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year 5, quarter 3
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A disease ran rampant through the streets taking no heed of whether it took man or woman, elder or child, rich or poor. The infirmaries and hospitals were littered with the afflicted and even consuming those who were battling against it. Fear crept across the city as districts were avoided, others ostracized anyone looking under the weather, and hope for a cure began to dwindle. Some thought it a punishment from the gods, others evolution in motion. For one emperor though, he viewed the whole ordeal as inconvenient at worst and an opportunity at best.
Mateus sat rapping his fingers on the wooden bar inside the last tavern before the trail to Mt. Hotan. His gaze swept across the drunken denizens of the small town at the base of the mountain. From the talk that was too loud for him to simply ignore, the town had been vacated during the Reignstorm and only recently had begun to be repopulated by former residents and those seeking to escape the city's disease. None seemed to be the person or persons he was waiting for from the homely look of them.
Rumors had been sweeping through the city that some doctors had found a vaccine from the new death. Of course Mateus had hastened to nearest medic determined he would be one of the first to be immune no matter the cost. He was displeased when the rumors proved to only be half true. These "healers" had themselves heard rumor of such a cure. Far to the north on the mountain, there was tale of a group of shamans who held the key to immunization.
The idea of going back to that place at first made him unwilling to take on the task. Too vivid was the memory of his last attempt to ascend its trails. Still, as he thought on it too many opportunities presented themselves to him. And now with his magic returned to him, perhaps the perils would be less adversarial.
One and most importantly, he would be able to gain protection against the disease and have one less worry on his plate. Two, perhaps these shaman were the magic users he had been trying to find on his first visit; perhaps even the ones he had learned of from the journal of the mad woman in the caves. He had some now power now, but he wasn't about to let more fall from his grasp if he could claim it. Lastly, the doctors said there was a great monetary reward for bringing the potion or a shaman back. With the guarantee that they would be sending a few people in case any of them fell to the perils, Mateus agreed to the task.
And so there he was waiting at the meeting point the doctors had given him to meet his fellow adventurers. He sighed as he continued his waiting. The bartender seemed to preoccupied with the returning villagers to pay him too much mind, or to serve him at all really causing Mateus' agitation to rise. How much longer would he have to wait in this rude and rundown establishment? He hoped his companions were of a higher pedigree than the fools he had to suffer currently.
Use your own eyes, and see for yourself which side I'm on.
The Dragonblades.
That’s what they were calling themselves, her and Caius. It had a certain kind of ring to it not so different from the Returners. It had been Caius’ idea, of course -- she’d never been one for naming things. But it had a catchiness that she couldn’t deny.
They’d strike like a dragon’s claw and bring order into this lawless and miraculous land. This was a second chance for them both -- a redemption -- and together they intended to make the most of it.
”For this job,” she said, giving Caius a look as they strolled through the streets of the snow-touched mountain town. ”Did you give them your whole spiel? About the might of a dragon and all that? I know you care about our brand, but it’s a little much.” Even as she criticized him, her words were light. Joking, mostly. If she was being honest with herself, she rather liked his little speeches. It reminded her of Edgar or Locke rallying them all together behind a common goal of resistance. Of course, back then, she hadn’t known what to do with that inspiration when it was directed at her former home, but now? She’d do anything to hear their courageous and oh-so-stupid lines again.
But as it stood, Caius was the next best thing.
”You know, I’ve been in these mountains before. It was during the Reignstorm if you were around for it. There was a terrible blizzard and I nearly died in an avalanche after a yeti tried to kill me. I think the weather’s cleared now, but this isn’t a place to be taken lightly.” A cold wind blew past her carrying bits of iced snow and she shivered beneath her armor. For all its ease of movement, her battle gear wasn’t exactly the best for insulation. If the magic in her blood hadn’t already run cold then she might very well have succumbed to hypothermia before long.
”You said we were meeting at an inn? Or was it a tavern?” She looked about at the rustic, wooden buildings with their shuddered windows and frosted roofs. It looked almost like Narshe except nowhere near as oppressive. ”I think I feel good about this mission. We’ll be helping people and not just by fighting off some monster or another. As much as I’d love to slay behemoths all day, it’s a nice change of pace. I hope the potion really works. That sickness sounded...Well. Horrific, if I’m telling the truth.”
Even as the topic darkened, she couldn’t help the lilt in her step. How long had it been since she’d felt so motivated? So at ease? Had she ever felt like this in her life?
”Is that it?” The building in front of them was larger than the rest and homier too, it seemed, with smoke rising up from its twin fireplaces. She couldn’t make out the sign out front beneath the snow, but she thought she recognized the insignia from the papers Caius had brought back. She looked to Caius in affirmation before starting through the door.
The inside smelled of peppermint and ash. The fireplaces crackled with a cheery kind of warmth against the bitter cold outside. Celes wrapped her arms around herself, shivering again as she let the heat wash over her. Leotards were not the best choice for mountain climbing.
Her eyes trailed from the half-full tables to the very full bar. It seemed that everyone wanted to gather here on a day like this, and she couldn’t blame them. She started towards the bar in interest, wondering who exactly they were supposed to meet and how she’d recognize them when they found each other. She supposed that she and Caius would catch eyes, dressed for battle as they were, and they did. Passing by, she caught nearly half a dozen watching her with something between caution and interest. She kept her eyes ahead. She wouldn’t bother with them, and if they were going to wait then she might as well-
Celes stopped. There, between a surly looking man and woman in a waist-clincher, was a face she’d never forget. A face she’d first seen in a cabin in the middle of a blizzard with his hair loose down to his hips and his naked body sprawled across the floor in front of a fire.
”You!” The cry came from her without a thought. She stared at him, gaping until her thoughts caught up to her and she spat out, ”You’re that stuck-up emperor!”
What had caused them to think of that name? Well, they had swords. And they had a dragon. The name wrote itself! Since the two, now three, of them had formed their official partnership, The Dragonblades had come to fruition as a mercenary unit. While they still were working on recruiting for members, Caius and Celes were rarely seen apart when it came to jobs. It was also Caius who had told Celes she no longer needed to wait for him to find work for the two of them if she wished to work together. If she found a job herself, she was free to call on him.
Like this instance, where Celes had found the job. Though Caius, who had been a bit closer to the area at the time, had been the one to go and accept it for them. Something that Celes was now giving him a hard time for, as she would quickly give her criticisms of his rather boisterous showing a few jobs ago. Where he had... Experimented... A little bit, branching out of his comfort zone in order to give a sales pitch to encourage the client that they were the right fit for the job. Had he actually used lines like might of a dragon, though? Ugh. Despite his lack of social custom know-how... Even Caius knew that one was tacky as all hell.
Something he knew that Celes would never let him live down. But he did understand she was joking.
"Alright, alright, I laid it on a little thick one time, Celes, one time" Caius responded, a small laugh escaping him. "And hey, we’re a business! You gotta have a good sales pitch! Gotta get their attention, you know? We are without a reputation as a guild… So we gotta pitch the fact that like every good business, we deal in uh… Uhh…"
Caius snapped his fingers a few times as the thought came to him.
It was his attempt at a joke, though Caius' sense of humor was still a little dry.
As the two walked through the snowy town, Celes would note that she'd been here before. She had nearly been killed by a yeti? That was a new one. "You should be the storyteller here instead of me" Caius would joke in turn, shooting her a grin. Though his grin would fade as he was quick to move to the side when he remembered the existence of the creature on his shoulder. The two had a baby on board, as Caius' dragon, Vordun, had seemingly gotten the sneezies from being out in the cold and in that sneeze was a firey breath that rocketed from his little maws. For such a little guy, he could roast an ox in seconds with that sneeze.
"Shit!" Caius would mutter, seeing as the hatchling had nearly set his jacket on fire. Thank the Astrals they hadn't been inside a wooden cabin or something for that. Instead, it had just melted a patch of snow and no harm was done. He would reach over and pick up Vordun from his shoulder, deciding to bring him to his chest as he would unbutton his glaive jacket the way that he usually did. Placing Vordun where he would be snug and Caius would be able to keep his arms free with the little guy's head and front claws out for him to be able to breathe and hang out just fine without injury, he would button up the jacket again so that both he and Vordun would be warm. Ordinarily he kept it unbuttoned, but they needed all the warm they could get here. Hopefully the extra warmth would curb the sneezies while they were inside.
As for why Vordun was here, well... Where else was he meant to go? He was too small to be left at the caravan without one of them to keep watch over him, as he'd likely wander off. Once he was a bit bigger, Caius would be able to train him though for jobs that would be too dangerous or impractical to bring the hatchling. But for now, at the least Vordun had proven to be quite skilled at holding on even during the rockiest of rides. He wondered if it was in their DNA to be prepared for tight situations early on? There had to be some level of survival instinct upon hatching for a creature like this. Odds were that Vordun was just acting on them.
Luckily, this was a job where it most likely wouldn't be necessary. But it was still just as important as any behemoth they had slain.
Soon after the calamity that Celes had just described, a disease had rocked the city nearby. While rumors of a cure ran about, the whole thing was still quite confusing and vague. It seemed either way, these shamen apparently had a cure, so they were hired to retrieve it. It was something they had accepted gladly, considering the motivations behind their formation. For Caius, being a Kingsglaive now was impossible... But he could still help the world around him. And doing this with Celes gave him the confidence to see it through.
"I think we've needed a break from killing monsters" Caius would admit, which surprised even him. But the truth was that all he'd ever done was kill monsters, for most of his life. "And this very much fits the description of what we were wanting to do, right?"
Celes' shivers didn't escape his notice. "If you want, I can try and wrap the jacket around you too if you can come in close enough. The jacket's big even by my standards, and Vordun's body temperature might add a bit of warmth as well. Just until we find the inn" Caius offered, not seeming to be bothered by the fact that the two of them would be all cuddled and snuggled up if so. Then again, it was Caius. Of course he wouldn't think of that. Or find a reason for it to be wrong. It was Caius. He only thought things practically 90% of the time.
"I would just offer you my jacket, but the last thing we need is to burn the village to the ground."
That was a joke, he swore. Sort of. It was one of those things where it was meant as humor but his mind was thinking practically too.
But soon enough, the inn would come into sight and Caius nodded to indicate that indeed their destination was ahead. As he didn't have the same warming blood that Celes did, Caius was far more grateful for it's warmth than he let on. He didn't talk about it, but he was cold. Very cold. But the jacket helped, and as he had just found out, so was Vordun.
The trio would find themselves in the inn, and he let out a sigh in relief as the warmth from the fires hit him. Deciding to wear the jacket buttoned a little bit longer for Vordun's sake, Caius would begin to wander around a bit as he would try and find just who their contact was, to assist them on this job. Vordun seemed a bit nervous being around this many people and shrunk down a bit in the jacket, but a pat on the head from Caius seemed to settle the hatchling's nerves. People were watching, though. They caught attention, wearing battling gear and all. While Vordun was hidden from view for the most part, though, he was sure that some might even have noticed the small creature hanging out of the front of his jacket.
But a cry from Celes would get Caius' attention as he strode over. She had suddenly called out when she had found someone. Their contact, maybe? Apparently his name was "Stockap Empyerer" or something along those lines. "The" Stockap Empyerer. Was he important to have "the" attached to his name? Especially by Celes who seemed to respect few enough to use that sort of language with... Basically anyone. Or maybe he just had snow in his ears? But the sudden hostile reception made Caius wonder just why she seemed so intent on starting what was likely going to be a verbal fight.
Oh.
Oooooh.
He had read in his books that married couples tended to fight a lot... She clearly knew him. Knew him well, it felt like. Was she trying to start a fight because that was married couple custom? He hadn't thought Celes to be one that would take a husband, considering her strong aversion to things that she had claimed were part of the courting process. But he supposed he shouldn't be surprised either. She was a strong woman, but caring and had her jokes. And she was beautiful, absolutely. While Caius couldn't appreciate beauty like most others, he knew that Celes was pleasing to look at and that there were people that craved others who looked as she did.
But Caius at least knew that he enjoyed her company. Why wouldn't someone enjoy her company to the point of wanting to spend the rest of their life with her? Caius couldn't see himself married though... Who would want to fight so much with someone that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with?
Either way...
Caius would lean in to whisper toward Celes' ear.
"Should... Should we leave you guys alone?" Caius would ask Celes softly. "I mean, if you guys need privacy, we'll totally respect it."
His irritation grew with every passing moment that he was ignored by the bartender. Mateus glared at the jolly crew that poured pitcher after pitcher down their greedy throats. He expected soon their faces would be red from drink and their conversations would only grow only more volatile and rambunctious. He expected that from the rather crude environment and commonality that an argument would erupt that would result in some lowbrow bar fight. Mateus closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as he waited. If any of them turned out to be the ones to join him up the mountain, he would have a hard time from turning and leaving without even saying what he had been there for. Still, he waited perhaps someone of value would appear.
Mateus turned quickly as the cry came out from the crowd. He stood peering over the shorter patrons as he scanned over the drunkards. Who knew of him here? The voice was feminine but harsh. Was it the cat woman, Sherlotta, from the tower come to taunt him even more? The Seeress and even the foolish princess had been far more soft spoken than the bark that had called him "up-stuck". His fingers crackled with a feint pulse of light but he quieted it. At first he couldn't tell who it was that had spoken, but then he looked down for a moment and that girl was standing near.
A disgusted moan escaped him as grabbed at his temples pinching his fingers over his eyes and to the bridge of his nose once more. Somehow this was even worst than some stranger from the bar being here. The girl who had found him and accompanied him when she had brought chaos and stranded them helplessly upon the mountain was now standing in front of him adorned in some hideous armor of sorts. Glancing to the man standing next to her, Mateus groaned again as the man was matched in similar fashion and he knew that they were the ones he was supposed to be meeting. He wanted to leave, he wanted nothing to do with duo. Still the promise of a cure to the disease and the idea of more power overshadowed any discomfort he was facing in the moment. They would have to do as escorts.
"My, my, my," Mateus chimed stepping closing to Celes and the man. "If it's not the bringer of discord. Have you another avalanche to cause trapping us within these forsaken walls as well?" He tutted. Mateus wouldn't forgive or forget that it was she who had caused them both misery and then tried to play the victim. "How unfortunate it seems that you've decided to be the ones the doctors promised would lead me across the mountain. Still we must do what needs done it seems. How unfortunate though that time has done nothing to stop your tongue's waggle."
Mateus then turned his attention to the male. They stood at a similar height. Their hair was of a similar although Mateus' own was longer and seemed to have a certain shine to it this man did not. Still it looked as though he was competent enough to keep it decently managed. Mateus placed a hand under his own chin and cocked his head to the side studying his face. "Hmpf, it seems Celes has brought with her a lackey. I only assume that you belong to her seeing as you both adorn such hideous attire. Still, the girl has proven her worth before, and I guess we'll see if you have any in due time." Mateus stepped back and gave them a disdainful look before turning towards the door beckoning them with a wave of his hand. "Come then. We should make some progress before the sun has set. This place reeks of sweat and mead, and I would prefer it a memory best forgotten at this point."
Use your own eyes, and see for yourself which side I'm on.
Celes’ vision swam with offensive images and bad memories. Seeing this man in front of her again, all done up with his same smug expression, his same noble’s composition, she couldn’t decide whether she wanted to yell at him, pull her sword, or march in the other direction. The man in front of her had been nothing but the most pompous of bastards, slinking about and blaming her for her discomfort at his unashamed nakedness. Then she’d gone about preparing everything she could to escape, up to and including guiding their way out of a cave and putting her life on the line against a yeti. And what had he done for her? Absolutely nothing unless a cure spell counted as a gesture of good will.
In short, her blood boiled just looking at him.
Caius leaned in closer and hissed at her under his breath. ”Should... Should we leave you guys alone? I mean, if you guys need privacy, we'll totally respect it.”
”What?” she asked, but before she could ask any more questions, the emperor was already addressing her, and what he said made her fists curl.
”My tongue’s waggling?” she shot back. ”Mine? I hadn’t said five words before you went off on me!” But there was something more important here, wasn’t there? What was that about the doctor?
”You’re-?” She took a startled step back, staring at him. ”You’re the one we’re supposed to meet? To go up the mountain?” And then she gave a hard laugh. ”What are you going to do if we run into monsters up there? Hide from them?”
”And he doesn’t belong to me.” Celes shot him a hateful look. ”I don’t know what you think looks the same, but my armor’s practical. I don’t know how you’ll survive if something gets it claws on you.” Still, the emperor started forward, gesturing to them as if he had any right to lead the way. Celes’ teeth ground together.
Of all the people on all the jobs in all the places…
She glanced to Caius furiously. ”I got trapped with him during a blizzard,” she said, only half bothering to keep her voice down. ”I walked in on him completely naked and he wouldn’t do one thing about it. He can’t fight and he’ll only hold us back. Whatever he thinks he’s doing here is beyond me.”
She scowled, shooting the man a look before rolling her eyes. ”But it looks like he’s decided to become our fearless leader! I guess if we’re taking this job, we’ll have to keep him from walking off a cliff in broad daylight.” She turned on her heel and started after the man, seething all the time.
Just when she’d been in a good mood, it all had to come crashing down.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Dec 19, 2018 12:24:38 GMT -6
Suppose this world isn't so terra-ble.
Celes Chere @dust Word Count: 660 OOC: Caius seems to keep mostly women for company. He's probably picked up a few hair tricks! Dialogue Color: 196fd1 Party Sprites Credit
Celes didn't seem to understand the question, and Caius was about to clarify when Mr. Uptight spoke out again. Seriously, this whole marriage thing was kinda fucked up. Was their entire engagement about insulting each other?
But then the man turned to him and began to insult him as well. Caius really wasn't game to be involved in whatever sick game these two were playing with each other, though considering his jabs toward Celes had worsened to just flat out disrespect, and now he'd involved him... He was going to go out on a limb and say that they weren't married.
Instead, this guy was just a dick.
Caius' expression dulled a bit as he found himself staring Matteus in the eyes, cold brown eyes staring back at the "Emperor" as Caius waited until he was done his disgusting talk before speaking, in a calm yet cold tone.
"Not much of a sight yourself."
And if he was wrong about the marriage thing, and Celes bitched at him later... Well, it wouldn't be the first time he'd had to sit through it. Unfortunately, it seemed that this guy was their partner for this assignment, and Celes seemed far from happy about it. Which further backed up his suspicion. It also seemed that the loudmouth wanted to leave right away. Caius wanted to stay for a bit and warm up, and let Vordun warm up as well so that the dragon wouldn't accidentally light someone on fire. Or worse, get sick.
Celes would explain that this was some lout she'd gotten trapped in a blizzard with. Hadn't she mentioned a blizzard and avalanche earlier? Was that the same story? Interesting. Either way, it sounded like he was just going to hold them back. But while Celes was satisfied to make snide remarks, Caius was thinking more practically.
"Celes" Caius spoke as he calmly took her arm once the man had headed out the door. "You're aware we can just leave him here, right?" He asked. "Or if he holds us back, we can leave him behind. He seems fully capable of getting back here on his own, after all."
With that, he looked down at his hand, an idea starting to form when he realized they'd be heading out again.
"Here, give me your hand."
Caius would let go of her arm as he would summon a fire spell, the orb of fire hovering over his palm before he would clap it between his hands. He'd ensured it wasn't too hot, so as to burn him. But it would cause his hands to emit a large amount of warmth before he would gently take Celes' hand, provided she didn't pull away, sharing the heat best he could.
"I don't know how your magic works, but it might be worth trying that since we aren't going to be able to stay in shelter for very long" Caius would explain, motioning toward the hand holding hers. He was more or less just giving her an example of what it could do. "You're less dressed for the cold than I am, and we might be out there for some time. If your magic doesn't work in the same matter, I can do it of course, but it might be more convenient for you to attempt first if necessary."
He motioned toward the counter. "I'd also recommend asking if they have any spare coats you could borrow or buy. Might get damaged in combat, as I doubt they'd be armored, but your sword hand won't be of any use to you if it's freezing."
He started out toward the door then. "I'll meet you out, if need be. Take your time, I don't give a damn if "Stockap Empyerer" is impatient about it."
With that, Caius headed outside. He was still irritable about their new company rushing them out the door, but he kept his emotions in check for the most part.
If it were in his nature, Mateus would have rolled his eyes at the blonde's comment. Instead he let our a hmph and flippantly rolled his wrist. He didn't expect this man to understand fashion or beauty. He even let Celes continue with her rant about his uselessness. He merely huffed as watched the two in amused disdain. What a pleasant surprise it would be for the girl to see the world had done some favors when he proved he could be of use now. Still, he'd wait for the right time. For now, he'd play along so the reveal would be all the sweeter.
"Oh?" Mateus questioned turning his attention once again to the blonde man behind him now as he had begun to exit. He doubted that they would allow him to claim the medicine for himself, and he also expected that he just trying to prove a point through tough words. He sought to call his bluff, "What a simple solution you've seemed to come to. Just leave the weakest among you to fend for themselves. What purpose do you have gaining medicine for the weakest of society then? Perhaps just your reward? No matter. Do as you please. I still intend on finding the shaman on the other side and provide salvation to the city. I'll wait ten minutes time outside and then be off." Mateus turned making his way through the building and drunk and escaping into the sunlight leaving Celes and the boy to contemplate their actions.
It was somehow colder now than he remembered walking into the bar. Mateus attributed it the fact there had been a roaring fire inside, and now outside. He felt his cheeks redden from the initial chill. He fastened his robes tighter as he looked up towards the mountain, its peak lost within the dark grey skies above. For a moment he wondered if he could make it across the paths alone considering how badly things had gone last time he had tried the feat. He waved the doubt from his mind. Last time he had been defenseless, powerless, and without direction. Things had changed. A part of him wondered whether Celes had changed any either. A snowflake fell on his nose as he pondered the thought staring into the sky.
Use your own eyes, and see for yourself which side I'm on.
Just as Celes was about to march after him, Caius pulled her aside like a voice of reason. ”You're aware we can just leave him here, right?" he said, and Celes bit her tongue. Of course that was an option. They could always leave him behind, go off on their own, not have to deal with him and all his lofty words and arrogance. It was all an option. So why hadn’t she thought of it before him?
Because her mind was clouded with rage. She’d been so struck by his sudden appearance that she hadn’t been thinking clearly. He’d left almost too quickly to really react.
Not left entirely, it seemed. He snarled at them from the door about how dishonorable it would be to “leave the weakest among them” and how he’d go there whether they came or not. Celes swallowed back hot fury as he turned and finally disappeared through the inn door. That man irked her in a way that few others could claim, and she could hardly think the moment he opened his mouth. What she needed was to cool her blood, to dial back her frustrations, to-
”Here.” Caius touched her hand and brought it forward, carefully placing a small flame in her palm. Celes blinked in surprise. Its warmth lapped at her fingers and caused her to shiver all over again.
She laughed.
”I’m fine,” she said and gave him a smile more genuine than she’d given in a long time. He was worried about her in the cold, convinced she should go change or that she’d need his magic. ”I can use my own spells if I have to, and there’s magic in my blood. Ice magic primarily. I don’t get cold easily.” Still, she kept his flame in her hand. Half-freezing in the snow certainly wasn’t fun for anyone, her included. And she liked it all other things aside. He’d given it to her.
He left to give her a moment in case she changed her mind, mocking the emperor’s name as he left and assuring her he didn’t care one bit what the emperor would have to say about it. Celes snorted in laughter and stood there for a moment, watching the flame. This had been a bad shock, that was for sure, but it wasn’t all bad. Not with Caius at least. She felt like she was really part of a team again whenever they were together. Like it was Sabin or Cyan or Edgar beside her.
Though if she was being honest, he reminded her most of Locke.
Celes sighed and pushed her hair behind her ear. The fire still flickered its warm glow in her other hand and she considered it carefully. Caius was right about one thing -- it would be best for everyone to leave the emperor behind. He’d only distract her and he’d be a burden beyond that, and yet…
He’d promised to go up the mountain alone if they refused him. As much as her blood boiled at the thought of another minute in his company, she couldn’t let a man freeze to death because of his own stubborn ego. Not if she could stop it. This was an escort mission now more than anything, she supposed, but it all came to the same end. They’d find that elixir. They’d help cure the epidemic in Provo. That was all there was to it.
She slipped outside to join them without much bravado. The emperor stood resolutely in the snow, and Caius wasn’t far away either. Celes sighed and approached them. There was no point in delaying the inevitable.
”We’ll take you up the mountain,” she said. ”I doubt you know how to survive a hike through the snow, and I don’t want your blood on my hands. Just try not to get in our way. We’ll bring that elixir back to Provo no matter what it takes.” She eyed him coolly before stepping closer to Caius.
”I cleared my head,” she said. ”We might as well go together if he’s determined to do it on his own. It’ll just be a little harder this way.” She smirked bitterly. ”Exactly what we needed, I know, but we don’t have much of a choice.”
Celes took a breath and looked up at the mountain peaks looming before them. There was only one way to go now, and that was up. ”Are we ready then?” She glanced to Caius. ”You have the map, don’t you? I’ll trust you to lead us ahead. I’m… a little short-handed anyway.” Her cheeks heated as she glanced to the fire still nestled safely in her palm. Its warmth pulsed gently against her fingers.
"Well, no use hanging around here when we’ve got work to do.”
It appeared that their guest hadn't left entirely after all, and would whine and be his usual pompous self in the face of being left behind. Caius only turned half of his face toward him as he spoke plain and calm, but firm at the same time.
"You got here. You can get back."
Caius should have known that Celes would know how to figure this out already, he realized. She was far more experienced in the realm of magic than he was, and her world and her abilities appeared to give her a far greater variety than he could ever hope to possess. He made due with a smaller magic pool of course, and his Glaive abilities helped matters, but he should have known she'd do just fine. But he didn't expect her to be able to keep and preserve the flame for as long as she did, someone else's flame at that. Usually he just absorbed the warmth into his body and left it at that, but her? Oh no, she went the extra mile. Caius was genuinely impressed by her magic skill, and made a note to try that sometime. He didn't know if he could do it, she was more skilled than he, but it didn't hurt to try.
Fanboying over Celes aside, he at least noted she didn't get cold as easily. It was something to keep memorized for times they went out into the cold. It made all the difference in decisions when it came to gauging equipment for colder environments, and the necessity to find warmth and shelter. Celes said she'd be fine, but while her cold resistance gave Caius a measure of comfort, he couldn't help but worry about her. She wasn't any good to him dead, and he could admit he'd miss her companionship if she turned into a Celesicle. Being around her made him feel nostalgic, like he was part of something again, as well. It wasn't something he would ever look forward to losing.
He smiled though, and nodded his head at her affirmation that she'd be fine.
Sadly he wasn't mocking when he stated Matteus' name. He'd forgotten to give it and he only had his misconstruement of what Celes had called him to go by.
As he turned to leave, he noted that she had a really nice smile. Was that the first time she'd smiled like that? He considered voicing it, indicating that she should smile more often and that she could probably win people over easily with a smile like that. A valuable asset he'd grown to realize when it came to dealing with people. Something he'd begun to realize was something a mercenary had to do all the time. But... It just didn't seem right to. As practical as the intent was, he went over how to word an idea like that over and over again in a way that wouldn't bring Celes any discomfort. Realizing there wasn't a phrasing that came to mind, he gave up on the pursuit and pushed it out of his mind.
Buttoning his jacket fully again once he stepped out, Caius let out an irritated breath as the cold wind hit him in the face full force. "Fire" He muttered as he would summon the flame again. Attempting to keep it lit when he closed his fist without putting the fire out, he found the fire to be gone when he attempted. A few attempts more, and he decided he'd put it off until later. Wasn't as easy as it looked. But practice makes perfect, right?
Celes would return to them, and indicate she was fine with taking Ser Blowhardon with them. Caius just shrugged his shoulders, though eyed Celes with a grin. "Cel, what fun is it without a bit of challenge?" Caius would joke in turn. With that, they had work to do. Nodding his head, he would take out the map and begin to look it over. "We start that way" He spoke as he looked toward them. "I'll-"
Caius would be forced to dart-lift the map upwards when he heard the sounds of "Aaaah..." from his jacket. Vordun's head popped out completely from it's hiding place as the small dragon let out a monstrous sneeze, sending a blast of fire just below the map and flying toward Celes and Matt...
Mateus watched his breath in the cold still air of the mountain town. He had always been fascinated by the phenomenon much like how he could fog a glass with his breath as well. It was proof of the breath in his lungs, proof that he was still alive and that he affected the world even in the most minute of actions. It was a peaceful and tranquil moment as the mostly quiet wind reddened his cheeks as he stood gazing up at the mountain. On the other side, there was a promise of life, the promise his actions wouldn't be be rendered ineffective by something simple as a illness. No, there was too much he still had left to do.
His moment was shattered as the duo emerged from the bar. It seemed as though his words must have gotten to them no matter how hard they tried to act. The girl had shown her cards by not allowing him to die alone in the shack or in the corridors of the mountain's depths when last they had met. He called the curative magic he had learned in that time to his hands. It was so strange really. It felt cold and distant like the mountain and its snow, a force of nature, just to be used whereas his electric dark powers felt warm and personal in his veins as though it charged through him warming his blood. Perhaps it was the fact he had known the magic longer and he just needed to exercise the white magic to get that same familiarity.
Mateus turned with self satisfied grin as Celes agreed to take him up the mountain just like he predicted she would. His eyes focused on the blonde who seemed more begrudging of the task. Where had the girl found this specimen and better yet, how had he convinced her to let him tag along. From what he remembered, the girl didn't seem very big on the whole teamwork thing. There was something there, that Mateus was bound to discover over their little adventure, so he kept quiet and observant as the man plotted their course.
"Then let's begin," he chimed in as the man pointed out the direction in which to go, "we've already squandered enough time waiting for you two to come. I don't feel like becoming a monsters' play thing come sundown." Mateus swept his robes around him, cocooning him in more warmth, as he began to step the way he had been told but something akin to a growl came from the man. Mateus turned quickly his fingers already buzzing with electricity but the flame was already heading toward him dead on.
His only course of action was to throw himself into the snow to his side as the fire passed over him. Angered, Mateus drew himself to his full height as he started to where the fire had come from. Protruding from the man's shirt the head of a miniature dragon poked out looking around in wonder. Mateus laughed harshly looking up to the man's, "If one wants to own a pet, it's best if the person knows how to tame their beast." He wanted to strike the man or at least harass him further for his insolence, but the time was short. "If you'll muzzle the creature, we shall be on our way," he stated before starting off in the direction that had been told to him. They could come or they could stay. Either way, he knew they'd have some rebuttal for his true words.
