Elona Bound: Part 11

Elona Bound: Part 11

----- Re-ignition of Flame -----

Demitra stared for a moment at the highly reflective gold coins she held, their brilliance illuminating her face.  In spite of this, she said an Elonian curse under her breath.  While belly-dancing at a local casino was certainly exhilarating, it did not come without its share of problems, namely those unruly customers wanting "more," who would promptly raise a scene when the didn't get an answer they wanted.  Demitra sighed as she dropped the coins into her side pouch, feeling the weight increase.  At the very least, it had earned the woman more than enough coin to pay for their airship fee and Demitra was happy to rid herself of the embarrassment and poor decision she'd made when it came to Xavier.

Exiting the casino, Demitra touched her chest.  At once, small distortions formed around the bedlah and scarves she wore, dissolved and replaced by her armor and adventuring attire.  Demitra smiled.  This illusion she'd been working on: a glimmer around her person to appear differently to others - was working.  Now if she could manipulate her own appearance, instead of just her clothing, the benefits would be well worth the practice.

A clank of her bracers called upon the manifestation of her astral mount and Demitra rode the entity to the exit of Amnoon.  Her intent was to clear her head a bit before dealing with the unpleasantness of business conclusion with the airship captain.  As if an answer to her aimlessness, the Elonian happened upon a white-haired woman just beyond the city gates.  Demitra smiled warmly as the woman went about affixing makeshift armor onto her flamelander.  The two seemed to destined to share their time in the desert together… at least for now.  Demitra had grown fond of the woman.  While hot-tempered, there was a side to the woman that most may not take the time to understand or get to know.  Demitra found herself thinking of this quite often throughout her time in Amnoon, delighted at each and every encounter they had.

After a moment of admiration, Demitra cleared her throat.  "Taking care of that one, I see."

Ember jumped, clearly jerked from her solitude, blinked a few times, then smiled greatly realizing who it was.  "Oh!  Ahai!"

Delighted at the use of the traditional Elonian greeting, Demitra beamed.  "Ahai, indeed!"

She turned around, completed her task, then promptly leaped on Cinder's back.  "Ready to go on an adventure?" she asked, petting the raptor.

Demitra raised an eyebrow inquisitively at Ember.  "And to what adventure are you taking your raptor… his name escapes me."

Ember secured a helmet over her ashen hair.  "Her name is Cinder," she said with a frown.  A scratch behind the raptor's firey horns caused the animal's tongue to hang out in pleasure.

Giggling at the interaction and her own ineptitude for animals, Demitra offered a sympathetic look.  "My apologies.  I was uncertain as to the sex of your companion; my experience with animals is a bit lacking."

Ember regarded her strangely.  She gestured to the mount the woman rode.

Demitra shrugged.  "This is not a typical harnessed creature: it is… something different."

The Elonian offered no more information than this, and while Ember wanted to know more, she simply nodded after a moment, decided to change the subject.  "I like to take Cinder for runs around the area.  Let her stretch her legs.  She loves it, so I try to take her out often.  The cavaliers even know us by now."  She laughed, clicked her tongue, then started on the path ahead.

The two traveled at a medium speed so they could converse.  They spoke of their time in Amnoon; they various activities and chance encounters they'd had.  Demitra held back from divulging the entirety of her nights in the casino; it was simply a means to an end.  Ember also kept the voices which whispered to her from the Elonian.  While both truly wanted their blossoming friendship to thrive, neither understood how to be completely honest and open with others.  Thus, a few awkward silences filled the air between them, with an occasional bashful blush from either woman.  It was during one of these lulls that Ember came to a sharp stop.

"Something doesn't feel right.  Last few runs, people were on this road," she said, looking around slowly.  "Let's go further south."

Demitra surveyed the area.  "Further south?  What is it you expect to find?  Only small villages occupy those territories."

"Hopefully it's a village still full of people," she said as they hurried over a sand dune.  Beyond, a village could be seen, smoke billowing from the raging fires within.

Demitra almost collapsed as the color seem to leave her face.  "F… Fear.  I sense… overwhelming fear."  Her empathic abilities were sometimes difficult to control in tense situations, or those in which many people felt the same way.  It was as if their collective feelings were a pool of quicksand and the bigger the crowd, the bigger the pool.  This was different though.  There were only a few broadcasting, yet their fear so intense the Demitra struggled to keep from sinking in.

Ember looked over at Demitra, concerned.  "Okay, you should go let the cavaliers know; you'll be okay if you ride away.  I'm going in!"  She kicked her mount's sides and the pair leaping into the fray.  Cinder flew into a group of Forged, lashing her tail around, sending a few immediately flying into a nearby dwelling, which tumbled, burying them.  Ember flew off Cinder and into a Forged, igniting his armor with her own fire, the heat so intense, his armor melted.  The small woman was brutal, using her own fists more than weapons, like a drake naturally swiping its tail.  This strategy cleared a few more of the Forged, until several surrounded her.  For a moment, Ember could see nothing but molten animated armors, and further still, wondered if the decision to send Demitra off was the right one.

Suddenly the sound of glass shattered behind the armors, who promptly fell forward.  In their wake: Demitra Naja Nyimah.  She leaned forward through the magical spoke her spell had just caused and offered a hand to Ember.  Her hair was pulled back into a tail, and she wore a smile.  Even though the chaos, Ember was in awe of the woman's radiance.

"Good thing I did not 'ride away,' yes?"  She smirked, helping Ember upright.

Ember grinned.  "Yeah… Good thing."

The two women stood back-to-back, Ember's glowing eyes steadfast on another group of Forged approaching, Demitra's on an opposite group.  A mix of azure blue and pink smoke seeped from the Elonian's bracers, coalescing in the form of an axe in one hand, sword in the other.

"Let's see if we can't clear these monsters, but if you get hurt, I'll kick your ass."  Ember teased.

Demitra's brow furrowed.  "I shall have you know, I am quite capable of taking care of myself."

Both groups simultaneously attacked.  Demitra sent out a flurry of swipes with her sword, launching a wave of energy into the would be attackers.  Ember let forth a cone of fire, incinerating those on her side.  The two paused as the fighting ceased; minions seemingly absent, for the moment.

"Demitra, can you use those abilities?  Do you sense anyone?"

The woman's eyes glazed over as she stared into a burning building.  "Not… Not anymore," she managed to utter.

Ember sighed, nodded, then removed her helmet slowly.

"These… The abominations… they slaughtered this village!"  Demitra's words were filled with sorrow, despair, and anger, echoing a past tragedy.  A tear found its way down her cheek.

Ember approached a small platform and examined it.  "Yeah… and this is how they got here," she surmised.  Let me make it so at least no more arrive this way."  She began to gather her magic and channel it into the pedestal, which suddenly became active.  Several sparks flew from the construct, entering into bits of armor on the ground, and brought to life the vanquished Forged minions.

Pulled from her memories, Demitra readied her weapons, standing between the minions and her friend.  "What thing you are going to do: do such soon!  I shall hold them off!" she yelled as she sliced through one and sent the armor flying.

Ember continued channeling her magics into the platform, even as a portal began to appear above it.  "Yeah…"  She struggled to maintain the levels.  "Just… Just back up.  This is going to be loud!"

Demitra glanced back as she destroyed a the last of the Forged.  In a glimpse it seemed something was coming through the portal.  The hum of the magical energies being concentrated was so loud, her warning couldn't be heard, however.

Ember finally let her magic explode, decimating the platform in an explosion and cloud of smoke.  A few moments of silence followed.  Demitra desperately coughed through the smoke trying to gain her bearing; the ringing in her ears was itself deafening.  As the smoke cleared, the ringing subsided and Demitra caught sight of Ember, who had received much more severe effects from the blast.  She looked up and smiled weakly back at the Elonian, satisfied with the job she'd performed.

A few additional gusts of wind carried the remaining smoke behind ember away, and Demitra stood frozen at the scene.  A tall imposing figure stood behind the white-haired woman, in his hand was a large jagged sword.  Demitra knew exactly this being: an elite officer of the Forged.  "Ember!  Behind you!  Run!" she desperately screamed at the deaf woman.

Ember looked confused one moment, then screamed in pain the next as the Elite Forged blade ran her through.

"EMBER!!!" Demitra cried out.

Ember slumped lifelessly and slid down the sword.  She fell into the debris as the officer gloated.

"What were you hoping to accomplish, child?  You fight against a God!"

Demitra roared and she leaped from her position, spiraling at the Elite Forged.  Her axe pulsated and smoked with the fury of her magic.  She flew into the enemy, then abruptly shattered in his face, revealing three more phantasms behind the purple clouds of smoke, along with the real Mesmer.  "The power of a god?"  They all spoke in unison.  "This holds nothing to the power of will… the power of friendship… the power of love!"  The phantasms continued slashing and slicing at the being, until finally refracting and shattering their shards into him.  He attempted to stab another only to have his sword swipe through clouds of fuchsia smoke.

"Your weak tricks; your love and friendship… none of that will work here," he laughed.  "You won't even…" he was suddenly interrupted by a quartet of Demitras, exploding into crystal fragments upon approach.  He stumbled backwards, then attempted a step forward - only to be stopped by Ember holding his ankle.  This was the opportunity Demitra needed and she did not hesitate.  She screamed as she reared back, then bodily hurled her sword at the creature.  With a loud metallic thud, it found the intended target, slicing through the helmet with a brilliant display of blue and yellow sparks of magic, finally embedding itself into the creature's head.

"I spit on your god, and all he stands for!" the woman's voice boomed.

The Elite Forged roared in anguish, then fell silent as his lifeless body fell to the ground, the Mesmer's blade still attached to his skull.  The armor collapsed as the molten core that had filled it dissolved.

Instantly, Demitra was at the woman's side.  "Ember!  Oh my… Ember?  Are you still with me?"  Ember's body was limp, her eyes shut.  Demitra feared the worst.  "You… You cannot leave me…" she began to cry as she held her friend's body.

The moment lasted an eternity, until Ember suddenly coughed.  "Always… the gut!" she moaned.

Demitra's eyes grew wide.  "Ember!  You are amazing!  I thought you were…"

"Takes a bit more than that," Ember groaned as she sat up, holding her stomach.  There was plenty of blood, but no new fluids appeared.  At least for now, the bleeding had stopped.  Ember exposed the wound.  "How bad?"

Demitra inspected it, then returned Ember's hand to apply pressure to it.  The penetration was deep.  "We should… you need a healer," she said, unsuccessfully attempting to mask the concern.

Ember coughed a few times.  "I'll be fine."  Her eyes were dimmed, the normal sheen on her skin diminished.

Demitra could see the woman fading.  Her eyes surveyed where they were in proximity to the nearest healer.  It was difficult to see through all the smoke…  Then suddenly the woman had an epiphany.  Smoke… Fire… "Ember!  Fire.  You need fire!  Fire will heal you!"

A smile came to the woman's paling face.  "You are catching on," she admired.

The Elonian looked around at a few still burning areas of the cabins.  "Allow me," she said, propping Ember up.  She hurried over to a board, still ablaze, retrieved it and returned to the patient.  "Will… Will this work?"  Her eyes glazed over.  "Please tell me this will work…"

Ember nodded slowly, reached out and pulled the flame into her being.  Absorbing the blaze, she closed her eyes for a moment.  "I hate their fire… but… it helps."

Watching the display, Demitra was releved to see color return to the woman, although she was still dimmed by comparison.  She didn't understand much about Ember's physicality, simply that the woman had a kinship to fire.  It was a subject she'd tip-toed around, one she hadn't quite known how to broach.  Now, in this situation, she'd wished she had and promised herself after the ordeal, she would push for answers.  She had to admit, her own empathic abilities weren't quite explained to Ember, and wished to correct this, in the near future, as well.  As it stood, Demitra was subconsciously holding her own stomach as if she, herself had the wound.

"I… I should be okay; at least until we get to the torches in town."

Demitra peered into the distance.  "There's a temple just up ahead.  They have healers and braziers.  Can you make it, or should we head back to Amnoon?"

"Let's head to the temple.  Get me to Cinder, and I can make it."  She said, groaning as she readied herself to stand.  "Were you hurt?"  Ember had undoubtedly seen Demitra cradle her own stomach.

For the first time since the battle began, Demitra stopped to consider her own condition.  "I am unscathed, for the most part.  I can hold my own, you see?"  She giggled and grinned.

Ember laughed, then groaned at her self-infliction the laugh caused.  "So you're pretty and strong.  Let's see if you're strong enough to help me in this armor up."

Demitra blushed at the compliment.  She pulled the woman onto her, using her own body as leverage.  The women embraced for the first time.  Neither moved.  Ember was very warm to the touch, even through her armor.  Demitra stared into Ember's eyes, lost in them.  This was the closest they'd ever been.  "You're… You're so warm," she whispered.

"I… sorry; it's a side-effect."  Ember's eyes flushed red, wavering, but she leaned further into the taller Elonian, staring up at her remarkably glowing face.  "Do you want me to… cool down?"  Her voice was soft.

"I do not," Demitra smiled thick ruby lips.  "It is rather… enjoyable."

Ember hesitated, then softly mumbled.  "S… Sorry for this."  She leaned forward, closed her red eyes tightly, pursed her lips in an attempt to kiss Demitra.  She feared she would miss.  Feared the woman would pull away.  To her surprise, she did not.

Taken by surprise, Demitra blinked at the woman, as her incoming lips requested a sensual return.  Her heart pounded; she wanted this too.  She smiled deeply and warmly, leaned into the kiss, and met Ember's lips.

The two lost time: a sensual kiss of eternity.  Ember welcomed the woman's soft full lips; Demitra accepted the warmth of her partner.

Ember yelped and pulled her head away.  "I'm… I'm so sorry!"  She exclaimed, afraid she'd overstepped her bounds, misread the situation, misunderstood feelings.

Demitra's face was soft and warm.  She brought a finger to the woman's lips; the touch from her gloves caused Ember's lips to tingle.  "Shh.  Don't be sorry," she whispered still staring longingly at the woman.

"I… I've been meaning to do that… I just wished I didn't have to be stabbed first," Ember confessed, shivering.  Whether from the woman's touch or the loss of blood, she wasn't sure.

Demitra giggled with a slight nod.  "Come.  Let us get you healed.  There will be time later…" she said, letting the rest of the statement linger.

Assisting Ember on her mount, Demitra called forth her own.  The two rode slowly as the Elonian kept a weary eye on the white-haired woman.  On more than one occasion, she'd asked how she was, attempting not to annoy the woman when doing so.  A soft mumble was returned with each inquiry.  Demitra's concern was touching, visible, her heart vulnerable.  The woman had almost thrown herself into the mists in order to close off future destroyers from the portal, and Demitra's impression and admiration of the woman had grown exponentially.

Finally, they came to their destination: a temple of Kormir held up from the cavernous desert grounds below, acting as a gateway to the highlands to the north.  While the temple was open to all, priestesses of Kormir would often attempt converting those that happen to find there way there or put them to work within the temple.  While she understood their convictions, Demitra did not share their views, and disliked entrapment of any would-be fighters upon the blights of Elona.  And due to this, they seemed so sheltered from the events of Elona, in their high temple.  Demitra usually steered clear of the area; however, this circumstance would bring her here despite any animosity she may harbored: Her friend was in need.

Despite looks from various temple priestesses at the flaming raptor being led into their sanctum, Demitra persisted, leading Ember to a large brazier.  Ember opened her eyes and weakly reached to the flames, which seemingly moved on its own accord, flowing into the woman.  She retained much of her color, but still slouched over the raptor.

"Is it not enough?" Demitra asked worrisomely.

"One more, I think.  That sword cut deep."

Demitra pulled on Cinder's reigns who protested a bit, but complied after Ember gave a reassuring pat.  They came to another brazier, which happily danced into Ember.  The woman's red eyes sparked to life.  Demitra felt the heat from the brazier dissipate, consumed by her friend, in turn Ember's pain subsided.

She slid off the rapter and grinned.  "See?  Told ya I was fine!"

Demitra stared at the woman with eyes of a worried child.  "I… I knew that," she lied.

Ember's eyes narrowed and she pointedly looked over Demitra.  There was something else.  She'd come to know the woman's mannerisms, understood this look as something deeper.  "What is it, Demitra?"

The Elonian sighed, stared into the fire as it was re-ignited by an annoyed priestess of Kormir.   "I was… I was a child when it happened…  Much like the village we just left."

"You lost your home?" Ember carefully inquired.

Demitra nodded slowly, her eyes still locked on the blaze.

"I… I am so sorry," Ember frowned.

"When I was very young, my village was attacked.  Joko's minions came to slaughter and burn… all of my innocence."  Demitra's voice cracked, she paused, then continued.  "I lost my birth family that night.  Lost myself to this war against the damned Awakened and their master, Joko.  And now… Now I see Balthazar's influence, his Forged, doing the same."  She shook her head.  "No.  This… This simply cannot be allowed."

Ember placed her hand awkwardly on the woman's shoulder.  "I promise.  Balthazar will pay for all of this!  Palawa Joke too.  Then the dragon…"

Demitra clasped the woman's hand in appreciation, the power in her gauntlets tingling through Ember's own gloves.  They echoed the woman's resolve.  "I would like very much to rid the world of this… this senseless destruction, Ember."

She enjoyed the tingle, the electricity from the woman's touch, whether from the gauntlet or something else…  "Well then," Ember concluded.  "We have a lot of work to do."

"We?" Demitra giggled.

"Oh yeah!  You're stuck with me, Demitra Naja Nyimah!" Ember laughed.

Demitra looked over her shoulder and smiled lovingly at her friend.

To Be Continued...

 

Elona Bound: Part 10

Elona Bound: Part 10

----- Alignment of Stars -----

Twinkling reflection upon the still waters of the Bay of Elon showed a myriad of stars lighting the sky.  Their sprinkled presence reassured the Elonian: she was home.  Demitra sighed with a contentment she had not had for a while; her goal of returning a consistent and unrelenting goal.  Now that she was here, she could pause - if only for a few nights - before venturing forth and through the hordes of the Awakened and Joko's minions.  The struggle ahead, however, was in stark contrast to the relaxing display and Demitra purposefully ignored the future, allowing herself to be lost in the stars.

From behind, Ember approached the woman, taking a few moments to admire her.  Demitra's shoulders glistened in the moonlight, her skin a radiant bronze.  Her auburn hair hang midway down her exposed back, touching a small knot which held on her top.  She stared upwards and, while not being able to see such, Ember knew her emerald eyes were sparkling.  The woman was breathtaking!  She laid down, her legs exposed and for the first time, Ember could see a stained pattern of design flowing their length.  Ember involuntarily heated up while staring at down her feature, but upon realizing this, she attempted to interrupt her own discomfort by making her presence known.

A familiar feeling washed over Demitra, her empathic powers picking up the arrival of someone she'd grown to think of as a friend.  A shuffle of her feet and a clearing of Ember's throat confirmed the identity.

Demitra continued staring at the sky, but grinned.  "The stars… they are where they should be."

Ember looked up and blinked.  "Do they… Are they known to move?" she asked, perplexed.

"They did when I was in your homeland.  They looked so very different there."

Ember looked back down to Demitra, still confused.  "You've been to Ebonhawk?"

Demitra brushed her hair back.  Feeling the woman's confusion made her giggle.  "I meant Tyria as a whole, my dear Ember," she explained.  Standing, she dusted off a bit of sand from her dress, finally turning from the view.

Immediately her attention was drawn to Ember's arm, which rested in a sling.  Her clothes were dirty, her hair a bit unkempt.  Demitra's expression was worrisome as she reached out, was about to touch the woman, then recoiled.  She'd noted the woman's aversion to touch, and while all she wanted to do was coddle her friend, she practiced restraint out of respect.

"What… What happened?"

Ember glanced down at her bound arm.  She hadn't considered this news to be alarming.  "That?  Oh, it's nothing.  I find a good campfire, and I'll be fine."

"Relax.  I heal quick." Ember stated, as Demitra approached the her, carefully inspecting but not touching.  Her concern was… unexpected.

The Elonian scrutinized a few more minutes, then looked up at Ember.  It was clear she didn't drop the concern, but attempted a nonchalant shrug.  "Relax?  I… I am relaxed.  I am not… not relaxed.  I am not concerned," she struggled with the lie.

Ember pursed her lips slightly, with a small shake of her head.  "Anyway," she singsonged her disbelief then changed the subject.  "Are you enjoying being home?"

Demitra gestered to the stars overlooking the bay.  "You tell me: Have you seen a more majestic display of beauty?" she asked in awe, her emerald eyes glimmering.

Looking up, Ember made a half smile and considered.  "I used to watch stars in my nest growing up.  It's nice."

Demitra could feel the warmth of Ember's words, then she paused to consider the word.  "Nest?  I am uncertain this word translates well… You mean your house, yes?"

"Oh, I had a house, but I slept with the drakes, in a nest,"  she stated matter-of-factly.  It all seemed perfectly understandable to her.

A laugh suddenly erupted from Demitra, at what she perceived to be a joke.

Ember cast a sidelong glance to the woman.  "What?" she asked with a bit of irritation in her voice.  This was not the reaction she expected.

Demitra paused, raised a scrupulous eyebrow at the woman, then a moment later her face flushed.  She hadn't meant to insult the woman; was immediately ashamed and embarrassed she had laughed.  "I am… I am sorry, Ember.  This… This is no joke?  You were raised… by drakes?"  She treaded lightly, attempting to navigate the subject without being rude.

"I mean, people were there… eventually.  I'm assuming that's weird to you?"  Ember glowed and rubbed the back of her neck, but from a mix of anger and embarrassment, Demitra couldn't tell.

Apologetically, Demitra explained.  "I… I meant no disrespect, Ember.  It was simply unexpected news; if this makes you who I see before me, then it is not weird!  Unusual, to be sure," she smiled warmly, invitingly.  "It makes you even more intriguing to me."

Ember cleared her throat, flushing red.  Her eyes suddenly found the ground interesting.  "My house is famous for drakes.  So I bonded with them easily," she offered softly.

"I suppose such familial drakes would be easier to talk to, indeed."

"They are!" Ember perked up.  "Drakes are pretty easy to read, if you know how. When they'd nest too close to towns, someone like me would go in and help!  They're so much easier to communicate with than people."

Demitra nodded, then raised an eyebrow at a question.  "Curiosity abounds: Why were you raised in the drake nest, rather than with your own kind?  Was this by choice?"

Ember frowned.  "Uh… See, I'm cursed.  So father didn't want anyone in the house to interact with me.  One night, I was locked outside, and Ramoth dragged me to her nest," she laughed.

"I see.  So, in a way, this drake, Ramoth, saved you! (Given what you've said about your father.)"

Ember nodded solemnly, fondly at the thought of the drake.

Demitra glided over to a small pool on the flat-topped roof of the ziggurat, in which they occupied.  A part of Amnoon's water filtration system, the waters would flow up to the pyramid's roof, flowing freely through the pools, which extracted contaminants before exporting the clean water out.  The desert heat assisted in the process to an extent only those attuned to water truly understood, but the result was a thing that many residing in Amnoon knew: the ziggurat was a refreshing place to dip one's feet.

This goal in mind, Demitra removed her shoes, then looked over her shoulder with an alluring smile.  "Join me?" she asked.

Ember looked warily at the water, still standing a few feet back.  "I… uh… I'll watch," she said hesitantly.

Demitra dipped her toes in the water, splashed around a few times.  She turned to regard the woman strangely.  "You do not like exposing your feet?  Or you do not like the company?"  She hoped for the prior.

"I do not mix well with water, but… I… I love the company," she said bashfully.

Demitra smiled thick full lips.  "As do I.  And I must say, I am elated the desert suits you so well, with obvious excepetion."  She gestured to the woman's arm.

"I wasn't expecting Forged to be so close," she uttered shamefully.

Demitra bent down to splash some water on her face, while she felt Ember's anxiety.  "You went looking for them, did you not?" she asked bluntly.

"What?" Ember was taken aback, her cheeks flush with the accusation.  "Of… Of course not!"

The Elonian came to stand beside the woman, her knowledgeable gaze almost penetrating.  Ember blushed, her cheeks as red as her eyes.  Demitra always seemed to know what the she was thinking, and while she'd started to realize it, Ember was never quite ready for the woman's forthrightness.

"Truthfully?" Demitra whispered as she returned her sandals to her feet.

"I… I felt… called.  Then I hurt my arm when Cinder was scared by the Forged," she mumbled the words.

"Cinder?"

Ember grinned.  "My raptor!"

Demitra giggled.  "A perfect name, indeed for your flamelander!"

"It's a talent," she exclaimed as she watched the woman pull her dress up, wringing the water it had collected.  Embers eyes traveled and her cheeks darkened as a small whisk of smoke found its way from her head.  "It's good to see you happy again though," she murmured, embarrassed at giving the compliment.

"This attraction you felt…" Demitra began as Ember awkwardly shifted.  She paused at the woman's reaction, purposefully let it linger a bit, and smiled flirtatiously at her before correcting herself.  "I mean, the attraction you felt to the Forged," she explained.  "You say you were being called?"

"Oh… Oh!" Ember realized she mistook the statement and grew redder.  "That was… I just felt I needed to go."

Demitra tilted her head to the site, looking over the white-haired woman.  "This was the same attraction you felt, as you did when we fought the Herold?"

Ember scowled.  "That Herald and her god aren't worthy enough to lick my boots!"

"Perhaps not.  But I… felt… the pull you had to the being of fire and metal."

Ember averted her eyes.  "I… I don't know what you mean," she murmured.

A solemn nod came from Demitra.  She knew additional questioning would be met with evasion.  "Apologies for my presumptions; sometimes these abilities aren't completely honed in," she lied.

"He betrayed us, you know," Ember spat.

Demitra took in a breath, looked at the horizon as the sun began to rise.  The blanket of night was being slowly dissolved, retreating for another day.  "I never had such use for gods.  Under the oppression of the Scourge of Vabbi, I rarely had time to think of much else."

Ember followed the woman's gaze to the miraculous horizon.  "He was supposed to save me," she confessed.  "Instead, he made me like this."  Her head plumed smoke.  "So, I am going to use it to kill him."

"While a betrayer to you… and to most people, Balthazar is but a story from a childhood I was denied.  Thus, he means nothing to me."

Ember's red eyes reflected the sunrise, lighting up from her own internal flame and ambitions.  "I'll be a better god than him!  I'll wage war on this Palawa Joke!"

"Joko.  His name is Palawa Jo…" Demitra suddenly burst into laughter.  "Your jokes are, indeed, amusing!" Demitra tried to catch her breath.

"Yes my… jokes," Ember conceded.  She honestly hadn't meant to make the mistake, but so enjoyed the woman's laugh.

Demitra stared at the woman, her complexion illuminated by the rising sun.  She seemed to spring to life as the rays hit her, and her presence truly made her happy.  "I am glad we are companions, Ember Drakenfist," she said, not realizing she'd said the full name.

Ember nodded, smiling genuinely.  "I'm glad I met you, too."

Demitra raised an eyebrow at the woman, beamed a flirtatious smile at her.  "Where are you staying, Ember?  Here in Amnoon?"

"Around.  I was in the town we saved: the raptors needed help, and I sort of have a way with them," she stated, not picking up on the subtext.

Demitra flipped her hair back from her shoulder.  "Well then," she offered, "If you hever find yourself in need of a place… to sleep, do not hesitate to inquire."

Ember tilted her head inquisitively, completely confused by the situation.  "Are you offering me business?"

"No… I…" Demitra softly sighed.  "Nevermind," she said a bit colder than she meant it to sound.  Ember obviously hadn't meant to make a reference to her contemptible error in judgement with the captain.

"I didn't mean to upset you, I… I just don't understand people that well," Ember apologetically mumbled.

Demitra blushed.  "No, given what you've explained, I suppose it would be a bit difficult.  It's alright Ember; I suppose I have been a bit off my game lately as well."

Still attempting to understand the conversation, now being propositioned about game, Ember frowned.  "This is why you need a tail!" she said with the epiphany, "Then I could understand you better!"

Demitra giggled.  "A reef drake, yeah?"

The women exchanged a few more pleasantries, a few more awkward moments, in a budding friendship neither had much experience with.  Ember said goodbye to the Elonian, who promptly sheltered herself under a shade umbrella.  She closed her eyes, leaned back on a pillow, and relaxed in the heated desert air.  She came to wear a smile as she drifted to sleep.

To Be Continued...

 

Elona Bound: Part 9

Elona Bound: Part 9

----- Harmonious Opposites -----

The trip to the gates of Amnoon were blissfully uneventful.  On more than one occasion, Demitra nostalgically took in the sights; the pyramids, palms, and desert… home.  The hot arid air flow cooled her glistening skin and she rejoiced in open landscape, heat mirages dancing on the infinite horizon.

A glance to her companions showed they did not reciprocate her feelings.  Prymi and her sister seemed to be much more comfortable adapting to the heat than did the two humans clad in full plate armor, Bella and Ryo.  They rode up ahead, perhaps subconsciously expediting their efforts.  Demitra would almost expect the griffons they rode to take to the sky, but having no direction, they remained grounded.  More than a few times had they leaped to extend their wings, but were subdued by their riders.

Ember was the most comfortable in the heat.  Her hair, blowing in the wind, produced ash which flowed, intermingling with the dust her flamelander kicked up.  She seemed genuinely at home in the desert heat, albeit a bit overdressed in a clunky armored suit.  "Containment suit," she'd called it.  The woman was a bundle of secrets Demitra longed to unravel.  In their short conversations, she found the woman's forthrightness and honesty unwavering, which added more to the intrigue surrounding her.  However, the Elonian would be remiss to dismiss the woman's curiosity and excitement - along with anger - she exhibited during the recent battle.  All these things were like a magnet to Demitra's curiosity.  She offered a blushing smile when Ember caught her looking, who smiled back.  The two were just about to start a dialog, when Orabella interrupted.

"That's it, isn't it?  Amnoon?  The Oasis?"  She pointed just ahead of the party.

The rest of the group caught up to stand on an overlooking dune.  Below them awaited the Free City of Amnoon.  Resting on the Elon River, the city was situated as an area most fleeing from Joko's domain wound up.  While Demitra's efforts were in Vabbi, she'd always considered Amnoon her 'home-away-from-home,' and had come through many times in her travels.  Recently though, its status of a marketplace of great importance was solidified, with the influx of outlander arrivals.  Shops and traders were concentrated around the center plaza, surrounded by pyramid structures and a large perimeter wall.  Amnoon's gates were guarded and while they were mostly in place to halt the occasional Choya stampede, they were at times a bit xenophobic to newcomers and visitors, falling back to the city's original status of a santuary.  While not condoning this mentality, Demitra understood this and took the lead and brought the group to the entrance.  After a few words in Elonian to the guards, the gates were opened to the party, revealing the bustling city inside.

"Welcome all, to the Free City of Amnoon, or Amnoon Oasis, as it were."  Demitra's eyes sparkled.  "Quite the site, eh, 'Mister' Prymi?"

Prymi leaned forward on her springer, peered into the marvelous display ahead.  "Indeed," she said with an awe to her voice.  The city had definitely held a charm and immensity anyone would be humbled by.

After a few moments, Ryo shifted on the griffon.  "And here we are.  Shall we go settle down?" he said as diplomatically as his discomfort would allow.

Orabella smiled understandingly at her husband.  While she knew he hadn't gotten burned, it took a lot to knock the man to the ground, and she worried if he'd suffered any injuries and not reported them.  "I think we should.  I need to calm my nerves a bit."

"There is no shortage of alcohol available here; I would say this place has indeed earned the term, 'Oasis,'" Demitra joked.

"I think a short walk around the market place a bit would help calm me, actually," Bella offered to Ryo, thinking she may use the opportunity to find a healer for him.

Prymi took in a deep breath.  "Well, at least we are out of danger here," she paused considering, "I hope."  She looked behind her at Khirra, who had been straggling slowly behind.  "Khirra, the way is safe.  Let's go get something to munch on."

"Do we have designated areas to stay?" Ember was a ball of excitement, her eyes darting all over the scene.

Demitra considered.  "I would say stay within the boundaries of Amnoon for the time being.  I shall ready my contact for admittance to the safe haven, and I believe we should all stay here overnight to gather strength for the journey there; for Vabbi is still very far away."

Ryo audibly sighed as he and Bella rode off into the square.  Prymi and Khirra hurriedly went to the marketplace, no doubt interested in the exotic offerings.  Ember stayed, came to stand next to Demitra, who was reading from a scroll which found its way to her via raven delivery.

"What's it say?" Ember inquired, noting the look on the Elonian's face.

"Of all the… He…" she took in a breath.  "All our belongings have been transported to the bank here in Amnoon by our 'gracious' captain."

Ember frowned.  "What an ass!"

"Oh, you have no idea!" Demitra fumed.

"You two have a history?"

Demitra scowled.  "Apparently, just business… And apparently even that was not what I was lead to believe."

Ember raised an eyebrow.

The Elonian's focus went back to the white-haired woman.  "Yeah.  It was my fault," she admitted.  "I should have properly discussed the business arrangement before we…" she struggled to find the word, defaulting to an Elonian swear.

A silent understanding nod came from Ember.  Demitra's emerald eyes stared at the woman.  Her hair was haphazardly covering her face, a bit of ash covering her shoulder, but her smile conveyed such unjudging warmth at the her, it made her cheeks flush.

Ember grinned at Demitra.  Even embarrassed, the woman was stunning.

"We… We should retrieve our belongings now, yeah?"

The two made their way toward the bank, Ember reluctantly leaving her flamelander in the care of the city handler.  The sun began to drift, filling the sky with orange and soft yellows, making ready for night.  The marketplace also slowed, settling to a few last minute shoppers and passersby.  Nodding to a few fellow Elonians, Demitra took pride in her people, and exuded confidence, which Ember didn't have to be an empath to pick up on.  They eventually came to a clothing stand before the bank.  Demitra felt the material of some of the latest fashions, an unexplored interest.  Being a freedom fighter against Joko's army didn't lend its time well to fashion wars.

Echoing the woman's thoughts, Ember murmured, "I never understood fashion."

Demitra flashed the woman a smirk.  "Oh, I find your look… highly fashionable."

Ember looked down, brushing away the compliment.  "It's… It's just armor I couldn't melt.  Containment for my…"

"Heat?" Demitra interrupted with a grin.  "Well, you wear it well, Ember Drak… Ember."

"Um, thanks," she said.

Demitra unabashedly grinned at the stoic woman.  She was cute in her own completely awkward and wild way.

"So this is home?" Ember injected.

"Oh no.  I suppose I think of this as a stay-over; a point of interest between missions that has always attracted me.  I enjoy the simple life this place offers.  It reminds me  of when I was a child.  I grew on the outskirts of Vabbi in a village resembling this city.  Not as grandiose, granted, but…" she paused a moment with a sigh.  "We were happy."

"Vabbi, huh?  That a town?"

Demitra absently fingered through dresses and gowns.  "Sort of… I suppose one would say domain?  It lies beyond Joko's wall.  Further still beyond that, is where I called home."

Ember tilted her head to the side, a bit of ash sprinkling her shoulder.  "Called?  You don't live there anymore?"

She returned a shayla she was trying on to turn to Ember looking solemnly, seriously.  "No, Ember.  There is nothing left...  After Joko's minions destroyed the area, there was nothing left.  Now the branded has encroached, and decimated the entire area.  Vabbi sets between an existence of desolation or corrupted crystallization; this is no longer what I call home."

Ember blinked.  "I'm… sorry," she found herself saying.  She was not used to apologizing, not used to feeling such empathy for another's past.  She, herself, had such a tragic past that she'd inadvertently become calloused, often not allowing anyone below the surface.  Demitra seemed to have snuck past her defenses and Ember wasn't sure if this was a good thing…

Demitra smiled at the woman's awkward apology, feeling such internal conflict within Ember; she knew it took a lot for her to say the words.  "I… I appreciate that from you," she said softly.

The woman rubbed the back of her neck, clumsily.  "Um, so our belongings?"  She attempted to divert the conversation from an uncomfortable topic.

"Yes!  Let us go speak to the banker; hopefully they will not require payment to retrieve our items," Demitra said, nodding to the vendor in appreciation.

Ember frowned.  "Why would we have to pay?  They are ours!"

Demitra shrugged a shoulder.  "Things work differently here."

"That's not right!" Ember almost shouted.

"Of this we are in agreement."  Demitra continued their walk, decided a change of topic, an attempt to defuse Ember's temper.  "You say you have not heard of Vabbi, yet earlier I recall you mentioning your mother.  Is she from Elona?  Not Vabbian, obviously, since you have not heard of this place."

Ember shook her head.  "No, I'm not sure where exactly she was from.  Mother died when I was born; father blamed me for that."  Her voice wavered a bit.  "I do know that we look a lot alike, mother and I.  Oh, and that her name was Nora!" she exclaimed, then paused, continuing in a somber tone.  "Father called her that when he was drunk."

Demitra took in a breath.  The woman was an emotional rollercoaster; it seemed she would have to work on subduing her empathic abilities, given her companion's consistently fluctuating emotions.

"Come; let us go haggle for what we already own," Demitra teased the woman with her own words.

Finally arriving at the bank teller, Demitra leaned on the counter, began speaking to the woman in Elonian.

Ember followed suit, also leaning on the counter, her eyes taking on an orange glow.  "I don't speak your language, and I don't know what she said…" Her eyes pierced the bank teller.  "But, I'll be taking my things now."

Demitra eyed the merchant, then Ember.  "I doubt that will get us what we require."

The bank teller looked at Ember, raised an eyebrow, then shrugged.  She turned to Demitra saying a few explicatives about her companion in Elonian.

"Then I melt my way in!" Ember warned, lifting a hand which burst into flame.

Demitra, seeing the condescending teller's now worrisome face, took her cue.  She waved a hand at the flame.  Suddenly four additional flames manifested, parallel to Ember's fist.  Clearly mimics of the original flame, they were no less deadly than that of Ember's fire and conveyed to the teller the two were more than capable of melting the vault if needed.

Ember turned her hand, pointed a finger to the teller.

Demitra shattered the flames, which paused for a moment then softly exploded, enough to make a loud glass-breaking scare, but not enough to injure the woman, who was now sweating and holding her hands up in surrender.

"Our things," Ember demanded.

Mimicking Ember's pose, Demitra leaned on the counter, sternly exclaiming, "Now!"  She then added a counterintuitive, "If you please."

Ember glanced at the Elonian and almost broke character as she stifled a laugh.  Demitra attempted such furiosity, but still dispensed pleasantries, and while the woman seemed to be a masterful diplomat and powerful mesmer, her beauty made her sternness almost comical.

The teller quickly went about retrieving the women's respective trunks, Demitra with the smaller one and Ember with a rather large one, which the banker had difficulties hoisting onto the counter.

Demitra watched Ember gather her things with a look of admiration, impression, and intrigue.  A mystery to unravel, indeed…

Once they turned to leave the bank, Demitra quietly slid a gold piece to the teller with a warm smile.

To Be Continued...

 

Elona Bound: Part 8

Elona Bound: Part 8

----- Turbulence -----

Shouting found its way into her ears and Demitra awoke abruptly from her slumber.  Disoriented only for a moment, she quickly surveyed the cabin.  The dim light offered a still-sleeping Ember, Prymi and her sister.  Bella and Ryo were absent, as were their weapons, which had rested beside their cott.  At once, she sprung from the bed, stripping from her eveningwear, and into her gear.  She was half way up the stairs before she recalled the other occupants, and yelled down for them to wake.  Demitra wouldn't wait to see if her words stirred them; she was in the control room seconds later.

"What is going on?" she asked Xavier.  Issues aside, he was the captain.

"Trouble up ahead.  Not exactly sure what yet, but we won't be able to get enough altitude to avoid the flames."

Demitra squinted off the ship's bow.  "I have seen flames such as these before; the fires that burn there are from the god of war.  Balthazar is attacking!"

She joined Ryo and Bella on the upper deck; they stared at the awaiting chaos on approach.  Ember was the next to arrive, fully in her gear, looking almost excitedly at the flames and prospect of battle.  Demitra could taste the woman's rage and enthusiasm, and accepted the empathy which would help fuel her own modivation.  Whatever her reasons for these feelings, Ember was indeed an able-bodied fighter and it would prove counter-intuitive and foolhardy to attempt to subdue the woman or have her stay behind.  To accept this role was Prymi's sister, who would stay behind to gather the party's belongings. Prymi, herself, came to stand behind the group and Demitra couldn't help but grin at the sight of the little Asura already mounted on a rather large springer.

Even in the face of this chaos, Prymi grinned at the Elonian.  "Butterscotch is her name," she said, petting the large rabbit.

Prymi's demeanor cleared Demitra's head.  She glanced to Ember to see if the effect was mutual.  It was not.  Ember grinned wildly, wickedly at the approaching pyramid of fire.  In another circumstance, Demitra may have inquired, but she knew now wasn't the time for questions… Now was the time for action!

She gathered her strength and came to stand on an overlooking mound as the airship docked, followed by the group.  Her emerald eyes reflected the fire as Demitra spoke.  "I know this excursion was not planned upon, and my apologies for asking this of you, but…"

"Let's do this!"  Ryo shouted leaping from the mound.  Bella followed, as did Prymi and Ember.  Demitra smiled proudly and followed.

Emerging from the flames and heat stepped the forged: Balthazar-influenced beings of fire and armor.  Their metals fused to their person with unknown magical energies from the god, and their hatred spread like the wild fires they ignited.

Over the heat from the flames, Demitra could feel the rage.  It was a surprise to her that the source of this, however, was her not from the monstrosities they faced, but from her companion, Ember.  Again, the Elonian channeled the feelings, unleashing it on the minions of the fallen god.  A quick glance showed Ember did the same.  Demitra could almost see her hair on fire: the woman was a lit match.

Further ahead, Prymi and Butterscotch barreled through a line of enemies, making way for Ryo and Bella.  They fought, both lashing at enemies in a juxtaposed beautiful dance among the devastation.  Orabella let out a roar as she slashed her fiery sword into a group, while Ryo slammed another on the ground.  The two worked in concert, clearing a path and pushing the enemies back into their own fires of the surrounding buildings.

The battle was fierce.  Fire, smoke and ash filled the sky as the assaulters lay vanquished.  The group each glanced around, both for stragglers and to survey each other's status.  To Demitra's relief, everyone held their own.

That is, until the Herald of Balthazar appeared.

While Demitra had heard of this being, information was scarce.  Any that faced the Herald rarely lived to tell of the deed.  The being stood taller than a Norn, made a metallic pound with each footstep.  It approached silhouetted against the fires burning ahead and peered at the group with burning desire for destruction.

"Why have you done this thing?  What does this village possibly done to deserve this?"  Demitra spat her words, drawing upon a past unknown to the others.  Her voice grew angry, booming over the crackling fires.  "Leave here; this place is under our protection!"

A guttural voice echoed through the air.  "And just who are you?  A small insignificant insect compared to the God of Fire and War!  Your life is his; I claim it as another conscript for Balthazar's army.  Join his army… or be crushed by it!"  The Herald's hammer slammed into the ground, instantly creating a labyrinth of lava on the ground.  From the two largest pools, claws emerged.  Two large grotesque animals, surrounded by red and yellow shoulders and filled with hatred, clawed their way forth.  As the smoke from the event dissipated, the Harold had vanished, Forged Warhounds in its place.

"Everyone, hold position here; don't let the hounds make their way to the survivors!" Demitra barely got the words out before one of the hounds leaped onto her.  The magical flames seared her flesh.  At once she blinked backward, leaving a mirror image of herself in place.  The hound bit down into the phantasm, which suddenly exploded in a purple cloud of smoke.

The warhound flew back, meeting Ember.  She grasped onto the warhound, igniting it with her own fires.  "You like heat, huh?" she said wildly.  "Then you'll love me!"  In an instant, an explosion of metal flew from the creature, ashes in the place it had been.

Demitra nodded to the woman, glanced behind her to see Bella plunging her sword into the other beast's back.  It wobbled for a moment, then fell to the ground with a thud.  Now revealed on the other side of the creature, lay Ryo, surrounded by flames.  Demitra hurried to his side, as did Bella.

"Just go," he called out.  "I'll endure until the flames die."

"No!  We're not leaving you!" Bella yelled, seeking a path through the fire.

No sooner than Demitra began desperately looking for water, than did Prymi appear - still on the back of her oversized bunny - carrying several buckets of water.  "We wouldn't need this if we had an elementalist, you know," she lectured, then apologized for being late.  "Butterscotch… She doesn't like fire."

While Demitra and Bella doused the flames around Ryo, the rest went about putting out any fires left from the nearby buildings.  Ryo struggled to stand, either lightly wounded or exhausted from the ordeal.  "Can you make the journey to Amnoon?" Demitra considered the man's demeanor.

"Aye.  I can."  The man's answer was simple, to the point.  An admirable trait to the Elonian.

A distant stampede came the answer to the group's dilemma as Prymi's sister Khirra approached, mounts in tow.  The animals came to an abrupt stop as they came to their riders.  Bella helped Ryo aboard his griffon, while she mounted her own.

Ember found a mid-sized raptor, smoldering embers lining its back.  She mounted the creature, which promptly caught fire.  "This raptor… It's a flamelander!  I've read about these!"  She exclaimed reverently.  Leaning forward, the woman put her arms around the beast's neck, her smiling face buried in the flames.  "I love her!"

Prymi and Khirra both donned springers; they'd been mounted, awaiting the group's decision to go, when Khirra looked to Demitra.  "I… I didn't see one for you… Miss Demitra," Khirra explained meekly.

Demitra simply smiled her full ruby lips, tapping her bracers together.  In an instant, sand swirled around her intermixing with blue mist from the gauntlets.  They coalesced under her as they lifted her from her stance, manifesting between the woman's legs as a crystalline mimic of Ember's raptor.

"Impressive," Prymi said, eyeing the display.

Demitra winked at the Asura, then looked at the line of mounted compatriots.  They exceeded her expectations, and she felt humbled and proud to know them.  "While I know this is not quite what we expected, I would like to say I appreciate everyone's call to action."

Orabella looked at Ryo.  "At least we save the village, right?"

Ryo smiled with a reassuring nod.  "So we did."

"Are we gonna have to face him?" she asked, now distantly worried.

"We might," he exhaled.

Bella stared at the smoke-filled sky.  "You don't know how much I want to kill the bastard," she swore.  "The last time I faced his magics, he almost made me kill Ryo."

Ember continued with her affections to the raptor.  "You are just like drakes, huh?  I wonder if mother liked you.  It's why I'm here," she said after a pause.

Demitra didn't know if she meant Balthazar or her mother, but decided not to dwell on the topic.  She felt the resolve in Ember, could feel Bella's anger and fear.  Prymi's anxiousness and fear of the fire; Khirra's timidness and innocence.  The group was eclectic at best, but for the first time in a long while, she believed they stood a chance against the overwhelming odds.  She turned to address the group.

"We all wish to do things: take down the god, take down the crystal dragon, take down the god-king Joko… What I see here we all have in common is that we wish to do these acts of heroism to protect the world which we all hold dear.  Know that you will not face these trials alone, for we shall be victorious; for we have each other!  Come... let us ride; Amnoon awaits!"

To Be Continued...

 

Elona Bound: Part 7

Elona Bound: Part 7

----- Homeward Bound -----

An excitement hung in the air.  Demitra's smile beamed.  In these recent months, she couldn't recall the last time she was this happy.  She hurriedly got dressed; a simple beige halter top, wrap-around indigo-colored dress with a split up to the hip.  Despite the circumstances in which she paid for the ball and the airship, this was to be a joyous trip saw no reason to deviate from a fun wardrobe.

Gliding above deck, she felt relief at seeing Captain Xavier busy prepping for launch, although that particular situation wouldn't have phased the woman's delight.  Demitra glowed, not from the sun's reflection on her bronze skin, but from the exuberance she exuded.

In contrast, further down the bow, Ember scowled, obviously irritated at perceived delays in take-off.  Demitra tried her best reassuring smile at the white-haired half-Elonian, who muttered something inaudible, then returned her attention to the clouds.  Demitra shrugged.  Nothing could disenchant her today!

As if on que, the first of DragonsBane arrived as two small Asura stepped onto the ship.  Demitra immediately recognized one: her name was Prymi, a rather plump little Asura with a heart of gold.  She had been the first to pull Demitra into shelter during her first few disparaging nights in Divinity's Reach.  It was through her Demitra had found the guild's hospitality and genuineness, and for that Prymi would always have a warm spot in the Elonian's heart.  Beside Prymi stood another smaller Asura, timidly looking about.

Without hesitation, Demitra rushed out to give Prymi a hug.  "How are you, 'Mister Prymi'?" she asked.  Unaccustomed to Asura - there was only a scarce amount of them in Vabbi - Demitra had mistakenly taken Prymi as a male when they first met.  This embarrassing encounter led to their charmingly awkward friendship and Demitra had leaned heavily on Prymi in the saddest moments of the recent ball.

The Asura scratched her head.  "Ah, I'm not a mister," then paused with a sheepish expression considering, "unless something happened last night…"  She continued in her deepest voice, "I'm fine, and ready to kick some bottoms!"

Demitra stood, her hand patting gently on the Asura's golden locks.  "And who's your friend?"

"This one is my sissy, Khirra!"  Prymi wrapped her arms around the smaller Asura.

"H… Hi," Khirra whispered quietly.

Giggling, Demitra properly bowed and introduced herself.  Standing upright, she was surprised by two additional guest arrivals but immediately recognized them: Orabella and Ryoichi Heiwa.  They were a married couple, and while Demitra enjoyed their company, she hadn't had much time spent with either.  Still, she was excited to greet them.

"I thought Prymi was female," Bella was saying to Ryo.

"Might be a joke; not sure," Ryo whispered back.

Bella nodded, surveying the area.  "Perhaps," she said, somewhat skeptically as she squeezed Ryo's hand.  Her feelings of apprehension were instantly felt by Demitra as she exchanged pleasantries with the couple.

Bella looked over the Elonian, shining with excitement asking the obvious question in politeness, "How are you?"

"Truthfully, ecstatic!"  Demitra practically cheered.

Ryo nodded.  "Excited to go home, I take it?"

"Indeed!" she exclaimed.  "And how, may I ask, are you?"  This question was directed toward Bella.

"As ready as I can be, especially after what transpired the last time we were there."  Bella's tone was worrisome, but determined.

Demitra looked over the couple's attire.  Both were clad in heavy plate armor, armaments affixed, of which she had noticed Ember's stare at Bella's magical firey sword.  She offered a quiet smile to the high-spirited woman.  This attraction to fire would have to be explored at a later time.  Returning her attention to their dress, Demitra felt the need to inject her thoughts.  "I know there are dangers, but I expect this trip to Amnoon will be without incident!"

Bella shook her head, "Better to be safe than sorry."

Decidedly not pressing any further, Demitra turned to the entirety of their party.  "Thank you all for heeding the call.  Whatever reason we all go to Elona, we do so together.  I am so happy to have met you all and I am elated we travel together!  There is a cabin below where we can stay, sleep, relax, and more importantly store our belongings safely.  The,"  she paused in mid-sentence, the next word distastefully uttered, "captain, assures me it shall remain safe there.  Feel free to change below, if you so choose, for I do expect this trip to be as pleasant as we make it!"

"Anyone else coming, or can we finally go?"  Ember facetiously frowned, obviously anxious to get underway. 

Prymi glanced around.  "This might be everyone."

Demitra slightly giggled at Ember's irritable demeanor.  Something about the woman's candor was oddly reassuring.  "Let me speak to the captain about taking off," she said, not meaning to emphasize the word.  "I shall return shortly.  Feel free to explore, although I would not speak to the crew hands, as they are a bit… unpleasant to deal with."

Orabella responded, "I can deal with unpleasant: they just need a good punch and they settle down."

Ryo squeezed Bella's hand.  "Let's head inside," he said quietly.

"Let's goooo already!"  Ember saw no point in staying above, decidedly following behind Bella and Ryo as they all made their way below deck.  Prymi lingered back as she instructed her sister where to go.

The captain was busy tying rope when the Elonian approached. She didn't know how to look the man in the eye - their night spent with him prevalent in her mind. She padded heavily on the deck to make her presence known, but upon approach, the man kept going about his business. She cleared her throat to garner his attention.  "We… We are all aboard and ready to disembark," she stated, masking her nerves with the statement.

The man nonchalantly turned to face her. “Excellent,” murmured. “I imagine our previous arrangement is still intact then?”

Demitra flustered, clearly not expecting the arrow to hit the target directly. "Our... previous arrangement?" she stammered. "Was this not concluded?"  She was confused; thought the transaction had been conducted, finalized in a rather pleasant ending.

Xavier shook his head. “In order to pay the crew’s wages and the cost of the ship, I’ll need some goods and obviously coin from your camp; I am running a business here after all.” He spoke matter-of-factly, as if it made perfect sense. “Last night was wonderful and I do hope you do not take offense.  The crew would think little of me if I did not think of them,” he explained as he worked another rope.

Words were lost on the woman.  She grew angry at the man's presumptuousness and casual attitude, then realized she had only herself to blame: She hadn't thought it was any more than the one night, neglected to put writing to what she thought was a transaction.  Fuming, she turned on her heal.  "Just get us there; you'll get your gold," she said storming off.

With a sigh and a shrug, he finished his work on the deck and made his way to the helm as Demitra headed the opposite direction.  "Do secure yourselves below deck soon; we shove off shortly," he called out to her.

Demitra fumed, then took a few moments to inhale sharply and exhale deeply, a breathing technique she found centered her.  After a moment, and to her surprise, she found she wasn't alone: Prymi sidled up beside the woman.  Standing no more than a few feet from the ground, Prymi stood at the woman's thigh, Prymi was a charming little Asura, light grey skin with a bit of tint to her cheeks.  She wore her hair in three golden braids which hand down the middle back of her neck, and on the sides of her face, respectively.  In all the moments in which they had spoken, Demitra always seemed to be at her most vulnerable, thus she took comfort in the heartwarming little friend's presence.

"I think we're both looking forward to this trip, eh?" Prymi began, still looking at the distant city.

The Elonian nodded slowly, her cheek shined in the sun from a wiped tear.  Prymi saw this and immediately wrapped her arms around Demitra's leg, who smiled, placed her hand on the Asura's head and sighed again.

"It seems as though I run into you when I am in pain, doesn't it?" she considered.

Prymi smiled up at her.  "We should fix that; maybe we can run into each other when we're happy instead?" she asked with insightfulness that made Demitra giggle.

"You are indeed wise, my small friend.  Such a thing would be a wonderful change, yeah?"

"Completely!  I shall be up for adventure as soon as my toes touch that burning sand!" Prymi joked.

Demitra squeezed the Asura.  "Oh, the sand is lovely; you shush!  Just wait until you see our accommodations.  The haven is a place to behold, indeed!"

Prymi nodded.  "I can't wait to see it… Me and Sissy.  I hope we get the answers we're after."

"As much as obligations dictate, I shall assist you in your endeavors, Prymi.  I know familial matters are important."  She broke away from Prymi's embrace, once more to the rippling waters and the skyline of Lion's Arch.  "I often wish my destiny would allow me such luxuries: having a family, falling in love, settling down.  You ever wish for such a simple thing?"

Placing a hand on the back of her leg, Prymi approached the railing, barely able to see over it.  "I understand.  With all that is going on in my family, I haven't had much time to think of the future, but… Yeah, I would like to live a simpler life, sure."

Demitra kneeled down to her friend, again embracing her.  "Such is the life of those that heed the calling, yeah?"

"The Eternal Alchemy, fait… It can just be… well, it can just be mean!"

The two stood on the bow a bit longer.  Demitra took in the view, the copious amount of water, and the impressive sea-themed city.  She ignored another call from the captain to return below deck, but decidedly did so when the vessels engines and magical energies began to hum.  She walked past the man, saying nothing, her face as cold and expressionless as she could purposely make it.  Upon reaching the cabin, she explained they were about to take off, then noticed Ember's glowing eyes in the corner.

She approached the woman, softly inquired.  "Ember, is everything alright?"

"I'm fine!" Ember scowled, spitting out a puff of smoke.

Realizing the explanation would be all she would receive, Demitra ventured over to the opposite corner - noting the parties seemingly purposeful separation.

Bella was speaking to Ryo, "Maybe I should have stayed home."

"We can always leave if you wish," Ryo offered.

"We told the others we were going to meet them.  So I'm going." she huffed.

Demitra approached the couple.  While attempting to keep their conversation private, they had inadvertently raised their voices over the hum of the ship.  The Elonian heard their words, worried issues already presented themselves before they'd even left Tyria.  "Is everything alright you two?" she asked sincerely.

Orabella looked up at Demitra, her brow furrowed.  "Just fine!"

Her empathic abilities kicked in and she felt a wave of anger from Orabella.  Demitra raised an eyebrow.  She had felt such anxiousness and anger from Ember, but never from Bella.  She attempted to speak without infusing it with the emotion.  "Yes, well, the captain says we must remain below deck while we disembark."

"Alright," Bella nodded.  She took in a deep breath, her fist still clinched.

Demitra noticed, but said nothing more.  She was uncertain what transpired while away, but thought it best not to dwell on it.  A glance back washed away some of the apprehension, seeing Prymi and Ember converse.  Perhaps this trip wasn't doomed, after all!

At least… not yet.

To Be Continued...