[quote=@ctrlsaltdel]
[@Guardian Angel Haruki], one of my class questions is "How did I save your life the first time we met?" I don't think it necessarily has to be on the first meeting, but what danger did Hasdrubal save Pepper from on their way to Alula, and how did that influence her perception of him?
[/quote]

Oooh! I have an idea for that question.

When Pepper first met Hasdrubal, she was cheerful and friendly to him. But the more she tried to speak with him during the journey to Alulua, the more she became hesitant and quieter. She got the sense that he didn't want to guard her, let alone be around her. A part of her even worried that he would just up and ditch her when he gets completely sick of her. This is especially heightened because of her so-called apprenticeship with Archmagus Lapin, and she was starting to believe the Archmagus's disparaging words and insults to her during the first part of the journey. 

During the journey, Pepper and Hasdrubel encountered a large, dangerous carnivorous flower known as the Melancholia Flower, that lured prey with a sweet aroma that brought feelings of contentment and induced sleepiness. The flower would devour those who fell asleep in its petals. It was named the Melancholia Flower because those who managed to survive and get away from the flower experienced melancholy as a side effect while the aroma's effects wear off of the prey. Pepper got caught by that aroma, and her curiosity didn't help her. 

She had followed the scent to the flower in a trance-like state, and she almost got devoured by the flower. But Hasdrubel was able to counter the flower's abilities, and either got Pepper away from the flower, or he killed it himself. Pepper isn't sure on the details on that matter.  

After getting Pepper away from that flower, she did indeed feel the effects of the Melancholia set in. She ended up crying and voicing everything that the Archmagus said to her, and apologized to Hasdrubel. However Hasdrubel answered her, that conversation made her realize that he wasn't going to ditch her at the very least. 

Her memories of the conversation and encounter are still somewhat fuzzy, due to the mind-altering effects of the Melancholia Flower's effects.