[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/aRfAXko.png[/img][/center]
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[b]Location: Yalen's temporary quarters[/b]
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[i][color=#FD5E53]Hmm? I thought something smelled strange about the food, but I guess it was just my imagination.[/color][/i] Yalen poked at the bowl of gazpacho with his spoon cautiously. For a split second, his somewhat sensitive nose picked up an odd scent underneath the strong aroma of tomatoes and olive oil. When he took a spoonful into his mouth though, the soup tasted normal. 

Dinnertime in Torragon was apparently a light affair, but Yalen wasn’t extremely hungry to begin with. It was refreshing to have something so easy to eat after being nauseated by exhaustion. When he was halfway finished with his soup, the blonde priest was interrupted by a gentle knocking on his door. He scooted out of his chair and went to answer, and was pleasantly surprised to see who his guest was. 

[color=ec008c]”Hi mista Yawen!”[/color] It was Rita and her Segonese chaperone. The guardswoman’s face was beaded with sweat, as if she had been heavily exerting herself only moments ago. 

[color=735D7D]”I apologize for the intrusion brother. The little one would not relent until I agreed to let her see you before curfew.”[/color] She looked down towards Rita, who was fidgeting with something behind her back. The energetic kid was unusually bashful for some reason.

[color=ec008c]“Um, um… this is… for you!”[/color] Rita forced something into Yalen’s pocket before dashing off with a blush around her ears. 

[color=#FD5E53]”Rita!”[/color] [color=735D7D]”Rita!”[/color] The two grownups cried out in unison. They shared a look with each other, and the woman put her face in her hand and sighed. 

[color=735D7D]”What am I going to do with that girl? I have two dozen kids to watch over, yet every day it feels like my attention is focused exclusively on her. Forgive my rude interruption, I should have known you were having your meal. I better go make sure she’s properly heading for her quarters.”[/color] The guard gave Yalen a casual salute and began heading back out the door. It was strange that they’d met three times now but he still didn’t know her name. In the interest of getting to know the lady better, he called towards her. 

[color=#FD5E53]”A minute please Senhora!”[/color] The guardswoman turned her head back towards Yalen. [color=#FD5E53]”I forget my manners. Not once have I asked for your name. Would you do me this favor?”[/color] 

[color=735D7D]”Talya.”[/color] She started walking back towards him again. [color=735D7D]”Is something the matter Brother Castel?”[/color]

[color=#FD5E53]”Oh no, it’s nothing serious. I was wondering if you’d like some tea before you depart?”[/color] 

[color=735D7D]”Um…”[/color] Talya raised an eyebrow at Yalen. He understood to an extent that his offer might be poorly timed, but he made the offer nonetheless. Having grown fond of Rita, he now felt compelled to learn a little more about the little girl’s chaperone. 

 [color=735D7D]”I suppose I am a little thirsty. I can’t stay long though. I will be on duty for a while yet.”[/color] Talya crossed the threshold of the doorway and entered Yalen’s quarters, taking a seat at the one table in the middle of the room. She unburdened herself by leaning her polearm against the wall behind her. 

The room was quiet save for Yalen’s tampering with the cups and pot. He carefully shaved a few flakes off a lump of tea and filled each cup with simmering water. After a minute passed, the young monk could hear repressed laughter coming from behind him. He looked behind himself in confusion, and noticed that his guest no longer possessed her cool professional demeanor. Rather, her lips were curled up in an amused smirk. 

[color=black]”Ah, sorry, sorry. I just couldn’t contain myself. I find this situation somehow amusing.”[/color] Yalen nearly dropped the teacups in his hands when he heard the familiar voice, but managed to control himself. Despite this, his skin tingled as goosebumps crept up all over his body. Less than a day had passed since he ‘met’ the Traveler, but now the enigma had apparently come to visit Yalen in person. 

[color=black]”Relax boy, this is the real world. I’m not actually here to kill your friends you know.”[/color]

[color=#FD5E53]”Then why do you reveal yourself to me once again, Traveler? I… I did not think we'd meet again so soon.”[/color] Yalen’s face was like stone as he spoke to the supreme being seated before him.

[color=black]”I guess I wanted to congratulate you. You and your friends have exceeded my expectations thus far. I truly thought you would all perish in that desert.”[/color] The disguised Traveler leaned forward and clasped her hands together on top of the table. [color=black]"Not only did you make it out alive, but you now stand poised to change the lives of these refugees forever. A grand turn of events."[/color]

Yalen approached the table and took a seat, sliding one of the cups towards the Traveler with a trembling hand before sipping from his own. He was fighting his instinctual fear in order to hold a conversation with one of the world’s most powerful wizards. [color=#FD5E53]”H-have you… known about our mission since the beginning?”[/color]

[color=black]”Of course I did. I know all about your friends too. Hugo was smart to stick Jocasta with a bunch of do-gooders like you. I thought she would pile up a lot more bodies before leaving this place.”[/color] The Traveler covered her mouth and chuckled darkly at that last remark.

Yalen sighed heavily after hearing the Traveler’s words. [color=#FD5E53]”So… it’s true.”[/color] He hung his head dejectedly. 

[color=black]”Did you really hope for a different answer? You heard what your friend Ayla said. The only ones to leave this prison are those trained to be killers. Jocasta has been an active assassin for a while now.”[/color]

Yalen shook his head. [color=#FD5E53]”I… I knew nothing for sure, but I did have my suspicions. I just don’t -”[/color] He straightened up and looked at the Traveler sadly. [color=#FD5353]“I don’t understand what would make it worth it. I [b]know[/b] Jocasta is a good person. What was so awful about this place that she would kill to get away from here?[/color]

The older woman picked up her cup and downed its contents in a single gulp. [color=black]”What indeed…?”[/color] A biscuit floated across the room and into the Traveler’s waiting hand which she then bit into. The way she conducted herself, Yalen wondered if she was trying to get under his skin for her amusement. But the aloofness disappeared quickly as her eyes suddenly locked with his. 
 
[color=black]”Well, it turns out there was another use for her body besides murdering reprobates.”[/color]

Yalen swallowed the lump in his throat. [color=#FD5E53]”Don’t tell me-”[/color]

[color=black]”It was that man named Joaquin. Oh, he was insatiable. Every night he ravaged her. I believe she took his life shortly after the other caretaker… whatever his name was. It’s difficult for me to remember someone as boring as that.”[/color] The Traveler dunked the last of her biscuit in Yalen’s soup and finished it. 

The young priest didn’t shed any tears, for his heart had already cried enough. Yet, what he’d heard impacted him all the same. It took a good deal of willpower to resist the urge to lean over and vomit. 

[color=black]”Breathe child. Breathe.”[/color] 

Yalen closed his eyes and inhaled as commanded. As he did so, he felt an alien sensation he only recognized from his practical lessons at Ersand’Enise. The Traveler was changing his body’s chemistry. In that moment he feared for the worst, but whatever the transcendent mage did had a positive effect. The nausea and anxiety were suddenly gone.

Once he finally got a hold of himself, Yalen exhaled and calmly looked towards the Traveler. [color=#FD5E53]”Why? Why do you think I deserve to know this?”[/color]

She shrugged in response. [color=black]”You would learn of it eventually. My predictions aren’t always accurate, but I believe she plans to spill the beans anyways. Tonight in fact. I’m telling you now for two reasons. First, I didn’t want you to overreact in front of a crowd of strangers. Second, I wanted you to start thinking seriously about the future.”[/color] The Traveler disappeared from her chair and re-appeared behind Yalen. She wrapped both hands around his shoulders and spoke into his ear. 
 
[color=black]”Sweet little Jo can be a powerful ally… but staying by her side means accepting everything. Her past. The people she has hurt. The people she has [b]killed[/b]. Someday, she may even be compelled to do it again. But Jocasta is hurting too, you know. For what she’s done, I don’t think anyone could hate her more than she hates herself.”[/color] The monk shuddered as he felt the Traveler’s breath brush against his skin. 

[i][color=#FD5E53]I…[/color][/i] Yalen stared blankly ahead as a flood of questions and answers filled his mind. The truth was that he didn’t know what his true feelings were yet. The only way to know for sure would be to hear what Jocasta had to say for herself. Before he could say anything in return though, someone started knocking on the front door.

 [color=black]”A pity, but it looks like our little chat is over for now. Go with your classmates. Save this sanctuary. We shall meet again someday. Until then, grow stronger my boy, and continue to hone your spirit. Do not bore me.”[/color] 

As "Talya" went to depart once more, Yalen stood up. [color=#FD5E53]”Wait!”[/color] She stopped and turned back towards him with a questioning look. [color=#FD5E53]”Why do you have such an interest in me?”[/color] 

The Traveler grinned wolfishly. [color=black]"I don't feel like telling you yet. Goodbye for now, Mr. Castel."[/color]

[hider=TL;DR]Yalen is having a meal in his room before meeting with the others when he receives a surprise visitor. The two chat for a while, and his suspicions about Jocasta are confirmed and then some. They are interrupted by one of Yalen's classmates who have come to bring him to tonight's gathering.[/hider]