Etmere stood at the gate that served as the main entrance and exit to the capital city of the Imperium. It was large and grandiose, befitting of an empire that was built upon the many wars it had started and endured. Almost as if to show off that it was here to stay for a very long time. As much as the Imperium had hurt him and his people, Etmere did feel a strange feeling of security from it. Because, as bad as it was for his people, he knew it could be worse, especially if they were enemies of the Imperium. The Imperium was one of the largest nations on the continent, and it was certainly the one with the strongest military. Strong enough that all those that neighbored it were in some kind of alliance with other nations in case the Imperium ever attacked them, not that it had stopped the Imperium in the past.

Though if this mission that Etmere had been assigned from the magic tower was of any note, it did explain why the Imperium was in a period of peace right now. Void deserts as they were known by, deserts that were so inhospitable that life and even the energy of life, mana, were rare or non-existent. They had existed for as long as time could remember. Ever existing, never moving, natural disasters locked in one spot that people often avoided. That was until recently, when they started to expand. Foot by foot, day by day, ever increasing and unable to be stopped, leaving destruction in their wake. It was this that caused the Imperial family to put out a high-level request to the mage tower. They were to select a capable mage to investigate the deadly void desert with one of their protoknights, a squire being tested to become a knight, to see if the origin of the expanding deserts could be found.

Etmere had serious doubts as to being the expert, capable mage the tower tried to make him look like. He was more than sure that he was actually selected because he was seen as an expendable thorn in their side that they were looking to offload. He had often faced discrimination at the hands of others since he wasn't human. Even more so in the mage tower, since unlike other mages, he preferred to be a research or support mage, over the more popular role of a combat mage. He had no problem with fighting, but he always felt as if he had become a fighter; it would have ended badly for him. Not to mention, he didn't want to give anyone a reason to go after his people back at their village. So when the tower informed him that he would be selected and sent out, he agreed, thinking it better to risk death than risk the ire of the tower and other mages.

Which was how he found himself at this gate, waiting to meet this soon-to-be knight. His hands lay in front of him as his fingers twiddled together to pass the time. He didn't have much on him, only his white cloak that covered his body, the clothes he wore, and a small magical storage bag that held essentials like food, water, some extra clothing, barely any money, and a bedroll. It seemed almost like nothing, but that was because he used magic for almost everything else. For now, he waited for his partner for the mission to find him at the gate, figuring the human would have an easier time finding him than he finding them.

@Eirs24

This was it. This is my chance. Marceline’s thoughts echoed like a voice lost in the cave. Four years of carrying the burdens of both knights and paladins. Another six years mastering the noblest of blades against her father and hero. 8 years of learning from the priest and nuns about the holy god king and all of his wonders. Every scar, slight, and ache was just for this moment. This moment to prove before the eyes of the god king, her peers, and her father that she belonged to order of Steel and eventually, The Everwatch. The grandest squad within the imperium, the blessed paladin order of the god king. It was her dream ever since Herodon pulled her out of the streets and gave her purpose.

Now, as her leather boots echoed against the marble road approaching the exit of the holy city, her eyes burned with determination. She faced the enemies of the imperium, broke her peers in combat, she would be the one to stop the void deserts. Of course it was with some high mighty mage from the tower. Probably would treat her curiosity as a nuisance, or call her a dumb brute with a sword. There were too many combat mages that thought like that. Fortunately Herodon gave some good tips. “Mages were weaker up close, takes time to channel their spells, and they barely wore any armor. Be quick and certain, and you can defeat any mage.”

Yet for the briefest of moments, Herodon appeared in her mind again. Not dressed in his golden armor, wielding his great axe Morningdawn, just simply a man. Reaching out with wide arms chanting her name. The father she never had, the father she always dreamed about. Everything he did was for her. She knew it, she felt it. Every time his wooden sword dislocated her shoulder, he was there to heal it back into place. He loved her, and she loved him. This… this was her moment, this was her destiny. To join her father. To be a lesson to heretics and nonbelievers, to be the idea of hope.

So when she walked passed the exit, her toes tossing past the line of the gate. Stealing one deep breath as she smiled softer now. Her gaze looking back towards the city, her home. When she returned, she will be knighted. A hero that stopped the expansion of the void deserts. She walked forward, one hand carrying her supplies, prayer books, and more. Her other hand kept her sword within it’s holster as her spear relaxed on her back. She walked forwards, her sliver eyes scanning the area. For a wizard, perhaps a human man who was pretty tall, bearded and old.

Her eyes landed on a man in white. With a dutiful nod she walked towards him, her leather armor stretching slightly as she reached out to grab his shoulder. However she stopped when her eyes landed on his pointed ears. She paused for a moment, she hadn't seen elves since she was nine, in the brothel her mother used to work at. They were always incredibly beautiful and rare. Her breath quickened just slightly before she steadied herself. Offering the standard imperial salute.

“May his light shine on you. Are you the wizard for the desert?” Marceline asked as formal as she could. Soon her determination for this mission was fighting against her childish curiosity. Questions about magic and its wonders echoed in her head.

“My name is Ecuyer Marceline.” She paused for a moment longer. Her current title, soon to be replaced by knight. Then for a moment longer she got lost in his facial features. “You are not what I was expecting.”

@Numbers

Etmere turned around when he heard the human of the greeting. Despite not being a mage, he was well-versed in the etiquette of the knights, well, the etiquette of a lot of people. It was thanks to all those books he was constantly reading. Besides all his essentials, it was probably the only other thing he kept in his bag at all times. Mainly empty books and writing utensils since he was more of a researcher, but it was amazing how much more of that he had than survival supplies. "Ah, yes." He said before giving the imperial salute back, though it was rough, it was also correct and a telltale sign that he didn't do it all that often. "Glory to his radiance. I am the mage you seek."

He listened to her introduce herself and her statement. He just closed his eyes and gave a smile while running his hand through his hair. His hair, much like his skin, was as white as fresh fallen snow. A rarity among his people, and one of the few things he got complimented on by the people of the Imperium, even if it was for more passionate reasons in their minds. He gave a slight bow to lower himself slightly as he introduced himself. "My name is Etmere Zurbank. Mage of the Magical Tower. I specialize in research and support magic."

He rose again, watching her carefully as he observed the person who would be his partner on this mission. It was unknown how long it would take, and he was more than convinced it was essentially a suicide mission. The fact that she got assigned to his mission made him wonder if she had angered someone within her order. Not that he really understood how they got promoted to a paladin, other than receiving a mission of some kind that they had to complete, that was all he knew. "I'm sure you were expecting a battle mage. Sorry about that. While I am not good at combat, you can rest assured that at least outside of combat, I will only serve as a boon to help you complete this task with the best obtainable results."