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[color=#736AFF][b][h1]Ranbu no Izayoi[/h1][/b][/color]
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Neve cast her gaze around the group once more, making sure that everyone was safe and comfortable as they coursed through the long grass. The sight of them conversing, such as Izayoi, Eliane, and Galahad did, was sufficient to bring a light smile across her lips. However, even that faded away when the swordswoman’s chocobo leaned a little too close in her direction. Before she knew it, she rode alongside her, and the sheer thought of such a fact made her bristle. It wasn’t that she disliked her– in fact, it was the complete opposite. Izayoi was a strong woman. Then why did she feel so uncomfortable around her?

It took a moment for her to realize she was staring. Neve ducked her head and gave her an embarrassed, slightly terrified upwards pull of her lips. [color=659EC7][b]”It’s… a pleasure to have you along, Lady Izayoi.”[/b][/color]

Izayoi had been wondering when the girl would stop staring and start speaking. If the healer had been any more terrified of her, she would have smelled it. But Neve’s words brought a sardonic quirk to her lips.

[color=#736AFF][b]”Is it? I wonder.”[/b][/color] She replied, looking the Dranan woman over. Evidently, the girl hadn’t bothered to heed her advice overmuch regarding how much she exerted herself the previous night. Would that it would surprise her. 

[color=#736AFF][b]”There’s no need to lie to me, girl. If my presence disquiets you, say so. I will fall back.”[/b][/color]

[color=659EC7][b]”No, no! It’s fine.”[/b][/color] Neve shook her head rapidly. If there was anything she couldn’t afford, it was to upset someone in the party, especially someone as infamous as the mystrel. She had only heard rumors of her ferocious acts, but she knew that it wouldn’t be smart of her to cross her. Neve blinked, then nodded again. [color=659EC7][b]”I don’t mean to anger you. I’m just… not used to traveling alongside someone with so much prestige.”[/b][/color]

[color=#736AFF][b]”I am not angered.”[/b][/color] Izayoi said as calmly as she could, resisting the urge to sigh. The Mother take her, it had been years. How had the realm not forgotten her by now? [color=#736AFF][b]”The tales only speak of what I do to my enemies. I give you my word that so long as we share the same foe, I will not intentionally bring harm to you. Verbal slights mean little to me, regardless.”[/b][/color] A pause as something occurred to her. [color=#736AFF][b]”You know my name, but I believe you have never so much as even mentioned yours.”[/b][/color]

Her words brought her some comfort, though Neve still felt her shoulders tense when she spoke again. Had she not introduced herself? It wouldn’t surprise her; the previous night had been hectic and she still felt the fog weigh heavily on her exhausted mind. A light blush crossed her cheeks and she dipped her head in respect. 

[color=659EC7][b]”Neve Shadesbough, though you can just call me Neve,”[/b][/color] she said, [color=659EC7][b]”I was raised in Cascona Landing.”[/b][/color]

[color=#736AFF][b]”Hn.”[/b][/color] Izayoi simply nodded in response, pretending like she had any idea where that was. Not that she could reciprocate. Even had she remembered where exactly she was born, that hadn’t mattered to her in decades. Until she’d fallen into Kaien’s service, the road had been her home more often than not, throughout all of Osprey. Though there was one thing she could offer in response.

[color=#736AFF][b]”I do not recall the place of my birth, but my home for the last few years had been the village of Atsu. It is- [i]was[/i] on the way down from the mountain pass we will use to cross into Osprey.”[/b][/color] 


Neve wasn’t sure if what Izayoi said was a good thing. Uncertain, she bit her lip and bunched her hand around the hem of her robes as she pondered what to say without toeing a line. [color=659EC7][b]”I heard Osprey is pretty,”[/b][/color] she began with a beaming smile as she continued nervously. [color=659EC7][b]”It’s much warmer than other places on the continent. I can’t wait to see it. I haven’t left Drana Asneau much, and I don’t think that I’ve even gone further than Balmung or the Chocobo Forest…”[/b][/color]

[color=#736AFF][b]”I have never been to your lands, but from what I have heard, it will be something of an adjustment.”[/b][/color] Izayoi didn’t visibly express any emotion, but at least didn’t seem disapproving. [color=#736AFF][b]”Osprey is beautiful in its own way, even once you head north of the plains. Or was, rather. The occupation has not been kind to the land.”[/b][/color] An understatement, if anything. Though best not to dwell on it too long before making the girl uncomfortable. 

[color=#736AFF][b]”And what of you? I have never heard of this Cascona Landing before. What sort of settlement is it?”[/b][/color]

That was right; Osprey was occupied. Her temporary excitement dwindled as she turned to face the path again. Dread pricked the corners of her mind. What would they find there? Neve hoped that there were healers there, or at least people who knew how to tend to the fragile and ill. Then again, she hadn’t seen enough of Valheim’s presence to deduce that for herself. She blinked at Izayoi’s next question. [color=659EC7][b]”It’s a fishing village not far from Costa del Sol, a large river cuts right through the middle of it.”[/b][/color] Her voice became slightly lighter as she thought back to the time before the forests began to whisper to her. [color=659EC7][b]”My father is a popular fisherman there. He taught me how to fish too, and did the same with my siblings.”[/b][/color]

[color=#736AFF][b]”Oh?”[/b][/color] Izayoi’s ears and tail perked up slightly. [color=#736AFF][b]”You fish? I do as well. My teacher cared little for food in my youth, and it fell to myself to supplement our diets beyond the basics. That, and my husband was always fond of whenever I caught dinner from the mountain stream.”[/b][/color] A slight upturn of her mouth, for just a moment. As pleasant as the thought was, it was still marred by the thought of the loss of both of them. Her own negligence, as always.

It surprised her to see that Izayoi took such an interest in fishing. It surprised her even more to see that they actually had something in common. Neve didn’t expect a genuine smile to cross her lips as she spoke. [color=659EC7][b]”Maybe… we could fish together one day?”[/b][/color] she asked hesitantly. [color=659EC7][b]”You can show me your technique, if you would like.”[/b][/color]

[color=#736AFF][b]”If the opportunity arises. I’ll not begrudge more helpers trying to catch our dinner. Trail rations grow tiresome as a meal quickly.”[/b][/color] Izayoi simply shrugged in response to Neve. [color=#736AFF][b]”Though I’m afraid I have little in the way of technique to speak of. Only cobbling together what has worked since I was a child.”[/b][/color] An understatement, if there ever was one. Before she’d worked out how to use a rod and line, a sharp stick and and good timing had sufficed in shallow waters. 

[color=#736AFF][b]”Chin up.”[/b][/color] She practically ordered. [color=#736AFF][b]”Nervousness and fidgeting ill become you. There is little reason to fear speaking with those you’ll be traveling with for the foreseeable future. I doubt this will be a short campaign.”[/b][/color]

Neve brightened up at Izayoi’s agreement, no matter how confused she was. Izayoi, fishing with her? It was hard to imagine, but at the same time it was quite nerve-wracking. She wondered what kind of fisherwoman she was… though it wouldn’t be surprising if she was the intense type that people in Cascona Landing weren’t accustomed to. 

She flinched a little at her suggestion. Fear? She didn’t fear anyone in their group. They were good people. It was just that some of them were… a bit too intense for her, Izayoi being an example. Oh well, she might as well become used to it. What she said was right– they were on a journey and who knew how long that was going to take. [color=659EC7][b]”Okay,”[/b][/color] Neve bobbed her head slightly, though she avoided the mystrel’s sharp gaze. [color=659EC7][b]”I’ll try to do as you say.”[/b][/color]

[color=#736AFF][b]”Do not do it because I demanded so, do it for your own well-being.”[/b][/color] Izayoi huffed as Neve refused to meet her gaze, but let it go as they continued to ride on in silence.