Light snows, Long words. (Irathia)

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

A small arch of her head and they headed back towards the city, the snow drifts rolling and far too treacherous for him. He was far too green to these lands but even he knew when forging ahead was the worst option he could have taken. Her voice filtered in from behind. Fighting the whistling wind to be heard. Apparently he was the first one she’d ever gotten angry with. Was he really that annoying? She then continued on mentioning about what her life was like prior to coming to Syliras. A cold and hollow place. “Sounds like you had it pretty rough.” His voice thinner now fighting to be heard against the wind. “A place like that is no-where to live…Or exist.” He carried on trudging through the snow. Trees marring his sight. Still he headed back using the peak of the castle as the reference point amongst the trees.

The continued forwards pushing against the cold wind. She continued to speak, mentioning how hard people had it. He instinctively lifted a hand to his chest and gripped the symbol of priskil tight. “It’s not about how hard people have it. But about how much hope they have that the hardship will end.” He smirked to himself, his back towards her now. Comparing her current situation to some sort of haven. A safe place. “Perhaps so. Sometimes all people need is a calm point in the storm of chaos that surrounds the world.” Alex trudged ever closer to the gates. As they drew closer to the city she asked him if he wanted to talk about himself. And thanked him for listening to her. He smiled. And people thought that he was naïve.

“That depends Irathia. What would you like to ask me about? My past is a little murky.” He smiled a little now turning to glance at her over his shoulder. “I’m normally fairly secretive. People don’t ask me much either. The just tend to hit me with big sticks or teach me things.” He rolled the sigil in his fingers lightly.

Thinking back over the events of the past four years. Within the space of those years he’d lost both parents, changed cities four times. Travelled with 3 caravans and on a large cargo ship. But that was all things he knew and kept to himself. If she wanted to know about him. She’d have to ask about his recent time in the city of Syliras. He’d only been there but he’d met plenty of people. “I’m not all that interesting really Irathia. I’d just cloud the air with useless drivel.”

[Irathia]

"Surely that can't be true, Alex. Everyone has a story, no matter... How odd it is!" Irathia yelled over the wind, she was thankful about her cloak now. She was using both hands to keep the cloak closed. "For instance! What is you... Opinion about Zith!" She asked, a bit worried when she asked. I hope he doesn't want to kill Zith on site... She thought. "Or maybe why you became a squire? Simple stuff like that!" She smiled still, even with all the wind and the bitter cold biting at her face and lungs. "It's not that hard, it it?" She yelled as she continued to walk, trying not to trip into the snow. She kept walking. "Also, are you cold?" She yelled over the snow. Surely that metal is getting uncomfortable with this cold. He must be an icicle! She thought, jokingly. This made her chuckle a tiny bit.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Surely what couldn’t be true? The fact he wasn’t that interesting or the fact that…part way through his thoughts she’d finished speaking. Everyone had a story no matter how strange. “Well irathia. I’m…I was left in Syliras by my father. I recently received a letter saying he’s dead. And considering my mother was killed when I was much younger…I guess that effectively makes me alone. Perhaps that might have something to do with the reason I don’t like talking about myself.” He pushed into the city now, the high castle walls offering some defence against the bitter and blustery winds. His opinion on zith? He’d only met the one so far and he was a squire. Still he hadn’t formed much of an opinion on them. “I don’t really know. I’m not opposed to to them. Provided they don’t exactly try to eat me.” He said half joking as he shook. He could almost hear small cracks from a thin layer of ice that had formed behind the plates.

How was it for him as a squire? “It’s tough…I’m not naturally gifted with weapons. I’m not strong. I’m not fast. The only thing I’ve got going for me is the fact I’m smart. And I’m starting to wonder just how far I’m going to make it with just that.” She asked the first question of actual concern though as he stood there. Creaking, a light snapping from beneath the mail. “I’m fine. Beneath the plate I’ve got other clothes, light leathers and a coat.” Though as he stretched out his arms a thin layer of cracked and fragmented ice felt from beneath the plates. “Alright maybe I could do with somewhere warm.” He cracked a small smile.

“All things considered it’s not that hard to talk to people. So why did you start off so guarded?” He now turned the conversation back to her. “What prompted the change of tone?” With the cold and crisp air he marched towards the squire dormitories. Intent to get out of the heavy plate which surrounded him. “I doubt it was entirely just me asking questions.”

[Irathia]

Irathia opened up her cloak, offering some shared warmth with her cloak. Irathia went silent again, wondering what exactly to say to Alex. Should I tell him I was a slave? Irathia thought... She rubbed a scar and she frowned a bit as she thought, not sure what to do or how to react. He probably doesn't care, you shouldn't have opened up to him. Irathia thought. "I... Have never 'opened' up before, to anyone. So the events of my life kind of just were bottled up... There is just something that happened to me that I kept in to long, and it festered, you keep on asking questions made it swirl and pulse in my thoughts... I might just be mumbling nonsense, but that is how I felt. Then I had my little rant and it all was released. I felt like I could trust you by your reaction... I am not sure why though." She said, putting on her mask again. She was feeling uncomfortable, what she was thinking was a wound that hasn't healed yet, it only seemed... Worse, she wasn't sure how but it felt worse. "Can I tell you something?" Irathia asked, she looked at him as she asked. She was worried that he wouldn't care... Her feeling that she could trust him might betray her, but others have before so she didn't care in the slightest if she was wrong about Alex. She gave a weak smile but she knew what she was about to tell him would quickly get rid of the smile, if he allowed her.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Alex waved off Irathia as she opened up her cloak offering to split some of the heat with him. “Thanks for the offer but I’m pretty sure my armour would give you frost bite before you warmed it.” He smirked a little and led her back to the dormitories. At least there it would be warmer, and he’d be away from any alcohol. Though she continued to speak. Mentioning about not “opening up to people” She’d acted on impulse and let something other than logic guide her. He chuckled lightly.

“It’s not about that, I think you just needed to vent. To let all the stress explode. It’s easy to have your feelings which you bottle explode prematurely.” Not me though. Alex thought to himself. He had someone he wanted to direct all this bottled anger and pain at. And he wasn’t going to let a single drop out until he found them.

Her tone then dropped, almost deadpan again. She wanted to know if she could ask him something. “You’re more than welcome to tell me whatever you feel comfortable sharing.“ Pushing in the door to the squires barracks a warm wind pushed past him. A shiver raced down his spine as he marched through the halls back to his particular room. He needed out of the armour and to warm himself by the hearth. Rushing through the halls Hoping Ira was tailing him.

He ploughed into his room and started to unbuckle the plate and chain. The ice cold steel clanging against the floor with the speed he removed it. "So Ira. What is it you wanted to tell me about?” he managed to remove the majority of the plate on his torso. Slipping his gauntlets off he pulled the thick chain now laced with moisture off and planed them all in the chest plate. “that is so much better.”

[Irathia]

Irathia sighed as she sat down, "There is this place, called Xy... I am not sure you know about it but it is a Zith colony under a castle, really old to... That is not the point though. I was born in Xy... I was a slave for as long as I can remember, constantly used like trash by the Zith..." She said, she looked down at the floor, she could still remember her master abusing her just because she was half Zith and half Isur... She chose to leave that part out though... "I only escaped due to a Zith helping me, that is why I believe Zith are not bad, they are just... Confused, lost almost. A random Zith, just showed mercy to the likes of a slave like me. I actually wanted to become a Knight so I may prove to the Zith that their slaves can become something greater, something more. I desire to guide them, to help them become something that isn't considered evil." Irathia said, a small smile forming. "I am not sure that I am making the right choice doing what I am doing, for all I know when I return to Xy the Zith will just eat me. All that matters is that they know that a slave, something like me, can become greater than just a slave." Irathia said, she still didn't know why she was telling Alex all of this, for all she knows the man and her will never meet again. It just felt right talking to him, spilling her emotions. This is still going against everything I learned... Everything. Irathia thought as she spoke. She was supposed to just be quiet, and do what she is told.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Time stamp

Time

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Alex continued to pull off pieces of his mail revealing the fact that the armour lied about his true stature, not much but enough to hide the fact that he was still actually gaining enough muscle mass to fill it out. Still something shocked him. Now that he’d managed to tease the willingness to talk out of her. She was unlikely to actually shut up. A small smirk of realisation of that fact crossed his face and then quickly faded as she spoke. She was a slave…No wonder the lack of willingness to speak up. He didn’t speak for a moment simply pulling off the plate and chain letting her talk. She’d escaped due to help from another. Someone who showed mercy. Her reasoning for becoming a knight was actually a pretty noble one. She wanted to become a knight to show that she was more than just a slave to the zith. That she was of value. Somehow Alex got the feeling that it wasn’t the Zith she was trying to convince. Given he’d met treachery a short while back and that meeting hadn’t gone too horribly.

She wasn’t sure she was making the right choice. Not even sure that if she ever returned she’d not just be food to them. He could see she was a little uncomfortable with the whole situation.
“Well Irathia feel free to make yourself at home.” He unstrapped the greaves and finally sild the chainmail pants free. Knowing full well he was glad to be clothed beneath as the hearth roared out its blaze and heat filling the room. “Sounds like you’ve been through an ordeal. And you’ve a quite noble goal attached to your words. But I can’t help shake the feeling that you’re not doing this just to prove things to the zith but for yourself as well.” A quiet pall cast on the discussion. “But you’re right. It’s best to have a hope that something will change. Because when all else is lost. There is always hope.” He smiled lightly lifting the sigil of a watchtower in his fingers again.

"It’s not my place to push my judgement onto others. That’s not even my realm, at least not until I’m a knight, but even then it’s not right to push personal feelings onto judgemental situations. However I’m actualy quite happy for you and the fact you managed to get away.” A small honesty to him as he stretched tossing another log onto the blaze. “Seeing your transparency on your past if you want to ask anything else about me you’re more than welcome too.”

[Irathia]

"No... I don't really have any questions to ask." Irathia said, she sat closer to the fire. "I just needed to get it out." She said, a small fire formed on her face as she stared at the fire. "I find that most of the time, people focus on the bad." She said, now just thinking out loud. "I find small things, like the crunch of snow below my feet, the crackle of fire, a fresh meal to be the best things. While it appears that mostly everyone else focus on the negative." She said. "At this point I am just thinking a loud, so you don't have to listen." Irathia said. "If people get to attached to the bad, as I see so often... Actually this was mainly in Xy, the people that weren't slaves always seemed sad. While my fellow slaves and I tend to focus on the small things. Not pretending the bad is not there, it is always there, just there is always a light in the darkness." Irathia said. She seemed to just be staring at the fire at this point as he voice slowly trailed off. It seems like everything is dark... Actually now that I think about it... It is just... Sparks? Little flashes of light that provide comfort. What am I even doing anymore. Irathia thought, she continued to grin and stared at the fire. She slightly hummed a song she heard once, though she doesn't remember where.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

She didn’t have anything to ask. She just needed to get the bad vibes off of her chest. To lose the feeling of oppression that has seemingly haunted her for so long. She was right though. Most people did focus on the bad. Alex was much the same, he’d changed cities five times in the last five years. And now that he’d found somewhere to moor his boat as it were, he could finally turn his eyes towards the bright side. It was the little things. She was right thinking that. The small things that pushed one through the day. But unlike her his suffering still loomed overhead lingering like a malignant smell. Like a looming thundercloud just over head always threatening a sever downpour.

“I may not have to listen but I am.” He spoke in an almost distant voice. He was equating her suffering to something he himself had been through and it almost seemed like a minor issue by comparison. But to his mind. His pain was still there. Abandoned by those closest to him. “Irathia there is always a light in the darkness. Always a hope. It just needs to be found. And it cannot be if you simply close your eyes and walk through the world blind.”

He lifted the loop of sigils off of his neck. “It’s not what you choose to believe, but who you choose to ask to watch over you.” He looked at the loop of sigils a slow thought pulsing in his mind. The memory of his mother falling, played in slow motion as he looped at the loop. A slow, heavy breath escaped him as he tightened his grip around the leather. “I pray to the seventeen gods that my mother did. And I’ve still as of yet to hear them talk back. Still I keep it up. Because I know that someday they will answer my call.” He sighed slowly again and held tight to the sigil of the watch tower. “Priskil. Bringer of hope. The guiding light that always lets me know that in the darkness there is light.”

He smiled lightly recalling the hope he held. “Priskil is the goddess above all others that I worship the most. Because hope is something that has never left me. And it may not always be the right form of hope but there has and always will be hope guiding me.”

[Irathia]

Irathia stared at Alex as he talked, she found it amazing that he worshiped seventeen gods... Where there really that many out there? She knew there were gods but seventeen? It seemed unlikely that there is such a number of gods out in the heavens. "Sounds like we are priests of Priskil, talking about hope and all." Iratha smiled as she said it, almost funny in her mind. "Though I haven't had that much faith, my master was not one for... Letting me worship. Though I knew there was something up there that I can hope that was watching me, giving me enough determination to actually get through with my life." Irathia shrugged as she said it. "I don't really... Know there names... You know? All I know is that there are gods above us and helped us." "I even imagine the Zith are watched by these gods... Though I am not sure why, for I imagine that all gods love some race. No matter how... Brutal? Or 'evil'? I am not sure how to describe the Zith's habits..." Considering that my self is part Zith... Irathia thought, she stared at the fire again. Everything confused her more that she thought about it. Almost everything was... Confusing sometimes, though she thought it was funny in some sort of odd and dark way.