dry once clean. Hermes let the cloth fall back into the basin, “Thank you,” she gave Xiaoli a warm smile. Turning back to Arya she put her hands on her hips, “All set?” Arya had watched the two women with curiosity as they spoke back and forth. She would have chimed in, but there really wasn’t a place for her to do so. She looked at Hermes and said, [color=ivory]”Yeah!”[/color] Then Arya looked to Xiaoli and humbly said, [color=ivory]”Thank you, Lady Xiaoli.”[/color] [hr] Just a room over, the study was lit by a large window. The shutters were open, letting in a spring breeze and gently rustling the many papers scattered across a wooden desk, saved only by stone paper weights. The room was otherwise bare, with only a few of the empty shelves holding small trinkets, such as strange rocks, curious geodes and one tiny altar to Abanoc. As Arya walked behind Hermes, she noticed one of the papers on the desk with crudely drawn fighters and Shengshese characters in a poor hand explaining each. Arya looked over the papers more closely, and realized it had something to do with a fighting style, one she had never seen before. She then moved her gaze to Hermes and said, [color=ivory]”Is this your work?”[/color] “One of them,” Hermes happily explained, pushing aside the martial arts codex in favor of hastily drawn sketches of the night sky and even the day cycles of Heliopolis. “I’m making a calendar,” She explained. She then lit up and put a hand on a thick stack of paper that sat next to another, “I’m also recording my adventures and things I find.” [color=ivory]”Oh, how interesting!”[/color] she said enthusiastically as she moved around the room, looking at the few items Hermes had. She was impressed, to say the least. She didn’t have anything like it, at all. “You know,” Hermes said, looking up from a sketch of a grapple, “If you ever wanted to learn a little something, I could show you.” Arya looked at Hermes with wide eyes. Giddly she said, [color=ivory]”Oooo, like what?”[/color] “Well,” Hermes pondered, “I haven’t had anyone to put the Tendlepogan Dance Fighting to the test with.” She looked at the wall, as if seeing through it, “Xiaoli might not appreciate me having a guest run around right after eating though.” [color=ivory]”Dance fighting! Oh please Hermes, please teach me!”[/color] Arya exclaimed, floating in circles around the woman. “I will,” Hermes smiled, trying to keep up with the excited girl, “But later, when it’s cooler out and there is no more day-work to do. Until then, feel free to look at my notes.” She gave an awkward smile and put her hand back on her biography, “Just not this one.” “I should go clean up the butchering table, but feel free to perusse.” Her hand slipped to the stack of papers ripe with mediocre illustrations of various plants and animals found on Tendlepog, “Okay?” There was a flash of disappointment in Arya’s eyes, but it quickly faded into a smile. [color=ivory]”Okay!”[/color] she said cheerfully and as Hermes left, Arya took the stack, and orientated herself upwards so her body was facing the ceiling. There, she began to go over what Hermes had written down, absorbing the knowledge with glee. [hider=Summary] Arya wonders around Tendlepog and collapses due to delirium and blood loss. She is found by Poppler before she slips to sleep. She wakes up in the guestroom of Hermli estate, feeling much better. Xiaoli arrives and they chat. Arya then has a ‘nam flashback and freaks out on Xiaoli, prompting Hermes to arrive. Arya calms down, Hermes shows her some stuff, they eat and talk, then Hermes takes her to her study where she tells Arya to read up on Tendlepog, promising to teach her how to ‘dance fight’ later. [/hider] [hider=Prestigio] Hermes 3+30=33 - 2 for title: The Martial Artist - 2 for title: The Scholar - 2 for title: The Dancer - 2 for title: The Mother 25 remaining Arya, The Learner: +21 Prestige Starting +1 For Minor Role +1 For Major Role +1 For Jolly Collaboration = +24 Prestige Ending [/hider]