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year 5, quarter 3
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No sooner had the command left his lips that the world turned into a blur of golds and tans. The sand swirled up around the two men, immediately taking away sight of anything and everything nearby. As the world around them shrank to nothing but the vortex of the storm, Angeal felt his pulse quicken, his breath rising in his chest. There was something here. Something unlike anything he’d truly dealt with before.
The laughter bounced off of the walls around them, for as long as they stood. In mere moments, the storm swept the structure away, crumbling it into its base form; the very sand that birthed it. The Soldier kept his feet steady, despite the caution that wormed its way into his mind. A creature that could control the elements itself was nothing to overestimate.
From the storm emerged the creature herself. If it weren’t for the unnatural chuckling, she may have even passed for human with half of her body hidden. Deep red hair and shining, slitted eyes gleaming, she even wore the most luxurious clothing Angeal had seen in quite some time. However, as one’s eyes drifted further down, the feminine structure gave way to something serpentine. She was part woman, part snake.
That was certainly a first. What were they called in mythos? Nagas? There were reports out in the Gongaga region and the Icicle areas about sirens that led men to their death, but nothing like what was before him now.
The creature turned its attention quickly off of him. No, her eyes were on Vayne, her lips twisted into a devilish grin. Angeal kept his stance, ready to defend any potential strikes at a moment’s notice. Sweat beaded from his hairline, dripping down his chin as the two conversed … Rather normally. If the Soldier could have afforded to do so, he would have given Vayne a concerned, incredulous stare for reacting to the situation so calmly as he had, referring to the snake woman as royalty. Maybe they had such creatures in his world? Still, Angeal dared not to take his eyes off of the creature.
Enraged, the snake woman reared back, a hood of scales emerging from her neck, a curved blade slicing through the air with a hiss much too alike her own. Still, she didn’t strike, instead choosing to continue to argue with the man she so sought to kill.
Vayne wished to defend himself. Despite his sudden burst of energy, Angeal knew he’d been weakened earlier. That, and he didn’t seem to be much of a combatant … Furrowing his brow, the man wondered what exactly Vayne was attempting to accomplish with his bluffing. In a way, the man reminded him of Genesis, worming his way out of a situation and changing it into his favor with nothing but words alone.
And the answer became clear quite quickly. As Vayne mentioned a champion to fight on their behalf, Angeal finally allowed his eyes to stray from the angry snake creature. His glowing gaze bored hard into Vayne’s concentrated face, perturbed at the man’s brazen action.
A hand outstretched in his direction. Now, he was Ser Angeal, fighting for another man.
Angeal glanced back at the enemy, who’s blazing, amber gaze finally turned to him, if only for a moment.
“Putting all of your eggs in one basket is a dangerous gambit,” the Soldier muttered to Vayne. He would have defended the man in a heartbeat, of course, but there was something about practically being ordered to by a man he barely knew that gave Angeal a temporary feeling of unease and dislike. It left as soon as it had come, though, with the present threat much more of a worry.
He stepped forward, inching ever closer to his enemy. She was unlike anything he’d ever faced before, but at the end of the day, a bloodthirsty monster was nothing but that. Queen or not, it was kill or be killed. Lamia had already admitted to having a sleep spell in her arsenal, and avoiding magic was one of Angeal’s specialities, having dealt with Genesis for as long as he had.
She wouldn’t leave, even if he offered her the chance. Lamia had shown she was angry, smug, and considered everything within the sand to belong to her.
Not being one for words, Angeal simply nodded to his opponent, “I accept my role in this. You can only try and take him if you kill me first.”
How long can you swallow the pain? Before it comes round again, And a shadow in the valley will lead you to them, So don't follow.
His simple request immediately flipped some sort of switch in his red-headed partner’s mind. Cissnei smiled, that familiar cat-like grin, and leaned forward to whisper into his ear.
“You think I’d let you go that easy?”
Angeal laughed, quietly and awkwardly as the Turk slid a finger through their bonds to give the tie a gentle tug. There was nowhere for him to go, backed into the corner like a mouse ready to be devoured. Of course, he was no such thing, but the thought lingered in the back of his mind as Cissnei accused him of being guilty. He certainly was, and it should have been no surprise that she’d picked up on his wandering gaze.
Thankfully, the waiter spoke up to congratulate them on their win before Angeal could attempt to cram himself any further into the corner of the booth to escape the teasing Turk attached to him. They were given small stickers for their win -- were those hearts? Oh, god, right this was a date .. competition. Every few moments the Soldier felt like he was taking a slap to the face, embarrassed and then proud, sometimes flirty? The whole night so far had been completely unpredictable and completely unlike anything he’d ever done. Angeal couldn’t say he much enjoyed doing anything outside of his normal routine but …
Well, he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t having any fun, despite Cissnei’s constant teasing.
The red-head placed the heart sticker on his strap with a wink, before sticking one on herself. Angeal shook his head, his hand darting forward to carefully peel the sticker from her clothes and press it against her cheekbone, “You put mine on, I put yours on.”
That did nothing, of course, to stop the purr in her voice as she tugged him from the booth, “Come on, partner.”
Angeal followed after Cissnei, his glowing eyes drifting from their combined hands over to the next task at hand. The sounds of clicks and bumps filled the air as teams moved back and forth, paddles in hand. A small, white ball hit the table and bounced back to the next team, as one member took an over-aggressive swing and ended up taking down their partner and themselves.
Couples ping-pong? Angeal scratched his chin with his free hand, wondering when the last time he’d even played was. It was a popular enough game at the bars and in a couple of the break rooms in Shinra, but once he hit second-class Soldier status, playing against anyone that wasn’t of his own stature was … difficult, and usually frowned upon. For him, it required a huge restraint in power, which admittedly got more difficult the more intense the game began.
Each movement needed to be precise. Just enough power to get the ball on the other side of the small net and give it enough bounce quickly enough to break through the other team’s defenses. It would either be a game of strategy, or a game of endurance.
Cissnei mused similar thoughts to his own. It had been a while since she’d played as well, and definitely not tied to someone else. Angeal rolled his shoulders in a shrug, but gave her a familiar, gentle smirk, “It’s been a long time, but I’m always up for a challenge.”
The couple across the table from them gave some fairly determined stares, but Angeal was sure Cissnei could see the cracks in their facades. They were intimidated. The Soldier stepped up to their side of the table, handing Cissnei her paddle before taking his own. They were up first, and Angeal immediately noticed the first odd thing about playing one handed. Typically, he’d set the ball with his left hand and hit it with his right. He glanced to the Turk, grabbing the small ping-pong ball and offering it out to her.
The set was perfect, and Angeal led them off to an easy start. The ball only managed to come back to them a couple of times before the other team whiffed and the ball flew off of the table. One point, two point -- it seemed like it was going to be an easy game.
At least, until Angeal got a little aggressive with his movements. He stepped out to hit the ball quickly, and immediately his folly became obvious. The ball went back across the table, sure, but he’d yanked Cissnei over to his side so hard she would lose her balance. Her weight wasn’t enough to bring him down as well, but Angeal dropped his paddle to reach out to the tumbling red-head, wrapping his free arm around her waist to keep her from hitting the ground.
Eyes wide and the flush across his cheeks settling in, Angeal murmured a quick and embarrassed, “Sorry.”
The ball pinged against the table, and bounced off of his bicep.
How long can you swallow the pain? Before it comes round again, And a shadow in the valley will lead you to them, So don't follow.
I'll let you introduce the main monsters since I forgot what we're fighting xDD
Caius was quite polite and professional. Angeal was immediately impressed by the man’s demeanor. It was exactly the type of person he would have believed made a great Soldier. Though the word mercenary had, at first, left a sour taste in Angeal’s mouth, he considered that, perhaps, such a job out here was similar to what he once did back home. Taking on whatever jobs needed to be done in order to enrich the lives of others. From their interactions so far, Caius seemed to be a good man himself. Honest and fair.
Later, maybe, the Soldier would ask him about his work as a mercenary.
For now, they had nothing but the elements to battle. Away from the protections the town offered, the heat from the sun came down with a familiar, unrelenting fury. The sand beneath their feet took in the warmth and radiated it tenfold, pushing a punishing heat from the ground upwards. Angeal knew well there was no escaping the life-sucking energy of the desert as he swiped an annoying trail of sweat away from his hairline with the back of his hand before it could sting his eyes. If he stood still for too long, the hot sand would start to practically cook through his boots.
The silence in the desert was different than anywhere else. In the woods or the city, the sounds of life kept one’s mind entertained. Birds chirping, machines moving. But, amongst the sand, silence was very real. The wind stirred up occasional noise over the sounds of their boots once in a while, but other than that it was nothing. Nothing aside from the sounds of breathing and shoes shuffling.
The blonde broke the silence, asking what had brought Angeal out to the desert.
Right. It wasn’t exactly the most ideal location. The Soldier adjusted his hood as they tromped along, “I’ve been searching for my friends for a while. I was traveling south from Sonora and I was planning on heading straight to Torensten, but …”.
He recalled arriving in the town a week ago, exhausted and dehydrated from his journey. The people there immediately tended to him, treating him like a friend they’d never met before. They were just thankful he’d made it there, instead of perishing in the sands.
Angeal smiled, “Everyone here was very kind to me. I didn’t want to take advantage of their kindness and leave before I could pay them back in some way. So, I’ve stuck around to help however I can.”
It was bittersweet, though. He enjoyed helping others, brightening their days, making their lives easier and less dangerous. However, there was a shame in staying still. The nightmares creeped along the edges of his consciousness; a steady reminder, a constant nudge to leave.
“I shouldn’t stay much longer, though. I need to keep looking for anyone I know.”
How long can you swallow the pain? Before it comes round again, And a shadow in the valley will lead you to them, So don't follow.
The way the man rolled the name Serentestra around in his mouth, considering it and feeling it out, it was clear it was a new name for him. Angeal knew that confusion, the knotting of the brows in trying to recall, is this something I once knew and have simply forgotten, or is it truly new?. He remembered feeling dazed and confused, surrounded by strange sights and sounds he’d never seen before, all the while wondering how in the world he could have been in one place, and then suddenly another.
Vayne seemed to be taking the news calmly, at the very least. His gaze detached from Angeal’s as the long haired Emperor made quick his revelations, and when their eyes met once more, there was an understanding, however strange and bitter it was.
“This is not Ivalice, of that I am now certain.”
The Soldier nodded, a reluctance in confirming such a terrible truth, but knowing well it would be best to rip off the proverbial band aid, as it were. He adjusted his tunic, keeping it clasped over his heavy uniform despite his ultimate desire to toss the thing and simply breathe for a moment. His gloved fingers let go of the map in his pocket, leaving it in place for now as he gave Vayne a sympathetic, small smile, “I can get us out of this desert, at the very least. But, other than that I--.”
A sound stopped Hewley in his verbal tracks. A soft laughter, delicately carried on the hot breeze. Vayne had heard it as well, his gaze searching out the source of the voice. Angeal frowned, turning his head as he heard the laughter drift along the sand once more.
Yet, there wasn’t anything in or around them. Outside of their meager shelter was nothing but hot sun and glowing sand, swirling about calmly on the winds that carried it. Nothing in the dunes shifted, not a cloud in the sky moved. The haunting sound continued, though, seeming to seep up from the very ground itself. Angeal stood quickly, grabbing the Buster Sword from its resting place on the wall and attaching it to the magnetic placeholder on his back -- though his hand never left the hilt.
“Do you hear it?” Vayne had lifted himself off of the ground, propped up against the nearby wall for support; impressive and much-needed, given the circumstances, “A predator haunts our every move...”
“I do,” Angeal answered as if on an order, his boots moving along the sand quickly to take a stance in front of the weakened Emperor while his eyes sought out the source of the noise. Though he couldn’t pinpoint the location, he knew something was coming. Perhaps it was the heightened senses Soldiers were blessed with, or it was nothing more than an animal instinct. The laughter echoed away on the sand and the stone walls, but in its wake came a stirring of the sand around the both of them.
Angeal kept his feet steady despite the uncertainty, ready to react on a hairpin trigger, “Show yourself.”
How long can you swallow the pain? Before it comes round again, And a shadow in the valley will lead you to them, So don't follow.
Cissnei turned her head to glance at him, then back at the fork he was offering her. Angeal bit his tongue, holding back the chuckle he wanted to release seeing the mad blush flush across her cheeks. This was a competition though, despite mentioning the word romantic, and the Soldier slightly motioned with the fork. However, his red-headed partner seemed startled, and the piece of chicken on the end of her own fork slipped from the prongs.
His eyes followed its trail, naturally, until it disappeared into the white fabric.
Blinking in confusion, Angeal realized he was peering down Cissnei’s slightly opened shirt. It was his turn to blush various shades of red, quickly averting his glowing eyes to the ceiling. He felt the food being taken from his fork, thank Gaia, and he let the utensil drop once it was empty. He quickly chugged what little was left of his wine as Cissnei shook out her shirt, making the last piece of chicken disappear.
The timer clicked, and the waiter raised his hand. Curious, Angeal glanced around the room to see that, indeed, they had finished first. The embarrassed flush lessened as he grinned, feeling a surge of childish triumph at winning such a silly little game. The Soldier rolled his shoulders as he relaxed, his fingers stilled laced with his partner’s.
“You did that so naturally,” Angeal blinked, turning his glowing gaze back to Cissnei as she practically purred at him, a smidge of innocent confusion in his features, “Seems you’ve practiced for such a moment.”
The Soldier felt his face flush again as he cleared his throat, shaking his head quickly, “Beginner’s luck, clearly.”
The red-head dabbed the sauce off of her chest with a napkin, and Angeal found himself glancing away again, hoping she hadn’t noticed how he’d innocently let his gaze get away from him before. However, he caught sight of the white napkin coming his way, brown eyes staring him down mischievously as Cissnei used the very same cloth to dab a spot near his mouth. Angeal grumbled, his cheeks burning as he tugged at their hands still tied together with her soft tie, “Should we -- er -- take this off now? Since we won…”.
How long can you swallow the pain? Before it comes round again, And a shadow in the valley will lead you to them, So don't follow.
”Oh, good, very good! In that case, feel free to stay as long as you need at my tent and refill your canteens. Sounds like it may be quite the long day!”
Angeal grabbed a cup as Mathias turned back to setting up his stand, drinking his own fill of water after giving the man an appreciative thanks. He filled his own canteens at the spout at the back of the tent, sealing them tightly once he was finished. He glanced at the food for a moment, but his stomach twisted as the sight of it. The combination of the nightmares and the heat weren’t doing him any favors, and the Soldier ignored the refreshments for now. He could eat when he returned.
“I hope you don’t mind if I join you,” Angeal said to Caius, a cautious smile coming to his face as he wiped away the dripping sweat from his hairline, “You won’t have to split the payout with me, or anything like that. I owe these people a lot for allowing me to stay here while I help them with their monster issues.”
He was more grateful than he could ever explain. Angeal Hewley was a simple man who could appreciate an honest deal, and would always try to pay it back 110%. It had been nice, to stay put somewhere for more than a day or two, and do some actual good in the world. He could only wander and search for his friends for so long, without losing sight of his real purpose in life. Helping others was what he was good at, and it certainly did something to ease the ache in his heart.
The nightmares, however, gave him the hint to move on. Perhaps he’d do so tomorrow.
Angeal reached under Mathias’s stand, pulling out two, lightly green ceramic bottles. He offered one to Caius, “A tea, made with a special flower found out in the desert. It’ll help restore your strength in a pinch, if you get too dehydrated.”
Once the Soldier had his own effects in order, he gave Caius a nod, “I’ll let you lead the way, since you’ve already talked to Mossad about where to head.”
How long can you swallow the pain? Before it comes round again, And a shadow in the valley will lead you to them, So don't follow.
Sorry, I'm so bad at things like this xD Hopefully its okay!
Mu explained the appearance of the strange thing that had appeared as nothing more than a companion; one that couldn’t physically do anything. Angeal nodded, with little desire to have the man explain anything further. He’d never seen anything like it, of course, but it would be useless to prod at the issue any further. Maybe it was just something people around here could do, seeing as how he was in a …
Well, a different world.
Instead, the Soldier turned his gaze to the city around him. The atmosphere was grey and gloomy, despite the colorful signs and buildings along the path. The people along the street hardly paid him any mind, mixing a combination of relief and anxiety in his gut. Were these people simply used to seeing strangers on the daily? Or, did he blend in? Only occasionally would Angeal see someone’s gaze turn his way, if only for a second, and it tended to land on the sword on his back rather than himself. Mixed in with the strangers on the street appeared to be a guard of some sort -- men armed, wearing matching uniforms, their steely stares familiar yet foreign all the same.
The crowd began to thin out, and the further down the blocks the pair walked, the less people they saw. The sounds of the city dwindled away, giving way to the chilly air and natural silence of the dark. Their boots crossed the entrance of some sort of park. Angeal frowned as his boot made contact with a wadded up newspaper, his gaze following the trail of debris and trash. The area was clearly neglected; littered to the brim with junk, shrubby weeded grass overgrown and tree limbs too long. In a way, it reminded him of the slums of Midgar; derelict, but still used.
Important, maybe, to someone.
Suddenly, through the still air, came a woman’s cry for help.
Angeal’s gloved hand immediately went to his sword as Mu trusted he’d heard the cry as well. The Soldier nodded, following along as Mu traced the source of the sound. There was a man nearby, wielding a hefty gun, and a blonde woman trapped by his presence. The woman was trapped behind another tree as the man loomed over her; his wicked intentions evident across his face.
The firearm made it more of a delicate situation than Angeal would normally have to deal with. Soldiers dealt less with hostage situations, used more for brute force. Of course, he could be as stealthy as anyone else -- it was in his training after all. But, one wrong move that spooked the man, and he could easily pull the trigger on his target before they reached her.
Crouched behind the tree where Mu had signaled him, Angeal shifted his weight, considering his options. It would be best to either pull the man’s attention away from the woman, or to silently ambush him. Unsure of his companion’s skill set, the Soldier looked to Mu, whispering very quietly, “He might shoot the hostage if we startle him. We need to disarm him before he detects us.”
You took a perfectly confident Soldier and gave him anxiety!
”Why yes,” Ardyn’s voice had turned somewhat darker than it had before -- that, or Angeal really was more paranoid than he needed to be, ”The king of a nation lost to darkness.”
The unease flipped again in the Soldier’s stomach. He turned his sharp gaze to the strange man who had shared the small camp space with him, watching carefully for any suspicious signs or movement. His gloved fingers itched for his sword, so close and yet so far in the span of only a few seconds. Though the human part of his mind gently reminded him, he’s just a man, the more guttural, instinctual side screeched the familiar call of danger.
He was too kind to strangers. Too patient, too willing to believe the best in most anyone. It was a fatal character flaw that Genesis loved to point out from time to time, whenever Angeal was about to bend over backwards to help someone who may or may not have deserved it. It wouldn’t be the first time holding a hand out for a stranger had gotten him bit.
But, Ardyn had gone from a strange, theatrical fool to something … intelligent, suspicious and dark so quickly. Like a switch had flipped. A cat, bored of toying with a mouse, but not hungry enough to kill it.
”But I’d not send you in my stead. I’ll find him soon enough.”
An unpleasant chill snaked its way up Angeal’s spine. He placed one boot against the grass, appearing to simply be resting with one leg curled, when really he was poised to roll and defend himself. Half an hour prior, this man had been nearly bucked from his own chocobo while he almost took out a group of caravaners. Now, he sounded as if he had the intent to crucify this king he was looking for. If the Soldier hadn’t been focusing all of his energy in potential defense, he may have asked for the poor man’s name. To warn him, maybe.
When Ardyn did move, Angeal’s hand flew to the hilt of his sword. However, the mysterious stranger had simply stabbed his skinned, gutted fish through and placed it into the ground. Whatever air had been in the Soldier’s chest froze, face stoney as Ardyn spoke words of departure, ”Best of luck in your search. And do take care in the dark. You never know what might lurk within.”
It was a warning. Maybe not directly, at the moment, but it was one nonetheless. The mention of the nation of darkness, and the cryptic message of parting were more than enough to convince Angeal that they were no coincidence. Ardyn tossed him a careless wave and an empty wish for him to sleep well. The Soldier slowly relaxed his firm grip on the hilt of his sword in the grass, exhaling his held breath. He felt simultaneously chilled and feverish, his nerves alight.
Angeal watched Ardyn’s retreating back until he faded away into the darkness, no longer captive to the lights of smoldering fires. He turned his glowing eyed glance to the rest of the caravan; people sleeping around their carts and chocobos, others settling down for another night among the stars. Angeal finally moved, grabbing the staked fish and tossing it into the fire to burn. Maybe it was extreme paranoia. Too many nights of sleeping restlessly in the wild. But, his instincts had hardly led him astray thus far.
Looking away from the caravan, Angeal stared out into the inky blackness that surrounded them all. Was there something out there, waiting for them? Or, was he simply letting his mind wander too far?
As if he needed another reason to lose what little sleep he already got.
How long can you swallow the pain? Before it comes round again, And a shadow in the valley will lead you to them, So don't follow.
That question hung in the air between them; words out of place from a Turk to a Soldier while they were strapped together intimately. The feeling of Cissnei’s warm skin against his own, the conflicted emotion visible in her gaze for only a moment before she huffed, the mask slipping into place once more as she gripped his hand gently. Angeal watched her for a moment, unsure of what she was expecting him to say. If she thought he might lie, despite his nature.
“I wanted to help people,” Angeal murmured, his gaze just over Cissnei’s head as he thought about his life up to that point, “Friends, family, strangers. To have the strength to help as many people as possible.”
Of course, during his young naivety following Genesis to Midgar, he’d never expected all of the other baggage that came with being a Soldier. The homeless and poor. War. Quelling rebellions. There were a lot of ugly sides of life that he’d been shielded from, growing up in Banora. Even compared to Cissnei, he’d at least had a family. He couldn’t imagine living in an orphanage, being scoped out by Shinra.
The mood shifted quickly back to something warm and somewhat childish and relaxing. The red-head was poking fun at him again, insisting she’d do her best not to wink at him and ruin their chances of winning. Angeal chuckled heartily, finding himself rather attached to their strange dynamic and odd situation. Cissnei was friendly and warm, if a little teasing minx, and it helped him more than she would ever know to feel less alone in the world than he had been.
Promises of favors were confirmed, and the Soldier could only hope Cissnei wouldn’t use her to embarrass him too much.
The waiter returned, meals and drinks in hand. A skillet was placed in front of him; spun noodles and strips of chicken in a sauce, and a glass of chardonnay. Angeal wanted to laugh at the portion size -- a few mouthfuls was hardly going to take him any time -- but it quickly dawned on him that he wasn’t the one who would be struggling. Cissnei was making a face, clearly displeased as she awkwardly held her fork in her left hand. Angeal, amused, took a deep sip of wine before unrolling his own silverware, easily set with his right hand.
“I can start my meal...but...I’ll need you to help me finish.”
Angeal held back a chuckle, but he couldn’t hide the amusement in his tone, “Well, we did insist that Turks and Soldiers work well together. It won’t be a problem.”
Looking around the room, it appeared that everyone else had been served their meals as well. With each table equipped with their own waiter and timer, the competition was set to begin.
And when the whistle blew, Angeal took to the challenge -- for as much of one as it was. It was certainly not a romantic dinner with two people awkwardly trying to eat as quickly as possible, and he would have laughed at the irony if it wouldn’t choke him. One forkful of pasta and chicken went down quickly, followed by another. The taste was decent enough at least, much better than what one would find in Shinra’s cafeteria. Part of him was irritated at not being able to savor it … But, it was a competition, and that much overrode his natural annoyance at the potential food waste.
Angeal was thankful that, at least, Cissnei had been focused on her own meal. She didn’t need to witness the quick massacre he’d made of his own plate, complete with a mouthful of wine. With his own plate quickly cleared, the Soldier ignored the aghast look from the waiter as he quickly moved his right hand over to Cissnei’s plate, twirling the pasta around his fork and stabbing a bit of chicken to keep the bite in place.
Maybe, if they weren’t in a competition and this were a real date, he would find the gesture of feeding her romantic. Maybe he’d blush and be shy about it, heart stopping when she took the bite. But, instead, all he could feel was the rush to win and … Well, he wasn’t sure what else. Winning would be enough. They had more challenges ahead, after all.
He could have even taken the bite himself. But, he wasn’t looking to get stabbed for taking a Turk’s work away from them.
“One more romantic face full of pasta,” Angeal chuckled as he squeezed Cissnei’s hand, bringing the fork up to an acceptable height, “And we have this in the bag.”
How long can you swallow the pain? Before it comes round again, And a shadow in the valley will lead you to them, So don't follow.
I don't know if I liked how this turned out, but WHATEVER ITS HERE, hopefully you can work with it ;-;
The red-head seemed to understand his story and his goals in life, but there was something off in the way that he spoke. There seemed to be some kind of weight hidden in his smile, threatening to drag it down into the depths. Angeal watched the stranger carefully for a moment, thoughtful, silently wondering what kind of story was lurking there. Though the man had done well to dodge most questions or barely offered much, he gave away things subtly here or there.
There was something foreign in his eyes. Something that made Angeal unable to look at them for more than a moment.
The man claimed to be nothing but a wandering soul, and again the Soldier picked up on the fact that his own question was being dodged. The man really didn’t want to talk much about himself, choosing instead to gleefully pick the bones from his fish. Angeal took a moment, debating with himself whether he wanted to reach back and grab another fish himself. His fingers twitched, hesitating. For whatever reason, though he was still hungry, he felt like he shouldn’t complete the action. He just didn’t want to be rude, the Soldier reasoned with himself, a contemplative frown tugging on his lips.
”But I haven’t introduced myself! You may call me Ardyn.”
There it was. Angeal remained neutral on the outside, giving the man a simple nod at his name, but he felt the quivering shiver that snuck up his spine. From the moment he’d first stopped Ardyn on his chocobo, he’d picked up something off about the man. Something strange. Yet, he continued to play it off as his overactive imagination, simply starved for company. Now, though, as the man avoided speaking about himself one last time, the strange punctuation of his name still hanging in the air, Angeal turned an important, inward eye to his instincts.
He’s just a man, the Soldier reminded himself as he relaxed back into the grass, his gloved hand resting comfortably close to the Buster Sword’s hilt, A weird one, but he’s just like anyone else.
And yet, there he was, feeling like he was being watched by a predator in the trees.
“Well, there’s plenty of callings out there,” Angeal stated casually, watching the crackling, wave of the fire out of the corner of his eye, “I’m sure you’ll find something. Maybe not chocobo racing, but something equally as exciting.”
The lengthy day was slowly beginning to work its way on Angeal’s mind. He could feel the familiar burn as he blinked his eyes; exhaustion looking to latch on where it could. Were he not so suddenly paranoid, he knew he would have probably excused himself for the evening and prepared for yet another restless sleep attempt under the stars. But, tiredness was held at bay by that strange feeling that his instincts were wrapped around; something isn’t right. Now, it would be a miracle if he slept at all that evening.
Instead, Angeal made yet another attempt to get the man to open up, if only a smidgen, “Is there anyone you’re maybe looking for, here? I’ve been keeping an eye out for anyone I know … I could do the same for you, if you’re missing anyone important to you.”
How long can you swallow the pain? Before it comes round again, And a shadow in the valley will lead you to them, So don't follow.
