Completed A Winter Child

[Dasreide]

"I don't believe in fate." Imira said with a frown, looking back at Ruby as she offered to carry her into the water. "No thanks, Ruby." She said with a frown, turning on her heel. It appeared as if she might walk off before she sighed and let her shoulders slump slightly. "Know what? Fine. I'll swim." She said with a slightly crooked smirk as she looked back at ruby. "But you're gonna have to teach me."

Dasreide was unaware that Imira had spotted him and he continued to watch with a curiosity befitting his stature. What is that girl planning?

[Ruby Majalenka]

'She said earlier about master leaving Syliras in a hurry. Could it be that she was the cause ? No, impossible. If she was, she'd never have mentioned it. Still, she's pretty kind for a rival ? A bit too kind, maybe ? Here goes my distrust again, shut up !' Ruby thought, letting the chilly air attack her bare skin as the olive tunic slid down her waist. She shivered, but savored the cold for it stole her mind from unnecessary worry, leaving just enough room for calm logic.

"Alright, first lesson... enter the water !" Ruby jumped gleefully through the thin ice into the cold water beneath.

[Dasreide]

What in the...? Dasreide's eyes widened in shock and curiosity as his brow perked fully when Ruby disrobed, only leaving the cotton undergarments visible. Dasreide clapped a hand over his face and pinched his nose to stop a sudden urge to yelp. He hid behind the log with a slight rustle, turning away from the two so he would not see any more.

Imira turned to look over as the rustling sound was made, but she simply passed it off as a snow hare darting back into its home. She reached up and unbuttoned the cotton overcoat that shielded sight from her pale skin underneath, dropping the shirt on a dry stump nearby before taking her pants off as well until she wore nothing but her cotton underwear. The boots she wore also came off, followed by the loose cotton stocking-socks that she had on beneath them. She headed over to the edge of the water and hesitantly lowered herself in. "This is a crazy idea, Ruby..." She yelped as the cold water hit her. She wasn't used to cold at all and she would never have thought that she'd go swimming in the dead of winter. Immediately, she began to shiver as her body tried to warm itself up.

[Ruby Majalenka]

"Just relax your body, feel and follow the river flow. Then, you make slow graceful paddles like this." Ruby paddled in place to keep floating. "If you want to go back, please say so, I'd hate to force you to accompany me in this foolish conduct." she giggled.

Her mind flew back to her new master. 'What'd he do back there, all by himself ? ' she thought, unknowing the third presence nearby. Would he look at a memento, perhaps, reminiscing some regret — or past joy — with a melancholic face ? She nearly laughed at the thought, though the scene could be easily imagined. The strong-looking ones weren't always mentally at peace, more often than not it's the other way around. Yet, was there something in the past that she'd do well to avoid mentioning ?

"Hey, Mira." she called, eyes seemingly gazing at the third presence, though actually looking at the distance. "After years together, how do you see master now ? And..."

She paused, taking a deep breath.

"Where do you see us in the future ?"

[Dasreide]

Imira shivered in the cold, her pale skin turning an even paler shade of white. "I'm f-f-fine." She stammered, glaring at the girl. Apparently she would do whatever it took to defeat Ruby on every level. When ruby called out once again, Imira perked a brow. "S-sensei is the same as when I f-first met him." She said, frowning, "He only ever t-talks when he's scolding s-someone."

She rubbed her arms and seemingly began to warm up thanks to a steamy heat that occurred when her hands touched her arms. "In the future, I can see us parting ways for sure." She said, her stammer gone with the cold, "But he may choose to travel with you instead of me. After all, he left me in Syliras."

Dasreide let out a sigh as he overheard the conversation, standing up and swiftly moving out of sight and back to the camp with the help of his Flux magic. To the untrained eye, he'd appear as a fleeting animal. Imira didn't pay much attention as a hurt frown crossed her lips, "Tell me, what do -you- think of sensei?"

[Ruby Majalenka]

After Imira blurted out her rather gloomy prediction, she asked, hesitantly. "Tell me, what do -you- think of sensei?"

The question left Ruby hanging. She just wanted something to talk about, so as to not have an awkward situation. She had no idea that it'd come to her being interrogated herself. What do I think of master ? Hell, I just met him last night and it wasn't a good impression either. Mira put it well, his only words are scoldings.

Ruby waddled around before replying with measured tone. "My mother said once, 'There are two types of great men. Those who leads, and those who nurtures.' or 'men of action and men of knowledge' as she usually puts it. I think that sensei's the latter." She smiled emptily, to dramatize. "You are the first. Animate, curious, and visionary. And... don't tell sensei that I said this."

She dunked her head and remained underwater for a few seconds, letting the cold calm her down through stinging pains before resurfacing to finish her words. "It's either you and me, or you and him."

[Dasreide]

Imira couldn't help but laugh when Ruby said that their sensei was a man of knowledge. "He might put up a smart side at times, but you've not seen him fight. He's wild and uncontrolled in battle. His wisdom is only a farce to throw people off, I think." Imira says with a slightly wicked smirk. "And to be perfectly honest, I don't think sensei's letting on to how wise he actually is." She said, nodding as she stood in the cold water, rubbing her arms.

"Don't worry, Ruby... Dasreide will not hear of this from my lips." She said with a smirk, "He's already heard a good chunk of our conversation as it is, anyhow." She hinted, looking back towards camp, where Dasreide had retreated to.

"As for who is staying with who... I cannot say." She smirks, "But I'm definately not staying with you, that's for sure." She said with a wicked smirk.

[Ruby Majalenka]

Too shallow, Ruby thought. I was categorizing based on the intentions of the said person, but let her be, I don't want to reveal much of myself anyway. Mom said 'To maintain a mysterious screen is to simulate an infinite depth of wisdom.'

"Is that so ? Do you think he's been peeping, or just eavesdropping ?" she dipped deeper to conceal her body. Then, she swam close to Imira and whispered into her ear inconspicuously. "Then it's you and him. He is wise, but I'm too adventurous to be held down in Riverfall."

[Dasreide]

"He's curious, obviously." Imira said with a wicked grin, "You are the first female who's a very likely source to bear children once you mature. He's never seen me as such, since he knows that if he tried, I'd find a way to kill him." When ruby said the last bit, Imira nearly facepalmed.

"You just -don't- get it, do you?" She asked with an exasperated sigh. "Sensei acts as a bodyguard to anyone who's put in his charge. He's very regal in that way." She stated with a frown, "At this point, He's more likely to follow you to wherever you go rather than stay with me and go to Zeltiva." She says tiredly, reaching a hand up to rub her eyes.

[Ruby Majalenka]

Bear children ? I know of the compatibility between my kind and his, but I've never thought about it that way. Also, my mother did leave me in his care, so I can't just waltz around the continent carefreely ? For now I suppose I'll follow him and leave when sufficiently equipped, both in mind and body.

"If he wants my body, he'll have to impress me first" Ruby laughed. "Besides, I think my mother suits him better, and she likes him too" she paused. "But fine, I won't leave so soon, I have much to learn. That's the time he has to impress me. Should he doesn't succeed... well, all roads are connected, we'll meet again if he was meant for me."

Again, she whispered, "Besides, don't you fancy him too ?"