Marcello

"Hey, we're gonna sit down, maybe get some stew. You can talk if you wanna, and if not, I'll talk at you for a bit I guess." Terrin shrugged before finding the most comfortable looking spot nearby to sit. "Come on, join me... friend." He added with a smile before patting the spot next to him. It was then he noticed Sven once more, but he just smiled. "Big red wants you to cheer up too." "Friend..." Klaren kept looking away from Terrin. He didn't sit down. "I am your friend, but you aren't mine...nobody here really is... Like I have a father, but my father doesn't have a son anymore..." "What sort of a guy would call you friend if he wasn't your friend?" T​errin asked, before shaking his head and sighing. "If you don't mind me being a little longwinded, how about I tell you what I think of you, hmm? You gotta sit down though, I insist." "..." Klaren sat by Terrin quietly, face dug into his knees as he held his legs together. "When I first met you..." Terrin paused, trying to consider how gently he should phrase this. He decided honesty was best before continuing. "I didn't like you much at all. I'd never gotten along with monks and nuns at the best of times, and I thought you were like my youngest brother, who is... Not a great man." Terrin just sighed, wringing his hands a little. "Remember I mentioned I used to know someone obsessed with death and all that? That would be Lindl. I judged you quickly after seeing a few interactions, and decided there was no hope we could ever get along and so I tried to avoid you." After a brief pause, Terrin looked up at the monk with a smile. "I was wrong. Lindl is a bad man, but you? You're so very far from that. I think, and I say this honestly, that you're a good man, Klaren. A very good man indeed." "..!" Finally, Klaren reluctantly raised his head to face Terrin. So that was what the mage meant last time... Still though... "But if what I'm doing isn't bad...how come nobody- I mean...almost nobody likes me? Ever..." Sven, in an attempt to console the sad monk, went over to Klaren and laid besides him. The wyvern had yet to interact with the monk, but he still didn't want to see a sad face. "You're very different." He admitted. "It's one of the reasons I was wary of you at first. Perhaps other people haven't realised what a nice person you are, like I have. And hey, Big Red here seems to agree with me, don't you?" Terrin laughed a little as he glanced at Sven. "Lindl has his own wyvern, just like Big Red. I mean, his is bigger and meaner and redder but... Nowhere near as handsome and gallant looking." Terrin decided to add, knowing the wyvern seemed to like compliments. "Plus Lindl's is slightly less... alive. But I suppose that's neither here nor there, I feel like I've gone off on a tangent." The mage murmured, before regaining his focus. "Do you wanna tell me what happened? Or should I just carry on telling you how great you are?" He joked. Klaren noticed the wyvern only as it laid beside him. He glanced at it in confusion, holding back an urge to flash a smile as his hand proceeded to gently run across its back scales. "B-b-but I always try to be friendly-!" Klaren suddenly burst. Not angrily, but he certainly did raise his voice for a moment, only to lower it again in the end. "I-I mean...I'm sorry... I just wanna be friends with everyone...but people always just see me and they think I'm bad...you...too... I'm a rotten apple that rolled too far from the tree... Mis- Mayanna got angry at me... She said some things...and I agreed with them...but it still made me sad..." "I'm sure she just snapped and regretted saying what she did." Terrin frowned a bit. If he had to, he had no problem having some harsh words with Maya, Klaren was the general exception to his dislike of clergy, so far. "Y'know, it does make me sad to see my friends sad." He added, with an exaggerated pout. "Even if she regretted saying it...it doesn't make it any less true..." Klaren recalled the way Mayanna had tried to help him pick the journal up, but he didn't want her help... Honestly, he still would have probably pushed her away at that moment even if he'd been calmer...after what happened...because he didn't want to ever be a bother and her words were how she really felt... Peoply always told the truth when they were angry... But Klaren never got angry. Maybe he was the biggest liar of them all... The monk kept gliding his hand across the wyvern's back. It itched, however. His wrist. And the cuts upon it. They were aching to be reopened so that he let his doubts just flow out... "I-it'll make me sad if you get sad..." "Well I don't wanna be sad, and I certainly don't want you to be sad either." Terrin sighed, before perking up a little. "Even if what she said is true, y'know, I think she just hasn't yet realised how nice you are. Even if me and Big Red are the ones that know that now, everyone will in due time." He folded his arms as he said this, watching Klaren gently pet the wyvern, hoping he could at least partly put the monk's mind at ease. "I-I'll think about it, then-" Klaren said, with a bit more resolution in his voice now. Terrin's words gave him some sense of firmness, even if it was bare and ethereal. Now he needed some time alone to think things through. Reach some conclusions on his own. About what to do and how to act from now on. And i-if his friendship with Terring was truly real, then maybe...maybe it meant the opposite of what he thought after the event with Mayanna. Maybe it meant anyone could like him, if Terrin could, and Terrin seemed to have some sort of grudge about something, even if he was only barely letting anyone in on it... So Klaren stood up, giving the wyvern one last pat before bowing down to Terrin silently and turning away towards his tent. Terrin sighed. He wasn't sure if it had worked, but he had just been honest with Klaren, and hoped he had made him feel better. He glanced over at Sven. "Hey Big Red, how 'bout we find Ecquis for you?" He asked, before getting up and beginning to look around. Having gone back to the camp, Ecquis noticed that Sven still hadn't come back. He figured that he didn't go very far, but he still needed to go look. Though it only took a few glances around to find Sven around with Terrin. "Oh, so this is where Sven ran off to. I trust the two of you managed things ok?" Ecquis asked, slightly surprised to see Terrin with Sven, but still glad to see the red wyvern. "Sven?" Terrin asked, before realising. "Oh, right, you mean Big Red over here." He laughed a little bit. "Yeah, he's a friendly thing. Especially if you compliment him." The mage smirked, before scratching under the wyvern's chin once more. "Sven was one of the friendlier of the group really. Ziona and Cynthia on the other hand, they aren't as friendly with others," Ecquis remarked, noting how those two tended to avoid other people if possible. "Still, you seem to be quite comfortable around wyverns. Were you around any during your life at any point?" Ecquis asked, knowing that most of the people who first see a wyvern in Dragao are usually more terrified than anything else. Terrin sighed. "Wish I could say you were wrong but... My little brother had a wyvern."​ He paused a bit, but shrugged. "If you can call that beast Mortis a wyvern. Bigger than Sven, a bloody crimson colour, vicious and brutal beast." Terrin folded his arms, before adding the crucial detail. "Oh, and dead. Very dead." "Dead you say? If I may ask, what happened?" Ecquis decided to ask. He had no way of knowing if he would tell him, seeing as how this was the first conversation the two had, but there was no harm in trying . "Me and Lindl found a rider and his wyvern- I didn't recognise the armour -in a field, full of arrows one day. Next thing I know, the following day, Lindl had a wyvern. It wasn't until I noticed the scars, the maggots, and the fact that all the arrows were still there, that I realised it was the same beast."Terrin looked down at the floor, just sighing. "Oh...necromancy eh? I'll be honest, I haven't seen much of it, but I have heard some things about it, though most of that information was just tidbits I heard from various merchants back in Caelum," Ecquis remarked. He wasn't sure what sort of person used necromancy on wyverns, but Terrin's brother either was someone who knew necromancy himself or knew people who were capable of it. "No clue how he did it. He'd always been interested in dark magic, but I never knew he was THAT good. He'd always been more handy with an axe..."Terrin shook his head and shrugged once more. "Goddess knows where he is now. About a week after he 'acquired' Mortis, he stole one of my father's axes and just flew away. Wherever he is, I doubt he's doing anything... Moral. Scariest kid you've ever met, I tell you. Just wish I could have gotten through to him." "He sounds like the kind of guy my brother would like. Maybe those two ran into each other at some point. I wouldn't know, I haven't spoken to my actual family in almost a decade," Ecquis said, with what seemed like a hint of sadness in his voice. "At least going to Caelum I'll be able to see Clara again. She's the closest thing to an older sister I've had, and part of the reason I ended up doing well in Caelum," Ecquis remarked, hopeful to see her again once they arrive at their destination. "I mean, I suppose at least Lindl didn't actively despise me like he did my other siblings but..." Terrin shrugged. "I take it your brother is hardly the nicest egg in the nest either?" He asked, before smiling at Ecquis latter comment. "I'm certainly hoping I get to see old man Deth, or my mother. But in the same vein, there are a few siblings I'd rather avoid once back in Caelum." He admitted. "I can't say I won't mind meeting any of the people I knew in Caelum really. Clara was always around for me when I needed it. Though if we are able to go around enough, perhaps I can thank Aisha for everything she did for me. We didn't talk too much, but she did help me get some equipment before I left and she always payed well for my services whenever needed, so I feel that thanking her for that now wouldn't be so bad," Ecquis said fondly, recalling Aisha and his meetings with her. "Did you say...?" Terrin narrowed his eyes for a bit, and then shrugged. "Huh. Small world. Although I shouldn't be surprised, you no doubt worked with SOME big merchants, would make sense she was one of them." Terrin remarked, amused by the coincidence. "Hmm? Do you know Aisha as well by any chance?" Ecquis asked, somewhat interested in his relation to her. "I'd sure hope I know her. I'd be a terrible son otherwise." Terrin remarked with a smirk. "Well then, it really is a small world," Ecquis remarked, rather amused that Aisha was the mother of Terrin. "Still, it's sort of strange for me to consider that I've worked with the mother of one of the people here, especially someone who may be around my age," Ecquis commented. "Your age?" Terrin asked with raised eyebrows. "Unless you've got a pretty severe case of babyface, I just assumed I had a few years on you." He admitted. "You probably do, but maybe not as many as you think. Though, my family does have a tendency to look much younger than they actually are so there is that. Then again, my idea of around my age is probably a bit skewed considering my company up until now. Before I came here, most of the people I was in contact with were at least a decade or two older than me, so a few years isn't something I see as much of an age gap personally," Ecquis remarked. Up until he had joined this unit, he had never interacted with people who were particularly close to his age. "I suppose you're right. Well, if we see my mother in Caelum, I'm sure she'll be glad to see the two of us fighting under the same banner, eh?" He asked with a chuckle, Terrin was used to being around his siblings, which was such a wide array of ages, that it didn't much bother him either way. Everyone in the Children was competent and wanted to fight the good fight, which was what mattered to him. "Especially for a good cause like this one." "I suppose so. Anyways, now that Sven is back I think I'll get some rest myself. Today has been...quite a long day for me," Ecquis said, recalling all of today's events. "I'll be seeing you later then," Ecquis remarked before taking Sven and going back to where the other wyverns were.

"Hey, Klaren!" Terrin called out, running in an arc so he ended up in front of the monk. "I don't know what's up, but I think you need somoeone to talk to." He firmly told him, he'd already cheered him up once, at this point Klaren's not smiling was far too bizarre to tolerate. Not to mention he was actually rather nice to talk to and Terrin didn't much like seeing nice people like hin or Hoshiko unhappy. The mage had already forgotten, in his rush, that Sven was following him, but he'd no doubt be reminded soon.

Terrin nodded briefly at Meredith before she made her excuse, walking over to Sven to leave the women to it. Noticing he had enjoyed having his chin scratched, Terrin did the same to Sven. "Good boy, you're far nicer and more impressive than Lindl's beast." He whispered, before noticing a clearly distressed Klaren in the distance. "Listen boy, we should leave those two alone, but how do you fancy helping cheer somebody else up?" The mage whispered gently once more, before he ran off towards Klaren, not waiting for a response, hoping Sven would follow.

Apologies I just vanished. I was writing a response on friday and my mobile data ran out. Our ISP should FINALLY get things working tomorrow so I'll have wifi, but it's already a week late so god knows what problems might hold it uo again. Apologies for any inconvenience or if I've held anything up, I'll read up what I've missed and reply in a little bit. With any luck this will all be sorted tomorrow so I'll be able to post properly and regularly again

"Old habits. I trained as a Knight before my aptitude for magic was discovered. Have a few years of that training under my belt, I try to use what I learnt in battle, it's amazing the difference a Knight's stance can make." He mused, before laughing. "Anyway, did you just think mages have to go through strength training in Caelum or something?" He smirked, jokingly flexing his arms. "Y'know, you are far more gallant and handsome than the last red wyvern I met." Terrin added to Sven before turning back to Meredith, unsure just how much of the compliment Sven would understand.

"If it's all the same to you then, I'll stay. Hoshiko is surprisingly good company. Anyway, what sort of a knight lets his allies stay in a foul mood?" He asked, before chuckling at himself. He'd been a mage for a while now, but old habits died hard, apparently. "I'm sure our red friend over there would love to help out too." He added, looking back at the wyvern. He seemed to grimace somewhat as he recalled a memory while he looked at him, but shook his head briefly as he regained focus, smiling once more at the wyvern and then Meredith.

"Ah, Meredith. If I had've known you would join us, I would have brought more stew over." Terrin just smiled at her, before making a rather understated heroic pose. "I see no reason we can't both try to cheer her up." He whispered, before adding with another whisper as he gazed over her shoulder. "You, uh... DO know there's a wyvern following you, right?" Terrin gave a brief wave to Sven, unsure if he would even understand the gesture, before turning back to Hoshiko. "How about we find somewhere for the three..." He started, before glancing back at Sven. "...four?" He corrected under his breath, "of us to sit while yiu eat that?"

"Thank you. I look forward to hearing more about your wife in the future. She sounds as though she was a good woman." Terrin said with a smile, before jogging off in Hoshiko's direction, making sure to not go too fast, lest he spilled the stew. "Hoshiko!" He called out to her as he caught up. "Here. Not even the Goddess' chosen can work on an empty stomach." He smiled a bit as he offered her the bowl. He was still mocking her a little, but in truth, mostly was just committing to the role he had chosen to play in rheir interactions, having rather enjoyed last time.

Terrin shall intervene with the power of heroic poses. And stew.

"In that case, I'm sure she'd be proud to know the noble cause for which you are now fighting." Terrin smiled back, before noticing Hoshiko storming off from Klaren a bit away from the rest of the group. "Would you at all mind if I take one of these bowls for someone else?" He asked Feri as he watched him dish out the stew. He hadn't spoken much to Hoshiko since the battke against Maris, and he knew if there was one thing that made HIM feel better when in a foul mood, it was good food.

"The palace tutor and chef helping with the cleaning? What a strange place Dragao is." Terrin just laughed a little bit. He wasn't even close to royalty and he, like most of his siblings, had had his own personal chefs, tutors and cleaners growing up. "How long ago did she... Was she taken from you?" He asked, before glancing over at the recently arrived Ecquis, gasping slightly as he hadn't even noticed Maya had been joined by a wyvern. "She's beatiful." He mused a little as he looked at Morgan, before returningto facing Feri.

"I warn you, I was brought up with most of my meals being cooked by some of the best chefs in Caelum, I'm a tough judge." He laughed, before briefly sampling the stew. "Y'know this is pretty good. So, your wife was a very good cook, then?" Terrin asked curiously as he less briefly sampled the stew now, safe in the knowledge it was good.

"The palace eh? Of course it would make sense to first appeal to the one group where I have no connections." He lightly chuckled. "If we ever need to get involved with the senate, or the church, the wealthier merchants, or even the military to some extent... Well, do let me know, I know the right sort of people here and there." He shrugged. Of course the palace was the best idea, though it was a shame he couldn't particularly offer much in those dealings. The mage closer observed Feri's hand. Not looking at the signet ring, but rather the wedding ring. He was curious, but said nothing. At best, the wearer of that ring's twin was left back in Dragao. And at worst... Terrin felt wrong prying, so he just smiled after taking a few moments looking at the rings.

Terrin sat near Feri, smiling at Serrne and Mayanna, as they were also by the fire. "While it's probably best I talk to Saffron about this, I'm still not entirely comfortable speaking so casually to Dragao's future Queen." Terrin admitted, folding his arms as he peered into the pot Feri was cooking in. "Not to mention I'm curious about what you're cooking. But regardless, I wanted to ask about what exactly our plans will be once we reach Caelum." Terrin furrowed his brow, wanting to be able to help as much as he could. He was aware Maya and Serene could hear his words, but it was hardly a secret conversation.

Tempted to have Terrin buy a wind tome incase we come across any fliers or whatnot, but I'll probably qait until Dash's report on the next map to see if it's worth bothering.

"If the crystal survives, I suppose you can try your idea. Right now I'm just glad you know these horribke things aren't worthy of your journal. And anyway..." Terrin paused momentarily, before playfully kicking a little dirt in Klaren's direction. "It's like we're playing in the desert already." He smirked in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Well, you feel bad don't you?" Terrin rather straightforwardly reminded the monk. "Whatever you may have wished has no bearing on these events: They happened. And you clearly understand how awful it is." Terrin just shrugged. "I used to know someone obsessed with death and corpses. Always wished he could see it up close. Difference is, when he got his wish? He was over the moon about it. So you're already a better man than him as far as I'm concerned." Terrin firmly told the monk.

"Hey, I know I might not have been the nicest to you in the past but we're a team. And I'm sure this must be even more uncomfortable for a monk than it is for me." He spoke frankly. Klaren's cheerfulness was oft unsettling in itself, but by this point, seeing Klaren NOT cheerful was even more unsettling to Terrin.

"Ugh, I admit I've seen some pretty cool dark magics in my time." Terrin mused as he thought back to his magic training days. "As well as some... less cool examples." He sighed as he reflected on some far less pleasant memories. "But this is just... I feel sick." Terrin just shook his head as he wandered a little further away from the burning building. He glanced over at Klaren, who appeared perhaps even more uncomfortable than he was, and decided to walk over to him. "You alright?" The thunder mage whispered.

"A merchant. Bard's demeanor and rogue's intuition, I believe my mother always said about the best merchants." Terrin mused aloud as Anna and Ian revealed what they were, Terrin having walked the blind man over. As soon as the door openrd, the mage retched and covered his mouth/nose. "What in the..."

>Terrin is proccing skill so he might stop missing >Terrin now has tge same strength as Meredith That was a good levelup, tbh

A big thank you to everybody who's wished me a happy birthday (Except dobby, who clearly doesn't understand correct British practice at a chippie and thus should be ignored), it means a lot, especially to all of you who said nice things and all, today has been a great day and you all did help towards that by making me smile.

I totally forgot to put in my last post that Terrin moved to T20 so he can talk to Ian, whoops. Editing my post to say that now, but figured I'd mention it here to be sure Pyon notices and all.