[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/UoOo9Tq.png?1[/img] [img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200712/6abf315930f46f3462d7fab75196b0db.png[/img] [@hatakekuro][@j8cob][/center] The ease with which Zen avoided the blow came as no surprise to any present, though her unmoving gaze followed Zen throughout his entire movement, almost as if in a trance. [color=DDDCE1]"Beat him up?"[/color] Slowly returning her attention to Tone, while her facial expression never changed her tone more than gave away her puzzlement on his words. [color=DDDCE1]"The only beating will be him of us."[/color] Her follow-up assessment was simply peak bluntness, though that could be simply explained by her own mindset, it was the only foreseeable outcome in her eyes. She had never beaten Zen once during their countless spars growing up, at times lucky to even get a blow in on the older boy, and even those were a fluke to her. While she had no doubt grown, she was under no grand delusion that Zen would've stalled; knowing him he was even further away than before. But rather than discourage the girl, the gulf only served to fuel her desire to bridge it. [color=DDDCE1]"I don't think Tone meant anything by it Z. It just seems like his teacher didn't teach him common sense on safely using magic in public."[/color] She wouldn't even be able to count the number of times she had heard a lecture on controlling magic and never using it so blatantly in public, or something of that nature. Not just from Zen, but mostly her grandparents. Though different situations, even Akemi thought it to be common sense to not use such magic in the middle of the street. [color=DDDCE1]"Well actually... we did have a plan in mind."[/color] Walking up beside Zen, oblivious to the quiet seething rage inside the older boy. While Tone was set on sparring, her mind was still set on the gardens, though whether it came before or after the spar didn't faze her. Her gaze never left Tone until he pointed up towards Domus Flau, slowly following the gesture till her eyes settled upon the colosseum. [color=DDDCE1]"Are we even allowed up there?"[/color] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Feg0Ws7.png?1[/img] [img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200626/1bf27c8de8692e34a4dabea5b410504a.png[/img] [@samreaper][@Sanguine Rose][/center] The fact that Menzai already seemed to be on the same page was a relief, Alina visibly showing it as such with a deep exhale. [color=9C2E37]"I appreciate the co-operation Mr. Isanami, and will gladly take you up on the offer."[/color] Offering a weary smile, she propped herself up on the side of the cart, being careful to not disturb the cart's contents or the tarp as she began to fiddle with the laces of her boots while Menzai pulled the cart along. Slowly and carefully, her delicate fingers untied the knot and loosened the footwear as she half turned to grab a small pouch at her side, hidden beneath her top from prying eyes. During the short travel back through the town, she had taken her time to put her boots inside the pouch, clearly one of magical nature seeing as the boots were more than triple the size of the little bag, and now began to loosen the ribbon in her hair and cleanly folding it before putting it away also. Starting to ruffle through the bag now, she remained silent until they began to reach the outskirts of Petunia. [color=9C2E37]"Just a little longer, on our way here we passed by a large oak tree about another thirty minutes away. Has a branch that splits in 3 about three-quarters of the way up and about one and half times the size of any other tree we passed, can't miss it. That'll do just fine in getting a decent way from town and I can take over till we break for camp. Unless you plan on making the trek back in the middle of the night?"[/color] They could do another solid couple of hours, maybe even get halfway back before it got dark. Depending on the speed they could efficiently move at, and if there were to be no setbacks. While on the inside, Menzai's reaction to the flowers annoyed her more than they ever could the older lady, she still had to feign some form of concern for the beastkin, though she didn't look forward to pulling the cart even in a more suitable form. Perhaps it might've been more efficient to take over from Menzai earlier, but she thought it to be a good distance away from town to avoid anyone walking in on her magic by accident. With her piece said, she seemed to find what she was looking for and would go silent once more, pulling out clothes that were vastly different from the ones she was wearing. They were a few sizes too large for her and consisted of baggy dark green trousers and a navy blue top. Now that she had what she wanted, her mind was already drifting to other thoughts. She already knew Menzai wasn't one for making small talk, and he was probably even less in the mood for it with all the sniffling she could hear. Just how badly was he reacting to this stuff anyway? Sighing, she pulled out a small, leather-clad journal no bigger than a pocket notebook, and undid the clasp after muttering something under her breath, though she seemed to be careful to not let Menzai hear it. Pulling out a pen next, she would write until they reached their designation, the only sound that could be heard from her was the sound of pen on paper, and Menzai was sure to be grateful for the smell of ink, though an oddly scented ink, if nothing else. Though it wasn't enough to overpower the flower's pungent aroma. While she had the chance, she had figured it was best to jolt down the notes before the unthinkable happened, her memory somehow failing her one way or the other. It was always easier to jot down one's thoughts while they were fresh, as the longer one waited the staler they became and the more details one would forget. Unless he decided to start a conversation, Alina would stay like this till their designation.