[center][h2][color=fff200]⚜[/color] [color=0072bc]Camille de la Saumure[/color] [color=fff200]⚜[/color][/h2][img]https://i.ibb.co/10ZC8wb/Profile.png[/img][/center][hr][i]Interaction: None[/i] [i]3.1: Siege of Relouse / Why Her?[/i] [hr] Camille wasn’t sure where Claude was taking her but she went with it, her mind felt glazed over enough that she passively followed. His arm wrapped around her back, hand pulling her in felt too comfortable for her to leave anyway. Although as the furied lightning behind them faded behind them, thoughts of her friend Armand began to gnaw at the back of her head. What did Claude mean? He was still alive, right? Just left the area when things got bad… but she knew. The pain in Claude’s voice was there. She was stupid to think that her friend was… Her mind drifted but eventually they had reached a point where Claude stopped and withdrew his hand from her shoulder. Camille absently looked around, settling her eyes on the river headed towards the sea. Her greatsword slipped from her grip, clattering to the ground on the edge of feeling [i]something[/i] she didn’t want to. She wanted to ask what happened but she never found the right words and the two stood in silence. She finally braved a glance at her companion, noticing instantly that he was nursing his hand. The very same hand that had been clinging to her shoulder. His whole hand was charred black, the leather of his glove burned away and the metal of his gauntlet was smelted and fused to the discolored flesh from a strike of great heat. [color=fff200]”Claude! You’re hurt!”[/color] Camille cried out, throwing off her helmet as she rushed over. Claude forced a chuckle. [color=00a651]”Heh. Funny story, that. One of those bolts was close enough to arc towards us after impact. I could feel it in my hand, the ricochet.”[/color] He huffed, wincing, as Camille wrapped her hands around his hand. [color=00a651]”Gods, the power that wielder is throwing. I deflected what I could but my hand.. Well that’s the result of playing with Thunder magic.”[/color] He chuckled, only this one sounded more sincere. [color=fff200]”Dami, please, heal my friend’s hand. Judge him kindly for saving me.”[/color] Camille chanted under her breath. She thought of removing the burned metal and healing his skin. The energies Dami bestowed her, quickly ran from her and into Claude’s hand. The metal seemed to burn away while the burned tissue seemed to quickly be replaced by new flesh growing underneath, dissolving away the damaged flesh. It only took a minute but his hand was nearly good as new when she heard Claude speak up again. [color=00a651]”I’m sorry, girl. Armand didn’t make it.”[/color] A lump hung in her throat. She knew what he meant, even before he uttered the words to end any doubt. It wasn’t what he said but hearing his normally chipper voice waver as he passed the news was what made Camille break. Her eyes welled up with tears, keeping her head down focused on healing her friend. She shouldn’t be crying like this. She had to be tough, inspire others as people often told her. Her role didn’t allow her to be soft. Maybe she might have managed to shake her grief but Claude knew better than to let her. [color=00a651]”It’s okay to cry, Camille.”[/color] From all the time she had known Claude. He never did two things. One, willfully called her by her name and two, he always told her to play up this saintly, above everything attitude. She had to be stoic for the people and inspire them. Camille whimpered as her lips quivered. Claude reacted immediately, withdrawing his now healed hand and wrapped it up and around the back of Camille’s head, pulling her into a kiss on her forehead before holding her tightly to his chest. She immediately broke down in a wail. Why did she have to be so weak? Maybe if she didn’t have to cry, she might have saved Armand. Why was she chosen at all when she couldn’t even save people she cared about? [hr] [i]Interaction: None[/i] [i]3.2: Siege of Relouse / Dami’s Answer[/i] [hr] Camille wasn’t sure how much time had passed. The sounds of battle and frantic activity persisted all around and yet, she wanted to continue to let herself go in Claude’s tight embrace. Her confliction about it was there but she felt too weak to push away or find her resolve until she was served a reminder of her duty. [color=00a651]”[i]Merde.[/i]”[/color] She heard Claude utter as heat soon kissed the back of her neck. It was strong enough for her to finally peel her head away from Claude’s chest and look to the source. Fire. A great burst that had ignited the infirmary tents just beyond the river. Tents burned, people were crying out at least those unlucky enough to survive the initial burst. Camille’s heart clenched at the revelation in her head that this was no accident. No, this was a move made by the Eskandr. A heartless, wretched move to slay the sick and wounded and the very good souls that did their best to preserve their life… Camille felt her jaw tighten and fingers curl in a low burning frustration. This. All of this was [i]their[/i] fault. The war. Her life being stolen. Countless people dead. Armand… What did they get out of this? She didn’t have the education to understand the answer to that. It wouldn’t make sense but there was one thing that did. Her creed and her role. [color=fff200]”It’s their fault, isn’t it!”[/color] Camille spat, her frustration starting to boil over in a rage. She pushed away from Claude, striding over to her greatsword. [color=fff200][i]Dami, give me strength. All of it! Let me protect your people![/i][/color] She recited in her head as she picked up her sword. She turned and took a few steps before looking back at the river. She strode forward in a sudden burst of speed. Claude called out from behind. [color=00a651]”Wait now, girl! I don’t–”[/color] He started but Camille wouldn’t be around to hear what he said next. Instead she leapt, Dami’s Strength coursing through her muscles as she easily cleared the river. Not missing a stride, she landed and continued in an olympian pace through the torched tents and dying wails of the burned Perrench. She knew this was caused by someone and she didn’t need to search for long. There she was. [i]Laughing.[/i] An Eskandr who would give no mercy to the sick and dying, would now be given no mercy. [color=fff200]”That’s enough!”[/color] She shouted though she doubted the savage could understand her. Her hands curled around the grip of her greatsword. This was clearly going to be no simple matter and nerves churned her stomach with a tinge of regret. She might have started shaking, both in rage and fright standing alone here, if not for the fact that she had a tight grip on her sword. Now wasn’t the time for regret. Now was the time for bravery. She had the Pentach at her side and there was one prayer she had that wasn’t directly praying for Damii’s intercession. It meant so much more to her. It was focused on the image of the setting sun piercing through to light the banner that had set her on this path. It was [i]everything[/i] to her conviction and she would put all of herself behind those words. The sun swept away the darkness of her doubts. As the image settled in her mind, it ignited her determination and her drive. She was Dami’s instrument and Dami would protect her. It was all she needed. A golden glow began to emit from Camille’s whole body. It was dull at first, merely a candle’s light. Yet as her mind grew more focused, the light around her began to grow brighter. [color=fff200]”Dami. Be. My. Light.”[/color] She proudly proclaimed her prayer and her golden aura shined like it was barely contained by Camille’s control. It radiated and pulsed like her heart. She became untouchable! [color=fff200]”Pick a god and pray, heathen!”[/color]