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[hr][hr][sub][b]Location:[/b] Camp[/sub]
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Lady Luck had always enjoyed toying with him. 

When he’d been selected for the expedition, Zeph had been thrilled. He’d jumped at the opportunity to get outside the walls, stretch his legs, and kill a creature or two. Not having to wake up every day to stand guard over an ice covered gate or follow an equally icy Princess around sounded like a blessing. A way to wash away the mundane that had saturated his life. 

The first couple days, however, had been grueling — if only because he had been forced to follow behind the Moon Priestess’s cursed wagon. Staring at it for hours on end, unable to think about anything except the two cold bodies of his fellow guardsmen concealed within. 

The constant reminder of the guilt he carried was relentless. Enough to drive a man mad. 

Luckily, however, he’d convinced some other poor sap to switch positions with him only a few days into the journey. Instead of being behind the wagon, he shifted to be in front of it — directly behind the Sun Priestess’s party.

His mood had improved then. Funny what a change in scenery could do. 

Every day of their journey had brought something new and exciting. New sights to see, new conversations to be had, new creatures to slay.

Around six days in, some kind of overgrown blighted deer-squirrel hybrid had charged the camp and gotten a little too close for comfort, but a few arrows to the heart and the chopping of its head had finally brought it down. Zeph had fought worse — much worse. 

Somehow, they’d been very fortunate.

He knew real dangers were out there, even if they were choosing to be quiet at the moment. Likely lurking. Waiting for the perfect opportunity. He knew better than to let his guard down. 

Besides, he couldn’t give old Coswain the satisfaction of seeing it happen again. 

Now — the first day at their official camp — he was tired. He felt it in his muscles as he awoke for the day, stiff and aching. He’d nearly forgotten how worn down one could get on the road. Or how annoying it could be to be an entire party's lackey. 

Unloading and carrying crates back and forth. Setting up tents. Tending to the horses. Chopping firewood. Tending to the fire. Cooking dinner. Making sure the Sages had their backs watched every time they took a piss. 

It no longer felt so lucky to have been chosen. 

Nonetheless, he was grateful they wouldn’t be traveling far for at least a couple days. The rest would be needed for most of the party — save for the blighters, probably. 

[color=B1E4FC]“Guard Hale.”[/color] 

Zeph looked up from the fire he’d been stoking, finding Lady Hightower looking at him with those big blue eyes beneath her fur-lined hood. He raised a brow. 

[color=B1E4FC]“Would you mind finding Nesna for us?”[/color]

Another task to be done for the Aurelian Sage. Of course. He almost didn’t feel so bad about scaring her when he’d dropped off the gemstone.

Still, he gave her a lazy two fingered salute and a smirk, then silently headed towards where he’d help set up Nesna’s tent at the furthest edge of camp. 

He knew Lady Hightower and the Prince's Advisor had some kind of plan for the day, though he hadn't been told the details. All he knew was that it would take them closer to the blighted village, which made him both wary and excited. 

Wherever the blight bled its purple fog from the earth, something godforsaken usually lurked.

But his job would be simple, the same as it had been the entire journey — protect the Sages as they did their work. 

[color=98A869]“Nesnaaaa,”[/color] He called with a slight lilt to his voice, slowing to a stop beside her tent. [color=98A869]“You in there?”[/color] 

He paused to listen, though no answer came. He sighed. Nothing was ever easy, was it? 

Grabbing a nearby lantern, Zeph headed toward the edge of camp to see if any of the guards had — 

He paused, spotting Nesna's unmistakable silhouette as she emerged from the woods, headed into camp. 

[color=98A869]“There you are.”[/color] He greeted, a hint of a smile lifting his lips. 

Lucky after all. 

[color=98A869]“Hightower was asking for you. Look at you — big shot now.”[/color]

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[sub][b]Interactions:[/b] Nesna [@enmuni] [/sub]