Guardian Angel Haruki

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

I'll save the luck point for a saving throw or an attack. ^^"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

6!

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Sylvia was glad that no one bothered the both of them as they headed up to her room. She let out a quiet sigh of relief, as soon as the door was closed. She turned her attention to Pylia, and at the mention of the bed being too small for them, she looked at it and realized that Pylia was right.

After a moment of thought, Sylvia answered Pylia, "Don't worry about it, Pylia. Take the bed for tonight. I need to test the bedroll I found in the cave anyways. See if it's fit for the journey ahead or if I need to get a new bedroll before we head out," She then fished through her the backpack and pulled out the bedroll. She whispered a prayer, "Please don't let there be any bugs, please don't let there be any bugs..."

Sylvia then unfurled the fur bedroll she found in the cave and on the floor.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Sylvia looked to Pylia as she spoke again, and after she finished, Sylvia nodded and told her once she finished, "We don't know what the future holds. But right now, I do forgive you. And that's not going to change," She then suggested as she stood up, "I think the both of us need to rest for tonight. I've had a pretty busy day, and you look tired, Pylia. You ready to head back to Ricks' Inn?"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Sylvia sat down next to Pylia and she listened to what she had to say. She didn't move and let Pylia slump against her shoulder. Sylvia nodded in agreement about the madness, and she commented, "Loneliness can be maddening. Not only that, but it's also pretty scary how easily misunderstandings can come about, with or without loneliness,"

She then told Pylia, "Last night at Ricks', he was willing to just let me pay two silver for the night and let me be on the way. He only offered me a job because he noticed that I was looking at the job board out of curiosity," She then smiled a bit and she informed her friend, "Pylia, do you know how much they offered for catching Dirk? 100 gold pieces. Not only that, but everyone in the village gave me various rewards for catching him. Including having Room 5 in Ricks' Inn as my room permanently," She then chuckled and commented "I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty generous of them, especially since I'm a stranger who only arrived in Cassari last night. It feels like I'm the one who's taking advantage of them,"

She then told Pylia, looking at the sky again, "My family...My grandparents often told me that there are more good people than there are bad people in the world, even if it doesn't seem like it. I would like to believe that it's the same for this world, even if it doesn't seem like it to you,"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Sylvia was silent after Pylia asked her first question. She didn't really have an answer for Pylia. What made her so brave about this? When she asked about what kind of world she came from, Sylvia shook her head and answered "It's not just the world that determines how someone is. It's also their family, friends, and the experiences they faced. My kindness is from my family and friends...both here and back home,"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

The more Sylvia heard, the more her heart broke. She shook her head and she pleaded with her, "Pylia, please listen to me. You are not a terrible person. A terrible person would have left me to die in the forest back there, unaware of the dangers of the undead. A terrible person would have never gotten me to the safety of Cassari. You practically saved my life, Pylia! And to long for friendship? That's not a trait of a terrible person! Lonely? Yes, but not terrible!"

She then added, with tears starting to pool at her eyes, "As far as I'm concerned, you and your god are two separate entities. If I have beef with anyone, it'd be with your god, not you! You've done nothing but help me along the way, and I am forever grateful! So stop blaming yourself!"

"And as for your question: Yes, I understand, but sulking won't help with anything. The best thing I can do now is move forward, prisoner or not,"

She then asked Pylia, "Now won't you please come out of the water? You could catch hypothermia,"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

It took all of Sylvia's self-control and discipline to not let herself break down over Pylia's words. She was right about not being able to go back. And watching Pylia break down as such, broke Sylvia's heart, just like when Dirk cried. As Pylia cried, Sylvia moved closer, kneeled down, and pulled Pylia into an embrace (unless Pylia refused, then she wouldn't force the hug). She consoled Pylia, "You're not alone anymore. Just because the gods decided to make this...awful decision, it doesn't mean we can't be friends,"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

As Sylvia listened to Pylia, she couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. She felt upset, worried, sad...angry. It was because of Pylia that she was here? The fact that she was ripped from everything and everyone she ever knew and cared about? That was Pylia's fault?

It was Py-

NO!

She stopped herself from finishing that thought. It wasn't Pylia's fault. Who would ever predict that a god would answer in that way? And besides...there was that dragon. Maybe this Defiance thought that a drastic move was necessary to spur Pylia into action?

After thinking about it, Sylvia calmed down a bit and she let out a sigh, "The Gods here must be crazy!"
She then said to Pylia calmly, and hoping to reassure her, "Well...what's done is done. All we can do is make the best of the situation and do what we can. And honestly, Pylia? Nobody can fight corruption and stagnation alone. That's an impossible task,"

Now that Sylvia thought of the both of them and the predicament, it reminded her of a story that her grandfather told her once. A story he heard from his travels.

She then commented, half joking and half serious, "Looks like I'm your Monkey King! I'll still help you out, but I still need your help, Pylia. Would you be willing to still help me?" As she made her question, she stepped closer to Pylia, and offered her a hand to help her stand up.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Sylvia took in the quiet scenery and admired the stars in the sky for a moment. When Pylia spoke, saying that she knew why Sylvia was here, her attention immediately snapped to look at her in surprise.

...What?

Stunned by the first sentence, Sylvia listened to what Pylia had to say. She wasn't so surprised about the fact that an Arisen wasn't someone who slew great beasts, but brought change instead. But what she wasn't ready for was the fact she was here to fight stagnation and corruption.

Then there was the upside down cross...no, not a cross. A sword...

A silver sword...

Was that the same sword from Duke Erod's story?

She continued to listen to Pylia, and at the end of it, the mention that she was the chosen one of a Harbinger of Chaos...Sylvia found herself opening her mouth to say something, but end up closing it once more. Her thoughts were in a confused jumble.

She soon managed to find her words, "...I am confused. And I have more questions,"

She couldn't help but ask the ones that were immediately on her mind, "Why did the Defiance choose me? I mean, I know nothing about...any of the gods here. Wouldn't he...she...they? Why wouldn't the Defiance choose one of the people who worship...them? And....I can't go home until some huge change takes place? That could take years!"