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[center][youtube]https://youtu.be/i2zpbcW-h-c[/youtube][/center]

[b][color=gold]Characters:[/color][/b] Ayla x Evander [@RezonanceV]
[b][color=gold]Location:[/color][/b] Ersand’Enise, Arboretum, Lake
[b][color=gold]Time:[/color] [/b]Dusk


Ayla came to a rest as she put away her flute and released a soft sigh. She often took a moment to admire the peaceful beauty of the well-maintained gardens of the arboretum. As she was about to depart, she glanced over to notice the boy reading a book, recognizing him from class and from that moment during the trials. She moved over towards Evander to introduce herself, [color=009fff]“Do you like to swot books when you are not running off with other people's fresh produce?”[/color] she offered him a playful smile, [color=009fff]“If you were hungry, we could have shared the melon together”[/color]

Evander carefully thumbed a page in one of three books. The one in his hand was titled, [color=FFFFFF]“Black Devil Rising”[/color] in Avincian language. The other two stacked by his hip next to the base of the tree were [color=FFFFFF]“Iron Shapes Our Future By Cutting History”[/color], and [color=FFFFFF]“Reshta’s Famous.”[/color] He was studying three different questions. The first was to give him insight into what was needed to bond and raise a Black Devil. The second provided an analysis of Ironshaper’s impact on the fall of Avince to his influence over time leading up to the Eskand-Revidian relationship. The third was about Yasoi beliefs, specifically about a theory of Reshta being the reincarnation of a Yasoi goddess named, Vyshta. A name that caught his eye while scanning the library because of the list he found in the statue of Iona on his desk.

He looked up as if a little annoyed at being disrupted. Yet this point of tension was relieved as he crossed his gaze with the lovely Ayla. A young woman from Torragon, House of Arslan, a notable noble who lived in a place aligned with Revidian politics. Her family was strong, drenched in warriors, and rooted in history. Evander once heard his father speak of a man named Asier from when Eskand enflamed the countryside of Parrence about 800 years ago. His father talked of him in high regard and highlighted that if he ever ran across Torragonese men and women - to show them the utmost respect for their courageous spirit, [i][color=FFFFFF]“You never want to step on a lion’s tail.”[/color][/i] He was always reminded after hearing of Asier’s legacy. 

Evander cracked a smile back, [color=BC3823]“An invitation?”[/color] His eyes crested like a waning moon turned on its side. He folded the page he was on to save his place, stacking it back on top of the other three, and then moved all of them to the otherside from where Ayla was standing, [color=BC3823]“I am thirsty; maybe we could share this instead as a token of my apology?”[/color] Evander pulled out a fancy globe jar with Ellermane Blue. Patting the ground next to him to invite her by his side.

Ayla curiously eyes the globe as she moves down to occupy the space previously filled by the books next to Evander. [color=009fff]One did wonder if you were a wine connoisseur, secretly Perrench, or you were not paying for the wine. One has her answer."[/color] she smiled as she waited for the wine to be poured before accepting it as she eyed him curiously with the suspected answer.

[color=009fff]"This one is perspective, and able to tell a read a lot into a person…[/color] she stroked her fingers upon the books as she glanced upon the different titles, a playful smile appeared upon her lips. [color=009fff]"Your goal is to have lady luck look upon you with fortune as you raise your Black Devil strong and then be able to enact a thousand-year revenge on Eskand for the glory of the Empire?"[/color] her tone continued as a friendly tease.

Ayla sat down, expecting a cup. Lucky for her, Evander had brought one for himself. He handed it over to her and smoothly poured the Ellermane inside. With a left hook of humor, Ayla punched Evander in the cheek where it tickled, and he burst out laughing at her string of logical conclusions about the titles of his books. He twisted his head to the side in case he spat up any wine but reverted to choking on some instead. 

 [color=BC3823]“Wise you are!”[/color] Evander enthusiastically replied as he gained some composure from his sudden burst. He zeroed in on her knowledge of Vyshta as the lady of fortune, a key point made in the book about Reshta,  [color=BC3823]“I’m curious Princess, what do you know about lady luck?”[/color]

Ayla smiled even wider at the question, an answer she already knew. [color=009fff]"You are in luck, she may still be amongst us now. Tyrel of Vyshta's favoured is the Goddess reborn. Yasoi girl from Tarlon, one leg, surrounded by bad luck."[/color] She moved her hand to tap upon the book cover, [color=009fff]"You might get more from the horse's mouth than from the book."[/color]. She drank from the cup as she proceeded to solve his other problem too. [color=009fff]"As Eskand is currently divided, my Prince, perfect time to enact your revenge."[/color] With a playful tinkle in her eye, she noticed the unmistakable sight of Ingrid in the distance. [color=009fff]"Wouldn't start a fight with that one, though. She will probably seat you suddenly upon your princely behind."[/color]

Evander listened closely to Ayla’s wisdom about Tyrel, Ingrid, and Eskand. He turned his head to face Ayla,  [color=BC3823]“There is no revenge plot looming in my mind, it is no secret that as a Revidian my loyalty lies with Revidia, which has asserted its stance against Eskand, and I do see them as lost sheep in a large field, but, my real priority is Perrence. As a Torragonese, you already know this fact.”[/color] He looked at the book, then Ingrid in the distance, [color=BC3823]”I hope that if I can better understand Eskand, they can be useful against Revidia’s imminent threats; that woman might be the key.”[/color] 

He could feel the relaxing effects of the Ellermane take a subtle hold over his senses. Leaning back against the large, old tree. He traced the tree’s branches with his eyes as each stretched wide. The trunk was thick and gnarled, with deep roots anchored in the ground with some creeping above to provide natural spots to sit, lean, or walk on. He followed the roots to the grass as a gentle breeze rustled the tree leaves and grass below. The water was calm and still. Reflected above was a crystal clear sky. The evening birds began to turn their chirps into whispers, and the traffic across the lake near the road started to dissolve. 

As Evander contemplated the peaceful and serene scene in front of him, he wondered, what was Ayla’s motivation for being at Ersand’Enise? She was a Noble, Torragonese, and she chose to engage him in conversation, not to mention her immediate thoughts were to help Evander. What was she looking to gain from this? He paused his mind and followed his thinking by asking a sincere question to cut to the heart of his queries. 

[color=BC3823]“Ayla, playfulness aside, what do you dream about?”[/color] Evander was curious about her dreams, for he realized his dreams were never his own; they were only ever intertwined with that of his ancestors. He accepted this truth, but what about Ayla? As a Noble, did she have dreams of her own?

Ayla mulled the comments as she casually relaxed, swirling the glass within her hand as she sipped gently upon the wine. [color=009fff]"Playfully aside, as your faithful ally, we wish to inform you that the Doge overstepped, putting us all closer to a war we won’t win.”[/color] Her eyes fix upon Evander’s own as she examines him with scrutiny, appearing to read for his expressions for a  moment before softening to a smile. [color=009fff]"Imagine the look on the Doge Prospero’s face if King Sancho said that to him. Would be worth painting a portrait of.”[/color]

She moves her hands back as she loosens her hair ties, allowing the curly long hair to drop and rest against her back, coming along the side like a carpet rolled out before royalty. Ayla curls up within her seated position as she instinctively looked upwards upon the discussion of dreams,  [color=009fff]"Ipte tends to bless me fortunately with dreams, recently not as much, though imagine it is not these you were interested in.”[/color] She brings the cup towards her mouth as she drank more deeply from it.  [color=009fff]"My dream sounds simple, a flight of fancy… but one wishes to change the world with a song. My wish is to move people deeply, to reach their core, their essence, in order to change the world and make it a better place. Might have succeeded during the trials, but your Reshta had other ideas. Not going to give up so easily, however,”[/color] finishing her statement with a wink.  [color=009fff]"Now what does a Prince of Revidia dream?”[/color]

Evander continued to gaze at the lake as she spoke the truth about the Doge’s recent actions. The Doge further irritated his enemies and stressed his allies. Enemies were scheming, and allies may be waning. He brought the globe jar to his lips, sipping the sweetness before checking Ayla’s cup. Without asking, he topped her cup off and sipped again from the globe jar. Except his eyes did not fully return to the lake. Ayla’s charm caught his deep blues as she let down her hair. Followed by her dream of [color=FFFFFF][i]changing the world with a song[/i][/color]. Evander replied, [color=BC3823]“Who thought Torragonese could be poets, and Arslan’s would make a bird instead of a lion.”[/color] He winked back at her. Her question eluded him, [color=FFFFFF][i]Revidia is not my kingdom[/i][/color], he thought. He did not see himself as a Prince of Revidia, no. He was heir to Avince. 

[color=BC3823]“My dream Princess? Similar to yours. You speak of changing it with a song, to deeply move your people.”[/color] He closed his eyes, nodded, and softly raised his eyelids to greet her kindly, “admirable, endearing, and noble, truly the best dream for a just Queen.” He acknowledged, praised her, and finally answered her question, [color=BC3823]“My dream? To protect the world from burning to the ground,”[/color] He paused to let the claim weigh in the air between them, [color=BC3823]“I agree with you, the Doge made an error, and the Central Alliance feels stressed because of it, however, regardless of the Doge’s mishap in judgment, I think there is something else that is coming.”[/color] He reached out to hold Ayla’s free hand, [color=BC3823]“something our nations will not be ready for, something bigger than a war between Parrence and Revidia, something….”[/color] His other hand came beneath the one he was holding to cup Ayla’s, [color=BC3823]“you and I will need to prepare for if we are to make sure our families and our interests don’t burn, and your song is heard.”[/color]

Ayla feels her eyes widen in response to his hands cupping her own, the corners of her mouth spreading into a warm smile. [color=009fff]“Now this is that fabled Revidian silver-tongue.”[/color] she moved her hand to join his in return, as she cups upon them, listening to his words with a light blush upon her cheeks.  [color=009fff]“Truly, the only way would be for our houses to unite as one. If only one was not betrothed to another, we may be brought together.”[/color] She could not resist the urge to act brazen towards his advances, though the blush betrayed her true self.

On the topic alluded to, she responded with a more attentive manner. [color=009fff]“You are referring to the Traveller?”[/color] She paused for a moment for confirmation. [color=009fff]“The Traveller… is not wrong. That is what makes their teachings taste foul to our senses, however, they are far from the cure. Those with power should use it responsibly, and those who do not, cause the growing discontent as they see themselves above all moral responsibly.”[/color] She gauges Evander’s response to this radical statement, [color=009fff]“They are right in only that something needs to change; however, to cut off the nose to spite your face is not the solution. We don’t need more violence; what we need is more love and compassion to truly make a difference.”[/color] She leaned closer to Evander, her face invading his personal space in that teasing and tantalizing manner as she held his hands within her own. She whispered softly towards him, [color=009fff]“What does my Prince think of his noble Queen now?”[/color]

Evander was surprised at the Torragon’s knowledge of the Traveler, [i]she is not wrong[/i]. But Ayla’s natural inclination to advance on him was the real blindside. He was attempting to emphasize the gravity of their partnership in the coming times. Ayla seemed to grasp an entirely different affection. [i]Did she just propose to him?[/i] Taken back, he remained calm. He did not want to seem as if he was rejecting the Princess. Calmly, he reminded her of her situation, [color=BC3823]“Ayla you are sworn to someone else; what does that mean to you?”[/color]

Ayla blinked at the response, then giggled with a soft laugh. [color=009fff]“It seems the rumours about your character are a true injustice. We are pleased by this development.”[/color] She pulled back from him and she removed her hands from his as they moved to finish the cup of its wine. She held upon the empty cup as she looked down and smiled sadly, [color=009fff]“Every girl grows up dreaming of marrying for love, though that is not the world we live in. Some are fortunate in that they find love with who they are chosen to be with, like Queen Eleanor of Oriflamme fame. Perhaps Ipte will bless me with such fortune.”[/color] 
Evander remained silent for a few seconds as he let her statement hang in the air. Her intelligence, sincerity, and courage were all things he found attracting him. Of course, her natural beauty was obvious to anyone who caught her at a glance or a staring contest. [i]Love…[/i] Evander asked, [color=BC3823]“How would you know if you found it?”[/color] Before she could answer, he added, [color=BC3823]“Betrothed, what would you do if you did find it?”[/color]

Ayla gently looked towards him, [color=009fff]“Given how my betrothed spent the majority of his betrothal speech admiring the characteristics of the Virangish Striped Manatee, don’t think we would be finding out the answer to that question.”[/color] She turned to humour to respond to that question as she stroked a hand through her hair with a coy smile, declining to further answer what he may have been truly asking. [color=009fff]“What about you, my Prince. Will you marry a girl for her status and station? Perhaps even Doge Prospero’s daughter, the newly crowned Empress Namiri of Belzagg, or would you feel led by your heart when it comes to selecting the one you desire”[/color]

[i]Odd, the more this Tourrare spoke, the more interested he became.[/i] Then she mentioned the “Virangish Striped Manatee”, Evander laughed and recoiled, “My apologies, I did not mean to laugh at your arrangement. I understand where you are; it is a precarious promise you had no say in, and the man you are sworn to fails to recognize even your worth as a Torragonese noble, except through contract.” He paused, [i]awful waste.[/i] Followed by his answer, [color=BC3823]“Maybe both, perhaps if the Pentad favors me, a woman of status and station who also leads my heart.”[/color] He smiled, looking into Ayla’s eyes, sympathizing with her unfortunate situation.

[color=009fff]“My, aren’t we the optimist. Perhaps when my betrothed chooses a fish over me, we may be so fortunate to find one another again.”[/color] Ayla responded as a tease to the flirtatious Revidian, then her face dropped a moment [color=009fff]“Please don’t tell him that we called it a fish…”[/color] gave a playful look of disgust as recalls having already been corrected upon that statement.

She moves to place the wine cup next to Evander, as she moved to lift herself back up again, [color=009fff]“Too much of this 300 Magi wine.”[/color] She cupped upon his hand as she wished him farewell. [color=009fff]“Do me a favour and tell Jocasta and Yalen that their company is missed”[/color] 

Evander listened to the pain that struck through her comments about her betrothed. There was a tug at Evander within to pull her back into the conversation, [color=FFFFFF][i]Am I enjoying her?[/i][/color] He refrained from saying anything as she pulled herself up, [color=BC3823]“Sure…”[/color] as she turned, he instinctively reached out for her hand but clumsily stroked her back leg as she stepped forward to leave. Ayla turned around, Evander asked, [color=BC3823]“...say, you know a good deal of what I am studying, and Torragon and Revidia would do well if we better understood our situations here in Ersand’Enise. Would you like to meet here, same time next week?”[/color]

She was caught off-guard as she felt the hand rub stroke against of her leg, glancing down towards him in surprise but also curious manner. [color=009fff]”If one is available, follow the sound of the flute.”[/color] Ayla smiled toward him as she gave a light curtsey, moving away once again.

Evander leaned back against the large, old tree. The sun finally kissed below the horizon. [color=FFFFFF][i]What a pleasant surprise… hope to see you soon again, Ayla Arslan.[/i][/color] He thought as his interaction with Ayla was surprisingly enjoying and enlightening to his situation. [color=FFFFFF][i]It’ll be wise to keep her close.[/i][/color] He placed the “Black Devil Rising” on his lap and grew light in the palm of his hand to illuminate the pages to read, [color=FFFFFF][i]Upon the hatching of a Black Devil, the infant needs to feel two things, it’s nurturer and it’s home.[/i][/color] Evander lifted his head off the page to look at the now moonlit sparkling lake, [color=BC3823]”Home.”[/color] 


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