[center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjk2LjI5NzUwZS5RMlZqYVd4cFlRLjA/chopin-script.regular.webp[/img][/center] [hr] This was it. Her first real 'test' as a member of the Iron Roses, if you will. Amidst the company of knights, Cecilia had decided to remain near the back of the procession for both practical and other personal reasons. Mostly, to gather her own thoughts. It was rare she wasn't chatting up one of the other knights, trying to talk their ears off or getting up to some small mischief, but as the sun would slowly start dipping over the horizon, long shadows creating familiar tones of twilight a feeling of slight melancholy would fall over the typically amicable archers features. She still couldn't quite believe she was here, among some of the best knights in the kingdom. It was a good thing then, the only one who knew anything about her past was herself. Anyone else well...they hadn't a clue to her whereabouts and the rest of her family was likely deceased anyways. [i]"When I asked you to stop being so cavalier all the time, I didn't mean for you to suddenly start wearing a scowl uglier than that elf lady."[/i] [color=598527]"Sorry your majesty. I'll try to be depressed a little quieter."[/color] [i]"Oh will you? Well, good. I'm trying to sleep before I have to save your lazy butt from whatever these bandits are and its awfully noisy. I don't need you being loud enough for me to hear either."[/i] Cecil sighed as Seshaeal fell quiet, though she couldn't help but to smile faintly as she'd turned her eyes back towards the knights in front of her. Harsh words aside, the wind spirit meant well, at least, in the what...eight years they had been together she had a pretty good grasp of how the impertinent and slightly whimsical wind spirit worked. At least she felt good enough to focus a bit more on the mission at hand. Bandit King Jeremiah. A traitor, just like her parents. It made her just a bit agitated, all things considered though not for reasons most would likely realize, and here she was riding with a company of prestigious knights to put him to rest. It was surreal really, that she'd ever have a chance to do something like this after her life of what she'd consider constantly fucking up as they say. It was a chance she couldn't squander, and one she intended to at least put in as much effort that she could into. [i]"It won't be much longer that we will need to proceed on-foot,"[/i] The voice of knight captain Fanilly pulled her from her thoughts. Almost time to get serious, then. Cecilia slowed her mount as the roads became much less smooth, underbrush and hard to traverse wild land became their foot path. Just as well for her. She was never a fan of horses and even in battle she much preferred the wind spirits blessing and her own agility then riding some beast of burden. She'd dismount with expected agility others likely came to expect of her, hitting the ground with barely a noise as she'd take a moment to make sure her companion was strapped firmly to her side. Arrows. Backup dagger. More arrows. A spare apple or two to snack on mid battle because a quick pick me up did wonders for the spirit at times. Katerina's boisterous voice was the first to speak as they dismounted. Perhaps it was her own noble upbringing, but even during her mercenary days she could never quite grasp that accent or any similar to it. Serenity and Renar caught her attention next, talking about trophies and bragging rights for whoever would be taking Jeremiah's head. Well, now that wouldn't do at all. They were forgetting the one clearly with the best chance here to effortlessly take out the bandit king. [color=598527]"Heeeey, don't you guys forget little ol' me!"[/color] Cecilia laughed as she'd run up, making a valiant effort to put a friendly arm around Serenity's shoulders. [color=598527]"If anyones gonna be taking that bandit guys head, its gonna be me! I got ten arrows with his name on 'em and they're gonna turn his skull into a pin cushion."[/color]