[color=lightgray][center][h1][color=red]FLASHBACK[/color][/h1]

[h2][color=f26522]Roman[/color] & [color=Tan]Nora[/color][/h2]

[h3]Part Two[/h3]

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[color=Tan]Time:[/color] Early Evening of Ignis 6
[color=Tan]Location:[/color] The Merchant District
[color=tan]Interactions[/color]: [@HylianRose] Nora
[color=tan]Mentions[/color]: [@Remram] Magnus


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He continued at a leisurely pace towards the nobles' housing. It made sense now why she had taken a shortcut off the safe routes through the city. A noble from Varian... quite interesting indeed. [color=f26522]“Oh, a fellow countryman? Well then, let me formally introduce myself.”[/color]

He cleared his throat with comical exaggeration. [color=f26522]“Ahem. I am Lord Roman Ravenwood of Emberstone. Heir to the Ravenwood name and Guildmaster of the Ravenwood Artisans and Trade Guild, at your service. I'd bow, but I wouldn’t want to startle you.”[/color] He hoped that a formal introduction would encourage her to do the same.

She smiled, the first genuine smile in the past few moments, at him antics. It almost caught her off guard how easily it came too. The name still wasn’t ringing any bells what-so-ever, but she didn’t want to insult him. Magnus would know… She mentally reminded herself to ask him for help on all the important people from.. Well.. everywhere. 

[color=tan]”No need to bow.”[/color] She shook her head, her hand gripping at his clothes to steady herself as he walked. Now that she was a bit more relaxed and comfortable, she felt her arms had the strength to hold onto him now. 

[color=tan]”Nora.. Pawonska. Daughter to Count Sven Pawonska.”[/color] She offered back quietly, knowing it was the polite thing to do at this point. 

[color=f26522]“Pawonska... Nora Pawonska.”[/color] He repeated the name as if running it through his mind. [color=f26522]“Hmm. So, Irinaburg. Which would make your mother… Kassi? Something like that?”[/color] He smiled, but kept his focus on the road, nodding at a few people passing by.

He did recognize the name. Now that he thought about it, he knew exactly who she was talking about. A decent couple, at least on the surface, though they kept to themselves a lot. They struck him as the type to contribute to a meeting only when necessary, otherwise remaining stoic.

[color=f26522]“I have met your parents a time or two. They seem like decent enough people, for nobles.”[/color] He glanced down at her, his eyes catching the way her hand gripped his clothes. [color=f26522]“But I could never have imagined they were hiding a gem like you.”[/color]

She felt her skin prickle, goosebumps rising over her in a way that she couldn’t explain. She swallowed thickly. [color=tan]”Kasia…”[/color] She corrected quietly, her brow furrowed as she tried to understand her own emotions. She couldn’t tell if his words had left her feeling flattered or insulted. Her mind repeated his words, [i]for nobles.[/i]

[color=tan]”I don’t know if I would say gem…”[/color] she mumbled. 

He still had a stupid smile on his face as he continued through the darkening streets. The closer they got to the nobles' housing, the cleaner—and quieter—the streets became. He paused at a corner to wait for a passing carriage.

[color=f26522]“I look at priceless gems and stones all day. Most gems arrive looking like common stones from the street. It’s only when you polish and carve them that you really see them shine.”[/color] Analogies of stone and metal always came naturally to him.

[color=f26522]“So, what do you like to do for fun? Any hobbies, or perhaps favorite books?”[/color] After the cart passed, he made sure to look both ways before continuing across the street.

Brows furrowed once more as she looked down, watching the ground pass by underneath them. Already, the event just moments ago felt worlds away. She couldn’t help the blush that crossed her cheeks. She couldn’t imagine herself as anything like what he was describing. 

[color=tan]”I like stargazing.. And cooking… and..”[/color] She trailed off, her face heating up again as she thought of the books still perched in her lap. She glanced down, the words [b]”Secret Knight”[/b] printed in bold across the top of the book sitting on top. Her eyes went wide and her free hand reached for her dress to quickly shove the fabric over the top of the book. 

It flopped back down as quickly as she’d tossed it, gravity betraying her. 

He couldn’t help but chuckle at her frustration. She was cute when she was flustered; it seemed like she wasn’t used to this kind of attention. Being carried away from a traumatizing event by someone like him—a ‘secret knight,’ so to speak.

[color=f26522]“I enjoy blacksmithing, as well as carving wood, stone, metal, and jewels. I also cook occasionally, and fight when I need to.”[/color] He found himself deliberately slowing his pace. The lightness she gave him was nearly intoxicating. [color=f26522]“I have traveled to many places, but I always find the best destinations are the ones you find in books. As long as you remember that reality still demands your attention, too.”[/color]

Nora hadn’t noticed their change in pace, she was too engrossed in the space around her to even notice. She felt the sudden urge to hide her face, but felt that she had nowhere to do so. If she could have made herself small enough to disappear, she would have. 

Luckily for her, though, he didn’t seem to comment on her blunder. At least, until he mentioned books again and her heart beat rose once again. She wanted to ask him about his hobbies more, get off the subject of fantasy and books, but she couldn’t think of anything meaningful to ask. Finally, she settled on something.

[color=tan]”Did you teach yourself your crafts or did someone teach them to you?”[/color] She asked after a short moment. Her eyes were glued to the book in her lap, an ever present reminder. She’d have to bring book sleeves with her when going to buy books in the future…

A change in subject? Well, at least she was talking. [color=f26522]“My grandfather taught me how to do most of it. He was a mountain of a man, nearly a head taller than myself, with a loud and loving reputation.”[/color] That part was true; his grandfather did teach him many things about smithing, carving, the gods, and even a little about magic. 

Nora blinked. She couldn’t imagine a man any bigger than Roman. He was already quite large. He would make even her father look small in comparison. 

[color=f26522]“I have a large family, but luckily I was old enough to spend much more time with him than my siblings did. It gave me the ability to pass down his stories, his adventures, and his wisdom.”[/color] It was a somber thought—the old man had died about 15 years ago—but Roman knew he would see him again someday.

[color=f26522]“My favorite was his tale of meeting an Ancient or Primordial. A creature that measures time differently than we do. A creature that always was and always will be.”[/color] He checked to see if he held her attention. And by now, Nora’s eyes had gone wide as saucers, her mind already filling the gaps of his story with her own ideas. She couldn’t help the way her mouth dropped as he spoke. [color=f26522]“It's what we call the peaceful leviathans that live deep below the northern ice fields. He said its name was Himinglæsir, or The Aurora Wyrm.”[/color] 

[color=f26522]“He described it as an eel as long as a hundred ships and as wide as ten of them strapped together. It didn’t have scales, but rather mirrored skin that glowed with the aurora. It sticks to the clearest ice patches.”[/color] He sighed, remembering the enthusiasm with which the old man told these tales.

[color=f26522]“He said that the whole of the ocean and the ice would light up and glow, just like the aurora above. In some cases, the ice would even vibrate and sing a haunting melody.”[/color] He chuckled to himself, remembering the next part. [color=f26522]“He even claimed he stripped himself bare to enter the water with the Elder. It was curious, attracted to both his heat and the light. He said he even got to touch it, and the crown of light that drifted along with it.”[/color]

She was, in earnest, entranced by his story. Trying to imagine what it must have looked like, how scary and beautiful it must have been. She hadn’t even considered whether it was true or not, simply lost in the tale of it all. She liked to believe things like that existed, after all if [i]she[/i] existed, why couldn’t they? 

[color=tan]”Why would he do that? I mean, strip himself. Wasn’t he scared?”[/color] She asked, her curiosity mounting. There was still some apprehension in her small frame from the events just moments ago, her legs still sore and her body tired, but she felt calmer listening to him. 

[color=f26522]“Of course he was.”[/color] He smiled. [color=f26522]“That’s the point. Fear isn't a weakness; it's a warning. It sharpens your eyes and clears your mind, reminding you that you have something to lose. Most people let it paralyze them, but you must learn to use it. Once you realize that you can be terrified and still move forward... that is when you are truly free."[/color]
He adjusted her in his arms. The aching in his ribs hadn't vanished, but it was a lot better than it had been a few days ago. Even with the pain in his side, he wasn’t going to set her down just yet. Nora let out a soft sound as he shifted her, gripping lightly at his clothes to hang onto him.
She couldn’t necessarily understand what he was saying, at least not at her core. Her mind understood, could comprehend. In stories knights were brave but that didn’t mean that they didn’t have fear. They pushed through it. But for Nora, the concept felt wholly foreign. 

[color=f26522]“The legends surrounding the Wyrm say that it was sent by the gods to bring the aurora to us. It was a sign so that the children of the gods would know they were still there. A colorful loom upon which the gods weave the fate of the seasons.”[/color] He could only smile at how big her eyes were. They held the same glint of wonder that he once had when hearing these stories for the first time.

[color=tan]”It sounds beautiful.”[/color] She mused, trying to imagine it in her head. She wished she had any talent as an artist or she might try to paint it. [color=tan]”I wish I could have seen it…”[/color] Nora continued, a wistful look in her eyes. She paused after a short beat and looked around at where they were. 

[color=tan]”I think I can walk now if you need a break.”[/color] She offered quietly, realizing just how far he had taken her on foot. He had to be tired.

[color=f26522]“Well, if you don’t mind the cold—and my company—I may just send you a missive someday to join me on an expedition… well, once we become friends.”[/color] That made him laugh a little.

Her face brightened at the invitation, the ‘once we become friends’ ghosting over her as if he had never said it. The idea of being able to see it in person, actually see it, was something she couldn’t even fathom happening. Maybe she could convince him to invite her siblings too… Elena would probably love it!

They were getting pretty close to the dorms now. He decided to set her down to spare her any misunderstanding or embarrassment that might come from being carried inside.

[color=f26522]“I'm more worried about possibly embarrassing you. Being carried in by another noble is one thing, even if that noble is from Varian.”[/color] He smiled and slowly knelt on one knee, lowering her gently so she could stand on her own. He kept himself close, just in case he had to catch her.

Her legs seemed to cooperate, for the most part. They wobbled momentarily as she got used to being upright again. She reached for his shoulder to steady herself before finally pulling away with a soft breath. She definitely was going to need a warm bath and some rest. Food couldn’t hurt either.

[color=f26522]“I'll still walk you the rest of the way. I might as well use the room they have for me here for once.”[/color]

As she turned to reply to him, her mouth opening to speak, her stomach decided to speak for her, growling hungrily. Nora clamped her mouth shut, her eyes wide once again as she watched for his reaction. [color=tan]”...Yes. You.. should use them…”[/color] She mumbled, trying to play it off, poorly.

He couldn’t help but smile at her flustered state. He continued to find it adorable. But if she was hungry, at least that meant her body wasn’t in fight-or-flight mode anymore. That was good; it meant she was finally calming down after they got out of that situation.

Still, now that he wasn't holding her, he could feel that ever-present weight shift back onto his shoulders. He hadn't realized until this moment just how heavy it truly was. It made more sense to him now why he had made the decisions he did.

He stood up, his gaze moving over her again. He appreciated her power for what it was, but it was something he would have to investigate further—privately, and by spending more time with her.

[color=f26522]“Come on. We're almost there, and you can get something to eat.”[/color]

Nora watched Roman and instead of checking for any signs that he was angry at her, she was trying to get a gauge on him as a whole. She glanced over his features. What motives did he have? Who was he really? His stories had seemed so earnest and genuine she could hardly believe he’d be anyone bad. 

But even good people did bad things.

Nora nodded quietly, keeping her thoughts to herself. She felt Nox slinking behind them, his fur brushing up against her as he walked past her towards the dorms. At least Nox hadn’t said anything yet, so Roman had that going for him. 

Nora gripped tightly at her books and  walked a little ahead of Roman, now that she had her footing again. Quietly, she opened the door to the dorm and turned to see if Roman was following her. There was a small part of her that was glad he was planning to stay here. While she couldn’t trust him yet, he had at least saved her just a little while ago and that had to be worth something. At least she had someone to run to when she had no one else. Maybe.

A man at the door to the dorms held it open for them. Roman thanked him and let Nora enter the lobby first. It was only then that he noticed the quiet black fox trailing behind her. A curious creature. Had it been there the entire time? Were his observation skills getting that bad?
[color=f26522]“Would you like me to walk you the rest of the way to your dorm, Nora? I believe it's about time for me to retire for the night myself.”[/color] He spoke with a warm smile but kept his gestures and tone reserved, mindful that they were now in a more formal setting. Roman had to play the part of a noble occasionally, after all.

Nora turned to look at him, watching him as if a prey animal trying to decide if they were actually safe. She shook her head after a short moment, her eyes closing for just a moment. Exhaustion had come over her in a wave and she couldn’t trust that she could think straight if he tried anything with her. Plus, she didn’t know that she wanted him knowing what room she was in just yet. 

[color=tan]”I am already in your debt, I wouldn’t dare to ask for more.”[/color] She replied with a sigh. [color=tan]”Thank you again for what you’ve done today. I won’t soon forget it.”[/color] She hugged her books a little tighter, her mind suddenly keenly aware of how close she’d come to doing the very thing she vowed she’d never do again.

[color=tan]”Good evening, Lord Ravenwood. I wish you well.”[/color] She told him before walking in the direction of her room, Nox following after her closely. 

He smiled, watching her walk away with that adorable creature trailing close behind. Then, a thought crossed his mind. [color=f26522]“Do have a good evening, Lady Pawonska. I hope to see you again at the upcoming ball.”[/color]

Once she was out of sight, his smile vanished.

[i]What was that? What did she do?[/i]

He looked down at his hand. That girl had completely silenced his magic. The bond, the seals, even the curse—it had all stopped for a moment. Not dispelled, but erased no. Nullified. It wasn't something he felt just standing next to her, but only when touching her.

His gaze drifted back to where she had turned the corner. Nora. A curiosity... maybe even a way out. That girl was either trouble or dangerous. He could only wonder which it was—and if she was even aware of it.

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