[center][h2][color=#b3ccff]Esben Mathiassen[/color] and [color=#736AFF][b]Ranbu no Izayoi[/b][/color][/h2][/center]
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He stared at the ceiling, hands folded over his chest.

Two days since they’d fought Reisa and helped fend off the Valheimer invasion of Drana Asnaeu. Two days since they’d infiltrated the city, had their names cleared, purified the crystal of water...three days since Ramuh had etched his own sigil into the journal that lay on the nightstand next to the bed. About a fortnight, then, since he and Izayoi had first run into Eos and Selene while they were en-route to the poisoned meeting with Leviathan.

Just the day before they had finally passed the three week mark from when they first landed and got accosted by the guards at the docks.

And like the night before that, he was once again wrapped in a blanket, lying down, aching, unmoving, staring upwards. Now with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company, and the occasional check-in from someone else to see that he [i]was[/i] at least healing well, even though the white mages of Brightlam couldn’t afford to do much more than speed him along a little bit and make sure he wasn’t at any imminent risk of death.

The boredom was interminable. For a man like Esben, to be stuck [i]without[/i] some sort of mental stimulation was as good as torture...especially when he was still trying to keep from thinking about various other [i]revelations[/i] that had come to him within the last week. He’d taken to listening for feet outside the door, trying to recognize the tread of anybody coming his way. There was one initiate within the cathedral that was sent to check on him somewhat regularly that he’d come to recognize, but no-one else was consistent enough, and nobody that he knew previously had come by while he was awake.

Yet.

Certainly, there were few within Brightlam that could match the footsteps he just heard, especially as they came to a crisp stop at his door. Her hand should be at the knob within a breath more, and—

[color=#b3ccff]”Izayoi. They told me you decided to chase Reisa down to the ground this time.”[/color]

[color=#736AFF][b]”Che,”[/b][/color] Came the annoyed huff from beyond the door. The knob turned, and Izayoi stepped inside, a cloth-covered bundle proffered in one hand. 

[color=#736AFF][b]”They said you were finally awake. I took the liberty of preparing something more substantial than what they’re likely serving you in here.”[/b][/color] She left the food sack down on the nightstand next to Esben’s bed. 

[color=#736AFF][b]”The deed is done, aye. Reisa lies dead, and my family and home are now avenged.”[/b][/color] While she didn’t smile, Izayoi seemed far more at peace than Esben would likely have ever seen her, her burden lifted at last. 

[color=#736AFF][b]”Regardless, eat when you have the opportunity. You’ll need to replenish your strength, and unlike Chisato, you’ve the good sense to know the importance of feeding yourself. Blasted girl.”[/b][/color]

[color=#b3ccff]”She takes direction well, at least. So long as she doesn't have the opportunity to not do what she's told, she'll do it without complaint.”[/color] With a grimace, he pushed himself back and up so that he was at least [i]sitting[/i] to face Izayoi. [color=#b3ccff]”Although she may just be waiting for me to feel better before trying to yell at me.”[/color]

He would've reached for the sack of food immediately, if it weren't for how changing position made him start to feel like he'd been nearly-crushed all over again. Another day, maybe, and the minor magical ministrations he was receiving might at least be enough that he could be a little more active, but for now, he was already having to breathe shallowly just to keep from agitating everything further.

Infuriating.

[color=#b3ccff]”I do [i]hope[/i] that's not something I have to worry about from you as well, here—glad as I am that I didn't need to try and hold you back this time. What's on my menu here?”[/color]

[color=#736AFF][b]”Poison.”[/b][/color] Izayoi replied glibly, folding her arms. [color=#736AFF][b]”I’d thought to have you removed before you could irritate me further while within your home territory. Though clearly, I could dangle it before your head and you’d kill yourself attempting to reach it at this point.”[/b][/color]

[color=#736AFF][b]”But no, I prepared ginger boar. With bread, unfortunately. The cost of imported rice in these markets would be an irresponsible waste of our finances.”[/b][/color] A brief grumble under her breath about the impracticalities of living among the damned trees. 

[color=#736AFF][b]”Regardless, I came to ask if you intend to convince the remainder of the group to set out for Skael next. For one, I hold no eagerness to stay in Edren longer than I have to, even if by all rights, the idiot boy sitting on Edren’s throne owes us that ten million gil that was promised.”[/b][/color]

Esben stared blankly at the sack for a moment. [color=#b3ccff]”Ah. Now that you’ve got a little ninja in tow, you can get rid of me, yes? I can’t gainsay the pragmatism, I suppose...”[/color] He coughed, before reaching hungrily over to the sack. [color=#b3ccff]”I don’t imagine it’ll take much convincing. Rudi is already on board, though he wants to visit the Demet lands on the way. Éliane’s choice on the matter should be obvious, and the both of us have things to take care of there beyond this mission. By the time we swing back north, Leonhart should have the funds ready and waiting for us.”[/color]

By the gods, she was [i]right[/i] that he needed something more than thin soup while lying around.

[color=#b3ccff]”If you’ve no objections, then Chisato likely won’t have any. Miina shouldn’t be any issue unless we find some sign that her brother went the opposite way—which leaves Galahad as the only one that may need any convincing at all. If he objects, should we actually [i]try[/i] convincing him, bribe him, or just overrule him, do you think?”[/color] He drew his legs in, making some space at the end of the bed. [color=#b3ccff]”Take a seat, I won’t have the only one of you all to come check on me be standing there the whole time.”[/color]

Upon seeing Esben strain himself once more, Izayoi made an exasperated noise and simply picked up the food sack to place down within arm’s reach of the blonde, remaining standing. 

[color=#736AFF][b]”Demet? I confess, the name is unfamiliar to me. An Edreni southerner, then? I was under the impression the boy’s family was of Midgari stock.”[/b][/color] Her lips pursed at the thought of remaining within Edren that much longer. 

[color=#736AFF][b]”Regardless, I have little room to vocalize my complaint. Though I doubt it was intended, you and the boy nearly died to aid my assault on Reisa. As for Galahad, I doubt he would object. No more strenuously than I would, anyhow. Returning to Edren now would raise personal questions regarding his family’s affairs. Anything further is his business to clarify, not mine.”[/b][/color]

[color=#b3ccff]”You’re under the right impression, mostly. The way Rudolf puts it, though, the Earl Demet should have some useful resources for us, and if his views are anything like Rudolf’s, I imagine he won’t share so many of his countrymen’s prejudices. I don’t know much off the top of my head how any of that would relate to Galahad’s family, barring the obvious of the nobility all knowing each other, but since we’re going to be far from Midgar, it shouldn’t be too difficult.”[/color]

He drew out the packed lunch—was it lunch? He wasn’t really certain what time it actually was anymore—that Izayoi had made, though he could understand her frustration almost immediately looking at it. Shogayaki atop bread looked almost comical. Before he started to dig into it, though, he looked back up. [color=#b3ccff]”I really [i]would[/i] rather you sit, you know. It’s the one thing I can insist on right now to try and pretend I’m a good and grateful host!”[/color]

[color=#736AFF][b]”Don’t be ridiculous.”[/b][/color] Izayoi rolled her eyes. [color=#736AFF][b]”To expect a half-dead man to be a decent host in a hospice bed would be churlish. Sit back and eat.”[/b][/color]

While Esben did so, Izayoi looked around the sickroom, politely refraining from watching him eat. [color=#736AFF][b]”Tell me of Skael. Outside of this journey and the war, I have never left Osprey’s borders, and tales of the southern frostlands are few and far between. Is it true your folk ride steel carriages instead of chocobos?”[/b][/color]

Esben grimaced again at her phrasing. [color=#b3ccff][i]”Hospice[/i] makes it sound like I’m actively dying,”[/color] he muttered, poking at his food. [color=#b3ccff]”Cars, you mean? They’re not that common. Mostly toys for the wealthy, though not quite so scarce as in Edren.”[/color]

The idea of any of the party going for a drive was a comical one, except maybe for Galahad. Even Éliane didn’t seem the type that would be a good fit with such a ride, although she at least should be somewhat used to them. [color=#b3ccff]”Assuming it isn’t too icy, though, you all might get the chance to ride in one. It’s nicer than just braving the cold. Otherwise, we might even see Elly turn quiet on us.”[/color] Something about his tone suggested that he didn’t really expect that.

He paused, hand half raised towards another bite before he let it drift back down to his side. Sitting around, injured, getting asked about Skael—just as he’d been thinking [i]before[/i] Izayoi came in, it was remarkably similar, and yet remarkably different from the exact same events of mere weeks prior. Something to match the location, at least.

[color=#b3ccff]”You know, I’m not sure how old Eve is, but I’m sure she’s closer to you than to me. Who could it be next time, coming in to check on me after a bad fight and asking me about home? I doubt Elly would be so curious about [i]my[/i] home, and Miina and Chisato are both younger than I am. I don’t think the hat trick is in the odds for me.”[/color]

Izayoi raised an eyebrow at the apparent nonsequitur, but let it slide. Esben seemed lucid enough, so it likely wasn’t delirium. She’d humor the shift in topic.

[color=#736AFF][b]”You do understand not to ask a woman her age, correct?”[/b][/color] She sighed, folding her arms. [color=#736AFF][b]”Regardless, ‘tis a shame that she’ll likely not be traveling with us once more. I’d raised the question with Cid, and all he would state is that she has distance left to go in terms of communing with the Dreadwyrm.”[/b][/color]

[color=#b3ccff]”It’s for the best, I’m sure. I don’t know that any of us would really be up to...[i]containing[/i] her, should it prove necessary.”[/color] Not to mention that he could think of a number of scenarios where it [i]would[/i] prove necessary. He leaned back against the wall, letting out a sigh.

Healing was tiring work.

[color=#b3ccff]”Well, at least I’m not having to answer for getting myself hurt with her gone, although I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing. Or are some of you more concerned with that than I thought?”[/color]

She stared at Esben as if she thought he was an idiot.

[color=#736AFF][b]”You are laid up in a hospice ward. Half your bones ought to have been broken, by all accounts. And you assume there was to be [i]less concern[/i]?”[/b][/color] She palmed her face, sighing.

[color=#736AFF][b]”Had we the luxury of time, I would learn white magics if I could at this point, solely to take some of the burden off of Miina.”[/b][/color]

Esben smirked as Izayoi finished out her exasperated little rant. [color=#b3ccff]”You are a fountain of warmth, Izayoi. As perceptive as an eagle, too, to be certain.”[/color] He closed his eyes as he sat there, mulling over the idea she’d just put forth. Someone else capable in that regard would be a benefit, especially given that he couldn’t quite manage to have Eos and Selene available at all times to give their singular mage some relief.

Present circumstances being obvious proof of that. [color=#b3ccff]”Why not see about it while I’m laid up, then? Even accounting for when the healers here [i]are[/i] able to come and work on me rather than their own people, I imagine it’s going to be a few days...maybe a week, at least. The worst that could happen would be finding you don’t have the talent at all.”[/color]

[color=#736AFF][b]”Perhaps.”[/b][/color] Izayoi allowed begrudgingly. [color=#736AFF][b]”Though but a few days’ worth of instruction would amount to little, in the end. Regardless, do try not to get yourself injured once more in the way you have. Evidently, you reach your limit quickly outside of a duel. And I’ve little in the way of methods to correct that other than hurling you headfirst into more battlefields and frantic combat against great beasts.”[/b][/color]

[color=#b3ccff]”I’ll do what I can,”[/color] Esben agreed, still with a small smile. [color=#b3ccff]”One of many reasons I think visiting home will be a breath of fresh air. Do you still want to look into your old master while we’re there? I’m sure we’ll have [i]some[/i] time for it.”[/color]

Izayoi stayed silent for a few moments at that. She took in a breath. There hadn’t been [i]time[/i] to even consider the matter since they’d set foot in this country. And now the magnitude of her failures came back to haunt her once more. 

[color=#736AFF][b]”...If circumstances allow. Though in truth, my concern would be returning him to the grave first and foremost. This time, the body must burn. I will not suffer his memory to be perverted towards foul ends once more.”[/b][/color]

Her hand flexed. She stared down at it. Izayoi had grown in strength, or rather, regained it, since the desert. They all had. But would that be enough? By her own barometer, she was at least as strong and skilled as she had been when she’d had that fateful duel, but even that victory had been a fluke, brought about by surprise from a new technique tailor-made to defeat his own. Counting everyone else in…it would be a near chance, if her memory was any indication. And that was precluding the possibility that Valheim had enhanced his abilities somehow.

Esben nodded. A hard thing to disagree with, given that her master was only the [i]first[/i] they’d seen of Valheim science pulling people back out of the grave. Siren was another, thankfully destroyed by her own creators. [i]Hopefully[/i] they wouldn’t find a third, but anything they could devise to put them down, permanently, would be needed. Hopefully ‘burning’ wouldn’t prove a way to prime one for Ifrit’s powers in the same way that drowning worked for Leviathan’s...

[color=#b3ccff]”I’ll keep it in mind once we reach Solitude, then. Maybe they’ll have something in mind for [i]dealing[/i] with him, as well, whenever we run into him again.”[/color] He picked up his food again, pointing at the end of the bed. [color=#b3ccff]”You’re [i]sure[/i] you don’t want to sit? Or is this already more than you expected out of me after that fight?”[/color]

[color=#736AFF][b]”Go back to sleep.”[/b][/color] Izayoi huffed, turning to make her leave.

[color=#b3ccff]”Thanks for the food and for checking up on me, at least!”[/color]