[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/992864037962526720/1000801172313092126/silas.png[/img][/center][colour=7B68EE][hr] [b]Deserted I[/b][/colour] [sub]Ersand'Enise / Tethered Refuge Seen & Mentioned: Casii, Vieri, Kaspar, Zarina, Ayla, Yalen[/sub] For the first week of his enrollment, Silas had made a point to avoid his literacy studies. The language course professor along with other teachers constantly preaching of 'supplemental learning' through reading had done their best, but he remained unconvinced. He wanted to learn magic, not waste time learning a skill he would only ever be middling with. It had all changed rather quickly when he received a package in the mail for the first time in his life. "For you Rieger, from Mudville." Were all the words it came with. They'd been enough. The square envelope hadn't left his pocket since. Unopened, but already creased and folded from his hands retracing the invisible, indecipherable letters that made up his name. So he returned to the library for the first time since his enrollment, for the first time as a student rather than fugitive, and studied. Papers had been specially prepared, the Avincian alphabet and basic phrases written out in metallic ink. With a magnet placed behind the page, the letters sparked with energy and became tangible to Silas' senses. From this he would memorize the shape before trying to hastily copy it himself. The remains of a half dozen attempts were scattered across the table. It was a frustrating process, the ink dried too quickly and the shapes never stayed in mind long enough. Worse still, he had no way of knowing if he was making any progress. He'd been gifted no with special ink to write with, and had to make do with a singular candle centered on the desk. Supposedly the ink should've activated under a gentle light or heat, but Silas had so far succeeded only in burning through two sheets. He lifted a third to the flame, resting his head in his spare hand as he watched the energy engulf and consume his work. Just as it began to reach his fingers, he drew from the heat. The sparks traveled up his arm and into his blood until all that remained outside was a thin line of heat he knew to be smoke coming from the extinguished wick. Oblivious that the upper floors of the grand library, containing the academy's oldest and dustiest tomes might not have been the best place to practice arcane magic, he focused on the candle willing it to light [hider=Casii/Vieri] Whatever Silas had planned to do next, it would be clearly interrupted by a rapping fist on the door to his dark room. [color=6ecff6]”Hey! Whadda’ doing in there? Pretty sure book burnin’ is against the rules.[/color] Came a loud voice came on the other side to match the pounding. It was the only warning he’d get before the pounding ceased and the door flung open. Standing at the doorway was a white-haired Yasoi, dressed in a red tunic with brown patterned trousers that looked a size too big for her small frame. Her furrowed eyebrows indicated she was obviously annoyed, having to bear the smell of smoke for the past ten minutes. Although her expression, she thought, would be missed with someone who was blindfold. Annoyance lead to confusion as she considered the delinquent. [color=6ecff6]”Err… wait a minute. You ain’t able to see. Why are you in a library?”[/color] The interruption startled Silas into knocking over the stubbornly-unlit candle as he rose with a start, heat creeping to his cheeks at being caught mid-distraction. He kept his face towards the ground, expecting an angry teacher on the other side. [colour=7B68EE]"Sorry I was-"[/colour] He didn't get to finish before the woman continued speaking, nearly pushing past him to get into the room. Her height was the only distinguishable feature to Silas' limited sight, but it along with her peculiar accent was enough to pique his curiosity. [colour=7B68EE]"I [i]can[/i] see."[/colour] He folded his arms and looked to the desk of indistinguishable energies. [colour=7B68EE]"Mostly."[/colour] He corrected, before sighing and looking at his guest again. [colour=7B68EE]"I take it you're new too? Silas Rieger, resident Power-Gazer."[/colour] He offered his hand in greeting. Casii watched, arching an eyebrow in disbelief at his response. She looked intently at him, trying to read what his game was before shooting a glance to the nearby knocked over candle. [color=6ecff6]”Uh-huh.”[/color] She didn’t sound convinced as she leaned against the doorframe and considered his introduction. Crossing her arms, she let his offered hand hang in the air. [color=6ecff6]”Power..gazer?”[/color] She didn’t know that last word. From the context, it seemed like it was important relating to him. Is that what he calls being blind? [color=6ecff6]”Maybe I’m new. Doesn’t matter. I know well enough to not be messin’ ‘round with candles’n books. What are you doin’ here anyway? If you can [i]see[/i], that is.”[/color] [colour=7B68EE]"Seeing probably wasn't the right word"[/colour] He acquiesced and thought back to the way his vision was explained to him, first by Moriff, then Giarrone. [colour=7B68EE]"My eyes don't sense light the way yours do, just energy. It makes reading pretty much impossible except-"[/colour] He reached for the magnet and training papers from the table [colour=7B68EE]"Are you familiar with magnetic magic?"[/colour] Seeing definitely wasn’t the right word. He had some cloth around his eyes. He wasn’t seeing anything, Casii thought. Then he explained some magic about seeing energy and for a moment the yasoi thought about what energy looks like? Colors? Pictures? It didn’t make sense. [color=6ecff6]”Yeah. I [i]know[/i] magnetic magic. I’m a Yasoi. We know magic.”[/color] This guy didn’t seem real. Reads in the dark, talks about seeing energy and now is starting on asking if she knew what magnetic magic was. To a Yasoi! She used her tongue to push the Jamb’ysp from her left cheek to her right cheek, procuring a small cup from her pocket to spit a darkened glomp of spit into. [color=6ecff6]”You bored enough to want to learn how to read without seein’ then? Or can you not actually see?”[/color] She asked but quickly decided she didn’t care to hear the answer. [color=6ecff6]”Show me.”[/color] She suddenly commanded, stepping forward and closing the door behind her. [colour=7B68EE]"You're Yasoi?"[/colour] He said, equal parts excitement and surprise. [colour=7B68EE]"Sorry but I've only met a few of your kind before, and facial features are lost to me"[/colour] He waved a hand in front of his blindfold. ` Casii leaned against the door in continued observation, quietly raising her cup and spitting in it once more. If he had to be told she was a Yasoi then he really couldn’t see. [color=6ecff6]”Okay so you can’t see.”[/color] Silas shook his head [colour=7B68EE]“I can’t see [i]light[/i]”[/colour] He handed her the papers, and held the magnet beneath them. [colour=7B68EE]"There are flecks of iron in the ink."[/colour] He explained. [colour=7B68EE]"You should be able to sense it, but that's how I see things, sensing the energies and putting a shape to them. It’s how I can see you. Your heartbeat, arteries, and even the electric patterns in your head."[/colour] He smiled coyly at her. [colour=7B68EE]“This affliction isn’t common among your people?”[/colour] Casii opened her mouth to respond but she’d find herself interrupted by a rap on the door. [i]Another[/i] Yanii was being drawn in from the smell of smoke, no doubt. The newcomer looked far too happy if that were the case and sure enough, the new Yanii cried out in delight at seeing her brother? “There you are brother!” Vieri threw up their arms and then immediately pulled them back, wincing. They sidestepped into the room and pushed the door carefully shut with a heel, set down their satchel, “I am hoping I don’t get you kicked out for being so loud, but lucky we are up in the rafters, ey? Only the spiders to hear. I would almost think you were trying to hid.” Cinnamon started to overpower the smells of old paper, and, was that… orange? Vieri turned their smile to Casii, “I am Vieri, sister, you are a friend of Silas?” A tilt of the head, “You have a face that would be fun to paint. Nice colours. Cute nose.” She was loud. At least she smelled nice. The only Yasoi in this cramped room made space by hopping her bum on top of the desk Silas was using, sitting on the edge and letting her feet kick idly. The newcomer came in fast, spattering off a lot of things prompting Casii to take in as she worked the Jamb’ysp in her mouth a little with her tongue. Amusing up until the nose comment. Folding her amusement into a glare, she considered if that was a slight against it. Probably but better to be diplomatic for now. [color=6ecff6]”Yer a spring climber, Yanii. Came to lecture your … [i]brother[/i] about burning books?”[/color] She slurred with a mouthful, shooting Silas a scowl. She wasn’t going to let him live down the smoke thing quite yet. [color=6ecff6]”Yer too late then. I was already lecturin’.”[/color] Casii flicked her head upwards before continuing, ignoring Vieri’s babble at her. [color=6ecff6]”You’n Power Burner here, related? Yer ain’t lookin’ too alike. That a Yanii thing?”[/color] Vieri's arrival came as a whirlwind, assaulting Silas' heightened remaining senses. Loud and always sparkling with energy he nearly dropped his papers at their entrance, and scrambled to save what remained of his efforts as the Yasoi sat on them. [colour=7B68EE]"If I'm hiding I'm doing a poor job."[/colour] He complained, looking between the two intruders before resting his gaze on the Yasoi and replying dryly; [colour=7B68EE] "The resemblance is all in the eyes."[/colour] “And in our love of burning books, ey?” His patience has worn thin first trying to explain the nature of his abilities to the Yasoi, and now with a second interruption. [colour=7B68EE]"Vieri, this is the new Yasoi, too mysterious to share even her name; though I'm sure you'll manage."[/colour] “I do like them mysterious, but it’s another name I am after. I wonder, sister, could you help? This note came from a stupid bird,” they knelt down besides their satchel, rummaged, stood back up with a slip of parchment. “I can read our names, but not the last, I think it is Yasoi, no?” Vieri held the note out to Casii. On it were three lines. Silas Rieger. Vieri Zimbasu. And… Casii’s eyes narrowed as the pair before her exchanged before Vieri began to inquire about a name. She peered over and instantly recognized the horrid Yanii way of writing her name. [i]Casii’fyret’alan[/i]. Silly Yaniis couldn’t even figure out how to read her name? Casii chuckled in her own amusement. [color=6ecff6]”Yea that’s Yasoi. That’s me. Casii.”[/color] She mused but soon realized someone had written her name on a paper with these two. [color=6ecff6]”Hey! Why you got my name like that?”[/color] “Of course. If it was anyone other than Hugo, I might have thought it a coincidence, finding you here. I suppose he actually has a use for us, and you, now,” then, finding the humour: “Not bad, ey brother?” [colour=7B68EE]“Or we’re already in trouble.”[/colour] He peered at the scrap of paper, unable to see anything on it at all. [colour=7B68EE]”Haven’t burned anything down yet have you?”[/colour] “Not yet. I suppose the Forked Tower awaits, no?” Casii considered for a moment. [color=6ecff6]”I ain’t done nothin’ to be in trouble’n book burner just started so I reckon its somethin’ else. Suppose we should go see.”[/color] Silas nodded in agreement and held open the door for his classmates and they funneled into the hallway. [/hider][hr] It was Silas' first time outside of Ersand'Enise. The journey had been largely underwhelming; standing in Hugo's office one moment and the Refuge the next had a minimizing effect on the amount of distance they'd traveled. The heat served as an immediate reminder. Arcane energy permeating the air, paired with the ever shifting sands underfoot wreaked havoc on Silas's energy senses. The Refuge was a place of chaos, he'd decided, even before learning the details of the approaching army and sand wyrm. There wasn't much time for questions or more than the briefest introductions before the new arrivals were put to work helping with the preparations. Lacking training of any level, Silas was grouped with the other children of the refuge; given menial chores and attending the 'classes' put on by his fellow students to help hone his minimal skills. It didn't take long to realize how woefully undermanned, under-powered, and unprepared they were. Whenever he wasn't working, Silas spent his first twenty-four hours at the refuge ascertaining the personalities of his classmates. [hider=Kaspar] On the surface Kaspar was the exact sort of high-born Silas had worked so hard to avoid since arriving at Ersand’Enise: Somber, aloof, and generally removed from the world immediately around him. So of course it happened that the Helbanese noble was tasked with showing him the way to his room. While they were still at the entrance of the hallway, before the uncomfortable silence even had time to set in, Silas was desperate to end it; [colour=7B68EE]“So, how did you manage to kill a sand wyrm?”[/colour] Kaspar was not overly familiar with Silas—though it was not unusual, given the noble’s social skills. Nevertheless, he’d run out of time to be awkward and uncomfortable around strangers. Though he would’ve been fine with silence, he would not reject an attempt at conversation. The question did bring a stutter to his step, though, as red eyes shot toward the powergazer. He was silent for a moment, coaching most of the surprise out of his voice as he responded, [color=#B8041A]“We… Haven’t, yet. We diverted it with noise and movement, and it’s not approach the Refuge yet, but… It’s still out there.”[/color] He watched his fellow student carefully, wondering how little information any of them had been given before Hugo sent them here. [colour=7B68EE]"Its the same one?"[/colour] Silas stopped mid-step in surprise, only to double his pace to catch up to the taller boy once he moved again. [colour=7B68EE]"Is there a reason it keeps coming back?"[/colour] Kaspar inhaled steadily at Silas’s response, and he tossed the information around in his mind, figuring out how best to lay it out. Deciding on a straightforward approach, he finally answered, [color=#B8041A]“The first night, it was drawn in by prey. The next day, it consumed an aberration and was driven mad.”[/color] Silas let a silence fall over them as they turned two corners. It wasn't as uncomfortable as he feared; only solemn. But that was likely his own pessimism. [colour=7B68EE]"What do you take our chances of killing it this time?"[/colour] Kaspar thought on it for a moment as the silence settled between them again. Finally, voice more confident than one might expect, he offered, [color=#B8041A]”We’re prepared this time. We didn’t know to expect it the first time, but now we have numbers, training, and a chance to strategize.”[/color] [colour=7B68EE]"Our numbers consisting of; a handful of students, a dozen half-trained tethered, and maybe dumb luck?"[/colour] Silas shook his head. [colour=7B68EE]"We're going to lose people, and Hugo didn't send so much as a Zeno, doesn't that bother you?"[/colour] Kaspar was silent for a few moments. With a soft voice he responded, [color=#B8041A]“It does. We’re working our hardest to make sure we don’t lose any more, but… We already have. And you’re right. It’s very likely we’ll lose more. But the only way we can confront Hugo is by making it back.”[/color] The ending note was one of resolve—Kaspar had felt the terror of being near this beast, and he knew the Warden’s original plan. But Hugo wasn’t going to rescue them—so they might as well live long enough to make it his problem. [color=#B8041A]“This is you."[/color] They'd stopped at a door, to Silas indistinguishable from any of the others they'd passed. With a final nod to each-other the boys separated in slightly worse spirits than before. [/hider] [hider=Ayla] Ayla was nothing and everything a noble was meant to be. Like a princess from a story of old, the children congregated around her at any given opportunity, and were never turned away regardless of how busy the older girl was. She was open, kind, and ready with a smile despite their hapless circumstances. Silas half expected her to charm birds from the sky when she played her flute in a demonstration of sonic force magic. He stayed behind after her lesson, sticking to the walls until the rest of the room had emptied. [color=7B68EE]“Do you have a moment, Lady Arslan?”[/color] Ayla smiled warmly as the boy approached her, not having a real moment to properly greet him since his arrival to the refúgio, [color=7ea7d8]“Si, it is a pleasure to be formally acquainted.”[/color] She moves her hands over Silas’ own, taking them in a warm gesture. [color=7ea7d8]“How may one be of help?”[/color]. [color=7B68EE]"Thanks"[/color] He said, pulling back his hand to fold his arms across his chest [color=7B68EE]"It's about the Wyrm, I hear you were the one who came up with the plan last time."[/color] Ayla nods with a smile, expanding upon it for her new friend, [color=7ea7d8]“Dança-Alsahra, or Desert-Dancer in Avincian, it is a Torragonese children's’ game where you dance and when the Wyrm comes, you got to stay still, or it eats you. This was the inspiration for my idea. Was there more you wanted to know?”[/color] [color=7B68EE] "What difference it makes now that it's eaten an aberration."[/color] He returned her smile sheepishly before continuing [color=7B68EE]"I don't have any experience with them but would it change the wyrm’s instincts so much we couldn't use a similar trick?"[/color] Ayla takes a moment to consider the words, trying to describe it for a boy. [color=7ea7d8]“In simple terms… have you seen how alcohol changes people? Some become happy drunks, others become sad, and some become very angry as if in a frenzy. The Wyrm has lost its senses and is currently in a frenzy.”[/color], she shakes her head side-to-side. [color=7ea7d8]“The trick may work again, may not, but regardless, it will not give up its chase. Would only buy time. There isn’t a way to sober it up either that is known to me.”[/color] Silas nodded along, doing his best to conceal how helpless he felt about the situation; two steps behind everyone else with no way to keep up or even be of much use with his meager Gift. [color=7B68EE]"You don't find it strange that Hugo only sent us as reinforcements then?"[/color] [color=7ea7d8]“Hugo has sent enough”[/color], Ayla takes hold of Silas’ hands again, holding them up. [color=7ea7d8]“Imagine the Wyrm is a cart. You are not strong enough to push it along yourself.”[/color], she moves her hands into his, squeezing upon them. [color=7ea7d8]“But by working together? We can push that thing along. Here in the Refúgio, we have a lot of hands. We need people who can help direct and teach those hands what to do. Now you understand?”[/color] She offers him a wide smile, [color=7ea7d8]“Now these hands are many!”[/color], she releases the hands and claps them together. Silas stared at the shape of his hands after she dropped them. He appreciated the spirit of her words, but when it came down to it, they were children teaching children to fight a monster few trained warriors would survive in a non-crazed state. [color=7B68EE]"Thank you, Ayla. I hope to lighten the load however I can."[/color] His smile widened enough to show teeth as he forced a more positive tone; [color=7B68EE]"And when it's dead we'll turn the damn thing into a courtyard statue in honour of your quick thinking."[/color] Ayla tilts her head to the side with the last comment, offering a light smile. [color=7ea7d8]“We should dedicate it to all who took part and the lives of those we have lost. Dedicate it to a bright future, a sign of the challenges that had to be overcome.”[/color], she seems to instinctively look towards the direction of the courtyard with the comment. [color=7ea7d8]“It is easy to slip into darker thoughts, as my Da used to say, being brave is about standing up when you have to.”[/color] Silas thought it better to not to bring up that many of their allies [i]couldn't[/i] stand. It wasn't what she had meant after all, though the vulnerability of the refuge's habitants still had him questioning their chances. But that was his own cynicism; it was better to put faith in those who had already dealt with the wyrm before. [color=7B68EE]"You've got everyone here united and doing everything they can."[/color] He finally said, trying to think of a single positive thing to say about their hopeless circumstance. [color=7B68EE]"I'm sure he'd be proud."[/color] [color=7ea7d8]“You do like to flatter, Mister…”[/color], she notices that the boy hasn’t shared his own name with her, and leaves an adequate prompt for him to provide it, encouraging it. [color=7ea7d8]“Reframing problems into solutions is always helpful. If they focus on what the problem is, they grow withdrawn, hide away, become demotivated. If we tell people what we can do, they become motivated, and active. The latter has a lot more success.”[/color] [color=7B68EE]"Rieger"[/color] He said with some hesitancy. It still felt strange coming from his mouth, his previous life had needed only one name. He kept his face towards the courtyard but kept close sense of Ayla's reaction, prepared to be disillusioned of her seemingly genuine kindness when she failed to recognize his name. [color=7B68EE]"I won't keep you any longer, but thanks for speaking with me."[/color] Ayla shakes her head, as she directs the boy back towards her. [color=7ea7d8]“We are amiss. Let’s start again.”[/color], she instinctively moves her hands down to pat them upon her clothes before she brings them back up again, [color=7ea7d8]“Hello, my name is Ayla Arslan, my friends can call me Ayla. Pleased to meet you. To whom do we speak?”[/color], she takes Silas’s hand to shake upon it, seeming intent on wanting to have introductions in order before they depart. Silas grinned at her, quickly disarmed of his fears by her continued enthusiasm. [color=7B68EE]"Silas Rieger,"[/color] He took her hand [color=7B68EE]"I think I'm to be in your apprentice group, with Zeno Zemana? We'll have a lot to talk about."[/color] His head tilted to one side when their hands parted again, and his smile became more pursed. [color=7B68EE]"After the wyrm obviously."[/color] [/hider] [hider=Zarina] The Vangrish girl was to be avoided. Silas had decided that early, when he’d heard her speak during the debrief. She was confidence and shadows, quick wit with an underlying earnesty that he wasn’t sure what to make of. Going with his instincts to never trust a merchant, he’d purposefully awoken early to complete his morning task of tending to the prisoners in the Red Tower alone rather than in her company as originally planned. It was upon his return to the entrance that he became overwhelmed by the smell of coffee; following it lead him to Zarina, standing by a window steaming mug in one hand, a book in the other. He considered leaving, but even as the thought crossed his mind he knew it was too late, and that his presence had been noticed. [colour=7B68EE]“Goodmorning,”[/colour] He said, not quite comfortable enough to enter the room. [colour=7B68EE]“Did I miss breakfast?”[/colour] He’d risen and left before the sun had risen, and hadn’t expected anyone else up for another hour at least. It was hard to find a good book around the refuge- the best one could find was a bestiary or detailed notes in the rangers’ quarters. What Zarina had in her hand was Vice-Warden Adela’s records. A lot of payroll management and details involving the logistics of supplying the Refuge. Her mind kept busy, but was eventually distracted by a set of footsteps passing under the window she had been leaning against to take in some of the Torragonese air. [color=C78A2C]”Silas, was it?”[/color] she inquired with her usual Virangish accent. The book was snapped shut and Zarina conferred a half-lidded but hawkish gaze toward the young teen, [color=C78A2C]”If you’re hungry, I have unfinished sausages and churros-”[/color] she turns her body to be perpendicular to the window- essentially inviting him in, [color=C78A2C]”we had a job this morning, yeah? Prisoner duty? Though I guess there’s no hurry.”[/color] When she didn't immediately snap at him, Silas relaxed enough to enter the room, but did little more than eye her plate of food. [colour=7B68EE]"Just finished taking care of them actually-"[/colour] His brow furrowed behind the blindfold [colour=7B68EE]"I guess there wasn't any alternative to keeping them down there?"[/colour] One didn't need to be particularly astute to know something more had happened prior to his arrival. Something the others in the group had managed to keep tight lipped about, and if Silas was going to take part in any more criminal activity he'd at least like to know why. The plate of now cold food was on a small desk a meter away from her recently straightened bed. Zarina kept herself by the windowsill as she watched the blindfolded youth absorb his surroundings, [color=C78A2C]”Maybe there was. Could’ve killed them. Could’ve just let them all leave. Safe. Risky.”[/color] she loosely held her mug with a couple of her fingers, letting it dangle under her hand would make the more neurotic of people a tad nervous, [color=C78A2C]”This was the safest option for everyone. Although they’re still dangerous, Silas.”[/color] The Virangish took a sip from her still warm coffee and made her way to the large mirror opposite of her temporary bed. She focused on her eyes and what little makeup she had left, [color=C78A2C]”There’s a reason why they send two of us down there. Wait for me next time, yeah?”[/color] her voice had remained modulated the whole time, like nothing could quite frustrate her this morning. Or maybe she was just happy to not have to work, [color=C78A2C]”Are you gonna eat that?”[/color] she turned to face her guest, her book posed on the adjacent drawer and her idle hand over her hip. Silas watched the teitering mug, its slow arc of kinetic energy as heat continued to radiate off. [colour=7B68EE]"Any more dangerous than a crazed wyrm?"[/colour] Zarina quickly replied to the question, [color=C78A2C]”Think more the danger they pose plus the Wyrm, plus the not-so-jolly duke.”[/color] she then sipped from her mug again. He reached for the plate of food and took one of the cooled sausaged from it before passing it off to Zarina.[colour=7B68EE]"I'm not suggesting to let them go- but at the least we could use some more adults trained in the gift when the time comes?"[/colour] [color=C78A2C]”Manpower’s good, sure.”[/color] she nodded but gestured in dismissal when offered the meat. There was a reason it was left cold, [color=C78A2C]”But these guys sent us to die to eliminate the aberration. They’re not exactly the sort I’d invite to the Carnival with the family.”[/color] she paused and narrowed her eyes toward where Silas’ own would be, [color=C78A2C]”Do you see me, by the way? With hearing or maybe the bandana’s see-through? Met a guy once who saw with sound …”[/color] [colour=7B68EE]"Something like that."[/colour] He bit into the sausage and chewed slowly, reluctant to go through the same explanation he felt he'd given a hundred times. But she'd been more forthcoming than expected, and he was beginning to feel guilty for avoiding her. "I sense energy. Your shape, movements I can see. But details; faces, writing..." He shrugged, motioning his head towards the space she'd placed her book. "Well, some day. Or so I'm told." Zarina nodded, looking content with the answer given to her, [color=C78A2C]”Cool.”[/color] she responded as if she were a child that had just seen a big lizard for the first time, [color=C78A2C]”So you can’t quite tell if I’m smiling or frowning. But I guess you can see how I move and hear my voice.”[/color] she gestured to the plate, [color=C78A2C]”Try the churro, especially with the cream.”[/color] The sausage finished, Silas wiped the oils from his fingers on the hem of his sleeve. "I'm sorry your sister had to leave, she seemed-" There was a pointent silence while Silas desperately searched for a neutral word to describe the witch he'd met for mere moments. "Interesting." The Virangish went from relatively tame and content with her guest to tense and stiff rather quickly at the mention of her sister. Silas could probably hear and even feel it– her heart rate increased a little and her body heat went up a couple of increments. She inhaled loudly [color=C78A2C]”Yeah. Well. She’s always had her way of doing things.”[/color] she kept a tone in an attempt to hide how brittle her voice had gotten. A long sigh followed shortly after to vent that initial inhale, [color=C78A2C]”You’ll see her again, I’m sure. She likes unique cases like you. That is if we survive.”[/color] It was oddly reassuring to hear someone else give voice to the thought that they may not live through the wyrm attack. While he appreciated the optimism of others, his own mind was full of doubts and questions. He considered sharing them with the Vangrish girl, but the mere mention of her sister seemed to have upset her enough already. It was always a careful balance, being unable to see what he should, while what was meant to be hidden lay clearly before him. Silas averted his gaze to the window and rising sun. [colour=7B68EE]"I'd better get to doing something productive to increase our odds."[/colour] He offered a smile as he moved to leave the room. [colour=7B68EE]"Thanks for breakfast, and the talk."[/colour] Zarina nodded, but raised her hand to get Silas to stop for a moment, [color=C78A2C]”Patience, fireball.”[/color] she scurried over to her bag she had left by her bed and after a bit of rummaging, she’d take out a gourd filled with still fresh water. The young lad eager to get things done was offered the container, [color=C78A2C]”The heat can even make the toughest guys faint. Take a good swig every hour or so, yeah?”[/color] but before he could take it, she pulled it away for a brief moment, [color=C78A2C]”It comes back to my room in the evening, alright?”[/color] [/hider] [hider=Yalen] In Yalen, Silas saw what his life may have looked like. His mother had been pressured to give him to the church both when he was born and again when his eyes began to deteriorate. The clergy boy seemed happy enough with his lot; devout and honest to the point he seemed truly incapable of any sort of subterfuge. A relief in comparison to some of the others in their group. It was still Silas’ first night at the refuge when Yalen volunteered to help clean up after the children’s dinner when the former had drawn the short straw for the chore. [colour=7B68EE]”Thank you”[/colour] Silas said as he started to collect plates. [colour=7B68EE]”But despite whatever Cassi told you I can see what I’m doing.”[/colour] Yalen gave Silas a sunny smile and continued to scrub the table’s surface with a moist cloth. [color=#FD5E53]Since you’re here in this dangerous place, I assumed you could take care of yourself. I wasn’t trying to undermine your autonomy.”[/color] [colour=7B68EE]"I didn't-"[/colour] Silas stopped himself short before his foot got permanently stuck in his mouth. Of course he'd be so careless speaking to the boy fighting his own body to stay upright each day. But that was another truth he likely wasn't meant to see, so after muttering a second thanks he moved to the other side of the dinning hall to continue the chore in silence. [/hider] [hider=tl;dr] Silas meets people. [/hider]