sharpscion

[sharpscion]

the man's words echoed out into the wild, forcing scáthach to hold back the laughter bubbling inside him. "pretty funny there, lord leif," it had been a while since something had given him a good laugh... probably since diarmuid fell face first into a pond after being knocked off his horse. "i can't speak for febail, but should my bowmanship cause romantic feelings within him... well, i'll have to politely decline, of course."

i already have enough patty to deal with as is...

"all's well then," it wasn't an uncommon concept, having backup or being the backup for someone else. though it had never been with leif in particular, scáthach felt he could place faith in his strength.

"i couldn't tell you what goes as average for an isaachian, really..." maybe they had really been raised like any other isaachian, but the reality is that he did not have a normal upbringing... nor did he have normal exposure to the culture around him. "maybe it is, though..? shannan seemed to be very well versed when teaching us."

"we all learned the basics, even seliph. i can't say with certainty if i actually saw him hunt an animal, though... maybe not now, but as a boy, i fear he might have cried over it."

a moment... "i wager your answer might be similar to mine, but what of you? are these practices familiar to you?"

show-off

        ⤷   non-mission task:   showcase  ( bow +1 )

[sharpscion]

the man squinted at her words for a moment, clearly confused at the display before him. "if it would be a burden, i wouldn't have offered. you have my word." hopefully she had more confidence on the battlefield than she seemed to have in social situations. scáthach was all too familiar with being awkward, but he'd never met someone quite like this. it only affirmed his concerns that she might shatter should someone startle her.

"ok, katarina, please stand up and show me... a familiar starting stance for you." how you started a battle was important, it could lead you to misdirect your opponent, or to bolster your intentions altogether. scáthach always started with legs stretch wide and the blade of his sword beneath his waist when he intended to go on the offensive. likewise, his blade stood firm before his face if he wanted to prepare for a blow.

"just so i can get a feel for what you do know, of course. it probably wouldn't be too helpful if i told you what you already know, right?" he wondered how exactly he would teach the girl, especially because he was not a teacher himself. shannan's visage flashed in his mind, and he wondered if mimicking his words might help this girl. maybe, a little toned down, however... he wasn't training a child soldier, after all.

"just take some deep breaths and relax. no wrong answers here."

✶ — › 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐆𝐀 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐊 𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐍𝐈𝐐𝐔𝐄 ‹ — ✶

legacy thread continued from here: X

[sharpscion]

scáthach was not often reminded of home, and never had he reminisced about something that was otherwise so foreign to him. those who occupied his time were just as familiar as he was, and most did not want to think back on that time. the death of their innocence, the start of a war that tore across the very continent. those words... they struck a new line of thinking for him.

had he actually enjoyed that war, did it give him a purpose he otherwise would have lacked? the swordsman had always thought to be content sitting in that cottage, cramped amongst his family and friends. training under oi'fey and shannan, keeping up some form of rivalry with larcei. at the end of the day, helping cook the meals with edain and washing the dishes.

they were mundane, even his sole responsibility of watching over seliph was relatively easy. there was always the weight of the world around them, always the responsibility of what their family left behind. it was a chore, it wasn't a choice... would anyone think about their own opinion on something when it was dictated to them? had lord seliph?

"believe me, sometimes what the common people need is to feel as though they live their own lives. no prodding eyes, no pressure from above, just a simple and peaceful life." maybe that sounded boring to a prince, and perhaps unfair too.. it was the truth, however... scáthach was raised under a political cloud that blotted out the sun of life. always the fear of exposure, always the worry that everything they had worked so hard to achieve would crumble in an instant. even when they grow up into barely adults fighting a war inherited to them, that pressure never left.

"you always want what you can't have, that's a natural pull of any human being. it's pretty rare ya' get to have your cake and eat it too, right?" that seemed to be a universal expression, and one that proved all too real here. "i thought a lot about what i couldn't see growing up, and when i finally got it... well, i guess it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. maybe if i had a choice, i would have stayed in a cottage with everyone... maybe i wouldn't. either way, nobody can really say which choice would have been better. we can only stay living as we do, doing our best. i understand it, those around us do too... probably."

"hey, maybe things are already perfect the way they are, alfred?" maybe those in his homeland already thought of him as the perfect prince or king. maybe having that sheltered childhood was what made him the man he is today. maybe that obliviousness he spoke of is what endeared him to those around him. "it's only a guess, but i'd wager things are better than 'ya think."

✶ — › 𝐖𝐄 𝐁𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐖 ‹ — ✶

While the church’s eyes remained on eastern Adrestia this past season, scoundrels have been able to let loose in Faerghus and raid its towns with little retribution. Some that were better off could hold their own against these thieves and brigands, while poorer villages were all but razed to the ground. The Church insists that you help repair buildings and homes. There’s even a local knight with carpentry experience willing to help show you the ropes. [Grants Axe +1]

[sharpscion]

the kind of carefree attitude the prince exuded was unfamiliar for someone of his standing. it was more akin to a fresh faced recruit seeking some kind of affirmation. “‘re buds, then? alright, please ‘cuse my being informal in the future.” a small laugh escaped his lips, the way alfred spoke all too amusing to him. it wasn’t bad, though, this natural course of action between them. maybe he really had made a friend.

of course, even his most close allies could not decipher his innermost thoughts. or, if they did, they were certainly good at hiding it. just what exactly did he feel when thinking about home, could they tell him? a place awash with a mix of bitter and sweet, a place not truly his to begin with. was it a place he longed to return to, or was it simply nostalgia that pulled at his heart. such distinctions were hard to make all the way here in fodlan, but he pondered them nonetheless.

“i’m not sure, nobody would miss me there… after all, many suffered because of our inability to act.” scathach couldn’t regret it, he was only a child at the time, as was shannan. they all had a part to play, and they had to play it perfectly without emotional interference for it to work. “sometimes a home is nice, but a fresh slate can be even more appealing.” one might wonder, do any prince think about abandoning those that reach out to them, does alfred?

the swordsman’s ears perk at the chance to change his course of thought, though. “regardless, despite being on the fringes of society, i did pick up a few things. i’d be happy to share them with you, if that’s what you want.” as best as the issachian could recall, he thought back to his few memories of ‘town life’.

“isaach is mostly known for its strength, and especially its vast land. mostly it’s a self sufficient country, but that has lead to surrounding nations considering us a nation of barbarians. on the contrary, most life within is peaceful and littered with mundane tasks. anything else i can’t speak to with certainty, honestly most of this is just secondhand from my cousin. despite it being home, i never got to see much of it… or at least what it was like before the clutches of tyranny.”

sometimes it felt like they grew up in their own little world, separate from any and all influence. only learning bits and pieces as those who were older than them saw fit. it wasn’t all bad, really, but it did feel odd knowing so little about the land he helped liberate. did he truly hold any pride for home, or was something like that simply genetic. “we were mostly in hiding, you see. there wasn’t much opportunity to integrate normally. even when we began our march, there wasn’t much time to stop and take in the local scenery.”

a wistful sigh, was there truly no time, or had he not made any? hindsight was truly 20/20, and yet it left him with more and more questions. “sorry, i’m sure even textbooks here know more than i do. i guess i was just never interested…” or he didn’t want to know.

✶ — › 𝐖𝐄 𝐁𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐖 ‹ — ✶

While the church’s eyes remained on eastern Adrestia this past season, scoundrels have been able to let loose in Faerghus and raid its towns with little retribution. Some that were better off could hold their own against these thieves and brigands, while poorer villages were all but razed to the ground. The Church insists that you help repair buildings and homes. There’s even a local knight with carpentry experience willing to help show you the ropes. [Grants Axe +1]

[sharpscion]

[ Adrestria ] 

goodness, this knight hasn't moved much, has he? from her vantage point, it seems as though he stands steadfast, his vigilant gaze unwavering despite the lively throng of dancers and revelers swirling around him.

hm. boldness has its charms, and she's never been one to shy away from the first move.

"must a knight always remain on duty?" a playful smile, a curtsey. as dorothea rises, a small laugh escapes. "surely it isn't a crime for you to abandon your post for just one waltz tonight?"

sometimes, no matter what you did, your unease was far too present. scáthach liked to mask his awkwardness like he hid any disabling emotion, by taking watch. arms crossed against a solid chest, eyes narrow and ever moving, the true image of a knight. even if he was without armor or a sword, nobody would pick him out like this. they might spot him in his line of sight, but then quickly move on to the next interesting thing. it was better that way.

he wasn’t particularly interested in trading brooches, nor was he interested in dancing. these events weren’t for the likes of him, and so it was only natural they didn’t feel to his interest. simple and straight, scáthach was not a noble, he did not revel in frivolity. instead, he enjoyed the simpler pleasures of watching his lord, or even larcei, blossom for an evening. it was enough to side on the sidelines, because that’s where he was familiar standing.

of course, not everything goes according to plan… the occasional straggler finds their attention on him. he must bend to their whims before they release him back into the sea of people, finding him a bore. it seemed he would once again be racked with that responsibility this year. a young woman approaches him confidently, a smile on her face. she speaks knowingly, and this tells him she has been watching him for longer than a few moments.

with as much force as he can muster, his lips upturn into something akin to a smile. “i wouldn’t know for sure, but I think vigilance is a valuable trait among knights, right?” it was easier to play nice, and it wasn’t like the knight was heartless… though he didn’t enjoy the actions, sometimes the company wasn’t so bad. “since i’m not on duty, though. my arm s’all yours for the moment, if that’s what you want.”

@encantresse

[sharpscion]

“that right..?” the words escaped under his breath as he curiously pondered the others features for a few moments longer. events like these must be rather difficult for those of royalty, a kind of attention that scáthach did not have to give. gatherings and social events… just what kind of feelings did they produce for those they were made for?

ah, right- “well, no offense taken, Lord Seliph. There ain’t exactly a line for my time.” The isaachian clarified for the other, waving off the attempt at an apology. what’re you even apologizing for… it wasn’t exactly possible to bring it up, but it had been scáthach who misunderstood seliph. so much for childhood friend status. the inner workings behind those kind blue hues were still but a mystery to him.

it was hardly the time to dwell on matters like that, however, and so he carried forward lightly. “jee, lord seliph, you make it sound like I’m avoiding you-“probably because, regardless of intention, the swordsman had been doing just that. yikes, it being that obvious was certainly news to him. “i’m just, shadowing, of course.” a sorry excuse, certainly, but it was the only one the man could produce.

“i will humbly accept your offer, though.” gently, scáthach retrieves the brooch that had just moments ago rested above his lord’s heart. something about the equal exchange brought a smile to his face, one unfettered by pretense and restraint. feeling valuable, one way or another, well… it felt nice, for sure. “i’ll take good care of it in your stead.”

several moments were taken to find a suitable pocket for it to rest in the meantime. once that matter was settled, the man peered back up at his partner for the moment, false confidence plastered across his features. “if that’s the case, then please take my hand, lord seliph. it’s kinda embarrassing to admit, but I haven’t slouched in my practice, even when it comes ‘at this.”

✶ — › 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 ‹ — ✶

ETHEREAL BALL✧˚ · .

[sharpscion]

✶ — › 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐓𝐒 ‹ — ✶  

HOWDY HO FELLAS! I am still in the midst of tornado recovery, but I set up my (dying) laptop for when I am able to sit down close to bed time. That being said, I am looking for some threads for my lads this go around. As always you're free to ping me in the ⁠plotting channel OR just DM me on discord. If there's a prompt not listed here that you would like to pick up with one of my fellas specifically, shoot me a dm and we can work something out.

SCÁTHACH: ANY SKILL +1 : As always, I'm super interested in exploring the hunter in a character like Scáthach. As someone who's a little more calculating than his sister, he's not unfamiliar with tactics or traps. He's also just handy to have in general with his big ass sword in tow. (REQUIRES UNAFF.) TAKEN BY DIARMUID EPHRAIM: HEAVY ARMOR +1: I won't lie, I originally grabbed this just because Ephraim needs the point. HOWEVER, I think it would be very VERY funny to have him act out being a heroic prince/evil villain for someone's play. Please give him some motivation to become a teacher so he doesn't have to deal with this shit. ANY SKILL +1: Ephraim being the battle driven loser that he is, is of course well versed in tactics and battlefield traps. You wouldn't be able to keep him away from these monsters, I'm afraid. Stick close to him and make sure he doesn't get fed up with waiting. :' ) (NEEDS UNAFF.) AUTHORITY +1: Ephraim is a king and while he's willing to help, there is an extent to his generosity. You push him and his coworkers too hard, and well, you might just have him to deal with. Will you be egging him on, or will you try to calm him down. Maybe you're just watching with popcorn. (NEEDS UNAFF.) MORGAN: ANY SKILL +1: Do I need to say more, Morgan is LITERALLY the trap guy. He is the knower of traps, and he will spend 4 hours explaining each and every one to you. Remembering where exactly he put all of them though? Well, that's a different story. Watch your step! (NEEDS UNAFF.) ISLAND STORMS: Morgan has had to learn how to fend for himself during his travels, not to mention that massive noggin' full of knowledge. If you shake him hard enough, a ton of useful survival facts might pop out, right? Wrong. You can run from him if you want, but he WILL be explaining to you every single thing he knows about keeping safe in the wild. HE WILL. (NEEDS UNAFF.) PEN PALS: Fellas. I don't know if you've read my one million word Morgan application, but... it's letters. Morgan likes writing letters, especially if there's someone on the receiving end this time. He'd prefer friends, but he's certainly not going to tamper with whatever dictates his partner. Don't wanna get in trouble... FAITH +1: Could be a fun thing, of course, what he's truly afraid of can't be shoved in his face... but, yaknow. Bugs can. If it means he'll get to see all kinds of bugs just by pretending to be afraid of them, well. Far be it from him not to check this place out. HEAVY ARMOR +1: Morgan is an awkward, unsocialized (properly) guy who has never done much acting aside from busting some moves with the Justice Cabal. That being said, he can really pull up if need be, and he'll dazzle anyone in the name of a good time. Also, a good grade. That's important too.

[sharpscion]

✶ — › 5/24 ACTIVITY CHECK ! ‹ — ✶

Status:   ✓  

Total SP: 25 → 27

SWORD: A → A ( 1⁄3 ) BOW: C+ ( 1⁄2 ) → B

[sharpscion]

"Hey, dork."

[ Water ] - The liquid of life, the quencher of thirst. Served in crystalline glasses. And what’s more dramatic than throwing water at someone’s face! she would NEVERRR :smirk:

"Make sure you stay hydrated, yeah? 'Last thing I need is to be the one draggin' you outta here because you overdid it and didn't look after yourself."

the endearing nickname catches his attention immediately, despite the sigh it brings forth from his lips. the isaachian peers down at the glass being handed out him, water, or so it appeared. thinking it over... he was quite thirsty, and so he grabs the drink without hesitation. several deep gulps later, he let the glass idle at his side while he turned his attention to larcei.

"...sister. good to know you're enjoying yourself like always." he huffed out, not entirely thankful enough to forget her name calling. nothing to do about it, though, this was how his sister showed her love. even the dramatic way she framed 'place stay hydrated' left the real creatives to shame. nobody could paint something in an entirely different light like larcei could. "don't worry 'bout me. you just keep having fun, and i'll make sure not to ruin your night by passing out." scáthach laughed lightly, like she'd ever be able to drag his limp body around anyway. a funny image nonetheless.

... oh, fine... he pulled the brooch showing front and center on his lapel, and placed it roughly in her hand, careful to leave the point turned towards him. "thanks for the water, just take this and get out of here already." maybe they were more alike than he thought, each of them not able to express what they wanted to say the right way.

[sharpscion]

"lord seliph!" this time it is the knight catching the attention of the lord, unlike so many of their interactions now. regardless, a turn of the head is what he sought after, and it was what he gets. even if, now that the attention is solely on him, he can't help but shift under it.

"you look like 're enjoying yourself, i hope i'm not interrupting you or anything, i just..." just what, he can't exactly say. the knight had sat on the sidelines just like last year, a place like this wasn't welcoming to someone like him. someone who never was a royal, someone who never wanted it, especially someone who was raised like a soldier. he'd only barely learned not to step on toes when waltzing, not that he found himself making the rounds with anyone. still, he had called out because he wanted something of seliph.

"your brooch," finally something forms in his mind, an excuse for his actions, "you've got one different from mine here." quickly, like it had been his idea from the start, he grabs his own to show it off. it had a comfortable weight in his hand, a small white bell decorated the center of it. the one he stopped from seliph was like his, but instead had a white feather as the centerpiece. "i think we're supposed to exchange these... kinda like last year."

"you go ahead and have mine, free of charge. i won't be giving too many of these out, so... i guess take it with pride, yeah?" akwardly, the isaachian fiddled with the brooch before handing it out for the other to take. seliph seemed to hold something of an unreadable face as he looked at the brooch. odd, seliph was usually an open book for better or worse. "uh," was it because he had offered it for free, "if you want to return the favor... maybe you can help me see if my waltzing skills are rusty or not?"

@virtuoustyrfing

✶ — › 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 ‹ — ✶

ETHEREAL BALL✧˚ · .

[sharpscion]

an excursion to the riegan territory was... essentially church mandated fun for a guy like scáthach. a simple request to take in the sights, meet the people, and revel in the finer things the alliance had to offer. fun wasn't exactly foreign to him, but it certainly wasn't the first thing on his agenda either. there were exams to prep for, sister's to look after, and most importantly, he was essentially separated from the other houses. even if he wanted to peer into the window of seliph's school life, he could not. instead, the knight was forced to focus on only himself and his own whims. a difficult task indeed.

it's in this pursuit of anything, simply anything at all to claim his time that he heard errant chatter. talk of a newfound mine in the territory, and promises of even further wealth for the riegan's. the only small (so the people said) caveat was that it was odd how many guards were posted outside. they wouldn't let just anyone even peer at the entrance... and that did peak the isaachian's interest. it was odd that such tight security was placed on a mineshaft, and he would find out why.

scouting out the area was surprisingly easy, the knights assigned to the entrance were surprisingly lax in their watch. almost like a game, they would comically turn their eyeline from one direction to the next which made for easy prediction. scáthach was hardly a theif, certainly not on the level of patty, but... these guys made it easy. he almost pitied anyone that put their life in the hands of knights like this.

the general idea was, as far as he could tell, the mine was considered highly dangerous. even the sounds that seemed to immanent from the opening seemed to confirm that theory in their own way. working conditions like those hardly seemed fear... what miner had ample knowledge of the sword, or even just self defense? none, that's who.

surely they wouldn't mind a little help, even if that help was... sneaking in? really you could hardly call it sneaking when it was that easy, but still. it would be like he was never here, he'd go down until he could shadow the miners, and leave when they were done. no harm, no foul.

@aimlessarchery

✶ — › 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐂 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒 ‹ — ✶

MISSION BOARD: SHOWCASE ✧˚ · . AXE +1

[sharpscion]

✶ — › 𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑 ‹ — ✶

another year at the academy spoke to many small things, another ball, another year not at home, and still another year of stagnation. the weight of this felt especially heavy now, certainly not helped by the stuffy clothing that wrapped tightly around his body. the knight idly fiddled with the collar of his shirt, praying for even one more inch of breathing room only to be disappointed. each time he wondered why such decadence was a requirement, but scáthach would never complain out loud. besides... a small part of him wanted to look nice, wanted to be noticed.

another year spelled yet another ball, and as such, his duty was dictated to him once again. a vigilant watcher... at least they weren't the size of street rats this time.

( Scáthach's Brooch - Small Bell )

Progress:

Black Feather -

White Feather -

String of Pearls -

Small Bell -

Teardrop Crystal -

Outfit Aesthetic:

[sharpscion]

✶ — › 4/24 ACTIVITY CHECK ! ‹ — ✶

Status:   ✓  

Total SP: 24 → 25

REASON: C+ → C+ ( 1⁄2 )

[sharpscion]

"there is no doubt there... though, that only means i'll have to work twice as hard to try and match him." he wasn't sure about the other, but this knight enjoyed the journey as much as the destination. there was nothing he could do about his blood, but he could certainly put in the effort to be worthy as their backup. all things considered, people like lord seliph, or even febail, didn't need a protector like him. they were more than capable on their own, but scáthach had no choice but to try his best despite that knowledge. "who knows, i might sweep him off his feet with my bow the next time we meet... probably not, but ya'know, a goal is a goal."

"i understand the hustle, though. i fear i might blow myself to bits if i were to even make an attempt at magic, so you're doing better than me." having so few tools at his own disposal, the isaachian had realized how shortsighted it had been to only hone one facet of his strength. he could try to make up for that here, picking up a bow here, swinging an axe there. those things required the groundwork of his strength, which he could handle with ease. things like magic, however, that was a completely different story. he could not so much as conjure a glint of light in the darkness, nor could he manipulate the winds with a sword like others could. in this regard, he was in fact, utterly useless...

"i'm looking forward to seeing you in action, today, lord leif. i bet i can learn quite a bit from you." being something more than a jack of all trades, it was certainly a claim to be made, but scáthach believed him. thankfully, this go around, the knight would be no slouch either. as a boy, he had often hunted with shannan and the others, and this would be no different. scáthach knew how to be nimble, how to conceal sound, and importantly, how to trade animal movement. leif was surely versed in his own right, but for once, scáthach felt on an equal playing ground as the other. "when it comes to tracking down an animal, i won't let you down. no promises on actually landing my mark, though... i'm no febail, so no promises there.."

show-off

        ⤷   non-mission task:   showcase  ( bow +1 )

[sharpscion]

"right, i figured you'd have your own stakes in something like this. it doesn't sit right with me that the church is so content to ignore the pleas of the study body." well good thing the students had vigilant people like him on the watchout, altena too. if it meant keeping his family and lord seliph safe, he'd even use himself as bait for this mysterious kidnapper. which- unbeknownst to his partner, was something of a backup plan if this stakeout did not proceed as planned.

if they could not spot their criminal, and instead, they were targeted, he could trust altena to track him down. scáthach certainly wouldn't make it easy on the other end either, for that matter! he would fight tooth and nail to break this case upon from the inside out if that's what it took. in the meantime, however, the two were set for a simple camp out beside the entrance to the noble dorms.

he'd brought his own accommodations with him, a simple sleeping bag and latern to light the dark. in order to get a good view, they couldn't bring a tent, and it would defeat the purpose of stealth anyway. they needed to be close to the ground and hard to spot if they wanted to take anyone off guard. inside his satchel was also a tattered plushie stuffed deep below his necessities. normally it would never leave the chest in his dorm, but... it was something of a good luck charm, and he would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous.

"regardless, we can't speculate what the church is up to, the least we can do is do our due diligence. i'm sure you're used to roughing it out in the weeds, i hope your brought your own supplies... looks like we'll be here for a while." he spoke quietly as he scouted the area in the dimming light. students were beginning to lock up, but some still lurked the pathways for untold activities. they would need to be inconspicuous until the monastery was dead, per say.

✶ — › 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐌𝐔𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 ‹ — ✶

MISSION BOARD: SHOWCASE ✧˚ · . SWORD +1

[sharpscion]

scáthach trickled into the mess hall by pure chance, simply a stop on his way to the training grounds. he is almost happy to have made the detour however, when a new box inside the hall sparks his interest. simply left there for his imagination, the knight inspected it several times over before relenting in his confusion. magic had never been a strong suit of his, and well, it likely never would be. as far as he could wager, this thing was meant to record moments in time before it, but how to work it... he could not say.

now derailed from his routine, the isaachian began to pace the hall waiting for someone to return to their machine. perhaps then he would be able to capture one of these 'photos' the sign spoke of. it's in this moment that a young woman approaches him to express similar intentions. she smiled at him, and he recognized her at least, that girl with lord ares... lene, was it? she was a flowery one, as he recalled, something like this seemed right up her alley, but with him..? where was ares at?

"er- well, sure, i guess." he let the girl lead him along back to the machine, stepping into it carefully. though he had agreed, sitting so closely to a girl he had hardly interacted with did leave him rather... stiff. "so. do you know how to use this thing? i couldn't really figure it out myself." if she had stuffed herself into this space with him, surely she had too, but scáthach needed to fill the silence with something. "i've never been one for magic, but this is certainly a feat. i almost hate to waste such a resource on myself, but i can't help but be curious, ya'know?"

step by step

[sharpscion]

it was refreshing, if anything, being in the presence of that boundless smile and openhearted eyes. how they had ended up so different from each other despite their similar circumstances puzzled the knight every day. to be so unforgivably kind, to smile like the weight of the world wasn't crushing your shoulders. even as they fought through a grueling war with no promise of a tomorrow, he continued to smile at everyone. it was good to know that time hadn't changed that, after all this time he was exactly as scáthach recalled.

even his concern felt lighthearted, and yet it was conscious enough to propel him here. scáthach was hardly the letter kind of guy, he hadn't written to anyone back home, not even shannan. "right, sorry about that. i can't speak for everyone, but there's nary a dull moment at the academy..." a sentiment his friend would surely find out soon enough, if his current state wasn't enough to convince the nordion. "unfortunately for me."

"here i was worrying about growing soft in my studies... i hardly even have time for classes." he pronounced this by showing off his newly earned burns and cuts that could not be healed with the priests being stretched thin. "it keeps me on my toes, at least."

as embarrassed as he was, scáthach could no longer skirt around his friends final question. "uh, well, i didn't take anyone down actually! i guess i need life and death stakes to light that fire under my ass." poor choice of words... considering the fact he had been burnt to a crisp himself. "to be honest, i'm glad that only my teammates got to see my sorry performance."

✶ — › 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖 ‹ — ✶

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