#nylathria.01

[spiralailani]

who? @nylathriasoulseer when? Post fall of Aventia where? Eterna

Turning back to Eterna when they have declared Aventia lost was a bitter pill to swallow. Part of her had rebelled against the order, demanded to turn around and fight until the bitter end to ensure that the people of Aventia didn’t lose their home. Lailani had held them as they cried, soothed their fears and anguish and reassured them until hope took root, and yet she could do nothing but watch as the armies pulled back. 

Bitter optimism always pushed her forward, but even then, there is a pit of disappointment as she moves through the streets of Eterna. The light will not always prevail, she knows, but the hope is always there that it will. Another sigh filled with melancholy leaves her as she weaves through the streets, following the careful tug of the Weave as it leads her forward. Always forward. 

For a moment, she wonders if there will be another fight when she reaches her destination, but then her eyes fall in Nylathria and her spirit lifts as the tug disappears. 

“I see you have stepped out of Avalon,” she calls out, tone teasing and smile wide. “Going around taking the sights?”

[freydis-freydat]

who: @nylathriasoulseer where: The Lonely Scroll when: some time after the Standing Stones quest notes: please let me if you need anything changed

Freydis was in the market for a few tools she suspected might come in handy in the near future. After dropping a figurative (thought it may as well have been literal) brick of gold at Abelas' charming animal sanctuary to provide Griffon Charms for a handful of dear friends, she had turned her attention to magic scrolls. No such shop would have ever been allowed to exist in the borders of Iskaldrik, and magic was novel to her both in theory and in practice. She was curious about what such a shop might offer and more than open to pushing past the fear of magic she'd been raised to house within her; if these scrolls would help her achieve an increasingly important goal, who was she to turn her nose up at them? When she entered The Lonely Scroll and recognized the face that floated around the displays with no special sense of urgency, a warm and familiar smile spread across her face. "Nylathria," she greeted, taking a few more steps into the shop. She had to remind herself that Nyla and she were still more strangers than anything else and that just because they both likely felt a sense of pride in a job well done didn't mean they shared enough kinship for a hug. Yet. "It's so nice to see you again--I hope you've been safe since we parted ways. I don't know how I didn't put two and two together that this was your business."

[ars-gratia-auden]

“I imagine it can be, people can be so dreadfully banal,” Auden said, their tone dismissive and lacking in empathy. Violence and bloodshed didn’t bother them the way it ought to, the way it upset others. They had been feeding their interest in war from a young age, and were desensitized to many things, not least of all the victimhood of others. But they would not try to talk this stranger into coming along with them. “Suit yourself. Auden,” they stated simply before turning their attention back to finishing packing the cart. Only halfway through the journey would they realize exactly who they had met. 

END

It would definitely seem like a whim on the surface. But people may think her even more deranged if they knew she was searching for the soul of the woman she loves and she could be anyone now. “Well between us, yes it is. I have done many a soul reading. What you learn can actually be quite horrific at times.” There were many a time she wished she hadn’t looked at an individuals soul to begin with. Sometimes knowledge is best left hidden, obscured, no one needed to know everything, not even Nylathria. Nyla moved out of the way some as the cart was loaded with the last few items. “Thank you for the offer but if I’m going to find who I’m after I need to be alive for that and going to a place like that… well I’ll surely be among the dead. I will be around for a long time so here’s to you coming back.” Nyla never wanted to see anyone perish even a stranger. “In all that I never introduced myself, I’m Nylathria. You behave been a great help.”

[faelortianyou]

The stones. To be honest, that was the last thing he was thinking about at this very moment. The last conversation he'd had with Ikaros, the prince had said he was going to travel into the eluvian. He'd told Tianyou to stay out here, but the last thing he had expected was for his friend to not come back. As much as he wanted to just listen to Ikaros' instruction and not go in, he wanted to do the complete opposite. But then he thought about what he could be leaving behind, too. Then he thought about the fact that he wasn't there when Abelas needed him. But then he thought again that Ikaros told him not to go. If he went and didn't come back, then what? But if he did go and they were able to make it back...his thoughts were all over the place and he wasn't even sure how long he had been standing there silent. "Sorry. I remember you. And yes, it's Tianyou." He let out a sigh. "I'm fine. I'm...more worried about the eluvian now."

Who: @faelortianyou

Notes: let me know if this needs changing

Nylathria was guilty of indulging in a glass of wine or two. When the world was dark at least there was wine. Shed been in a dark place in her life a couple hundred years ago where it was got her up in the morning. But thanks to her friend she developed a healthier relationship with the liquid. She didn’t rely on it to numb her feelings but enjoyed the taste now. She had acquired a couple bottles and held them in her arms as she made her way home. But on her travels towards her home she spotted a familiar face one from the standing stones “Tianyou right? Nylathria.” Just in case he had forgotten. “How are you feeling after the stones?”

[spiralailani]

She nods in agreement to Nyla’s request, well aware that pushing the matter would only lead to further argument, like her friend feared, and she would like to avoid that. Arguments like this are fruitless, when they both will stand by their beliefs and refuse to back down. She doesn’t want to fight, not when they could spend the time catching up instead. 

“Well, you can start with that! Did you make any new friendships?” She is genuinely curious, delighted that Nyla had gotten herself into an adventure despite her carefulness. It does not matter that she cannot learn more beyond what she has been already told, not when Nyla seems to remember the situation almost fondly, despite the dangers it presented. “Would you be interested in further adventures? Has this awakened a taste for the thrill in you?”

“Lailani, just because you're telling the truth doesn’t make it correct.” the lack of accountability associated with those who believed that the wheel had put them down that path was infuriating. No god nor wheel would make Nyla do something she didn’t want to, maybe they knew that already and that is why she didn’t feel their influence in her life. “I don’t want to argue with you about this, I'm not going to understand your reasoning so I'd rather talk about something else.”

“Exactly that.” The business wasn’t started to make a profit but it was surprisingly turning her a steady profit that she could use to make sure she didn’t perish on her excursions. She even eyed some of her own stock as something she would require. “I know you do but i’m not sure how much i can tell you beyond that i met them and out of everyone they were surprisingly nice to me.” Freydis had been as well but most had ignored her existence.

[spiralailani]

“Nyla,” she says fondly, even as she shakes her head in mild disagreement. “I may no longer be a high elvhen, but my new kin cannot lie either, old friend.” She points out kindly, knowing her friend likely did not mean to call her a liar, but knowing she had done so nonetheless. “Remaining outside Avalon was my choice, yes, but I felt at the time the influence of the Weave in my actions. Perhaps I am wrong, but I would like to believe that things happen for a reason. If I had returned to Avalon, I could not have helped in Aventia, and I am thankful that I did.”

She has always been spiritual of nature, willing to believe Mythal and their gods still reached out to help their kind when they saw it fit. It is this believe, as well, that led her to believe that she had been following the will of the Weave even as she made her choice to stay in Taravell. 

“And so the scrolls are lonely,” she finishes with a bittersweet smile. Lailani doesn’t regret her choice, but she does regret the pain that it will bring to Nyla. Still, a public place is not the time to dwell on the topic, instead she raises a brow and gestures to her to continue speaking. “You visited the standing stones? And you saw a dragon and a daemon creature? Now, you will have to tell me more about this. You know I love a good story.”

“I just don’t buy that the wheel showed or tried to influence you… or whatever you want to call it a tug or a pull. Just say you were curious or that something intrigued you. Saying it was the wheel just feels like a half hearted excuse. “ Fate was different from the wheel, no action was fully predetermined, there was some choice to their actions. So Why didn’t Lailani say that she wanted to leave? Was it to save Nyla's feelings? If it was, it was a bit late for that since she was now going to die alone.

“Cause the scroll is the only one of its kind in the store.” she had gone with a theme okay, only one scroll of its kind in the store at a time. Maybe the theming did reflect Nyla’s current feeling but surely no one would look that deep into it… well maybe everyone but Lailani would overlook it. “I went to some standing stones, there was a dragon there and some kind of daemon. They helped us but I almost died from a magical blast.” though she had made a couple friends… well one that she was still on the fence about being her friend since the feylands had messed with her head.

[spiralailani]

“Now, I know you know metaphors and similes,” Lailani rolls her eyes goodnaturedly at the teasing. It’s what she expected, in all honesty, but there is no denying that the ease with which it flows over them is soothing. The knowledge that Nyla is willing to tease her still, despite Lailani’s own choice towards mortality? It’s a relief. She has already left her home behind, and she would be desperately bereft if that meant losing a friend as well. “It was more of a tug, as if it was pulling my hand away from the Moongate when I was returning to Avalon. Is that a better description?”

It’s her turn to tease, her smile turning a smirk as she raises a brow in inquiry, attempting to prompt Nyla to respond in kind even as she presses herself closer into her embrace with a sigh of contentment. 

“Now, why would the scroll be lonely? Is it in need of company?” She questions as she finally let’s go, keeping a hand on Nyla’s elbow and squeezing reassuringly. “Well, why don’t you tell me about it? I am sure if it’s from you, I can get myself to believe anything.”

Nyla was waiting with baited breath for this explanation that would make sense of why her best friend would become sliver. But what she heard was baffling, when did the weave speak? maybe it was metaphorical but Nyla wasn't goining to miss the opportunity to tease her friend. "Oh really? the weave? what did it sounds like? I have seen its patterners so many time and it's never reached out to me, rude quite honestly."

"Well its just over this way, its called the lonely scroll." but if her friend had just come back it was unlikely she heard of the new shop in the city. Nyla didn't miss a beat of hugging her friend, if anything she held onto her a little tighter because she could have lost her in that battle. Now she was going to lose her to old age, she was going to be truly lonely when that came to pass. "You wouldn't believe what i have seen recently, part of me wanted to go back and hide in Avalon after" being blasted with a spell that was intended to kill was frightening.

[spiralailani]

“In my eternal defense,” Lailani begins, a hand moving to hover over her heart as she mentally flits through her list of explanations, trying to come up with one that skirts close enough to the truth that she can actually speak, but far enough that Nyla would not call her reckless for it. After a few seconds of deliberate silence, however, she gives up with a shrug, hand dropping as she approaches her with a quick smile. “Yeah, I have nothing. You know I follow the Weave’s prompting, and despite my desire to return home, it told me to stay.”

Immortality will be sorely missed, but there is more to life than eternity. If the Weave’s design was for Lailani to face the realities of mortality, so be it, she would face them gladly as long as she can be of help to those who need it.

“A spot of tea would do nicely,” she agrees easily as she opens her arms and wiggles her brows to encourage the elvhen to reach in for a hug. “There is much we must catch up on.”

While others had been fighting, trying to survive a siege Nylathria had been setting up a shop called the lonely scroll. It would be insensitive to some that while a city was being attacked by the darkspawn she was trying to start a business. At least she wasn’t taking advantage and making the prices ludicrous high, they were close to cost because it wasn’t about making money, it was about getting people through the door.

Oh Lailani she was so happy to see her, there was no one who was closer to Nyla. No one who has been by eachothers side for so long. So it was a shock when Lailani hadn’t returned in twenty years “and you didn’t step inside Avalon, your going to become dusty now” she gave a knowing look of explain yourself to her friend. “I’ve been taking in the sights for a few weeks now, I even have my own space. I can show you it paired with some afternoon tea?”

[freydis-freydat]

Her eyes met Nyla’s as the Elvhen offered her words of encouragement and Freydis bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from arguing. Nyla was someone she held in high regard after knowing her for only a short time, and someone whose opinion she respected. She would listen, and not let her self-doubt lead her to talk back. She would have listened to a lecture from Nyla, suddenly feeling a sort of longing for bygone guiding hands she didn’t quite realize how much she missed until that moment. 

Freydis listened quietly as Nyla travelled around the counter toward her. She placed her hands in the shopkeeper’s without an utterance of protest. The ring was noticed, and a strange sort of muscle memory led Freydis to twirl the band around Nyla’s finger as she rest her hands in hers. She’d often done the same thing with Signe in another life. Freydis nodded, trying to shake off the nerves as she allowed Nyla to begin her work, but the Veilmaiden remained tense and nervous. 

She could have flinched at the way Nyla’s eyes changed, but she managed to remain still, too afraid to disturb the Elvhen’s work. The first thing that Nyla said confused Freydis–she’d been told by others who she thought would be knowledgeable that she was still human, even after venturing through the Arches, people she trusted. But why would Nyla lie? Then, as Nyla continued, Freydis was convinced. She spoke of Aytac, of the mists, and likely of the Archfey Nintra Siotta. Still tense, Freydis took in a deep breath when Nyla asked if she could peer deeper. In that long inhale, Freydis allowed herself to feel every anxiety, every fear, every prickling bit of dread, and a moment later she exhaled letting it all go and opening herself to Nyla’s gift. “Look as deeply as you need to,” Freydis consented quietly.

Nylathria knew of regret hers may be of a different instance but she knew what it was to look back at your actions and feel shame. It’s what you did with that regret that mattered. For a long time Nyla just sat on hers, wallowing in self pity but now, now she knew that that was the worst thing she could have done. To let it sit, fester within herself, making each day harder to proceed. But Freydis wanted to change, to do something, Nyla would never fault a person who was trying. “The main thing is that you are trying Freydis, even if it is small change has to start somewhere and it’s doesn’t have to be big.” Everyone thought that change had to be immediate or drastic but the most powerful of changes came from small things that built over time. “well it looks like you are already taking steps and don’t need to hear a lecture on that from me.” If they become friends Nyla would be proud of Freydis and what she is trying to do, to fight for.

She could see the building of anxiety within Freydis, she was from a pace where such magic would put you in the mines or worse. So Nyla could understand why there was hesitation but not only that this wasn’t Nyla first rodeo, many many years back she had read souls for gold and had seen this apprehension before. It was fear of what she might see, but if Nyla saw anything dangerous she wouldn’t share that with Freydis because Nyla believed there was a level of responsibility that came with her power, that sometimes it was better that they don’t know what she saw. “All I need from you is to hold my hands dear.” Was it necessary? No, but it would hopefully comfort her. Nyla made her way around the counter and offered her hands for the woman to hold. Depending on how astute Freydis was, there was clearly a wedding band on Nyla finger. “Now just breathe.” Was the last things Nyla said as here eyes glasses over.

Milky white eyes now took the place of her deep brown eyes as she began to look at Freydis soul. But what she saw was strange, it was like her soul was more a kin to that of a Druid. “Your soul is like that of a druids.” Nyla spoke but there wasn’t the warmth there normally was in Nyla words as she was concentrating on what… who was before her. Sometimes if the host allowed or Nyla pressed she could get a memory but this was all voluntary so before pressing deeper she would get permission “I can see something a woman with a one eyed princess but it is foggy. Will you allow me to go deeper?” Concert is key… well unless you were trying to kill her on the battlefield, then she would be pressing your souls for a memory.

[ars-gratia-auden]

When the woman responded, Auden simply shrugged their shoulders. It wasn’t necessarily their problem or concern how comfortable or uncomfortable the woman was in her travels. That part of the conversation also became significantly less interesting in the matter of an instant. “A slight hitch?” Auden repeated, the smirk on their face a mix of shock and incredulity. What on earth had this woman traveled halfway across the world for? A whim? “Sounds to me like there is something of a story there. Is that your born ability? Something to do with the recognition or pursuit of souls?” Auden’s attention was pulled from their company for a second as a stablehand came from around the corner with the horse Auden themselves owned, a tool to pull their cart and often used by their apprentice and page boys to make deliveries, procure supplies, and run notes. A horse that wasn’t worth more trouble than it was worth–one that paid for itself in the work it completed. “Well then,” Auden muttered with a clearing of the throat as they turned back to Nylahtria again. “It would appear I have a horse to draw this cart, and you have a story to tell. Little more is needed to make a journey together, if you are truly headed to Aventia.” 

Was a horse worth it? It had more responsibility that people realised and purchasing one just for the luxury or not having to walk seemed unfair to Nyla. She rather walk then take on that responsibility. “A horse is more trouble than it’s worth in this case.” Joining a carven would be more cost effective. “Well there’s a slight hitch there. I don’t know their name, face or even where they like to frequent. But I know their soul and I can find them by that.” Which could seem almost crazy that she was searching just on that alone but she could do what few else could. “They would probably head to Aventia just like you.” That did make her think could they be the one she’s looking for?

[ars-gratia-auden]

Auden huffed out something of a laugh at the comment of sore feet and offered a bit of obvious advice: “It sounds like a perfect time to invest in a horse, though you might have a hard time finding one in any livery around this place. And I’m sure they’ve inflated their prices to something absolutely exorbitant.” Auden certainly planned to make a mountain of wealth to supplement what they had already amassed in the coming days. “And who might that be? Certainly I don’t know everyone in this city, but there are some pretty distinct places you might care to look in depending,” Auden suggested, though they did not have the time or interest in pushing much further than that. They seemed to stand a little taller at the idea of a new, true conflict, another great war. When most shrunk under the idea–and rightfully so��Auden saw a chance to finally see firsthand that which they had read about for decades, that which fueled their interest in their craft, and it delighted them that their work would finally be put to task to serve its true potential. 

If the other had made the journey to they would be able to understand why she was so dejected that as she arrived an army was leaving. “Well you can understand that my feet need some rest.” It was a small indication that she had no plans on leaving anytime soon. “I’ll head back when I find who I’m looking for.” There was no harm in telling others she had a purpose, it’s not like they could identify the soul on their own anyway. “exactly my point.” Yes the treat was more than some human spat this time but hero’s always came to the surface to fight these things and she definitely wasn’t one of them. So she would stay where it was nice and safe where the blight couldn’t touch her light.

[freydis-freydat]

Her hazel eyes shifted back to Nyla when the Elvhen spoke her name, and Freydis tried to take her words to heart. Nylathria was not the first to impart advice on her that was easier heard than executed, but like the others Freydis would try to accept and enact what she was told in degrees day by day. “I’m not sure if all of that is true,” she responded in a quiet, sheepish tone. Freydis had returned to this turn of the world to fight for it, to defend those who lived in it regardless of species or creed, and it warmed her to receive such praise from Nyla. Unfortunately, she was terrible at taking compliments. She nodded at the last part of what Nyla said, but made an effort not to look too sullen. Pain in its many forms ripped into her daily, but she knew she was not alone in this. “Well, I’m glad you were able to return. And that you were there to fight with us–your quick thinking to dispel Kansaldi’s magic, even if they foiled you,” she said in praise. “I wouldn’t have thought to try myself if it weren’t for your lead to follow…” She had to stop herself from expressing that she was afraid the party might kill Eivor in his draconic state, the lump that rose in her throat at the memory making it easy to cut her off before she revealed too much. “I hope what happened won’t dissuade you from lending a hand in the future.”

“Andoral?” Freydis confirmed that she had the right name for the dragon and subject of the cult. All of this was clearly news to Freydis, who had been so focused on cleansing the trapped components of the guardian statue elsewhere in the temple. “Do you know what the purpose of the ritual had been?” Freydis knew she would not have been brave enough to stay, regardless of who had been in the room. Some things she had the mettle to push through, but she suspected any entity of despair would find the cracks of her self-doubt and chasms of grief an easy target. 

“I was a jarl,” she heard herself confess, though the greater part of her wished she hadn’t. Given she had been the only female jarl who’s lionized history was well-known in Iskaldrik and likely throughout many regions of the continent they now inhabited. Certainly Aurea, one of the closest neighbors to the fallen kingdom, had known of the supposedly great and fearsome Icefang. “Now I don’t think the prince–high king,” she corrected herself, “and the hand would look at me if they knew the full truth.” She had kept her cards close to her chest until the battle in Fharzai’s dreamscape, and she was perhaps less judicious about her fey-touched abilities than she would have been before. But still, her upbringing conditioned her with mistrust and suspicion of other Iskarans, particularly her peerage in positions of authority. 

Freydis was surprised by Nylathria’s optimism that magic was within reach across the board. Perhaps through scrolls and enchanted objects she was right, but Freydis knew so little on the matter. She still didn’t know if her magic was her own, or something Nintra had imparted with her–or perhaps a strange arcane halflife from them crossing paths at all. But despite the fact Freydis had not spoken as much aloud, she wanted more, wanted her abilities to expand and deepen. “Sorry,” she muttered quietly, it was not the first time the lack of foundation of what she was or what she might be becoming had gotten the better of her. “Well, you’ve seen I have, um…. Another form. And I can step through the mists, a few other minor spells, interrupt magic like you can. And, um… Well, I’m not entirely certain this would qualify as access to magic, but I went through the Arches.” It was clear the last piece of information she shared was not one she disclosed often or lightly.

She didn’t need any magic nor any psychic power to recognise what was going on in that mind of Freydis’s. She had lived with a similar mind in her life for three hundred years, what a glorious three hundred years that was. Lyra would wear that same guilt when those she protected got hurt. When she wished she could have done something, anything even if it was impossible for her to achieve. Impossibility wasn’t inadequacies, it was something Nyla had wished she would have told her wife back then “Freydis, don’t let impossibility weigh your soul down. I’m alive, if you hadn’t been where you stood I'm sure I wouldn't be running this shop right now. Pain is part of living.” even if she wished it wasn’t.

“There was an altar to the dragon of change I believe. It had been used recently for a ritual of sorts. Nik and i thought we could revers it, or weaken it, honestly I don’t know what was really going through our heads at that point.” What they had been doing was hurting Evior at the time, but they had continued until Nyla felt an overwhelming force to stop. “There was a demon of despair there. Everyone but Nik left the room, but I lingered in the doorway while everyone left.” She really did think Nik was brave in that moment even now knowing what he was, there was no way Nik knew how that was going to unfold and yet he stood there while everyone left. There were some mixed emotions when it came to Nikandros to say the least. Nyla hoped that there could be change for the country but she had seen history repeat too many times to believe in it fully. “I hope you are right.” all those souls could use a light to look forward to.

Nyla held a warm smile as Freydis tried to find the right words. “Fey or no, I believe that everyone has the chance to access magic. Most don’t have the opportunity or ability to access it easily, but with the right tutelage and conviction anyone can learn how to use magic.” She was no expert but she had seen those with no aptitude gain it through hard study. If she was Fey touched perhaps the use of magic would come more naturally to her. “Okay breath Freydis, you don’t need to know everything about who you are or were… not right now anyways, there is time. Maybe I should have asked a better question. How much access do you have to your magic?”

[ars-gratia-auden]

Avalon was no short trip. Auden wondered if their conversation partner might simply turn and head back home, but perhaps whatever they had come for was worth the risk of the encroaching threat of darkspawn and the blight. “Quite the journey–I only made it a handful of months back myself,” Auden responded. “Will you head back there? The blight is creeping its way across the lands, Avalon may be the safest stronghold for some time.” They watched the woman and crossed their arms when such a vague response was given. It seemed that the dark haired Elvhen was private, which Auden respected, even if it did irk them. They were feeling nosey today, or perhaps just pressed by the fact that this woman looked so familiar. “Any of the great wars, or the little spats between these nations that these young humans don’t have the lifespan to realize are hardly anything more than a slapping match between jealous siblings?”

“Story of my life I guess.” Always turning up at the wrong moment even saying the wrong things at times. You’d think 900 years you would learn how to avoid that but nope, here she was picking a terrible time to appear. “I came all the way from Avalon.” Maybe having stopped along the way to take in views where Lyra would have been. “You could say I have experience with people going off to war…” and not returning. Her heart was settled enough not to cry over the loss anymore but seeing it repeat that was hard to watch especially since she couldn’t help… or she believed she couldn’t help.

[freydis-freydat]

It might not have been Freydis’ fault that the mage had targeted Nyla, but the veil maiden still viewed it as her responsibility. She was usually far better about protecting the whole of the group in battle when she fought with a more clear mind, or at least she liked to think she was. Her potential was limited by proximity, this much was true; it bothered her incessantly that she was only ever truly about to aid those who were within an arm’s reach. For a moment, she was sullen in the guilt of her limitations, but the Elvhen shopkeeper didn’t need to be saddled with Freydis’ ever-growing list of insufficiencies. Growing that list also had not been when Freydis had come for–and if she insisted on missing the forest for the trees she may overlook Nylathria’s ability to bolster her abilities. Freydis made sure to write down the name of Neven’s apothecary and the cross streets where it was settled for Nyla before she forgot. 

Freydis wondered for a moment if she ought to pretend to look surprised that Nik had carried knowledge he did, but Nyla seemed too smart to see through a pointless ruse. A moment later, she looked perplexed. “Didn’t leave him alone when?” she asked. She had not witnessed the ritual at the temple’s altar, but despite her lack of context for exactly what Nyla spoke and Eivor’s faith in the other Vangaurd Freydis struggled to parse through whether or not she thought Nikandros was safe. At the mention of Iskaldrik’s unchanging ways Freydis averted her eyes in shame; it was unyielding, unchanging, and unmerciful and she had been part of the machine for some time that kept it so, even if she only had been a fledgling noble. “Perhaps after the war things could change…” she suggested in a quiet tone, but she had no idea what Afshin wanted for the future of the kingdom and she already knew she didn’t have the stomach to reassume her role as jarl–if they would even wish to see her return. As Nyla began a lecture of sorts on the types of protection magic, scrolls, and considerations that could be made, Freydis felt her spine straighten a bit to signal her active attention.

Then, a moment later, Freydis found that what ought to have been a simple question left her stumped. “Yes, I am magic, or I have magic,” she began to sputter out, though none of these answers felt quite accurate. “Or, I can use it. I’m not sure if it’s mine, or if it’s borrowed. As you saw in battle with the, uh… the antlers and all, I’m fey. Well, no, that’s not true,” she continued blathering on, “or maybe I am–” she’d gone through the arches and she wasn’t a druid but she hadn’t been born with magic either “or maybe just fey touched, but–well… I’m not really sure exactly everything I’ve seen or experienced means and after all of it what I am.” She had labels: fey touched, veil maiden, but that didn’t necessarily grant her the material understanding she wished she possessed.

They do say there was no better way to come comfortable with a language then to use it. She knew draconic but there was a lack of people to speak in that tongue to. “We all have to start somewhere.” She replied in Elvhen. She would happily continue the conversation in her first natural language. It always took time to heal without magic’s aid, she lacked the know how herself to speed the process up. But this would be a reminder to her that going out on these excursions could have deadly consequences. A hint of mortality never hurt as a reminder that even though her life is long she wasn’t immortal. "It's not you fault that caster pointed their finger at me. I would love to use them, especially since they come recommended by you!" giving a fellow shop keeper her gold was a bonus.

“He has come by but he knew before it all happened. Not sure that anyone but me heard him say it.” Which might be some luck that the potion thief didn’t know she owned the shop. Sliver linings and all that. “He was in the market for answers, why I didn’t leave him alone.” She didn’t mind answering his questions for a demon he was actually quite polite but that didn’t take away from knowing what he was. “That place never changes then? I visited In my younger year when I was feeling daring, explains why you’re so strong.” It was a compliment honestly, she didn’t want to insult Freydis homeland it was a difficult task for someone who didn’t have pride to call it home. Picking up a list she could order off, Nyla thumbed down the page thinking muttering the words protection over an over again. “There several choices there protection that is preparation, reactive, instantaneous. There are a lot of magic done within that, that could be seen as protection. Like stopping a witch by countering their spell, absorbing elements inflicted upon you.” Honestly there were so many choices one could get lost in them. “Let’s start simple, are you comfortable with using any magic?”

[ars-gratia-auden]

“You really picked a terrible time to show up,” Auden commented off-handedly. They were raised properly, with manners, but their ego and sense of self-import eclipsed their sensibilities when it came to their demeanor. And it wasn’t like it was untrue. Auden noticed that the woman’s response also provided an opening to continue to try and distinguish if this woman simply had one of those faces, or if Auden felt a sense of recognition in earnest. “And where are you arriving from?” they questioned. Auden frowned slightly at the woman’s hypothesis. “Keen to give up before the battle has even really started?” Auden questioned. Perhaps this stranger carried information that would suggest a past she was familiar with was in the process of repeating itself, or perhaps she was even more pessimistic than Auden. 

Nylathria was impressed by the capable stacking skills, it was like playing jenga one piece in the wrong place and it would all come crashing down. talking to the other though the cart was rude of her so she moved round to see the others face. “I arrived today, it’s been a long walk and the first thing i see is folks preparing to leave. It had me questioning if I remembered the route her correctly.” It had been many years since she last made it but you don’t forget a journey like that. War with the dark one? Well fuck. Of course the soul she was looking for would walk right into that one. Her search could end before it even started if they died in Aventia. But what use was she there? If she went it would be like looking for a needle in a needle stack. She couldn’t soul read everyone nor would some want her to. How was she meant to find Lyra in that chaos? “Sounds like the end days are upon us.” And then this whole cycle will happen again. “Thank you for telling me what happening here I appreciate it.”

[freydis-freydat]

It flattered Freydis to know that Nylathria had remembered her name amongst the many other events and details of the day. Her smile became somewhat deeper, somewhat more genuine as she closed the distance between the door of the shop and the dark haired Elvhen woman. “Would you mind if we spoke in Elvhen?” she asked, switching her tongue. “I’m trying to practice–I am a recent learner of the language. Learner…. Learner? Scholar!” It was clear she was still gaining her footing in the foreign tongue. Her brows knit upward with concern when Nyla indicated she was still a little slow to recover; she could forget how hard it was to get a good lick on her every once in a while. It seemed not everyone else was as lucky. “I would love nothing more than to leave the name of a good apothecary with you, lovely shop owner, he’d have you good as new in no time,” she offered. “I’m so sorry you’re still hurt.” She would have to be more mindful in the next battle–she knew she had been so consumed with two or three party members that she had neglected and failed the many others. The guilt twisted in her stomach. And then a slight sense of dread. “Oh… Nik was here?” she asked, her voice raising half an octave. “What was he in the market for?” She lifted a hand and rubbed the back of her neck and tried to think of what she was looking for. “Yes and no–you know I’m Iskaran. This sort of shop would have been…. Contraband,” she explained after taking a moment to search for the right word. “I barely know where your scrolls abilities might start and end. But I suppose if I’m in the market for anything it would probably center on…. Protection?”

What a day, she just rotated her stock put out new scrolls for sale and they had been snapped up within a matter of minutes. Not that she was complaining the more people that came through that door the better. The more that came in would eventually lead to meeting the soul she was searching for. Gold was gold and it wasn’t like she made a lot off these scroll the purpose of the store really wasn’t to make money. She could definitely hear some poor merchants would screaming at the missed opportunity for profit.

The door bell had been ringing most of the day as people entered to browse and then left. As her business was small she like to give all those who entered a warm smile even if some looked like they had a face like a slapped arse. But when she saw the warm face of Freydis it was easy to smile back at her in kind “Freydis…”. The other woman was some that Nyla had taken notice of it was something about how she protected others that were reminiscent of another she had known. “I could honestly feel better but it will all just take time to heal properly…” there were still bruises, faded, yellowing but still there. “ don’t fret about it I think only Nik realised I owned this place.” Which she was kinda of frightened about. “Are you looking for anything in particular? I can help!”