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[indent][indent][indent]What was Zestasia to do with this information that Etoile gave him and Pythia? What [i]should[/i] he do with it?

As he stared at the older blonde, he tried to come up with a level-headed reaction to everything she just revealed. A logical summary of his feelings towards it all. He hated what they did to not only him, but his brother. They were the ones who forced Pagonia to leave him with Anatoli. They were the ones who [i]captured[/i] Anatoli. And he hasn’t let go of that hatred. Anyone who was associated with them, by all rights, were the enemy.

But with Etoile, it felt like there were too many gray areas for him to think clearly. She wasn’t an inquisitor any longer. In the short time they had spent traveling through the forest, they watched each other’s back. She may have been bossy, but that’s the sort of thing that left an impression on the younger Calore. 

[color=daa520]“Damn damn [i]damn[/i]!”[/color] Zestasia cursed a few more times, looking around (but more importantly away from Etoile’s gaze). He found himself looking at Pagonia who was with Clara. He frowned as he thought about all of the years that the two of them lost, him and Pagonia. [color=daa520]“Do you know why I can’t stand the imperium?”[/color] Zestasia asked as his eyes remained on his brother. [color=daa520]“There are too many reasons to count, of course: the time I lost with my brother, the death of my family, but the one that fuels my rage is when they captured my master. Two years ago the man who took me in  and taught me everything I know about magic was captured and I swore to myself I’d do anything I could to rescue him.” [/color]

In what could only be described as a rare moment for Zestasia, who up until now had always had something funny or witty to say (obviously self-believed), but as he turned to face Etoile, he had a serious expression on his face. [color=daa520]“I don’t know how I feel about you, Etoile. I’m not even sure [i]what[/i] I feel right now, but…”[/color] There was a pause and he bit the inside of his lip, [color=daa520]“but from where I stand, we’re fighting the same fight and I think that’s enough for me to put any animosity I hold for you to rest.”[/color] He put his hand out awkwardly as a gesture of good will, immediately feeling his face go hot with slight embarrassment. He just hoped that Etoile would accept his gesture so they could go back to acting like the band of makeshift amigos that they were before all of the revelations came down on them.
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